Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. SCHUMER. I move to refer H.R. 4346 to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with an amendment.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask consent that further reading of the motion be dispensed with.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHUMER. I have an amendment to the instructions at the desk.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHUMER. I withdraw my request.

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I was gratified, as many of us were on both sides of the aisle, with these large votes--64 votes--for this motion to proceed on to the new bill. It bodes very well that we can get this bill done with a large vote and get it done as quickly as we can, so I hope we move forward because this bill is so important for jobs and for the future of the American economy. Motion to Concur with Amendment No. 5135

Mr. SCHUMER. I move to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4346, with an amendment.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, today is going to be an exceedingly busy and productive day on the Senate floor. Later today, after months of hard work and countless rounds of talks, Senators will vote to move forward on legislation that our country desperately needs--a chips bill that will lower costs, boost American manufacturing, and protect American security interests. Over the past 24 hours, both parties have continued working on the final details to the chips package that we will vote on later today. We will see if Members can come to an agreement on adding other provisions to the bill, but the bottom line is that we must come up with a package that is capable of passing this Chamber without delay. We must act as soon as we can to make sure we bring chip manufacturing back to America because our Nation's security depends on it. I urge my colleagues, if you want to fight inflation, if you want to create more good-paying jobs right here at home, if you want to keep America strong and competitive and innovative in the 21st century so that we can lead the economy as we did in the 20th, then this chips bill is the way to go. It is a very important bill. The chips shortage is one of the most damaging trends over the past few years. This technology, which originated, of course, right here in America, is the bedrock for much of modern life. Cars, refrigerators, cell phones, medical devices--they all depend on chips to function. But when chips suddenly become scarce, as is the case today, the consequences are felt across the board by companies but also by average Americans. Americans see higher prices and longer wait times for all sorts of consumer goods because of this chip shortage. It wasn't always this way, but thanks to the pandemic, this crisis is now being felt across the country. A quarter century ago, the United States was the undisputed leader in global chip production. In 1990, we produced 40 percent--nearly 40 percent--of the world's semiconductors. Today, that figure is going down to 12 percent and will get even lower if we don't pass this bill. We have a chance of leading the way on chip manufacturing once again if we pass this legislation. As we speak, the country's most important chip manufacturers--these are American companies--are waiting on congressional action--mostly American companies, not all. But they are waiting on congressional action before they decide where to invest in chip production. From Asia to Europe, other nations have copied the American playbook and have already invested billions of dollars to incentivize chip manufacturers to come to them. If we do not match the efforts of other countries to boost chip manufacturing, the consequences could be dire and long- lasting. Countless good-paying American jobs are on the line. Costs that Americans are now paying--higher costs--getting them lowered is now on the line. Billions of dollars in economic activity is on the line, and our national security is on the line. As Secretary Austin and Secretary Raimondo told us last week, our economic and national security depends on our ability to invest in the technologies of today and tomorrow. If we allow other nations to lead the way on chips, the days of America leading the world in scientific innovation, the days of America being the leading economic and military power in the world may actually be over. Nobody wants that. So vote for this bill. This is a future none of us wants to see. Again, vote for this bill. I urge my colleagues to move forward later today.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, in a few moments, the Senate will take the first procedural vote on the chips bill that will fight inflation, boost American manufacturing, ease our supply chains, and protect American security interests. This is one of the important votes that we will take this session, because advancing this bill is crucial for lowering costs, solving our Nation's chip shortage, and making sure America remains competitive in the 21st century. America will fall behind in so many areas if we don't pass this bill, and we could very well lose our ranking as the No. 1 economy and innovator in the world if we can't pass this. Lower costs, more jobs, a stronger economy--that is the recipe behind this bill, and it spells good news for the American people today and for decades to come. I want to thank both my Democratic and Republican colleagues for working together for more than a year on these policies. I want to thank Senator Cantwell, our very able, dedicated, and hard-working committee chair, as well as Senators Wicker and Cornyn and Warner and Kelly and Sinema, as well as our conference members, as well as the many individual Senators on both sides who contributed to this legislation. This has been bipartisan work in the Senate at its best-- something we have done on several pieces of legislation this year--and I hope we can do more and do it more often. Now, on the procedure, Members should know this vote will be a test vote, and a favorable outcome will allow the science portion of USICA to be included in this bill. Let me explain. This vote will be a motion to proceed on a House message, which we will use as a vehicle to pass our chips legislation. It only requires 50 votes to proceed, but if we can get enough votes to comfortably withstand a filibuster, I will amend this chips, ITC, and ORAN bill to include the science provisions that so many of my colleagues, led by Senators Cantwell and Wicker, have worked on so hard to secure. I want everyone to understand, a ``yes'' vote on this motion to proceed indicates Members will vote yes on cloture on a package that includes chips, ITC, ORAN, and the science provision. As you all know, I am a strong supporter of the science provisions. I was the original author, along with Senator Young, of many of these policies under the Endless Frontier Act. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this vote, and I thank Senator Young for his 2-year partnership on this legislation. However, folks, if this vote doesn't produce enough votes to comfortably withstand a filibuster, we will move forward with the chips, ORAN, and ITC provisions here on the floor. It is my preference for the Senate to include the science provisions in this bill because they are so important for the future of our country. I am very optimistic we will see a strong bipartisan vote later today.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Now I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 3, Treaty Document No. 115-3; that the treaty be considered as having advanced through the various parliamentary stages up to and including the presentation of the resolution of advice and consent to ratification; that any committee conditions, declarations, or reservations be agreed to as applicable; that any statements be printed in the Record as if read; further, that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask for a division vote on the resolution of advice and consent to ratification.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 922; that there be 10 minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination; that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session; further, that Calendar No. 1051 be considered under the same agreement.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I have eight 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:

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 20; that following the prayer and the pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Williams nomination; further, that the cloture motions filed during yesterday's session ripen at 11:30 a.m., and that if cloture is invoked on the Williams nomination, all postcloture time be expired at 2:30 p.m.; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Wednesday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. SCHUMER. For the information of the Senate, there will be one rollcall vote at 11:30 a.m., two rollcall votes at 2:30 p.m., and additional rollcall votes later in the day.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the remarks of Senator Klobuchar.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Now, 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. 971.

Mr. SCHUMER

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