E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 167 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 No. 137 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at 10 a.m. Senate MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

The Senate met at 12 noon and was Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I sug- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The called to order by the President pro gest the absence of a quorum. clerk will report the amendment by tempore (Mr. LEAHY). The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The number. clerk will call the roll. f The senior assistant legislative clerk The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: PRAYER proceeded to call the roll. The Senator from Delaware [Mr. CARPER] Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I ask The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- proposes an amendment numbered 2131. unanimous consent that the order for fered the following prayer: The amendment is as follows: the quorum call be rescinded. Let us pray. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. (Purpose: To strike a definition) Eternal Lord God, our refuge and On page 1941, strike lines 7 through 11. PETERS). Without objection, it is so or- strength, we praise You that we have dered. Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I sug- nothing to fear. Because we remember f gest the absence of a quorum. how You have sustained our Nation in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the past, we trust Your providence to CONCLUSION OF MORNING clerk will call the roll. help us reach our desired destination. BUSINESS The senior assistant legislative clerk Lord, continue to lead our lawmakers The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning proceeded to call the roll. as they seek Your wisdom, justice, and business is closed. Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask grace. May they remember that those f unanimous consent that the order for who would leave a legacy of faithful- the quorum call be rescinded. ness must stride to be faithful to You. LEGISLATIVE SESSION The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Inspire our Senators to perform their objection, it is so ordered. appointed duties with such reverence INVESTING IN A NEW VISION FOR RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER that their service will be like the sun THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUR- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The shining forth on a cloudless morning. FACE TRANSPORTATION IN Democratic leader is recognized. We pray in Your sovereign Name. AMERICA ACT H.R. 3684 Amen. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, yes- f the previous order, the Senate will re- terday evening, as everyone knows, the group of bipartisan Senators working PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE sume consideration of H.R. 3684, which the clerk will report. on infrastructure finished the text of The President pro tempore led the The senior assistant legislative clerk the bill. I immediately moved to make Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: read as follows: that text the base of the bill here on I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the A bill (H.R. 3684) to authorize funds for the floor, as promised. United States of America, and to the Repub- Federal-aid highways, highway safety pro- Last night, Democrats offered to lic for which it stands, one nation under God, grams, and transit programs, and for other begin the amendment process right indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. purposes. away. There are three bipartisan f Pending: amendments to the bill ready to con- Schumer (for Sinema) amendment No. 2137, sider. Two were led by Republicans: a RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME in the nature of a substitute. Rounds-Smith amendment and Thune- The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under AMENDMENT NO. 2131 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2137 Tester amendment, and another from the previous order, the leadership time Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I call up Senators PADILLA and MORAN. is reserved. amendment No. 2131 to the substitute Let me be clear. These three amend- The Senator from Michigan. and ask that it be reported by number. ments would constitute only the first

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:39 Aug 02, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A02AU6.000 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5530 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 tranche of potential amendments. The leagues may have penciled out for po- would read like one; and it would smell Senate can and should consider more litical purposes. Our bipartisan nego- like one; and it wouldn’t require a amendments afterward. tiators have already been taking this hyperpartisan high-wire act from Sen- I encourage Senators from both sides task very seriously. The American peo- ate Democrats to pull it off. of the aisle to submit potential amend- ple need the Senate to continue taking The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- ments to the bill. And, as we have al- it seriously, as well. jority whip. ready done several times this year—on On another matter, this bipartisan SOCIALISM the anti-Asian hate crimes bill and the work on infrastructure just reinforces Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, ‘‘social- U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, the recklessness of the purely partisan ism,’’ it is a label we hear a lot. It has just to name two examples—the major- taxing-and-spending spree the Demo- been around a while—a long time—but ity will work with the minority to put crats want to ram through next. in American politics, it is kind of ap- together packages of amendments for Even before we get to this week, plied in an unusual way. The notion the Senate to vote on. there is ample evidence the Senate is that every American would pay into an At the moment, we need consent fully capable of passing policies that insurance fund so that everyone who from our Republican colleagues to are actually smart, that actually make retired could live in basic dignity—we start the amendment process, and we things better for American families, called it Social Security as Democrats; await their answer. I hope we can use and to do so with bipartisan majorities. the Republicans called it socialism. our time in the Senate efficiently. A year and a half ago, the Senate Do they want to remove Social Secu- Let’s start voting on amendments. turned a blank sheet of paper into the rity as a socialist program? I don’t The longer it takes to finish the bill, CARES Act that saved our healthcare know. I listened carefully as the Re- the longer we will be here. system, saved our economy, and poured publican leader started talking about I yield the floor. money into Operation Warp Speed to the weaknesses of the Democratic phi- I suggest the absence of a quorum. help unlock vaccines in record time— losophy. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The overwhelming bipartisan support. And then, in the 1960s, Lyndon Baines clerk will call the roll. A year ago, we passed the Great Johnson looked around America and The senior assistant legislative clerk American Outdoors Act, a historic in- saw a new class of impoverished Ameri- proceeded to call the roll. vestment in our Nation’s national cans growing by the day. They were Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I parks and national treasures—another our parents and grandparents. And he ask unanimous consent that the order very large bipartisan vote. Last De- decided one of their biggest problems for the quorum call be rescinded. cember, there was yet another bipar- was paying for their medical expenses The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tisan COVID rescue package, and just a and their prescription drugs eventu- objection, it is so ordered. few months ago, Senators once again ally. So he proposed a Federal program RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER compromised and passed a big bipar- called Medicare for everyone who The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- tisan bill addressing American com- reached the age of 65 in America, re- publican leader is recognized. petitiveness versus China. gardless of whether they were rich or There is nothing stopping policies Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, a poor. Boy, think about that. number of our colleagues in both par- from earning bipartisan support here in The critics called that socialism—the the Senate, when they deserve it. Bills ties worked through the weekend to fi- notion that we would help everybody, that deserve to pass the Chamber are nalize their draft agreement on a major that we would collect money during not having a hard time passing. their work experience and then take bill for our Nation’s infrastructure. I So the fact that our Democratic col- want to thank the Senators who care of our parents and grandparents so leagues will immediately pivot to a they could live longer, more independ- worked hard and long to get this effort staggering, reckless, tax-and-spend ently. Socialism. this far already. spree that will not earn a single Repub- Now, we are discussing—and we are I am confident that out of the 100 of lican vote, well, that tells Americans at an early stage—changing that Medi- us who serve in this body, 100 will be everything they need to know. care Program to extend its benefits to able to find parts of the legislation This 50–50 Senate, a very narrowly di- include fundamental and basic things that we wish were different. But I be- vided House, and a President who that have been sitting there for dec- lieve our colleagues’ draft text pro- promised unity and togetherness have ades waiting to be addressed. Eye- vides a good and important jumping-off decided they want to respond to an en- glasses, hearing aids, dental work—we point for what needs to be a robust and vironment of uncertainty and inflation know what a difference those things bipartisan process out here on the with a sprawling $3.5 trillion socialist make in the lives of everyone but how floor. shopping list and a huge set of painful critically important they are to those Infrastructure is exactly the kind of tax hikes. That is their plan. Our who are elderly. subject that Congress should be able to friend and colleague, the junior Sen- And, yes, the junior Senator from address across the aisle. Roads, ator from Vermont, may not have won Vermont has proposed that we extend bridges, waterways, airports—these the Democratic Presidential nomina- Medicare benefits to include those pro- things are not luxuries for the greatest tion, but his ideology sure has won the tections, but he is not alone. Moderates Nation in world history. They are ne- war. within the Democratic caucus across cessities. So, in the next few days, the Demo- the board agree, it is time to take a se- Necessarily, legislation like this will cratic leader says they will start the rious look at that, and the Republican be big and complex. It will necessarily process of ramming through this awful, leader tells us we are flirting with so- affect all 50 States. That is why, while awful package. They want to respond cialism again. I salute the hard work of our col- to a border crisis with amnesty. They I don’t think that a poor, elderly per- leagues who produced the base text want to respond to runaway inflation son without dentures who can’t eat that is now before us, their conversa- and soaring costs for families with their food can be ignored—or that help- tions can’t be the Senate’s last word. even more reckless spending, printing, ing them is socialism. Senators on both sides expect and de- and borrowing. They want to respond I might add one thing that is impor- serve opportunities to have a say and to a growing worker shortage by turn- tant. He cites the CARES Act. I re- to put their own State’s imprints on ing a tax credit for working parents member it well. It was a little over a this major bill. into permanent welfare with no work year ago, it was last year. The pan- Just as infrastructure itself is not a requirement. They want to respond to demic was just kicking off, and it was luxury but a necessity, the same goes an uneasy economic recovery with proposed. This CARES Act, it was over for the Senate having a robust and bi- massive tax hikes and a whole catalog $1 trillion. It might have been the big- partisan amendment process on legisla- of Green New Deal mandates and regu- gest bill when it was passed. It was pro- tion of this magnitude. lations so Washington bureaucrats can posed with the Trump administration, Our full consideration of this bill run the country. with a Democratic Congress, and it must not be choked off by any artifi- So, if what Senate Democrats are ended up with a strong bipartisan roll- cial timetable that our Democratic col- planning to do next were a good idea, it call. I voted for it. Virtually every

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:39 Aug 02, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.003 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5531 Democratic Senator joined every Re- Great Depression and World War II, he not bragging. I am just stating facts. publican Senator to make it a reality: took on political corruption and orga- But Chicago isn’t alone. These lead billions of dollars to deal with the pan- nized crime. He did some things that pipes are in big cities and small towns demic. Socialist? I don’t think so. It are still talked about. When the news- all across the Nation. Listen to this. was America coming together to ad- paper workers went on strike, he read The bipartisan plan includes the larg- dress a crisis. That is exactly what the funnies to the kids so they could est investment in passenger rail since happened. keep up with them. the creation of Amtrak in the 1960s. So what happened when we had a new He did something else, too. He You know President Joe Biden President, when Donald Trump was oversaw investment in public works, wouldn’t forget Amtrak, nor would gone—and, yes, he is gone, despite the including investments in roads, high- TOM CARPER or CHRIS COONS. It is the fact that he doesn’t know it. What hap- ways, and tunnels, that changed the largest investment in public transit in pened when we had a new President landscape of America’s largest city. American history. I was just out at the who decided he wanted to put together Fiorello La Guardia famously said: ribbon-cutting—well, several recently a rescue plan? This rescue plan ad- ‘‘There is no Democrat or Republican in Chicago. Naturally, people were not dressed some fundamentals. It ad- way to fix a pothole.’’ riding the CTA and Metro and other He understood, when it comes to the dressed the promise that Donald rail opportunities as they once did be- most basic responsibilities of govern- Trump made, that $1,400 was coming to cause of COVID–19, but it is coming ment, political labels shouldn’t matter. families. Really? Sounds socialistic to back, and we want to make sure those Building and maintaining roads and me. stations are safe and make sure they bridges helps all of us. But it was the Trump idea and it was are accessible for people with disabil- the Biden rescue plan that pulled it off. I think Mayor Fiorello La Guardia would be happy to know that we have ities. And the vaccines—and we can only With this bill, in my State, the Chi- thank the Lord and the great research- created a blueprint for America’s eco- nomic future. Against the odds, we now cago Transit Authority and transit ers who put that together—but it was agencies downstate will be able to buy only just a theory and inventory. But have before us a bipartisan plan to build the physical backbone of the 21st new, more efficient buses and railcars President Biden found a way to admin- and modernize tracks and rail stations. ister the COVID–19 vaccines across century American economy. In these times when there is so much political It will expand the capacity of the blue America, a dramatic effort. That was line at O’Hare, completing the red line paid for by the American Rescue Plan. disagreement, just getting this far is a remarkable achievement. I look for- south extension, which has been a And the money loans for businesses to dream for decades. get started after the pandemic, money ward to a productive debate and hope- This plan includes $25 billion to mod- for schools to make sure they are safe fully a vote this week. I am hopeful we ernize Illinois’ airports, including when the kids return to them this fall. can meet the deadline because the fact money for O’Hare’s terminal expan- When the American Rescue Plan was is, America can’t wait any longer for sion. Believe me, we can use it. We put together by President Biden and of- this Senate to take action. Our roads have done a lot with the runways— fered in this Chamber, I am sorry to re- and bridges are crumbling beneath our feet. magnificent investments there. Now, port that not one Republican Senator Last week, I brought to this floor a we have got to make sure the termi- supported it. I hope they have had sec- photo of a bridge that collapsed 2 nals keep up with that modernization. ond thoughts since then. Admin- weeks ago in a small rural town in Illi- istering the vaccines has given us hope Remember the cargo ship that ran nois known as Seneca. A man was driv- aground at the Suez Canal, causing in America, and I hope more people ing his pickup truck across the bridge will take advantage of it. But that was major delays worldwide in shipping, when the bridge collapsed. The picture costing companies and, ultimately, bipartisanship that really hit the showed his red pickup truck precar- rocks. It took the Democrats and customers millions of dollars? Well, iously straddling the two halves of the this infrastructure plan will keep KAMALA HARRIS to make a difference. broken bridge. Luckily, some Good Sa- When I hear about socialism and bi- America’s economy moving and our maritans came to his rescue. partisanship from the other side, how shipping lanes open by modernizing our Any of us, at any time, could be that ports, locks, and dams. far would they go in ending programs man on the bridge. More than 47,000 which have historically been labeled as We are not just repairing old infra- American bridges are judged to be structure; we are building new infra- ‘‘socialistic’’? structurally deficient, including 2,000 H.R. 3684 structure. This plan includes the larg- in my State of Illinois. The legislation est investment in clean energy in infra- Mr. President, on a completely dif- we are voting on this week will start to ferent topic but somehow related, Sen- structure in America’s history. If there repair them. It includes the largest in- was ever a moment in time—with the ators spend a lot of time in airports vestment in American bridges since the and in airplanes, even in COVID–19 world literally burning up—for us to creation of the Interstate Highway get serious about climate change, this times. The Presiding Officer knows System. Imagine that. is that moment, and this investment that well. I spend a lot of time in air- It also includes the largest invest- responds to it. ports. O’Hare, I can take you on a tour. ment in clean water infrastructure Springfield is a small airport. Reagan ever. Do we need it? Well, think of In America, the biggest source of National Airport here, I am familiar Flint, MI, and think of the story today greenhouse gases is transportation. We with it as well. in the Chicago papers about the dis- can change it. This plan is a start. But I always thought to myself, as I covery of PFOS contamination in In the town of Normal, IL—yes, there traveled years ago, that one of the water supplies across my State. That is a Normal, IL—a company called worst airports in America, sadly, was isn’t all. Rivian bought an old, abandoned LaGuardia. Oh, what a wreck. We can replace the old lead service Mitsubishi automobile factory 5 years LaGuardia was just way underutilized lines that poison drinking water. So ago. They now have started production and lacked all the modern develop- many homes and businesses and on electric cars and delivery vans, the ments we expect at an airport, but, lo schools and churches are served by lead cars of the future. and behold, that has changed. pipe service lines, and there is no toler- Is this going to go anywhere? Does LaGuardia is finished now, and it is able amount of lead that can be in anybody believe in electric vehicles? beautiful. It has many things that water. Well, 15 percent of Rivian is owned by many airports would only aspire to I want to thank my colleague TAMMY Ford Motor Company. If you have have, as it should, because it is not DUCKWORTH. She has been a real leader heard of a company called Amazon, only serving a great city, but it is also on this issue, and I think all of us owe they invested $1 billion in Rivian. They named after a great man, Fiorello La her a debt of gratitude that it is in- ordered 120,000 delivery vans. There are Guardia. cluded in this legislation. 2,000 people working there now, twice He stood 5-foot-2, but he was a giant. Chicago has more miles of lead water the number who were working when As mayor of New York City during the pipes than any city in America. I am Mitsubishi left. They aspire to double

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:39 Aug 02, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.004 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5532 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 that number again and to make pro- I think the number was 17 of the Re- plus, a D, D-minus. Still, a C-minus is duction really accessible all across the publicans who voted for us to move for- nothing to brag about; rather, it is a country. ward on this debate. I hope those 17 can wake-up call to get our act together at That is not the only story I could tell hold together with the Democrats to a time, if you will, to move it on up. about electric vehicles. Illinois is in a see this bill to its successful conclu- Move it on up. position to be a global leader in elec- sion. That is what our new President tric cars. Argonne National Laboratory Remember Fiorello La Guardia’s called on us to do that day in order to in the Chicagoland area has really led statement that there is no Democratic help America move on up and move American research in battery tech- or Republican way to fill a pothole? ahead. Without casting aspersions or nology and recycling batteries. That is But there is a smart way to build the affixing blame, he made it clear that the future. If you don’t believe me, just physical backbone of an economy. This America hadn’t been getting the job watch the ads on television where they is the right start. This bipartisan plan done on this front for years and that by are advertising the new Ford F–150 hits the sweet spot. I thank our many working together—working together— Lightning, an electric truck. They Republican colleagues who have joined we could do something about it, while don’t have any available now, but they with the Democrats to advance this de- creating millions of new jobs—a lot of invite you to sign up to buy one next bate. Isn’t that what America has been them without college degrees—at the year. waiting for? same time. With this plan, we can build a net- I yield the floor. He asked us—leaders on the Senate work of electric vehicle charging sta- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Committee on Environment and Public tions, where drivers can charge their ator from Delaware. Works—he asked us to help jump-start cars for a fraction of what it costs to Mr. CARPER. While he is still on the the effort by getting to work on fill a gas tank today and without the floor, I want to thank my friend and crafting and reporting to the full Sen- harmful emissions. It really is the fu- colleague. He and I came together in ate surface transportation legislation, ture that we are trying to assist with the House of Representatives a million along with legislation to repair and up- this important infrastructure bill. years ago. We were part of the class of grade drinking water and water sanita- Importantly, this plan will help con- 1982, a huge class—over 80 Democrats tion infrastructure, as soon as we nect every American to reliable high- and Republicans. It has been a joy to could. speed internet. Over 60 percent of the serve with him, and I especially am Working together with all 20 mem- American people say that access to proud of him—the words he has just bers of the Environment and Public high-speed internet is as important as said here today, healing words, uniting Works Committee—10 Democrats, 10 electricity to them and some say it is words—and we are grateful for his lead- Republicans—that is exactly what we even more important than water. It ership. did in record time and with record lev- has become that integral to a success- Colleagues, the Senate is now consid- els, historic levels, of investment. ful life for business. No matter where ering the substitute amendment to After soliciting input, I am sure my you live, the internet puts the world at H.R. 3684, the INVEST Act, and I rise colleague from West Virginia recalls, your fingertips. Your children can today to urge our colleagues to join from all 50 States—all 50 States—we learn from home, you can connect to Senator CAPITO, who is sitting to my crafted and then unanimously for- healthcare providers when you need right, and me in debating the legisla- warded our water infrastructure bill them, and businesses can reach the tion, offering improvements where global marketplace. out of committee to the full Senate— One last point. This plan will help us needed to it, and then voting for its unanimously. There, it was debated, protect America’s infrastructure, our adoption. amended, and adopted by a vote of 89 to In February of this year, at my en- economy, and American families from 2—89 to 2; you don’t hear that every 21st-century threats of climate change, couragement, President Biden invited day—on April 29, 2021. extreme weather, and cyber attacks. It Senator CAPITO, Senators CARDIN, With that behind us, we turned our is the largest investment in resilience INHOFE, and me, all senior members of attention to surface transportation of physical and natural systems in the Senate Committee on Environment legislation—roads, highways, bridges, American history. and Public Works, over to the White climate—and unanimously reported With this plan, we can create thou- House right after he was inaugurated our surface transportation bill to the sands of good-paying, family-sup- President to discuss the need to make full Senate by Memorial Day, the fast- porting jobs, and the majority of these bold investments in our Nation’s crum- est the committee has ever acted, I am jobs may not require a college degree. bling infrastructure. told, on such legislation. Perhaps that 2 extra years of commu- Sitting in the Oval Office that day, I have thanked Senator CAPITO so nity college, which we hope to include as I am sure the ranking member of many times, she is probably getting in the next bill, will be just what a per- our committee remembers, we were sick of it, but I want to thank her son needs to get a good-paying job, set- joined in person by the Vice President again, and I want to thank every mem- tle down, and raise a family—the of the United States, KAMALA HARRIS, ber of our committee with whom we American dream. And we can lay the and we were joined virtually by Sec- were privileged to serve on the Envi- foundation for a long-term economic retary of Transportation Pete ronment and Public Works Committee, boom if everyone pulls together. Buttigieg. I still want to call him along with the members of our staffs, These are smart, prudent, necessary Mayor Pete, but he has actually turned some of whom are gathered here today, investments that will pay dividends for out to be a pretty good Secretary of for their remarkable work on these im- years to come. I want to thank the Transportation as well. portant, bipartisan bills. President. He was really all in in the Because of our committee’s long- Speaking of staff, I look over my negotiation of this bill. Without his standing tradition of bipartisan work shoulder, and I see of our people right leadership, we wouldn’t be here. I also on infrastructure, my colleagues and I behind me. I look over the other shoul- want to thank the bipartisan group of already knew as we headed into the der, and I see some Republican staff Senators who worked with the White White House meeting that our Nation over on the other side. House to produce this agreement. I had fallen woefully short—woefully I especially want to pause and just have come to know them. I partici- short—in maintaining and developing thank our Environment and Public pated in some of the early meetings the critical infrastructure that sup- Works staff director, Mary Frances and listened to them through the delib- ports us, our families, and our econ- Repko; our chief counsel, Greg Dotson; eration. There were times when I want- omy. But don’t take my word for it. as well as Rebecca Higgins, who leads ed to wring their necks, and there were Don’t take my word for it. The Amer- our transportation team; and Kenneth times when I wanted to pat their ican Society of Civil Engineers’ 2021 re- Martin and Jordan Baugh as well. backs. But they never quit trying, and port card for America’s infrastructure A special thank-you to John Kane today, we have a bill before us that is gave our Nation’s infrastructure an and Annie D’Amato, who ably led our a dramatic achievement, and it is a bi- overall grade of C-minus. In recent efforts on water infrastructure; to partisan achievement. years, that rating has been as low as D- Laura Haynes Gillam, our leader on

