Congressional Record, Samuels and Nanda Nominations — Senate, July 14, 2021
Summary
Page S4877 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for July 14, 2021, in interleaved columns, recording cloture votes on nominations. The Senate considers Jocelyn Samuels to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2026, with the yeas and nays 53 to 47 on Rollcall Vote No. 258 and a similar 53 to 47 result on Rollcall Vote No. 259, and Mr. Manchin asks for the yeas and nays on the Nanda nomination. A speaker argues that soft-on-crime policies and release from jail during the coronavirus led to the death of Officer Apple, and another calls on Members to reject Biden's spending spree and pass his bill.
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“Congressional Record, Samuels and Nanda Nominations — Senate, July 14, 2021.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-07-14-crec-2021-07-14-pt1-pgs4877-6-8518cc7cd5/
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July 14, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4877
conceived, soft-on-crime policies. The of Jocelyn Samuels, of Maryland, to be The yeas and nays are mandatory
woman who killed Officer Apple, a Member of the Equal Employment under the rule.
Shawna Cash, was known by police Opportunity Commission for a term ex- The clerk will call the roll.
long before that fateful day. She was piring July 1, 2026 (Reappointment), The senior assistant legislative clerk
facing multiple counts of theft and shall be brought to a close? called the roll.
other drug-related offenses, but she The yeas and nays are mandatory The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 53,
was reportedly released from jail due under the rule. nays 47, as follows:
to the coronavirus. The clerk will call the roll. [Rollcall Vote No. 259 Ex.]
When criminals get let out of jail and The legislative clerk called the roll. YEAS—53
are put back on our streets, tragedy The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 53, Baldwin Hickenlooper Reed
tends to follow. A brave officer would nays 47, as follows: Bennet Hirono Romney
still be alive today if his killer had re- [Rollcall Vote No. 258 Ex.] Blumenthal Kaine Rosen
mained behind bars. The trade-off here Booker Kelly Sanders
YEAS—53 Brown King Schatz
should be obvious. This criminal, with Baldwin Heinrich Peters Cantwell Klobuchar Schumer
a rap sheet longer than your arm, Bennet Hickenlooper Reed Cardin Leahy Shaheen
should have remained in jail, and Offi- Blumenthal Hirono Rosen Carper Luján Sinema
Booker Kaine Sanders Casey Manchin
cer Apple should have gone home to his Brown Kelly Collins Markey
Smith
Schatz Stabenow
friends and his family. For every future Cantwell King Schumer Coons Menendez
Tester
Shawna Cash who gets let out of jail Cardin Klobuchar Shaheen Cortez Masto Merkley
Van Hollen
early because of the coronavirus or Carper Leahy Sinema Duckworth Murkowski
Casey Luján Durbin Murphy Warner
soft-on-crime policies or other foolish Smith Warnock
Collins Manchin Feinstein Murray
Stabenow
and naive reasons, just remember: Coons Markey Gillibrand Ossoff Warren
Cortez Masto Tester Hassan Padilla Whitehouse
There could be another Officer Apple or Menendez
Duckworth Merkley Van Hollen Heinrich Peters Wyden
another murder victim or rape victim. Durbin Murkowski Warner
Like every victim of the terrible Feinstein Murphy Warnock NAYS—47
murder wave sweeping our Nation, Offi- Gillibrand Murray Warren Barrasso Graham Portman
Grassley Ossoff Whitehouse Blackburn Grassley
cer Apple’s life mattered. He leaves be- Wyden
Risch
Hassan Padilla Blunt Hagerty Rounds
hind loved ones like Dalene, his moth- Boozman Hawley
NAYS—47 Rubio
er, and Kyle, his brother. He leaves be- Braun Hoeven Sasse
hind fellow officers and comrades who Barrasso Graham Risch Burr Hyde-Smith Scott (FL)
remember his jokes and his goofy sense Blackburn Hagerty Romney Capito Inhofe Scott (SC)
Blunt Hawley Rounds Cassidy Johnson Shelby
of humor. He leaves behind a legacy of Boozman Hoeven Rubio Cornyn Kennedy
Sullivan
23 years of honorable, courageous serv- Braun Hyde-Smith Sasse Cotton Lankford
Thune
ice to his fellow Arkansans. Burr Inhofe Scott (FL) Cramer Lee
Capito Crapo Tillis
Johnson Lummis
Officer Apple will not be forgotten, Cassidy Kennedy
Scott (SC)
Cruz Marshall Toomey
and we must never forget the lawmen Shelby Tuberville
Cornyn Lankford Daines McConnell
Sullivan Wicker
who lay down their lives to keep the Cotton Lee
Thune
Ernst Moran
Cramer Lummis Fischer Paul Young
rest of us safe. We will respect Officer Tillis
Crapo Marshall
Apple’s memory just as we respect Cruz McConnell Toomey The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this
every law enforcement officer who Daines Moran Tuberville vote, the yeas are 53, the nays are 47.
Wicker
wears the badge with honor. Ernst Paul The motion is agreed to.
Fischer Portman Young
I yield the floor. f
Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms.
unanimous consent that the vote pre- ROSEN). On this vote, the yeas are 53, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
viously scheduled at 11:30 a.m. start the nays are 47. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
now. The motion is agreed to. clerk will report the nomination.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- f The senior assistant legislative clerk
pore. Is there objection? read the nomination of Seema Nanda,
CLOTURE MOTION
Without objection, it is so ordered. of Virginia, to be Solicitor for the De-
CLOTURE MOTION The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant partment of Labor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the
Senate the pending cloture motion, f
pore. Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair
lays before the Senate the pending clo- which the clerk will state. RECESS
ture motion, which the clerk will state. The senior assistant legislative clerk
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
The legislative clerk read as follows: read as follows:
the previous order, the Senate stands
CLOTURE MOTION
CLOTURE MOTION in recess until 2 p.m.
We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:48 p.m.,
ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
recessed until 2 p.m. and reassembled
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- when called to order by the Presiding
move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Officer (Ms. ROSEN).
nation of Executive Calendar No. 121, nation of Executive Calendar No. 120, Seema
Jocelyn Samuels, of Maryland, to be a Mem- Nanda, of Virginia, to be Solicitor for the f
ber of the Equal Employment Opportunity Department of Labor.
Charles E. Schumer, Mazie K. Hirono, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued
Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2026.
(Reappointment) Sheldon Whitehouse, Ben Ray Luján, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
Charles E. Schumer, Tammy Baldwin, Jon Ossoff, Tim Kaine, Benjamin L.
ator from Missouri.
Benjamin L. Cardin, Tammy Cardin, Margaret Wood Hassan,
Tammy Duckworth, Patrick J. Leahy, THE ECONOMY
Duckworth, Amy Klobuchar, Bernard
Sanders, Tina Smith, Martin Heinrich, Tammy Baldwin, Amy Klobuchar, Mr. BLUNT. Madam President, like
Sheldon Whitehouse, Patrick J. Leahy, Debbie Stabenow, Mark R. Warner, all of us, I just got back from spending
Cory A. Booker, Mark R. Warner, Patty Murray, Elizabeth Warren. some time at home. I got back from
Jacky Rosen, Jeff Merkley, Kirsten E. The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- being there and making a difference. I
Gillibrand, Sherrod Brown, Ben Ray imous consent, the mandatory quorum think one of the important things of
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
Luján. call has been waived. being outside of Washington is you get
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- The question is, Is it the sense of the a chance to hear what people are really
pore. By unanimous consent, the man- Senate that debate on the nomination concerned about. We have all kinds of
datory quorum call has been waived. of Seema Nanda, of Virginia, to be So- speeches given here every day of what
The question is, Is it the sense of the licitor for the Department of Labor, Members of Congress are absolutely
Senate that debate on the nomination shall be brought to a close? sure people are concerned about. I
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S4878 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 14, 2021
think that topic becomes much more Keystone XL Pipeline, and not too long was $3 million or $300,000, somehow di-
crystal clear when you get home. I after that, he blocked the new oil and vided up to every American family, we
know it is certainly much more crystal gas leases in Alaska and the Gulf of would immediately think: Oh, my
clear to me when I am home in Mis- Mexico. These were things that Con- goodness. We could never deal with
souri. gress had talked about for a long time that.
Over the Fourth of July holiday, and, in some cases, were things Con- By the way, it was just announced
there were a number of visits all over gress had specifically decided were that there is a budget agreement on
the State—to Columbia, St. Louis, timely to do, but an Executive order top of that $3 trillion deficit to spend
Montgomery City, Monroe City. There from the President decided, no, we are another $3.5 trillion.
were lots of events everywhere in the going to head in a different direction. It is time we started talking frankly
State at which I talked about the im- That was just the beginning, really, about how much $3 trillion really is.
portance of getting the vaccine and the of what my colleagues have seen in the That $3 trillion is something that
progress we were making there, but the discussion in Congress and what my somebody has to pay back sometime.
first thing that people wanted to talk Democratic colleagues in Congress All that borrowing and spending has
to me about was inflation. People are have in mind. So, if you like paying been one of the big factors contributing
already seeing that prices are well higher prices for gasoline, you are to inflation. It doesn’t even count the
above the numbers that they believe going to love what happens to the re- $3.5 trillion, again, that had been added
they are seeing that the official num- strictions that go into effect and drive just overnight in that discussion.
bers are confirming. prices of all energy even higher. Some people are beginning to call
In May of this year, prices were 5 per- The other thing I talked to small this Bidenomics. I think Congress has
cent higher than they were in May a business owners about and, frankly, to to take its share of responsibility here.
year ago. In June, they were 5.4 percent all business owners about was the trou- The belief that we can spend without
higher than they were a year ago, but ble in finding enough workers. Repub- limit and that it won’t cause any prob-
people are seeing a lot of prices that lican Governors in 25 States have now lems is outrageous. The idea that we
are higher than that. The price of determined that the larger unemploy- can pay people not to work or pay
whole milk is up 7.5 percent from a ment benefit kept people from going them more than they would make if
year ago. The price of an airplane tick- back to work. People were choosing to they did work is outrageous. All of
et has averaged up about 25 percent stay on the sidelines rather than go to these things lead to unintended con-
from a year ago. Used cars are more ex- work. Frankly, if you looked at that sequences. There is a belief that high
pensive than they were last June. In $618 weekly unemployment check that gas prices and inflation are just tem-
fact, they are 45 percent more expen- was the average in America in May, porary and that people shouldn’t be
sive than they were a year ago in June. that unemployment check didn’t have concerned about it. Well, people are
There is an incredible increase in the any childcare costs associated with it, concerned, and they should be con-
cost of things that people not only and it didn’t have any travel to work cerned.
want to buy but on those things that associated with it. You have to have a I hope my colleagues on the other
are more pressing: what people have to job that pays a lot to not consider, if I side of the aisle will spend some time
buy and need to buy. am continuing to get this check, why listening to people, hearing their con-
A lot of people specifically talked to should I go back to work? cerns. I hope they will reconsider their
me about gas prices. I was on the road Missouri was one of the 25 States policies that are fueling inflation and
a lot, driving a lot while I was home, that decided that the extra bonus was holding back our economy.
and I saw those prices for myself. The not only bad for families in their not I yield the floor.
average cost of a gallon of regular gas- going back to work but that it was bad The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
oline nationwide is about $3.15. That is for our economy. So, as of June 12, the ator from Iowa.
45 percent higher than in June of last return to the important but much Ms. ERNST. Madam President, I ask
year. That is a hidden tax that working lower normal unemployment benefit unanimous consent to use a prop dur-
people pay every day. happened in our State, and I think you ing my remarks.
Whether it is a hidden tax on a glass can already see people making the de- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
of milk, a hidden tax on a tank of gas, cision that it is time to go back to objection, it is so ordered.
or a hidden tax on other things that work. Ms. ERNST. Madam President, Presi-
they like to do or have to do, it makes Surprisingly, even though we have dent Biden’s economic policies are
a real difference for the people who created a lot of opportunities for peo- causing nationwide sticker shock.
want to take a vacation or have to ple to stay home, the June economy The price of nearly everything is
travel to work. In the part of Missouri created 850,000 new jobs, and we should higher today than it has been since
that I live in, there are a lot of little all feel good about that, but if this is Biden was in the White House the first
towns that have manufacturing jobs. It an economy that has created 850,000 time. The cost of consumer goods has
is not unusual for somebody to drive 40 new jobs, at some point, we have to gone up every month since January,
or 50 miles one way to get to that job, stop pushing money into that economy and the markup in prices over the past
and if gasoline is 45 percent higher that we don’t have. There are, obvi- year is the biggest annual increase
than it was a year ago, it makes a real ously, a lot of factors at play here, but since 2008. The Democrats’ response to
difference. That is a real hidden tax, the 850,000 people going back to work is these rising prices is to simply spend
and it is usually a hidden tax on the an important and a significant thing. more, which is making the problem
people to whom the President rightly Part of the explanation, obviously, is worse.
would not want to pass on tax in- the rush by Republican Governors, Paying people not to work is contrib-
creases. principally, to eliminate that bonus, uting to worker shortages. Not having
I think the administration has to but part of it is just simply an econ- enough workers is resulting in service
start taking into account the issues omy that is already beginning to re- and supply shortages. Combine these
that are out there. Larry Summers and bound—to rebound based on the cur- two factors with trillions of dollars of
others from the Obama administration rent tax structure and rebound based government spending, and it all adds
have warned of the great risk of infla- on what governments already spend up to higher prices on everything for
tion. When we talk about energy, for rather than this incredible rush to everyone. It is a common story wher-
instance, I think we have to do that, drive inflation even further. ever I visit on my 99-county tour. Be-
clearly, in a way that, if we are making The Congressional Budget Office put cause of Washington’s upside-down eco-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
transitions to energy, we don’t make out a new report recently that read the nomic policies, small businesses are
those transitions in a way that need- Federal deficit for this fiscal year will struggling to hire workers, and our
lessly have a negative impact on fami- be more than $3 trillion. The problem families are paying much more for far
lies and on opportunities. is that nobody has any idea what $3 less.
In his first few days in office, Presi- trillion really is, and that probably in- Put simply, under Bidenomics, the
dent Biden rescinded the permit for the cludes most of us. If I said the deficit price is up. Everyday products, like
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July 14, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4879
diapers and paper towels, are either in- What runaway inflation doesn’t take Notice that word ‘‘gently’’ because
creasing in cost or decreasing in size, from working Americans’ paychecks, everybody thinks this is going to just
which is the same result: more money the IRS will take to pay for the Demo- occur very easily, getting it under con-
out of our wallets. Whether you are crats’ never-ending spending. We are trol, but we remember the results of
eating in or you are dining out, the one all going to be paying back the tril- the 1970s, early eighties. It took Paul
thing you are guaranteed to find on lions of dollars borrowed to pay for Volcker to take a sledgehammer
every supermarket shelf and res- Bidenomics, both in higher taxes and through the policies of the Federal Re-
taurant menu is higher prices. in higher consumer costs, and that serve to bring down interest rates.
A pound of sliced bacon has increased price—folks, it isn’t right. And a lot of farmers in Iowa lost
a whole dollar in just the past year, I yield the floor. their farms when they were borrowing
and the fast-food dollar menu is dis- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- on that inflation, trusting the govern-
appearing. We are paying more at the ator from Iowa. ment that there was no problem, and
pump too. A year ago, a gallon of gas Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, then we have just farmers going out of
cost about $2.18. Today, the price is like my colleague from Iowa who has business because Volcker used a sledge-
just under $3 in Iowa. Nationally, the just spoken, I travel Iowa as well, and hammer, and he probably had to use it
cost has risen to about $3.15 per gallon in holding my county meetings and vis- because there wasn’t a gentle way of
and is expected to keep going up iting with employers and employees— doing it. Unfortunately, instead of tak-
throughout the summer. Meanwhile, not just these last 2 weeks that we ing inflation seriously, the current ad-
rising shipping costs are lifting the have been in recess, but all year—I ministration appears intent on stoking
prices of everything from coffee to fur- have been hearing all of what Senator its flames, pouring gasoline on the in-
niture. ERNST has referred to, that people are flation fire.
All in all, Bidenomics has resulted in afraid of inflation and a lot of people In his budget, the President proposes
the biggest surge in inflation in nearly are old enough to remember the 12- to government spending and debt at levels
13 years. For Iowans who are living on 15-percent inflation we had during the previously only seen temporarily dur-
a budget, these unpredictable price mid-1970s to the early 1980s. We don’t ing war or economic recession. The
markups are making every purchase a want to repeat that. nonpartisan Congressional Budget Of-
real guessing game. They keep finding Traveling Iowa, it is always refresh- fice and economists surveyed by the
themselves asking if the price is right. ing to hear directly from my constitu- Wall Street Journal both recently
To demonstrate just how much costs ents because, as I often say, Wash- raised their inflation expectations.
are spinning out of control, I have ington is an island surrounded by re- CBO raised its inflation projections be-
brought the wheel of inflation with me ality. The Midwest seems to be the real cause ‘‘output now exceeds its poten-
here today. Each of the numbers on the America compared to what we know tial level sooner and by a larger
wheel represents a price increase for a here in Washington, DC, where every- amount than previously anticipated.’’
thing that dominates the economy is Output exceeding its potential is eco-
common household product. It will tell
affected by government—and very Big nomic speak for the economy is start-
us exactly how much more Bidenomics
Government. ing to overheat. Consumer price data
is costing hard-working Americans.
There is no better example of this released yesterday shows inflation
So, folks, let’s go ahead and give it a
than how the Biden administration and heating up. In June, prices climbed 5.4
spin.
No. 8. In the past year, the price of Washington elites talk about inflation percent over the prior year compared
and rising prices. To them, inflation is to 5 percent in May. Moreover, core in-
bacon is up about 8 percent.
Give her a good spin. transitory or the result of base effects, flation, which omits volatile food and
OK. No. 5, and it is a black 5. In the and those words ‘‘transitory’’ and energy goods, rose at the highest rate
past year, the price of clothes is up ‘‘base effects’’ are used to justify this in 29 years.
The trillions of dollars in new spend-
about 5 percent. inflation. Really something not to
ing proposed by the President could set
No. 11. In the past year, the price of worry about, I think, is the impression
inflation ablaze. If that occurs, it is
auto insurance is up 11 percent; and if they want to leave us with.
not going to be the wealthy and the
you go to the 17 there, you will find To the Iowans I spoke with, inflation
Wall Street elites that pay the price.
that hotel rates, the price has gone up is real and persistent, as Senator
The average hard-working American
17 percent in the last year. ERNST has so colorfully shown. I heard
living paycheck to paycheck, and par-
There are no winning numbers on concerns from my constituents about ticularly tough on the retiree on fixed
this wheel. Again, every number rep- inflation wherever I went. And why? incomes, those are the people that are
resents the increase of a common good Because it is affecting people’s lives going to pay more and get less for pay-
American consumers are dealing with. right now. ing more. The President would be well
There are no winning numbers on this I heard about how inflation was cut- served to listen more to everyday
wheel. No matter how you spin it, we ting into families’ budgets, making it Americans about how rising prices are
simply cannot afford any more hard to make ends meet. I heard how affecting their lives today.
Bidenomics. I think the American peo- prices in grocery staples, such as milk, President Biden might then realize
ple will agree, all of these prices need meat, fruit, vegetables, are on the rise, pursuing another multitrillion-dollar
to come on down. But instead of ad- along with all manner of household spending spree isn’t worth the risk. It
dressing inflation, Democrats are try- goods. could fan the flames of inflation and
ing to outbid one another over a mas- Yet the President and his top eco- devastate the livelihoods of average
sive new government spending program nomic advisers say inflation is nothing Americans.
they are calling human infrastructure. to worry about, or as the President’s It is incumbent upon the President
Want to guess what the price tag Treasury Secretary put it, ‘‘I don’t and the Congress to avert catastrophe
being floated by the chairman of the think there’s going to be an infla- by pursuing responsible fiscal policies.
Senate Budget Committee for this tionary problem. But if there is, the We can’t just expect the Federal Re-
package might be? Three and a half Fed will be counted on to address it.’’ serve to clean up our mess if we act ir-
trillion dollars—all capital letters, They shouldn’t be so nonchalant about responsibly by spending another $4 tril-
folks. it. As we know from the 1970s, once in- lion. By that time, it could already be
The endless giveaway of cash and flation takes off, getting it back under too late, waiting on the Fed.
prizes may make it appear like Demo- control can require very painful meas- I yield the floor.
crats in Washington are running a ures. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
game show, but we all know that this They should take the advice of ator from Mississippi.
is not a game. With our national debt former Clinton Treasury Secretary Mr. WICKER. Madam President,
approaching $30 trillion, the bills are Summers. He recently stated, ‘‘The what the senior Senator from Iowa just
eventually going to come due. And you Fed has had almost no success gently said is exactly right, and unfortu-
know who will be stuck with the tab? bringing down inflation once an econ- nately, the Biden inflation tax increase
Taxpayers. omy has started to overheat.’’ is real, and it is already here.
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S4880 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 14, 2021
We warned about it earlier this year I yield the floor. every day, and one thing I always no-
when our friends on the Democratic Mr. WICKER. Madam President, if I ticed, when that price of gasoline got
side decided to spend almost $2 trillion might, I ask unanimous consent that above $3 a gallon, all of a sudden, those
that was unnecessary, and here it is. Senators MARSHALL, SCOTT of Florida, moms were missing their appoint-
Just the other day, consumer prices in- and MURRAY be permitted to speak for ments. Today, we are at that number,
creased by 5.4 percent. This represents up to 5 minutes each. and we are expecting it to go even
the largest year over year price surge The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without higher, unfortunately. Kansans aren’t
since 2008. It is a tax increase on every objection, it is so ordered. the only ones feeling the squeeze at the
American consumer. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- pump.
And then today, even worse news, the ator from Kansas. Many popular items we all regularly
producer price increased 7.3 percent. Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, purchase at the grocery store increased
We are in an inflation problem. It is this past week, we held 12 townhalls in recent months. The cost of a typical
caused by this unnecessary spending back home in my home State of Kan- all-American Kansas breakfast—two
spree that we have been on this year. sas. We heard from Kansans about a va- eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, and or-
We have known about it—now, we see riety of issues, but thanks to this ad- ange juice—is up almost 10 percent.
the statistics—because we felt it at ministration’s economic policies, run- Pre-COVID, we had the greatest
home. away inflation has replaced COVID at economy in my lifetime, and that came
And the senior Senator from Iowa the top of the mountain of concerns for about because we lowered people’s
mentioned what he was hearing during the people from my State. taxes, we lowered regulations, and we
Make no mistake about it—the infla-
the break. Mississippians are paying lowered energy prices. Now, out-of-con-
tion harming checking accounts of
more for a tank of gas, for a gallon of trol spending and socialist policies dic-
Kansans and all Americans rests
milk. They are paying more for a new tated by the White House are leading
squarely on the shoulders of the social-
home, for a used car. Used car prices to rampant inflation that shows no
ist economic policies coming out of the
have shot up by 10 percent since May signs of stopping.
White House, otherwise known as
and by 45 percent since June of last I yield the floor.
Bidenomics.
year—used cars, up by 45 percent. That As we all know, yesterday, the De- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
is real inflation, and it affects real partment of Labor reported consumer ator from Florida.
working Americans. prices climbed for the third straight Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam Presi-
The hard reality is that our economy dent, America is in a debt crisis be-
month, jumping over 5 percent in
is now saturated with a tsunami of June—the largest increase in 13 years. cause of reckless government spending.
spending unleashed by the Democratic Gas prices are up, groceries are up, cars Now, thanks to the insane spending
majority back in March, when party and truck prices are up, home prices and failed policies of President Joe
leaders abandoned what has been a bal- are up, paper products are up, utilities Biden and Democrats in Washington,
anced and bipartisan approach in the are up, and I could go on and on. we are seeing higher and higher infla-
year 2020 to COVID relief. I would re- Every day, we see the Bidenomics of tion.
mind my colleagues that in February, inflation impacting hard-working Under the Biden administration, in-
the Congressional Budget Office had Americans. In fact, inflation is a great flation has grown every month. Just
predicted our economy was already social injustice. Inflation is really a re- look at this week’s CPI numbers. From
going to return to its prepandemic size gressive tax. It hurts everyone but June 2020 to June 2021, the Consumer
by midyear without the spending of a none more than our seniors and young, Price Index rose 5.4 percent. Energy
new $2 trillion. hard-working families living paycheck costs are up 24.5 percent, and gasoline
As the senior Senator from Iowa to paycheck. prices are up 45 percent—nearly $1
mentioned, Larry Summers, a longtime So what exactly is Bidenomics? Let’s more from where they were last year.
Democratic adviser, an adviser to look at what they did to create this Inflation is at the highest rate since
President Obama, warned that more crisis. Stating the obvious, they are the great recession. This week’s Pro-
stimulus could overheat the economy printing money, borrowing money we ducer Price Index data shows a 7.3-per-
and cause inflation. And more spending don’t have, and implementing quan- cent increase in June and a historic
came and the economy got overheated, titative easing like there is no tomor- 22.6-percent jump in the prices of proc-
and we are faced with real statistics row, like there are no generations of essed goods, the highest since 1975. For
about inflation that cannot be denied. America for our future. 6 straight months, we have seen the
Our Democratic friends brushed off Look no further than the cost of util- data clearly shows that spending be-
that warning and instead pumped tril- ities. The administration has made it yond our means has consequences. In-
lions more of borrowed money into our hard to use affordable, clean, tradi- flation is growing at the fastest rate
economy. Our Nation’s money supply tional energy, and they leveled more since 1981.
has increased by an unheard of 31 per- and more regulations on the industry. These aren’t just numbers or statis-
cent since the pandemic. Now, some of Manufactured products? Ditto. tics; these increases represent a grow-
it, we had to do in the year 2020, when Bidenomics is paying people more to ing pressure on Florida families and
the economy had fallen off a cliff, but stay at home than go to work, creating businesses. Every time prices rise, life
we are halfway through 2021, the Fed is labor shortages and government-cre- gets harder.
still printing cash, and the majority ated bottlenecks in manufacturing Last month, I met with business own-
party in this body seems intent on plants. And then, to top things off, we ers in Miami and heard firsthand how
spending trillions more. don’t even have enough truckdrivers to their businesses were struggling with
As a result, inflation is now eating transport goods to market. the rising price of goods. Every time I
away at family earnings, at bank ac- As for gasoline, I bring your atten- am home in Florida, I hear from fami-
counts, at 401(k) savings accounts, tion, which is up 31 percent since Janu- lies who are noticing prices are up, gas
most of which are shrinking as a share ary, and according to AAA, it is ex- prices are up, and food prices are up.
of the economy. Loss of purchasing pected to rise another 20 cents this Every price increase has a direct im-
power is making it harder for Ameri- summer. pact on a family’s budget.
cans to buy a home, start a family, or Let’s think about what all the ad- When inflation goes up, it hurts ev-
send their children to college. All of ministration has done. They shut down eryone, especially our poor families,
this should serve as a caution to all of the Keystone XL. They stopped drilling those on fixed incomes, and small busi-
us, to our friends on the other side of on government lands and imposed nesses. I saw how hard it was for my
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
the aisle. This week’s Consumer Price harmful rules and regulations to slow parents to make ends meet when infla-
Index and today’s Producer Price Index down drilling and make it more expen- tion hit in the seventies. When food
information are an early alarm bell sive. We are now importing more oil and gas prices went up, we had less
signaling that this Congress and the from Russia than Alaska. food on the table.
Biden administration are courting run- As a physician in rural Kansas, I had I remember going to the grocery
away inflation. the privilege of delivering a baby most store, when my mom took in ironing to
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July 14, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4881
raise money every day for groceries, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tices. She has proven herself to be an
and she said: You have to look at the ator from Washington. excellent choice for this important
price of things because they are con- ORDER OF PROCEDURE role.
stantly going up. Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I We take some hard votes in this
That is happening again in Joe ask unanimous consent that upon dis- Chamber. These should not be among
Biden’s America. Families in Florida position of the Nanda nomination, the them. Workers are the backbone of our
and across our Nation are suffering be- Senate resume consideration of the economy, and that means every one of
cause of the Democrats’ reckless spend- Liang nomination at 5:30 today and the us should be fighting for them and vot-
ing spree led by Joe Biden. Senate vote on the motions to invoke ing to confirm Commissioner Samuels
Just take a look around. Average and Ms. Nanda, who will fight for them
cloture on the Liang and Remy nomi-
prices of everything—everything is up. as well.
nations in the order listed; further, I
Let’s say families are filling up their I yield the floor.
ask that the cloture motion on the
tank once a week. If you drive a car, VOTE ON SAMUELS NOMINATION
Cunningham nomination ripen upon
that means Joe Biden raised your ex- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
disposition of the Remy nomination.
penses $600 a year. If you drive a truck, question is, Will the Senate advise and
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
that means Joe Biden raised your ex- consent to the Samuels nomination?
objection, it is so ordered.
penses by more than $1,000 a year. And Mrs. MURRAY. I ask for the yeas and
NOMINATION OF JOCELYN SAMUELS
let’s remember, half of Americans nays.
make less than $35,000 a year. Inflation Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a
is a new tax on our families. was proud to vote to confirm Jocelyn sufficient second?
Instead of addressing this crisis that Samuels to the Equal Employment Op- There appears to be a sufficient sec-
has hurt Americans, Biden and the portunity Commission last year when ond.
Democrats are living in an economic she was confirmed in a bipartisan vote, The clerk will call the roll.
fantasyland where debt doesn’t matter, and I am proud to do so again. The senior assistant legislative clerk
spending has no consequences, and in- The EEOC has a critical role to play called the roll.
flation is impossible. They are ignoring in protecting workers’ rights and ad- Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is
the fact that our Nation is barreling dressing inequities in our economy necessarily absent: the Senator from
towards $30 trillion in debt. That is which disproportionately disadvantage South Carolina (Mr. GRAHAM).
$233,000 in debt for every family in women, people of color, people with The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms.
America. disabilities, and more. For example, it BALDWIN). Are there any other Sen-
Now Democrats in the Senate want is responsible for enforcing discrimina- ators in the Chamber desiring to vote?
to spend another $4 trillion of your tion and harassment laws and works to The result was announced—yeas 52,
money on a so-called infrastructure address the gender pay gap. nays 47, as follows:
plan that has little to do with infra- Workers need a champion at the [Rollcall Vote No. 260 Ex.]
structure. They don’t care if Ameri- EEOC fighting for them, and Ms. Sam- YEAS—52
cans get a return on their hard-earned uels has proven over her nearly two Baldwin Hickenlooper Reed
tax dollars. decades of experience with the Federal Bennet Hirono Rosen
But the truth is, we can’t keep spend- Government and her recent service as a Blumenthal Kaine Sanders
ing like this. There will be a day of Booker Kelly Schatz
Commissioner of the EEOC that she is Brown King
reckoning coming if we don’t act to get Schumer
that champion. Cantwell Klobuchar Shaheen
our fiscal house in order. That is why I From pushing to pass the Lilly Cardin Leahy Sinema
have introduced legislation, the Fed- Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as vice presi- Carper Luján Smith
eral Debt Emergency Control Act, to Casey Manchin
dent of education and employment at Collins Markey
Stabenow
take real steps to rein in Washington’s the National Women’s Law Center to Coons Menendez
Tester
out-of-control spending. That includes Van Hollen
leading civil rights efforts at the De- Cortez Masto Merkley
Warner
preventing Biden and the Democrats partment of Justice and Department of Duckworth Murkowski
Warnock
from mindlessly spending by requiring Durbin Murphy
Health and Human Services, to work- Feinstein Murray Warren
that two-thirds of the Senate vote to ing as a staffer on the Senate Health, Gillibrand Ossoff Whitehouse
increase the debt before approving any Education, Labor, and Pensions Com- Hassan Padilla Wyden
bill with deficit spending. Heinrich Peters
mittee and a senior attorney at the
It would terminate any unobligated EEOC, she has spent her career work- NAYS—47
funding from the American Rescue ing to address discrimination and en- Barrasso Grassley Risch
Plan and any previous stimulus bills, sure no one is treated unfairly because Blackburn Hagerty Romney
sending it back to the Treasury Gen- of their age, sex, including sexual ori-
Blunt Hawley Rounds
eral Fund for deficit reduction. Boozman Hoeven Rubio
entation and gender identity, race, re- Braun Hyde-Smith Sasse
Finally, it would ensure that any bill Burr Inhofe
ligion, or disability. Scott (FL)
reducing the debt by at least 5 percent Capito Johnson
I was pleased to see her nomination Scott (SC)
over 10 years is fast-tracked through Cassidy Kennedy Shelby
advanced out of our HELP Committee Cornyn Lankford
the legislative process. Sullivan
We are in a debt crisis. This isn’t mo- with bipartisan support, and I hope to Cotton Lee
Thune
see similar bipartisan support for her Cramer Lummis
nopoly money; it is Americans’ money, Crapo Tillis
Marshall
and we have to be responsible with it. final confirmation. Cruz McConnell Toomey
NOMINATION OF SEEMA NANDA Daines Moran Tuberville
It is time to end the madness, and it is Wicker
Ernst Paul
time to stand up for low- and fixed-in- Madam President, I would also like Fischer Portman Young
come families and for small businesses to urge my colleagues to join me in
voting to confirm Seema Nanda as So- NOT VOTING—1
that bear the brunt of President
Biden’s inflation crisis. With the debt licitor for the Department of Labor— Graham
ceiling suspension expiring on July 31, another nominee who was advanced The nomination was confirmed.
we must tackle these issues head-on from the HELP Committee on a bipar- VOTE ON NANDA NOMINATION
and chart a new and fiscally respon- tisan vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
sible path forward that protects fami- Ms. Nanda has served in the Depart- the previous order, the question is, Will
lies and our Nation’s financial secu- ment of Labor previously as Deputy the Senate advise and consent to the
rity. Chief of Staff, Deputy Solicitor of Nanda nomination?
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
I look forward to every fiscally re- Labor, and Chief of Staff. She pre- Mr. MANCHIN. I ask for the yeas and
sponsible Republican and Democrat viously served as a career attorney in nays.
working with me to reject Biden’s in- the Department of Justice, where she The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a
sane spending spree, quickly pass my fought to defend immigrant workers sufficient second?
bill, and protect the future of this Na- from discrimination and held employ- There appears to be a sufficient sec-
tion. ers accountable for unfair hiring prac- ond.
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