Jacky Rosen

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Madam President, I stand here today in support of Isabel Guzman's nomination to serve as SBA Administrator. This pandemic has been challenging for our communities, and it has been especially devastating for our small businesses. We urgently need a leader who is experienced and prepared for the work ahead, someone who will hit the ground running to revive and restore our small businesses and bring back jobs, and Isabel Guzman is exactly the right person for this task. Having previously served in the U.S. Small Business Administration, Mrs. Guzman knows the Agency well. She understands the struggles that small businesses and workers face, not just during this pandemic but also their day-to-day needs. She will use the Agency's tools to support small businesses, and she will fight fiercely on their behalf. Ninety-nine percent of Nevada businesses are small businesses. This is a diverse community that embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of our State, and over the last year they have faced obstacle after obstacle. Thousands of Nevada business owners have called my office for help. These small business owners are--well, they are people. They are people who have poured their hard-earned money into starting businesses. They are people who have dedicated their lives to building a business from the ground up. They are people whose shops and stores and services-- well, they are cornerstones for our communities. And now, through no fault of their own, these small business owners are left wondering if their businesses are going to make it. Last week, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law. This is a major win for small businesses across the country. It includes targeted support for Black, Latino, AAPI, and minority-owned businesses, as well as support for businesses in our rural communities. Over $1 billion in grants are in there to save our stages and independent live venues. There is over $7 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program. There is $15 billion for EIDL Advance grants and $25 billion to keep restaurants afloat. This will provide real relief to small business owners, employees, and the families that they provide for, that count on them. For so many, this additional aid will mean the difference between a business keeping its doors open or closing them forever. And now we need an SBA Administrator who will see that this relief is delivered swiftly and fully. I am confident that Isabel Guzman will be an asset in bringing our small businesses back. We must also do more for our small businesses, which is why, if confirmed, I look forward to working with Mrs. Guzman and the SBA to remove the cap on EIDL loans and to provide full EIDL Advance grants to all eligible small businesses, giving greater access to the relief that all our small business owners need. The EIDL and EIDL Advance Programs have helped countless small businesses in Nevada and in States across the country through these tough times, but the arbitrary caps on these loans and grants are preventing small businesses from receiving the funding assistance they need to properly recover. Full EIDL loans and grants are what Congress intended when we passed the CARES Act 1 year ago. It is what we promised small businesses at the beginning of the pandemic. So we owe it to America's small businesses and workers to keep our word, and I know Isabel Guzman is the right person to help us keep this promise. As we continue on the road to recovery, made possible by the American Rescue Plan, I urge my colleagues to confirm Mrs. Guzman's nomination so that she can immediately get to work for our small businesses. Thank you. I yield to the Senator from Oregon.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Madam President, I rise today to speak in support of the historic nomination of Congresswoman Deb Haaland to serve as our Nation's next Secretary of the Interior. This Cabinet position is of great importance to our Nation and especially to Western States like mine--like ours, Madam President, and I can't think of anyone more qualified to fill this position than Congresswoman Deb Haaland, one of the first Native American Members of Congress and a proven leader. Let me start by telling you why this Cabinet position means so much to Nevada. In the Silver State, over 50 million acres of land is managed by the Interior Department. That is over 70 percent of our entire State. People come to Nevada from all over the world to experience our pristine and our majestic public lands and monuments. These lands, well, they are not just a source of beauty; they are also a source of economic opportunity for Nevada. In previous administrations, we have seen efforts to put those public lands on the chopping blocks. But that won't happen under Deb Haaland's leadership. I have had the chance to speak with Congresswoman Haaland one-on-one, hear directly from her, and get to know her. She has spent her entire career fighting to protect public lands, waters, monuments, cultural sites and natural beauties around our Nation and, of course, in our great State of Nevada. And I know, if confirmed, she will work with me and Senator Cortez Masto to strike the right balance between critical protections for our public lands, environment, and wildlife, and the needed economic development across Nevada. Deb Haaland, well, she has been committed to conservation as a Member of Congress, and she will be just as committed to conservation as our next Interior Secretary. Congresswoman Haaland, she will take the bold steps needed to confront climate change. And if this historic confirmation succeeds, she will bring new and needed perspective to the Presidential Cabinet-- one that has been missing since the President's Cabinet was formed all the way back in 1789. As Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland will be the first--the first--Native American Cabinet member, and she will give a voice to Tribal communities in Nevada and across our country. She will take steps to restore and respect Tribal sovereignty. She will continue to be an advocate and an ally to Native communities, and she will help to right the many historic wrongs and injustices that have been committed against Native Americans and Tribal communities. Deb Haaland is exceptionally qualified to lead this Agency. She brings a breadth of experience and diversity to the table. She will be a positive force for good. She will guide our Nation forward. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on Deb Haaland's nomination. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President.

