Congressional Record — Senate, December 21, 2020, Page S7908
Summary
Page S7908 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for December 21, 2020, in interleaved columns, with Senate remarks on the relief legislation. One speaker recalls the $908 billion bipartisan proposal that addressed vaccine development and distribution and additional rounds of PPP, and says the late-hour process on a multihundred-page document is not a good process, which is that speaker's view. Another speaker discusses the need for a strategic case in the geopolitical contest and for bipartisan solutions. The page ends with a roll call showing 44 nays.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, December 21, 2020, Page S7908.”
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S7908 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 21, 2020
As we have in the past, Americans if we couldn’t come up with a proposal and the insides of each aspect of these
can prevail in this geopolitical and ide- that could kick-start the COVID talks. bills.
ological contest, but doing so will re- We have had an opportunity for But we come here with a process like
quire a new level of strategic initia- many of us to come to the floor to this at a late hour, and we say: This is
tive, organization, and confidence in speak to not only how that came to be one where you need to know that we
who we are and what we stand for. This but the ultimate result, which was a have been working it hard. We have
also means that we must redouble our multihundred-page document, legisla- taken into account all the priorities
efforts in making this strategic case to tion, that totaled $908 billion. But it and considerations on both sides. We
others around the world, particularly addressed everything from vaccine de- worked it back and forth. We worked it
our allies, and we must continue to velopment and distribution to what we with the House, and here we are. But
work on bipartisan solutions that have are going to do to assist our small busi- this is not a good process. We can and
enduring support in this body for dec- nesses with additional rounds of PPP, we must do better with that.
ades to come as it relates to our chal- to extensions to unemployment insur- Now, having said that, I am very
lenges with China. ance, to what we can do with food as- proud of the Interior bill that we have
I yield the floor. sistance, nutrition assistance, and built. I am proud of my staff. We were
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. what more might be done to help with a little bit leaner this year in terms of
BOOZMAN). The Senator from Alaska. rental assistance. It was truly respon- our staffing, but with good leadership,
f sive to the need. led by Emy Lesofski and Nona, as well
Where we are today is having moved as Lucas on the team, we were able to
CORONAVIRUS that conversation and that debate for- do the work that we needed to do and
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, ward, I think, in a constructive, in a in a way that I am proud of and proud
this is the time of year when we all positive way. We are here with a pro- of their efforts.
look forward to wrapping things up, as posal that looks different than what we There is so much that is wrapped up
they say. had produced, but that is the nature of in this bigger, broader bill, and I think
Many around the country, when they what happens in a body where you have it is going to almost be gaspworthy
think about wrapping things up, think to come together to sort out the issues. when you see the 5,000-some-odd pages
about presents that they are going to And what we will have is legislation I am told that we will have.
put under the tree for their family. We that, again, like the CARES Act, is
think about it as closing up business It is not only the appropriations. It is
likely going to be proven imperfect,
for the balance of the year, and that is the COVID bills. It is the water re-
but we have to respond to the situation
really where we are. sources development bill, the WRDA
on the ground, whether it is in Alaska
Hopefully, in a couple hours here, the bill—very, very significant. There are
or whether it is in Arkansas, and we
House will proceed in taking up the good bills from the Indian Affairs Com-
cannot do it too soon. So this is going
omnibus bill, along with the COVID re- mittee that I have participated in,
to be key, and it is going to be critical.
lief package, along with a host of other water bills that we have been working
I am very pleased that legislation
matters that the Congress has been on.
that I had introduced that would ex-
working to address in this past year. tend the coronavirus relief funding— But the one that I want to speak to
I would like to speak this evening for the opportunity for States and local- a little more in detail this evening—
a few moments on the significance of ities and Tribal governments to be able and I was hoping that my ranking
where we are, but I want to start with to spend those funds down. Running up member, Senator MANCHIN, might be
just a story that I just now received against the deadline here of the end of here on the floor, but not yet—but I
from one of my staff people back in this year was a real concern for so wanted to speak about title Z in the
Alaska, and she got a video from the many, and so that has been included as omnibus bill.
