Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I rise today at the beginning of this new year to talk about a problem we have talked about a lot, but unfortunately we haven't gotten the results we need, and that is to talk about our southern border.

It is not a new topic for me--I have been on the floor many times talking about this, as have my colleagues--and it is not a new topic for the American people because they see this every day, and many people are living it very close-up. Many of my colleagues can say the same because this is a topic they have unfortunately had to discuss over and over and over again, with no real results, and we are going to hear from some of them today.

Years ago on this Senate floor, I said:

I urge my colleagues here in the Senate to take a long--

hard look at the undisputed facts that demonstrate the crisis

at the border is escalating.

When I said those words, it was December 2018. The number of apprehensions along the southern border then was a little more than 60,000. Over the weekend, Customs and Border Protection released the numbers for this past December, and apprehensions along our southern border were reported at 251,487--an alltime high.

You can see from the chart I have here--you might not be able to read the numbers, but the dark blue is what we have been doing all through 2022, far eclipsing the light blue of 2021, which

were record numbers. But, here again, in the dark purple, which is the lower one, this is the average from fiscal year 2013 to 2020, and many times, this is five times, six times the amount in December. That is startling--startling.

But one thing that has changed over these last 2 years, fortunately, is that the President finally decided to visit the southern border. He went to El Paso several weeks ago. Well, it is about time. It certainly shouldn't have taken that long to visit a part of our country that is deeply affected by these numbers, but he finally went down.

I have been to the southern border many times. I am sure, Madam President, you have been there many times as well--quite a bit over the years. We just had several codels go down these past couple weeks.

The President has been saying of Republicans that ``it is easy to demagogue the issue and reject solutions.'' So here is what I have to say to the President in response to that: No, Mr. President, it is not easy to demagogue. It is easy to see that the issue is not getting the attention that it deserves by this administration.

The chart pretty much says it all right there.

The Biden administration often pivots to calling for comprehensive immigration reform and that Congress needs to provide the resources. Some of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are discussing these very issues. But this is not an either/or scenario. Any discussions about the need for and the way we reform our immigration system are separate and apart from the need to enforce the laws to secure the border.

I am particularly struck by the President's comment on solutions. To explain these record numbers almost each and every month, we have been told: The surge is seasonal.

By the way, December is traditionally, as you can see, one of the lower months over the years, so the seasonal charge cannot be the issue.

The surge was the result of particular political conditions in relative countries.

Well, we see people coming in from hundreds of countries, not just surging from political conditions in a country.

Our economy is a magnet.

It very well could be.

It is a surge for asylum or those fleeing countries that are impacted by natural disasters.

All of these things, these excuses, are from the administration.

One thing is clear: Thousands of individuals and families are continually coming into our country unaccounted for, draining the resources of many of our communities.

But Congress needs to do our part to provide the funds and support for the men and women in the Agencies that are tasked with securing our border, enforcing our immigration laws, and stemming the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, from getting into our country. I stand ready to do that and have done that through my work on the Appropriations Committee as the ranking member on Homeland Security.

Now, you may disagree with the tone and tactics of the last administration, but I think everyone can agree that border security was certainly a priority, and that is why so many of us called for President Biden to go to the border himself and see the crisis for himself. The numbers under President Trump were measurably less because of his policies.

There is an irony here because after 2 years of neglect, we have seen the need to go to the border in a way dwindled because the border crisis has actually come to the President, come to Washington, DC, come to West Virginia, come to Denver.

But some of the most critical comments about the impacts and failures of these policies have not come from Republicans but from a mayor of a town along the Rio Grande or from the Democratic mayor of the city of New York. Mayor Adams, mayor of New York City, has called this situation not just a crisis, but, instead, he has called it a disaster--exactly what it is. Mayor Adams is now seeking funds to help house those tens of thousands of migrants who are arriving in New York City.

Cities far into the interior of our country are being stretched to the max from the migrant surge. This is why we have to do everything we can to stem the influx.

We just passed an Omnibus appropriations bill that increases funding for these activities, particularly at CBP, ICE, and FEMA, for personnel and for technology. But imagine the men and women who have to deal with this all the time--the fatigue, the morale, the difficulties when you are so overrun. They are just pressed beyond capacity month after month and year after year. Each year, we have worked in a bipartisan way within Homeland Security to encourage and fund increased hiring for Border Patrol agents, for example. We are way down on those. But it has been difficult to fill these positions or to even maintain the current force.

One of the things I am most proud about in my tenure as ranking member on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee is the creation and funding of a new position for CBP called the processing coordinators. We did this because too many of our trained agents were pulled from their duty stations and their mission to perform tasks that they are not prepared to do. This balance enables Agencies to go back to actually performing tasks they are supposed to do, they are equipped for, and they are trained for.

In addition to increasing resources for CBP, we must also be making efforts to increase interior enforcement. Once they get through the border and they declare asylum, they are told to come back in 5 to 7 years. Many of them don't, but that is what they are--and they are in the interior of the country, and we don't use the interior enforcement mechanisms that we have. It is very unacceptable that thousands upon thousands are waiting--in some cases waiting 7 years before they can even begin any kind of removal procedures.

We just cannot let this crisis continue.

Bottom line: The issue was not a priority of the first 2 years of this administration. That is very obvious. As I said, the chart--this is the second year of the President's administration. This is the first year which is way above the averages, but it definitely cannot be ignored. The impact on too many families, too many businesses, and too many communities along the southern border, even in our State of West Virginia, simply cannot be ignored.