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:39 Aug 02, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.006 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5533 climate; and finally to my indefati- ternatives to increasingly polluted than $55 billion—$55 billion—for pro- gable chief of staff, Emily Spain. I drinking water wells. Ellendale is not grams that will create jobs and make practiced that word all night to make alone. Across our country, hundreds, our communities healthier by building, sure I got it right. maybe thousands of communities repairing, upgrading, and modernizing I hasten to add that we couldn’t get struggle with access to clean water and our Nation’s aging drinking water and any of this done without Senator CAP- wastewater treatment, including my wastewater infrastructure systems—$55 ITO and the strong, bipartisan support native West Virginia, now represented billion dollars. we received from her, from the EPW by our colleagues SHELLEY CAPITO and Here is how. First, the measure takes minority staff director—I see him sit- JOE MANCHIN. the historic step of reauthorizing the ting over there—Adam Tomlinson— Our communities across this country Clean Water State Revolving Loan Adam, thank you—and his hard-work- are torn asunder by—too many places Fund for the first time in 35 years—35 ing team; I won’t mention them all, across this country are torn asunder by years. It does so while increasing fund- but Murphie Barrett, affectionately highways that have divided and dis- ing levels for the first time since 1987. known as Murphie Brown, and Travis rupted neighborhoods across our Na- This legislation also reauthorizes the Cone and Jess Kramer. tion. In my hometown of Wilmington, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, You know, you would expect the DE, construction of I–95 literally tore a program whose reauthorization ex- chair of the Environment and Public communities apart, cutting off access pires at the end of this year. You will Works Committee or the ranking mem- to neighbors, parks, and economic op- recall that this is the fund that helps ber to be proud of their committee’s portunity. We can begin to heal those to ensure that clean water flows from work, and we certainly are, but we wounds—in places like Baltimore and our faucets when we turn on the spigot. aren’t the only ones who have worked Philadelphia as well—heal those To help resolve a historic injustice in hard to write the legislation that is be- wounds with the projects we enable in water infrastructure investment, more this legislation. fore us today, not by a long shot. than 40 percent of this bill’s invest- The truth be known, almost all of I want to commend the bipartisan ments are targeted to help disadvan- our colleagues have stories like this to work of the Commerce Committee and taged communities. The bill appro- share—communities beset by raging the Energy and Natural Resources priates $15 billion in new funding to re- wildfires fueled by climate change; Committee, along with the efforts of place lead service lines. And particu- thousands of acres of farmland lost to the Banking Committee. larly for our country’s rural areas, in- flooding; more than a third of the crops I especially want to thank the bipar- cluding Native Alaskan villages, Tribal in Iowa destroyed by hurricane-force tisan group we affectionately refer to— communities, and low-income neigh- winds last year; kids without access to Senator DURBIN already has—affection- borhoods, our bill invests another $1 the internet for want of broadband ac- ately refer to them, at least most of billion in programs to connect house- cess; and families struggling to deal the time, as the G–22, led by Senators holds to drinking water and waste- with legacy pollutants in the land and water systems and services. ROB PORTMAN of Ohio and KYRSTEN water where they live. This legislation does far more than SINEMA of Arizona. I want to thank In the near future, I hope we will just fix what is broken. To borrow a them and the other 20 Senators—half take some time to celebrate the sig- phrase from our President, it truly Democrat, half Republican—for their nificant steps we are taking to rewrite does enable us to build back better by Herculean efforts to make this com- these stories with this legislation be- fortifying water infrastructure in the promise legislation a reality; working fore us. But I want to take a moment face of our new and worsening climate not just with folks here and over in the or two here today, if I may, to drill reality. House but also at the White House as down into some of the most meaningful Sadly—sadly—our future is one with well, with the President and the Presi- provisions reported unanimously out of more severe weather events like hurri- dent’s team. our committee, the Environment and canes, like floods, droughts, and bit- In the Navy, we have—one of my fa- Public Works Committee, this year. terly cold weather. I wish it weren’t vorite sayings in the Navy is ‘‘Bravo Let’s start with the Drinking Water true, but it is. It is a future with ever Zulu.’’ When somebody does extraor- and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of more people living on the frontlines of dinary work, what we would say is 2021. sea level rise, like Louisiana, which, on ‘‘Bravo Zulu.’’ I would certainly say It is clear that the programs we have average, if you can believe this, Lou- that on this occasion. now, despite our best efforts, aren’t isiana loses a piece of land to the sea Of course, we all recognize that infra- sufficient to meet the needs of many of roughly the size of a football field structure encompasses much more our communities, particularly those every 100 minutes—every 100 minutes. than water, roads, highways, and who simply can’t afford to participate To that end, the bill before us pro- bridges. In truth, it touches on the ju- in the revolving loan programs of their vides a combined $500 million to make risdictions of many of our commit- States in order to upgrade increasingly our water infrastructure system more tees—many of our committees. That is inadequate drinking water and waste- resilient and more adaptable in the why the legislation we are considering water facilities. face of extreme weather events. Within today is extraordinary. It is a com- As our ranking member knows, if that historic investment is a new $125 prehensive infrastructure investment communities borrow money out of the million program which will for the first package that encompasses water, high- revolving funds, water funds—one for time provide grants to communities ways, roads, bridges, transit, rail, air- drinking water and one for sanitation, seeking to fortify their wastewater sys- ports, ports, power systems, dams, water sanitation—the communities tems against climate change’s impacts. broadband, cyber security, ecosystem that borrow money, take money out of This is not just a bill to spend and restoration, and more. them, they are expected to pay that build but legislation that will direct I would like to pause here for just a money back. There are, as we know, a our Agencies to build and spend more moment to remind all of us who serve lot of communities that are just too wisely. We know that investment and in this body, along with the people we impoverished to ever do that. We have innovation as envisioned in this bill be- are privileged to represent, that infra- decided not just to bemoan that but to fore us can have a profound impact on structure is also intensely personal, actually do something about it. That is our economy, creating jobs and fos- and when it does not work, our people what we have done with this legisla- tering growth for entire communities. suffer, their children suffer, and their tion—provide them with an oppor- We can, in short, seize the day in the livelihoods suffer. We all know that tunity to receive a grant to clean up face of so much adversity. Seize the those who suffer most are those who their water, their drinking water, and day. Carpe diem—or, as we say in Dela- have been shortchanged by the pat- to deal with their wastewater. Millions ware, Carper diem. ently inadequate investments we have of Americans are going to be able to do It is fair to say there is also much we made for too many years. that, to deal with these challenges, and can and will do to invest in our Na- In rural parts of Southern Delaware, we are going to help. tion’s highways, roads, and bridges. communities like Ellendale have strug- This bipartisan legislation works to Our Surface Transportation Reauthor- gled for years to find and afford safe al- address this crisis by authorizing more ization Act increases the baseline for

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:39 Aug 02, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.007 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5534 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 funding our surface transportation pro- that we have developed, it creates an structure. Investments made in this grams by more than one-third to $303 emission from these vehicles, but it is bill will work to make our electric grid billion over the next 5 years—$303 bil- water, H2O. I am told it is water we can more reliable and resilient, support lion. On top of that, the legislation will actually drink. Think about that. families and businesses to become invest over $60 billion in new funds for We can also drive down emissions and more energy efficient, while helping to roads, bridges, and multimodal pro- curb pollution by supporting conven- clean up our Nation’s old and aban- grams over these 5 years. This invest- ient, healthy alternatives to driving. doned mines and wells that leak toxic ment will repair and rebuild our roads Bicycling and walking are not only af- pollution and methane emissions. and bridges with a new focus on cli- fordable modes of transportation but The bill before us this week also in- mate change mitigation, resilience, eq- healthy ones as well—an important cludes investments in battery recy- uity, and safety for all users, including consideration in a nation where all too cling and zero-emitting technologies, cyclists and pedestrians. many Americans are dying from med- including a program much like the one Every day, motorists cross bridges in ical conditions tied to obesity. passed out of our EPW Committee last poor conditions in too many parts of Sadly, far too many Americans live year that supports our existing nuclear our country 170 million times. Every in neighborhoods where there are no power fleet, which collectively pro- day. Every day. A hundred and seventy safe bike lanes and crosswalks. Trag- duces—get this—half of our Nation’s million times a day. Some 40 percent of ically, in 2019 alone, over 7,000 pedes- carbon-free electricity. the bridges in our country are in need trians and bicyclists lost their lives in While there is much to celebrate in of repair or replacement, including traffic accidents—over 7,000 pedes- this product of our bipartisan efforts, nearly 500 bridges in Massachusetts, trians. I would wager that many Mem- more work still needs to be done. Col- 3,000 in Pennsylvania, and God knows, bers of this body actually knew one or lectively, we have incorporated badly more in our State as well. more than one of those victims or their needed climate provisions in surface At the current pace of investment in families personally. So I am grateful transportation, water, power, and a bridges, it would take nearly 40 years— that our bill works to address these number of other infrastructure pro- 40 years—to tackle the current backlog needless deaths head-on. The question grams, but in truth, we have, in the of bridges in poor condition. That is is, How? By providing a 70-percent in- words of Robert Frost, miles to go be- right—40 years. That is why today we crease in funding for programs that de- fore we sleep—miles to go before we consider legislation to provide a $40 velop safe, accessible pedestrian and bi- sleep. billion investment to address our cycle pathways across our Nation and With the words of Robert Frost as a daunting bridge repair backlog. by authorizing almost $17 billion in reminder, all of us who serve here to- Our legislation also includes for the funding for highway safety improve- gether understand that every race won first time in a Senate reauthorization ments. begins with a first step and ends with a bill a climate title with provisions I also want to note here some of the final one. With the enactment of this dedicated to curbing harmful green- critical investments in infrastructure legislation, we will be taking not one house gas emissions, while ensuring that are outside of the EPW Committee but a number of important steps—a that the investments we make are jurisdiction and the important work number of important steps. more resilient to climate change-en- that those committees did to bring this In the days ahead, we will move a hanced extreme weather events be- bill to the floor. good deal closer to the finish line in a cause, like it or not, it is coming our First, a note of appreciation for the race with a dangerously changing cli- way. portion of the legislation that was au- mate that we simply cannot afford to As many of you know, the transpor- thored by the Senate Commerce Com- lose. That is why I will be examining tation sector is the largest source of mittee, led by Senators MARIA CANT- the budget resolution closely in the carbon emissions in our Nation; almost WELL and ROGER WICKER. As one of the days ahead to ensure that we are de- 30 percent just from one source: cars, tens of thousands of Americans who voting the resources necessary to put trucks, and vans. If we want to save commute to work on the east coast by climate change on the run as we ad- our planet, and we do, for our children taking Amtrak almost daily, I am en- vance environmental justice. and grandchildren, we have to tackle couraged to see that this bill invests in I would be remiss if I didn’t add that this major contributor to the climate our railways across the Nation. This we must not shy away in the days crisis with a special zeal. legislation not only provides $6 billion ahead from working hard to agree on The bill we marked up in our com- in grants to the Northeast Corridor to how to honestly and thoughtfully pay mittee, the Environment and Public address Amtrak’s deferred mainte- for the investments that need to be Works Committee, this spring by, nance needs, it also provides another made. In the words of a colleague from again, a 20-to-0 vote put us on the right $16 billion for Amtrak’s national net- West Virginia—words of a former State track, dedicating $18 billion toward re- work and another $41 billion in grants treasurer of a small State on the east ducing our carbon emissions and in- to improve passenger rail performance coast who now serves in this body, cluding $2.5 billion for building electric and safety. ‘‘Things that are worth having are vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling I also want to applaud the chairman worth paying for.’’ stations on highways and in locations of the Senate Banking Committee and But the key message of this day is like schools, workplaces, parks, and others both on and off the committee that we have pushed through earnest publicly accessible areas for commu- who worked tirelessly to advance ro- disagreements, varying priorities, and nities. This bill also adds another $5 bust funding for public transit infra- much headache and heartache to billion for EV charging and hydrogen structure in order to make it possible achieve a truly singular success in tak- fueling stations to help us transition to for millions of people to get to work ing on a number of major infrastruc- a zero-emission future. and home again every day. ture challenges facing our Nation. We A lot of people have heard about and Transit and rail are both critical have elected to work together to ad- talked about electric vehicle charging components of our climate change re- dress the obvious—to repair and up- stations. Not so many people have sponse, providing low- and zero-emis- grade much of our Nation’s infrastruc- mentioned hydrogen. Hydrogen is a big sion travel choices. This bill, our bill, ture in order to better position Amer- part and will play a major role in re- reauthorizes and grows our transit pro- ica to succeed in an ever more competi- ducing our carbon emissions, particu- grams, while also providing more than tive global economy and to survive in larly with midsized trucks and larger $5 billion in grants for State and local an ever more dangerous world due to trucks, and also when we talk about re- agencies to purchase electric and low- the climate crisis. ducing carbon emissions in the indus- emission transit buses. Senator CAPITO and I have served to- trial sector. So stay tuned. There is a Our colleagues on the Senate Energy gether on this Committee for a number lot more to come on that front. and Natural Resources Committee, led of years, and she succeeds Senator A great thing about our clean hydro- by Senators MANCHIN and BARRASSO, JOHN BARRASSO, who for a number of gen investment in vehicles propelled crafted legislation to help support and years was the chair and I was the rank- with hydrogen, with the technology clean up our Nation’s energy infra- ing member. I will never forget—and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:39 Aug 02, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.008 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5535 you probably won’t either, Senator—we of people, in pun, said we would never bipartisan agreement. And the Drink- won’t forget the words of attorney Rob get here. As a matter of fact, I had an ing Water and Wastewater bill had al- Wallace, who is also from Wyoming, a interview on national TV about 3 or 4 ready passed out this entire body 89 to friend of Senator BARRASSO’s, and he months ago, when I was leading the ef- 2. was nominated, I think, to be Assistant fort for the Republicans, and the com- So we decided—and the President was Secretary of the Interior. He focused mentator said: Well, I will believe bi- very much in the conversation and the on, among other things, national partisanship on infrastructure when will to get this done. So our Drinking parks, wildlife, and fish and wildlife. I pigs fly. Water and Wastewater Infrastructure never forget what he said in his con- So watch out. They are flying. Act had already passed, as I said, firmation hearing. He commented on So we are debating this historic bi- unanimously. We passed it on the floor, the history and the tradition of our partisan infrastructure bill. The Infra- 89 to 2. And we were making steady committee as one where we actually structure Investment and Jobs Act is progress on our Surface Transportation work together and like each other even the product of countless hours, as the Reauthorization bill. though we don’t always agree on the chairman said; late nights; and more At this point, the talks between the issues. We work together to get things than a couple of tough conversations. President and me and our working done. He said these words. He said: ‘‘Bi- And I want to include not just our staff group, as Republicans, began to falter, partisan solutions are lasting solu- but a lot of staffs throughout the Sen- and the bipartisan group picked up tions.’’ That is what he said. ‘‘Bipar- ate, whether it is the Finance Com- with the President. I am really, really tisan solutions are lasting solutions.’’ I mittee, Approps Committee, Commerce glad and proud of their efforts that thought at the time, well, he really Committee, Banking Committee, EPW they were able to come to an agree- nailed it. And I hope, with this legisla- Committee, Energy Committee, all-en- ment that is before us today. As I am tion, we will nail it, too, because a lot compassing—a lot of our staffs have going to reiterate again because I of Americans are counting on us to do been working through the weekends think we are going to be saying this a just that. sleeplessly to try to get us to today. lot, I am glad that the basis of this are With that, I am happy to yield the We debated the definition of infra- the two bipartisan bills that came out floor again to—I am tempted to call structure. We actually talked about of the EPW Committee. her our wingwoman; she calls me her that at the White House on the day we There are several provisions I would wingman—to my colleague and friend went to see the President and what like to highlight as we begin this proc- and ranking member of this com- that scope should look like and the ess. mittee, who has been great to work pricetag and, very important, how to Roads and bridges are what we think with. pay for it. of when we think of infrastructure. We I yield the floor. I think that nobody, probably, of the talked a lot about this over the last The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. 100 of us thinks this bill is absolutely several months. As ranking member of WARNOCK). The Senator from West Vir- perfect. It never would be. And there is the EPW Committee, one of my top pri- ginia. always a saying going around that, if orities, along with Chairman CARPER, Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I want we all thought it was perfect, there is is the reauthorization of the Surface to begin by thanking the chairman of something wrong with it. Transportation Reauthorization bill. our EPW Committee. We work tremen- So delivering for the American peo- We worked painstakingly; and those dously well together. ple is more important than our news- were a lot of sleepless nights, too, for He gave a great speech right there, paper headlines today. We can make a many of us and our staffs, in par- outlining not only the difficulties that historic investment in our Nation’s in- ticular, to write a bill to meet our we had reaching consensus but really frastructure with this bill. It reflects transportation needs. And the chair- how the building blocks of what we are our commitment to keeping Americans man outlined a lot of what his prior- embarking on today really came from safe, as the chairman mentioned; im- ities were, and I am going to talk the bipartisanship that we have shown proving our global competitiveness; about some of what the priorities that at EPW with our surface transpor- and growing our economy and creating I had, sharing his priorities as well. tation and our water bills. jobs. This legislation gives States both I came to the table with several I think, you know, by having those the certainty in funding to plan for big major priorities for that bill, and I am building blocks in place, it has led us projects, but also that flexibility in proud to say that each one of them is to where we are today. spending to cater to unique needs. in this bill that we are getting ready to And I do remember that first meeting What you need in Georgia is different consider. I wanted a robust investment with President Biden in the White than what you need in Delaware, or my in our Nation’s roads and bridges. House. It is not every day you get to go other colleague from Montana would Nothing bugs people more, literally, to the White House and sit in the Oval differ from what we need in West Vir- than driving into a pothole when they Office and talk to the President of the ginia. This bill is a product that the know they are paying a gas tax and United States and Vice President. But American people can be proud of and when they know they are trying to do we started out with basically saying one that will benefit them and the next their best to support their State and that we can do this, we want to do this, generation. This is not a one-and-done. local to repair their roads. But it is, I and bipartisanship can work, particu- The impacts of this bill will go on think, the least, I think, that Ameri- larly on areas that we traditionally through a generation. cans—as they are going to work or work together on, but also on areas So after we had the meeting with the going to school or going shopping— that are of critical need to our coun- President—the bipartisan meeting—the would expect that they could be safe as try. And we never really sort of lost President put out his American Jobs they are traveling. our focus on that, and neither did the Act. He actually challenged my party, I came to the table, and we did a ro- President. the Republican Party, to come up with bust $303.5 billion over 5 years for the So here we are today, really meeting a reaction to his American Jobs Plan. Federal-Aid Highway Program, which, that challenge that he sort of laid And I took up that challenge, along as the chairman said, is a 35-percent in- down before us over 6 months ago. And with the ranking members of the rel- crease over current law. That invest- with the building blocks that us and evant committees. So that would be ment represents historic funding. Commerce and others have put into Senators WICKER, TOOMEY, BARRASSO, These are historic levels of funding for place, we find ourselves with the great CRAPO, and Senator BLUNT, and we our roads and bridges and provides hard work of the bipartisan group and went back to the White House. And I States that long-term certainty that a great place of—at a point at which we was talking to Senator CARPER the en- they need to plan and complete a can discuss these, amend these, and tire time through this process to make project. I am sure the chairman has look at these on the Senate floor, as we sure that our surface transportation projects in his State that have been on should be doing. bill, which we were in the midst of ne- the burner, waiting to be done or par- So after months and months of nego- gotiating, was going to be the building tially finished, and they can’t get the tiating, the time is finally here. A lot block on which we could formulate a investment because they can’t get the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:39 Aug 02, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.009 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5536 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 long-term investment that we provided How about that? When this water legislation was in our bill. Finally, we hear a lot—everybody voted on by the Senate, 89 Senators So I specifically made funding for our hears a lot—from folks back home that supported it. Senators recognized that Nation’s bridges a priority. West Vir- it just takes way too long to develop a the legislation will help thousands of ginia has so many bridges. It is a small project. We sometimes think some- communities to improve their health, State, but we have got a lot of hills and times the bureaucracy is our worst safety, and standard of living. I am valleys, so we need a lot of bridges. enemy when it comes to building our very pleased that this bill before us One recent report said that 21 per- infrastructure. So we prioritized im- again is a part of this package—a part cent of West Virginia’s bridges are in provements for the project delivery of the larger package—so we can make poor condition. Another report says process to help road and bridge projects sure that it gets to the President’s that 13 percent of our interstate advance from the planning stage to the desk. bridges are in poor condition. So that completion stage much more rapidly. I am glad that the overall package latter figure of the interstate bridges is I am excited about reforms we had in we are considering represents the larg- the highest one in the Nation. Our bill our EPW bill. Particularly, our bill est investment in clean drinking water created a new bridge program. We codifies the One Federal Decision pol- in our Nation’s history. worked hard with our colleagues to icy, making it easier for project spon- It also has some niche things in there make sure that there is a massive infu- sors to work through the Federal envi- that are important to me. Just what sion, which there is, on top of what we ronmental review process—not skirting we hear anecdotally in our State, we had in our bill in the appropriations any environmental review, but just ex- are wasting water in our State. We package. pediting it so it can go quicker, which have leaky old pipes that just leak out The overall package includes $40 bil- means more development, more consid- 50 percent of the water from the treat- lion in dedicated resources for bridges. erations, but also more efficiency on ment facilities to the home. What a This is the single largest investment in how you spend your dollars. waste. Think about our friends in the bridge infrastructure since the con- The EPW bill makes other common- West and how precious water is in cer- struction of the Interstate Highway sense reforms, like allowing States to tain areas. What a wasteful thing that System. This is money that will make be reimbursed for utility relocation is. So we addressed some of that into a difference for West Virginia and the necessary for a project while the re- our bill. rest of the Nation. view process is ongoing, or even estab- There are a number of other provi- Second, I wanted to preserve the lishing deadlines for Federal Agencies sions in this large package that will be flexibility for our States and localities to make decisions. significant wins for West Virginia and These are a few examples of the 19 to use Federal funds to meet their own the Nation. I launched my Capito Con- sections included in the robust project unique transportation needs. That pri- nect initiative in 2015, to help expand delivery section of our EPW bill. ority is reflected in the fact that 90 Additional provisions in the broader broadband infrastructure in West Vir- percent of the EPW bill’s funding will legislation will extend the FAST–41 ginia. Many communities that lack be provided to our States through the permitting reforms to help us build adequate broadband service are strug- formula—that means the predictability other types of infrastructure more effi- gling economically. And I see my fel- of the formula that every State has re- ciently. low Senator from Montana—we had lied on over the last several transpor- So my key priorities: Robust invest- talked about this endlessly on the tation bills. That is important because ment in roads and bridges, flexibility Commerce Committee and how abso- it lets States use the Federal dollars to for—and certainty for—our States; re- lutely important it is. address their own priorities. As I said, sources for rural communities and es- Many communities that lack ade- we have different priorities, from con- pecially the ADHS, and project deliv- quate broadband service are struggling. gestion in urban areas to economic ery improvements are all reflected in It is impossible to compete for new jobs growth in small towns. the EPW bill and across the broader if a community cannot offer good And third, I wanted to make sure package we are considering. internet service—I mean, it is just a that all parts of our Nation—not just I am extremely proud of the work we necessity—causing these areas to fall urban areas, but the rural areas—ben- did on our committee to produce this, further and further behind. So, today, efit from transportation grant pro- and I think it will make significant education, tourism, healthcare, all re- grams. Rural areas can sometimes benefits to our Nation’s infrastructure. quire high-speed internet service. struggle when it comes to receiving I am also going to talk about our Broadband is core infrastructure, and competitive grants. Drinking Water and Wastewater Infra- this legislation recognizes that. It is a It is hard to show cost-benefit anal- structure Act. The chairman went into major broadband investment that will ysis. It is hard to show how many peo- more detail on it, but you can see it is tremendously help close the digital di- ple are being served. But these trans- very far-reaching. It is the largest, vide in this country. We will get it to portation corridors are so vital. That is most robust investment in new areas the last house. We will get it to the why I am very pleased that the EPW around this very crucial area. We have last business. bill creates a new $2 billion rural grant authorized $35 billion for water Additionally, significant funding is program that will dedicate resources to projects across the country with a included in this package to improve something very important to me—the focus on upgrading aging infrastruc- our Nation’s airports. Appalachian Development Highway ture. It invests in innovative tech- Funding for the Corps of Engineers System, or the ADHS—and other crit- nologies and provides assistance to will improve our water resources infra- ical projects across rural America. rural and low-income communities to structure, our locks and dams. We rely We also worked together to provide help them keep their water safe and a lot on that as you are going knew additional dedicated funding for the clean. The bill provides that flexibility down the Ohio Canal, the Big Sandy in ADHS in the broader legislation. I talked about so that both rural and through West Virginia. So what does that mean for my home urban areas can best address their Reorganization of the AML Program State? needs. will provide billions of dollars to clean That means that this funding will aid The most significant investments are up abandoned mine sites. Another new the completion of Corridor H, which is in the Drinking Water and Clean Water program will provide resources to clean the connector to the eastern and cen- State Revolving Funds, otherwise up orphaned oil and gas wells. Both tral parts of our State with the Metro known as SRFs. Our former Governors programs will have a positive effect in and DC area and opening up more op- in the body would know all about this country and particularly in my portunities for economic growth and SRFs, how important they are. They State. tourism. So if you are coming from the maximize the authority to the States The items I have highlighted are DC area, you can just slice right to determine how best to address their major wins for West Virginia and the through the center of the State where own challenges with a revolving loan Nation. They are investments in the you can ski Whitewater, see the beauty fund to facilitate additional future in- next generation, ensuring America con- of our State, or bring your business. vestments. tinues to compete on the global stage.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:39 Aug 02, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.010 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5537 I would like to thank Senators Gilliam, Jordan Baugh, Heather Dean, Member of this body, a great Member PORTMAN and SINEMA for their leader- Mackie McIntosh, Annie D’Amato, from Montana, and a great member of ship on this legislation and the entire Kenneth Martin, and Tyler Hoffman- the Approps Committee, and the chair bipartisan working group for their Reardon for their dedication for this as well. I just want to say thank you hours and hours of long work. process as well. for all of your involvement in this ef- I would especially like to thank—and With that, I yield the floor. fort, all of your involvement, as part of we are going to be together a lot here Mr. CARPER. I am going to ask this G–22, with some sanity and some in the next several days—my counter- unanimous consent, if I could just in- common sense at times when it was part, ‘‘Carper diem,’’ Chairman CARPER sert one quick comment, Mr. Presi- really needed and just tenacity. of the EPW Committee. dent? The fellow who normally stands at I would also like to thank President The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without this podium is our leader, Senator Biden for his commitment and his will- objection, it is so ordered. SCHUMER, our majority leader. He ingness to see this bipartisan work Mr. CARPER. Ranking Member Sen- spoke earlier this morning. And Sen- product through. I would like to add ator CAPITO has mentioned very gra- ator MCCONNELL spoke from where that I would like to thank the Presi- ciously the names of all of our staff. Senator CAPITO was speaking. Not ev- dent’s staff because I know that they I was here this weekend. She was erybody expected Senator MCCONNELL, have committed hours and hours to here this weekend. And there were peo- a Republican leader, to vote in favor of this effort, beginning with me and end- ple here working this weekend, not just the motion to proceed to the bill. He ing where we are today. our staffs on the Environment and did. And that encouraged others, 16, 17, I hope this isn’t the end. I mean, I Public Works Committee, not just on 18 other Republicans to join in voting hope this is the beginning of things the Appropriations Committee, just for the motion to proceed. We don’t that we are going to be doing together. staffs like here in this body. Folks proceed unless we have 60 votes, and I hope this isn’t a one-and-done. I hope throughout the building, throughout that was just hugely helpful. this is the beginning of all good things. the complex, they were here working. And to CHUCK SCHUMER, who was The American people elected us to do They have children. They have spouses. just—this guy, he just doesn’t give up. this tough work. Tough compromises They have parents. They have other I have known and worked with him for- are necessary to develop and pass bi- obligations. They were here working. ever, and I am very proud of his leader- partisan bills, and I believe this legis- And we would be remiss if we didn’t ship. I know he will be glad when this lation is a major positive step. mention that. is all over, and he can maybe go home I look forward to working with my The other thing I want to say is, as and get a good night’s sleep. colleagues as we begin the amendment Ranking Member Senator CAPITO But for his family who is willing to process so that we can advance this knows, I go back and forth on the train share and his kids’ willingness to share package. a lot of days, much like Joe Biden used him with all of us, especially, thanks. I would like to join with Chairman to do. And almost every week some- I yield the floor. CARPER in thanking our staff members body says to me on a platform either in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- who have worked so hard on the EPW Delaware or here in DC waiting for the ator from Montana. bill. train: Why can’t you guys work to- Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I do As the Senator mentioned, I see his gether? Why can’t you folks just work want to thank Senator CARPER and staff over there and part of my staff together? Senator CAPITO for managing this bill. over here. I just wish that they could be here to I say to the Senators, I very much At the risk of picking one of my fa- participate, to listen, to hear that, ac- appreciate what you guys have done up vorite children off the EPW Com- tually, we do work together. And when to this point and what you are going to mittee, I am going to name my entire the chips are really down—pandemic, do over the next 3 or 4 days. staff because they all had a hand in terrible situation, 15, 16, 17 months’ ago Mr. President, I rise today for the this. So I would like to thank Lauren especially, we worked together in an same reason that—several months ago, Baker; Murphie Barrett; Libby almost unanimous way. And we are I worked with four other Democrats Callaway; Georgianna Clemmons, who working together here on some things and five Republicans to try to get is going to be a mom in about a month; that are extraordinarily important. something done to address the infra- Marli Collier; Travis Cone; Sarah The other thing I would say, and I re- structure of this country. Why? Be- Delavan; Will Dixon; Elizabeth Horner; minded the President of this just the cause infrastructure is important. Max Hyman; Tyler Jenkins; Jess Kra- other day, this is not all on the Federal Let me take you back 60 years. Sixty 1 mer; Jake Kennedy; Matt Lupes; Kayla Government. You know, whether it is years ago, it was 13 ⁄2 miles to the clos- McMurry; Taylor Meredith; Jacob climate change, whether it is meeting est patch of pavement from my farm. Mitchell; Kelley Moore; Katherine our infrastructure needs, whether it is Then, I was about 4 or 5 years old. I re- Smith; and my staff leader, Adam a pandemic, this is a shared responsi- member riding with my dad in a 1954 Tomlinson—I will give him an extra bility, and the Federal Government GMC 300 truck on that dirt road haul- check because he is an amazing per- really bears a lot of responsibility. ing wheat to town as he weaved around son—Travis Voyles; and Andy Zock for We have a responsibility especially piles of gravel that were in the middle their tireless efforts that have helped to lead, but there are States involved. of that road. advance this committee’s infrastruc- And as a recovering Governor—States And I asked my father: Why are ture legislation. were involved, counties, and cities. those piles of gravel there? He said: They are working to pave On my personal office team, I would Nonprofits were involved. And it is all this road. like to thank my chief of staff, Joel of us working together. I said: What does that mean—being a Brubaker, and JT Jezierski for their We have a Home Depot just a couple 4-year-old. leadership. of blocks from our house, Senator CAP- He said: Well, remember the stretch I say to the Senator that I also want ITO. And when I think of—whether it is of road, the 150 or 200 yards that we to thank his staff. We have worked cities and towns or counties where drive on to get to the elevator right be- really well. You and I work well to- they have responsibilities to meet, I fore the elevator? gether, but our staffs really do, I think, like to say: You can do it; we can help. And I said: Yes. rely on one another. And that is the Like they say at Home Depot: You can This road is going to be all like that. way it should be. do it; we can help. And there is a lot of And I thought, wow. I would like to especially thank Mary good help here. And it was. It got paved. It got paved Frances Repko because she has devoted To the folks around the country who for the first 8 miles out of town, and many hours and time—she and Adam— need the help, we are going to help. that was pretty neat. I don’t know how many times they You can do it, but we can help, and we We were 51⁄2 miles from pavement have talked on the phone, but it is will. then, which was a great improvement. many, many, many—Rebecca Higgins, I would just say, in closing—I see the Some 10 years later, a little more John Kane, Greg Dotson, Laura Senator from Montana is here, a great than 10 years later, that final 4 miles

