Congressional Record, Senate, March 30, 2022 (S1843) — Bedoya Nomination and Ocean Shipping Reform Act
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Congressional Record, Senate, page S1843 and following, March 30, 2022. A senator urges colleagues to vote to proceed with the nomination of Bedoya, saying the FTC is left handicapped without him, and, under the heading Coronavirus, says negotiations on COVID public health response funding continue. Thune speaks under the heading Ocean Shipping Reform Act, saying inflation outstripped wage growth and blaming the American Rescue Plan Act, and describes the Ocean Shipping Reform Act that he introduced with Klobuchar.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, March 30, 2022 (S1843) — Bedoya Nomination and Ocean Shipping Reform Act.”
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March 30, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1843
Republicans know this. Yet his nomi- it with the kind of medicines that are didn’t stop Democrats. Now that they
nation has been deadlocked not once needed that limit the severity of the were in charge, they were eager to take
but twice at the committee level. For infection. The rest of the world is rac- advantage of the COVID crisis to begin
all the howling our Republican friends ing to buy up the supply of these treat- implementing their Big Government
are doing about rising costs, they are ments and these therapeutics, and if vision.
truly content with dragging their feet the United States falls behind because So, in the name of COVID relief, they
on public servants who could actually of a lack of funding, vulnerable Ameri- pushed through a massive, partisan,
help solve the problem. So shame on cans and our whole country will pay $1.9 trillion piece of legislation filled
those who are blocking that. the price. with unnecessary spending and hand-
Without Mr. Bedoya, the FTC and The bottom line is this: Both sides outs to Democrat interest groups, and
members are left handicapped and in- should come to an agreement for more the outcome was entirely predictable.
capable of moving forward. So today’s funding as quickly as possible because Democrats flooded the economy with
motion to discharge is a matter of im- that would mean more vaccines, more unnecessary government money, and
mense importance, and I hope all my therapeutics, and more testing so we the economy overheated as a result.
colleagues who care about fighting in- can keep schools and communities Unfortunately, there is no going back
flation and price manipulation and col- open, and when and if another new var- and undoing the American Rescue Plan
lusion vote to proceed with Mr. iant hits, we can stay as ‘‘normal’’ as Act; although, given the inflation cri-
Bedoya’s nomination. possible. sis it helped create, I wonder if some
And on one other point I wanted to If a new COVID variant extends its Democrats wish they could go back and
make, I read that stock buybacks by nasty tentacles across the country and undo it.
the oil companies have dramatically we don’t have the tools to respond, There is no easy fix for Democrats’
increased this year. Why is that money then woe is us. We don’t want to see self-inflicted inflation crisis, but there
going into stock buybacks instead of that. Americans don’t want to endure are things that we can do to at least
into other much more productive uses? that. So let’s keep working to try to lessen its effects, starting with legisla-
This is another thing the FTC could reach an agreement soon. tion to help ease supply chain woes.
take a look at. I yield the floor. Last week, the Senate Commerce
Now, as the day progresses, I also I suggest the absence of a quorum. Committee reported my bipartisan
want my colleagues to realize the pos- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- shipping legislation out of committee
sibility of additional votes later today. pore. The clerk will call the roll. by voice vote. The Ocean Shipping Re-
On Monday, I filed cloture on five indi- The senior assistant legislative clerk form Act, which I introduced with Sen-
viduals to fill other important roles proceeded to call the roll. ator KLOBUCHAR, would help ease sup-
across the administration. Today, we Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask ply chain pressures by improving the
will move on the first of these nomi- unanimous consent that the order for fluidity of the supply chain.
nees, but we are working to move for- the quorum call be rescinded. For some time now, I have been hear-
ward with the rest as soon as we can. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- ing reports of ocean carriers refusing
CORONAVIRUS pore. Without objection, it is so or- to transport certain goods, often Amer-
Mr. President, now on COVID, nego- dered. ican agricultural products. This would
tiations on COVID public health re- The Senator from South Dakota. be a difficult situation at any time, as
sponse funding continue. Yesterday, I OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT export markets around the world are
met again with my Republican col- Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, American critically important to American pro-
league Senator ROMNEY, as we work to families are currently struggling with ducers, but it is particularly painful at
an agreement, and, today, these nego- the worst inflation in 40 years—40 a time when inflation is soaring and
tiations will keep going. years. Food prices, gas prices, used car the supply chain is under significant
To keep the process moving forward prices—everywhere Americans look, strain.
in the Senate, last night I took the they are paying more. Wages increased The Ocean Shipping Reform Act is
first procedural step on a legislative on average last year, but inflation out- designed to address these kinds of ship-
vehicle through which the Senate could stripped wage growth, which means ping problems and create a more level
pass COVID public health funding, that, instead of a wage increase, a lot playing field for American producers.
when the time comes that both sides of Americans got a de facto pay cut. Our legislation would give the Federal
reach an agreement. And there is no clear end in sight. Maritime Commission increased au-
We are not yet at the finish line, but It is no wonder that nearly two- thority to respond to unfair ocean car-
we will keep working throughout the thirds of the American people dis- rier practices whether that involves a
day, and I am committed to working approve of President Biden’s handling refusal to carry certain cargo, like ag-
with the other side reasonably and in of the economy, and they are right to ricultural commodities, or discrimi-
good faith. The consequences of not do so because Democrats bear a sub- nating against certain commodities for
getting COVID funding are really seri- stantial part of the responsibility for export.
ous—scary, almost. this inflation crisis. While it is true Our bill would also provide the FMC
Additional public health funding is that supply chain issues and the re- with tools to more quickly resolve de-
crucial for making sure every Amer- opening of economies after COVID tention and demurrage disputes, which
ican can get a vaccine if needed, in- shutdowns contributed somewhat to in- would bring greater efficiency and
cluding booster doses and potentially flationary pressures, a big part of the transparency to a process that leaves
new, more effective vaccines down the reason for our current inflation crisis many shippers frustrated, especially
line. New funding would help make is the Democrats’ decision to pass the agricultural producers and other small
sure we have enough testing supplies American Rescue Plan last March. businesses; and our legislation would
throughout the country, which we The very definition of ‘‘inflation’’ is take steps to improve the movement of
know is perhaps the most effective way too many dollars chasing too few goods goods at our Nation’s ports, which
to keep track of the spread of the and services, and that is exactly the would help ease supply chain bottle-
virus. situation that Democrats helped create necks and improve the speed at which
Of course, more funding would ensure with their so-called American Rescue goods reach consumers.
the Federal Government can continue Plan. Democrats took control mere The Ocean Shipping Reform Act
providing treatments like monoclonal weeks after Congress had passed a would bring long-term positive changes
antibody treatments, which are invalu- fifth—fifth—bipartisan COVID relief to the maritime supply chain, which I
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
able for preventing severe COVID infec- bill totaling more than $900 billion and hope would benefit exporters, import-
tions. The lack of therapeutics is prob- meeting essentially all current, press- ers, and consumers alike.
ably the greatest need of all, and we ing COVID needs. I was very pleased that our legisla-
need money so we can have a supply so It was abundantly clear that we were tion received strong bipartisan support
when, God forbid, the next variant hits, not in immediate need of trillions more in the Commerce Committee, and I
we will immediately be able to counter in government spending, but that hope it can swiftly pass here in the
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S1844 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 30, 2022
Senate. This is the kind of bill that we owners, the funds were gone before done together, and let’s get it done as
should be working on if we want to they were able to get the same relief soon as possible. Let’s keep America
help alleviate our inflation situation their neighbors got. healthy and our restaurants open for
and improve the economy. I don’t think it is right that a busi- business.
I was dismayed to see that the Presi- ness on one side of the street in Seattle I yield the floor.
dent’s budget, which was released this got Federal dollars from the Res- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
week, would double down on the kind taurant Revitalization Fund but an- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
of excessive government spending that other mom-and-pop shop just next-door pore. The clerk will call the roll.
helped get us into this inflation crisis and just as qualified—that also got ap- The legislative clerk proceeded to
in the first place. After a year of pro- proved—didn’t get the money because call the roll.
gressively worsening inflation, you the funds ran dry. Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask
would think Democrats would have Now, I know this is true for commu- unanimous consent that the order for
learned their lesson, but, clearly, the nities in red States and in blue the quorum call be rescinded.
President is still intent on more reck- States—that our restaurants are often The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
less spending, coupled, I might add, the heart of a community. They serve KAINE). Without objection, it is so or-
with job-killing tax hikes—and not just their local favorites that remind us of dered.
any tax hikes. According to home. They sponsor our sports teams CORONAVIRUS
Bloomberg, the President’s budget and community causes. They allow us Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, we have
would add up to being the largest tax to get together and share a meal and some rare good news on the public
hike in American history in dollar celebrate with family and friends and health front. COVID cases are down at
terms. make memories. Making these busi- the lowest level since July. Crucially,
I hope that my Democratic col- nesses whole is critical for our econ- hospitalizations and deaths are also
leagues here in Congress will decide to omy, but it is essential to preserving down dramatically, more than 70 per-
skip the President’s irresponsible tax- what makes Seattle ‘‘Seattle’’ or Spo- cent lower than they were in January
and-spending proposals and focus on kane ‘‘Spokane.’’ during the Omicron wave. Compared to
measures that would actually help al- I know many of my Republican col- just a few months ago, our Nation is
leviate this inflation crisis, not make leagues feel the same way. So I want us experiencing far less suffering and
it worse. to look at every possible option to re- death, thank goodness.
