Relief measures congressre has passed there was 150 billion sent to the state and local governments, much of which have yet to be spent and frankly we dont know what the actual need is until we have a better sense of what the revenue loss is to the state and local governments. They are sounding the alarm and justifiably worried about what happens if the downturn in the economy continues and what that dght mean for their revenues. So, they are looking to washington, d. C. For assistance, and i think that as i said earlier, there was 150 billion that went out to state and local governments and thereve been concerns about how they could be used. They were stipulated that they had to be used for these expenses and many state and local leaders were concerned that that didnt give them the flexibility thatee they needed o meet other types of needs. The Treasury Department has come out with an interpretation that would t allow the 150 billion already appropriated to be used to pay firefighters and police and first responders, to help with Unemployment Insurance accounts at the state level, to help with Health Care Costs of people who Lose Health Care at the state level and a range of other things, dramatically fobrought the eligibility of thk uses forat the dollars that have already been allocated to the state and local governments. So, i think that its important for us to make sure that as we look at any additional assistance that we might provide to determine how will the dollar is already out there has been hn used and could in fact see the actual needs are before we add to that. We have a number of pronouncements here. Speaker pelosi said we need a trillion dollars in assistance for the state and local governments. Its hard for me to see how you can make a Statement Like that not knowing what the original 150 billion has been used for u whether its been used at all. So the fact that we have 150 billion in the pipeline, the eligibility into the uses of which have been dramatically s ought by the Treasury Department to enable the states to use it for the various things they are coming down saying if we dont help state and local governments and they dont pay essential workers that flatout isnt true. They can be used for that purpose and i think it made sense for us to ensure the tax dollars weve already put out are having a o desired effect ad to figure out the actual need before we send more money out and eithe by the way, more monet is all borrowed. Every dollar of 2. 8 trillion that we have already distributed in all for good reason everybody here was supportive and agreed we needed a dramatic response to an extraordinary circumstance and so that was done but every one of the dollars as part of the end any dollar we put off Going Forward will be the order with which means at some point somebody has to pay for it and its going to be our children and grandchildren and theres an argument being made Interest Rates alone its a good time to borrow. But if we continue to wear there is a point at which Interest Rates by virtue of the supply and demand would start to go up and when they do u. Would see aa dramatic increase in the amount of dollars we have to use here just to pay the interest on the debt which would be north of about a trillion dollars a year and represent about 28 of all federal spending. Every dollar we spend as they borrow a dollar into point number two, its important for us to see the needs are to be able to put money out there. Number three there is already 150 in the pipeline to the state and local governments to help with many of the things the democrats have been complaining about and it seems we ought to have a discussion before we decide to add to it and see if we are getting a good return on the tax dollars that have already been put out there. I dont think theres any resistance to giving states more flexibility with those dollars. Theres no resistance to giving anything and everything we have to to make sure we get through this crisis i think that our members certainly agree with that and are prepared to make thet necessary votes to do what is necessary to get us through it but remember also that there is no amount of money in washington, d. C. That can substitute for a dynamic vibrant active economy where jobs are being created in the vestments made and that is how you ultimately start to get things back on track to as we get ahead of the health emergency, and of course obviously we celebrate nurses week and we are so grateful for the many contributions that are makingdu not only during the pandemic, the yearround the people that are on the frontlines of this emergency to ensure that they are doing everything we can to support them, to beat this health emergency, and when we do, as the economy starts to open ups that is when we will se the jobs come back and the growth come back and the standard of living and quality of life people have lost over the past couple of months start to return. That is the best way to get things back on track. I want to just make some comments this morning about another area of our economy and note that it has been an incredibly tough couple of months for american businesses and american workers. Virtually every sector of the economy is suffering as a result of the virus and the ad industry is no exception. Meanwhile reduced capacity in the meatpacking plants as a result of diminished the demand for livestock, depressing prices. This aggravated and it is already difficult situation for the farmers and ranchers. Like the majority of the economy before the pandemic they been struggling for a while. Extended trade disputes and natural disasters have been a ftough few years even before te virus hit. Now they are suffering even more. Agriculture is the lifeblood of my state so when congress considered the relief legislation support for the farmers and ranchers this was one of my topnd priorities. I fought to get the money includedre in the aid relief and Economic Security act which was signed intola law in late march. Final bill included 14 billion to replenish the commodity corp. To allow the department of agriculture to provide income and price support for the farmers and ranchers plus an additional 9. 5 Emergency Support for Agricultural Producers affected by the pandemic. After the bill passed, i lead a Bipartisan Group of senators and representatives in the letter to the secretary urging him to use a portion of the funds to provide support for the hardhit cattle producers. Im pleased that in midapril, the u. S. Department ofil agriculture announced that it would issue 16 billion worth of payments to the producers affected by the virus. Mr. President , those are expected to reach farmers and ranchers in late may or early june. Ive been monitoring the progress and i will continue urging the usda to issue the payment as soon as possible. Agricultural producers can take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program that provides forgivable loans to businesses including selfemployed producers to help them cover payroll costs during thisp difficult time. 75 must be used for the workers salaries and benefits including salaries of selfemployed workers while the remaining amount can be used for other qualifying extensions like mortgage interest rent and utilities. They can now take advantage of the Small Business tadministrations Economic Disaster loan Program Thanks to Legislation Congress passed two geeks ago. I continue to monitor the cattle market. Theyve taken a dramatic hit on the crisis they are getting for their cattle. The meatpackers are seeing record profit. Considering they control more than 80 of the supply in the United States. With the packers and Software Division to look into the volatility in the market and secretary perdue. And other anticompetitive activities. In the surrounding state and the nations food supply system in compliance with th the centers r Disease Control prevention and Occupational SafetyAdministration Guidance and operation starting today. Tion starting no discussion of the challenges facing the farmers b right now would be complete without discussing biofuels. Ethanol produced to serve as a buyout with significant amount of american corn and disloyal that adds value to each bushel. The demand for fuel has decreased as a result of the pandemic ethanol and bio diesel operations have come offline. And they are no longer buying out the normal amounts of corn and soybean oil. This has significantly diminished the market for theor farmers. Thereve rightfully been able to focus on the oil and Gas Companies that are taking to seo make a facing the record was as if the equally difficult supply problem driven by the saudi russian price for. Hardworking americans in these companies that have helped usher in the modern renaissance Congress Needs to make sure we preserve Energy Dominance and security but its important to recognize the ethanol industry that provides over 10 of the nations gasoline content, the cleanest 10 i might add as a part of that. Biofuel has been a key part of the renaissance and have also been hit hard by the drop in demand that has been a devastating blow for the workers in the industry and the farmers to supply. Hhalf of the nations capacity has been idle. More than 70 plants have closed and just as many idle harming their economy and begin driving up the essential market for the nyfarms. This has brought a new problem many may not know if a substantial quantity of Carbon Dioxide used in the carbonated beverages are to chill the Meat Products is an ethanol byproduct. This means not only is it part of our Energy Security in the foundation of the economy but also plays an Important Role in the food supply. The virus is already straining the Meat Processing industry. We shouldnt allow a co2 shortage to deepen the problem. As Congress Addresses the numerous challenges facing farmers and energy producers, we must make sure that ethanol releases a part of the discussion. Whether it is through direct support or by advancing corn fiber applications and the Environmental Protection agency, we need to make sure that this energy succes Success Story surs these challenging times. As we move forward, i will continue talking with farmers and ranchers about their needs and what we can do to help them get through these difficult times. Supporting the nations farmers and ranchers will always be one of my Top Priorities here in congress. The virus crisis has reminded us all just how much we depend on our Agricultural Producers to. To strengthen the economy and help the nations, farmers and ranchers thrive i rise to address the debate we are having todayve over whether to override the president s veto of the resolution did that reminds the president of the United States about the fundamentals of the constitution. About article one, section eight that is enumerated powers of congress and says congress and congress alone has the power to declare war. No decision is more important than the decision to go to war. Thats why the Founding Fathers never intended