Congressional Record, Senate, July 14, 2022: Page S3289
Summary
Page S3289 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for July 14, 2022, in interleaved columns. One senator says gas prices are up nearly 60 percent, with regular gas at $4.60 a gallon, criticizes the administration's offshore drilling plan, which could offer at most 11 new leases over 5 years, and blames government spending for inflation. Another passage on Belarus says thousands protested a stolen election, twelve hundred were jailed, Putin helped Lukashenko, and urges the administration to appoint a new special envoy for Belarus. A further passage on reproductive healthcare names Illinois and Minnesota and calls a recent decision radical and the freedom to travel an empty promise without legislation.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, July 14, 2022: Page S3289.”
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July 14, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3289
Thousands upon thousands of crisis in the first place by passing a We have tremendous natural re-
Belarusians protested the stolen elec- version of the Build Back Better tax- sources here at home, and the ability
tion. Twelve hundred were jailed as a and-spending spree they tried to force to extract those resources is a far more
result of it, including Sergei. Putin through last year. environmentally responsible way than
helped Lukashenko at that moment of Apparently, Democrats think more frequently happens in other countries.
crisis, and Lukashenko is now repaying government spending—like the govern- But unleashing American production is
Putin by using Belarus as a staging ment spending that helped get us into going to require action from the Presi-
ground to attack and kill Ukrainians. this mess—plus new taxes are a good dent, who, despite the current energy
Many brave Belarusians still resist, solution for an inflation crisis and an price crisis, continues to display hos-
sabotaging Russian supply lines, fight- economy teetering on the brink of re- tility to domestic production. He touts
ing alongside their Ukrainian brothers cession. the number of leases oil and gas com-
and sisters. They understand the fate Madam President, if Democrats want panies have available, but he fails to
of Ukraine is tied to their own fate and to help our country get out of this in- mention that just 3 months ago his ad-
that Putin must not prevail. flation crisis, more unnecessary gov- ministration made it harder for oil and
Yesterday, I introduced a resolution ernment spending and new taxes are gas companies to actually make use of
with Senators TILLIS, SHAHEEN, VAN the exact wrong way to go about it. In the leases in question by increasing the
HOLLEN, MARKEY, FISCHER, CARDIN, and fact, the biggest thing the Democrats
regulatory burden for environmental
RUBIO recognizing the second adversary can do to avoid making this crisis
reviews. On top of this, thousands of
of this stolen election, the historic worse is by flooding the economy with
drilling permits, which are required to
peaceful protest, the continued heroic more unnecessary government money.
After that, the biggest thing Demo- actually begin drilling on oil and gas
efforts of the Belarusian people, and leases, are currently stuck in the ap-
crats and the administration in par-
those still languishing in their nation’s proval process at the Department of
ticular can do to help alleviate this cri-
jails. They and their fight for freedom the Interior.
sis is to unleash American energy pro-
and democracy cannot be forgotten. At the beginning of this month, the
duction. I don’t need to tell anyone
And I urge the administration to con- administration released a new offshore
that energy prices have been a major
tinue its support for their effort by ap- drilling plan which includes an option
contributor to our inflation crisis. Gas
pointing a new special envoy for to offer, at most, a paltry 11 new leases
prices are up nearly 60 percent—60 per-
Belarus without delay. over the next 5 years. It also leaves the
cent. The current cost of a gallon of
Let me conclude with a note of door open for zero new leases—zero. If
regular gas is $4.60—almost double
thanks to the many fine members of this proposed 5-year plan doesn’t make
what it was when President Biden took
our State Department Foreign Service it clear that the President isn’t inter-
office just 18 months ago—and the
who worked tirelessly to represent our ested in increasing our domestic en-
price of diesel is even worse, which is a
diplomatic interests overseas and also ergy production, I don’t know what
big concern for farmers and ranchers
make these congressional visits pos- back home in South Dakota and does.
sible. They, along with our military around the country, not to mention all Madam President, I could go on. I
servicemembers serving around the of our truckers. Electricity—that is up could mention the administration’s
world, are national treasures. I thank 13 percent. Utility gas service is up 38 proposed SEC climate-disclosure rules
them for their service. percent. Americans everywhere are that are designed to discourage invest-
I yield the floor. feeling the pinch. ment in conventional energy or the
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Of course, high gas prices and utility President’s quest to increase taxes on
pore. The Republican whip. prices don’t just cause direct pain at domestic oil and gas production or
INFLATION
the pump; they also contribute to high- Democrats’ efforts to impose a new
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, yes- er prices across the economy, which fee—or tax—on methane that could
terday morning, June inflation num- means that lowering energy prices is cost consumers an additional $35 bil-
bers were released. And, as usual with one of the most important things we lion to $69 billion annually, but I will
this administration, the news was not can do to help ease high prices on a va- leave it there.
