Morning Business (Cong. Rec., May 27, 2021)
Summary
This is S3876 of the Congressional Record, Senate, May 27, 2021, with interleaved columns of morning business remarks. One Senator, whose name is not printed in the text read, speaks about the Endless Frontier Act, saying that advanced energy technologies are already defined in law and that the bill's energy provisions are an important element of competition with China. Another speaker says that policy changes on supply chains and competitiveness will not matter if the United States loses its military edge over China, and says that an administration budget would reduce military spending after inflation, with the views attributed to the speakers.
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“Morning Business (Cong. Rec., May 27, 2021).”
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S3876 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 27, 2021
and related technologies that result in cently, we were respectful of our col- members of a New Middle Kingdom led
significant energy savings.’’ Again, im- leagues in the minority, and there was by China. As a result of the long twi-
portant. an agreement essentially about a one- light struggle with the Soviet Union,
And it also says ‘‘that enhances the for-one, domestic programs increasing we also know what works: maintaining
energy independence and security of and the military budget is going to in- peace through strength, promoting free
the United States by enabling im- crease by about the same amount. That markets and free people at home, and
proved or expanded supply and produc- is what we all agreed on here. That is having the confidence in George
tion of domestic energy resources, in- what we worked on here. Now, it looks Kennan’s insights when he set forth the
cluding coal, oil, and natural gas.’’ like it is going to be 16-for-1 or maybe strategy of containment in the late for-
That is in the definition of advanced even worse. This is something we real- ties to deal with the Soviet Union—
energy technologies, and that is the ly need to focus on. that the Chinese Communist Party,
definition that was passed two Con- Make no mistake, we can talk about like the Soviet Communist Party, like-
gresses ago, unanimously, and that is supply chains, intellectual property, ly bears within it the seeds of its own
why it has not been defined here be- competitiveness, which is what we are decay. While democracies are resilient,
cause it has already been defined in talking about here with this legisla- adaptive, and self-renewing, there are
this. tion. These are all important topics. many vulnerabilities embedded in Chi-
Congress is very clear on what ad- But all the policy changes that we are nese’s perceived strength.
vanced energy technology means in the debating here right now are not going One-man rule creates acute political
Endless Frontier Act. That is a huge to amount to much in our overall com- risks. Historical grievance can bring
comparative advantage, as I men- petition with respect to China if we violent nationalism. State-directed
tioned, oil, gas, renewables. And that is lose our military edge with respect to economic growth can produce massive
an important element of this legisla- China. overcapacity and mountains of debt,
tion in our competition with China, Unfortunately, some of my col- and the gradual snuffing out of freedom
and I am glad that is recognized. leagues just don’t recognize that or
One final area of what, again, the that we are literally seeing daily in
don’t want to recognize that. Soft places like Hong Kong sends fear
current administration’s National Se-
power isn’t much good without hard throughout the entire region.
curity Advisor called a situation of
power to back it up. We learned that China’s budding military power and
strength relative to China, and that, of
lesson before. It has been a painful les- historical view of itself as a natural
course, is our military. To be honest,
son, if you look at our history. and cultural superior to many others is
this is where I am worried. But the Chinese Communist Party
The second term of the Obama-Biden beginning to alarm neighboring states,
certainly appears to understand this. inspiring them to want to step up secu-
administration cut defense spending by
According to one watchdog, it has in- rity cooperation with the United
25 percent. That is actually one of the
reasons I ran for the Senate. I never creased its military investments by 76 States, not with China. Nearly half of
ran for anything, but what I saw what percent over the last decade, and we wealthy Chinese want to emigrate. Re-
was happening to the U.S. military—an are going to put out a budget tomorrow member, these are the winners from
institution I love and I served in for with an inflation-adjusted decrease in China’s four decades of heady economic
over 25 years—that was enough motiva- our military spending, despite the run- growth.
