National Security Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I come to the floor to talk about the pending business, the supplemental appropriations bill that came over to us from the House of Representatives.

In February of this year, I was in Munich for the security conference, and the question that was asked of me the most by just about every world leader is whether the Congress would pass the Ukraine supplemental appropriations bill. Our colleagues around the world understood how important the supplemental appropriation passage was to the security of Ukraine and its ability to defend itself.

I want to tell you, when I was asked that question by the world leaders, I said, yes, we would pass it. I don't know if they were so convinced that we would get it done, and I am not so sure how convinced I was at that time that we would be able to reach a point where we would be able to keep the supplemental intact and be able to pass it. For, you see, the aid in that supplemental is so critical to the defense in Ukraine. Ukraine is literally running out of ammunition. The U.S. leadership is absolutely indispensable.

It also, of course, includes the humanitarian assistance and so many other important issues. But it also represents U.S. leadership, the ability for us to keep the coalition of the democratic states and the West together in our campaign to make sure that Mr. Putin does not succeed in taking over Ukraine and then moving to other countries in Europe.

Now we can definitely answer the question. By our actions in this body, we can tell our friends around the world that, yes, the supplemental appropriation will pass, will be signed by President Biden, and the aid will be flowing to Ukraine to defend itself.

So much depends on the passage of this supplemental. First and foremost, it is the defense of Ukraine--incredibly brave people in Ukraine who are holding up the defense against a great, mighty Russian army. They have been very, very successful, but they need to have the ability to defend themselves. That is what they are asking the United States to do: not to provide the soldiers but to provide the wherewithal so we will not have to send our soldiers to Europe.

It is the frontline for defense of democratic states, where we all know that Russia will not stop with Ukraine if they are successful; that Moldova and Georgia, the Baltic States, and Poland are all very much in the view of what Mr. Putin wants to take over.

But there is more to the supplemental than just Ukraine. There is the financing for the Middle East. Israel is defending unprecedented Iranian drone attacks. We saw that last week. They need our assistance to make sure that they can protect against these missiles and drones.

We know the leaders of Taiwan are looking to passage of this supplemental because they have to look across the Taiwan Strait at the People's Republic of China and their aggressive language and their concerns about whether China will use force against Taiwan. The passage of this supplemental gives great hope to Taiwan that the United States is with them.

Then, as I mentioned earlier, the humanitarian workers who are desperate to help in the Sudan need our resources in order to meet that crisis that is going on every day. The passage of this supplemental will help the humanitarian workers deal with the humanitarian crisis that we have in the Sudan, that we have in Gaza, and that we have in Ukraine and so many other areas around the world.

So, yes, it has been difficult to understand the delay in getting this done, and it has affected Ukraine's ability to defend itself, the delay in getting the supplemental to the finish line. So it is absolutely essential, as Senator Schumer said, that we complete our work as quickly as possible and to remove any doubt about America's support of Ukraine. If there was any doubt, the vote in the House of Representatives on the Ukraine package passed by a strong bipartisan vote of 311 to 112.

Now, the entire package enjoys strong bipartisan support, and that is critically important for the success of our foreign policy--$60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8 billion for Taiwan and our Indo-Pacific partners, and $9 billion for global humanitarian assistance. But in addition to the appropriations that were in the bill when we passed it in the Senate months ago, the House added some additional provisions which, quite frankly, I think all strengthen the bill.

It provides a way to hold Russia accountable for its own actions, the damage it has caused. That is a positive addition to the package. It strengthens our sanctions against some of our most extreme adversaries. That also strengthens the bill.

I was pleased that there was a reauthorization of the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act, a bill that I authored that deals with trying to avoid conflicts from turning into genocide or atrocities so we can prevent having to deal with the challenges we see in so many parts of the world. We need to invest in prevention, and the Elie Wiesel Act gives us the tool to do that.

I want to recognize President Biden for his leadership on these issues, his leadership globally in keeping the coalition together in support of Ukraine and our foreign policy objectives in the free world, and also for what he did here in the United States: staying true to the principles, connecting the dots for the American people, and dealing with the strategy so we can finally get this bill to the finish line. I congratulate the Biden administration for staying with this and helping us reach this moment where we are on the verge of passing the Supplemental Appropriations Act.

It reinforces our foreign policy that is rooted in our values that promote human rights and defend democracy--a foreign policy drawn by basic human decency. That is what the U.S. foreign policy is about, and this supplemental reinforces our objectives in each one of those categories.

This gives the world a credible vision of the future--a future that discourages dictators and autocrats, a future for a Europe whole and free, a future for a thriving Indo-Pacific, a future for a peaceful and prosperous Middle East, and a future that prioritizes civil society movements and human rights around the world.

I know that the challenges we face today on the global stage seem immense because they are. Anyone can see that. Russia is relentlessly bombing Ukraine's oil and gas sector. Ukraine is running out of ammunition. But, shortly, we will take a historic vote--a vote that, as President Zelenskyy says, gives Ukraine ``a chance at victory.''

So I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the supplemental that passed the House of Representatives. I urge them to vote yes to funding America's foreign policy and national security priorities, yes to supporting the war-stricken people of the world who will not give up hope for democracy, yes to standing up with our allies and partners across the globe, and yes to a future American leadership on the global stage that is based on our values. Earth Day

Madam President, on Monday, April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. Since April 22, 1970, millions have come together worldwide to highlight the urgent action needed to save our planet.

In 1970, the American environmental movement began in earnest as concerned individuals mobilized en masse to protect the planet.

The status quo was unacceptable--rivers so polluted they caught fire, children getting sick just from playing outside, and wildlife showing clear signs of distress.

In Congress, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin championed the Earth Day movement, with the hope of bringing environmental awareness to the political and national stage.

Back then, the exact causes of our planet and people's ailments were not totally understood. The American people were not aware the extent to which the reliance on fossil fuels, fertilizers, and pesticides were causing irreparable harm.

We know a lot more now. However, we are still learning about how harmful everyday products are. Items that we accept as part of our daily life--plastic products, for example--are ubiquitous.

This year's Earth Day theme, planet vs. plastics, reminds us that the threat of plastic pollution continues to grow. Plastics are actively causing harm to human life, animal life and our Earth.

It is estimated that the average American ingests more than 70,000 microplastics in their drinking water supply. The origins of these plastics range from littering to stormwater runoff, to poor wastewater management in treatment facilities.

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues we currently face. Microplastics and microfibers are smaller than 5 millimeters in size. An estimated 50 to 75 trillion pieces of microplastics are in the ocean. Because these microplastics are so small, many animals mistake them for food. These microplastics have been found to attract and carry pollutants that are present in the water, making them carriers of various harmful chemicals.

Evidence such as this prompted then-President Barack Obama to pass the Microbead-Free Waters Act. The Microbead-Free Waters Act helped to ban plastic microbeads in certain products from being sold in the United States.

However, this same regulation does not apply to the limiting of microplastics in bottled water or microfibers in clothing.

When synthetic clothes are washed in the washing machine, an estimated 3.5 quadrillion microfibers are released--a process known as microfiber shedding. This particle is the most prevalent type of microplastic found in the Chesapeake Bay. With over 3,000 miles of coastline, Maryland is extremely vulnerable to plastic marine debris and its environmental consequences.

A study by NOAA took samples of various locations of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and found that 98 percent of the samples contained microplastics.

A modeling exercise conducted by researchers from Pennsylvania State University and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that the majority of plastic pollution in the Chesapeake Bay stays within the local waters and is not exported to the ocean.

The study suggests that the bay acts as a catchall for plastics, with about 94 percent of microplastics staying in the system, most likely on or along the shores. Only 5 percent of the particles were carried from the bay to the ocean, and 1 percent remained suspended in the water column.

In 2020, Maryland produced nearly 12 million tons of solid waste, with 13 percent attributed from plastics, including plastic bags.

Research concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in carryout services and grocery store visits, resulting in a 30 percent increase in plastic waste in 2020.

My home state of Maryland has taken many steps to combat plastic pollution. In September 2020, Maryland made history by becoming the first State to enact a ban on expanded polystyrene foodware, the single-use plastic foam that is often used for takeout cups and containers.

In October 2021, Baltimore effectively banned the use of plastic bags used for grocery and restaurant services, while also imposing a 5-cent bag tax on alternative bag use. The Salisbury City Council unanimously approved a ban on certain types of plastic bags that took effect on July 1, 2023. These are all significant steps my home State has taken to address plastic waste.

Plastics not only threaten the marine life, like oysters and crabs, that call the Chesapeake Bay home, but they can also negatively impact the economy and health of Maryland and the region at large.

In light of the threat of microplastics and the broader environmental challenges we face, I am proud of the accomplishments we have made to address the plastic pollution crisis.

The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act was signed into law in December 2020. One of the crucial components to this Act was the authorization of the NOAA Marine Debris Program. The NOAA Marine Debris Program serves as a model for finding ways to track marine debris, including plastics, around the world.

Congress must continue to take action to support legislation that seek to reduce the use and production of plastic and improve recycling facilities.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, introduced by my colleague Senator Dick Durbin.

Last year, I was privileged to lead a bipartisan delegation to Dubai for COP28. During this summit, we emphasized that the United States is concerned about the impacts of climate change and is ready to continue taking action to combat it.

At the summit, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the U.N. Environment Programme warned of the climate implications of plastics to our coastal ecosystems and oceans. He urged the plastic industry to find nonplastic alternatives for products to help the environment.

When Earth Day was first celebrated, the topic of environmental protection was not as partisan as it is today. Our focus should be on passing legislation that works to protect and preserve our Earth. We see the evidence before us. The longevity of our Earth is at stake.

While Earth Day only comes around once a year, it should be celebrated every day. We must not forget the responsibility we have to protect our planet. On this Earth Day, I celebrate the progress we have made so far and ask that we reaffirm our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development.

With that, I would yield the floor.

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