Rick Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. The easiest way to solve my colleague's issue would have been to propose an amendment to make sure that we didn't go after taxpayers making less than $400,000 a year, but not one Democrat did that. All they did was just vote against this and then after the fact say: Well, it was a language issue. If it were simply a language issue, we could have solved it that night. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I ask that the reading be dispensed with. [Mr. Scott of Florida] moves to commit the bill H.R. 5376 to the Committee on Finance of the Senate with instructions to report the same back to the Senate in 3 days, not counting any day in which the Senate is not in session, with changes that-- (1) are within the jurisdiction of such committee; and (2) would prohibit the hiring of any additional Internal Revenue Service agents pursuant to section 10301(a)(1)(A)(i)(II) until such time as at least 18,000 additional agents (over the number of such agents employed as of the date of enactment) are hired by the United States Border Patrol.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, the historic crisis that the Biden administration has created on the southern border by failing to enforce our laws is threatening the national security of the United States every day. Savage cartels own our U.S. border now. This fiscal year, more than 2 million people have illegally entered the United States. Drugs are pouring into our communities and killing thousands and thousands of Americans. It must end now. Sadly, Democrats are still doing nothing to support the Border Patrol or actually securing the border. Instead, they want to supersize the IRS and add 87,000 more agents to hunt down and audit even more families and small businesses. My amendment says that before one additional IRS agent is hired, we must give Border Patrol the support it needs and double its forces with 18,000 more Border Patrol agents. It is time to first secure the border and second, stop the Democrats from supersizing the IRS. I urge my colleagues to vote for my commonsense amendment.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the work of a wonderful Floridian, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. Born in Camaguey, Cuba, Commissioner Sosa and her family escaped the island following the Communist Revolution and fled to Puerto Rico, where she grew up. She received her bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Puerto Rico, before earning another degree in elementary education from Saint Thomas University in Miami Gardens. She has been an educator for more than 30 years and is currently a teacher-trainer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Since 2001, Commissioner Sosa has also served on the Miami-Dade County Commission as the District Six commissioner. In 2012, she was elected by her colleagues as chairwoman of the county commission, where she served a 2-year term. Before her time on the county commission, she spent 7 years serving as the mayor of the city of West Miami. Commissioner Sosa has spent her career working to improve the lives of Floridians living in the city of Miami, Coral Gables, West Miami, Hialeah, and Miami Springs. Having fled Cuba, she understands the value of freedom and has sought to create a community in Miami-Dade County that promotes opportunity and prosperity. In her decades of public service, Commissioner Sosa has done immense good for the residents of Miami-Dade County. As mayor of West Miami, she helped the city recover from a 52 percent budget deficit and secured more than $5 million in grants for capital improvement projects and improvements to the city's drainage and park systems. As a county commissioner, she supported transportation projects as she championed Port Miami, signed a sister port agreement with the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, and worked to increase the number of international flights out of Miami International Airport. Commissioner Sosa has also used her position to help improve care for Florida's seniors by creating the Elder Affairs Advisory Board and sponsoring legislation to form what would become the Elder Abuse Task Force. Additionally, her work to protect Florida's environment has been recognized by many, and her successful efforts to secure funding for community projects and parks has improved the lives of Floridians throughout Miami-Dade County. What is more, as a member of the Cuban diaspora, Commissioner Sosa has used her position to fight for democracy and human rights in Cuba and to stand against the abuses of the illegitimate communist Cuban regime. Last year, she led the county commission to unanimously declare July 11, 2021, to be ``Patria y Vida/SOS Cuba Day'' in Miami-Dade County. And all along the way, she has sought to improve the economic conditions of Miami, and to support small businesses owners and create jobs for Florida families. I want to recognize Commissioner Sosa for all of her work to support Floridians living in Miami-Dade County and thank her for friendship and decades of public service. Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida are better off because of her service to the community and to the State, and Floridians wish her the best of luck as she leaves the county commission.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Florida families hear a lot of talk up here in Washington about inflation. Right now, inflation is raging over 9 percent across America. I was warning about the coming inflation crisis back in February of last year, but now basically everyone in the Senate--Republicans and Democrats alike--have joined me in talking about just how horrific this is for families in each of our States. In Florida, inflation is costing families nearly $800 more every month. Imagine being a family on a fixed income and having to pay double rent each month or adding a luxury car payment to your monthly expenses. That is essentially what families in my State are dealing with since Joe Biden took office. It is a new tax on families at every income level, a tax created by the sheer incompetence of Joe Biden. It hurts our poorest families-- like mine growing up--the very most. Now, we know what causes this inflation. It is reckless government spending. On this side of the political aisle, we aren't afraid to tell this truth, but our Democratic colleagues, with the exception of one or two, won't do it. It is fine. You would probably imagine that, in a 50-50 Senate, we would still be able to hold the line and stop reckless spending in its tracks. Nope, not in broken Washington. Here