Agriculture (Cong. Rec., Feb. 25, 2021)
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated February 25, 2021, at page S876. A tribute to Julie Adams says tomorrow is her last day, that it is customary to have a new Secretary of the Senate when there is a change in party control, and that staff and Senators on both sides trust her. Mr. Thune asks unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. Under the heading Agriculture, a senator discusses relief for farmers and ranchers in the CARES Act, the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, the Paycheck Protection for Producers Act and the Soil Health and Income Protection Program, which lets farmers take their lowest performing croplands out of production for 3 to 5 years. The senator also describes the Adopt GREET Act, introduced with Senator Klobuchar, and cites a Harvard study finding ethanol is 46 percent cleaner than gasoline.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Agriculture (Cong. Rec., Feb. 25, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-02-25-crec-2021-02-25-pt1-pgs876-028e153eac/
, SHA-256 75c58e81b8ce2a1a7435103f5bcbe495f53f3f45667bd8ac084f80963d0809cb.Full text
S876 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 25, 2021
Julie rapidly won the admiration, af- ranchers and farmers and ranchers Senator BALDWIN and I have contin-
fection, and trust of the men and across the country. ued to engage with the Treasury De-
women under the Secretary’s umbrella. One huge priority for me over the partment and the Small Business Ad-
She has championed the professionals past year has been making sure agri- ministration to ensure that the Pay-
who make this place go. She empow- culture producers have the support check Protection Program is working
ered them. She stuck up for them and they need to weather this pandemic. properly for farmers and ranchers. For
made sure they were properly insulated During debate on the CARES Act—our example, we recently led a bipartisan
from political pressure. largest coronavirus relief bill to date— letter urging a broader implementation
Everyone knows Julie puts this insti- I fought to make sure we included re- of our Paycheck Protection for Pro-
tution and its rules first. Staff trust lief for farmers and ranchers, and I fol- ducers Act to ensure that farmers and
her. Senators on both sides trust her. lowed up by advocating for cattle pro- ranchers who are organized as partner-
Leaders across other branches of gov- ducers with the Department of Agri- ships or limited liability companies are
ernment trust her. She plays every- culture to make sure they would re- allowed to apply for Paycheck Protec-
thing down the middle with total in- ceive funds. tion Program loans by using this more
tegrity. I also worked to ensure that addi- favorable gross income formula, as was
And amid all of this, she maintained tional relief for farmers and ranchers intended.
the generous spirit that everyone ad- was included in the COVID legislation These issues are front of mind for ag
mires. Whether she is delivering offi- that we passed in December. The producers in my State, and, last week,
cial Senate correspondence to the Chief Coronavirus Food Assistance Program I had the opportunity to discuss many
Justice of the Supreme Court or the that the USDA established to dis- of them in person with representatives
Secretary of State or checking in with tribute funding, included in the CARES of the South Dakota Corn Growers As-
a Senate employee on a birthday or Act, has distributed billions in direct sociation, which represents and advo-
during a tough personal time, everyone support to agriculture producers, cates for corn farmers in South Da-
gets the same friendly ‘‘hello’’ and sin- which has been key in helping them kota. Another thing we spent a lot of
cere kindness from Julie Adams. weather this pandemic. time talking about was biofuels. In ad-
Alas, it is customary to have a new Now that Secretary Vilsack has been dition to helping to feed our Nation,
Secretary of the Senate when there is a confirmed, I urge him to lift the Biden corn and soybean farmers provide es-
change in party control. Tomorrow is administration’s freeze on part of this sential feedstocks for biofuels, like
Julie’s last day. I am really, really important program and distribute the ethanol and biodiesel, which provide an
sorry to say good-bye to such a key additional funding from the December important source of cleaner energy. I
player. relief package as soon as possible. I have long been an advocate for biofuels
So on behalf of the whole Senate, I also urge the Department of Agri- for their clean energy potential and the
want to thank Julie’s proud parents, culture to use its authority to provide benefits they offer to the agriculture
Dr. Harold and Leah Adams; her sib- assistance to agriculture processors industry.
lings, John and Jessica; and her be- like the biofuels industry. When I met with Secretary Vilsack,
loved canine companion Maggie for During my meeting with Secretary he committed to working with me to
sharing this great friend and essential Vilsack prior to his confirmation, we promote ethanol as a form of clean en-
colleague with us for many years. spent time discussing my Soil Health ergy—a commitment he echoed at his
Julie, you made your family proud, and Income Protection Program, which confirmation hearing.
