Patrick Leahy

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, we have so many things going on in Washington these days, with just about everything from budgetary matters to wrapping up this session of the Congress. I was delighted today to take a step back and, in my role as President pro tempore, introduce today's visiting Chaplain. I am always pleased to introduce the Chaplain, usually Dr. Barry Black, sometimes visiting ones, but this one is special. He is the bishop of Burlington, which, really, the diocese covers all the State of Vermont. His name is Christopher Coyne. He knows our part of New England. He was born in Woburn, MA, and graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.A. in business, St. John's Seminary in Boston as a Master of Divinity, ordained a priest in June 1989, but then has fulfilled significant roles, both in the diocese where he originated and with the Vatican in Rome. And I will talk more about that at another time. But he was elected chairman of the Committee of Communications of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. And when the bishops met, the voice you often heard was Bishop Coyne because of his credibility, his honesty, and the fact that he would give very direct answers. And then Pope Francis named him bishop of the Diocese of Burlington, and he was installed in that January 29, 2015, and brought a new, really, wave of enthusiasm into the Catholic diocese in Vermont. He made it a point to go around the State meeting with people. I would tell a personal story. I was at an event in Burlington on Veterans Day. I was going to be speaking there. And a jogger came up and tapped me on the shoulder. It was the bishop. He was out doing his morning run and walk. But it is something that is interrupted all the time because he will stop and talk with everybody, and they want to talk with him. He is the kind of bishop every diocese should have: approachable, honest, good for the community. He has reached out to the Jewish community, the Protestant community. It has brought enthusiasm on both sides. I see our distinguished majority leader on the floor who has been working hard the last few days on too many things, but I know he will get us through it, and I will do my part on the appropriations. Mr. Leader, I just wanted to say a word about our distinguished visiting Chaplain Bishop Coyne, taking advantage of the privileges of the floor, sitting over there, and I will yield the floor and yield to you.

Mr. LEAHY

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

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, while the distinguish leader is still on the floor, let me thank him for those remarks. And I know Marcelle will thank him too. Of course, our spouses have spent a lot of time together, and we know who the real leaders are in the house. I think of what the leader has said, and he speaks of the time when we worked together. And I appreciate very much--I have told him privately, but I will say it publicly: I have appreciated the friendship and the work together. We did go back and forth over a period of years. Part of the time he was chair, and part of the time I was chair, but in a very, very important subcommittee. In Foreign Ops we had everything from foreign aid to a lot of the things we did around the world. But that bill would pass on the floor, oftentimes on a Friday afternoon, when everybody would say: Bring it up; we have got to get out of here. And it passed, virtually, unanimously. We would work out a couple of differences. First, we talked about them, and then they were gone, and off we went. I remember speaking at a symposium put together by the distinguished leader, and I was given and presented with a Louisville Slugger with my name on it. Now, throughout the course of any Senator's career, and certainly one of 48 years, you get presented with a lot of things, which you thank people for, and you put them in the closet or the attic. This, I would tell the distinguished Senator, has stayed in public view in my office ever since I came home with it. And I loved showing it off at a time when we have to be back together on more things. But we have on that. You talked about the landmine legislation and the war victims legislation, and I appreciate your work on that, Mr. Leader. And it reflected such good in this Senate but also the people who were helped by it. There are no eradicating landmines, there is no victim of landmines that is going to come in and say: Well, we can support your next campaign. No, they don't even know who we are. They know we helped them. When the leader talked to me about Burma, I finally got educated on Burma. And I was an easy sell--I think he would agree on that--because of the case he made but also because of the history he gave me. I don't want to hold up the Senate. I will speak longer about these things on the day I leave, which will be soon. I look forward to leaving because Marcelle and I can be back home all the time, but I will miss so many friends I have made--the well over 400 Senators I have served with. And I think the distinguished leader has served with hundreds also. Some were here for a long time. Some were here for, sometimes, I think, in a couple of instances, a matter of a month or two. I prefer a long time to a month or two. It is easier to get to know each other. I will speak further about this. But I was honored to be on the floor when this happened. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, on behalf of Vermonters, today I was proud to vote for the final passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. Today, we became a slightly more perfect union by recognizing the sanctity of marriage between two individuals, regardless of gender or race. In August of this year, Marcelle and I celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary. Marrying each other was the most important decision of our lives--not a decision taken lightly, but a deeply personal commitment. A decision such as who to spend your life with should not be determined by a State, local, or Federal government. It is regrettable that throughout our history, too many Americans have been denied the right to marry who they love based on their gender or race. In 2012, I was proud to cosponsor an earlier version of the Respect for Marriage Act to codify the right for all Americans to marry who they love. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I also convened the first ever hearing to examine the harmful consequences the Defense of Marriage Act had, and still has, on American families. I am a proud cosponsor of this version of the Respect for Marriage Act. This bill--as most bills are--is far from perfect, but is a product of a bipartisan compromise. I want to acknowledge my friend from Wisconsin, Senator Baldwin, whose steadfast resolve is the reason why this bill passed the Senate today. In the face of Supreme Court Justices determined to turn back the clock on basic rights, a group of bipartisan Senators remained committed to the principle that all legally valid marriages between two people who love and care for each other deserve equal treatment under the law everywhere in our country. My home State of Vermont is no stranger to making history. Vermont has been a pioneer in the movement for LGBTQ rights. In 2000, Vermont became the first State to introduce civil unions and the first to offer a civil union status encompassing the same legal rights and responsibilities as marriage. The State again made history in 2009 when it was the first State to allow same-sex marriage without being required to do so through a court decision. Just last year, I was so proud when former Vermont Supreme Court Justice Beth Robinson became the first openly gay woman to ascend to our Federal circuit courts, on the Second Circuit. Over the years, I have heard from Vermonters, colleagues, my staff, friends, and family on this issue. They have told me what I already know from my marriage to Marcelle. The right to marriage--the right to love someone and build a life with them--should be equally available to all Americans. As I have said before, when common ground is fertile, we must plant the seeds of progress. And I believe that the Senate did that today by passing the Respect for Marriage Act.