in Washington, the only thing we can seem to get bipartisan consensus on is digging America deeper and deeper into debt. It happens again and again. And with each dollar of debt and each new round of reckless spending, we throw gasoline on the raging inflation fire burning across America. As I speak here now, it is about to happen again. This week, the Senate will very likely pass the so-called China bill that spends $280 billion we don't have. We are not burning our savings here; we are borrowing $280 billion to do this. This is why the American people hate Congress. They see politicians stand up in their neighborhoods and pledge to fight the waste in Washington and then watch as those same politicians become the very problem they vowed to fix. It is disgusting, and it is happening up here all the time. So let's talk about this bill that we are set to vote on this week. Democrats and some Republicans will suggest that it will help combat the threats we face from Beijing. There is just one problem. This bill doesn't help us combat communist China at all. On Monday of last week, this bill cost $76 billion and was 73 pages long. Two days later, Senator Schumer turned it into a $250 billion version. Now it is more than 1,000 pages, a $280 billion monster chock- full of reckless spending and bad policy that gives Joe Biden a wide- open door to push his radical policies. The bill ballooned in size and price because Chuck Schumer--Senator Schumer--inserted massive slush funds for the National Science Foundation. This same entity has burned billions of taxpayer dollars on insane projects like creating a towel-folding robot or studying how shrimp run on treadmills. I wish I was making this up, but I am not. This bill doubles the National Science Foundation's budget over the next 5 years and gives millions to universities that already have a problem with spies from communist China stealing intellectual property and data. Does the bill increase protections to stop this or better protect tax dollars? No. No wonder the debt is surging over $30 trillion and inflation is over 9 percent. Washington is broken. It just can't stop wasting your money. So what else does this bill do? A huge part of it is a massive giveaway to chipmakers like Intel. You know Intel, the world's largest semiconductor maker that saw $20 billion in profit last year and paid its CEO $180 million. They are not exactly struggling these days, but politicians in Washington want to give them billions of your money with no strings attached. There are no requirements to see a return on investment. There are no provisions to claw back dollars if they don't do what they are supposed to do. There is nothing for accountability. What is worse, these large chipmakers have lobbied hard to weaken the bill so they can keep doing business in communist China. And--guess what--Washington caved, and they got exactly what they wanted. Massive, multibillion-dollar corporations like Intel will get Americans' hard- earned tax dollars to build manufacturing plants, get tax writeoffs for those plants, and get a tax credit. These chipmakers are getting paid three ways with your tax money, and they will still be allowed to work and expand in communist China. There is nothing stopping them from moving funds around to increase their business in communist China or any other market, for that matter. There is no requirement for them to build a certain number of plants here in the United States. There are no quotas that they need to hit so Americans can be sure we never have to rely on risky supply chains. And even if communist China invades Taiwan, which supplies nearly two-thirds of all the world's semiconductors, the companies that get your tax dollars in this bill will still be allowed to operate in communist China while receiving your money. This bill isn't anti-China; it is pro-China. It is going to cause more inflation, more debt, and create more deficits. There is absolutely no accountability. It doesn't make any sense. Now, there is a heck of a lot we can do to reshore our supply chains and ensure Chinese spies don't steal our technology, all things this bill purports to do but doesn't. For more than a year now, I have been fighting this bloated bill while at the same time introducing other legislation with my colleagues to economically decouple from communist China, strengthen our defense networks, and stand up to Xi Jinping's abuses. We all want to solve problems. I want to solve problems. I am open to good investments. They have to be done with accountability to the American people. That is why I introduced an amendment to this bill to ensure that no tax dollars are going to go to benefit communist China. My amendment would do four things. First, my amendment would eliminate all the exemptions that are currently in the bill that allow semiconductor companies who take U.S. taxpayer dollars to expand and continue their operations in communist China. Money is fungible, and we should make perfectly clear that these American tax dollars should only be benefiting Americans. Some have called this a national security investment. If that is true, then we should make sure it builds up American security, not communist China's. Second, my amendment will require the Secretary of Commerce to certify to Congress that the Department has completed a return-on- investment analysis of a proposed grant. That announcement must show the grant will be a net positive for taxpayers and prevent distribution of that grant until the Secretary certifies the analysis and makes it public. In business and in government, I have made countless deals. I never want to make an investing deal when I am unsure whether I am getting a return on my money. Americans understand this. If we are going to be investing taxpayers' dollars, we need to make smart investments that will get a real return. Third, my amendment will require companies receiving funds disbursed from the CHIPS Act to enter into a three-part agreement with the Commerce Secretary specifying that they will, one, not engage in any transaction involving the expansion of chip manufacturing capacity in communist China; two, refuse to cooperate with the Communist Chinese Government moving forward; three, commit to immediately ceasing all operations in communist China if it invades Taiwan. As I mentioned before, the bill in its current form does nothing to stop chipmakers from expanding operations in communist China and has loads of exceptions specifically allowing these companies to keep working there. That is insane. We should not allow it. If people want to call this an anti-China bill, then let's make it an anti-China bill and stop doing business in communist China. Fourth, my amendment will ensure that all U.S. tax dollars are clawed back if any company breaks that three-part agreement with the Commerce Secretary, and it would require the Commerce Secretary to ensure that the company will repay the money if they break the agreement. If you break a contract, there are consequences. Everyone knows this, and it is crazy that this bill doesn't already have those provisions in it. If we don't change this bill, a vote for this bill is a vote for higher inflation. It is a vote to help communist China and a vote to add to our already $30 trillion debt. My amendment isn't controversial. This is commonsense stuff. It will improve the bill and add the kinds of safeguards Americans should expect from legislators handling their hard-earned tax dollars. We are a fiduciary for the American taxpayer. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the Democratic majority leader is interested in having a vote on my commonsense amendment, but that shouldn't surprise the American public. They have come to expect this sort of dysfunction under Democratic leadership. The Democrats love to pretend that they are fighting against corporate special interests, but what the majority leader is pushing forward right now is one of the grossest gifts to corporate America I have ever seen. The families in each of our States deserve and expect better than what this delivers. Our Nation is in the midst of a historic inflation crisis that is destroying the dreams and hard-earned savings of millions of families across our country. Our answer to that crisis cannot be to throw gasoline on the fire and walk away. We can and must do more to combat the threats posed by communist China. Members of this body, on both sides of the aisle, have great ideas that can do that, but this bill isn't one of them. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill or, at a minimum, join me in demanding that my amendment be adopted so we can better protect the massive amount of tax dollars being spent here. I also urge my colleagues not to turn a blind eye to the new debt this bill creates. As I said earlier, this bill borrows $280 billion we don't have. We have to stop this. That is why I am raising a budget point of order. When we keep borrowing and spending money we don't have, it is terrible for our country and our families. A vote to waive my point of order is a vote to approve more debt, which means more inflation. Point of Order Mr. President, the pending measure, Senate amendment No. 5135, violates section 404(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 of the 111th Congress, the fiscal year 2010 budget resolution, as amended by S. Con. Res. 11 of the 114th Congress, because it would increase the short-term debt by more than $10 billion in one or more of the fiscal years that comprise the current budget window. Therefore, I raise a point of order against this measure pursuant to section 404(a) of Sen. Con. Res. 13, the fiscal year 2010 concurrent resolution on the budget.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Across the country, American families are fighting harder every week to make ends meet as they deal with President Biden's raging inflation crisis. Food prices are up. Gas prices remain at unbearably high levels, and too many families are having to make the impossible decision of whether to put gas in the tank or food on the table. It is so tough to be a family in that position. I know all too well how this feels and the impacts these high prices have on families. I grew up in a poor family, with a mom who worked long hours at her job and also picked up odd jobs just so our family could get by. We never had any extra money, so when prices went up, we had to go without. Families all across the country are in that same spot. People who have never visited food banks are having to turn to them to feed their families. Folks are being forced to pawn their things just to afford gas. It is heartbreaking and makes me furious. Reports are showing it is happening across America--in Reno, NV; Macon, GA; Yakima, WA; and the cities in my home State of Florida, like Pensacola and Fort Myers. These people have to turn to their local pawn shops as they see their monthly bills grow higher and higher. When President Biden said that we are going through ``an incredible transition,'' is this what he meant-- Mom and Dad having to sell Bobby's PlayStation and Suzy's doll collection just so they can afford to take them to school? Since day 1, President Biden has led a campaign against energy independence. The White House, EPA, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Energy have done everything in their power to make life more expensive for American families. They have implemented one policy after another to raise the price of gas and make life tougher and tougher for hard-working families. The American people deserve transparency into Biden's Green New Deal agenda and ought to know why these prices keep going up. That is why I introduced the GAS PRICE Act last October. Even then, far before the horrible war in Ukraine began, gas prices were surging higher. My bill is pretty simple. It would require the Energy Information Administration to report to Congress on any Federal Agency policies or regulations that it determines will cause energy prices to rise. All it does is ask a Federal Agency to provide information to Congress with a statement of facts on what is causing rising energy prices. Then we can take this information, see what needs to be fixed, and help the American people. I want to thank Senators Marshall, Lummis, Capito, Johnson, Moran, Blackburn, and Kennedy for cosponsoring this legislation. I also want to thank Senator Sullivan and Senator Lee for joining me here on the floor today to talk about the energy inflation Joe Biden is imposing on Americans. Considering that we, as Senators, are trusted by the people of our States to enact policies that improve their lives, I cannot imagine why anyone would oppose this legislation. Sadly, when I came to the Senate floor last year to pass this bill, Senate Democrats opposed it. At that time, I noted that the national average cost was $3.36 per gallon. Sounds like a bargain today. Since then, the price of gas has risen dramatically. The average has increased to $4.46. In 15 of the 17 months Joe Biden has been in office, the price of gas has risen. When I introduced my bill in October, President Biden said he didn't ``have a near-term answer'' for reducing gas prices. Well, clearly not--his answer was to raise prices and continue his radical Green