tion for me to say I need to help do away domestic spending proposed by As we have in the past, we can pre-
something. The readiness of our forces this administration. That is worri- vail in this geopolitical and ideological
during that era, the second term of the some, and that is not operating from a contest, but doing so will require a new
Obama-Biden administration—the position of strength with regard to the level of strategic initiative, organiza-
readiness of our forces plummeted— Chinese Communist Party. We need to tion, and confidence in who we are as a
plummeted. And our adversaries in watch out for that one. I am very con- people and what we stand for. This also
Moscow and Beijing watched this and cerned. means that we must redouble our ef-
were gleeful. Yes, there is a lot of bipartisan work forts in making this strategic case to
We can talk about AI and everything going on in the Senate, but if the lead- others around the world, particularly
else that we are talking about in this ership on the Senate floor and the our allies. This kind of work here—al-
bill, but if we are gutting our military, House leadership as well and the Biden though it can be messy, although it
that is one of the worst things we can administration work together to cut can be difficult, although it can be
do with regard to sending a message to defense spending, that is going to be challenging—is part of the process we
China about our seriousness. I worry. one of the worst things we can do for need to put together to compete.
Last year on this floor—last sum- our long-term competition with regard I suggest the absence of a quorum.
mer—we had a big debate in the NDAA to China. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
over defense spending. The majority As we are focused on these challenges OSSOFF). The clerk will call the roll.
leader—who was then the minority with the rise of China, let me conclude The legislative clerk proceeded to
leader—and the Senator from Vermont, by predicting that not only is this call the roll.
Senator SANDERS, put forward an challenge going to be with us for dec- Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous con-
amendment they called—no kidding— ades, but how we need to address it. I sent that the order for the quorum call
‘‘defund the Pentagon’’ then. That was have talked about some of these situa- be rescinded.
the name of their amendment, with 14 tions of strength. We must face this The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
percent across-the-board cuts to the challenge with confidence and stra- objection, it is so ordered.
entire U.S. military. My response was: tegic resolve. f
There they go again. There they go As I have noted and I just talked
again. about a few, America has extraor- MORNING BUSINESS
Well, now that they regained power, dinary advantages relative to China:
---
it looks like this movie is coming to a our global network of alliances, our
theater near us again, and it is not military power, and economic leader- S. 1260
going to be nice. Tomorrow, the Biden ship, our innovative society, our abun- Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today, in
administration’s budget is going to be dant and innovative energy supplies, a bipartisan vote, the Senate advanced
coming out. The numbers that we are advanced energy technology as defined important legislation to increase our
in this bill and other bills, the world’s Nation’s competitiveness with China.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
anticipating are about a 16-percent in-
crease in domestic spending and a real most productive workforce, and a The United States Innovation and
decrease in military spending—infla- democratic value system. Competition Act, USICA, of 2021 is sig-
tion-adjusted decrease in military Yes, it can be messy, but that makes nificant legislation and an example of
spending again. Beijing will be watch- countries around the world, and par- what process and debate can yield in
ing this and will be gleeful. ticularly in the INDOPACOM region, the U.S. Senate.
When Republicans were in the White far more comfortable as American This legislative package is the end
House and the Senate majority just re- partners and allies than as subservient result of the bipartisan work of from
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May 27, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3877
multiple Senate committees and re- home States to get an education and With this bill, we continue the en-
flects the urgency of addressing the find work. This bill will give rural resi- deavor to produce chips in the United
challenges faced by domestic manufac- dents more reasons to stay close to States at a commercially viable level.
turers and American researchers in our home and help their communities grow We hope that the production can sup-
global competition with China. This in- from the ground up. I have seen the in- ply our national security needs, by geo-
cludes an emergency appropriation of credible work that has already been graphically keeping production domes-
$54 billion in funding for grants to done by the University of Vermont’s tic, thereby increasing our confidence
make semiconductor chips here in participation in EPSCoR and am ex- that the chips have not been tampered
America and for the continuation of cited to see what is to come from this with.