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I send a question to the desk.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, the American people need our help, and they need it now. Far too many families are struggling just to get by. My home State of Nevada has been hit especially hard during this pandemic. Before COVID, Nevada was stable, and Nevada was thriving, but since the pandemic began, our industries--especially our travel and tourism, key economic pillars of our State--were devastated. In fact, countless Nevada businesses have struggled, and unfortunately many have had to close their doors permanently. This is forcing Nevadans out of work and putting their financial well-being in jeopardy. Now, during this public health and economic crisis, Nevada is close to having the highest rate of unemployment in the Nation. Here in Congress, we have passed stopgap packages to try to help all those who are facing these tough times. The relief measures we have delivered for the American people have been a good start, but they are not enough to safely see our country through this pandemic. Small business owners risk losing their businesses if they cannot access the full loans and grants that Congress promised them but that the last administration failed to deliver. Our State and local governments have exhausted their budgets responding to this public health crisis, and as a result, they face looming cuts to essential support and services that our communities are relying on. This isn't something that is happening just in my State; this is the common experience across our country. The people of Nevada, the American people--they are desperately calling out for a lifeline, and we must deliver a real one and as soon as possible. COVID-19 is a global public health emergency, and it requires the full force of the U.S. Government. We must act boldly and efficiently as we work to overcome this crisis and meet the needs of this moment. We need real relief--real relief fo families who are struggling to pay their bills, for those who are struggling to afford basic necessities, for parents who are struggling just to feed their kids. We need real relief. We need real relief for our travel and tourism industries. We need to ensure that they can make it through this turbulent time. We need a framework for ensuring that health and safety standards are met, and we need a path toward restoring consumer confidence. We need real relief--real relief for our small businesses, including tax credits to help businesses get by and full EIDL loans and grants without arbitrary caps. We need real relief--real relief for our workers, including increased unemployment benefits and proper IT infrastructure to get those benefits out faster to Americans in need. We need real relief--real relief for State and local governments so that they can continue working tirelessly to save the lives of Americans in every corner of our Nation, so that they can continue testing and tracing in our communities, so that they can continue to provide childcare for essential workers, and so that they continue to provide PPE and things to limit the spread of COVID-19. We need real relief--real relief that supports a greater vaccine distribution and accelerates vaccine deployment, including to our communities of color and rural areas where healthcare access is too frequently a challenge. Senator Cortez Masto and I have been working with our Governor. We have been working with our Governor and working with all of our local governments to get more shots in arms across the State of Nevada, but we need more. When so many in our country are hurting and they are struggling, we must ask ourselves why American families, why members of our communities, why would they deserve any less? It is time for a comprehensive relief package that truly provides relief to the American people. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in this effort to help see our Nation through this challenge. Lives are depending on us. Our States are counting on us. The whole country is looking to us--looking to us to show leadership, to stand up, to save lives and livelihoods. So let's ensure that we don't let them down. Let's pass that real relief, thoughtful and targeted relief, and do it now. I yield the floor.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I stand before you and my colleagues today to speak in support of the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. There is no question that Ali Mayorkas is qualified for this position. He previously served as the Director of U.S. Customs and Immigration Services, then as Deputy Secretary at DHS. Today, I want to tell you about Ali Mayorkas's story. I want to tell you why he is the right pick for this position. And I want to tell you why we can achieve what we need to with Mr. Mayorkas leading the Department of Homeland Security. During his hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, my fellow committee members and I had a chance to hear from Mr. Mayorkas and hear his family history. He told us the harrowing story of his family fleeing persecution, traveling to a new country in search of freedom, acceptance, and a safe place to call home. During the Holocaust, Mr. Mayorkas's mother lost her paternal grandparents and seven of her uncles simply for being Jewish--simply because of the faith they practiced. His mother and his maternal grandparents fled, but they fled in order to survive. But the story of Mr. Mayorkas's family was far from over. His parents fled Cuba during Castro's revolution, bringing Mr. Mayorkas and his sister here to the United States in 1960. They came here as refugees searching for freedom, searching for acceptance, searching for safety. Ali Mayorkas is an American success story. He came here as a child. His family made a life here. He pursued an education. He dedicated his life to public service. He worked hard to give back to the Nation that gave his family so much. And now, Mr. Mayorkas has volunteered to serve his country once again. In this new role, he will work to keep our Nation safe and secure while ensuring that we treat all human beings with dignity and respect. Under the last Presidential administration, we saw unimaginable cruelty--family members separated from each other, children taken from their mothers' arms. We saw a total disregard of the struggles of refugees facing persecution in their home countries and making the heartbreaking choice to leave and make the dangerous journey to the United States. I know that under the leadership of Secretary Mayorkas, our Department of Homeland Security will strive to uphold the values of our Nation. He will also bring much needed stability to the Department. He will work to reverse the cruel and heartless policies of the previous administration. He will work to protect Dreamers and TPS holders. He will work on smart solutions to secure our border. And he will work with Congress to finally pass comprehensive immigration reform. That is not all he will do at the DHS. Under Mr. Mayorkas's leadership, he will work to ensure the safety and security of our homeland--the homeland he was brought to as a child, the homeland that he and his family have made their own. I spoke of the persecution that Ali Mayorkas's family faced during the Holocaust--a threat of anti-Semitism and White supremacy. Well, it still persists today, and it is growing right here in the United States and everywhere across the globe. Last year, a DHS assessment concluded that ``racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists--specifically white supremacist extremists--will remain the most persistent and lethal threat in the Homeland.'' We have seen that violent extremism in action. We saw it on January 6 in this very city against this legislative body and in this very Chamber. When I asked Ali Mayorkas about this issue during our committee hearing, he made clear that he understands the threat that White supremacy, anti-Semitism, and extremism pose to the health of our Nation and to the health of our democracy. If we are going to fight hatred and violent extremism, we need someone leading the charge who understands and takes seriously the threat to all Americans--the threats to our children, to our schools, to our workplaces, and to our places of worship. He is committed to addressing online radicalization and strengthening the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to ensure that houses of worship and other nonprofit organizations are kept safe from potential terror attacks. So whether it is combating extremism, foreign or domestic terrorism, cyber attacks, or adversaries from abroad, Mr. Mayorkas expressed a clear commitment to keeping our Nation safe and is fully prepared and qualified to serve as the head of DHS. Ali Mayorkas is the right pick to lead this Department, and I urge swift confirmation so that he can get to work immediately for us and our country. I will vote for Ali Mayorkas, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield the floor.