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, today marks the 1-year anniversary of the election of Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, the first woman to hold the office of President of Honduras. She succeeded Juan Orlando Hernandez who had discredited the office of the Presidency by colluding with drug traffickers, corrupt business owners, and other criminals; abusing his authority by pressuring corrupt legislators and judges to dismantle the institutions of democracy; and using the armed forces and police to brutally silence his critics. The many crimes committed by his government were well documented, yet numerous U.S. officials treated him like a legitimate partner even after his stolen reelection in 2017, until he was finally arrested and extradited to the United States. The election of President Castro gave the people of Honduras a new sense of hope that finally that dark period was behind them, that rather than seeking to enrich themselves and hold onto power, she and her administration would finally tackle the grinding poverty, inequality, injustice, impunity, and insecurity that have caused so many Hondurans to seek a better, safer life outside the country. It has now been 10 months since President Castro was sworn in, and her record is mixed. She has taken a number of important steps to reverse the improper and illegal practices of her predecessor and to put the country on a brighter path. By doing so, she has distinguished herself from her counterparts in El Salvador and Guatemala who have chosen to continue down the dark path of authoritarianism, corruption, and impunity. But while her administration faces every imaginable challenge, none is more urgent and necessary than reversing the Hernandez administration's assault on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. Under President Hernandez, the very concept of justice was turned on its head. Anyone with money could get away with practically anything, including murder, and the government could arrest and imprison anyone with impunity. The vast majority of crimes went unpunished. Recognizing the need to establish public confidence in the courts and Office of the Attorney General, one of President Castro's most important promises during her campaign was to create a Comision International Contra la Impunidad en Honduras--CICIH--to succeed the defunct Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity-- MACCIH--which was shut down by President Hernandez. Yet, nearly a year after her election, a formal agreement between the United Nations and Honduras, or convenio, to establish an independent CICIH, has not been signed. One of the lessons the people of Central America have learned is that the only way to establish the rule of law and end impunity in their countries is with the active participation of international institutions and experts and the unequivocal commitment of local officials. Despite millions of dollars invested by the United States and other donor countries, that local commitment was lacking for the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala--CICIG--and the MACCIH in Honduras. Each was pointed to by the former leaders of those countries as proof of their commitment to the rule of law. Yet each was vulnerable to manipulation, and each was shut down by those same leaders when it became clear that they themselves could be held accountable for their crimes. Their only interest was in appearing to support the institutions of justice while all the time ensuring that they, their families, and their corrupt accomplices in government and the private sector remained above the law. Considering how easily CICIG and MACCIH were sabotaged by the previous leaders of those countries and how much is at stake for the people of Honduras and the country's future development, nothing is more important than firmly establishing a culture of respect for the rule of law and for those whose job it is to administer it. Doing so will take years, but the essential first step in that process is for the Castro administration to complete the negotiations with the United Nations and sign a convenio for the installation of a fully independent CICIH headed by a commissioner with the necessary experience, professionalism, and integrity, selected by the United Nations. An independent commissioner will work with local judicial authorities in applying the law to the facts, wherever they lead. Past partial solutions only resulted in money wasted, time lost, and justice denied. Only after such a convenio is signed, which should occur without further delay, will the Honduran people and the international community have confidence that President Castro will keep her word and that Honduras will finally be on a path toward real justice and accountability.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, a few minutes ago, before I opened the Senate, I had the privilege of walking on the floor with Senator-elect Peter Welch of Vermont. I am going to speak more about our new Senator, who will be taking this seat very shortly, within the next few days. I would note, as we walked on the floor, unlike the first time I walked on the floor, Senator-elect Welch has a great deal of experience from his years as being one of the leaders in the House of Representatives. As Congressman Welch, he has the right, of course, to come on the floor, but also, as Senator-elect Welch, he has that right. I told him that, when I first came here, we were actually a 99-Member Senate because there had been a tied race in my neighboring State of New Hampshire. I was number 99, the most junior Member of the Senate. I would have been the youngest Member of the Senate, but there was one Senator who came in 2 years before who was younger, a Senator from Delaware named Joseph R. Biden. We were the kids of the Senate. Frank Church was a distinguished Senator, and I had been meeting with him. A vote was starting, and he said: I have got to go to the floor, but come with me. When I got to the door out there, I was still the State's attorney of Chittenden County, VT, and county prosecutor. So, naturally, I stopped at the door. He said, ``No, no, Senators-elect have the privilege of the floor,'' which, even if he had not been a Congressman, Senator-elect Welch would have had. I started forward, and the doorman said: I am sorry. The Senate is in session. Senator Church said: Well, this is Senator Leahy--Senator-elect Leahy. It was the first time anybody had called me ``Senator.'' Then I saw him go down his list. ``Oh, ah, good morning, Senator Leahy.'' So I am, like, maybe this is going to work out. I walked on the floor, and I saw all of these giants of the Senate in here for a vote. It took me a little while to get used to it. I think, with Congressman Welch, on January 3, when I will be privileged to see him be sworn in as a new Senator, he won't take any time to get used to it. He knows the decorum of both bodies. Like the vast majority of Vermonters, I am very proud to have him here. Also, in realizing the distinguished Presiding Officer is not allowed to respond to comments about himself, I would note for the record that there were cheers in our very small State of Vermont when our country's largest State reelected the now Presiding Officer. We are pleased--both my wife, Marcelle, and I--to see that. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEAHY

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

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. I yield the floor.