While there is no easy fix for our in- plenish the Restaurant Revitalization But despite the progress we have
flation situation, we can start to make Fund and get help to every restaurant made, COVID continues to be a threat.
things better for Americans with bipar- that applied and got approved but Every day, 800 American families lose a
tisan legislation like the Ocean Ship- didn’t get the same help as everyone loved one to COVID—800 a day—and
ping Reform Act. I hope my colleagues else. catch new infections, which present an
on both sides of the aisle will support We have got good bipartisan bills to opportunity for the virus to mutate.
the legislation Senator KLOBUCHAR and get this done. Our legislation would We are at a turning point in this
I have produced. help hard-to-reach businesses and com- fight against COVID. Now, we need to
I yield the floor. munities apply for the assistance be- strengthen our healthcare system. We
I suggest the absence of a quorum. cause I really want to make sure we need to stay a step ahead of this deadly
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- are helping actual small businesses, virus. That is especially true since the
pore. The clerk will call the roll. not giant corporations that don’t need subvariant of Omicron—BA.2, as it is
The legislative clerk proceeded to it. known—has become dominant in Amer-
call the roll. Any Senator who has spoken to local ica.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask restaurant owners knows they are deal- Remember the frenzy last holiday
unanimous consent that the order for ing, still, with really tough challenges season when we were running from
the quorum call be rescinded. right now: increased costs from infla- pharmacy to pharmacy trying to find
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- tion and shortages of everything from rapid tests for our families or waiting
pore. Without objection, it is so or- straws to chicken wings, and it is not in the freezing cold for hours on end to
dered. easy to find wait staff and cooks and a get a PCR test? Why would we ever
RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND lot more. That is why it is so urgent want to be caught flatfooted again? We
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I met that we get a bipartisan small business need to sustain our public health fund-
with restaurant owners from all over relief package—that makes our res- ing so that our hospitals and
my State last month—from Seattle to taurants whole—over the finish line as healthcare professionals have the
Yakima, to Spokane—and we talked soon as possible. So let’s do whatever equipment and tools they need to keep
about the American Rescue Plan and we need to do to get this done and keep us safe.
how important that was and how that our restaurants open. The one thing dramatically worse
bill made recovery possible for so many CORONAVIRUS than returning to the dark days of
restaurants in our State—but not for Now, Mr. President, everyone here COVID–19 and the deadly variants
everyone, and that is why I am on the knows how strongly I feel that we get would be to return unprepared. If we
Senate floor today. a COVID supplemental passed as soon want to keep our masks off—and I do—
The American Rescue Plan was abso- as possible. We do not know when the if we want to keep our kids in school—
lutely a lifeline. It designated more next variant might come or how bad it and I do—and our businesses open, we
than $28 billion to establish a Res- could be. We don’t want to end up in need to make smart investments in
taurant Revitalization Fund that gave the same position as before, when we America’s capacity to confront future
restaurant owners the financial sup- did not have enough tests or vaccines strains of these variants. We can’t con-
port they needed to keep their doors or therapeutics. We all know we have tinue this cycle of neglect and panic.
open, to rehire workers, and to deal to get funding for a COVID supple- These pendulum swings harm our
with the continued effects of COVID–19. mental passed and soon. health system and contribute to unnec-
More than 3,500 Washington State So let’s get both of these passed to- essary costs and suffering.
businesses have received over $9 billion gether to make sure we are doing ev- Congress must come together on a bi-
in Federal loans and grants and debt erything to keep every part of our partisan basis. And shouldn’t we all
relief since the start of the pandemic. economy up and running and so that agree on this: that we move as a nation
That is not even considering the flexi- this administration has what it needs in the same direction? That means pro-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
ble dollars that we provided local gov- to fund every other tool that we know viding funding to purchase new booster
ernments to help local small busi- will keep restaurants open, keep our doses, including those which the FDA
nesses. Now, that really made a dif- schools open, and every other part of authorized this week for adults over
ference and helped a lot of folks keep our communities. the age of 50. I got mine yesterday
their doors open and their employees I feel strongly that we need to pass morning. If we don’t purchase these
on the payroll, but for many restaurant both of those bills. So let’s get them vaccines now ahead of time, then we
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