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I would like to take this time to honor Senator Lamar Alexander. Over the past 30 years, Senator Alexander has served the people of Tennessee as U.S. Senator, Governor, and U.S. Secretary of Education under President George H.W. Bush. Over the past 2 years, however, he has also been a great friend to a freshman Senator from Nevada who came from a different political party but shared his desire to get things done for the American people. Like so many in this Chamber, I will miss this dedicated public servant who sought to find common ground on the many pressing issues facing the Senate, including healthcare, education, and medical research. Senator Alexander has been a great mentor and colleague of mine in the Senate. I was grateful for how gracious he was when I first came to the Senate and for his willingness to engage me on the key issues facing Congress. As chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, of which I am proud to be a member, Senator Alexander worked tirelessly on important issues like increasing access to telehealth services, lowering health care costs, making it easier to apply for student financial aid, and advocating for our seniors. I particularly appreciated the work he did to support the fight against Alzheimer's disease and ensure we invest in robust funding for medical research. Especially this past year during these unprecedented times, the American people needed bipartisan work and leadership from its public officials in getting relief to struggling communities across the country. Senator Alexander's direction and leadership through debates and negotiations brought out the best in him this year, as it has in the past, evident both in how he treats people with dignity and respect and in his unwavering dedication to public service. Not only will we miss Senator Alexander's presence in this Chamber, but we will also miss his beautiful piano skills during the holiday season. I hope he will have the opportunity to come back to the Senate Hart Building and play for us again soon. I promise I will be there in the front row. Senator Alexander, I wish you the best in the next chapter of your life and hope you have a wonderful retirement after your long and impactful career.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I rise today with great pride to honor my dear friend and colleague, Senator Tom Udall. Throughout his time in Congress, he has continued to be a staunch advocate for protecting working families, our public lands, and so much more. Tom's desire and commitment to serve the people of New Mexico over the past 20 years are not only inspiring but serve as an example of what a faithful public servant represents. As we all know, the ``Udall'' name rings with great respect and honor among those involved in public service, and Tom is no exception. As a true native of New Mexico, Senator Udall understands the importance of protecting our public lands and the people who reside there. It has been an honor to serve alongside him in the western delegation to secure funding for environmental restoration and public lands preservation. It has been my distinct pleasure to work with him and his staff on monumental legislation such as the Great American Outdoors Act, which permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund, LWCF. The LWCF provides funds for restoration and outdoor recreation opportunities in Nevada and numerous projects in New Mexico. We have also fought side-by-side to defend our public lands from those who would take them out of public hands. Senator Udall, your mentorship, expertise, and, most of all, your friendship will be deeply missed. You and your family welcomed me with such warmth when I began my journey as a Senator. I am so grateful to have not only a great professional relationship but a wonderful personal one as well. I would also like to take a moment to thank your wife Jill for showing my husband Larry the procedures and protocols as of being new Senate spouse. Larry and I are so happy to have you and Jilly as friends for life. Mr. President, Senator Udall's decades as a public servant are an inspiration for so many of our colleagues, myself included. The western delegation will continue to honor Senator Udall's work to reduce global emissions, build a clean energy economy, and protect the public lands that we all hold so dear. It has been an honor to work with Senator Udall, and I wish him and Jill a joyful and tranquil transition in the years to come.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and thank my dear friend and colleague, Senator Doug Jones, for the hard and noble work he has done in the United States Senate. I greatly admire his passion and all that he accomplished for the people of Alabama and all Americans. For his entire life, Senator Jones has stood tall as a pillar of justice and equality. After graduating law school, Senator Jones became counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee for then-Senator Howell Heflin and served as an Assistant United States Attorney shortly after. Senator Jones then became the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, where he fought for civil liberties and against racial injustice. As U.S. Attorney, he successfully was able to prosecute two of the four men who were responsible for the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church, and later indicted domestic terrorist Eric Rudolph. By pursuing these cases, Senator Jones encouraged us all to continue to reject bigotry and hate in all its forms. In 2017, Senator Jones became the first Democrat to represent the state of Alabama since 1997. He made it his duty to represent the people of Alabama in every vote he made on the Senate floor. He always voted in the best interests of his constituents, even when it wasn't politically expedient or convenient. His service stands as a reminder that bipartisanship is vital in addressing the issues that our nation currently faces. Senator Jones is a man of bravery and strength. His heart and passion are not only moving, but admirable as well. I am very proud to have had Senator Jones as a friend and colleague as we served alongside each other on the HELP Committee these past two years, and I am eager to continue watching his fierce fight against injustice, joining with him in this struggle until hate is rejected in every corner of this nation. Doug, you have been a great friend and colleague of mine in the Senate. It has been an honor serving alongside you, and I am so sorry to see you go. We have shared so much, both on and off the Senate floor, and I look forward to continuing our friendship. During your time here, you've shown bravery and strength, you followed your conscious, and you have always done what was right. The lives of the people of Alabama have been made better with you as their Senator. You will be dearly missed.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and service of my friend and a great Nevadan, Dennis ``Denny'' Russell Weddle, who passed away on August 2, 2020. Denny served our country in the U.S. Air Force for over 20 years and retired as lieutenant colonel with a distinguished military career, serving in Vietnam and as the information officer on the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team from 1969 to 1971. In 1969 Denny was first stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada--the proud home of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team--and after retiring from the Air Force, he stayed in Las Vegas and became the director of corporate public affairs at Summa Corporation, which is where I had the pleasure of working with him. Later, Denny founded his own full-service marketing, public relations, and government affairs agency, called Denny Weddle & Associates. Denny was a dedicated public servant with an exceptional history of community engagement, serving as the president of the Military Officers Association, a member of the Vietnam Veterans Association and the American Legion, and the founder of the Nellis Support Team. Denny also was the chair of the board of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and served as the president or the chair of over 30 major nonprofits in our community. I am so pleased to have known Denny Weddle, and I am so thankful for his engagement and commitment to Nevadans. Denny's contributions to both the Las Vegas and the Nellis Air Force Base communities will be missed.