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:39 Aug 02, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.012 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5538 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 was paved so that we could access that Then we talk about broadband, been fun. Sometimes, it has not been so highway. which, if we can get this bill across the much fun. But the truth is every one of So why is that important? That is line, I believe it will fix the broadband these folks wanted to get to yes, and in important because not only did it re- accessibility issues in this country. the end we did get to yes. duce our costs on the farm in things We came through the pandemic, and I want to thank Senator SCHUMER. I like tires and pins and bushings and we saw how important broadband was want to thank him for his patience, not ball joints, but it made our farm more for distance learning, for telehealth, something that he is known for. But he profitable. Because of the investments for opportunities for businesses to ex- has been incredibly patient as this bill that my grandfather and my father’s pand their customer base. This bill will has been debated and changed and generation made, not only did it help help expand high-speed internet moved forward, particularly over the them at the time, but it helps me to throughout this country, both urban last week, although I will say that he this day. and rural. pushed the envelope and made sure we That was my first introduction to in- I will tell you, there is a lot of work were tending to business even before frastructure, and that is why, several that needs to be done in my home that, because I think Senator SCHUMER months ago, I realized that after 15 State of Montana when it comes to also wants to see this bill come to fru- years in this body and people from both broadband. ition. sides of the aisle talking about infra- Then there is the grid. If we are I also need to thank the administra- structure, that it was well past time to going to move forward with electric ve- tion, the folks who represent President get something done on infrastructure hicles—and they are coming—then we Biden in his negotiations. And I am because I knew it was economically have to have an electrical grid that going to name names: Louisa Terrell, important; I knew it would create jobs; will support those electric vehicles. Brian Deese, Steve Ricchetti. These and I knew it would help sustain com- Without improvements to the elec- folks were incredible resources, and munities all across this country. trical grid, we will be behind the eight they were incredibly helpful, and this So what is in this legislation? Why is ball all the time when it comes to, for bill would not have happened without this legislation so important? Well, let example, the electric pickup that Ford their input. me tell you. It is about the economy. It is putting out. I also want to thank all the staff is about creating jobs. It is about mak- I will say, in my lifetime, I will prob- members, both in the personal offices ing sure that we can compete in this ably have an electric tractor on the and the committees, from both sides of worldwide economy that we live in, farm because this technology is moving the aisle, who gave up their weekends how we can maintain our position as so quickly that it is real. and worked late into the night over the world’s premier economy in this This package does much more than and over and over again. I have said world. that. I just wanted to touch on those this before. I will say it again. The So how does it do it? Well, it starts few things. But it is done without in- staff does the work; the Senators take by repairing and modernizing our roads creasing your taxes, which is really im- the credit for it. The fact is that our and bridges, our airports, our transit portant because, right now, as we see staffs really rolled up their sleeves and systems. That is critically important our economy moving forward, we need really performed in a way that every for an economy. to keep it going in that direction. American would be proud. In my particular case, I live a long Ultimately, as I said before, this bill Look, over the next 3 or 4 days, we ways away from our customer base. So comes down to the economy; it comes have the opportunity to prove that the when I jump in the truck and I go to down to creating jobs and putting U.S. Senate can do big things and still town and I use that piece of pavement America to work; and it is about our function. The process we have been that was put down 50 years ago, that is national security. It allows us to be through hasn’t been pretty. I don’t important. When I cross that bridge able to compete with China in a way think it is supposed to be pretty. But it that crosses the Marias River, when I that we are losing right now. has been worth the while. haul grain to Fort Benton or Great I have heard people come to the floor I would say the world is watching, Falls—without that bridge, I couldn’t and say: Do you know what? Infra- both our allies and our adversaries. Our access my markets. Without those structure is good, but we don’t need it. allies want us to succeed. Our adver- highways, I cannot access my markets. We don’t need it right now. saries want us to fail. I would say to So it is critically important we keep Well, all I have to say is, if you be- everybody in this body, on both sides of our aging bridges and roads and air- lieve that, take the keys to the car out the aisle—and we did get a 67-vote ma- ports up to snuff. of your pocket—known as our econ- jority to move forward with this bill: And then, this also makes an incred- omy—and give them to China, because Let’s show them that America can ibly important investment in our aging you are giving this economy away, and function again. Let’s get this bill water systems. Where I come from, you are going to make China the lead- passed. Let’s get it over to the House. they call it dryland agriculture. This ing economic power in this world. Let’s get it to the President’s desk for year, it is a little dryer than we want Then there is the issue of bipartisan- his signature. because we are in the middle of a ship that has been talked about a lot With that, I yield, Mr. President. drought. But the truth is, even if you today already. The truth is this bill The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- are looking for drinking water or irri- has made some news because Demo- publican whip. gation water or any water, it is hard to crats and Republicans actually worked Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, it is good come by. together. They actually compromised. to see the Senate taking up a genu- As our Native American friends have Nobody got everything they want, but inely bipartisan bill this week. A group told us many, many times, water is everybody won. of Members from both parties have life. And so infrastructure to get water And as I have told many media out- spent weeks developing this legisla- to the point where we can utilize it is lets, this shouldn’t be news, but in this tion, and we saw the result of their critically important. This bill is a day and age, it is. Hopefully, this will work in the bipartisan support for pro- major investment in water infrastruc- set an example so that we can have ceeding to this bill. ture. much more bipartisan legislation going Now, we need to let that bipartisan And I would say one other thing. forward. process continue. We need to give Whether you live in the West or wheth- And, in that regard, I want to thank Members who weren’t a part of the bi- er you live in the East, our water sys- my colleagues for their dedication to partisan group a chance to weigh in, tems in this country are worn out be- this effort over the last several and that means making sure that we cause we haven’t done what our par- months, the G–10—Senators PORTMAN, have a robust amendment process. ents and grandparents have done. We SINEMA, COLLINS, WARNER, ROMNEY, I know the majority leader is eager have allowed them to decay without in- MANCHIN, CASSIDY, SHAHEEN, MUR- to get through this legislation and on vesting in this infrastructure, which is KOWSKI—all of you folks who sat with to the Democrats’ next piece of what is what we are doing today with this me in the same room, and we battled it partisan legislation, and that is a $31⁄2 package. out. Sometimes, the conversation has trillion tax-and-spending spree, but

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.013 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5539 that is not a good reason for rushing or the flutter kick, now used by most The bill clerk proceeded to call the this infrastructure bill through the freestyle swimmers. roll. Senate. He was a visionary who, after win- Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I This is an enormous bill. It is more ning gold at the 1912 Stockholm Olym- ask unanimous consent that the order than 2,700 pages long, and the legisla- pics, pressed the International Olympic for the quorum call be rescinded. tive text was just released last night. Committee to make surfing an Olym- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. To start with, Members need time to pic sport. He traveled the world to pro- HICKENLOOPER). Without objection, it is digest this legislation, and then Mem- mote surfing, bringing it to the conti- so ordered. bers need the opportunity to offer nental United States and Australia and The Senator from Alaska. amendments. elsewhere, and became known as the Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I The bill before us today is a genu- father of modern surfing. am on the floor this afternoon as we inely bipartisan bill, and I am very But, more than anything else, Duke are waiting to learn when we might be grateful for the tireless efforts of the Kahanamoku was an ambassador of able to proceed to a series of amend- Members who put in so many long days aloha and the spirit of Hawaii. A re- ments as they relate to the Infrastruc- and nights—and weekends, I might porter once asked him if it was a bigger ture Investment and Jobs Act. add—to get us to this point. thrill to win gold medals or ‘‘ride some This is a significant measure, one Like a lot of our colleagues, I spent of those giant waves,’’ and he answered that I have been very proud to be in- the weekend here in Washington as the that surfing was a bigger thrill. volved with for a period of time, work- bipartisan group worked through many One century later, Duke’s vision of ing with colleagues on both sides of the final drafting issues, and I appreciate Olympic surfing became reality, and aisle in our working groups—G–10, G– the fact that the members of the group there is nothing more fitting than Ha- 22—working with the committee chair- took the time to get the bill as right as waii’s own Carissa Moore winning the man and ranking member, working possible before introducing it. first Olympic Gold Medal. with other Members to get where we But this legislation was still put to- If you want to see what the embodi- are today, which is a long-awaited— gether by only a handful of Senators. ment of aloha looks like, look no fur- really, a long-away—investment in our And unlike traditional highway bills, ther than Carissa Moore. Like Duke, Nation’s infrastructure. there are major pieces of this legisla- she shares his native Hawaiian roots I know that Members are looking tion that haven’t been through the and started surfing at Waikiki Beach through the significant legislation that rigor of a committee process. as a young child. By the time she is in front of us. You don’t need to take So all Members deserve the chance to reached high school, she was already my word for it. You can look at the weigh in. A number of Senators have world-class. number of inches of the document in She attended my alma mater, raised legitimate concerns about this front of me. It is significant. Punahou, a school that has graduated legislation, such as whether the pro- Mr. President, I would suggest to you more than 30 Olympians and President posed pay-fors are sufficient to keep the need in this country is significant Obama. Carissa also became the young- this legislation from driving up our when it comes to investments in our est person ever to win a world surfing debt, and they deserve to have the Nation’s infrastructure—our core infra- title, at age 18, and went on to win chance to air those concerns and offer structure—what we define to be our three more. possible solutions. roads, our rails, our bridges, our ports, Today, she stands alone as the Infrastructure legislation is some of our water and sewer, our broadband. I world’s top-ranked surfer, but it is not the most essential legislation that we think we recognize that we talk a lot just talent that sets her apart. There is consider. Commerce in this country de- in this Chamber and perhaps on the a saying that the best surfer is the one pends on the strength of our infrastruc- other side, as well, and Presidents have having the most fun, and that is un- ture, from up-to-date electric grids to come and gone and all talked about the questionably the case with Carissa. She well-maintained airports and train need for more investment in our infra- is actually the best surfer, and she is tracks, ports and waterways, and roads structure. But truth be told, we really also having the most fun. and bridges. She has this incredible combination haven’t done a real wholesale effort to- We need to get this legislation right, of speed and power in the water and a ward that goal until this year. We saw and that means giving Members ample remarkable humility that she carries significant work come out of commit- time to examine the details of the bill, with her everywhere that she goes. She tees this year. and it means giving Members the is an intense competitor who wants to I want to commend the chairman of chance to address any problems in the win every event that she enters but the Environment and Public Works bill through a meaningful amendment also wants to see her opponents and, Committee, Senator CARPER, my friend process. We shouldn’t sacrifice ade- more importantly, the sport of surfing from Delaware. His committee worked quate time on this bill merely because itself succeed. hard, not only on the surface transpor- the Democratic leader would like to She has a passion to be admired and tation measure but also the water in- spend next week jamming a 100-percent a joy that is infectious. She is, in frastructure measure that had passed partisan piece of legislation through short, the rare athlete who must be through. the U.S. Senate. seen to be believed. And I know be- We have seen other good work in Let’s honor the bipartisan process cause I have seen it in Hawaii, and now other areas of infrastructure. that has gotten us this far by finishing the whole world knows too. I am on the Energy and Natural Re- this infrastructure bill with a robust, After she won the gold medal last sources Committee. That committee bipartisan amendment process. week, Carissa spoke of Duke was able to move out a significant— I yield the floor. Kahanamoku. ‘‘It was beautiful to see what we call the power infrastruc- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- his dream come true a century later,’’ ture—piece that became one of the an- ator from Hawaii. she said. She might as well have been chor tenets, if you will, within this TRIBUTE TO CARISSA MOORE speaking for all of Hawaii. measure. Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, last So, today, we honor Duke and the in- There has been good, collaborative week, the world saw something that it credible legacy that he left. We honor work through the committees. Then had never seen before: surfing as an Carissa Moore for her athleticism and that has been built on by Members, Olympic sport. The story of how this her commitment to inspire the next again, across the aisle over these past happened begins with a native Hawai- generation of surfers, especially young months to get us to where we are ian named Duke Kahanamoku. girls, and we celebrate the sport of today. Duke was a natural athlete. He surfing finally getting the recognition I ask Members, as they are going learned to swim at Waikiki Beach, and that it deserves. through the bill itself, the language he went on to win five Olympic swim- Mr. President, I yield the floor. that we had hoped we would get a little ming medals, including three golds. He I suggest the absence of a quorum. bit earlier for colleagues to go was an innovator who pioneered some- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The through—but in fairness, we really thing called the ‘‘Kahanamoku kick,’’ clerk will call the roll. needed to take the time to make sure

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.014 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5540 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 that we had gotten it right. It really recognizing that what we are doing is schoolbuses but also to alternative fuel does matter. So it did cause some delay allowing for greater safety, greater ac- ferries. Recognizing that we have some that we wish we could have avoided, cess through our support for highways, opportunities, whether it is an EV but we are where we are. for bridges, for things like culverts, for ferry that might run from Haines to It is Monday afternoon, and what I pedestrian safety initiatives, I think Skagway or an alternative fuel, we am hearing from colleagues is that we all want to do more in that area. want to be thinking forward into the they want an opportunity to engage in Alaskans probably fly more than we future. this process. Many in this body have drive. Our reality is some 80 percent of One of the pieces of this measure— not been part of the working groups. our communities are not connected by this very significant infrastructure Perhaps, they weren’t part of the com- road, and the geography, the expanse bill—that a lot of work has gone into is mittees that had advanced some of that we deal with, is that we are just the water and wastewater title. This is these pieces of legislation that we have not going to be connected that way. significant. This is significant. We saw, incorporated. They want to be partici- But we don’t need to be connected that not too many years ago, the situation pants, and rightly so. This is the time way when we can be connected by the in Flint, MI, with lead pipes. We have to do just that. air and when we can be connected over been working to address many of those I think it is everyone’s intention the water. And so this legislation is, issues for a period of time, and rightly that we have a robust amendment again, very important to those who fly. so. We provide significant funding— process moving forward. I am actually And when I talk about flying, you more than $180 million over 5 years— looking forward to this. I have had the know, sometimes these are small bush for the water and wastewater projects opportunity on this floor several times carriers, moving mail and groceries in Alaska through the Clean Water now to be able to manage energy bills, and people to medical appointments. State Revolving Fund and the Drink- natural resources bills, bills that have But the fact that we have $15 billion in ing Water State Revolving Fund pro- been significant, bills on which we have formula funding for the FAA Airport grams. These are significant for us. actually been able to have a pretty de- Improvement Program, this is going to In so many parts of the State, we are cent amendment process. be key. This helps with everything either faced with unserved commu- Sometimes, in fairness—sometimes— from runway lighting to navigation, nities, when it comes to water and that amendment process caused things taxiway initiatives. These are ways wastewater, or vastly underserved. And to derail for a period of time. We don’t that the 400 public airports in Alaska when I say unserved, we kind of know want to do that in this instance, not at are going to be able to move out on a what it means in the broadband sense, all. But it is not very often that we more efficient basis, if you will, some but let me explain to you what it really do have a true and a meaningful of the necessary safety upgrades that means in the water and sewer place. It amendment process. We are going to they have in front of them. And, again, means that you don’t have running have an opportunity for that with the us, it is not just about the land-based water in your home; you don’t have a budget resolution coming forward. But airports; we also have the sea-based toilet that flushes. You have a commu- I think, for the most part, most of us areas that we worry about. We have nity well where people go, and they fill know that there is a lot of messaging some 114 sea-based airports that we up their cherry jugs and haul it back. that goes on. This is not about mes- refer to. It means that for sanitation, for using saging. This is about delivering results So recognizing that not every airport the bathroom, the bathroom is effec- for the American people. This is about is like a Dulles or a DCA here, what we tively a Home Depot bucket. If you are creating jobs as we build out legacy in- are able to do for our small hub air- fancy, you have a toilet seat on it. But frastructure that is needed around the ports, our nonhub airports, our nonpri- it is the responsibility of somebody in country. mary airports—communities of all the family to haul that bucket out and Highways. We all know—we all sizes, because, again, whether you are dump it. know—that our highways are in need of in Bethel or Utqiagvik or wherever you I have shared pictures on the floor help and support. The provisions that may be throughout the State, all sizes here of what that really means in a we have included in this measure for are not the same here. So making sure community to have no water—no roads and bridges will be significant as that we are able to accommodate that water, no sewer system. Thirty-two out we attend to the many damaged is going to be important. of a hundred ninety rural Alaska vil- bridges that we see around the country, I have mentioned that we are also lages are currently in this situation. that really do present a threat to pub- connected on land, air, but also by sea, I received a voice mail, over the lic safety. Let’s get on them. We know and for those of us who are in coastal weekend, from one of Alaska’s mayors our highways, in so many areas, are in States—the Senator from Delaware has from a smaller community—on the serious disrepair, and in certain areas, a coastline, has ferries—people move road system, though. And she shared we need to be doing more to help build around by ferries. We rely on our Alas- with me—and I owe her a call back— out that highway infrastructure to ka Marine Highway System. There are but she shared with me—she said: You ease the congestion to allow for greater some 30, 35 different communities know, there are so many people in my efficiency, to allow us, as Americans, where that really is their connector. community who don’t have running to do more of the things that we want That is how the kids move the high water. And, again, this is a community to do, whether it is to spend more time school basketball team. That is how that is on the road system between An- with your family, be more productive the church groups move. That is how chorage and Fairbanks. And so how we at your work, but let’s have an effi- you pick up the groceries at Costco in can help address what most would say cient system. Juneau, and you put them on the ferry is pretty basic infrastructure, is pretty We have a little over 14,000 miles of to go over to Angoon. It is how people basic healthcare needs when it comes public roads in Alaska. I can tell you shop. It is how they—it is their road. It to water and sanitation, there is sig- that, as we look to my State’s roads is the Alaska Marine Highway System, nificant funding in this measure for In- and the condition and the shape that and so recognizing the support that we dian Health Service’s sanitation facili- they are in, I know that we need in- can provide for our ferry systems, ties. vestments in this space, but I also whether it is in Alaska or Delaware or I am the ranking member on the In- know that it is not just about roads places in between, is, again, an impor- dian Affairs Committee. I have been on and bridges. We also allow for things tant opportunity for us. this committee since I came to the like replacements of culverts for the We recognize that as we provide sup- Senate 19 years ago. I have seen, over community—actually, the community port for those technologies that will the years, the efforts that we have that I was born in—in Ketchikan. I just allow us to move people more effi- made to try to address the water and met with the community leaders, and ciently and more cleanly, there is a lot sanitation needs in Indian Country in they shared with me that some of these of emphasis from this administration, Alaska with our Native villages. Our culvert replacement projects are as particularly, with focus on EVs. Well, reality that we face is we are still in an key and critical to them as anything in this measure, we not only have pro- extreme deficit when it comes to our else that they have going on. And so visions as they relate to clean Tribal communities. The reality is that

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.016 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5541 we have left them behind when it And so the recognition that the you are—if you are flying in your ma- comes to something like modern-day grants for the deployment—the terials, it is almost impossible to be water and the wastewater systems. And broadband deployment—with minimum able to afford any of it. so the unprecedented investment in allocation to each State are important, There is so much, again, when I sanitation infrastructure is one that, I but also recognizing a focus on these think about ways that we help to build think, is significant and incredibly im- high-cost areas for deployment. I am our communities, help build our econo- portant because we are seeking to clear just saying, if you are looking for a mies, help create jobs through infra- all the known project needs. high-cost area for deployment, look no structure. Now, people will say that is aggres- further than Alaska. It is not some- And I spent a lot of time focused on sive, but let me tell you, when you go thing that we are proud of; it is a re- energy initiatives, and I am pleased to some of these communities and you ality. But part of the tragedy that we with the work that came out of the En- hear the concerns from the people in see is that, in many communities, ergy Committee that is focused in the village about how they are sup- broadband has arrived. The internet is these various areas that drive the level posed to keep their families from con- there, but people can’t afford to use it. of innovation that we will need as we tracting this virus, when this first sim- We have heard in the height of the are working to be more efficient, to ple step is to wash your hands, and pandemic last year a reality that fami- have cleaner energy sources, and to they say: Water is pretty precious lies could not—could not connect be- really be more competitive. around here because we don’t have a cause the cost to do so was just prohib- We effectively took the Energy Act sink to wash our hands in. And so the itive, which meant that children that we passed last—at the end of last effort here to catch up—and I don’t weren’t gaining that full access to the Congress and we helped to build out even like to use those words in that information. It meant that if you were many of the provisions that were con- sense. We have to do right by our Na- trying to work from home, that you tained in that act, whether it is the ad- tive people, and the effort here, I couldn’t do that. And so it is a reality vanced reactor demonstration project; think, is key and critically important. that it is not just about access, but ac- more on hydropower and marine en- ergy research; funding for geothermal, Another area that I am pleased that cess has to mean some level of afford- wind, solar energy; the energy storage working with the committee of juris- ability. diction, led by Senator CARPER, that So the focus in this broadband piece, demonstration projects—so much, there has been a focus on—and this is I think, is critically important as we again, that is focused on what do we something that Ranking Member CAP- look to the provisions in the Middle need to do to really be not only for- ward-leaning and innovative, but effi- ITO has been keenly focused on, as Mile Infrastructure grants; as we look cient to allow for a more competitive well—and this is the PFOS contamina- to the support, again, for Tribal tion through our clean water and our role globally. broadband, recognizing, again, that When you think about our Nation’s drinking water programs. this is an area that has been chron- I also recognize that there is a focus grid infrastructure and resiliency, you ically underfunded in the past. don’t need to close your eyes and imag- on small and disadvantaged commu- There is so much that—when you ine what can happen when your grid nities. I have one small community think about how solid infrastructure down in southeast Alaska, Gustavus. It fails. allows you to have an economy. In An- Unfortunately, as we are seeing—as is the community that is right next to chorage, we host what we call Alaska’s we are seeing, whether they are the Glacier Bay National Monument port. And it is a significant port. Obvi- wildfires, whether we are seeing brown- area, and the PFOS in their little com- ously the largest one in the State. But outs with the extreme heat, our reality munity, near the airport area, is some- it is through the Port of Alaska that is that our grid infrastructure needs thing that is a major and significant over 85 percent of the goods, the com- support. We need to have that resil- concern for that tiny, small, little modities come into the State, and then iency that we all talk about. And, community. So making sure that, they are distributed either by truck or again, I am going to stand up for the again, these programs—the funding by rail, air, but they are moved out small grids, the smaller utilities who that we are helping to advance—is from there. And we know what an eco- face the same pressures that you might good, whether you are an urban area nomic driver that port is to not only have in an integrated grid back here, in with 100-year-old pipes that need re- Anchorage, but to the State as well. fact, even maybe more so. placement or you are a community But it is not just big ports; it is also If you are a small, stand-alone com- that has lacked the original infrastruc- the smaller ports. We have got more munity, you are your own grid. You ture in the first place, how we are able coastline than any State in the coun- need to have a level of resilience and to ensure that the needs of our small try. the ability to make sure that people communities are met as well is signifi- And, again, if you don’t have the are not literally freezing in the dark. cant, and I think it is an important roads, how are you getting in? And so the effort that we have in- part of this legislation. You are maybe flying in by small air- cluded with regards to our set-aside for I mentioned broadband as being that plane, but more likely your materials small utilities, these are—these are other connector. We connect by way of are barged up during the summer significant initiatives. transportation systems. We get that. months. That is how you get the lum- I have mentioned resilience a couple But, nowadays, if you are not con- ber. That is how you get the snow ma- different times. I think sometimes peo- nected—if you are not connected by the chine or the four-wheeler to go out and ple think that that is a word that is broadband availability, the ability to do your hunting. overused, but I will tell you, we can’t communicate elsewhere—your econo- Our reality is that our ports have to be doing enough when it comes to resil- mies are limited; you are limited. I work in every size community, and so ience. mentioned the fact that so many of the knowing that there will be additional We have included in this measure a communities in my State are not con- support for remote and subsistence provision that we entitled ‘‘Tribal Cli- nected by a road and probably will not harbor construction is going to be so mate Resilience.’’ This is funding that be in my lifetime. And they are not key—so key—to these small, small, lit- is included to really help with those seeking that as an answer, but they do tle communities for whom, if they threatened communities. Many we see want to be connected to the rest of the didn’t have this, they have got noth- in my State, but certainly I hear from world. They want to know that for the ing. colleagues in other States who are see- crafts that they are able to make at You can’t move fish out, you can’t ing the same concerns as communities home, they have the ability to, per- move fish in; you can’t move goods in, are more threatened due to—whether it haps, sell them to a broader audience. you can’t move goods out. Everything, is erosion, as we are seeing in Alaska, Maybe it is on your own little website, then, is flown in; and think about what or flooding, but support to assist with selling to folks in the lower 48 or glob- that means if everything is flown in. It climate resilience, adaptation projects, ally. But you can’t do that. You can’t is crazy, wicked expensive. And you are as well as community relocation. do that if you don’t have the connec- talking about a—you are talking about I will wrap up by just a little bit tion. a sheet of sheetrock, the fact is that if more commentary on the resilience

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.018 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5542 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 piece. We are seeing in the West incred- have had an open mind and a view to- about the need to address our poor con- ible drought right now. We are seeing wards not only recognizing how unique dition bridges, I remember that. And the extent of these forest fires from Or- Alaska is, but recognizing the unique for the folks who had lost loved ones egon going east. But I think it is im- needs of rural America. that day, they remember that too. portant for colleagues to know that, So we have a compromise product in We have gone through some troubled again, when we are taking about infra- front of us, and it is a significant prod- waters here in the Capitol and the Sen- structure and resilience, we also are uct, and we are now at a place where ate and in the House and in our coun- acknowledging natural resource-re- we want colleagues to join us in this try in recent months, weeks, years, and lated infrastructure and what more we product, weigh in with your good ideas. there is still trouble. And it is great to might be doing with wildfire manage- Let’s move some good amendments. have a bridge over troubled waters, ment, ecosystem restoration. But I would suggest that the sooner we like you, to carry us through. And I And so to make sure that there is start moving with these amendments, just want to thank you for your great support for things like mechanical the better it will be for us and this work in so many different ways but thinning, fuel breaks, other activities process here, but also for the American also with respect to the gang of 22 and to reduce the risk of wildfire, whether public. keeping people on track. You make it is on our Forest Service lands or any I yield the floor. your family proud, and I think all of us of our public lands, but also the con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- proud, so thank you. Thank you. cerns, then, when the fire knows no ator from Delaware. I have been joined by a fellow from boundary as to whose lands they are. Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, while Louisiana, and I understand we are Certainly in Alaska we saw the ben- the Senator from Alaska is still here, I also going to be joined shortly by the efit of fuel breaks as they were imple- have been sitting here listening to a fellow from Ohio, Senator PORTMAN, mented on the Kenai. We had a pretty tour de force. God, what a wonderful, who is going to come to the floor any significant fire several years back, the wonderful speech and clearly from the minute, I think, to give his remarks. Funny River Fire, and we saw full well heart. And I don’t know if the gentleman what that fuel break really did to help The Presiding Officer and I are recov- from Louisiana is here to speak shortly protect property and life. ering Governors, and the Senator’s fa- or not, but we look forward to what- The bill also includes precommercial ther was a recovering Governor at one ever he has to say. thinning, which, again, is important in time; and, actually, one of the smart- We are now joined by the Senator a host of different areas, not the least est things he ever did, he appointed his from Ohio, successor to George Voino- of which in my State on the Tongass. daughter to serve—when there was a vich, who was both a Senator and a But I think we do a good job to make vacancy in the Senate, he appointed Governor. I had a great conversation sure that when we are talking about Lisa to serve at that vacancy. with him in Ohio last week, and I am infrastructure, we are recognizing the And 2 years later, Tony Mills, who very grateful to him for his extraor- core infrastructure of—whether it is was Governor of Alaska, ran against dinary leadership through these trou- legacy projects, like roads, rails, her. Tony is one of my closest friends. bled waters, and there will be another bridges, but also recognizing that in- We were Governors together for 6 one of those bridges over troubled frastructure has impact to our lands years, and I said: Oh, my God, this is a waters. and how we ensure that there is greater hard choice. I am happy to yield the floor to Sen- resilience, again, greater protections, And it was a hard choice for the folks ator PORTMAN. and ensuring that it is addressed per- from Alaska to make as well. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. haps more broadly. And Lisa was elected to the Senate HIRONO). The Senator from Ohio. So there is much good in this bill. and served with distinction. And when Mr. PORTMAN. Chairman CARPER, There is not everything that I would she ran for reelection as a Republican, thank you. Thank you for managing have wanted, most certainly. There are I think, was defeated in a primary, and this important legislation and all the a lot of things in it that, in fairness, I then turned around and ran a write-in work you have put into it. wish weren’t in it. There are some campaign that I will never forget. I am You know, I asked my team today: pieces that I look at and I say ‘‘way sure she won’t either. Can you give me a sense of how much over the top,’’ but I have to acknowl- And in a write-in campaign, in one of of this underlying legislation we are edge I come from a State where infra- the cleverest political maneuvers I talking about on the floor this week structure is just a little bit different. have ever seen—MURKOWSKI is not an that was already written? In other We don’t have a big public transit easy name to write in. Not everybody words, what did Senator CAPITO, Sen- system, so I look at the transit dollars, in Alaska, even though a famous name, ator CARPER, and others on the EPW and my immediate jump is: Way too knew how to write ‘‘Murkowski.’’ Committee, as an example, already much. Don’t need this. My recollection is the Murkowski write with regard to this surface trans- But I recognize that in a collabo- campaign folks were smart enough to portation bill that we are simply pick- rative process, in a negotiated process, distribute fliers and messages through- ing up in this legislation and moving you have got to hear the views back out the State that had a picture of—a forward to be sure it gets reauthorized, and forth of all of your colleagues, and drawing—a cartoon of a cow on skis, certainly before September 30, and we you take some things and you leave with a bubble coming out of the cow’s hope far before that. And about half of some things behind in a give-and-take mouth with the word ‘‘Mur’’—‘‘Mur the pages of the bill is language that process. cow ski.’’ Then she won, rather hand- was written through the committee And so just as my colleagues have ily, her write-in race and still is with process here. Now, some may be happy listened to me convey the urgency of us today. to hear that, and some may be unhappy need for more support for the Tribal We talked a lot here today about to hear that, but that is the truth. programs when it comes to infrastruc- bridges. When I was in college, I was And, frankly, it made our job easier be- ture, whether it is on water and sanita- actually a Navy midshipman, and I was cause a lot of the hard work was done. tion or broadband, they heard the ur- driving down to Florida to visit my In the case of the legislation that gency there; whether it was recog- parents and close friend, and we drove Senators CARPER and CAPITO shep- nizing that not all infrastructure across a bridge across the Ohio River. I herded through their committee with projects are big in terms of their size, want to say—actually, I think the date regard to our highways and bridges, it but they are big for that small commu- was 1967. December 15, 1967, we were on was a 20-to-nothing vote, as I recall, nity; to know that the fishing commu- our way to my parents in Florida, and out of committee, unanimous. So we nity of Craig is going to be able to the next day the bridge that we had thought it was appropriate for us not build out that little harbor there. gone across collapsed into the Ohio to tell them how to do their job but to And so I have asked my colleagues to River between Point Pleasant, WV, and help them by picking up that legisla- listen to the concerns of a very rural Conagua, OH, and 46 people were killed. tion, and as they have improved that State like Alaska, a State where our Forty-six people were killed. I will legislation, their underlying authoriza- infrastructure is very unique, and they never forget that. Whenever we talk tion legislation, and ensure that it is

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.019 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5543 included in the package. And I appre- mom who is looking at her commute how it makes the economy more effi- ciate Senator CARPER and Senator CAP- every day and saying, ‘‘Why do I get cient and therefore more productive ITO working with us on that even over stuck in traffic at rush hour both ways and therefore you have more tax rev- the past few weeks. So, yes, we have and have to spend all this time in the enue generated. They get that. We have added more on top of it because we be- car when I could be spending it with allowed our infrastructure to get to the lieve our Nation needs a shot in the my kids,’’ wouldn’t it be great to im- point where we are not competitive as arm. We have enormous infrastructure prove those highways and those bridges a country with so many others, not needs. But without Senator CAPITO and to be able to reduce the amount of time just developed countries either. Senator CARPER’s involvement, 20 to that someone is stuck in a car? So this We have cut back funding over the nothing out of committee, we wouldn’t is about helping our country at a time years, and so it is probably no wonder be where we are today, and that is the when we need it. this has happened. The Aspen Eco- foundation upon which this was built. There is probably no better example nomic Strategy Group calculated that So, again, I know that is not under- of that than broadband because think as of 2017, our total spending on infra- stood by everybody, but that is a fact. about the child in Appalachian Ohio structure across the public and private And our Nation’s infrastructure does who has no Wi-Fi service—like none. I sectors hit its lowest point since at need the help. And this legislation, the am not talking about slow Wi-Fi; I am least 1947. So relatively speaking, we Infrastructure Investment and Jobs talking about no Wi-Fi. I look at my have less expenditures on infrastruc- Act before us right now, is an unprece- colleague from West Virginia and ture, and this lack of investment has dented investment. It is historic, but it think of all the counties in West Vir- real impact. Historian Henry Petroski is that because a historic investment is ginia that are in the same shape that estimates that the delays caused by needed. It is important to note that we they are in Eastern Ohio. We are ex- traffic congestion alone cost our econ- did so without raising taxes on the panding broadband in an unprecedented omy more than $120 billion every year. American people or causing further in- way. The deployment of broadband into So I talked about the mom who is flation in an already overheated econ- the rural community but also access in commuting and not being able to spend omy. I heard some of my colleagues on the more suburban and urban commu- more time with her kids because she is my side say: Gosh, I want to support nities, that is really important because sitting in her car—$120 billion a year is you, but I am worried about the spend- that child now can be able to do the the economic impact. That is impor- ing and its impact on inflation. Well, schoolwork at home. And during the tant, too. One 2017 study by the Amer- this is what the economists would call pandemic, of course, this has been a ican Society of Civil Engineers esti- supply-side spending. This is long-term huge issue, but it is an issue every day. mated there was a total infrastructure spending for capital assets that may Rather than having to drive with her gap of more than $2 trillion that we last 40, 50, 70 years. Think of a bridge mom to the local library, which some need to address by 2025; otherwise, we or think of another infrastructure girl might have to do in Appalachia to could lose nearly $4 trillion in GDP, project like a big water infrastructure find a Wi-Fi signal, she can actually economic growth, that we otherwise project. So it is a different kind of get it at home because of this deploy- would have produced as a country. spending. It is not going to be spent ment we have provided here, which is Now, those are big numbers. Those over the next year. In fact, very little, unprecedented. are big numbers. These are the engi- if any, will be spent in the next year, So all of this is in this. It is all part neers who say we have a gap of $2 tril- but it will be spent over time—over 5, of it. It is important. lion we need to address by 2025. Ours is 10 years for these kinds of projects. The American Society of Civil Engi- $550 billion over the next 5 years—his- That is the kind of money that goes neers has given our Nation a report toric levels. Some would say it may into building infrastructure and build- card every year. Our report card right not be enough. I think it is. And you ing jobs. Therefore, again, on the sup- now is a C-minus. We get a C-minus. will hear a lot about this, this week, ply side rather than the demand side of Now, I did get a couple C’s in high all the different places where the infra- the economy, as economists would say, school and college, so I don’t think C’s structure investments are made. But it is not stimulating the economy in are always terrible, but I don’t want others would say we need to do even that way; it is growing the economy our infrastructure to get a C, much less more. You can see that there is a need long term. a C-minus. for renewed infrastructure. Most economists who have looked at They estimate that somewhere in Let me give you a really specific ex- this, including economists like Doug America there is a water break every 2 ample, and it is one reason I am inter- Holtz-Eakin, who used to be here at minutes. Water infrastructure is part ested in this project, honestly. For, CBO, or an economist like Michael of this. They also estimate that 43 per- gosh, 25 years now, we have been talk- Strain at the American Enterprise In- cent of our public roads are in poor or ing about fixing our bridge in Cin- stitute or the Penn work-study at the mediocre condition. This hasn’t im- cinnati, OH. It is called the Brent University of Pennsylvania. They all proved in years. Spence Bridge. It is where I–75 and I–71 say the same thing, which is that this We are now listed 13th in the world come together, so think about all the is actually counterinflationary kind of for infrastructure in the most recent commercial traffic. Actually, 3 percent spending. That is important. rankings by the World Economic of the Nation’s commerce goes over I will say that this is needed because Forum. They, every year, look at all this one bridge every year. It is a huge we are falling behind as a country, and these countries around the world and economic issue for us in Greater Cin- every State has its own needs here. I say, where do you rank? The United cinnati. There is congestion there will tell you what my needs are in the States is right up there. I think Singa- every day. It is a bottleneck. The State of Ohio, which is that we make a pore and the United States are some of bridge is busy. In fact, it is carrying lot of stuff. So our factory workers who the most competitive countries in the twice the number of cars that it was make tanks and cars and washing ma- world, in terms of all the analysis they built to carry already. chines, we want to be sure that our in- do, but not on infrastructure. On infra- There are no shoulders anymore on it frastructure works to be able to get structure, it drags us down because, because they tried to expand the lanes that to market. Sometimes that mar- frankly, we haven’t invested as other as much as they can. We recently had ket is the United States, and some- countries have. two trucks crash there partly because times it is overseas. Therefore, our The number out there that people use there is no shoulder, and the safety ports are important but so is our rail is that China spends four times more problems are huge on that bridge. It and so are our highways. Our farmers— than we do as a percent of their econ- took the bridge out for a couple we have got a lot of farmers in Ohio omy on infrastructure. I think it is ac- months—a huge economic impact, huge who plant crops. We want to make sure tually higher than that from the num- economic impact. This bridge, again, that those crops can get to the ele- bers I have seen. But let’s say it is four for 25 years, people have said: We have vators so that the grain can get out. times more. China gets it. They know got to replace this bridge. It is not We have a lot of people in Ohio who infrastructure is important for eco- safe. It is not big enough. It doesn’t live in cities and commute. And so the nomic growth. I talked earlier about connect 71 and 75 in the way that it

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.021 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5544 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 should for our commercial activities. It ing the American people, more impor- and that is an important point my col- is a bridge that has been deemed by the tantly, the infrastructure that they leagues should not miss. U.S. Department of Transportation as want. And it is a good investment. One The President has said that the $3.5 ‘‘functionally obsolete.’’ That sounds 2014 University of Maryland study trillion package, the so-called rec- pretty dramatic—‘‘functionally obso- found that each dollar spent on infra- onciliation package, will not include lete.’’ Unfortunately, again, these acci- structure can generate a return of as more core infrastructure funding. In dents continue to happen because it is much as $3 to the U.S. economy—$1 in, other words, the President has said: I not safe. You have got 160,000 vehicles $3 out. It is smart spending if done cor- propose $2.65 trillion. The bipartisan on it rather than the 80,000 per day it rectly. That explains again why Presi- group pulled out core infrastructure was designed to accommodate. It needs dent Trump put forward the $1.5 tril- and said it is going to be $550 billion. I to be fixed, but it is really expensive, lion package, why President Biden put am now not going to put the additional and the local community and the State together a package, and why Demo- amount I wanted into reconciliation. just simply can’t do it alone. crats and Republicans alike up here on Simply put, Republicans and Demo- There are critical pieces of infra- Capitol Hill talked about infrastruc- crats alike, coming together to focus structure like the Brent Spence Bridge ture for years. on the core part of this, without taxes, in States all over our country, from American workers need infrastruc- have ensured that the ‘‘lot more’’ is roads to railroads, to ports, to ture. They don’t need new taxes. That not going to be spent both on core in- broadband networks that all need up- is why, in this proposal, again, we say: frastructure and on so-called social in- grades to stay competitive in this glob- Let’s take the taxes out. Let’s pull the frastructure with huge tax increases in al economy. It is no surprise, then, core infrastructure out so it is more fo- another package. So this is the best that infrastructure is an area where cused on what is really needed, and thing for the American economy by the American people really do want ac- let’s do it on a bipartisan basis. That is far, to have a bipartisan proposal. tion. They get it on this one. They what we do in this proposal. The President has said that we are want us to come together as Repub- The pro-growth policies put in place not going to double-dip. In other words, licans and Democrats and fix this prob- by Congress through the Tax Cuts and infrastructure won’t be in the next lem. package. He said that privately, he said There was a recent poll by CNBC say- Jobs Act of 2017 was very good for our economy in every respect. Wages went that publicly, and I believe he will ing 87 percent of Americans think it is keep his word on that. Certainly, those important we invest in improving our up, lowest poverty rate since we start- ed keeping track of it back in the 1950s. of us who were involved in this will en- crumbling roads and bridges. There was sure that that is not part of the agree- another poll that came out a couple It had a lot of very good things. Unem- ployment was at historic lows for ment that is violated. months later, a very recent poll, say- So we are seeing these studies come many groups, including Blacks and ing—again, this is a CBS poll—87 per- out that show that this is the right ap- Hispanics. It was an overall 15-year low cent of Americans support more Fed- proach for the economy. We talked in unemployment. eral spending on repairing roads and about the University of Pennsylvania We have to be sure that we are not bridges. Two polls, 2 months apart, Wharton School of business proposal raising taxes now because we went into same number, 87 percent. Eighty-seven that says our proposal will actually in- this pandemic with a strong economy, percent of the American people don’t crease the economy, raise wages for and we have to come out of it with a agree on anything, but they do agree workers, and actually lower our na- strong economy. But infrastructure is on this, which is let’s fix our infra- tional debt over the longer term. something that we should do without structure. Let’s do what Presidents in Again, because of this feedback loop we raising taxes. modern times have all said we ought to talked about earlier, it makes the There was a lot of discussion, after do: President Bush, President Obama, economy more efficient, more produc- President Biden talked about infra- President Trump, President Biden. tive, grows the economy, and more rev- structure, as to whether it could be President Trump had a proposal for $1.5 enue will be coming into the economy, partisan or bipartisan. There were trillion. Ours is $550 billion. President and, again, we do so without raising some people saying: Let’s put it in Trump is a developer, a builder, and he taxes. understood the need for infrastructure what is call reconciliation, where you A Democratic economist, Larry Sum- investment, but, frankly, Congress don’t need a single Republican vote. I mers, and many on the Republican side didn’t work with him to get that done. applaud President Biden and Repub- of the aisle have been warning for There were also issues about how that licans and Democrats in this Chamber months about inflation. Again, as I was to be paid for. But I commend for saying: You know what, this is one said earlier, this is counterinfla- President Trump for raising that issue. where we ought to be able to get to- tionary. He ought to be given some credit be- gether. If you can’t get together on a The bottom line is that the Infra- cause we might not be talking about it. bipartisan basis on infrastructure, structure Investment and Jobs Act will At the end, he continued to say we where can you? provide a historic investment in hard That is why we were able to figure need to invest big time in infrastruc- infrastructure, with input from a bi- out a way—again, without raising ture. partisan group of Senators, while Then President Biden, in his cam- taxes and focusing on core infrastruc- avoiding the tax hikes and the reckless paign, said the same thing, and when ture—to ensure that the critical infra- spending proposed by the Biden admin- he took office, he said the same thing: structure we rely on every day—our istration. We need to do an infrastructure plan. roads, our bridges, our railways, our Importantly, for the sake of future His original plan wasn’t one that Re- electrical grids, our water supplies, our bipartisan hearings here in Congress, publicans could support because it had broadband and more—will get fixed. this is an infrastructure plan that al- huge tax increases in it and it had a lot Again, 87 percent of the American peo- lows us to avoid the repeat of the of infrastructure that wasn’t core in- ple are looking for us to do that. It is COVID–19 $1.9 trillion spending bill frastructure. That is why we came to- no wonder. Go home and talk to the that passed under the partisan process gether as a bipartisan group. people you represent in your State, and called reconciliation. It demonstrates Senator CAPITO is here. She worked they will tell you this is one where we to the American people that, in fact, with the White House on this to try to can come together. We need to deal we can figure out how to work together come up with a way to move forward, with the infrastructure challenges we to get big things done. President Biden and, again, that helped create the foun- face and the digital divide that is out said he wanted to work in a bipartisan dation for what we have done here. there. way. Well, this is a great example of it. But the point is, Republicans and What this does not include is a grab It is a genuine effort on behalf of Re- Democrats alike over the years have bag of social spending priorities that publicans and Democrats to find com- said the same thing, which is, it is the Democrats want to include in the mon ground and move our country for- time; let’s fix this infrastructure. other bill they are talking about, ward. Finally, we are giving infrastructure which is the $3.5 trillion spending pro- I am committed to working with my the help it needs and deserves and giv- posal they unveiled earlier this month, colleagues here in the Senate to see

