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[Pages S5053-S5054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 2242
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, in a moment, I will ask unanimous consent
for the Senate to take up and pass legislation I have introduced to
help protect our democracy from foreign interference.
Earlier today, Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified that the
Russian Government's efforts to undermine our elections are ``among the
most serious challenges to our democracy''--a challenge he says that
``deserves the attention of every American.''
Mr. Mueller's testimony should serve as a warning to every Member of
this body about what could happen in 2020--literally, in our next
election--if we fail to act. When asked if he thought that Russia would
attack our democracy again in 2020, Mr. Mueller said: ``They're doing
it as we sit here.''
Think about that for a moment. The special prosecutor spent 2\1/2\
years looking into Russian intervention in our elections in 2016 and
says not only are they going to do it, but they are doing it as we sit
here.
If this were just coming from the special prosecutor, some folks
might be willing to dismiss it, but this is exactly the same message we
heard earlier this week from FBI Director Wray. It is a message that
all of us have heard, and being on the Intelligence Committee, I have
heard repeatedly from Director of National Intelligence Coats, and we
have heard this, as well, from other leaders of law enforcement and our
intelligence community. Again, I point out that the leaders who have
sounded the alarm about the ongoing Russian threat to our elections
were all appointed by this President.
Unfortunately, in the nearly 3 years since we uncovered Russia's
attack on our democracy, this body has not held a single vote on stand-
alone legislation to protect our elections.
I am not here to relitigate the 2016 election or, for that matter, to
second-guess the special counsel's findings. This is more a question of
how we defend our democracy on a going-forward basis.
The reason we need to do this--amongst a host of reasons--is that
just a month ago, the President of the United States sat in the Oval
Office, and by dismissing this threat, effectively gave Russia the
green light to interfere in future elections. Since then,
unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have done nothing to prevent
further future attempts at undermining our democracy.
Let me be clear. If a foreign adversary tries to offer assistance to
your campaign, your response should not be thank you; your response
should be a moral obligation to tell the FBI. Mr. Mueller, the former
FBI Director and inarguably the straightest arrow in public service,
said as much this afternoon.
So if the President or other members of his family or his campaign
can't be trusted to do the right thing and report their foreign
contacts and foreign offers of assistance to their political
activities, then we need to make it a legal requirement.
That is what my legislation, the FIRE Act, is all about. The FIRE Act
is a simple, narrowly targeted bill. All it does is make sure that
attempts to interfere in future Presidential elections are promptly
reported to the FBI and the FEC.
Let me be clear. The FIRE Act is not about prohibiting innocent
contacts or the exercise of First Amendment rights. Contrary to some of
the mistaken rhetoric we have heard, it does not require the reporting
of contacts with foreign journalists or with Dreamers or of official
meetings with foreign governments. It is simply about preserving
Americans' trust in our democratic process. If a candidate is receiving
or welcoming help from the Kremlin or its spy services, I think the
American people should have a right to know before they head to the
polls.
Consequently, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and
Administration be discharged from further consideration of S. 2242, the
FIRE
[[Page S5054]]
Act; that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the
bill be read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider
be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action
or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection?
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. An objection is heard.
The Senator from Connecticut.
____________________