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, before I begin, I wanted to acknowledge that this morning, countless Floridians woke up to a world turned upside down in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Hundreds of thousands in Puerto Rico remain without power more than 10 days after the storm that ravaged the island. I want them to know that Vermonters will stand by your side as you rebuild your communities and your lives, and so will Republicans and Democrats in this Chamber. Now, the continuing resolution we are about to consider contains $18.8 billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, which would bring available resources in the fund to approximately $35 billion to respond to these and other disasters. We likely are not going to know the extent of the damage for several days. Every time you watch the news you hear of more damage. But I remind my colleagues that we are the United States of America, and I am ready to work with my colleagues to respond with what is needed. I do not care whether a State is represented by Democrats or Republicans. You are part of the United States of America, and as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will work with you during the months ahead to get the funds you need. Now, that said, I am glad we have reached an agreement to fund the Federal Government through December 16, and I want to thank my good friend Vice Chairman Shelby for working on this. But I especially want to thank Leaders Schumer and McConnell for their work and cooperation in reaching this point. They both understand the need to go forward. I am glad that we were able to secure $1 billion to bolster LIHEAP ahead of the winter heating season. My home State of Vermont will receive an infusion of $5.7 million from this funding. Now, that is going to go a long way to help families pay their bills when they are faced with rising fuel costs and plummeting temperatures. It helps them not to have to make the decision ``do I eat or heat.'' The bill also includes $12.35 billion in emergency assistance for Ukraine, $2.5 billion to support recovery efforts for the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon fire in New Mexico; $2 billion in community development block grants to help communities recovering from major disasters in 2021 and 2022. I am disappointed that some of my Republican colleagues blocked additional funding to combat COVID-19 or monkeypox. I will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats to secure these necessary resources in the omnibus. And, finally, I want to be clear. This is only a temporary measure. As the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I am committed to completing the work of the committee before the end of this Congress. Running on autopilot after December with rising inflation would be irresponsible. It would leave priorities of both Republicans and Democrats underfunded and underresourced. The Federal Government funds programs that the American people rely on. We should do the job that the American people sent all of us--all 100 of us--here to do. I want to thank Vice Chairman Shelby's staff. As I said earlier, I thank the majority leader and the Republican leader for their help and cooperation in bringing this together. I also want to thank my staff, Charles Kieffer, Chanda Betourney--there are too many names to mention, but these are people who worked through recesses, weekends, long hours, long nights. I get to go home by midevening. They stay there most of the night to get it done. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record all of the names of our staff at the end of my speech. The continuing resolution is a strong bill, and it is a bipartisan bill. I urge my colleagues to accept it.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I understand the floor vote is going to be soon. I ask unanimous consent that it be after I finish my remarks.

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, listening to Senator Wyden and Senator Brown about Social Security, I would tell my colleagues that the first recipient of Social Security was a Vermonter. And Vermonters at that time, I believe, were the most Republican State in the Nation. I remember growing up as a child hearing so many people say: Well, I may disagree with a whole lot of things that President Roosevelt and the Democrats did, but Social Security, I am all for that. And I learned that as a child, and it has been part of my mantra ever since, along with Senator Brown and Senator Wyden. Social Security is a contract, and we should follow it. Continuing Resolution Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 6833 and take up a substitute amendment containing a continuing resolution to fund the Federal Government through December 16. I will vote to invoke cloture and move the process forward. I urge my colleagues to do the same. Funding the Federal Government is the most basic responsibility of Congress. The continuing resolution before the Senate today will keep vital services running for the American people through December 16, provide critical support for Ukraine, secure the LIHEAP safety net ahead of winter, and provide emergency relief to communities recovering from natural disasters around the country. However, let me be clear, this is only a temporary measure. As the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am committed to completing the work of the Appropriations Committee before the end of this Congress. In a time of rising inflation, when everything costs more--energy, food, fuel, housing--we must respond accordingly. Running on autopilot after December would be irresponsible, and the American people deserve more. Our Federal agencies run thousands of programs every day that benefit working families. From nutrition programs to small business loans and grants, from affordable housing to healthcare for our Nation's veterans, from childcare services to our Nation's schools, the Federal Government provides services that impact nearly every aspect of Americans' lives. At a time of rising inflation, we cannot fund these critical programs at last year's levels without cutting services or underfunding needs. It is simple math. Enacting full year appropriations bills into law must be our top priority. We owe it to the American people who sent us here. This bill addresses several urgent and pressing issues that cannot wait. The third hottest summer on record has strained one of our most successful safety nets--the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP--as families' energy costs went up with the record-setting temperatures. This bill contains $1 billion to bolster LIHEAP ahead of the winter, where Putin's war on Ukraine and inflation are expected to drive energy costs even higher. No family should have to choose between heating their home or buying food, not in Vermont and not in any community across the country. I am glad that we were able to secure these needed resources. The bill includes $12.35 billion in emergency assistance for Ukraine, further demonstrating our resolve to stand with the people of Ukraine against President Putin's illegal, brutal war on their country. These funds will provide much-needed training, equipment, logistical support, supplies, and weapons to the military and national security forces of Ukraine at this pivotal point in the war. These funds will also be used to provide direct assistance to Ukraine to help its government maintain day-to-day operations while it fights to repel Russia's invasion. And it provides funding to replenish U.S. stocks of equipment that have been provided to the government of Ukraine and to other countries in support of the cause. The bill provides $2.5 billion to support recovery efforts following the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire in New Mexico. The largest fire in New Mexico's history has scorched hundreds of thousands of acres, destroyed homes, displaced thousands, and sparked a fresh water crisis in the community of Las Vegas, New Mexico. This is not an issue of red States or blue States, we are the United States, and we must stand with communities in crisis wherever they may be. The bill also includes $2 billion in community development block grants to help address unmet recovery needs in communities experiencing major disasters in 2021 and 2022, such as Kentucky, Missouri, and Puerto Rico. And with Hurricane Ian advancing in the Gulf, the CR also includes an additional $18.8 billion for the FEMA disaster relief fund. We must ensure FEMA has the resources to meet this challenge, and this bill provides those resources. I am disappointed that, due to Republican opposition, there is no additional funding to combat COVID-19 or monkeypox. Reductions in the current infection levels for COVID-19 are a direct result of the investments we have made in vaccines, therapeutics, and testing over the past 2 years. If we hope to avoid a surge this winter, we need the resources to continue that effort. And we should be investing now to get ahead of monkeypox before it continues to spread both in the United States and overseas. Not providing these resources is short-sighted, and I will continue to fight for the necessary funding to continue to combat these terrible diseases. Now Congress must do its job and complete the appropriations process before the end of the year. I look forward to working with Vice Chairman Shelby, Chair DeLauro, and Ranking Member Granger to get this done. I yield the floor. Cloture Motion