Ms. ROSEN

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

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I rise because the healthcare of millions of Nevadans and tens of millions of Americans is in danger. Their healthcare is in danger because, in just a few weeks, the Supreme Court will consider a case that could overturn the Affordable Care Act completely. This means that the next Supreme Court Justice will decide whether individuals with preexisting conditions could, once again, be denied healthcare coverage. The fact is, this administration has tried for years to overturn the Affordable Care Act. First, it attempted to repeal the ACA through legislation. It failed repeatedly because Congress and the American people do not support its schemes to take away our healthcare. Then it changed its strategy and is trying to use the Court to dismantle our Nation's healthcare system. Now, with an election just 1 week away, the Senate Republicans are scrambling to confirm a new Supreme Court Justice in order to tip the balance of the Court in favor of their lawsuit that aims to destroy the Affordable Care Act. Rather than waiting for the outcome of the election, which is already underway, and follow the precedent that they themselves established in 2016, the McConnell rule, my Republican colleagues are rushing to put Judge Amy Coney Barrett on the Bench. Not only does Judge Barrett support the President's position on dismantling our Nation's healthcare law, but, if confirmed, she could very well be the deciding vote to undo the Affordable Care Act and take healthcare away from millions of Americans. Judge Barrett's hostility toward the Affordable Care Act is on the record, and we have seen a long and extensive paper trail outlining her opposition to the ACA. Her past comments, well, they paint a bleak picture of what the Affordable Care Act's future would look like with a Justice Barrett on the Bench. To put it simply, this administration's attempt to use the Court to take away Americans' health insurance and raise the cost of care, especially at this moment--during a global pandemic--is not only cruel and reckless, it is deadly. I have met many Nevada families, and I have heard stories from men, women, and children whose lives would be just devastated without the Affordable Care Act: cancer survivors, people with diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and countless other preexisting conditions that affect families. These are real Nevadans whose healthcare would be jeopardized if the ACA were no longer the law of the land. I always tell my constituents that I carry their stories with me to Washington. They inform the actions that I take and the decisions that I make. I want to take some time to share some of the stories that I have heard--stories from Nevadans whose lives have been saved and who enjoy the quality of life because of the Affordable Care Act; stories from Nevadans who are outraged about what is happening and have reached out to my office to make their voices heard; and countless stories of how allowing the ACA to be dismantled would impact their lives. First, I want to share a letter from Jen, who lives in Henderson, NV. Jen's husband is one of the 1.2 million Nevadans who is estimated to be living with a preexisting condition. Like many people, Jen is worried about the health of her husband and the future of her family if the Affordable Care Act is eliminated. Here is what Jen wrote: Dear Senator Rosen, I am watching the confirmation hearing for Amy Coney Barrett, and listening to the conversation around the ACA. I'm scared to death that it will be overturned, and what that means for me and my husband. In February 2019, at only 38, he had a devastating stroke, and had to stay in the hospital for four months. If he hadn't had insurance, we would never have been able to afford his care. I'm scared of losing that protection from pre-existing conditions. He will need specialists for the rest of his life, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapy. We cannot afford his care otherwise. I am so scared. Please help. Unfortunately, Jen's situation and concerns are far too common. Many Nevadans and Americans across our country are worried about a future where they could lose their lifesaving coverage. Here is another letter from a Nevadan who lives in Spring Creek who is worried about his own continued healthcare without the protections the ACA provides: I have had asthma my whole life and it's severe. I finally have good insurance and need it desperately. This will affect millions of us. I have lived through not having insurance and it almost killed me. The insurance companies at that time were asking for premiums higher than what I made. Nevadans across the State are absolutely terrified about the possibility of losing care because of this nomination. I received a letter from a brave Nevadan who lives in Minden, which is a small town in the western part of our State. She wanted to share with me her health struggles and her fears for the future. She said this: I have been fighting a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer for the past 4 years and still have numerous surgeries to undergo as part of my ongoing battle against this devastating disease. I worry about how the loss of the preexisting conditions protection would adversely affect my treatment plan, my everyday financial security, and my ability to get health insurance in the future should I lose what I currently have. The Affordable Care Act has opened the door to healthcare for Nevadans all over my State, in communities big and small. These are real people with real struggles and real families who desperately want the best possible care for their loved ones. That is all. They want the best care for their loved ones. Don't we all want that? What is at stake here is life or death for far too many Nevadans and too many Americans across this country. Assuring the health of our loved ones should be an essential, basic, human right. It is thanks to the Affordable Care Act that more than 200,000 Nevadans get coverage through the ACA's expanded Medicaid Program. It is thanks to the Affordable Care Act that over 77,000 Nevadans have coverage through the Nevada Health Link insurance exchange, and it is thanks to the Affordable Care Act that over 19,000 Nevadans under the age of 26 get to remain covered through their parents' health insurance plans. All of these people--that is 1 in 10 Nevadans--could lose their health insurance if the Supreme Court overturns the ACA. All of them could face overwhelming costs and denials of the care they both need and deserve. Not to mention, it is thanks to the ACA that there are an untold number of people who can still get coverage because insurance companies can no longer put lifetime caps on their healthcare coverage. Before the ACA, an insurance company could limit how much they would pay for your medical bills over your lifetime. One constituent from Las Vegas voiced her concerns that without ACA protections, we would see a return of lifetime caps on coverage. She said this: I am concerned about the potential elimination of the Affordable Care Act. In addition to the potential elimination of preexisting conditions, no one seems to address the issue of lifetime limits, which were eliminated under the

