On the recordJune 3, 2020
I rise today as the United States of America, again, faces the enormous challenge and responsibility of striving to live up to the preamble of the Constitution of the United States. The preamble provides: ``We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.'' I note that our Founders, who were far from perfect when it came to racial issues, thought that justice was more important than domestic tranquility. They listed justice first. Today, America is grieving over the brutal and unnecessary death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Both State and Federal law enforcement officers are moving quickly to bring the police officers in this case to justice and hold them accountable for their actions, as Mr. Floyd's cries of ``I can't breathe'' went unanswered as the life drained out of him. Video taken by several witnesses show that George Floyd--who was Black and was unarmed--was handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a police officer who held his knee against Mr. Floyd's neck as he pleaded for his life. Mr. Floyd was on the ground, repeatedly telling the officer that he could not breathe.…