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.022 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5545 this legislation through to the end. We obvious, however. For example, when the High Commissioner for Human have come a long way, and I believe we the novel coronavirus sent us into Rights sent the names of activists crit- are close to achieving a historic vic- lockdown, we were finally able to draw ical of the Chinese Communist Party tory for the American people. I encour- attention to how much control Beijing straight to Beijing. age all of my colleagues to join us in has over healthcare in America. They And last year, we watched the World supporting this Infrastructure Invest- have a stranglehold on our supply Health Organization praise Beijing for ment and Jobs Act so that we can truly chains for active pharmaceutical ingre- lying to the world about the severity of make an important bipartisan invest- dients and medical supplies. the disease that would eventually ment in the next generations of Ameri- I introduced the SAM-C Act last year cause a deadly global pandemic. cans. with Senator MENENDEZ. That legisla- We are in damage control mode. By I yield the floor. tion would protect those supply chains the end of 2021, the U.N. will hold nine The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- and bring production back to the elections for heads of specialized agen- ator from Tennessee. United States. This threat didn’t spon- cies and five for major funds or pro- CHINA taneously evolve; it is the result of 100 grams. We control exactly none of Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Presi- seemingly small vulnerabilities that these positions. dent, I am really on the record oppos- our adversaries in Beijing had found a Our task is twofold. First, we must ing President Biden’s decision to way to exploit. How did it happen? fill these voids. We don’t have a choice. abruptly withdraw troops from Afghan- Well, it has a lot to do with their slow But we must also inject accountability istan, and I oppose it for the same rea- takeover of international organiza- by holding ourselves accountable for sons many of the world’s most re- tions—namely, the United Nations. the integrity of our own relations with spected military officials oppose it. Since 1971, the Chinese Communist the U.N. and foreign countries. We knew our allies would suffer. The Party has exploited hopes that mem- Last week, I introduced the U.N. Taliban have burned their way through bership in the U.N. would force them to Transparency and Accountability Act, Afghanistan and staked a claim on behave like a normal country, but the which will strengthen America’s influ- much of the territory that we have now reality of the situation is that Chinese ence as a key U.N. member nation and abandoned. We created a void, and the diplomats control 4 out of 15 special- expose the threat adversarial countries Taliban walked right on in. ized U.N. agencies and many other sub- pose to international organizations. Last week, we watched as another of sidiary offices. Even more importantly, My colleague, Congressman MICHAEL our adversaries planted their own flag the CCP is flooding the U.N. with lower MCCAUL, from Texas has companion in Afghanistan. On Wednesday, the level staff, which means they have legislation ready to go in the House, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strength in numbers that we do not and there is no sane reason why we tweeted this picture from a meeting be- have. They have seized far too much shouldn’t see these bills come up for a tween Chinese Communist Party offi- power for comfort. vote sooner rather than later. cials and the Taliban. That is correct, Since 2007, Chinese diplomats have We are going to find out exactly who Wednesday of last week. They even led the U.N. Department of Economic these bad actors are. We are going to went so far as to say they are hopeful and Social Affairs, which means they flood the U.N. with Americans to stop that the Taliban will embrace a peace- have also controlled the direction of them. And we are going to account for ful and more inclusive approach to gov- the U.N.’s development programs. every single penny we contribute to ernment. By 2015, they had gained enough in- U.N. projects. And then we are going to It was a nice piece of performance art fluence to make development synony- make the reports on all that spending from a government recently accused of mous with Belt and Road Initiative available to the American taxpayer genocide. But this is what the CCP projects, which, as we all know, are who is footing the bill. No more hiding. does best—fill the void, throw up a dip- debt trap schemes for Beijing’s The bottom line is that we can’t win lomatic facade, and seize as much leveraging against struggling nations. this war without brute force. There is power as they possibly can seize as This is a debt trap scheme. no weapon that can neatly cut the quickly as they can do it. In 2014, China placed a diplomat at strings Beijing is pulling. Ceding free- Back home in Tennessee, we have felt the top of the International Tele- dom has consequences. The ripple ef- the ripple effects of Beijing’s creeping communication Union. Since then, the fect created in Geneva and Brussels dominance. You know, when most peo- ITU has more or less been Beijing’s and New York and Washington can and ple think of a foreign threat, they mouthpiece. They promote Chinese will destroy the lives of people half a think of an army or a spy ring, but companies, Chinese telecom standards, world away. what we need to understand is that and, of course, support Beijing’s at- As effective as diplomacy can be, we these threats are much more subtle. If tempts to monopolize communications are alone in this one. We are respon- you don’t know what you are looking infrastructure in countries stuck in sible for safeguarding our freedom. for, you will end up missing it. debt traps. It is all connected. As President Reagan once said, Free- Back in the midnineties, when I was Since their admission to the U.N., dom is always one generation away the executive director for the Ten- the CCP has practically achieved im- from extinction. ‘‘It has to be fought nessee Film, Entertainment and Music munity from accountability for human for and defended by each generation.’’ Commission, we were already fighting rights violations. The NGO China has There is no kicking the can down the a losing battle against Chinese intel- used for years to whitewash their bar- road. Once it is gone, it is gone. There lectual property theft. Now, this might baric treatment of Tibetans is now a is no better voice for human rights not seem like a matter of national se- U.N.-accredited organization. than the United States. And if we do curity, but for the songwriters and pro- In 2018, when the United States with- not speak up, we give every other na- ducers and creators who fell victim to drew from UNESCO, who was waiting tion on the planet an excuse to stay si- it, it was a matter of economic secu- in the wings to become the largest fi- lent also. rity. This theft made them vulnerable. nancial contributor to global edu- No one will come to our rescue if our It made multiple industries vulnerable cation? You are right. It was China. supply chains are compromised. No one in our State, including the auto indus- They have used their stranglehold on will come to the rescue of Tennessee try, auto parts, aviation, water sports. the Department of Economic and So- innovators and companies if their sup- They all started to feel the effects of a cial Affairs to officially silence the ply lines are compromised by the Com- dishonest Chinese Communist Party, Uighur Muslims of Xinjiang. They used munist Chinese. And no one else is and therefore, it made our country’s their status as members of the Human going to make sure our children and economy vulnerable. The same goes for Rights Council as cover for horrendous grandchildren don’t fall into one of those playing whack-a-mole with the human rights violations in Tibet, Inner Beijing’s debt traps. pirates and counterfeiters selling sto- Mongolia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and on Perhaps we should keep that in mind len or outright fake merchandise. the Mainland. this week as we take up all 2,700-plus It is a serious vulnerability. Some- In 2019, we confirmed whistleblower pages of the infrastructure package. If times those vulnerabilities are more testimony that revealed the Office of ever there was a time for restraint,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.024 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5546 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 this is it. The threat is staring us in As one report notes, in New York men and women who wear the badge. the face, and I fear that my Demo- City, murders have increased 47 per- These radical leftists are opposing the cratic colleagues are missing the cent since 2020. Tickets and routine ar- very idea of enforcing the law. The threat. rests dropped by 90 percent, but re- prosecutor’s job is to enforce the laws I yield the floor. quests for police intervention went up that are written, not rewrite the laws The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- by 50 percent. But the police won’t go. on the books. But these DAs are choos- ator from Alabama. They are not wanted. ing to follow the law as they see fit. LAW ENFORCEMENT Murders in Los Angeles this year are They know better than anybody else, Mr. TUBERVILLE. Madam Presi- up 22 percent, and shootings are up 59 ignoring what the people’s representa- dent, when I go back to my hometown percent. But arrests in Los Angeles tives have passed. of Alabama, I usually ask the people: have dropped 37 percent since 2020, and In San Francisco, District Attorney What is the most important to you? are down even more this year. Chesa Boudin said his office wouldn’t Every day, what is the most important In Chicago, murders were up 33 per- prosecute theft under $950. The result to you? cent this year. Last weekend alone, 12 has been people robbing stores in broad And, usually, there is a consensus of people were killed and 63 more were daylight. We have all seen it on TV, three things: a good job, schools for shot—the latest in a string of deadly going in the store, just grabbing all their kids, and safe neighborhoods for weekends this summer. And you can get and not running out the their families. That is always what carjackings in this city have tripled in door, but walking out the door. If the they talk about. the last year. cops are called, they don’t show up. You know, the fulfillment of these Why would you buy a car in Chicago? They know they are not going to do basic aspirations is a foundation of a It is going to get stolen. It makes no anything about these. quality of life, the foundation of the sense. But probably the worst of all is in In Minneapolis, where cries to defund American dream. Boston. Rachael Rollins, elected DA in In my relatively short time up here, the police are loudest, murders are up Boston in 2018, released a list of crimes I have noticed people in this building 69 percent. It turns out that when pro- that her office would, by default, move often lose sight of those three basic testers, activists, mainstream media, to dismiss when they came to court; we items. We waste time bickering over and elected officials told cops they are are not going to prosecute these: tres- things that, at the end of the day, don’t not wanted, it is not just the officers passing; shoplifting; theft under $250; much matter in the grand scheme of who heard them; criminals also were disorderly conduct; drug possession things. We engage in bitter partisan listening. And the American people are with intent to distribute; malicious de- commentary, all in the hopes of scor- paying the price. struction of property; breaking and en- ing political points. Also, the defund rhetoric from the tering, so long as the defender was try- Folks back home can’t relate to this left is having a severely negative effect ing to sleep or escape the cold; resist- because they don’t have the luxury to on police morale—an ‘‘all-time low,’’ ing arrest. waste time on cheap talk. some officers say. According to an NBC And that is not even the entire list. We are witnessing a nationwide surge survey of 200 police departments, offi- What do they need a DA for? in crime as we speak. In the last year, cer retirements are up 45 percent and So if a violent felon could steal $200 homicides have risen upwards of 30 per- resignations are up 18 percent this worth of goods, have large amounts of cent—this is unprecedented—and dou- year. bled the largest previous increase of 13 Why would anybody get up and put a drugs, break into someone’s home, re- percent since 1968. uniform on in the morning with a sist arrest—and the DA’s office would There is always more than one factor badge on their chest and a gun on their not even bother to prosecute these to consider when analyzing crime side and go to work in this climate of crimes. Makes a lot of sense to me. If all of that sounds crazy to you, you trends, but the effect of some Demo- crime? crats’ anti-police rhetoric has been per- We have to take our hat off to the are right. But these are the actual poli- fectly clear. Just take a look at what men and women who are actually doing cies and the real-world effects. is happening across our country as we this and doing the best job they can. And now Rollins, this same district speak. Some police chiefs have had enough. attorney in Boston, who decided she is For the last year, we have heard The Chicago police superintendent said just going to take a vacation than some Democrats at every level talk their court system continued to release being a district attorney and not try to about wanting to defund the police, the violent criminals in their jails, convict anybody, this Ms. Rollins has take money away from them; we have ‘‘making us all less safe.’’ been appointed by President Biden to too many of them. In many cities they The District of Columbia Police, be the U.S. Attorney for Massachu- control, Democrats succeeded in reduc- right here in our hometown, said: ‘‘[We setts. He is giving the person who de- ing policy budgets. They have been cannot continue to] coddle violent criminalized resisting arrest and all very successful. They have told police criminals.’’ these other laws a promotion. That is to stop doing their jobs, to stop enforc- Amen. But the ugly truth is there is from our President. I wonder what Fed- ing certain laws. a deliberate attempt to coddle these eral crimes she will decide aren’t worth I have heard Democrats say that they violent criminals, and it is bankrolled processing. want to replace cops with social work- by the most radical fringe in the Demo- There is surely somebody in Boston ers. You know, while I understand the cratic Party. who can do the job. well-intentioned desire to address the District attorneys are the local pub- Yet President Biden is the only one root cause of crime, instead of just fo- lic officials who determine whether and saying Republicans are lying. He said cusing on the fallout, leaving our po- how the government will prosecute that just a couple of weeks ago about lice underfunded and ill-equipped is not criminals, from petty theft to violent Democrats wanting to defund the po- the solution. crime—district attorneys. There has lice. He said it is Republicans. If someone is attempting to break been a big movement to elect ultra- I will tell you what is also not help- into my house, I am not calling a so- radical liberal district attorneys in big ing to make our neighborhoods safer: cial worker to come perform an evalua- cities across the country. They have the growing crisis at our southern bor- tion and to develop a treatment for the succeeded in Philadelphia, San Fran- der—absolute shame. And the Biden ad- assailant. I am not doing that. cisco, Boston, and just right across the ministration completely, completely Too often, we have seen elected offi- river in Fairfax County, VA. lacks the urgency to fix it, and it is cials take the side of radicals burning These rogue prosecutors—and they getting worse every day. I guess no- property, looting small businesses, are rogue—are refusing to prosecute all body cares. over the men and women who wear the sorts of crimes, like theft, disorderly We have already surpassed 1 million badge and have sworn to serve and pro- conduct, and trespassing. illegal immigrants since President tect our communities. And now we are Well, what is their job? Biden was inaugurated. And remember, seeing the consequences all across the It is to prosecute. But not these pros- this data is looking at the illegal im- country. ecutors. This isn’t just opposing the migrants and the drugs that Customs

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.025 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5547 and Border Protection catches. We tration won’t enforce the law, let’s give airports, ports, and waterways. We can don’t know how many have slipped by local and State law enforcement the talk about some of the specifics, and I or how many pounds of dope have opportunity to do it. am going to do that. slipped by. We just know the ones that Folks, wanting safe communities is But first I want to applaud the ef- we have caught. something every American wants and forts that we have made to move for- President Biden is only making mat- deserves. We elect public officials. We ward in new directions. This bill, for ters worse, folks. As our colleagues on pay taxes and trust our governments to the first time, in a major reauthoriza- the Homeland Security and Govern- ensure safety for the greatest number tion of our surface transportation, ac- ment Affairs Committee found, the of people possible. knowledges the realities of climate Biden administration is spending $2 bil- It is pretty much impossible to have change. We know what is happening in lion to not build a wall. We are paying good jobs and good schools if you don’t our communities. The increasing $2 billion. Taxpayers in this country have safe neighborhoods, and it doesn’t amount of flooding, droughts, wildfires, are paying $2 billion to not build a take a rocket scientist to see that. If and extreme weather events are fright- wall. That is right. That is $3 million, the people don’t feel safe, their govern- ening to all of us. every day, of your taxpayer money ment and we as government officials In my State of Maryland, I can point wasted just to not build something have failed to perform its most basic to one community, Ellicott City, which that would help fix this crisis. function. Failure of this is not an op- has seen two 100-year floods in less The bare minimum we should expect tion. than 24 months. The situation is dire, to happen at the border would be to So to reverse this rise in crime, let’s and we need to act on it. make sure illegal immigrants we do ap- support the very people who have put The legislation before us provides $18 prehend have a court date so a judge their lives on the line every day. I cer- billion in reducing carbon emissions can review their asylum claim. I mean, tainly do, and I encourage the Presi- and strengthening resilience and build- that is common sense. But, according dent and Members of this body to sup- ing electric charging stations and al- to a recent report, 50,000 illegal immi- port every member of our law enforce- ternative fuel infrastructure. That is grants have been released into the ment. what we need to do, and I am pleased United States in the last few months Madam President, I yield the floor. that the legislation addresses those without a court date. Yet only 13 per- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- issues. In a second area, I was pleased that cent of those have bothered to show ator from Maryland. this bill has a significant increase in back up—13 percent. We are going to H.R. 3684 the transportation alternative pro- trust them to come over here and just Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I grams that I authored. This increased do it on their own. That is not going to rise in support of the legislation that is funding will make it easier for our happen. before us, the bipartisan infrastructure local governments to move forward on At best, this hurts those who come package. I applaud all of those who projects that are important to their into this country actually looking to have worked so hard so that we could priorities. We are talking about better plead their asylum case. Congress have this legislation before us. sidewalks and bike paths and dealing needs to pass my bill, S. 1007, that It is desperately needed when we look with safety. at the status of our infrastructure would require the DHS to provide a no- We are seeing an alarming increase tice to appear before releasing the ille- today, the aged systems that we have in fatalities on our highways and roads gal immigrants into our country. It across our Nation. In Maryland, we and community roads. The TAP pro- just makes common sense. But, as we have some infrastructure that dates gram will allow us to deal with those have seen, too many folks in charge back over a century and a half ago. issues. We all need to be able to get don’t have any common sense when it We need a generational investment around our community without using comes to enforcing the law. to modernize our infrastructure, and our cars, and the TAP program makes Everybody can see violent crime ris- the legislation before us does exactly this a priority so we can enjoy our ing in big cities. They can see the that. It will make the United States communities and we have local deci- Biden administration turning a blind more competitive and create a lot of sion making in the use of our transpor- eye to a continually growing catas- good-paying jobs. It will deal with the tation funds. trophe on the southern border. The growing backlog of infrastructure I am also very pleased that this legis- American people are right to question projects that we have in each one of lation has a justice component to it. I President Biden and the Democrats’ our States. worked long and hard with Senator commitment to the rule of law, to I applaud the work that brought us CARPER and others in dealing with re- question their commitment to keeping to this point. I particularly am pleased connecting our communities that had our citizens and neighborhoods safe. that the legislation incorporates the been divided because of highways that I am painting a pretty bleak picture work done by the Environment and had been put in a community that did here, but my job is to call it like I see Public Works Committee as it relates not help that community. When we it. But there are things we in the Sen- to transportation, infrastructure, and find out the communities that are ate can do to make the situation bet- water infrastructure. most disproportionately affected, they ter. We can do things here, right in this I particularly want to acknowledge are generally minority communities. room right here, to make things better. the leadership of our committee, Sen- I will give you a good example. Let It starts with everybody fully sup- ators CARPER and CAPITO. I was proud me use my hometown of Baltimore porting our law enforcement because, if to be the chair of the subcommittee on City. A highway was built in the 1960s we don’t, one day we are going to re- infrastructure, working with Senator that was never completed. We call it gret it. We need to improve morale and CRAMER and Senator DUCKWORTH, the ‘‘highway to nowhere.’’ It is the recruit the best and brightest in our which contributed greatly, particularly Franklin-Mulberry Corridor. If you go police forces to keep our communities to the water infrastructure. to West Baltimore, you will see this safe. I also want to applaud the leadership gully that is a blight to the commu- We should also empower all law en- of President Biden. It was his leader- nity. It divides communities. Three forcement to address the negative ef- ship that has brought us to this mo- thousand residents, mostly African- fect at our border. This is the local and ment, his vision for America’s future, American, are directly impacted by State police. The Empowering Law En- what we need, and he found a way for this ‘‘highway to nowhere.’’ It isolates forcement Act that I introduced would us to move forward on modernizing in- neighborhoods such as Harlem Park. give them the power to take over for frastructure. This legislation provides a billion dol- ICE. So let me first, if I might, talk a lit- lars as a start to reconnecting commu- My bill would grant this and give tle bit about the transportation parts nities that have been divided by high- them the authority to investigate and of this bill that I am particularly ways. identify an illegal immigrant who has pleased about. Clearly, we see a signifi- I know this is good news for the peo- entered the U.S., which we at this mo- cant increase in our investments in ple of Baltimore and these commu- ment don’t have. If the Biden adminis- roads, bridges, transit systems, rail, nities and, for other communities

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.027 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5548 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 around the Nation where the transpor- sit in Baltimore. That project would land do not have access to broadband, tation program has hurt their commu- then now be eligible for consideration and 96,000 households in the Baltimore nity, not helped their community. for Federal funding. And I would hope region do not have access to As I pointed out, there is increased that the leadership in Maryland would broadband. We must do better. Our investments in all of our modes of take advantage of this opportunity and goal should be that every house should transportation. put the Red Line back in the equation. have access to high-speed internet, af- This past week, I was with Secretary I want to talk a little bit about water fordable internet. This legislation Buttigieg in Baltimore and with Sen- projects. The Environment and Public moves us forward on both access and ator VAN HOLLEN. The Port of Balti- Works Committee bill that we worked affordability on broadband. That is more is the economic engine of our on, which is the basis of this bill on critically important, and I am glad to community. Hundreds of thousands of water infrastructure, passed this body see that it is included. jobs directly depend upon it. Baltimore by a vote of 89–2. It deals with the As much as I support this legislation, is prepared for the super-Panamax. Drinking Water and Wastewater Infra- I have to express my disappointment as Thanks to the partnership with the structure Act, increasing funding in all to how this bill is paid for. As chair- Federal Government, this legislation those categories. man of the Small Business Committee, will allow us to be more competitive in We have tremendous backlogs in I helped develop the programs that our ports, creating more jobs in our water infrastructure in our commu- helped small businesses during COVID– community. nity. We have waterlines that are over 19. They were lifesavers for small busi- I also pointed out the Howard Street 100 years old still being used in our ness. It saved small businesses. It saved Tunnel that was recently authorized communities. This bill will help us deal our community. It saved jobs, and it under an INFRA grant, which will with that backlog. It includes author- saved the growth engine for innovation allow double-stacking going through a izations that I sponsored, including af- in our community. tunnel that is over 100 years old, fordability. One tool that we used that was ex- through downtown Baltimore. This will I want to thank Senator WICKER, my tremely important was the Economic make our community much more com- cosponsor on this. Injury Disaster Loan Program and Ad- This would allow grants so that low- petitive. This bill provides additional vance Program. Over 4 million EIDL income families can afford their water funding for INFRA grants. loans have been granted, in excess of bills. I can tell you that in Maryland And then Maryland, like every State $230 billion. These grants help save and in many other communities around in this Nation, has significant backlogs businesses. These loans help save busi- the Nation, people can no longer afford in dealing with our bridges. I can men- nesses. These are for the smaller of the their water bills because so much pres- tion the American Legion Bridge, right small businesses. They are the ones sure has been put on the ratepayers. around here, or the Johnson Bridge, in that use it. These are low-interest, 30- This bill will set up a pilot program Southern Maryland, and the list goes year loans. We have had 6 million small similar to a LIHEAP program to help on and on and on. This bill will allow low-income families deal with their businesses take advantage of the EIDL us to get to some of those bridges. Advance Program, $23 billion. These Let me talk a moment, if I might, water costs. I also authored an authorization bill are the differences between staying about transit. We need public transit. for resiliency grants with Senator CAP- afloat or going under. The GAO esti- Our workers need to be able to get to ITO to deal with extreme weather con- mated this past week that 86 percent of work. We need to be much more sen- ditions and cyber security issues, and I the EIDL loans went to our most vul- sitive to our environment and getting was pleased to see that included in the nerable small businesses, 10 employees people out of their automobiles. We legislation. or less. waste too much time in congestion. I I do want to express my disappoint- So why am I talking about it? Be- can’t tell you how many hours are ment. There are things in this bill I am cause this bill takes away the $13.5 bil- wasted every day because of unneces- sure all of us are not satisfied with. I lion from the EIDL Program—the sary congestion. Transit—public tran- was disappointed that the bill does not EIDL loan program—just at the time sit—helps us deal with those chal- fund those new authorized programs, as where we have small businesses that lenges. was included in the legislation that are going to need these loans. We see This bill takes a quantum leap for- passed this body and was recommended an increase in wildfires. Hurricane sea- ward on the transit programs. I was by the Environment and Public Works son is coming. We are not through particularly pleased that it includes a Committee. I hope we will have a COVID–19 yet, and yet they take away reauthorization of the WMATA pro- chance during the appropriations proc- these funds. These are the most lever- gram for the transit system in this re- ess to get funding for these new au- aged funds we have available. For the gion. I call it the Nation’s transit sys- thorized programs. few Federal dollars we put into it, we tem, since it is used so much by Fed- I was pleased that President Biden’s leverage much larger amounts of loans. eral workers in order to get to work. It initiative to remove lead pipes was in- Do we really want to cut back on the extends the authorization of $150 mil- cluded. I can tell you that in Balti- ability to help small businesses lion a year from the Federal Govern- more, we have significant lead pipe through these long-term loans? Unfor- ment through this decade. issues, particularly in our school sys- tunately, taking this money away does Particularly, I want to thank my col- tem, and I am glad to see that those exactly that. leagues in this region, Senators WAR- programs will be funded. In addition, it takes $17.5 billion from NER and KAINE and VAN HOLLEN. The I was pleased also that we are moving the Advance Program under EIDL. four of us worked together to make ahead on PFOS, which is a pollutant in These are the grants that go to small sure we got the reauthorization in- our community as a result of Federal businesses that can’t afford to take out cluded in this legislation. installations. I was pleased to see that loans. Then, I want to acknowledge and I we will be able to move forward in Now, we know under a previous ad- want to thank particularly Senator that. ministration, they put a $150,000 cap on BROWN for his help on this. There is And then broadband, we all know we the EIDL loan program and $1,000 per now language in this bill that will need broadband infrastructure. It is in- employee on the Advance Program. allow those lines that were previously cluded in this bill. The Brookings Insti- Well, the Biden administration wants eligible for capital contributions but tution indicates that in the spring of to increase the size of the loans up to did not go forward to be able to be re- 2020, when we went into lockdown in the first $500,000 and then $2 million considered for Federal partnerships in our schools, 12 million out of 55 million but also to give $10,000 to the busi- capital construction on transit. students did not have access to classes nesses that need it the most under ad- We have a rapid rail line in Balti- online. That is a shocking number, and vances. more City, known as the Red Line, look at what they lost during this past We have taken this money away—in that was stopped by our Governor. We year. total, about $35 billion. It is going to are hopeful that we can restart that. It In Maryland, it is estimated that as make it virtually impossible for us to is needed for dealing with public tran- many as 324,000 people in rural Mary- be able to do what we need to do for

