Floor Statements

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 74.

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso) and the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin).

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. Barrasso), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin), and the Senator from Florida (Mr. Scott).

Further, if present and voting: the Senator from Florida (Mr. Scott) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. President, I, too, just want to welcome, officially-- now that he has delivered his maiden speech--Senator Banks from the great State of Indiana. Like his colleague Senator Young, I, too, have had the opportunity to observe, and one thing I really appreciate about Senator Banks is he obviously served his country as a Member of the House of Representatives; he served his country in the military; he was deployed abroad.

He is a veteran, and he is passionate about serving causes that are greater than himself. And that is a family passion, a partnership he and Amanda have and his girls. And I am just grateful that they are willing to roll up

their sleeves and go to work again on behalf of our great country.

I am not a Hoosier, but my favorite movie, at least top five, is ``Hoosiers,'' and I also had the opportunity to travel a couple of times with Senator Banks in his great State and had the opportunity to welcome him to ours for something he enjoys as passionately as I do, and that is pheasant hunting.

But you have been a great addition already to the U.S. Senate. You are a great leader for Indiana, and we look forward to working with you.

So welcome, and thanks so much for serving.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, over the last 4 years, the Biden administration put our energy security on a dangerous trajectory. The administration sharply restricted oil and gas development. It

threatened the closure of existing powerplants with burdensome new regulations, even as our electric grid struggled to keep up with demand. President Biden attempted to force the widespread adoption of electric cars, despite the incredible strain that would place on our already shaky power grid. And that is just to start with.

The administration unleashed a veritable blizzard of Green New Deal regulations as it attempted to push through its far-left agenda.

The American people called for a new direction this past November, and the Trump administration and the Republican majorities in Congress have wasted no time in getting to work to provide relief from burdensome regulations, especially when it comes to energy.

Last month, the EPA announced 31 significant deregulatory actions. Among these are actions addressing the Biden administration's good neighbor rule and Clean Power Plan 2.0. Both of these regulations were designed to effectively force fossil fuel-powered powerplants to close--a dangerous goal at a time when we are already running low on the electricity we need to meet demand. And preventing these Biden-era rules from going into effect removes a significant threat to our energy supply.

Farmers, ranchers, and other landowners can also breathe more easily knowing that the Obama-era waters of the United States rule, which the Biden administration attempted to resurrect, is being revised. The so- called WOTUS rule would have given the Federal Government sweeping jurisdiction over most water features on private property, including things like irrigation ditches, ephemeral streams, and even prairie potholes.

I know farmers and ranchers in my State of South Dakota would have appreciated a seat at the table before the Biden administration resurrected this harmful policy, and I am pleased that the Trump administration is committed to consulting with stakeholders for their input on an alternative clean water rule.

The EPA is also now working to terminate the Biden electric vehicle mandate. The switch to electric vehicles that the Biden administration envisioned was unwelcome, unworkable, and unaffordable for a lot of Americans and, as I said, threatened to put an incredible new strain on our already creaky electric grid. I know South Dakotans were concerned about the loss of choice and about being forced into electric vehicles that aren't suitable for the long distances and bitter cold of life on the Great Plains. So the elimination of this mandate is welcome news in South Dakota, as I am sure it is for a lot of Americans around the country.

Here in Congress, we are joining the President in his deregulatory efforts, and Republican majorities in the House and Senate have spent the last several weeks working to rescind burdensome energy regulations using the Congressional Review Act. President Trump has already signed two CRA resolutions into law--one eliminating the marine archeology rule that targeted offshore energy development and the other stopping the implementation of the Biden tax on natural gas.

Last week, the Senate passed another CRA resolution to block a Biden- era regulation on walk-in freezers and coolers. This rule, part of the Biden administration's climate agenda, would have heaped additional costs on small businesses like restaurants, butchers, convenience stores, and others.

And, later this week, I expect the Senate to vote on another energy- related CRA resolution--this one to block a Biden administration rule that would take certain gas water heaters off the market by 2029. This rule would not only increase the cost of water heaters for American homeowners, it would also imperil U.S. manufacturing jobs. One manufacturer has said the rule could force a shutdown of its $70 million plant in Georgia.

The resolution to repeal this burdensome rule received bipartisan support in the House, and I hope our Democrat colleagues will join Republicans in opposing this regulation.

The impact of these regulations is felt across industries by American workers and American businesses. They are felt by Americans who work in the energy sector, by manufacturers, by small business owners, by farmers, by ranchers--and the list goes on.

Regulatory burdens can be especially tough on smaller businesses, sometimes leading them to sell or shutter their operations. Those who stay in business often have to raise prices to stay afloat. And whether it is through higher utility bills or higher costs at the grocery store or for other goods, it is the American people who ultimately bear the cost of these rules.

That is why this is such an important issue for Republicans. It is why we are working hard to eliminate these and many other regulatory burdens, and we will continue working to deliver regulatory relief for the American people.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 37.

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senators Kaine and Collins be allowed to complete their remarks prior to the scheduled rollcall votes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the previous order with respect to the scheduled recess be modified so that the Senate reconvene at 2 p.m.; further, that notwithstanding rule XXII, all postcloture time on the Glass nomination expire at 2 p.m. today and the Senate vote on confirmation of the Glass nomination.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Huckabee nomination.

Mr. President, I have 10 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.