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, on May 19, I echoed Secretary of State Blinken's call for an ``independent, credible investigation'' of the violent death of widely respected Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. At that time, several Members of Congress called for the FBI to be involved, as did I. That would be customary and appropriate after a tragedy like this involving a prominent American killed overseas under questionable circumstances. Secretary Blinken later said, and I agree, that ``[w]hen that investigation happens, we will follow the facts, wherever they lead. It's as straightforward as that.'' Unfortunately, there has been no independent, credible investigation. Two weeks ago, without providing any details, the Israeli Government, after first blaming the Palestinians for Ms. Abu Akleh's death, stated that she was likely shot, by mistake, by an unnamed Israeli soldier. The State Department has concluded that gunfire from Israeli Defense Force--IDF--positions was likely responsible, but that there was ``no evidence to indicate her killing was intentional.'' The Department acknowledges that conclusion was not the result of an investigation, but rather a review of information provided by the IDF and the Palestinian Authority--PA. We are told that ``the Administration continues to believe that cooperation among Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the U.S. Security Coordinator (USSC) is the best path to support a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation.'' No one can credibly think that the PA, which does not have access to the IDF soldier who likely fired the bullet that killed Ms. Abu Akleh or to other IDF personnel who may have information about it, or Israel which has a history of investigations of shootings by IDF soldiers that rarely result in accountability, can be completely relied on to determine and make public all the facts of what happened in this case. The USSC, echoing the conclusion of the IDF, apparently did not interview any of the IDF soldiers or any other witnesses. To say that fatally shooting an unarmed person, and in this case one with ``PRESS'' written in bold letters on her clothing, was not intentional, without providing any evidence to support that conclusion, calls into question the State Department's commitment to an independent, credible investigation and to ``follow the facts.'' More than 3 months later, key questions remain unanswered. Other than reviewing the investigations conducted by the IDF and the PA, did the USSC review any of the evidence collected from other investigations, including those conducted by the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, the Associated Press, or the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights? If so, which of those other investigations did the USSC review and what conclusions, if any, did the USSC reach with respect to those investigations? What specific evidence led to the USSC's conclusion ``that there is no reason to believe that this was intentional but rather the result of tragic circumstances''? What were the ``tragic circumstances'' the USSC was referring to? If the soldier who fired the fatal shot did not intend to kill Ms. Abu Akleh, what did he intend? If, as the Israeli authorities appear to be saying, the soldier missed who he was aiming at and hit Ms. Abu Akleh by mistake, who was he aiming at? What evidence is there, if any, that anyone in the immediate vicinity of where Ms. Abu Akleh was shot was firing at the IDF soldier who killed her? What steps will the State Department take to ensure the independent, credible investigation the Secretary, and many others, have called for? What steps has the State Department taken to determine whether the Leahy Law applies in this case? On July 5, the Department spokesperson said ``we would want to see accountability in any case of a wrongful death. That would especially-- and is especially the case in the wrongful death of an American citizen, as was Shireen Abu Akleh.'' What steps does the Department plan to take to ensure such accountability? I have also urged Israeli authorities to discipline those who were responsible for, and participated in, the chaos that erupted during Ms. Abu Akleh's funeral procession, when Israeli police needlessly beat mourners with batons, including the pallbearers, causing them to momentarily drop one end of the casket. Has anything been done? There is an increasing foreboding that, as in so many other cases and like the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, there will never be the independent, credible investigation and accountability that Ms. Abu Akleh's family, the Secretary of State, I, and others have called for. That would further jeopardize the safety of journalists everywhere who courageously risk their lives to inform the public. An independent, credible investigation--meaning not by the IDF and not by the PA--but with their full cooperation, must be conducted and the findings made public. Whether her killing was intentional, reckless, or a tragic mistake, there must be accountability. And if it was intentional, and if no one is held accountable, then the Leahy Law must be applied.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, in my home State of Vermont, where there are more cows then people, the local dairy industry is the bedrock of our communities. From Derby to Pownal, small dairy farms provide honest jobs and produce fine dairy products sought after by Michelin Star restaurants across the country. These farms also provide the beautiful backdrop of green pastures, grazing livestock, and the iconic bright red barns that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to our picture perfect little State every year. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, consolidation within the agriculture industry, falling milk prices, supply chain delays, and the rising costs of equipment and other goods, small dairy farms have been hit hard. These difficulties, both longstanding and recent, continue to lead some lifelong Vermont dairy farmers to move on to other careers or to retirement, where they are often faced with the difficult decision to either sell their business and livestock to large, industrial factory farms, or undertake the difficult journey to find a local farmer who can take on their business and beloved cows. Today, I would like to highlight a piece of good news from the Vermont small dairy industry, a story of how the retiring founder of the most sought-after small-batch cultured butter operation in the country found a graduate of the University of Vermont's animal science program to continue a famous Vermont tradition. Together, Vermonters Hilary and Ben Haigh, learning from Shoreham's own Diane St. Clair, have continued a boutique butter business--yet another example of Vermont perseverance, and the high-quality products coming Vermont's small family farms, like the Animal Farm Creamery. I ask unanimous consent that the June 10, 2022, New York Times article titled ``America's Most Luxurious Butter Lives to Churn Another Day'' be printed in the Record.