Floor Statements

Mr. President, for the Committee on Foreign Relations I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the RECORDS on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, I am rising to ask unanimous consent to consider the nomination of Leopoldo Martinez. This body should confirm him today to serve as Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank.

From the world's highest per capita COVID infection and death rates to the largest economic contraction anywhere in the world, Latin America and the Caribbean are still struggling to recover from devastating waves of the pandemic.

The region also faces historic refugee and migration movements that stretch across the continent. And added to this, many of these nations must confront longstanding poverty and inequality as well as climate change and threats to the environment.

Given the significant economic social and development challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean, we urgently need Senate-confirmed leadership at our hemisphere's most important multilateral development bank. The Inter-American Development Bank is essential to addressing these issues.

It is critical that we have strong U.S. leadership at the Bank. Mr. Martinez brings decades of experience in the public and private sector, as well as academia, and he will provide exactly that.

He has advised Fortune 500 companies and private equity funds. He has helped international business and nongovernmental organizations, and he has committed to work with the Senate to support a much needed capital increase for the Bank, which we approved as part of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act last year.

This nomination has been pending for 9 months--9 months. It is time for the Senate to act, especially when we have China--and I know my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have spent a lot of time talking about China and whether we were strong enough in meeting the China threat. Well, China is all over the Western Hemisphere making huge investments.

I talked to one foreign leader this past week from the hemisphere. He said to me: Listen, what is the United States offering? Because I am being offered $800 million, 1 percent, over 30 years. I am not taking it, but at some point, we need to have engagement in the hemisphere economically.

That is what the Inter-American Development Bank can do without costing U.S. taxpayers money. But for that, you need leadership that is focused on getting the IDB to build the partnerships and the programs that can help us have a presence to counter China in the first place and also to promote prosperity, security, and stability.

And for all of those of my colleagues who are concerned about the southern border, well, let's get an organization that can help create greater prosperity and stability in the hemisphere so people won't be fleeing from the circumstances.

I don't understand why this has taken 9 months, but that is what draws me to come to the floor. So I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee be discharged and the Senate proceed to the following nomination: PN1028, Leopoldo Martinez Nucete, to be United States Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank for a term of three years, vice Eliot Pedrosa; that the Senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that no further motions be made in order to the nomination; and that any related statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I am going to be honest here. This isn't really about Mr. Martinez, his experience, his views. It is just another thinly veiled attempt to block another of the President's nominees and to do so at a time in which China is eating our lunch.

So the next time one of my colleagues gets up and talks about China, I am going to remind them of the position that they have taken to block one of the critical nominees who could help us meet that challenge in the Western Hemisphere.

Mr. President, let me turn to another nominee who has been pending before the Senate, who did pass the committee, by the way, favorably-- not on a tie vote but favorably. I am going to, in a moment, ask unanimous consent to confirm Dr. Monde Muyangwa to serve as Assistant Administrator for USAID's Africa Bureau. This body should confirm her without delay.

The promotion of democracy, a key goal for USAID, is threatened throughout Africa. In just the past 2 years, there have been coups in Sudan, Chad, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and two in Mali.

Authoritarians across Africa have new tactics to subvert democratic movements. They have modern tools to silence dissenting voices. They deploy disinformation campaigns and sophisticated surveillance technology coming from China to stay in power. And from Mali to the Central African Republic, dictators are turning to Russian mercenaries for support.

Democracy advocates, human rights offenders, and civil society leaders across the continent are courageously working to realize their aspirations and goals. They need a reliable partner at USAID to keep the struggle for democracy in their countries, and that is why we have to advance this nominee today.

Dr. Muyangwa is eminently qualified to lead USAID's Africa Bureau. She brings extensive professional and academic experience in Africa. She is a Zambian-born immigrant to the United States, where she has held senior positions at the Wilson Center, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, and the National Summit on Africa. She was a Rhodes Scholar, a Wingate Scholar for her scholarship at Oxford, the valedictorian for her graduating class at the University of Zambia, and she holds a doctorate in international relations from the University of Oxford. Do you think she is well qualified? In short, her qualifications are exceptional.

Finally, let me say that while Africa faces many challenges, it is also a land of tremendous opportunity. But here, again, China is all over Africa in precious minerals and other precious materials, in subverting nascent democracies by their debt-trap diplomacy. And where are we? Absent, because we don't even have somebody who can focus on the hemisphere--a hemisphere that we should have gotten a lot more votes at the United Nations when we were pursuing the sanctions against Russia. But guess what. We don't have anybody talking to these countries. So I see no reason, with somebody with

such a stellar background, to ultimately be objected to.

So I will I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 815, Monde Muyangwa, to be an Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; and that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, through the Chair, would my colleague say that--have you not been provided three rounds of documents that have been requested?

Through the Presiding Officer, has my colleague not been offered a briefing by USAID to try to answer the rest of his questions?