good. riety of goods. The way to lower energy Madam President, I hope—I really
Inflation rose once again in June to prices is to unleash American energy hope—that the President and his ad-
9.1 percent—the highest inflation since production, including and especially ministration will take a good, hard
November of 1981. November of 1981. I conventional energy production. Unfor- look at their hostility to conventional
was in college the last time inflation tunately, the President has shown and energy production. Inflation is at 9.1
was this bad. continues to show a clear hostility to percent—9.1 percent. American fami-
Americans are suffering. Everywhere conventional energy production despite lies are paying nearly twice what they
Americans turn, they are being asked the fact that our economy cannot func- were paying in gas prices just 18
to pay more—more for cleaning sup- tion without conventional energy. months ago, and utility gas prices have
plies, more for gas, more for health in- Now, I am a longtime supporter of al- increased sharply.
surance, more for groceries. ternative energy, from wind to Unless Democrats want Americans to
A new analysis yesterday from the biofuels, and I come from a State that be facing staggering prices at the pump
Joint Economic Committee found that derives a substantial portion of its and on store shelves for the long term,
inflation will cost the average Amer- electricity generation from wind. In the administration needs to start en-
ican household a staggering $718 a fact, in 2021, over 50 percent of our couraging domestic production of con-
month over the next year—$718 per State’s power generation came from ventional energy. That means not just
month. That will happen even if prices wind and 30 percent came from hydro- approving leases but making it easier
stop going up tomorrow—$718 per electric power on the Missouri River. for oil and gas companies to actually
month, more than $8,600 for the year. But if it weren’t for traditional fossil develop those leases and produce oil
No working family can afford that. fuels backing up that generation, we and natural gas. It means encouraging,
A major reason that we are in this would be left in the dark. not discouraging, investment in re-
crisis is because of Democrats’ decision The fact is, no matter how much sponsible conventional production and
to flood the economy with unnecessary Democrats might wish it were other- infrastructure like natural gas pipe-
government money with their so-called wise, alternative energy technology lines. It means giving up attempts to
American Rescue Plan Act. And, unfor-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
has simply not advanced to the point discourage domestic energy production
tunately, there is no easy solution to where our country can rely exclusively with new and higher taxes or burden-
the crisis they helped create. But the on alternative energy. That means some ESG regulations.
first thing—the first thing—should be that, unless we want Americans to be American families are struggling,
to do no more harm. permanently buried under the pain of Madam President. The President can
Incredibly, however, Democrats are high gas prices, we need to invest in re- actually do something to help them,
currently attempting to double down sponsible production of oil and natural and I sincerely hope that he will.
on the strategy that helped create this gas. I yield the floor.
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S3290 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 14, 2022
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- I spoke on the phone with the head of gives the Department of Justice, as
pore. The Senator from Minnesota. the Red River Women’s Clinic out of well as women and doctors, the power
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 4504 Fargo, ND, who had to resort to a to sue people who infringe on the right
Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President, GoFundMe page to get the money she to travel for healthcare. Women in
I rise today in support of the Freedom needs to move her clinic across the States with abortion bans already face
to Travel for Health Care Act—some- river to Minnesota to a safe place. enough obstacles to care. We can’t wait
thing that Senator CORTEZ MASTO, our Planned Parenthood in Moorhead, to see what anti-choice State legisla-
colleague from Nevada, is leading. MN—I met with them only a week ago tors criminalize next. We have to act
I do want to take a moment, how- about the services and the work they now.
ever, to note that there are many are doing right now. All of this comes down to one ques-
things we need to do to reduce costs. I In Montana, clinics have already tion: Who should get to make the per-
appreciated the words of my colleague begun requiring proof of residency from sonal decisions for a woman or for a 10-
from the neighboring State of South women seeking abortion pills because year-old girl? Should it be her family?
Dakota, and I think he is well aware they are afraid they might be pursued Should it be a woman herself? Or
that pharmaceutical prices are No. 1 on by out-of-State prosecutors. should it be politicians, our colleagues
the minds of people in many of our Of course, we should never settle for on the other side of the aisle who sup-
States. I ask Republicans to join us in a situation where women in Minnesota ported these Justices, put them in
pushing Medicare to finally negotiate have different rights than women in place in the Supreme Court, and got us
lifting the ban so we can negotiate less Missouri or where women in Illinois to where we are right now? I think the
expensive drugs under Medicare Part have different rights than women in answer is clear.
D—something that every Democrat is Texas, but with so many extreme Re- Today, each and every one of my col-
committed to in our caucus and we publicans racing to State capitals to be leagues has the opportunity to show
hope to get done in the next month. the first to take away women’s rights, where they stand. Will we come to-
I also note that the President re- it is clear we must explicitly protect gether to protect this essential right to
cently came out for E15—something the right to travel to other States to seek healthcare across State lines for
Senator THUNE and I have worked to- access reproductive care. We don’t have the sake of the women and, yes, the
gether on for years, and that is now in to imagine why this might matter. We young girls across this country? I hope
place as one competitive fuel that don’t need to conjure up hypotheticals. we do.
should help—not alleviate everything We already know what has happened. I thank Senator CORTEZ MASTO for
but be a major help—and the release of Think about the heartbreaking, en- her leadership.
the oil from the Strategic Petroleum raging story about the 10-year-old girl I yield the floor.
in Ohio who had to go to Indiana to get The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
Reserve and so many other areas where
an abortion after she was impregnated pore. The Senator from Colorado.
we are working together. Mr. BENNET. Madam President, I
I don’t think anyone thought we by her rapist. When that story came
thank the senior Senator from Min-
could emerge from a 2-year pandemic out last week, some people doubted it.
nesota for her remarks and for what
and everything was going to be the Now, in clear print in the criminal
brings us to the floor today.
same. Obviously, there is work left to- complaint out of the State of Ohio, we This is the first time in American
gether for the country to bring down saw yesterday that, yes, this happened. history that a fundamental constitu-
costs, and that is on all of our minds. This man raped a 10-year-old girl, and tional right has been stripped away
Madam President, also on our minds she got pregnant, and then she couldn’t from the American people—and espe-
is what has recently happened with the even get the care she needed—at age cially American women—by the Su-
Supreme Court and the decision in the 10—to get an abortion. She had to go preme Court of the United States.
Dobbs case. Twenty days ago—only 20 across State lines to the State of Indi- In Dobbs, the U.S. Supreme Court de-
days ago, and you can see everything ana just to get her care. molished 50 years of precedent—half a
that has happened since that time—the Should the next little 10-year-old’s century of Democratic- and Repub-
Supreme Court issued a ruling shred- right or 12-year-old’s right or 14-year- lican-appointed Justices upholding a
ding nearly five decades of precedent old’s right to get the care that she des- constitutional right to privacy that
protecting a woman’s right to make perately needs be put in jeopardy? has now been obliterated by the U.S.
her own healthcare decisions. Now What about her mom? What about her Supreme Court, a fundamental right
women are at the mercy of a patch- doctor? Where will this end? that has been upheld over and over
work of State laws governing their That is why we must not just codify again by Justices appointed, as I said,
ability to access reproductive care, Roe v. Wade into law with the bill that by Presidents of both sides of the aisle.
leaving them with fewer rights than we voted on just last month, but we Madam President, if you had said to
their moms and their grandmas. must also pass the Freedom to Travel me when I was in law school in the
In just 20 days, over 20 States have for Health Care Act by unanimous con- early nineties that this day would ever
laws in place that could be used to re- sent right now. That is a bill that our come, that the U.S. Supreme Court,
strict access to abortion. Twenty-five great colleague Senator CORTEZ MASTO using a radical—a radical—method of
States in total are expected to ban is leading. constitutional interpretation called
abortion in the days and the weeks Our bill protects women and girls originalism that was invented basically
ahead. But, colleagues, I am afraid the from being punished for traveling to when I was in law school—if you had
worst is yet to come. another State to access abortion serv- told me that there would be a Presi-
Legislation was introduced in Mis- ices. It also ensures doctors won’t be dent of the United States who would
souri to allow private citizens to act as punished for providing reproductive appoint a majority of the Supreme
vigilantes and sue people who help care outside their home States. As Court with that radical interpretation,
women cross State lines for reproduc- clinics across the country struggle to I would never have believed it. I would
tive care—vigilantes, just like we saw navigate this post-Roe nightmare land- never have believed it. And that is
in Texas. In Texas, legislators are scape, they should not have to add to what happened because of the Justices
working on a bill to criminalize busi- their list of worries whether they will Donald Trump put on the Supreme
nesses that provide resources simply to be criminally prosecuted for serving Court.
help their workers obtain abortion patients in a nearby State. This is an I want people to hear me who are Re-
services in other States. issue, as I noted, that hits close to publicans in this country and this
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
These proposals don’t just hurt those home because of Minnesota being in Chamber. Look it up. I know it is
in need of care; they are also creating the neighborhood that includes the called originalism, but it started in the
an uncertain environment for doctors States of North Dakota, South Dakota, 1980s and started in the 1990s. It is not
and straining resources at clinics in Iowa, and Wisconsin, all of which have the way our Constitution has been in-
States like Minnesota where reproduc- various issues with reproductive terpreted all these years.
tive rights are protected, two major healthcare. This is radical. It is not conservative.
States in the Midwest—that is it—Illi- The freedom to travel cannot be an In no sense is this a conservative deci-
nois and Minnesota. empty promise. That is why the bill sion. And it has happened, and now
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