Congressional Record, Senate, December 20, 2022: Vol. 168, No. 198
Summary
Senate proceedings from the Congressional Record for Tuesday, December 20, 2022, Volume 168, No. 198. The Senate met at 10 a.m. with Mr. Warnock as Acting President pro tempore, a prayer offered by Chaplain Dr. Barry C. Black, and an executive session on the nomination of R. Russell Rumbaugh of Nebraska to be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy. One speaker calls the omnibus package an aggressive investment in American families, workers and national defense and says it gives troops a raise, while another says fiscal year 2023 spending was a massive real-dollar increase for liberal domestic spending and a significant real-dollar cut for national defense. The remarks note that government funding runs out that Friday and thank Senators Leahy and Shelby.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, December 20, 2022: Vol. 168, No. 198.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-12-20-crec-2022-12-20-pt1-pgs7787-9-77c7f40ce9/
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Congressional Record
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117 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 168 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022 No. 198
Senate
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was appoint the Honorable RAPHAEL G. WARNOCK, ful 117th Congress, and we have taken
called to order by the Honorable RAPH- a Senator from the State of Georgia, to per- another step—a major step—towards
AEL G. WARNOCK, a Senator from the form the duties of the Chair. reaching the goal line.
PATRICK J. LEAHY, After a lot of hard work, this pack-
State of Georgia.
President pro tempore.
f age represents an aggressive invest-
Mr. WARNOCK thereupon assumed ment in American families, American
PRAYER the Chair as Acting President pro tem- workers, and America’s national de-
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- pore. fense. It will give our troops a raise,
fered the following prayer: f make healthcare more affordable for
Let us pray. RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME millions, and it fulfills the promise
Eternal Lord God, the fountain of Democrats made to defend democracy
truth and wisdom, thank You for the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- at home and abroad through the ECA.
yearning You have placed in our hearts pore. Under the previous order, the It was no easy feat to piece this bill
for peace on Earth to those with whom leadership time is reserved. together, and if our amazing appropri-
You are pleased. f ator staff needs a quick power nap at
Today, equip our Senators for the CONCLUSION OF MORNING their desks this morning, no one is
task before them. Help them strive to BUSINESS going to blame them.
make the rough places of our Nation I want to thank Chairman LEAHY and
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Ranking Member SHELBY for working
and world smooth and the crooked pore. Morning business is closed.
places straight. on this omnibus for months without
f cease. I can’t think of a more fitting
Lord, give them the wisdom to be
guided by conscience and not conten- EXECUTIVE SESSION sendoff for our two esteemed appropri-
tion. Empower them to disagree with- ators than this. If this omnibus goes
out being disagreeable. May they never down as Senators LEAHY and SHELBY’s
swerve from the straight and narrow EXECUTIVE CALENDAR final legislative contribution as Sen-
path of Your prevailing providence. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- ators, then I say bravo, thank you, and
We pray in the Name of the Prince of pore. Under the previous order, the well done.
Peace. Amen. Senate will proceed to executive ses- I also want to thank my colleagues
sion to consider the following nomina- in the House—above all, Speaker
f PELOSI and Chair DELAURO for their re-
tion, which the clerk will report.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The senior assistant legislative clerk lentless work.
The Presiding Officer led the Pledge The clock is now ticking until gov-
read the nomination of R. Russell
of Allegiance, as follows: ernment funding runs out this Friday.
Rumbaugh, of Nebraska, to be an As-
Between now and the end of the week,
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the sistant Secretary of the Navy.
the watchwords for the Senate will be
United States of America, and to the Repub- RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, ‘‘speed’’ and ‘‘cooperation.’’
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- For the information of Senators, we
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. pore. The majority leader is recog- are going to get going on this process
f nized. today. Members should be ready to
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING OMNIBUS vote to lay the omnibus before the Sen-
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I have ate as soon as this afternoon. We must
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The good news. With days left before finish passing this omnibus before the
clerk will please read a communication Christmas, Democrats and Republicans deadline on Friday, when government
to the Senate from the President pro have reached an omnibus agreement, funding runs out, but we hope to do it
tempore (Mr. LEAHY). completed at 1:15 a.m. early this morn- much sooner than that because we are
The senior assistant legislative clerk ing. mindful that a nor’easter is barreling
read the following letter: In the very early hours of the morn- down the east coast on Thursday and
ing, Chairman LEAHY and Ranking Friday.
U.S. SENATE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE,
Member SHELBY released a long- Let me say this again. The sooner we
Washington, DC, December 20, 2022. sought, bipartisan, bicameral Omnibus pass the omnibus, the better. We have
To the Senate: appropriations bill for fiscal year 2023. until Friday before funding runs out,
Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, The omnibus is the last thing we but we ought to get it done well before
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of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby have to do to close out a very success- then.
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
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S7788 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 20, 2022
I hope no Senator will stand in the ica’s mental health crisis. We all know We say to our veterans: You have
way of our finishing our work. We can- that crisis is at record levels. We all been there when we needed you; this
not afford a shutdown. More impor- know we have to do something about omnibus is there when you need us.
tantly, the American people need us to it. This omnibus does. Overdoses and For students, we have secured the
act quickly. As I said, the American substance abuse are at record levels. I largest increase in Pell grants in over a
people need us to act quickly to avert fought hard to make sure this package decade—an increase of $500; the max-
the looming danger of a government will allow seniors to get Medicare cov- imum Pell Grant will now be $7,395,
shutdown. Nobody wants a shutdown. erage for counseling, funding to train providing ladders-up for millions of
Nobody benefits from a shutdown. So I new psychiatrists, create new mental kids who come from poor and working
hope nobody here will stand in the way health mobile crisis units, and instruct families. That is a great thing.
of funding the government ASAP. Medicare to cover intensive outpatient For the first time in history, we will
Now let’s turn to the omnibus itself. mental health care. also bring Indian Health Services into
This funding bill is overflowing with We are also going to attack the parity with all other healthcare pro-
very good news for our troops, for the opioid crisis head-on by expanding op- viders. This historic provision helps
Ukrainian brave fighters, for American tions for medication-assisted treat- fulfill the Federal Government’s trust
jobs, for our families, and for American ment while also making never-before- responsibility to our tribes. We will
democracy. seen investments in suicide prevention, provide more resources, healthcare
After a lot of hard work, Democrats maternal mental health, pediatric coverage, and the dignity they deserve.
will fulfill our promise to pass reforms mental health, and so much more. We have secured billions for more
to the Electoral Count Act into law. We will also keep making healthcare childcare access, billions for homeless
Two years after January 6, the attack more accessible than it was in years assistance grants, billions for Rural
on our Capitol remains an indelible past. We will ensure Medicare bene- Housing Services, over a billion for
stain on our democracy, and updating ficiaries can keep using telehealth HOME Investment Partnership Pro-
the Electoral Count Act is one of the through 2024. That is huge, particularly grams, and over a billion for the Hous-
ways we can prevent another January 6 in rural areas. ing for the Elderly and Housing for
in the future. It is so important to do. We will invest new resources to hire Persons with Disabilities Program. So
I want to thank Senators MANCHIN and train more doctors, nurses, and from start to finish and from top to
and COLLINS and the group they put to- other healthcare workers, who have bottom, this omnibus is bold, generous,
gether to put the ECA together and been in high demand over the past cou- far-reaching, and ambitious.
Senators KLOBUCHAR and BLUNT on the ple of years. It is not everything we would have
We are also increasing support for wanted, of course. When you are deal-
Rules Committee for their help in
rural and low-income hospitals that ing in a bipartisan, bicameral way, you
making this happen.
I said months ago we would do every- very often have to get by with precious
have to sit down and get it done and
little help.
thing possible to pass ECA reform, and that means each side has to concede
So on the healthcare front, the omni-
now we are following through. Many some things; but it is something that
bus is an aggressive, generous, and far-
thanks, of course, go to all my col- reaching package, and I salute all we can be very proud of—all of us.
leagues who made this possible. Now we must get this done before
those, including Chairman MURRAY and
The omnibus is also going to fulfill Friday—well before that, if possible.
Chairman LEAHY, for their work on
our promise to stand with our friends I want to thank every single col-
this.
in Ukraine with billions more in emer- On the manufacturing and science league and staff Member who worked
gency economic and military aid. The front, the omnibus secures the first relentlessly to put this piece together;
bitterness of winter has descended on major downpayment in building the not only Senators LEAHY and SHELBY
Eastern Europe, and if our friends in tech hubs across the country that we but their subcommittee chairs and
Ukraine hope to triumph over Russia, have authorized through the CHIPS ranking members. It was a herculean
America must stand firmly on the side and Science Act. This means real dol- feat for our dedicated appropriators.
of our democratic friends abroad. They lars to create the silicon valleys, the The process may have been difficult,
are not asking for, nor do they want silicon forests, the silicon heartlands but I am confident we are now in a po-
American troops, but they do need the and prairies of tomorrow. Again, I sition to pass this bill quickly. And I
weaponry to defend themselves against want to thank Chair CANTWELL for her am even more confident that once we
a brutal Putin. steadfast leadership on this issue, as finish our work on this package, Amer-
On the homefront, the omnibus will well as my colleague on the other side ica will be a healthier, more pros-
make healthcare more affordable and of the aisle, TODD YOUNG. perous, and more secure country
more expansive for millions upon mil- Under the omnibus, we will also se- thanks to the work we have done here
lions of Americans. For the first time cure the largest increase for the Na- and now.
ever, every child in America who quali- tional Science Foundation of all time, Thanks to my colleagues. Let’s finish
fies for Medicaid or CHIP will now be including a surge in funds for the new the bill very soon.
guaranteed at least one year of contin- Technology Directorate and for STEM I yield the floor.
uous health coverage. This is a major workforce training that will spur chip I suggest the absence of a quorum.
change that will make a big difference growth across the country and give The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
in improving healthcare for millions of training to millions who have been left pore. The clerk will call the roll.
kids. out of the increase in jobs in tech. The senior assistant legislative clerk
We will permanently extend a policy Also included are billions to support proceeded to call the roll.
from the American Rescue Plan that universities, national labs, manufac- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
let States give a full year of turers, entrepreneurs, and workers ask unanimous consent that the order
postpartum coverage for mothers on with the support necessary for the for the quorum call be rescinded.
Medicaid and CHIP. This is something United States to beat back China and The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
huge, something I have so strongly be- remain technologically competitive on pore. Without objection, it is so or-
lieved in and fought for. It is a major the world stage. dered.
step to address America’s crisis in ma- That is not all. There is much more RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
ternal health and mortality. to celebrate in this package. We will The Republican leader is recognized.
Many elements of the Momnibus are keep our promise to our veterans by
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OMNIBUS
in this bill, good elements of the fully funding provisions of the PACT Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President,
Momnibus, particularly for women of Act so veterans suffering from burn pit President Biden’s proposal for fiscal
color, who have long been discrimi- exposure can get the care they deserve. 2023 was a massive real-dollar increase
nated against when it comes to birth We will help veterans with their men- for liberal domestic spending and a sig-
and postpartum coverage. tal health needs, reform VA long-term nificant real-dollar cut for our national
The omnibus also represents a new care services, and support veterans who defense. Thanks to the tireless work
offensive in the battle against Amer- struggle with homelessness. from Senator SHELBY and a number of
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