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, 3 years ago on this very date, in my hometown of Las Vegas, a gunman opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel onto the unsuspecting crowd below. This horrific attack lasted just over 10 minutes, but in that brief window of time, 58 innocent lives were taken and over 400 were injured. It was the worst mass shooting in American history. I stand here today to recognize the third anniversary of this act of terror. I want to speak today about how that October 1 shooting changed Nevada. This mass shooting irrevocably altered the lives of countless families in Las Vegas, NV, and across the country forever. Many of that night's victims are still dealing with the injuries, visible and not visible. Many are still grieving and working through the effects of this devastating trauma. All of them have suffered through a pain that no family, no friend, no spouse, no child should ever, ever have to endure. In the 3 years since the shooting, two more victims have passed away due to injuries they sustained that night--1 in 2019 and 1 earlier this year--bringing the number of lives lost up to 60--sons, daughters, parents, friends, neighbors--people who were loved, people who were part of our community, people who were taken from us far too soon, 60 families who will forever have an empty chair at their Thanksgiving table. Amidst the violence and the terror, there were also heroes who made the choice to run toward danger and help others, like the courageous first responders who risked their lives to provide aid and everyday citizens who helped others escape in their cars. Nevada remembers October 1 because it showed us the darkest side of humanity, but in the aftermath, it also showed us the brightest and best of who we are. Today we commemorate the 60 lives that were lost. Today we recognize those who were injured and are still struggling. Today we celebrate. We celebrate the heroism of our community--not just in the immediate aftermath of that attack but in the days, weeks, months, and years since. We saw heroes spring into action that night and the following days to save lives. In the following days, we saw so many members of our community display incredible heroism. Our community lined up to donate blood. They helped to reunite friends and family in the aftermath, and they helped to financially support victims and their families. The phrase ``Vegas Strong'' came into being after that time, and let me assure you, it is a phrase that could not be more true. The strength of our city is simply astounding. We work to build ourselves back up from crisis, side by side, arm in arm. It has taken time. It hasn't been easy. Even now, we are still not all the way there, but every day, the people of Las Vegas show unparalleled resilience. Nevadans carried that resilience with them. They carry it in every challenge and in every crisis that we face. I stand here today to honor the men and women who lost their lives on October 1, those who were injured in the attack, and the heroes who helped bring our city back. I also call on Congress to show the same kind of strength that the people of Las Vegas have shown. Our Nation currently faces many challenges. However, my colleagues must recognize the threat that gun violence poses to our communities. We must honor the memories of those who were lost. We must take commonsense action to reduce gun violence and ensure that more lives aren't lost. As a legislative body, we must act. The Bipartisan Background Checks Act--a bill passed by the House 582 days ago--has been waiting for a vote here in the Senate. Today, in honor of the memories of the lives that were lost, I request that the Senate bring this bill, this important bill, for a vote. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I rise today to condemn President Trump's refusal to denounce White supremacy during last night's Presidential debate. At a time when this Nation is having a profound discussion about race--with anti-Semitism rearing its ugly head here in the United States and around the globe and the Nation being torn apart over political differences--our leaders, particularly our President, must call out hate in all its forms. Last night, the President failed to rise to the occasion, and he failed the American people in doing so. On the global stage in the year 2020, the leader of the free world gave an unequivocal wink and nod to White supremacists, racists, and neo-Nazis, all while the Nation and the world looked on in absolute horror. Not only did the President of our United States not condemn the White supremacist violence that he has incited during his tenure, he implicitly gave them marching orders. When asked to condemn the hate group, the Proud Boys, the President of the United States said that they should ``stand back and stand by.'' Let me repeat. He gave the order for them to ``stand back and stand by.'' There is no justification for his words or for his refusal to give a clear, direct, and swift condemnation of White supremacy. The President's emboldening of violent extremists comes just as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security named White supremacist extremists as the most significant terrorism-related threat right here in the United States. As a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I heard the FBI Director testify to this very point just last week. The message was clear: White supremacists pose a dangerous and violent threat to our homeland. Against this backdrop, the President's shocking remarks last night were, in fact, a continuation of deeply disturbing patterns of racist and anti-Semitic behavior that this President has allowed to take place on his watch. Three years ago in Charlottesville, violent chaos and hatred were on full display for the world to see. As neo-Nazis openly marched in the streets, they chanted: ``Jews will not replace us'' and ``blood and soil.'' President Trump not only didn't denounce this anti-Semitic and racist rhetoric, he did something much worse. He did something much worse. He praised the White nationalists. He praised them as ``very fine people.'' These were not very fine people. Just last month, a teen vigilante asked his mother to drive him across State lines to the protests in Kenosha with a rifle. He went there to use it, and, in fact, he did. He took the life of two people and shot a third. He has been charged with homicide and rightly so. Instead of condemning this act of hatred, President Trump has hailed this murderer as a ``hero.'' But this is the norm for President Trump. The President's use of dog whistles and charged language gives a voice to White supremacy and empowers vigilantes. It is inexcusable, and it is indefensible. This rise in hatred that the President fails to condemn is one of the reasons why, last year, I cofounded the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism. The goal of this bipartisan, nonpartisan endeavor is to help stop hate before it starts, to call out bigotry and anti-Semitism wherever we see it--left, right, or center. I am proud of the work that we have done so far to push back on anti-Semitism right here in the United States, in Europe, in the Middle East, and around the world. But the President's silence and his disturbing call to arms to White supremacist groups like the Proud Boys make our work that much harder. Some of the President's defenders often write off his most troubling statements, claiming the President misspoke or that we just don't understand what he is trying to say or that is his speaking style or that he is just joking. Let me be clear. He didn't misspeak last night. He didn't make a joke last night. And regardless of what others say, words matter. His words matter. He is the President of the United States. Let me say today, as the President should have said last night--and I invite all of my colleagues here in this Chamber to join me in repeating this statement: I condemn White nationalism; I condemn racism; I condemn anti-Semitism; and I condemn and denounce the groups that promote these vile ideologies, the Proud Boys among them. We must speak out, and we must take action. I urge my colleagues, again, on both sides of the aisle, not to be complicit in their silence. I want them all to join me. I want you all to join me in denouncing White supremacy, as President Trump failed to do, clearly and explicitly, in last night's debate. This is not a partisan issue. It never will be a partisan issue. I hope all my colleagues join me in denouncing hatred in all forms. I yield back. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I thank the senior Senator from Nevada for joining me today for this colloquy. The Senator correctly notes that these two sections of the National Defense Authorization Act raise profound historical public policy questions about how to protect our public lands, recognize the voices and issues raised by Native American Tribes, local governments and concerned citizens, and maintain Nevada's proud role in support of our Nation's Armed Forces and our national security. These public policy questions are amongst the most consequential natural resource issues facing the Silver State and have prompted Nevadans from every corner of our State to engage on the best path forward.