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:15 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.028 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5549 small businesses. That is not right, and I am speaking about the one that has I saw a picture recently of the Gold we are going to need to do something 86-percent approval in two straight Coast, that very swank area in the city about it. polls by the American citizens. of Chicago on Lake Michigan, and it I might point out that we have the The other concern is that this will showed how the coastline had eroded Restaurant Revitalization Act—and ev- contribute to inflation. Again, that is over time, and now, waves from Lake eryone here was very proud to help our confusing it with the $3.5 trillion wish Michigan are lapping up onto the road restaurants—that has been oversub- list that my Democratic colleagues in front of these very expensive apart- scribed. We are going to need a lot have. No, the bill that we are pro- ment complexes. This is not on the At- more money to be put into that pro- posing, with $550 billion in new spend- lantic, the Pacific, or the Gulf of Mex- gram. Yet you are taking away our ca- ing over 5 years for roads, bridges, and ico; this is on a Great Lake. I saw an- pacity in this bill to help fund small highways, is judged to not be infla- other picture of the beach off of North businesses. That is not right, and I tionary, to actually improve our econ- Carolina, which in the last 150 years hope I will continue to work with my omy over time. Lastly, that somehow has receded—I think it is 500 feet. So colleagues so we can find a path for- this infrastructure bill that we propose homes that formerly had a distant view ward to help America’s small busi- is somehow Republicans playing along of the water now have waves coming up nesses. with Democrats in a way that is bad to their lawn. That is happening na- We all talk about helping small busi- for our country. tionwide—no place more than my State nesses. Here is one example where we Let me point out that President in Louisiana. took the step in the wrong direction. Trump proposed a $1.5 trillion infra- This bill makes a significant invest- We don’t have to choose between build- structure bill. We put up $550 billion in ment in coastal erosion and protecting ing modern infrastructure or helping new spending. He proposed $1.5 trillion. those people who live on the coastlines. small businesses. We can do both, and I Only 5 percent of his was paid for, It will create jobs as this is addressed. am disappointed at this moment that whereas ours is paid for. It will increase the safety of those we are not going to be able to do every- To make the point, this is something folks who live in such areas. It gives a thing we need to do to help the small that Republicans have proposed in the better future for our country. business communities in our country. past, that Democrats have proposed in There is $65 billion for broadband, I hope I will be able to revisit this at the past, and this version is something prioritizing those places without serv- a later time. But it doesn’t dull my en- which Democrats and Republicans can ice and those places with poor service. thusiasm for this very important legis- support. It is paid for, and it does help I think of a place in my own State; for lation that I urge my colleagues to the American people. How does it help example, Opelousas, LA, a small town support. It will make a quantum leap the American people? It gives them on I–49. Think of a parent there who forward in America’s competitiveness better jobs, increases the safety of wants her daughter to be able to study and create more jobs for America’s fu- their families, and gives a better future Mandarin Chinese. There might be peo- ture. for our country. ple there who speak Mandarin Chinese, Let me give some ideas about how With that, I yield the floor. but they are not the people teaching that can occur. There is $110 billion for The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- school. If she has broadband internet, roads, bridges, and highways, not just ator from Louisiana. she gets the same educational experi- to repair some, to construct some oth- Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, I ence as someone who lives in New Orle- ers, but also for the safety of those would like to rise and speak to the in- ans or Baton Rouge or Shreveport. We that are being rebuilt or being built— frastructure bill that is before us and, need to give every child in this country specifically, about a component of the $110 billion. We speak about jobs and safety and a the same access to that educational op- infrastructure bill. My colleague, ear- better future. Clearly, we talked about portunity. lier, Senator TUBERVILLE from Ala- safety. Think about the jobs that will I am a doctor. Most people know bama, said that when he goes home he be created by this construction of these that. I also think of the expansion of speaks to people in his State, and he highways. Think about the better fu- telehealth and telemental health. always gets a consistent message. I, ture because these roads and bridges Right now, our country has a shortage too, get that consistent message: bet- will last for decades. Some person who of adolescent psychiatrists. If we have ter jobs, greater safety for their fam- is now a child will drive over a bridge rural broadband or broadband in areas ily, and a better future for our country. as an adult, and her life will be better of our cities which are currently poorly And this infrastructure package ad- because of the highway that this served, the adolescent psychiatrist can dresses those concerns. money paid for. be in her office in Lafayette, LA, doing Now, the infrastructure package is There is $10 billion for ports and wa- a visit, an interview with a child who about roads and bridges and highways, terways, those liquid highways that lives in DeRidder. A place that won’t ports and waterways, increased access take our goods from our country to have a pediatric or adolescent psychia- to broadband in areas that don’t have around the world and bring those goods trist has access to real-time visits be- it now, flood mitigation, coastal res- from around the world back to our cause of the money that is in this bill. toration. These are things that will country, along the way creating jobs Economic development. I once spoke contribute to better jobs, more safety, for hundreds of thousands of Ameri- to somebody who was thinking of set- and a better future for our country. cans. ting up a distribution center in North But, first, let me dispel some myths. By the way, transporting products by Louisiana in a place ideally situated to There are some misconceptions out water is the most environmentally get all the towns around, but it did not there about this bill. One misconcep- sound way to transport goods. have broadband internet. With this tion is that it is somehow the same as This investment in our ports and wa- bill, that economic development the $3.5 trillion bill that people have terways—again, creating jobs, increas- project takes root because now that in- heard about that Democrats have pro- ing the safety—also gives us a better vestor has the ability to manage inven- posed, increasing taxes to a record future for our economy, a better future tory to receive orders and to commu- basis and increasing our national debt for our workers, a better future for our nicate with drivers, all because rural when obviously we are pushing up on families, and a better future for our broadband has been made a reality— the debt limit. This is not that bill. country. creating jobs, increasing safety, giving This bill is about roads and bridges There is $16 billion for the Army that community and our country a bet- and broadband and flood protection. Corps of Engineers for, among other ter future. That bill is about everything else. This things, to address coastal erosion, Let me just mention one more thing bill is about improving the quality of which is occurring nationwide. My in the economic aspect and safety as- life for our families and improving the State has lost more land mass than pect of this. There is money for sewer, future for our country. That bill is any other State in the Nation. My water, and for drainage. If I think of about a sugar high on an economy State has lost as much land as is in the the four corners of my State, but I am which is already in an inflationary entire State of Delaware. But other sure every person could think of the mode. These are two different bills. So States are losing land, too. four corners of their State—and I think

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:41 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.029 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5550 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 of Hawaii as being a round State, so I sive infrastructure bill totaling $2.6 didn’t hear a word about a highway am not sure I even think of those four trillion. It included a broad range of trust fund bailout. corners—but if I think of New Orleans, controversial and, frankly, overpriced The massive bill, as I said, was Shreveport, Monroe, and Lake Charles programs, all funded by massive tax dropped last night, and we are still try- and all points in between, there was a hikes on the American taxpayer. ing to comb through the 2,700 pages of pent-up demand to address water and The good news is, that is not the bill text, which, at this point, appears to be sewer and drainage. This bill puts the we are considering today. A bipartisan full of surprises, and I will just men- money out there, which can be com- group of our colleagues worked with tion one of them. bined with other appropriations, which the White House to find common This bill should not be rushed can meet the needs for those folks in ground and get a bill to the floor with through the Senate without providing my community. support from both sides. The 2,700-page all Members a chance to read it, to un- I also want to emphasize some of the text was just released last night, and I derstand it, and offer their suggestions environmental aspects of this bill. We know, like everybody else, I am still in to improve it. I have been working have billions being put forward to the process with my staff of evaluating with some of our colleagues on amend- Superfund and brownfield sites. Now, just how it will impact my State and ments to this legislation to provide le- Louisiana has 27 priority sites of those our Nation. gitimate pay-fors. Since this bill didn’t nationwide requiring funding for the Our colleagues who negotiated and go through the regular committee Superfund or brownfield. drafted this legislation put in a lot of process but was really cobbled together We also have 4.75 billion to cap aban- long hours and hard work to reach an by a negotiation—again, in a bipar- doned oil wells. That will improve con- agreement. I commend them for their tisan fashion that I commend for their ditions not only in Louisiana but efforts. efforts—but it makes it all the more across the Nation. I am eager to see a score from the important that since this is the first It also includes the bill I wrote with Congressional Budget Office to provide time that many of us have seen the en- Senator COONS of Delaware called the a better understanding of the true cost tire 2,700-page bill, that it be subject to an open amendment process. SCALE Act. The SCALE Act helps of this legislation. But even the pro- build this carbon dioxide pipeline that This legislation will have impact on ponents who negotiated this deal con- every State in the country, and every will take CO2 from these manufac- cede that, at least before the $118 bil- turing plants that are producing a Member of the Senate should have the lion transfer from the general revenue opportunity to weigh in and offer product that emits CO2, and it would fund last night, that even then, only build pipelines to sequester that carbon changes. Members of the bipartisan about half of it was paid for. group have committed to a process dioxide beneath the ground or to allow I believe there, so far, have been that allows Senators on both sides to that CO2 to be used in another product some missed opportunities, one being line, putting to work pipefitters, de- offer changes to this bill, and in the reforms to the highway trust fund days ahead, I hope the majority leader creasing the carbon intensity of our en- itself. For years, the highway trust vironment, and giving a better future will allow that to happen, and we will fund has faced major shortfalls and, to have a robust amendment process. for our planet—jobs, safety, and a bet- a serious degree, Texans have footed ter future. GUN VIOLENCE the bill for those shortfalls because we Madam President, on another mat- I have already mentioned the $16 bil- are one of the States that receive less lion going to the Army Corps of Engi- ter, my State is no stranger to tragedy. than we contribute. For every dollar neers for coastal restoration and other In recent years, we have experienced we put in the highway trust fund, only projects. hurricanes, tornadoes, a crippling win- This bill is an example of what Con- 95 cents comes back to my State. That ter freeze, and other natural disasters gress should do. It is focused upon jobs is not the same treatment of every that have tested our resiliency. Sadly, and safety and a better quality of life. State. In fact, we received the lowest too, some of our communities have ex- This is good for the American worker. rate of return than any other State. perienced mass shootings. I don’t think it is a stretch to say it It is good for American families. It is Tomorrow, Texans will mark a sol- is unfair that Texans subsidize infra- good for the United States of America. emn anniversary: 2 years since a gun- I yield the floor. structure projects in every other State, man stormed into a Walmart in El The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- but that is only part of the issue here. Paso, TX, and opened fire. Twenty- ator from Texas. The highway trust fund has been oper- three people died; dozens were injured; Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, in a ating in the red for more than a dec- and the lives of countless El Pasoans State as big as mine, reliable transpor- ade. The current state of the highway were forever changed. My friend, the tation infrastructure is absolutely es- trust fund is unsustainable, and unless former mayor, Dee Margo, said at the sential. We are home to both the larg- something changes, we are going to be time: est network of highways, as well as the in dire straits—even more dire straits Hate will not overcome love. Hate will not largest number of bridges in the coun- in just a few years. define who we are. try. We are also a major hub for im- The importance of the highway trust This shooting was, undoubtedly, hate ports and exports both along the gulf fund is that we have always believed in in its purest form. The shooter was a coast and the southern border. a user fee model when it comes to in- White supremacist who carried out an As we continue to welcome more new frastructure. The people who use it are act that could only be described as do- Texans every day, the strain on our in- the ones to pay to maintain it and ex- mestic terrorism. Our Hispanic neigh- frastructure is growing. It takes a lot pand it. But rather than make reforms bors and friends were purposely tar- of planning and maintenance to get all to the formula to make the fund sol- geted, and both Texans and Mexicans 29 million Texans, our visitors, and vent, this bill throws more borrowed were killed by this wicked individual. crucial cargo around the State safely money at the problem. In the face of this pure evil, El and efficiently. When you add in As I said, just this morning, I learned Pasoans responded with love. Off-duty broadband, airports, levees, waterways, that another $118 billion was proposed surgeons and doctors rushed to the hos- it is easy to see how big an under- to be transferred to the highway trust pital to save as many lives as they taking this entire process is. fund with no reforms to help put it could. El Pasoans were comforted by I continue to hear from my constitu- back on sound financial footing. This is their faith leaders, like Father ents back home, like I am sure we all quite a step away from the user fee Marquez, who stayed up all night with do, about the need for Federal funding model where those who use the infra- 17 families and sat beside them as they to help repair, maintain, and expand structure are the ones who pay for it. were told their loved ones had not infrastructure across our States. But This is a transfer from general revenue, made it. And hundreds of Texans lined we just can’t keep adding expenses to from the taxpayer, into the highway up to give blood. I was proud to be one the taxpayers’ credit card. We have to trust fund. This inclusion was a big of those 3,000 donations at the Vitalant figure out how to pay for it. surprise to me, and in all the conversa- centers in El Paso and Las Cruces. Earlier this year, President Biden tions we have had about this legisla- A young El Pasoan, Ruben Martinez, floated his idea for an absolutely mas- tion over the past several weeks, I was just in sixth grade when this mass

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:41 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.030 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5551 shooting took place. In the days that I said last weekend at the Health, watching when we do a budget resolu- followed, he created the El Paso Chal- Education, Labor, and Pensions Com- tion, but it is vote after vote, hour lenge, where he and his mom performed mittee, of which he and I were both after hour, often well into not just the 23 random acts of kindness in honor of members and overlapped for a number evening but well into the next morn- the 23 victims. Two years later, they of years, that Mike Enzi was the par- ing. And to preside over that, as Mike are still keeping up that tradition and agon of decency, and that is probably was at the time as the chairman of the recently gave out roses at San Jacinto an understatement. ‘‘Decency’’ isn’t a Budget Committee, I just recall him Plaza to remind people to spread love word that is often attached to public standing at the lectern, hour after and kindness. officials, unfortunately, but in Mike’s hour, having to comment on every El Paso, a community that saw the case, it applied. He was a decent human amendment, whether he opposed it or face of evil, unequivocally chose love, being and treated everyone with re- supported it, and if he opposed it, of and I am grateful to Texans like Ruben spect, and we could all learn more than course, he had to make an argument who have continued to make the one lesson from the way he treated against it. That is part of the job of choice, day after day, to honor the people and the way he conducted him- being the chair, standing there all lives of the 23 whom we lost. self as a person and the way he con- those hours. As we remember the lives that were ducted himself as a U.S. Senator. But even when he was making the lost just 2 years ago and the families Just in terms of work, a number of us case against Democratic amendments, and the victims that many of us com- can share stories about issues we which was often, and stating his oppo- forted in the hospitals in the aftermath worked with Mike on. I can share one sition, there was no snarl; there was of this, we are also—we also carry the or two. no—rarely political rhetoric. He would painful reminder that justice has not One, in particular, I remember a bill just state his objections very forth- yet been served. Last week, the Federal that had not been ‘‘reauthorized.’’ That rightly and very soberly and then move hearing for the accused shooter was is another fancy Washington word for on. There was no finger-pointing, no postponed until November, and the taking a policy or taking a program demonization of the other point of State’s case continues to await a trial and, in a sense, reinstituting it by up- view. So I always appreciated how he date due to delays stemming from dating it and, maybe, getting author- did that in an environment where there COVID’s impact on our court system. ization to have either new policy or often is that kind of invective flying My heart is with the families and new appropriations or additional ap- back and forth. So, Mike Enzi, when I say he was the friends looking for closure who must propriations. But we wanted to reau- paragon of decency, that applied to his now deal with this additional delay in thorize the Perkins Career and Tech- whole life, and we know how terribly justice being served. nical Education Program, but the bill I know I speak for all Texans when I had not been acted on. The proposal, his family must miss him and how his say that the 2-year anniversary ap- the bill itself, or versions of the bill State mourns the loss of Mike Enzi, proaches tomorrow; that, as it ap- were around for something like, oh, but that loss was felt in a bipartisan fashion here on the Senate floor and proaches, we all stand in solidarity gosh, about 12 years, between 2006 and within the Senate family. with El Pasoans and remember the en- 2018, before we finally got it done. I won’t walk through the policy but Madam President, today, I wish to during strength and spirit of this vi- just share a personal story that, when pay tribute to the distinguished life brant community. and career of Senator Michael B. Enzi, I yield the floor. Mike Enzi and I were working on the who passed away on July 26, 2021. Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Senate version of it—there was another version in the House very similar, if ator Enzi was an honorable public serv- DUCKWORTH). The Senator from Penn- ant and decent man who always had a sylvania. not identical, but it needed work in Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I ask both Chambers—we were working with kind word for everyone in our shared office hallway in the Russell Senate Of- unanimous consent to speak as if in then-Chairman Alexander, Lamar Alex- fice Building. I was privileged to have morning business. ander and the ranking member, PATTY The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without MURRAY. So the four of us had to work spent 13 years working alongside him. While Senator Enzi was born in objection, it is so ordered. very hard to get it done. But once it was done, I remember standing here on Bremerton, WA, in 1944, he grew up in REMEMBERING MIKE ENZI the floor, and Mike Enzi was standing Wyoming, the same State he would de- Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I on that side of the floor talking about vote more than four decades of his life wanted to offer some remarks about what we had done. And as I was paying to by serving in local, State, and Fed- two of our former colleagues who tribute to his work and commending eral Government. He graduated with a passed away, and I know many have al- him, I thought: My goodness. I may be bachelor’s degree in accounting from ready spoken about both of their lives getting him in trouble back home by George Washington University in 1966. and their contributions, their public having a Democrat compliment him so Senator Enzi was dedicated to his edu- service. And so I am not speaking much, and he was complimenting my cation and his sense of civic responsi- today about the pending legislative work. But I remember that because it bility, and he earned an MBA in retail business but just wanted to make sure was a typical—in some ways, a very marketing from the University of Den- that I took some time today to talk typical Mike Enzi work product. It de- ver in 1968 while also serving in the about both of these individuals. I will fied resolution for a long time, but he Wyoming Air National Guard from 1967 go in the order of their passing just in stayed at it, and he stayed in the room, to 1973. After receiving his graduate de- the last week, really. so to speak, until we had it done. gree, he followed his father’s footsteps The first is the former Senator from So I want to thank him for that work and worked as a shoe salesman and Wyoming, Mike Enzi, who served in that will allow more and more Ameri- business owner. this institution since being elected in cans to have the opportunity to have Senator Enzi’s long career in govern- 1996 and then left the Senate after 2020 that career in technical education that ment started when he was elected was concluded. I will have a longer they would not have or at least not mayor of Gillette, WY, in 1974. He statement that I will ask consent to would have it in the manner that the served in the Wyoming State Legisla- put in the RECORD. But I just wanted to bill set forth, which was a dramatic ture as a member of the House of Rep- share some personal reflections be- and substantial improvement in that resentatives and State Senate begin- cause sometimes, when you outline kind of career in technical education, ning in 1987. He was elected to the U.S. someone’s career in a position, whether from a Federal Government perspec- Senate in 1996 and would go on to serve it is in government or otherwise, that tive. 4 consecutive terms. It was during the doesn’t really tell the story about who The final thought that I will share— 110th Congress that we became col- they were, and we all have different because I want to be brief because I leagues and began our committee work impressions, but it is remarkable how also have a statement to submit—are together, first on the Senate Com- often, in the last couple of days, Mem- on our budget votes. mittee on Banking, Housing, and bers of both parties in the Senate have As many Americans know, if they are Urban Affairs and later on the Com- commented on Mike Enzi as a person. watching—and maybe they aren’t mittee on Finance and the Committee

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:41 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.032 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5552 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- rectly—Carl Levin always made sure he was in charge of the Subcommittee sions. Senator Enzi loved ‘‘solving that their voice was heard. on Investigations, and I ended up being problems for folks in Wyoming and And as much as he was a supporter— the chairman of the committee; America,’’ and I am honored to have and I think a consistent and strong worked pretty close with Tom Coburn had the opportunity to work with him supporter—of a strong national secu- and others. on bipartisan solutions to help Ameri- rity, no Member of the Senate could And Carl asked me—he said he want- cans. say they did more than Carl Levin to ed me to come up—as chairman, he The passing of Senator Enzi is a ter- support our national security, both in wanted me to come up and tour the rible loss for his wife, Diana; his chil- terms of what he supported, but in border—the U.S.-Canadian border, and dren, Amy, Emily and Brad; his four terms of his leadership on the Armed right there by Detroit on boat, by grandchildren, Trey, Lilly, Megan, and Services Committee, and ultimately as water, by helicopters, and so forth. Allison. He will be dearly missed by his the chair of the committee, working in I said: Sure. Count me in. family, friends, and former staff. I echo a very bipartisan fashion to keep us We just had one—just one heck of a my Senate colleagues and fellow citi- safe, working with Senators like John day. It was a lot of fun and very in- zens when I say that we are grateful for McCain and others, Democrat and Re- formative. Got to spend time with his service to our Nation. May he rest publican alike. Coast Guard people and others just in peace. But even though in the midst of—or very much involved in our border secu- REMEMBERING CARL LEVIN in the course of supporting national se- rity. Madam President, and then just some curity you deal with big institutions, And late in the day, it was opening additional comments on another col- big defense contractors, big, powerful day of baseball season, and the Tigers league we lost this year, this time a interests that he worked with and were playing in Minnesota, the opening Democratic Senator, Carl Levin, who made sure were part of the best na- game. It was an afternoon game. served the people of Michigan starting tional security in the world, he was And after we had finished our day’s in 1978—I think, almost immediately also very tough on those same big in- activities, it was moving on toward after serving on the city council in De- stitutions; because, as many of you suppertime. He said: Let’s go to this troit—and I will submit a statement know—many people here in the Senate area of Detroit where they have all about his life as well. know, Carl was the chairman of what is these Mexican restaurants, and we will But Carl, as well, was decent and known as the Permanent Sub- have dinner. honorable, and I have no doubt that committee on Investigations, maybe And when we got to the restaurant, people in both parties had that same the most powerful subcommittee in the the Tigers game was on the radio, and impression of him, dealing with him— entire U.S. Senate, or at least for many he said let’s have a couple of libations again, I will say—as a person and as a years it was. and sit in his car and listen to the Ti- And as the chairman of that sub- U.S. Senator, as a public official. gers game, and so we did. Carl Levin had a work ethic which committee, Carl Levin held the feet of And the game—we were in the 7th or was second to none. I don’t ever re- powerful interests—held their feet to 8th inning. We stayed until the very member him in a setting where he the fire over and over again with a end, and it turned out to be a very wasn’t working. It was as if he was cross-examination skill that very few sweet ending and the Tigers won the never relaxed and kind of turned off. Senators would possess, even Senators ballgame and we had a couple libations who were good lawyers. He was always on the floor, trying to and some laughs. And then we went in- And Carl Levin would not let those get support for an amendment, trying side, and for, like, six bucks we bought powerful interests up for air if he two of the biggest dinners I have ever to get support for a bill. And the dif- thought they had information that he seen, and I had a wonderful time. ference between Carl and many of us is needed to extract from them in the But I loved Carl. Loved Sandy too. that he knew the detail of that bill public interest. And anyone who ap- And the idea that Carl has left us is sometimes as well or better, maybe, peared before him knew how tough he real sad. Barbara, his wife, wonderful than the staff. He knew every part of could be on the most powerful people woman, thank her for sharing her hus- the policy. If he were allowed to be on and the most powerful institutions in band with us. the Senate floor, with his jacket off, he the country, if not in the world. would roll up his sleeves. So we appreciate Carl Levin’s de- Here is an issue, on a more serious Someone was telling a story the cency and the honorable service that note, called beneficial interests, which other day how that was kind of an he rendered, but we also appreciate involved shell corporations and some image we had of Carl; that his sleeves how hard he fought for people who criminal people who are doing unto- were always rolled up when he was didn’t have power. ward—maybe illicit, illegal things. working, but, of course, on the Senate Mr. CARPER. Would the Senator They are using shell corporations to floor, he wasn’t allowed to do that. But yield the floor? try to do those bad activities. And it was emblematic, I think, that rolling While the Senator is still on the there was a question about who should up of his sleeves when he was traveling floor, we are talking about the serious have the authority, who should be re- or addressing constituents or the like— side of Carl, and there is also a lighter sponsible for making sure that no ne- it was emblematic of his work ethic side of Carl, as you know, and I just farious activities were taking place be- and the scholarship that he put into want to recall one of those today. cause of these shell corporations. the work he did for the people of Michi- I was elected to—been State treas- Delaware happens to be a State gan and often for, of course, the work- urer and elected to Congress in ‘82, and where there are a lot of corporations. I ers. There have been stories that have one of the Members of my professional think half of the New York Stock Ex- been told in the last couple of days class was Sandy Levin, Carl’s brother— change, half of the Fortune 500 are in- about him carrying around his union his older brother—who apparently had corporated in Delaware. So we had a card when he worked in a factory as a run for Governor—not successful—and real interest in doing this, but doing it young man. later on got elected to the House, and in a way that doesn’t unduly burden He never forgot those workers. It I think he served as the Ways and the State. wasn’t just a symbol of a union card in Means Committee chair. This was an issue that we didn’t let his wallet; he never ever stopped fight- But, anyway, so I got to meet Carl come between our friendship. This was ing for them—workers in Detroit, pretty early, although he didn’t join an issue that lasted and lasted and whether they are autoworkers or oth- me here until about 20 years ago. But lasted and lasted. erwise. he is from Detroit and that area and And Carl, when he went to meet our So that is something we pay tribute loves the Detroit—loved the Detroit Ti- Maker, about a year or so before, we to today, and his work on behalf of gers, and so do I. And try to figure out resolved that issue, and it took years those who were powerless or those with why an Ohio State boy would end up to resolve that issue. And he was tena- little power, those who don’t have a being a big Tigers fan, but I was. cious, his staff was tenacious, and, lobbyist, those who don’t have the op- Ended up on the Homeland Security frankly, so were a lot of other folks, portunity to influence legislation di- Governmental Affairs Committee, and but we got the job done in a way that

