Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, 35 years ago this month, every nation on Earth came together for the first time in human history to sign onto a global accord to save the planet's dying ozone layer. It was a convergence unlike any before, uniting not just every member of the United Nations but, in time, also the European Union and even the Holy See. That accord, of course, was the Montreal Protocol, hailed by then-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as ``perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date.'' Today, the Senate will finish the work of ratifying the Kigali Amendment to the protocol when we vote later today here on the floor. Ratifying the Kigali Amendment will require two-thirds of the Senate, and I want to thank every single Member, Democratic and Republican alike, who voted yesterday to move forward on this measure. Our country, our businesses, and our planet will benefit because of it. I hope we can see that same level of support today. In a year where we have already seen plenty of major bipartisan bills become law, the Kigali Amendment might just be one of the most important bipartisan achievements to date--less heralded, but maybe more important--because this measure will go a long way to lowering global temperatures while also creating tens of thousands of American jobs and deal with the fact that China rarely participates in global cooperation when it comes to putting their own economy and jobs ahead of ours. As I have explained, the Kigali Amendment will signal the commitment of the United States to phase down the use of dangerous industrial chemicals known as HFCs by 80 percent over the next 15 years. HFCs are found practically in every home in America and around the world, inside the vast majority of refrigerators, air-conditioner units, aerosols, insulating foams, and more. Experts say that if we can meet the goals set forth by the Kigali Amendment, we can reduce global temperatures by about half a degree Celsius by the end of the century. That is huge. We struggle to get that reduction down, to get that increase down. And this is a big, big step forward for that. Half a degree might sound like a rounding error to some, but in truth, it is very, very, very significant. But equally significant, however, are the tens of billions in new investments that will be up for grabs if we ratify this amendment. Every year, millions and millions of refrigerators and AC units are sold around the world, and the United States ranks near the top of refrigerator exports. All of these products will need viable HFC refrigerant alternatives moving forward, and we need to take every step available to make sure those alternatives are provided by American companies and American workers, driven by American ingenuity. By one measure, ratifying the Kigali Amendment will generate nearly $39 billion in investments here in America in the next 5 years when combined with other steps we have taken to transition away from HFCs. It will create tens of thousands of new American jobs and increase U.S. heating, ventilation, and refrigeration exports by 25 percent in a few short years, by 2027. Let me say that all again. Tens of thousands in new American jobs, nearly 39 billion in new investments, a surge in U.S. exports--all of that is on the table if we finish our work to ratify this amendment today. There is every reason in the world to say yes. There is really no down side to ratification. The Kigali Amendment will not overrule or change any current U.S. law. It will require no one to replace their appliances at home. The United States will be able to lead the international process of implementing Kigali, ensuring U.S. businesses will set the terms of implementation that benefit them. And Congress will be perfectly free to change domestic policy to adapt to new technologies without having to worry about this agreement. Even without the Kigali Amendment, the United States has already taken steps to transition away from HFCs, and U.S. businesses have been the ones leading the way. So it is no surprise that groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Chemistry Council, the Air- Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute, and even companies like Walmart and Honeywell all support the Kigali Amendment. So in many ways, this is sort of a legislative layup. It is low- hanging fruit to secure billions in growth and tens of thousands of good-paying jobs. Again, there is every reason in the world to say yes and practically no reason to say no. So for the sake of U.S. businesses, for the sake of U.S. workers, for the sake of U.S. exporters and U.S. investment, and for the sake of leadership in safeguarding our planet, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on ratifying Kigali later today.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 2:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, September 21, all postcloture time in relation to Treaty Document No. 117-1 be considered expired; that the Schumer amendment No. 5503 be withdrawn; that the Sullivan-Lee amendment No. 5518 be the only amendment in order to the resolution of ratification and the Senate vote on adoption of the amendment; that upon disposition of the Sullivan-Lee amendment, the Senate vote on adoption of the resolution of ratification, as amended, if amended, all without intervening action or debate; further, that upon disposition of the treaty, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the Bennett nomination and that at 5:30 p.m. the Senate vote on the motions to invoke cloture on the Bennett and Prabhakar nominations in the order listed; that if cloture is invoked on either of the nominations, the confirmation votes be at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Republican leader; further, that the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 484, S. 4822, be at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 22.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this is a very good day. We have just passed the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on a strong bipartisan basis. This is a win-win-win: win for U.S. jobs, win for U.S. investment, and win for U.S. leadership in the fight against climate change. We have talked a lot about how this amendment will help U.S. businesses, U.S. jobs, and U.S. competitiveness overseas, but let's talk about how important this amendment will be for protecting our planet. Ratifying the Kigali Amendment, along with passing the Inflation Reduction Act, is the strongest one-two punch against climate change any Congress has ever undertaken. Let me say that again: Ratifying the Kigali Amendment, along with passing the Inflation Reduction Act, is the strongest one-two punch against climate change any Congress has ever taken. In fact--amazing statistic, folks--people don't pay attention to this one, but it is vital. Experts say that phasing out our use of HFCs will help prevent up to half a degree Celsius of warming by the end of the century. That is worth repeating as well. Experts say that phasing out our use of HFCs will help prevent up to half a degree Celsius of warming by the end of the century. It is an easily overlooked victory, but a massive one, all coming from eliminating this family of dangerous chemicals, which are a thousand times more deadly per molecule than carbon dioxide. And on top of it all, ratifying this amendment will give U.S. businesses a huge leg up. It will open exports to new international markets, generate tens of billions in new investments and help create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and we will get a much needed edge against Chinese businesses that still lag behind in developing viable HFC alternatives. Under Kigali, our exports will increase while China will lose out. So, once again, ratifying the Kigali Amendment is a win-win-win: a win for U.S. jobs, a win for U.S. investment, and, most of all, a win for our global campaign to defeat the climate crisis and preserve our planet for future generations. I want to thank my colleague from Delaware who has been such a persistent advocate on this legislation. And there are so many others-- the Senators from New Mexico and Hawaii and Delaware--who have worked so hard on it as well. I thank them for their steadfastness. The globe, our globe, is rejoicing today because of this legislation. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5503.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with further reading of the amendment.

Mr. SCHUMER. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, later today, the Senate will take the first step toward ratifying an amendment to one of the most successful international environmental agreements in modern history, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Members can expect to cast the first vote on cloture later this afternoon after the weekly party lunches. Today's vote will require 60 votes in the affirmative to move forward. And since the Kigali Amendment is part of a treaty, it will require two-thirds of the Chamber to ultimately ratify this provision. The Kigali Amendment will be one of the most significant bipartisan measures the Senate takes on all year, and that is saying something, because we have done a lot. It would affirm our country's intention to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons--commonly known as HFCs--by 85 percent over the next 15 years. Experts say this step alone could prevent half a degree Celsius of warming by the end of the 21st century. Is that incredible? Half a degree. We struggle to get there. This one measure will do it. That may not seem like much, but within the larger context of global temperature, it is really very significant. There are two paths our country can take, depending on what we do with the Kigali Amendment. If we ratify this treaty, not only will we protect our planet, but this is an economic issue and an issue to go after China, which is a rogue nation in this regard. It will provide us a golden opportunity for American businesses to dominate in emerging business. Every year, millions of refrigerators and AC units are sold around the world; and in the United States, many families own more than one refrigerator. That is a lot of appliances that will need HFC alternatives, which U.S. businesses, particularly, are working to prepare for. By one measure, the combined impact of ratifying the Kigali Amendment and other steps we have taken to reduce HFCs would create 150,000 new jobs and generate nearly $39 billion in investment by 2027 as new markets open up for trade. So this, in many ways, is a pro-jobs measure, one supported by the Chamber of Commerce, by major retailers like Walmart, by the Semiconductor Industry Association, and many other business groups. If we fail to ratify the amendment, the rest of the world is going to move on without us. Without Kigali, we are going to play second fiddle to nations like China, whose businesses will surpass ours in developing viable HFC alternatives, taking jobs that, by all rights, belong here in America. And by 2033, parties to Kigali will be prohibited-- prohibited--from any trade in HFCs with non-Kigali nations. We will lose out tens of billions of dollars of sales. There is no reason to have that happen. Ratifying Kigali will not require any change in the current U.S. law. We already have domestic policies phasing out HFCs here at home, so we are putting into practice many of the reforms the Kigali Amendment calls for, and no consumer will have to change any appliance. So for the sake of U.S. businesses, for the sake of U.S. innovators, for the sake of making sure China has to comply and be part of the world community and not do what they think is just good for themselves--which seems to be President Xi's way of doing things--I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of advancing the Kigali Amendment later today. It is low- hanging fruit for creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs right here at home.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I move to proceed to consider Calendar No. 484, S. 4822.

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

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call for the cloture motion filed today, September 19, be waived.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, today, my thoughts are with all our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico--and all communities across the Caribbean--battered by the destruction of Hurricane Fiona. As of this morning, well over a million residents on the island remain without power, and two-thirds remain without running water. In a short while, I will get on the phone with the FEMA Administrator and urge that they be ready to approve temporary 100 percent Federal cost share for all emergency protective services that Puerto Rico conducts in the coming days. That means covering the island's costs for distributing food and water, disaster operations, and emergency medical care. Right now, the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund has about $15 billion as of late last week--a fund we Democrats fought extremely hard to secure. I will also join with my colleagues in the New York delegation to send FEMA a letter calling on them to be ready to support Puerto Rico on any upcoming request for aid. Five years--almost exactly 5 years to the day--after Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, the Federal Government has a responsibility to make sure we don't repeat the mistakes of the previous administration. The Federal response should be swift, robust, and continued for as long as the island needs.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 1055.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 1097.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions filed today, September 19, be waived.

Mr. SCHUMER. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCHUMER

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