This is an extraordinary amount of information being offered for someone who is not even a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. But, nonetheless, in order to accommodate him, we want to get to a point that he feels comfortable to do so. Have you not been offered a briefing, which you have not yet accepted?

Well, my understanding is that there has been, Mr. President, an offer of a briefing made to the Senator.

And, by the way, this has nothing to do with Dr. Muyangwa. She has nothing to do with any of this. She is nominated to be the Assistant Administrator for Africa, nothing to do with China, nothing to do with Wuhan, nothing to do with anything else.

I would urge my colleague, if you have all this information about illicit activities, please bring it forward. The committee would like to consider it. But I haven't seen any of it. It is time to put up or shut up.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise in support of Marcia Bernicat to be the Director General of the foreign service at the U.S. Department of State. Our foreign service must have a leader that knows how to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. We need someone that understands the importance of modernizing the State Department workforce. We need someone who will prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility to reflect our Nation's wide range of backgrounds. Ambassador Bernicat is that person. She is an experienced career member of the Senior Foreign Service who has a deep understanding of the inner-workings of the Department and valuable overseas experience. She has served as Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea Bissau and as Ambassador to Bangladesh. Both times before, this body confirmed her by voice vote.

While serving as Ambassador to Bangladesh, she survived a terrorist attack on her motorcade, an experience that strengthened her resolve to keep Foreign Service Officers safe while serving abroad. She has also worked as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Human Resources. She speaks French, Hindi, and Russian and is a recipient of the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award. She has a master's degree in the science in foreign service at Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree from Lafayette College. As a former Deputy Assistant Secretary working on human resources, she understands the personnel challenges facing the Department. Last but not least, Ambassador Bernicat was born in the great State of New Jersey.

In short, Ambassador Bernicat is without a doubt the right person for this position. It is unacceptable that someone as qualified as her has been languishing on the Senate floor for more than 7 months. Her nomination comes at a critical time as the Department needs leadership that will address key issues like attrition, training, morale, and mental health. We need our best people in position to ensure we are recruiting, retaining, promoting, and training the next generation of leaders. It is long past time to confirm Ambassador Bernicat.

I enthusiastically support Ambassador Bernicat, and I respectfully urge my colleagues to join me in confirming her immediately.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize and congratulate my friend the Reverend Dr. Calvin McKinney on his 50th pastoral anniversary. Pastor McKinney has served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of North Jersey since 1972.

Pastor McKinney's ministry is guided by Teaching and Growing a Praying People of God, whether at home in New Jersey, across our Nation, or around the world. His ministry has taken him throughout Africa, Europe, Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. Of his many accomplishments, Pastor McKinney's most memorable preaching opportunity was during the centennial session of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., in Birmingham, AL, in 1980.

In September 2009, Pastor McKinney was elected general secretary of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. He served as the youngest moderator in the history of the North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association from 1986 to 1990, and served from 1996 through 2000 in an unprecedented tenure as one of the youngest presidents in the history of the 300,000-member General Baptist Convention of New Jersey, Inc. He was named president emeritus in recognition of his exemplary leadership.

In 2003, under the visionary leadership of Pastor McKinney, Calvary started on a journey to build a $10 million, 1,500-seat sanctuary along with

educational, fellowship, and administrative facilities. On March 19, 2006, the congregation of Calvary moved into their new home.

Pastor McKinney's extraordinary pastoral leadership is matched by his extraordinary role as a community leader. For 50 years, he has touched the lives of countless people and communities. In addition to lifting and guiding their spiritual formation, he has met the needs of his local community through the Calvary Community Development Center, CCDC. Since 1998, CCDC has empowered people and the community in order to knock down economic and social barriers. It is a resource for those who are need of food, clothing, and emergency assistance.

Pastor McKinney finds time to serve in a multitude of ways. He presently serves as chair of the Commission on Faith-Based Initiatives for the State of New Jersey. He serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the U.C.C. Day Care Center No. 100; trustee, Passaic County Community College; a board member of the Bergen County Urban League, NJ; an executive board member of the Garfield/Lodi Branch of the NAACP, NJ; and a member of Mt. Zion Lodge No. 50, F. & A.M. (PHA) of Hackensack, NJ.

Pastor McKinney is the embodiment of a spirit-filled and joyful life. His greatest joy comes from his beautiful family. He and his wife Brendalyn are the proud parents of three children: Terence Lamar, Gina Lynelle, and Calvin James; and the proud grandparents of Terence Laquan, Timothy Lamar, and Mason James.

In the Book of Matthew 5:16 we are taught, ``In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.'' For 50 years, Pastor McKinney has been more than just a shining light; he is truly a beacon of faith, hope, and love. His ministry blesses us all.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Joshua Kretman, a detailee from the State Department to the Foreign Relations Committee, be granted floor privileges for the duration of the 117th Congress.

Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today and will, in short order, seek unanimous consent for the passage of the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021. This bill, which was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last December with overwhelming bipartisan support, is named after Daniel Anderl, the 20- year-old son of U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas.

Mr. President, 1 year 9 months 23 days ago, Daniel was brutally murdered by a gunman who targeted Judge Salas for her gender, her ethnicity, and because he could not accept a judgment in a case that she reached in her court.

To carry out his horrific hate crime, the gunman used publicly available information, tracking down Judge Salas to her home in New Jersey and murdering Daniel in cold blood when he answered the door. And after that, her husband Mark also was shot and seriously wounded.

Every single day since July 19, 2020, Judge Salas and her husband Mark have been dealing with the immense grief of burying their only son. No parent should have to experience such a devastating loss. Yet, in the face of so much pain, Judge Salas has channeled it into purpose, embarking on a personal mission to increase the safety and privacy of her fellow judges and their families.

Now, I know Judge Salas well. Back in 2010, I was proud to recommend her to the Federal bench. A year later, when the Senate unanimously confirmed her by voice vote, she became the first Latina to serve on the district court of New Jersey.

After the horrific tragedy she suffered, I made a personal commitment to honor Daniel's legacy through action. I told her I would not rest until we enacted greater protections for those who serve on the Federal bench to prevent another judge from having to endure the senseless violence Judge Salas experienced.

The bipartisan bill I seek unanimous consent for is an effort I am proud to lead with 12 of my colleagues, including Senators Durbin, Grassley, Booker, Graham and Kennedy. Our bill would prevent potential assailants from using publicly available information to target judges or their families. It is a commonsense measure that would authorize the U.S. Marshal Service to monitor online threats and deter future attacks.

It is so common sense that it was voted out of the Judiciary Committee with strong bipartisan support--I am talking about a 21-to-0 vote in the affirmative.

It is so common sense, in fact, that just, I think, 2 days ago my Republican colleagues led a similar measure to safeguard Supreme Court Justices and their families.

So if the Senate passed an important bill without hearings--without hearings--directly to the floor to support and protect Supreme Court Justices and their families, I think we should do it as well for Federal judges. Nobody made an effort to change that bill.

There is simply no explanation or justification to protect Supreme Court Justices while delaying legislation to protect Federal judges who face the same, if not greater, risk.

No judge in America should have to fear for their lives as they work to uphold our Constitution, our democracy, and ensure all people have equal justice under the law.

Every day that we delay in passing this critical legislation is a day that we delay necessary protections for the guardians of our Constitution and the rule of law.

There are three branches of our government. One of the essential ones is the judiciary. They make decisions

every day about what is the law of the land and what is the answer to disputes among us as individuals and entities. If that judge is fearful that their decisions at the end of the day will lead to violence against them and their families, how long will their judgment not be affected and, therefore, how long will we as a nation be able to say that the rule of law is truly in place?

So I ask my Senate colleagues to join me today in honoring the life and memory of Daniel Anderl. Let us do the right thing and unanimously pass the Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2021 named after him.

So, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 190, S. 2340; further, that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object.

I appreciate the desire of the Senator from Kentucky to protect Members of the legislative branch. I wish someone would have come to the floor the other night when we had a rush, which I thought was important, to protect Supreme Court Justices. That was a moment in which that could have been pursued. That went through lightning speed. That didn't even have a hearing. It didn't go through the process of the Judiciary Committee like this bill has, but there was no such call.

And so I would work with my colleague on a separate legislation to provide protections for a different universe, including a legislative one. I know there are other Members who want to provide these protections to everyone. The question is that none of that has been moving on the floor. None of that has had the time and attention in the committee processes to ferret out the challenges, the issues, and whatnot. But every day we see violence against judges across the country, and we have an opportunity to take a moment of tragedy and turn it into something powerful.

And I would work with my colleague on his desire, but at this point, because I am concerned that what we would do is not find a pathway in the House because there are already challenges in the House, even to the simple proposition of limiting these protections to Members of the Federal judiciary, I am afraid that such an expansion under this bill would render it useless in terms of any action in the House, and so I have to object to the proposed amendment but with a desire to work with my colleague on anything I can to move forward in a different way.

Mr. President, just a brief remark. You know, I regret that in the goal to protect ourselves, we can't protect others.

Not every law where we seek to provide a protection is ultimately grandly approached. I think that the passage of this bill would send a clear message to our Federal judiciary, who are not on the awesome Supreme Court, that they will be protected just the same as any Supreme Court Justice and that they can make their judgments without fear that violence will come their way to them or their family because of the decisions they make in our society.

And then building upon that success, we can try to build and create greater protections for others. But this maximalist position is, unfortunately, one that, at the end of the day, doesn't provide protection for anyone.

And so I will keep coming back to the floor. We will keep working to try to make this happen because this young man who died senselessly and his parents who had to bury their only son--his memory cannot die in vain.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I have eight requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: