Congressional Record — Senate, May 19, 2022
Summary
This is S2607 of the Congressional Record, Senate, May 19, 2022, with interleaved columns. The Senate votes on H.R. 7691, a bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine, first on the motion to close debate, Rollcall Vote No. 190 Leg., with yeas 86 and nays 11, and then on passage, Rollcall Vote No. 191 Leg., with yeas 86 and nays 11, after which the bill was passed. A speaker not named on this page states that the bill is as much an American national security bill as support for Ukraine and that roughly 25 percent of the funds replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles. The Senate then resumes consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 4008, the Small Business COVID Relief Act of 2022.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record — Senate, May 19, 2022.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-05-19-i86-crec-2022-05-19-pt1-pgs2607-2-d4e8814e5d/
, SHA-256 041ef13c918726f7c999c34c4545d0ba348a47b38aa639186658f9d00bcbf343.Full text
May 19, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2607
fortifying our military. A Ukrainian Charles E. Schumer, Patrick J. Leahy, VOTE ON H.R. 7691
victory will put Russia in its place and Richard Blumenthal, Mazie K. Hirono, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill
make other countries, namely China, Christopher Murphy, Tina Smith, Rob- having been read the third time, the
ert Menendez, Christopher A. Coons, question is, Shall the bill pass?
think twice before taking aggressive
Michael F. Bennet, Robert P. Casey,
military actions of their own. In these Mr. HEINRICH. I ask for the yeas and
Jr., Benjamin L. Cardin, Elizabeth
moments, it is our responsibility to Warren, Edward J. Markey, Tim Kaine, nays.
support peace and preserve a stable Patty Murray, Jack Reed, Sheldon The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a
world for future generations. Whitehouse. sufficient second?
The bill the Senate will soon vote on The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- There appears to be a sufficient sec-
is at least as much an American na- imous consent, the mandatory quorum ond.
tional security bill as it is support for The clerk will call the roll.
call has been waived.
Ukraine’s heroic fight for survival. In The senior assistant legislative clerk
The question is, Is it the sense of the
fact, roughly 25 percent of the funds in called the roll.
Senate that debate on H.R. 7691, a bill Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
this bill are allocated to replenish U.S. making emergency supplemental ap-
weapons stockpiles. This isn’t money Senator from Ohio (Mr. BROWN), the
propriations for assistance for the situ- Senator from Nevada (Ms. ROSEN), and
for weapons for Ukraine, but to ensure ation in Ukraine for the fiscal year
that, even after all the military aid we the Senator from Maryland (Mr. VAN
ending September 30, 2022, and for HOLLEN) are necessarily absent.
have provided to Ukraine, we have suf- other purposes, shall be brought to a The result was announced—yeas 86,
ficient stockpiles to ensure our na- close? nays 11, as follows:
tional security in case of another con- The yeas and nays are mandatory
[Rollcall Vote No. 191 Leg.]
tingency. In fact, a combined total of under the rule.
roughly 40 percent of the funds in this YEAS—86
The clerk will call the roll.
bill will go to fortify our military, both Baldwin Hassan Reed
The legislative clerk called the roll. Barrasso Heinrich Risch
at home and in Europe. Roughly 50 per- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Bennet Hickenlooper Romney
cent of the funds in this bill will go to Senator from Ohio (Mr. BROWN), the Blumenthal Hirono Rounds
supplying specific equipment needed by Senator from Nevada (Ms. ROSEN), and Blunt Hoeven Rubio
Ukraine’s military, as well as the mili- Booker Hyde-Smith Sanders
the Senator from Maryland (Mr. VAN Burr Inhofe Sasse
taries of our NATO frontline allies, and HOLLEN) are necessarily absent. Cantwell Johnson Schatz
to meet the humanitarian needs of The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 86, Capito Kaine Schumer
Ukrainians suffering from Russian at- nays 11, as follows: Cardin Kelly Scott (FL)
Carper Kennedy
tacks. [Rollcall Vote No. 190 Leg.] Casey King
Scott (SC)
I have heard from hundreds of Iowans Shaheen
YEAS—86 Cassidy Klobuchar
Shelby
whose hearts go out to the people of Baldwin Hassan Reed
Collins Lankford
Sinema
Ukraine after seeing countless reports Coons Leahy
Barrasso Heinrich Risch Cornyn Luján Smith
of Russian brutality. Because of our Bennet Hickenlooper Romney Cortez Masto Manchin Stabenow
own history, Americans naturally sym- Blumenthal Hirono Rounds Cotton Markey Sullivan
Blunt Hoeven Rubio Cramer McConnell Tester
pathize with an underdog seeking free- Booker Hyde-Smith Sanders Thune
Cruz Menendez
dom and independence in the face of an Burr Inhofe Sasse Daines Merkley Tillis
imperialist tyrant. But, as I have said, Cantwell Johnson Schatz Duckworth Moran Toomey
Capito Kaine Warner
this bill is not primarily about sym- Cardin Kelly
Schumer Durbin Murkowski
Scott (FL) Ernst Murphy Warnock
pathy for Ukraine, as natural as that Carper Kennedy Warren
Scott (SC) Feinstein Murray
is. Casey King
Shaheen Fischer Ossoff Whitehouse
This bill is about American national Cassidy Klobuchar Gillibrand Padilla Wicker
Shelby
Collins Lankford Graham Peters Wyden
security. By fighting and dying to de- Coons Leahy
Sinema
Smith Grassley Portman Young
fend their land, Ukrainians are doing Cornyn Luján
Cortez Masto Manchin Stabenow NAYS—11
us a favor. Putin is a threat. If he is Sullivan
Cotton Markey
stopped in Ukraine, it will save greater Cramer McConnell Tester Blackburn Hagerty Marshall
expense in American taxpayer money, Thune Boozman Hawley Paul
Cruz Menendez
Tillis Braun Lee Tuberville
not to mention the potential spilling of Daines Merkley
Crapo Lummis
Duckworth Moran Toomey
American blood. This bill is not cheap, Warner
Durbin Murkowski NOT VOTING—3
but compared to the size of our econ- Ernst Murphy Warnock
Brown Rosen Van Hollen
omy, our investment in Ukrainian vic- Feinstein Murray Warren
tory is still smaller percentagewise Fischer Ossoff Whitehouse The bill (H.R. 7691) was passed.
Gillibrand Padilla Wicker
than that of several Eastern Flank Graham Peters Wyden f
NATO allies, who know full well that Grassley Portman Young
SMALL BUSINESS COVID RELIEF
any weapons transferred to Ukraine NAYS—11 ACT OF 2022—MOTION TO PRO-
now are ones our own troops won’t
Blackburn Hagerty Marshall CEED—Resumed
have to use to defend NATO territory Boozman Hawley Paul
in the future. This is a good invest- Braun Lee Tuberville
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
ment in our future security. Crapo Lummis KING). Under the previous order, the
Senate will resume consideration of
f NOT VOTING—3
the motion to proceed to S. 4008, which
Brown Rosen Van Hollen
CLOTURE MOTION the clerk will report.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. The senior assistant legislative clerk
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant SCHATZ). On this vote, the yeas are 86, as follows:
to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the the nays are 11. Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 344, S.
Senate the pending cloture motion, Three-fifths of the Senators duly cho- 4008, a bill to provide COVID relief for res-
which the clerk will state. sen and sworn having voted in the af- taurants, gyms, minor league sports teams,
The legislative clerk read as follows: firmative, the motion is agreed to. border businesses, live venue service pro-
CLOTURE MOTION Cloture having been invoked, the mo- viders, exclave businesses, and Providers of
We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- tions to commit and the amendments transportation services.
ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the pending thereto fall, and under the pre- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby vious order the pending amendments ator from Indiana.
move to bring to a close debate on Calendar UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 4046
No. 368, H.R. 7691, a bill making emergency
are withdrawn.
supplemental appropriations for assistance The clerk will read the title of the Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I rise
for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal bill for the third time. here today to talk about the IRS. It is
year ending September 30, 2022, and for other The bill was ordered to a third read- not going to take long because it is so
purposes. ing and was read the third time. easy to understand.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:00 May 20, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19MY6.012 S19MYPT1
S2608 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 19, 2022
The IRS has a bad track record. They Look, I would be the first to say that elections. As it stands today, that rule
often fail to be good stewards of tax- the tax system in many respects is just can be overturned. Regrettably, this
payer money and protect highly sen- broken, just a mess. The debate with proposal locks it in place with black
sitive information. Yet the President respect to the role of the parties needs letter law.
and congressional Democrats want to to start with what happened in 2017. We are coming up on the election
throw another $80 billion into the IRS In 2017, we had the President’s tax re- season, of course. My home State just
with no real return on investment, the form proposal, President Trump’s pro- had primaries. Families from sea to
way I can see it. posal, comprehensive proposal, all shining sea get bombarded by political
They have a history of weaponizing kinds of changes. If Senate Republicans ads and mailers. When there is more
against conservative organizations and had wanted to fix the IRS and do what dark money in politics, voters are
for hassling hard-working taxpayers our colleague from Indiana is talking thrown into the shadows. It is even
and small business owners with audits. about and simplify the system, they harder for them to figure out who is
If you look at it statistically, they are could have done that in the 2017 tax trying to influence their vote. Is this
hitting small businesses by number a law. It was a big opportunity with ev- ad paid for by a polluting corporation?
lot harder than some of the fat-cat tax erything in front of us. Is it paid for by a foreign power who is
cheats. It is unacceptable to treat I and others had worked on a bipar- looking to undermine our security? Is
American taxpayers in this way. tisan bill. Our former colleague Sen- it paid for by a wealthy tax cheat who
The IRS does not need more power; it ator Gregg, our former colleague Sen- has absolutely no interest in working
needs to—we need to be assured that it ator Coats—he and I—the two of people in America?
is going to do a better job at what it is them—we had bipartisan bills. Part of Across the street, there are six Re-
supposed to do. Solution? Last month, it was simplifying the system, and Re- publicans on the Supreme Court who
I introduced a bill with a number of publicans in 2017 passed on that. They seem to look at every opportunity and
IRS reforms to hold the Agency ac- made the Tax Code even more com- embrace it to have more dark money
countable and protect taxpayers. The plicated. That point No. 1. make its ways into the nooks and cran-
Simplify, Don’t Amplify the IRS Act Point No. 2 is the Agency is strug- nies of our political system. For exam-
would stop the Biden administration gling with basic services because, year ple, just a few days ago, the Court
from growing the power of the IRS. after year, there have been Republican ruled on a campaign finance case
The bill would stop attempts to target budget cuts that have decimated the brought by our colleague from Texas,
Americans and small businesses by ability of the Agency to meet people’s Senator CRUZ. The six Republican Jus-
snooping into their bank accounts, needs. Now Republicans are the guy in tices sided with the Republican Sen-
credit union accounts, Venmo, PayPal, the hot dog suit, swearing up and down ator—a huge win for the most powerful
and Cash App. It would repeal the that they are trying to find the guy political donors who, as far as I can
Democratic ban on cutting State taxes. who did this. tell, are going to be able to funnel
It would hold IRS employees account- I am just going to talk for a moment more shady payoffs directly into the
able when they release private tax- about how this happened because when bank accounts of more wealthy incum-
payer information and ensure that the the IRS struggles to enforce tax laws, bent Republicans.
IRS spends time not doing its union ac- wealthy tax cheats are able to skip out Colleagues, the Congress does not
tivity when it should be helping Ameri- on paying what they owe, and they have to go along with what I think is
cans when they have an issue, espe- want to keep it that way. just a pillaging of core democratic
cially during tax filing season. That was not always the case. Ronald principles. There ought to be less
The taxpayer deserves the best pos- Reagan—nobody’s idea of somebody
sible service we can provide. We can de- money, less secrecy in our elections,
who worshipped Big Government—in- not more. For these reasons, I object.
bate how much money the IRS needs. creased the number of employees at the I want to tell my colleague from In-
It needs to do its job right first before IRS over his 8 years in office. There diana that I look forward to getting
we give it more money. The solution is used to be bipartisan agreement on
the Don’t Amplify the IRS Act. back to working with him on topics
these kinds of big issues, just like I where we have broad agreement.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous con-
pursued with Senator Gregg, a former I yield the floor.
sent that the Finance Committee be
colleague, and Senator Coats. There The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
discharged from further consideration
used to be bipartisan agreement that tion is heard.
of S. 4046 and that the Senate proceed
the IRS was able to do its job if there The Senator from Indiana.
to its immediate consideration. I fur-
was basic tax fairness, making sure Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I enjoy
ther ask that the bill be considered
read a third time and passed and that that everybody paid their fair share. So working with my colleague because
the motion to reconsider be considered much for those days. Now what we healthcare, in my opinion, is one of the
made and laid upon the table. have are wall-to-wall attacks from our biggest issues that beset the country.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there colleagues on the other side and budget He has pledged to look to maybe try to
objection? cuts that hurt middle-class taxpayers reform it before we get more govern-
Mr. WYDEN. Reserving the right to and boost wealthy tax cheats. ment involved with it.
object. I will close with just a couple of spe- Hot off the press: $19 billion in im-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cifics. If you want more secrecy and proper earned income tax credits from
ator from Oregon. more dark money influencing our po- the IRS. Let’s fix the place before we
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, it is not litical system—and I have had more give it more money.
an atomic secret around here that I than a thousand open-to-everybody I yield the floor.
very much enjoy working with our col- townhall meetings at home. There are The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
league from Indiana. We talk often no rallies for more dark money and ator from Kentucky.
about issues like healthcare and eco- more secrecy in the political system, Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, those Sen-
nomic priorities. I will just say that I but, regrettably, that is exactly what ators who voted to gift $40 billion to
wish we agreed on this one as well. you bet with the proposal from our col- Ukraine argue that it is in our national
Colleagues, the net effect of this pro- leagues on the other side. security interest. I wonder if Ameri-
posal is to hobble the IRS and let the In 2018, on the same day that the Jus- cans across our country would agree if
wealthiest in America get out of pay- tice Department unveiled charges they had been shown the cost, if they
ing what they owe. And there is a lot against a Russian spy who was working had been asked to pay for it. If the sup-
to discuss here. Like Senator BRAUN, I to influence our elections, the Trump porters of foreign aid for Ukraine had
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
am going to keep this short. administration out of nowhere basi- been honest with Americans, they
First, I think it is important to get cally blindsided the public by opening could have instituted a Ukraine war
at this back-and-forth between the po- the floodgates to foreign money and tax. I am sure it would have been quite
litical parties. I see the Presiding Offi- special interest dollars in our elec- popular because, by my calculation,
cer in the chair, and he, too, has been tions. The rule makes it even easier for each income tax payer in our country
interested in tax reform. powerful people to try to hot-wire our would need to pay $500 to support this
VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:00 May 20, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19MY6.030 S19MYPT1
May 19, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2609
$40 billion, which by some accounts is a care, Medicaid, Social Security, the the highest inflation in 41 years. Yet in
downpayment and will need to be re- military, food stamps, a few more so- today’s exercise, Democrats want to
plenished in about 4 months. So a $500 cial programs—that is the budget. That spend another $48 billion.
tax to every American income tax is a trillion dollars short. What comes Where is the emergency? The
payer would pay for this. But that is in, what goes out, we are a trillion dol- lockdowns have mostly been ended
not the way things are done in Wash- lars short, and in the last 2 years we over the last year, and yet there is this
ington. What we do is say: Put it on my borrowed $6 trillion more. Is it any all, hurry up we must print up more
tab. We don’t want to be honest. We wonder we have inflation? money. The $40 billion we gave to
don’t want to be transparent with the But the other side is not even saying Ukraine, the ink is not even dry, but
taxpayer. We just add it to the debt. they understand where inflation comes we have to shovel out another 48 bil-
We could have also taken the $40 bil- from. They think it is greed. I wouldn’t lion. Where is the emergency?
lion from elsewhere in the budget. We accept that from a third grade class. It There will be 40 billion in this for res-
could have said: Well, we spent $770 bil- is moronic. What do they suppose? Ev- taurants. New grants will go to yachts,
lion on our military, and that $770 bil- eryone all got together, and the people yacht clubs, limousine businesses,
lion is more than the next eight coun- that control the gas price became racket clubs, and luxury gyms, and
tries combined. We could have taken it greedy last month. Well, that is absurd minor league sports. Oh boy, we have
out of our military budget. If it is in on the face of it. Greed has nothing to an emergency that we need to get the
our national security interests, per- do with this. People are always self-in- minor league sports involved with the
haps it could be a military expenditure. terested. Inflation comes from an ex- bailout, while Americans across the
But, no, we don’t want to tax the pansion of the money supply. M2 is a country are getting poorer.
people. We don’t want them to know broad measure of the money supply. Americans can’t afford to put the gas
there is a payment or punishment for The last 3 years, the M2 has been ex- in their car to go on vacation. Ameri-
this. We don’t want to take it from panding at a 15 percent annual clip. cans are losing income every day. The
somewhere else where somebody else is You cannot expand the money supply average American family is paying $100
getting rich off of this money. No, 15 percent and not get inflation. more every week, $100 more; $5,200 a
what we do is simply borrow it. ‘‘Put it In January of last year, the M2 was year is being lost to inflation for the
on my tab’’ is what Congress says, so, expanding at an annualized rate of 27 average American family. What are we
yes, that is what will happen. percent. Why? Because we don’t have doing to protect them?
When Americans go to the grocery money to pay for all the stuff we give I have great sympathy for businesses
store, they will pay, yet again, higher to people. It is dishonest; it is deceit- that were forced to shut down during
prices. When Americans go to the gas ful. We give people stuff and say, here’s the pandemic. The lockdowns should
pump, they will spend even more for free stuff. You don’t have to work any- never have happened. And we have no
their gas because there is no free more; we are closing your business evidence that the COVID lockdowns
lunch. Forty billion cannot be created down. But here is some money. But we and restrictions altered the trajectory
out of thin air, although it sort of is by don’t have it, so we are going to print of the virus or saved one life. Petty ty-
the Fed. In being creative and increas- it up or borrow it. rants have shut down businesses not
ing the demand, it causes inflation. That is what went on. Over the last 2 based on science but based on a per-
Debt leads to inflation. years, Congress went on a spending verted political science.
Now, when the ink is not even dry on spree. More than $6 trillion was given No government check, no passing out
the money that we are shoveling out away. What my colleagues may be of a bailout can beat the operating of
the door for Ukraine, the Democrats shocked to learn is it is never really the market. The marketplace is the
are back. It hasn’t yet been an hour. free. There is no such thing as a free only thing that created the great
We are still in the same hour that $40 lunch. In fact, lunch actually costs a wealth of our country and the only
billion was given away to a foreign lot more than it did before. thing that can continue to help us. Yet
country. Congress started spending all of this the other side insisted on economic
Now that the $40 billion is gone, they free money, but while the $30 trillion shutdowns, only to prop up the market
are somewhere, somewhere busily with national debt continues to climb, Con- with the taxpayers’ wallet and bor-
a printing press printing that money gress continues to spend. You would rowed money.
up, the ink is not yet dry, now they think they would be chastened. We Democrats need to wake up and real-
want $48 billion more for COVID bail- have nearly double digit inflation out ize that dumping more money in the
outs. there. You think they would be saying, economy is simply pouring $5-a-gallon
Well, perhaps there was another al- oh, my goodness, we have to quit gas on an already out-of-control fire.
ternative. Perhaps, instead of locking digging the hole deeper. No, instead we America can be a rising Nation again if
down the economy—which studies now sent 40 billion out before lunch; they we let it. The people have had enough
show did not mitigate the virus, did want to send 48 billion more after with mandates and lockdowns. It is
not change the trajectory of the lunch. time to end the bailouts and, once
virus—perhaps instead of locking the Last month, they sent over a $100 bil- again, let the free market reign again.
economy down and ruining businesses, lion in subsidies out. They doubled the I yield the floor.
we could have not locked the economy size of one of the most wasteful govern- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
down. That was an alternative and ment organizations we have: the Na- ator from Utah.
one—if this ever happens again, we tional Science Foundation. Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I ask unani-
should learn a lesson: The lockdowns So, no, they are not chastened. Infla- mous consent that the following Sen-
did not change the trajectory of the tion is caused by borrowing and debt ators be permitted to complete their
virus; they bankrupted folks. But it is and the Fed monetizing it. So what are remarks prior to the scheduled votes:
not the answer. they doing in the last 2 months? They Senators LEE, MURRAY, CARDIN, and
The answer isn’t to lock down the are making it worse. After 2 years of SCHUMER.
economy again and just bail people out running up the taxpayers’ credit card The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
because, guess what, almost $6 trillion by 6 trillion, you would think they objection, it is so ordered.
was spent bailing out the economy. We would be beginning to grasp the prob- UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST
didn’t have it. We didn’t have a rainy lem. Small businesses, hard-working Mr. LEE. Mr. President, in recent
day fund. You can’t go to the Federal Americans simply can’t spend any weeks, American moms and dads have
Reserve and open a big safe door and more of the money we don’t have. We been scouring supermarkets and drug-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
say, ah, there is the money, we will can’t just keep giving away money. stores looking for baby formula. Par-
give it to people that we ruined by Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that ents are desperate to feed their infants
shutting the economy down. Democrats have now come to the real- and repeatedly check brick-and-mortar
There is no money. We are already a ization or have not come to the realiza- and online stores, ask family and
trillion dollars in the hole, if you just tion that their authoritarian friends to purchase and ship formula
look at our ordinary expenses—Medi- lockdowns and endless spending caused wherever they might be, purchase
VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:00 May 20, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19MY6.031 S19MYPT1
S2610 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 19, 2022
mother’s milk online, and even hos- mula with WIC vouchers. Under the just offered. For example, waiving the
pitalize their babies in some instances current system, most WIC parents can nutrient requirements for infant for-
because they can’t find formula. The buy only a specific brand, the brand mula.
situation is worse still for those par- listed on the voucher label, which, in FDA actually requires infant formula
ents who need specialty formula for ba- many circumstances, might be unavail- to include 30 essential nutrients—too
bies with medically-required diets. able. much or too little of those nutrients
What parents experience today is My bill will allow these parents to can put the health of our most vulner-
rightly called the formula crisis. In one buy from available stock and feed their able at risk—or labeling requirements
of the most stressful times of life, the children. for directions on preparation and use,
parents of newborns are left in an un- Keeping American infants fed should which are really important to keep ba-
imaginable position. My heart breaks be one of the least controversial pro- bies safe.
for those infants and for their parents. posals imaginable. American babies are I want us to quickly find common
The sound of a baby’s cry carries a dif- going hungry, and the Federal Govern- ground on steps to end this shortage
ferent weight in times like these. ment is standing in the way. safely, give parents the formula they
Families in my own State feel this My FORMULA Act will help solve need, and make sure this situation
crisis quite acutely. Utah has the larg- the formula crisis and make sure never happens again.
est families, the most children per cap- American babies do not go unfed. I am sure the Senator from Utah
ita, and the highest birthrate of any I am pleased to be joined in this ef- wants that too. I really do think we
State in the Union. Utah’s families do, fort by Senators GRASSLEY, DAINES, can get this done. And that is why I
indeed, feel this acutely. I have read CASSIDY, and WICKER. This bill has the would like to offer to pass another bill
and I have heard so many heart- support of a number of outside groups I have right now, which ensures FDA
wrenching stories from Utah families. and countless Americans. If we can can take the steps to increase supply
Their searches have expanded from the help solve this crisis today, we can without compromising standards and
local grocery store to stores across make sure American babies’ cries do which, similar to Senator LEE’s bill,
town to the internet and, finally, to not go unanswered. We must pass the would waive tariffs on importing baby
total desperation, as formula has be- FORMULA Act. formula during this crisis.
come out of stock everywhere within To that end, I ask unanimous consent And I do want to continue working
reach. that the Senate proceed to the imme- on other bipartisan steps here. I know
Unfortunately, when the White diate consideration of S. 4261, which is that Senator STABENOW and Senator
House was asked recently what parents at the desk; I further ask that the bill BOOZMAN are working on legislation at
should do, the White House said: be considered read a third time and this very moment to make adjustments
Ask your pediatrician, who may have for- passed and that the motion to recon- to the WIC program, similar to another
mula samples, for possible alternatives. sider be considered made and laid upon part of Senator LEE’s effort that I
What an embarrassing stopgap meas- the table. think is also crucial.
ure. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there So while I have concerns with how
Now, look, not every crisis is one objection? some of the proposals to waive FDA au-
that, like this one, is a government’s The Senator from Washington. thority will make it harder for FDA to
own creation. Not every crisis is one Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, re- keep babies safe, I think there is a bi-
that, like this one, could, therefore, be serving the right to object. partisan path forward for some of these
resolved with fairly simple action. It is As a mom and grandmother, I share ideas, and I urge Senator LEE to work
inexcusable that their response was to my colleague’s deep concern about the with me and our colleagues to find
just ask your pediatrician because your infant formula shortage; but I am con- that.
pediatrician might have samples on cerned with the Senator’s proposal to Mr. President, right now, I ask unan-
hand. address it, and so I will be offering the imous consent that the Senate proceed
Then there are some in Congress who Senate an alternative here in just a to the immediate consideration of my
simply want to throw money at the moment that addresses those concerns bill, which is at the desk, to tempo-
problem without addressing the weak- while building on common ground and rarily allow the importation of infant
nesses in this critical supply chain or the need to end this shortage. formula free of duty and free of quan-
without removing the redtape that So I object to the Senator’s proposal titative limitation and to require the
caused this problem to begin with and and seek recognition to offer my pro- Food and Drug Administration to issue
is now standing in the way of parents. posal. guidance related to increasing the sup-
American babies deserve better. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ob- ply of infant formula. I further ask
Today, the Senate can help American jection is heard. that the bill be considered read a third
families by immediately passing my The Senator from Washington. time and passed, and that the motion
bill called the FORMULA Act. This bill Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, as a to reconsider be considered made and
responds to the crisis in three simple mom and grandmother, I share my col- laid upon the table.
ways that will help solve the formula league’s concern about the infant for- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
crisis and feed American babies. mula shortage, and I have been press- objection?
First, my bill would suspend tariff ing the FDA and infant formula manu- The Senator from Utah.
collection and quantity on formula im- facturers for answers and actions on Mr. LEE. Mr. President, reserving
ports. Formula that we can bring in this going back to when the Abbott re- the right to object, I appreciate the re-
from abroad is taxed at a rate of 17.5 call was first announced back in Feb- marks and the shared enthusiasm that
percent upon entering the United ruary. And I am glad the Biden admin- my friend and colleague, the distin-
States. We can help ease the sky- istration is taking some action to ad- guished Senator from Washington, has
rocketing prices and encourage compa- dress this crisis: FDA’s announcement expressed, a shared vision that we have
nies to import as much baby formula earlier this week to make it easier to for wanting to protect American ba-
as possible simply by suspending this import baby formula during this crisis bies.
collection of tariffs. and President Biden’s announcement I am also disappointed that she has
Second, my bill would temporarily yesterday that he will use the Defense objected to a reform that would put
allow formula imports from a number Production Act to bring more formula direly needed infant formula onto
of safe countries like those in Europe to market, because I want to see for- shelves and into the hands of millions
from which we are comfortable import- mula back on the shelves as soon as of Americans in need.
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
ing pharmaceutical products. This will possible. This is not, of course, the time for
allow us to access plentiful and safe But I also want parents to know the political wins; it is a time for solu-
formula supplies coming from abroad formula that they are giving their tions. And it can’t be ignored that Big
and meet the needs that we have today. child is safe, which is why I have seri- Government has, in fact, caused the
Finally, my bill would allow WIC re- ous concerns about the broad waivers shortage and the crisis involving baby
cipients to buy imported brands of for- of FDA authority in the bill that was formula.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:00 May 20, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19MY6.033 S19MYPT1
May 19, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2611
If we walk away from this current do appreciate the Senator’s efforts to NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION,
crisis and we somehow try to attribute address some of the concerns I have May 18, 2022.
DEAR SENATORS CARDIN AND WICKER: The
its causes simply to inflation and sup- here, but the bill that he is offering
Senate is expected to consider legislation
ply chain disruptions, we will have will still ultimately exempt formula that would finally replenish the Restaurant
missed out on a bigger picture of in- from FDA standards that are really Revitalization Fund (RRF), a critical pro-
volving how government regulations critical for safety. We owe it to parents gram for a sector still struggling with pan-
have contributed to the outcome. to know that when they purchase for- demic-related debts and losses. On behalf of
If there were not serious prohibitions mula, it is safe. the restaurants and the communities we sup-
and restrictions on trade, we would So I would like to keep working with port nationwide, we urge your full support.
Senator LEE and our colleagues to The RRF has been a lifeline for restaurants
have a far larger baby formula import that received grants last year. Initially fund-
market. But because the FDA and make progress on this as soon as pos- ed at $28 billion, the RRF worked as planned,
other health regulators arbitrarily de- sible. I hope we can continue to do helping restaurants stay in business and
cided that other countries’ standards that; but at this point, I object. serve their communities. In fact, 92% of RRF
for mixtures were not suitable for The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- recipients said the grant helped them pay ex-
American infants, foreign products tion is heard. penses or debt that had accumulated since
The Senator from Utah. the beginning of the pandemic, according to
have been excluded from our grocery National Restaurant Association research.
Mr. LEE. Mr. President, it is impor-
shelves at a time when we need them As you are aware, the RRF’s initial fund-
tant to note here that nothing in my
the very most. ing of $28 billion was quickly depleted, leav-
proposal would put formula on the
Now, make no mistake—the Abbott ing 177,000 restaurants that were promised
shelves that is not safe. funds with nothing. While the restaurant in-
recall was not the cause of this short-
By opening up some of the import re- dustry appreciates Congress’ help in estab-
age but, rather, the culminating event strictions and the regulatory restric- lishing the program, the outcome unfairly
of a long, brewing storm. tions, it adheres still to the same safe- pitted restaurants against each other in a
Unless we reshape our regulatory en- battle where Congress ultimately chose the
ty standards that we rely on. It does
vironment, we will continue to lack allow for the importation of some prod- winners and losers.
the formula that parents need to feed uct from other countries—other coun- The Senate has before it an opportunity to
their children. right this wrong by passing S. 4008—the
tries that we have deemed sufficiently Small Business COVID–19 Relief Act of 2022
The counteroffer that my colleague safe that we allow their imports in the
has presented today does three things. to replenish the RRF and provide fairness
pharmaceutical arena. There is no rea- and equity to restaurants that have been
First, it fails to actually put formula son we can’t do that here. desperately waiting for help. Our research
into the hands of Americans. Second, it The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- shows that additional round of RRF grants
empowers the very actors that have ator from Maryland. would be just as effective as the first. Nearly
created this shortage through over- S. 4008 50% of restaurant operators that did not re-
regulation. And, lastly, it fails to make Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, shortly ceive RRF grants feel it’s unlikely that they
any reforms to the WIC program. will stay in business, and 94% said a future
we are going to be voting on a motion grant would enable them to retain or hire
This proposal by my colleague misses to proceed to S. 4008. This is the bill
the mark, and on that basis, I object back employees.
that would replenish the restaurant re- Two years into the pandemic, these 177,000
and would like to offer a counter pro- vitalization fund for the 170,000 res- restaurants continue to struggle to survive
posal. taurants that were shut out of getting as inflation, increased food costs, a labor
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- funds when the program was first en- shortage, and supply chain disruptions con-
tion is heard. acted. A hundred thousand got the re- tinue to place greater strains on them than
The Senator from Utah. ever before. Unlike the nation’s overall econ-
lief; 170,000 were shut out through no omy, which is showing signs of improvement,
Mr. LEE. Mr. President, and so al- fault of their own.
though I object, as I stated previously, the restaurant industry is still down nearly
So this is a matter of basic fairness. 800,000 jobs and $300 billion in lost sales.
this is not the time for political wins; It is also a matter of need. These res- The RRF was born out of an emergency
it is the time for solutions. So I would taurants—many of which are ready to and helped restaurants endure the disaster
like to present a counteroffer to my go out of business—they need the brought on by government ordered shut-
colleague’s proposal. I believe an agree- money to pay off their debts that they downs and capacity restrictions. Replen-
ment on meaningful solutions can and took out to stay open, and they are ishing the RRF should still be considered an
should be reached. emergency, no different than a hurricane,
competing with restaurants next door tornado, or wildfires.
This bill would incorporate provi- that have gotten that relief, and they On behalf of restaurants across the coun-
sions passed by the House yesterday, can’t compete on a level playing field. try, we strongly support S. 4008—the Small
enabling WIC recipients to buy formula This has been a bipartisan bill from Business COVID–19 Relief Act of 2022 and
by granting the Secretary of Agri- the beginning. We started with this thank you for your tireless leadership to
culture the permanent flexibility to last August, a bipartisan group work- shepherd this critical legislation through the
waive certain WIC requirements. ing on it. We have placed guardrails on Senate so that restaurants can get back to
Additionally, this bill would incor- serving their local communities.
this bill. There is no double-dipping.
porate my colleague’s waiver on the Sincerely,
You can’t have both. The PPP money SEAN KENNEDY,
tariffs on infant formula and import has to be subtracted. It has to be used Executive Vice President, Public Affairs,
quantity restrictions. for permitted uses such as paying down National Restaurant Association.
Further, it would waive the excessive your debt or construction of outdoor Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Asso-
regulations on infant formula that seating or protective equipment. There ciation; Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant &
have made it impossible for safe for- is pro rata reduction if there are not Retailers Association; Arizona Restaurant
mula to be available to American fami- enough funds that are appropriated so Association; Arkansas Hospitality Associa-
lies in need. we don’t have to come back again. tion; California Restaurant Association; Col-
So to that end, I ask unanimous con- Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- orado Restaurant Association; Connecticut
sent that the Senate proceed to the im- sent to have printed in the RECORD let- Restaurant Association; Delaware Res-
taurant Association; Restaurant Association
mediate consideration of S. 4262, which ters of support from the National Res- of Metropolitan Washington; Florida Res-
is at the desk. I further ask that the taurant Association, Distilled Spirits taurant & Lodging Association; Georgia Res-
bill be considered read a third time and Council, American Bus Association, taurant Association; Hawaii Restaurant As-
passed, and that the motion to recon- National School Transportation Asso- sociation; Idaho Lodging & Restaurant Asso-
sider be considered made and laid upon ciation, Minor League Teams and Com- ciation; Illinois Restaurant Association; In-
the table. munity Gym Coalition. These are diana Restaurant & Lodging Association;
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there groups that we have added that have Iowa Restaurant Association; Kansas Res-
taurant & Hospitality Association; Kentucky
objection? similar circumstances as the res- Restaurant Association; Louisiana Res-
Mrs. MURRAY. The Senator from taurants. taurant Association; Hospitality Maine; Res-
Washington. There being no objection, the mate- taurant Association of Maryland; Massachu-
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, re- rial was ordered to be printed in the setts Restaurant Association; Michigan Res-
serving the right to object, and I really RECORD, as follows: taurant & Lodging Association; Hospitality
VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:00 May 20, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19MY6.035 S19MYPT1
S2612 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 19, 2022
Minnesota; Mississippi Hospitality & Res- This vital legislation will help a still school buses. Every day, the lives of these
taurant Association; Missouri Restaurant struggling motorcoach industry, by provide children are entrusted to certified school
Association; Montana Restaurant Associa- an additional $2 billion for grant funding to transportation professionals, who have re-
tion; Nebraska Hospitality Association; Ne- the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Trans- ceived special training and have the experi-
vada Restaurant Association. portation Services (CERTS) program for ence to ensure the safe transport of students.
New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant As- motorcoaches, school buses and passenger School buses remain the safest way to trans-
sociation; New Jersey Restaurant & Hospi- vessels. In addition, this legislation would port a child to-and-from school, and school-
tality Association; New Mexico Restaurant treat the CERTS grants like all other pan- related activities, as they are the most regu-
Association; New York State Restaurant As- demic aid programs by exempting the grants lated form of transportation. Students are
sociation; North Carolina Restaurant & from treatment as income. significantly safer riding to and from school
Lodging Association; North Dakota Hospi- ‘‘According to independent research, the in a school bus than walking, riding bikes, or
tality Association; Ohio Restaurant Associa- motorcoach industry recorded an 82.6 per- riding/driving in their family car. The num-
tion; Oklahoma Restaurant Association; Or- cent loss of business in 2020, a 60 percent loss ber of fatalities of school age children trav-
egon Restaurant & Lodging Association; in 2021 and continues to operate well below eling to and from school, per 100 million ve-
Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Associa- pre-COVID levels because of the pandemic,’’ hicle miles traveled (VMT), is 70 times high-
tion; Puerto Rico Restaurant Association; said Peter Pantuso, ABA President & CEO. er in passenger vehicles than in school buses.
Rhode Island Hospitality Association; South ‘‘While we saw limited recovery over the School bus companies suffered tremendous
Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association; past couple of years, the Delta and Omicron losses during the pandemic as schools closed
South Dakota Retailers Association; Hospi- variants significantly slowed down recovery. and many districts refused to pay school bus
tality Tennessee; Texas Restaurant Associa- We are not like to see full recovery until at contractors. NSTA estimates that 60 percent
tion; Utah Restaurant Association; Vermont least 2023 or 2024.’’ of school districts did not pay contractors
Chamber of Commerce; Virginia Restaurant, ‘‘This industry is not asking for a govern- during school closures, despite expressing
Lodging & Travel Association; Washington ment handout,’’ said Pantuso. ‘‘But we need the desire to have the contractor keep their
Hospitality Association; West Virginia Hos- a bridge to help our industry survive the valued employees and be ready to restart
pitality & Travel Association; Wisconsin pandemic. Nearly half of the motorcoach transportation on a moment’s notice. The
Restaurant Association; Wyoming Hospi- companies have closed over the last two CERTS program was crucial to help school
tality & Travel Coalition. years, mostly small family and minority bus contractors stay viable and continue to
businesses, and America can’t afford for us employ our valued employees, however, the
to lose more.’’ CERTS program was initially appropriated
DISTILLED SPIRITS COUNCIL
The American Bus Association thanks Sen- at $2 billion. The Department of Treasury re-
OF THE UNITED STATES,
ator Cardin (D–MD) and Senator Wicker (R– ceived applications from companies totaling
May 18, 2022.
MS) for their hard work in crafting this im- over $8 billion in revenue losses from 2019–
Subject: Support the Small Business COVID
portant legislation and for their commit- 2020. This figure does not include additional
Relief Act (S. 4008) on the Floor This
ment to help the nation’s small businesses revenue losses our companies incurred in
Week.
recover from this pandemic. The American 2021 as the pandemic still kept many schools
DEAR SENATORS: When the Small Business Bus Association urges all Senators to sup- shut down for much of last year as well.
COVID Relief Act of 2022 (S. 4008), comes to port the Cardin—Wicker proposal when it The amendment also includes a provision
the floor this week, we respectfully urge sup- comes up for a vote as an amendment to the to provide tax exemption for CERTS relief
port for this important piece of COVID–19 COVID Health Supplemental. grants, consistent with other Covid relief
economic relief legislation. programs, such as the Paycheck Protection
ABOUT THE AMERICAN BUS ASSOCIATION
Among other things, this legislation would Program, restaurant and venue relief pro-
replenish the Restaurant Revitalization The American Bus Association (ABA) is
grams. While we deeply appreciate the
Fund (RRF) and provide critical funding to the trade organization of the intercity bus
CERTS grant funds designed as emergency
allow the U.S. Small Business Administra- industry, with more than 1,000 motorcoach
relief due to the devastating impacts of the
tion to process the applications of eligible and tour company members in the United
pandemic on our businesses, CERTS funds
entities that previously applied to the pro- States and Canada. Its members operate
should be treated the same as other covid re-
gram. charter, tour, regular route, airport express,
lief when it comes to taxes.
Demand for the Restaurant Revitalization special operations, and contract services. NSTA strongly supports the amendment to
Fund far exceeded the initial tranche of Another 2,800 members are travel and tour- provide critical additional funds and tax re-
funding: More than 278,000 applications were ism organizations and suppliers of bus prod- lief to help school bus companies continue to
submitted to the program, but the U.S. ucts and services who work in partnership recover, so that we can provide safe and effi-
Small Business Administration was only with the North American motorcoach indus- cient school bus transportation to the na-
able to fund approximately 101,000. Hospi- try. tion’s schoolchildren.
tality industry businesses like restaurants,
bars, and distilleries that depend on in-per- NATIONAL SCHOOL APRIL 5, 2022.
son visitors face a long, uneven recovery TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION, DEAR MAJORITY LEADER SCHUMER, MINOR-
from the pandemic and these funds are crit- April 1, 2022. ITY LEADER MCCONNELL, SPEAKER PELOSI,
ical to businesses across the country. Ac- STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL TRANS- AND MINORITY LEADER MCCARTHY: On behalf
cording to research by the National Res- PORTATION ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT OF THE of professional minor league sports teams
taurant Association, the RRF saved more CARDIN-WICKER AMENDMENT TO THE COVID across the country, we are writing in support
than 900,000 jobs at restaurants that received HEALTH SUPPLEMENTAL of the amendment to the COVID–19 supple-
grants. Their estimates indicate that fully The National School Transportation Asso- mental bill offered by Senators Ben Cardin
funding the RRF will save more than 1.6 mil- ciation (NSTA) supports the Cardin-Wicker and Roger Wicker to provide much-needed
lion restaurant jobs still on the line. planned amendment to the Covid Health relief for our teams. Teams in leagues across
Please support the recovery of the hospi- Supplemental to provide an additional $2 bil- the spectrum of sports have lost tens of mil-
tality industry by supporting additional lion to the CERTS relief program, as well as lions of dollars since the outset of the
funds for the RRF and voting in favor of the make CERTS grants tax-exempt. COVID–19 pandemic, and action is des-
Small Business Covid Relief Act, S. 4008. NSTA is the leading resource for school perately needed now to protect these small
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you bus transportation solutions and the voice businesses and safeguard their vital eco-
have any questions. for private contractors for over 55 years. We nomic contributions to communities across
Sincerely, are a membership organization for school the nation.
KELLY POULSEN, bus contract-operators engaged primarily in The first year of the pandemic was particu-
Vice President, Fed- transporting students to and from school and larly devastating for professional minor
eral Government Re- school-related activities. Members range league sports teams, with many losing more
lations. from small family businesses serving one than 90 percent of their revenue during this
JESSICA BRADY, school district, to large corporations oper- first year alone as a result of mandated clo-
Senior Director, Fed- ating tens of thousands of buses across mul- sures. These financial losses were com-
eral Government Re- tiple states. Regardless of size, our operators pounded by challenges in year two including
lations. are staunchly committed to the safe and effi- limited attendance, canceled games, and in-
cient transportation of our nation’s school- creased costs as teams worked to operate
AMERICAN BUS ASSOCIATION. children. Private school bus contractors ac- safely during the pandemic. As we enter year
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
The American Bus Association—the indus- count for 38 percent of the nation’s pupil three of the pandemic, teams continue to
try leader advancing North American motor- transportation services and employ more grapple with decreased consumer confidence
coach travel and tourism—released a state- than 250,000 individuals as bus drivers, me- as a result of the COVID–19 variants, which
ment of support today of the Senate Small chanics, maintenance workers, dispatch, and is impacting ticket sales for the upcoming
Business Committee’s legislation to provide office workers. minor league baseball season and causing
COVID relief to restaurants and other small Daily, almost 26 million K–12 students are postponements and cancelations for the 2021–
businesses. transported by an estimated 480,000 yellow 2022 minor league hockey season. So far this
VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:43 May 20, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A19MY6.007 S19MYPT1
May 19, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2613
season, approximately 100 games have been proven to be of little benefit for most fitness finally begins to emerge from 2 years of
postponed or canceled across the professional facilities, leaving them little opportunity to lockdowns, our small business commu-
minor hockey leagues. recover from the initial shutdowns and re- nity is facing another set of challenges:
Our teams were excluded from previous re- strictions. The Paycheck Protection Pro-
lief packages enacted by Congress and there-
supply shortages and inflation.
gram (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster
fore did not receive the help that was made Later today, the Senate is expected
Loans (EIDL) do not meet the cost struc-
available to other small businesses in the tures of fitness facilities. The Targeted EIDL to vote on legislation that would help
live entertainment industry. Unfortunately, Advance, the Supplemental Targeted Ad- restaurants, gyms, minor league
our situation is only worsening as a result of vance, and state-level grant programs have teams, and other small businesses find
the Omicron variant. While we had hoped to not provided nearly the funding necessary to solid footing after years of unprece-
be past the pandemic at this point, per- keep many owners and operators from clos- dented disruptions. These small busi-
sisting variants have demonstrated that the ing their facilities due to accrued debt and nesses are the lifeblood of our commu-
pandemic is not yet over. deferred rent or mortgage payments. nities, whether it be in Chicago, my
Research generally suggests that the pres- Due to these circumstances, gyms and fit-
ence of minor league sports teams is associ- hometown of Springfield, or other
ness facilities still require specific support in
ated with an increase in per capita incomes, towns across Illinois.
order to offer their essential services. S. 4008
which often may stem from teams gener- provides this support by establishing the
This bipartisan package would make
ating new spending by out-of-area visitors Gym and Fitness Center Recovery Fund to sure that they can continue to recover
and encouraging residents to spend inside dispense grants to distressed fitness facili- and create jobs in their communities—
the local economy. Minor league sports fran- ties, and appropriating $2 billion for that because we know that, when these
chises are pillars of the community and as- purpose. Publicly-traded companies, facili- businesses struggle, our communities
sets that our cities and industries need, not ties with pandemic-related revenue losses struggle. I have heard from small busi-
only for the economic impact they make on less than 25 percent, and facilities which ness owners throughout Illinois who
their communities and for the significant offer golf, hunting, sailing, shooting, or want to keep workers on the payroll
charitable efforts made in their markets, but riding are expressly ineligible.
also for their ability to draw in a strong and provide a space for people to come
Gyms and fitness facilities, much like res-
workforce of individuals who call their cities taurants and other industries reliant on
together, but they need our help to get
home, and these small businesses continue to physical presence, were directly harmed by to the other side of the pandemic.
struggle to stay afloat in the absence of re- government-mandated closures and restric- That is exactly the situation Kevin
lief from Congress. tions. Though gyms have suffered the same Cary is in. He owns Begyle Brewing in
Our teams have been left behind and des- hardships as similarly affected businesses, Chicago and is one of the hundreds of
perately need help now. We ask that you sup- they have not yet received effective aid. The thousands of business owners in Amer-
port the Cardin-Wicker amendment to pro- Small Business COVID Relief Act would cor- ica who has tried to do everything
vide critical relief for professional minor rect this oversight, saving thousands of
league sports teams in the COVID–19 supple-
right during this pandemic. He fol-
gyms and fitness facilities across the coun- lowed the rules when Chicago’s COVID
mental. We appreciate your consideration of try from bankruptcy.
this request and your continued support of precautions forced him to temporarily
We commend Senator Cardin and Senator
our teams. Wicker for introducing the Small Business
close his doors . . . he has kept his
Sincerely, COVID Relief Act, and we urge every senator staff employed throughout the pan-
Jason Freier, Executive Board Member, to support its passage. There is nothing more demic; and he has braced through mul-
Minor League Baseball, Reid Ryan, Ex- important than safeguarding the health and tiple waves of COVID—from Alpha to
ecutive Board Member, Minor League fitness of all Americans. Omicron, which infected his staff, and
Baseball, Scott Howson, President and forced him to keep his doors closed
Chief Executive Officer, American Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I know
Hockey League, Doug Price, Commis- that there are Members who want to through the holiday season, a big time
sioner, Southern Professional Hockey target this and so do we. We believe for business.
League, Chad Volpe, Executive Board that we will be able to bring the cost of And Kevin is still doing his part to be
Member, Minor League Baseball, Ken this bill down, but we first need to get a good neighbor. Even with the pres-
Babby, Executive Board Member, on the bill. sures of inflation, he has held off on
Minor League Baseball, Ryan Crelin, I particularly want to thank Senator raising prices because, in his words,
Commissioner ECHL, Alec Papadakis, ‘‘we’re a community-supported brew-
Chief Executive Officer, United Soccer
WICKER and Senator COLLINS and Sen-
ator MURKOWSKI for giving us sugges- ery. I personally have a problem with
League, Joshua Schaub, Commissioner, charging more . . . [I] would rather
American Association of Professional tions, and we are going to permit
amendments on this bill to bring its fight pressures on cost than . . . raise
Baseball, Steve Tahsler, Deputy Com-
missioner, Frontier League of Profes- cost down. prices on consumers.’’
sional Baseball, Dan Moushon, Presi- But there is only so much business
Senator MANCHIN has made a specific
dent, Appalachian League, Rick White, owners like Kevin can do on their own.
suggestion on making sure we
President, Atlantic League of Profes- Without additional relief, the prospects
prioritize the payment of debt.
sional Baseball, Mike Shapiro, Presi- are bleak. Replenishing the Restaurant
dent, Pioneer Baseball League.
We also believe we can target this to Revitalization Fund would allow Kevin
-- the small businesses that need it the to pay Begyle’s bills that are past due,
COMMUNITY GYMS COALITION most. help him afford increasing supply
AND IHRSA, I want to thank Senator OSSOFF. I costs, and enable him employ more Illi-
May 17, 2022. want to thank Senator MURPHY. I want
On behalf of America’s more than 40,000 fit- noisans. But most importantly, Kevin
to thank Senator KING, our Presiding will be able to have the peace of mind
ness facilities fighting to foster and
Officer there, and so many of our other that his business—which supports him,
strengthen Americans’ health and fitness,
the Community Gyms Coalition Members who have been working with his wife, and his one-year old daugh-
(CGC) and IHRSA, the global health and us in order to get this bill to the finish ter—will keep its doors open.
fitness association, enthusiastically endorse line. Our favorite small businesses and
S. 4008, the Small Business COVID Relief Act I would urge my colleagues to vote restaurants bring us together. They
of 2022, and call on Congress to enact it as for the motion to proceed. This is a clo- have done their part to help us get
soon as possible. ture; this is not the final passage. This
COVID–19, and almost every state’s re- through the pandemic, and now it is
sponse to it, has devastated America’s gyms
is to get on the bill so we can take up time for us to help them. I want to
and fitness facilities. As of December, more amendments, target it to those small thank Senators WICKER and CARDIN, as
than 25 percent of fitness facilities in the businesses that desperately need it. well as many other colleagues on both
U.S.—including 30 percent of studios—have We have offsets in the bill. It is a re- sides of the aisle, for their work on this
closed permanently. Operators have suffered sponsible bill. It needs to be passed. It bipartisan package. I hope more of my
revenue losses of over $29.2 billion. These fig- carries out our commitment, and I Republican colleagues will join us in
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
ures have undoubtedly increased, leaving would urge our colleagues to support passing this much-needed relief for
tens of thousands of operators struggling the legislation.
under debts taken on so that they could con- small businesses in our communities.
tinue improving Americans’ health and fit-
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on an- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
ness. other important issue, small businesses jority leader.
Federal programs to support small busi- across the country are still reeling Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now 2
nesses struggling due to COVID–19 have from the pandemic. And as the Nation years after the start of COVID, our
VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:00 May 20, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A19MY6.009 S19MYPT1
S2614 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 19, 2022
country has come very far, but it minor league sports teams, border busi- Patty Murray, Tina Smith, Sheldon
would be a dreadful mistake to think nesses, live venue service providers, Whitehouse, John W. Hickenlooper,
the work is done. exclave businesses, and providers of Gary C. Peters, Benjamin L. Cardin,
Jeanne Shaheen, Jon Tester, Richard
Today, the Senate should vote to transportation services, shall be
J. Durbin, Catherine Cortez Masto,
move forward to give America’s res- brought to a close? Mazie K. Hirono, Amy Klobuchar,
taurants, local gyms, minor league The yeas and nays are mandatory Maria Cantwell.
teams, and other small businesses a under the rule.
much-needed lifeline. We will give our The clerk will call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan-
restaurants a much-needed lifeline to The bill clerk called the roll. imous consent, the mandatory quorum
get back on their feet after the pan- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the call has been waived.
demic. Senator from Ohio (Mr. BROWN), the The question is, Is it the sense of the
Our restaurants and small businesses Senator from Nevada (Ms. ROSEN), and Senate that debate on the nomination
are suffering. They need help. This bill the Senator from Maryland (Mr. VAN of Stephanie Dawkins Davis, of Michi-
says help is on the way. HOLLEN) are necessarily absent. gan, to be United States Circuit Judge
These restaurants are the beating Mr. THUNE. The following Senators for the Sixth Circuit, shall be brought
hearts of our communities. We are not are necessarily absent: the Senator to a close?
talking about huge restaurants. They from Iowa (Ms. ERNST) and the Senator The yeas and nays are mandatory
are not big venues with big publicity. from Kansas (Mr. MARSHALL). under the rule.
The restaurants we are talking about The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 52, The clerk will call the roll.
are family-owned restaurants, family- nays 43, as follows: The senior assistant legislative clerk
owned businesses, where Americans [Rollcall Vote No. 192 Leg.] called the roll.
have always come together. They are YEAS—52 Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
the beating hearts of our communities. Baldwin Heinrich Peters
To have banks foreclose on these Senator from Ohio (Mr. BROWN), the
Bennet Hickenlooper Reed
places because they are struggling with Blumenthal Hirono
Senator from New Hampshire (Ms. HAS-
Sanders
Blunt Kaine SAN), the Senator from Nevada (Ms.
loans left over from COVID when they Schatz
were forced to close would be a trag-
Booker Kelly Schumer ROSEN), the Senator from New Hamp-
Cantwell King Shaheen shire (Mrs. SHAHEEN), and the Senator
edy—a tragedy for jobs lost, for the Cardin Klobuchar Sinema
communities affected, and for creating Carper Leahy from Maryland (Mr. VAN HOLLEN) are
Smith
future prosperity. Casey Luján
Stabenow
necessarily absent.
Cassidy Manchin
So the Senate should be leaping into Collins Markey
Tester Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
action to support our restaurants and Coons Menendez
Warner are necessarily absent: the Senator
Cortez Masto Merkley Warnock from Indiana (Mr. BRAUN), the Senator
small businesses. Warren
Duckworth Murkowski from Louisiana (Mr. CASSIDY), the Sen-
I want to thank the diligent, per- Durbin Murphy Whitehouse
sistent work by the great Senator from Feinstein Murray Wicker ator from North Dakota (Mr. CRAMER),
Maryland, BEN CARDIN—the work he Gillibrand Ossoff Wyden the Senator from Iowa (Ms. ERNST), the
has done. Hassan Padilla Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. INHOFE),
I want to thank his partner, Senator NAYS—43 the Senator from Kansas (Mr. MAR-
WICKER. This is a bipartisan bill. Barrasso Hagerty Romney SHALL), the Senator from Kansas (Mr.
And to just debate how we can help Blackburn Hawley Rounds MORAN), the Senator from Ohio (Mr.
these vital parts of the American econ- Boozman Hoeven Rubio PORTMAN), the Senator from South Da-
Braun Hyde-Smith Sasse
omy, these vital parts of American Burr Inhofe
kota (Mr. ROUNDS), the Senator from
Scott (FL)
communities, is not too much to ask. Capito Johnson Scott (SC)
North Carolina (Mr. TILLIS), and the
I urge both sides of the aisle for a Cornyn Kennedy Shelby Senator from Indiana (Mr. YOUNG).
Cotton Lankford
strong yes vote. Cramer Lee
Sullivan Further, if present and voting, the
I yield the floor. Thune Senator from North Carolina (Mr.
Crapo Lummis
Tillis
CLOTURE MOTION Cruz McConnell
Toomey
TILLIS) would have voted ‘‘nay’’ and
Daines Moran the Senator from Indiana (Mr. YOUNG)
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Fischer Paul Tuberville
to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Graham Portman Young would have voted ‘‘nay.’’
Senate the pending cloture motion, Grassley Risch The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 48,
which the clerk will state. NOT VOTING—5 nays 36, as follows:
The legislative clerk read as follows: Brown Marshall Van Hollen [Rollcall Vote No. 193 Leg.]
CLOTURE MOTION Ernst Rosen
YEAS—48
We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this Baldwin Heinrich Ossoff
ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the vote, the yeas are 52, the nays are 43. Bennet Hickenlooper Padilla
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Three-fifths of the Senators duly cho- Blumenthal Hirono Peters
move to bring to a close debate on the mo- Booker Kaine Reed
sen and sworn not having voted in the
tion to proceed to Calendar No. 344, S. 4008, Cantwell Kelly Sanders
a bill to provide COVID relief for res- affirmative, the motion is rejected. Cardin King Schatz
taurants, gyms, minor league sports teams, f Carper Klobuchar Schumer
Casey Leahy Sinema
border businesses, live venue service pro-
CLOTURE MOTION Collins Luján Smith
viders, exclave businesses, and providers of Coons Manchin Stabenow
transportation services. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Cortez Masto Markey Tester
Charles E. Schumer, Benjamin L. Cardin, to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Duckworth Menendez Warner
Tammy Duckworth, John W. Senate the pending cloture motion, Durbin Merkley Warnock
Hickenlooper, Gary C. Peters, Ron Feinstein Murkowski Warren
which the clerk will state. Gillibrand Murphy Whitehouse
Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, Jacky
The senior assistant legislative clerk Graham Murray Wyden
Rosen, Mark Kelly, Ben Ray Luján,
Catherine Cortez Masto, Robert P. read as follows:
NAYS—36
Casey, Jr., Tammy Baldwin, Mazie K. CLOTURE MOTION
Barrasso Grassley Risch
Hirono, Maria Cantwell, Chris Van Hol- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Blackburn Hagerty Romney
len, Margaret Wood Hassan. ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Blunt Hawley Rubio
The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Boozman Hoeven Sasse
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Burr Hyde-Smith Scott (FL)
imous consent, the mandatory quorum Capito Johnson Scott (SC)
nation of Executive Calendar No. 855, Steph-
call has been waived. Cornyn Kennedy Shelby
anie Dawkins Davis, of Michigan, to be
The question is, Is it the sense of the United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth
Cotton Lankford Sullivan
Senate that debate on the motion to Crapo Lee Thune
Circuit. Cruz Lummis Toomey
proceed to S. 4008, a bill to provide Charles E. Schumer, Cory A. Booker, Daines McConnell Tuberville
COVID relief for restaurants, gyms, Tammy Baldwin, Patrick J. Leahy, Fischer Paul Wicker
VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:00 May 20, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19MY6.038 S19MYPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2022-05-19-i86_crec-2022-05-19-pt1-pgs2607-2.pdf
- Size
- 330,736 bytes
- SHA-256
- 041ef13c918726f7c999c34c4545d0ba348a47b38aa639186658f9d00bcbf343
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov