CSPAN2 — U.S. Senate U.S. Senate
20260915 175000 UTC
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[00:00:01] FIGHT FOR THEM. AND SO THAT'S HOW I GOT HERE. >> WHO DO YOU WORK WITH.
[00:00:04] >> AT HUMAN FIRST? >> I WORK WITH A NUMBER OF
[00:00:07] CONSERVATIVES. UM, AND WE ARE
[00:00:11] ALL IN ON THIS FIGHT. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT I'VE WORKED WITH IN
[00:00:13] THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT, AND I'M
[00:00:15] EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH THEM.
[00:00:18] >> OUTSIDE OF, UM, YOU KNOW,
[00:00:21] KIND OF THE PUTTING TWO TOGETHER BETWEEN THE DATA CENTERS AND THE
[00:00:24] AI. I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOUR, WHAT
[00:00:27] DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE ROLE OF AI,
[00:00:30] PARTICULARLY AFTER WE'VE HEARD IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, TECH
[00:00:34] COMPANIES, OWN OWNERS CALLING FOR MORE REGULATION, TALKING
[00:00:37] ABOUT THE END OF HUMANITY. >> SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW TO, TO
[00:00:41] ME, I THINK THE STORY IS THAT IT'S ACTUALLY OUT.
[00:00:44] >> THE SENATE HAS BEEN IN RECESS, BUT IS NOW GAVELING BACK
[00:00:47] INTO SESSION. WE TAKE YOU THERE,
[00:00:49] LIVE HERE ON C-SPAN, TWO.
[00:00:52] >> COLLEAGUES, EFFORTS TO JAM THROUGH THE CLARITY ACT. I
[00:00:56] BELIEVE WE CAN GET CRYPTO
[00:00:58] LEGISLATION THAT BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAN
[00:01:01] AGREE ON, BUT NOT THIS BILL.
[00:01:03] THIS BILL POSES A MASSIVE RISK
[00:01:07] TO FAMILIES, TO OUR ECONOMY, AND
[00:01:10] TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. WE
[00:01:14] NEED CRYPTO LEGISLATION THAT STOPS POLITICAL SELF-DEALING.
[00:01:17] AND I KNOW THAT MANY IN THE
[00:01:18] CRYPTO INDUSTRY AGREE WITH THAT.
[00:01:22] BUT THIS BILL WOULD TURBOCHARGE
[00:01:24] DONALD TRUMP'S UNPRECEDENTED CORRUPTION. DONALD TRUMP'S
[00:01:28] PRIMARY CAMPAIGN PROMISE WAS
[00:01:30] THAT HE WOULD LOWER PRICES BEGINNING ON DAY ONE. HIS
[00:01:34] PROMISE, HIS WORDS, INSTEAD,
[00:01:39] TRUMP'S TARIFFS, TRUMP'S FOREVER WAR, HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD,
[00:01:43] TRUMP'S HEALTH CARE CUTS, TRUMP'S CLOSING, CHEAPER CLEAN
[00:01:46] ENERGY, TRUMP POLICIES ARE
[00:01:48] BOOSTING THE COSTS OF EVERYTHING
[00:01:51] FROM GROCERIES TO GAS, TO HEALTH
[00:01:54] CARE TO UTILITIES. THEY ARE ALL
[00:01:56] GOING UP, UP, UP. AND WHILE
[00:02:00] DONALD TRUMP IS RAISING COSTS
[00:02:01] FOR WORKING PEOPLE, TRUMP IS
[00:02:05] ALSO USING THE PRESIDENCY TO
[00:02:07] MAKE HIMSELF RICHER. AND HE'S
[00:02:09] ADDED CRYPTO TO HIS WAYS TO CASH
[00:02:12] IN INSTEAD OF DOUBLING DOWN ON
[00:02:17] EFFORTS TO PROSECUTE CRYPTO SCAMS AND TO BLOCK TERRORISTS
[00:02:20] AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS FROM USING
[00:02:23] CRYPTO, DONALD TRUMP HAS USED
[00:02:26] HIS OFFICE TO PROMOTE CRYPTO.
[00:02:28] HE'S TALKED UP CRYPTO. HE'S
[00:02:30] HELD A CRYPTO CONTEST, WITH THE PRIZE BEING DINNER WITH THE
[00:02:34] PRESIDENT. AND HE IS APPOINTED
[00:02:36] CRYPTO FRIENDLY REGULATORS. AND
[00:02:39] THE MONEY HAS JUST ROLLED IN FOR
[00:02:42] HIM. SHORTLY BEFORE HE WAS SWORN
[00:02:44] IN AS PRESIDENT, THE SECOND TIME
[00:02:47] TRUMP OPENED HIS OWN CRYPTO
[00:02:50] BUSINESS. AND BOY, WHAT A LAUNCH
[00:02:52] THAT MAN HAD AS HE TALKED UP
[00:02:56] CRYPTO. THE MONEY JUST KEPT
[00:02:58] ROLLING IN. IN 2025 ALONE, TRUMP
[00:03:03] AND HIS FAMILY RAKED IN $1.4
[00:03:05] BILLION FROM THEIR CRYPTO
[00:03:08] VENTURES. IN FACT, DONALD TRUMP
[00:03:10] MADE MORE FROM CRYPTO LAST YEAR
[00:03:15] THAN ANY PUBLICLY TRADED CRYPTO
[00:03:18] COMPANY IN AMERICA. THERE IS NO
[00:03:21] ONE WHO HAS MORE TO GAIN
[00:03:23] PERSONALLY FROM THIS BILL THAN
[00:03:25] THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
[00:03:28] STATES. OKAY, SO TRUMP WON BIG
[00:03:30] TIME ON CRYPTO, WHO LOST THE
[00:03:35] WORKING PEOPLE, WHO FOLLOWED
[00:03:37] THEIR LEADER, PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT
[00:03:39] INTO TRUMP'S CRYPTO VENTURES HAVE LOST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
[00:03:43] FOR EXAMPLE, THE FANS WHO BOUGHT
[00:03:47] TRUMP'S MEME COINS HAVE LOST
[00:03:50] NEARLY $4 BILLION. AND TRUMP
[00:03:52] JUST KEEPS PUMPING. THE CRYPTO
[00:03:54] INDUSTRY. HE HAS DISBANDED THE
[00:03:57] DOJ'S CRYPTO ENFORCEMENT TEAM.
[00:03:59] HE HAS DROPPED CRYPTO
[00:04:02] ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST COMPANIES THAT DONATED MILLIONS
[00:04:05] OF DOLLARS TO HIS CAMPAIGN. AND
[00:04:07] HE HAS GIVEN MULTIPLE
[00:04:10] PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS FOR CRYPTO
[00:04:13] EXECUTIVES CONVICTED OF SERIOUS
[00:04:16] CRIMES. TRUMP'S CORRUPTION IS SO
[00:04:19] EXTENSIVE THAT HE HAS INFECTED
[00:04:24] CRYPTO'S ENTIRE FINANCIAL,
[00:04:27] REGULATORY FRAMEWORK. NOW,
[00:04:28] REPUBLICANS ARE NOT ONLY TURNING A BLIND EYE TO TRUMP'S
[00:04:32] CORRUPTION, NOW, THEY WANT TO
[00:04:33] VOTE TODAY TO BOOST THAT
[00:04:36] CORRUPTION LATE ON SUNDAY NIGHT,
[00:04:42] THE REPUBLICANS RELEASED A NEW ETHICS PROVISION THAT THE
[00:04:45] REPUBLICANS NEGOTIATED WITH THE
[00:04:46] WHITE HOUSE. THEY READ EXACTLY
[00:04:49] LIKE WHAT THE MOST CORRUPT
[00:04:51] PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY WOULD
[00:04:54] BLESS. A TINY LITTLE FIG LEAF
[00:04:58] THAT CLAIMS THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT CORRUPTION. BUT
[00:05:00] THAT IS CAREFULLY WRITTEN TO
[00:05:03] MAKE SURE THAT IT WILL NOT PREVENT DONALD TRUMP FROM MAKING
[00:05:07] HIS NEXT $1.4 BILLION IN CRYPTO
[00:05:12] PROFITS. FIRST, THE NEW TEXT
[00:05:15] GUARANTEES THAT DONALD TRUMP WILL NEVER, EVER BE HELD
[00:05:19] ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THE LAW. WHY?
[00:05:21] BECAUSE TRUMP'S LAPDOGS WOULD
[00:05:24] HAVE THE POWER TO SHUT DOWN ANY
[00:05:27] ENFORCEMENT OF THE ETHICS
[00:05:29] PROVISIONS AGAINST DONALD TRUMP,
[00:05:31] THE TEXT SAYS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE
[00:05:35] GUY WHO, AT HIS CONFIRMATION
[00:05:37] HEARING, SAID, QUOTE, I AM
[00:05:40] TRUMP'S LAWYER, NOT AMERICA'S
[00:05:43] LAWYER. TRUMP'S LAWYER. THIS IS THE GUY WHO WOULD DECIDE WHETHER
[00:05:46] TO BRING AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION
[00:05:49] AGAINST THE PRESIDENT. THE BILL WOULD NOT ALLOW STATE ATTORNEYS
[00:05:53] GENERAL TO BRING ANY ENFORCEMENT
[00:05:56] ACTIONS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT. ALL THEY COULD DO IS TRY TO SUE
[00:06:00] TRUMP'S FORMER PERSONAL LAWYER, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO DO
[00:06:04] SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND HERE'S
[00:06:08] THE KICKER. NOBODY THINKS THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS GOING TO
[00:06:12] BRING AN ACTION AGAINST DONALD
[00:06:14] TRUMP. BUT THIS BILL HAS BELT
[00:06:17] AND SUSPENDERS BUILT RIGHT IN TO
[00:06:19] ENSURE THAT DONALD TRUMP'S MONEY MAKING SCHEMES. JUST KEEP RIGHT
[00:06:23] ON ROLLING. THE BILL SAYS THAT
[00:06:28] TRUMP'S HAND-PICKED CRONIES AT
[00:06:30] HIS OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS
[00:06:32] CAN WAVE A MAGIC WAND BY ISSUING
[00:06:36] A LEGAL OPINION. AND THEN, AS IF
[00:06:37] BY MAGIC, DONALD TRUMP WOULD
[00:06:41] SUDDENLY BE PROTECTED FROM ANY
[00:06:44] ENFORCEMENT AT ALL AGAINST HIS
[00:06:47] NEXT ROUND OF CRYPTO CORRUPTION,
[00:06:49] AN ETHICS RESTRICTION THAT THE
[00:06:53] PRESIDENT HIMSELF CAN HAVE
[00:06:58] COMPLETELY WAIVED IS NOT AN ETHICS RESTRICTION. NOW, SECOND,
[00:07:02] EVEN IF THESE PROVISIONS WERE
[00:07:04] ENFORCEABLE, THERE ARE MASSIVE LOOPHOLES IN THEM THAT WOULD
[00:07:08] ALLOW TRUMP TO CONTINUE JUICING
[00:07:10] HIS CRYPTO EMPIRE. UNDER THE NEW
[00:07:14] TEXT, TRUMP WOULD BE ALLOWED TO
[00:07:16] CONTINUE MAKING HUNDREDS OF
[00:07:19] MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM HIS CRYPTO VENTURES, INCLUDING WORLD
[00:07:23] LIBERTY FINANCIAL AND HIS MEME
[00:07:25] COIN. NOT ONLY WOULD TRUMP
[00:07:28] EASILY BE ABLE TO KEEP OR
[00:07:30] RESTRUCTURE HIS EXISTING CRYPTO
[00:07:32] VENTURES, HE WOULD ALSO BE ABLE
[00:07:37] TO CREATE NEW ONES. EXTRA CORRUPTION, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS
[00:07:41] NEW TEXT DOES NOTHING TO STOP
[00:07:43] DONALD TRUMP FROM BECOMING THE
[00:07:45] FIRST PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN
[00:07:48] HISTORY TO OWN AND REGULATE HIS
[00:07:50] OWN BANK. AND LASTLY, TRUMP
[00:07:53] COULD JUST PUT HIS HOLDINGS IN A
[00:07:55] BLIND TRUST, IN NAME ONLY, WHILE
[00:07:58] STILL KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT ASSETS ARE THERE AND STILL IN
[00:08:02] CHARGE OF THE REGULATORS WHO CAN
[00:08:05] JUICE THE VALUE OF DONALD
[00:08:07] TRUMP'S CRYPTO INVESTMENTS.
[00:08:10] TRUMP HAS ALREADY MADE $1.4
[00:08:12] BILLION IN 2025 ALONE. AS A
[00:08:16] CRYPTO WHEELER DEALER, AND THE BILL THAT THE REPUBLICANS WANT
[00:08:20] TO VOTE ON TODAY WOULD MAKE SURE
[00:08:22] THAT HE CAN JUST KEEP RAKING IN
[00:08:26] THE DOUGH IT'S NOT JUST THE
[00:08:29] ETHICS PROVISIONS THAT ARE TERRIBLE. THIS BILL WOULD MAKE
[00:08:33] IT EASIER FOR TERRORIST
[00:08:35] ORGANIZATIONS, FOR DRUG CARTELS,
[00:08:38] AND FOR ROGUE STATES TO BUY AND SELL WEAPONS AND PAY OFF
[00:08:42] GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, ALL USING
[00:08:45] CRYPTO. EASIER FOR TERRORISTS TO
[00:08:47] FINANCE THEIR OPERATIONS, AND
[00:08:50] HARDER FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
[00:08:52] CATCH THEM, EASIER FOR SCAMMERS
[00:08:55] TO CHEAT AMERICANS, AND HARDER
[00:08:57] FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CATCH
[00:09:00] THEM. EASIER FOR IRAN AND NORTH
[00:09:03] KOREA TO EVADE SANCTIONS, AND
[00:09:05] HARDER FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
[00:09:08] CATCH THEM. THIS BILL WOULD PUT
[00:09:12] US ALL AT RISK OF A CRYPTO
[00:09:15] FUELED ECONOMIC CRASH. THE
[00:09:18] CRYPTO BILL HAS BECOME A
[00:09:21] CHRISTMAS TREE WITH GIFTS FOR OTHER HIGH RISK SCAMMERS. THE
[00:09:25] BILL, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BLOW A
[00:09:28] MASSIVE HOLE IN OUR NEARLY
[00:09:31] CENTURY OLD SECURITIES LAWS BY ALLOWING AND ENCOURAGING COMPANIES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO
[00:09:35] DO WITH CRYPTO TO THROW THEIR
[00:09:38] ASSETS ON A BLOCKCHAIN TO ESCAPE
[00:09:43] THE INVESTOR PROTECTIONS THAT APPLY TO TRADITIONAL SECURITIES
[00:09:46] LIKE STOCKS. THE STOCK MARKET
[00:09:48] NOW THAT COULD DRAIN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT OF OUR STOCK MARKET
[00:09:52] THAT FAMILIES DEPEND ON TO FUND
[00:09:56] THEIR RETIREMENT SAVINGS. AND IT COULD DECIMATE THE GUARDRAILS
[00:09:59] THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE AFTER THE
[00:10:01] GREAT DEPRESSION. IN FACT,
[00:10:05] UNIONS ARE OPPOSED TO THIS BILL, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY SEE IT
[00:10:09] AS PUTTING WORKERS HARD EARNED
[00:10:12] PENSIONS AT RISK. AND REALLY, YOU SHOULD JUST ASK YOURSELF,
[00:10:16] WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH
[00:10:20] CRYPTO? WHY ARE WE PUTTING
[00:10:23] PROVISIONS IN PLACE TO BLOW UP
[00:10:25] PROTECTIONS ON THE STOCK MARKET?
[00:10:27] BECAUSE A HANDFUL OF CRYPTO BROS
[00:10:32] WANTED THIS BILL WOULD GIVE
[00:10:34] BANKS A GREEN LIGHT TO USE.
[00:10:36] AMERICANS BANKING DEPOSITS TO
[00:10:39] ENGAGE IN A BRAND NEW LIST OF
[00:10:42] RISKY CRYPTO ACTIVITIES, LENDING
[00:10:44] AGAINST CRYPTO AS COLLATERAL,
[00:10:47] BUYING CRYPTO DIRECTLY TRADING
[00:10:50] CRYPTO DERIVATIVES, OPERATING
[00:10:53] BLOCKCHAIN NODES, SELLING CRYPTO
[00:10:55] SOFTWARE, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. THINK ABOUT HOW THE PRICE OF
[00:10:59] CRYPTO SHOT UP AND DOWN AND UP
[00:11:03] AND DOWN IN JUST THE LAST COUPLE
[00:11:04] OF YEARS ALONE. AND THEN IMAGINE
[00:11:08] WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BIGGEST
[00:11:10] BANKS IN AMERICA USE THE MONEY
[00:11:13] IN YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO LOAD
[00:11:15] UP ON THAT KIND OF CRYPTO. THE
[00:11:21] BILL ALSO BLOCKS STATES AND TRIBAL NATIONS FROM ENFORCING
[00:11:23] THEIR OWN LAWS ON THE BOOKS TO
[00:11:25] PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS FROM GETTING SCAMMED. THE PRESIDENT
[00:11:29] OF THE INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION
[00:11:32] CALLS THIS BILL, QUOTE, THE
[00:11:40] GREATEST THREAT TO TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY IN A GENERATION. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN
[00:11:43] PEOPLE WANT. THEY WANT CONGRESS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE
[00:11:46] AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. THEY WANT
[00:11:48] AN END TO TRUMP'S WAR IN IRAN.
[00:11:51] THEY WANT THEIR ELECTED LEADERS
[00:11:53] TO STEP UP AND REGULATE AI.
[00:11:56] ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY CRYPTO
[00:11:59] NEWS OUTLET COINDESK. JUST 1% OF
[00:12:04] RESPONDENTS RANKED CRYPTO AS THEIR TOP CONCERN, ANOTHER POLL
[00:12:08] FOUND THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT VOTERS WANT TO DO ON
[00:12:11] CRYPTO, IT'S TO PUT IN PLACE
[00:12:14] MEANINGFUL ANTI-FRAUD AND
[00:12:17] ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES. THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THIS
[00:12:21] BILL GLARINGLY FAILS TO DO. SO
[00:12:24] YOU'VE GOT TO ASK YOURSELVES,
[00:12:26] WHY ARE WE HERE? WE NEED CRYPTO
[00:12:29] REGULATION. YES, WE DO, BUT WE
[00:12:32] DO NOT NEED A CRYPTO BILL
[00:12:34] WRITTEN BY THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY
[00:12:36] TO BENEFIT ONLY THE MOST EXTREME
[00:12:39] VOICES IN THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY.
[00:12:42] AND AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR
[00:12:44] NATIONAL SECURITY, OUR ECONOMIC
[00:12:47] STABILITY, AND TO HELP THE MOST
[00:12:51] CORRUPT PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY
[00:12:53] OF THE UNITED STATES, MAKE
[00:12:59] HIMSELF EVEN RICHER. I URGE MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO COME TO
[00:13:01] THE TABLE, NEGOTIATE A REAL
[00:13:04] BIPARTISAN CRYPTO BILL. BUT
[00:13:06] UNTIL THEN, I URGE MY COLLEAGUES
[00:13:08] TO VOTE NO. MR. PRESIDENT, I
[00:13:13] YIELD THE FLOOR.
[00:14:30] >> SO LET ME COMMENT ON AI AND
[00:14:33] TRUMP'S COMMENTS ON THAT. SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KEEP CALLING
[00:14:36] ON THEIR GOVERNMENT TO ACT ON
[00:14:38] AI, WHICH EVEN ITS CREATORS ARE
[00:14:42] SAYING IS INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS. BUT DONALD TRUMP
[00:14:44] COULDN'T CARE LESS. TRUMP SAYS
[00:14:47] THAT HE HAS THIS ISSUE COVERED.
[00:14:50] THAT, QUOTE, THE ONLY CONTROL OR GUARDRAILS THAT AI NEEDS IS A
[00:14:53] STRONG AND SMART, HIGH IQ
[00:14:56] PRESIDENT. WELL, WE DON'T HAVE
[00:14:58] ONE, SO LET'S DO SOMETHING.
[00:15:01] SENATORS, WE KNOW TRUMP IS NOT GOING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE
[00:15:05] HERE. HE PUTS HIS HEAD IN THE SAND. HE SAYS THERE'S NO
[00:15:08] PROBLEM. WHEN EVERY EXPERT SAYS THERE'S A DRAMATIC AND
[00:15:11] DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT WE SHOULD
[00:15:13] DEAL WITH A HIGH IQ PRESIDENT
[00:15:16] WOULDN'T CALL AMERICANS
[00:15:19] WELL-FOUNDED. AI CONCERNS A HOAX
[00:15:21] OR A SICK CONSPIRACY. THOSE
[00:15:25] AREN'T THE WORDS OF SOMEONE WITH
[00:15:26] A HIGH IQ. DONALD TRUMP, THE
[00:15:29] ONLY THING THAT IS SICK IS
[00:15:32] TRUMP'S INDIFFERENCE TO THE
[00:15:34] CONCERNS. LEGITIMATE, VALID, STRONG CONCERNS OF THE AMERICAN
[00:15:38] PEOPLE. AND THIS IS WHAT TRUMP ALWAYS DOES. AMERICANS VOICE
[00:15:42] THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT A PRESSING ISSUE. TRUMP DISMISSES THEM OUT
[00:15:45] OF HAND. AMERICA'S AMERICANS
[00:15:48] EXPRESS THEIR OUTRAGE ABOUT SKYROCKETING COSTS FROM TRUMP'S
[00:15:51] FAILED AGENDA. TRUMP CALLS
[00:15:53] AFFORDABILITY, QUOTE, A MADE UP
[00:15:55] WORD. FAMILIES SAY THEY'RE GETTING CRUSHED AT THE GAS PUMP
[00:15:59] BECAUSE OF TRUMP'S WAR IN IRAN. THE PRESIDENT CALLS SOARING FUEL
[00:16:03] PRICES FAKE. EVEN THERE. THEY'RE
[00:16:05] ABOVE $4.30 A GALLON. AGAIN.
[00:16:08] WHERE'S YOUR IQ, MR. PRESIDENT? WHERE'S YOUR PERCEPTION OF THE
[00:16:11] WORLD I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S
[00:16:15] DELUSION OR DECEPTION, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER. TRUMP IS
[00:16:18] COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND TRUMP IS
[00:16:21] DEAD WRONG ABOUT AI. WE DON'T
[00:16:23] EVEN KNOW HOW THE ADMINISTRATION
[00:16:26] IS TESTING THE SAFETY OF THESE POWERFUL MODELS BEFORE THEY ARE
[00:16:30] RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC. IS TRUMP FAVORING ONE COMPANY OVER
[00:16:34] ANOTHER BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL
[00:16:36] INTERESTS BECAUSE OF HIS MOOD OF THE DAY? HE'S DONE THAT TIME
[00:16:40] AND TIME AGAIN. HE'S FAVORED ONE COMPANY, ONE INTEREST OVER
[00:16:43] ANOTHER, BECAUSE THEY SUCK UP TO
[00:16:45] HIM. THEY GIVE HIM CONTRIBUTIONS. WHO KNOWS WHAT,
[00:16:49] BUT IT'S USUALLY NOT ON THE MERITS, AND IT'S OFTEN CORRUPT.
[00:16:53] WHAT KIND OF RIGOR IS REALLY
[00:16:57] BEING EMPLOYED TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE
[00:16:59] AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHAT ARE THEY DOING? HOW ARE THEY DOING IT?
[00:17:02] WHO ARE THEY FAVORING? THESE ARE
[00:17:05] ALL LEGITIMATE, IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED.
[00:17:09] AND THAT'S WHY I CALLED ON THE
[00:17:11] TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO HOLD A CLASSIFIED BRIEFING WITH THE
[00:17:14] ENTIRE SENATE IMMEDIATELY ABOUT
[00:17:18] THE POTENTIAL SEVERE RISKS THAT
[00:17:21] UNCHECKED AI DEVELOPMENT POSES TO OUR COUNTRY. WE ALL KNOW
[00:17:24] ABOUT THEM. WE NEED TRANSPARENCY
[00:17:27] INTO HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS TESTING POWERFUL FRONTIER AI
[00:17:29] MODELS, SOMETHING THEY'VE BEEN CONCEALING FROM THE PUBLIC SINCE
[00:17:33] ANNOUNCING A FRAMEWORK MONTHS AGO. AI IS SOMETHING WE CAN COME
[00:17:36] TOGETHER ON IN THE SENATE. I SAY
[00:17:41] THAT TO MY COLLEAGUES. DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAN COME
[00:17:44] TOGETHER. WE DESERVE TO KNOW HOW
[00:17:47] THIS ADMINISTRATION IS HANDLING THIS CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUE FACING
[00:17:51] THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IF THERE'S
[00:17:54] EVER A TIME FOR REPUBLICANS TO
[00:17:55] BREAK FROM THEIR BLINDED
[00:17:59] ALLEGIANCE TO TRUMP, IT IS NOW. THE WORLD IS IN DANGER, AND
[00:18:02] REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE SIDELINES
[00:18:05] SUCKING THEIR THUMBS. IT'S TIME TO GET OFF THE BENCH. AND IT'S
[00:18:09] WORTH REMEMBERING THAT
[00:18:12] BIPARTISAN HAS HAPPENED ON AI BEFORE. IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT. IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS, ALMOST
[00:18:16] TO THE DAY SINCE I CONVENED THE
[00:18:20] BIPARTISAN AI INSIGHT FORUMS WE BROUGHT TOGETHER NOT JUST
[00:18:23] INDUSTRY TITANS, BUT LEADERS
[00:18:24] FROM ACROSS SECTORS, ACADEMIA,
[00:18:27] CIVIL SOCIETY, LABOR TO STEER THE SENATE TO MUCH NEEDED
[00:18:31] ACTION. WE CONVENED THESE FORUMS TO GET AHEAD OF THE VERY CRISIS
[00:18:34] WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES IN TODAY. TO PREVENT AI FROM
[00:18:38] GETTING IN ON AN UNSUSTAINABLE
[00:18:41] PATH THAT ENDANGERS OUR SECURITY, UNDERMINES THE
[00:18:44] PUBLIC'S TRUST, JEOPARDIZES
[00:18:46] AMERICAN LEADERSHIP, AND OUT OF
[00:18:49] THESE FORUMS CAME A BIPARTISAN,
[00:18:52] COMPREHENSIVE ROADMAP. IT WAS
[00:18:54] STRONG. IT WAS BIPARTISAN, AND THE ROADMAP WAS TURNED INTO A
[00:18:58] BIPARTISAN PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT WE CAME CLOSE TO PASSING INTO
[00:19:01] LAW. AT THE END OF THE LAST
[00:19:03] CONGRESS UNTIL REPUBLICAN
[00:19:07] LEADERSHIP, DONALD TRUMP, ELON
[00:19:09] MUSK, AND AN INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BLOCKED IT. WE
[00:19:13] HAD A CHANCE TO DO THIS. WE NEARLY HAD IT. WE HAD GOOD
[00:19:16] BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND TRUMP COMES IN, MUSK COMES IN AND
[00:19:19] SAYS, DON'T DO IT. AND NOW LOOK
[00:19:22] WHERE WE ARE. ULTIMATELY,
[00:19:25] REPUBLICANS BLOCKED OUR EFFORTS
[00:19:28] TO ACT AT THE END OF LAST CONGRESS. BUT MY COLLEAGUES, MY
[00:19:32] REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, WE CAN
[00:19:32] COME TOGETHER AGAIN TO TAKE
[00:19:37] ACTION. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING IT. WE CANNOT LET PARTIZANSHIP STAND IN THE WAY OF
[00:19:41] THIS. ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS OUR COUNTRY AND THE
[00:19:44] WORLD HAS EVER FACED.
[00:19:47] >> MR. PRESIDENT, TOMORROW THE
[00:19:49] SENATE WILL VOTE ON A CRYPTO BILL THAT POSES MASSIVE RISKS TO
[00:19:53] OUR FAMILIES, TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, AND TO OUR ECONOMY.
[00:19:57] AND IF THAT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH,
[00:19:59] WHILE AMERICANS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY SUFFER FROM AN
[00:20:03] AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, THIS BILL
[00:20:06] WILL TURBO CHARGE PRESIDENT
[00:20:09] DONALD TRUMP'S ABILITY TO RAKE
[00:20:11] IN BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM CRYPTO. SO, LATE
[00:20:15] LAST NIGHT, WE GOT THE DETAILS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE
[00:20:19] REPUBLICANS, QUOTE, FINAL OFFER
[00:20:21] ON ETHICS ON THIS BILL. AND IT
[00:20:24] READS EXACTLY LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT.
[00:20:27] >> UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SPEAK
[00:20:29] FOR UP TO 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED ROLL CALL VOTE.
[00:20:33] >> WITHOUT OBJECTION
[00:20:42] >> MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT KEVIN
[00:20:45] WEBB, A DETAILEE FROM THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
[00:20:48] NUTRITION AND FORESTRY FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING
[00:20:51] COMMISSION, BE GRANTED FLOOR
[00:20:54] PRIVILEGES THROUGH OCTOBER 2nd, 2026.
[00:20:57] >> WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[00:21:00] >> MR. PRESIDENT, IN A FEW MINUTES, THE SENATE WILL VOTE ON
[00:21:02] ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT, CONSEQUENTIAL BIPARTISAN
[00:21:07] FINANCIAL SERVICES BILL IN A
[00:21:09] GENERATION. THE DIGITAL ASSET
[00:21:12] MARKET CLARITY ACT. BEFORE WE DO, MY COLLEAGUES NEED TO
[00:21:16] UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT'S AT
[00:21:19] STAKE. I HAVE SPENT EVERY SINGLE
[00:21:22] DAY OF THE PAST YEAR FIGHTING TO GET THE CLARITY ACT READY FOR
[00:21:25] PRIME TIME, BECAUSE WYOMING DID
[00:21:27] NOT SEND ME TO WASHINGTON TO
[00:21:30] WATCH AMERICA FALL BEHIND, MY
[00:21:32] STATE SENT ME HERE TO MAKE SURE
[00:21:35] WE LEAD. TODAY, THIS BODY DECIDES WHETHER WE KEEP THAT
[00:21:38] PROMISE OR SIDELINE AMERICAN
[00:21:42] LEADERSHIP. WYOMING WROTE. THE
[00:21:44] BLUEPRINT FOR REGULATING DIGITAL ASSETS IN THE UNITED STATES. AND
[00:21:48] IN MANY WAYS, THE WORLD. IN
[00:21:51] 2017, THE WYOMING LEGISLATURE EMBARKED ON A MISSION TO CREATE
[00:21:55] A FIRST OF ITS KIND REGULATORY
[00:21:58] FRAMEWORK FOR DIGITAL ASSETS
[00:22:00] THAT PROTECTS CONSUMERS AND
[00:22:03] PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION. THE WYOMING LEGISLATURE WAS THE
[00:22:06] FIRST LEGISLATIVE BODY IN THE
[00:22:08] UNITED STATES TO DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN A SECURITY AND A
[00:22:12] COMMODITY. WAS THE FIRST TO
[00:22:15] SAFELY INTEGRATE DIGITAL ASSETS INTO OUR NATION'S BANKING SYSTEM
[00:22:18] IN A SAFE AND SOUND WAY, THROUGH
[00:22:22] SPECIAL PURPOSE DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS AND WYOMING WAS THE
[00:22:26] FIRST JURISDICTION IN THE NATION
[00:22:27] TO CREATE A NEW LEGAL ENTITY FOR
[00:22:31] DECENTRALIZED, UNINCORPORATED,
[00:22:33] NONPROFIT ASSOCIATIONS. A WYOMING SPECIAL PURPOSE
[00:22:37] DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION WAS ALSO THE FIRST DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION
[00:22:39] IN THE HISTORY OF OUR BANKING
[00:22:42] SYSTEM TO EARN A MASTER ACCOUNT
[00:22:45] FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE. THE
[00:22:48] SUCCESSFUL WYOMING BLUEPRINT IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE DIGITAL
[00:22:52] ASSET MARKET CLARITY ACT. TODAY.
[00:22:55] THIS IS NOT A PARTIZAN BILL, NOT
[00:23:00] EVEN CLOSE. DEMOCRATS SECURED
[00:23:03] 126 SEPARATE CONCESSIONS IN THIS TEXT, AND THEY WROTE MORE THAN
[00:23:06] HALF OF THE 630 PAGES IN FRONT
[00:23:09] OF YOU. THIS BILL STARTED AT 300
[00:23:12] PAGES. IT STANDS AT 635, BECAUSE
[00:23:14] I SAT ACROSS THE TABLE FROM MY
[00:23:17] COLLEAGUES FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR
[00:23:19] AND TOOK EVERY OBJECTION
[00:23:22] SERIOUSLY, AND BUILT THOSE CHANGES INTO THE BILL OURSELVES.
[00:23:25] THAT'S NOT CAPITULATION. THAT'S WHAT LEGISLATING IN GOOD
[00:23:29] FAITH LOOKS LIKE, SOMETHING THIS
[00:23:31] BODY FAR TOO OFTEN FORGETS HOW
[00:23:34] TO DO. NOWHERE, ABSOLUTELY
[00:23:37] NOWHERE HAVE WE GIVEN MORE ON
[00:23:40] ETHICS MORE THAN ON ETHICS. IN
[00:23:47] THIS BILL, IN JULY, PRESIDENT TRUMP VOLUNTARILY PUT HIMSELF
[00:23:51] THE VICE PRESIDENT. EVERY JUDGE,
[00:23:54] FEDERALLY ELECTED OFFICIAL, AND
[00:23:55] THEIR SPOUSES UNDER THE
[00:24:00] STRICTEST ETHICS RESTRICTIONS
[00:24:02] THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN.
[00:24:05] ALMOST NO ONE IN WASHINGTON WOULD HAVE OFFERED THAT ON THEIR
[00:24:10] OWN. BUT DEMOCRATS STILL WANTED
[00:24:11] MORE. THEY WANTED INDEPENDENT
[00:24:15] OUTSIDE ENFORCEMENT. SO PRESIDENT TRUMP WENT BACK TO THE
[00:24:17] TABLE, AND HE GAVE MORE. THIS
[00:24:23] FINAL TEXT REFLECTS SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE TOLUSE
[00:24:26] GALLEGO FRAMEWORK, BUILT ON TOP
[00:24:29] OF WHAT WAS ALREADY A STOLARIK
[00:24:32] STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL NOW HAVE
[00:24:34] DIRECT AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE
[00:24:37] THESE ETHICS RULES AGAINST FEDERAL OFFICIALS THEMSELVES.
[00:24:41] THEY CAN GO AFTER EXCHANGES AND
[00:24:46] ISSUERS UNDER CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW, SO BAD ACTORS
[00:24:50] GET HIT. COMING AND GOING. NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER GONE THIS
[00:24:53] FAR, AND THIS PRESIDENT DID IT
[00:24:57] TWICE. LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT
[00:24:59] WHAT A NO VOTE ACTUALLY IS
[00:25:02] TODAY. IT'S NOT A PRINCIPLED
[00:25:04] STAND AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.
[00:25:07] IT'S NOT A VOTE AGAINST A BILL
[00:25:11] THAT HAS HAD A PARTIZAN FLARE.
[00:25:14] IT'S A VOTE TO PROTECT
[00:25:17] POLITICIANS PERSONAL CRYPTO
[00:25:19] HOLDINGS FROM THE VERY LIMITS
[00:25:22] DEMOCRATS DEMANDED AND GOT.
[00:25:27] IT'S A VOTE AGAINST THE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS. AMERICAN
[00:25:30] FAMILIES ARE COUNTING ON, AND
[00:25:32] IT'S A VOTE TO HAND THE FUTURE OF FINANCIAL INNOVATION TO A
[00:25:37] FOREIGN COMPETITOR WHO WILL NOT BE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO WASTE THIS
[00:25:40] CHANCE TO LEAD OUR GLOBAL
[00:25:43] DIGITAL ECONOMY. AND ON SHORE,
[00:25:44] THIS INDUSTRY, AND THE GOOD
[00:25:47] PAYING JOBS IT CREATES, THIS
[00:25:50] COUNTRY, PUT THE FIRST MAN ON
[00:25:53] THE MOON. WE BUILT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND WE BUILT THE
[00:25:56] INTERNET. WE DO NOT WATCH
[00:26:00] HISTORY HAPPEN TO US. WE MAKE
[00:26:03] HISTORY. WE SHOULD NOT STOP THAT
[00:26:11] TRADITION. TODAY. 635 PAGES. A
[00:26:13] FULL YEAR OF DAILY NEGOTIATIONS,
[00:26:18] DAILY, EVEN ON WEEKENDS, 126
[00:26:21] DEMOCRAT WINS WRITTEN INTO LAW.
[00:26:23] THE STRONGEST ETHICS
[00:26:26] RESTRICTIONS ANY PRESIDENT HAS
[00:26:29] EVER ACCEPTED IN WRITING RIGHT
[00:26:34] HERE. THIS IS WHAT GOOD FAITH
[00:26:37] LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS WHAT
[00:26:43] COMPROMISE LOOKS LIKE. AND IN A FEW MINUTES, MY COLLEAGUES WILL
[00:26:47] DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT MEANT
[00:26:49] ANYTHING AT ALL. I HAVE GIVEN
[00:26:54] THIS FIGHT EVERYTHING I HAVE. FROM THE MOMENT I WAS SWORN IN
[00:26:56] AS A U.S. SENATOR, AND ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST YEAR,
[00:27:00] FOR SO LONG, THIS FIGHT
[00:27:10] HAS BEEN MINE AND THAT OF MY INCREDIBLE PARTNER AND DEAR
[00:27:14] FRIEND, SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND'S. AND CHAIRMAN SCOTT'S, AND CHAIRMAN, BOZEMAN.
[00:27:18] SENATOR TILLIS, SENATOR MORENO, AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO
[00:27:21] HAVE WALKED ALONGSIDE ME IN THIS FIGHT FOR THIS INDUSTRY TO BRING
[00:27:24] US TO THIS MOMENT TODAY. THIS
[00:27:28] FIGHT BELONGS TO THE WHOLE BODY. PRESIDENT TRUMP GAVE MORE THAN
[00:27:32] ANYONE IN THIS TOWN EXPECTED
[00:27:34] TWICE. IT'S TIME FOR THIS BODY
[00:27:37] TO TAKE YES FOR AN ANSWER. TAKE
[00:27:42] THE WIN. STAND WITH AMERICAN
[00:27:46] INNOVATION. STAND WITH AMERICAN CONSUMERS. STAND WITH AMERICAN
[00:27:50] LEADERSHIP. DO NOT LET THIS DAY
[00:27:55] BE THE DAY WE HANDED OUR FUTURE
[00:27:56] TO SOMEONE ELSE. BECAUSE WE WERE
[00:27:59] TOO AFRAID TO FINISH WHAT WE
[00:28:01] STARTED. LET'S VOTE YES. LET'S
[00:28:07] NOT ONLY JOIN THE 21st CENTURY
[00:28:10] ECONOMY, LET'S NOT ONLY JOIN
[00:28:12] THE DIGITAL AGE, LET'S LEAD IT.
[00:28:16] LET'S DEFINE IT. LET'S MAKE IT
[00:28:18] WORK FOR AMERICA AND THE WORLD.
[00:28:20] LET'S VOTE YES. LET'S GET THIS
[00:28:23] DONE. MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD
[00:28:25] BACK AND I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
[00:28:28] TO WAIVE THE MANDATORY QUORUM
[00:28:30] CALL WITH RESPECT TO THE CLOTURE
[00:28:34] MOTION FOR H.R. 3633.
[00:28:38] >> WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[00:28:41] >> MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE THREE
[00:28:45] REQUESTS FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET TODAY. DURING THE SESSION OF THE SENATE. THEY HAVE THE APPROVAL
[00:28:49] OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS.
[00:28:52] >> DULY NOTED THE CLERK WILL
[00:29:00] REPORT THE MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE.
[00:29:01] >> CLOTURE, MOTION MOTION. WE, THE UNDERSIGNED SENATORS, IN
[00:29:05] ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 22 OF THE STANDING RULES
[00:29:08] OF THE SENATE, DO HEREBY MOVE TO BRING TO A CLOSE DEBATE ON THE
[00:29:11] MOTION TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR
[00:29:12] NUMBER 423. H.R. 3633. AN ACT TO
[00:29:16] PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM OF REGULATION OF THE OFFER AND SALE OF DIGITAL COMMODITIES, AND SO
[00:29:20] FORTH, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, SIGNED BY 17 SENATORS.
[00:29:23] >> UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
[00:29:25] MANDATORY QUORUM CALL UNDER RULE 22 HAS BEEN WAIVED. THE QUESTION
[00:29:30] IS, IS IT THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE DEBATE ON THE
[00:29:32] MOTION TO PROCEED TO H.R. 3633,
[00:29:36] AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM OF REGULATION OF THE OFFER AND
[00:29:39] SALE OF DIGITAL COMMODITIES BY
[00:29:42] THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
[00:29:44] COMMISSION AND THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION TO
[00:29:47] AMEND THE FEDERAL RESERVE ACT TO PROHIBIT THE FEDERAL RESERVE
[00:29:51] BANKS FROM OFFERING CERTAIN
[00:29:53] PRODUCTS OR SERVICES DIRECTLY TO AN INDIVIDUAL TO PROHIBIT THE
[00:29:56] USE OF CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL
[00:29:58] CURRENCY FOR MONETARY POLICY AND
[00:30:00] FOR OTHER PURPOSES, SHALL BE BROUGHT TO A CLOSE. THE YEAS AND
[00:30:04] NAYS ARE MANDATORY UNDER THE RULE. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE
[00:30:07] ROLL.
[00:30:12] >> MISS ALSOBROOKS MR. ARMSTRONG. >> SENATORS ARE NOW VOTING ON WHETHER TO ADVANCE
[00:30:16] CRYPTOCURRENCY LEGISLATION TO REGULATE DIGITAL ASSETS. THE
[00:30:20] SENATE'S KEY VOTE OF THE DAY. THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE CLARITY
[00:30:24] ACT, NOW INCLUDES ETHICAL PROVISIONS APPROVED BY THE TRUMP
[00:30:27] WHITE HOUSE THAT WERE ADDED OVER THE WEEKEND BY REPUBLICAN
[00:30:31] LEADERS TO ATTRACT MORE SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATS. 60 VOTES ARE
[00:30:34] NEEDED TO ADVANCE THE BILL AND
[00:30:35] MOVE TOWARDS FORMALLY BEGINNING
[00:30:38] DEBATE. LIVE COVERAGE OF THE
[00:30:40] SENATE HERE ON C-SPAN. TWO.
[00:30:45] >> NUMEROUS AND I MEAN, NUMEROUS, CONVERSATIONS ON THE ETHICS PIECE AND SENATOR TILLIS
[00:30:49] HAS BEEN INVOLVED. SENATOR MORENO HAS BEEN INVOLVED. SENATOR LUMMIS HAS BEEN
[00:30:53] INVOLVED. AND AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEKEND, MADE SOME
[00:30:56] ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS, AS I POINTED OUT, TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MORE
[00:31:00] THEY COULD GIVE, HONESTLY. SO I THINK THIS WAS THIS WAS A LAST
[00:31:03] AND FINAL OFFER PUT FORWARD OVER THE WEEKEND. WE'RE GOING TO
[00:31:06] FIND OUT TODAY, AGAIN, WHETHER OR NOT THE DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO TAKE YES FOR AN ISSUE OR YES
[00:31:10] FOR AN ANSWER. >> CBO IS OUT WITH NEW NUMBERS
[00:31:14] TODAY ABOUT THE IRAN WAR SAYING THE INFLATION IS GOING TO
[00:31:17] INCREASE NEXT YEAR, AND THAT IT'S COST $38 BILLION UP UNTIL
[00:31:21] AUGUST 1st. I'M WONDERING, GIVEN THAT THIS WAS SOLD TO THE PUBLIC BY THE ADMINISTRATION AS
[00:31:25] BEING A SHORT LIVED WAR AND MAY NOT HAVE MUCH OF AN ECONOMIC
[00:31:28] COST, AND VOTERS ARE STILL PAYING SO MUCH AT THE GAS PUMP. ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THIS
[00:31:32] COULD BE AN ALBATROSS FOR REPUBLICANS HEADING INTO
[00:31:36] NOVEMBER? >> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK ANY
[00:31:38] TIME, UM, GAS PRICES ARE ALWAYS AN ISSUE FOR VOTERS. AND, YOU
[00:31:42] KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS HAVING SOME IMPACT
[00:31:46] THERE. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS UNDERSTAND
[00:31:50] WHAT'S AT STAKE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT IRAN NEVER HAS A NUCLEAR WEAPON, AND
[00:31:54] THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO THREATEN
[00:31:56] NOT ONLY THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THE ENTIRE WORLD WITH THE
[00:31:59] MILITARY CAPABILITIES THAT THEY'VE DEMONSTRATED IN THE PAST. THEY'RE PERFECTLY WILLING TO USE.
[00:32:02] >> SO IS IT WORTH THE COST? IS IT WORTH THAT COST? >> WELL, LOOK, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A THAT'S A, YOU KNOW,
[00:32:06] EVERYBODY'S GOING TO COME TO A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE COST OUGHT TO BE
[00:32:09] FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT I THINK IN ORDER TO KEEP THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD SAFE. YES.
[00:32:13] AND I THINK MOST OF OUR MEMBERS WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. NOW, IS
[00:32:15] THERE A PATH TO TRY AND GET SHIPPING LANES OPEN IN THE
[00:32:19] STRAIT SO WE CAN GET SOME OF THIS PRESSURE OFF OF FUEL PRICES IN THIS COUNTRY? YES. AND THE
[00:32:23] ADMINISTRATION, I THINK, IS WORKING THAT DILIGENTLY, AND I HOPE THAT THE PRESIDENT AND HIS
[00:32:28] TEAM WILL HAVE SOME SUCCESS IN
[00:32:29] DOING THAT. BUT IN THE OVER, IF
[00:32:33] YOU LOOK AT THE OVERARCHING SORT OF THE ARC OF HISTORY ON THIS AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN FOR THE
[00:32:37] LAST FIVE DECADES WITH RESPECT TO IRAN, I THINK THE THE
[00:32:40] MILITARY OBJECTIVES THAT WERE LAID OUT HAVE BEEN LARGELY
[00:32:43] ACHIEVED. UM, WE GOT THIS ECONOMIC ISSUE THAT'S GOT TO BE
[00:32:47] DEALT WITH. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS RIGHTLY FOCUSED ON.
[00:32:51] >> NOW. ERBIL. IF ASSUMING THAT
[00:32:53] THE AG COMMITTEE REPORTS OUT
[00:32:55] FARM BILL TOMORROW WITH SENATOR MCCONNELL'S VOTE, HOW SOON DO
[00:32:59] YOU INTEND TO BRING UP THIS ARTICLE FORWARD? WOULD IT BE
[00:33:03] BEFORE THE ELECTION, AFTER THE
[00:33:05] ELECTION? AND WHAT ABOUT, UH, THE DEMOCRATIC COOPERATION ON
[00:33:08] THAT? THERE WERE NO VOTES, SO FAR, AS YOU KNOW, IN THE
[00:33:11] COMMITTEE. AND FINALLY, THE
[00:33:13] CURRENT EXTENSION EXPIRES ON
[00:33:18] SEPTEMBER 30th. IN THE EXPIRING EXTENSION OF THE THIRD TIME THE
[00:33:21] FARM BILL WAS EXTENDED. >> WELL, FIRST, A LOT OF THE FARM BILL GOT WRITTEN LAST
[00:33:25] SUMMER. I MEAN, THE KEY TITLES, AND I'M A MEMBER OF THIS. THIS
[00:33:28] IS MY FIFTH FARM BILL, THE COMMODITY TITLE, CONSERVATION
[00:33:31] TITLE. ALL THE DISASTER
[00:33:32] PROVISIONS WERE WERE DEALT WITH LAST SUMMER IN THE
[00:33:36] >> THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUTS LEGISLATION. BUT THERE ARE PIECES THAT DIDN'T GET DONE, AND FARMERS NEED CERTAINTY. THEY
[00:33:40] NEED PREDICTABILITY. AND THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT COMPONENTS IN THIS BILL THAT WAS BLOCKED BY
[00:33:44] THE DEMOCRATS IN THE COMMITTEE. WHEN WE VOTED ON IT BEFORE WE
[00:33:47] LEFT IN AUGUST. AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIME IN MY TIME IN PUBLIC
[00:33:50] LIFE. AND CERTAINLY, AS IT RELATES TO DEALING WITH FARM
[00:33:54] BILLS, WHERE YOU'VE HAD THIS KIND OF A PARTISAN, AND,
[00:33:58] FRANKLY, ON A BILL, ON A BILL THAT THE DEMOCRATS WERE INVOLVED
[00:34:02] IN NEGOTIATING. IF YOU TALK TO SENATOR BOOZMAN, WHO'S THE
[00:34:05] CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, THERE WERE 100 DEMOCRAT AMENDMENTS IN
[00:34:08] THE FARM BILL THAT THEY BLOCKED, VOTED AGAINST. THAT IS INEXCUSABLE IN FARM COUNTRY. AND
[00:34:12] SO I THINK I'M HOPING, AT LEAST WITH SENATOR MCCONNELL'S
[00:34:16] PRESENCE HERE ON WEDNESDAY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REPORT IT OUT OF THE COMMITTEE. AND WITH
[00:34:19] RESPECT TO TIMING, I WOULD SAY I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS INTO
[00:34:22] CONFERENCE WITH THE HOUSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW,
[00:34:26] FLOOR TIME IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING, OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE REASONS I MENTIONED,
[00:34:29] PARTICULARLY IF WE GET ON EITHER OR BOTH OF THE BILLS THAT WE'RE
[00:34:32] GOING TO BE VOTING ON TODAY. BUT IN FARM COUNTRY, THEY'RE LOOKING
[00:34:36] FOR PREDICTABILITY. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR CERTAINTY. AND THIS
[00:34:40] BILL GIVES THEM THAT. AND THE DEMOCRATS BLOCK VOTED AGAINST
[00:34:43] IT, JUST LIKE THEY BLOCK VOTED
[00:34:45] AGAINST GETTING ON THE DEFENSE
[00:34:49] AUTHORIZATION BILL. THE WAY THEY BLOCKED VOTED AGAINST FISA AND SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES. I MEAN, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE
[00:34:53] BIPARTISAN, AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT. THEY'RE IMPORTANT. NATIONAL SECURITY ITEMS AND FARM
[00:34:56] BILLS ARE, YOU KNOW, FOOD SECURITY IS NATIONAL SECURITY.
[00:35:00] AND SO I'M JUST, I HOPE THAT
[00:35:03] THE DEMOCRATS WILL, AT LEAST
[00:35:06] WHEN IT COMES TO THESE MATTERS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE, WORK
[00:35:09] TOGETHER WITH REPUBLICANS, RATHER THAN CONVERTING EVERYTHING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR
[00:35:13] POLITICAL ISSUE
[00:35:16] >> RON WYDEN ALL CONCERNED. >> DO YOU AGREE WITH PRESIDENT
[00:35:19] TRUMP THAT IT'S A HOAX, THAT THE IDEA THAT AI COULD HAVE EFFECTS THAT COULD KILL ALL
[00:35:23] HUMAN BEINGS? AND DO YOU HAVE
[00:35:24] ANY INTENTION TO ACTUALLY DO
[00:35:27] ANYTHING ON THAT, IN THIS IN THIS NEXT THREE WEEKS OR AFTER THE MIDTERMS?
[00:35:31] >> WELL, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS
[00:35:33] AROUND THAT. THAT SUBJECT. AND I
[00:35:37] WOULD SAY, I MEAN, THE FIRST, THE PREMISE OF YOUR FIRST
[00:35:40] QUESTION, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLY KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THAT.
[00:35:42] I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF HYPERBOLE AROUND, AROUND THIS ISSUE, BUT I DON'T THINK FOR A
[00:35:46] MINUTE THAT WE OUGHT TO CEDE
[00:35:50] THE, FUTURE WHEN IT COMES TO AI, TO CHINA, OR ANY OTHER
[00:35:54] ADVERSARY. I THINK WE NEED TO TO LEAD IN THAT, IN THAT REALM AND
[00:35:58] MAKE SURE THAT AMERICANS ARE BENEFITING FROM WHAT I THINK ARE
[00:36:00] GOING TO BE SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT BENEFITS FROM AI. BUT
[00:36:04] I ALSO THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO MITIGATE AGAINST THE, I WOULD
[00:36:08] SAY, THE SORT OF ADVANCED RISK
[00:36:13] SYSTEMS WHEN IT. WITH RESPECT TO AI, WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL THE FRONTIER MODELS. AND SO THIS IS
[00:36:16] SOMETHING I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAD A BILL THAT PASSED IN THE COMMERCE
[00:36:20] COMMITTEE IN THE LAST SESSION OF
[00:36:20] CONGRESS IN 2024. ON AI. WHAT I
[00:36:25] CHARACTERIZE AS A LIGHT TOUCH APPROACH, BUT IT DEALS WITH THIS
[00:36:29] VERY ISSUE. AND SO AT SOME POINT, MAYBE WE GET THAT TEED UP. RIGHT NOW, THAT'S BEING
[00:36:32] BLOCKED BY DEMOCRATS, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH. BUT I DO THINK IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S
[00:36:35] GOING TO BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND. AND I THINK THERE SHOULD
[00:36:38] BE. I THINK IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY
[00:36:41] IMPACTFUL, NOT ONLY TO OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE, BUT, FRANKLY,
[00:36:45] FOR THE WORLD >> ON SPENDING. THERE'S BEEN A
[00:36:48] BREAKDOWN IN THE APPROPRIATIONS
[00:36:51] PROCESS THIS YEAR. WHAT IS YOUR PREFERENCE AFTER THE ELECTION?
[00:36:55] THE DEFENSE FUNDING, THE SUPPLEMENTAL, MOVED BY REGULAR ORDER, OR ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO DO A RECONCILIATION PACKAGE TO GET THAT DONE?
[00:36:58] >> WELL, PREFERABLY ALWAYS TO DO IT THROUGH REGULAR ORDER. I
[00:37:02] MEAN, I'M, I'M A, I'M AN ADVOCATE, YOU KNOW, DEFENSE
[00:37:05] AUTHORIZATION BILL AT SOME POINT NEEDS TO BE A BIPARTISAN BILL.
[00:37:08] IT JUST DOES. AND I WOULD ARGUE
[00:37:11] THE SAME THING WITH RESPECT TO APPROPRIATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO
[00:37:14] NATIONAL SECURITY. THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS UNDER REGULAR ORDER,
[00:37:17] THROUGH THE NORMAL APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, OR
[00:37:20] PERHAPS A SUPPLEMENTAL THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO GET BIPARTISAN
[00:37:23] SUPPORT. UH, ABSENT ANY KIND OF
[00:37:25] BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, THEN YES, RECONCILIATION IS ALWAYS AN
[00:37:28] OPTION THAT'S AVAILABLE. UM,
[00:37:30] BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT THE NEXT FEW
[00:37:33] WEEKS BRING. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, THE ELECTION WILL PROBABLY HAVE
[00:37:37] SOME BEARING ON WHAT THE
[00:37:40] WILLINGNESS IS ON THE PART OF THE DEMOCRATS TO, TO DO WHAT THEY'VE HISTORICALLY DONE. WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL SECURITY
[00:37:44] MATTERS. AND THAT IS PUT SOME OF THEIR PARTISANSHIP ASIDE AND
[00:37:48] WORK IN THE COUNTRY'S INTEREST. BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO SOME
[00:37:52] OF THOSE QUESTIONS UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THANK YOU ALL.
[00:37:56] >> GOING TO SANDERS AI BRIEFING >> [APPLAUSE]
[00:37:58] >> TOMORROW
[00:38:19] >> [APPLAUSE]
[00:38:36] >> SENATORS ARE NOW VOTING ON WHETHER TO ADVANCE
[00:38:39] CRYPTOCURRENCY LEGISLATION TO REGULATE DIGITAL ASSETS. THE
[00:38:43] SENATE'S KEY VOTE OF THE DAY. THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE CLARITY
[00:38:46] ACT, NOW INCLUDES ETHICAL PROVISIONS APPROVED BY THE TRUMP
[00:38:50] WHITE HOUSE THAT WERE ADDED
[00:38:53] OVER.
[00:39:09] SENATORS ARE NOW VOTING ON WHETHER TO ADVANCE
[00:39:13] CRYPTOCURRENCY LEGISLATION TO REGULATE DIGITAL ASSETS. THE
[00:39:17] SENATE'S KEY VOTE OF THE DAY. THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE CLARITY
[00:39:19] ACT, NOW INCLUDES ETHICAL PROVISIONS APPROVED BY THE TRUMP
[00:39:23] WHITE HOUSE THAT WERE ADDED OVER THE WEEKEND BY REPUBLICAN
[00:39:26] LEADERS TO ATTRACT MORE SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATS. 60 VOTES ARE
[00:39:30] NEEDED TO ADVANCE THE BILL AND
[00:39:32] MOVE TOWARDS FORMALLY BEGINNING DEBATE. LIVE COVERAGE OF THE
[00:39:36] SENATE HERE ON C-SPAN. TWO.
[00:39:49] >> WE'RE GOING TO START. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU
[00:39:52] FOR BEING HERE. MY NAME IS LAURA OSBORNE. CLOSE TO 19 MONTHS AGO,
[00:39:56] FOUR MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY BOARDED A PLANE IN KANSAS. PETER, DONNA, EVERLY, AND
[00:40:00] OLIVIA, ALONG WITH 63 OTHER
[00:40:02] SOULS, NEVER MADE IT HOME. THAT
[00:40:05] NIGHT, ON JANUARY 29th, 2025, 67
[00:40:08] LIVES WERE LOST WHEN A U.S. ARMY BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER COLLIDED
[00:40:12] WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 5342. WE CANNOT CHANGE WHAT
[00:40:16] HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, BUT WE CAN,
[00:40:18] AND WE MUST CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS
[00:40:20] NEXT. I STAND HERE TODAY, ALONGSIDE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS
[00:40:24] OF FLIGHT 53, 42 FAMILIES BROUGHT TOGETHER BY A TRAGEDY.
[00:40:28] NONE OF US CHOSE, BUT UNITED IN OUR DETERMINATION THAT OUR LOSS
[00:40:31] LEAD TO MEANINGFUL CHANGE. WE
[00:40:33] WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
[00:40:36] BOARD, THE AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION, THE MEMBERS OF
[00:40:40] CONGRESS. JOINING US TODAY, DC FIRE AND EMS FIRST RESPONDERS,
[00:40:43] OUR AVIATION AND SAFETY PARTNERS, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE
[00:40:47] FAMILIES STANDING HERE WITH US. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO
[00:40:51] HAVE SHOWN UP, LISTEN TO OUR FAMILIES, AND WORKED WITH US.
[00:40:55] AVIATION SAFETY IS NOT A LEFT ISSUE OR A RIGHT ISSUE. IT IS
[00:40:58] NOT A NEVER SHOULD BE POLITICAL, PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. EVERY
[00:41:01] ONE OF US, EVERY PERSON WHO BOARDS AN AIRPLANE, EVERY FAMILY
[00:41:05] MEMBER WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO
[00:41:07] COME HOME, THAT RESPONSIBILITY BELONGS ESPECIALLY TO THOSE
[00:41:11] ENTRUSTED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ACT. SO, WHETHER YOU ARE
[00:41:14] STANDING WITH WITH US HERE TODAY OR NOT, WE HOPE THIS MESSAGE
[00:41:17] MESSAGE IS HEARD. ACTION IS PAST
[00:41:20] DUE. WE CANNOT WAIT FOR ANOTHER TRAGEDY TO PROVE THE NEED FOR
[00:41:24] SAFETY MEASURES WE ALREADY KNOW
[00:41:25] CAN SAVE LIVES. THAT IS WHY WE
[00:41:28] ARE HERE TODAY, NOT FOR
[00:41:29] POLITICS, NOT FOR PARTISANSHIP. WE'RE HERE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY,
[00:41:33] FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FOR ACTION. THE VOICES OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN AT THE HEART
[00:41:37] OF THIS EFFORT FROM THE
[00:41:39] BEGINNING. PLEASE WELCOME FAMILY
[00:41:42] 5342 MEMBERS, DOUG LANE AND
[00:41:47] RACHEL FERRIS.
[00:41:47] >> [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]
[00:41:55] >> HI. SO IT WAS EXACTLY 24, 25
[00:41:58] YEARS AGO TODAY THAT I DECIDED
[00:42:00] TO PROPOSE TO MY WIFE, CHRISTINE. AND THE REASON I
[00:42:04] REMEMBER THAT IS THAT IT WAS THE
[00:42:05] EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001,
[00:42:10] THAT MADE ME REALIZE THAT I WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY
[00:42:13] LIFE WITH HER. SHE WAS WORKING
[00:42:15] IN THE TALLEST SKYSCRAPER IN BOSTON WHEN TWO PLANES FLEW BY ON THEIR WAY FROM BOSTON TO THE
[00:42:19] WORLD TRADE CENTER. I COULDN'T
[00:42:22] REACH HER AS HER BUILDING WAS BEING EVACUATED, AND I WAS LATER
[00:42:26] REUNITED WITH HER. BUT THAT FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY THAT I FELT MADE
[00:42:29] ME REALIZE THAT I WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH
[00:42:33] HER, AND AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO FELT THE HEARTBREAKING
[00:42:37] STORIES OF OTHERS WHO WERE SUFFERING LOSS THROUGH THAT
[00:42:41] TRAGEDY. AND IT REALLY GAVE ME CLARITY ABOUT WHAT WAS IMPORTANT, AND IT SET ME ON A
[00:42:45] PATH TO BUILDING A FAMILY OF
[00:42:46] FOUR. WITH CHRISTINE. 23 YEARS
[00:42:49] LATER, ON JANUARY 29th, 2025,
[00:42:53] THAT FAMILY OF FOUR BECAME A FAMILY OF TWO. CHRISTINA,
[00:42:57] CHRISTINE, AND MY SON SPENCER
[00:42:58] WERE GONE AND LIKE ON NINE OVER
[00:43:06] 11, I WAS HIT BY A WAVE OF HEARTBREAKING STORIES FROM OTHER
[00:43:09] FAMILIES THAT WERE ALSO TORN
[00:43:11] APART OR WIPED OUT ALTOGETHER.
[00:43:15] >> ON SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001, I
[00:43:18] WAS ALSO IN BOSTON. I WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND DOING A YEAR OF
[00:43:21] NATIONAL SERVICE THROUGH AMERICORPS. I REMEMBER
[00:43:25] EVACUATING DOWNTOWN, JUST BLOCKS AWAY FROM CHRISTINE, AROUND TEN
[00:43:28] THAT MORNING, AND I WENT HOME TO WATCH THE HORRIFIC FOOTAGE ON
[00:43:32] TELEVISION. THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE I COULD DO. SO I JUST
[00:43:36] WATCHED, LIKE SO MANY OF US, I
[00:43:37] FELT SCARED. I FELT OVERWHELMED
[00:43:41] AND POWERLESS. AFTER A FEW DAYS, I STARTED DREAMING ABOUT PLANES
[00:43:44] CRASHING. I WAS SEEING THEM AWAKE AND ASLEEP. BUT BY THE END
[00:43:47] OF THE WEEK, AMERICORPS WAS BACK
[00:43:49] TO WORK AND I HAD SOMETHING I
[00:43:52] COULD DO. I REMEMBER PUTTING ON MY UNIFORM JACKET WITH THE
[00:43:55] AMERICAN FLAG ON THE SLEEVE AND FEELING SO PURPOSEFUL. I WAS
[00:43:59] SERVING MY COUNTRY. THERE WAS WORK IN FRONT OF ME THAT I KNEW
[00:44:02] HOW TO DO. I HAD A WAY TO HELP.
[00:44:05] THERE ARE TERRIBLE THINGS YOU CANNOT CHANGE. AND THEN THERE IS
[00:44:08] THE WORK IN FRONT OF YOU. THAT WAS THE LESSON THAT 9/11 TAUGHT
[00:44:12] ME, AND I HAVE CARRIED IT MY
[00:44:12] ENTIRE ADULT LIFE. I ALSO
[00:44:16] TRUSTED THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD
[00:44:18] DO THEIR WORK TOO. I WAS 18, I
[00:44:21] DIDN'T THINK ABOUT AGENCIES OR LEGISLATION OR RULEMAKING. I
[00:44:25] SIMPLY BELIEVED THAT THE PEOPLE WHOSE JOB IT WAS TO UNDERSTAND
[00:44:27] WHAT IT FAILED TO LEARN FROM IT AND TO MAKE US SAFER WOULD DO
[00:44:31] EXACTLY THAT 23 YEARS LATER, ON
[00:44:36] JANUARY 29th, I SAW THE FIRST HEADLINE ABOUT ANOTHER AVIATION
[00:44:39] TRAGEDY. AS I WAS GETTING READY
[00:44:41] FOR BED, I SAID A PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE ON BOARD AND PUT DOWN MY
[00:44:44] PHONE. I KNEW THAT IF I KEPT READING, I WOULD NOT SLEEP. I
[00:44:48] WOULD SEE PLANES CRASHING. WHEN
[00:44:49] I CLOSED MY EYES. BUT THE NEXT
[00:44:53] MORNING, MY PHONE WAS FULL OF MESSAGES FROM MY FAMILY. CALL US
[00:44:56] NOW. WE LOVE YOU. MY HEART FROZE
[00:44:59] IN. MY HAND SHOOK AS I CALLED HOME. MY DAD ANSWERED AND SAID,
[00:45:03] I HAVE TERRIBLE NEWS. PETER.
[00:45:06] DONNA, EVERLY, AND OLIVIA WERE ALL ON THE PLANE IN DC. THEY ARE
[00:45:10] GONE. THEY ARE ALL GONE. MY
[00:45:15] HUSBAND TELLS ME HE FELL TO THE FLOOR. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT. I
[00:45:18] REMEMBER MY DAUGHTER STANDING THERE, FROZEN WHILE I SOBBED,
[00:45:21] BECAUSE MY COUSIN AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY HAD BEEN WIPED OUT IN A
[00:45:24] MOMENT, AND I COULD NOT CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED. I COULD NOT GET
[00:45:28] THEM BACK, SO I DID THE ONLY THING I COULD DO, THE WORK IN
[00:45:31] FRONT OF ME. I WENT TO
[00:45:33] WASHINGTON TO HELP MY FAMILY. A
[00:45:36] FEW DAYS LATER, AT THE NTSB FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER, MY
[00:45:39] AUNT HAD ONE THING SHE WANTED TO KNOW. HAD THEY FOUND BROWN TEDDY
[00:45:43] THE BEAR HER GRANDDAUGHTER
[00:45:44] OLIVIA, BROUGHT ON EVERY TRIP?
[00:45:47] WE ASKED. A DAY OR TWO LATER, SOMEONE CAME BACK AND SAID, WE
[00:45:50] FOUND BROWN TEDDY. THEY CLEANED
[00:45:53] HIM AND THEY SENT HIM HOME. THIS
[00:45:56] IS BROWN. TEDDY, BROWN. TEDDY
[00:45:59] CAME HOME, BUT OLIVIA DID NOT.
[00:46:05] >> THE REST OF US WERE SURROUNDED BY PIECES OF WHAT WE
[00:46:07] LOST AS WELL. THE US FIGURE
[00:46:11] SKATING JACKET THAT MY SON, SPENCER TRAINED FOR HOURS EVERY
[00:46:14] DAY TO EARN, CAME HOME. SPENCER
[00:46:16] DID NOT. THE LAPTOP THAT
[00:46:19] CHRISTINE USED TO SHARE HER CREATIVITY WITH THE WORLD CAME
[00:46:22] HOME IN PIECES. CHRISTINE DID
[00:46:25] NOT. NONE OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS CHOSE WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT,
[00:46:28] AND NONE OF US LEFT BEHIND CHOSE IT EITHER. BUT WE DID HAVE A
[00:46:32] CHOICE ABOUT WHAT CAME NEXT. OUR
[00:46:35] FAMILIES HELD ON TO ONE ANOTHER,
[00:46:36] AND THEN WE GOT TO WORK. WE WERE HERE ON CAPITOL HILL BY THE END
[00:46:40] OF FEBRUARY, AND WE HAVE KEPT SHOWING UP EVER SINCE. WE CAN
[00:46:43] TELL THEIR STORIES, WE CAN ASK
[00:46:46] QUESTIONS. WE CAN PUSH FOR ANSWERS. WE CAN DEMAND ACTION.
[00:46:50] THAT'S THE WORK THAT BELONGS TO US. BUT WE CANNOT DO EVERYBODY
[00:46:54] ELSE'S WORK FOR THEM. WE NEED
[00:46:59] THE PEOPLE. WE NEED THE PEOPLE WITH THE POWER TO TURN THIS TRAGEDY INTO CHANGE, TO DO
[00:47:03] THEIRS, AND TO FINISH IT. AFTER
[00:47:06] SEPTEMBER 11th, WE SAID, NEVER FORGET, AND WE MEANT IT. WE
[00:47:09] CHANGED LAWS. WE CHANGED SECURITY, WE REINFORCED COCKPIT
[00:47:13] DOORS BECAUSE SOMETHING HAD FAILED AND PEOPLE HAD DIED. BUT
[00:47:16] THAT'S THE THING ABOUT MASS LOSS AT FIRST. EVERYBODY IS
[00:47:19] PAYING ATTENTION. EVERYBODY SAYS, THIS CAN NEVER HAPPEN
[00:47:23] AGAIN. THEN TIME PASSES. THE
[00:47:24] FUNERALS END, THE CAMERAS LEAVE,
[00:47:27] OTHER THINGS BECOME URGENT, AND WORK GETS HARDER TO FINISH.
[00:47:31] SECONDARY FLIGHT DECK BARRIERS ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE. THEY'RE A SIMPLE GATE THAT PROTECTS THE
[00:47:35] COCKPIT. WHEN REINFORCED, DOOR HAS TO OPEN. PILOTS LIKE THE
[00:47:38] ONES BEHIND ME HAVE BEEN ASKING
[00:47:40] FOR IT FOR 20 YEARS. INDUSTRY
[00:47:43] STANDARDS TOOK A DECADE, AND CONGRESS FINALLY MANDATED THEM
[00:47:47] IN 2018. BUT THAT REQUIREMENT ONLY BECAME ENFORCEABLE LAST MONTH, AND ONLY FOR NEW
[00:47:50] AIRCRAFT. 25 YEARS AFTER
[00:47:53] SEPTEMBER 11th, PILOTS AND 9/11 FAMILIES ARE STILL FIGHTING TO
[00:47:56] GET THIS COMMON SENSE SAFETY FEATURE INTO THOUSANDS OF
[00:48:00] AIRCRAFTS STILL FLYING EVERY DAY. THAT IS WHAT FADING URGENCY
[00:48:03] LOOKS LIKE. SOMEONE, SOMETHING EVERYONE AGREES WILL MAKE PEOPLE
[00:48:06] SAFER, GETS CAUGHT IN PROCESS,
[00:48:09] OBJECTIONS, EXCEPTIONS, AND DELAY UNTIL YOU LOOK UP IN AN
[00:48:12] ENTIRE GENERATION HAS PASSED.
[00:48:15] FLIGHT 5342 CANNOT FOLLOW THAT
[00:48:17] PATH >> TO OUR MANY LEGISLATIVE
[00:48:21] ALLIES WHO HAVE FOUGHT WITH US
[00:48:24] TO MOVE AVIATION SAFETY REFORM FORWARD, WE SEE THE WORK WE ARE
[00:48:27] DOING, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL.
[00:48:31] KEEP GOING. THIS CONGRESS IS COMING TO AN END. YOU HAVE
[00:48:34] BROUGHT US TOO FAR TO LET THIS
[00:48:36] BILL DIE IN THE LAST MILE. WE
[00:48:39] CANNOT COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND BEGIN AGAIN. REINTRODUCING
[00:48:42] BILLS, REBUILDING MOMENTUM, SITTING THROUGH THE SAME
[00:48:45] MEETINGS, AND TELLING THESE STORIES AGAIN.
[00:48:49] >> AND THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO MAKE THIS HARDER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.
[00:48:53] WE SEE YOU. WE NEED YOU TO STOP.
[00:48:56] STOP FINDING REASONS TO DELAY.
[00:49:00] STOP CREATING CONFUSION. STOP
[00:49:05] LOBBYING FOR LOOPHOLES AND CARVE OUTS THAT WEAKEN WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE NTSB'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL MAKE US ALL
[00:49:08] SAFER, SAY SO. SAY IT TO OUR
[00:49:10] FACES. SAY IT TO CHAIRWOMAN KHAMENEI AND THE INVESTIGATORS
[00:49:14] WHO WORKED FOR A YEAR TO DEVELOP
[00:49:16] THEM. IF YOU THINK THE COST IS TOO HIGH, SHOW US THE MATH. TELL
[00:49:20] US WHAT A HUMAN LIFE IS WORTH TO
[00:49:24] YOU. BUT IF YOU CANNOT MAKE THAT
[00:49:26] CASE, STOP STANDING IN THE WAY.
[00:49:29] 67 PEOPLE ARE DEAD. THE NTSB
[00:49:33] TOLD US WHAT FAILED AND WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. THE FAMILIES
[00:49:36] HAVE DONE OUR PART. MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE COME TOGETHER
[00:49:40] AROUND MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION.
[00:49:42] IT'S TIME TO FINISH IT. AND WE
[00:49:44] DON'T NEED TO WAIT FOR CONGRESS TO GET STARTED. FAA, WHERE YOU
[00:49:47] HAVE AUTHORITY, USE IT. ARMY AND
[00:49:50] DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. YOU TOLD THESE FAMILIES THAT YOUR
[00:49:53] INVESTIGATIONS WERE COMPLETE AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE ANSWERS. GIVE
[00:49:55] US THE INVESTIGATIONS. TELL US
[00:49:57] WHAT YOU LEARNED. TELL US WHAT
[00:50:00] YOU WERE CHANGING IN HONOR OF OUR LOVED ONES. THERE ARE
[00:50:03] TERRIBLE THINGS YOU CANNOT CHANGE. AND THEN THERE IS THE WORK IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS IS
[00:50:06] THE WORK IN FRONT OF YOU. FINISH
[00:50:08] THE WORK NOW, BEFORE ANOTHER
[00:50:11] FAMILY PAYS FOR THE TIME YOU
[00:50:14] CHOSE TO TAKE.
[00:50:17] >> WE WANT TO SAY SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO THE AIRLINES AND
[00:50:21] MANUFACTURERS. WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU, AND YOU HAVE NOT LIVED
[00:50:24] UP TO THAT TRUST. WHEN WE PUT OURSELVES OR OUR CHILDREN ON
[00:50:28] YOUR AIRPLANES, WE TRUST THAT YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING
[00:50:31] REASONABLY POSSIBLE TO MAKE THEM SAFE. YOUR PILOTS AND FLIGHT
[00:50:35] ATTENDANTS PLACE THAT SAME TRUST IN YOU EVERY TIME THEY SHOW UP
[00:50:38] TO WORK. THE REALITY IS THAT TOO MUCH OF THIS INDUSTRY HAS
[00:50:41] TREATED COMPLIANCE AS THE LIMIT
[00:50:43] OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY. IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT REQUIRED A
[00:50:47] SAFETY IMPROVEMENT, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE IT. SECONDARY
[00:50:50] FLIGHT DECK BARRIERS ARE ONE
[00:50:53] PROOF. POINT COLLISION AVOIDANCE
[00:50:55] TECHNOLOGY IS ANOTHER. THE
[00:50:58] SAFETY CASE FOR ADS-B HAS BEEN
[00:50:59] PUBLIC SINCE 2008, BUT FLIGHT
[00:51:02] 5342 DID NOT HAVE IT. THE NTSB FOUND THAT IT COULD HAVE GIVEN
[00:51:06] THE CREW WARNING OF THE
[00:51:08] HELICOPTER. ROUGHLY 4059 SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT. ABOUT 40 MORE
[00:51:12] SECONDS THAN THEY HAD. I CANNOT TELL YOU IF THOSE 40s WOULD HAVE
[00:51:16] SAVED THEM, BUT I CAN TELL YOU
[00:51:18] THEY DID NOT GET THEM. IT IS NOW
[00:51:22] STANDARD FOR CARS TO ALERT US WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE IS IN OUR
[00:51:25] BLIND SPOT, TO WARN US WHEN WE ARE CLOSING TOO QUICKLY, AND
[00:51:28] INCREASINGLY TO BRAKE ON THEIR OWN TO AVOID A COLLISION. AND
[00:51:32] YET, SOMEHOW, IN 2026, WE ARE
[00:51:34] STILL ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER
[00:51:36] PILOTS CARRYING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THROUGH CROWDED AIRSPACE
[00:51:39] SHOULD HAVE THE BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THEM DO THE
[00:51:43] SAME THING FOR AIRLINE CREW MEMBERS. WENT TO WORK THAT NIGHT
[00:51:46] AND NEVER CAME HOME. YOUR
[00:51:49] EMPLOYEES, I BELIEVE YOU GRIEVED
[00:51:51] THEM. BUT GRIEF AFTER THE FACT
[00:51:54] IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR ACTION
[00:51:56] BEFORE IT. WHAT YOU BUY IS
[00:51:59] ACTION. WHAT YOU INSTALL IS ACTION. WHAT YOU RETROFIT IS
[00:52:03] ACTION. WHAT YOU DEMAND FROM MANUFACTURERS IS ACTION, AND
[00:52:06] WHAT YOU LOBBY FOR AND WHAT YOU
[00:52:09] PUSH FOR. IN RULEMAKING
[00:52:12] COMMITTEES. THAT IS ACTION TO
[00:52:14] AIRLINES ARE NOT POWERLESS
[00:52:16] CONSUMERS. YOU BUY AIRPLANES,
[00:52:19] YOU CHOOSE THE EQUIPMENT, YOU NEGOTIATE WITH MANUFACTURERS.
[00:52:21] YOU CREATE DEMAND. AND WE KNOW HOW QUICKLY THIS INDUSTRY CAN
[00:52:25] CREATE URGENCY WHEN ITS
[00:52:27] ECONOMICS ARE ON THE LINE, WHEN
[00:52:30] FUEL COSTS RISE, REGULATION THREATENS REVENUE, OR MARGINS
[00:52:34] TIGHTEN. THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF LOBBYING EFFORT, AND THEY FIND
[00:52:36] THEIR VOICES IN EVERY RULEMAKING ROOM. WHERE HAS THAT URGENCY
[00:52:40] BEEN FOR SAFETY? WHERE WAS THE
[00:52:43] INDUSTRY WIDE DEMAND FOR SECONDARY BARRIERS WHEN YOUR OWN
[00:52:46] PILOTS WERE ASKING FOR THEM? WHERE WAS THE PUSH TO DEVELOP
[00:52:50] AND CERTIFY ADS-B IN? AFTER THE SAFETY CASE WAS CLEAR? AND THIS
[00:52:54] IS NOT WHETHER YOU CARE ABOUT WHETHER YOU CAN AFFORD TO ACT.
[00:52:58] U.S. PASSENGER AIRLINES MADE
[00:53:00] 11.4 BILLION IN OPERATING PROFIT
[00:53:03] IN 2025. YOU HAVE THE MONEY. YOU
[00:53:06] HAVE THE LEVERAGE. YOU HAVE THE VOICE. THE QUESTION IS WHY
[00:53:10] SAFETY SO RARELY GETS THE SAME
[00:53:12] URGENCY AS THE NEXT QUARTERLY EARNINGS REPORT. YOU SHOULD BE
[00:53:16] MAKING THIS EASIER, PUSHING MANUFACTURERS, SOLVING
[00:53:20] CERTIFICATION PROBLEMS, DEMANDING SAFETY TECHNOLOGY
[00:53:24] BEFORE CONGRESS HAS TO FORCE THE ISSUE. REGULATION IS THE FLOOR,
[00:53:26] AND YOU SHOULD BE HELPING TO
[00:53:28] RAISE IT. DO THE THING YOU WOULD DEMAND IF YOUR WIFE AND SON WERE
[00:53:32] ON THAT AIRPLANE. DO WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER
[00:53:36] WAS TRAVELING HOME WITH HER
[00:53:38] TEDDY BEAR. YOU KNOW HOW TO MOVE FAST. WHEN MONEY IS ON THE LINE,
[00:53:41] MOVE FAST. WHEN LIVES ARE YOUR
[00:53:45] PUBLIC ABSENCE FROM THIS FIGHT
[00:53:47] HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED. GET OFF
[00:53:49] THE SIDELINES AND GET IN THE GAME. BRING THE SAME URGENCY TO
[00:53:53] PROTECTING YOUR PILOTS, YOUR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, AND YOUR
[00:53:56] PASSENGERS THAT YOU BRING TO
[00:54:00] PROTECTING YOUR BOTTOM LINE. AND
[00:54:03] IF YOU CAN FIND BILLIONS FOR SHAREHOLDERS, BUT NOT URGENCY
[00:54:06] FOR SAFETY, DO NOT TELL US THAT SAFETY IS YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
[00:54:10] THE PROOF OF YOUR PRIORITIES IS IN THE TECHNOLOGY YOU INSTALL,
[00:54:14] THE AIRPLANES YOU BUY, AND THE POLICIES YOU ADVANCE BEFORE
[00:54:17] PEOPLE DIE. NOT IN THE CONDOLENCES OR PRESS RELEASES.
[00:54:20] YOU ISSUE ISSUE AFTER THEY ARE
[00:54:25] GONE. >> 25 YEARS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11th, WE KNOW THAT REMEMBRANCE
[00:54:28] CAN LAST MUCH LONGER THAN
[00:54:30] URGENCY. THAT CANNOT BE THE
[00:54:33] LEGACY OF FLIGHT 5342. WE DID
[00:54:37] NOT BRING THESE ITEMS HERE TODAY AS SYMBOLS. WE BROUGHT THEM
[00:54:41] BECAUSE THEY ARE WHAT WE HAVE
[00:54:41] LEFT. BROWN. TEDDY CAME HOME.
[00:54:45] SPENCER'S JACKET CAME HOME.
[00:54:50] CHRISTINE'S LAPTOP CAME HOME. ALICIA. CHRISTINE, SPENCER AND
[00:54:53] 64 OTHERS DID NOT. FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, OUR FAMILIES
[00:54:57] HAVE CARRIED THAT LOSS INTO HEARING ROOMS, CONGRESSIONAL
[00:55:00] OFFICES, MEETINGS AND BRIEFINGS. EVERY PLACE WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT
[00:55:03] BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE WILL KEEP CARRYING OUR PART OF
[00:55:06] THAT, BUT WE CANNOT CARRY YOURS. DO THE RIGHT THING. DO THE WORK
[00:55:10] IN FRONT OF YOU. DO THE WORK
[00:55:11] THAT IS YOURS, AND FINISH IT
[00:55:14] BEFORE ANOTHER FAMILY IS LEFT HOLDING THE THINGS THAT CAME
[00:55:17] HOME, INSTEAD OF THE PERSON WHO
[00:55:18] SHOULD HAVE. THANK YOU
[00:55:23] >> ALL RIGHT. >> CAPTAIN AMBROSI FROM ALPA IS
[00:55:26] GOING TO SPEAK NEXT.
[00:55:31] >> WELL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR THOSE THOSE POWERFUL REMARKS.
[00:55:34] THANK YOU. I'M CAPTAIN JASON AMBROSI, PRESIDENT OF THE
[00:55:37] AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
[00:55:39] INTERNATIONAL, WHICH REPRESENTS MORE THAN 80,000 PILOTS IN THE
[00:55:42] UNITED STATES AND CANADA, AND A
[00:55:44] CAPTAIN ON THE BOEING 767 FOR
[00:55:47] DELTA AIRLINES ON JANUARY 29th,
[00:55:50] 2025. THOSE ABOARD FLIGHT 5342 STARTED THEIR DAY LIKE ANY
[00:55:54] OTHER. EVERYONE EXPECTED TO COME
[00:55:58] HOME. INSTEAD, OUR INDUSTRY LOST
[00:56:00] 67 LIVES. PILOTS, FLIGHT
[00:56:03] ATTENDANTS, MOTHERS, FATHERS,
[00:56:05] KIDS, COACHES, TEAMMATES AND
[00:56:09] FRIENDS. THEY ALL TRUSTED THEY
[00:56:12] WOULD COME HOME SAFELY AS AIRLINE PILOTS, WE CARRY THAT
[00:56:15] TRUST, AND WE CARRY THAT LOSS
[00:56:20] EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE FAMILIES
[00:56:22] HERE OF FLIGHT 5342 STAND WITH
[00:56:25] US AND HAVE SHOWN EXTRAORDINARY
[00:56:28] RESOLVE. TURNING UNIMAGINABLE
[00:56:31] GRIEF INTO ACTION. EVERYONE AT ALPA CONTINUES TO STAND WITH
[00:56:34] THEM, AND WE WILL NOT STOP
[00:56:36] PUSHING UNTIL THEIR LOVED ONE'S
[00:56:39] LEGACY IS WRITTEN INTO LAW. THE
[00:56:44] NTSB REPORT LISTED 50 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, WHEN
[00:56:48] ENACTED, WILL MAKE FLYING SAFER.
[00:56:51] ONE ESSENTIAL RECOMMENDATION IS IN THE SENATE'S ROTOR ACT,
[00:56:53] ENSURING THAT AIRLINE PILOTS HAVE INTEGRATED ADS-B IN
[00:56:57] TECHNOLOGY ON THE FLIGHT DECK,
[00:57:00] GIVING CREWS REAL TIME AUDIO AND VISUAL AWARENESS OF NEARBY
[00:57:03] AIRCRAFT. THIS IS NOT
[00:57:07] DEVELOPMENTAL TECHNOLOGY. IT
[00:57:12] EXISTS TODAY AND COULD HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE 67 LIVES LOST OVER THE POTOMAC LAST YEAR.
[00:57:16] WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE FAMILIES OF THOSE LOST IN THE
[00:57:19] ACCIDENT AND WITH LAWMAKERS
[00:57:21] ACROSS THE AISLE TO UPDATE RULES
[00:57:25] AND PROCEDURES TO INCLUDE A NEW MANDATE FOR ADS-B IN TO THE
[00:57:29] FLYING PUBLIC LISTENING. TODAY, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME
[00:57:33] VERY TECHNICAL ASPECTS HERE, WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS
[00:57:36] THIS. IT ALL GOES TO THE HEART OF THE TRUST THAT YOU PLACE IN
[00:57:40] YOUR PILOTS EVERY TIME YOU FLY.
[00:57:45] THAT TRUST ISN'T BLIND. IT'S
[00:57:48] EARNED. WE ARE TRAINED. WE ARE
[00:57:50] RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY, AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.
[00:57:54] EVERY TIME WE PUSH BACK FROM THE GATE, WE EXPECT THE SAME FROM
[00:57:58] EVERYONE WHO SHARES THAT AIRSPACE, INCLUDING OUR MILITARY
[00:58:02] PARTNERS AND THOSE AT THE PENTAGON. WE MUST BE ABLE TO SEE
[00:58:04] EACH OTHER IN SHARED AIRSPACE,
[00:58:09] PERIOD. TO BE CLEAR, FOR AIRLINE
[00:58:11] PILOTS, THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF
[00:58:13] ROTOR VERSUS ALERT OR HOUSE
[00:58:16] VERSUS SENATE. WE SUPPORT INCORPORATING THE STRONGEST COMPONENTS OF BOTH PIECES OF
[00:58:20] LEGISLATION. ANY AVIATION SAFETY
[00:58:24] LEGISLATION MUST INCLUDE INTEGRATED ADS-B IN MANDATE, AS
[00:58:27] INCLUDED IN THE SENATE'S ROTOR
[00:58:30] ACT, SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
[00:58:33] TECHNOLOGY FOR PILOTS IS CRITICAL AND SHOULDN'T BE UP
[00:58:36] FOR DEBATE. THAT NUANCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE, WITHOUT
[00:58:39] SPELLING IT OUT, SHORTCUTS ARE
[00:58:42] SURE TO BE TAKEN. WE ABSOLUTELY
[00:58:45] CANNOT SETTLE FOR THE DESIRES OF
[00:58:47] SOME SPECIAL INTEREST THAT WOULD
[00:58:49] HAVE ESSENTIAL TRAFFIC DATA
[00:58:52] DISPLAYED ON AN IPAD OVER HERE,
[00:58:54] WHEN I SHOULD BE LOOKING
[00:58:59] STRAIGHT AHEAD. WE ALSO NEED TO CLOSE THE GAP THAT LETS MILITARY
[00:59:03] AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AIRCRAFT FLY THROUGH OUR BUSIEST AIRSPACE WITHOUT REPORTING THEIR
[00:59:07] POSITION. OTHER THAN MATTERS OF NATIONAL SECURITY, LIKE
[00:59:11] PRESIDENTIAL MOVEMENT, MILITARY AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN CROWDED
[00:59:14] AIRSPACE, SUCH AS DCA, MUST
[00:59:16] REPORT THEIR POSITION TO PREVENT
[00:59:19] ANOTHER TRAGEDY. IF THEY MUST OPERATE WITH TRANSPONDERS OFF.
[00:59:22] LET'S NOT REPEAT HISTORY. THERE
[00:59:24] IS A BETTER SOLUTION THAT EXISTS
[00:59:27] TODAY, AND WE WILL SAVE LIVES.
[00:59:30] I'D LIKE TO THANK CHAIR CRUZ AND RANKING MEMBER CANTWELL FOR
[00:59:33] THEIR LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS THE OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT
[00:59:37] THIS COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION.
[00:59:39] WE OWE IT TO THE 67 PEOPLE LOST, AND TO THE MILLIONS WHO TRUST
[00:59:43] THEIR LIVES WITH US EVERY DAY TO
[00:59:46] FINISH THIS JOB. THANK YOU. I'D
[00:59:48] LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE NTSB
[00:59:52] CHAIRWOMAN.
[01:00:06] >> TO IMMEDIATELY HOLD A
[01:00:07] CLASSIFIED ALL SENATE BRIEFING
[01:00:13] ABOUT RISKS THAT UNCHECKED AI
[01:00:17] POSES FOR OUR COUNTRY. TURN
[01:00:18] THOSE LIGHTS BACK ON.
[01:00:24] >> WE IN THE DARK ON AI? >> YES. THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS
[01:00:27] TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS DEMAND, BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO
[01:00:30] SOMETHING ON IT. WE DON'T KNOW
[01:00:34] WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S DOING. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES ARE DOING.
[01:00:37] AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL
[01:00:40] FEAR, TRUMP MAY BE SHOWING FAVORITISM. SOME COMPANY HE
[01:00:43] LIKES DOESN'T HAVE ANY, ANY RESTRICTIONS. ANOTHER COMPANY
[01:00:46] DOESN'T LIKE. HE PUTS ON
[01:00:50] RESTRICTIONS. WE NEED TO MAKE
[01:00:51] THIS ALL APPARENT TO THE SENATE,
[01:00:56] BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET THINGS DONE ON THE ISSUE
[01:00:59] OF AI IS BIPARTISANSHIP, AND
[01:01:01] IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. I'M
[01:01:04] NOT JUST SPECULATING. THREE
[01:01:06] YEARS AGO, I CONVENED THE
[01:01:09] BIPARTISAN INSIGHT FORUMS TO MAP
[01:01:11] THE PATH FORWARD ON AI,
[01:01:15] DEVELOPING A BIPARTISAN ROADMAP,
[01:01:16] AND THEN SEVEN BILLS. WE HAD
[01:01:19] BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THOSE
[01:01:22] BILLS. EVEN JOHNSON SAID HE
[01:01:24] MIGHT SUPPORT THEM. BUT THEN
[01:01:27] TRUMP, MUSK, AND SOME OF THE
[01:01:31] REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP JUST KILLED THEM. AND HERE WE ARE.
[01:01:33] NOW. WE COULD HAVE HAD SOME
[01:01:36] PROTECTIONS. IF TRUMP REFUSES TO
[01:01:38] ACT, CONGRESS MUST THE EMAIL,
[01:01:42] ELECTION EMAIL IN. FOR THE PAST
[01:01:45] TWO YEARS, TRUMP HAS BEEN
[01:01:48] WORKING SYSTEMATICALLY TO SOW
[01:01:51] DOUBT ON THE ELECTION AND RIG THE RULES FOR THE MIDTERMS.
[01:01:54] WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING EVEN HARDER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ELIGIBLE
[01:01:57] AMERICAN CAN HAVE THEIR VOICE
[01:02:00] HEARD. WELL, THE SUPREME COURT,
[01:02:02] IN A CANDIDLY SURPRISING BUT
[01:02:07] POSITIVE, A RARE POSITIVE FROM THEM, THE SUPREME COURT JUST
[01:02:11] DEALT TRUMP ANOTHER BLOW. HE TRIED TO TAKE OVER MAIL-IN
[01:02:14] VOTING. WE SUED. WE SAID, NSW,
[01:02:18] TRUMP, YOU'RE NOT TAKING OVER
[01:02:21] PUBLIC MAIL-IN VOTING. I WAS PROUDLY A PLAINTIFF IN THE CASE
[01:02:24] THAT THE COURT RULED ON LAST NIGHT. AND THE COURT SAW THE
[01:02:28] SCHEME FOR WHAT IT WAS. AND THAT
[01:02:33] IS AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL PLOY TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE
[01:02:36] POLLS. TRUMP KNOWS THE AMERICAN
[01:02:38] PEOPLE ARE ANGRY AT HIM. HE'S
[01:02:40] SCARED TO FACE THEM. THEY KNOW.
[01:02:43] HE KNOWS THAT THE AMERICAN
[01:02:45] PEOPLE KNOW THAT HE SENT COSTS SKYROCKETING. HIS CHAOS AND WARS
[01:02:49] HAVE MADE AMERICA LESS SAFE. HIS
[01:02:54] CORRUPTION MEANS BILLIONAIRES GET AHEAD OF THE EXPENSE OF THE
[01:02:56] AMERICAN FAMILY. ATTACKING MAIL
[01:02:59] IN VOTING IS NOT THE ONLY
[01:03:02] REVENUE THAT TRUMP IS SUING TO TRY AND CHEAT IN. TRUMP IS USING
[01:03:05] TO TRY AND GET US AHEAD. SO
[01:03:08] YESTERDAY, SENATOR PADILLA, WHO YOU'LL HEAR FROM IN A MINUTE,
[01:03:11] AND I RELEASED A BOMBSHELL WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT FROM A
[01:03:15] DHS EMPLOYEE. THE WHISTLEBLOWER
[01:03:19] EXPOSED HOW TRUMP IS DIRECTING AGENTS TO BREAK STATE LAWS.
[01:03:22] HE'S ASKING THEM TO LIE TO
[01:03:27] OBTAIN SENATE SENSITIVE VOTER INFORMATION IN PRODUCE A BASELESS CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD.
[01:03:31] THE WHISTLEBLOWER REPORTS THAT INNOCENT AMERICAN CITIZENS HAVE
[01:03:34] BEEN CAUGHT UP IN HIS ILLEGAL EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HIS ELECTION
[01:03:38] LIES. AND THAT'S HOW DESPERATE TRUMP IS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO
[01:03:41] STAND FOR THAT, EITHER. IN
[01:03:44] AMERICA, VOTERS PICK THE PRESIDENT. THE PRESIDENT
[01:03:47] DOESN'T PICK THE VOTERS. AND IN NOVEMBER, TRUMP WILL LEARN JUST
[01:03:51] THAT. SENATOR PADILLA.
[01:03:59] >> THANK YOU, MR. LEADER. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
[01:04:03] TODAY. LOOK, WE'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THE LENGTHS TO WHICH
[01:04:06] DONALD TRUMP WILL GO TO TRY TO
[01:04:10] INTERFERE WITH ELECTIONS, WHEN
[01:04:12] HE KNOWS HE'S GOING TO LOSE OR FACE ACCOUNTABILITY. AND NOW,
[01:04:16] THANKS TO A WHISTLEBLOWER'S
[01:04:20] INTEGRITY AND COURAGE, WE HAVE
[01:04:22] FURTHER INSIGHT INTO JUST EXACTLY WHAT THE TRUMP
[01:04:26] ADMINISTRATION IS DOING, AMONG
[01:04:27] OTHER TACTICS. THEY'RE ORDERING
[01:04:32] FEDERAL OFFICERS TO BREAK PRIVACY LAWS THOUSANDS AND
[01:04:36] THOUSANDS OF TIMES TO TRY TO OBTAIN THE SENSITIVE PERSONAL
[01:04:39] VOTER INFORMATION THAT HE'S BEEN TRYING TO GET HIS HANDS ON FOR A
[01:04:42] DECADE NOW. BUT WHEN HE FAILS BE
[01:04:48] ABLE TO GET IN THE FRONT DOOR, HE TRIES TO FIND A BACK DOOR
[01:04:52] ENTRANCE. I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY HE TRIED THIS IN HIS FIRST TERM,
[01:04:56] SETTING UP A SHAM COMMISSION TO
[01:04:59] EXPOSE THE MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD THAT HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT
[01:05:01] FOR TEN YEARS. AND THEY FAILED.
[01:05:04] NO EVIDENCE, NO PROOF. THIS
[01:05:08] TIME. HE'S GONE ABOUT IT BY WEAPONIZING THE FEDERAL
[01:05:11] GOVERNMENT. WE'VE SEEN WHAT HE'S DONE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HERE. WE'RE TALKING
[01:05:15] ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
[01:05:17] SECURITY THE DEPARTMENT IS USING
[01:05:24] WHAT THEY CALL SUPPLEMENTAL MAGIC. THIS DATA THAT WHEN
[01:05:28] AGENTS QUESTION WHETHER THIS CAME FROM. AND DO THEY HAVE THE
[01:05:30] AUTHORITY TO USE IT IN THIS WAY?
[01:05:33] THEY'RE TOLD TO NOT WORRY. THEY
[01:05:37] ARE CREATING FILES AND LISTS OF
[01:05:40] SO-CALLED UNLAWFUL VOTERS. BASED
[01:05:43] ON THIS DATA THAT, AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF HAS
[01:05:46] ACKNOWLEDGED IS UNRELIABLE. AND
[01:05:51] CONTAINS MANY UNITED STATES
[01:05:52] CITIZENS. AGENTS ARE TOLD TO
[01:05:57] CONDUCT 12 MINUTES INVESTIGATIONS TO MAKE THESE DETERMINATIONS OF WHETHER A
[01:06:00] VOTER IS LAWFUL OR NOT. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO CONDUCT A
[01:06:03] THOROUGH, RESPONSIBLE
[01:06:07] INVESTIGATION. LOOK, FOLKS, THIS INITIATIVE HAS NOTHING TO DO
[01:06:10] WITH PROTECTING OUR ELECTIONS.
[01:06:13] YOU CAN'T BREAK THE LAW WHEN YOU
[01:06:17] SAY YOU'RE TRYING TO ENFORCE THE LAW. WHAT IT IS, THIS
[01:06:20] PROGRAM, THIS INITIATIVE, IS
[01:06:21] TRYING TO MANUFACTURE EVIDENCE,
[01:06:26] ERRONEOUS EVIDENCE TO SATISFY THE PRESIDENT'S EGO AND TRY TO
[01:06:28] JUSTIFY HIS CLAIMS OF MASSIVE
[01:06:30] VOTER FRAUD. SO WHAT IS THIS
[01:06:36] PROGRAM? DONALD TRUMP'S ATTEMPTS TO ELIMINATE VOTE BY MAIL IS AN OPTION FOR VOTERS, OR TO
[01:06:39] MANIPULATE VOTE BY MAIL TO THE USPS, WHICH THE SUPREME COURT
[01:06:43] EVEN HAS SHUT DOWN. WE KNOW THAT DONALD TRUMP'S NOT GOING TO
[01:06:46] STOP. HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING HE CAN TO TRY TO
[01:06:50] INTERFERE WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, OR TO UNDERMINE THE
[01:06:53] ELECTION RESULTS WHEN THEY DO
[01:06:55] NOT GO IN HIS FAVOR. AND
[01:07:00] DEMOCRATS AREN'T GOING TO STAND FOR IT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT, AND WE'LL
[01:07:03] CONTINUE TO FIGHT BACK ON THIS AND EVERY OTHER INITIATIVE TO
[01:07:07] DEFEND OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO
[01:07:09] VOTE, TO DEFEND OUR FREE AND
[01:07:11] FAIR AND SAFE AND SECURE ELECTIONS. AND JUST ONE FINAL
[01:07:15] COMMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT RULING AS WELCOME NEWS AS IT IS,
[01:07:19] BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT
[01:07:20] THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE IT WAS
[01:07:24] A 7 TO 2 VOTE. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUS. THE CONSTITUTION
[01:07:28] IS CLEAR, STATES ADMINISTER ELECTIONS. IF THE FEDERAL
[01:07:32] GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE TIME, PLACE OR MANNER IN
[01:07:35] WHICH ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED,
[01:07:37] THAT FALLS TO CONGRESS, NOT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, NO MATTER HOW
[01:07:41] MANY TIMES HE SAYS IT, TRUMP DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO
[01:07:44] INTERFERE, AND WE'RE NOT GOING
[01:07:47] TO LET HIM. LET ME INTRODUCE MY
[01:07:49] COLLEAGUE, SENATOR SCHATZ.
[01:07:54] >> COMMENTS WILL BE ONLY ABOUT
[01:07:57] AI. WHEN THE LEADERS OF THE TOP AI COMPANIES ARE SOUNDING THE
[01:08:01] ALARM ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR IMMINENT THREATS, WE NEED TO
[01:08:05] TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY. THIS IS AN
[01:08:10] EMERGENCY, AND WE NEED TO TREAT IT LIKE AN EMERGENCY. IF THE
[01:08:14] RISK OF AI IS ANYWHERE NEAR THE LEVEL THAT IT HAS BEEN
[01:08:18] CHARACTERIZED TO BE, THEN WE
[01:08:19] HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ACT ON A
[01:08:24] BIPARTISAN BASIS. IMMEDIATELY. WE CAN FIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING
[01:08:28] ELSE, BUT WE CANNOT GET IN A
[01:08:31] FIGHT ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE TO ACT
[01:08:34] NOW. THERE ARE GOOD PROPOSALS
[01:08:37] OUT THERE FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, AND THERE ARE
[01:08:40] CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS
[01:08:43] HAPPENING AMONG DEMOCRATS AND
[01:08:46] REPUBLICANS. WE CANNOT LEAVE
[01:08:48] TOWN, HOUSE OR SENATE LEAVING
[01:08:51] THIS
[01:09:00] >> OH, WAIT. BEFORE, UM, JUST
[01:09:02] ONE MORE THING ON CRYPTO. AS YOU
[01:09:06] MAY HAVE HEARD, THERE WAS A
[01:09:09] BIPARTISAN DEAL ON THE TABLE AS
[01:09:10] RECENTLY AS THIS AFTERNOON TO
[01:09:15] RESOLVE ALL THE, ALL OUTSTANDING
[01:09:17] ITEMS, INCLUDING ETHICS, REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WALKED
[01:09:20] INTO THE ROOM, BROKE UP THE BIPARTISAN DISCUSSION, AND SAID,
[01:09:23] NO, WE'RE DONE, AND KILLED IT.
[01:09:25] YEARS OF WORK TO PROVIDE CLARITY
[01:09:31] TO THE INDUSTRY DOWN THE DRAIN. THANKS TO THE REPUBLICAN
[01:09:33] LEADERSHIP
[01:09:37] >> BERNIE SANDERS HAS HIS AI BRIEFING TOMORROW. WILL YOU OR
[01:09:40] YOU, SENATOR SCHATZ, WILL EITHER OF YOU ATTEND? AND IF NOT, WHY?
[01:09:43] >> WELL, I HOPE TO ATTEND. I WANT TO LEARN ALL DIFFERENT
[01:09:47] POINTS OF VIEW ON AI. IT'S VERY
[01:09:49] IMPORTANT TO MEET WITH ALL KINDS OF VIEWPOINTS. >> PETER SLEN GENTLEMEN, WHAT
[01:09:52] ARE YOU OKAY WITH? JOHN FETTERMAN SPEAKING AT THE
[01:09:55] REPUBLICAN CONVENTION AND TALKING ABOUT CRITICIZING
[01:09:59] DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS AND GIVING
[01:10:02] LENDING SOME KIND WORDS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP? LET ME SAY ABOUT THAT.
[01:10:04] >> LET ME SAY THAT JOHN
[01:10:07] FETTERMAN IS A DEMOCRAT. HE'S A STRONG DEMOCRAT. I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH HIM OVER AND OVER
[01:10:11] AGAIN, VOTES WITH US SOMETHING
[01:10:13] LIKE 93% OF THE TIME. AND I'M
[01:10:16] GLAD HE'S A MEMBER OF OUR CAUCUS. WE HAVE A DIVERSE CAUCUS. YES.
[01:10:20] >> THERE'S >> FETTERMAN.
[01:10:23] >> THERE'S AS A SENATOR, WASHINGTON JOURNAL STARTED THIS
[01:10:25] MONTH THAT CONCERNING AT ALL TO YOU?
[01:10:29] >> LET ME SAY. >> SENATOR, FROM NORTH CAROLINA. >> HOW WAS I RECORDED.
[01:10:32] >> IN THE AFFIRMATIVE? >> MR. PRESIDENT, I WISH TO
[01:10:36] CHANGE MY VOTE TO NO. >> MR. TILLIS.
[01:10:40] >> THE SENATOR HAS THAT RIGHT. >> MR..
[01:10:41] >> MR.. TILLIS, MR.. TILLIS, NO
[01:11:01] >> ON THIS VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 49
[01:11:03] AND THE NAYS ARE 53/5 OF THE SENATORS DULY CHOSEN AND SWORN,
[01:11:07] NOT HAVING VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THE MOTION IS NOT
[01:11:11] AGREED TO. >> PRESIDENT. >> THE SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
[01:11:15] >> MR. PRESIDENT, I ENTER A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE.
[01:11:17] >> THE MOTION IS ENTERED.
[01:11:20] >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. MR.
[01:11:29] PRESIDENT. >> SENATOR, FROM NORTH CAROLINA. >> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
[01:11:33] WAIVE THE MANDATORY QUORUM CALL WITH RESPECT TO THE CLOTURE MOTION. ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED
[01:11:37] TO S 4668. >> THAT OBJECTION.
[01:11:40] >> MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THERE BE ONE HOUR OF DEBATE EQUALLY
[01:11:44] DIVIDED BETWEEN THE PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS OF THE BILL. >> WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[01:11:48] >> MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK THE
[01:11:50] CHAIR TO EXECUTE THE ORDER OF AUGUST 8th IN RELATION TO. S
[01:11:53] 4668, FOLLOWING THE USE OR YIELDING BACK OF THE DEBATE
[01:11:57] TIME? >> WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[01:11:58] >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
[01:13:59] >> I WANT TO START. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU
[01:14:02] FOR BEING HERE. MY NAME IS LAURA HOGAN. CLOSE TO 19 MONTHS AGO,
[01:14:05] FOUR MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY BOARDED A PLANE IN KANSAS.
[01:14:09] PETER, DONNA, EVERLY, AND OLIVIA, ALONG WITH 63 OTHER
[01:14:11] SOULS, NEVER MADE IT HOME. THAT
[01:14:14] NIGHT, ON JANUARY 29th, 2025, 67
[01:14:18] LIVES WERE LOST WHEN A U.S. ARMY BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER COLLIDED
[01:14:21] WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT
[01:14:23] 5342. WE CANNOT CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, BUT WE CAN,
[01:14:27] AND WE MUST CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I STAND HERE TODAY,
[01:14:31] ALONGSIDE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS
[01:14:33] OF FLIGHT 53. 42 FAMILIES BROUGHT TOGETHER BY A TRAGEDY.
[01:14:37] NONE OF US CHOSE, BUT UNITED IN OUR DETERMINATION THAT OUR LOSS
[01:14:41] LEAD TO MEANINGFUL CHANGE. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE
[01:14:43] NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, THE AIRLINE PILOTS
[01:14:47] ASSOCIATION, THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. JOINING US TODAY, DC
[01:14:51] FIRE AND EMS FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR AVIATION AND SAFETY
[01:14:54] PARTNERS, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE
[01:14:57] FAMILIES STANDING HERE WITH US. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO
[01:15:00] HAVE SHOWN UP, LISTEN TO OUR
[01:15:01] FAMILIES, AND WORKED WITH US. AVIATION SAFETY IS NOT A LEFT
[01:15:05] ISSUE OR A RIGHT ISSUE. IT IS
[01:15:08] NOT AND NEVER SHOULD BE POLITICAL, PUBLIC SAFETY
[01:15:11] CONCERNS. EVERY ONE OF US, EVERY
[01:15:13] PERSON WHO BOARDS AN AIRPLANE, EVERY FAMILY MEMBER WAITING FOR
[01:15:16] SOMEONE TO COME HOME, THAT
[01:15:18] RESPONSIBILITY BELONGS ESPECIALLY TO THOSE ENTRUSTED
[01:15:21] WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ACT. SO, WHETHER YOU ARE STANDING WITH
[01:15:24] WITH US HERE TODAY OR NOT, WE
[01:15:26] HOPE THIS MESSAGE IS HEARD.
[01:15:29] ACTION IS PAST DUE. WE CANNOT WAIT FOR ANOTHER TRAGEDY TO
[01:15:33] PROVE THE NEED FOR SAFETY MEASURES WE ALREADY KNOW CAN SAVE LIVES. THAT IS WHY WE ARE
[01:15:36] HERE TODAY, NOT FOR POLITICS,
[01:15:40] NOT FOR PARTISANSHIP. WE'RE HERE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR
[01:15:43] ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FOR ACTION. THE VOICES OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN AT THE HEART OF THIS EFFORT
[01:15:47] FROM THE BEGINNING. PLEASE
[01:15:50] WELCOME FAMILY 5342 MEMBERS,
[01:15:53] DOUG LANE AND RACHEL >> [APPLAUSE] >> FERRIS.
[01:15:57] >> [APPLAUSE]
[01:16:02] >> HI. SO IT WAS EXACTLY 24 OR
[01:16:07] 25 YEARS AGO TODAY THAT I
[01:16:10] DECIDED TO PROPOSE TO MY WIFE, CHRISTINE, AND THE REASON I
[01:16:14] REMEMBER THAT IS THAT IT WAS THE
[01:16:16] EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001,
[01:16:20] THAT MADE ME REALIZE THAT I WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY
[01:16:22] LIFE WITH HER. SHE WAS WORKING
[01:16:27] IN THE TALLEST SKYSCRAPER IN BOSTON WHEN TWO PLANES FLEW BY ON THEIR WAY FROM BOSTON TO THE
[01:16:29] WORLD TRADE CENTER. I COULDN'T REACH HER AS HER BUILDING WAS
[01:16:33] BEING EVACUATED, AND I WAS LATER
[01:16:36] REUNITED WITH HER. BUT THAT FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY THAT I FELT MADE
[01:16:40] ME REALIZE THAT I WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH
[01:16:42] HER, AND AT THE SAME TIME, I
[01:16:46] ALSO FELT THE HEARTBREAKING STORIES OF OTHERS WHO WERE
[01:16:49] SUFFERING LOSS THROUGH THAT TRAGEDY. AND IT REALLY GAVE ME CLARITY ABOUT WHAT WAS
[01:16:53] IMPORTANT, AND IT SET ME ON A PATH TO BUILDING A FAMILY OF
[01:16:56] FOUR WITH CHRISTINE. 23 YEARS
[01:17:00] LATER, ON JANUARY 29th, 2025, THAT FAMILY OF FOUR BECAME A
[01:17:04] FAMILY OF TWO. CHRISTINA, CHRISTINE, AND MY SON SPENCER
[01:17:07] WERE GONE
[01:17:15] AND LIKE ON 9/11, I WAS HIT BY A WAVE OF HEARTBREAKING STORIES
[01:17:19] FROM OTHER FAMILIES THAT WERE
[01:17:21] ALSO TORN APART OR WIPED OUT ALTOGETHER.
[01:17:25] >> ON SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001, I
[01:17:28] WAS ALSO IN BOSTON. I WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND DOING A YEAR OF
[01:17:31] NATIONAL SERVICE THROUGH
[01:17:33] AMERICORPS. I REMEMBER EVACUATING DOWNTOWN, JUST BLOCKS
[01:17:37] AWAY FROM CHRISTINE, AROUND TEN THAT MORNING, AND I WENT HOME TO
[01:17:40] WATCH THE HORRIFIC FOOTAGE ON TELEVISION. THERE WAS NOTHING
[01:17:43] ELSE I COULD DO. SO I JUST WATCHED, LIKE SO MANY OF US, I
[01:17:47] FELT SCARED. I FELT OVERWHELMED
[01:17:49] AND POWERLESS. AFTER A FEW DAYS,
[01:17:52] I STARTED DREAMING ABOUT PLANES CRASHING. I WAS SEEING THEM AWAKE AND ASLEEP. BUT BY THE END
[01:17:56] OF THE WEEK, AMERICORPS WAS BACK TO WORK AND I HAD SOMETHING I
[01:18:00] COULD DO. I REMEMBER PUTTING ON MY UNIFORM JACKET WITH THE
[01:18:04] AMERICAN FLAG ON THE SLEEVE AND
[01:18:09] FEELING SO PURPOSEFUL. I WAS SERVING MY COUNTRY. THERE WAS WORK IN FRONT OF ME THAT I KNEW
[01:18:12] HOW TO DO. I HAD A WAY TO HELP
[01:18:15] THERE ARE TERRIBLE THINGS YOU CANNOT CHANGE. AND THEN THERE IS
[01:18:17] THE WORK IN FRONT OF YOU. THAT WAS THE LESSON THAT 9/11 TAUGHT
[01:18:21] ME, AND I HAVE CARRIED IT MY
[01:18:22] ENTIRE ADULT LIFE. I ALSO
[01:18:26] TRUSTED THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD DO THEIR WORK TOO. I WAS 18, I
[01:18:29] DIDN'T THINK ABOUT AGENCIES OR
[01:18:31] LEGISLATION OR RULEMAKING. I SIMPLY BELIEVED THAT THE PEOPLE
[01:18:35] WHOSE JOB IT WAS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FAILED TO LEARN FROM IT
[01:18:39] AND TO MAKE US SAFER, WOULD DO
[01:18:42] EXACTLY THAT. 23 YEARS LATER, ON
[01:18:45] JANUARY 29th, I SAW THE FIRST HEADLINE ABOUT ANOTHER AVIATION
[01:18:49] TRAGEDY. AS I WAS GETTING READY FOR BED, I SAID A PRAYER FOR THE
[01:18:52] PEOPLE ON BOARD AND PUT DOWN MY PHONE. I KNEW THAT IF I KEPT
[01:18:56] READING, I WOULD NOT SLEEP. I WOULD SEE PLANES CRASHING. WHEN
[01:18:59] I CLOSED MY EYES. BUT THE NEXT
[01:19:02] MORNING, MY PHONE WAS FULL OF MESSAGES FROM MY FAMILY. CALL US
[01:19:06] NOW. WE LOVE YOU. MY HEART FROZE
[01:19:08] IN. MY HAND SHOOK AS I CALLED
[01:19:12] HOME. MY DAD ANSWERED AND SAID,
[01:19:12] I HAVE TERRIBLE NEWS. PETER,
[01:19:16] DONNA, EVERLY, AND OLIVIA WERE ALL ON THE PLANE IN DC. THEY ARE
[01:19:20] GONE. THEY ARE ALL GONE. MY
[01:19:23] HUSBAND TELLS ME HE FELL TO THE FLOOR. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT. I
[01:19:26] REMEMBER MY DAUGHTER STANDING
[01:19:29] THERE, FROZEN WHILE I SOBBED, BECAUSE MY COUSIN AND HIS ENTIRE
[01:19:32] FAMILY HAD BEEN WIPED OUT IN A MOMENT, AND I COULD NOT CHANGE
[01:19:35] WHAT HAPPENED. I COULD NOT GET THEM BACK. SO I DID THE ONLY
[01:19:39] THING I COULD DO, THE WORK IN FRONT OF ME. I WENT TO
[01:19:42] WASHINGTON TO HELP MY FAMILY. A
[01:19:45] FEW DAYS LATER, AT THE NTSB FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER, MY
[01:19:49] AUNT HAD ONE THING SHE WANTED TO
[01:19:50] KNOW. HAD THEY FOUND BROWN TEDDY THE BEAR HER GRANDDAUGHTER
[01:19:53] OLIVIA, BROUGHT ON EVERY TRIP WE
[01:19:57] ASKED. A DAY OR TWO LATER, SOMEONE CAME BACK AND SAID, WE
[01:20:00] FOUND BROWN. TEDDY. THEY CLEANED
[01:20:03] HIM AND THEY SENT HIM HOME. THIS
[01:20:06] IS BROWN. TEDDY, BROWN. TEDDY
[01:20:08] CAME HOME, BUT OLIVIA DID NOT.
[01:20:14] >> THE REST OF US WERE SURROUNDED BY PIECES OF WHAT WE
[01:20:16] LOST AS WELL. THE U.S. FIGURE
[01:20:20] SKATING JACKET THAT MY SON, SPENCER, TRAINED FOR HOURS EVERY
[01:20:23] DAY TO EARN, CAME HOME. SPENCER
[01:20:27] DID NOT. THE LAPTOP THAT CHRISTINE USED TO SHARE HER
[01:20:31] CREATIVITY WITH THE WORLD CAME HOME IN PIECES. CHRISTINE DID
[01:20:35] NOT. NONE OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS CHOSE WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT,
[01:20:37] AND NONE OF US LEFT BEHIND CHOSE
[01:20:40] IT EITHER. BUT WE DID HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT WHAT CAME NEXT. OUR
[01:20:44] FAMILIES HELD ON TO ONE ANOTHER, AND THEN WE GOT TO WORK. WE WERE
[01:20:47] HERE ON CAPITOL HILL BY THE END OF FEBRUARY, AND WE HAVE KEPT
[01:20:51] SHOWING UP EVER SINCE. WE CAN TELL THEIR STORIES, WE CAN ASK
[01:20:55] QUESTIONS. WE CAN PUSH FOR
[01:20:57] ANSWERS. WE CAN DEMAND ACTION.
[01:21:00] THAT'S THE WORK THAT BELONGS TO US. BUT WE CANNOT DO EVERYBODY
[01:21:03] ELSE'S WORK FOR THEM. WE NEED
[01:21:08] THE PEOPLE. WE NEED THE PEOPLE WITH THE POWER TO TURN THIS
[01:21:11] TRAGEDY INTO CHANGE, TO DO
[01:21:12] THEIRS, AND TO FINISH IT. AFTER
[01:21:17] SEPTEMBER 11th, WE SAID, NEVER FORGET, AND WE MEANT IT. WE
[01:21:18] CHANGED LAWS. WE CHANGED
[01:21:21] SECURITY, WE REINFORCED COCKPIT DOORS BECAUSE SOMETHING HAD FAILED AND PEOPLE HAD DIED. BUT
[01:21:25] THAT'S THE THING ABOUT MASS
[01:21:27] LOSS AT FIRST. EVERYBODY IS PAYING ATTENTION. EVERYBODY
[01:21:30] SAYS, THIS CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THEN TIME PASSES. THE
[01:21:34] FUNERALS END, THE CAMERAS LEAVE, OTHER THINGS BECOME URGENT, AND
[01:21:38] THE WORK GETS HARDER TO FINISH.
[01:21:41] SECONDARY FLIGHT DECK BARRIERS ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE. THERE ARE SIMPLE GATE THAT PROTECTS THE
[01:21:45] COCKPIT. WHEN REINFORCED, DOOR HAS TO OPEN. PILOTS LIKE THE
[01:21:48] ONES BEHIND ME HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IT FOR 20 YEARS. INDUSTRY
[01:21:52] STANDARDS TOOK A DECADE, AND CONGRESS FINALLY MANDATED THEM
[01:21:55] IN 2018. BUT THAT REQUIREMENT ONLY BECAME ENFORCEABLE LAST
[01:21:58] MONTH, AND ONLY FOR NEW
[01:22:00] AIRCRAFT. 25 YEARS AFTER
[01:22:03] SEPTEMBER 11th, PILOTS AND 9/11 FAMILIES ARE STILL FIGHTING TO
[01:22:06] GET THIS COMMON SENSE SAFETY
[01:22:08] FEATURE INTO THOUSANDS OF AIRCRAFTS STILL FLYING EVERY
[01:22:11] DAY. THAT IS WHAT FADING URGENCY
[01:22:13] LOOKS LIKE. SOMEONE, SOMETHING EVERYONE AGREES WILL MAKE PEOPLE
[01:22:16] SAFER, GETS CAUGHT IN PROCESS,
[01:22:18] OBJECTIONS, EXCEPTIONS, AND
[01:22:21] DELAY UNTIL YOU LOOK UP AN
[01:22:22] ENTIRE GENERATION HAS PASSED
[01:22:26] FLIGHT 5342 CANNOT FOLLOW THAT PATH.
[01:22:28] >> TO OUR MANY LEGISLATIVE ALLIES WHO HAVE FOUGHT WITH US
[01:22:31] TO MOVE AVIATION SAFETY REFORM
[01:22:34] FORWARD, WE SEE THE WORK YOU ARE
[01:22:37] DOING, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL.
[01:22:38] KEEP GOING. THIS CONGRESS IS
[01:22:41] COMING TO AN END. YOU HAVE BROUGHT US TOO FAR TO LET THIS
[01:22:45] BILL DIE IN THE LAST MILE. WE
[01:22:48] CANNOT COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND BEGIN AGAIN. REINTRODUCING
[01:22:51] BILLS, REBUILDING MOMENTUM, SITTING THROUGH THE SAME
[01:22:54] MEETINGS, AND TELLING THESE
[01:22:58] STORIES AGAIN. >> AND THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO MAKE
[01:23:01] THIS HARDER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.
[01:23:02] WE SEE YOU. WE NEED YOU TO STOP.
[01:23:06] STOP FINDING REASONS TO DELAY.
[01:23:07] STOP CREATING CONFUSION. STOP LOBBYING FOR LOOPHOLES AND CARVE
[01:23:11] OUTS THAT WEAKEN WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. IF YOU DO
[01:23:14] NOT BELIEVE THAT THE NTSB'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL MAKE US ALL
[01:23:18] SAFER, SAY SO. SAY IT TO OUR FACES. SAY IT TO CHAIRWOMAN
[01:23:22] HOMENDY AND THE INVESTIGATORS
[01:23:23] WHO WORKED FOR A YEAR TO DEVELOP
[01:23:27] THEM. IF YOU THINK THE COST IS TOO HIGH, SHOW US THE MATH. TELL US WHAT A HUMAN LIFE IS WORTH TO
[01:23:31] YOU BUT IF YOU CANNOT MAKE THAT
[01:23:36] CASE, STOP STANDING IN THE WAY.
[01:23:38] 67 PEOPLE ARE DEAD. THE NTSB
[01:23:42] TOLD US WHAT FAILED AND WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. THE FAMILIES
[01:23:45] HAVE DONE OUR PART. MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE COME TOGETHER
[01:23:48] AROUND MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION.
[01:23:51] IT'S TIME TO FINISH IT. AND WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT FOR CONGRESS
[01:23:55] TO GET STARTED. FAA, WHERE YOU
[01:23:57] HAVE AUTHORITY, USE IT. ARMY AND
[01:24:00] DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. YOU TOLD THESE FAMILIES THAT YOUR INVESTIGATIONS WERE COMPLETE AND
[01:24:04] THAT WE WOULD HAVE ANSWERS. GIVE US THE INVESTIGATIONS. TELL US
[01:24:07] WHAT YOU LEARNED. TELL US WHAT YOU WERE CHANGING IN HONOR OF
[01:24:11] OUR LOVED ONES. THERE ARE TERRIBLE THINGS YOU CANNOT CHANGE. AND THEN THERE IS THE
[01:24:15] WORK IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS IS THE WORK IN FRONT OF YOU. FINISH
[01:24:18] THE WORK NOW, BEFORE ANOTHER
[01:24:20] FAMILY PAYS FOR THE TIME YOU
[01:24:23] CHOSE TO TAKE. >> WE WANT TO SAY SOMETHING
[01:24:27] SPECIFIC TO THE AIRLINES AND
[01:24:30] MANUFACTURERS. WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU, AND YOU HAVE NOT LIVED
[01:24:34] UP TO THAT TRUST. WHEN WE PUT OURSELVES OR OUR CHILDREN ON
[01:24:37] YOUR AIRPLANES, WE TRUST THAT YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING
[01:24:41] REASONABLY POSSIBLE TO MAKE THEM SAFE. YOUR PILOTS AND FLIGHT
[01:24:45] ATTENDANTS PLACE THAT SAME TRUST IN YOU EVERY TIME THEY SHOW UP
[01:24:47] TO WORK. THE REALITY IS THAT TOO
[01:24:49] MUCH OF THIS INDUSTRY HAS TREATED COMPLIANCE AS THE LIMIT
[01:24:53] OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY. IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT REQUIRED A
[01:24:57] SAFETY IMPROVEMENT, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE IT. SECONDARY
[01:25:00] FLIGHT DECK BARRIERS ARE ONE PROOF. POINT COLLISION AVOIDANCE
[01:25:04] TECHNOLOGY IS ANOTHER. THE
[01:25:07] SAFETY CASE FOR ADS-B IN HAS BEEN PUBLIC SINCE 2008, BUT
[01:25:11] FLIGHT 5342 DID NOT HAVE IT. THE NTSB FOUND THAT IT COULD HAVE
[01:25:14] GIVEN THE CREW WARNING OF THE
[01:25:17] HELICOPTER. ROUGHLY 4059 SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT. ABOUT 40 MORE
[01:25:21] SECONDS THAN THEY HAD. I CANNOT
[01:25:24] TELL YOU IF THOSE 40s WOULD HAVE SAVED THEM, BUT I CAN TELL YOU
[01:25:27] THEY DID NOT GET THEM. IT IS NOW
[01:25:31] STANDARD FOR CARS TO ALERT US WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE IS IN OUR
[01:25:35] BLIND SPOT, TO WARN US WHEN WE ARE CLOSING TOO QUICKLY, AND
[01:25:38] INCREASINGLY TO BRAKE ON THEIR
[01:25:39] OWN TO AVOID A COLLISION. AND
[01:25:43] YET, SOMEHOW, IN 2026, WE ARE STILL ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER
[01:25:46] PILOTS CARRYING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THROUGH CROWDED AIRSPACE
[01:25:49] SHOULD HAVE THE BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THEM DO THE
[01:25:51] SAME THING FOR AIRLINE CREW MEMBERS. WENT TO WORK THAT NIGHT
[01:25:55] AND NEVER CAME HOME. YOUR
[01:25:59] EMPLOYEES, I BELIEVE YOU GRIEVED THEM. BUT GRIEF AFTER THE FACT
[01:26:03] IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR ACTION
[01:26:05] BEFORE IT. WHAT YOU BUY IS
[01:26:08] ACTION. WHAT YOU INSTALL IS
[01:26:10] ACTION. WHAT YOU RETROFIT IS ACTION. WHAT YOU DEMAND FROM
[01:26:14] MANUFACTURERS IS ACTION, AND WHAT YOU LOBBY FOR AND WHAT YOU
[01:26:18] PUSH FOR. IN RULEMAKING
[01:26:21] COMMITTEES. THAT IS ACTION TO
[01:26:23] AIRLINES ARE NOT POWERLESS
[01:26:25] CONSUMERS. YOU BUY AIRPLANES,
[01:26:28] YOU CHOOSE THE EQUIPMENT, YOU NEGOTIATE WITH MANUFACTURERS.
[01:26:30] YOU CREATE DEMAND. AND WE KNOW
[01:26:34] HOW QUICKLY THIS INDUSTRY CAN CREATE URGENCY WHEN ITS
[01:26:36] ECONOMICS ARE ON THE LINE, WHEN FUEL COSTS RISE, REGULATION
[01:26:40] THREATENS REVENUE, OR MARGINS
[01:26:42] TIGHTEN. THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF LOBBYING EFFORT, AND THEY FIND
[01:26:45] THEIR VOICES IN EVERY RULEMAKING
[01:26:47] ROOM. WHERE HAS THAT URGENCY
[01:26:49] BEEN FOR SAFETY? WHERE WAS THE
[01:26:52] INDUSTRY WIDE DEMAND FOR SECONDARY BARRIERS WHEN YOUR OWN
[01:26:56] PILOTS WERE ASKING FOR THEM? WHERE WAS THE PUSH TO DEVELOP
[01:26:59] AND CERTIFY ADS-B IN AFTER THE SAFETY CASE WAS CLEAR? AND THIS
[01:27:03] IS NOT WHETHER YOU CARE ABOUT
[01:27:05] WHETHER YOU CAN AFFORD TO ACT.
[01:27:08] U.S. PASSENGER AIRLINES MADE
[01:27:10] 11.4 BILLION IN OPERATING PROFIT
[01:27:13] IN 2025. YOU HAVE THE MONEY. YOU
[01:27:15] HAVE THE LEVERAGE. YOU HAVE THE
[01:27:18] VOICE. THE QUESTION IS WHY SAFETY SO RARELY GETS THE SAME
[01:27:22] URGENCY AS THE NEXT QUARTERLY
[01:27:24] EARNINGS REPORT. YOU SHOULD BE
[01:27:26] MAKING THIS EASIER. PUSHING MANUFACTURERS, SOLVING
[01:27:29] CERTIFICATION PROBLEMS, DEMANDING SAFETY TECHNOLOGY
[01:27:33] BEFORE CONGRESS HAS TO FORCE THE ISSUE. REGULATION IS THE FLOOR,
[01:27:36] AND YOU SHOULD BE HELPING TO
[01:27:37] RAISE IT. DO THE THING YOU WOULD
[01:27:41] DEMAND IF YOUR WIFE AND SON WERE ON THAT AIRPLANE. DO WHAT YOU
[01:27:44] WOULD DO IF YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING HOME WITH HER
[01:27:47] TEDDY BEAR. YOU KNOW HOW TO MOVE
[01:27:50] FAST. WHEN MONEY IS ON THE LINE,
[01:27:52] MOVE FAST. WHEN LIVES ARE YOUR
[01:27:54] PUBLIC ABSENCE FROM THIS FIGHT
[01:27:56] HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED. GET OFF THE SIDELINES AND GET IN THE
[01:28:00] GAME. BRING THE SAME URGENCY TO PROTECTING YOUR PILOTS, YOUR
[01:28:03] FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, AND YOUR PASSENGERS THAT YOU BRING TO
[01:28:06] PROTECTING YOUR BOTTOM LINE. AND
[01:28:11] IF YOU CAN FIND BILLIONS FOR
[01:28:14] SHAREHOLDERS, BUT NOT URGENCY FOR SAFETY. DO NOT TELL US THAT
[01:28:18] SAFETY IS YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. THE PROOF OF YOUR PRIORITIES IS
[01:28:21] IN THE TECHNOLOGY YOU INSTALL, THE AIRPLANES YOU BUY, AND THE
[01:28:24] POLICIES YOU ADVANCE. BEFORE PEOPLE DIE. NOT IN THE
[01:28:27] CONDOLENCES OR PRESS RELEASES.
[01:28:28] YOU ISSUE ISSUE AFTER THEY ARE
[01:28:36] >> 25 YEARS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11th, WE KNOW THAT REMEMBRANCE CAN LAST MUCH LONGER THAN
[01:28:40] URGENCY. THAT CANNOT BE THE
[01:28:42] LEGACY OF FLIGHT 5342. WE DID
[01:28:46] NOT BRING THESE ITEMS HERE TODAY AS SYMBOLS. WE BROUGHT THEM
[01:28:50] BECAUSE THEY ARE WHAT WE HAVE
[01:28:50] LEFT. BROWN. TEDDY CAME HOME.
[01:28:54] SPENCER'S JACKET CAME HOME.
[01:28:57] CHRISTINE'S LAPTOP CAME HOME.
[01:29:00] OLIVIA. CHRISTINE, SPENCER AND
[01:29:03] 64 OTHERS DID NOT. FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, OUR FAMILIES
[01:29:07] HAVE CARRIED THAT LOSS INTO HEARING ROOMS, CONGRESSIONAL
[01:29:10] OFFICES, MEETINGS AND BRIEFINGS. EVERY PLACE WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT
[01:29:12] BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE WILL KEEP CARRYING OUR PART OF
[01:29:15] THAT, BUT WE CANNOT CARRY YOURS.
[01:29:18] DO THE RIGHT THING. DO THE WORK IN FRONT OF YOU. DO THE WORK
[01:29:21] THAT IS YOURS, AND FINISH IT BEFORE ANOTHER FAMILY IS LEFT.
[01:29:25] HOLDING THE THINGS THAT CAME HOME. INSTEAD OF THE PERSON WHO
[01:29:28] SHOULD HAVE. THANK YOU
[01:29:35] >> CAPTAIN AMBROSI FROM ALPA IS
[01:29:36] GOING TO SPEAK NEXT
[01:29:39] >> [APPLAUSE]. >> WELL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR
[01:29:41] THOSE THOSE POWERFUL REMARKS.
[01:29:44] THANK YOU. I'M CAPTAIN JASON AMBROSI, PRESIDENT OF THE AIR
[01:29:46] LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
[01:29:49] INTERNATIONAL, WHICH REPRESENTS MORE THAN 80,000 PILOTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, AND A
[01:29:53] CAPTAIN ON THE BOEING 767 FOR
[01:29:55] DELTA AIR LINES. ON JANUARY
[01:29:58] 29th, 2025, THOSE ABOARD FLIGHT
[01:30:02] 5342 STARTED THEIR DAY LIKE ANY OTHER. EVERYONE EXPECTED TO COME
[01:30:05] HOME. INSTEAD, OUR INDUSTRY LOST
[01:30:11] 67 LIVES. PILOTS, FLIGHT
[01:30:13] ATTENDANTS, MOTHERS, FATHERS,
[01:30:15] KIDS, COACHES, TEAMMATES, AND FRIENDS. THEY ALL TRUSTED THEY
[01:30:19] WOULD COME HOME SAFELY. AS
[01:30:23] AIRLINE PILOTS, WE CARRY THAT
[01:30:25] TRUST AND WE CARRY THAT LOSS.
[01:30:28] EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE FAMILIES
[01:30:31] HERE OF FLIGHT 5342 STAND WITH
[01:30:33] US AND HAVE SHOWN EXTRAORDINARY
[01:30:36] RESOLVE. TURNING UNIMAGINABLE
[01:30:40] GRIEF INTO ACTION. EVERYONE AT ALPA CONTINUES TO STAND WITH
[01:30:43] THEM, AND WE WILL NOT STOP
[01:30:45] PUSHING UNTIL THEIR LOVED ONE'S
[01:30:47] LEGACY IS WRITTEN INTO LAW. THE
[01:30:52] NTSB REPORT LISTED 50
[01:30:55] RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, WHEN
[01:30:56] ENACTED, WILL MAKE FLYING SAFER.
[01:31:01] ONE ESSENTIAL RECOMMENDATION IS IN THE SENATE'S ROTOR ACT, ENSURING THAT AIRLINE PILOTS
[01:31:04] HAVE INTEGRATED ADS-B IN
[01:31:06] TECHNOLOGY ON THE FLIGHT DECK,
[01:31:09] GIVING CREWS REAL TIME AUDIO AND
[01:31:12] VISUAL AWARENESS OF NEARBY
[01:31:15] AIRCRAFT. THIS IS NOT DEVELOPMENTAL TECHNOLOGY. IT
[01:31:18] EXISTS TODAY AND COULD HAVE MADE
[01:31:21] THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE 67 LIVES LOST OVER THE POTOMAC LAST YEAR.
[01:31:25] WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE FAMILIES OF THOSE LOST IN THE
[01:31:27] ACCIDENT AND WITH LAWMAKERS
[01:31:30] ACROSS THE AISLE TO UPDATE RULES
[01:31:33] AND PROCEDURES TO INCLUDE A NEW MANDATE FOR ADS-B IN TO THE
[01:31:37] FLYING PUBLIC LISTENING TODAY.
[01:31:40] WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME VERY TECHNICAL ASPECTS HERE,
[01:31:43] WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS
[01:31:46] THIS. IT ALL GOES TO THE HEART
[01:31:47] OF THE TRUST THAT YOU PLACE IN
[01:31:50] YOUR PILOTS EVERY TIME YOU FLY.
[01:31:52] THAT TRUST ISN'T BLIND. IT'S
[01:31:57] EARNED. WE ARE TRAINED. WE ARE
[01:31:59] RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY. AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY
[01:32:03] EVERY TIME WE PUSH BACK FROM THE GATE. WE EXPECT THE SAME FROM
[01:32:07] EVERYONE WHO SHARES THAT AIRSPACE, INCLUDING OUR MILITARY
[01:32:11] PARTNERS AND THOSE AT THE PENTAGON. WE MUST BE ABLE TO SEE
[01:32:15] EACH OTHER IN SHARED AIRSPACE,
[01:32:18] PERIOD. TO BE CLEAR, FOR AIRLINE
[01:32:21] PILOTS, THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF
[01:32:23] ROTOR VERSUS ALERT OR HOUSE
[01:32:25] VERSUS SENATE. WE SUPPORT INCORPORATING THE STRONGEST
[01:32:28] COMPONENTS OF BOTH PIECES OF
[01:32:30] LEGISLATION. ANY AVIATION SAFETY
[01:32:33] LEGISLATION MUST INCLUDE INTEGRATED ADS-B IN MANDATE, AS
[01:32:37] INCLUDED IN THE SENATE'S ROTOR
[01:32:39] ACT. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
[01:32:41] TECHNOLOGY FOR PILOTS IS
[01:32:44] CRITICAL AND SHOULDN'T BE UP FOR DEBATE. THAT NUANCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE, WITHOUT
[01:32:48] SPELLING IT OUT, SHORTCUTS ARE
[01:32:51] SURE TO BE TAKEN. WE ABSOLUTELY
[01:32:54] CANNOT SETTLE FOR THE DESIRES OF
[01:32:56] SOME SPECIAL INTEREST THAT WOULD
[01:32:59] HAVE ESSENTIAL TRAFFIC DATA
[01:33:02] DISPLAYED ON AN IPAD OVER HERE,
[01:33:04] WHEN I SHOULD BE LOOKING
[01:33:09] STRAIGHT AHEAD. ALSO NEED TO CLOSE THE GAP THAT LETS MILITARY
[01:33:12] AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AIRCRAFT FLY THROUGH OUR BUSIEST AIRSPACE
[01:33:16] WITHOUT REPORTING THEIR POSITION. OTHER THAN MATTERS OF NATIONAL SECURITY, LIKE
[01:33:20] PRESIDENTIAL MOVEMENT, MILITARY
[01:33:22] AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN CROWDED AIRSPACE, SUCH AS D.C., A MUST
[01:33:25] REPORT THEIR POSITION TO PREVENT
[01:33:28] ANOTHER TRAGEDY. IF THEY MUST OPERATE WITH TRANSPONDERS OFF.
[01:33:32] LET'S NOT REPEAT HISTORY. THERE
[01:33:33] IS A BETTER SOLUTION THAT EXISTS
[01:33:36] TODAY, AND WE WILL SAVE LIVES.
[01:33:39] I'D LIKE TO THANK CHAIR CRUZ AND RANKING MEMBER CANTWELL FOR
[01:33:42] THEIR LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS THE OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT
[01:33:46] THIS COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION.
[01:33:48] WE OWE IT TO THE 67 PEOPLE LOST,
[01:33:51] AND TO THE MILLIONS WHO TRUST
[01:33:52] THEIR LIVES WITH US EVERY DAY TO
[01:33:56] FINISH THIS JOB. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE NTSB
[01:33:59] CHAIRWOMAN JENNIFER >> [APPLAUSE] >> HOMENDY
[01:34:02] >> [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.
[01:34:06] >> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. AND TO THE
[01:34:10] FAMILIES. THE NTSB. WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE YOU TO ENSURE
[01:34:14] OUR SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED. ALL 50 OF OUR
[01:34:18] RECOMMENDATIONS. WE RECOGNIZE
[01:34:21] THAT NO INVESTIGATION CAN UNDO
[01:34:25] THE TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS PAIN
[01:34:29] YOU EXPERIENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
[01:34:30] BUT WE COLLECTIVELY CAN HONOR
[01:34:33] THOSE WHO WERE LOST BY MAKING
[01:34:35] MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS TO
[01:34:38] SAFETY, BY ENSURING THE
[01:34:40] TRAGEDIES, WE INVESTIGATE TODAY
[01:34:43] BECOME LIVES SAVED TOMORROW. THE
[01:34:47] MID-AIR COLLISION AT RONALD REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT OCCURRED
[01:34:50] 595 DAYS AGO. 595 DAYS AGO. IN
[01:34:56] JUST A FEW MONTHS, WE'LL BE
[01:34:58] GATHERING TO MOURN THE SECOND
[01:35:03] ANNIVERSARY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT. IN TESTIMONY BEFORE THE SENATE,
[01:35:06] I COMMITTED TO CHAIRMAN CRUZ AND
[01:35:10] RANKING MEMBER CANTWELL THAT WE WERE GOING TO COMPLETE OUR INVESTIGATION IN UNDER A YEAR.
[01:35:13] THAT WAS OUR COMMITMENT, BECAUSE
[01:35:17] WE NEEDED TO IMPROVE SAFETY, AND
[01:35:19] WE DID JUST THAT. ON JANUARY
[01:35:22] 27th, 2026, 232 DAYS AGO WE
[01:35:30] CONCLUDED OUR INVESTIGATION AND
[01:35:32] ADOPTED OUR FINAL REPORT. WE
[01:35:35] ISSUED 74 FINDINGS AND 50 SAFETY
[01:35:38] RECOMMENDATIONS, FIVE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR POLICY BOARD
[01:35:41] ON FEDERAL AVIATION, EIGHT TO
[01:35:42] THE U.S. ARMY, 33 TO THE FEDERAL
[01:35:46] AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, TWO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ONE TO THE
[01:35:49] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND
[01:35:52] ONE TO THE RADIO TECHNICAL COMMISSION FOR AERONAUTICS
[01:35:56] PROGRAM MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. TWO OF THESE RECIPIENTS, THE
[01:36:00] ARMY AND THE FAA, PARTICIPATED
[01:36:02] IN OUR INVESTIGATION. WHEN YOU PARTICIPATE IN OUR
[01:36:06] INVESTIGATION, BECOME PARTIES TO
[01:36:08] OUR INVESTIGATION, YOU GET FACTUAL INFORMATION IN REAL TIME
[01:36:11] SO YOU CAN MAKE SAFETY CHANGE.
[01:36:15] WE DO THAT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE CONCLUSION OF OUR
[01:36:19] INVESTIGATION AND ISSUE A FINAL
[01:36:21] REPORT A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF
[01:36:25] AN INVESTIGATION IS TO HAVE ALL
[01:36:29] OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTED
[01:36:30] BEFORE WE'RE DONE, BEFORE WE'RE
[01:36:34] DONE. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
[01:36:36] BECAUSE TODAY, NEARLY TWO YEARS LATER, ALL 50 OF OUR SAFETY
[01:36:39] RECOMMENDATIONS REMAIN OPEN,
[01:36:42] MEANING THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY
[01:36:45] IMPLEMENTED. YESTERDAY, THE
[01:36:48] BOARD, UPON RECOMMENDATION OF OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHO
[01:36:50] DO A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE
[01:36:54] RECIPIENTS OF OUR
[01:36:56] RECOMMENDATIONS, RESPONSE TO OUR
[01:36:58] RECOMMENDATIONS. WE UNANIMOUSLY
[01:37:02] DESIGNATED A THIRD OF THE
[01:37:04] RECOMMENDATIONS TO FAA AS UNACCEPTABLE ACTION,
[01:37:07] UNACCEPTABLE ACTION. THOSE
[01:37:09] INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
[01:37:11] MANDATING ADS-B, IN WHICH WAS
[01:37:15] WHICH. THE NTSB HAS BEEN
[01:37:19] RECOMMENDING FOR DECADES AS AN
[01:37:23] IMMEDIATE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT IN
[01:37:24] OUR AIRSPACE. LET ME BE CLEAR,
[01:37:27] ADS-B IN, AND I SAID THIS TO CHAIRMAN CRUZ WHEN HE ASKED ME
[01:37:30] THIS QUESTION. ADS-B IN WOULD
[01:37:33] HAVE PREVENTED THIS COLLISION.
[01:37:36] IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED IT. WE
[01:37:40] WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. EACH OF OUR 50 RECOMMENDATIONS ARE
[01:37:44] CRITICAL FOR SAFETY, AND COMBINED WOULD ALSO HAVE
[01:37:47] PREVENTED THIS ACCIDENT. BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT PASSES
[01:37:51] WITHOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IS AN
[01:37:54] UNACCEPTABLE RISK TO AVIATION SAFETY. AN UNACCEPTABLE RISK FOR
[01:37:57] CREW MEMBERS, AN UNACCEPTABLE
[01:38:00] RISK TO THE FLYING PUBLIC, TO
[01:38:04] PASSENGERS. I WANT TO COMMEND CHAIRMAN CRUZ. I ASKED TO SPEAK
[01:38:07] BEFORE HIM BECAUSE I WANT TO
[01:38:10] THANK THEM BOTH, AND ALSO RANKING MEMBER CANTWELL. I ASKED
[01:38:13] TO SPEAK BEFORE THEM BOTH
[01:38:16] BECAUSE I WANT TO THANK THEM. THEY HAVE SPEARHEADED THIS
[01:38:19] EFFORT COMING OVER TO THE HOUSE
[01:38:23] SIDE DURING THE VOTE, COMING TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND AFTERWARDS,
[01:38:26] NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THIS,
[01:38:29] BUT CHAIRMAN CRUZ FOUND THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND TOLD THEM NOT
[01:38:32] TO GIVE UP. RANKING MEMBER
[01:38:35] CANTWELL CALLED EVERYONE, DON'T
[01:38:39] GIVE UP. CERTAINLY APPRECIATE
[01:38:42] THE EFFORTS IN THE HOUSE TO ADDRESS OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND
[01:38:45] WE ARE SO CLOSE, SO CLOSE. BUT
[01:38:50] WE NEED A FINAL BILL. WE CANNOT
[01:38:52] STAND HERE ON THE SECOND
[01:38:55] ANNIVERSARY OF THIS TRAGEDY. SO
[01:38:57] MANY DAYS GONE BY, WITH NO
[01:38:59] IMPROVEMENTS TO SAFETY WITHOUT
[01:39:03] ADS-B IN, WITHOUT OUR
[01:39:05] RECOMMENDATIONS BEING
[01:39:08] IMPLEMENTED. 67 PEOPLE LOST
[01:39:10] THEIR LIVES ON JANUARY 29th,
[01:39:13] 2025, BEHIND EVERY NAME IS A
[01:39:16] PERSON WHO IS LOVED, A PARENT, A
[01:39:22] FATHER, A MOTHER, A SPOUSE, A
[01:39:24] CHILD, A FRIEND. THE LOSS
[01:39:30] CARRIED BY THESE FAMILIES IS
[01:39:33] PROFOUND, AND WE WILL CONTINUE.
[01:39:36] I WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH RELENTLESSLY FOR THE CHANGES
[01:39:39] NEEDED TO MAKE AVIATION SAFER.
[01:39:41] WE OWE THEM THAT, AND WE OWE THAT TO THE FLYING PUBLIC. THANK
[01:39:45] YOU
[01:39:50] >> [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> IT IS AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE
[01:39:53] CHAIRMAN CRUZ.
[01:39:56] >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND LET ME SAY TO THE FAMILIES WHO
[01:40:00] ARE HERE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. EVERY TIME YOU COME,
[01:40:04] EVERY TIME YOU STAND UP, EVERY TIME YOU HOLD THESE PHOTOGRAPHS,
[01:40:08] YOU RELIVE THE PAIN OF THAT DAY.
[01:40:13] YOU RELIVE THE MEMORIES OF THE
[01:40:20] LOVED ONES YOU LOST 595 DAYS AGO IN THE SKIES ABOVE WASHINGTON,
[01:40:22] D.C. 67 LIVES WERE TAKEN FROM
[01:40:30] US. THE GREATEST TRAGEDY OF THAT
[01:40:34] IS THAT IT WAS UTTERLY AND
[01:40:36] COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE THAT
[01:40:40] ACCIDENT OVER DCA DID NOT HAVE
[01:40:41] TO HAPPEN. IT COULD HAVE BEEN
[01:40:45] PREVENTED. AND WE KNOW HOW TO
[01:40:49] PREVENT IT. THE NTSB, FOR
[01:40:52] DECADES HAS BEEN RECOMMENDING SPECIFICALLY HOW TO PREVENT AN
[01:40:56] ACCIDENT LIKE THIS, AND THAT IS
[01:40:59] MANDATING THAT ADS-B IN
[01:41:01] TECHNOLOGY BE USED ON AIRCRAFT.
[01:41:05] THE NTSB RECREATED WHAT HAPPENED
[01:41:12] THAT NIGHT AND OVERLAID IT WITH
[01:41:15] THE VOICE RECORDINGS OF THE
[01:41:16] BLACK BOX IF ADS-B IN HAD BEEN
[01:41:22] INSTALLED AND USED ON THE
[01:41:25] AIRCRAFT THAT NIGHT, BOTH THE AMERICAN AIRLINES JET AND THE
[01:41:29] BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER WOULD HAVE
[01:41:34] SEEN EACH OTHER. LONG BEFORE
[01:41:37] THEY HIT EACH OTHER, IT WOULD
[01:41:38] HAVE BEEN SIMPLE TO AVOID THAT
[01:41:43] COLLISION. INSTEAD, WHEN YOU
[01:41:46] WATCH THE RECREATION. WHEN YOU
[01:41:50] LISTEN TO THE BLACK BOX, IT'S EVIDENT THE BLACK HAWK PILOTS
[01:41:54] NEVER SAW THE PLANE, NEVER SAW
[01:41:57] THE PLANE TILL THE INSTANT THEY
[01:42:00] DIED. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE AMERICAN PILOTS SAW THE
[01:42:04] HELICOPTER ABOUT ONE SECOND
[01:42:07] BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE VERY LAST ACTION WAS PULLING THE
[01:42:11] STICK BACK. AND THEN THEY WERE
[01:42:19] GONE WE KNOW HOW TO PREVENT
[01:42:24] THIS. AND, LOOK, THERE ARE A HOST OF AREAS IN WHICH
[01:42:28] WASHINGTON IS BROKEN, IN WHICH YOU HAVE PARTIZAN BICKERING AND
[01:42:31] FIGHTING BACK AND FORTH, BUT
[01:42:33] THIS ISN'T ONE OF THEM. SENATOR
[01:42:38] CANTWELL AND I TEAMED UP TOGETHER WITH BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO TAKE THE
[01:42:41] RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NTSB TO
[01:42:43] PUT THAT MANDATE IN PLACE, AND
[01:42:48] THE ROTOR ACT PASSED THE SENATE
[01:42:51] 100 TO NOTHING. EVERY REPUBLICAN
[01:42:54] VOTED YES. EVERY DEMOCRAT VOTED
[01:42:57] YES. IN THE HOUSE, WHEN THE
[01:42:58] HOUSE VOTED ON IT, WE GOT A
[01:43:02] BIPARTISAN VOTE OF TWO THIRDS OF
[01:43:04] THE HOUSE, MINUS ONE. WE FELL
[01:43:07] ONE VOTE SHORT. AND
[01:43:10] FRUSTRATINGLY, THE VOTE HAPPENED ON A DAY WHEN NEARLY 30 HOUSE
[01:43:13] MEMBERS WERE NOT PRESENT BECAUSE OF WEATHER IN THE NORTHEAST THAT
[01:43:17] PREVENTED THEM FROM GETTING BACK
[01:43:18] TO D.C.. MANY OF YOU ALL WERE
[01:43:22] THERE THAT DAY, AND I TOLD YOU
[01:43:25] THEN, WE WILL GET THIS DONE. AND
[01:43:29] YOUR LEADERSHIP IS CRITICAL TO
[01:43:32] GETTING THIS DONE. I WANT EVERYONE HERE. >> WE ARE.
[01:43:36] >> ABOUT READY TO TAKE UP A
[01:43:36] BILL, POTENTIALLY. UM, THAT
[01:43:40] DEALS WITH A SITUATION THAT I THINK SHOULD BE, AND IS NEAR AND DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF ALL OF OUR
[01:43:44] CONSTITUENTS. AND THIS IS NOT A
[01:43:46] PARTISAN ISSUE. THIS IS ABOUT A
[01:43:49] UNIQUELY AMERICAN INSTITUTION.
[01:43:52] COLLEGE, SPORTS, COLLEGE SPORTS ARE AT A TIPPING POINT IN A
[01:43:56] PLACE THAT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE, BECAUSE OVER THE LAST
[01:44:00] DECADE OR SO, OVER THE COURSE OF
[01:44:03] LITIGATION, NO RULES CAN BE
[01:44:07] ENFORCED. NOW, I WOULD FREELY
[01:44:10] ADMIT THAT THE OLD SYSTEM HAD ITS CHALLENGES TO THE IDEA THAT
[01:44:13] ATHLETES COULDN'T BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR NAME, IMAGE, AND
[01:44:17] LIKENESS. I THINK THAT WAS WRONG. THAT HAS BEEN RECTIFIED,
[01:44:20] BUT WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS A SYSTEM
[01:44:24] THAT IS UNSTABLE AND THREATENS, IN PARTICULAR, WOMEN'S SPORTS
[01:44:27] AND OLYMPIC SPORTS. IN THE LONG
[01:44:29] TERM, FOR A VERY, VERY LONG
[01:44:32] TIME, THE BUSINESS MODEL, EFFECTIVELY, OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS WAS WAS COLLEGE
[01:44:35] FOOTBALL SUBSIDIZED. ALL THE OTHER NON-REVENUE SPORTS. BASKETBALL IS ESSENTIALLY A
[01:44:39] BREAK EVEN PROPOSITION FOR THE MOST PART, MAYBE MAKES A LITTLE
[01:44:42] MONEY. BUT ALL THOSE OTHER
[01:44:43] SPORTS AND THE 500,000 STUDENT
[01:44:48] ATHLETES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE,
[01:44:52] TO LEARN WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT, THAT
[01:44:55] GRIT, SHOW UP ON TIME, PERSEVERE, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
[01:44:59] WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. YOU KNOW, I HAD THE
[01:45:03] OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN COLLEGE AND, AND THROUGHOUT MY LIFE
[01:45:06] BEFORE THAT, UH, AND WHAT'S LEFT
[01:45:09] OF THAT IS THE CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM, I GUESS. BUT WHEN
[01:45:13] YOU'RE ON A TEAM, YOU WANT TO
[01:45:16] WIN AND YOU WANT TO WIN WITH YOUR TEAMMATES. AND FOR ME, I
[01:45:20] DIDN'T CARE WHERE THEY CAME FROM, WHAT THE RACE WAS, WHAT THEIR RELIGION WAS. WE WERE A
[01:45:23] TEAM. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP LESSONS THAT COME
[01:45:27] FROM THAT, AND THAT IS AT RISK. NOW, SOME MIGHT SAY THE STANDS
[01:45:30] ARE FULL. UM, YOU KNOW, REVENUES
[01:45:34] ARE ROBUST. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE
[01:45:36] TRUE. BUT THE REALITY IS WE'VE
[01:45:38] ENTERED INTO THIS NEW PHASE WITH
[01:45:41] SOMETHING MISSING, A GOVERNING
[01:45:44] BODY THAT CAN ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE RULES. AND THAT'S WHERE
[01:45:47] THIS, THAT'S AT THE HEART OF WHAT THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS
[01:45:49] ACT IS ALL ABOUT, IS TO GRANT
[01:45:54] LIMITED ANTITRUST EXEMPTION
[01:45:55] STATUS FOR GOVERNING BODY, THE
[01:45:58] NCAA TO ENFORCE RULES, MEANING FIVE YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY. I
[01:46:02] THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK IT'S NUTS THAT YOU HAVE 27 YEAR OLDS
[01:46:06] RIGHT NOW COMPETING WITH 17 YEAR OLDS. I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK
[01:46:10] IT'S NUTS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEBODY TRANSFER FOUR TIMES.
[01:46:13] WELL, GUESS WHAT? GRADUATION
[01:46:15] RATES ARE PLUMMETING. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IF YOU'RE
[01:46:19] THE SECOND STRING QUARTERBACK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU GET AN
[01:46:23] OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY, UM, AT LOUISVILLE OR WHEREVER THAT YOU
[01:46:25] SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE ONE TIME.
[01:46:28] BUT THE CHAOS, IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE, ANY COACHES AND EVEN
[01:46:31] PLAYERS, BY THE WAY, WHO TESTIFIED, UH, THIS IS NOT A
[01:46:35] GOOD SITUATION. IT'S COMPLETELY
[01:46:37] UNSTABLE. UM, PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON TWEETS AND
[01:46:41] INJUNCTIONS THAT MAY COME DOWN ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. YOU'VE
[01:46:45] SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
[01:46:46] WEEKS, PEOPLE WHO WENT
[01:46:49] PROFESSIONAL, COMING BACK TO
[01:46:54] COMPETE ON A TEAM WHERE SOMEBODY
[01:46:57] HAD SPENT, YOU KNOW, OR 18 YEARS OLD, HAD SPENT THE, THE FALL
[01:47:01] CAMP GETTING READY FOR THE SEASON AND MAY BE DISPLACED.
[01:47:04] NONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS, NONE OF
[01:47:06] THOSE PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO GO AWAY. AND I THINK WE'RE IN A
[01:47:10] RARE MOMENT HERE IN THIS CHAMBER, WHERE WE'RE AT A TIME
[01:47:13] FOR CHOOSING NO MORE
[01:47:16] ROUNDTABLES. UH, NO MORE. NO
[01:47:18] MORE HYPOTHETICALS. THIS IS WHAT
[01:47:21] WE GET PAID TO DO TO TRY TO
[01:47:23] SOLVE HARD PROBLEMS. WHAT'S
[01:47:27] UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS IT DOESN'T FALL INTO TRADITIONAL PARTIZAN CATEGORIES. THERE'S NO REAL RED
[01:47:31] JERSEY, BLUE JERSEY ON THIS
[01:47:33] THING. THIS IS IDENTIFYING WHAT
[01:47:35] THE PROBLEM IS, WORKING TOGETHER
[01:47:38] TO FIND A SOLUTION AND THERE'S A LOT OF COMPONENTS OF THIS BILL,
[01:47:42] AND I WANT TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THEM. THERE'S GOING TO BE A FEW
[01:47:45] OTHER SPEAKERS, BUT THIS WOULD PROVIDE ONE NATIONAL STANDARD
[01:47:49] FOR NIL. YOU HAVE KIND OF A PATCHWORK RIGHT NOW, STATE BY
[01:47:53] STATE. AND LET ME BE CLEAR, IN
[01:47:57] WHEN THIS BILL, OR HOPEFULLY
[01:47:57] THIS BILL PASSES AND A STUDENT
[01:48:01] ATHLETE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GO
[01:48:03] GET AN NIL DEAL ARCH MANNING OR
[01:48:08] WHOEVER. AUSTIN SIMMONS, THE GREAT QUARTERBACK AT THE
[01:48:11] UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, THEY CAN STILL GET THEIR DEAL FROM NIKE.
[01:48:14] NOTHING IN THIS BILL PROHIBITS THAT. AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING
[01:48:18] ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO HEARD SOME CRITICISMS FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO
[01:48:21] ARE GOING TO USE SOME PRETTY, UM, WELL, I'LL LET THEM SPEAK
[01:48:25] FOR THEMSELVES. THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO USE ABOUT
[01:48:29] THIS, THE REALITY IS, THROUGH THE COURSE OF LITIGATION,
[01:48:32] THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE HOUSE SETTLEMENT. THE HOUSE
[01:48:35] SETTLEMENT ESTABLISHED A REVENUE
[01:48:38] SHARING SYSTEM WITH A CAP OF
[01:48:41] WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY $21.5 MILLION RIGHT NOW. OKAY. THERE ARE SOME
[01:48:45] FOOTBALL TEAMS RIGHT NOW THAT
[01:48:46] SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS. UH, THAT
[01:48:50] HAVE A FOOTBALL ROSTER VALUED AT OVER 40 MILLION. HOW IS THIS
[01:48:53] HAPPENING? BECAUSE THAT CAP DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. NOBODY
[01:48:57] CAN ENFORCE ANYTHING. THEY'RE WORKING AROUND THE CAP. SO WHAT
[01:49:00] THIS BILL WOULD DO IS SET IN
[01:49:03] STATUTE. THAT CAP PLUS A
[01:49:06] RETENTION POOL NUMBER OF 22.5
[01:49:09] MILLION, AND A $5 MILLION
[01:49:11] NUMBER. THAT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST THE CAP. IF IT GOES TO
[01:49:14] WOMEN'S SPORTS. SO IF ANYBODY TELLS YOU WE'RE TAKING MONEY OUT
[01:49:18] OF THE SYSTEM, WE'RE NOT
[01:49:21] ACTUALLY, WE'RE ENSURING THAT THIS MARKETPLACE STILL EXISTS,
[01:49:24] BUT WITH GUARDRAILS, WITH SOME
[01:49:27] STABILITY, WITH SOME CERTAINTY. THE IDEA THAT SOMEBODY COULD,
[01:49:31] YOU KNOW, THIS IS A SEMESTER BY SEMESTER THING, ROSTER TURNOVER
[01:49:35] THAT WE'VE SEEN FOR FANS IS A
[01:49:36] CHALLENGING THING FOR PLAYERS.
[01:49:39] THEY SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO
[01:49:41] MOVE, BUT NOT EVERY YEAR. IF YOU ASK SOMEBODY WHAT'S THEIR
[01:49:45] HONEST OPINION ABOUT THIS, THAT'S IT'S RIDICULOUS. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU'RE
[01:49:49] LOSING MONEY ON YOUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM, OR ALL OF YOUR MONEY IS GOING TO YOUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM,
[01:49:53] YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SUBSIDIZE
[01:49:57] WOMEN'S TENNIS ANYMORE, OR EVEN BASEBALL, MEN'S BASEBALL. MEN'S BASEBALL DOESN'T GENERATE REVENUE FOR 99% OF THE PROGRAMS
[01:50:01] THAT ARE OUT THERE. SO THE MENU WILL SHRINK THE OPPORTUNITIES
[01:50:04] FOR THOSE 500,000 STUDENT ATHLETES, WHATEVER THEIR COLOR
[01:50:08] IS, THAT WILL SHRINK. THAT
[01:50:10] NUMBER WILL SHRINK. IF WE DON'T
[01:50:13] DO SOMETHING. IF YOU HAD ASKED ME A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT WHETHER
[01:50:17] CONGRESS SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN THIS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY,
[01:50:19] VERY SKEPTICAL. I AM A FAN,
[01:50:23] FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS I COME TO
[01:50:25] THIS, AND I'VE TRIED TO TAKE LOOK AT THIS AS A LAWYER. LOOK
[01:50:29] AT THIS AS A LAWMAKER. LOOK AT
[01:50:31] THIS AS A FAN. WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY?
[01:50:34] AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS
[01:50:38] SOMETHING THAT THIS BODY, THIS CONGRESS, IS THE ONLY ENTITY ON
[01:50:42] THE PLANET CAN DO. NOBODY ELSE.
[01:50:47] THE CONFERENCES CAN TRY TO ENFORCE THEIR OWN RULES. DID IT
[01:50:49] WITH SOME SUCCESS RECENTLY WITH THE PRO SITUATION IN THE SEC, IN
[01:50:53] THE BIG TEN. BUT IF THIS STUFF
[01:50:56] IS CHALLENGED, THEY HAVE NO LEGAL ABILITY BECAUSE OF OUR ANTITRUST LAWS TO ACTUALLY
[01:51:00] ENFORCE THESE RULES. SO WE'RE GIVING THAT LIMITED ANTITRUST
[01:51:04] PROTECTION TO ENFORCE
[01:51:05] ELIGIBILITY AT FIVE YEARS, TO
[01:51:08] ENFORCE THE ONE TIME TRANSFER. I
[01:51:13] THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. THAT ABILITY TO ENFORCE THOSE RULES,
[01:51:16] THE ATHLETES. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STUDENT ATHLETES FOR A SECOND. NOT ONLY IS THAT MARKET
[01:51:20] THEN ESTABLISHED, THAT IS WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. NOW, I WILL
[01:51:24] TELL YOU, MAYBE THE ONE GROUP THAT DOESN'T LIKE THIS ARE THE SPORTS AGENTS, THE RICH SPORTS
[01:51:28] AGENTS WHO WEAR GUCCI SUITS AND
[01:51:31] ALLIGATOR SHOES. THEY MAY NOT LIKE THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO
[01:51:34] RULES FOR AGENTS RIGHT NOW. AN
[01:51:37] AGENT CAN CHARGE 30% ON AN 18 YEAR OLD, AND IN SOME INSTANCES,
[01:51:40] IF I'VE HEARD THEIR LIFETIME
[01:51:42] EARNINGS, THAT IS NUTS. THE
[01:51:47] PERCENTAGE AN AGENT GETS IN THE NFL IS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. THE
[01:51:49] LOW SINGLE DIGITS. PEOPLE ARE
[01:51:52] BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. A BUDDY IN A CLASSROOM MIGHT GET YOU A BETTER DEAL. IF YOU GO TO
[01:51:56] WISCONSIN. WELL, GUESS WHAT? IT WASN'T A BETTER SITUATION. MAYBE DIDN'T END UP THERE.
[01:52:00] MAYBE YOU ENDED UP WITH LESS MONEY. THAT AGENT OR YOUR
[01:52:03] FRIEND, OR THE HANGAR OWNER, HE
[01:52:05] DOESN'T CARE. HE GOT HIS CUT.
[01:52:08] SO THIS BILL ESTABLISHES RULES FOR AGENTS TO GET RID OF THE
[01:52:12] SCAMMERS AND FRAUDSTERS WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR STUDENT
[01:52:16] ATHLETES. AND AS I MENTIONED,
[01:52:18] CAN STILL GET YOUR OWN NIL DEAL
[01:52:20] OUTSIDE OF THE REV SHARE NUMBER,
[01:52:23] BUT IT HAS TO BE FOR LEGITIMATE
[01:52:26] BUSINESS PURPOSE. THERE. EXAMPLE AFTER EXAMPLE, WHERE THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE CASE RIGHT NOW,
[01:52:30] WHICH IS WHY YOU HAVE THIS INFLUX. AND IF YOU THINK FOR A
[01:52:33] MOMENT, WESTERN KENTUCKY CAN COMPETE WITH OHIO STATE IN THE
[01:52:36] LONG TERM, YOU'RE FOOLING YOURSELF. EVEN SCHOOL, EVEN,
[01:52:40] HONESTLY, SCHOOLS COME WITHIN THE POWER. FOUR WITHIN THOSE
[01:52:43] PARTICULAR CONFERENCES, IT CREATES A GREAT DISPARITY. WHAT
[01:52:46] FANS REALLY WANT IS PARITY. THIS
[01:52:48] HELPS ESTABLISH THAT IT HELPS
[01:52:51] CREATE A STRUCTURE BY WHICH TEAMS CAN COMPETE. IT RESTORES
[01:52:54] TRUST, UH, STRUCTURE TO THAT TRANSFER PORTAL. I THINK THE
[01:52:58] THING THAT PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE SEE, I'VE LEARNED A LOT OF
[01:53:01] WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT WHAT PEOPLE SEE FRONT AND CENTER IS PROBABLY THE
[01:53:05] TRANSFERS, WHERE AN ENTIRE DEFENSE IS GONE, OR AN ENTIRE
[01:53:09] OFFENSE IS GONE. I'M TALKING A LOT ABOUT FOOTBALL JUST BECAUSE IT'S WHERE IT'S FOOTBALL
[01:53:12] SEASON. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE MOST PEOPLE SEE. IT'S THE SECOND MOST
[01:53:14] POPULAR SPORT IN THIS COUNTRY. AND WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT
[01:53:18] THAT, IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THE
[01:53:20] BILL FOR THE FIRST TIME PROVIDES
[01:53:23] THE OPTION. THE OPTION FOR
[01:53:25] CONFERENCES TO POOL THEIR
[01:53:27] METEORITES. IT'S TOTALLY VOLUNTARY. IF THE SEC BIG TEN
[01:53:31] DON'T WANT TO DO IT, IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN BUT COLLEGE
[01:53:34] FOOTBALL IS ABOUT 4 BILLION. ALL IN. THE NBA HAS HALF THE
[01:53:37] AUDIENCE. IT'S 8 BILLION. ALL IN. PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT
[01:53:41] IS THEY'RE NEGOTIATING ONE UNIFIED RIGHTS DEAL. THIS WOULD
[01:53:45] ALLOW THE CONFERENCES TO HAVE A UNIFIED RIGHTS DEAL IF THEY WANT
[01:53:48] TO. AND THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE, THE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND
[01:53:50] BILLIONS AND BILLIONS MORE, CAN BE USED TO PROTECT WOMEN'S
[01:53:54] SPORTS AND OLYMPIC SPORTS THAT
[01:53:56] ARE AT RISK. AND IF YOU TALK TO ANYBODY THAT ACTUALLY KNOWS THIS
[01:53:59] STUFF, THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE LIMITED. THEY'RE STILL GOING
[01:54:03] TO HAVE TO COMPLY WITH TITLE NINE, BUT THEY'LL DO A ONE FOR
[01:54:06] ONE REDUCTION IN SPORTS. SO I
[01:54:10] MENTIONED THE YOU'VE GOT THE, THE REV SHARE POOL, YOU'VE GOT
[01:54:14] THE RETENTION POOL, YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY, THE 5 MILLION. THAT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST THAT CAP.
[01:54:17] IF IT'S FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
[01:54:21] THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WITH THIS BILL THAT I'VE TALKED TO A TON OF
[01:54:25] COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
[01:54:27] AISLE ABOUT. THIS IS NOT A
[01:54:31] PERFECT BILL. I PROBABLY HAVE NEVER VOTED FOR A PERFECT BILL.
[01:54:34] I'VE FILED PERFECT BILLS. MR.
[01:54:35] PRESIDENT, I FILED A LOT OF
[01:54:39] PERFECT BILLS, BUT VOTING ON PERFECT BILLS IS A DIFFERENT
[01:54:41] MATTER. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS SOME THERE'S SOME THINGS
[01:54:45] IN THIS BILL THAT I DON'T LIKE,
[01:54:46] ACTUALLY. BUT ON BALANCE, THE
[01:54:52] TIME HAS COME FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO DO SOMETHING
[01:54:56] THAT IT ACTUALLY RARELY DOES,
[01:55:00] WHICH IS TO MEET THE MOMENT. WE
[01:55:04] ARE AT A MOMENT. THIS HAS THE
[01:55:06] ENDORSEMENT OF EVERY CONFERENCE, ALL THE SCHOOLS, THE NFL PLAYERS
[01:55:10] ASSOCIATION, STUDENT ATHLETES
[01:55:11] THAT HAVE COME HERE. LEGENDARY
[01:55:16] COACHES WHO'VE SEEN THE CHANGES
[01:55:22] HBCUS, THE SWAC CONFERENCE, THE
[01:55:23] SEC, THE BIG TEN, ALL OF THEM.
[01:55:28] THEY ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS
[01:55:30] A CHOICE. NOW, A BINARY CHOICE,
[01:55:34] WHICH IS TO DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT THE MAJOR ISSUES AND PROVIDE STABILITY SO THAT WE CAN
[01:55:38] CONTINUE TO ENJOY COLLEGE ATHLETICS, WHICH, LIKE I SAID,
[01:55:42] WHAT WE GET TO ENJOY ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON OR, OR
[01:55:46] WHENEVER A GAME IS BEING PLAYED. I'VE GOT TWO DAUGHTERS. I THINK IT'S GREAT WHAT'S HAPPENING
[01:55:50] WITH WOMEN'S SPORTS. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE IN
[01:55:53] THE WORLD. IT IS A UNIQUELY AMERICAN INSTITUTION. WE CAN DO
[01:55:56] THAT, OR WE CAN FIND SOME REASON
[01:56:01] TO NOT SUPPORT IT. WE CAN
[01:56:04] GRANDSTAND AND TRY TO PRETEND THAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR
[01:56:06] SOMEBODY THAT'S BEING LEFT OUT
[01:56:09] OF THIS. BUT THE TRUTH IS, THIS
[01:56:12] BILL WILL SOLVE A TON OF
[01:56:16] PROBLEMS THAT ARE SO OBVIOUS.
[01:56:18] YOU'D HAVE TO BE NOT PAYING
[01:56:20] ATTENTION OR NOT WANT TO NOTICE.
[01:56:22] AND SO I THINK THAT, UH, COLLEGE
[01:56:26] ATHLETES ARE PROTECTED. OUR
[01:56:28] SPORTS THAT FANS LOVE ARE
[01:56:33] PROTECTED. IT'S BECOME COLLEGE
[01:56:35] SPORTS HAS BECOME IN SOME WAYS,
[01:56:40] A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE. I DON'T,
[01:56:42] I DON'T THINK IT'S STRIPPED OF
[01:56:44] WHAT BEEN STRIPPED OF LOYALTY,
[01:56:47] CONTINUITY, THE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FANS AND
[01:56:51] THEIR TEAMS. THIS BILL REESTABLISHES THAT WITH STILL
[01:56:54] GIVING STUDENT ATHLETES A LOT OF
[01:56:55] OPTIONS. I ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY
[01:57:01] SOMETHING ABOUT. WHAT SPORTS
[01:57:03] MEANS TO OUR CONSTITUENTS I
[01:57:06] WOULD SAY, CULTURALLY, WE DO A LOT OF THINGS UP HERE THAT BACK HOME, PEOPLE WONDER, WHAT ARE
[01:57:09] YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I DON'T THIS IS A
[01:57:13] CULTURAL ISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR FOLKS BACK
[01:57:16] HOME DO CARE ABOUT. AND I THINK
[01:57:19] THEY WANT TO KNOW. THEY WANT TO
[01:57:22] KNOW WHEN WE SEE IT, WHEN EVERYBODY SEES THE CHALLENGES
[01:57:25] AND THE CHAOS. THAT WE CAN WORK
[01:57:29] TOGETHER TO GET SOMETHING DONE. I THINK, I THINK AT THE HEART OF
[01:57:31] IT, RESTORING FAITH THAT THIS
[01:57:34] BODY CAN ACT IN A WAY THAT TAKES
[01:57:39] A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS
[01:57:43] AND INDIVIDUALS, AND GET TO A PLACE WHERE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION LIKE THIS CAN GET
[01:57:46] ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. I WANT
[01:57:48] TO THANK, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOK, THE BILL IS BEFORE YOU, BUT
[01:57:51] SENATOR CANTWELL FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON HAS DONE A TON OF
[01:57:54] GREAT WORK ON THIS. UM, SENATOR CRUZ FROM TEXAS. I MEAN, THE
[01:57:58] THREE OF US HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE,
[01:58:01] GETTING INPUT, MAKING CHANGES,
[01:58:02] TRYING TO MAKE THE BILL BETTER,
[01:58:06] AND, UM, I JUST DON'T THINK WE
[01:58:08] CAN PRETEND INACTION IS A, IS A
[01:58:13] SATISFYING ANSWER HERE. SO WE'RE
[01:58:16] ALL GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
[01:58:18] TO VOTE ON THIS TO, TO PROCEED
[01:58:24] TO THIS BILL. AND I HOPE THAT WE
[01:58:25] DO IT. WE'RE GOING TO GET ONE
[01:58:29] SHOT AT THIS. WE'RE GOING TO
[01:58:30] GET ONE SHOT. AND I DON'T KNOW.
[01:58:34] I'M NOT NOSTRADAMUS. NOBODY IN HERE IS. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE
[01:58:37] EVER WILL AGAIN ANYTIME SOON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
[01:58:40] HAPPEN. AND WHENEVER I DON'T
[01:58:43] KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS. BUT WE GOT A
[01:58:46] MOMENT HERE, LIKE I SAID, THAT
[01:58:49] WE CAN MEET AND ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU
[01:58:53] WANT TO PUT IT, YOU WANT TO TAKE
[01:58:54] A STEP BACK. I THINK THIS VOTE,
[01:58:57] THIS BILL, WILL DEFINE THE
[01:59:00] TRAJECTORY OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS
[01:59:05] FOR DECADES. AND THAT DOESN'T COME. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY THAT WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH,
[01:59:09] WITH THOSE KIND OF ISSUES, WITH A SOLUTION IN FRONT OF US THAT
[01:59:13] HAS BEEN WORKED ON IN A
[01:59:15] BIPARTISAN WAY TO TRY TO SOLVE
[01:59:17] THESE ISSUES, TO PROTECT AN
[01:59:20] AMERICAN INSTITUTION, COLLEGE SPORTS. WITH THAT, MR.
[01:59:22] PRESIDENT, I YIELD BACK.
[01:59:30] >> MR. PRESIDENT. >> SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
[01:59:34] >> MR. PRESIDENT, LAST WEEK
[01:59:36] MARKED ONE YEAR SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP LAUNCHED AN ASSAULT
[01:59:40] AGAINST MY HOME STATE OF ILLINOIS, CHARACTERIZED AS
[01:59:44] OPERATION MIDWAY BLITZ. FOR
[01:59:48] MONTHS, CHAOS AND TERROR REIGNED
[01:59:51] SUPREME IN THE STREETS OF THE CITY THAT I LOVE AND AM HONORED
[01:59:54] TO REPRESENT. THIS OPERATION WAS
[01:59:57] SUPPOSEDLY TARGETING, QUOTE, THE WORST OF THE WORST. AS PRESIDENT
[02:00:01] TRUMP HAS CLAIMED, RAPISTS,
[02:00:05] MURDERERS, TERRORISTS, CHILD PREDATORS WERE GOING AFTER HIM.
[02:00:08] WE'RE GOING TO ARREST HIM. AND IF THEY'RE NOT PROPERLY
[02:00:11] DOCUMENTED, WE'RE GOING TO DEPORT HIM. IT ENDED UP
[02:00:13] TARGETING, NOT THAT POPULATION,
[02:00:16] BUT AMERICAN CITIZENS AND IMMIGRANTS WHO BUILT THEIR LIVES
[02:00:19] AND RAISED THEIR FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS, PEOPLE WHO POSE NO
[02:00:23] THREAT WHATSOEVER TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY. LET ME GIVE YOU TWO
[02:00:27] EXAMPLES. ONE WAS WHEN AN ICE
[02:00:30] AGENT IN THE STREETS OF CHICAGO
[02:00:34] KILLED SILVERIA VILLEGAS. GONZALEZ MINUTES AFTER HE HAD
[02:00:37] DROPPED OFF HIS CHILD AT A DAYCARE IN FRANKLIN PARK, A
[02:00:41] SUBURB OF CHICAGO. MR. GONZALEZ
[02:00:44] LIVED IN CHICAGO AREA FOR NEARLY
[02:00:47] 20 YEARS. HIS CHILDREN WERE FORCED TO ENTER FOSTER CARE
[02:00:51] BECAUSE OF HIS MURDER. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SHOOTING,
[02:00:55] THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
[02:00:59] SECURITY CLAIMED MR. HAD HIT AND DRAGGED AN ICE AGENT WITH HIS
[02:01:02] CAR WHEN HE AND ANOTHER OFFICER
[02:01:06] ATTEMPTED TO CONDUCT A TRAFFIC
[02:01:09] STOP, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A VIDEO OF
[02:01:12] WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND IT CONTRADICTED THE CLAIMS MADE BY
[02:01:16] THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. IN FACT, MR. GONZALEZ
[02:01:20] IS NOW NOT SHOWN HITTING OR DRAGGING ANY OFFICER WITH HIS
[02:01:23] CAR, AND IN THE AFTERMATH, ONE OF THE OFFICERS SAID HIS
[02:01:27] INJURIES WERE, QUOTE, NOTHING
[02:01:30] MAJOR. AND ANOTHER DISTURBING
[02:01:33] EXAMPLE OF THE HORRORS OF OPERATION MIDWAY BLITZ. AN AGENT
[02:01:37] OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SHOT MY CONSTITUENT,
[02:01:41] MARIMAR MARTINEZ, NOT ONCE,
[02:01:47] TWICE, FIVE TIMES AFTERWARDS.
[02:01:51] THE SHOOTER TEXTED HIS FELLOW AGENTS AND BRAGGED, I FIRED FIVE
[02:01:55] ROUNDS AND SHE HAD SEVEN HOLES.
[02:01:56] PUT THAT IN YOUR BOOK, BOYS. THE
[02:02:01] ADMINISTRATION CALLED MR. MARTINEZ A DOMESTIC TERRORIST.
[02:02:04] MISS MARTINEZ WAS ON HER WAY TO
[02:02:08] HER CHURCH. SHE HAD SOME CLOTHING. SHE WAS GOING TO
[02:02:10] DONATE TO THE CHURCH CLOTHING DRIVE. THAT'S WHEN THE ICE
[02:02:14] AGENTS PULLED HER OVER. SHE WAS
[02:02:17] DRIVING WHILE HISPANIC, WHICH UNDER THE MEDWAY BLITZ RULES,
[02:02:20] WAS ENOUGH TO STOP HER, THREATEN
[02:02:22] HER AND SHOOT HER FIVE TIMES.
[02:02:27] WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHARGES
[02:02:31] AGAINST HER? ALL DROPPED. NOT
[02:02:33] ONE SINGLE CHARGE WAS PROSECUTED. THIS POOR YOUNG
[02:02:36] WOMAN, ON HER WAY TO HER CHURCH
[02:02:39] TO GIVE SOME CLOTHING TO A CLOTHING DRIVE, SHOT FIVE TIMES
[02:02:42] BY ICE AGENTS AND NO CHARGES
[02:02:45] FILED AGAINST HER AT ALL.
[02:02:48] NORMALLY, WHEN FEDERAL AGENTS ENGAGE IN EXCESSIVE FORCE LIKE
[02:02:51] I'VE JUST DESCRIBED, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
[02:02:54] STEPS IN TO INVESTIGATE. THEY
[02:02:56] FOLLOW UP, GATHERING EVIDENCE,
[02:03:01] VIDEOS, WITNESSES, INSTEAD, FOLLOWING THE SHOOTING OF
[02:03:03] MARIMAR, MARTINEZ, FBI DIRECTOR
[02:03:06] KASH PATEL TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA
[02:03:08] TO FALSELY ACCUSE MISS MARTINEZ
[02:03:10] OF ATTACKING IMMIGRATION AGENTS.
[02:03:13] HE SAID, QUOTE, ATTACK OUR LAW
[02:03:16] ENFORCEMENT AND THIS FBI WILL
[02:03:19] FIND YOU AND BRING YOU TO JUSTICE. TOUGH TALK. WHEN THE VIDEO SHOWS THAT THIS YOUNG
[02:03:23] WOMAN DID NOT ENGAGE IN ANY
[02:03:25] ILLEGAL CONDUCT. TODAY, WHEN I ASKED KASH PATEL, WHEN HE
[02:03:28] APPEARED BEFORE THE SENATE
[02:03:30] JUDICIARY THE SHOOTINGS OF MR.
[02:03:34] GONZALEZ AND MISS MARTINEZ, HE
[02:03:37] CLAIMED THEY ARE ONGOING
[02:03:38] INVESTIGATIONS. WE'LL SEE. IT'S
[02:03:41] BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR, AND HE
[02:03:43] REFUSED. WHEN HE HAD A CHANCE,
[02:03:46] AND I GAVE HIM THAT CHANCE TO APOLOGIZE FOR ATTACKING MISS
[02:03:48] MARTINEZ. I DON'T HAVE MUCH FAITH IN THE DIRECTOR OF THE
[02:03:51] FBI, KASH PATEL. BUT IF THE FBI
[02:03:54] IS, IN FACT, INVESTIGATING THESE SHOOTINGS, THEY MUST COOPERATE
[02:03:58] WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS
[02:04:01] TO BRING THESE PEOPLE TO JUSTICE AS WELL. IF YOU GO TO THE
[02:04:03] WEBSITE OF THE FBI AND LOOK
[02:04:06] UNDER THE ISSUE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, YOU WILL FIND THE CLAIM OF THAT
[02:04:10] AGENCY THAT THEY ARE THE LEADERS IN INVESTIGATING CRIMES
[02:04:14] INVOLVING CIVIL RIGHTS. AND HISTORICALLY, THAT HAS BEEN THE
[02:04:17] CASE, BUT NOT UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. IF THERE'S
[02:04:20] WRONGDOING BY AN ICE AGENT OR DHS OFFICIAL, AND ANY SUSPICION
[02:04:24] THAT A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED,
[02:04:28] YOU HEAR NOTHING BUT CRICKETS WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE FBI.
[02:04:32] THANKFULLY, THE PEOPLE OF MY HOME STATE ARE STEPPING IN AND
[02:04:35] SHINING A LIGHT ON THIS
[02:04:38] ADMINISTRATION'S WRONGDOING. GOVERNOR PRITZKER ESTABLISHED
[02:04:42] THE ILLINOIS ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION, AN INDEPENDENT STATE BOARD, TO INVESTIGATE AND
[02:04:46] DOCUMENT THE CONDUCT OF FEDERAL AGENTS DURING OPERATION MIDWAY
[02:04:49] BLITZ. AFTER A SIX MONTH INVESTIGATION, THE COMMISSION
[02:04:52] FOUND THAT MOST OF THOSE ARRESTED UNDER THE OPERATION WERE, QUOTE, NOT THE WORST OF
[02:04:56] THE WORST. THE COMMISSION FOUND
[02:04:59] THAT FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH
[02:05:01] DECEMBER OF 2025 LAST YEAR, THE
[02:05:03] DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
[02:05:07] DETAINED OVER 3900 PEOPLE IN
[02:05:10] CHICAGO. AN ESTIMATED 85% HAD NO
[02:05:14] CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS. THE WORST OF THE WORST, NO. AND OPERATION
[02:05:17] MIDWAY BLITZ HAD NEGATIVE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES AS WELL.
[02:05:21] I'VE BEEN TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, LITTLE VILLAGE,
[02:05:24] PILSEN. I'VE SEEN WHAT'S GOING ON. PEOPLE LIVE IN FEAR. THEY
[02:05:28] DON'T COME OUT OF THEIR HOMES TO GO TO CHURCH OR GO SHOPPING. THEY ASK NEIGHBORS TO DO IT FOR
[02:05:32] THEM, WHICH THEY WILLINGLY DO,
[02:05:34] BUT THEY'RE AFRAID OF WHAT WILL
[02:05:37] HAPPEN IF ICE RETURNS. A NEW REPORT BY THE GREAT CITIES
[02:05:40] INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO, SHOWS THAT
[02:05:43] THE FAILED OPERATION OF MIDWAY BLITZ OF THE TRUMP
[02:05:47] ADMINISTRATION CAUSED COOK
[02:05:50] COUNTY $1.26 BILLION IN LOST
[02:05:53] RETAIL ACTIVITY AND RESTAURANTS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS
[02:05:55] ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT STOPPED CIRCUMVENTING THE CONSTITUTION
[02:05:58] AND THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY. IN
[02:06:01] IMMIGRATION COURTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, IMMIGRATION JUDGES,
[02:06:05] EMPLOYEES OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, I MIGHT ADD, HAVE BEEN HOLDING SO-CALLED MEGA
[02:06:09] MASTER COURT HEARINGS. IN THESE
[02:06:12] HEARINGS, A SINGLE JUDGE HEARS BETWEEN 100 AND 200 CASES OVER
[02:06:16] THE COURSE OF JUST A FEW HOURS.
[02:06:19] LAST MONTH, I DECIDED I WOULD GO PERSONALLY TO SEE THESE COURTS.
[02:06:22] I WENT TO THE CHICAGO IMMIGRATION COURT TO OBSERVE ONE
[02:06:25] OF THESE MEGA MASTER HEARINGS
[02:06:28] THAT DAY, 850 PEOPLE WERE
[02:06:30] SCHEDULED TO APPEAR. THE COURT WAS SO PACKED THAT PEOPLE MISSED
[02:06:33] THEIR HEARING TIMES BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET FROM THE LOBBY TO
[02:06:36] THE COURTROOM. IN TIME. THERE IS
[02:06:39] NO WAY THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN MEANINGFULLY DEFEND THEMSELVES
[02:06:42] OR HAVE DUE PROCESS IN THIS KIND
[02:06:44] OF A HEARING, I OBSERVED A
[02:06:47] PARTICULARLY TROUBLING MEGA MASTER DOCKET FOR CHILDREN. WHAT
[02:06:51] I SAW WAS HEARTBREAKING. CHILDREN WHO STATE COURT FOUND
[02:06:55] HAD BEEN ABUSED, ABANDONED, OR
[02:06:58] NEGLECTED ARE FORCED TO APPEAR IN COURT WITHOUT PARENTS AND
[02:07:02] EXPLAIN WHY THEY DESERVE TO STAY IN THIS COUNTRY, ALL WHILE
[02:07:05] FACING LANGUAGE AND COGNITIVE BARRIERS. THE LAST CASE ON THE
[02:07:09] DOCKET THAT MORNING WAS A HIGH
[02:07:12] SCHOOL AGED GUATEMALAN CHILD. REMEMBER, THE STATE COURTS HAVE
[02:07:16] A FINDING THAT THESE CHILDREN
[02:07:19] HAVE BEEN ABANDONED OR ABUSED OR NEGLECTED BECAUSE OF A DELAY IN
[02:07:22] FINDING A TRANSLATOR THAT DAY
[02:07:23] WHO SPOKE HIS DIALECT. HE WAS FORCED TO SIT AND WATCH EVERY
[02:07:28] OTHER CHILD BEFORE HIM, BEFORE
[02:07:30] HE WAS ORDERED DEPORTED. AFTER
[02:07:33] RATTLING OFF A LITANY OF DIRECTIVES TO THE TRANSLATOR, THE JUDGE ASKED THE CHILD IF HE
[02:07:37] HAD ANY QUESTIONS. AND I QUOTE,
[02:07:41] WHY ARE YOU SENDING ME BACK TO
[02:07:44] GUATEMALA? WHAT DID I DO? THE
[02:07:45] ANSWER IS DEVASTATINGLY CLEAR
[02:07:48] THAT POOR BOY IS JUST THE LATEST VICTIM OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
[02:07:52] STEPHEN MILLER'S EVIL VISION OF A HATEFUL AMERICA THAT TURNS ITS
[02:07:56] BACK ON IMMIGRANTS. THE PRESIDENT'S RECKLESS MASS
[02:07:59] DEPORTATION CAMPAIGN HAS STEAMROLLED THE RIGHTS AND
[02:08:02] LIBERTIES GUARANTEED BY OUR CONSTITUTION, ITS COUNTLESS
[02:08:06] VICTIMS, INCLUDING MARIO
[02:08:07] MARTINEZ AND SILVERIA VILLEGAS
[02:08:10] GONZALEZ, DESERVE JUSTICE AND
[02:08:12] ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT IS WHY MY
[02:08:15] ILLINOIS COLLEAGUES AND I REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION BY
[02:08:18] THE DHS OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL INTO THE PATTERNS OF
[02:08:22] MISCONDUCT AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL
[02:08:23] USE OF FORCE DURING DHS MASS
[02:08:27] DEPORTATION OPERATIONS, INCLUDING MIDWAY BLITZ. LET ME
[02:08:30] BE CLEAR. IT'S LONG PAST TIME THAT CONGRESS HOLD THE PRESIDENT
[02:08:33] AND HIS MAGA LOYALISTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR FAILING TO FOCUS
[02:08:37] ON PUBLIC SAFETY. MR. PRESIDENT, I'M RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS
[02:08:40] YEAR. WE HAVE VERY FEW MEETINGS
[02:08:43] OF THE SENATE LEFT BEFORE THE
[02:08:46] NEW SENATE IS BROUGHT INTO. SWORN IN ON JANUARY 3rd. WE
[02:08:50] STILL HAVE TIME TO PASS MEANINGFUL IMMIGRATION
[02:08:53] LEGISLATION. WE STILL HAVE TIME ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS, TO
[02:08:57] RESOLVE SOME OF THE MANY ISSUES THAT FACE US. I JUST LEFT A
[02:09:00] PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
[02:09:02] AND TALKED ABOUT FOOD SERVICE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
[02:09:06] IMMIGRANTS. YOU MAY NOT NOTICE IN THE WAIT STAFF, MANY
[02:09:09] IMMIGRANTS, BUT BELIEVE ME, BEHIND THAT SWINGING DOOR ARE A
[02:09:12] LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED AND WORKING. A
[02:09:15] FRIEND OF MINE WHO'S IN THE
[02:09:16] BUSINESS IN CHICAGO SAID, IF YOU
[02:09:20] TOOK THE UNDOCUMENTED OUT OF CHICAGO, YOU COULD JUST START CLOSING DOWN RESTAURANTS AND
[02:09:23] HOTELS. THESE PEOPLE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE, TAKING JOBS THAT
[02:09:27] AMERICANS, FRANKLY, DON'T WANT, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO DARN TOUGH. BUT THEY DO IT FOR THEIR
[02:09:30] FAMILIES, AS ALL IMMIGRANTS HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. MY OWN FAMILY
[02:09:34] INCLUDED. WHY DO WE SNEER AT
[02:09:36] THESE PEOPLE WHO WORK SO HARD, WHO MAKE THIS ECONOMY HUM, WHO
[02:09:40] TAKE THE JOBS WHICH OTHER AMERICANS WON'T TOUCH? WHY DO
[02:09:44] WE WANT TO DEPORT THEM BACK TO SITUATIONS THAT COULD BE THE SCENE OF THE CRIME? FOR REASONS
[02:09:48] THAT I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES, THAT JUST ISN'T FAIR,
[02:09:50] AND IT ISN'T REALISTIC. WE STILL
[02:09:53] HAVE TIME TO DO SOMETHING WHEN IT COMES TO THE DREAM ACT. I'LL
[02:09:56] CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THAT. AS LONG AS I CAN STAND ON THIS
[02:09:59] FLOOR OF THE SENATE AND THEREAFTER, IF NECESSARY, WE'VE
[02:10:03] GOT TO COME TOGETHER ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS AND DO
[02:10:07] SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO SET THE IMMIGRATION LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY ON A RIGHT TRACK. IT'S
[02:10:10] BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE WE'VE DONE ANYTHING OF SUBSTANCE ON
[02:10:14] IMMIGRATION. 30 YEARS. AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY
[02:10:17] IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS WORLD. WE CAN DO MORE, AND WE
[02:10:20] SHOULD DO MORE. OPERATION MIDWAY
[02:10:22] BLITZ WAS THE EXTREME. INNOCENT PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE
[02:10:26] STREETS OF CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
[02:10:29] IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT WE INVESTIGATE THESE CRIMES, AND TO FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANY
[02:10:33] VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND PROSECUTED. IF THERE IS. MR.
[02:10:36] PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
[02:11:02] >> THE SENATOR FROM OHIO.
[02:11:04] >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
[02:11:08] FUTURE OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS AND
[02:11:11] AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES.
[02:11:13] CONGRESS IS BEING ASKED ASKED TO
[02:11:16] TAKE ACTION TO SAVE COLLEGE
[02:11:22] SPORTS. WELL, AS WE CONSIDER WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO SAVE COLLEGE SPORTS, WE BETTER MAKE
[02:11:24] SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON
[02:11:27] SAVING IT FOR AMERICAN STUDENT
[02:11:30] ATHLETES. FOR GENERATIONS, COLLEGE SPORTS HAVE BECOME A
[02:11:34] PART OF CULTURE, PARTICULARLY IN A STATE LIKE OHIO. A LOT OF
[02:11:37] STATES LOVE THEIR COLLEGE
[02:11:40] SPORTS. IT'S PART OF AMERICAN
[02:11:42] CULTURE. I. AND IT IS AN
[02:11:45] IMPORTANT PART OF CAMPUS LIFE FOR MANY AMERICAN STUDENTS. AND
[02:11:49] WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
[02:11:53] REMAINS THE CASE. BUT SPORTS MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. SO
[02:11:56] MANY OF AMERICA'S LEADERS HAVE
[02:12:01] A SPORTS BACKGROUND, WHETHER THAT'S IN POLITICS, BUSINESS,
[02:12:02] OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. FOR
[02:12:07] OBVIOUS REASONS. IT HELPS YOU
[02:12:10] BUILD CHARACTER, MAKES YOU TOUGHER. YOU LEARN DISCIPLINE,
[02:12:14] TEAMWORK, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE VIRTUOUS, PARTS OF
[02:12:16] SUCCEEDING IN LIFE. I KNOW THIS
[02:12:20] FIRSTHAND. I GREW UP, UH, VERY
[02:12:23] RURAL AND WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN
[02:12:26] A SMALL TOWN. AND, UM, NO ONE IN
[02:12:31] MY FAMILY HAD ATTENDED COLLEGE
[02:12:34] NO ONE. AND, UM, THE ONLY THING
[02:12:36] I WANTED TO DO AS A KID IS THAT
[02:12:42] I WANTED TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL. I GOT TO WATCH THE
[02:12:44] OHIO STATE BUCKEYES AND, AND
[02:12:46] EVEN ONE OF, UH, THE NOTRE DAME
[02:12:49] FIGHTING IRISH WATCHED HIM WHEN YOU WERE A KID ON TV AND YOU
[02:12:53] SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE, BUT
[02:12:56] I WOULD LIKE TO GO PLAY COLLEGE
[02:12:59] FOOTBALL. AND THAT'S WHAT GOT ME INTERESTED IN GOING TO COLLEGE,
[02:13:03] BECAUSE I WANTED TO PLAY COLLEGE
[02:13:06] FOOTBALL. I LITERALLY DIDN'T KNOW A PERSON WHO HAD GONE TO
[02:13:10] COLLEGE OTHER THAN MY TEACHERS
[02:13:11] AND COACHES ANYBODY, BUT I
[02:13:18] WANTED TO GO TO COLLEGE BECAUSE
[02:13:19] I WANTED TO PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS.
[02:13:23] AND IF YOU WANT TO PLAY COLLEGE
[02:13:26] SPORTS, THE PATHWAY TO
[02:13:28] DEVELOPING YOU AS A HUMAN BEING STARTS LONG BEFORE YOU GRADUATE
[02:13:32] FROM HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE IF YOU
[02:13:34] WANT TO PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS, YOU
[02:13:37] GOT TO PREPARE. FROM THE TIME
[02:13:41] THAT YOU PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE
[02:13:44] BASEBALL, OR MAYBE NOW YOUTH
[02:13:47] SOCCER, YOUTH BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, WHATEVER YOUR SPORT IS, YOU START TO DEVELOP
[02:13:51] YOURSELF, YOUR CHARACTER AS A
[02:13:53] YOUNG PERSON WITH THAT GOAL IN
[02:13:56] MIND, THAT ONE DAY, MAYBE YOU
[02:13:59] CAN GO PLAY FOR THAT TEAM THAT
[02:14:02] YOU DREAMED OF WHEN YOU WERE A
[02:14:05] LITTLE KID. UH, FOR ME, I ENDED UP PLAYING FOOTBALL AT THE
[02:14:09] UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON. I WAS A, I
[02:14:12] WAS A HIGHLY PRIZED RECRUIT. I WAS THE SEVENTH TEAM RUNNING
[02:14:16] BACK. WHEN I GOT THERE. I BET MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THAT
[02:14:20] YOU COULD BE THAT LOW ON THE
[02:14:22] DEPTH CHART. I ACTUALLY ACTUALLY
[02:14:24] WAS THAT LOW ON THE DEPTH CHART.
[02:14:27] AND, UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT,
[02:14:31] THE, THE EQUIPMENT MANAGER DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GIVE ME A JERSEY NUMBER THAT I COULD BE A
[02:14:35] RUNNING BACK BECAUSE HE SAID I
[02:14:36] WAS NEVER GOING TO PLAY THERE.
[02:14:40] BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT IF YOU DEVELOP THAT CHARACTER THAT
[02:14:43] YOU GET FROM SPORTS LIKE FOOTBALL, WHERE YOU GET KNOCKED
[02:14:45] DOWN AND YOU GOT TO GET BACK UP,
[02:14:48] YOU LEARN NEVER TO QUIT. THAT'S
[02:14:52] WHY SPORTS ARE SO SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF PEOPLE'S
[02:14:56] LIVES. AND FOR ME, UH, THAT
[02:14:59] RESILIENCE PAID OFF BECAUSE
[02:15:01] LATER I ENDED UP HAVING THE
[02:15:04] OPPORTUNITY TO BE A STARTING
[02:15:06] DEFENSIVE BACK, EVENTUALLY
[02:15:09] BECAME A NATIONAL CHAMPION AND
[02:15:10] AN ALL AMERICAN, UH, I WOULD
[02:15:13] NEVER HAVE DEVELOPED THAT CHARACTER WITHOUT THE
[02:15:17] OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SPORTS. AND
[02:15:19] I TELL YOU TODAY, THERE'S NO WAY I'D BE STANDING HERE AS A U.S.
[02:15:22] SENATOR IF IT WEREN'T FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES, ATHLETICS,
[02:15:26] GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP
[02:15:30] MYSELF FROM A KID WHO GREW UP WHERE THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY
[02:15:33] THAT WENT TO COLLEGE, TO SOMEBODY WHO NOT ONLY GRADUATED,
[02:15:36] BUT GOT A CHANCE TO SUCCEED IN
[02:15:39] ATHLETICS. AND, UM, I WANT THAT FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY. I
[02:15:43] WANT EVERY KID, LITTLE KID WHO
[02:15:44] HAS A DREAM OF GOING TO PLAY
[02:15:48] ATHLETICS, THAT'S ON THE TENNIS TEAM, THE GOLF TEAM, HOCKEY,
[02:15:51] WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO THAT. BUT
[02:15:55] INCREASINGLY, AMERICAN STUDENT
[02:15:58] ATHLETES ARE BEING DENIED THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE MORE AND
[02:16:02] MORE ROSTER SPOTS ARE GOING TO
[02:16:05] STUDENT ATHLETES WHO, FROM OTHER
[02:16:10] NATIONS. WHILE THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT TAKES A
[02:16:13] MATERIAL STEP TOWARDS MAKING OUR
[02:16:16] NATION'S COLLEGE SPORTS LEAGUES COMPETITIVE AGAIN, ONE CRITICAL
[02:16:20] OMISSION EXISTS IN IT. IT DOESN'T LOOK OUT FOR AMERICAN
[02:16:24] STUDENT ATHLETES IN THEIR
[02:16:29] ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC JOURNEYS AS I SAID, MORE SCHOLARSHIPS,
[02:16:33] AND IN THIS CASE, ROSTER SPOTS. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
[02:16:36] SCHOLARSHIP. I'M TALKING ABOUT ROSTER SPOT, A CHANCE TO PLAY
[02:16:40] ARE GOING TO NON-AMERICANS, AND
[02:16:43] THERE'S NO INCENTIVE FOR
[02:16:45] COLLEGES TO PRIORITIZE AMERICAN
[02:16:48] STUDENT ATHLETES. AND WITH THE NIL FUNDS THAT ARE COMING IN,
[02:16:52] IT'S GOING TO CREATE A BIGGER
[02:16:53] AND BIGGER INCENTIVE FOR PRO
[02:16:56] ATHLETES FROM OTHER NATIONS TO COME PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS IN
[02:17:00] AMERICA AND TAKE ROSTER SPOTS AWAY FROM AMERICAN CITIZENS.
[02:17:04] THESE TAXPAYER FUNDED
[02:17:07] INSTITUTIONS SHOULD PRIORITIZE AMERICAN STUDENTS. AND ADDITIONALLY, THE PROTECT
[02:17:11] COLLEGE SPORTS ACT FAILS TO
[02:17:13] ADDRESS THE GRAY AREA CREATED BY THE OVERLAP IN IMMIGRATION LAW
[02:17:17] AND REVENUE SHARING STRUCTURES. STUDENT ATHLETES OFTEN COME TO
[02:17:21] THE UNITED STATES UNDER F-1 VISA STATUS. THESE. VISA STATUS. THIS
[02:17:24] VISA STATUS HAS STRICT
[02:17:26] LIMITATIONS ON COMPENSATION COMPENSATION VIA EMPLOYMENT. BUT
[02:17:29] TO AVOID JEOPARDIZING VISA
[02:17:33] STATUS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES STRUCTURE PAYMENTS TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND
[02:17:36] ATHLETES AS PASSIVE INCOME OUT
[02:17:39] OF REVENUE SHARING FUNDS, AND
[02:17:44] GET AROUND THOSE PROHIBITIONS AGAIN, CREATING AN INCENTIVE FOR
[02:17:47] MORE ROSTER SPOTS AND MORE
[02:17:48] SCHOLARSHIPS TO GO TO STUDENT
[02:17:53] ATHLETES WHO ARE NOT AMERICAN
[02:17:56] CITIZENS. IT'S NOT RIGHT. IF
[02:18:01] YOU ASK CONGRESS TO PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS, YOU SHOULD BE PROTECTING IT. FOR AMERICAN
[02:18:05] STUDENT ATHLETES. AND THAT'S
[02:18:06] WHY, MR. PRESIDENT, I INTRODUCED
[02:18:09] THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR
[02:18:12] AMERICA. AMERICAN MEMBERS AND UNIVERSITY SPORTS AND ATHLETICS
[02:18:16] ACT, THE TEAM USA ACT, WITH
[02:18:19] HOUSE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE CHAIR WALBERG, THE TEAM USA ACT
[02:18:23] WOULD ENCOURAGE UNIVERSITIES TO
[02:18:27] PRIORITIZE AMERICAN STUDENTS WHEN RECRUITING THE BEST TALENT,
[02:18:30] AND. THE PROPOSAL PLACES A 20%
[02:18:33] CAP ON INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
[02:18:35] ROSTER SPOTS, PER SPORT. WITH DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION, SO THAT
[02:18:39] CURRENT STUDENT ATHLETES ARE NOT DISRUPTED. SO, UNDERSTAND, I'M
[02:18:42] NOT CALLING FOR A BAN. WE
[02:18:48] WELCOME INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ATHLETES TO AMERICA. 20% OF THE
[02:18:51] ROSTER SPOTS. THAT'S FINE, BUT WE HAVE SOME ROSTERS IN WHICH
[02:18:55] THERE IS NOT A SINGLE UNITED
[02:18:57] STATES CITIZEN ON THAT ROSTER.
[02:19:02] AND SOME OF OUR NON-REVENUE
[02:19:05] SPORTS. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. IT'S NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. WE
[02:19:08] SUPPORT COMPETITION, BUT WE WANT
[02:19:10] TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR
[02:19:14] AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES,
[02:19:17] BECAUSE SPORTS WERE CREATED NOT TO MAKE BIG REVENUE AND BIG
[02:19:21] MONEY FOR COLLEGE ATHLETIC
[02:19:24] PROGRAMS. THEY WERE CREATED TO
[02:19:27] BUILD CHARACTER AMONGST OUR
[02:19:31] STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS. WAS
[02:19:35] DESIGNED ORIGINALLY TO TEACH. YES, WE WANT TO HAVE ACADEMICS IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WE ALSO ARE
[02:19:39] GOING TO HAVE EXTRACURRICULAR
[02:19:42] ATHLETICS TO TEACH PHYSICAL
[02:19:45] FITNESS AND TOUGHNESS LEADERSHIP
[02:19:47] AND CHARACTER. THAT'S WHAT IT'S
[02:19:50] ALL ABOUT. AND TO DENY, INCREASINGLY, THOSE
[02:19:54] OPPORTUNITIES TO AMERICAN
[02:19:56] STUDENT ATHLETES IS WRONG. AND
[02:19:59] SO AS CONGRESS CONSIDERS THE
[02:20:04] FUTURE OF NIL AND COLLEGE SPORTS
[02:20:07] PROTECTING AMERICAN. OR PROTECTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES MUST
[02:20:11] COME FIRST. AMERICAN COLLEGES
[02:20:14] AND UNIVERSITIES ARE INCREASINGLY GIVING
[02:20:17] SCHOLARSHIPS, AND. THESE LIMITED ROSTER SPOTS TO FOREIGN
[02:20:21] ATHLETES. AND. THE GROWTH OF NA
[02:20:23] L MONEY ONLY CREATES MORE INCENTIVES FOR FOREIGN ATHLETES
[02:20:27] TO CASH IN ON THE AMERICAN
[02:20:29] SYSTEM AT THE EXPENSE OF STUDENT
[02:20:33] ATHLETES IN THIS COUNTRY. IF THE U.S. CONGRESS IS BEING ASKED TO
[02:20:37] SAVE COLLEGE SPORTS, WE BETTER
[02:20:40] DARN SURE MAKE SURE THAT WE SAVE
[02:20:42] IT FOR AMERICAN STUDENT
[02:20:47] ATHLETES. I DON'T EXPECT
[02:20:52] GOVERNMENTS OF OTHER NATIONS TO LOOK OUT FOR AMERICAN STUDENT
[02:20:55] ATHLETES, BUT I SURE EXPECT THE
[02:20:58] UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO LOOK OUT FOR AMERICAN STUDENT
[02:21:02] ATHLETES. AND THAT'S WHY I'VE
[02:21:06] INTRODUCED THE LEGISLATION. IT'S WHY IT NEEDS TO BE PART OF
[02:21:09] THIS DISCUSSION, SO THAT AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES STILL
[02:21:13] HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY LIKE LOTS
[02:21:17] OF LITTLE BOYS AND LITTLE GIRLS
[02:21:18] OUT THERE TODAY WHO DREAM AND
[02:21:21] HAVE A DREAM OF BEING ABLE TO
[02:21:23] PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS ONE DAY,
[02:21:26] SHOULDN'T SEE THAT OPPORTUNITY
[02:21:27] GIVEN AWAY. TO SOMEONE. WHO'S
[02:21:35] NOT AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. WE CAN
[02:21:38] BALANCE BOTH. WE CAN FIND A WAY
[02:21:41] TO WELCOME THE BEST FROM OTHER
[02:21:45] NATIONS. AND ALSO PROTECT ROSTER
[02:21:48] SPOTS FOR AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES. THANK YOU, MR.
[02:21:50] PRESIDENT. I YIELD THE FLOOR.
[02:22:05] >> THE SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY. >> I WANT TO SPEAK FORCEFULLY
[02:22:09] AGAINST THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT. I KNOW THERE'S A HANDFUL OF US, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE
[02:22:12] WHO PLAYED COLLEGE SPORTS. I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN, A
[02:22:16] PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR MY STATE, UH, ON THE SAME USA TODAY
[02:22:19] ALL-AMERICAN TEAM AS PEOPLE LIKE EMMITT SMITH, AND GOT A FULL
[02:22:22] SCHOLARSHIP IN SO MANY WAYS.
[02:22:24] LIKE MY COLLEAGUE, I AM HERE AFFORDED OPPORTUNITIES I
[02:22:27] PROBABLY WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD IF
[02:22:30] IT WASN'T FOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS. BUT WHILE A COLLEGE STUDENT AND
[02:22:33] A PLAYER, I SAW HOW UNJUST THE
[02:22:37] NCAA IS, IT IS A SERIAL
[02:22:40] MONOPOLIST CONTROLLING AN
[02:22:41] INDUSTRY OVER $15 BILLION,
[02:22:47] STRONG AND RAPIDLY GROWING, AND
[02:22:49] THE NCAA HAS A LONG RECORD OF
[02:22:51] IGNORING THE CRIES FOR JUSTICE
[02:22:55] FROM EXPLOITED COLLEGE ATHLETES.
[02:22:58] THE NCAA PROTECTS ITS MEMBERS. IT PROTECTS THE COLLEGES, AND IT
[02:23:02] HAS REPEATEDLY PUT COLLEGE
[02:23:04] ATHLETES IN HORRIBLE POSITIONS
[02:23:08] FOR GENERATIONS, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE BEING MADE THAT
[02:23:10] WERE GIVEN TO COACHES, AIDES.
[02:23:15] EVERYBODY WAS MAKING MONEY, BUT COLLEGE ATHLETES WEREN'T. IT
[02:23:19] WASN'T UNTIL COLLEGE ATHLETES
[02:23:21] WERE ABLE TO BEGIN TO WIN CASES
[02:23:25] IN COURT, AND STATES. SEEING THE INJUSTICES BEGAN TO CHANGE. THE
[02:23:29] LAW THAT STARTED TO SHIFT THE POWER TABLE. AND NOW THE NCAA IS
[02:23:32] COMING HERE TO THE UNITED STATES
[02:23:35] SENATE ASKING FOR SWEEPING
[02:23:38] POWERS THAT EXEMPT OUR ANTITRUST
[02:23:42] LAWS WELL, MY CONCERNS I'VE
[02:23:46] GROWN TO HAVE OVER THE YEARS ARE
[02:23:47] NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS BILL. THIS
[02:23:52] BILL DOES NOT ENOUGH TO PROTECT
[02:23:54] COLLEGE ATHLETES HEALTH AND
[02:23:57] SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE NUMBERS OF
[02:24:00] GROUPS OPPOSED TO IT IS ALMOST
[02:24:03] TOO LONG TO READ. I'M GOING TO
[02:24:06] SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD A FULL LIST, BUT LET ME JUST READ SOME
[02:24:10] OF THEM. EVERY COLLEGE SPORTS
[02:24:13] ATHLETES, PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS
[02:24:16] ASSOCIATION, THE UNITED COLLEGE
[02:24:19] ATHLETES ASSOCIATIONS, ALL THE
[02:24:22] ASSOCIATIONS OF COLLEGE SPORTS, ALL OUR MAJOR UNIONS, THE
[02:24:26] AFL-CIO, THE UNITED STEELWORKERS, ALL OF OUR MAJOR
[02:24:30] CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, THE
[02:24:33] NC NAACP, THE URBAN LEAGUE, ALL OF OUR MAJOR LEGAL THINK TANKS
[02:24:37] THAT PROTECT THE HEALTH,
[02:24:40] WELL-BEING, AND JUSTICE, LIKE
[02:24:42] THE CENTER FOR LAW AND POLICY. I
[02:24:45] COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THOSE
[02:24:47] PEOPLE WHO OBJECT TO THIS BILL,
[02:24:51] BECAUSE IT IS NOT PROTECTING
[02:24:54] ATHLETES. AND THINK ABOUT THIS.
[02:24:56] IT IS DOING ALL KINDS OF THINGS
[02:25:02] TO STOP PLAYERS FROM EARNING
[02:25:05] MONEY, PUTTING BUREAUCRACY BETWEEN THEM, AND THE POSSIBILITIES. BUT IT DOES
[02:25:08] NOTHING TO AFFECT COACHES. SO,
[02:25:11] IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S TREATING COLLEGE ATHLETES AS A DIFFERENT
[02:25:15] CLASS. MEANWHILE, COACHES SALARIES, OFTEN IN MOST STATES,
[02:25:18] THE HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE IN THEIR STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE THE
[02:25:21] BASKETBALL OR THE FOOTBALL
[02:25:22] COACH. THEIR SALARIES CONTINUE
[02:25:26] TO SKYROCKET, WITH CLOSE TO 15
[02:25:29] COACHES RIGHT NOW HAVE ALMOST A
[02:25:31] QUARTER OF $1 BILLION BUYOUTS
[02:25:35] FOR THEIR CONTRACTS. THIS IS AN
[02:25:37] UNJUST BILL, AND I WANT TO DEAL
[02:25:41] VERY QUICKLY WITH SOME OF THE TOP LINES. FIRST AND FOREMOST,
[02:25:44] WE HAVE A BILL THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEMS IT CLAIMS TO
[02:25:47] SOLVE. IT SAYS IT'S GOING TO FIX
[02:25:51] A SYSTEM THAT'S BROKEN. WELL,
[02:25:54] THE NCAA CONFERENCES AND SCHOOLS
[02:25:56] CONTINUE TO LOSE MAJOR COURT CASES. THIS BILL IS GOING TO
[02:25:59] TAKE AWAY THE POWER OF ATHLETES
[02:26:02] TO BE ABLE TO SUE FOR THEIR RIGHTS. IT SAYS IN THIS BILL
[02:26:06] THAT, OH, WE'RE PRESERVING AN
[02:26:08] INDIVIDUAL RIGHT OF ACTION FOR INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES. WELL, LET
[02:26:11] ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, ANY LAWYER WORTH THEIR SALT WILL
[02:26:15] TELL YOU THAT SOMEBODY COMPETING FOR THE STARTING PITCHER SPOT ON
[02:26:19] A SOFTBALL TEAM IS NOT GOING TO SUE THEIR COLLEGE IN HOPES
[02:26:22] THEY'RE GOING TO GET JUSTICE IF THEY'RE FACING SEXUAL ASSAULT,
[02:26:26] OR IF THEY'VE BEEN FORCED TO PLAY THROUGH AN INJURY, OR IF
[02:26:28] THERE'S A BREAKING OF ANY OF
[02:26:31] THE RULES AROUND THE NCAA THAT PURPORT TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS,
[02:26:34] IT'S CREATING A CARTEL FOR THEM, A MONOPOLY FOR THEM, AND
[02:26:37] NO INADEQUATE PROTECTIONS,
[02:26:39] EXCUSE ME, INADEQUATE
[02:26:41] PROTECTIONS FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES
[02:26:44] AND UNDERMINING THEIR ABILITY,
[02:26:46] SHOULD THEY EVEN CHOOSE TO SUE, UNDERMINING THEIR ABILITY TO
[02:26:49] HAVE A FAIR DAY IN COURT. IT'S NOT PROTECTING THE SPENDING
[02:26:53] PROBLEM. SCHOOLS INCREASINGLY
[02:26:56] CLAIM THAT ATHLETE COMPENSATION HAS CREATED UNPRECEDENTED
[02:26:59] FINANCIAL PRESSURE. AT THE SAME TIME THAT FOOTBALL COACHES AND
[02:27:03] BASKETBALL COACHES CONTINUE TO
[02:27:04] SEE HIGHER AND HIGHER SALARIES,
[02:27:08] THIS BILL RESPONDS BY PLACING FEDERALLY IMPOSED CEILINGS ON
[02:27:11] ATHLETE COMPENSATION, WHILE LEAVING EVERY OTHER MAJOR
[02:27:15] EXPENSE FREE TO CONTINUE TO
[02:27:18] INCREASE. HOW MUCH SCHOOLS ARE SPENDING ON THEIR FACILITIES,
[02:27:21] PAYING THEIR AIDES, PAYING THEIR
[02:27:24] COACHES AND ASSISTANT COACHES. ALL OF THOSE PRICES CONTINUE TO GO UP, BUT IT'S THE COLLEGE
[02:27:28] ATHLETES THAT ARE GOING TO BE
[02:27:30] FACING THE CAPS WE SEE
[02:27:33] PROTECTIONS FOR WOMEN'S AND OLYMPIC SPORTS, WHICH I AGREE
[02:27:36] ON. THEY'RE IN THIS BILL, BUT
[02:27:41] THOSE PROTECTIONS EXPIRE WHILE THE ANTITRUST PROTECTIONS DO
[02:27:44] NOT. YOU GO TO SECTION 125 OF
[02:27:47] THE BILL AS PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE ROSTER SPORTS AND GRANT
[02:27:51] AND AID OPPORTUNITIES IN THOSE SPORTS, BUT THOSE PROTECTIONS
[02:27:54] EXPIRE AFTER 4 OR 9 YEARS. IT IS
[02:27:56] A LIE TO SAY THAT THIS BILL IS
[02:28:00] PROTECTING OLYMPIC SPORTS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT. IT ONLY DOES SO FOR A HANDFUL OF YEARS.
[02:28:04] PERMANENT ANTITRUST EXEMPTION,
[02:28:09] TEMPORARY PROTECTION FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES COMPETING IN OLYMPIC
[02:28:13] SPORTS. WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? WE SHOULD
[02:28:17] GIVE NOT PERMANENT EXEMPTION IF
[02:28:21] WE'RE NOT DOING IT IN OTHER
[02:28:21] PARTS OF THE BILL. AND EVEN THAT
[02:28:25] IS QUESTIONABLE. THE NCAA'S
[02:28:28] RECORD OVER DECADES DOES NOT
[02:28:30] JUSTIFY GIVING IT MORE CONTROL.
[02:28:32] WE'RE GIVING THEM MORE AUTHORITY OVER A GROUP OF
[02:28:36] AMERICANS, AND YET WE'RE NOT
[02:28:38] ASKING FOR THE RIGHT THINGS IN
[02:28:43] RETURN. PROTECTIONS FOR ATHLETES, THEIR HEALTH, THEIR
[02:28:46] WELL-BEING, THEIR SAFETY, THEIR
[02:28:48] EQUALITY FOR OTHERS INVOLVED IN
[02:28:50] THE SPORT, THE BILL CLAIMS TO
[02:28:53] CODIFY INTO LAW ATHLETES
[02:28:55] ABILITIES TO BENEFIT FROM NIL.
[02:28:58] ATHLETES ALREADY ENJOY THIS, RIGHT? THEY FOUGHT DECADES FOR
[02:29:01] IT. THE BILL JUST PUTS NEW RED
[02:29:03] TAPE THERE. THE BILL INCLUDES PROTECTIONS FOR ATHLETES HEALTH
[02:29:06] AND SAFETY AND EDUCATION. YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WITHOUT A
[02:29:10] MEANINGFUL ENFORCEMENT
[02:29:12] MECHANISM, THESE PROTECTIONS ARE
[02:29:15] BASICALLY SUGGESTIONS. THIS BILL RELIES EXCLUSIVELY ON THAT
[02:29:18] PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION. IN
[02:29:20] SECTION 119, PLACING THE BURDEN ON YOUNG ATHLETES AND YOUNG
[02:29:24] ATHLETES ALONE TO ENFORCE
[02:29:26] ANYTHING WITHIN THIS BILL. THEY
[02:29:29] CLAIM THAT SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES AND NCAA COACHES
[02:29:32] SUPPORT THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT. OF COURSE, THEY
[02:29:34] SUPPORT IT. THEY'RE GETTING ALL
[02:29:36] OF THE FINANCIAL GAIN AND
[02:29:39] PUTTING ALL THE BURDEN AND
[02:29:42] COMPROMISES AND GIVE BACKS TO COLLEGE ATHLETES, INCLUDING
[02:29:45] THEIR ABILITY TO WIN IN COURT.
[02:29:48] OH, AND THERE'S A CYNICAL PART OF THIS. THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE
[02:29:51] GOING TO HELP HISTORICALLY BLACK
[02:29:54] COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. I
[02:29:56] WANT EVERYONE LIKE ME THAT HAS
[02:29:59] BEEN FIGHTING FOR HBCUS, WHO
[02:30:02] SUPPORTS HBCUS, TO UNDERSTAND THE CYNICISM IN THIS BILL. THIS
[02:30:06] BILL AUTHORIZES MONEY. IT
[02:30:08] AUTHORIZES MONEY. IT DOES NOT
[02:30:13] APPROPRIATE ONE SINGLE DOLLAR. WHAT YOU GET IS A PROMISE FOR
[02:30:16] FUTURE FUNDS. BUT WE KNOW TIME
[02:30:18] AND TIME AGAIN, CONGRESS
[02:30:21] AUTHORIZES FUNDING, AND THAT
[02:30:22] FUNDING IS NEVER DELIVERED. THIS
[02:30:27] BILL INCLUDES PROVISIONS OF THE
[02:30:29] SAFE ACT THAT I SUPPORTED. WELL,
[02:30:33] THIS LEAVES OUT A CRITICAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE SAFE ACT
[02:30:37] AND ATHLETES PROTECTIONS WITH MEANINGFUL ENFORCEMENT. THE SAFE
[02:30:41] ACT INCLUDED THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S. BEING ABLE TO A
[02:30:45] FORCE ENFORCE IT. THIS BILL DOES
[02:30:48] NOT. THE SAFE ACT DIDN'T GIVE
[02:30:49] THE NCAA AND CONFERENCES SWEEPING NEW ANTITRUST SHIELD.
[02:30:53] THIS BILL DOES. SO, YES, THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS FOR MY
[02:30:56] EARLIER WORK IN THIS BILL, BUT
[02:31:00] THEY'RE TOOTHLESS BECAUSE OF THE
[02:31:01] LACK OF ENFORCEMENT POWER. THIS
[02:31:06] IS A GROWING GRASSROOTS EFFORT, I HEAR, TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.
[02:31:07] WELL, I'M SEEING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF COMMERCIALS
[02:31:11] BEING FUNDED BY ALL THE FINANCIAL INTERESTS BEHIND THIS
[02:31:15] BILL. BUT WHO IS PROTECTING
[02:31:18] COLLEGE ATHLETES? I GAVE AN EXAMPLE, AND I'LL END WITH
[02:31:21] THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW TIME IS SHORT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE,
[02:31:25] THOUGH, THAT I CAN ENTER. FOR THE RECORD, I'M GOING TO ASK THE PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO ENTER
[02:31:28] INTO A RECORD, A SOME LETTERS.
[02:31:32] THIS LETTER IS FROM, UH, COLLEGE
[02:31:37] ATHLETES, ORGANIZATIONS. UM,
[02:31:40] THIS LETTER IS FROM CIVIL RIGHTS
[02:31:45] ORGANIZATIONS AND FORMER
[02:31:47] ATTORNEY GENERALS. UH, AND THIS
[02:31:51] LETTER IS FROM COLLEGE ATHLETE
[02:31:55] SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS, COLLEGE
[02:31:56] ATHLETES, SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVOR
[02:31:59] ORGANIZATIONS, AND FAMILIES OF COLLEGE ATHLETES WHO DIED
[02:32:02] FOLLOWING ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES,
[02:32:04] ALL SPEAKING TO THE URGENCY TO
[02:32:07] STOP THIS BILL. >> WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[02:32:10] >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO END WITH
[02:32:12] THIS. I GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE
[02:32:15] LIES THAT THE NCAA TELLS, THAT
[02:32:18] THEY'RE ABOUT THE PROTECTION OF STUDENT ATHLETES FIRST, AND THE
[02:32:22] EXAMPLE I GAVE WAS A CHANGE THAT
[02:32:23] THE NFL DID, THAT WE ALL KNOW
[02:32:26] ABOUT WHO ARE FOOTBALL FANS. WHEN THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE
[02:32:30] KICKOFF RULES. WHY DID THEY CHANGE THE KICKOFF RULES? WELL, I KNOW FROM MY PERSONAL
[02:32:34] EXPERIENCE OF SCREAMING DOWN A
[02:32:36] FIELD, TRYING TO BREAK UCLA'S
[02:32:38] WEDGE, I'VE LEARNED THIS FROM
[02:32:40] RUSHING DOWN THE FIELD TO TRY TO
[02:32:44] TACKLE A PEOPLE PLAYING AGAINST USC. I LEARNED THIS IN PLAYING
[02:32:47] NOTRE DAME, THAT ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS YOU COULD DO IS GET A FULL HEAD OF STEAM AND RUN
[02:32:51] DOWN ON A KICKOFF. WELL, THEY CHANGED THE KICKOFF RULES TO
[02:32:54] PROTECT NFL ATHLETES, AND IT'S WORKED. THERE ARE LESS INJURIES
[02:32:56] IN THIS AREA. IT'S WORKING. IS
[02:33:00] THERE A PEEP FROM THE NCAA?
[02:33:03] DON'T YOU THINK THAT COLLEGE SPORTS SHOULD HAVE MORE
[02:33:06] PROTECTIVE POLICIES THAN THE PROS? WELL, NO. THE PROS. IT'S A
[02:33:08] BUSINESS. WE ALL KNOW THAT. THEY INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
[02:33:11] THESE EMPLOYEES OF THEIRS, AND
[02:33:16] THEY'RE TAKING ACTIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PLAYERS THAT THE
[02:33:18] NCAA ISN'T. THE NCAA IS AN
[02:33:22] ECONOMIC GROUP OF ACTORS WHO
[02:33:28] SEEK TO MAXIMIZE PROFIT. LOOK AT
[02:33:31] THEIR DECADES LONG HISTORY. IT IS NOT ABOUT PLAYER PROTECTION.
[02:33:35] HOW DO I KNOW THAT THERE'S NO
[02:33:37] ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS FOR SEXUAL
[02:33:39] ASSAULT? THERE'S NO ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS FOR HEAT STROKE. WE
[02:33:43] HAVE CASES RIGHT NOW ABOUT BRAIN INJURIES. I HAVE FRIENDS OF MINE
[02:33:47] STILL PAYING FOR THE MEDICAL
[02:33:49] COSTS FOR INJURIES THEY INCURRED, PUTTING THOUSANDS OF
[02:33:52] PEOPLE INTO SEATS. WHEN IT COMES
[02:33:58] TO ACADEMIC GRADUATION RATES, WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THE THINGS
[02:34:01] THEY TELL PEOPLE, THEY'RE CONCERNED WITH, THE EVIDENCE
[02:34:04] SPEAKS THAT THAT'S NOT THEIR NUMBER ONE CONCERN. AND THIS
[02:34:07] BODY WANTS TO GIVE THEM SWEEPING
[02:34:10] ANTITRUST POWER PERMANENTLY IN
[02:34:13] PERPETUITY, FOREVER, WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO
[02:34:17] ACCOUNTABILITY TO CONGRESS,
[02:34:20] LIMITED ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE
[02:34:22] COURTS, NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE GIRLS AND BOYS AND YOUNG STUDENT
[02:34:26] ATHLETES, THE COLLEGE PLAYERS
[02:34:28] WHO BRING THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER,
[02:34:33] WHO GIVE US OF OUR GREATEST LIFE
[02:34:38] EXPERIENCES. THIS IS UNFAIR. THIS IS UNJUST. THIS IS WRONG.
[02:34:42] HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT STUDENT ATHLETES THAT
[02:34:46] REPRESENT IDEALS OF JUSTICE, THAT REPRESENT IDEALS OF
[02:34:48] ECONOMIC JUSTICE. HECK, YOU EVEN HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE BRETT
[02:34:52] KAVANAUGH. EXCUSE ME? YOU HAVE
[02:34:54] EVEN SOMEBODY LIKE GORSUCH
[02:35:00] SAYING THINGS LIKE, IT'S A BUSINESS MODEL. THIS IS THE
[02:35:01] NCAA. THAT WOULD BE FLATLY
[02:35:05] ILLEGAL IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY IN
[02:35:06] AMERICA. AND YET WE'RE MOVING
[02:35:09] ROCKET SPEED, WHERE MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS HAVEN'T EVEN
[02:35:11] GOTTEN THE FINAL BILL YET.
[02:35:13] THEY'RE LITERALLY HAVEN'T PUT
[02:35:16] THE BILL IN MOST OF THE OFFICES
[02:35:19] HERE. AND WE'RE RUSHING TO MOVE
[02:35:20] ON TO IT RIGHT NOW WITHOUT
[02:35:24] READING THE BILL, WITHOUT DISCUSSING IT, WITHOUT HAVING HEARINGS THAT HAVE COLLEGE
[02:35:28] ATHLETES THAT HAVE JUSTIFIABLE EXPERIENCES, SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL
[02:35:32] ASSAULT, PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE DIED, PEOPLE THAT HAVE COURT CASES AGAINST THE NCAA
[02:35:36] RIGHT NOW, THAT THE NCAA KNOWS IT'S GOING TO SAVE THEM FROM
[02:35:39] MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF LIABILITY. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE
[02:35:42] SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY TO PASS THIS BILL. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE
[02:35:45] SAFETY. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE WELL-BEING. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE
[02:35:48] EDUCATION OF COLLEGE ATHLETES.
[02:35:50] THIS IS A MONEY PLAY, PLAIN AND
[02:35:55] SIMPLE. READ THE BILL. TALK TO
[02:36:02] COLLEGE ATHLETES. IF WE PASS
[02:36:08] THIS BILL, IT'S A SHAME >> [APPLAUSE]. >> AFTER YEARS AND YEARS OF TRYING COLLEGE ATHLETES FINALLY
[02:36:12] HAVE GAINED SOME LEVERAGE OVER THE NCAA. AND NO, THEY CAN'T WIN
[02:36:14] IN COURT. SO THE NCAA RUNS HERE.
[02:36:18] I ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOT TO MOVE
[02:36:22] TO THIS BILL. DEFINITELY DON'T MOVE TO IT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT. IF YOUR STAFF HASN'T GOTTEN
[02:36:24] THE FINAL COPY YET, I ASK MY
[02:36:29] COLLEAGUES TO VOTE. NO. THANK
[02:36:32] YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
[02:38:14] >> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WE HAVE A BIG, I WOULD SAY, BUT LIMITED OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME
[02:38:18] THINGS DONE HERE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SEVERAL
[02:38:21] WEEKS. AND I WOULD SAY, STARTING WITH THE CLARITY ACT, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS
[02:38:25] AFTERNOON, IT'LL BE A PROCEDURAL VOTE, AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF
[02:38:27] DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY WANT TO PASS
[02:38:30] THIS LEGISLATION AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE YES
[02:38:33] FOR AN ANSWER, BECAUSE OUR MEMBERS WHO'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING
[02:38:36] THIS, CHAIRMAN SCOTT, CHAIRMAN
[02:38:39] BOZEMAN, SENATOR LUMMIS, OTHERS
[02:38:42] HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED NOW, LITERALLY FOR MONTHS IN TRYING TO COME UP WITH LEGISLATION THAT
[02:38:46] WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS. AND
[02:38:48] THEY HAVE MADE MYRIAD, UM, I
[02:38:53] WOULD SAY, CONCESSIONS TO THE DEMOCRATS. I THINK 126 DIFFERENT
[02:38:56] CHANGES TO THIS LEGISLATION SINCE IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED,
[02:39:00] TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONCERNS. SO THIS IS IT'S TIME TO VOTE. IT'S TIME
[02:39:03] TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP. AND SO THIS AFTERNOON, WE'RE GOING TO
[02:39:07] HAVE THAT VOTE. AND THEN I WOULD SAY ON THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[02:39:10] SPORTS ACT, THAT WILL FOLLOW
[02:39:11] AFTER, DEPENDING ON HOW THE VOTE
[02:39:14] GOES. BUT THAT'S ALSO LEGISLATION THAT HAS HAD A LOT
[02:39:17] OF WORK PUT INTO IT OVER THE
[02:39:19] PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. AND I THINK ALL MOST PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
[02:39:23] THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE IN COLLEGE
[02:39:25] SPORTS IS A MESS. UH, IT NEEDS
[02:39:27] TO BE ADDRESSED. CHAIRMAN CRUZ AND OTHERS HAVE WORKED
[02:39:31] DILIGENTLY. SENATOR SCHMITT
[02:39:32] COMING UP WITH A PRODUCT THAT I
[02:39:36] THINK IS A VAST IMPROVEMENT AND, OF COURSE, WORKED WITH DEMOCRATS
[02:39:38] AS WELL, ON TRYING TO GET THAT IN A FORM THAT WE COULD MOVE IT
[02:39:41] ACROSS THE FLOOR. SO WE WILL SEE IF THERE ARE 60 VOTES ON A
[02:39:45] PROCEDURAL VOTE ON THAT ISSUE AS WELL. AND I WOULD ALSO ADD TO
[02:39:48] THAT LIST PERMITTING REFORM.
[02:39:50] SENATOR CAPITO AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEMOCRATS,
[02:39:53] AND WE'LL FIND OUT SOON WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN. THAT IS ALSO
[02:39:57] SOMETHING THAT HAS, I THINK, BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. AND
[02:40:00] SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF NEGOTIATING THOSE ISSUES. AND I'M HOPEFUL, FRANKLY, THAT WE
[02:40:04] COULD GET THAT UP ON THE FLOOR AND VOTED ON, BECAUSE I THINK
[02:40:07] THAT IS AN IMPORTANT AND CONSEQUENTIAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT'S REALLY
[02:40:11] IMPORTANT TO OUR OUR COUNTRY'S ECONOMY. AND THEN, FINALLY, I WOULD SAY SOMETHING THAT'S
[02:40:15] REALLY IMPORTANT IN FARM COUNTRY IS THE FARM BILL. AND THERE'S GOING TO BE, HOPEFULLY, A COMMITTEE ACTION ON THAT THIS
[02:40:18] WEEK AS WELL. AND SO THOSE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT ARE SORT OF
[02:40:22] HOVERING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE NOMINATIONS THAT WE'LL DEAL
[02:40:26] WITH, BOTH ON THE JUDICIAL AND
[02:40:27] AND THE EXECUTIVE CALENDARS AS WELL. BUT MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT
[02:40:31] THIS CAN BE A PRODUCTIVE FEW WEEKS HERE. AND IT'S GOING TO DEPEND LARGELY, I THINK, ON
[02:40:35] WHETHER OR NOT THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO PLAY BALL, WHETHER THEY WANT TO GET SOME THINGS DONE, OR
[02:40:39] WHETHER THEY WANT TO PLAY POLITICS. AND WE'LL FIND THAT
[02:40:41] OUT SOON ENOUGH. >> META. >> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HERE,
[02:40:45] THAT THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD INVESTED SO
[02:40:49] HEAVILY IN CRYPTOCURRENCY. I KNOW THERE'S OTHER GUARDRAILS THAT WERE AGREED TO BY THE WHITE
[02:40:52] HOUSE, PUT IN. SOME DEMOCRATS SAY THAT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. BUT, I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE
[02:40:56] DAY, ISN'T THAT THE ISSUE THAT IS MAKING THIS BILL TOXIC?
[02:40:59] >> WELL, I THINK I DON'T THINK THERE IS. I DON'T THINK YOU
[02:41:02] EVER GO FAR ENOUGH FOR THE DEMOCRATS. UM, I THINK THE
[02:41:06] PRESIDENT AND THE WHITE HOUSE, AND YOU CAN ASK THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL ABOUT THIS, BUT THERE
[02:41:09] HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS AND I MEAN,
[02:41:13] NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS ON THE ETHICS PIECE. AND SENATOR TILLIS HAS BEEN INVOLVED. SENATOR MORENO HAS BEEN INVOLVED.
[02:41:17] SENATOR LUMMIS HAS BEEN
[02:41:18] INVOLVED. AND AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEKEND, MADE SOME
[02:41:22] ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS. AS I POINTED OUT, TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MORE
[02:41:26] THEY COULD GIVE, HONESTLY. SO I THINK THIS WAS THIS WAS A LAST
[02:41:29] AND FINAL OFFER PUT FORWARD OVER THE WEEKEND. WE'RE GOING TO FIND
[02:41:33] OUT TODAY, AGAIN, WHETHER OR NOT THE DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO
[02:41:34] TAKE YES FOR AN ISSUE OR YES FOR AN ANSWER.
[02:41:38] >> THE CBO IS OUT WITH NEW NUMBERS TODAY ABOUT THE IRAQ
[02:41:41] WAR, SAYING THE INFLATION IS GOING TO INCREASE NEXT YEAR, AND
[02:41:44] THAT IT'S COST $38 BILLION UP
[02:41:47] UNTIL AUGUST 1st. I'M WONDERING, GIVEN THAT THIS WAS SOLD TO THE PUBLIC BY THE
[02:41:50] ADMINISTRATION, IT'S BEING A SHORT LIVED WAR AND MAY NOT HAVE
[02:41:53] MUCH OF AN ECONOMIC COST. AND VOTERS ARE STILL PAYING SO MUCH
[02:41:56] AT THE GAS PUMP. ARE YOU
[02:41:58] CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE AN ALBATROSS FOR REPUBLICANS HEADING INTO NOVEMBER?
[02:42:02] >> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK ANY
[02:42:05] TIME, UM, GAS PRICES ISN'T ALWAYS AN ISSUE FOR VOTERS. AND,
[02:42:08] YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STRAIT OF
[02:42:12] HORMUZ IS HAVING SOME IMPACT THERE. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS UNDERSTAND
[02:42:15] WHAT'S AT STAKE. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT IRAN NEVER HAS A NUCLEAR WEAPON, AND
[02:42:19] THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO THREATEN
[02:42:23] NOT ONLY THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THE ENTIRE WORLD WITH THE MILITARY CAPABILITIES THAT THEY'VE DEMONSTRATED IN THE
[02:42:27] PAST THEY'RE PERFECTLY WILLING TO USE. >> SO IS IT WORTH THE COST? >> IS IT. >> WORTH THAT COST? WELL, LOOK, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A,
[02:42:31] THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO COME TO A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION ABOUT, YOU
[02:42:33] KNOW, WHAT THE COST OUGHT TO BE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT I
[02:42:36] THINK IN ORDER TO KEEP THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD SAFE. YES. AND I THINK MOST OF OUR MEMBERS
[02:42:40] WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. NOW, IS
[02:42:42] THERE A PATH TO TRY AND GET SHIPPING LANES OPEN IN THE
[02:42:46] STRAIT SO WE CAN GET SOME OF THIS PRESSURE OFF OF FUEL PRICES IN THIS COUNTRY? YES. AND THE
[02:42:50] ADMINISTRATION, I THINK, IS WORKING THAT DILIGENTLY. AND I
[02:42:53] HOPE THAT THE PRESIDENT AND HIS TEAM WILL HAVE SOME SUCCESS IN
[02:42:55] DOING THAT. BUT IN THE OVER, IF
[02:42:58] YOU LOOK AT THE OVERARCHING SORT OF THE ARC OF HISTORY ON THIS AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN FOR THE
[02:43:02] LAST FIVE DECADES WITH RESPECT TO IRAN, I THINK THE THE
[02:43:05] MILITARY OBJECTIVES THAT WERE
[02:43:09] LAID OUT HAVE BEEN LARGELY ACHIEVED. UM, WE GOT THIS ECONOMIC ISSUE THAT'S GOT TO BE
[02:43:13] DEALT WITH. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS RIGHTLY FOCUSED ON.
[02:43:16] >> NOW >> ERBIL. >> IF THE ASSUMING THAT THE AG
[02:43:19] COMMITTEE REPORTS OUT FARM BILL
[02:43:22] TOMORROW WITH SENATOR
[02:43:24] MCCONNELL'S VOTE, HOW SOON DO YOU INTEND TO BRING UP THIS
[02:43:28] WHOLE STORY? WOULD IT BE BEFORE THE ELECTION, AFTER THE
[02:43:30] ELECTION? AND WHAT ABOUT, UH, THE DEMOCRATIC COOPERATION ON
[02:43:34] THAT? THERE WERE NO VOTES, SO FAR AS YOU KNOW, IN COMMITTEE.
[02:43:37] AND FINALLY, THE CURRENT
[02:43:39] EXTENSION EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER
[02:43:41] 30th. IN A PUSH EXPIRING
[02:43:46] EXTENSION OF THE THIRD TIME THE FARM BILL WAS EXTENDED. >> WELL, FIRST, A LOT OF THE
[02:43:49] FARM BILL GOT WRITTEN LAST SUMMER. I MEAN, THE KEY TITLES, AND I'M A MEMBER OF THIS
[02:43:53] COMMITTEE. THIS IS MY FIFTH FARM BILL. THE COMMODITY TITLE,
[02:43:56] CONSERVATION TITLE, ALL THE DISASTER PROVISIONS WERE WERE DEALT WITH LAST SUMMER IN THE
[02:44:00] WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUTS LEGISLATION. BUT THERE ARE PIECES THAT DIDN'T GET DONE. AND
[02:44:04] FARMERS NEED CERTAINTY. THEY NEED PREDICTABILITY. AND THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT COMPONENTS IN
[02:44:08] THIS BILL THAT WAS BLOCKED BY THE DEMOCRATS AND THE COMMITTEE. WHEN WE VOTED ON IT BEFORE WE
[02:44:12] LEFT IN AUGUST, AND I HAVE NEVER
[02:44:15] SEEN A TIME IN MY TIME IN PUBLIC LIFE. AND CERTAINLY, AS IT RELATES TO DEALING WITH FARM
[02:44:19] BILLS, WHERE YOU'VE HAD THIS
[02:44:22] KIND OF A PARTISAN, AND, FRANKLY, ON A BILL, ON A BILL
[02:44:25] THAT THE DEMOCRATS WERE INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING. IF YOU TALK TO
[02:44:29] SENATOR BOOZMAN, WHO'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, THERE
[02:44:33] WERE 100 DEMOCRAT AMENDMENTS IN THE FARM BILL THAT THEY BLOCKED, VOTED AGAINST. THAT IS
[02:44:37] INEXCUSABLE IN FARM COUNTRY. AND
[02:44:40] SO I THINK I'M HOPING, AT LEAST WITH SENATOR MCCONNELL'S PRESENCE HERE ON WEDNESDAY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REPORT IT OUT
[02:44:44] OF THE COMMITTEE. AND WITH RESPECT TO TIMING, I WOULD SAY I
[02:44:46] WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS INTO CONFERENCE WITH THE HOUSE AS
[02:44:50] SOON AS POSSIBLE. UM, YOU KNOW, FLOOR TIME IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING, OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE
[02:44:53] REASONS I MENTIONED, PARTICULARLY IF WE GET ON EITHER OR BOTH OF THE, THE BILLS THAT
[02:44:57] WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON TODAY. BUT IN FARM COUNTRY,
[02:45:01] THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PREDICTABILITY. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR CERTAINTY. AND THIS BILL
[02:45:05] GIVES THEM THAT. AND THE
[02:45:08] DEMOCRATS BLOCK VOTED AGAINST IT, JUST LIKE THEY BLOCK VOTED
[02:45:11] AGAINST GETTING ON THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL. THE WAY THEY
[02:45:14] BLOCKED VOTED AGAINST FISA AND SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES. I MEAN, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE
[02:45:18] BIPARTISAN AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT. THEY'RE IMPORTANT
[02:45:21] NATIONAL SECURITY ITEMS AND FARM BILLS ARE, YOU KNOW, FOOD
[02:45:24] SECURITY IS NATIONAL SECURITY.
[02:45:26] AND SO I'M JUST I HOPE THAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL, AT LEAST WHEN IT
[02:45:30] COMES TO THESE MATTERS OF
[02:45:33] NATIONAL IMPORTANCE, WORK TOGETHER WITH REPUBLICANS, RATHER THAN CONVERTING
[02:45:38] EVERYTHING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR
[02:45:41] POLITICAL ISSUE. >> AT ALL CONCERNED. DO YOU AGREE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT
[02:45:45] IT'S A HOAX, THAT THE IDEA THAT AI COULD HAVE EFFECTS THAT COULD
[02:45:48] KILL ALL HUMAN BEINGS? AND DO
[02:45:52] YOU HAVE ANY, INTENTION TO ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING ON THAT, IN
[02:45:54] THIS, IN THIS NEXT THREE WEEKS OR AFTER THE MIDTERMS?
[02:45:57] >> WELL, I THINK THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND
[02:45:59] THAT. THAT SUBJECT, UM, AND I
[02:46:02] WOULD SAY, I MEAN, THE FIRST, THE PREMISE OF YOUR FIRST
[02:46:06] QUESTION, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLY KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THAT. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
[02:46:10] HYPERBOLE AROUND, AROUND THIS ISSUE, BUT I DON'T THINK FOR A
[02:46:12] MINUTE THAT WE OUGHT TO CEDE
[02:46:15] THE, UM, FUTURE WHEN IT COMES TO
[02:46:18] AI, TO CHINA OR ANY OTHER ADVERSARY. I THINK WE NEED TO,
[02:46:21] TO LEAD IN THAT, IN THAT REALM
[02:46:24] AND MAKE SURE THAT AMERICANS ARE BENEFITING FROM WHAT I THINK ARE
[02:46:27] GOING TO BE SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT BENEFITS FROM AI. BUT
[02:46:31] I ALSO THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO MITIGATE AGAINST THE, UM, I
[02:46:34] WOULD SAY THE SORT OF ADVANCED,
[02:46:38] RISK SYSTEMS WHEN IT, WITH RESPECT TO AI, WHAT YOU WANT TO
[02:46:41] CALL THE FRONTIER MODELS. AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAD A BILL THAT PASSED IN THE
[02:46:45] COMMERCE COMMITTEE IN THE LAST
[02:46:46] SESSION OF CONGRESS IN 2024 ON
[02:46:50] AI. UM, WHAT I CHARACTERIZE AS A LIGHT TOUCH APPROACH, BUT IT
[02:46:53] DEALS WITH THIS VERY ISSUE. AND SO AT SOME POINT, MAYBE WE GET
[02:46:57] THAT TEED UP. RIGHT NOW THAT'S BEING BLOCKED BY DEMOCRATS, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH. BUT I DO THINK IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S
[02:47:01] GOING TO BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND. AND I THINK THERE SHOULD
[02:47:03] BE. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY
[02:47:06] IMPACTFUL, NOT ONLY TO, UM, OUR
[02:47:10] COUNTRY'S FUTURE, BUT FRANKLY, FOR THE WORLD. >> COXON SPENDING. THERE'S BEEN
[02:47:14] A BREAKDOWN IN THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS THIS YEAR. UH, WHAT IS YOUR
[02:47:17] PREFERENCE AFTER THE ELECTION? THE DEFENSE FUNDING, THE SUPPLEMENTAL, MOVED BY REGULAR
[02:47:21] ORDER, OR ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO DO A RECONCILIATION PACKAGE TO GET THAT DONE?
[02:47:25] >> WELL, PREFERABLY ALWAYS TO DO IT THROUGH REGULAR ORDER. I
[02:47:28] MEAN, I'M, I'M A, I'M AN ADVOCATE. UM, YOU KNOW, DEFENSE
[02:47:32] AUTHORIZATION BILL AT SOME POINT NEEDS TO BE A BIPARTISAN BILL.
[02:47:35] IT JUST DOES. AND I WOULD ARGUE THE SAME THING WITH RESPECT TO
[02:47:39] APPROPRIATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL SECURITY, THE BEST WAY
[02:47:41] TO DO IT IS UNDER REGULAR ORDER, THROUGH THE NORMAL
[02:47:44] APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, OR PERHAPS A SUPPLEMENTAL THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO GET BIPARTISAN
[02:47:48] SUPPORT, UH, ABSENT ANY KIND OF
[02:47:53] BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, THEN YES, RECONCILIATION IS ALWAYS AN
[02:47:55] OPTION THAT'S AVAILABLE. UM,
[02:47:58] BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT THE NEXT FEW
[02:48:01] WEEKS BRING. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, THE ELECTION WILL PROBABLY HAVE SOME BEARING ON WHAT THE
[02:48:05] WILLINGNESS IS ON THE PART OF THE DEMOCRATS TO, TO DO WHAT
[02:48:08] THEY'VE HISTORICALLY DONE WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS. AND THAT IS PUT SOME OF
[02:48:11] THEIR PARTISANSHIP ASIDE AND WORK IN THE COUNTRY'S INTERESTS.
[02:48:15] BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS UNTIL WE GET
[02:48:19] THROUGH THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THANK YOU ALL. >> I'M GOING TO SANDERS AI
[02:48:22] BRIEFING TOMORROW
[02:48:25] >> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
[02:48:28] NOW, AMERICANS ARE DEMANDING WE
[02:48:33] ACT ON AI, WHICH IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS. BUT TRUMP
[02:48:37] COULDN'T CARE LESS. TRUMP SAYS HE HAS THIS ISSUE COVERED. CAN
[02:48:40] YOU BELIEVE WHAT HE SAYS THIS TIME? HE SAID THE ONLY CONTROL
[02:48:44] OR GUARDRAILS THAT AI NEEDS IS A
[02:48:47] STRONG AND SMART, >> [APPLAUSE] >> HIGH IQ PRESIDENT. WELL,
[02:48:50] RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE DON'T HAVE ONE OF THOSE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
[02:48:53] JUST ON THIS ISSUE ALONE, ON AI
[02:48:56] ALONE, WE SEE HOW LOW HIS
[02:48:59] PERCEPTION AND IQ ARE. BUT IT'S
[02:49:03] ALSO ALWAYS WHAT TRUMP DOES.
[02:49:06] AMERICANS SCREAM OUT FOR HELP. TRUMP DISMISSES THEM OUT OF HAND
[02:49:10] AND SAYS, LEAVE IT TO ME, AND
[02:49:10] THEN DOES NOTHING FAMILIES ARE
[02:49:15] SAYING THEY'RE GETTING CRUSHED AT THE GAS PUMP, FOR INSTANCE,
[02:49:18] BECAUSE OF TRUMP'S WAR IN IRAN.
[02:49:21] THE PRESIDENT CALLS SOARING FUEL
[02:49:26] PRICES FAKE. WHAT PLANET IS HE ON? AMERICANS SAY THEY CAN'T AFFORD BASIC EXPENSES, AND TRUMP
[02:49:29] CALLS AFFORDABILITY A HOAX. WHEN
[02:49:32] DOES HE EVER BUY ANYTHING? AND
[02:49:34] NOW ON AI, AMERICANS ARE
[02:49:37] DEMANDING A PLAN. AND TRUMP'S
[02:49:39] CALLS IT A HOAX. WE KNOW
[02:49:41] NOTHING. NOTHING ABOUT THIS
[02:49:45] ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH TO AI SAFETY. AND THEY DISMANTLED WHAT
[02:49:48] WAS IN PLACE TO PROTECT AMERICANS. THAT'S GOING TO GO
[02:49:51] AS A DARK MOMENT IN HISTORY.
[02:49:54] THAT'S WHY I CALLED ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO IMMEDIATELY
[02:49:58] HOLD A CLASSIFIED, ALL SENATE
[02:50:01] BRIEFING. UH, ABOUT THE SEVERE
[02:50:03] RISKS THAT UNCHECKED AI POSES
[02:50:07] FOR OUR COUNTRY. TURN THOSE
[02:50:11] LIGHTS BACK ON.
[02:50:14] >> IN THE DARK ON AI. >> YES. THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS
[02:50:17] TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS DEMAND, BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO
[02:50:21] SOMETHING ON IT. WE DON'T KNOW
[02:50:25] WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES ARE DOING.
[02:50:28] AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL
[02:50:29] FEAR, TRUMP MAY BE SHOWING
[02:50:33] FAVORITISM. SOME COMPANY HE LIKES DOESN'T HAVE ANY, ANY RESTRICTIONS. ANOTHER COMPANY
[02:50:37] DOESN'T LIKE. HE PUTS ON
[02:50:40] RESTRICTIONS. WE NEED TO MAKE
[02:50:42] THIS ALL APPARENT TO THE SENATE,
[02:50:47] BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET THINGS DONE. ON THE ISSUE
[02:50:49] OF AI IS BIPARTISANSHIP, AND
[02:50:52] IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING THAT
[02:50:55] THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. I'M NOT JUST SPECULATING. THREE
[02:50:58] YEARS AGO, I CONVENED THE
[02:51:02] BIPARTISAN INSIGHT FORUMS TO MAP
[02:51:02] THE PATH FORWARD ON AI,
[02:51:06] DEVELOPING A BIPARTISAN ROADMAP,
[02:51:09] AND THEN SEVEN BILLS. WE HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THOSE BILLS. EVEN JOHNSON SAID HE
[02:51:13] MIGHT SUPPORT THEM, BUT THEN
[02:51:18] TRUMP, MUSK, AND SOME OF THE
[02:51:21] REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP JUST KILLED THEM. AND HERE WE ARE.
[02:51:25] NOW. WE COULD HAVE HAD SOME PROTECTIONS. IF TRUMP REFUSES TO
[02:51:29] ACT, CONGRESS MUST, ON THE
[02:51:33] EMAIL, ELECTION EMAIL IN. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, TRUMP HAS
[02:51:37] BEEN WORKING SYSTEMATICALLY TO
[02:51:40] SOW DOUBT ON THE ELECTION AND
[02:51:42] RIG THE RULES FOR THE MIDTERMS. WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING EVEN HARDER
[02:51:46] TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ELIGIBLE
[02:51:48] AMERICAN CAN HAVE THEIR VOICE
[02:51:50] HEARD. WELL, THE SUPREME COURT,
[02:51:54] IN A CANDIDLY SURPRISING BUT
[02:51:58] POSITIVE, A RARE POSITIVE FROM THEM, THE SUPREME COURT JUST
[02:52:02] DEALT TRUMP ANOTHER BLOW. HE TRIED TO TAKE OVER MAIL IN
[02:52:05] VOTING. WE SUED. WE SAID NF W
[02:52:09] TRUMP, YOU'RE NOT TAKING OVER
[02:52:12] PUBLIC MAIL IN VOTING. I WAS PROUDLY A PLAINTIFF IN THE CASE
[02:52:16] THAT THE COURT RULED ON LAST NIGHT. AND THE COURT SAW THE
[02:52:18] SCHEME FOR WHAT IT WAS, AND THAT
[02:52:23] IS AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL PLOY TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE
[02:52:25] POLLS. TRUMP KNOWS THE AMERICAN
[02:52:28] PEOPLE ARE ANGRY AT HIM. HE'S
[02:52:32] SCARED TO FACE THEM. THEY KNOW.
[02:52:33] HE KNOWS THAT THE AMERICAN
[02:52:36] PEOPLE KNOW THAT HE SENT COSTS SKYROCKETING. HIS CHAOS AND WARS
[02:52:40] HAVE MADE AMERICA LESS SAFE. HIS
[02:52:43] CORRUPTION MEANS BILLIONAIRES
[02:52:46] GET AHEAD OF AN EXPENSE OF THE
[02:52:50] AMERICAN FAMILY. ATTACKING MAIL IN VOTING IS NOT THE ONLY REVENUE THAT TRUMP IS SUING TO
[02:52:54] TRY AND CHEAT. TRUMP IS USING TO
[02:52:56] TRY AND GET US AHEAD. SO YESTERDAY, SENATOR PADILLA, WHO
[02:52:59] YOU'LL HEAR FROM IN A MINUTE,
[02:53:02] AND I RELEASED A BOMBSHELL WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT FROM A
[02:53:06] DHS EMPLOYEE, THE WHISTLEBLOWER
[02:53:09] EXPOSED HOW TRUMP IS DIRECTING AGENTS TO BREAK STATE LAWS.
[02:53:13] HE'S ASKING THEM TO LIE TO
[02:53:19] OBTAIN SENSITIVE VOTER INFORMATION AND PRODUCE A BASELESS CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD.
[02:53:21] THE WHISTLEBLOWER REPORTS THAT INNOCENT AMERICAN CITIZENS HAVE
[02:53:25] BEEN CAUGHT UP IN HIS ILLEGAL EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HIS ELECTION
[02:53:29] LIES, AND THAT'S HOW DESPERATE TRUMP IS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO
[02:53:32] STAND FOR THAT, EITHER. IN AMERICA, VOTERS PICK THE
[02:53:36] PRESIDENT. THE PRESIDENT WON'T PICK THE VOTERS. AND IN
[02:53:40] NOVEMBER, TRUMP WILL LEARN JUST
[02:53:42] THAT. SENATOR PADILLA.
[02:53:50] >> THANK YOU, MR. LEADER. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
[02:53:54] TODAY. LOOK, WE'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THE LENGTHS TO WHICH
[02:53:57] DONALD TRUMP WILL GO TO TRY TO
[02:54:01] INTERFERE WITH ELECTIONS, WHEN
[02:54:03] HE KNOWS HE'S GOING TO LOSE OR
[02:54:05] FACE ACCOUNTABILITY. AND NOW,
[02:54:07] THANKS TO A WHISTLEBLOWER'S
[02:54:11] INTEGRITY AND COURAGE, WE HAVE
[02:54:12] FURTHER INSIGHT INTO JUST
[02:54:17] EXACTLY WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING, AMONG
[02:54:18] OTHER TACTICS. THEY'RE ORDERING
[02:54:23] FEDERAL OFFICERS TO BREAK PRIVACY LAWS. THOUSANDS AND
[02:54:26] THOUSANDS OF TIMES TO TRY TO OBTAIN THE SENSITIVE PERSONAL
[02:54:29] VOTER INFORMATION THAT HE'S BEEN TRYING TO GET HIS HANDS ON FOR A
[02:54:32] DECADE NOW. BUT WHEN HE FAILS TO
[02:54:38] BE ABLE TO GET IN THE FRONT
[02:54:40] DOOR, HE TRIES TO FIND A BACK DOOR ENTRANCE. I'LL REMIND
[02:54:43] EVERYBODY HE TRIED THIS IN HIS FIRST TERM, SETTING UP A SHAM
[02:54:47] COMMISSION TO EXPOSE THE MASSIVE
[02:54:50] VOTER FRAUD THAT HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR TEN YEARS. AND
[02:54:54] THEY FAILED. NO EVIDENCE, NO
[02:54:57] PROOF. THIS TIME. HE'S GONE
[02:54:59] ABOUT IT BY WEAPONIZING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE'VE SEEN
[02:55:02] WHAT HE'S DONE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HERE.
[02:55:06] WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
[02:55:06] DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
[02:55:11] >> [APPLAUSE]
[02:55:12] >> A THE DEPARTMENT IS USING WHAT THEY CALL SUPPLEMENTAL
[02:55:16] MAGIC. THIS DATA THAT WHEN
[02:55:19] AGENTS QUESTION WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND DO THEY HAVE THE
[02:55:21] AUTHORITY TO USE IT IN THIS WAY?
[02:55:24] THEY'RE TOLD TO NOT WORRY. THEY
[02:55:27] ARE CREATING FILES AND LISTS OF
[02:55:32] SO-CALLED UNLAWFUL VOTERS BASED ON THIS DATA. THAT, AGAIN, THE
[02:55:35] DEPARTMENT ITSELF HAS
[02:55:38] ACKNOWLEDGED IS UNRELIABLE. AND
[02:55:42] CONTAINS MANY UNITED STATES
[02:55:45] CITIZENS. AGENTS ARE TOLD TO CONDUCT 12 MINUTES
[02:55:49] INVESTIGATIONS. >> UH, CRUZ AND MYSELF BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK UP TO FIVE MINUTES EACH PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED ROLL CALL VOTE.
[02:55:53] >> WITHOUT A. IS THERE AN
[02:55:56] OBJECTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
[02:55:58] THERE'S A LOT TO SAY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT WE WILL BE
[02:56:01] HAVING A VOTE SOON TO MOVE, TO PROCEED TO THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[02:56:05] SPORTS ACT, A BILL THAT DOES
[02:56:08] DESERVE THE ATTENTION OF THIS INSTITUTION. UH, THERE'S LOTS OF
[02:56:11] THINGS I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON. I DIDN'T NECESSARILY CALL THE SHOT THAT WE WERE HAVING THIS
[02:56:15] VOTE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, IT IS
[02:56:18] DEFINITELY WORTH PROCEEDING TO THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING
[02:56:20] COLLEGE SPORTS IS ABOUT US
[02:56:22] WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN BASIS WITH A VARIETY OF MEMBERS ON
[02:56:26] BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND
[02:56:27] WORKING WITH UNIVERSITIES ACROSS
[02:56:30] THE UNITED STATES. AND EVERY CONFERENCE, AND THOUSANDS OF
[02:56:34] ATHLETES WHO WANT TO HAVE A BETTER SYSTEM. I THINK, MR.
[02:56:37] PRESIDENT, THE BEST THING I CAN
[02:56:41] DO IS TO READ FROM UH, BUSINESS SPORTS ARTICLE BY A KEY
[02:56:45] INDIVIDUAL. AND SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT. THIS IS LAMELL
[02:56:49] MCMORRIS, A GRADUATE OF MOREHOUSE COLLEGE. AND FOR TWO
[02:56:53] DECADES WORKED AT THE INTERSECTION OF SPORTS AND
[02:56:55] POLITICS, ENTERTAINMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND BUSINESS. HE SERVES AS THE VICE
[02:56:59] CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, A
[02:57:03] BOARD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK, AND A FORMER
[02:57:06] BOARD MEMBER OF THE NAACP. BUT
[02:57:10] THESE VIEWS ARE THAT HE'S EXPRESSING HERE. THAT WAS
[02:57:14] PUBLISHED YESTERDAY, ARE HIS OWN. SO, QUOTING FROM HIM IN HIS
[02:57:15] LETTER, COLLEGE SPORTS ARE IN A
[02:57:19] FREE FALL, AND EVERYONE INSIDE
[02:57:20] THE GAME KNOWS IT. UNIVERSITIES
[02:57:24] ARE BORROWING AND SPENDING TENS
[02:57:26] OF MILLIONS JUST TO KEEP UP WITH NON-REVENUE WOMEN AND OLYMPIC
[02:57:29] SPORTS ARE CUT TO FEED FOOTBALL
[02:57:32] AND MEN'S BASKETBALL COURTS, NOT
[02:57:37] CAMPUSES, INCREASINGLY DECIDE WHO PLAYS AND WHERE. SMALLER
[02:57:41] SCHOOLS HAVE BECOME UNPAID DEVELOPMENT LEAGUES FOR THE GIANTS. I HAVE SPENT MY WHOLE
[02:57:45] CAREER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLE THAT RARELY AGREE. AS THE
[02:57:49] FOUNDER OF A SPORTS AGENCY
[02:57:52] REPRESENTING ATHLETES, INCLUDING NUMBER ONE OVERALL DRAFT PICK
[02:57:54] AND A GRADUATE OF MOREHOUSE
[02:57:56] COLLEGE WHO LOVES OUR HISTORIC BLACK INSTITUTIONS. FROM BOTH
[02:58:00] CHAIRS, I CAN TELL YOU, THE
[02:58:04] STATUS QUO IS UNSUSTAINABLE, AND THE COLLEGE PROTECT COLLEGE
[02:58:08] SPORTS ACT IS THE BEST CHANCE WE
[02:58:10] HAVE TO FIX IT. LET ME SAY
[02:58:13] SOMETHING. MY FORMER COLLEAGUES WILL NOT LIKE THE AGENT WORLD
[02:58:16] AROUND THESE YOUNG ATHLETES.
[02:58:19] LARGELY UNREGULATED. TOO MUCH OF IT PREYS ON THE VERY YOUNG KIDS
[02:58:23] IT CLAIMS TO SERVE IN THE PROS.
[02:58:27] AGENTS ARE CAPPED AROUND 5% IN COLLEGE. SOME AGENTS ARE TAKING
[02:58:31] 20 TO 25% OF AN ATHLETE'S NIL
[02:58:34] DEAL OTHERS PUSH PLAYERS INTO
[02:58:37] THE TRANSFER PORTAL, CHASING AN OFFER THAT NEVER COMES, AND MORE
[02:58:41] THAN 40% OF THE TRANSFERS EACH
[02:58:42] YEAR LOSING THEIR SCHOLARSHIP AND SUPPORT. I KNOW THIS IS
[02:58:46] BUSINESS. IT IS NOT BUILT AROUND
[02:58:49] THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENT ATHLETES. AND THIS BILL FINALLY
[02:58:53] BRINGS ORDER TO IT. THIS
[02:58:56] LEGISLATION SETS NATIONAL RULES.
[02:58:58] EVERYONE HAS TO PLAY BY. IT PROTECTS OLYMPIC AND NON-REVENUE
[02:59:01] SPORTS. IT INVESTS IN WOMEN'S
[02:59:04] ATHLETICS. IT STRENGTHENS HEALTH
[02:59:07] AND SAFETY. IT'S SAFEGUARD
[02:59:09] SCHOLARSHIPS, AND IT CREATES REAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE
[02:59:12] SCHOOLS AND ATHLETES ALIKE. AND IT DIRECTS NEARLY $1 BILLION
[02:59:15] OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS TO HBCUS
[02:59:19] IN HBCUS, SPORTS, MEDIA, JOURNALISM, AND BROADBAND. IT IS
[02:59:23] WHY THE UNITED COLLEGE FUND, THE
[02:59:26] THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND, ALONG WITH MORE THAN 300 SCHOOLS
[02:59:30] IN EVERY MAJOR CONFERENCE, SUPPORTED AT A PLACE LIKE
[02:59:34] MOREHOUSE, HOME TO SPORTS
[02:59:37] JOURNALISM PROGRAM FOUNDED WITH SPIKE LEE. THE MONEY IS
[02:59:41] GENERATIONAL. I DO NOT DISMISS
[02:59:42] THE PEOPLE OPPOSING THIS BILL.
[02:59:45] SEVERAL ARE FRIENDS AND ALLIES.
[02:59:48] THE NAACP AND THE CONGRESSIONAL
[02:59:50] BLACK CAUCUS HAD TRIED TO FIGHT
[02:59:53] OVER BLACK VOTING POWER. LET ME
[02:59:56] BE CLEAR VOTING RIGHTS ARE SACRED, AND I WILL STAND IN THAT
[03:00:00] FIGHT WITH ANYONE. BUT I CANNOT
[03:00:04] AGREE THAT THE WAY TO WAGE IT IS
[03:00:06] TO HOLD THOUSANDS OF STUDENT
[03:00:08] ATHLETES, SCHOLARSHIPS, HEALTH
[03:00:11] PROTECTIONS, AND FUTURE HOSTAGES TO A SUPREME COURT DECISION THEY
[03:00:14] DID NOT MAKE. LET US FIGHT FOR
[03:00:16] VOTING RIGHTS WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE, AND LET'S NOT MAKE THESE
[03:00:19] YOUNG PEOPLE THE COLLATERAL. THE
[03:00:25] OTHER OBJECTION, PRESSED BY ORGANIZED LABOR, IS THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SHOULD FIX
[03:00:29] ALL THIS. I WISH IT WERE THAT
[03:00:32] SIMPLE. MORE THAN 80% OF DIVISION ONE SCHOOLS ARE PUBLIC
[03:00:36] INSTITUTIONS, AND THEIR ATHLETES SHOULD BE STATE EMPLOYEES
[03:00:39] OUTSIDE OF THE REACH OF ANY
[03:00:41] FEDERAL LAW. AND IN MANY STATES,
[03:00:43] BARRED FROM BARGAINING AT ALL. A
[03:00:45] NATIONAL BARGAINING SYSTEM WOULD REQUIRE OPENING THE NEW DEAL ERA
[03:00:49] STATE STATE STATUTE. THIS
[03:00:51] CONGRESS IS NOT GOING TO TOUCH. AND MEANWHILE, THE PROTECTIONS
[03:00:54] IN THIS BILL ARE REAL, AND THEY
[03:00:57] ARE AVAILABLE NOW IS THIS BILL
[03:01:01] PERFECT? NO. I WISH IT WOULD STILL PRESS THE HOUSE FOR
[03:01:04] FUNDING FOR FULL FUNDING OF HBCU INVESTMENT, NOT ON A PROMISE ON
[03:01:08] PAPER, BUT I WILL NOT LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE
[03:01:12] ESSENTIAL. THIS IS THE LAST, BEST CHANCE TO SAVE COLLEGE
[03:01:15] SPORTS AND PUT HBCUS AT THE
[03:01:18] TABLE WHERE THE FUTURE GETS
[03:01:20] DECIDED. I HAVE NEGOTIATED
[03:01:23] AGAINST INSTITUTIONS AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY OVERLOOK, FROM
[03:01:27] BOTH CHAIRS. THE ANSWER IS THE SAME. PASS THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[03:01:31] SPORTS ACT IN THE SENATE THIS FALL, AND IN THE HOUSE RIGHT
[03:01:34] BEHIND IT. STUDENT ATHLETES NEED
[03:01:37] PROTECTIONS. UNIVERSITIES NEED A
[03:01:39] SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM, AND OUR
[03:01:42] HBCUS DESERVE THIS INVESTMENT.
[03:01:45] THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW. MR.
[03:01:49] PRESIDENT, THIS LETTER THAT I
[03:01:50] JUST WROTE FROM READ FROM LAMELL MCMORRIS, I THINK, IS A
[03:01:54] REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE ISSUES COMBINED IN THIS LEGISLATION. I
[03:01:57] CAN JUST TELL YOU THAT THE
[03:02:00] UNSEEN, UNSUSTAINABLE, 300%
[03:02:05] INCREASE IN RECRUITING STUDENT ATHLETES WITHOUT THE PROPER
[03:02:08] RULES AND REGULATION, ARE BANKRUPTING OUR HIGHER EDUCATION
[03:02:12] SYSTEM. TAXPAYERS ARE ASKED TO
[03:02:13] FOOT THE BILL IN HIGHER TUITION FEES THAT STUDENTS PAY, WHO ARE
[03:02:17] NOT EVEN ATHLETES. THEY'RE GOING
[03:02:20] TO STATE LEGISLATURES AND ASKING FOR BAILOUTS, AND THEY ARE USING
[03:02:23] UNIVERSITY FUNDS THAT SHOULD GO
[03:02:24] TO RESEARCH AND PUTTING THEM
[03:02:28] INSTEAD INTO WHAT IS AN ARMS
[03:02:30] RACE. THIS BILL BRINGS ORDER TO
[03:02:33] THIS. IT HELPS WOMEN IN OLYMPIC SPORTS, AND IT SETS UP A
[03:02:35] COMMISSION TO LOOK AT THE REAL
[03:02:38] FUTURE, WHICH I THINK SHOULD INCLUDE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
[03:02:42] FOR WHAT COLLEGE SPORTS CAN BE ORGANIZED IN IN THE FUTURE. BUT
[03:02:44] NONE OF THAT CAN HAPPEN. AND THE
[03:02:48] 500,000 ATHLETES THAT ARE AT RISK, BECAUSE THOUSANDS OF THEM
[03:02:52] HAVE ALREADY BEEN CUT FROM THE SYSTEM, ARE JUST GOING TO
[03:02:54] CONTINUE TO SEE FAILURE. THE
[03:02:57] OTHER NIGHT, I TALKED TO THE PAC 12 COMMISSIONER, WHO SAID, I
[03:03:01] JUST MET WITH ALL THE STUDENT
[03:03:04] ATHLETES IN THE PAC 12. SHE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE NUMBER
[03:03:07] ONE QUESTION I GOT FROM THOSE
[03:03:09] STUDENT ATHLETES WAS SAID, KNOW WHAT? THEY WANTED TO KNOW, WHETHER THEIR SPORT WAS STILL
[03:03:13] GOING TO BE THERE. MR. PRESIDENT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A
[03:03:17] MOMENT WHEN THE UNITED STATES IS STANDING AT THE OLYMPICS, AND
[03:03:21] WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE WINNING GOLD OR SILVER OR BRONZE,
[03:03:25] BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE ATHLETES, BECAUSE THE
[03:03:28] COLLEGIATE SYSTEM WILL HAVE COLLAPSED AND PEOPLE WON'T BE
[03:03:32] FUNDING THEM, BECAUSE THEY WILL BE IN AN ARMS RACE OVER
[03:03:35] FOOTBALL. LET'S BRING SOME
[03:03:37] SANITY. RECOGNIZE THAT ATHLETES
[03:03:40] DO DESERVE REVENUE SHARING, AND
[03:03:42] THAT THIS BILL WILL PUT THAT
[03:03:45] INTO LAW FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE
[03:03:46] FIRST TIME ATHLETES WILL GET A
[03:03:49] FEDERAL PREEMPTION ON NIL RIGHTS
[03:03:53] AND REVENUE SHARING. THAT WILL
[03:03:54] BE HISTORIC. LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
[03:03:58] I THANK THE PRESIDENT. I YIELD
[03:04:01] THE FLOOR.
[03:04:05] >> THE SENATOR FROM TEXAS. >> TODAY, THE SENATE HAS AN
[03:04:08] OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT
[03:04:09] DOESN'T HAPPEN NEARLY ENOUGH IN
[03:04:12] WASHINGTON. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAN COME TOGETHER,
[03:04:16] SOLVE A REAL PROBLEM, AND PROTECT AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION
[03:04:20] THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LOVE.
[03:04:23] COLLEGE SPORTS TODAY ARE IN
[03:04:24] CRISIS FOR YEARS, COURT
[03:04:28] DECISIONS, LITIGATION, CONFLICTING STATE LAWS,
[03:04:31] UNLIMITED TRANSFERS, ELIGIBILITY
[03:04:34] ISSUES, AND INCONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT HAVE CHIPPED AWAY AT
[03:04:38] THE FOUNDATION OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS. THE RESULT IS WHAT
[03:04:41] WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW. THE
[03:04:44] WILD WEST, THE RULES CHANGE FROM STATE TO STATE COURT TO COURT
[03:04:47] AND SEASON TO SEASON. ATHLETES
[03:04:50] DON'T KNOW WHAT RULES WILL GOVERN THEM. COACHES DON'T KNOW
[03:04:54] WHAT ROSTERS WILL LOOK LIKE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT, AND
[03:04:57] SCHOOLS DON'T KNOW WHAT RULES
[03:04:58] THEY CAN LEGALLY ENFORCE. AND FANS ARE WATCHING. TRADITIONS
[03:05:02] AND RIVALRIES DISAPPEAR. TRADITIONS AND RIVALRIES THAT
[03:05:06] HAVE EXISTED FOR GENERATIONS.
[03:05:09] DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION.
[03:05:13] THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT IS A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION
[03:05:17] DESIGNED TO BRING ORDER TO THAT
[03:05:19] CHAOS. AND LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL DOES. IT PROTECTS
[03:05:23] THE RIGHTS OF STUDENT ATHLETES
[03:05:25] TO EARN MONEY FROM THEIR NAME,
[03:05:28] IMAGE, AND LIKENESS. IT
[03:05:31] ESTABLISHES CLEAR, ENFORCEABLE
[03:05:32] RULES GOVERNING ELIGIBILITY AND
[03:05:35] TRANSFERS. IT PROVIDES IMPORTANT
[03:05:39] PROTECTIONS FOR ATHLETES, AND IT
[03:05:43] PROTECTS SCHOLARSHIPS. IT PROTECTS WOMEN'S SPORTS AND
[03:05:46] OLYMPIC SPORTS FROM BEING SACRIFICED IN AN UNCHECKED
[03:05:50] SPENDING ARMS RACE. IT PROTECTS
[03:05:53] RIVALRIES AND TRADITIONS THAT
[03:05:56] MAKE COLLEGE SPORTS UNLIKE
[03:06:01] ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD, AND IT GIVES THE LIMITED LEGAL
[03:06:02] CERTAINTY NEEDED TO ACTUALLY ENFORCE THE RULES. THE BILL
[03:06:05] DOESN'T TURN BACK THE.
[03:06:08] >> FLOCK. THE NIL ERA IS HERE,
[03:06:10] AND STUDENT ATHLETES DESERVE THE
[03:06:13] OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM
[03:06:15] THEIR TALENT AND HARD WORK. BUT
[03:06:18] RIGHTS WITHOUT RULES PRODUCE CHAOS, AND HAVING RULES MEAN
[03:06:22] VERY LITTLE. IF EVERY ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE THEM IMMEDIATELY ENDS UP
[03:06:25] IN COURT. THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION. BEFORE THE SENATE
[03:06:29] TODAY. DO WE WANT COLLEGE SPORTS
[03:06:32] TO HAVE CLEAR NATIONAL
[03:06:34] ENFORCEABLE RULES? OR DO WE WANT
[03:06:36] ANOTHER DECADE OF LAWSUITS, CONFLICTING STATE LAWS, BIDDING
[03:06:40] WARS, ROSTER CHAOS AND
[03:06:43] UNCERTAINTY, THE STATUS QUO IS NOT WORKING. AND THE PEOPLE WHO
[03:06:47] WILL ULTIMATELY PAY THE PRICE IF CONGRESS FAILS TO ACT, AREN'T
[03:06:50] THE HIGHLY PAID COACHES OR THE
[03:06:52] CONFERENCE COMMISSIONERS. THEY
[03:06:55] ARE THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE SPORTS DON'T GENERATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
[03:06:59] TELEVISION REVENUE. THEY ARE THE SWIMMERS AND THE WRESTLERS AND
[03:07:03] THE GYMNASTS, AND THE ROWERS, AND THE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS, AND THE TRACK ATHLETES, AND THE
[03:07:06] THOUSANDS OF OTHER STUDENT
[03:07:09] ATHLETES WHOSE OPPORTUNITIES
[03:07:12] DEPEND UPON A HEALTHY COLLEGE ATHLETIC SYSTEM. THEY ARE THE
[03:07:15] HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES HOPING TO GET THAT SCHOLARSHIP THAT WILL
[03:07:18] GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO
[03:07:21] EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE. AND
[03:07:23] THEY'RE THE FANS KIDS AND
[03:07:28] GRANDKIDS TO INHERIT THE
[03:07:28] RIVALRIES THEY GREW UP LOVING.
[03:07:32] THIS LEGISLATION ISN'T PERFECT.
[03:07:35] NO BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION IS. SENATOR CANTWELL AND I BOTH
[03:07:38] COMPROMISED TO GET HERE, BUT
[03:07:40] SENATOR CANTWELL AND I, ALONG WITH THE MANY OTHER SENATORS
[03:07:44] FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE,
[03:07:46] HAVE SPENT MONTHS LISTENING TO STUDENT ATHLETES, TO COACHES, TO
[03:07:50] UNIVERSITIES, TO CONFERENCES, TO OLYMPIC LEADERS, TO PROFESSIONAL
[03:07:54] SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND TO
[03:07:57] FANS. WE FOUND COMMON GROUND.
[03:07:59] AND NOW IT IS TIME TO ACT. WHEN
[03:08:03] THIS BILL CAME BEFORE THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE IN JUNE, I
[03:08:07] SAID WE WERE IN FOURTH DOWN TERRITORY. WELL, MR. PRESIDENT,
[03:08:10] THE BALL IS NOW ON THE SENATE FLOOR. THERE'S NO MORE TIME TO
[03:08:14] PUNT. WE CAN SIT ON THE SIDELINES AND WATCH COLLEGE
[03:08:18] SPORTS CONTINUE TO UNRAVEL, OR
[03:08:20] WE CAN STEP ONTO THE FIELD AND
[03:08:24] LEAD. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TO
[03:08:26] VOTE YES ON THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[03:08:29] SPORTS ACT. LISTEN TO THE 29
[03:08:32] CONFERENCES THAT HAVE ENDORSED THIS BILL. LISTEN TO THE MORE
[03:08:34] THAN 370 UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE
[03:08:37] ENDORSED THIS BILL. LISTEN TO
[03:08:40] THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE
[03:08:43] BEGGING THE SENATE TO PASS THIS BILL. LISTEN TO THE UNITED
[03:08:47] COLLEGE FUND THAT HAS ENDORSED THIS BILL. LISTEN TO THE
[03:08:51] THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIP FUND THAT HAS ENDORSED THIS
[03:08:54] BILL. THIS BILL HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE NFL, OF THE NBA, OF MAJOR
[03:08:57] LEAGUE BASEBALL, OF THE NATIONAL
[03:09:00] HOCKEY LEAGUE. IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE NBA PLAYERS
[03:09:03] ASSOCIATION AND THE NFL PLAYERS
[03:09:05] ASSOCIATION. IT HAS THE
[03:09:07] ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF THE U.S.
[03:09:09] OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC
[03:09:12] COMMITTEE. TODAY IS A CHANCE FOR
[03:09:14] US TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THE
[03:09:17] HALF MILLION COLLEGE ATHLETES WHO ARE COMPETING RIGHT NOW,
[03:09:21] BECAUSE IF THE SENATE DOESN'T
[03:09:23] ACT, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL SEE THEIR
[03:09:27] ROSTER SLOTS GO AWAY, AND THEIR
[03:09:29] SCHOLARSHIPS GO AWAY. LET'S FIGHT FOR THE STUDENTS TO
[03:09:33] PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS, TO PROTECT
[03:09:35] THEIR FUTURE. LET'S COME
[03:09:37] TOGETHER AND DEMONSTRATE THAT
[03:09:41] THE SENATE REPUBLICANS AND
[03:09:42] DEMOCRATS WORKING TOGETHER, CAN LEAD AND PROTECT AN INSTITUTION
[03:09:46] THAT IS UNIQUE AND VALUABLE, THAT IS COLLEGE SPORTS IN
[03:09:49] AMERICA. THANK YOU, MR.
[03:09:53] PRESIDENT.
[03:09:56] >> THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE. >> CLOTURE MOTION. WE, THE
[03:10:00] UNDERSIGNED SENATORS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 22 OF THE STANDING RULES
[03:10:04] OF THE SENATE, DO HEREBY MOVE TO BRING TO A CLOSE DEBATE ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR
[03:10:08] NUMBER 449 S 4668. A BILL TO
[03:10:11] PROTECT THE NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS RIGHTS OF AND PROVIDE
[03:10:15] PROTECTIONS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AND TO PROMOTE FAIR COMPETITION
[03:10:19] AMONG INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. SIGNED
[03:10:22] BY 17 SENATORS. >> UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE MANDATORY QUORUM CALL UNDER RULE
[03:10:26] 22 HAS BEEN WAIVED. THE QUESTION IS, IS IT THE SENSE OF THE
[03:10:28] SENATE THAT DEBATE ON THE MOTION
[03:10:30] TO PROCEED TO S 4668, A BILL TO
[03:10:35] PROTECT THE NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF RIGHTS OF AND
[03:10:38] PROVIDING PROTECTIONS FOR
[03:10:39] STUDENT ATHLETES AND TO PROMOTE FAIR COMPETITION AMONG
[03:10:43] INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, SHALL BE BROUGHT TO A CLOSE. THE YEAS AND NAYS
[03:10:46] ARE MANDATORY UNDER THE RULE. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. >> MISS ALSOBROOKS, MR.
[03:10:50] ARMSTRONG, MISS BALDWIN, MR.
[03:10:53] BANKS, MR. BARRASSO, MR.. BENNET. MRS.. BLACKBURN, MR..
[03:10:57] BLUMENTHAL. MISS. BLUNT ROCHESTER. MR.. BOOKER, MR..
[03:11:00] BOOZMAN. MRS.. BRITT. >> I.
[03:11:04] >> AND SENATE LAWMAKERS NOW VOTING ON WHETHER TO ADVANCE A
[03:11:07] BIPARTISAN STUDENT ATHLETES
[03:11:10] COMPENSATION BILL, COAUTHORED BY COMMERCE COMMITTEE CHAIR TED
[03:11:13] CRUZ AND RANKING DEMOCRAT MARIA CANTWELL. THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[03:11:17] SPORTS ACT SEEKS TO SET STANDARDS FOR PAYING STUDENT ATHLETES FOR RIGHTS TO THEIR
[03:11:21] NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS. 60 VOTES ARE NEEDED TO ADVANCE THE
[03:11:24] BILL. EARLIER TODAY, THE SENATE FAILED TO ADVANCE A CRYPTO
[03:11:27] DIGITAL ASSETS REGULATION BILL.
[03:11:30] THIS IS LIVE, GAVEL TO GAVEL
[03:11:33] SENATE COVERAGE HERE ON C-SPAN. TWO.
[03:11:37] >> MR. CORNYN. >> AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND
[03:11:39] WELCOME. UH, WE ARE HERE AT AN
[03:11:42] EXCITING TIME. WE ARE, I
[03:11:44] BELIEVE, ON THE CUSP OF PASSING
[03:11:49] HISTORIC LEGISLATION, BIPARTISAN
[03:11:52] LEGISLATION TO PROTECT, TO SAVE
[03:11:55] AND PRESERVE COLLEGE SPORTS,
[03:11:56] COLLEGE SPORTS IN AMERICA IS AN
[03:12:00] INCREDIBLE INSTITUTION. THERE IS
[03:12:02] NO OTHER COUNTRY ON PLANET EARTH
[03:12:04] THAT HAS ANYTHING REMOTELY LIKE THE INSTITUTION THAT IS COLLEGE
[03:12:08] SPORTS. IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, THERE
[03:12:10] ARE ROUGHLY 500,000 COLLEGIATE
[03:12:14] ATHLETES ALL ACROSS AMERICA, AND
[03:12:18] SPORTS IS SOMETHING THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE
[03:12:21] SCREAMING AND YELLING AT EACH OTHER, ABOUT A MILLION DIFFERENT
[03:12:24] TOPICS. WE CAN COME TOGETHER, WE CAN ROOT FOR OUR TEAMS. WE CAN
[03:12:27] ROOT FOR OUR ALMA MATER. WE CAN
[03:12:31] STAND TOGETHER AND CHEER. EVEN
[03:12:36] MORE IMPORTANTLY, COLLEGE ATHLETICS HAS BEEN AN AVENUE FOR
[03:12:40] OPPORTUNITY FOR MILLIONS OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. MILLIONS OF
[03:12:42] YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, MANY OF
[03:12:46] WHOM WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE
[03:12:47] HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A
[03:12:50] COLLEGE EDUCATION. AND RIGHT NOW, THE CHAOS WE HAVE IN
[03:12:54] COLLEGE SPORTS THREATENS THAT ALL. IT THREATENS THE VIABILITY
[03:12:57] OF MANY COLLEGE ATHLETIC
[03:13:00] PROGRAMS. IT THREATENS THE ROSTER, SLOTS AND SCHOLARSHIP
[03:13:04] POSITIONS OF HUNDREDS OF
[03:13:07] THOUSANDS OF STUDENT ATHLETES.
[03:13:08] IT THREATENS WOMEN'S SPORTS. IT
[03:13:12] THREATENS OLYMPIC SPORTS. IF CONGRESS DOES NOT ACT. ALL OF
[03:13:16] THAT IS IN JEOPARDY OF GOING
[03:13:18] AWAY. SOME HAVE ASKED, WHY SHOULD CONGRESS GET IN THE
[03:13:22] MIDDLE OF THIS? THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE BECAUSE CONGRESS SCREWED
[03:13:24] IT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT HAS
[03:13:27] BEEN THE FEDERAL ANTITRUST LAWS
[03:13:30] APPLIED IN LITIGATION, AFTER LITIGATION, AFTER LITIGATION
[03:13:33] THAT HAVE HAVE HAD THE EFFECT OF
[03:13:35] TEARING DOWN ESSENTIALLY ALL THE RULES. SO RIGHT NOW, IT IS THE
[03:13:39] WILD WEST, THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[03:13:42] SPORTS ACT IS BIPARTISAN
[03:13:45] LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO BRING
[03:13:48] ORDER TO THE CHAOS DESIGNED TO
[03:13:50] PUT SIMPLE, COMMON SENSE RULES
[03:13:53] IN PLACE SO THAT COLLEGE SPORTS
[03:13:55] REMAIN STRONG AND VIBRANT. FOR
[03:13:58] DECADES TO COME. RIGHT NOW, THE
[03:14:04] TRANSFER PORTAL IS UNLIMITED, AND YOU SEE STUDENT ATHLETES
[03:14:06] TRANSFERRING THREE, FOUR, FIVE
[03:14:10] TIMES. THAT MEANS THE TIES TO THE SCHOOL, THE TIES TO THE
[03:14:13] FANS, THE TIES TO THE PROGRAMS
[03:14:14] ARE ALL WEAKENED. BUT IT ALSO
[03:14:18] MEANS EVERY STUDENT THAT TRANSFERS MULTIPLE TIMES, THAT
[03:14:21] STUDENT IS MUCH LESS LIKELY TO GET A DEGREE, MUCH LESS LIKELY
[03:14:24] TO GET AN EDUCATION, MUCH LESS
[03:14:25] LIKELY TO GET THE ENORMOUS
[03:14:29] BENEFITS THAT YOU GET FROM
[03:14:30] COMPETING IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS.
[03:14:33] THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT
[03:14:36] PROVIDES A COMMON SENSE RULE THAT EVERY ATHLETE IS ENTITLED
[03:14:40] TO. ONE FREE TRANSFER. AFTER
[03:14:42] THAT, YOU CAN HAVE A TRANSFER IN NARROW, SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCES.
[03:14:46] IF YOUR COACH LEAVES. IF YOUR
[03:14:50] PROGRAM IS CANCELED, OR IF YOU'RE THE VICTIM OF SEXUAL
[03:14:54] ASSAULT OR SEXUAL HARASSMENT. OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU TRANSFER A SECOND TIME, YOU HAVE TO SIT
[03:14:57] OUT FOR A YEAR. YOU HAVE TO REDSHIRT. THAT'S THE WAY THE
[03:15:01] RULE USED TO BE TO BRING SOME
[03:15:03] ORDER AND STABILITY TO THE
[03:15:06] SYSTEM. LIKEWISE, WE HAVE SEEN IN LITIGATION IN THE PAST FEW
[03:15:09] DAYS, THE PHENOMENON OF PRO
[03:15:11] PLAYERS COMING BACK TO COLLEGE
[03:15:13] SPORTS, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE ANY
[03:15:16] SENSE. THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[03:15:19] SPORTS ACT SETS THE STANDARD THAT EVERY ATHLETE IS ENTITLED
[03:15:22] TO. FIVE YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY
[03:15:23] WITH A HARD CAP AT AGE 24. SO
[03:15:27] YOU HAVE ACTUAL COLLEGE ATHLETES COMPETING AGAINST COLLEGE
[03:15:31] ATHLETES. THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT PROTECTS THE RIGHTS
[03:15:34] OF STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN
[03:15:37] REVENUE SHARING, TO RECEIVE
[03:15:39] GENUINE NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS COMPENSATION. I THINK
[03:15:42] IT'S A MUCH MORE FAIR SYSTEM
[03:15:46] THAT ATHLETES ARE ENTITLED TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR,
[03:15:50] BUT IT ALSO CRACKS DOWN ON FAKE
[03:15:52] NIL. IT CRACKS DOWN ON A BOOSTER
[03:15:54] IN A BACK ALLEY WITH A BAG OF
[03:15:57] CASH, AND IT ENSURES THE SYSTEM CAN REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND
[03:16:01] VIBRANT. I WILL SAY WE HAVE AN
[03:16:05] INCREDIBLY DIVERSE COALITION
[03:16:06] THAT HAS COME BEHIND THIS BILL.
[03:16:09] 24 CONFERENCES HAVE ENDORSED
[03:16:12] THIS BILL. THE NBA, THE NFL,
[03:16:16] MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, NATIONAL
[03:16:17] HOCKEY OF ALL ENDORSED THIS
[03:16:20] BILL. THE NBA PLAYERS ASSOCIATION AND THE NFL PLAYERS
[03:16:24] ASSOCIATION HAVE ENDORSED THIS
[03:16:25] BILL. THE U.S. OLYMPIC AND
[03:16:29] PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE HAS
[03:16:31] ENDORSED THIS BILL. WE HAVE FOUR
[03:16:35] REPUBLICAN SPONSORS FOUR DEMOCRAT SPONSORS. WHEN WE VOTED
[03:16:38] ON THIS IN THE COMMERCE
[03:16:39] COMMITTEE, THE VOTE WAS 19 TO 9.
[03:16:43] MORE THAN 70% OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE VOTED FOR
[03:16:45] IT. A BIG BIPARTISAN VOTE. WE'RE
[03:16:48] NOW GOING TO SEE A VOTE ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE. THAT VOTE
[03:16:51] WILL EITHER BE THIS WEEK OR NEXT
[03:16:55] WEEK, DEPENDING ON HOW THE VOTES GO IN THE NEXT DAY. BUT EITHER
[03:16:58] WAY, IN THE NEXT TEN DAYS, THE
[03:17:01] SENATE IS VOTING ON THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT. WE ARE
[03:17:03] SLATED TO BE IN SECOND AS SOON
[03:17:06] AS THE CRYPTO BILL IS COMPLETED.
[03:17:09] I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS DONE, AND I WILL TELL YOU
[03:17:13] FROM THE BEGINNING, MARIA CANTWELL, THE RANKING MEMBER OF
[03:17:15] THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE, DEMOCRAT FROM WASHINGTON STATE, SHE AND I
[03:17:18] HAVE BEEN PARTNERS FROM DAY ONE.
[03:17:22] WE'VE SPENT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF HOURS IN A CONFERENCE ROOM
[03:17:26] NEGOTIATING PROVISION BY PROVISION TO REACH A BIPARTISAN
[03:17:30] COMPROMISE, BECAUSE COLLEGE
[03:17:33] SPORTS IS WORTH PROTECTING AND SAVING. AND OUR OBJECTIVE FROM
[03:17:37] DAY ONE WAS NOT TO EKE BY. WITH
[03:17:41] JUST 60 VOTES, TO BARELY GET IT OUT OF THE SENATE. OUR OBJECTIVE
[03:17:45] IS TO GET A BIG BIPARTISAN VOTE
[03:17:48] ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE. AND WITH THAT MOMENTUM, TO GO TO THE
[03:17:51] HOUSE AND HAVE IT GO TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK, THE PRESIDENT
[03:17:54] IS EAGER TO SIGN IT AND I THINK
[03:17:57] WE'RE VERY CLOSE, TO USE A FOOTBALL ANALOGY. I THINK WE'RE
[03:18:01] ON THE ONE YARD LINE. I THINK WE
[03:18:04] HAVE FOUR DOWNS IN FRONT OF US
[03:18:07] TO MOVE INTO THE END ZONE. AND I BELIEVE WORKING TOGETHER WITH
[03:18:11] THIS AMAZING COALITION OF ATHLETES AND COACHES WHO HAVE
[03:18:13] COME HERE SAYING COLLEGE SPORTS IS WORTH SAVING, I THINK WE'RE
[03:18:17] GOING TO GET IT DONE. WITH THAT, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE RANKING
[03:18:20] MEMBER OF THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND MY FRIEND, SENATOR
[03:18:22] MARIA CANTWELL. THANK YOU. >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:18:26] >> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF, BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE
[03:18:29] REST OF THE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE JOINED US HERE TODAY. AND WE ARE
[03:18:33] JOINED BY STUDENT ATHLETES FROM
[03:18:37] ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF ATHLETIC
[03:18:39] ENDEAVORS. I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT CAN'T JUST BE ABOUT THE
[03:18:42] ATHLETES THAT GET PAID. IT HAS
[03:18:45] TO BE ABOUT THE 500,000 ATHLETES
[03:18:48] THAT ARE IN SPORTS THAT MAY
[03:18:51] NEVER GET THE REVENUE SHARING OR
[03:18:53] THE RECOGNITION, BUT ARE
[03:18:55] CRITICAL TO OUR ECOSYSTEM. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS SUCH
[03:18:59] DIVERSITY BEHIND US. SECONDLY, I WANT TO THANK THE COACHES FOR
[03:19:02] BEING HERE, BECAUSE THEY, TOO, REPRESENT PART OF THIS
[03:19:07] ECOSYSTEM. AND I WANT TO THANK
[03:19:09] SPECIFICALLY, MARK FEW SO PROUD OF HIM MAKING THE BASKETBALL
[03:19:12] HALL OF FAME THIS YEAR AND BEING
[03:19:15] PART OF OUR U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM
[03:19:19] I'M SO GLAD COACH BOYLE IS
[03:19:23] HERE, CALIPARI. AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT COACH SAMPSON KNOWS
[03:19:26] HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE HIM. SO,
[03:19:29] AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, THIS IS A
[03:19:31] BIPARTISAN ISSUE. BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, AND WE HAVE
[03:19:35] SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES HERE
[03:19:37] TODAY TO SHOW THAT BIPARTISAN
[03:19:39] SUPPORT. THIS IS ABOUT REINING
[03:19:43] IN THE BAD PRACTICES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN COLLEGE SPORTS
[03:19:45] TODAY. THE RUNAWAY COSTS THAT
[03:19:48] ARE SENDING PEOPLE TO THE STATE
[03:19:52] LEGISLATURE ASKING FOR BAILOUT
[03:19:53] FROM TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR
[03:19:56] SPORTS, ASKING PEOPLE TO TAKE ENDOWMENT FUNDS THAT REALLY
[03:19:59] SHOULD GO TO THINGS LIKE WHEAT
[03:20:01] RESEARCH OR, OR AI, AND INSTEAD
[03:20:04] HAVE TO BE SPENT BECAUSE THE
[03:20:07] RUNAWAY ARMS RACE IN SPORTS
[03:20:08] SPENDING, THE STATISTICS SHOW
[03:20:12] THAT THE MAJORITY OF COLLEGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS RIGHT NOW
[03:20:15] CAN'T MAKE ENDS MEET, AND THE
[03:20:19] 300% INCREASE IN WHAT IS CALLED
[03:20:21] RECRUITMENT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT RULES IN PLACE TO
[03:20:24] MAKE SURE THAT WHILE ATHLETES
[03:20:27] ARE PAID, THERE IS A FAIR GAME,
[03:20:30] AND EVERYONE ABIDES BY THOSE
[03:20:32] RULES. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR
[03:20:35] THIS BILL TO BE ATTACKED BY
[03:20:39] THOSE WHO SUPPORT AGENTS, WHO WANT TO MAKE OUTRAGEOUS SUMS OF
[03:20:42] MONEY AND PREY ON HIGH SCHOOL
[03:20:44] STUDENTS, HOPING THAT THEY CAN
[03:20:47] MAKE A BUCK, AND THEN LEAVING
[03:20:50] THOSE STUDENTS WITHOUT A REAL
[03:20:51] FUTURE IN COLLEGE SPORTS. I'M
[03:20:54] ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US
[03:20:58] IN FIXING WHAT'S WRONG WITH
[03:21:01] COLLEGE SPORTS TODAY, AND MAKE
[03:21:04] THIS INSTITUTION THAT HAS PRODUCED SUCH GREAT LEADERS FOR
[03:21:06] OUR COUNTRY A WINNABLE HAND FOR
[03:21:10] THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE SPORTS.
[03:21:13] NOW, COACH AND COACH SAMPSON
[03:21:15] WILL REMEMBER THIS MOMENT.
[03:21:19] GONZAGA PLAYED HOUSTON SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AT THE END OF THE
[03:21:21] GAME, ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO
[03:21:24] PLAYED FOR GONZAGA, KHALIF
[03:21:28] BATTLE, WAS PRETTY UPSET THAT GONZAGA LOST. HAVE TO SAY, MARK,
[03:21:32] I WAS TOO. BUT COACH SAMPSON ON
[03:21:36] THE OPPOSITE TEAM, WHEN PUT HIS
[03:21:38] ROUND HIS ARM AROUND CALEB
[03:21:40] BATTLE AND SAID, SON, YOU WILL
[03:21:44] HAVE FUTURE DAYS AND THAT SMALL
[03:21:49] GESTURE IS WHAT SPORTS IS ALL
[03:21:51] ABOUT. IT REALLY IS. IT IS ABOUT
[03:21:55] THE HUMANITY OF US BUILDING
[03:21:56] TEAMS OF PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER
[03:21:59] IN ENDEAVORS, AND HAVING A SHOT
[03:22:00] AT A REAL FUTURE. WE'RE ASKING
[03:22:03] CONGRESS TO GIVE US THAT SHOT, TO PUT AN ARM AROUND THIS BILL
[03:22:07] AND HELP US GET IT OVER THE GOAL LINE AND ONTO THE PRESIDENT'S
[03:22:11] DESK. THANK YOU.
[03:22:17] >> THANK YOU, SENATOR CANTWELL. I'M NOW THRILLED TO REPRESENT,
[03:22:21] TO INTRODUCE SEVERAL COLLEGE ATHLETES. LOOK, AT THE END OF
[03:22:24] THE DAY, THIS BILL IS ABOUT PROTECTING COLLEGE ATHLETES,
[03:22:28] PROTECTING COLLEGE ATHLETES. AS SENATOR CANTWELL SAID, FROM
[03:22:31] UNSCRUPULOUS AGENTS WHO TOO OFTEN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM AND
[03:22:35] PROTECTING COLLEGE ATHLETES SO THAT THE OPPORTUNITY OF COLLEGE
[03:22:39] SPORTS IS THERE IN THE YEARS TO
[03:22:40] COME. IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT,
[03:22:43] WE WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ROSTER SLOTS AND
[03:22:47] SCHOLARSHIP SLOTS ELIMINATED, WHICH WOULD BE A TRAGEDY FOR
[03:22:50] OPPORTUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY. SO WE HAVE NOW FIVE STUDENT
[03:22:54] ATHLETES WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE BILL.
[03:22:58] DIEGO DIAZ FROM FARLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY, SOPHIA
[03:23:02] STYLIANOS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
[03:23:04] MICHIGAN, KENDRICK GREEN FROM
[03:23:07] HOWARD UNIVERSITY, SIDNEY WILSON FROM SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE, AND
[03:23:10] ELLA BROOKS FROM CLEMSON UNIVERSITY. DIEGO, YOU'RE UP
[03:23:14] FIRST.
[03:23:19] >> [APPLAUSE] >> SENATOR CRUZ. AND SENATOR CANTWELL. GOOD AFTERNOON,
[03:23:22] EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DIEGO DIAZ. I SERVE AS THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVE AND
[03:23:26] CURRENT CHAIR OF THE NCAA DIVISION ONE STUDENT ATHLETE
[03:23:29] ADVOCACY COMMITTEE, ALSO KNOWN AS SAC, REPRESENTING OVER
[03:23:33] 200,000 DIVISION ONE STUDENT ATHLETES NATIONWIDE, WORKING
[03:23:36] ALONGSIDE STUDENT ATHLETE REPRESENTATIVES ACROSS ALL 32 CONFERENCES. DIVISION ONE SAC IS
[03:23:40] FOCUSED AROUND THREE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. THIS YEAR, THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN'S AND
[03:23:43] OLYMPIC SPORTS, ENSURING HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT REMAINS A CORE PRIORITY, AND EMPOWERING
[03:23:47] STUDENT ATHLETES TO ENGAGE AND USE THEIR PLATFORMS TO ENACT
[03:23:50] EFFECTIVE CHANGE. REFLECTING ON MY EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT ATHLETE, I AM GRATEFUL TO BOTH
[03:23:54] FDU AND THE NSC FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP BOTH ON
[03:23:57] AND OFF THE VOLLEYBALL COURT. BEING A STUDENT ATHLETE HAS
[03:24:00] TRANSFORMED MY LIFE. THAT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT I WANT TO PROTECT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
[03:24:04] DURING MY CAREER, I WITNESSED A FINAL FOUR MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
[03:24:07] PROGRAM GET CUT AND A LONG TIME
[03:24:09] MEMBER DROPPED TO DIVISION
[03:24:12] THREE. AFTER THE HOUSE SETTLEMENT, ERASING OVER 40
[03:24:14] OPPORTUNITIES AND TWO OLYMPIC PIPELINES. WITH ONLY 32 DIVISION
[03:24:18] ONE PROGRAMS IN MEN'S VOLLEYBALL, I UNDERSTAND HOW FRAGILE MEN'S VOLLEYBALL IS,
[03:24:22] AND ALL OLYMPIC SPORTS ARE ACROSS THE BOARD IN THIS CURRENT LANDSCAPE. THEREFORE, I AM
[03:24:25] URGING FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT SO
[03:24:28] THAT YOUNG MEN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS AND ALL STUDENT ATHLETES, CURRENT AND FUTURE,
[03:24:32] HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT
[03:24:33] I DID. THANK YOU.
[03:24:37] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:24:41] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SOPHIA STYLIANOS AND I'M A ROWER
[03:24:44] AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. ROWING HAS TRANSFORMED MY LIFE.
[03:24:48] IT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN TO ME THROUGH THE WOMEN OF MY
[03:24:51] GENERATION, MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER ROWED BREAD TO JEWISH PERSONS
[03:24:55] FLEEING NAZIS, AND MY MOTHER
[03:24:56] WROTE ON HER COLLEGIATE TEAM
[03:24:59] ALONGSIDE OLYMPIANS. FOR ME, ROWING HAS PROVIDED CONFIDENCE
[03:25:03] AND STRENGTH. IN THE WAKE OF MY FATHER PASSING AWAY. MY STORY IS
[03:25:07] ONE OF MANY THOUSANDS OF
[03:25:11] DEDICATED STUDENT ATHLETES, 85% OF WHOM ARE IN NON-REVENUE AND
[03:25:15] OLYMPIC SPORTS, PASSIONATELY WORK TO BETTER THEIR TEAMS AND
[03:25:17] THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS WHY
[03:25:19] I'M PROUD TO BE AN ON AN
[03:25:23] OLYMPIAN PRODUCING TEAM. ATHLETES IN OLYMPIC SPORTS DESERVE PROTECTED PROGRAMS. WE
[03:25:28] DESERVE CONTINUED EDUCATION, AND WE DESERVE THE CHANCE TO
[03:25:31] REPRESENT AMERICA ON AN OLYMPIC WORLD STAGE. THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[03:25:35] SPORTS ACT PRESERVES THIS OLYMPIC PIPELINE AND THE
[03:25:38] INTEGRITY OF NON-REVENUE AND OLYMPIC SPORT ATHLETES. I,
[03:25:42] THEREFORE, URGE CONGRESS TO PASS THE BIPARTISAN PROTECT COLLEGE
[03:25:46] SPORTS ACT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
[03:25:48] TIME AND GO BLUE
[03:26:00] >> [APPLAUSE] >> KEDRICK GREEN. I'M A FOOTBALL PLAYER AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY, AND
[03:26:04] AS A COLLEGE STUDENT, I BELIEVE THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT
[03:26:08] IS ABOUT GIVING STUDENT ATHLETES LIKE ME SOMETHING WE ALL DESERVE
[03:26:10] SECURITY AND A FAIR OPPORTUNITY. IT PROTECTS OUR RIGHT TO EARN
[03:26:13] FROM OUR NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS WHILE PUTTING SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE SO ATHLETES
[03:26:17] AREN'T TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. IT PROTECTS SCHOLARSHIPS,
[03:26:20] STRENGTHENS HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS, AND CREATES A MORE CONSISTENT RULE AROUND NIL
[03:26:24] TRANSFERS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR
[03:26:26] HBCU STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY, AND
[03:26:30] CONFERENCES LIKE THE STABILITY IS MATTERS, WE NEED A SYSTEM
[03:26:32] THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
[03:26:35] COMPETE AND GROW, NOT WHERE THE RULES CONSTANTLY CHANGE.
[03:26:38] DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU PLAY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS
[03:26:41] ABOUT PROTECTING ATHLETES WHO MAKE COLLEGE SPORTS POSSIBLE. SO
[03:26:44] I HOPE CONGRESS PASS THIS ACT. THANK YOU
[03:26:48] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:26:55] >> HELLO, MY NAME IS SYDNEY WILSON. I'M A DIVISION ONE
[03:26:58] TENNIS PLAYER AT SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE. COLLEGE ATHLETICS TAUGHT ME DISCIPLINE,
[03:27:01] PERSEVERANCE, AND AN EMPOWERS YOUNG WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
[03:27:04] BUT THAT OPPORTUNITY IS
[03:27:07] DISAPPEARING. THIS PAST YEAR
[03:27:10] ALONE, OVER 12 DIVISION ONE TENNIS AND SWIM PROGRAMS HAVE
[03:27:14] BEEN CUT DUE TO FUNDING BEING
[03:27:18] DIVERTED TO NON-REVENUE, GENERATING AWAY FROM NON-REVENUE
[03:27:22] GENERATING SPORTS. MOST STUDENT
[03:27:23] ATHLETES DON'T PLAY FOR PROFIT. THEY PLAY TO EARN THEIR DEGREE,
[03:27:27] AND THEY PLAY TO COMPETE AT THE
[03:27:28] HIGHEST AMATEUR LEVEL. THIS IS
[03:27:32] WHY I URGE CONGRESS TO PASS THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT, SO
[03:27:35] THAT WE CAN PROTECT OLYMPIC SPORTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
[03:27:39] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
[03:27:42] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:27:51] >> SO SORRY. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
[03:27:55] ELLA BROOKS. I'M A JUNIOR HAMMER THROWER AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY.
[03:27:57] SPORTS HAVE SHAPED MY LIFE IN SOME FASHION, IN EVERY SINGLE
[03:28:01] WAY. THEY ALLOWED ME TO BECOME THE MOST DISCIPLINED, INTELLIGENT VERSION OF MYSELF,
[03:28:05] AND THEY HAVE EVEN PROVIDED ME A 20 YEAR OLD TRACK AND FIELD
[03:28:08] ATHLETE. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT ALONGSIDE U.S. SENATORS AND ADVOCATE FOR A SYSTEM THAT HAS
[03:28:12] NOT ONLY GIVEN ME MY DREAM, BUT HAS TRANSFORMED THE LIVES OF
[03:28:14] MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER THE LAST 120 YEARS.
[03:28:18] THAT SYSTEM IS IN GRAVE DANGER, CONSTANT LITIGATION HAS
[03:28:22] DENATURED A ONCE SIMPLE, COHERENT, AND FAIR SET OF RULES. THE NCAA AND STUDENT ATHLETES
[03:28:26] ARE NOW SUBJECTED TO THE DECISIONS OF ACTIVIST JUDGES.
[03:28:29] THE MOST RECENT ELIGIBILITY CASES ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE, AT
[03:28:33] THE RATE AT WHICH PRECEDENT IS CHANGING, I FEAR THAT THE NCAA
[03:28:36] WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO
[03:28:38] SUSTAIN ITSELF. SHOULD THAT DAY COME, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
[03:28:42] OPPORTUNITIES WILL DISAPPEAR. THE DREAMS OF KIDS LIKE MY LITTLE BROTHER AND SISTER WILL
[03:28:45] BE CRUSHED. AND WORST OF ALL,
[03:28:49] THE UNITED STATES WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO DEVELOP TALENT FOR ITS NATIONAL AND OLYMPIC
[03:28:53] PROGRAMS. TO ALL THOSE LISTENING, I IMPLORE YOU TO
[03:28:56] PROTECT THE SACRED SYSTEM. CALL AND WRITE TO YOUR SENATORS AND
[03:28:59] ASK THEM TO PROTECT OR TO PASS THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT.
[03:29:02] THANK YOU.
[03:29:05] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:29:12] >> YOU. >> WELL, THAT WAS TERRIFIC AND
[03:29:16] AMAZINGLY IMPRESSIVE. ALL FIVE OF YOU DID A FABULOUS JOB. AND I
[03:29:19] WILL SAY COLLECTIVELY, THE FIVE
[03:29:23] STUDENT ATHLETES WHO SPOKE REALLY UNDERSCORED THIS IS WHAT THE STAKES ARE ALL ABOUT. WE ARE
[03:29:25] FIGHTING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
[03:29:28] TO BE THERE FOR THOSE ATHLETES AND FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF
[03:29:31] ATHLETES WHO COME, COME AFTER
[03:29:33] THEM. WE NOW HAVE, UH, WE HAVE
[03:29:37] OVER A HUNDRED COACHES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE
[03:29:40] ENDORSED THIS BILL, BUT WE HAVE FIVE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
[03:29:43] COACHES WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK
[03:29:46] ABOUT THEIR PERSPECTIVE OF THE NEED FOR THIS BILL AND THE
[03:29:48] IMPACT UPON THE SPORT. UH, WE
[03:29:51] HAVE JOHN CALIPARI, THE HEAD COACH, BASKETBALL COACH AT THE
[03:29:53] UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS. WE HAVE CRAIG BOHL, THE EXECUTIVE
[03:29:56] DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION. WE
[03:30:00] HAVE MARK FEW, THE HEAD BASKETBALL COACH AT GONZAGA
[03:30:04] UNIVERSITY. UH, WE HAVE CRAIG ROBINSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
[03:30:08] OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
[03:30:10] BASKETBALL COACHES, AND
[03:30:14] SOMEWHERE WE'RE MISSING. YEAH.
[03:30:18] UH, AND KELVIN SAMPSON FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, WHO'S NOT ON THE SCRIPT, BUT IS HERE
[03:30:21] AS WELL. AND AS A TEXAN, I'M HORRIFIED THAT HE WASN'T ON THE
[03:30:25] SCRIPT. BUT WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE HAVE HIM AS WELL. AND COACH
[03:30:28] CALIPARI, YOU CAN START US.
[03:30:31] THANK YOU UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO
[03:30:34] START BY THANKING SENATOR CRUZ, SENATOR CANTWELL, WHO.
[03:30:38] >> CAME TOGETHER. WAS IT LIKE A THREE YEAR PROJECT? YEAH, THREE
[03:30:41] YEARS, FOLKS. AND BOTH OF THEM
[03:30:45] GAVE UP STUFF THEY DESPERATELY DID NOT WANT TO GIVE UP TO MAKE
[03:30:48] THIS HAPPEN. I ENGAGED BECAUSE I
[03:30:53] WAS GETTING CALLS FROM COACHES THAT HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
[03:30:57] WEREN'T GETTING THE SCHOLARSHIPS. THEY USUALLY GET. FAMILIES WERE CALLING ME. THEY
[03:31:01] WEREN'T GETTING THE SCHOLARSHIPS. WHY? BECAUSE WE
[03:31:04] COACHES WERE RECRUITING OLDER PLAYERS. WE WERE WAITING ON THE
[03:31:08] TRANSFER PORTAL. WE WERE RECRUITING EUROPEAN PLAYERS THAT
[03:31:12] WERE OLDER. AND IF YOU DID TAKE A 17 OR 18 YEAR OLD, YOU HAD TO
[03:31:15] PLAY AGAINST A 25 YEAR OLD. NONE
[03:31:17] OF IT FAIR. UM, WHAT HAPPENED
[03:31:21] NOW WITH THIS BILL? FIVE YEARS,
[03:31:24] ONE TIME TRANSFER. WE CLEANED UP
[03:31:28] FOREIGN STUDENTS AND HOW THEY ARE ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH
[03:31:31] AMERICAN STUDENTS. I THINK THIS
[03:31:34] CLEARS UP ABOUT 75 TO 80% OF OUR ISSUES. UM, NOTHING IS PERFECT.
[03:31:37] THIS IS A BITE OUT OF THE APPLE
[03:31:41] FOR THESE TWO SENATORS TO STEP UP HERE AND DO THIS. I THINK WE
[03:31:44] ALL NEED TO GIVE THEM A HAND.
[03:31:47] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:31:52] >> WELL, I'M CRAIG BULL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
[03:31:55] AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES
[03:31:56] ASSOCIATION. I REPRESENT 11,000 COACHES. OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE
[03:32:00] EXPERTS AT WHAT THEY DO. BUT
[03:32:03] BEHIND ME, COACHES AND PLAYERS,
[03:32:06] WE'RE EXPERTS AT RECOGNIZING
[03:32:10] THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK, TEAMWORK.
[03:32:14] THERE IS NO I IN TEAM. AND WHAT
[03:32:17] THESE TWO SENATORS WITH THE OTHER SENATORS HAVE DONE IS A
[03:32:21] SHINING EXAMPLE TO AMERICA. HOW
[03:32:25] WASHINGTON CAN WORK. SO HATS OFF TO YOU GUYS. GREAT. GREAT JOB.
[03:32:29] AS I LOOKED IN SENATOR CRUZ'S EYES AND SENATOR CANTWELL'S
[03:32:33] EYES, THERE WAS A PROFOUND,
[03:32:36] PROFOUND, DEEP CONCERN ABOUT
[03:32:38] PRESERVING THE PATHWAY FORWARD
[03:32:41] FOR A COLLEGIATE EXPERIENCE. AND
[03:32:42] TODAY, THIS BILL, THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION,
[03:32:46] REAFFIRMS OUR FIRM ENDORSEMENT
[03:32:49] OF THIS BILL. WHAT A GREAT,
[03:32:52] GREAT DAY. NOW, A LITTLE COACH SPEAK AS THE SENATE GOES BACK
[03:32:55] INTO SESSION. AND I THINK, SENATOR CRUZ, YOU TALKED ABOUT
[03:32:58] IT, BUT OUR ENCOURAGEMENT IS, LET'S BUCKLE THOSE CHIN STRAPS
[03:33:02] UP. LET'S GET OUR HANDS IN THE DIRT. LET'S COME OFF THE ACROSS
[03:33:05] THE GOAL LINE AND GET THIS BILL
[03:33:07] TO THE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[03:33:10] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:33:16] >> WOW. UH, WELL SAID BY
[03:33:18] EVERYBODY. AND AND AGAIN, I
[03:33:22] DON'T WANT TO FORGET OUR, UH, THE MAIN PART OF THIS THAT
[03:33:25] REALLY, REALLY MOVES ME THE MOST IS NOT JUST ALL THE SPEAKERS, BUT LOOK AT ALL THESE ATHLETES
[03:33:29] FROM ALL DIFFERENT SPORTS. THAT SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
[03:33:33] SUPPOSED TO BE IN CLASS TODAY, BUT TOOK A DAY OFF TO COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE, WHICH ISN'T
[03:33:36] SO BAD. BUT SOME OF US TRAVELED ALL THE WAY FROM THE OTHER SIDE
[03:33:38] OF THE COUNTRY TO SHOW JUST HOW
[03:33:42] STRONGLY WE FEEL ABOUT THIS. AND, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY
[03:33:46] FIVE YEARS AGO, SENATOR CANTWELL
[03:33:49] INVITED ME OUT HERE TO, TO SPEAK ON THIS. AND I DON'T THINK, AS
[03:33:53] MANY PEOPLE WERE AWARE OF, OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WERE IN
[03:33:56] COLLEGE ATHLETICS. BUT NOW, FIVE YEARS LATER, I THINK YOU CAN
[03:34:00] SENSE THE DESPERATION IN EVERYBODY'S VOICES. UM, WE
[03:34:04] REALLY, REALLY NEED HELP. AND WE NEED IT FROM CONGRESS. AND THIS
[03:34:08] IS, UH, TO CAL'S POINT, THIS BILL MIGHT NOT BE PERFECT, BUT
[03:34:12] IT'S FAR AND FAR AND AWAY THE BEST THING WE GOT OUT THERE
[03:34:15] RIGHT NOW. AND I'M SO PROUD OF
[03:34:18] BOTH SENATOR CANTWELL WORKING WITH HER, UH, OVER ALL THESE
[03:34:21] YEARS, BUT JUST TEAMING WITH SENATOR CRUZ, UH, TO CRAIG'S
[03:34:25] POINT RIGHT THERE. IT REALLY,
[03:34:27] REALLY GIVES YOU A GREAT FEELING
[03:34:31] AND GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT OF JUST HOW WASHINGTON DOES REALLY WORK
[03:34:34] FOR ALL OF US. AND I THINK THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE GREATEST THING ABOUT THIS, TAKING THE
[03:34:38] TIME TO GO SPEAK WITH SOME SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN ON THIS, MAN. THERE'S A LOT OF
[03:34:42] GREAT PEOPLE IN HERE TRYING REALLY, REALLY HARD, AND THEY
[03:34:44] REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT'S BEST
[03:34:46] FOR US. BEING IN THIS BUSINESS.
[03:34:49] 38 YEARS NOW. UH, I CAN JUST TELL YOU, THIS BILL IS THE BEST
[03:34:53] POSSIBLE THING WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW. UH, FOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS.
[03:34:57] THANKS
[03:34:59] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:35:10] >> SENATOR CRUZ, I'M THE LOST
[03:35:11] TEXAN, BUT I'M. I'M ACTUALLY BACK THERE WITH THE STUDENT
[03:35:15] ATHLETES, WHICH IS, UM, THAT'S
[03:35:16] WHY WE'RE ALL HERE. UM, YOU
[03:35:19] KNOW, IN, IN JULY OF 2022, WE
[03:35:23] STARTED THIS THING CALLED NIL.
[03:35:26] THE INITIAL PURPOSE WAS NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS. THAT SEEMS
[03:35:30] LIKE ALMOST, IT WAS 1922 WHEN WE
[03:35:33] STARTED THAT, UH, IT'S ANYTHING
[03:35:35] BUT THAT NOW, BUT AT SOME POINT,
[03:35:38] WE HAVE TO REIN IN THE CHAOS. I
[03:35:41] THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT ANY BILL TOP TO BOTTOM AND SAY, I DON'T
[03:35:44] LIKE THIS, OR I DON'T LIKE THAT.
[03:35:46] AND THIS BILL IS NOT FOOLPROOF,
[03:35:49] BUT IT'S THE BEST THING WE HAVE
[03:35:53] TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT AND GET SOME CONTROL BACK WITHIN OUR ATHLETIC
[03:35:55] DEPARTMENTS AND CONTROL FOR OUR
[03:35:57] STUDENT ATHLETES. UM, UM, OUR
[03:36:00] GRADUATION RATES, THE
[03:36:02] IDENTIFICATION OF STUDENTS WITH SCHOOLS, UM, ALL OF THAT HAS,
[03:36:06] HAS GONE OUT. SO BEING, BEING
[03:36:09] ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO MANAGE
[03:36:13] THIS CHAOS, I CAN'T THANK SENATOR CANTWELL AND SENATOR
[03:36:15] CRUZ, UH, ENOUGH CONGRESS,
[03:36:20] SENATE, UH, GET THIS DONE. THIS GIVES US A CHANCE TO REIN IN,
[03:36:24] UM, A HORSE THAT'S KIND OF OUT OF THE BARN. NOW. WE NEED TO GET
[03:36:28] IT BACK IN THE BARN, AND WE NEED
[03:36:29] TO GET THIS, UM, BACK INTO THESE
[03:36:33] EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. WE ARE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
[03:36:37] THAT'S WHY WE'RE AT THESE SCHOOLS. LET'S MAKE SURE THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE PROUD OF
[03:36:41] THAT. THANK YOU.
[03:36:43] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:36:48] >> THANKS. YOU KNOW, COMING UP, AFTER A BUNCH OF COACHES IS
[03:36:51] REALLY HARD, BUT, UH, I'M CRAIG ROBINSON, I'M THE EXECUTIVE
[03:36:55] DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL
[03:36:57] COACHES. AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM
[03:37:01] THESE STUDENT ATHLETES HERE, THEY, THEY REPRESENT A WIDE
[03:37:04] VARIETY OF INSTITUTIONS. AND THE
[03:37:08] COACHES YOU SEE HERE MAY BE ALL
[03:37:09] HIGH MAJOR COACHES AT HIGH
[03:37:13] SCHOOLS. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, I
[03:37:17] REPRESENT 5000 COACHES AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM BACK. THIS
[03:37:21] BILL. AND I WANT TO THANK
[03:37:24] SENATOR CANTWELL AND SENATOR
[03:37:25] CRUZ FOR THE THING. NOBODY'S
[03:37:29] TALKING ABOUT. THAT HAPPENS ANYMORE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND
[03:37:33] THAT'S TEAMWORK. LOVE TO SEE THE TEAMWORK. I AM HERE TO TELL
[03:37:37] YOU THAT THE NABC, THE NATIONAL
[03:37:40] ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL, COACHES UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORTS
[03:37:44] THIS BILL. AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE. I'M EXCITED FOR OUR
[03:37:47] STUDENT ATHLETES, AND I'M
[03:37:48] EXCITED FOR OUR GAME. >> YEAH.
[03:37:52] >> [APPLAUSE] >> OKAY
[03:37:56] >> WELL, AN AMAZINGLY IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF COACHES. THANK YOU FOR
[03:38:00] YOUR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COACH SAMPSON PHI SLAMA JAMA IS STILL
[03:38:03] A HUGE PART OF WHO WE ARE AS
[03:38:04] TEXANS. UH, I NOW WANT TO
[03:38:08] INTRODUCE SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO SENATOR FROM THE GREAT STATE OF
[03:38:12] WEST VIRGINIA. >> I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE WITH ALL THE COACHES AND
[03:38:15] THE STUDENT ATHLETES, AND THOSE ATHLETES AND COACHES THAT THEY
[03:38:19] ALL REPRESENT. UH, I THINK WHAT WE SEE TODAY IS, IF YOU'LL
[03:38:23] EXCUSE THE ANALOGY, IS THE WILD, WILD WEST CHAOS. IT'S ALREADY
[03:38:25] BEEN ALLUDED TO. SPORTS ARE SO
[03:38:28] VERY IMPORTANT IN SMALL STATES, LARGE STATES, IT DOESN'T REALLY
[03:38:31] MATTER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY FOUGHT FOR, AND ALSO
[03:38:34] SOME OF THE ATHLETES HAVE TALKED ABOUT, IS TO PRESERVE THOSE
[03:38:37] WOMEN. AND AT OLYMPIC SPORTS, I
[03:38:40] MYSELF, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BACK IN THE DAY WAS A COLLEGE
[03:38:43] ATHLETE. I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO PLAYED AT THAT LEVEL FOR FOUR
[03:38:46] YEARS. I SAW NOT JUST ATHLETIC
[03:38:50] ABILITY, BUT PERSEVERANCE,
[03:38:51] LEADERSHIP, FUTURE LEADERS,
[03:38:55] FAMILY LEADERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, ALL OF THEM. THEIR CONNECTIONS TO SPORTS, AND THE
[03:38:59] EXPERIENCE THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE AT THEIR
[03:39:02] UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES ACROSS THE STATE IS IRREPLACEABLE.
[03:39:04] IT'S IRREPLACEABLE. AND I WANT TO THANK SENATOR CRUZ AND
[03:39:07] SENATOR CANTWELL. THIS IS SERIOUSLY THREADING A NEEDLE.
[03:39:10] I'M A A MEMBER OF THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE. I'M A PROUD
[03:39:14] CO-SPONSOR OF THIS BILL. UH, BUT THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE HAVE
[03:39:16] REALLY BEEN A HERCULEAN TASK, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHES
[03:39:20] AND PULLS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT SEE AS THIS GOES THROUGH. SO FROM
[03:39:24] REPRESENTING A STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, OUR COACHES, OUR ADS,
[03:39:27] OUR COLLEGE PRESIDENTS, OUR
[03:39:28] STUDENT ATHLETES ARE FULLY,
[03:39:31] FULLY BEHIND THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[03:39:34] SPORTS ACT. THEY THINK IT IS A
[03:39:36] GREAT WAY TO SOLVE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS. SO WE'VE HAD A COUPLE
[03:39:40] SPORTS ANALOGIES. MY DAUGHTER PLAYED VOLLEYBALL. SO IN ORDER OF THE VOLLEYBALLERS, I'M GOING
[03:39:43] TO SAY THE BALL IS SET. LET'S
[03:39:46] SPIKE IT AROUND THE BLOCK. THANK YOU.
[03:39:50] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:39:51] >> UH, NOW RECOGNIZE SENATOR
[03:39:54] JOHN HICKENLOOPER FROM THE GREAT STATE OF COLORADO.
[03:39:58] >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:40:02] >> THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH I CAN ADD TO WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS
[03:40:06] BILL. LIKE EVERYONE, UM, I
[03:40:09] THINK, UH, VINCE LOMBARDI
[03:40:11] FAMOUSLY SAID, UH, WINNING
[03:40:15] ISN'T EVERYTHING. IT'S THE ONLY THING. I THINK THAT'S NOT TRUE. I THINK ALL THESE COACHES WOULD
[03:40:18] TELL YOU IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING, BUT HOW DO YOU CREATE
[03:40:22] TEAMS, HOW TEAMS LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER IS THE BASIS OF
[03:40:26] AMERICA, RIGHT? IT'S TEAMS OF DOCTORS. IT'S TEAMS OF
[03:40:30] SOLDIERS. IT'S TEAMS OF TEACHERS. THAT COLLABORATIVE
[03:40:33] ABILITY IS WHAT DEFINES HUMANITY AND IS CERTAINLY DEFINED. THIS
[03:40:36] COUNTRY. UH, THE UNCERTAINTY
[03:40:40] FACING NON-REVENUE, UH, CREATING SPORTS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.
[03:40:44] COLORADO SPRINGS IS, IS HOME TO THE U.S. OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC
[03:40:47] COMMITTEE. UM, THIS BILL PROTECTS THE OLYMPICS AND OTHER
[03:40:50] NON-REVENUE SPORTS. I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT,
[03:40:53] THAT TEAMWORK IS, HAS NOTHING TO
[03:40:57] DO WITH WHETHER IT'S A REVENUE PRODUCING SPORT OR NOT. AND I
[03:41:00] THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT 75% OF
[03:41:02] THE OLYMPIANS IN PARIS, UH, THEY
[03:41:06] COMPETED COLLEGIATELY, RIGHT? WE
[03:41:08] HAVE A WHOLE SYSTEM SET UP IN OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
[03:41:11] THAT ALLOWS US TO GET THE GREATEST ATHLETES REPRESENTING OUR COUNTRY IN THE OLYMPICS. AND
[03:41:15] THAT MATTERS IN TERMS OF THE IDENTITY OF HOW WE THINK ABOUT
[03:41:18] OURSELVES, HOW THE WORLD LOOKS AT US, AND HOW WE TRADE WITH THE
[03:41:21] REST OF THE WORLD. SO THERE'S A
[03:41:24] LOT AT STAKE HERE IN GETTING THIS DONE. UM, THESE LAST COUPLE
[03:41:28] OF YEARS WITH NON-REVENUE
[03:41:29] SPORTS, UH, CUT, THEY CUT 415
[03:41:32] DIFFERENT TEAMS. THERE WERE 45 OLYMPIC SPORTS PROGRAMS THAT GOT
[03:41:35] CUT, UH, A THOUSAND STUDENT
[03:41:38] ATHLETES WHO LOST SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AFFECTED. UH, SOME OF THESE
[03:41:42] IN EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY. UH, THIS BILL, AGAIN, AS
[03:41:46] EVERYONE HAS SAID, IS NOT PERFECT, BUT IT GOES A LONG WAY
[03:41:49] TO DELIVERING A FUTURE WHEREBY
[03:41:53] SPORT WILL INCREASE IN ITS
[03:41:54] BENEFICIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR
[03:41:57] COUNTRY AND NOT DECREASE.
[03:42:00] >> [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, JOHN. AND I WILL
[03:42:04] SAY, SENATOR HICKENLOOPER FOUGHT
[03:42:06] FEROCIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY FOR OLYMPIC ATHLETES. HE WAS
[03:42:10] CRITICAL IN GETTING THE SUPPORT OF THE U.S. OLYMPIC AND
[03:42:14] PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE FOR THIS BILL AND ENSURING THAT THE BILL
[03:42:18] HAS REALLY ROBUST PROTECTIONS FOR OLYMPIC ATHLETES, BOTH WOMEN AND MEN. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
[03:42:21] IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE BILL.
[03:42:25] NOW, WE'LL RECOGNIZE SENATOR
[03:42:30] JOHN HOEVEN FROM THE GREAT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA. >> I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING
[03:42:32] BOTH, UH, TED AND MARIA. THIS IS
[03:42:34] REALLY HARD. YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
[03:42:37] YOU SEE THOSE GREAT ATHLETES DO GREAT THINGS WELL HERE AT THE
[03:42:41] SENATE. THESE TWO ARE GREAT ATHLETES ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS
[03:42:44] A HARD THING TO DO, BUT IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THING TO
[03:42:48] DO. I GREW UP, I LOVE SPORTS, I GREW UP PLAYING SPORTS, MY KIDS
[03:42:51] PLAYED SPORTS. I'VE GOT EIGHT GRANDKIDS. I KNOW LOOKING AT ME, TED, THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. I
[03:42:55] LOOK VERY YOUNG, BUT I GOT EIGHT
[03:42:57] GRANDKIDS. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THEM ARE
[03:43:01] GOING TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL
[03:43:02] SPORTS. KIND OF HOPE SO. BUT AND
[03:43:05] THAT'S TRUE FOR THE VAST
[03:43:08] MAJORITY OF ATHLETES, RIGHT?
[03:43:11] YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 500,000
[03:43:13] STUDENT ATHLETES. VERY FEW OF
[03:43:15] THOSE WILL ACTUALLY PLAY PRO. SO WE HAVE TO NOT ONLY PROTECT
[03:43:19] THEM, BUT PROTECT THE COLLEGIATE
[03:43:22] SPORTS PROGRAMS ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. WHEN I WAS HOME, WE HAD
[03:43:26] A PRESS CONFERENCE. I HAD THE BOTH PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF
[03:43:29] THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA, PRESIDENT OF NDSU, NORTH DAKOTA
[03:43:33] STATE UNIVERSITY. I HAD THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS THERE, AND I
[03:43:35] HAD A LOT OF COACHES THERE. AND
[03:43:38] IT THEY WANTED TO BE THERE. THEY
[03:43:42] NEED HELP. WE HAVE A PATCHWORK OF COURT CASES AND STATE LAWS
[03:43:45] THAT, AS SHELLEY SAID, HAVE
[03:43:49] CREATED THE WILD WEST FOR COLLEGE SPORTS. IT'S NOT TIME
[03:43:52] TO ACT. IT'S WAY PAST, WAY PAST
[03:43:56] TIME TO ACT. AND THIS BILL IS
[03:43:58] FAIR TO THE ATHLETES THAT WILL GO PRO. YOU'RE TALKING NIL,
[03:44:02] TRANSFER PORTAL, ALL THOSE THINGS. IT IS FAIR TO THE ATHLETES THAT WILL PLAY IN THE
[03:44:05] PROS, BUT IT IS ALSO FAIR AND
[03:44:10] PROTECTS ALL THOSE OTHER ATHLETES. HALF A MILLION THE
[03:44:14] PROGRAMS, NOT JUST A FEW
[03:44:17] PROGRAMS, ALL THE PROGRAMS. SO
[03:44:18] TO FINISH ON ANOTHER SPORTS
[03:44:24] ANALOGY, LET'S SCORE ONE FOR COLLEGE SPORTS HERE.
[03:44:28] >> [APPLAUSE] >> HERE. >> [APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT. WELL, WITH THAT,
[03:44:30] WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS. YES, SENATOR.
[03:44:34] >> DO YOU HAVE ANY RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO SAY THAT THIS DIMINISHES THE BARGAINING POWER
[03:44:38] AND EARNING POTENTIAL OF THESE TOP STUDENT ATHLETES, WHO ARE, OF COURSE, MAKING MILLIONS FOR
[03:44:42] THEIR UNIVERSITIES? >> WELL, IT DOES THE EXACT OPPOSITE, WHICH IS IT PROTECTS
[03:44:46] STUDENT ATHLETES. IT IT PROTECTS IN LAW THEIR RIGHT, NUMBER ONE,
[03:44:50] TO PARTICIPATE IN REVENUE SHARING FROM THEIR SCHOOLS. BUT
[03:44:54] NUMBER TWO, TO RECEIVE GENUINE NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS,
[03:44:57] LIKENESS, COMPENSATION. IF IF
[03:45:00] YOU'RE A STAR ATHLETE AND YOU CAN SELL MILLIONS OF TENNIS SHOES, YOU OUGHT TO MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR SELLING
[03:45:04] THOSE TENNIS SHOES. AND THAT IS PROTECTED IN THIS BILL. BUT
[03:45:08] SOMETHING SENATOR HOEVEN THERE SAID IS REALLY IMPORTANT, IS
[03:45:11] THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO THE SUPERSTARS IN THIS BILL, BUT WE
[03:45:13] WERE ALSO LOOKING TO THE 99% OF
[03:45:18] STUDENT ATHLETES WHO WILL NEVER PLAY IN THE NBA, WILL NEVER PLAY
[03:45:20] IN THE NFL. BUT RIGHT NOW,
[03:45:23] SPORTS GIVES THEM A TICKET TO COLLEGE, AND THE SKILLS THEY
[03:45:27] LEARN, HARD WORK, DISCIPLINE,
[03:45:28] EXCELLENCE, TEAMWORK,
[03:45:31] SPORTSMANSHIP. THOSE SKILLS SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS. AND IF WE
[03:45:35] DON'T ACT, WE'RE GOING TO SEE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE
[03:45:37] POSITIONS GO AWAY. THAT WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR STUDENT
[03:45:41] ATHLETES. IF WE DON'T ACT, WE
[03:45:43] WILL SEE 30 TO 50 COMPETITIVE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS IN THIS
[03:45:47] COUNTRY. AND THE REMAINDER OF THE PROGRAMS GO UNDER. THAT
[03:45:50] WOULD BE DISASTROUS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES. AND SO THE URGENCY OF
[03:45:54] DOING THIS IS MAKING SURE WE PROTECT THE OPPORTUNITY. STUDENT
[03:45:58] ATHLETES HAVE TODAY, BUT ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY THEY HAVE TOMORROW.
[03:46:01] >> SO CAN I JUST ADD QUICKLY? THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE BILL.
[03:46:05] FIRST OF ALL, IT IS A FIRST TIME FEDERAL STATUTE ON THE RIGHTS OF
[03:46:08] STUDENTS TO EARN N, I, L AND
[03:46:11] REVENUE SHARING. SO A HISTORIC RECOGNITION OF BOTH OF THOSE
[03:46:15] RIGHTS. SECONDLY, IT'S A FEDERAL
[03:46:19] PREEMPTION. SO STATES WHO HAVE LESSER STANDARDS WILL BE HAVE TO
[03:46:23] MEET THIS FEDERAL OBLIGATION.
[03:46:24] AND WE BASICALLY OUTLAW DUPLICITOUS PRACTICES THAT SOME
[03:46:28] AGENTS AND OTHERS ARE USING TO
[03:46:30] SHORT TERM, THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES OF ATHLETES. SO WE
[03:46:34] ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SOLID PROTECTIONS FOR THEIR ECONOMIC FUTURE.
[03:46:38] >> REALLY QUICK. TWO QUESTIONS. ONE, YOU PROTECTED CONFIDENCE. YOU CAN GET TO 60 VOTES IN THE
[03:46:41] SENATE THIS WEEK. HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT YOU'LL HAVE THE SAME SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE,
[03:46:45] CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT GROUPS LIKE THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS HAVE SAID NO AT THIS
[03:46:48] POINT.
[03:46:49] >> YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT. WELL,
[03:46:54] I.
[03:46:54] >> WILL I'LL JUST SAY, UH,
[03:46:58] BRIEFLY, I'M NEW AT THIS. UH,
[03:46:59] BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY
[03:47:02] IMPORTANT FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO MEET THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE THE BOOTS ON THE
[03:47:07] GROUND. AND I THINK THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN FRUITFUL. I
[03:47:10] THINK PEOPLE HAVE, UH, RECEIVED
[03:47:12] US, THEY'VE HEARD US. AND I
[03:47:15] THINK THERE IS ROOM FOR MORE
[03:47:18] WORK TO BE DONE AND TO GET DONE >> AND LASTLY, JUST FOR THE
[03:47:22] SENATORS, AS YOU WORK TO WHIP THE VOTES FOR THIS, HAVE YOU FOUND THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
[03:47:25] SUPPORT HAS HELPED OR HURT YOUR EFFORT OVERALL? >> LOOK, THE PRESIDENT IS
[03:47:29] ENTHUSIASTIC, BUT HE'S ALSO GIVEN SPACE IN THE SENATE FOR
[03:47:32] FOR THE COALITION TO COME TOGETHER, BECAUSE IT'S A BROAD
[03:47:36] BIPARTISAN COALITION WITH SOME SENATORS. THE PRESIDENT'S SUPPORT IS MORE HELPFUL THAN
[03:47:39] WITH OTHERS. AND THAT'S THE THE NATURE OF POLITICS. HE
[03:47:43] UNDERSTANDS THAT. I WILL SAY, AS I SAID AT THE OUTSET, OUR GOAL
[03:47:47] WHEN WE SAT DOWN, IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO THAT MARIE AND I
[03:47:48] STARTED THESE CONVERSATIONS. OUR
[03:47:51] GOAL FROM THE BEGINNING WAS NOT
[03:47:53] JUST TO SQUEAK BY WITH 60 VOTES,
[03:47:56] BUT TO GET A BIG BIPARTISAN
[03:47:58] VOTE. WE GOT THAT IN COMMITTEE
[03:48:01] THAT SURPRISED A LOT OF OBSERVERS. AND I HAVE A VERY
[03:48:04] HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT THE HOUSE WILL PASS THIS BILL.
[03:48:08] AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO
[03:48:11] THAT IS GET A BIG BIPARTISAN
[03:48:13] VOTE, UH, COMING OFF THE SENATE.
[03:48:15] UH, I'VE SPOKEN IN THE LAST WEEK
[03:48:18] WITH HOUSE LEADERSHIP, AND I THINK IF WE HAVE A STRONG VOTE,
[03:48:21] UH, IT GOES INTO THE HOUSE WITH A LOT OF MOMENTUM, I THINK THE
[03:48:24] HOUSE WILL, WILL PASS IT AS WELL. AND THE PRESIDENT IS READY
[03:48:28] TO SIGN IT. I'VE ACTUALLY SUGGESTED THE PRESIDENT THAT HE
[03:48:31] SIGN IT ON COLLEGE GAME DAY. UH,
[03:48:35] ON CAMPUS, WHICH WHICH TRULY WILL BE A REMARKABLE MOMENT. WE GOT TO GET THERE FIRST. BUT, BUT
[03:48:39] IT, UH, IT WILL BE AN AMAZING,
[03:48:42] UH, VICTORY FOR STUDENT ATHLETES IF WE CAN GET THAT DONE. >> DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE
[03:48:46] TIMELINE? LIKE, CAN YOU GO THROUGH THE TIMELINE OF THIS BILL? WILL, WILL YOU BE VOTING
[03:48:49] ON IT THIS WEEK, OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'LL HAPPEN AFTER
[03:48:52] THE NEXT? >> SO THIS BILL IS TEED UP AS
[03:48:56] THE SECOND VOTE THAT THAT THE SENATE WILL TAKE. SO THE FIRST
[03:48:59] VOTE IS WHAT'S CALLED THE CLARITY ACT. AND THAT'S A BILL
[03:49:03] CONCERNING CRYPTOCURRENCY. AS WE STAND HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF
[03:49:06] CLARITY WILL GET 60 VOTES OR NOT. IT'S NOT CLEAR IF IT WILL
[03:49:10] BE FILIBUSTERED OR NOT. IF CLARITY IS FILIBUSTERED, IF THAT
[03:49:13] VOTE FAILS, WE WILL MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECTING
[03:49:16] COLLEGE SPORTS. SO WE WILL MOVE
[03:49:18] TO IT AS SOON AS TOMORROW. IF
[03:49:21] CLARITY DOES GET 60 VOTES, WHICH
[03:49:23] WE'LL FIND OUT SHORTLY, THEN
[03:49:25] CLARITY WILL TAKE THE REST OF THE WEEK AND WILL MOVE TO PROTECTING COLLEGE SPORTS AT THE
[03:49:29] BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK. SO IT'S EITHER THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK,
[03:49:31] DEPENDING ON HOW THE FIRST VOTE
[03:49:34] GOES. ON AN UNRELATED MATTER.
[03:49:36] >> LAST QUESTION CAN I ASK YOU
[03:49:40] LONG SUPPORTED BANNING MEN FROM WOMEN'S SPORTS. THERE ARE SOME
[03:49:43] SOME CONSERVATIVE CRITICS THAT ARGUE THAT THIS BILL COULD OVERRIDE STATE LAWS THAT ALREADY
[03:49:47] EXIST TO PROTECT WOMEN IN MEN OR
[03:49:51] MEN AND WOMEN'S SPORTS. UM, WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON THIS ISSUE?
[03:49:53] >> YEAH. AND WE'LL DO BOTH THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE
[03:49:56] RECOGNIZE YOU AS WELL. THIS BILL DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO
[03:50:00] UNDERMINE THE LAWS. STATES HAVE PASSED. PROTECTING WOMEN'S
[03:50:03] SPORTS. YOU'RE RIGHT THAT SOME CONSERVATIVE GROUPS RAISE THOSE
[03:50:07] CONCERNS. WE MADE MODIFICATIONS TO THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE CLEAR, WE LEAVE THAT ISSUE TO THE
[03:50:11] STATES. THIS BILL DOES NOTHING TO IMPACT THAT ONE WAY OR THE
[03:50:14] OTHER. THAT IS A VERY DELIBERATE DECISION TO LEAVE THE DECISION
[03:50:17] TO THE STATES HOW TO HANDLE THAT ISSUE. AND GO AHEAD.
[03:50:20] >> CAN IF THIS IS PASSED, HOW
[03:50:23] QUICKLY WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? AND IF IT FALLS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS FOR YOU?
[03:50:27] AND JUST ON SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU'VE CAMPAIGNED ON THAT I'VE
[03:50:30] JUST SEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP TRUTH
[03:50:31] SOCIAL ABOUT, HE SAYS THAT ALL
[03:50:34] THE WARNINGS ABOUT THE DIRE
[03:50:36] IMPACT AI CAN HAVE ON HUMANITY ARE A HOAX. I WONDERED IF YOU AGREE.
[03:50:40] >> SO ON THE LATTER, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON COLLEGE
[03:50:43] SPORTS. SO BUT I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT AI WALKING DOWN THE HALL. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT ANOTHER
[03:50:47] TIME. UH, I WILL SAY THAT THE TIMELINE, IF WE PASS IT, IT WILL
[03:50:51] GO OVER TO THE HOUSE. AND I EXPECT THAT THE HOUSE WILL TAKE
[03:50:54] IT UP AND VOTE ON IT QUICKLY. MY OBJECTIVE IS TO GET IT TO THE
[03:50:58] PRESIDENT FOR SIGNATURE AS, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. OBVIOUSLY,
[03:51:01] THE SCHOOL YEAR JUST STARTED. YOU'VE GOT A HALF MILLION
[03:51:04] COLLEGE ATHLETES THAT WOULD LIKE
[03:51:07] THE CERTAINTY OF HAVING HAVING
[03:51:10] COLLEGE SPORTS PROTECTED, AND I WOULD EXPECT THE IMPACT TO BE IMMEDIATE. SENATOR CANTWELL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING.
[03:51:13] >> TO ADD? WELL, IT'S LOOK, THESE STATISTICS AND WE'LL HAVE
[03:51:17] A REPORT COMING OUT TOMORROW TO SHOW THE COST AND IMPACT. BUT
[03:51:20] HAVING RECRUITMENT COSTS GO UP
[03:51:23] 300% AND HAVING MOST ATHLETIC
[03:51:27] DEPARTMENTS NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET IS HAVING DEVASTATING
[03:51:31] IMPACTS. WE ARE CUTTING
[03:51:32] PROFESSORS, WE ARE CUTTING
[03:51:35] PROGRAMS, WE ARE CUTTING STUDENT ATHLETE ROSTER SLOTS. AND
[03:51:39] THAT'S NOT WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IF WE'RE GOING TO COMPETE WITH CHINA, IF WE'RE GOING TO
[03:51:43] COMPETE AND USE THE PROWESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN TECHNOLOGY
[03:51:47] AND NEXT GENERATION MANUFACTURING, THEN WE CAN'T BE
[03:51:50] CUTTING PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE HAVE
[03:51:52] A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
[03:51:55] CREATING, UH, AN ARMS RACE,
[03:51:57] BASICALLY ILLEGALLY IN COLLEGE
[03:52:01] SPORTS. NOW, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE
[03:52:03] BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND SAY THAT YOU'RE
[03:52:07] GOING TO FUND IT. BUT THESE ARE
[03:52:10] REAL RULES IN PLACE THAT SAY THAT YOU HAVE YOUR NIL RIGHTS.
[03:52:13] BUT IF YOU'RE PART OF THE INSTITUTION AND REVENUE SHARING,
[03:52:16] IT HAS TO BE THROUGH THESE RULES
[03:52:18] OF THIS BILL. SO THAT WILL STOP
[03:52:21] A LOT OF WHAT HAS BEEN THIS
[03:52:23] OUTRAGEOUS ESCALATION OF COLLEGE SPORTS COSTS.
[03:52:27] >> AND I'LL JUST SAY, FINALLY, I WANT US ONCE AGAIN TO THANK THESE AMAZING COACHES AND THESE
[03:52:31] AMAZING ATHLETES AND THE
[03:52:32] ATHLETES ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY
[03:52:37] THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR. >> [APPLAUSE]
[03:52:38] >> ALL RIGHT.
[03:52:42] >> AND SENATE LAWMAKERS NOW
[03:52:43] VOTING ON WHETHER TO ADVANCE A
[03:52:46] BIPARTISAN STUDENT ATHLETES COMPENSATION BILL, COAUTHORED BY
[03:52:49] COMMERCE COMMITTEE CHAIR TED CRUZ AND RANKING DEMOCRAT MARIA
[03:52:52] CANTWELL. THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT SEEKS TO SET
[03:52:56] STANDARDS FOR PAYING STUDENT ATHLETES FOR RIGHTS TO THEIR
[03:52:59] NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS. 60 VOTES ARE NEEDED TO ADVANCE THE
[03:53:02] BILL. EARLIER TODAY, THE SENATE FAILED TO ADVANCE A CRYPTO
[03:53:06] DIGITAL ASSETS REGULATION BILL.
[03:53:08] THIS IS LIVE, GAVEL TO GAVEL
[03:53:11] SENATE COVERAGE HERE ON C-SPAN.
[03:53:13] TWO.
[03:53:16] >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
[03:53:20] WELL, GAME TIME. WE ARE ABOUT READY TO TAKE UP A BILL,
[03:53:23] POTENTIALLY. UM, THAT DEALS WITH
[03:53:27] A SITUATION THAT I THINK SHOULD BE AND IS NEAR AND DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF ALL OF OUR
[03:53:31] CONSTITUENTS. AND THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE. THIS IS ABOUT A
[03:53:35] UNIQUELY AMERICAN INSTITUTION,
[03:53:38] COLLEGE, SPORTS, COLLEGE SPORTS
[03:53:40] ARE AT A TIPPING POINT IN A PLACE THAT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN
[03:53:44] BEFORE, BECAUSE OVER THE LAST
[03:53:47] DECADE OR SO, OVER THE COURSE OF
[03:53:50] LITIGATION, NO RULES CAN BE
[03:53:54] ENFORCED. NOW, I WOULD FREELY ADMIT THAT THE OLD SYSTEM HAD
[03:53:57] ITS CHALLENGES TO THE IDEA THAT
[03:54:00] ATHLETES COULDN'T BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS. I THINK THAT WAS
[03:54:04] WRONG. THAT HAS BEEN RECTIFIED.
[03:54:07] BUT WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS A SYSTEM
[03:54:10] THAT IS UNSTABLE AND THREATENS, IN PARTICULAR, WOMEN'S SPORTS
[03:54:12] AND OLYMPIC SPORTS. IN THE LONG
[03:54:15] TERM, FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. UH, THE BUSINESS MODEL,
[03:54:19] EFFECTIVELY, OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS WAS, WAS COLLEGE FOOTBALL SUBSIDIZED. ALL THE
[03:54:23] OTHER NON-REVENUE SPORTS. BASKETBALL IS ESSENTIALLY A
[03:54:26] BREAK EVEN PROPOSITION FOR THE MOST PART, MAYBE MAKES A LITTLE MONEY. BUT ALL THOSE OTHER
[03:54:30] SPORTS AND THE 500,000 STUDENT
[03:54:34] ATHLETES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT
[03:54:36] HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE, TO LEARN WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE
[03:54:39] THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT, THAT
[03:54:42] GRIT, SHOW UP ON TIME, PERSEVERE, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
[03:54:45] WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. YOU KNOW, I HAD THE
[03:54:48] OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN COLLEGE AND, AND THROUGHOUT MY LIFE
[03:54:52] BEFORE THAT, UH, AND WHAT'S LEFT OF THAT IS THE CONGRESSIONAL
[03:54:56] BASEBALL TEAM. I GUESS. BUT WHEN
[03:54:59] YOU'RE ON A TEAM, YOU WANT TO
[03:55:03] WIN, AND YOU WANT TO WIN WITH YOUR TEAMMATES. AND FOR ME, I DIDN'T CARE WHERE THEY CAME
[03:55:07] FROM, WHAT THE RACE WAS, WHAT THEIR RELIGION WAS. WE WERE A TEAM. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT
[03:55:11] OF REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP LESSONS THAT COME
[03:55:13] FROM THAT, AND THAT IS AT RISK. NOW, SOME MIGHT SAY THE STANDS
[03:55:16] ARE FULL. UM, YOU KNOW, REVENUES
[03:55:20] ARE ROBUST. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE. BUT THE REALITY IS WE'VE
[03:55:24] ENTERED INTO THIS NEW PHASE WITH SOMETHING MISSING, A GOVERNING
[03:55:27] BODY THAT CAN ESTABLISH AND
[03:55:32] ENFORCE RULES. AND THAT'S WHERE THIS, THAT'S AT THE HEART OF WHAT THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS
[03:55:35] ACT IS ALL ABOUT, IS TO GRANT
[03:55:41] LIMITED ANTITRUST EXEMPTION STATUS FOR GOVERNING BODY, THE
[03:55:43] NCAA TO ENFORCE RULES, MEANING
[03:55:47] FIVE YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY. I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK IT'S
[03:55:51] NUTS THAT YOU HAVE 27 YEAR OLDS RIGHT NOW COMPETING WITH 17 YEAR
[03:55:55] OLDS. I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK IT'S NUTS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
[03:55:59] SOMEBODY TRANSFER FOUR TIMES. WELL, GUESS WHAT? GRADUATION
[03:56:02] RATES ARE PLUMMETING. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IF YOU'RE
[03:56:06] THE SECOND STRING QUARTERBACK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU GET AN
[03:56:09] OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY, UM, AT LOUISVILLE OR WHEREVER THAT YOU
[03:56:12] SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE ONE TIME. BUT THE CHAOS, IF YOU TALK TO
[03:56:16] PEOPLE, ANY COACHES AND EVEN PLAYERS, BY THE WAY, WHO
[03:56:19] TESTIFIED, UH, THIS IS NOT A
[03:56:21] GOOD SITUATION. IT'S COMPLETELY
[03:56:24] UNSTABLE. UM, PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON TWEETS AND
[03:56:28] INJUNCTIONS THAT MAY COME DOWN ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. YOU'VE
[03:56:31] SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
[03:56:34] WEEKS, PEOPLE WHO WENT
[03:56:37] PROFESSIONAL, COMING BACK TO
[03:56:40] COMPETE ON A TEAM WHERE SOMEBODY
[03:56:43] HAD SPENT, YOU KNOW, OR 18 YEARS
[03:56:46] OLD, HAD SPENT THE, THE FALL CAMP GETTING READY FOR THE
[03:56:48] SEASON AND MAYBE DISPLACED NONE
[03:56:52] OF THOSE PROBLEMS, NONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO GO AWAY.
[03:56:55] AND I THINK WE'RE IN A RARE MOMENT HERE IN THIS CHAMBER
[03:56:59] WHERE WE'RE AT A TIME FOR
[03:57:03] CHOOSING NO MORE ROUNDTABLES. UH, NO MORE. NO MORE
[03:57:06] HYPOTHETICALS. THIS IS WHAT WE
[03:57:07] GET PAID TO DO TO TRY TO SOLVE
[03:57:12] HARD PROBLEMS. WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS IT DOESN'T FALL
[03:57:15] INTO TRADITIONAL PARTIZAN CATEGORIES. THERE'S NO REAL RED JERSEY, BLUE JERSEY ON THIS
[03:57:19] THING. THIS IS IDENTIFYING WHAT
[03:57:22] THE PROBLEM IS, WORKING TOGETHER
[03:57:24] TO FIND A SOLUTION AND THERE'S A LOT OF COMPONENTS OF THIS BILL,
[03:57:28] AND I WANT TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THEM. THERE'S GOING TO BE A FEW
[03:57:31] OTHER SPEAKERS, BUT THIS WOULD
[03:57:34] PROVIDE ONE NATIONAL STANDARD FOR NIL. YOU HAVE KIND OF A
[03:57:38] PATCHWORK RIGHT NOW, STATE BY STATE. AND LET ME BE CLEAR, IN
[03:57:42] WHEN THIS BILL, OR HOPEFULLY
[03:57:46] THIS BILL PASSES IN, A STUDENT ATHLETE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GO
[03:57:49] GET AN NIL DEAL ARCH MANNING OR
[03:57:55] WHOEVER. AUSTIN SIMMONS, THE GREAT QUARTERBACK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, THEY CAN
[03:57:59] STILL GET THEIR DEAL FROM NIKE.
[03:58:00] NOTHING IN THIS BILL PROHIBITS
[03:58:03] THAT. AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME
[03:58:07] CRITICISMS FROM FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO USE SOME
[03:58:08] PRETTY, UM, WELL, I'LL LET THEM SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. THE
[03:58:12] LANGUAGE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO
[03:58:13] USE ABOUT THIS, THE REALITY IS,
[03:58:16] THROUGH THE COURSE OF LITIGATION, THERE'S SOMETHING
[03:58:20] CALLED THE HOUSE SETTLEMENT. THE HOUSE SETTLEMENT ESTABLISHED A
[03:58:22] REVENUE SHARING SYSTEM WITH A
[03:58:24] CAP OF WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY $21.5
[03:58:28] MILLION RIGHT NOW. OKAY. THERE
[03:58:31] ARE SOME FOOTBALL TEAMS RIGHT
[03:58:32] NOW THAT SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS.
[03:58:35] UH, THAT HAVE A FOOTBALL ROSTER
[03:58:39] VALUED AT OVER 40 MILLION. HOW IS THIS HAPPENING? BECAUSE THAT
[03:58:42] CAP DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. NOBODY CAN ENFORCE ANYTHING. THEY'RE WORKING AROUND THE CAP.
[03:58:46] SO WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO IS
[03:58:48] SET IN STATUTE THAT CAP PLUS A
[03:58:55] RETENTION POOL NUMBER OF 22.5 MILLION, AND A $5 MILLION
[03:58:59] NUMBER. THAT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST THE CAP. IF IT GOES TO
[03:59:01] WOMEN'S SPORTS. SO IF ANYBODY TELLS YOU WE'RE TAKING MONEY
[03:59:04] OUT OF THE SYSTEM, WE'RE NOT
[03:59:07] ACTUALLY, WE'RE ENSURING THAT THIS MARKETPLACE STILL EXISTS,
[03:59:10] BUT WITH GUARDRAILS, WITH SOME STABILITY, WITH SOME CERTAINTY.
[03:59:14] THE IDEA THAT SOMEBODY COULD,
[03:59:16] YOU KNOW, THIS THIS SEMESTER BY
[03:59:20] SEMESTER THING, ROSTER TURNOVER
[03:59:21] THAT WE'VE SEEN FOR FANS IS A
[03:59:25] CHALLENGING THING FOR PLAYERS. THEY SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE, BUT NOT EVERY YEAR. IF YOU
[03:59:29] ASK SOMEBODY, WHAT'S THEIR HONEST OPINION ABOUT THIS,
[03:59:33] THAT'S IT'S RIDICULOUS. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU'RE LOSING MONEY ON YOUR FOOTBALL
[03:59:36] PROGRAM, OR ALL OF YOUR MONEY IS GOING TO YOUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM,
[03:59:40] YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SUBSIDIZE
[03:59:42] WOMEN'S TENNIS ANYMORE, OR EVEN BASEBALL, MEN'S BASEBALL. MEN'S BASEBALL DOESN'T GENERATE
[03:59:46] REVENUE FOR 99% OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE. SO THE MENU
[03:59:48] WILL SHRINK THE OPPORTUNITIES
[03:59:51] FOR THOSE 500,000 STUDENT ATHLETES, WHATEVER THEIR COLOR
[03:59:55] IS, THAT WILL SHRINK THAT NUMBER
[03:59:57] WILL SHRINK. IF WE DON'T DO
[03:59:59] SOMETHING. IF YOU HAD ASKED ME A
[04:00:02] FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT WHETHER CONGRESS SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN THIS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY,
[04:00:06] VERY SKEPTICAL I AM A FAN FIRST
[04:00:10] AND FOREMOST, AS I COME TO THIS,
[04:00:13] AND I'VE TRIED TO TAKE LOOK AT THIS AS A LAWYER, LOOK AT THIS AS A LAWMAKER. LOOK AT THIS AS A
[04:00:17] FAN. WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS THAT
[04:00:21] ARE NECESSARY? AND WHAT WE'RE
[04:00:23] DOING HERE IS SOMETHING THAT
[04:00:25] THIS BODY, THIS CONGRESS, IS THE
[04:00:27] ONLY ENTITY ON THE PLANET CAN
[04:00:31] DO. NOBODY ELSE. THE CONFERENCES CAN TRY TO ENFORCE THEIR OWN
[04:00:35] RULES. DID IT WITH SOME SUCCESS RECENTLY WITH THE PRO SITUATION
[04:00:39] IN THE SEC, IN THE BIG TEN. BUT
[04:00:43] IF THIS STUFF IS CHALLENGED, THEY HAVE NO LEGAL ABILITY
[04:00:45] BECAUSE OF OUR ANTITRUST LAWS TO ACTUALLY ENFORCE THESE RULES. SO WE'RE GIVING THAT LIMITED
[04:00:49] ANTITRUST PROTECTION TO ENFORCE
[04:00:52] ELIGIBILITY AT FIVE YEARS TO
[04:00:55] ENFORCE THE ONE TIME TRANSFER. I
[04:00:59] THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. THAT
[04:01:00] ABILITY TO ENFORCE THOSE RULES, THE ATHLETES. LET'S TALK ABOUT
[04:01:04] THE STUDENT ATHLETES FOR A SECOND. NOT ONLY IS THAT MARKET THEN ESTABLISHED, THAT IS WHERE
[04:01:08] IT IS RIGHT NOW. NOW, I WILL TELL YOU, MAYBE THE ONE GROUP
[04:01:10] THAT DOESN'T LIKE THIS ARE THE
[04:01:12] SPORTS AGENTS, THE RICH SPORTS
[04:01:15] AGENTS WHO WEAR GUCCI SUITS AND ALLIGATOR SHOES. THEY MAY NOT LIKE THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO
[04:01:20] RULES FOR AGENTS RIGHT NOW. AN AGENT CAN CHARGE 30% ON AN 18
[04:01:24] YEAR OLD, AND IN SOME INSTANCES,
[04:01:26] HAVE. I'VE HEARD THEIR LIFETIME
[04:01:29] EARNINGS. THAT IS NUTS. THE
[04:01:33] PERCENTAGE AN AGENT GETS IN THE NFL IS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. THE
[04:01:36] LOW SINGLE DIGITS. PEOPLE ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. A
[04:01:40] BUDDY IN A CLASSROOM MIGHT GET YOU A BETTER DEAL. IF YOU GO TO
[04:01:43] WISCONSIN. WELL, GUESS WHAT? IT WASN'T A BETTER SITUATION. MAYBE DIDN'T END UP THERE. YOU.
[04:01:47] MAYBE YOU ENDED UP WITH LESS MONEY. THAT AGENT, OR YOUR
[04:01:49] FRIEND, OR THE HANGAR OWNER, HE DOESN'T CARE. HE GOT HIS CUT.
[04:01:53] SO THIS BILL ESTABLISHES RULES
[04:01:56] FOR AGENTS TO GET RID OF THE SCAMMERS AND THE FRAUDSTERS WHO
[04:01:59] ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR
[04:02:00] STUDENT ATHLETES. AND AS I
[04:02:03] MENTIONED, CAN STILL GET YOUR
[04:02:05] OWN NIL DEAL OUTSIDE OF THE REV
[04:02:08] SHARE NUMBER. BUT IT HAS TO BE FOR LEGITIMATE BUSINESS PURPOSE.
[04:02:12] THERE ARE EXAMPLE AFTER EXAMPLE WHERE THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE
[04:02:16] CASE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHY YOU HAVE THIS INFLUX. AND IF YOU THINK FOR A MOMENT, WESTERN
[04:02:19] KENTUCKY CAN COMPETE WITH OHIO
[04:02:22] STATE IN THE LONG TERM, YOU'RE FOOLING YOURSELF. EVEN SCHOOL,
[04:02:26] EVEN HONESTLY, SCHOOLS, SOME WITHIN THE POWER FOUR, WITHIN
[04:02:30] THOSE PARTICULAR CONFERENCES, IT CREATES A GREAT DISPARITY. WHAT
[04:02:32] FANS REALLY WANT IS PARITY. THIS
[04:02:36] HELPS ESTABLISH THAT IT HELPS CREATE A STRUCTURE BY WHICH
[04:02:38] TEAMS CAN COMPETE. IT RESTORES
[04:02:41] TRUST, UH, STRUCTURE TO THAT TRANSFER PORTAL. I THINK THE
[04:02:44] THING THAT PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE SEE, I'VE LEARNED A LOT OF
[04:02:48] WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT WHAT PEOPLE SEE
[04:02:51] FRONT AND CENTER IS PROBABLY THE TRANSFERS, WHERE AN ENTIRE
[04:02:54] DEFENSE IS GONE, OR AN ENTIRE OFFENSE IS GONE. I'M TALKING A LOT ABOUT FOOTBALL. JUST BECAUSE WE'RE IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON.
[04:02:58] THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE MOST PEOPLE SEE. IT'S THE SECOND MOST
[04:03:01] POPULAR SPORT IN THIS COUNTRY. AND WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT
[04:03:05] THAT, IT'S WORTH MENTIONING. THE BILL FOR THE FIRST TIME
[04:03:08] PROVIDES THE OPTION. THE OPTION
[04:03:12] FOR CONFERENCES TO POOL THEIR METEORITES. IT'S TOTALLY VOLUNTARY. IF THE SEC BIG TEN
[04:03:16] DON'T WANT TO DO IT, IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT
[04:03:20] COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS ABOUT 4 BILLION. ALL IN. THE NBA HAS
[04:03:23] HALF THE AUDIENCE. IT'S 8 BILLION. ALL IN. PART OF THE
[04:03:25] REASON FOR THAT IS THEY'RE
[04:03:28] NEGOTIATING ONE UNIFIED RIGHTS DEAL. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE
[04:03:32] CONFERENCES TO HAVE A UNIFIED RIGHTS DEAL IF THEY WANT TO. AND THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE, THE
[04:03:36] BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND
[04:03:37] BILLIONS AND BILLIONS MORE, CAN BE USED TO PROTECT WOMEN'S
[04:03:41] SPORTS AND OLYMPIC SPORTS THAT ARE AT RISK. AND IF YOU TALK TO
[04:03:44] ANYBODY THAT ACTUALLY KNOWS THIS STUFF, THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT
[04:03:47] THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE TO BE LIMITED. THEY'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO COMPLY WITH TITLE NINE,
[04:03:50] BUT THEY'LL DO A ONE FOR ONE
[04:03:52] REDUCTION IN SPORTS. SO I
[04:03:57] MENTIONED THE YOU'VE GOT THE, THE REV SHARE POOL, YOU'VE GOT
[04:04:00] THE RETENTION POOL, YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY, THE 5 MILLION THAT
[04:04:03] DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST THAT CAP. IF IT'S FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS, I
[04:04:07] THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WITH THIS BILL THAT
[04:04:10] I'VE TALKED TO A TON OF COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
[04:04:13] AISLE ABOUT. THIS IS NOT A
[04:04:17] PERFECT BILL. I PROBABLY HAVE NEVER VOTED FOR A PERFECT BILL.
[04:04:20] I'VE FILED PERFECT BILLS, MR. PRESIDENT, I FILED A LOT OF
[04:04:24] PERFECT BILLS, BUT VOTING ON PERFECT BILLS IS A DIFFERENT
[04:04:27] MATTER. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE
[04:04:31] THINGS, SOME THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THIS BILL THAT I DON'T LIKE,
[04:04:34] ACTUALLY. BUT ON BALANCE, THE
[04:04:37] TIME HAS COME FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO DO SOMETHING
[04:04:41] THAT IT ACTUALLY RARELY DOES,
[04:04:47] WHICH IS TO MEET THE MOMENT WE
[04:04:51] ARE AT A MOMENT THIS HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF EVERY CONFERENCE,
[04:04:55] ALL THE SCHOOLS, THE NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, STUDENT ATHLETES
[04:04:58] THAT HAVE COME HERE. LEGENDARY
[04:05:02] COACHES WHO'VE SEEN THE CHANGES
[04:05:08] HBCUS, THE SWAC CONFERENCE, THE
[04:05:11] SEC, THE BIG TEN, ALL OF THEM.
[04:05:13] THEY ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS
[04:05:18] A CHOICE. NOW, A BINARY CHOICE,
[04:05:21] WHICH IS TO DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT THE MAJOR ISSUES AND
[04:05:24] PROVIDE STABILITY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY COLLEGE
[04:05:27] ATHLETICS, WHICH, LIKE I SAID, WHAT WE GET TO ENJOY ON A
[04:05:31] SATURDAY AFTERNOON OR, OR WHENEVER A GAME IS BEING PLAYED. I'VE GOT TWO DAUGHTERS. I THINK
[04:05:35] IT'S GREAT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH WOMEN'S SPORTS. THAT
[04:05:38] DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. IT IS A UNIQUELY
[04:05:41] AMERICAN INSTITUTION. WE CAN DO
[04:05:43] THAT, OR WE CAN FIND SOME REASON
[04:05:46] TO NOT SUPPORT IT. WE CAN
[04:05:51] GRANDSTAND AND TRY TO PRETEND THAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR
[04:05:53] SOMEBODY THAT'S BEING LEFT OUT
[04:05:55] OF THIS. BUT THE TRUTH IS, THIS
[04:06:00] BILL WILL SOLVE A TON OF
[04:06:01] PROBLEMS THAT ARE SO OBVIOUS.
[04:06:04] YOU'D HAVE TO BE NOT PAYING
[04:06:06] ATTENTION OR NOT WANT TO NOTICE.
[04:06:09] AND SO I THINK THAT, UH, COLLEGE
[04:06:11] ATHLETES ARE PROTECTED. OUR
[04:06:16] SPORTS THAT FANS LOVE ARE
[04:06:20] PROTECTED. IT'S BECOME COLLEGE
[04:06:21] SPORTS HAS BECOME, IN SOME WAYS,
[04:06:25] A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE. I DON'T,
[04:06:28] I DON'T THINK IT'S STRIPPED OF
[04:06:29] WHAT BEEN STRIPPED OF LOYALTY,
[04:06:34] CONTINUITY, THE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FANS AND
[04:06:36] THEIR TEAMS. THIS BILL REESTABLISHES THAT WITH STILL
[04:06:40] GIVING STUDENT ATHLETES A LOT OF
[04:06:41] OPTIONS. I ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY
[04:06:47] SOMETHING ABOUT. WHAT SPORTS
[04:06:49] MEANS TO OUR CONSTITUENTS I WOULD SAY, CULTURALLY, WE DO A
[04:06:53] LOT OF THINGS UP HERE THAT BACK HOME, PEOPLE WONDER, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHAT ARE YOU
[04:06:57] DOING? I DON'T THIS IS A CULTURAL ISSUE. THIS IS
[04:07:00] SOMETHING THAT OUR FOLKS BACK
[04:07:01] HOME DO CARE ABOUT. AND I THINK
[04:07:06] THEY WANT TO KNOW. THEY WANT TO
[04:07:08] KNOW WHEN WE SEE IT, WHEN
[04:07:11] EVERYBODY SEES THE CHALLENGES AND THE CHAOS. THAT WE CAN WORK
[04:07:15] TOGETHER TO GET SOMETHING DONE. I THINK, I THINK AT THE HEART OF
[04:07:17] IT, RESTORING FAITH THAT THIS
[04:07:20] BODY CAN ACT IN A WAY THAT TAKES
[04:07:25] A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS
[04:07:28] AND INDIVIDUALS, AND GET TO A PLACE WHERE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION LIKE THIS CAN GET
[04:07:32] ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. I WANT TO THANK, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOK,
[04:07:36] THE BILL IS BEFORE YOU, BUT SENATOR CANTWELL FROM THE STATE
[04:07:40] OF WASHINGTON HAS DONE A TON OF GREAT WORK ON THIS. UM, SENATOR
[04:07:42] CRUZ FROM TEXAS. I MEAN, THE THREE OF US HAVE SPENT A LOT OF
[04:07:45] TIME TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, GETTING INPUT, MAKING CHANGES,
[04:07:49] TRYING TO MAKE THE BILL BETTER.
[04:07:51] AND, UM, I JUST DON'T THINK WE
[04:07:54] CAN PRETEND INACTION, UM, IS A,
[04:08:00] IS A SATISFYING ANSWER HERE. SO
[04:08:04] WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS TO,
[04:08:06] TO PROCEED TO THIS BILL. AND I
[04:08:11] HOPE THAT WE DO IT. WE'RE GOING
[04:08:13] TO GET ONE SHOT AT THIS. WE'RE
[04:08:15] GOING TO GET ONE SHOT. AND I
[04:08:20] DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT NOSTRADAMUS. NOBODY IN HERE IS.
[04:08:22] I DON'T KNOW THAT WE EVER WILL
[04:08:25] AGAIN ANYTIME SOON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
[04:08:28] AND WHENEVER I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS. BUT WE GOT A MOMENT
[04:08:32] HERE, LIKE I SAID, THAT WE CAN
[04:08:36] MEET AND ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO
[04:08:40] PUT IT, YOU WANT TO TAKE A STEP
[04:08:41] BACK. I THINK THIS VOTE, THIS
[04:08:44] BILL, WILL DEFINE THE TRAJECTORY
[04:08:48] OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS FOR DECADES. AND THAT DOESN'T COME.
[04:08:52] THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY THAT WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH,
[04:08:56] WITH THOSE KIND OF ISSUES, WITH A SOLUTION IN FRONT OF US THAT
[04:09:00] HAS BEEN WORKED ON IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO TRY TO SOLVE
[04:09:03] THESE ISSUES, TO PROTECT AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION, COLLEGE
[04:09:07] SPORTS. WITH THAT, MR.
[04:09:08] PRESIDENT, I YIELD BACK.
[04:09:12] >> I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT
[04:09:17] THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS AND AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES.
[04:09:20] CONGRESS IS BEING ASKED ASKED TO
[04:09:21] TAKE ACTION TO SAVE COLLEGE
[04:09:24] SPORTS. WELL, AS WE CONSIDER WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO SAVE
[04:09:28] COLLEGE SPORTS, WE BETTER MAKE
[04:09:31] SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON SAVING IT FOR AMERICAN STUDENT
[04:09:34] ATHLETES FOR GENERATIONS,
[04:09:37] COLLEGE SPORTS HAVE BECOME A
[04:09:39] PART OF CULTURE, PARTICULARLY IN
[04:09:41] A STATE LIKE OHIO. A LOT OF STATES LOVE THEIR COLLEGE
[04:09:45] SPORTS. IT'S PART OF AMERICAN
[04:09:49] CULTURE. I. AND IT IS, AN
[04:09:53] IMPORTANT PART OF CAMPUS LIFE FOR MANY AMERICAN STUDENTS. AND
[04:09:56] WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
[04:09:58] REMAINS THE CASE. BUT SPORTS
[04:10:01] MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. SO
[04:10:05] MANY OF AMERICA'S LEADERS HAVE A SPORTS BACKGROUND, WHETHER THAT'S IN POLITICS, BUSINESS,
[04:10:09] OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. FOR
[04:10:13] OBVIOUS REASONS. IT HELPS YOU
[04:10:16] BUILD CHARACTER, MAKES YOU TOUGHER. YOU LEARN DISCIPLINE,
[04:10:20] TEAMWORK, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE VIRTUOUS, PARTS OF
[04:10:23] SUCCEEDING IN LIFE. I KNOW THIS
[04:10:26] FIRSTHAND. I GREW UP, UH, VERY
[04:10:29] RURAL AND WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN
[04:10:32] A SMALL TOWN. AND, UM, NO ONE IN
[04:10:36] MY FAMILY HAD ATTENDED COLLEGE
[04:10:41] NO ONE. AND, UM, THE ONLY THING
[04:10:42] I WANTED TO DO AS A KID IS THAT
[04:10:45] I WANTED TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL. I GOT TO WATCH THE
[04:10:49] OHIO STATE BUCKEYES AND, AND
[04:10:53] EVEN ONE OF, UH, THE NOTRE DAME
[04:10:55] FIGHTING IRISH WATCHED HIM WHEN YOU WERE A KID ON TV AND YOU
[04:10:58] SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T
[04:11:00] KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GO PLAY COLLEGE
[04:11:04] FOOTBALL. AND THAT'S WHAT GOT ME
[04:11:06] INTERESTED IN GOING TO COLLEGE,
[04:11:09] BECAUSE I WANTED TO PLAY COLLEGE
[04:11:11] FOOTBALL. I LITERALLY DIDN'T KNOW A PERSON WHO HAD GONE TO
[04:11:15] COLLEGE OTHER THAN MY TEACHERS
[04:11:20] AND COACHES. ANYBODY, BUT I
[04:11:23] WANTED TO GO TO COLLEGE BECAUSE
[04:11:26] I WANTED TO PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS.
[04:11:29] AND IF YOU WANT TO PLAY COLLEGE
[04:11:33] SPORTS, THE PATHWAY TO DEVELOPING YOU AS A HUMAN BEING
[04:11:37] STARTS LONG BEFORE YOU GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, BECAUSE IF YOU
[04:11:40] WANT TO PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS, YOU
[04:11:43] GOT TO PREPARE. FROM THE TIME
[04:11:47] THAT YOU PLAY LITTLE LEAGUE
[04:11:50] BASEBALL, OR MAYBE NOW YOUTH
[04:11:54] SOCCER, YOUTH BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, WHATEVER YOUR SPORT IS, YOU START TO DEVELOP
[04:11:58] YOURSELF, YOUR CHARACTER AS A
[04:11:59] YOUNG PERSON WITH THAT GOAL IN
[04:12:02] MIND THAT ONE DAY, MAYBE YOU CAN
[04:12:06] GO PLAY FOR THAT >> TEAM THAT YOU DREAMED OF WHEN
[04:12:08] YOU WERE A LITTLE KID. FOR ME, I
[04:12:14] ENDED UP PLAYING FOOTBALL AT THE
[04:12:14] UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON. I WAS A. I
[04:12:19] WAS A HIGHLY PRIZED RECRUIT. I WAS THE SEVENTH TEAM RUNNING
[04:12:23] BACK. WHEN I GOT THERE. I BET MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THAT
[04:12:26] YOU COULD BE THAT LOW ON THE DEPTH CHART. I ACTUALLY ACTUALLY
[04:12:30] WAS THAT LOW ON THE DEPTH CHART
[04:12:35] AND, UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE, THE EQUIPMENT MANAGER
[04:12:38] DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GIVE ME A JERSEY NUMBER THAT I COULD BE A RUNNING BACK BECAUSE HE SAID I
[04:12:41] WAS NEVER GOING TO PLAY THERE
[04:12:46] BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT IF YOU DEVELOP THAT CHARACTER THAT
[04:12:50] YOU GET FROM SPORTS LIKE FOOTBALL, WHERE YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN AND YOU GOT TO GET BACK UP,
[04:12:54] YOU LEARN NEVER TO QUIT. THAT'S
[04:12:58] WHY SPORTS ARE SO SUCH AN
[04:12:59] IMPORTANT PART OF PEOPLE'S
[04:13:03] LIVES. AND FOR ME, UH, THAT
[04:13:05] RESILIENCE PAID OFF BECAUSE
[04:13:08] LATER I ENDED UP HAVING THE
[04:13:10] OPPORTUNITY TO BE A STARTING DEFENSIVE BACK, EVENTUALLY
[04:13:13] BECAME A NATIONAL CHAMPION. AND
[04:13:16] AN ALL AMERICAN. UH, I WOULD
[04:13:20] NEVER HAVE DEVELOPED THAT CHARACTER WITHOUT THE
[04:13:23] OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SPORTS. AND
[04:13:25] I TELL YOU TODAY, THERE'S NO WAY I'D BE STANDING HERE AS A
[04:13:28] U.S. SENATOR IF IT WEREN'T FOR
[04:13:31] COLLEGE ATHLETES, ATHLETICS,
[04:13:33] GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP
[04:13:36] MYSELF FROM A KID WHO GREW UP WHERE THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT WENT TO COLLEGE, TO
[04:13:41] SOMEBODY WHO NOT ONLY GRADUATED,
[04:13:41] BUT GOT A CHANCE TO SUCCEED IN
[04:13:45] ATHLETICS. AND, UM, I WANT THAT FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY. I WANT EVERY KID, LITTLE KID WHO
[04:13:49] HAS A DREAM OF GOING TO PLAY
[04:13:54] ATHLETICS. THAT'S ON THE TENNIS TEAM, THE GOLF TEAM, HOCKEY,
[04:13:57] WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY HAVE
[04:13:59] THE CHANCE TO DO THAT. BUT
[04:14:02] INCREASINGLY, AMERICAN STUDENT
[04:14:04] ATHLETES ARE BEING DENIED THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE MORE AND
[04:14:07] MORE ROSTER SPOTS ARE GOING TO
[04:14:13] STUDENT ATHLETES WHO, FROM OTHER
[04:14:16] NATIONS. WHILE THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT TAKES A
[04:14:19] MATERIAL STEP TOWARDS MAKING OUR
[04:14:22] NATION'S COLLEGE SPORTS LEAGUES
[04:14:25] COMPETITIVE AGAIN, ONE CRITICAL OMISSION EXISTS IN IT. IT
[04:14:28] DOESN'T LOOK OUT FOR AMERICAN
[04:14:31] STUDENT ATHLETES IN THEIR
[04:14:34] ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC JOURNEYS
[04:14:37] AS I SAID, MORE SCHOLARSHIPS, AND IN THIS CASE, ROSTER SPOTS.
[04:14:41] I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SCHOLARSHIP. I'M TALKING ABOUT
[04:14:43] A ROSTER SPOT, A CHANCE TO PLAY.
[04:14:47] ARE GOING TO NON-AMERICANS. AND
[04:14:50] THERE'S NO INCENTIVE FOR COLLEGES TO PRIORITIZE AMERICAN
[04:14:53] STUDENT ATHLETES. AND WITH THE
[04:14:55] NIL FUNDS THAT ARE COMING IN, IT'S GOING TO CREATE A BIGGER
[04:14:59] AND BIGGER INCENTIVE FOR PRO
[04:15:02] ATHLETES FROM OTHER NATIONS TO
[04:15:04] COME PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS IN AMERICA AND TAKE ROSTER SPOTS
[04:15:08] AWAY FROM AMERICAN CITIZENS.
[04:15:10] THESE TAXPAYER FUNDED
[04:15:14] INSTITUTIONS SHOULD PRIORITIZE AMERICAN STUDENTS. AND ADDITIONALLY, THE PROTECT
[04:15:17] COLLEGE SPORTS ACT FAILS TO
[04:15:19] ADDRESS THE GRAY AREA CREATED BY THE OVERLAP IN IMMIGRATION LAW
[04:15:23] AND REVENUE SHARING STRUCTURES. STUDENT ATHLETES OFTEN COME TO
[04:15:27] THE UNITED STATES UNDER F-1 VISA
[04:15:27] STATUS. THESE. VISA STATUS. THIS VISA STATUS HAS STRICT
[04:15:32] LIMITATIONS ON COMPENSATION
[04:15:34] COMPENSATION VIA EMPLOYMENT. BUT TO AVOID JEOPARDIZING VISA
[04:15:38] STATUS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES STRUCTURE PAYMENTS
[04:15:42] TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND ATHLETES AS PASSIVE INCOME. OUT
[04:15:44] OF REVENUE SHARING FUNDS AND GET
[04:15:50] AROUND THOSE PROHIBITIONS AGAIN,
[04:15:53] CREATING AN INCENTIVE FOR MORE ROSTER SPOTS AND MORE
[04:15:54] SCHOLARSHIPS TO GO TO STUDENT
[04:15:58] ATHLETES WHO ARE NOT AMERICAN
[04:16:02] CITIZENS. IT'S NOT RIGHT. IF
[04:16:07] YOU ASK CONGRESS TO PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS, YOU SHOULD BE PROTECTING IT. FOR AMERICAN
[04:16:11] STUDENT ATHLETES. AND THAT'S
[04:16:13] WHY, MR. PRESIDENT, I INTRODUCED
[04:16:15] THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR
[04:16:18] AMERICA. AMERICAN MEMBERS AND UNIVERSITY SPORTS AND ATHLETICS
[04:16:22] ACT. THE TEAM USA ACT, WITH
[04:16:25] HOUSE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE.
[04:16:27] CHAIR. WALBERG. THE TEAM USA ACT
[04:16:30] WOULD ENCOURAGE UNIVERSITIES TO
[04:16:32] PRIORITIZE AMERICAN STUDENTS WHEN RECRUITING THE BEST TALENT.
[04:16:36] AND. THE PROPOSAL PLACES A 20%
[04:16:38] CAP ON INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
[04:16:42] ROSTER SPOTS, PER SPORT. WITH DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION, SO THAT
[04:16:45] CURRENT STUDENT ATHLETES ARE NOT DISRUPTED. SO, UNDERSTAND, I'M
[04:16:49] NOT CALLING FOR A BAN WE WELCOME
[04:16:54] INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ATHLETES TO AMERICA. 20% OF THE ROSTER
[04:16:57] SPOTS. THAT'S FINE. BUT WE HAVE
[04:16:59] SOME ROSTERS IN WHICH THERE IS
[04:17:03] NOT A SINGLE UNITED STATES
[04:17:05] CITIZEN ON THAT ROSTER. AND SOME
[04:17:08] OF OUR NON-REVENUE SPORTS
[04:17:11] THAT'S NOT RIGHT. IT'S NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. WE SUPPORT
[04:17:15] COMPETITION, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE
[04:17:18] SURE THAT IT'S A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICAN STUDENT
[04:17:21] ATHLETES, BECAUSE SPORTS WERE
[04:17:24] CREATED NOT TO MAKE BIG REVENUE
[04:17:27] AND BIG MONEY FOR COLLEGE
[04:17:28] ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. THEY WERE
[04:17:32] CREATED TO BUILD CHARACTER
[04:17:35] AMONGST OUR STUDENTS IN OUR
[04:17:38] SCHOOLS, WAS DESIGNED ORIGINALLY TO TEACH. YES, WE WANT TO HAVE
[04:17:42] ACADEMICS IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE
[04:17:45] EXTRACURRICULAR ATHLETICS TO
[04:17:48] TEACH PHYSICAL FITNESS AND
[04:17:52] TOUGHNESS, LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL
[04:17:56] ABOUT. AND TO DENY,
[04:18:00] INCREASINGLY, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO AMERICAN
[04:18:02] STUDENT ATHLETES IS WRONG. AND
[04:18:07] SO. AS CONGRESS CONSIDERS THE
[04:18:09] FUTURE OF NIL AND COLLEGE SPORTS
[04:18:13] PROTECTING AMERICAN. OR PROTECTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
[04:18:16] AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES MUST
[04:18:19] COME FIRST. AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE INCREASINGLY GIVING
[04:18:23] SCHOLARSHIPS, AND. THESE LIMITED
[04:18:25] ROSTER SPOTS TO FOREIGN ATHLETES
[04:18:28] AND. THE GROWTH OF NIL MONEY ONLY CREATES MORE INCENTIVES FOR
[04:18:32] FOREIGN ATHLETES TO CASH IN ON
[04:18:35] THE AMERICAN SYSTEM AT THE
[04:18:37] EXPENSE OF STUDENT ATHLETES IN
[04:18:40] THIS COUNTRY. IF THE US CONGRESS
[04:18:43] IS BEING ASKED TO SAVE COLLEGE
[04:18:45] SPORTS, WE BETTER DARN SURE MAKE
[04:18:48] SURE THAT WE SAVE IT FOR
[04:18:49] AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES. I
[04:18:57] DON'T EXPECT GOVERNMENTS OF OTHER NATIONS TO LOOK OUT FOR
[04:19:01] AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES, BUT I
[04:19:02] SURE EXPECT THE UNITED STATES
[04:19:05] GOVERNMENT TO LOOK OUT FOR
[04:19:07] AMERICAN STUDENT ATHLETES. AND THAT'S WHY I'VE INTRODUCED THE
[04:19:10] LEGISLATION THAT'S WHY IT NEEDS
[04:19:13] TO BE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION,
[04:19:15] SO THAT AMERICAN STUDENT
[04:19:18] ATHLETES STILL HAVE THE
[04:19:21] OPPORTUNITY. LIKE LOTS OF LITTLE
[04:19:22] BOYS AND LITTLE GIRLS OUT THERE
[04:19:26] TODAY. WHO DREAM AND HAVE A DREAM OF BEING ABLE TO PLAY
[04:19:29] COLLEGE SPORTS ONE DAY,
[04:19:31] SHOULDN'T SEE THAT OPPORTUNITY
[04:19:34] GIVEN AWAY TO SOMEONE. WHO'S NOT
[04:19:41] AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WE CAN
[04:19:44] BALANCE BOTH. WE CAN FIND A WAY
[04:19:46] TO WELCOME THE BEST FROM OTHER
[04:19:52] NATIONS. AND ALSO PROTECT ROSTER SPOTS FOR AMERICAN STUDENT
[04:19:55] ATHLETES. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I YIELD THE FLOOR.
[04:19:58] >> THE SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY.
[04:20:01] >> I WANT TO SPEAK FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE PROTECT COLLEGE
[04:20:03] SPORTS ACT. I KNOW THERE'S A HANDFUL OF US, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE
[04:20:07] WHO PLAYED COLLEGE SPORTS. I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN, A
[04:20:11] PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR MY STATE, UH, ON THE SAME USA TODAY
[04:20:14] ALL-AMERICAN TEAM AS PEOPLE LIKE EMMITT SMITH, AND GOT A FULL
[04:20:18] SCHOLARSHIP IN SO MANY WAYS. LIKE MY COLLEAGUE, I AM HERE
[04:20:21] AFFORDED OPPORTUNITIES I
[04:20:22] PROBABLY WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD IF
[04:20:26] IT WASN'T FOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS. BUT WHILE A COLLEGE STUDENT AND
[04:20:28] A PLAYER, I SAW HOW UNJUST THE
[04:20:30] NCAA IS. IT IS A SERIAL
[04:20:35] MONOPOLIST CONTROLLING AN
[04:20:36] INDUSTRY OVER $15 BILLION,
[04:20:42] STRONG AND RAPIDLY GROWING. AND
[04:20:43] THE NCAA HAS A LONG RECORD OF
[04:20:47] IGNORING THE CRIES FOR JUSTICE
[04:20:47] FROM EXPLOITED COLLEGE ATHLETES.
[04:20:51] THE NCAA PROTECTS ITS MEMBERS.
[04:20:55] IT PROTECTS THE COLLEGES, AND IT HAS REPEATEDLY PUT COLLEGE
[04:20:58] ATHLETES IN HORRIBLE POSITIONS
[04:21:01] FOR GENERATIONS. BILLIONS OF
[04:21:03] DOLLARS WERE BEING MADE THAT
[04:21:06] WERE GIVING TO COACHES, AIDES.
[04:21:10] EVERYBODY WAS MAKING MONEY, BUT COLLEGE ATHLETES WEREN'T. IT
[04:21:14] WASN'T UNTIL COLLEGE ATHLETES
[04:21:16] WERE ABLE TO BEGIN TO WIN CASES
[04:21:19] IN COURT, AND STATES. SEEING THE INJUSTICES BEGAN TO CHANGE. THE
[04:21:23] LAW THAT STARTED TO SHIFT THE
[04:21:24] POWER TABLE. AND NOW THE NCAA IS
[04:21:27] COMING HERE TO THE UNITED STATES
[04:21:29] SENATE ASKING FOR SWEEPING
[04:21:33] POWERS THAT EXEMPT OUR ANTITRUST
[04:21:36] LAWS WELL, MY CONCERNS I'VE
[04:21:42] GROWN TO HAVE OVER THE YEARS ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS BILL. THIS
[04:21:46] BILL DOES NOT ENOUGH TO PROTECT
[04:21:50] COLLEGE ATHLETES HEALTH AND
[04:21:52] SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE NUMBERS OF
[04:21:55] GROUPS OPPOSED TO IT IS ALMOST
[04:21:57] TOO LONG TO READ. I'M GOING TO
[04:22:00] SUBMIT, FOR THE RECORD A FULL LIST, BUT LET ME JUST READ SOME
[04:22:02] OF THEM. EVERY COLLEGE SPORTS
[04:22:08] ATHLETES, PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS
[04:22:11] ASSOCIATION, THE UNITED COLLEGE
[04:22:15] ATHLETES ASSOCIATIONS, ALL THE ASSOCIATIONS OF COLLEGE SPORTS,
[04:22:19] ALL OUR MAJOR UNIONS, THE
[04:22:21] AFL-CIO, THE UNITED STEELWORKERS, ALL OF OUR MAJOR
[04:22:24] CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, THE
[04:22:27] NC NAACP, THE URBAN LEAGUE, ALL
[04:22:32] OF OUR MAJOR LEGAL THINK TANKS THAT PROTECT THE HEALTH,
[04:22:35] WELL-BEING, AND JUSTICE, LIKE
[04:22:36] THE CENTER FOR LAW AND POLICY. I
[04:22:40] COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THOSE
[04:22:42] PEOPLE WHO OBJECT TO THIS BILL,
[04:22:45] BECAUSE IT IS NOT PROTECTING
[04:22:49] ATHLETES. AND THINK ABOUT THIS. IT IS DOING ALL KINDS OF THINGS
[04:22:53] TO STOP PLAYERS FROM EARNING
[04:22:59] MONEY, PUTTING BUREAUCRACY BETWEEN THEM, AND THE POSSIBILITIES. BUT IT DOES
[04:23:03] NOTHING TO AFFECT COACHES. SO,
[04:23:05] IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S TREATING
[04:23:08] COLLEGE ATHLETES AS A DIFFERENT CLASS. MEANWHILE, COACHES
[04:23:12] SALARIES, OFTEN IN MOST STATES, THE HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE IN THEIR
[04:23:16] STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE THE BASKETBALL OR THE FOOTBALL COACH. THEIR SALARIES CONTINUE
[04:23:20] TO SKYROCKET WITH CLOSE TO 15
[04:23:24] COACHES RIGHT NOW HAVE ALMOST A
[04:23:26] QUARTER OF $1 BILLION BUYOUTS
[04:23:29] FOR THEIR CONTRACTS. THIS IS AN
[04:23:33] UNJUST BILL, AND I WANT TO DEAL VERY QUICKLY WITH SOME OF THE
[04:23:36] TOP LINES. FIRST AND FOREMOST,
[04:23:40] WE HAVE A BILL THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEMS IT CLAIMS TO
[04:23:42] SOLVE. IT SAYS IT'S GOING TO FIX
[04:23:45] A SYSTEM THAT'S BROKEN. WELL,
[04:23:48] THE NCAA CONFERENCES AND SCHOOLS
[04:23:50] CONTINUE TO LOSE MAJOR COURT CASES. THIS BILL IS GOING TO
[04:23:54] TAKE AWAY THE POWER OF ATHLETES
[04:23:57] TO BE ABLE TO SUE FOR THEIR RIGHTS. IT SAYS IN THIS BILL
[04:24:01] THAT, OH, WE'RE PRESERVING AN
[04:24:04] INDIVIDUAL RIGHT OF ACTION FOR INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES. WELL, LET
[04:24:06] ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, ANY LAWYER WORTH THEIR SALT WILL
[04:24:10] TELL YOU THAT SOMEBODY COMPETING FOR THE STARTING PITCHER SPOT ON
[04:24:13] A SOFTBALL TEAM IS NOT GOING TO SUE THEIR COLLEGE IN HOPES
[04:24:17] THEY'RE GOING TO GET JUSTICE IF THEY'RE FACING SEXUAL ASSAULT,
[04:24:20] OR IF THEY'VE BEEN FORCED TO PLAY THROUGH AN INJURY, OR IF
[04:24:23] THERE'S A BREAKING OF ANY OF THE RULES AROUND THE NCAA THAT
[04:24:26] PURPORT TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS,
[04:24:30] IT'S CREATING A CARTEL FOR THEM, A MONOPOLY FOR THEM, AND
[04:24:32] NO INADEQUATE PROTECTIONS, EXCUSE ME, INADEQUATE
[04:24:35] PROTECTIONS FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES
[04:24:39] AND UNDERMINING THEIR ABILITY,
[04:24:39] SHOULD THEY EVEN CHOOSE TO SUE,
[04:24:43] UNDERMINING THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE A FAIR DAY IN COURT. IT'S
[04:24:46] NOT PROTECTING THE SPENDING
[04:24:48] PROBLEM. SCHOOLS INCREASINGLY
[04:24:51] CLAIM THAT ATHLETE COMPENSATION HAS CREATED UNPRECEDENTED
[04:24:54] FINANCIAL PRESSURE. AT THE SAME TIME THAT FOOTBALL COACHES AND
[04:24:58] BASKETBALL COACHES CONTINUE TO SEE HIGHER AND HIGHER SALARIES.
[04:25:01] THIS BILL RESPONDS BY PLACING
[04:25:04] FEDERALLY IMPOSED CEILINGS ON
[04:25:07] ATHLETE COMPENSATION, WHILE LEAVING EVERY OTHER MAJOR
[04:25:09] EXPENSE FREE TO CONTINUE TO
[04:25:11] INCREASE. HOW MUCH SCHOOLS ARE
[04:25:14] SPENDING ON THEIR FACILITIES,
[04:25:15] PAYING THEIR ADS, PAYING THEIR COACHES AND ASSISTANT COACHES.
[04:25:19] ALL OF THOSE PRICES CONTINUE TO GO UP, BUT IT'S THE COLLEGE
[04:25:23] ATHLETES THAT ARE GOING TO BE
[04:25:25] FACING THE CAPS WE SEE
[04:25:28] PROTECTIONS FOR WOMEN'S AND OLYMPIC SPORTS, WHICH I AGREE
[04:25:31] ON. THEY'RE IN THIS BILL, BUT
[04:25:34] THOSE PROTECTIONS EXPIRE WHILE
[04:25:38] THE ANTITRUST PROTECTIONS DO
[04:25:39] NOT. YOU GO TO SECTION 125 OF THE BILL. IT HAS PROTECTIONS FOR
[04:25:43] THOSE ROSTER SPORTS AND GRANT AND AID OPPORTUNITIES IN THOSE
[04:25:46] SPORTS. BUT THOSE PROTECTIONS
[04:25:48] EXPIRE AFTER 4 OR 9 YEARS. IT IS
[04:25:51] A LIE TO SAY THAT THIS BILL IS
[04:25:55] PROTECTING OLYMPIC SPORTS BECAUSE IT'S NOT. IT ONLY DOES
[04:25:57] SO FOR A HANDFUL OF YEARS.
[04:26:00] PERMANENT ANTITRUST EXEMPTION,
[04:26:04] TEMPORARY PROTECTION FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES COMPETING IN OLYMPIC
[04:26:07] SPORTS. WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?
[04:26:09] WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? WE SHOULD
[04:26:11] GIVE NOT PERMANENT EXEMPTION. IF
[04:26:15] WE'RE NOT DOING IT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE BILL, AND EVEN THAT
[04:26:20] IS QUESTIONABLE. THE NCAA'S
[04:26:20] RECORD OVER DECADES DOES NOT
[04:26:24] JUSTIFY GIVING IT MORE CONTROL.
[04:26:28] WE'RE GIVING THEM MORE AUTHORITY OVER A GROUP OF AMERICANS. AND
[04:26:32] YET WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE
[04:26:35] RIGHT THINGS IN RETURN.
[04:26:39] PROTECTIONS FOR ATHLETES, THEIR
[04:26:40] HEALTH, THEIR WELL-BEING, THEIR
[04:26:43] SAFETY, THEIR EQUALITY FOR
[04:26:45] OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE SPORT,
[04:26:48] THE BILL CLAIMS TO CODIFY INTO LAW ATHLETES ABILITIES TO
[04:26:52] BENEFIT FROM NIL ATHLETES
[04:26:53] ALREADY ENJOY THIS, RIGHT? THEY FOUGHT DECADES FOR IT. THE BILL
[04:26:57] JUST PUTS NEW RED TAPE THERE. THE BILL INCLUDES PROTECTIONS
[04:27:00] FOR ATHLETES, HEALTH AND SAFETY EDUCATION. YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW
[04:27:03] WHAT? WITHOUT A MEANINGFUL
[04:27:07] ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, THESE PROTECTIONS ARE BASICALLY
[04:27:09] SUGGESTIONS. THIS BILL RELIES EXCLUSIVELY ON THAT PRIVATE
[04:27:13] RIGHT OF ACTION IN SECTION 119, PLACING THE BURDEN ON YOUNG
[04:27:17] ATHLETES AND YOUNG ATHLETES
[04:27:20] ALONE TO ENFORCE ANYTHING WITHIN
[04:27:21] THIS BILL. THEY CLAIM THAT
[04:27:25] SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES AND NCAA COACHES SUPPORT THE PROTECT
[04:27:28] COLLEGE SPORTS ACT. OF COURSE, THEY SUPPORT IT. THEY'RE GETTING
[04:27:32] ALL OF THE FINANCIAL GAIN AND
[04:27:34] PUTTING ALL THE BURDEN AND
[04:27:38] COMPROMISES AND GIVE BACKS TO COLLEGE ATHLETES, INCLUDING
[04:27:39] THEIR ABILITY TO WIN IN COURT.
[04:27:45] OH, AND THERE'S A CYNICAL PART OF THIS. THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HELP HISTORICALLY BLACK
[04:27:49] COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. I
[04:27:51] WANT EVERYONE LIKE ME THAT HAS
[04:27:54] BEEN FIGHTING FOR HBCUS, WHO SUPPORTS HBCUS, TO UNDERSTAND
[04:27:57] THE CYNICISM IN THIS BILL. THIS
[04:28:01] BILL AUTHORIZES MONEY. IT
[04:28:03] AUTHORIZES MONEY. IT DOES NOT
[04:28:06] APPROPRIATE ONE SINGLE DOLLAR.
[04:28:09] WHAT YOU GET IS A PROMISE FOR FUTURE FUNDS. BUT WE KNOW TIME
[04:28:13] AND TIME AGAIN, CONGRESS
[04:28:16] AUTHORIZES FUNDING, AND THAT
[04:28:19] FUNDING IS NEVER DELIVERED. THIS
[04:28:22] BILL INCLUDES PROVISIONS OF THE
[04:28:26] SAFE ACT THAT I SUPPORTED. WELL, THIS LEAVES OUT A CRITICAL
[04:28:30] DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE SAFE ACT
[04:28:32] AND ATHLETES PROTECTIONS WITH MEANINGFUL ENFORCEMENT. THE SAFE
[04:28:36] ACT INCLUDED THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND STATE ATTORNEY
[04:28:39] GENERALS BEING ABLE TO A FORCE ENFORCE IT. THIS BILL DOES NOT.
[04:28:43] THE SAFE ACT DIDN'T GIVE THE NCAA AND CONFERENCES SWEEPING
[04:28:47] NEW ANTITRUST SHIELD. THIS BILL
[04:28:48] DOES. SO, YES, THERE ARE SOME
[04:28:51] PROVISIONS FOR MY EARLIER WORK IN THIS BILL, BUT THEY'RE
[04:28:54] TOOTHLESS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
[04:28:59] ENFORCEMENT POWER. THIS IS A GROWING GRASSROOTS EFFORT, I
[04:29:01] HEAR, TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. WELL, I'M SEEING MILLIONS OF
[04:29:05] DOLLARS WORTH OF COMMERCIALS BEING FUNDED BY ALL THE FINANCIAL INTERESTS BEHIND THIS
[04:29:09] BILL. BUT WHO IS PROTECTING
[04:29:12] COLLEGE ATHLETES? I GAVE AN
[04:29:16] EXAMPLE, AND I'LL END WITH THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW TIME IS SHORT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE,
[04:29:20] THOUGH, THAT I CAN ENTER. FOR THE RECORD, I'M GOING TO ASK THE PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO
[04:29:23] ENTER INTO A RECORD, A SOME
[04:29:26] LETTERS. THIS LETTER IS FROM,
[04:29:29] UH, COLLEGE ATHLETES,
[04:29:32] ORGANIZATIONS. UM, THIS LETTER
[04:29:38] IS FROM. CIVIL RIGHTS
[04:29:41] ORGANIZATIONS AND FORMER
[04:29:42] ATTORNEY GENERALS. UH, AND THIS
[04:29:46] LETTER IS FROM COLLEGE ATHLETES,
[04:29:47] SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS, COLLEGE
[04:29:51] ATHLETES, SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVOR
[04:29:53] ORGANIZATIONS, AND FAMILIES OF
[04:29:55] COLLEGE ATHLETES WHO DIED
[04:29:58] FOLLOWING ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES,
[04:30:01] ALL SPEAKING TO THE URGENCY TO STOP THIS BILL. >> WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[04:30:04] >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO END WITH
[04:30:07] THIS. I GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE
[04:30:11] LIES THAT THE NCAA TELLS, THAT THEY'RE ABOUT THE PROTECTION OF
[04:30:14] STUDENT ATHLETES. FIRST, AND THE
[04:30:16] EXAMPLE I GAVE WAS A CHANGE THAT
[04:30:19] THE NFL DID, THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT WHO WERE FOOTBALL FANS
[04:30:23] WHEN THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE KICKOFF RULES. WHY DID THEY
[04:30:26] CHANGE THE KICKOFF RULES? WELL, I KNOW FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF SCREAMING DOWN A
[04:30:30] FIELD, TRYING TO BREAK UCLA'S
[04:30:33] WEDGE. I'VE LEARNED THIS FROM
[04:30:35] RUSHING DOWN THE FIELD TO TRY TO TACKLE A PEOPLE PLAYING AGAINST
[04:30:39] USC. I LEARNED THIS IN PLAYING
[04:30:41] NOTRE DAME, THAT ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS YOU COULD DO IS
[04:30:44] GET A FULL HEAD OF STEAM AND RUN DOWN ON A KICKOFF. WELL, THEY
[04:30:47] CHANGED THE KICKOFF RULES TO PROTECT NFL ATHLETES, AND IT'S WORKED. THERE ARE LESS INJURIES
[04:30:51] IN THIS AREA. IT'S WORKING. IS
[04:30:54] THERE A PEEP FROM THE NCAA?
[04:30:57] DON'T YOU THINK THAT COLLEGE SPORTS SHOULD HAVE MORE
[04:31:01] PROTECTIVE POLICIES THAN THE PROS? WELL KNOW THE PROS. IT'S
[04:31:03] A BUSINESS. WE ALL KNOW THAT. THEY INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
[04:31:06] IN THESE EMPLOYEES OF THEIRS,
[04:31:10] AND THEY'RE TAKING ACTIONS TO
[04:31:10] PROTECT THEIR. >> BENNET DULY CHOSEN AND SWORN,
[04:31:14] HAVING VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE MOTION IS AGREED TO THE
[04:31:18] CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTION TO PROCEED. >> MOTION TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR
[04:31:22] NUMBER FOUR. FOUR NINE. S 4668.
[04:31:23] A BILL TO PROTECT THE NAME,
[04:31:26] IMAGE AND LIKENESS. RIGHTS OF AND PROVIDE PROTECTIONS FOR
[04:31:30] STUDENT ATHLETES AND TO PROMOTE
[04:31:34] FAIR COMPETITION AMONG INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AND
[04:31:37] FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
[04:31:55] >> SENATOR FROM TEXAS. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
[04:31:59] UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE APPOINTMENT AT THE DESK APPEAR SEPARATELY IN THE RECORD, AS IF
[04:32:01] MADE BY THE CHAIR. >> WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[04:32:05] >> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT WHEN THE SENATE COMPLETES ITS
[04:32:08] BUSINESS TODAY, IT STAND
[04:32:11] ADJOURNED UNTIL 10 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th, THAT.
[04:32:13] FOLLOWING THE PRAYER AND PLEDGE, THE JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS BE
[04:32:17] APPROVED TO DATE, THE MORNING HOUR BE DEEMED EXPIRED. THE TIME
[04:32:20] FOR THE TWO LEADERS BE RESERVED
[04:32:22] FOR THEIR USE LATER IN THE DAY
[04:32:26] MORNING BUSINESS BE CLOSED AND THE SENATE RESUME CONSIDERATION
[04:32:30] OF THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO S
[04:32:32] 4668. POST CLOTURE. FINALLY,
[04:32:35] THAT ALL TIME DURING RECESS, ADJOURNMENT, MORNING BUSINESS
[04:32:38] AND LEADER REMARKS COUNT POST
[04:32:40] CLOTURE ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED
[04:32:44] TO S FOUR, SIX, SIX EIGHT. >> WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
[04:32:47] >> IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE SENATE, I ASK THAT IT STAND
[04:32:50] ADJOURNED. UNDER THE PREVIOUS
[04:32:55] ORDER. >> SENATE STANDS ADJOURNED UNTIL
[04:32:57] 10 A.M. TOMORROW
[04:33:01] >> THANK YOU. >> AND THAT WRAPS UP TODAY'S SENATE SESSION. LAWMAKERS VOTED
[04:33:04] TO CONFIRM OHIO STATE JUDGE MATTHEW BYRNE TO BE A U.S.
[04:33:07] DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR SOUTHERN OHIO. THE SENATE ALSO
[04:33:11] BLOCKED CRYPTOCURRENCY LEGISLATION TO REGULATE DIGITAL ASSETS, BUT DID VOTE TO ADVANCE
[04:33:14] A BILL TO SET NATIONAL STANDARDS TO PAY COLLEGE STUDENT ATHLETES
[04:33:18] FOR THEIR NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS RIGHTS. WHEN THE SENATE
[04:33:21] RETURNS. WATCH LIVE GAVEL TO
[04:33:23] GAVEL COVERAGE HERE ON C-SPAN.
[04:33:26] TWO.
[04:33:31] >> [MUSIC] >> YOU'RE WATCHING C-SPAN 2
[04:33:35] DEMOCRACY UNFILTERED.
[04:33:38] >> [MUSIC]
[04:33:40] >> YOU LOOK BACK ON WHAT YOU'VE ACHIEVED IN YOUR LIFE. WHAT
[04:33:43] MAKES YOU THE HAPPIEST OF WHAT YOU'VE ACHIEVED SO FAR? >> THIS INTERVIEW IS THE
[04:33:47] ABSOLUTE APEX. >> LEADERS SEEM TO LIKE TO WEAR
[04:33:49] WIGS. HOW COME HE DIDN'T HAVE A WIG? PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID, I
[04:33:52] MADE A MISTAKE THE FIRST TIME. I
[04:33:54] SHOULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU THE FIRST TIME >> THAT ISN'T WHAT HE SAID.
[04:33:58] >> YOUR FIRST BOOK WAS CALLED A TIME TO KILL. HOW MANY PUBLISHERS TURNED THAT DOWN?
[04:34:01] >> WELL, ALL OF THEM. >> IT'S VERY RARE TO SEE DONALD TRUMP LAUGH. HE DOESN'T LIKE TO
[04:34:05] SMILE IN PHOTOS. HE HAS WHAT THEY CALL THE STARE. HOW WOULD
[04:34:09] THE STARE WHEN YOU GO TO THE OSCARS THAT EVERYBODY SAY, OH, THERE'S THE AUTHOR.
[04:34:11] >> OF ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE GO THIS WAY, AND THEN THEY HAVE ANOTHER LITTLE PATH IN THE
[04:34:15] OSCARS, WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE LIKE, I GO. >> SO YOU WROTE A BOOK ABOUT
[04:34:18] SOMEBODY WHO LIVED WITH WOLVES. >> I INTERVIEWED A GUY WHO LIVED WITH WOLVES.
[04:34:21] >> YEAH. AND IS THAT SAFE TO DO THAT? >> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
[04:34:25] >> SO I KNOW YOU ARE NOT COMPLAINING. YOU WERE OPINIONATED SITUATION, WHICH IS
[04:34:28] WHY WE LOVE YOU, DAVID
[04:34:31] >> [MUSIC]
[04:34:39] [MUSIC] >> TONIGHT AT 8:00 EASTERN ON C-SPAN 2.
[04:34:41] >> DO YOU PLEDGE THAT YOU WILL
[04:34:44] NOT IN ANY WAY INTERFERE IN THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHEN
[04:34:47] THEY GO TO THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER? I PLEDGE UNEQUIVOCALLY
[04:34:51] THAT I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN
[04:34:56] YOUR CHARADE OF LIES. >> FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL TESTIFIES BEFORE A SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DURING A
[04:35:00] HEARING ON OVERSIGHT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.
[04:35:03] WATCH THE HEARING IN ITS ENTIRETY TONIGHT, STARTING AT
[04:35:05] 8:00 EASTERN ON C-SPAN. TWO.
[04:35:08] >> OUR CAMPAIGN 2026 COVERAGE
[04:35:12] CONTINUES WITH REPUBLICAN TEXAS
[04:35:15] ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON SPEAKING TO VOTERS IN BEAUMONT,
[04:35:18] TEXAS, IN HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE U.S. SENATE, HE TALKED ABOUT THE
[04:35:21] IMPACT OF THE FIRST EVER
[04:35:23] REPUBLICAN MID-TERM CONVENTION BEING HELD IN DALLAS, AND SAID
[04:35:26] IT WAS PROOF THAT TEXAS IS TRULY
[04:35:29] A BATTLEGROUND STATE. HE ALSO CRITICIZED HIS OPPONENT, JAMES
[04:35:33] TALARICO, CALLING HIM THE MOST RADICAL DEMOCRAT TO EVER RUN IN
[04:35:36] THE STATE. THE TWO CANDIDATES WILL FACE OFF IN THE NOVEMBER
[04:35:40] 3rd GENERAL ELECTION IN A RACE
[04:35:41] THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT RATES
[04:35:45] A TOSS UP.
[04:35:46] >> [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE]
[04:35:53] [APPLAUSE]