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[Page S5054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 1247
Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I thank my colleague Senator Warner,
and we will hear shortly from Senator Wyden.
These two great colleagues are championing election security. Senator
Warner, at the helm as vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee, has
done as much as any American and any Member of this body to uncover the
serious Russian threat to our election system. It is a threat not just
from Russia but from other countries as well. That is why I have
offered and will ask unanimous consent for the passage of S. 1247, the
Duty To Report Act.
This legislation, like Senator Warner's, is based on a very simple
idea: If you see something, say something. The Duty To Report Act would
require campaigns, candidates, and family members to immediately report
to the FBI and the Federal Election Commission any offers of illegal
foreign assistance. It differs in some technical aspects--for example,
with regard to family members--from Senator Warner's proposed FIRE Act.
Yet it is the same idea because it codifies into law what is already a
moral duty, a patriotic duty, and basic common sense. It is already
illegal to accept foreign assistance during a campaign. It is already
illegal to solicit foreign assistance during a campaign. All this bill
does is require campaigns and individuals to report such illegal
foreign assistance directly to the FBI.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller came before Congress today to answer
questions about his very comprehensive and powerful report that
documents the sweeping and systematic interference in our election, as
he testified, to benefit, principally, Donald Trump's campaign. Yet
this measure is about the future. It is about preventing such election
interference in the future and providing a mandate and a duty to report
any offers of assistance from a foreign government, like Russia.
This report outlines the most serious attack on our democracy by a
foreign power in our history. It tells the story of more than 150
contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian agents. It tells the
story of Russian covert and overt efforts to influence the outcome of
our election by helping one candidate and hurting another, and it
shows--perhaps most importantly for the purpose of this measure--that
the Trump campaign knew of it, welcomed it, and happily accepted it.
Mueller testified this morning:
Over the course of my career, I have seen a number of
challenges to our democracy. The Russian Government's efforts
to interfere in our election is among the most serious. As I
said on May 29, this deserves the attention of every
American.
Equally important is that, just yesterday, FBI Director Christopher
Wray came before the Committee on the Judiciary and warned that the
Russians are still actively trying to interfere in our election, which
is what Mueller said today when he was asked about some of the remarks
and some of the efforts in the Trump campaign. He was referring to
Donald Trump, Jr., when he said, ``I love it,'' in welcoming Russia's
offer of assistance to the Trump campaign in the June 9 meeting,
Director Mueller said, ``I hope this is not the new normal, but I fear
it is.''
This is the context of troubling comments that brings us here today.
One of the most troubling is President Trump's own comment when asked
if he would accept foreign help in 2020, and he said, ``I would take
it.'' That is why we need the Duty To Report Act. If that kind of
assistance is offered, there is an obligation to report it, not to take
it.
The election of 2016 was simply a dress rehearsal. With the 2020
election upon us, we must stop this kind of foreign interference and
ensure that it is the American people, not Russia or any other foreign
power like China or Iran, who decide who the leaders of this country
will be and the direction of our democracy.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules
and Administration be discharged from further consideration of S. 1247;
that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the bill
be considered 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.
Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I yield to another great colleague who
has been a champion of this cause of election security, Senator Wyden.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
____________________