for a Single Person to be able to make that decision. They explicitly they give the power to congress they didnt want any individual even the president of the United States to be able to drag the nation to war for personainto war for perr political reasons or for misjudgments and inadequately vetted with the wisdom of the leaders of the country. Since President Trump came into office, we have come within a hairs breath of air gone on more than one occasion. Its way back in february and march, the senate and the house debated the resolution reconstructing on the fundamentals of the constitution reminding him she doesnt have the power to take us to war in iran. Theyve responded to our clear declaration of the efforts in the constitution by tossing it aside, by vetoing the resolution and so here we are debating whether to override that veto. They were adamant about not having anything resembling what they were building. Congress shall have the power to declare the war. If there there is any real dout the founders intend to it has the question of the war to the legislature he continued. The executive has no right in any case whether there is cause for declaring war. And how about george washington. The commander of the forces in the revolution, first president of the United States, father of the nation. The constitution declared war in congress and therefore no expedition can be undertaken until after they showed how deliberated upon the subject at all surprised to one of the most Brilliant Minds in the country has ever produced. If letting him loose from the executive to the legislative body and jefferson didnt believe these important words in the constitution when he was president and when he was being pressured over the dispute with the boundaries of louisiana and florida he wrote saying considering they are invested in the power of changing the conditions from peace to war i thought it was my duty to await their authority for the use of force in any degree. Or hower about alexander hamiltn who many have been hearing so much about the Congress Shall erhave the power to declare warr the plain meaning of which is it is a peculiar and exclusive duty of congress to change that state into the state of the war. Theyd alreadyay been involving and pretending generally if not always that the good of the people was the object. We are in this day and age where we have a president that does not respect the words of the constitution and doeconstitutiot respect the vision of the founders or the wisdom that the issue of the war and the associated toll in blood and treasure is absolutely too important to the decisio of a de invested in a Single Person. It must be the decision to go to. Sr of the considered debate of the u. S. Senate and u. S. House of representatives. That is how we have proceeded to pass the resolution. After the u. S. Have led the war in the Nuclear Programs of iran he followed it with an economic war against iran that has inflicted suffering of the people and the escalatory provocations and responses that without the considered response of congress to remind him he doesnt have the power to go to war and we here in the senate must not allow that to happen. We saw the consequences of the last middle east war and the blood of our sons and daughters and national treasure. The salt that told and we must rdt allow the war to occur because of a president that disregards the constitution of the United States. The resolution to terminate the use of the u. S. Armed forces for hostilities. Between the use of military force against iran backed by the bay is exactly consistent. To involve the United States and hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances exercised only pursuant to the declaration of war or specific statutory authorization or National Emergency considered by an attack upon the United States territory to positions or its armed forces. The. They convey that same message. But what was the president s response . The response said the resolution is insulting. Is it insulting to fight for our constitution to be thought of . Know, mr. President. Its the responsibility of every member here to fight for the constitution to be followed into the most important issue we ever considered on the floor of the senate is the issue of whether or not we are going to war. Under the 2002 authorization for the use of the eu i they use the authorized forces of the United States to be necessary as he deters and number two can defend the National Security of theg United States against the continuing threat posed by iraq and the resolutions regarding iraq. I know people get confused about iraq and iran but mr. President , and im speaking to the president of the United States please, get out a map and understand that iraq is not iran. This doesnt give you the authority to go to war against iran. The president also cites article number two of the constitution and he goes on at some length in his veto message saying what Unlimited Power this gives him. Pewell, mr. President , and again im speaking to the president of the United States that is what isnt written in the constitution. Its to the complete history given the power of the war to this body and the house that is down the hall. In fact, International Law and u. S. Law referred to issues like force being used necessary, proportionate and for the president to be able to act when there is an imminent threat and that the president takes a shot at this in his trump veto message referring to the fact that he has powers that go far