medical staff at the Sub-Regional Clin- part of this bigger package, in addition Z, I just imagine that they put it at
ic there at St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s is a to so much that is good. the end because they figured it was the
small community up on the Yukon The carrier for all of this is the Om- best or maybe because they knew that
River, and probably, I would say, 500 nibus appropriations bill. I have been the process that the Energy Act had
people, maybe more, in St. Mary’s. But really pleased to be a member of the gone through had probably been more
it is just a reminder to me that, re- Appropriations Committee. For some rigorous and lengthy than just about
gardless of where you are, hope is com- years now, I have been chairing the Ap- anything out there. But Z we are at.
ing with the vaccine. propriations Interior Subcommittee. I begin my comments with regard to
The comment that she shared is this This is significant, certainly, for our this Energy Act that is contained in
video, a pictorial of the health aides, State, with oversight of our public this bill by acknowledging that I am
the PA—the physician’s assistant—and lands, and also of Native affairs, in- probably speaking on the floor for the
personnel getting their COVID shots. cluding the EPA. It is a pretty broad last time as the chairman of the En-
It was 13 degrees out. And the mobile portfolio. ergy and Natural Resources Committee
office where the vaccine was adminis- We have been working on this duti- because I have hit my limit, if you will.
tered was inside a chartered Cessna 208 fully as a subcommittee all year—all I have had the honor and the privilege
Caravan sitting on the airport tarmac year. I certainly wish that I had had to be both the chairman and the rank-
there in St. Mary’s. After the shot, she the opportunity to be able to bring my ing member on the Energy and Natural
and her staff hung out in their heated bill—our bill—to the floor for full de- Resources Committee now for a total
trucks for about a half an hour to see bate by all Members, and then we could of 12 years, which is pretty good.
if they had any allergic reactions. move to the Ag bill, to the T-HUD bill, It is pretty good to be in a position
When none showed signs, the Caravan to the Defense bill—do them all sepa- to be able to advance legislative policy.
took off to the next village airport. rately. I have been very, very fortunate to
It is just an example that no matter But for a host of different reasons— work with great members. Senator
where you are, how remote you may most of them all come back to poli- Bingaman was the chairman when I
be, the logistics that may be required tics—unfortunately, we have not been was his ranking and, of course, I was
to provide for this hope that comes by able to do that. That is something that with Senator WYDEN as the ranking
way of the vaccine. I regret. That is something that I member when he was chairman. I have
People around the country are hope- would hope that we, as Members of the had the great privilege to work with
ful. Our job now, as we wrap up, is to Senate, can say: We can do better. Senator CANTWELL when I was the
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make sure that we deliver this relief We pledge to do it better every year. chairman and now Senator MANCHIN. I
quickly. We put our colleagues in a heck of a think about these past 2 years and
I mention the COVID relief. I have spot. Not all of us are on the Appro- what we have been able to accomplish
been fortunate to be teaming with a bi- priations Committee. Not all of us have and just kind of the recap of where we
partisan, bicameral group of law- the privilege to be a chairman or a have been and how productive we have
makers for the past 5 or 6 weeks to see ranking member and know the guts been as a panel.
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December 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7909
We started this Congress with pas- icy, so it was worth working on. I kept and the ranking member, FRANK
sage of the John D. Dingell, Jr., Con- saying: Don’t count us out. Don’t write LUCAS. We could not have reached an
servation, Management, and Recre- us off. agreement without their leadership
ation Act. This is a bipartisan package Over the past few months, we found and their willingness to work together.
of more than 120 different measures fo- that opening. We worked with really I also want to acknowledge and
cused on public lands, natural re- good partners over on the House side thank Leader MCCONNELL and Senator
sources, and water. over at Energy and Commerce and the SCHUMER for agreeing to work with us
We had worked on a lands package House Science, Space, and Technology and help us secure this opening and
throughout the last several months of Committee, and we wrote what we have this commitment.
2018. I want to give former Ranking called simply the Energy Act of 2020— I can’t remember how many times
Member CANTWELL a real big shout-out pretty simple, pretty beautiful, in my Leader MCCONNELL had said: You
here because her leadership was very opinion. know, LISA, you are probably going to
key in that process. We weren’t able to But our Energy Act is included now figure out a way to pull a rabbit out of
get it across the finish line at the end as division Z in the year-end omnibus. the hat here. And I don’t know if this
of the last Congress, but we reintro- It provides for reforms and new au- is a rabbit out of the hat, but I think
duced it in January of 2019. We passed thorities related to a range of emerging persistence certainly has paid off. So I
it through the Senate in February, and technologies, including advanced nu- want to thank the teams who really
the President signed it into law in clear; carbon capture, utilization, and helped to make this happen.