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I have been honored that Vermonters have sent me here to the U.S. Senate to represent them for many years. In turn, I always welcome the opportunity to recognize the commitments, achievements, and successes of Vermonters and the industries found in the Green Mountain State. Today, I want to highlight the granite center of the world--not Italy, China, or Brazil--but Barre, a small town of just over 8,500 year-round residents nestled among the Green Mountains in central Vermont. It was 350 million years ago when geologic processes created a unique granite formation 10 miles deep, 4 miles long, and 2 miles wide in the heart of present-day Barre. This extraordinary formation is now home to the world's largest deep-hole granite quarry that produces a form of granite called ``Barre Gray.'' Known around the world as the finest quality gray granite on the market, Barre Gray has been an economic engine and tourist attraction in central Vermont since the first quarry opened in the 19th century. Barre Gray is renowned by fine architects, builders, and sculpture artists in every corner of the world and is just another example of the exports coming from Vermont and extracted by Vermonters. The granite industry in Barre has brought jobs and economic opportunity to thousands of Vermonters over the years, including many immigrants. Like my grandparents, many people came to Vermont from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries in search of a better life. Through a combination of hard work, skill, luck, and the geologic processes that created Barre Gray 350 million years ago, many Scottish, Irish, and Italian immigrants were able to build better lives for themselves in Vermont working in the granite industry. Unfortunately, many of the immigrants working in the Barre granite industry also died in high numbers during the 1918 influenza pandemic. As many of the Vermonters we tragically lost to COVID-19 are now laid to rest under Barre Gray granite headstones, so too are many of those who worked the Barre granite quarry over 100 years ago. Today, the granite quarry and surrounding manufacturing facilities employ more than 1,000 Vermonters who create the vast majority of the granite used in headstones and memorials in the United States. The Rock of Ages visitor center offers tours of the quarry and their 160,000- square-foot manufacturing facility, which in addition to the nearby Vermont Granite Museum, attract more than 100,000 visitors per year. These institutions also serve as important educational experiences for classes of local school children who frequently take field trips to see the geology taught in their textbooks take place in real life. The granite industry and its history in Barre were profiled in a June 16, 2022, article published in the Washington Post. I ask unanimous consent that the article titled, ``In Barre, Vt., granite is a way of life--and beyond,'' be printed in the Record.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the 75th anniversary of an integral Vermont institution, the Proctor Maple Research Center, which is housed at the University of Vermont. The Proctor Maple Research Center has been an international leader in the development of knowledge in maple production and in the sustainability of the maple tree and the Northern Forest for the past 75 years. The practical and scholarly research conducted at the center has contributed to increased efficiency and sustainability of maple production and to the well-being of maple trees and their habitat. In fact, the work of the Proctor Maple Research Center has been essential to the development of the entire North American maple industry. In 1946, former Vermont Governor Mortimer Proctor purchased the Harvey Farm in Underhill to give to the University of Vermont as a site to conduct research on the extensive maple stand located there. In 1947, Dr. James Marvin and Dr. Fred Taylor opened the Proctor Maple Research Center, marking its first year of maple research and production. Today, it has close to 6,500 taps for production, with research located on 200 acres of land on the western side of Vermont's Mount Mansfield, and new trees added each year for research. Maple research has been a proud part of the University of Vermont's history since the 1890s, and the establishment of the Proctor Maple Research Center has made UVM a leader in maple research globally. The university has provided technical support, research-based data, and created new techniques and technology for maple producers across North America. Patented inventions have increased maple yield, such as the 2009 check valve spout that nearly doubles production from each maple tree. Climate change has had a direct and visible impact on maple production, and the Proctor Maple Research Center's research on sap yield and sugar maple health in the face of differing tree nutrition levels and climate challenges has been crucial in understanding how climate change may be affecting maple tree health and sap production. Proctor Maple Research Center staff serve as advisers to maple producers on the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, the North American Maple Syrup Council, and the International Maple Syrup Institute. The center has provided invaluable support to the maple industry, especially as it confronts environmental challenges, ever- changing regulations, and diseases and pests of the sugar maple tree. Many Vermonters grow up sugaring, spending many a cold March evening in a sugarhouse tending sap as it boils into syrup. For generations, maple sugar production has played an important role in our State's agricultural economy. The Proctor Maple Research Center has provided the research, technical assistance, and the on-going support that has helped continue this beloved and important Vermont tradition. It is hard to imagine that Vermont would remain the top maple producer in the country without the Proctor Maple Research Center. I offer my sincere congratulations to the Proctor Maple Research Center and to Dr. Timothy Perkins, research professor and director, his staff, and the many students who have worked there on its 75th anniversary. I look forward to their continued success in the field of sugar maple research and development for years to come.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to highlight a truly feel good story straight out of my home State of Vermont, a story of how middle school friends and ski buddies from southern Vermont reconnected and fell in love after life took them mostly separate ways. Caroline Cornell and Daniel Patrick Logan grew up in southern Vermont and were close, but platonic, friends while attending middle school and Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, VT. After graduation, they remained in contact, but traveled transiently and independently. Their individual journeys took them across the world, from the Lost Coast of California to Thailand, Florida, and the Finger Lakes of New York. Their two separate, but eventually corresponding, life journeys involved transient living, Grateful Dead tribute bands, odd jobs, romance, heartbreak, and so much more. In retrospect, it may have been inevitable that time would turn these two lifelong friends into companions. And finally, in June of this year, they became husband and wife. Caroline and Daniel have traveled far and wide, but like so many others before them, their love for each other, and our small, beautiful State, has brought them home to Vermont, the same place where their friendship began almost 20 years ago. Caroline and Daniel's story of music, travel, love, and fate was profiled in a July 1, 2022, article published in the New York Times. I ask unanimous consent that the article titled ``While Following Grateful Dead Tribute Bands, a Romantic Turn'' be printed in the Record.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, a remarkable American marked his 100th birthday last month. Marcelle and I were delighted to be able to wish Norman Lear our best on this milestone. His achievements throughout his impactful life have broken important new ground at just about every turn. We all know Norman's credits in television, such as ``All in the Family,'' ``The Jeffersons,'' and ``Maude.'' They helped shape 20th century American culture. Norman's influence on America did not start in television. He was an U.S. Army Air Force pilot in World War II, flying more than 50 combat missions over Italy and Germany, and his heroism garnered the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. Norman's patriotism and public service continued throughout his television career. He addressed pressing social issues in ways others were not willing to do, touching hearts, and changing lives. The core of his message was always to bring people together on common ground, an idea which is so desperately needed today in all facets of our culture and media. He founded People For The American Way, to champion American ideals that often were under fire or diminished by apathy. Norman Lear has always understood that more things unite us than divide us as Americans, and to quote him, ``we are all in this life together.'' I was moved by his reflections, published in the New York Times on July 27, 2022, his 100th birthday, and ask unanimous consent to have them printed in the Record.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, on August 7, Colombia's newly elected President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Marquez will begin their 4-year term. Their election represents a sharp break from the past. The new government is inheriting every imaginable problem. Regrettably, the country has made minimal progress since the signing of the 2016 Peace Accord that ended five decades of armed conflict with the FARC, and in some parts of the country, narcotics-related violence is worse. The previous government failed to make a dent in the number of assassinations of social leaders or to hold members of the armed forces and police accountable for past atrocities. Compounded by the public health and economic shocks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and a flood of Venezuelan refugees, Colombia remains a highly polarized society, divided between urban elites and the impoverished countryside. It will take many years to reverse decades of deeply rooted neglect, discrimination, poverty, and lawlessness. Since 2020, the United States has invested more than $11 billion in a counter-drug strategy in Colombia that was never sustainable and has largely failed, as it has failed in Mexico and Central America. As long as the demand for illegal drugs in this country remains high, the only solution in source countries like Colombia is a strategy based on sustainable social and economic development, a professional, accountable police force, and a judiciary that is independent, accessible, and that the people trust. Colombia has the advantage of being a democracy with exceptionally talented people and extraordinary geographic and biological diversity. But if the underlying causes of conflict and poverty are not addressed, the country's future stability is far from assured. I urge the White House, the State Department, and the Defense Department against pursuing the same old failed strategies. With a new government in Bogota, there is the chance to avoid repeating past mistakes and to measure progress not in the short term by the amount of money spent or the number of hectares of coca destroyed, but by long-term investments in institutions and local communities. The people of rural Colombia need our support, but not in the form of myopic approaches that have consistently failed to get at the root of the injustice, impunity, and inequality they have been struggling with for generations. The U.S. Congress will do its part to support a strategy designed by the Colombians that is not just more of the same, that is consistent with the peace accord, that has the support of civil society, and, most importantly, that has the support of rural Colombians who have paid the highest price of past policies that have failed them.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I have spoken twice this year about the despair and insecurity that are a daily reality for the people of South Sudan, despite independence 11 years ago that held so much promise and hope for that country. On January 6 and 31, I noted that the country's independence was a result of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement--CPA--which took years of negotiations facilitated in part by the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom. It provided a roadmap for political stability, economic development, respect for human rights, and justice. I further noted that since then, two former warlords, President Kiir and First Vice President Machar--who were never elected--have dominated the political landscape. It is they, throughout these formative years, who have had the executive power and the responsibility to turn the aspirations of independence into meaningful improvements in the lives of their people. Eleven years later, the country is in a state of political paralysis, and its people are coping with a widening humanitarian crisis, brought on by violence instigated by government security forces, severe flooding, skyrocketing fuel costs, and acute food shortages compounded by the war in Ukraine which was a major source of grain imports for South Sudan. Millions of people have been displaced from their homes by the fighting, flooding, and hunger. I will not take time today to recount the litany of failures of the Kiir-Machar government which I enumerated in January and which have only worsened since then. Rather, I want to call the Senate's attention to a Vatican mission of peace, unity, and reconciliation to South Sudan in early July. The visit by Cardinal Pietro Parolin came at a time when the country's leaders are apparently, though not surprisingly, seeking to evade elections and extend their stay in office illegitimately, even though the peace agreement mandated that elections be held this December. Kiir and Machar have now proposed extending their unpopular authoritarian rule for 3 years without the consent of the people of South Sudan. The parliamentary faction of President Kiir has passed a political parties bill in which they have changed political parties' registration requirements in order to limit those who could pose a serious challenge to their continued hold on power. The text of the bill that was negotiated and agreed to by the parties was changed by Kiir's parliamentary caucus and rammed through the Parliament despite boycott and serious objections from the other parties. All these actions provide sufficient evidence to suggest that President Kiir and Machar are determined to cling to power by any means necessary. It is no secret that President Kiir and his Deputy Machar have made the conditions for holding free and fair elections impossible, for all the reasons noted earlier. The country's leaders have done nothing to prepare for elections, preferring instead to retain power by default. By fomenting civil unrest and violence and threatening and arresting their critics, they have transformed the peace agreement into a meaningless document. Rather than peace and prosperity, it has brought dictatorship, corruption, violence, and misery. As I said on January 31: The sad reality is that while the South Sudanese people won their independence from Sudan, they remain captives of the same ruthless and corrupt warlords who created so much ethnic conflict, bloodshed, and misery during the civil war and who have not been held accountable. They simply reinvented themselves as political leaders, with a stamp of legitimacy from the international community, while continuing to act like the warlords they are and always were. They have shown no interest in implementing the R-ARCSS or any other peace agreement. They have shown no interest in the welfare of their people. They have shown no interest in anything except holding onto power, avoiding justice, and enriching themselves. Real peace requires justice, and it requires respect for fundamental rights regardless of ethnicity, race, or religion. It requires free and fair elections and equitable economic development. Cardinal Pietro Parolin conveyed a clear message to President Kiir and Vice President Machar. Their churches played an indispensable role in the international effort that culminated in the 2005 comprehensive peace agreement, and they, too, have a stake in its success. Above all, President Kiir and Vice President Machar should know that the world is watching. The ethnic and political violence, displacements, and destruction of villages and food stocks perpetrated against South Sudanese civilians in different parts of the country, including by forces loyal to them, must stop. The arbitrary arrests, sexual assaults and rape, forced disappearance, and killings of religious, civil society, and political leaders must stop and justice done for the victims. Those currently detained arbitrarily must be released, including Kuel Aguer Kuel, the former governor of Northern Bahr El-Ghazal, and Pastor Abraham Chol Maketh. The daily corruption in South Sudan, including illegal loans and growing debt burden that has impoverished the current and future generations, must end, and South Sudan must begin to feed and care for its own people from its existing resources, which