Debbie Stabenow

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I have to first note--and I appreciate so much Senator Carper's comments--but from the smallest State that claims agriculture to our distinguished Presiding Officer from the largest State that has agriculture, to my State of Michigan, which is second only to California in the diversity of crops that we grow, I think we all stand here committed to the importance of growing things in America, this economic engine, supporting small towns, supporting rural development and quality of life. So I am really pleased, as chair of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today, to know that we will be confirming Xochitl Torres Small as the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Ms. Torres Small's impressive and wide-ranging resume makes her an ideal appointee to help lead the more than 100,000 public servants at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and they are stationed in over 4,500 locations all across the country and all across the world. Her predecessor in this role, Jewel Bronaugh, was instrumental in helping to restore one of the Department's key functions: serving our constituents on the ground in the communities in which they work, live, and farm. A trailblazer like Ms. Torres Small, Ms. Bronaugh was the first woman of color to hold the Deputy position at the USDA, and we very much appreciated her leadership. I have every confidence that Ms. Torres Small is up to the important task and will lead with great skill and competence. The granddaughter of farm workers, Ms. Torres Small grew up in the borderlands of New Mexico. She began her career working for Senator Tom Udall, clerking for a U.S. district court judge, and practicing water and natural resources law. Ms. Torres Small was the first woman and first person of color to represent New Mexico's Second Congressional District, which is the fifth largest district in the country. She has most recently served as the Under Secretary for Rural Development, a position to which she was confirmed unanimously by the Senate just 2 years ago. As Under Secretary, Ms. Torres Small proved herself to be a staunch advocate for rural communities. It was through her leadership that USDA Rural Development secured $2 billion to support rural broadband through the bipartisan infrastructure law, making USDA the first Federal Agency to invest these funds in physical infrastructure for high-speed internet. I want to stress that they were the first dollars out the door in terms of taking dollars to small communities across the country for critically needed high-speed internet. By moving swiftly to make rural development funding available, USDA reduced energy costs for farmers and small businesses. Last year, Congress made the largest investment in rural electric since the New Deal. Under Ms. Torres Small's stewardship, USDA has been a leader in delivering those benefits to our local communities. She worked tirelessly to increase rural communities' access to programs and improve customer services at regional offices across the country. And, importantly, she championed USDA's workforce, improving staff morale and building out data and technology. Ms. Torres Small enjoys broad support from over 80 stakeholders, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Grocers Association, Western Growers, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, U.S. Apple Association, the Rice Association, and on and on, as well as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. I am also pleased that Ms. Torres Small enjoys broad support in this Chamber, and she was advanced unanimously out of our committee. The role of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture is not only critical to overseeing the Department's efforts to improve its workforce but also improving customer service, which I know she is laser-focused on. The Deputy Secretary position is also vital to our work as we continue to draft a bipartisan farm bill. Ms. Torres Small's confirmation is a great opportunity for the Senate to show that we can work together in a bipartisan manner. Ms. Torres Small has a proven track record as a strong leader with deep knowledge of farm, food, and rural policy. I know she will serve the Department and the American people well in her new position, and I urge my colleagues to support her confirmation. I yield the floor.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, let me say two points to my colleague. First, fundamentally, this is about who makes medical decisions. Do we trust women? Do we trust the person who is pregnant? Do we trust their ability to work with their doctor? Who makes the decision in the United States of America? We stand with the women of America. The second thing I will say is that it is so difficult for me to hear over and over again about the sanctity of life when I lead the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, where we have to fight every day to make sure food is available for children who are born. The House of Representatives just passed an agriculture appropriations bill that gutted WIC, which is the Women, Infants, and Children Program for newborn babies and moms, to get them started in a healthy life. When we can't pass quality standards for Medicaid births, which are half the births of this country, because we have had objections on the other side of the aisle for years about somehow having quality standards for prenatal care and birth, it is very hard for me to listen to the idea that we ought to be protecting--it is not just the unborn. It is the born. It is the children. It is the moms. It is the quality of life that we fight for every day, for food, healthcare, and so on. So I find it very hard to listen to that language. I am very disappointed that there is an objection to a bill that would let doctors practice healthcare to protect women and babies. I yield the floor.

Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, listening to this debate today, I can't believe we are having these debates in 2023. It is just stunning to me that we are having to debate privacy and the ability to make your own reproductive health decisions and all the ramifications for it. But here we are. So I rise today to speak up for American women, the doctors who care for us, and our freedom to make our own healthcare decisions. What a novel idea that, in the United States of America, we would be able to make our own healthcare decisions. But thanks to a radically conservative Supreme Court and radicals in State legislatures, reproductive freedom is no longer a constitutional right in the United States. Roe v. Wade protected our freedoms for 50 years, until it didn't. Nearly half of the 50 States have already banned abortion or are likely to do that--half. And, sadly, this change is already making American healthcare worse. It just breaks my heart to hear about the individual situations of women. In Michigan, fortunately, we are in a situation where the people of Michigan have stood up for reproductive freedom. But to see the women coming into Michigan, the people who are pregnant coming into Michigan, who are coming in to get help that they can't get in their own State, it just breaks my heart. A poll of OB/GYNs released today by the independent health policy research organization KFF shows the effects. Sixty-four percent of OB/ GYNs surveyed said that the Dobbs decision has increased pregnancy- related deaths. Now think about that: 64 percent of the doctors--of the OB/GYNs surveyed--said that this Supreme Court decision has increased pregnancy-related deaths. Seventy percent of OB/GYNs said that the Dobbs decision has made racial and ethnic inequalities in healthcare worse. And 68 percent of OB/GYNs--the doctors serving women--say that the Dobbs decision has made it harder for them to manage their patients' pregnancy-related emergencies, including women who desperately want their babies. They are desperate for this. They want to have this child. And something comes up, and it breaks their heart and their family's hearts. And there is an emergency that may threaten their life, and doctors are saying that it is harder for them to respond in an emergency. Just think about that: 68 percent of doctors say that this Supreme Court decision makes it harder for them to keep patients alive. These doctors know what they need to do to save lives. In many States, they are just not allowed to do it. How could that be in America in 2023? And even doctors in States like Michigan--and I am proud to say we now protect reproductive freedom in our constitution, voted on by the people of our State, overwhelmingly, last November. But even we aren't immune from that. A State law in Texas allows vigilantes to sue doctors even in States where abortion is legal. So much for States' rights. And radicals in other States are scrambling to pass similar legislation. That is why we need the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Healthcare Act. Thank you to Senators Murray and Padilla and Lujan and Rosen for leading this effort, and I am proud to be their partner, as we all are. This bill would ensure that healthcare providers in States where abortion is legal--States' rights; it is legal--can keep providing the reproductive healthcare their patients need. And it would help protect patients across the country who choose to access reproductive healthcare in a State where it is legal. I trust Michigan doctors. Michigan doctors know what their patients need. What Michigan doctors and their patients don't need are Texas legislators standing in their exam rooms. It is time to pass this legislation to protect doctors and to protect their patients. So, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 1297 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; further, that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I will be equally brief. The good news is this is already required by law. This is a total duplication. States must already provide up-to-date employment data in order to measure if they hit a 10-percent unemployment rate in order to get a State waiver. This is unnecessary. Please do not risk a default of our country on language that is already in the law. Would my friend accept a voice vote?

Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, first of all, the great news is, we have a robust economy growing, more small businesses opening, the lowest unemployment rate in a generation, and we all want people to be able to work. Let me speak to the reality of what is in this bill. First of all, we have had work requirements for people who are single adults with no dependents since the 1990s. If you don't work, if you are not in school, the most you can qualify for is 3 months' worth of SNAP within 3 years. That is current law--$6 a day is what we are talking about. This bill extends that out in terms of the age, of the number of people required to be in school or at work, with certainly important exemptions for our seniors, for our veterans, and our homeless, and it is in place until 2030. Here is my question: How do you tell your constituents that you are willing to default, create a catastrophic default now that will raise their unemployment, cost us jobs, raise interest rates, and so on, because you want to change something that is going to be in place until 2030--2030? We have plenty of time to revisit it at that point. This is a bipartisan agreement. I would just suggest it is very irresponsible for us to change something here that we know--the House is gone. We are going to go into default. We make a change and say it is because we wanted something to be extended beyond 2030. I would suggest we give this a chance, evaluate it. I would suggest we vote no.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I thank our leader for all of his wonderful work, all the time. I rise today to pay tribute to a phenomenal member of my staff, a leader who has played a key role in so many things I have been able to accomplish here in the Senate. Emily Carwell is leaving the upper Chamber for a new leadership change across the Rotunda--dare I say, the lower Chamber--after more than 8 years in my office. And, honestly, it feels like Emily has been with me forever. To speak in Senate terms, Emily has been my legislative director for 2,383 votes. It is actually quite fitting that she is returning to the House, though, because it is where she started, sort of. When I first interviewed her, I loved her right away: her Midwestern sensibilities, her enthusiasm, her eagerness to work for the people of Michigan. Anyone who has met Emily knows exactly what I mean. As somewhat of an afterthought, I asked her: You were in the House, right? You have House experience, right? She said yes. It turns out that her House experience was an unpaid fellowship. But--do you know what?--it didn't even matter. She joined my office as a legislative assistant. She hit the ground running, and she simply has not stopped. She organized the first-ever bipartisan delegation to tour all of our Michigan military installations, which was very significant for us to do. And, as legislative director, Emily has played a key role in so many areas that I couldn't even list them all. But I have to say, at the top of the list is our work on mental health. Her passion and tenacity are a major reason why we were able to get certified community behavioral health clinics signed into law, the largest Medicaid expansion since the Affordable Care Act. And it was a wonderful bipartisan effort. And you can bet I will keep her number on speed dial as these clinics are expanded across the country. Emily has also served as policy director of our Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, a job she has excelled at. And, Mr. President, as vice chair of the DPCC, I know you know that well. She has led amazing efforts to modernize the committee, including launching the ``DPCC FloorWatch'' app to bring us into the 21st century, which features everything from floor alerts to amendments, to floor and committee hearing videos. If you had to describe Emily in one word--although there are so many words, but if you had to describe her in one word--``relentless'' would be a good choice. During vote-aramas, when everyone else was collapsed at their desks in the middle of the night, Emily was still typing away on amendments to make sure our caucus members had the information they needed. And she was tireless during the earliest days of the pandemic, when we had to figure out how to run a Senate office remotely while helping the people of Michigan in every way we could. She has been a wonderful partner on codels, and we have traveled the world together. I will never forget the time when we were in Jordan at a refugee camp, meeting with Syrian refugees. Emily speaks fluent Arabic. So she was able to connect with these people who had been through so much in such a special, incredible way. I was listening, but I wasn't able to speak to them in their language. And it was very powerful. On a lighter note, Emily, I know about the time when you neglected to tell me that you were accidentally given the hotel suite I was supposed to get, and I got a smaller room. I just want you to know now that I know that. Just as important as the work she has done is the positive energy she has brought to the office. Emily has a way of bringing people together, whether it is for an office happy hour around her desk, an impromptu lunch outing, or Costco pizzas in the conference room. Her family is very important to her, and I am so glad her sister is here with us today. And she treats her coworkers like she treats her own family. Just one example: hand-delivering a tin of two kinds of homemade cookies to the home of a coworker who was sick. Emily is an amazing team player, skills she likely learned on the basketball court. She played on her college team, and she has also played against U.S. Senators who are at least twice her size. And all I am going to say is you will have to ask Senator Tester how that game went. Emily, thank you so much for everything--for your hard work, your talent, your dedication, your service to the people of Michigan and our country. And, most importantly, I am so grateful for your friendship. You will always be a part of my family. I have no doubt that you will excel in your new position, and the House is so lucky to get you back-- this time, in a paid position. And I am also very happy that you will be only 7 minutes away. We actually timed it. So Godspeed and, again, all the best, always. I yield the floor.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I rise today to honor the Michigan veterans throughout history who have given their lives for our Nation. During some of the toughest times for our country, Michiganders have been there. We have been willing to put our lives on the line for the cause of freedom. That certainly was the case during the Civil War. More than 3 million Americans fought in the Civil War. Around 90,000 of them were Michiganders, and more than 85,000 of them were volunteers. It is said that President Lincoln exclaimed, ``Thank God for Michigan!'' when 75,000 volunteers from our State arrived in Washington, DC, in May of 1861. The 24th Michigan Infantry fought at Gettysburg, where a monument stands to this day commemorating their service in the ``Iron Brigade.'' And the 24th was selected to provide military escort during President Lincoln's funeral procession. Few trials have so tested a nation--or a President--as did the Civil War. As historian Jon Meacham explores in his new book ``And There was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle,'' President Lincoln and the Nation he led faced multiple existential threats: the fracturing of our country, threats against our democracy, and an institution that treated 4 million Americans not as people, but as property. The echoes of these challenges remain in our Nation to this day. And in Lincoln, we see a path forward. We see that by keeping our moral center as our North Star, a nation can, in the words of Lincoln, ``long endure.'' We have long endured as a nation in part thanks to those brave, selfless Michiganders who were willing to put their lives on the line in order to preserve our Union. More than 13,400 of them never made it home. They have been followed by so many others. This Memorial Day, we honor all Michigan veterans throughout history who gave their lives in service to our country. And we honor their families. It is only because of their sacrifice that our democracy lives on.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I am so proud to be here with my colleagues today--Senator Cortez Masto and all of our colleagues and with our leaders Senator Cardin and Senator Murkowski--on this bipartisan resolution that is, frankly, long overdue. You know, there is a sign you often see at rallies for reproductive rights. A woman my age or older will often be holding it, and it reads something like this: ``I can't believe we are still fighting for this crap.'' Now, it usually has a different word on it than ``crap.'' As I stand here on the Senate floor in the Year of Our Lord 2023, I can't believe we are still fighting for equal rights for women under our American Constitution. We are 100 years out from when the Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced in 1923--a full century, 100 years--since it was first introduced. And a lot of things have changed since 1923, for sure. Women are CEOs and astronauts, professional athletes and chemistry professors, Governors and a Vice President of the United States. A quarter of the Members of this Chamber are women--not nearly enough, but we are getting there. Yet, still, 100 years later, women are not guaranteed equal legal protections, equal legal rights under our Constitution. That needed to change in 1923, and it certainly needs to change 100 years later in 2023. Michigan was ready for change back in 1972. That is when my State ratified the ERA. A Congresswoman from Michigan helped lead the way. Congresswoman Martha Griffiths of Detroit was the first woman in history to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee. In 1970, she filed a discharge petition to send the legislation to the full House of Representatives for consideration. It passed, only to die in the Senate. We have heard that story before. But Representative Griffiths was undaunted. She introduced an amended version. The House and Senate both passed it, and it was sent to the States for ratification in 1972. Congresswoman Griffiths later served as Michigan's first elected Lieutenant Governor and became known as the Mother of the ERA. Congresswoman Griffiths, sadly, didn't live to see her amendment written into the Constitution. But there is no doubt we need it today, even more than we did in 1972. Women in this country are watching our reproductive freedoms be dismantled. The Dobbs decision attempts to ban the abortion pill, and harsh abortion restrictions in States have left women in this country with fewer freedoms than our mothers and even our grandmothers enjoyed. The ERA is really simple. It simply says: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Equal rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. That is it. And this resolution is equally simple, the one before us. All it would do is remove an arbitrary deadline that was included when this was passed in Congress, preventing the ERA from being ratified. The ERA is simple, but its protections would be profound. It would protect all people, regardless of sex, from discrimination. It would defend against the rollback of our fundamental rights and freedoms. Congresswoman Martha Griffiths, from Michigan, passed it. The States ratified it. Now we just need to add it to our Constitution. Our daughters and our granddaughters can't wait another 100 years. They deserve equality now. So I hope colleagues would join with us to pass this resolution and finally ensure all people are equal under our laws. I yield the floor.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, first of all, I have to also lend my voice in congratulations to Senator Patty Murray. We are so proud of her and look to her for her leadership. It is an honor to serve with her in the leadership in the Senate, but she is just an extraordinary Member. And 10,000 votes--that is a lot of votes, and we should all continue to be very grateful for her leadership. So congratulations. Mr. President, this amendment is one that, in spirit--I mean, I agree with the need. Senator Sullivan and I have talked about the fact that I think he identified something that is very important for small rural communities. It is, however, duplicative of work we already do through rural development in USDA. The USDA has Community Facilities Programs. They provide grants and loans and loan guarantees for essential community services in rural areas of 20,000 residents or less, including public safety. Communities have used this for firetrucks, fire department construction, and fire equipment that Senator Sullivan has talked eloquently about. Last year, it was nearly $100 million in assistance to rural fire departments. So I told Senator Sullivan that we will have, in the next number of months, the farm bill reauthorization on the floor. I want to work very much with him on how we might be able to more focus or strengthen this program that already exists. The farm bill is coming up. I believe that is the place for us to address what is a very important issue. So I would urge my colleagues to channel their support to rural first responders into supporting this particular program in the upcoming farm bill reauthorization.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18; that following the prayer and 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 following the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Plumb nomination postcloture; further, at 11:30 a.m., the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; that the Senate recess following the cloture vote on the Solomon nomination until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; further, that if cloture has been invoked on the Solomon nomination, all postcloture time be considered expired at 2:15 p.m. and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Madam 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.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I am really proud to join today with my colleagues to speak on behalf of American women of the fundamental rights of all pregnant persons and our freedom to make our own healthcare decisions. Thanks to a radically conservative Supreme Court, reproductive freedom is no longer a constitutional right in the United States for any American. Roe v. Wade protected our freedoms for 50 years, until it didn't, and now today's young women have fewer freedoms than their mothers and their grandmothers ever did. And we are furious. Do you want to know how furious? In Michigan, we turned our anger into action. In November, we had the largest voter turnout for a midterm election ever. One of the measures on the ballot enshrined the right to reproductive freedom in our State's constitution. It passed by a strong 13-point margin, because Michiganders understand that health decisions should be made by individual people, not by judges and not by politicians. Unfortunately, a lot of folks didn't get the message. Republicans in Congress have pushed for a nationwide abortion ban. State legislatures across the country are making it harder and harder for people in their States to receive reproductive care. There are 24 States that have already banned abortion or probably will soon, and any day now, a Federal judge--one man in Texas--let me repeat that. One man in Texas is expected to hand down a ruling that could ban a medication that has been used to safely end pregnancies for 23 years. That decision would prevent patients from getting the healthcare they need even in States where abortion is legal. That is why it is so incredibly important that we pass a law that says, once and for all, that women in America have the freedom to make our own healthcare decisions. That is just what the Women's Health Protection Act will do, and I am very proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bill. It will protect all Americans from State laws that limit access to abortion services. Right now, your freedom to make your own healthcare decisions depends on the ZIP code you happen to live in, and that is simply wrong. Women in Michigan and Mississippi and Montana all deserve to make decisions about our own healthcare, our own lives--not extreme Republican lawmakers, not extreme members of the Supreme Court, not one extreme judge in Texas. It is critical that we pass the Women's Health Protection Act now. Our freedom depends on it. Let's be clear. We will continue to fight until our reproductive freedom as Americans is restored. I yield the floor.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I have two important things I would like to speak about today. And let me first start with a confirmation vote we will be having this afternoon on Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey to serve as the U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. Both Senator Peters and I are strong, strong supporters and thank President Biden for nominating him, and we look forward to colleagues joining us in a bipartisan vote, just as we had on the cloture vote, to make sure that he is confirmed today. Senator Peters and I were both honored to introduce him and his family during his hearing in the Judiciary Committee in November, and I know his family is so very proud of him--as we are. Judge Grey is an outstanding choice to support the people of Michigan because he has been doing just that. Judge Grey is currently serving as a U.S. magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. As a magistrate judge, Judge Grey has presided over both civil and criminal cases. Before that, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan and the Southern District of Ohio, where he prosecuted criminal offenses. During the past 10 years, 95 percent of Judge Grey's practice has been in the Federal courts, whether as a magistrate judge or an assistant U.S. attorney. He also worked as an associate at a law firm in Chicago, where he practiced labor and employment law and served as a law clerk for two Federal judges. Given his incredible breadth of experience, it is no surprise that the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary unanimously found him to be ``well qualified'' for this position. Judge Grey was born in Mississippi and is a proud graduate of Morehouse College and the Georgetown University Law Center. And in the spirit of those two institutions, Judge Grey is a deep believer in giving back, both in Michigan and through his alma maters. I can think of no better place for Judge Grey to continue to serve the people of Michigan and our country than on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and both Senator Peters and I urge our colleagues to vote yes to confirm Jonathan Grey this afternoon. Remembering the Victims of the Michigan State University Mass Shooting Mr. President, as everyone knows, I am an incredibly proud MSU Spartan. I earned both my undergraduate and my graduate degrees from Michigan State University. And I have been so proud to represent the university in the Michigan Legislature, in the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate. I am a Spartan, as is Senator Peters, and I am horrified and heartbroken and I am angry because we are mourning three lives that were lost on February 13 when a gunman came to campus and randomly started shooting students. Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria Verner were each full of hopes and dreams and so much promise. Arielle, age 19, graduated from Grosse Point North High School in 2021. She was known for her confidence, her kindness, and her incredible drive. She was studying to become a surgeon. Brian, age 20, graduated from Grosse Point South High School, where he competed on the swimming and diving teams. He was studying business and was president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. And Alexandria--her friends called her Alex--was a 20-year-old graduate of Clawson High School, where she excelled in volleyball, softball, and basketball. She was studying integrated biology and anthropology and had hoped to graduate next year. Arielle, Brian, and Alex had their whole lives ahead of them, and my heart aches for everyone who loved them and is missing them today. We also know that gun violence isn't just about the lives that are ended; it is also about the lives that are forever--forever--changed. At Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Spartans are still fighting just to survive. Thousands more students and employees and community members have been left with scars you can't see, but they are there. They hurt as much and take as much time to heal as anything else. It is crucial that we ensure that everyone receive the mental healthcare that they need at this time. Last year, my initiative to bring high-quality mental health and addiction services to communities across the country was signed into law in the gun bill that we passed and right now is helping to make a difference in meeting the needs in the East Lansing, Lansing, Mid Michigan community, and I want to thank the Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties for working so closely with Michigan State University right now to provide support for everyone who needs it. So many different things are happening on campus and across the community. Just one example: Counselors from Community Mental Health have set up a place in the East Lansing Public Library where they are providing resources and immediate, free support from therapists, and people are coming forward to volunteer their time to help make this happen as well. They brought in support animals to comfort those in pain. Clinics like Community Mental Health don't just provide help after a crisis though. This is about helping people every day, helping people in the first place so that there is a place to call, and there is. And people in the community, family members concerned, people in neighborhoods that are seeing something that they are concerned about need to call and ask for help. But better mental health isn't enough. We also need to make it harder for people who harm others to get their hands on guns because it is one thing if you are somebody who is unstable and have a knife; it is another thing if you have a gun. The consequences are very different depending on what you are holding in your hand. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for American children and teens. Think about that: not car accidents, not cancer--guns. We can change that. We must change that. The Michigan Legislature is taking action to strengthen our State's licensing process and background checks, require safe storage, and pass a red flag law. What we did last summer was provide dollars to States to develop red flag laws, and I am so proud of our Governor and our new majorities in the statehouse and senate for taking action now. I strongly support their efforts. I am grateful as a citizen, as a mom, as a grandmother whose children are in the schools that they are taking these actions. On a Federal level last year, I was proud to support the Safer Communities Act, which was an important step, but we need to do so much more. We need to pass a military assault weapons ban--legislation that I am cosponsoring. And while we are at it, let's close the gun show loophole and ensure that all gun sales in America require background checks. It is just common sense. We owe it to Arielle, Brian, and Alex, and the whole MSU community, to those who have been impacted across the country. These stories are way too common and should be absolutely unacceptable to everybody. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. It is pretty hollow, as the Presiding Officer knows, as we all have spoken about. It is pretty hollow when we are not willing to take the actions that can save lives, and that is the way that we remember those who have been lost. One of the most important things, the most beautiful things about Michigan State and our entire Michigan community is how we came together to support one another. It is amazing. I have been incredibly touched by the stories of how people have helped one another, both on that tragic night and the days since. From the dispatchers and the first responders who immediately and calmly responded to a chaotic and dangerous scene to the selfless staff at Sparrow Hospital giving comfort and lifesaving care every day, to East Lansing residents, and Lansing residents and everyone from across Michigan who came together and put up yard signs to greet students as they returned to campus, and, yes, to the incredible support shown by our rivals. An enormous crowd of University of Michigan students gathered in Ann Arbor on February 15 to show solidarity and support at the same time Spartans were gathered at The Rock in East Lansing. A number of Wolverine sports teams have worn special warmups honoring Michigan State. And even Ohio State, even Ohio State, a great rival as well, hired an airplane to fly above Michigan State's campus pulling a banner that read: ``We are with you. Spartan Strong. Love, Ohio State.'' The MSU community and the community of East Lansing are so grateful, we are all so grateful for the outpouring of support. We will get through this, but we shouldn't have to. But we will get through it. We just need to take action to stop this from happening again. We are all Spartan Strong. I yield the floor.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry has adopted rules governing its procedures for the 118th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, on behalf of myself and Senator Boozman, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the committee rules be printed in the Record.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, last month, I received a message that reminded me of just how important the work we do here is for people and families in Michigan and all across the country. Diane of Bloomfield Hills wrote to me about the cost of her prescription medicine. Diane is diabetic and she takes two types of insulin or four injections per day. Diane is retired. She is on Medicare, with a supplemental policy for prescriptions. Diane told me that usually, when she goes to the pharmacy, she owes a copay of $650, and sometimes more, for a 3-month supply of just one of her prescriptions. But the good news is, not anymore. Thanks to a unified Democratic majority last year, people on Medicare now have the cost of their insulin capped at $35 a month--$35 a month for anyone who is on Medicare. Last month, Diane went to the pharmacy like usual. The pharmacist told her that her 3-month supply would now be $105 instead of $650. She says: I paid and walked away with a big smile. She added this: I know that for many seniors, the cost of insulin has been difficult, or impossible, to afford if they have a limited income or live on the margins. Thank you for your support of this important legislation helping seniors (and others) by reducing the cost of insulin. Mr. President, this $35 cap per month on insulin is helping millions of people on Medicare breathe a little easier, and I know because of your strong ``yes'' vote, as well as mine, this is the reason we get up every day, to be able to help people, to be able to reduce costs, to be able to make sure that they can enjoy their life and actually have a life--save their life. Insulin is a serious medication. And so this was a really important accomplishment that we came together on. It was disappointing we didn't have one Republican colleague join us in the House or the Senate, but we stood together and were able to get that done. Unfortunately, people who need insulin and aren't on Medicare are still paying outrageous prices for a medication their lives literally depend on. We tried to cap insulin costs per month for everyone, for children. We know for children with juvenile diabetes, this is incredibly serious. We have families who come here to DC every year. We have a wonderful group from Michigan who comes every year to share their stories; the children sharing their stories, showing us pictures, talking about what it is for them to manage this every day; their families talking about the cost. And we tried to cap their costs at $35 a month as well. But, unfortunately, because of budget rules, the Republicans were able to force that to be a 60-vote margin, and they blocked it. Shockingly to me, they blocked it. So they blocked a $35 insulin cap for children. Why? Unfortunately, to protect pharma profits. I am going to repeat that. Democrats tried to ensure that families wouldn't have to spend more than $35 a month on insulin that keeps their children alive. Republicans blocked it. It was just one more gift to an industry that has received quite a few gifts in recent years from Republicans. First, let me start with the fact that from 2010 to 2019, American taxpayers contributed more than $230 billion in research funding that helped drug companies develop new medications. I support that. I support public-private partnerships. I support public financing of research. We want that. We want new medications. But then you turn around and you look at between 2016 and 2020, drug companies spent $577 billion on stock buybacks, 10 times more than they spent on research--10 times more than they spent on research. And they also significantly increased executive compensation. Now, drug companies CEOs can definitely afford insulin for their children. We want it for all the children of America. After the Trump tax giveaway, some giant, profitable drug companies now have an effective tax rate of under 10 percent. Republicans lowered it for all corporations to 21, but some of the big drug companies got even a bigger gift--below 10 percent for an effective tax rate. That is less than the tax rate a typical postal worker or a typical preschool teacher pays. And between 2000 and 2018, big pharmaceutical companies raked in $8.6 trillion in gross profit--trillion with ``t''--trillion dollars in profits. Here is the CliffsNotes version: Pharmaceutical companies employed 1,587 lobbyists last year, almost 16 for every Senator--almost 16 drug company lobbyists for every 1 Senator. Then, Republicans provide huge tax cuts for them and block legislation that would help families afford medication that keeps their children alive. It is clear whose side they are on--the wrong side, in my opinion. Diane is lucky. She is on Medicare and can afford a $35-per-month copay for insulin. A lot of Michigan families aren't so lucky. Consider the Lockwoods. Three children in the Lockwood family have type 1 diabetes and take insulin--three children. A change to their insurance coverage meant that the family went from paying no copay to paying $600 a month in a copay for insulin for each child--$1,800 a month in a copay for their three children. They couldn't afford it so they began driving to Canada--not that far from Michigan--driving across the bridge to Canada, where the same medication costs $71 because the Canadian Government negotiates the best price for Canadians. Then the pandemic closed the border. Jim Lockwood needed to find a job with better health insurance, and he did--in Ohio. American parents shouldn't be forced to either drive to Canada in order to pay for their children's prescriptions or they shouldn't be forced to uproot their families and move to another State in order to find a job with good insurance so they can afford their children's medicine. It is time for Republicans to stop working on behalf of their wealthy buddies and join us in working on behalf of American families. Children with diabetes, people under age 65 need a $35-per-month cap on their insulin, just like we have been able to do as Democrats coming together for seniors, people on Medicare. I think that is what we should be focused on here together and invite our Republican colleagues to join us. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. STABENOW

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

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. First of all, China cannot flood the market because we are not going to be able to meet these criteria in terms of being able to get the credit. They have their own credit, and there is no reason they are not going to be able to flood the U.S. market. I have a difference of opinion about what this actually means. This is what I would say. We have had three parts of the stool on supporting moving forward on a new electric transportation model. One is charging stations that we did in the infrastructure bill. It is really important to have charging stations. No. 2 is helping to create production through the battery and clean energy tax credits and so on. Third is helping to bring costs down at the beginning until volume comes up. Now, the reason people are waiting for cars is because of the lack of chips. I mean, they are waiting because of that, and we addressed that as well. The truth is, what was put in place on this piece was complicated. It doesn't work for several years for American companies. It doesn't stop China. It doesn't stop anybody else from coming into our market. They can come into our market. It stops our companies from fully benefiting from a piece of this with consumers. That is very important. Thank you very much. I object. S. Res. 13

Ms. STABENOW. Not all.

Ms. STABENOW. Yes.

Ms. STABENOW. First of all, let me say that I take a backseat to no one on wanting to get out of China. There is no question about that. I authored the ``Buy America'' provisions with Senator Braun that are in the infrastructure bill. We have a ``Made in America'' offer. We are bringing jobs home. We are making sure that we are putting Michigan and American businesses and workers first--absolutely. I also agree and Senator Manchin has--he and I have worked together on the clean energy manufacturing tax credits, 48C, which is critical; the advanced battery production tax credits; the things Senator Braun talked about that are bringing jobs to Indiana from the Inflation Reduction Act; and the credits that we have done for batteries and solar and wind and manufacturing and so on. They were all in that bill, which I was proud to help author and to support those efforts. I support when Senator Manchin has said to those in other countries that if you want to benefit from our tax structure, move your plants to America. I said that myself. I am all for that. This particular credit is confusing. It was not well vetted. It is not supported by anyone in the industry who believes that they have the capacity immediately, right this minute, to meet the complicated formulas. They would love to. We would love it if we didn't have to worry about lithium from China. They are working feverishly. In fact, there is a free-trade agreement with Chile coming before this body. They have lithium deposits that would be very, very helpful to us. I strongly support being able to make them part of the free-trade agreements in the legislation so that we can get the lithium from there, as well as other parts of the world. But we are not there yet. This does not create any path for success for American automobile workers, for American automobile companies, for suppliers, for consumers who are interested in being able to purchase electric vehicles and benefit from a credit, which, by the way, every other country has, including China. They have their own consumer credit. So this is a situation where we disagree on how this was put together, how it is written, how the effect of it is in terms of the dates and so on. But I have to say, on behalf of Treasury, which was given thousands of regulations they have to write by December 31, that it is not unreasonable that they took the time to listen and be thoughtful about how they did it, and they announced that they would be bringing these rules forward in March. That is not an unreasonable thing. It affects a huge industry, a foundational industry. Henry Ford is from Michigan. We are proud to have Henry Ford from Michigan. By the way, he and Thomas Edison first tried to create an electric vehicle. That was the first choice until we decided, as Congress, to invest in oil and gas subsidies that took them in a different direction. The bottom line: It is not unreasonable, what Treasury is doing, the path they are on. They have been given, I believe, an incredibly complicated task to try to figure out how this consumer credit will work for consumers and for the companies and workers. I don't disagree with the goals talked about. I don't disagree with anything that has been said, except that it doesn't relate to what is happening in this credit, which doesn't work on a practical level. I am for whatever support and flexibility that we can provide to achieve what are the stated goals. So on behalf of American automobile companies, all the auto workers and American consumers, I object.

Ms. STABENOW. Reserving the right to object.

Ms. STABENOW. They haven't hit it, no.