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, to best answer the Senator's question, it is important to start with the history of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. The establishment of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge predates the Nevada Test and Training Range and was created by President Franklin Roosevelt on May 20, 1936, via Executive Order 7373. FDR created the Desert Game Range, as it was known then, to provide habitat and protection for desert bighorn sheep, Nevada's State animal. Originally the Range totaled more than 2.25 million acres, including lands both north and south of U.S. Highway 95. We know even more today about the value of this area. The Desert National Wildlife Refuge contains six mountain ranges and seven distinct life zones, with elevations ranging from 2,200 feet to nearly 10,000 feet. The variations in elevation and rainfall have created diverse habitats, necessary for its hundreds of species of native flora and fauna to live and flourish. There are currently two species listed as endangered or threatened: notably the Pahrump Poolfish and the Desert Tortoise. This area was under the joint administration of the Bureau of Fisheries, the predecessor to the Fish and Wildlife Service-- USFWS--which was not created until 1940, and the Bureau of Land Management--BLM. Today, the Desert National Wildlife Refuge is the largest wildlife refuge outside Alaska. The Refuge has gone through various legislative boundary adjustments and currently encompasses 1.615 million acres of the Mojave Desert. Public Land Order 4079, issued on August 26, 1966, and corrected on September 23, 1966, revoked EO 7373. This PLO changed the name to the Desert National Wildlife Range, reduced its size to 1.588 million acres, and transferred sole administration to the USFWS. Lands withdrawn in PLO 4079 were set aside specifically for the protection, enhancement, and maintenance of wildlife resources, including bighorn sheep. Then, in 1974, as part of a Wilderness review required by the Wilderness Act of 1964, 1.3 million acres of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge were proposed as Wilderness by USFWS. This history is important, but these lands also remain central to Native American Tribes in Nevada. Could the senior Senator from Nevada expand upon their importance?

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, the history of NTTR begins in the 1940s when it was known as the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range, later changed to the Nellis Air Force Range in October 1987, and finally to NTTR in August 2003. The NTTR is a military training area consisting of approximately 2.9 million acres of Federal land used by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base in southern Nevada. The NTTR includes a ``simulated Integrated Air Defense System'' and several individual ranges with 12,000 targets. The NTTR area has been used for aerial gunnery and bombing, nuclear tests, as a proving ground and flight test area, and for aircraft control and warning exercises. These 2.9 million acres have been withdrawn from public use and reserved for military use, including the approximately 842,254 acres of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge land that overlaps with the NTTR. The legislative history surrounding this history begins in 1940, with Executive Order 8578 giving the military joint administration with USFWS of the western half of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, for war purposes and restricting public access. The NTTR land withdrawals were extended in 1962, with the issuance of PLO 2613, and in 1986, the withdrawals were extended for another 15 years with P.L. 99-606. Most recently, the withdrawals, were again extended through 2021, with P.L. 106-65 signed in 1999. This law in 1999, included as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000--P.L. 106-65--transferred primary jurisdiction of 110,000 acres of bombing impact areas on the Desert National Wildlife Refuge from the USFWS to the Department of Defense. These lands were reserved for use by the Secretary of the Air Force as an armament and high hazard testing area; for training for aerial gunnery, rocketry, electronic warfare, and tactical maneuvering and air support; and for equipment and tactics development and testing. More recently, in 2014, the House of Representatives considered legislation, H.R. 4253, which proposed repealing the existing withdrawals found in section 3015 in P.L. 106-65. Furthermore, the legislation would have permanently transferred administrative jurisdiction of the withdrawn lands in Nevada and put them under control of the Air Force. This same provision was again included in the 2015 NDAA, H.R. 1735, which was ultimately vetoed by President Obama. In 2018, the House of Representatives included provisions which would have again attempted to repeal the existing withdrawals found in Section 3015 in P.L. 106-65 and permanently transferred administrative jurisdiction of the withdrawn lands to the Air Force. With that history established, can Senator Cortez Masto provide the history behind the legislation that is still under consideration by the Congress?