are sufficient if used prudently. President Kiir and Riek Machar are responsible for the chronic hunger, insecurity, economic, and political crises in the country, and they have the power to bring peace and stability to South Sudan, which is a matter of urgent priority. But the country is certain to disintegrate further if Kiir and Machar continue to hold it hostage to their individual interests at the expense of the lives and livelihoods of the South Sudanese people. They must prepare to step down and allow the country to recover and rebuild from the ruins of their policies. I commend South Sudanese civil society and pro-democracy movements, such as the People's Coalition for Civic Action--PCCA--for their efforts in creating awareness about the plight of the people of South Sudan and for their nonviolent campaign for freedom and democracy. They have our support. Finally, I want to again urge the Biden administration to listen to the people of South Sudan. I commend recent steps by the State Department to recognize the fallacy of continuing to support a failed peace agreement that South Sudan's own leaders do not support, and I urge the European Union and Intergovernmental Authority for Development--IGAD--countries to take similar action. There is no point in admonishing two failed leaders to implement a peace agreement they have no intention of implementing. That is not a policy. It is a dead end. Instead, the administration should join with other key governments and stakeholders in exploring the possibility of recreating a new political forum for South Sudan to address the challenge of the looming end of the transitional government and the reality of the impracticality of conducting democratic elections in the current environment. Given the failure of the leaders of the current transitional government, it is unacceptable to extend its mandate. It should be brought to an end. I also urge the IGAD governments, particularly President Museveni of Uganda and President Uhuru Kenya of Kenya, and the other regional leaders, to face the fact that the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan--R- ARCSS--they helped mediate has been sabotaged by South Sudan's leaders. The time has come to do what is needed to help the South Sudanese people get back on a path to achieve their democratic aspirations and freedoms. South Sudan needs a new broad-based political dialogue that is inclusive of all political forces and civil society. This political dialogue, which many political parties and organizations have endorsed, should focus on peace and stability in South Sudan beyond the confines of power sharing, taking into account key provisions of the R-ARCSS, combined with the outcomes of the South Sudan national dialogue. Such a broad-based political dialogue should aim at reaffirming a shared vision for South Sudan and building consensus on political and constitutional matters, ending violence, saving lives, uniting the nation, and preparing for elections. The dialogue process should culminate in the establishment of an interim administration led by persons of consensus, technocrats, and individuals not politically aligned with the warring parties and not entangled in corruption and political violence. Such an administration should have a limited mandate to further political dialogue, rebuild public trust in government, strengthen the unified forces, deliver the constitution, return the IDPs and refugees, conduct a census, and culminate in free and fair elections. The Biden administration should articulate a new policy that reinvigorates U.S. engagement and supports peace, stability, and democracy in South Sudan. No one should be under any illusion that this can achieved quickly or easily. But without a competent or credible government to engage with, we must shift our focus to providing strong support to pro-democracy, nonviolent organizations to create the grassroots pressure necessary for a genuine political dialogue to take place and build the foundation for a better future.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today the Senate voted on the nomination of Steve Dettelbach to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives--ATF. I commend President Biden for nominating Steve, who I know will excel as ATF Director at a time when enforcement of our country's gun laws is so critical. As gun violence continues to plague our country and as mass shootings become more and more common, it is hard not to feel paralyzed by the endless tragedy. But we must take action. I am proud to reflect on this body's efforts to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law by President Biden last month. But we must do more, and we must continue to do all that we can to prevent these senseless tragedies from occurring in the first place. That is why this confirmation vote today was so crucial. The ATF is charged with enforcing our Nation's gun laws, but the Agency has been without a Senate-confirmed Director since 2015. How can that be? In a time when firearms have become the leading cause of death among children in our country, how can we expect the ATF to fully function without a permanent Director? Finally, thankfully, that changes today. I know Steve personally, and I can attest not only to his strong work ethic, but to his extraordinary set of skills and professional experiences that will no doubt serve him well as ATF Director. Steve served on my Judiciary Committee staff as a detailee from the Department of Justice, a role requiring time-sensitive evaluations of a wide range of issues relating to criminal justice and law enforcement. I am grateful for his wise counsel during his 2 years on my staff, and I have taken a great deal of personal pride in observing all of his achievements and leadership roles he has held since that time. Steve has spent more than two decades as a prosecutor within the Justice Department, and was confirmed unanimously by the Senate to serve as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, a position he held from 2009 to 2016. Over the course of his 30-year career, Steve has demonstrated that he is a dedicated, principled, law enforcement official who is highly qualified to take on this position. With the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Congress proved that it is not so paralyzed that it cannot take reasonable--rational-- steps to confront the scourge of gun violence. The Senate can further prove that today by confirming Steve Dettelbach to lead the ATF. There could be no one more qualified for this position. I regret that personal matters kept me from casting my vote in favor of Steve's confirmation today, but my enthusiastic support for his confirmation remains steadfast. I look forward to continuing that support by doing all that I can to ensure that Steve and the ATF have the resources they need to enforce our Nation's gun laws and protect our communities. It is no easy task, but I know Steve is ready. And I stand ready to support him, and I urge all other Senators to do the same today.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, as Senators are preparing to return home to their home States over the Fourth of July, it is frustrating to me that we once again kick the can down the road on providing needed funding to address the ongoing COVID pandemic. For months, the administration, scientists, and healthcare experts have raised the alarm that we don't have the resources we need to stay ahead of this virus. And actually with COVID, if you are not staying ahead of it, you are slipping behind, to the detriment of all Americans. To keep our recovery afloat, we have robbed Peter to pay Paul. Earlier this month, the administration announced that it is repurposing $10 billion that we appropriated in Congress--$10 billion--to purchase additional vaccines and additional therapeutics because our stocks are running low. The action by the administration, unfortunately, was necessary. Projections indicate that as many as 100 million Americans--100 million Americans--nearly 1 in 3, will be infected or reinfected with COVID this fall and winter as our immunity from this disease wanes. The President requested COVID funding. President Biden requested that 3 months ago. Republicans have blocked this funding. Without new funding appropriated by Congress, the administration is left with no choice but to repurpose that $10 billion. Even that, experts across the board agree, is totally insufficient to prepare for the coming surge. But even this necessary choice has consequences. To pay for these vaccines and therapeutics, the administration had to take funding from research for the next generation of vaccines and to sustain our testing capacity. It was not, as some Republican Members have indicated, excess cash that was simply there for the taking. This means that as the next surge crashes over the country, we will not have the resources necessary to assure that people can get tested. Have we already forgotten the mad scramble driving from pharmacy to pharmacy to get a rapid test so we could safely spend the holidays with our friends and families just 6 months ago? It means that as new variants will emerge, we are not going to have the necessary resources to adequately continue the groundbreaking research we have supported for next-generation vaccines. And fueled by our waning immunity and insufficient vaccination efforts abroad, new variants could emerge, and those will impose new threats to us here at home. The desperate measures taken by the administration, which they had to do in the absence of congressional action, do nothing to support a global vaccination effort that is running on fumes. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which manages our global response to the COVID pandemic, has already obligated more than 95 percent of the funds they have available--95. Soon, they will have no choice but to start shutting down their vaccine delivery operations. That will mean more mutations, more variants, more infections, and more deaths abroad and at home. Keep in mind what we are doing with USAID. We are trying to stop this pandemic outside our borders because we realize that every single one of these variants is one airplane trip away from crossing our borders even as we have to do things to stop it within our borders. Finally, I want to make clear that we don't have time to say, ``Well, we can act later on,'' as this is not a problem that can be solved by flipping a switch, or to produce the tens of millions of doses of vaccines and therapeutics necessary to prepare for a fall surge. The government and biotech companies need to begin purchasing supplies now. They can't say: Oh, we have an epidemic. Golly, go out and buy some supplies. Well, we have to make them first. Come back to us in a few months. That doesn't do anything for the people who are getting hit with COVID. The longer we wait, the further we will fall behind as other countries will place their orders ahead of ours. I tell my friends on the other side of the aisle who are blocking this money: We can't wait and see what happens. That is why we were wholly unprepared for the pandemic in the first place. You will recall the last administration said: We will wait and see what happens. We refused to invest and prepare for the worst. Let's prepare for the worst. We can hope for the best, but hope is not a vaccine. Preparation can create vaccines. I am frustrated, once again, that we are leaving town without addressing this looming crisis. Since March, I have called on us to act. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to make these calls, and I will fight for these urgently needed resources, but we have to wake up to the fact that we have to do it now. You don't do it after the epidemic hits. You don't do the research after. You try to do the research before and hope you can stop the pandemic from happening. I yield the floor.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, on June 20, yesterday, we commemorated World Refugee Day. It is an important reminder that we have to rededicate ourselves to a cornerstone of our Nation's founding: providing refuge to the persecuted and oppressed. Since the days of the earliest European settlers, America has provided safe harbor to waves of refugees throughout our history. Many Americans today can trace their ancestry back to refugees who fled their homelands seeking freedom and security. Welcoming refugees is not just something America does; it is who we always have been. Americans have put this long tradition of welcoming refugees on full display in recent months. After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Americans across the political spectrum opened their hearts, homes, and wallets to Afghans fleeing the Taliban's ruthless rule. To date, American families have helped to welcome nearly 80,000 vulnerable Afghans into the United States, giving them a fresh start. As a Vermonter, I am proud that our small State joined this cause and volunteered to welcome and resettle 100 refugees--100 Afghan refugees. Now, when Russia shocked the world and invaded Ukraine, Americans of all walks of life yet again stepped up to assist Ukrainians fleeing violence and destruction. Already, tens of thousands of Americans have volunteered to serve as private sponsors for arriving Ukrainian refugees. In fact, a Gallup poll from April confirmed that nearly 80 percent of Americans support resettling 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in the United States. That happens to be a central goal of the Biden administration, the Uniting for Ukraine initiative. The deep and broad support for refugees among the American people has, for many years, been reflected in the Halls of Congress. I strongly supported the 1980 Refugee Act, the landmark law creating our modern U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and asylum system. That legislation was passed overwhelmingly in the House and here in the Senate unanimously. In the decades since, both parties have worked together to provide refuge to exiled Cubans, displaced Haitians, dissident Chinese, and many other refugee populations feeling persecution and tyranny. Most recently, as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I worked again with Members of both parties to pass multibillion-dollar aid packages to fund our government's efforts to aid Afghan and Ukrainian refugees. So it should come as no surprise that both parties have more often than not worked together to support refugees seeking to begin anew in the United States. The over 3 million refugees who have resettled in the United States over the past several decades have enriched our country economically and culturally. Refugees are entrepreneurs and job creators. They are active and committed. They are members of our communities. They are our neighbors and friends. Our Nation's history has been defined by refugees, from Albert Einstein, to Madeleine Albright. Their stories and the stories of the millions of other refugees who come to our shores are the American way. Now, the Trump administration gave rise to a dark turn toward nativism and xenophobia, a jarring retreat from what has made America great. The hateful policies of the Trump administration, espoused first by the former President himself, aimed to demonize refugees and asylum seekers, to shut our doors to the persecuted and oppressed. These policies were shameful. They should be repudiated--repudiated forcefully by every Member of the Senate. Now, there is much more to be done to rebuild our Nation's capacity and welcome and resettle refugees. I will continue fighting to defend and support refugees in my remaining months in the Senate, just as I have throughout my Senate career. Today, though, I am hopeful. I see Vermonters coming together in aid of native Afghan and Ukrainian refugees over the past several months, and I am confident that America's highest ideals have not seen their last days. We, the American people, have not lost sight of our roots. We are still here, an imperfect but compassionate beacon of hope for the hopeless. We are still here, our torch held high. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEAHY

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have another matter to speak of, and before I do, I wish to commend my colleague and neighbor from New England, the distinguished Presiding Officer. As President pro tempore, I am always delighted to see somebody step into that position, but I wish to commend him for his tireless and, at times, what must be frustrating negotiations on a matter that is of extreme importance to our country. In my prior profession, I went to many murder scenes. It seemed always at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning people died of gunshots, and I can remember each one of them as though it was yesterday. Since then, what we have seen has been far, far worse. And I commend the Senator and his leadership and those in both parties who have worked with him and have tried to at least take some steps to curtail that in this country.