New Deal agenda. Senate Republicans, meanwhile, do have a plan and have offered solutions. I have introduced the FREE American Energy Act to expedite the Federal Agencies' review process of applications for permits, waivers, licenses, or other authorizations related to energy production. But we can take a simple first step today by giving ourselves more information on rising energy prices and pass my GAS Price Act. For the sake of American families, we need to figure out what the heck is going on. So while my colleagues on the other side of the aisle blocked my bill from passing last year, my hope was that, as they have watched their constituents suffer for months now under Biden's leadership, they would have a change of heart. Sadly, that is not what happened today. It is an absolute shame what has happened in this Chamber. I came here with my Republican colleagues to promote and pass legislation that would improve the lives of American people and make America less dependent on foreign oil. We came here asking for answers into Biden's Green New Deal agenda. We are here responding to the pain American families are facing at the gas pump and trying to solve problems. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, have come here to obstruct and blame shift. They didn't come here to solve problems. They didn't come here with a different proposal that would alleviate gas prices and ensure long-term energy independence and sustainability. They came here to make the problem worse. They want to emulate the policies of Germany and California, where rolling blackouts and energy rations are a looming threat and where gas has spent most of this year at over $6 per gallon. This is not the way forward. The Senate need leaders who are going to come in and put Americans first. I am grateful for colleagues like Senator Sullivan and Senator Lee, who are here to do that. But I hope the American people have been watching what has happened today and see who it is who really cares about the problems they are facing. I yield the floor to my colleague from Utah.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of S. 3086 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; further, 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.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, on July 11, 2021, in an act of incredible bravery, thousands of freedom-loving people in Cuba collectively stood together to demand freedom from the oppressive Cuban dictatorship. They stood outside the headquarters of the Cuban Communist Party demanding liberty. They shouted ``Patria y Vida,'' which means homeland and life. In cities across the island, Cubans young and old showed they are not afraid of the regime. It was a sign that freedom, liberty, and human rights are not merely American ideals but universal rights given to all by God, not any government. In response to the peaceful protest, the Cuban Communist Party, an illegitimate and brutally oppressive regime deployed a wave of terror throughout Cuba by unleashing its secret police and military forces on peaceful protesters and democracy leaders. The regime's thugs and security forces unlawfully detained more than 1,400 demonstrators, including leaders from Cuban civil society groups such as UNPACU, the San Isidro Movement, the Ladies in White, and targeted religious and Afro-Cuban leaders. In the aftermath of the demonstrations and the government crackdown, crowds of Cubans and supporters of the Cuban people gathered here in Washington urging Joe Biden to act. They gathered in front of the White House. They protested in front of the Cuban Embassy. I heard their cries asking the American Government to show its support. I joined them in front of the White House and in front of the Capitol. We know Joe Biden has the power to join the Cuban people to call for the Cuban Communist Party to change. But aside from a couple statements he made last year, Joe Biden has not taken one action to support the Cuban people and their fight for freedom. He has done nothing to provide them with internet connections or to support the democracy movement on the island. I want to be clear: The President of the United States is known both here and around the globe as the leader of the free world. Our President, regardless of who it is, has immense power to rally our democratic allies and the freedom-loving people of the world to put pressure on oppressive regimes like the one occupying Havana and throw the full support of the global community behind the Cuban people's movement for freedom. Anyone who denies this is ignoring history. But Joe Biden hasn't done any of that. He hasn't even tried. Instead, he and his administration have bowed to the demands of Cuba's murderous Castro and Diaz-Canel regimes and chosen not to stand for democracy and human rights. And just weeks ago, he chose to prop up the oppressive regime with pathetic appeasement policies and sanctions relief. These actions bring shame to the United States. They do nothing to help the people only help line the pockets of the regime, its thugs, and its evil partners in Russia, Iran, and communist China. This failed President has done more to unite America's enemies than bringing together the world's democracies for a common cause. Biden's appeasement is horrible for U.S. national security, a threat to stability in Latin America, and a danger to the power of democracy across the world. Six months after the demonstrations started, the Senate unanimously passed my resolution that supported Cuban democracy activists like Jose Daniel Ferrer, and condemned the brutal torture, unjust imprisonment, and severe oppression that the illegitimate communist Cuban regime is subjecting innocent Cubans to every day. Last week, we honored the 1-year anniversary of the action of the brave Cuban people, and we remembered the horrific images of violence and oppression we saw as the illegitimate communist Cuban regime, terrified of the freedom movement, viciously cracked down on the people with mass jailings, beatings, and even murder. Well, most of us remember. Joe Biden could not be bothered to even make a statement. His silence on this issue shows he doesn't care about the consequences of his actions. He doesn't care that he is playing into the plans of Castro and Diaz-Canel. Meanwhile, the Cuban people get nothing in return, and the security situation in the region worsens. When Biden doesn't stand up to Castro and Diaz-Canel, we are left with a destabilized hemisphere that is less peaceful and puts our homeland security at greater risk. They are murderous, illegitimate dictators. Appeasement is the worst move imaginable. And you better believe that Iran, Russia, and communist China love it when Biden is nice to their friends in Latin America. So in the midst of this 1-year anniversary of the July 11 historic and peaceful demonstrations, I am asking Joe Biden to call for the immediate release of the hundreds of pro-democracy activists, including children whom the regime is unjustly detaining and subjecting to physical and psychological torture. I hope someone in the White House is paying attention. Unfortunately, we know Joe Biden isn't. Children are locked away in jail, kept away from their families. These are kids. Some are just 14 years old. What is it going to take for Joe Biden to grow a backbone and do something? Now, I am sure the administration will say that they have spoken out. Sure, we have seen statements and tweets, but that is not enough. Where is Joe Biden? The White House can try to hide behind the words of the State Department and claim false leadership, but statements from bureaucrats and tweets from an embassy that shouldn't even exist will never be enough. Sadly, that is all we can expect from this weak and incompetent President. It is essential to the national security of the United States as well as our efforts to support freedom, democracy, and human rights that Joe Biden reverse the foolish actions he has taken and not allow totalitarian dictators in our hemisphere to go unchecked. I am also calling on Joe Biden to support the DEMOCRACIA Act, legislation I introduced last year with Congressman Byron Donalds. Our bill would hold the illegitimate communist Cuban regime accountable through severe sanctions, actions, and unprecedented financial pressure, and put safeguards in place to ensure those sanctions are not wrongfully lifted. It would also require the President to establish a task force to develop long-term solutions for providing reliable internet service to the people of Cuba that is not censored or blocked by the Cuban regime. As the Cuban people's fight for freedom from the oppressive and illegitimate communist Cuban regime continues, the United States must stand for the Cuban democracy. We can never bow to dictators--never. It is time for Biden to lead and to oppose those genocidal dictators and support human rights. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I am here today, along with my Republican colleagues, because American families are suffering. Florida families are suffering at the hand of the Biden administration's war on energy independence. Last month, I heard about a church in St. Petersburg--just south of Tampa--that makes hot meals for those who have fallen on tough times. Like many other churches across the country, they started making the meals for Thanksgiving, but this church decided to keep it going, and since, they have made thousands of hot meals for families. Here is the problem: Fewer people are coming because those families who need the food now can't even afford to make the trip because gas is so expensive. The poorest families in my State are having to make the impossible choice of sacrificing a hot meal because they can't afford to put gas in their cars. I want to reiterate this point because I want my Democrat colleagues who, like Joe Biden, think inflation is a ``high-class problem'' or some ``incredible transition'' to understand the gravity of this administration's inflation crisis. Families in my State of Florida are having to turn down an opportunity for a free hot meal because they can't afford the gas to get over to the church and get it. It makes me furious to see this happening in my State and all across our country, all the while, while Joe Biden does nothing to fix it. He has done nothing. As of today, the average price of a gallon of gas is $4.63. The day Joe Biden took office, gas was averaging $2.37 per gallon. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 15 different months of Joe Biden's Presidency, the national average for gas prices has risen. But the Democrats up here don't seem to care. You all remember how last month the senior Senator from Michigan explained during a hearing of the Finance Committee that, unlike her constituents, she doesn't worry about gas prices because she has the means to afford an electric car. She actually said that. Then, when she gets to work in Washington, she gets to charge her car at the Capitol for free, while taxpayers foot the bill. Good for her, but that is not a realistic solution for the millions of Americans suffering under the Biden administration's failed energy policy. Democrats in Washington know the effect these high prices are having, and they are celebrating because their radically progressive campaign against energy independence is working. But Americans are not celebrating; they are struggling. Unlike the liberal elites running our government, I am not going to stand for it. That is why earlier this year I introduced the FREE American Energy Act, to expedite the Federal Agencies' review process of applications for permits, waivers, licenses, or other authorizations related to energy production. It is why I have introduced the GAS PRICE Act. It would direct the Energy Information Administration to report to Congress any policy or rule set by the Biden administration which raises energy costs for American families. I even asked the Senate to pass the GAS PRICE Act by unanimous consent this past October, but Senate Democrats blocked its passage. It is as if they want to keep Americans in the dark on why energy prices are rising. We also need to speed up the approval process for oil permitting, and Americans need to know that this administration is purposely trying to make life more difficult and more expensive. We have the resources within our borders to be energy independent and for everyday life to be affordable. While we are ramping up American production, we need to completely halt sales of U.S. oil to communist China. That is right--while gas prices remain sky-high here, the Biden administration is still giving a green light for American oil to be sold to our enemies, like communist China. That is hard to believe. I was proud to join with my friend and fellow Floridian, Senator Marco Rubio, to introduce the China Oil Export Prohibition Act last month to stop these sales. We shouldn't be helping our enemies or asking foreign nations to increase supply. We should be increasing our American supply within our borders. We did it during the Trump administration, and we can do it again. Joe Biden can roll back the countless regulations he instituted that are hurting our domestic production. The White House, the EPA, and the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Energy can end their campaign against American oil producers and start working to create an agenda of energy independence. Congress can pass my legislation to make oil permitting faster and give greater transparency into the impact legislation from Congress has on energy prices. We don't have to throw up our hands and do nothing and give up. Joe Biden and the Democrats who control Washington can and must take real action to start producing energy within our borders safely once again. Our future is bleak if we don't. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, nearly 6 years ago, our State, Nation, the city of Orlando, and Hispanic and LGBTQ communities were attacked. Forty-nine innocent and beautiful lives were lost. It was an evil and hateful act, an act of terrorism designed to divide us as a nation and strike fear in our hearts and minds. But, instead, we came together, we supported each other, and we persevered. We have proved to the world what we in Florida already knew: Floridians are resilient. The days I spent in Orlando following the shooting will always be with me. I talked to parents who lost their children. I went to funerals and wakes. I sat in hospital rooms. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It was heartbreaking. But in this horribly dark time, the selfless courage of so many--from community members to law enforcement, to healthcare workers--provided a sense of hope. This incredible strength, love, and bravery lifted up Orlando and the State of Florida and helped us begin to rebuild. This week, on the sixth anniversary of this devastating tragedy, the State of Florida comes together to honor the lives lost too soon, and we vow to always stand up and fight against evil and hatred in this world. I was proud that last year Congress passed and the President signed into law legislation I introduced with Senator Rubio and Senator Padilla to designate the location of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando as the National Pulse Memorial, which will honor the memory of those we lost. Today, I am requesting all my colleagues to join Senator Rubio and me to pass a resolution honoring the memory of the 49 lives lost during the heinous attack at the Pulse nightclub. Let's come together now to say that our Nation will always stand against hate and evil in this world.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 663, submitted earlier today.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. When I heard the horrific news from Uvalde, TX, yesterday, I immediately thought of two things, my grandchildren, most of whom are in elementary school, and the 17 lives we lost in Parkland, FL, 4 years ago. Our hearts are shattered at the loss of these small children--19 children that are just in fourth grade and two teachers. It is infuriating and heart-wrenching. I can't imagine losing a child or a loved one. Unfortunately, there are 17 families in Florida who don't have to imagine it. They know that pain and live it each and every day. There is seldom a day that goes by that I don't think about the families that lost their children and loved ones that day. No community should feel the pain that families in Parkland and Uvalde now feel. We will never be able to prevent every vicious crime, but we can and must act. There are solutions to be found at the State level and the Federal level, and today, we can take action in the Senate to make our schools safer. I want to thank Senator Johnson for leading this bill and Senators Rubio, Risch, and Grassley for their strong support of this legislation and other efforts to keep our kids safe. This bill, the Luke and Alex School Safety Act was named in honor of Luke Hoyer and Alex Schachter. Luke and Alex were taken from us in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018, in Parkland, FL. Since that horrible day, I have worked closely with many of the victims' families as Governor and now as Senator to do everything possible so that no child, educator, or family has to experience that again. There is clearly a lot more work to do. This legislation, the Luke and Alex School Safety Act, codifies a Federal school safety clearinghouse by informing parents and educators on expert recommendations and best practices that schools can implement to improve school security. This bill builds on our work to keep schools safe and prevent another tragedy. Today, we can get something done that creates safer schools for our kids and our teachers. I appreciate the work again of Senators Johnson, Rubio, Risch, and Grassley and all of our colleagues. As we continue to pray for Uvalde and the families that have suffered this tremendous loss, I urge the Senate to pass this good bill and take a step in the right direction that keeps our kids and teachers safe.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Reserving the right to object. Throughout his presidency, Joe Biden and his administration have shown an inability to place qualified and competent people in many positions of power across the Federal Government. We have had crisis after crisis due to the failed leadership of President Biden and his appointees. Americans have been left with no faith in President Biden's ability to lead or appoint qualified individuals to serve in these important roles. And this nominee, who will be in charge of critical healthcare programs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, is no different. I cannot and will not consent to allow this nominee to move forward in an expedited manner. We should take a vote so every Senator can get on the record with their support or opposition to this nominee. Therefore, I object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I don't think we should do this in an ex parte manner.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. I don't think we should do this in an ex parte manner. I think everybody should be on the record.

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

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, at the end of April, I had the honor of traveling to Germany, Poland, and Lithuania to meet with American servicemembers and hear from high-level government officials on the state of democracy in Europe as Russia wages war against Ukraine. I returned to the United States with the reassurance that the commitment of our partners and allies to defending freedom and defeating tyranny has only grown stronger. I also returned with three important takeaways that I believe must be central in America's response to Russia's murderous invasion of Ukraine and must define our commitment to supporting our NATO allies and preserving democracy. First, America and our freedom-loving partners across the world must renew our commitment to ``never again,'' support the massive humanitarian efforts underway to aid Ukrainian refugees and those who are helping them, and forcefully condemn the genocide occurring at the direction of Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. Let me say that again. First, America and our freedom-loving partners across the world must renew our commitment to ``never again,'' support the massive humanitarian efforts underway to aid Ukrainian refugees and those who are helping them, and forcefully condemn the genocide occurring at the direction of Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. In 2005, my wife, daughters, and I spent 2 days visiting the Auschwitz Memorial and Museum in Poland. Anyone who has had the opportunity to walk the grounds of that place will tell you how overwhelming it is to confront the horrors that occurred there. It is out of these horribly dark places that the phrase ``never again'' was born. Following the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, the world pledged to never again allow genocide to take the lives of innocent people, but today, Putin is choosing that path. When I returned to Poland last month, I had the solemn honor of participating in a Holocaust memorial ceremony alongside U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski in what was formerly the Warsaw ghetto and laid a wreath there to honor the Jewish people who fought the Nazi occupation. I also visited a refugee center serving the thousands of Ukrainians forced from their homes and who have been welcomed with open arms by the Polish people. During the ceremony and as I walked through the refugee center, my thoughts constantly turned to the atrocious attacks on Mariupol. The leveling of that city and the mass graves found there in Bucha cannot be ignored or dismissed as part of the war. These are crimes against humanity. Children are dying. Families are dying precisely because they are Ukrainian and won't do what the dictator Putin wants them to do. This is genocide. World leaders promise ``never again,'' but they are failing. I thank God for the incredible hospitality of the Polish people to welcome these Ukrainian families. I am grateful, too, for what other European countries are doing to help them. We must do everything in our power, using our voices, actions, and resources, to support these humanitarian missions and forcefully condemn Putin's genocide in Ukraine. Second, we must continue to show full support to Ukraine and do everything in our power to help it win in this war. That includes approving delivery of the MiG-29 fighter jets that President Zelenskyy has been requesting for months. President Biden's blockade of these aircraft is an act of weakness and makes no sense. If we want to prevent putting American men and women on the battlefield, we need to give Ukraine every military and intelligence resource it needs to fight and win this war. Most of our NATO allies agree with this, but Joe Biden insists on standing in the way and is actively helping Putin maintain dominance in the skies. Vladimir Putin is a murderous thug. His unjust war intentionally targets civilians and has taken thousands of innocent lives. This is genocide. The Ukrainians have shown that they are willing and able to fight this war themselves and can defeat Putin. We need to let them do it. When the war is over, accountability must be demanded and secured. Putin and his thugs in Russia and Belarus must be tried for their crimes in a war tribunal. They should never see another day of freedom as long as they live. Third and finally, we must recognize the importance of energy and industrial independence from tyrannical and genocidal regimes like Russia and communist China. I have long advocated for American businesses to decouple their operations from communist China. In March, I appealed directly to American business leaders and urged them in an open letter to begin the process of cutting ties with communist China and our dependence on its supply chain and realign American businesses with U.S. values. Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine shows exactly why decoupling from evil regimes is so important, and Europe now understands this better than anyone else. That is why we should applaud businesses that have taken steps to end their relationships with these regimes and applaud nations like Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland, which have taken aggressive action to end their reliance on Russian energy. Lithuania has also boldly stood up to communist China and supported Taiwan. Their bravery is exemplary and deserves our support. These nations are the exception to the rule in Europe, but their leadership in forming partnerships with democratic neighbors like Norway has proven critical to freeing them from the Kremlin's threats of withholding resources. To protect democracy and sovereignty from the influence of evil leaders like Putin and Xi, we must commit to preferring to do business with fellow democratic governments as much as possible. That is why I have been demanding that Biden take immediate steps to put America back on the path to energy independence, stop his appeasement policies with the world's dictators, and end all trade talks with Venezuela and other evil regimes. I recently secured a commitment from Energy Secretary Granholm that the United States would not import any oil from Venezuela or Iran. She said so in an open and public hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee. President Biden needs to publicly reaffirm that commitment. Our attitude should always be America first, but if it can't be made in America, it must be made by a democratic partner or at the very least one who seeks mutual benefit with us instead of our downfall. Decoupling from Russia and communist China and other tyrannical regimes will not be easy for many businesses or governments, America included. This move won't occur overnight, but it is absolutely necessary as these despots advance their plans for world domination and continue to carry out assaults on sovereignty and democracy in Europe and Asia, as well as support dictators in Latin America like Maduro, Ortega, and the Castro/Diaz-Canel regime. If America and our freedom-loving partners are going to truly stand for democracy, we cannot do so while lining the pockets of those who seek to actively destroy liberty and independence wherever it exists. Whether we like it or not, we need to recognize the evil in our world. It exists in the Governments of communist China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Russia. They want a different world, one where the enemies of democracy, human rights, and sovereign nations issue the orders and the United States and our allies do what we are told. They will bully and crush anyone in their way if they are allowed. I, for one--and I know I am not alone--will not accept this. Out of this terrible conflict, America has an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the security and independence of democratic nations, strengthen our energy and industrial independence and partnerships was fellow democracies, and stop genocide, renewing the promise of ``never again.'' We cannot allow this moment to pass without creating this need to change. The survival of democracy and the United States depends on it. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, last week, President Biden tried to blame me for the current inflation crisis. In a speech where he couldn't even get my State right--I proudly represent Florida, in case he needs another reminder--he attacked me and tried to blame the record inflation he created on Republicans. I guess he has also forgotten that he is the President and that it is his policies that created this mess. And, by the way, Democrats are in control of the House and the Senate. What is clear to the American people is that Joe Biden is to blame for the inflation that is hurting them more every day. Families I talk to in Florida are sick and tired of this President's failures. They are sick and tired of seeing an incoherent, confused man ramble on in the White House, with no plan but to blame everyone else but himself for the problems he created. Last week, the Biden administration reported that the Consumer Price Index, our main measure of inflation, increased 8.3 percent year-over- year, and the latest Producer Price Index, released just a day later, showed wholesale inflation in April increased 11 percent over the year. These price hikes hurt real families, and they are impacting every industry. We see it in the price of groceries, like milk, eggs, and meat. We see it in the price of gas at the pump and electricity for your home. We see it in the price of used cars and in the cost of transportation. Everything is going up, and some products, like baby formula, are nearly impossible to find. It is causing families to make impossible choices. In March, a Census Bureau report found that over the last year, 24 percent of Americans reduced or went without basic items such as food and medicine as a way to afford their energy bills. In my home State, 26 percent of Floridians had to make this impossible choice. Let's be clear. The financial pinch families are facing, the supply chain crisis families are facing, and the skyrocketing prices families are seeing are because of the radical spending agenda being pushed by President Biden and Democrats in Washington. Their reckless government spending has sent our economy into a downward spiral. Our debt has grown to over $30 trillion, and Biden wants to push it up to $45 trillion even as our GDP is contracting. Inflation has risen to the highest levels in over 40 years. It is wrecking our economy. We need bold action to fix this mess and help families struggling to keep up. I came to the floor to stop the insanity and introduce a budgetary point of order. My bill would stop any nondefense discretionary spending that would increase the deficit over the 10-year budget window when the average annual CPI inflation is 3 percent or higher. The Federal Reserve's target for inflation is 2 percent, so setting the bar for the point of order 50 percent above this target is totally reasonable. My point of order would not even apply during time periods when inflation is at or slightly above the Federal Reserve's target. Of course, we need flexibility for emergencies, so my bill would allow this point of order to be waived if two-thirds of the Senate agree that deficit spending during times of elevated inflation is desperately needed. Further, my point of order would not apply to funding our armed services nor would it apply to any mandatory spending, such as Medicare or Social Security. This is commonsense legislation. This bill would put in place the same scrutiny that families, especially poor families like mine when growing up, use in order to stay on budget. It is the same kind of careful examination that small business owners have to do to make sure they can pay their employees and make ends meet. The inflation we are seeing right now is unsustainable. It is time for action. I hope we will all come together to agree to this point of order. As in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4249, which is at the desk. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I was hoping we could arrive at a deal today, so let me try it one more time. Eight percent inflation, I think, is really high. Remember that the Federal Reserve's target is 2 percent. I am just here to see if we can work something out and get something with which we can control excess spending. So I am going to try one more time. I want to give Democrats a chance in Congress to step up and fight for families all across America who are being devastated by raging inflation. There is no reason not to get this done. My colleague objected to setting this point of order at 8 percent, but certainly no one can object to saying that, at 12 percent inflation, things need to change. Inflation over 12 percent would be an even bigger emergency. We haven't seen the CPI that high since Jimmy Carter. Think about it this way: Things are really bad now, and 12 percent inflation would be a 50-percent increase over the already sky-high prices we are seeing today. Remember, we started at 3 percent. Now I am offering my colleague a point of order that can only be triggered at 12 percent. As in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4251, which is at the desk. I further ask 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.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I am clearly disappointed that we have had three opportunities to try to do something here that was going to try to stop the reckless spending that is causing this inflation. I think all of us know that inflation is way too high. We also all know that reckless government spending is driving up the cost of inflation all across this country. I hope the Democrats in Washington will start figuring out how we can get inflation under control. It starts by living within our means. It starts by making sure that we live within our budget and that we stop wasting money. I yield the floor.