chip production in Essex, VT. The substantial investment. Through the Appropriations Com-
package also allocates $1.5 billion in This serious legislative package mittee, I will continue oversight of this
funding for implementation and domes- shows what can be done when we all important area. We will ensure that
tic research and development, R&D of work together in the Senate. Thanks these grants are administered well and
5G technology to ensure that the to these efforts, we will be able to se- build toward a better future. And we
United States drives the modernization cure America’s role as a global leader will ensure they are part of a whole-of-
of its own communications infrastruc- in technology, R&D, and manufac- government effort, including contribu-
ture. turing. I hope the House of Representa- tions from the Department of Defense
The bill significantly raises author- tives will soon consider this legislation and other Agencies from their own au-
ization levels by almost $120 billion so President Biden can sign this his- thorizations and budgets. Thanks to
over 5 years for the National Science toric initiative into law. this bill, I look forward to a brighter,
Foundation, NSF, the National Aero- Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, as the
and more technologically capable fu-
nautics and Space Administration, Senate prepares to vote on the U.S. In-
ture.
NASA, the Department of Commerce, novation and Competition Act, I want-
AMENDMENT NO. 1813
and the Department of Energy, DOE. ed to take moment to highlight the
support this bill provides to the U.S. Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am dis-
These historic investments in Amer- appointed that my bipartisan amend-
ican ingenuity will help strengthen our semiconductor industry. I want to
commend the leadership that Senators ment with Senators MORAN and MUR-
country’s R&D capabilities, regional KOWSKI is not receiving a vote today.
WARNER, CORNYN, and SCHUMER have
economic development opportunities, Our amendment has a simple pur-
shown in highlighting the need for our
manufacturing capacity, and supply pose—to protect taxpayers. It seeks to
country to ensure that we maintain
chain resiliency. do so by providing the administration
Through the creation of a new Direc- leading edge manufacture capabilities
in the United States. I strongly sup- the discretionary authority to nego-
torate of Technology and Innovation at tiate for warrants, which are like stock
the NSF, the Federal Government will port the over $50 billion provided in
this bill for the Department of Com- options, as part of the $50 billion we
be able to better support research and are appropriating in this bill for the
merce to join in partnerships with U.S.
technology development in key focus CHIPS for America Fund.
semiconductor companies.
areas, such as the growing artificial in- My history with microelectronics A warrant is the right to purchase
telligence space and quantum science. spans my career in the Senate, and I one share of common stock at a
Among other activities, the Direc- can remember when Tom Watson se- preestablished price, known as the
torate will help fund R&D at collabo- lected Essex Junction as the location strike price. Warrants, just like stock
rative institutes, establish technology for an IBM fab to produce some of the options, are exercised when the stock
testbeds, and award scholarships and first generations of mass produced in- price is greater than the strike price.
fellowships to build a workforce tegrated circuit memory and proc- The idea is that if taxpayer dollars are
equipped to lead us through the 21st essing chips. Of course, it revolution- necessary to invest in a company, then
century and beyond. ized computing. Over the years, taxpayers should also benefit from
Throughout the process, I was en- Vermonters working out of Essex led some of the upside when the company
couraged to see a strong focus on the the way in inventing new kinds of grows.
need to continue to increase education, chips and new ways to make chips, at I worked on a bipartisan basis to se-
research, and workforce opportunities the same time making Vermont the cure warrants when Federal funds were
in rural and underserved areas State with the most patents per capita. needed for private companies as part of
throughout the country. The regional Over that time, I heard again and the Troubled Asset Relief Program,
technology hub program at the Com- again from national security leaders TARP, and in the CARES Act. As a re-
merce Department established in this from both political parties that one of sult of the warrants provision in
bill will benefit rural communities in the biggest threats facing the United TARP, nearly $10 billion in profit was
Vermont and across the country. These States was that our revolutionary generated for taxpayers. And according
hubs, of which there will be three per technology was threatened by the pro- to new Department of Treasury esti-
EDA region, will carry out workforce duction of chips increasingly moving to mates, taxpayers stand to gain more
development activities and business foreign countries. While some of those than $1 billion for the CARES Act war-
and entrepreneur development activi- countries closely cooperate with the rants.