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:41 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A02AU6.025 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5553 I think protects the public interest and lowing amendments be called up to the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The makes sure that government, State substitute and be reported by number: clerk will call the roll. and local and Federal, are doing their No. 1, Padilla-Moran, No. 2133, Indian The senior assistant legislative clerk job. health; No. 2, Thune-Tester, No. 2162, proceeded to call the roll. And so, Carl, if you are listening, communications workers; further, that Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I buddy, our Tigers are doing better this at 5:30 today, the Senate vote in rela- ask unanimous consent that the order year, and hopefully they will continue tion to the amendments in the order for the quorum call be rescinded. to. listed, with no amendments in order to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without But thank you for raising those these amendments prior to a vote in re- objection, it is so ordered. points. lation to the amendment, with 60 af- H.R. 3684 Mr. CASEY. I want to thank the sen- firmative votes required for adoption, Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I ior Senator from Delaware for those and 2 minutes of debate equally divided come to the floor today to bring atten- kind, personal reflections about Carl prior to each vote. tion to the wildfires raging in our Levin. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Western States, devastating commu- Madam President, today I wish to objection? nity after community. I am also here pay tribute to the life and career of Mrs. CAPITO. Madam President, I to call on my colleagues to use the on- Senator Carl Levin, who passed away don’t have an objection. I just wanted going infrastructure discussions to on July 29, 2021. As the longest-serving to say to the—to Chairman CARPER take the swift, bold action necessary senator in Michigan history, Senator here and others in the bipartisan group not just to confront the current crisis Levin was a role model as a person and and all of us here: We are ready to get but to address the root cause and help as a public official. save others from having to endure Senator Levin was born on June 28, this thing started. This is a great way for Members to similar fires and tragedies in the fu- 1934 in Detroit, MI, the city he would say what they like and what they don’t ture. call home for his entire life and contin- like, and the amendment process is on For nearly a month now, the Bootleg ually fight for during his six terms in Fire, pictured here, has been the big- the Senate. I am proud to say that he its way. Thank you. gest of 91 fires burning across 12 received his bachelor’s degree in polit- Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I States. It has been raging in Southern ical science at Swarthmore College, would say thank you to the ranking Oregon. It has burned about 415,000 which is located in my home state of member for those comments. I, too, am acres. Translate that into square miles. Pennsylvania, in 1956. During his un- That is 646 square miles. Translate dergraduate education he worked as a ready to get to work. This is a good that. That is an area about 20 miles taxi driver and on an auto factory line. way to do it, a couple of amendments wide and 30 miles long, half the size of He would continue to keep his union that I think a lot of us can support. the State of Rhode Island reduced to card in his wallet for many years, a But I appreciate the consent to lock ash and smoke. habit emblematic of his commitment in votes on these two amendments. We It is ranching country. There are not to American workers. After graduating will start with these and work to have a lot of developed communities, but from Harvard Law School in 1959, he votes on others as well, hopefully soon- you still have a lot of homes getting practiced law for several years before er rather than later. burned, at least 161 homes; double that becoming an assistant attorney general I yield the floor. or roughly double that in outbuildings. and general counsel for the Michigan The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Hundreds of vehicles have been de- Civil Rights Commission, beginning his objection, it is so ordered. stroyed. Thousands of families have long career as a defender of civil rights. AMENDMENT NO. 2133 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2137 Senator Levin first entered elected The clerk will report. been forced to evacuate. office as a member of Detroit City The senior assistant legislative clerk This fire grew so large, it started Council in 1969. In 1978, he was elected read as follows: generating its own weather system. Think about that. Usually, we watch to the U.S. Senate, where he would The Senator from Delaware [Mr. CARPER], earn a reputation as an effective legis- for Mr. PADILLA, proposes an amendment the weather to see how the weather is lator, tenacious investigator and per- numbered 2133 to amendment No. 2137. going to influence the fire. Will rain son of integrity. He understood that The amendment is as follows: and storms slow them down? Will hu- serving in political office is a public (Purpose: To amend the Indian Health Care midity slow them down a little? Will trust and demanded the same degree of Improvement Act to expand the funding dry, hot conditions help them grow or, accountability and transparency from authority for renovating, constructing, worst of all, hot and dry with wind? corporations and government that his and expanding certain facilities) Well, that is not the case with the constituents came to expect from him. At the appropriate place, insert the fol- Bootleg Fire, which created these mas- Whether on the floor of the Senate or lowing: sive clouds rising more than 30,000 feet abroad during our trip to Afghanistan SEC. ll. EXPANDING THE FUNDING AUTHORITY into the air, and as the air surges up, and Pakistan in 2008 when he served as FOR RENOVATING, CONSTRUCTING, then below it, it pulls in air from all AND EXPANDING CERTAIN FACILI- around, which feeds oxygen to the in- Chairman of the Senate Committee on TIES. Armed Services, Senator Levin led Section 509 of the Indian Health Care Im- ferno. Then, when that air cools and with humility and a sharp intellect. provement Act (25 U.S.C. 1659) is amended— drops down, it pushes the bottom air Senator Levin’s service in the Senate (1) by striking ‘‘minor’’ before ‘‘renova- out, spreading sparks like some living was the kind of public service we tions’’; and monster sucking in fire, intensifying should all emulate and his death is a (2) by striking ‘‘, to assist’’ and all that fol- oxygen, and then spewing out fire- loss for our Nation and, of course, his lows through ‘‘standards’’. spreading embers as the air cools and loving family. My thoughts and pray- AMENDMENT NO. 2162 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2137 descends. It even generates its own ers are with his wife, Barbara; his three (Purpose: To address the workforce lightning storms and spawns fire torna- daughters, Kate, Laura and Eric; his needs of the telecommunications in- does, swirling vortexes of heat and six grandchildren; and his nephew, Con- dustry.) flame. gressman Andy Levin, as they mourn The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Fires are an annual occurrence in Or- his passing. May we all learn from Sen- clerk will report. egon, but decade after decade, they are ator Levin’s example, and may he rest The senior assistant legislative clerk getting a lot worse. There are two in peace. read as follows: major reasons for this. Climate chaos I yield the floor. The Senator from Delaware [Mr. CARPER], is one, and poor forest management is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- for Mr. THUNE, proposes an amendment num- the other. The forests, due to climate ator from Delaware. bered 2162 to amendment No. 2137. chaos, are drier and more prone to fire. AMENDMENT NOS. 2133 AND 2162 TO AMENDMENT (The amendment is printed in today’s Why are they drier? Because, well, car- NO. 2137 RECORD under ‘‘Text of Amendments.’’) bon dioxide from burning fossil fuels Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I Mr. CARPER. I suggest the absence and methane gas leaking out of our ask unanimous consent that the fol- of a quorum. natural gas systems are heating the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:41 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.040 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5554 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 planet. So we have to pivot quickly and the best science. I have asked the head treating forests through timber sales transition to renewable energy to stop of the Forest Service to get us the best that are always hung up in disputes in it from getting worse. science so we can apply the best strate- the courts, we are not getting the job But that is a discussion really for an- gies to make different types of forests done. other day. Let’s focus today on the sec- more fire-resilient. This effort to increase the role of ond part of the challenge, which is for- But we need to be able to fund such these collaboratives puts people in the est management. efforts on a much more massive scale. room who have been traditional oppo- When fires erupt, we put them out as Out in Oregon, we have 2.3 million nents. They are talking to each other, fast as we can, trying to prevent dev- acres that have been approved environ- and they are working out plans to- astating fires like the Bootleg Fire. mentally to be treated that aren’t gether. They find out they actually But the result of putting fires out fast treated because we haven’t had the sometimes like each other. So we need over decade after decade after decade is funds. So this infrastructure bill is an a lot more of these collaboratives. that a lot of fuels build up on the floor opportunity to address so much of the We have in Oregon close to two dozen of the forest. work that needs to be done to make collaboratives. Only four are federally In addition, we have a lot of forests the forest more fire-resilient. funded. So by increasing the funding, that are second-growth forests, with Well, I am pleased to say that the bill we enable more collaboratives to do a trees planted very close together, and is going to have quite a bit in it, and I lot more work, and that would be a they all grow up at about the same really am pleased with this. I have very good thing. height and their canopies are touching been pushing for this for years, that we I spoke to the billions of dollars, but each other, which makes it very easy need to spend not millions but billions you know what—these couple billion for the fire to spread from tree to tree of dollars in forest management. So $8 dollars is not enough. I will be intro- to tree. billion of wildfire-related funding is in- ducing legislation modeled on the So you throw in the combination of cluded, and that will go out through Great American Outdoors Act to fund longer, hotter, dryer summers and sec- the Forest Service and the Department $30 billion in hazardous fuel treatments ond-growth forests, and you have the of the Interior; $2.4 billion for haz- across our public lands over the next 5 perfect recipe for infernos like the big ardous fuels reduction efforts; $2.1 bil- years. That is closer to the scale we fires we have been seeing out West. lion for efforts to restore ecosystems need to undertake to manage these for- To reduce the risk of these dev- on a broader scale in a fashion that ests. astating fires in the short-run, we have will help reduce the vulnerability of It used to be you thought about, well, two basic tools. One is, we reduce the the forests and other ecosystems to when do I want to go out and hike on grass and undergrowth that fuels the fire; $1 billion to help fund wildfire the Pacific Crest Trail? Well, August fire—we sometimes call that mowing— mitigation activities for at-risk com- has the least chance of rain. Now it is and then we do prescribed burns, and munities; $650 million for rehabili- like whatever you do, think twice the second is, we thin the forest. tating areas burned by fires; and $600 about going out in August because you Now, thinning the forest works bet- million to give firefighters the pay will be dodging forest fires. It has hap- ter in some forests than in others. For raises they deserve and to increase the pened to my wife Mary and me a num- ponderosa pine, it works really well. year-round workforce. ber of times now. We planned to hike in You spread out those pine trees. They For years, I have been saying that the southern part of the Pacific Crest would never have grown so close to- one of the problems we have is a big at- Trail, and twice we had to move to the gether. In the old days, when fires reg- trition rate for firefighters. They go northern part. We hiked in the north- ularly swept through, they would kill out for a season, and then the job is ern part twice and had to dodge forest the younger trees. The older trees over, and they have to find other jobs. fires. One time, it was the fire that would survive, widely spaced trees. When they find those other jobs, well, erupted and put the whole Columbia They would burn up the fuel on the they are not there to fight the fire the Gorge on fire. They had fireworks on floor of the forest, and it worked well. next season. Crew bosses are essential. the Fourth of July. Other forests—wetter forests, Douglas You don’t want to lose these experi- Just last year, we were hiking start- fir forests, other types of forests—we enced crew bosses. ing on the Warm Springs Reservation, are still trying to figure out exactly So what is the answer? Well, part of and other hikers said: Hey, did you the best way to do forest management the answer is, let’s create year-round know that there is already a fire on the to reduce fire risk. The Bootleg Fire jobs with decent pay so that when you Warm Springs Reservation—right did show the effect of these types of ef- are not doing firefighting directly, you where we were. Well, the wind was forts. are doing fire prevention by working blowing the other way. We hadn’t Over the last decades, ecologists have on forest management projects, and I smelled the smoke. You are out of cell been working in the Sycan Marsh Pre- think that idea is starting to gain phone range. You are up in the moun- serve. They have been thinning out the some traction. tains. We hadn’t heard that. But it re- forest, and they have been using pre- We also have funding in here to in- flects the fact that you have to worry scribed fires. So they have been reduc- crease the collaborative forest land- now when hiking because the forest is ing the number of ponderosa pines to scape restoration projects, CFLR so vulnerable. It is so dry. It so easily make it a less fire-prone forest. projects. A CFLR collaborative brings turns into a fire that can move very As the Bootleg Fire came into the together the stakeholders from every quickly, especially if there is a wind. preserve, firefighters on the ground re- perspective—from the environmental I have worked to get funding for the port the flames didn’t jump as easily or side, from the timber side, from all National Guard to be able to help fight readily from treetop to treetop; they sides in between—and they work out fires over the last 4 years, including went back to the ground. Going back what they refer to as a prescription for 1,500 members of the Oregon National to the ground, where there had been a specific forest. Guard who have been trained. They prescribed fire, they didn’t burn as They go out, and in the beginning, have been out helping on this Bootleg quickly. The fire moved a lot more when they don’t really have a great Fire, so that is great. We have been slowly, and, in addition, it is easier for trust relationship, they go out to- working to enable FEMA to deliver dis- firefighters to get into the front of the gether, and they will go through the aster assistance more quickly to the fire. acreage and mark the trees. Then later communities impacted by catastrophic So the thinning and burning of the on, as the trust grows, they write the fires. Sycan Marsh Preserve are strong proof prescription, and they know it will get And we have sat to recognize that we of why we need to use these tools, with implemented as they desire, and they need to tackle the issue of smoke. We science-informed adjustments resulting can get a lot more work done. Do you didn’t used to talk about smoke in Or- in the most effective strategies for dif- know what? It means this thinning op- egon, but it was smoke from burning ferent kinds of forests. But, again, eration, this forest treatment oper- our grass seed fields, because the way those strategies may not work as well ation, stays out of the courts. That is to get grass seed very pure was to burn in other types of forests, and we need very important because if we are just fields every year. So we had this haze

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:41 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.043 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5555 throughout the summer. Well, it was Well, we just turned the calendar onto COVID–19 pandemic, when items like very unhelpful to people’s health to be August—August, September, October. ventilation, along with social breathing that smoke. So eventually We had fires starting early in the year, distancing and other infrastructure up- we said: No, no, no, we are not going to as early as March, burning late in the grades, are desperately needed. This is burn the fields in that fashion. year. In California, it is a year-round an easy, no-cost, bipartisan way to But now we have the smoke from the proposition already, and Oregon isn’t help ensure that this package bolsters forest fires, and—wouldn’t you know far behind. infrastructure in Indian Country, be- it—when I was home last weekend, I My fervent hope is that with fires en- cause no infrastructure package would expected to see a lot of smoke. There gulfing Oregon and California and be complete without robust, strategic was a previous moment where I drove Idaho Montana and others, it will be a improvements to Tribal infrastructure. 600 miles during the Labor Day fires wake-up call that we need in this It has the support of the chairman and last year, and I never got out of the Chamber to realize that we have a re- ranking member of the Indian Affairs smoke for 600 miles. This time, I was in sponsibility to act and to act quickly. Committee, which just held a hearing blue skies. And then I looked and saw We have an opportunity to make an on this issue last month, and I urge my that the weather patterns were driving impact, but we have to have the policy colleagues to support it. the smoke from our fires into Montana, knowledge and the political determina- I yield the floor. and it was going up in the jet stream. tion to take that quick action. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- It was swirling around. There was a lot The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ator from Montana. of smoke here in DC from the fires out ator from California. AMENDMENT NO. 2162 West. AMENDMENT NO. 2133 Mr. TESTER. Madam President, Well, so it is a national issue. In fact, Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I thanks for the recognition. I want to I guess the index for air quality in New understand Senator CARPER has al- start by thanking Senator JOHN THUNE York City surged to 157, and anything ready called up the amendment 2133. on this amendment. He and I cospon- above 100 is pretty dangerous. But that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- sored this together. just shows the level of challenge that ator is correct. There is incredible investment in we are addressing. Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, broadband infrastructure in this bill. So we need to tackle the smoke, and thank you for the opportunity to speak For obvious reasons, the pandemic has that is why I am introducing the on this important bipartisan amend- taught us that we need to have better Smoke-Ready Communities Act and ment. I want to thank Senators broadband service if we are going to be the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Dec- LANKFORD, MORAN, ROUNDS, SCHATZ, able to have distance learning, if we laration Act. We need to recognize the FEINSTEIN, and SMITH for joining me in are going to have telehealth, and if we threat not just from the fires but also this effort. are going to have businesses have it the impact of the smoke on commu- Tribal communities face grave and and give them the opportunities to be nities. So we need to have a way to re- unjust disparities in access to all kinds able to expand their customer base. spond and create a national emergency of infrastructure, but the disparities Well, the challenge out there is work- related to it. We need to prepare our and access to healthcare and health in- force, and what this bill will do is it communities to be ready for the frastructure are increasingly stark. will help us better understand how smoke, to have some kind of air-fil- This amendment is very simple. It is many folks are actually going to need tered locations where people with asth- common sense, in my opinion. It is a to be hired to train on this enormous ma and other healthcare conditions technical fix that would allow urban endeavor. It will not only help with can escape and get to clean air when Indian organizations to use the Indian workforce, but it will also help to the air quality drops so dramatically. Health Service funds that they already make sure working conditions are safe And we need to protect our farm receive for infrastructure and facilities and the folks are fairly compensated workers. So I will be introducing the improvements. for a hard day’s work. Farmworker Smoke and Heat Protec- So I want to be clear. This amend- Look, the broadband provisions in tion Act. We lost one of our farm work- ment would not give urban Indian or- this bill are landmark and will create ers due to heat when this heat dome ganizations more funding or take away good-paying jobs not only during the struck Oregon a couple of weeks ago. funding from anybody else. It would building of the infrastructure but also There in Portland, where my house is, simply give them additional flexibility well on for decades and decades past. it was 116 degrees, plus a wind that was to use the funding they already receive We need to make sure every commu- blowing that turned it into a hairdryer. for necessary infrastructure improve- nity is included and nobody is left be- You stepped outside, and you were just ments. hind. This amendment will help us watching the plants just shrivel up. Urban Indian organizations provide achieve those goals. I would encourage And we were fortunate. We converted culturally competent care for over 70 my colleagues to support it. With that, I yield the floor. our gas furnace to a heat pump so that percent of American Indians and Alas- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- we could heat our house with renew- ka Natives who live in urban centers. ator from Delaware. able electricity rather than fossil fuels. Many of those served live in low-in- Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I The side benefit is we got air-condi- come, medically underserved areas. Ac- suggest the absence of a quorum. tioning. So we had air-conditioning for cording to recent congressional testi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the first time. But so many houses in mony from the Indian Health Service, clerk will call the roll. Oregon don’t have it. Think about the ‘‘expanding the current authority to be The legislative clerk proceeded to impact of 116-degree heat in a place consistent with the authority for other call the roll. where it is rare to have a single day government contractors. . . . would Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I ever break 100 degrees during the sum- allow [urban Indian organizations] to ask unanimous consent that the order mer. make renovations, construction, or ex- for the quorum call be rescinded. So we need Federal standards related pansion of facilities necessary to im- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without to smoke. We need to work with the prove the safety and quality of care objection, it is so ordered. Occupational Health and Safety Ad- provided to urban Indian patients.’’ AMENDMENT NO. 2133 ministration to ensure that farm work- In fact, the Deputy Director of the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under ers get the assistance they need to be Indian Health Service went on to state: the previous order, there will now be 2 able to work safely. Providing [urban Indian organizations] minutes of debate, equally divided, I can’t underscore enough the impor- with broader authority . . . to improve prior to a vote in relation to Padilla- tance of us coming together as a nation their health care facilities will assist Moran amendment No. 2133. to tackle these western fires. At this in providing the high quality, safe, and Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I moment, the fire season is just begin- culturally relevant health care for the ask unanimous consent to yield the ning in Oregon. It feels like we have Urban Indian population.’’ time back. been in it forever. It is just July. We This amendment, I believe, is par- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there have August, September, October. ticularly relevant in the midst of the objection?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:33 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.045 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5556 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 Without objection, it is so ordered. In order to reap the benefits of 5G, we Manchin Risch Sullivan Markey Romney Tester VOTE ON AMENDMENT NO 2133 must have a skilled workforce in place . Marshall Rosen Thune The PRESIDING OFFICER. The to deploy the infrastructure necessary McConnell Rounds Tillis question is on agreeing to the amend- to support this new technology. Menendez Sanders Toomey Importantly, 5G technology will re- Merkley Sasse Tuberville ment. Moran Schatz Mr. CARPER. I ask for the yeas and quire not just traditional cell phone Van Hollen Murkowski Schumer Warner Murphy Scott (FL) nays. towers, but small antennas called Warnock Murray Scott (SC) The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a small cells that can often be attached Warren Ossoff Shaheen Whitehouse sufficient second? to existing infrastructure, like utility Padilla Shelby There appears to be a sufficient sec- poles or buildings. Wireless providers Peters Sinema Wicker ond. will need to install roughly 800,000 Portman Smith Wyden Young The clerk will call the roll. small cells around the Nation to sup- Reed Stabenow The legislative clerk called the roll. port this nationwide 5G network. And NAYS—1 Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the some estimates suggest we will need an Paul Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER) additional 20,000 tower climbers alone NOT VOTING—4 is necessarily absent. for installation of this wireless infra- Booker Inhofe Mr. THUNE. The following Senators structure. Graham Rubio are necessarily absent: the Senator In addition, after installation, every The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this from South Carolina (Mr. GRAHAM) and one of these small cells will have to be vote, the yeas are 95, the nays are 1. the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. monitored and maintained, which will Under the previous order requiring 60 INHOFE). require a substantial increase in the votes for the adoption of this amend- The result was announced—yeas 90, telecommunications workforce. ment, the amendment is agreed to. nays 7, as follows: This amendment will help identify The amendment (No. 2162) was agreed [Rollcall Vote No. 291 Leg.] ways in which we can expand the num- to. YEAS—90 ber of workers enrolled in 5G training The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Baldwin Hassan Reed programs and identify ways to grow ator from Virginia. Barrasso Hawley Risch the telecommunications workforce Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I suggest Bennet Heinrich Romney well into the future. the absence of a quorum. Blumenthal Hickenlooper Rosen The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Blunt Hirono Rounds This amendment received unanimous Boozman Hoeven Rubio support by the Commerce Committee clerk will call the roll. Brown Hyde-Smith Sanders earlier this year, and I would encour- The senior assistant legislative clerk Burr Johnson Sasse proceeded to call the roll. age my colleagues here to do the same. Cantwell Kaine Schatz Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I Capito Kelly Schumer The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ask unanimous consent that the order Cardin King Scott (FL) ator from Montana. Carper Klobuchar Scott (SC) for the quorum call be rescinded. Casey Lankford Shaheen Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I want The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Cassidy Leahy Shelby to associate myself with the words of SMITH). Without objection, it is so or- Collins Luja´ n Sinema JOHN THUNE: Listen to THUNE, vote yes. dered. Coons Lummis Smith Cornyn Manchin Stabenow VOTE ON AMENDMENT NO. 2162 AMENDMENT NO. 2180 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2137 Cortez Masto Markey Sullivan The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I Cramer Marshall Tester question is on agreeing to the amend- ask unanimous consent that the fol- Crapo McConnell Thune Cruz Menendez Tillis ment. lowing amendment be called up to the Daines Merkley Toomey Mr. THUNE. I ask for the yeas and substitute and be reported by number. Duckworth Moran Van Hollen nays. No. 1, Barrasso, 2180, which deals with Durbin Murkowski Warner building energy codes; further, that the Ernst Murphy Warnock The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Feinstein Murray Warren sufficient second? Senate vote in relation to the amend- Fischer Ossoff Whitehouse There appears to be a sufficient sec- ment at 7:40 p.m., with no amendments Gillibrand Padilla Wicker ond. in order to the amendment prior to a Grassley Peters Wyden vote in relation to the amendment, Hagerty Portman Young The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk with 60 affirmative votes required for NAYS—7 called the roll. adoption, and 2 minutes of debate di- Blackburn Kennedy Tuberville Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the vided equally prior to the vote. Braun Lee The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER) Cotton Paul objection? NOT VOTING—3 is necessarily absent. Mrs. CAPITO. Madam President, I Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Booker Graham Inhofe would just like to join my chairman are necessarily absent: the Senator The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. and thank him again. This will be our from South Carolina (Mr. GRAHAM), the third amendment of the night. I think HEINRICH). On this vote, the yeas are Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. INHOFE), 90, the nays are 7. it shows good progress for all of us. and the Senator from Florida (Mr. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Under the previous order requiring 60 RUBIO). clerk will report the amendment by votes for the adoption of this amend- The result was announced—yeas 95, number. ment, the amendment is agreed to. nays 1, as follows: The senior assistant legislative clerk The amendment (No. 2133) was agreed [Rollcall Vote No. 292 Leg.] read as follows: to. YEAS—95 The Senator from Delaware [Mr. CARPER], AMENDMENT NO. 2162 ARRASSO Baldwin Coons Hawley for Mr. B , proposes an amendment The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Barrasso Cornyn Heinrich numbered 2180 to amendment No. 2137. the previous order, there will now be 2 Bennet Cortez Masto Hickenlooper The amendment is as follows: minutes of debate, equally divided, Blackburn Cotton Hirono (Purpose: To limit the use of certain funds prior to a vote in relation to the Blumenthal Cramer Hoeven Blunt Crapo Hyde-Smith made available for grants to enable the Thune-Tester amendment, No. 2162. Boozman Cruz Johnson sustained cost-effective implementation of The Senator from South Dakota. Braun Daines Kaine updated building energy codes) Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, amend- Brown Duckworth Kelly In section 309(e) of the Energy Conserva- ment No. 2162 would aim to address the Burr Durbin Kennedy tion and Production Act (as added by section Cantwell Ernst King 40511(a)), strike the closing quotation marks workforce needs of the telecommuni- Capito Feinstein Klobuchar and the following period and insert the fol- cations industry and increase the num- Cardin Fischer Lankford lowing: ber of workers available to deploy 5G Carper Gillibrand Leahy Casey Grassley Lee ‘‘(f) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—None of technology and broadband services to Cassidy Hagerty Luja´ n the funds made available under subsection rural areas across the Nation. Collins Hassan Lummis (e) may be used—

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:33 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.047 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5557 ‘‘(1) to encourage or facilitate the adoption their homes, to cook, and all of those it. They want to use it because they of building codes that restrict or prohibit the things. know the value to them and their fami- direct use of natural gas in residential and And the article points out that Mas- lies and their way of life. They don’t commercial buildings for space heating, sachusetts is emerging as a key battle- want Washington coming in and say- water heating, cooking, or other purposes; or ‘‘(2) to compel the adoption of model build- ground in this U.S. fight over whether ing: No, you can’t do it because we ing energy codes.’’. to phase out natural gas for home know better than you do. cooking and heating, with fears of un- And I hear a lot about that at home Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I known costs. That is what people are in Wyoming—people saying to Wash- suggest the absence of a quorum. concerned about—unknown costs and ington: You don’t know better than we The PRESIDING OFFICER. The unfamiliar technologies fueling much do. We don’t need you telling us. clerk will call the roll. of the opposition as the country is The bill doesn’t say that it is going The senior assistant legislative clerk being encouraged to go all electric. to tell them. We just want to make proceeded to call the roll. So what we are seeing is that more sure that by adopting this amendment, Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I towns around Boston are debating the building codes do not bar the use of ask unanimous consent that the order measures to block or limit the use of natural gas hookups to your home. for the quorum call be rescinded. gas in new construction, and they talk I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without about climate change as a reason for I suggest the absence of a quorum. objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The that. Well, builders and realtors will clerk will call the roll. AMENDMENT NO. 2180 tell you that construction costs go up Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I The legislative clerk proceeded to and the cost of heating and cooking go call the roll. come to the floor today to address the up if you are not allowed to use natural amendment on which we will be voting Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, I gas in the construction. As a matter of ask unanimous consent that the order in the next 15 or 20 minutes. It is the fact, a study by a subsidiary of the Na- Barrasso amendment to No. 2137. It has for the quorum call be rescinded. tional Association of Home Builders, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without to do with building codes in the bill published this year, estimated that objection, it is so ordered. that is on the floor tonight for our dis- building all-electric homes in the cold- cussion and debate, the bipartisan in- AMENDMENT NO. 2180 er climates of Denver, CO, the Rocky Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, I frastructure bill. Mountain West, and Minneapolis—as rise to urge my colleagues to vote There is money in this bill that is part of their study, they say it may against this Barrasso amendment be- being debated today for building codes, cost at least $11,000 more to build those cause there is nothing in the under- and this amendment is quite simple. It than it would if you could allow them lying provision that would in any way is a consumer protection amendment, to be built for the use of gas. promote prohibiting natural gas, and and it just says no money—no money So they are saying: Wait a second. that is what Senator BARRASSO is sug- in this bill—can be used to bar natural Before you drive up the cost of buying gesting is in the bill. gas hookups to your home. You can’t a new home, before you drive up the Now, if it were such as Senator BAR- block commercial use, residential use, cost of cooking and heating your home, RASSO says, I don’t think we would and new constructions. So no money in let’s let people make some decisions have received strong letters of support the bill can be used to restrict or pro- for themselves. They don’t need Wash- for this specific provision from both hibit the direct use of natural gas in ington telling us what we need to do the National Association of Home residential and commercial buildings and what we can do. Builders and the American Gas Asso- in support of it—space heating, water Major cities right now, including San ciation. heating or cooking, and for other pur- Francisco, Seattle, Denver, and New I have the letters right here. I would poses. And you can’t also use money to York, have enacted or proposed meas- actually like to read from the Home compel the adoption of modern build- ures to ban or discourage the use of Builders’ letter. ing energy codes. Those are local deci- natural gas in new homes and in build- The Home Builders support section sions that are made. ings. This is 2 years after Berkeley, one 5101, which was the original section in Why I come to the floor to speak spe- of the most liberal bastions of the the Energy bill as it passed the com- cifically about that is that people all country, passed the first such prohibi- mittee. around the country are very concerned tion in the United States. Cost-Effective codes implementation for about what is in this bill and how it is And, as you can imagine, when these efficiency and resiliency. going to affect them at home and how things are coming out of California, a And this is the important point: they live and their pocketbooks. No State with the highest electricity costs This section promotes technical assistance matter where you are from, people are in the country, a State with ongoing and funding for code adoption while main- saying: How is this going to impact blackouts because of their lack of en- taining the flexibility for state and local me? ergy effectiveness and efficiency and governments to deliver safe, energy efficient, People who are living under the all of the mandates related to energy and affordable housing. times of this massive inflation that and sky-high prices, the efforts have Why would we want to get in the way they are hitting—they are paying more sparked a backlash—no surprise— of what States and communities are al- for groceries, they are paying more for prompting some States to make gas ready doing? gasoline, and now they are looking at, bans illegal. I ask unanimous consent that both of if they come out with building codes So I am coming to the floor with this these letters be printed in the RECORD. There being no objection, the mate- that block natural gas hookups, what amendment to point out that, as we rial was ordered to be printed in the is that going to do to the cost of en- are working on bipartisan legislation RECORD, as follows: ergy to heat their home, to cook, and and there is money in the bill for build- all of those sorts of things? ing codes, no money can be used to pro- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF And for people who are not nec- hibit natural gas hookups to homes, HOME BUILDERS, essarily tuned into this who may be Washington, DC, July 13, 2021. commercial construction, residential, Hon. JOSEPH MANCHIN, Members of this body but who don’t and new construction, because con- Chairman, Senate Energy & Natural Resources think about how so many of the deci- sumers have to have a say in this. Committee, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. sions here impact hard-working Amer- It shouldn’t be government saying: Hon. JOHN BARRASSO, ican families, I come to a story that We know better than you do. We will Ranking Member, Senate Energy & Natural Re- was in this morning’s Wall Street Jour- spend your money. We will make deci- sources Committee, U.S. Senate, Wash- nal. The headline is ‘‘Natural-Gas sions about how you get to spend your ington, DC. DEAR CHAIRMAN MANCHIN AND RANKING Phaseouts Are Facing Resistance.’’ hard-earned money. MEMBER BARRASSO, On behalf of more than And there is a reason they are facing And it is coming from the State of 140,000 members of the National Association resistance. They are facing resistance Wyoming where a significant produc- of Home Builders (NAHB), we write to ex- because people do not want to have to tion of natural gas is affordable, reli- press our strong support for the Energy In- pay more money for energy to heat able, available, and people want to use frastructure Act. This legislation advances

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:33 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A02AU6.040 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5558 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2021 efforts to increase energy efficiency and re- get the American Gas Association, the Cortez Masto Luja´ n Schatz duce greenhouse gas emissions without strin- National Association of Home Builders, Duckworth Manchin Schumer gent energy code mandates that will increase Durbin Markey Shaheen and the energy efficiency advocates all Feinstein Menendez Sinema housing prices for American home buyers. in agreement, and that is the result of Gillibrand Merkley Smith NAHB strongly supports climate change the extensive negotiations that went Hassan Murphy Stabenow programs that recognize and promote vol- Heinrich Murray Tester untary, above-code compliance for energy ef- into this section of the bill that Sen- Hickenlooper Ossoff Van Hollen ficiency programs. There are several pro- ator BARRASSO would overturn. Hirono Padilla Warner grams, certifications, and other options that Now, Energy Chairman MANCHIN Kelly Peters Warnock are incorporated into this legislation that wasn’t able to get here to speak to this King Reed Warren promote verifiable reductions in greenhouse Klobuchar Rosen Whitehouse provision and this amendment, but he Leahy Sanders Wyden gas emissions. Specifically, NAHB supports opposes it. And if he were here, he Section 5101, Cost-effective codes implemen- NOT VOTING—7 would say: ‘‘Let’s not mess with a good tation for efficiency and resiliency. This sec- Blunt Hawley Rubio tion promotes technical assistance and fund- thing.’’ Booker Inhofe ing for code adoption while maintaining the This provision doesn’t ban—it doesn’t Graham Kaine flexibility for state and local governments to even touch natural gas. So I strongly The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this deliver safe, energy efficient, and affordable support the bill as written and urge my vote, the yeas are 45, the nays are 48. housing. colleagues to vote no on this amend- Under the previous order requiring 60 We commend your leadership on this vital ment. votes for the adoption of this amend- legislation and look forward to working as a I yield the floor. partner with all levels of government to en- ment, the amendment is not agreed to. courage energy efficiency. Madam President, I ask unanimous The amendment (No. 2180) was re- Thank you for your consideration on this consent that the vote that is scheduled jected. matter. begin immediately. The Senator from Illinois. Sincerely, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I JAMES W. TOBIN III. objection? suggest the absence of a quorum. -- Seeing none, without objection, it is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, so ordered. clerk will call the roll. July 12, 2020. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under The bill clerk proceeded to call the Hon. JOE MANCHIN III, roll. Chairman, Senate Energy and Natural Re- the previous order, there will now be 2 sources Committee, Washington, DC. minutes of debate, equally divided, Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask Hon. JOHN BARRASSO, prior to a vote in relation to Barrasso unanimous consent that the order for Ranking Member, Senate Energy and Natural amendment No. 2180. the quorum call be rescinded. Resources Committee, Washington, DC. Mr. BARRASSO. I yield back all The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. DEAR CHAIRMAN MANCHIN AND RANKING time. LUJA´ N). Without objection, it is so or- MEMBER BARRASSO: On behalf of the Amer- dered. VOTE ON AMENDMENT NO. 2180 ican Gas Association (AGA), we appreciate AMENDMENT NO. 2181 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2137 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The your Committee’s consideration of the legis- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask lative proposal to address energy infrastruc- question is on agreeing to the amend- unanimous consent that the following ture throughout the country—the Energy In- ment. amendment to the substitute be called frastructure Act. AGA is committed to re- Mr. BARRASSO. I ask for the yeas up and reported by number: Lummis- ducing greenhouse gas emissions through and nays. smart innovation, new and modernized infra- Kelly No. 2181; further, that the Senate The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a structure, and advanced natural gas tech- vote in relation to the amendment on sufficient second? nologies that maintain reliable, resilient, Tuesday, August 3, at 11:45 a.m., with There appears to be a sufficient sec- and affordable energy service choices for no amendments in order to the amend- ond. consumers. With these principles in mind, we ment prior to a vote in relation to the are pleased to support Subtitle B—Hydrogen The clerk will call the roll. amendment, with 60 affirmative votes Research and Development, Section 5002— The bill clerk called the roll. required for adoption and 2 minutes of Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Cap- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the debate equally divided prior to the italization Grant Program, and Section Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER) 5101—Cost-Effective Codes Implementation vote. and the Senator from Virginia (Mr. for Efficiency and Resilience within the En- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without KAINE) are necessarily absent. ergy Infrastructure Act. objection, it is so ordered. AGA, founded in 1918, represents more than Mr. THUNE. The following Senators The clerk will report the amendment 200 local energy companies that deliver clean are necessarily absent: the Senator by number. natural gas throughout the United States. from Missouri (Mr. BLUNT), the Senator The senior assistant legislative clerk Nearly 180 million Americans and 5.5 million from South Carolina (Mr. GRAHAM), the read as follows: businesses use natural gas in all fifty states Senator from Missouri (Mr. HAWLEY), The Senator from New York [Mr. SCHU- utilize natural gas served by an infrastruc- the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. ture base that is unrivaled in the world. MER], for Ms. LUMMIS, proposes an amend- The use of natural gas, in combination INHOFE), and the Senator from Florida ment numbered 2181 to amendment No. 2137. with energy efficiency and renewable gases— (Mr. RUBIO). The amendment is as follows: The result was announced—yeas 45, such as hydrogen—has contributed to U.S. (Purpose: To require the Secretary of Trans- energy-related carbon dioxide emissions de- nays 48, as follows: portation to carry out a highway cost allo- clining to the lowest levels in three decades. [Rollcall Vote No. 293 Leg.] cation study) Furthermore, methane emissions from nat- YEA—45 At the end of subtitle E of title I of divi- ural gas utility distribution systems have sion A, add the following: declined 73 percent since 1990, even as nat- Barrasso Fischer Portman ural gas utility companies added more than Blackburn Grassley Risch SEC. 115ll. HIGHWAY COST ALLOCATION Boozman Hagerty Romney STUDY. 760,000 miles of pipeline and approximately a Braun Hoeven Rounds (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 years customer every minute. Burr Hyde-Smith Sasse after the date of enactment of this Act, the We appreciate the work your Committee is Capito Johnson Scott (FL) Secretary, in coordination with State de- doing to advance legislation that would put Cassidy Kennedy Scott (SC) partments of transportation, shall carry out in place fuel neutral approaches to address- Collins Lankford Shelby a highway cost allocation study to deter- ing the country’s energy infrastructure Cornyn Lee Sullivan mine the direct costs of highway use by var- needs. The natural gas industry has a proven Cotton Lummis Thune Cramer Marshall Tillis ious types of users. track record of reducing emissions through Crapo McConnell Toomey (b) INCLUSIONS.—The study under sub- energy efficiency and innovation, and we Cruz Moran Tuberville section (a) shall include an examination of— look forward to continuing to work with you Daines Murkowski Wicker (1) the Federal costs occasioned in the de- on these important issues. Ernst Paul Young sign, construction, rehabilitation, and main- Sincerely, NAYS—48 tenance of Federal-aid highways by— GEORGE LOWE. Baldwin Brown Carper (A) the use of vehicles of different dimen- Mrs. SHAHEEN. As many of my col- Bennet Cantwell Casey sions, weights, number of axles, and other leagues know, it is unprecedented to Blumenthal Cardin Coons specifications; and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:33 Aug 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A02AU6.045 S02AUPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE August 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5559 (B) the frequency of those vehicles in the Wyoming State Grazing Board. TRIBUTE TO DR. JIM LOGAN traffic stream; Through his work, the wildlife of Wyo- (2) the safety-, emissions-, congestion-, and ming is left more abundant for future Ms. LUMMIS. Mr. President, today I noise-related costs of highway use by various generations. am honored to recognize my good types of users, and other costs as determined friend Dr. Jim Logan, who is being in- As Mark Anderson, current chairman by the Secretary; and ducted into the Wyoming Agriculture of the Wyoming State Grazing Board (3) the proportionate share of the costs de- Hall of Fame. Since the Wyoming Agri- scribed in paragraph (1) that are attributable observed, ‘‘Keith is currently our val- culture Hall of Fame was established in to each class of highway users. ued representative on the Wyoming 1992, 67 agriculture leaders have been (c) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the Board of Directors to the National recognized for their substantial con- study under subsection (a), the Secretary Public Lands Council and he is the tributions to our great State. I speak shall— type of person I would like to have as (1) ensure that the study examines only di- for many when I say Dr. Logan is more a neighbor.’’ rect costs of highway use; than deserving of this distinguished (2) capture the various driving conditions The Hamilton Ranch and Keith honor. He built an outstanding career in different geographic areas of the United would not be as successful as it is in Wyoming and has risen to the high- States; today were it not for his wife, Linda. est ranks of his profession. Beyond his (3) to the maximum extent practicable, Linda has a servant’s heart and has distinguish between costs directly occa- professional success, he exemplifies dedicated her time and efforts to many what it means to be an outstanding sioned by a highway user class and costs oc- events and organizations within the casioned by all highway user classes; and Wyoming citizen. (4) compare the costs occasioned by var- Hyattville community. She served as a founding member of Wyoming Agri- Dr. Logan began his studies at the ious highway user classes with the user fee University of Wyoming in 1969 and con- revenue contributed to the Highway Trust culture in the Classroom as well as on Fund by those highway user classes. their board of directors. She has also tinued his education at Colorado State (d) REPORTS.— served on the board of directors for University earning his doctor of veteri- (1) INTERIM REPORTS.—Not less frequently Northwest College alumni, the nary medicine degree. Upon gradua- than annually during the period during Hyattville Methodist Church, and the tion, he returned home to Riverton, which the Secretary is carrying out the Wyoming Association of Conservation WY, and joined a veterinary medicine study under subsection (a), the Secretary practice. He later opened his own prac- shall submit to Congress an interim report District. Linda held the important role as a spokesperson for conservation dis- tice, and for over 40 years, he gra- on the progress of the study. ciously served his community. During (2) FINAL REPORT.—On completion of the tricts in both State government and study under subsection (a), the Secretary the legislature. Linda leads with a self- that time, he established a strong rep- shall submit to Congress a final report on less volunteerism, a community-based utation among Wyoming’s farmers and the results of the study, including the rec- spirit, and an outstanding work ethic. ranchers. He quickly excelled and be- came a reputable leader in his profes- ommendations under subsection (e). In addition to their involvement in (e) RECOMMENDATIONS.—On completion of sion. civic activities, Keith and Linda Ham- the study under subsection (a), the Sec- After developing extensive knowl- retary, in coordination with the Secretary of ilton’s love and dedication for agri- the Treasury, shall develop recommenda- culture show both in their dedication edge and expertise in his field, he gen- tions for a set of revenue options to fully to organizations, as well as in the im- erously offered many years of service cover the costs occasioned by highway users, provement of operations on their to the State of Wyoming. Dr. Logan including recommendations for— ranch. The Hamilton Ranch was recog- served the Wyoming Livestock Board (1) changes to existing revenue streams; nized as the 1998 Environmental Stew- in many capacities, including as the and ardship Award winner, as well as a Wy- State veterinarian. The agriculture (2) new revenue streams based on user fees. oming Centennial Ranch in 2015. Both community in Wyoming is grateful for f of these reflect the nature of Keith and Dr. Logan’s contributions and his com- TRIBUTE TO KEITH AND LINDA Linda as leaders in agriculture. mitment to health and safety for an in- HAMILTON The Hamiltons were one of four oper- dustry that makes up the very fabric of Wyoming culture. Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, at ations to initially enroll in the Wyo- the 109th Wyoming State Fair, Senator ming Stewardship Program in 1982. As a member of various working LUMMIS and I will have the pleasure of This program opened the door for the groups and regulatory boards, he introducing Keith and Linda Hamilton Hamiltons to work closely with agen- helped address some of the most press- as 2021 inductees to the Wyoming Agri- cies such as Wyoming Game and Fish ing issues affecting our State. He was a culture Hall of Fame. Department, Wyoming Department of central figure in the development of Growing up as the fourth generation Agriculture, Bureau of Land Manage- Wyoming Brucellosis Designated Sur- on the Hamilton Ranch, Keith’s agri- ment, U.S. Forest Service, and Natural veillance Area regulations. With any cultural involvement holds deep roots Resources Conservation Service on im- decision, he constantly kept the best in working to advance agricultural proving ranch operations. The Ham- interest of Wyoming’s livestock pro- leadership and conserve natural re- ilton Ranch continues their involve- ducers in mind. For this, we are thank- sources important to the western life- ment with these agencies today, lead- ful. style. In 1975, Keith joined the Wyo- ing the way for agricultural innovation I would also like to mention that Dr. ming Farm Bureau and began taking and collaboration in Wyoming. Logan has exceeded all expectations in on leadership positions in 1981 as the Keith and Linda are longtime mem- what it means to be a leader in the Big Horn County Farm Bureau vice bers of the Wyoming Wool Growers As- community. His passion for agriculture president. In 1988, Keith joined the Wy- sociation, Wyoming Stock Growers As- has inspired the next generation of oming Farm Bureau Federation board sociation, and past members of the farmers and ranchers. Dr. Logan is a of directors and represented Big Horn, Mountain States Lamb Co-op. proud supporter of 4–H and FFA, serv- Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, and With the Hamilton family’s unwaver- ing as a mentor and instructor to Washakie Counties as the northwest ing commitment to our State, it is young people with a heart for agri- district director until 2010. with great honor to induct them into culture. He has also taken on many In addition to serving the agricul- the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of other leadership responsibilities on tural community through the Wyo- Fame. Keith and Linda Hamilton rep- several State and national industry as- ming Farm Bureau, Keith has been resent the best of Wyoming courage, sociations and committees, including very active in serving on public lands optimism, and the Western Code. They the American Veterinary Medical Asso- boards, wildlife working groups, and have represented Wyoming’s interests ciation, American Sheep Industry As- livestock organizations. Keith has with dedication and distinction for sociation, and the Western States Live- given his time to the Big Horn Basin many years. My wife, Bobbi, joins me stock Health Association. Outside of Sage Grouse Working Group, the Big in congratulating Keith and Linda the agriculture industry, he served as Horn County Predator Management Hamilton as 2021 inductees into the the chairman of the Riverton Memorial Board, and is the past chairman of the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. Hospital Board.

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