you made me proud, and, most impor- became law as part of the 2018 farm I recently introduced two bipartisan
tantly, you have been a great credit to bill. That program, the SHIPP pro- pieces of legislation to support the in-
this institution. Thank you, sincerely, gram, allows farmers to take their low- creased use of biofuels and emphasize
for your service. est performing croplands out of produc- their clean energy potential. The
I suggest the absence of a quorum. tion for 3 to 5 years. This benefits the Adopt GREET Act, which I introduced
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The environment by increasing soil health with Senator KLOBUCHAR, would re-
clerk will call the roll. and water quality, and it benefits farm- quire the Environmental Protection
The legislative clerk proceeded to ers by providing them with a rental Agency to update its greenhouse gas
call the roll. payment for the acres they have tem- modeling for ethanol and biodiesel by
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask porarily removed from production. using the U.S. Department of Energy’s
unanimous consent that the order for I will continue to urge Secretary GREET model. A recent Harvard study
the quorum call be rescinded. Vilsack to expand farmers’ access to found that ethanol is 46 percent cleaner
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without SHIPP by holding another signup this than gasoline, with some technologies
objection, it is so ordered. year. I will also continue to urge him reducing life-cycle emissions by as
f to address another priority I brought much as 61 percent. These findings un-
up in our meeting, and that is the No- derscore how biofuels can reduce emis-
AGRICULTURE vember 1 haying and grazing date for sions in the near term using our Na-
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, on Tues- cover crops on prevented plant acres, tion’s existing vehicles. Currently,
day, the Senate confirmed Tom which is too late in the year for farm- however, the EPA’s modeling does not
Vilsack as the Secretary of Agri- ers in more northern States like South fully recognize the tremendous emis-
culture. It is a role he is familiar with, Dakota. sions-reducing potential of ethanol and
having previously served as Agri- As I said, one of my top priorities has other biofuels. The Adopt GREET Act
culture Secretary under President been making sure farmers and ranchers would fix this problem and pave the
Obama. I voted in support of his nomi- have the support they need during the way for increased biofuel use both here
nation because I believe he understands pandemic. When it became clear that and abroad.
the issues facing farmers and ranchers farmers and ranchers were largely I also introduced a bill to advance
and is sincere in his desire to work missing out on the Paycheck Protec- long-stalled biofuel registrations with
with Members of Congress on both tion Program that Congress had set up the EPA. Regulatory inaction has sti-
sides of the aisle to support our Na- to help small businesses weather the fled the advancement of promising
tion’s agriculture producers. pandemic, Senator BALDWIN and I in- technologies, like ethanol derived from
Agriculture is the lifeblood of my troduced legislation to allow more corn kernel fiber, even though some of
home State of South Dakota, and farmers and ranchers to access the pro- these fuels are already being safely
fighting for farmers and ranchers is gram by allowing them to use their used in States like California. My bill
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
one of my top priorities here in the gross incomes rather than their net in- would speed up the approval process for
Senate. I am very pleased to, once comes to determine their loan awards. these innovative biofuels. This would
again, serve on the Senate Agriculture Our Paycheck Protection for Producers allow biofuel producers to capitalize on
Committee in this Congress, which Act became law as part of the the research and facility investments
gives me an important platform to ad- coronavirus relief bill that Congress they have made and improve their op-
vocate for South Dakota farmers and passed in December. erating margins while further lowering
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:14 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25FE6.005 S25FEPT1
February 25, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S877
emissions and helping our Nation’s Granholm secured bipartisan support closely on these efforts when she leads
corn and soybean producers by rein- to establish the 21st Century Jobs the Department of Energy.
forcing this essential market. Fund, which leveraged funding to di- During her nomination hearing, Gov-
The pandemic has highlighted vul- versify Michigan’s economy, create ernor Granholm also said that she
nerabilities in our Nation’s food supply jobs in clean energy by attracting new didn’t want to see anyone lose their job
chain, especially when it comes to business investments, and put Michi- or get left behind. Yet this is exactly
meat processing capacity. Too much of gan on a better path. what the Biden administration is doing
our Nation’s processing capacity is Those are the kinds of actions and in- to thousands of American energy work-
concentrated in a handful of facilities, vestments that I look forward to work- ers.
leaving our meat supply vulnerable if a ing closely with Secretary-designate On Inauguration Day, the President
problem like a coronavirus outbreak Granholm on in the coming months spoke of unity and bringing our Nation
occurs at one of these plants. and in the coming years, and it is clear back together. Once he arrived at the
I recently introduced the Strength- that she also recognizes what must be White House, however, he threw that
ening Local Processing Act with Sen- done to advance our Nation’s energy rhetoric out the window, picked up his
ator MERKLEY. Our legislation would interests, because she has already pen, and started signing radical Execu-
help expand national meat processing achieved results in Michigan. tive orders.
capacity by providing new resources If we are going to build back better, His orders to ban oil, gas, and coal
for smaller, more local meat processing we must do so in a sustainable, for- leasing on Federal lands and to kill the
operations. Spreading out and expand- ward-thinking way that addresses cli- Keystone XL Pipeline will throw thou-
ing our Nation’s meat processing ca- mate change. That is something Presi- sands of Americans out of work. These
pacity over more plants will make our dent Biden’s administration is com- workers’ livelihoods are being sac-
Nation’s meat supply less vulnerable to mitted to doing, and I know Secretary rificed in the name of the Biden agen-
interruption in situations like the Granholm is as well. I could not be da. Leaders in the administration are
coronavirus pandemic or natural disas- more excited to say that we will have telling these oil rig and coal mine and
ters and provide livestock producers a fellow Michigander leading the De- pipeline workers that they can simply
with more marketing options. partment of Energy, and I urge all of get new jobs building solar panels.
I am proud to represent South Dako- my colleagues to support her confirma- Actually, John Kerry said that the
ta’s farmers and ranchers here in Con- tion. Biden administration policies will give
gress, and I will continue to do every- I yield the floor. these workers better choices. In 2019,
thing I can to ensure that all of our Na- f the average salary of a solar panel
tion’s farmers and ranchers have the technician was about $30,000 a year less
support they need to weather the rest EXECUTIVE SESSION than the average salary of a worker in
of this pandemic and to continue feed- the gas, oil, and coal industry. So John
ing our Nation and the world. EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Kerry flies around the world, private
I yield the floor. jet, but is asking American energy
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. workers to each take $30,000 a year less
ator from Michigan. SCHATZ). The clerk will report the in income. And that is if these green
nomination. energy jobs even exist.
f
The bill clerk read the nomination of To that point, the Washington Post
NOMINATION OF JENNIFER Jennifer Mulhern Granholm, of Michi- Fact Checker took a look at what John
MULHERN GRANHOLM gan, to be Secretary of Energy. Kerry had said, and they said he was
Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I am The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- offering ‘‘false hope with a misleading
proud to stand today in support of Jen- ator from Wyoming. use of statistics.’’
nifer Granholm’s nomination to be the Mr. BARRASSO. I ask unanimous Look, we have heard it all before.
next Secretary of Energy. consent that the Senator from West When President Biden was Vice Presi-
I have known Secretary-designate Virginia and I both be allowed to com- dent, the Obama administration prom-
Granholm for many years, and I served plete our remarks before moving to the ised thousands of green energy jobs—
in her administration while she was rollcall vote. jobs that never materialized. Millions
Governor. There is no question she is The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without of taxpayer dollars were wasted on
uniquely qualified to serve as Sec- objection, it is so ordered. green energy companies that went
retary of Energy. As the Governor of NOMINATION OF JENNIFER MULHERN GRANHOLM belly-up.
Michigan, she led our State through an Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, when Now the ‘‘Solyndra Syndrome’’ has
economic crisis. She knows how to deal Governor Granholm came before the returned. The Washington Post Fact
with multifaceted challenges and has a Energy and Natural Resources Com- Checker said it expects just a little
documented record of strong leader- mittee for her nomination hearing, she over 10,000 new wind and solar jobs over
ship. said she was committed to American the next 10 years.
During her confirmation hearing, energy dominance. She stated she un- In Wyoming alone, the long-term
Jennifer Granholm outlined three key derstood the importance of having a leasing ban would result in 33,000 work-
missions that she wants to prioritize in broad energy mix and supporting en- ers losing their jobs. And where are
her new role: one, strengthening na- ergy innovation. these Wyoming workers supposed to
tional security, particularly on nuclear Now, I asked her if it was a good go?
nonproliferation through the National thing that the United States is the Hundreds of thousands more workers
Nuclear Security Administration; two, world’s leading producer of oil and nat- are going to lose their jobs in New
supporting the research and develop- ural gas, and she said it was. I asked Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and other
ment at scientific research facilities her if low energy prices and high-pay- States. How will they provide for their
all across our Nation; and, three, uti- ing American energy jobs were good families?
lizing that research to create new, things, and she agreed that they were. The Biden ban won’t just hurt work-
good-paying jobs for Americans. All of And when I asked her if America ex- ers; it is going to hurt kids too. A long-
these issues are issues that Jennifer porting its energy influence around the term leasing ban is going to eliminate
Granholm has been focused on through- globe was a good thing, she again af- hundreds of millions of dollars in State
out her entire career. firmed that it was. She has dem- revenue—the dollars which go for es-
As Governor, she worked to support onstrated that she is dedicated to sup- sential services, for public schools, for
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
groundbreaking research that is con- porting carbon capture, nuclear power, roads, bridges, and hospitals. A long-
ducted at Michigan’s world-class insti- and American uranium production. term leasing ban is going to hurt
tutions—research that is constantly For these reasons, she cleared our teachers, students, and the commu-
leading to new discoveries that will committee with broad bipartisan sup- nities they call home.
change the world to create jobs and port and will soon be confirmed by the America needs all the energy—the
save lives. As Governor, Jennifer Senate. I expect we will work together oil, the gas, the coal, the uranium, the
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:14 Feb 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25FE6.012 S25FEPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2021-02-25_crec-2021-02-25-pt1-pgs876.pdf
- Size
- 223,150 bytes
- SHA-256
- 75c58e81b8ce2a1a7435103f5bcbe495f53f3f45667bd8ac084f80963d0809cb
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov