Biden Administration (Cong. Rec., Nov. 17, 2021)
Summary
Congressional Record, Senate, November 17, 2021, pages S8320 and S8321. Mr. Schumer says the Build Back Better bill will not increase inflation and urges approval of the Kigali Amendment on HFCs. Mr. McConnell, under the heading Biden Administration, criticizes administration policy on Afghanistan, energy, and the border and cites a 6.2 percent inflation rate. Mr. Wicker speaks about the INTERPOL General Assembly in Istanbul. A cloture vote on the nomination of Brian Eddie Nelson, to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes, is yeas 50, nays 50, and the Vice President votes in the affirmative.
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“Biden Administration (Cong. Rec., Nov. 17, 2021).”
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S8320 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 17, 2021
make sure families have more money to the amendment. Even China is on own Keystone XL Pipeline but cleared
in their pockets, the best thing—the the list. We should join it too. the path for a new pipeline for Vladi-
best thing—we can do is pass Build HFCs are dangerous greenhouse mir Putin. The amount of Russian oil
Back Better. chemicals found in everyday appliances that America has to import has al-
Seventeen Nobel Prize-winning from air-conditioners to refrigerators. ready nearly doubled on the Demo-
economists—and more from both sides They are thousands of times more dam- crats’ watch.
of the political spectrum—have said aging to our atmosphere than carbon Look at the border. Illegal crossers
that this bill will help relieve infla- dioxide. We had made progress in are flooding across our southern border
tionary pressures over the long term. eliminating these chemicals before the at an all-time high. The Democrats
And this morning, an exclusive by Trump administration characteris- have interior enforcement arrests down
Reuters confirmed that, for all the Re- tically, unfortunately, took us back- to a decade low.
publicans howling at the Moon about wards. But there is no question what crisis
inflation, Build Back Better will not— Phasing out these HFCs is very im- is at the top of the minds of middle-
will not—increase inflation. portant and will go a long way in fight- class Americans. There is no question
And here is what the leading econo- ing climate change and protecting the what is keeping working Americans
mist at Moody’s said: environment for future generations. awake at night. It is inflation. Infla-
The bills do not add to inflation pressures, And it is supported by the business
as the policies help to lift long-term eco-
tion. The runaway prices and unpre-
nomic growth via stronger productivity and
community too, as it will open up com- dictability that Democrats’ policies
labor force growth, and thus take the edge panies to markets for HFC alternatives have fueled.
off inflation. overseas, promoting investment, inno- Ninety percent of Americans told one
Stronger growth, less inflation. I will vation, and greater economic activity. recent survey that they are somewhat
say it again: If you want to fight infla- Approving this amendment will re- or extremely concerned with inflation.
tion, if you want to lower costs and quire two-thirds of the Senate. Reduc- We are a huge and diverse country. It
grow the economy, support Build Back ing our country’s use of HFCs has been is hard to get 9 in 10 Americans to
Better. If you want to fight inflation, a bipartisan priority in the past. In agree on almost anything, but less
support Build Back Better. fact, last December, the Senate ap- than 1 year under Democrat policies, 90
Build Back Better is going to help proved the first-ever agreement to percent of America is worried about in-
families save money by making phase down HFCs—a significant win for flation.
childcare more affordable. It is going fighting the climate crisis. It should be And it is no wonder. Year on year,
to give parents a tax break so they can a bipartisan priority right now. consumer prices have risen faster than
pay for diapers and groceries and gas. In the wake of the President’s visit they have in over three decades. Last
It is going to lower the cost of prescrip- to Glasgow, approving this amend- month marked the fifth month in a row
tion drugs, like insulin and cancer ment—which much of the world al- that inflation has topped 5 percent.
treatments; and it is going to put more ready embraces—is essential for telling These across-the-board numbers can
Americans to work, help our economy the world we are committed to fighting sound a little abstract, so let’s make it
grow in the long term. the climate crisis. If we want to lead very tangible. In the past year, buying
The American people want these the world on this issue, it must—it meat, fish, and eggs has gotten 12 per-
things. must—get done. cent more expensive. A gallon of gas
Why won’t a single Republican come UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT—H.R. 4350 costs the average American $1.31 than
out and vote for them—a single Repub- Now, Madam President, I ask unani- it did a year ago. And heaven forbid
lican? Why do Republicans seem so in- mous consent that the cloture vote on anyone having to replace a family car
tent on opposing lowering the price of the motion to proceed to H.R. 4350 this year; used auto prices are up 26
insulin or giving parents a middle-class occur at a time to be determined by percent.
tax break? the majority leader, following con- Even getting family and friends to-
Given the choice between helping sultation with the Republican leader. gether for Thanksgiving is a much
families afford childcare and leaving The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- pricier prospect than it was last year.
them to fend for themselves, Repub- pore. Is there objection? Turkey alone is an extra 25 cents per
licans are telling families: You are on Without objection, it is so ordered. pound. Factor in all the fixings, and
your own. Mr. SCHUMER. I yield the floor.
Listen to the list of things I just some estimates project a feast next
I suggest the absence of a quorum. week will run families up to 15 percent
mentioned: middle-class tax breaks, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
lowering prescription drug costs, more than it did last year.
pore. The clerk will call the roll. For a while, the White House tried to
childcare. These aren’t handouts. The legislative clerk proceeded to
These aren’t luxury items. To so many downplay the problem. President Biden
call the roll. and his team told American families
families, they are daily essentials, and Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
they are just the beginning of what the that costs weren’t really rising as
I ask unanimous consent that the order much as it seemed; or that, OK, costs
BBB would offer. for the quorum call be rescinded.
While Democrats are fighting to pass were rising, but it would only last a
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- few months; or, as some liberals ar-
legislation to lower costs, Republicans, pore. Without objection, it is so or-
who spent years under Donald Trump gued, that if you remove food costs,
dered. housing costs, and transportation costs
trying to repeal healthcare and give
tax breaks to the ultrarich, are oppos-
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER from the equation, inflation really
ing tax cuts to the middle class while The Republican leader is recognized. wasn’t all that bad.
rooting for prices to go up and up—a BIDEN ADMINISTRATION Some have tried to argue that ramp-
gold mine. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, ant inflation is actually a high-class
Americans won’t forget who in Wash- a lot has gone wrong since this unified problem to have because at least we
ington is fighting for them and who is Democratic government took the reins aren’t in a recession. I am not kidding.
spending their time trying to exploit back in January. I guess they think working Americans
their hardships. Let’s take a look at foreign policy. should stop complaining and be grate-
KIGALI AMENDMENT The Biden administration’s clumsy re- ful things aren’t even worse.
treat from Afghanistan left Americans But a sad irony is that inflation is
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Finally, the Kigali Amendment. Yes-
terday, the Senate received a message behind, who wanted out, and handed exactly the opposite of a high-class
from the White House calling for us to the country to a government staffed problem. Inflation is like a huge, re-
approve a treaty amendment that will with terrorists that used to be locked gressive tax hike that hits the middle
curb our country’s use of dangerous up at Guantanamo Bay. class, the working class, and the poor
hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs. Let’s take a look at energy independ- far more than it hurts wealthy people.
Commonly known as the Kigali ence. Or should I say energy depend- The three biggest drivers of the stag-
Amendment, 120 countries have agreed ence? President Biden canceled our gering 6.2 percent inflation rate we
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November 17, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8321
logged last month were housing, trans- hard-working men and women of this (Whereupon, Mr. LUJÁN assumed the
portation, and food. These are not lux- country cannot afford to be guinea pigs Chair.)
uries, they are essentials, and they in a socialist experiment where Demo- The VICE PRESIDENT. On this vote,
take up a much bigger share of fami- crats try to inflate their way out of in- the yeas are 50, the nays are 50. The
lies’ budgets from the middle class on flation. Senate being evenly divided, the Vice
down. CLOTURE MOTION President votes in the affirmative.
The Democrats’ inflation is func- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. The motion is agreed to.
tioning like an ultrapunitive tax on KELLY). Pursuant to rule XXII, the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
American families who can least afford Chair lays before the Senate the pend- LUJÁN). The majority leader.
it—exactly the opposite of a ‘‘high- ing cloture motion, which the clerk f
class problem.’’ will state.
It didn’t have to be this way. The in- LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The senior assistant legislative clerk
flation spike wasn’t just predictable; it read as follows: ---
was, in fact, predicted. This past CLOTURE MOTION
spring, I warned my Democratic col- NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA-
We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR
leagues right here on the floor that ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
their unbelievably expensive and poor- 2022—MOTION TO PROCEED
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
ly targeted spending bill that move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask
masqueraded as COVID relief would nation of Executive Calendar No. 463, Brian unanimous consent to resume legisla-
turn our strong economic recovery into Eddie Nelson, of California, to be Under Sec- tive session.
an inflationary mess. Many of my Re- retary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
publican colleagues said the same Charles E. Schumer, Chris Van Hollen, objection, it is so ordered.
John Hickenlooper, Brian Schatz, Tina Mr. SCHUMER. I move to proceed to
thing. But Democrats didn’t have to Smith, Jeff Merkley, Tammy
take our word for it; even their own fa- Duckworth, Patrick J. Leahy, Chris-
Calendar No. 144, H.R. 4350, the Na-
vorite liberal economists, like Presi- topher A. Coons, Sheldon Whitehouse, tional Defense Authorization Act.
dent Clinton’s Treasury Secretary Ben Ray Luján, Christopher Murphy, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
Larry Summers and President Obama’s Martin Heinrich, Robert P. Casey, Jr., clerk will report the bill by title.
CEA Chairman Jason Furman warned Michael F. Bennet, Ron Wyden, Raph- The bill clerk read as follows:
that liberal bill might supercharge in- ael Warnock. Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 144,
flation. The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- H.R. 4350, a bill to authorize appropriations
Now, our Democratic colleagues want imous consent, the mandatory quorum for fiscal year 2022 for military activities of
to ram through another, even bigger, call has been waived. the Department of Defense, for military con-
reckless taxing-and-spending spree The question is, Is it the sense of the struction, and for defense activities of the
Department of Energy, to prescribe military
that would make inflation even worse. Senate that debate on the nomination
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and
Many of those same liberal economists of Brian Eddie Nelson, of California, to for other purposes.
support this new spending spree be- be Under Secretary for Terrorism and
cause of all the leftwing goodies that Financial Crimes, shall be brought to a Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I sug-
are packed into it, but even they large- close? gest the absence of a quorum.
ly admit—these who support this new The yeas and nays are mandatory The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
leftwing proposal—even they admit the under the rule. clerk will call the roll.
package would make inflation even The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to
worse next year. The senior assistant legislative clerk call the roll.
Steven Rattner, a senior economic called the roll. Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I ask
adviser to President Obama, just wrote The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 50, unanimous consent that the order for
in the New York Times that ‘‘The nays 50, as follows: the quorum call be rescinded.
original sin’’—the original sin—‘‘was [Rollcall Vote No. 471 Ex.]
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. HICKENLOOPER). Without objection, it is
YEAS—50
. . . That has contributed materially to so ordered.
Baldwin Hickenlooper Reed
today’s inflation levels.’’ He goes on to Bennet Hirono Rosen INTERPOL
say that Democrats’ new taxing-and- Blumenthal Kaine Sanders Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, this
Booker Kelly Schatz Saturday, the International Criminal
spending spree ‘‘can be deemed ‘paid Brown King Schumer Police Organization, better known as
for’ only if one embraces budget gim- Cantwell Klobuchar Shaheen
micks, like assuming that some of the Cardin Leahy Sinema INTERPOL, will begin its annual Gen-
most important initiatives will be al- Carper Luján Smith eral Assembly in Istanbul.
Casey Manchin
lowed to expire in just a few years. The Coons Markey
Stabenow INTERPOL is a vital global law en-
Tester forcement network that helps police
result [is] a package that front-loads Cortez Masto Menendez
Van Hollen
spending while tax revenues only ar- Duckworth Merkley
Warner
from different countries cooperate with
Durbin Murphy each other to control crime. Unfortu-
rive over [the course] of a decade.’’ Mr. Feinstein Murray Warnock
Rattner cites an outside estimate that Gillibrand Ossoff Warren nately, it has also become a tool in the
‘‘the plan would likely add $800 billion Hassan Padilla Whitehouse hands of despots and crooks who seek
Heinrich Peters Wyden to punish dissidents and political oppo-
or more to the deficit over the next
five years, exacerbating inflationary NAYS—50 nents in an effort to turn other coun-
pressures.’’ Barrasso Graham Portman tries’ law enforcement against the rule
Now, the person I just quoted is a Blackburn Grassley Risch of law.
former top adviser to President Blunt Hagerty Romney Rooting out this sort of abuse should
Boozman Hawley Rounds
Obama—by definition a liberal Demo- Braun Hoeven
be the top priority going into the
Rubio
crat—explaining that the Democrats’ Burr Hyde-Smith Sasse
INTERPOL General Assembly. These
new proposal as currently constituted Capito Inhofe Scott (FL) abuses make a mockery of INTERPOL
Cassidy Johnson and are threatening its continued ex-
would make inflation worse—worse. He Collins Kennedy
Scott (SC)
says it is the Democrats’ proposal Shelby istence.
Cornyn Lankford
Sullivan
itself that needs to be built back bet- INTERPOL’s Constitution cites the
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Cotton Lee
Cramer Thune
ter. Lummis universal declaration of human rights
Crapo Marshall Tillis
President Biden and his party have Cruz McConnell Toomey as the basis for police cooperation. Im-
already brought needless pain on Daines Moran Tuberville portantly and significantly, Article 3 of
American families with their reckless Ernst Murkowski Wicker that declaration forbids INTERPOL
Fischer Paul Young
spending. Ramming through another from engaging in any ‘‘activities of a
multitrillion-dollar, partisan wish list (Whereupon, Mr. HICKENLOOPER political, military, religious or racial
would only compound the damage. The assumed the Chair.) character.’’
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