I am glad the President went, and now he is fully aware, hopefully, of the problem. I sure hope he is ready and willing to act.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I gave my remarks on border security, and as the new vice chair of the Republican conference, I have gathered some really strong voices here to share in the concerns that I have. I am really pleased to have the chair of our policy committee here, Senator Ernst from Iowa.

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

Mr. President, today, I rise to really honor a seventh- generation West Virginian, a lifelong Wheeling native, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and public servant, my very good friend, Congressman David McKinley.

David and I have known each other for a very long time. He and Mary, his wife, have extended steadfast love and friendship to my entire family but, in particular, to my parents during some good times and bad. Those friendships extended for many, many years and never wavered.

From when David was a delegate in the West Virginia State House to when he chaired the West Virginia Republican Party to later when he became my colleague and our colleague in the U.S. House of Representatives, we worked together a lot.

David got a slot on the Energy and Commerce Committee during his very

first year in Washington. Now, I had already been there 10 years and still hadn't made it to the Energy and Commerce Committee, so I was a little bit jealous of David then. But, wow, did he really do tremendous work on that committee.

Although time has gone by, David's passion and his love for West Virginia have never wavered, and his pragmatic service has never changed.

As the only licensed engineer in the House of Representatives--and if you didn't know that, David is quick to tell you--his unique and thoughtful analysis to challenges has helped his constituents immensely, and it certainly made West Virginia a better place. And, by the way, he has helped me understand some very complex issues.

In fact, I don't think there are as many Members of Congress who have held townhall meetings on the Megabus to DC as David has to meet with our constituents. But David never misses an opportunity to have a conversation.

David has played an essential role in advancing legislation critical to infrastructure, life-altering hearing aid devices, and securing the pensions and retirement benefits that our West Virginia coal miners rely on.

David is, and always will be, a problem-solver, and he brought thoughtful solutions to the needs of our fellow West Virginians every single day with unrelenting passion.

I have mentioned passion many times already in this short speech, but ``passion'' is a very fitting word because David does not do anything halfway. He is passionate about our State of West Virginia. He is passionate about West Virginia University's football team and all sports teams. And he is always there ready to cheer on the Mountaineers.

He is passionate about his hometown of Wheeling, and he is a passionate defender of those Northern Panhandlers, which is what I am as well. He is passionate about the men and women who have worked to power our Nation and the solutions to our future.

But there is another component to David's public service and his life that we must stop and recognize, and that is of his beloved wife, Mary.

Mary has truly been a partner to David and his work to make West Virginia stronger and healthier. Mary received her masters of science degree in nursing from none other than West Virginia University, has had an exceptional career as a nurse at Ohio Valley Medical Center, and is the director of education and professional development at the Ohio Valley Health Services and Education Corporation in Wheeling.

But do you know what? Mary has a national presence as well. Mary served as the national president of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She epitomizes West Virginia's warmth and friendliness, and we thank her for her service to our State as well.

As I reflect on Congressman McKinley's Federal work and accomplishments, perhaps no other area has seen his trademark tireless devotion than protecting and promoting the hard work and values embodied by our West Virginia coal miners.

David has fought tooth and nail for our coal miners' livelihoods, for their healthcare, and for their ability to power this Nation but sometimes get taken for granted when we look at the sacrifices that they have made.

As David turns the page on this chapter of his life, I am sure this is not the last that we will hear from him. I certainly hope not. In retirement, David and Mary will be able to enjoy time spent with their four children and six grandchildren.

With David's time in Congress coming to a close, his thoughtful approach to problems and his fearless advocacy on behalf of West Virginians will be missed in this town, will be missed in our country, but certainly can never be erased from our State and our country's history. But his contributions and the example he set will continue to stay with us always.

I admire David's tenacity and divisiveness. You really never have to wonder what David McKinley thinks on a certain topic. I like that. I like that. For that, we should all be grateful. I know that I and West Virginians are certainly grateful.

So, David, thank you for your service. I know he is not coming back into town until tomorrow, but I wanted to get this on the record. The difference that you have made in our State that we both love, and the friendship and counsel that you have provided me over the years is much appreciated.

So when I see David and we have a conversation and he sends me on my way, he has a trademark saying that he always says to me, so I am going to say it back to him today. David, I will say this to you: Go get `em, kid.

With that, I yield the floor.

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

Madam President, I ask that the vote begin now.

Mr. President, as the current ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works--EPW--Committee, I submit these comments to provide the Senate with additional information on the existing domestic authority to phasedown the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons, HFCs. The EPW Committee has jurisdiction over air pollution, and in the 116th Congress, managed the development of the domestic authority to implement the Kigali Amendment, See 218 Cong. Rec. S7926, daily ed. Dec. 21. 2020, statement of then-EPW Chairman John Barrasso, then-EPW Ranking Member Tom Carper, and Sen. John Kennedy).

As the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations clearly states in Senate Executive Report 117-2, no further legislation is required to implement the Kigali Amendment and the Amendment is not self-executing. New authority is not granted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-- EPA--through ratification.

In section 103 in division S of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the American Innovation and Manufacturing--AIM--Act of 2020, P.L. 116-260, was enacted. That law established a new, national program administered by the EPA to phasedown the production and consumption of certain HFC substances due to their significant global warming potential. Specifically, the AIM Act requires the EPA to implement an 85 percent phasedown of the production and consumption of regulated HFC substances, requiring levels to reach approximately 15 percent of their 2011-2013 average annual levels by 2036.

The AIM Act provides all the necessary authorities to phasedown the production and consumption of HFCs in the United States in line with U.S. obligations under the Kigali Amendment and is already being implemented by the EPA. In October 2021, the EPA issued a final rule establishing the allowance allocation for 2022 and 2023, along with establishing a trading program for HFCs. 86 Fed. Reg. 55,116, Oct. 5, 2021. As stated in that final agency action, the Kigali Amendment and the AIM Act have ``a nearly identical list of HFCs to be phased down following the same schedule,'' Id. at 55,124. The EPA is currently developing regulations to update allowance allocations and the trading program for 2024 and later years.

I thank my colleagues at the U.S. Senate committee on Foreign Relations for providing a clear Congressional statement that no new legislation is required and that the Kigali Amendment is not self- executing. As Congress has already enacted the required domestic implementing legislation, I support ratification.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 15 minutes prior to the scheduled rollcall vote.

Mr. President, since the Biden administration really likes to celebrate things, I rise today on the 1-week anniversary of their party last Tuesday for their so-called Inflation Reduction Act.

Last Tuesday, most Americans and, certainly, most West Virginians weren't in a celebratory mood. West Virginians started their day with news that inflation rose to 8.3 percent in August, while President Biden and his party and climate activists began setting up for their Inflation Reduction Act party at the White House.

Meanwhile, that same day, the U.S. stock market had its worst day since June 2020, as the White House and its fellow Democrats celebrated their green spending bill that would only extend inflationary pain, but it does expand U.S. and IRS enforcement on Americans who are struggling to afford basic necessities.

Days after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office published an analysis that the Inflation Reduction Act would actually not reduce inflation, particularly in the short term, President Biden announces that he will do student debt cancelation that would add another trillion dollars to the deficit.

Today and tomorrow, the Federal Reserve, which is our U.S. monetary watchdog, is meeting to set new interest rates in a bid to tame inflation. The body has had to raise interest rates aggressively by three-quarters of a point. In June, Chairman Powell, who is the Chairman of the Fed, admitted that the rate increase is ``unusually large'' and would not be ``common.'' The Fed will likely raise interest rates again by the same amount tomorrow, for the third consecutive time in a row. These are the most aggressive rate increases since the 1980s, when my mortgage was way into the teens, that Chairman Powell has plainly stated will bring ``pain to households and businesses.''

We can't forget that the Democrats alone passed a bill last year that they called the American Rescue Plan, which rescued nothing and, instead, endangered our fragile economy coming out of COVID by hypercharging inflation. Democrats alone drafted and pushed forward their most recent bill, bypassing the normal committee process, and Democrats alone passed it, rejecting every Republican amendment along the way.

In short, these policies continue to destabilize every single corner of our economy. Well, how do we know this? We see some of the statistics that I talk about. Well, I know it because West Virginians have lived it, and I hear from them frequently about their legitimate concerns. A retiree from Clarksburg, WV, wrote to me recently saying that she and her husband are ``struggling every month'' despite having done their due diligence to save well for their retirement. She says they are trying not to dip into their 401(k)s or their TSP retirement accounts but that it is getting ``harder and harder'' not to do that.

As inflation drags on, the lifespan of retirement savings will continue shrinking for our seniors in West Virginia, and those seniors account for 41 percent of our population.

Another West Virginian wrote to me about the tough choices her family is making:

The economy has crumbled in the blink of an eye. My husband

and I have full-time jobs and two children. I'm tearful

because I sit here looking at upcoming bills and I'm having

to decide to pay a bill or buy groceries.

A resident from Weston, WV, told me that his insurance premiums recently increased and, when he asked the company why that happened, they told him pointblank it was due to inflation. In the same letter, the constituent wrote:

This crazy spending has to stop.

But it is not just West Virginians who are experiencing this inflationary problem. The National Defense Industrial Association, authored in part by former Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist, released a white paper recently that indicated inflation has cost the Department of Defense $50 billion and estimates that it will cost an additional $110 billion to our Nation's defense from fiscal year 2021 through fiscal year 2023.

Think about this in the face of what we are talking about in terms of trying to help Ukraine overcome this terrible invasion by the Russians.

Residential real estate has skyrocketed 43 percent in the past 2 years. In fact, this year, mortgage rates have risen from 3.2 percent to 6.3 percent, which is the highest they have been since 2008--setting all kinds of records here. So some are going so far as to predict an additional 17.8 percent rise in home prices over the next year.

A recent paper released by Goldman Sachs, aptly titled ``The Housing Downturn: Further to Fall,'' warns that higher mortgage rates and reduced affordability will continue well into 2023. For first-time home buyers, that spells a death knell for their dream of owning their own home.

Again, what we are seeing in realtime are direct consequences of inflation fueled by spending. The increase in the price of groceries is unbelievable. It is unbelievable when you go to the grocery store. Over the past year, the price of basic pantry staples has continued to increase. The cost of eggs has gone up 40 percent; butter, 24.6 percent; luncheon meats, 18.2 percent. Fresh milk has increased 17.7 percent. Sugar, flour, bread, pasta, peanut butter, and cereals have increased between 15 and 23 percent. These are the things that families buy weekly to meet their grocery bill and to provide their children's breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Simply put, elected Democrats in the Biden administration celebrated the so-called Inflation Reduction Act on a day when the Consumer Price Index on inflation increased. For the many constituents whom I talk to on a daily basis, inflation remains the No. 1 concern.

So this irony is not lost on me nor is it lost on the American public. It is not lost on millions of Americans making tough choices because of these policies, and it is painful; it is hard to watch; and in many of my constituents' opinion, it is as if the President and his party are not paying attention.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of a West Virginian who triumphantly fought for our country during World War II. J. David Bailey, who was recently awarded the highest French recognition--the Legion of Honor--is one of the oldest surviving veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. His story is an extraordinary example of the American philosophy to fight for freedom around the world.

David was born in Bluefield, WV, on January 3, 1922. At the age of 21, he, like 16 million other Americans, answered the call to fight against tyranny. He became a dedicated member of the battalion of the U.S. Army's 422nd Regiment, 106th Infantry Division.

On December 16, 1944, at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, the bloodiest and largest battle of World War II, David and his entire battalion were imprisoned by German troops east of St. Vith, Belgium. Ultimately, he escaped imprisonment to rejoin his fellow soldiers and went on to serve in other campaigns, including northern France and the Army of Occupation. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on November 24, 1945.

In recognition of his honorable service to our country, David has received the Combat Infantry Badge, two Bronze Stars, four Battle Stars, and four service ribbons, as well as the Order of St. Maurice Medallion from the National Infantry Association. He also appeared on the cover of a victory edition of the military publication ``Stars and Stripes.''

David has also been a key figure in preserving the history of World War II throughout the years. At one point, he served as the national president of the Battle of the Bulge Association. On January 25, 2022, at the age of 100, David was one of several veterans to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate the end of the Battle of the Bulge. He also attended the opening ceremonies of the World War II Memorial, the 70th anniversary of V-E Day in 2015, and he was also the personal guest of President Barack Obama at the White House for the Veterans Day ceremony in 2011.

J. David Bailey's life has been dedicated to the service of our country, and the impact that he has had will be remembered for years to come. I am proud to call him a fellow West Virginian.

Madam President, I rise today to honor decorated West Virginian Benjamin Portaro. Mr. Portaro recently received the French Legion of Honor for his service in France during World War II.

Born in a small village in Italy, Mr. Portaro's family immigrated to the United States searching for the American dream. Mr. Portaro's father, Pete, found work in the coal mines in Anmoore, WV, where the family would settle down. The Portaros prospered in Anmoore, where young Ben began school and helped his parents learn English.

As a young man, Benjamin Portaro began work as a construction contractor, working for a local carbon plant in Anmoore. In 1943 Mr. Portaro entered the Army and was sent to Europe where he would fight on the frontlines in France. Promoted to staff sergeant under General George Patton, Mr. Portaro was sent to the Battle of the Bulge.

It was during the Germans' last major offensive that Mr. Portaro was wounded and captured by the Nazis. Taken as a prisoner of war, Mr. Portaro was forced to march for miles in the dead of the winter, as many of his fellow prisoners starved to death. Months later, Mr. Portaro and another prisoner decided their best chance at survival would be trying to escape. After dark, they hid in ditches until they could run away from their captors. After 3 days, Portaro and his friend were rescued by the American Army. At this point, Mr. Portaro weighed a mere 100 pounds. After being rescued, Benjamin was transported to a hospital for treatment and eventually made it back home to Anmoore, where he would spend his life working for and with veterans and prisoners of war.

Mr. Portaro has received many medals for his service, including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Prisoners of War medal, WWII Honorable Discharge, American Campaign, Yankee Division badge, WWII Victory Medal, European Campaign, Army Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and Staff Sergeant Badge.

Mr. Portaro and his wife Claire had 7 children, 14 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. After 69 happy years, Claire passed away in 2011. Ben continues to live in West Virginia and is an inspiring voice and story to all.

Mr. Portaro's story is one of sacrifice, hope, and courage. He is a proud West Virginian and a great representative of our State. I am proud to represent Mr. Portaro and thrilled that, after so many years, he still calls West Virginia home.

Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 5382 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, this amendment would strike a provision that gives the EPA $45 million in a slush fund to use eight different sections of the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases. The EPA will undoubtedly try to use this money to develop rules targeting electricity generation, manufacturing, agriculture, and other sectors of our economy.

This will be the first time that Congress has told the EPA to carry out many of these Clean Air Act sections with respect to greenhouse gases. There is no doubt that EPA lawyers and environmental groups will point to this language when they try to convince courts to uphold future overreaching climate regulations.

After the EPA's recent loss before the Supreme Court on the illegal Clean Power Plan, we should not be providing funds to the Agency that it will inevitably use to undertake more expansive and unauthorized rulemakings. This $45 million slush fund would be used to impose billions of dollars in regulatory burdens on our economy and increase costs at the worst time for consumers.

This provision is bad for West Virginia, and it is bad for America. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 5383 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, I rise to offer a commonsense permitting reform amendment. There has been a lot of talk and promises about a supposed deal or fixing our Nation's broken permitting system, but we have yet to see any legislative text.

My amendment delivers these reforms right now. Among these reforms are provisions that reduce delays and environmental reviews, generally to 2 years or less, while maintaining protections. Eliminating regulatory hurdles, which are now driving higher gasoline and energy costs, and implementing the one Federal decision--these are things Democrats say they will support eventually. Let's tackle inflation, permitting, and energy supply challenges right here tonight. Let's finish the Mountain Valley Pipeline now.

Americans can't wait, and no one can build back better if we can't build anything at all. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on the amendment.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act and relevant budget resolutions, I move to waive, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I rise today to support Senator Sullivan's resolution of disapproval to nullify the Biden administration's rollback of reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, process.

We have heard a lot about permitting and how everything is going to be improved. If you want to make a statement on how you want to improve permitting, this should be a ``yes'' vote for everybody.

I want to thank my colleague from Alaska for his leadership on bringing together half of this Chamber in support of S.J. Res. 55, which is cosponsored by 50 Senators.

This resolution is vital to take us towards a path of quicker, more predictable environmental reviews as we seek to improve our transportation--remember, we just passed a big infrastructure bill with a lot of transportation--our water infrastructure, energy infrastructure, reclaim our energy independence, and build our domestic supply chain.

Instead of making the environmental review process more efficient, the Biden administration is doing everything in its power to make it much, much more difficult.

Environmental reviews are notorious for holding up energy and infrastructure projects. What happens? Well, some of them don't get done, and a lot of them get a heck of a lot more expensive and take longer to do.

We all know it is important to make sure that we assess the environmental impacts that a project will have before moving forward on construction, but the Biden administration is focused on making them more complicated and longer when the status quo is already unacceptable.

In 2020, the White House's Council on Environmental Quality found that it took an average of 4\1/2\ years to complete an environmental impact statement under NEPA. One-quarter of the 1,276 projects analyzed took more than 6 years to complete their environmental impact statement. The average time for a Federal highway project was more than 7 years on their EIS. The average time for the U.S. Corps of Engineers was 6 years.

The average length of a final EIS was 661 pages, and many of these swelled to thousands of pages, running contrary to the original intent of NEPA, which was to provide transparency of Federal Agencies' decision making to the American people.

The previous administration tried to streamline the Federal environmental review process by reforming the implementing regulations for NEPA. Now, rather than continuing to improve environmental reviews under NEPA, the Biden administration has decided to make them more burdensome.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration rolled back key modernizations the previous administration made to the more than 40- year-old NEPA regulations through its so-called phase 1--which tells me phase 2 is coming--NEPA rule.

The Biden administration has created sweeping new obstacles to the environmental review process, including new avenues for delays and lawsuits that will slow down or, as I said, kill projects. In particular, the phase 1 rule's expanded definition of ``effects''--to include ``indirect'' and ``cumulative effects'' of projects--will greatly delay and kill energy projects when we sorely need them right now.

With the damaging phase 1 rule already in place, the Biden administration is now working on even more onerous revisions to the NEPA process. If these revisions are not stopped, they will enshrine lengthier, more burdensome, and even, in some cases, insurmountable hurdles for any infrastructure, whether it is mining, industrial, or energy.

We keep hearing we need more energy. Well, if you can't get permitted, you can't do these projects, and that is what is happening.

The Biden administration is hamstringing our Nation's ability to source materials and build infrastructure of all kinds for all Americans. Whether it is roads and bridges, pipelines, electric transmission, mining, or renewable energy projects, an efficient environmental review process is critical to completing projects that support job creation and economic activity. It is also vital to building out and securing our domestic supply chains to ensure we have the fuel and mineral inputs to power critical services and to manufacture those products.

We are not going to have all the solar farms and wind turbines and critical minerals and green jobs that the administration has promised to energy workers when the environmental process takes 5 to 7 to 10 years.

So how do you build an economy out of a recession when you can't build at all? Now it is time to come together and reform the environmental review process to expand our infrastructure, invigorate our economy, increase our energy capacity and supplies, advance our domestic industries to lower prices, create those much wanted jobs, and build a brighter future for Americans and certainly for my State of West Virginia. It starts with doing away with the roadblocks the administration is throwing up by passing this resolution and us moving on to legislate commonsense environmental review reforms.

We are told that in September, Senate Democrats will cast aside their ``regulate first'' philosophy and pass strong permitting reform legislation. After years of regulatory actions that decimated energy production in my State and permitting delays that have held up important infrastructure projects across the country, I am skeptical that the Democrats will reverse course next month.

So here we have an opportunity to have a test vote. As this NEPA rulemaking reflects, the Biden administration is hard at work creating more hurdles for our projects. If there isn't overwhelming bipartisan support for this resolution of disapproval that simply stops the permitting process from getting worse, then I don't know how anybody can believe that Senate Democrats will join to pass meaningful legislation to make the process better.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution to free our country from the stagnation and endless delays the administration is pressing forward with.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I feel like the Senator from West Virginia right now.

I am very glad that we are going to be passing these two recycling bills.

I will just briefly say I am the cosponsor of the bipartisan Recycling and Infrastructure Accessibility Act. Sometimes the simplest things that we can do have such great impacts, and I think that is what we are going to see here today.

In rural America, we don't have the accessibility to recycling and the infrastructure that we need, and that is the point of my bill. It helps us, obviously, protect our environment, supports jobs, and it helps our municipalities and others be able to sustain these.

This is a pilot program that would give Federal support for recycling infrastructure projects, such as transfer stations and dropoff facilities. That is the difficulty; you can't have one in every small town. You need to have a spoke-and-hub sort of system, and that is what this is looking at.

I will speed it up here. I want to thank all the different organizations and groups that have helped: The National Water Resources Association, the Plastics Industry Association, the American Beverage Association, our associated staffs, and particularly the chair of the full committee. He has been just a champion here in working on the recycling bills. He is the main sponsor of the Recycling Composting Accountability Act, of which I am also a cosponsor.

These will fill great and important data gaps. These are recycling bills that were reported out by voice votes so we have unanimous consent by our committee. I am glad that our colleagues have agreed to pass them.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Thank you.

Mr. President, I would like to thank the Senator from Maryland, Mr. Cardin, for his good, hard work with Senator Cramer on the subcommittee. Senator Cardin and I share the Chesapeake Bay. He has got a lot more of it than I do, but we have worked on those issues for years together, and I think that shows his dedication not just to his State but to the environment. So I appreciate all of his efforts.

I am very pleased to rise today in strong support of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022. This is the bill we are considering today. We call it WRDA. Most of us know it as WRDA.

Congress authorizes water resource projects and sets national policies for the Civil Works Program and for the U.S. Corps of Engineers. The work of the Corps facilitates commerce throughout the country and internationally. Projects along our inland waterways, which are important in my State, and in our ports enable the movement of cargo while also bolstering our supply chain. Their support and partnership during this process were integral for us to reach a solid agreement.

So, Mr. Chair, I would like to thank you and your staff, and I am going to go through our staff list really quickly: Mary Frances Repko, John Kane, Jordan Baugh, Mayely Boyce, Tyler Hofmann-Reardon, Milo Goodell, and Janine Barr from your staff.

So thank you all very, very much.

Today proves, again, the ability of our EPW Committee to develop bipartisan infrastructure legislation that addresses the needs of Senators in the communities that we represent. Our colleagues submitted more than 800 policy and project priorities to the committee. We worked hard to thoughtfully incorporate a majority of their requests into this legislation, and I think that shows with the vote we got in committee.

True to the Corps' tradition, the bill moves forward projects that benefit local communities and the entire country.

We know that natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes can strike at any time and have devastating consequences for our communities. The Corps' work to protect the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans is furthered by congressional authorization of flood and coastal storm risk management projects.

Since 2014, Congress has enacted WRDA every 2 years, and I am thrilled that we are here again continuing that tradition. I again want to thank Chairman Carper for his leadership and dedication to this critical piece of legislation, as well as--and I think I already mentioned them, but I will mention them again because Senator Cardin and Senator Cramer have been

very integral as the subcommittee chairs.

Specifically, the WRDA bill authorizes 30 projects around the country, including projects for navigation, flood and coastal storm risk management, and ecosystem restoration. One such project is a coastal storm risk management project along the eastern coast of Texas. Think of all of the hurricanes and damage that we have heard over the years that have come in on the eastern shore at Galveston and Houston. This will help mitigate the impacts of future hurricanes and ensure that critical port assets can continue to serve our country's shipping and supply chain needs as we are moving forward.

The bill also directs the Corps to expedite the completion of 24 previously authorized projects, and it authorizes 36 studies that will develop solutions to water resources challenges that we have ahead.

While this bill is very much oriented toward advancing critical projects and studies in our States, it also includes several policy changes that I would like to highlight. At the beginning of this process, I outlined areas in which I believe changes would be beneficial. I said we needed to reduce the confusion that some communities experience when they are dealing with the Corps and ensure more effective delivery of our projects--and efficient delivery. So the bill bolsters the Agency's technical assistance authorities, specifically the Floodplain Management Services and Planning Assistance to States Program--again, one that impacts my State greatly.

This bill authorizes the Corps to conduct outreach to ensure that our communities are knowledgeable of the ways in which the Agency can help them with their water resources needs. It directs the Corps to designate staff in each district that can do this outreach.

The bill makes important improvements to the Tribal Partnership Program and other authorities to assist Indian Tribes. It also expands existing programs and includes new authorities to assist communities that are economically disadvantaged, including those located in rural areas.

It requires reporting on timelines for the environmental review process for projects. The bill directs the GAO to conduct a study: a review of projects that are overbudgeted and delayed--find out what is going on--as well as a review of the Corps' mitigation practices for projects.

The bill includes several provisions that improve flexibility with regard to financial accounting; for example, the bill allows Federal Agencies to provide funding to help satisfy the non-Federal sponsor's contribution for a project or study under certain circumstances. It authorizes, for the first time, a dedicated research and development account for the Corps to spur innovation and provides contracting flexibility in undertaking these activities.

The bill directs the Corps to support science, technology, engineering, and math--STEM--education and recruit individuals for careers at this Agency. The input of non-Federal entities is crucial to successfully resolving water resources challenges now and in the future.

This bill establishes a new advisory committee for non-Federal interests to voice their opinions on how the Corps can better meet their needs.

We preserve the integral part of the non-Federal cost share partners in the project delivery process by avoiding mandates from Washington, DC, and ensuring that the Corps continues to evaluate a full array of solutions during the feasibility study phase.

In addition to my role as a ranking member, I represent the great State of West Virginia, and I worked to address the needs of my home State. Here are just a few highlights before I close.

This legislation advances a critical flood control project of the city of Milton, WV. Authorized in the 1990s, this project is longtime coming, and I am proud to have helped move it forward.

The bill also supports flood control studies for the Kanawha River Basin and the city of Huntington. And it continues to provide environmental infrastructure assistance to communities throughout the State.

Finally, the bill will provide additional critical support to riverbank stabilizations such as those on the Kanawha River.

In closing, there is a lot in this bill--I could go on and on, but I won't--for communities across the country. It is the culmination of a true bipartisan agreement and represents our shared goal of addressing the Nation's water resources needs.

I am very proud of our committee. I am very proud to be here today with you. We are active; we are cooperative; and we are fruitful. We get things done. I like that. It is a testament to the values and goals that Chairman Carper and I share, and it is a testament to our personal friendship and our working relationship. Thank you for that.

Before I close, I would like to thank my staff as well for all of their hard work and dedication to seeing that we get this across the finish line: Adam Tomlinson, Murphie Barrett, Max Hyman, Kim Townsend, Katherine Scarlett, Jacob Mitchell, and Haden Miller.

I would also like to thank the technical assistance that we received from the U.S. Corps of Engineers staff: Amy Klein, Dave Wethington, and countless other technical staff.

And, then, from Senate legislative counsel, we would like to thank Deanna Edwards.

I look forward to a rousing vote here in a few minutes.

Madam President, I thank Senator Manchin for such a great tribute to our good friend Woody Williams and his family, to his generation, and to his love of our country and the love of freedom. Thank you for the leadership that you showed to make sure that tomorrow could happen.

I know we worked on this together, but this is not an easy lift, to lie in honor, as you know, in the U.S. Capitol. But to me, it is so symbolic of a generation, and I have encouraged everybody I have seen to please come and pay their respects to Woody or to that ``greatest generation'' that Woody symbolizes in his passing.

I also want to thank the family. I can't see them from where I sit over here. I am right underneath you guys. Woody has two daughters, Travie and Tracy, and five grandsons and three great grandchildren, one of which is a great granddaughter. And I have had the pleasure of spending time with them over the last several days.

So I rise today to honor and celebrate the legacy of an American hero and proud son of West Virginia. He was always a proud son of West Virginia. On June 29, Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, the last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, passed away at the grand age of 98, and, tomorrow, rightfully, he will become just the seventh American and the first West Virginian to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. It is a well-deserved recognition for a man from humble beginnings.

Woody was the youngest of 11 children, and I am going to tell one of my favorite encounters that I had with Woody.

He traveled everywhere. We would come on planes, and Woody would be on the plane coming to DC, and you would ask him: Where is he going?

Oh, he is going to San Francisco or he is going to Seattle to do something for Gold Star families or to flip the coin in the Super Bowl. He had more energy than all of us put together.

But he told me a lot of stories about his early life when I sat on the plane with him. And he did tell me that, during World War II, when he was very anxious to sign up--as so many of them were at those young ages of 18, 19 and 20--he had a problem because he didn't really have a birth certificate.

He was born in Quiet Dell, WV, which is a little spot on the road, on a farm. But he told me that his mother had a really good friend, and his mother's really good friend would come over and help her deliver her 11 children, and then Woody's mother would go over and help her friend deliver her 7 or 8 children, or however many she had. So there was no official documentation.

I think he told me in the end--I have to make sure that I am telling this right to Tracy. He told me, in the end, that they had to drag his mother's friend down to the bureau in the county, when he wanted to sign up to join, to make sure that he was actually as old as he said he was.

So being the youngest of 11, he made a lot of sacrifices for his family. But his acts of heroism would eventually help the United States capture the pivotal island of Iwo Jima, a world away from that dairy farm in Quiet Dell, WV.

Many Americans recognize the iconic image of our marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi. It emotes an enormous sense of pride for all of us of patriotism, of triumph. On that same day that the iconic photo was taken, February 23, 1945, a young Marine corporal by the name of Hershel ``Woody'' Williams was on that same island risking his life for our freedom.

That day was under constant fire, and every time I heard him tell the story, he mentioned the folks that had his back. And some of them didn't make it.

Woody, who was a member of the 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division, alone stormed multiple enemy pillboxes with limited cover, neutralizing one after another, saving countless American lives behind him.

He went on to fight throughout the entire 5 week campaign on Iwo Jima until our forces finally took the Japanese stronghold, marking a key turning point for the Allied cause. His actions that day and throughout the war are the reason why, when West Virginians think of the ``greatest generation,'' we think of Woody Williams.

But what would set Woody apart, I think, more than those acts of valor on the battlefield, was what he did after that, how he carried himself in the more than 75 years since the Second World War.

Through the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams Foundation he advocated for Gold Star families. I was able to attend a couple of the openings of the memorials with him, and it was quite moving. He worked to ensure that the memories of loved ones lost would go on forever.

Today, Woody and his foundation have installed 104 Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments across this country, with about 70 additional monuments underway in every State. Through public appearances and his seemingly unending energy and passion, Woody shared his story with the world.

And he was quite the speaker. I think Senator Manchin would agree with me: That guy could give a speech. It was always very captivating whenever Woody was on the program. His mission was to inspire those-- especially younger--Americans, to answer the same call to service that he did as a teenage boy.

As he said years later, ``the people need to remember, if we ever lose our freedom, we will never be able to regain it.'' He believed that to every core of his body. There is no doubt in my mind that because of Woody, there are more people who answered the call and chose to serve the United States in some way, shape, or form--what an incredible legacy to leave.

He also never forgot his fellow veterans, serving as a veterans' service rep for 33 years at the VA, and I am proud that legacy of care lives on forever in the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams VA Medical Center outside Huntington, WV. As a matter of fact, Senator Manchin told me that was one of Woody's requests: that we need another exit for that hospital.

Joe, could you arrange that?

But Woody did all this with the same trademark humility that we came to know and love about him. For instance, several years after President Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor, Woody says he remembers asking himself in that moment: ``Why was I selected to receive our Nation's highest award when marines right beside me didn't make it home?''

And that just tells you everything you need to know. That shows you the kind of man that Woody Williams was--always for putting his country and comrades first and never concerned with who got the credit.

I count it among one of my life's lessons to have had that airline flight in close contact with him, but also through the years seeing him that I was able to learn from him and laugh with him.

I asked him: Why the Marines? Why not the Army?

Well, he said he was walking down the street--this was before he joined--and he saw a guy walking down the street, and, man, did he look great in that uniform. He said: That is what I want to be. I want to be a marine.

But one of his family members told me at the funeral over in West Virginia, several days ago, that you need to add on there that he thought it would attract more women at the same time. So he was thinking ahead. He was thinking ahead, and I have to agree with him: That Marine uniform is something quite special, and so are the Marines.

The last thing I would say, on a personal note, is that the many times that I saw Woody, being born in 1923, was a reflection of not just him. In his eyes and in the way he carried himself, I saw that whole ``greatest generation''--from my dad, who was also born in 1923, who served in World War II, who left this country for a cause greater than themselves, who believed in protecting our freedoms, who went and fought for people they had never met, known, or seen. And when you think about it in the context of where we are today, you think how special that was for our Nation, for that ``greatest generation.''

So when I say good-bye to Woody tomorrow, when we have the ceremony tomorrow, we are saying good-bye and thank you to that ``greatest generation'' that my dad was a part of. It has a lot of nostalgia and remembrance in all of our hearts and admiration for their passion and love for our country.

So, tomorrow, as we honor a great man and tell his story, Woody will still be doing what he has always done, and that is inspire us. So here is to a well-lived life and a country well-served, even long after he wore the Marine uniform he loved so dearly. Hoorah. Woody, rest peacefully, and thank you.

Madam President, in March, I spoke here on the Senate floor about the highest reported gasoline prices ever. At that time, according to AAA, the average price in West Virginia, my home State, was $4.12. Well, today--today--West Virginia's average is up to $4.90 while the national average is $4.96.

Last week, the national average for a gallon of gas was more than $5--more than $5. Think about that. And, worse, these high gas prices hit our hardest working Americans the hardest. As Axios reported, ``Americans who earn less than $50,000 a year are currently spending . . . 10% of their credit card bills on gas, compared with 6% for those households earning . . . $125,000.''

These prices are not sustainable for the American families, especially when you consider not only gas, but with out-of-control inflation, they are battling gas, electricity, groceries, and other necessities.

As the New York Times reported, ``Prices climbed 8.6 percent in the year through May, a reacceleration of inflation that makes it increasingly difficult for consumers to afford everyday purchases.''

So people ask me: How did we get here? Unfortunately, we shouldn't be surprised, even if it is hard to imagine that things would get this bad. From the earliest days of his Presidential campaign, President Biden promised to be anti-American-energy. As President, his policies and personnel choices have delivered on his campaign promises, and high prices are just part of the bargain, as they would say.

The administration has canceled pipelines, rescinded previously issued approvals for other pipelines, and raised barriers to building new ones. They have frozen oil and gas leasing and proposed raising royalties--costs that are passed on to every consumer and, remember, those hardest working Americans who are now paying 10 percent of their income.

They are revising the NEPA process, which is the environmental review process, undoing the streamlining that was done during 2020 to speed up project delivery. That means faster pipelines, faster infrastructure development of all kinds. Biden's EPA has hammered small refineries, including the one in my State, by denying hardship relief that could immediately help lower fuel prices. And Biden's EPA has also recently announced a proposal under section 401 of the Clean Water Act to make it easier for activists to work to prevent infrastructure projects.

Then there is the regulation on the power sector. The EPA has publicly announced plans to slam the electricity sector--already the most regulated sector by EPA--with a fresh new slate of new requirements.

The damaging policies I have laid out today have led to the energy crisis and skyrocketing energy and electricity prices that we face today. These policies are going to continue to fan the flames of this crisis, making it worse and not better. As costs continue to climb and energy production gets more expensive--thanks to this regulatory assault--utility operators are already warning of blackouts this summer. Operators are under tremendous strain, thanks to the Biden administration's policies.

So what has the White House done to address this crisis? Well, I think GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan said it well:

White House begs all companies to improve situation. Can we

drill? We'd rather you not. Can we build a refinery? We'd

rather you not. Can we build a pipeline? We'd rather you not.

Just make it better.

So it is no wonder that all of these mixed messages have industry and investors confused. I am confused. The American public is confused why nobody woke up to what was going on here--and the President in the White House. The administration made releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. What good did that do? It hasn't started to abate the steady rise in gas prices. They have pointed fingers at energy producers and refiners with claims of price-gouging. They have pointed fingers at Vladimir Putin, despite the fact that gas prices were steadily rising months before the invasion of Ukraine.

The White House is content to keep finger-pointing while refusing to take responsibility for their own actions. They know their actions are causing pain. They know, with these policies and pledges from our climate czar John Kerry to stop using our own American fuels, they are chilling investments that we need today. For example, who would make a billion-dollar, 40-year investment in the refining capacity we desperately need today when John Kerry promises that oil and gas investments will be ``stranded assets.''

Nothing the White House has promised will fix these kinds of issues. The President himself says energy producers should take immediate action to increase the supply of gas. Yet his advisers in the White House are counseling everyone otherwise. In effect and in the messages they send, this is going to make things worse.

This administration is fiercely determined to kill the oil and gas industry and baseload power sector in this country rule by rule, Executive action by Executive action. And the hard-working Americans are paying for it at the pump.

The American people are really smart. They see what is happening here. The Democrats want to layer on more regulations and legislation that will keep passing more and more costs on to those consumers, those hard-working Americans who are paying 10 percent monthly from their monthly

earnings. All the while, the Biden administration is working as hard as it can to shutter coal and natural gas energy production and electricity.

Do you know what? Without a 180-degree turn on several actions I have laid out, we can expect costs to stay high and blackouts and brownouts to occur.

Americans deserve better. I am an optimist. Americans deserve better.

I ask the administration to reverse course on some of these policies I have outlined and to put the livelihoods and the quality of life of our constituents first.

I yield the floor.