ties, among other important activities. United States, being offshore provides Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo,
I appreciate the work done by fellow an inherent risk of the chips being who also has prior private sector expe-
Members in the Senate to ensure that compromised by malicious actors or rience as a venture capital investor and
these hubs truly and accurately rep- even facilities themselves being ren- as a former treasurer of Rhode Island,
resent the significant economic needs dered inoperable, one way or another. said this week at a CJS Appropriations
of rural areas in this country. I helped create a program called Subcommittee hearing that she would
The inclusion of increased supple- Trusted Foundry within the Depart- ‘‘support’’ having this authority as a
mentary funding for research at uni- ment of Defense to provide critical ‘‘good way to stick up for American
versities that participate in the Estab- chips for national security needs that taxpayers.’’
lished Program to Stimulate Competi- we knew were untampered with from So if companies are receiving tax-
tive Research, EPSCoR, takes impor- start to finish and were made right in payer funds to make investments in
tant steps to build our Nation’s capac- the United States. Because the na- semiconductors, U.S. taxpayers should
ity in the science, technology, engi- also be able to get some of the upside
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
tional security needs alone could never
neering, and mathematics, STEM, be produced at an economically prac- when these investments pay off. We
field. This funding will also help reduce tical scale, we located Trusted Foundry should be striving to ensure that we
the geographic concentration of re- in commercial fabs, including the one get the best possible deal for our con-
search and development and education in Essex. Today that factory still pro- stituents’ money.
opportunities across the country. For duces both commercial and national I appreciate Leader SCHUMER’s com-
far too long, Americans have had to security chips, particularly chips used mitment to get this concept included
leave their hometowns and even their for radio frequency or RF functions. in the bill as it moves forward in the
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S3878 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 27, 2021
process, and I will continue working We cannot lead in a rapidly evolving dent Biden has said, we can, should,
with him and all of our colleagues to technological landscape unless we are and need to build back better.
make that commitment a reality. investing in science and our scientists. f
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the Budg- Failing to do so only cedes the next
et Control Act of 2011 expires this year, great discovery to China at the cost of TRIBUTE TO THERESA
and that is a good thing. innovation here in the United States. ALBERGHINI DIPALMA
This law led to a decade of under- As chair of the Appropriations Com- ∑ Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, there is
funding our domestic priorities, from mittee, I am committed to fighting for no State in America more beautiful
which it will take years to recover. the investments in American science, than Vermont, but along with its jaw-
Right now, in communities across the research, medical progress, and techno- dropping beauty, Vermont is home to
country, our infrastructure is crum- logical development that our great Na- some of the finest, most active and en-
bling, millions of Americans cannot ac- tion needs and deserves. gaged citizens who make it such a spe-
cess Federal programs for which they There has been a lot of talk in this cial place.
qualify, and we are falling behind in in- Chamber about the need for a major in- Theresa Alberghini DiPalma is one of
vesting in science, research, and devel- frastructure package to repair our Na- those people. Theresa recently let it be
opment on the global economic stage— tion’s crumbling bridges and roads, and known that she will be leaving her sen-
all of this because the Budget Control I support addressing that need. But ior position at the University of
Act set artificial and unrealistically there is a reason why our roads are in Vermont Health Network.
low caps on discretionary spending, disrepair, forcing the American people I have known Theresa and her late
and it inflicted arbitrary, across-the- to spend nearly $130 billion each year parents for more than 30 years. The-
board spending cuts known as seques- on vehicle repairs and operating costs. resa’s parents were both public school
tration. There is a reason why our drinking teachers. They raised five children in
President Biden understands the real water systems lose the equivalent of Burlington, including Theresa. Her fa-
consequences of this decade-old deci- 9,000 Olympic-size swimming pools of ther Roy saw Active Duty as a lead
sion. That is why tomorrow, President water every day. And there is a reason navigator on bombers in the European
Biden will propose a 16-percent in- why one in five children lacks the high- theater in World War II. Her mother
crease for nondefense investments in speed internet connections they need Connie was also a pillar of the commu-
his budget. We cannot build back bet- to learn and participate in school. nity. She taught Spanish, and she was
ter until we recover the ground we That reason is a decade of budget an accomplished musician and extraor-
have already lost. caps that artificially constrained our dinary cook.
I want to give a few examples of what ability to address these issues before Theresa grew up in Burlington, the
I mean. For many low-income families they became the national limitation youngest of those five kids and the
with young children, the beginning of and embarrassment that they are only girl. After college, she started in
summer means the end of school break- today. my Washington office answering
fast and lunch programs and waking up Now there is a $44 billion backlog in phones. She steadily climbed the pro-
every morning dreading how you will airport improvement projects, $35 bil- fessional ladder to be both my top
be able to put food on the table for lion in deferred maintenance for public healthcare adviser and then my legisla-
your children. Basic nutrition is a housing, and $472.6 billion in urgently tive director.
basic requirement for child health, de- needed funds to maintain and improve For as long as I have been in the Sen-
velopment, and education. the Nation’s drinking water infrastruc- ate, I have talked about the challenge
The Summer EBT program is meant ture. of keeping, maintaining, and attract-
to help these families bridge to this Over the last decade, we have lost ing young Vermonters to our State.
gap, with an extra $30 or $60 per child ground in education, childcare, envi- More than 20 years ago, Theresa did
every month. This is a program that ronmental protections, and affordable just that. In the mid-nineties, Theresa
has proven itself successful, reducing housing. The Budget Control Act did returned to Vermont to be closer to
the number of households with food-in- not constrain our national debt; it left family and to serve as Vermont’s chief
secure children from 43 percent to just us as a nation in disrepair. healthcare regulator.
under 35 percent. But because of the Joe Biden understands this, and I After leaving government service,
Budget Control Act, this program has commend him for taking the bold ac- Theresa joined the University of
been flat-funded. We could not expand tion to address this in the budget he Vermont College of Medicine in 2000,
upon its success. And today, only 16 will release tomorrow. As chairman of serving as assistant dean for external
percent of children who need access to the Senate Appropriations Committee, relations. In 2002, she was called to
USDA food programs have that access. I look forward to working with the serve—first on a temporary basis and
This problem of underinvestment in President, his administration, and my then permanently—at then-Fletcher
successful, worthwhile programs is dear friend Vice Chairman SHELBY on Allen Health Care during a time of
true across our appropriations bills. passing responsible appropriations bills great challenge.
Our country, which has led in some that address the damage caused by the Theresa joined a dedicated team, led
of the greatest scientific discoveries of Budget Control Act. by Ed Colodny, which worked tirelessly
the last century, ranks 24th out of 36 The end of the Budget Control Act to restore public trust in our State’s
developed nations for investments in gives us the opportunity to invest in academic medical center.
university research and development as our communities. Tomorrow, Congress Theresa is a now a senior vice presi-
a share of GDP. will receive the President’s budget. The dent for external relations at the Uni-
We once accounted for 69 percent of full Appropriations Committee has al- versity of Vermont Health Network,
global research and development ex- ready held hearings on the need to in- where she and her colleagues support
penditures but have fallen to just vest in our infrastructure and on the and lead an integrated healthcare de-
under 30 percent. China now accounts threat of domestic violent extremism, livery system in Vermont and New
for 23.9 percent of global research and and in June, we will hold hearings on York, dedicated to ensuring that the
development spending, and growing. global leadership and national secu- more than 1 million people in the re-
How did this happen? One analysis by rity. In June, our subcommittees will gion have access to the care they need,
the American Association for the Ad- hold numerous hearings to scrutinize close to home.
vancement of Science directly at- the President’s budget. Theresa’s commitment to the well-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
tributes $200 billion in lost Federal re- When Congress returns in early June, being of our communities is boundless.
search and development investments to it is essential that Congress, on a bi- She has served on several boards, in-
the Budget Control Act. The National partisan and bicameral basis, work cluding Mercy Connections, the United
Science Foundation alone has lost $2 with the President to negotiate budget Way of Northwest Vermont, the Lake
billion a year, which could support toplines so that we can commence the Champlain Chamber, the Vermont
more than 5,500 grants and 65,000 sci- appropriations process for the fiscal Chamber of Commerce, VELCO, VGS,
entists, technicians, and students. year that begins October 1. As Presi- Vermont Business Roundtable, the
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