March. That was a pretty good start— storage; carbon removal; renewables; In addition to a good energy bill, the
120 bipartisan bills. and energy storage. It reauthorizes year-end omnibus also includes the bi-
These were bills, when you think programs that many of us are sup- partisan water package featuring nine
about it, that related to national portive of and want to advance: Weath- provisions that are important to West-
parks, to forests, to sportsmen’s ac- erization Assistance and ARPA-E. It ern States, such as Colorado, Montana,
cess. We delivered on the Federal Gov- features the bulk of my language re- and Arizona. Lane Dickson on my En-
ernment’s promises to Alaska Natives lated to critical minerals and mate- ergy Committee staff was fabulous
who served during the Vietnam war. rials to help us rebuild our domestic there. We added a few more lands bills
We permanently reauthorized the Land supply chains, which we know are so into the final package. Lucy and Annie
and Water Conservation Fund, and we critical. It reflects our strong commit- helped us on that. We really have
provided new authorities to help pro- ment to cleaner energy to help us ad- worked to advance so much out of the
tect from natural hazards such as vol- dress climate change without raising committee.
canic eruptions. I will note that the the cost of energy or imposing divisive All of these accomplishments—our
Kilauea just erupted on the Big Island mandates. lands package, our energy package, our
of Hawaii. I believe it was yesterday or So I would suggest to the Presiding water package, the lands bills that we
the day before. So it is important to be Officer that this Energy bill is just the tried to add to everything that moved
addressing our natural hazards. perfect bookend for this Congress. and occasionally passed by UC, and
We did that at the beginning of the What started as a major lands package measures I haven’t spoken to, includ-
Congress. Then Senator MANCHIN and I is now going to end with a major en- ing the Great American Outdoors Act—
set our sights on something that hadn’t ergy package. Again, as I mentioned, it these are all the hallmarks of a highly
been done in a long time, and that was has been since 2007. It is the first En- productive Congress and the Senate
modernization of our Nation’s energy ergy bill—the energy side of the En- Energy and Natural Resources Com-
policies to make real reforms and bring ergy and Natural Resources Com- mittee. I am pleased to have been able
them in line with our current chal- mittee—the first Energy bill in almost to shepherd these measures into law.
lenges and our opportunities. So we 13 years. It was President George W. But what I am proud of—more than
started with some very broad—very Bush who signed the last one on De- any piece of legislation, more than
broad-based—hearings and then took a cember 19, 2007. anything out there in the time that I
very specific and deep dive into some of So I want to thank Ranking Member have been able to lead this committee,
the issues and the technologies. MANCHIN for his leadership on the en- what I am most proud of is the bipar-
Then we started moving bills. We ergy package, as well as all of the com- tisan way in which this committee has
were negotiating and we were reporting mittee members who contributed to it. operated. Our commitment to biparti-
dozens of bills as part of our regular We had great help within our com- sanship has produced continually good
order committee process. Knowing how mittee. We had great help within this results for our country.
things work around here, we knew we body. At last count we were looking at What I found as ranking member and
weren’t going to be able to move them input and contributions from some 70 now as chairman is that there is sim-
each individually as stand-alone bills, different Members. ply no substitute for working together
so we wrapped them up into a broader I also want to acknowledge the ex- and across party lines to find agree-
bill. We called it the American Energy traordinary work of the staffs. I had ment wherever it is possible.
Innovation Act. the opportunity to give a tribute to my So I thank Senator MANCHIN for fol-
We brought that bill to the floor in staff director, Brian Hughes, who is lowing that same approach, to our
February. We were going just great. We leaving after many years on the com- committee colleagues for their own bi-
were working through, and it was kind mittee. He did a fabulous job of advanc- partisanship and collegiality, to our
of nice, again, to be the first bill on the ing this, as did Spencer Nelson, Pat House colleagues who have helped us
floor when we began our legislative McCormick, Annie Hoefler, Lucy with that.
business. And we stalled out. We were Murfitt. There were so many others. I see that my friend from the great
interrupted. We were taken off the That team was extraordinary. State of Washington and Pacific North-
track by an unrelated dispute over a But they were joined by an extraor- west is here, and I want Senator CANT-
measure that is jurisdictional to an- dinary team that Senator MANCHIN WELL to know that as I have spoken of
other committee, and this was just at had, led by his staff director, Renae the accomplishments of the Energy and
the start of the global coronavirus pan- Black, and other individuals there who Natural Resources Committee, I am
demic. really helped us advance this—Sam very thankful and appreciative of her
But I said: We are not done. We are Fowler and so many. We can’t thank leadership and what she has provided
not stopping just because we hit a them enough. over the years. Working together with
roadblock here. We are going to keep I also want to really give sincere her team, we have accomplished good
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working. thanks to our House partners because things for the right reasons.
We kept working. We kept working, they were this ‘‘six corner’’ working I yield the floor.
and we kept looking for a way to pass group here: FRANK PALLONE, the chair- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
the first major Energy bill since 2007— man at Energy and Commerce and the ator from Washington is recognized.
and 2007 is a long time that we hadn’t ranking member, GREG WALDEN; the Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, if I
updated and reworked our energy pol- Science chairwoman, BERNICE JOHNSON, can just congratulate my colleague
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S7910 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 21, 2020
from Alaska and the ranking member, NAYS—46 NOT VOTING—6
Senator MANCHIN, for their great work Baldwin Heinrich Sanders Enzi Loeffler Perdue
of getting these energy provisions that Bennet Hirono Schatz Harris Manchin Rounds
Blumenthal Jones Schumer
have been—I don’t know how many Booker Kaine The motion was agreed to.
Shaheen
Members, but I am sure just about Brown Kelly Sinema CLOTURE MOTION
every Member in our body has had Cantwell King Smith The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant
something to do with it and a lot of ac- Cardin Klobuchar Stabenow
Carper Leahy Tester to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the
tual individual legislation. So this was Casey Markey Senate the pending cloture motion,
Udall
a long effort by our colleague, the Coons Menendez
Van Hollen which the clerk will state.
chair of the committee, and I thank Cortez Masto Merkley
Duckworth Warner The senior assistant legislative clerk
Murphy
her for her diligence on this. She has Warren
Durbin Murray read as follows:
had many of us up to Alaska to look at Feinstein Peters Whitehouse
Wyden CLOTURE MOTION
hydropower and alternative resources Gillibrand Reed
and how their grid needs better Hassan Rosen We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
connectivity and products that can NOT VOTING—6 ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
withstand and provide energy in sub- Enzi Loeffler Perdue move to bring to a close debate on the nomi-
zero weather and all sorts of challenges Harris Manchin Rounds
nation of Eric J. Soskin, of Virginia, to be
that they face. The motion was agreed to. Inspector General, Department of Transpor-
But, clearly, these tools that will be The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- tation.
in this legislation will move us for- jority leader is recognized. Mitch McConnell, Lamar Alexander,
ward. So thank you and thanks to Sen- Rick Scott, Tom Cotton, Mike Crapo,
MOTION TO RECONSIDER
ator MANCHIN for working so diligently Cory Gardner, Ron Johnson, James
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Lankford, Roger F. Wicker, Marco
to get this finally over the goal line. It move to reconsider the vote for which Rubio, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Thom Tillis,
is a big moment. Thank you. cloture was not invoked on the nomi- Shelley Moore Capito, John Boozman,
I yield the floor. nation of Eric J. Soskin, and I ask for Joni Ernst, Mike Braun, Pat Roberts.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan-
jority leader is recognized. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a imous consent, the mandatory quorum
f sufficient second? call has been waived.
There appears to be a sufficient sec- The question is, Is it the sense of the
EXECUTIVE SESSION ond. Senate that debate on the nomination
The clerk will call the roll. of Eric J. Soskin, of Virginia, to be In-
The bill clerk called the roll. spector General, Department of Trans-
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—MOTION Mr. THUNE. The following Senators portation, shall be brought to a close?
TO PROCEED are necessarily absent: the Senator The yeas and nays are mandatory
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I from Wyoming (Mr. ENZI), the Senator under the rule.
move to proceed to the motion to re- from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER), the The clerk will call the roll.
consider the vote by which cloture was Senator from Georgia (Mr. PERDUE), The senior assistant legislative clerk
not invoked on the nomination of Eric and the Senator from South Dakota called the roll.
J. Soskin. (Mr. ROUNDS). Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
I ask for the yeas and nays. Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the are necessarily absent: the Senator
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) from Wyoming (Mr. ENZI), the Senator
sufficient second? and the Senator from West Virginia from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER), the
There appears to be a sufficient sec- (Mr. MANCHIN) are necessarily absent. Senator from Georgia (Mr. PERDUE),
ond. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there and the Senator from South Dakota
The clerk will call the roll. any other Senators in the Chamber de- (Mr. ROUNDS).
The legislative clerk called the roll. siring to vote? Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
Mr. THUNE. The following Senators The result was announced—yeas 48, Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS),
are necessarily absent: the Senator nays 46, as follows: the Senator from Virginia (Mr. KAINE),
from Wyoming (Mr. ENZI), the Senator [Rollcall Vote No. 286 Ex.] the Senator from West Virginia (Mr.
from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER), the YEAS—48 MANCHIN), and the Senator from
Senator from Georgia (Mr. PERDUE), Alexander Ernst Paul Vermont (Mr. SANDERS) are necessarily
and the Senator from South Dakota Barrasso Fischer Portman absent.
(Mr. ROUNDS). Blackburn Gardner Risch
Blunt Graham Roberts
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Boozman Grassley Romney any other Senators in the Chamber de-
Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) Braun Hawley Rubio siring to vote?
and the Senator from West Virginia Burr Hoeven Sasse The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 48,
(Mr. MANCHIN) are necessarily absent. Capito Hyde-Smith Scott (FL)
Cassidy Inhofe Scott (SC) nays 44, as follows:
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there Collins Johnson Shelby [Rollcall Vote No. 287 Ex.]
any other Senators in the Chamber de- Cornyn Kennedy Sullivan
YEAS—48
siring to vote? Cotton Lankford Thune
Cramer Lee Tillis Alexander Ernst Paul
The result was announced—yeas 48, Crapo McConnell Toomey Barrasso Fischer Portman
nays 46, as follows: Cruz Moran Wicker Blackburn Gardner Risch
[Rollcall Vote No. 285 Leg.] Daines Murkowski Young Blunt Graham Roberts
Boozman Grassley Romney
YEAS—48 NAYS—46 Braun Hawley Rubio
Alexander Ernst Paul Baldwin Heinrich Sanders Burr Hoeven Sasse
Barrasso Fischer Portman Bennet Hirono Schatz Capito Hyde-Smith Scott (FL)
Blackburn Gardner Risch Blumenthal Jones Schumer Cassidy Inhofe Scott (SC)
Blunt Graham Roberts Booker Kaine Shaheen Collins Johnson Shelby
Boozman Grassley Romney Brown Kelly Sinema Cornyn Kennedy Sullivan
Braun Hawley Rubio Cantwell King Cotton Lankford Thune
Smith
Burr Hoeven Sasse Cardin Klobuchar Cramer Lee Tillis
Stabenow
Capito Hyde-Smith Scott (FL) Carper Leahy Crapo McConnell Toomey
Tester
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Cassidy Inhofe Scott (SC) Casey Markey Cruz Moran Wicker
Udall Daines Murkowski Young
Collins Johnson Shelby Coons Menendez
Van Hollen
Cornyn Kennedy Sullivan Cortez Masto Merkley
Cotton Lankford Thune Duckworth Murphy
Warner NAYS—44
Cramer Lee Tillis Durbin Murray Warren Baldwin Brown Casey
Crapo McConnell Toomey Feinstein Peters Whitehouse Bennet Cantwell Coons
Cruz Moran Wicker Gillibrand Reed Wyden Blumenthal Cardin Cortez Masto
Daines Murkowski Young Hassan Rosen Booker Carper Duckworth
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