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I thank the senior Senator for her comprehensive answer. As I have previously stated, I am hopeful this bipartisan compromise legislation will help resolve land management conflicts, preserve public access to the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, and serve to strengthen our national security. I have met with environmental advocates, Tribal leaders, and Air Force senior leadership on this issue. I will continue working with our local stakeholders--including military leaders, environmental and wildlife advocates, and members of Nevada's Tribal communities--to make sure all voices are heard.

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator. As previously noted, section 2861 provides for a 20-year extension of the public land withdrawals specific to the Fallon Range Training Complex which is utilized by the U.S. Navy. Just like with section 2862, while this provision of the bill before us seems relatively simple, the underlying issues presented by the Fallon Range Training Complex present a range of complicated issues centered upon public lands, sovereign Tribal governments in Nevada and environmental justice, public access and recreation, energy and transportation infrastructure, and the ability for future economic development. Could the senior Senator from Nevada provide more detail on some of this underlying history which helps make section 2861 so important to our constituents?

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator for her leadership on this matter and share her commitment to working together with our constituents in Nevada to reach a consensus proposal. While critical concerns remain, Nevada's congressional delegation has a long history of finding pragmatic solutions to public land challenges, and I look forward to working with Senator Cortez Masto, Congressman Amodei, and the rest of the delegation to continue this tradition.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I stand here to honor the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In everything Justice Ginsburg did--from her pivotal role in the fight for gender equality, to her storied legal career, to her serving on the DC Court of Appeals and, ultimately, as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court--throughout her life's journey, she used every ounce of her ability to give voice to the voiceless and build a more just and equitable world. Justice Ginsburg was a lion on the bench. She ruled on monumental and historic cases, and the decisions she made--and even the dissents she wrote--have shaped this country and set us on a better path. This remarkable woman inspired countless Americans to fight for the best of us even when it was hard, even when it was inconvenient. I know I wouldn't be here without Ruth Bader Ginsburg's leading the way. We have a responsibility to honor her legacy, her work, and the ethos of Justice Ginsburg. Part of her legacy was her decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, and we have seen too many attempts to dismantle this key cornerstone of her legacy. In my time as Senator, I have met countless Nevadans, and I have had the chance to speak with Americans from all across the country. I can say with certainty that there is no issue that matters more to the American people than their health, especially now. This administration has worked since day one to take healthcare coverage and critical protections away from millions of Americans. It has failed time and again to dismantle the ACA through legislation, and it has also attempted to destroy and dismantle the ACA through the courts. In one of my first actions as a Senator, I co-led and helped to introduce a resolution to defend the Affordable Care Act's constitutionality against this administration's assault. In my first speech on the Senate floor, I called on the Senate to take it up and pass it. I cannot even begin to count the number of Nevadans who have shared how they would be affected by the ACA's demise. Everything is at stake if these individuals and these families are denied access to care. Justice Ginsburg's replacement will help to decide whether individuals with preexisting conditions can be denied coverage and, thus, be left behind. Let me be clear: What this potentially means is that any of us with a preexisting condition could no longer obtain health insurance. This next Justice will decide if we see an end to the tax credits that make healthcare coverage affordable for middle-income families. This next Justice will decide if we see an end to preventive care without copays. This next Justice will decide if we see an end to the ability of young adults, until the age of 26, to stay on their parents' insurance. This next Justice will decide if we see an end to expanded Medicaid benefits, which have helped over 200,000 Nevadans get coverage. This next Justice is going to decide who has healthcare during an unprecedented and deadly pandemic that has already, tragically, taken the lives of over 200,000 Americans. This next Justice will also decide if the nearly 7 million Americans who have already tested positive for COVID can be denied healthcare coverage because they contracted a disease that this administration initially ignored and has been unable or unwilling to combat with a national plan. So much hangs in the balance for the American people. Millions could lose healthcare because of this Supreme Court pick. We could go back to a world in which people with preexisting conditions could not afford to pay for lifesaving medicine or treatment. Using the courts to take away the American people's healthcare, especially at this moment in our Nation's history, is not only cruel--it is dangerous. Amid a global pandemic and the worst economy in generations, our top priority right now should be the needs of the American people--the relief and care that matches the urgency of this crisis. We cannot afford to play political games or to threaten the American people's health coverage when they need it the most. The American people deserve better. They deserve the stability and security of healthcare coverage for themselves and their loved ones. I ask that my colleagues truly listen to the American people, who need us now more than ever. I had hoped that my Republican colleagues would have honored their own precedent in this process--the McConnell rule--and ensured that the American people would have their say at the ballot box before filling any vacancy. Instead of political gamesmanship, I ask that my colleagues honor the dignity of our democratic institutions and the health of the American people. In 2015, when asked how she would like to be remembered, Justice Ginsburg responded: ``As someone who . . . [helped] repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has.'' That is how she wanted to be remembered. We, too, have the ability to repair tears in our democracy, and we, too, have the ability to make sure things are better for all Americans by ensuring that their health remains protected. I urge my colleagues to follow Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's example and honor her life and her life's work. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, the West is on fire. At this very moment, historic wildfires are raging across our Western States. Communities have been devastated. Homes have been destroyed. Businesses have been turned to rubble. In the wake of these disasters, many families have been left with absolutely nothing. Nevadans are no strangers to seeing wildfires wreak havoc in our State. Just this year, Nevada has seen over 650 fires. Yet what is happening now is something different. These are some of the largest fires the West has ever seen. Already, in 2020, over 4.7 million acres of land have been burned across our Nation, and we have already seen billions of dollars in economic losses and damage. Despite what you might hear from our President, these disasters are not blue State issues. That kind of partisan sentiment is just unconscionable. We must take a nonpartisan approach to saving lives and protecting property from fires that know no partisan affiliation. It doesn't matter that these fires are in the State of California or in the State of Oregon or in the State of Washington or in the State of Idaho. These disasters are happening in our United States. These fires are impacting our communities, and in this time of crisis, we have a responsibility to really help one another--to help our communities and to help our friends and our neighbors. People have died in these disasters, and some people are still missing. Over 30,000 courageous men and women are risking their lives to fight these fires and to save those families and save those properties. I am really proud to say that Nevada's firefighters have been deployed to assist in combating many of these disasters. I am so proud of them. As a result of these fires, the air quality in some of our communities is so poor and so unhealthy that it is exceeding 20-year records. This toxic haze has already impacted air quality in my own State of Nevada, and it is not just in Western States. This harmful smoke is spreading. It has been measured as far away as the east coast--in places like New York City and right here in Washington, DC. These fires put our collective health--all of ours--in jeopardy, especially now, during the pandemic. As I have said before, these fires impact every single one of us. Do you know why? It is because this is an environmental issue; this is an economic issue; this is a public health issue; and it is absolutely a climate issue. The science speaks for itself. Climate change and increased temperatures directly correlate to the growing intensity of these wildfires, and the longer we fail to address climate change, the more costly and more dangerous and deadly the impact is going to be for our friends, our neighbors, our States, and our communities. September is wildfire preparedness month, and make no mistake: We need to get a handle on these disasters. We need to provide resources to our local communities, to our firefighters, and to our land management agencies immediately. This is why I cosponsored my colleague Senator Harris' Wildfire Defense Act, which is legislation that would provide FEMA resources so that our local communities can develop wildfire defense plans and allow all of us to respond more effectively. We also need to address climate change, and we need to be proactive and practical, which is why, earlier this year, I cosponsored Senator Carper's climate change resolution. This resolution recognizes that climate change is real, that human activity is the primary cause, and that Congress must take immediate action to address one of the most pressing issues of our time. We need to act. Lives are on the line, and we need to act now. Nevada, the West, and Americans across the country are counting on all of us. So we need to get to work. I yield the floor.

Ms. ROSEN

Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, Nevada's public lands are a source of pride and natural beauty, but they are also so much more. They are a source of economic strength for our outdoor industries, and they help support our communities and our State's economy. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors come to Nevada to see and experience our majestic public lands and our monuments firsthand. We must keep our State's public lands open and accessible for Nevadans, for visitors to our State, and for future generations. That is why we are passionate about protecting and preserving our State's natural wonders. Public lands make up a big part of our State. In fact, over 80 percent of our land is managed by the Federal Government, and well over 60 percent of Nevada--close to 48 million acres--is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. I stand here today before you because our Nation's public lands are in danger, not just from the threat of climate change or from deadly wildfires, which are raging across our Nation's Western States as we speak, but also from an unconfirmed and unaccountable acting head of the Bureau of Land Management, Mr. William Perry Pendley. It is well past time for him to go. Allow me to explain just how dangerous Mr. Pendley is for our public lands and for Nevada. In the past, Nevada has been able to strike a balance between the protection of our public lands and the need for development. That is how things should be. But Mr. Pendley does not respect this balance. When it comes to our public lands, Mr. Pendley has a longtime and documented history of working to destroy our national treasures. Some of the highlights of Mr. Pendley's disturbing anti-public-land actions and sentiments include this: working on behalf of private interests to roll back critical public land protections during his tenure at a law firm; advocating for the repeal of the Antiquities Act, a landmark law signed by President Teddy Roosevelt that protects our public lands and gives the President the power to designate national monuments; and fighting to drill on sacred Native American lands while mocking these same Native Americans' religious beliefs. This is a man put in charge of one-third of our Nation's public lands who has referred to the National Environmental Policy Act, our Nation's bedrock environmental law, as ``a terrible burden,'' who has written that ``the Founding Fathers intended all lands owned by the Federal Government to be sold,'' who has aggressively pushed oil and gas leasing on our public lands, and who views climate change as ``junk science.'' Mr. Pendley holds shocking and extremist views and has consistently worked to dismantle the very lands he is in charge of protecting. The administration knows just how bad Mr. Pendley is, which is why it has withdrawn his nomination to serve as Director of the BLM. His nomination would never pass the Senate. However, it is unacceptable that Mr. Pendley continues to run the Bureau of Land Management as Acting BLM Director. This bureaucratic loophole allows Mr. Pendley to indefinitely serve as the de facto head of the BLM without a confirmation hearing before the American people and in direct defiance of the Senate's constitutional responsibility to advise and consent to executive nominations. My office has heard from thousands of Nevadans about the importance of our public lands or to raise their concerns about Mr. Pendley--and with good reason. As I said before, the Bureau of Land Management oversees 67 percent of Nevada, and if Mr. Pendley sells off our State's public lands, Nevadans will be the ones paying the price. I share the concerns of my constituents. Mr. Pendley was unfit to be confirmed as Director, and he is unfit to exercise the authority of the Director without being confirmed. For these reasons, this summer I joined my Senate colleagues in asking Secretary Bernhardt to remove Mr. Pendley from his unconfirmed position immediately. I stand here today to reiterate: Mr. Pendley must step down or be removed. I call on the President to nominate a qualified Director through the standard confirmation process, one who understands the balance of conservation and development and who has respect for the job that they would hold, because Nevadans can't afford to find out if Mr. Pendley will put two-thirds of our State on the chopping block. I yield the floor to my colleague from Colorado, Senator Michael Bennet.