Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate U.S. Senate 20240712 : vi

CSPAN2 U.S. Senate U.S. Senate July 12, 2024

Vote vote the presiding officer are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not, the yeas are 77. The nays are 14. The nomination is confirmed. Mr. Cotton mr. President . The presiding officer the senator for arkansas. The presidin the presiding officer under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table and the president will be immediately notified of the senates actio actions. The senator for arkansas. Mr. Cotton i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cotton mr. President , 20 years ago this week, joe biden and other politicians in both parties gave a gift to the communist party permanent, most favored nation status. Permanent most favored nation status is a trade privilege we grant to most countries who are members of the world trade organization. It places lower tariffs and fewer restrictions on those countries goods. But historically our trade laws have treated hostile countries differently, communist countries, countries that cheat on trade, human rights abusers. In other words, countries exactly like communist china. A few of those countries like cuba and north korea are denied most favored nation status outright. What few goods their miserable socialist economies produce face steep tariffs and other restrictions which is one reason why you dont see too many madeinnorth korea items on your local store shelves. Other countries have face add yearly review of their trading privileges with the United States. In which the president and congress could assess the human rights and trade abuses ongoing in those countries and then determine whether its in our interest to grant those trading privileges for another year. Communist china was one of those countries subject to yearly review at least it was until 20 years ago. This yearly review led the spirited debates about communist whether communist china should be stripped of its trading privileges or whether it deserved a temporary reprieve. It put a spotlight on the crimes of the Chinese Communist party, and it used our market as leverage to advance our interests. But of course the Chinese Communist Party Department like that, not did not like that, not one bit. Neither did many businessmen here in america who seemed more concerned about making money than pressuring communist china to reform. So this china lobby pushed hard to get rid of the annual vote and give china permanent most favored nation status. And 20 years ago this week they finally won. Heres how senator joe biden defended his vote at the time to give a big gift to communist china. He said, trade concessions are all a oneway deal. They drop tariffs. They drop nonmarket barriers. They agree to increased protection of our intellectual property laws. So thats what joe biden said at the time, but what actually happened. Were all the trade concessions one way, as he predicted. They were. But not the way joe biden intended. Because all trade concessions ended up benefiting beijing while devastating america. The main consequence of that decision was to make it harder to put tariffs on china in response to human rights and trade abuses. And it sent a strong signal to businesses and banks that china was open for business for good. So the gold rush to china was on. In the two decades that followed, america invested more than 200 billion in china. Most of that money went to building factories and training workers over there while our factories were dismantled and our workers were laid off. In the six years that followed that vote, manufacturing, unemployment manufacturing unemployment plunged by 18 , as cheap chinese goods flooded our market and as our factories were dismantled and offshored to china. The vote to give trade privileges to communist china is just more evidence of the alternate reality that politicians like joe biden have been living in for decades. There is a consistent pattern. They treat our enemies like friends and our friends like enemies, and the American People suffer because of it. Well, 20 years of getting ripped off by china is more than long enough. Thats why im introducing a bill that would repeal chinas permanent most favored nation status and return us to the older way where chinas trade status would be assessed by the congress and president every year. My bill would make businesses think twice before sending more american jobs overseas to china. And it would add new human rights and trade standards that china must work toward to qualify for most favored nation status. This would put a spotlight on the communist partys most recent crimes, including its use of slave labor and concentration camps in turkistan. And ultimately repealing chinas most favored nation status would force regular votes in congress, so politicians like joe biden have to go on the record about who they serve the American People or the interests of the Chinese Communist party. Mr. President , i yield the floor. Mr. Lankford mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from oklahoma. Mr. Lankford a few days ago flight 971 took off from tel aviv airport. You might say, of course a flight took off from tel aviv. That happens every day. But not like this flight. You see, flight 971 took off from tel aviv airport, flew south directly over saudi arabia, which hasnt happened, and landed in abu dhabi. Because the unite nighted air be a united arab emrates recognized its right to exist, open up embassies in israel and the United Arab Emirates beginning trade in commerce and just days ago the fishes cargo aircraft took off and flew taking supplies, technology, medicine you engagement between the nation of israel and the arab nation of the United Arab Emirates, form ago new alliance in the middle east. That flight 971 is significant because 971 is the country code, if youre going to call the United Arab Emirates. The return flight, by the way, leaving from abu dhabi, and flying back to israel is flight 972, the country code for israel. And that first flight that took off on the outside of the plane were emblazoned three words, one in english, one in hebrew, one in arabic, all translated the word peace. Its a new day, and this week when President Trump and the foreign minister from United Arab Emirates and from bahrain and the Prime Minister of israel all stood at the white house and spoke of each other and a new partnership and then all sat at a table and signed documents together beginning a new relationship not just with u. A. E. But also with bahrain, it was a remarkable day in world history. In 70 years of israels history, only two nations have that are arab nations have recognized israels right to exist even jordan and egypt. In one day, two more nations joined the you have a. E. And bahrain. The u. A. E. And bahrain. It was interesting to hear the foreign minister of bahrain and u. A. E. Compliment for the leadership. It was a negotiation that was turned on its head. For decades, american negotiators have tried to work to solve the issues with the palestinians first and then to work to solve every other relationship second. Thats been the american focus. The trump negotiations reversed it, said that they believe many in the arab world were tired of the Palestinians Holding their Foreign Policy hostage and they flipped it and said, why dont we start negotiating with the arab world first and see if they want to open up trade negotiations with israel and to be able to stabilize those negotiations. Its worked. Not only that is worked in two countries in a single day signing an agreement, but there are multiple other nations that are currently looking at the the same deal with israel to say, yes, we still need to resolve the issues in the palestinian territory. Yes, thats still very important. But these nations can work towards peace and towards unity together as they resolve their differences. They signed a document dealing with relationships diplomatically, but they also signed something called the Abraham Accords declaration. Let me read this because it is significant. It begins with this simple statement we the undersigned recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the middle east and around the world based on Mutual Understanding and coexistence as well as respect for Human Dignity and freedom, including religious freedom. Thats a significant statement. Nations that have spoke of religious freedom, but it has not thrived there. The document goes on to say, we seek tolerance and respect for every person in order to make this world a place where all can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, no matter their race, faith, or ethnicity. We support science, art, medicine, and commerce to in spite humankind, maximize Human Potential and bring nations closer together. We seek to end radicalization and conflict to provide all children a better future. We pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the middle east and and the world. It was a document many people said would never be signed, but its a stake in the ground to say it is a new day in the middle east and peace negotiations and pivot as Prime Minister netanyahu said. Nations like saudi arabia, kuwait, qatar, oman, morocco, sudan and lebanon should take notice and should see the benefit of economic trade and engagement, to confronting iranian influence in the area that tries to destabilize so much of the middle east, pushing back on terrorism, developing partnerships in science and health and technology and prosperity for everyone in the region. That happened this week. Theres something happening on monday that, though much of the world has missed as well in the middle east. For a year, theres been a process ongoing to be able to confront iran. Iran has actively stated that theyre going to be able to pursue their nuclear ambitions. Theyve actively stated theyre going to pursue weapons deals. Theyve actively stated that they want to continue to break the arms embargo and some of our allies have stood silent as iran has discussed purchasing weapons of all types from all places. We used to be united, regardless whether it was nuclear or not, that iran should not continue to accelerate that as the largest exporter of terrorism to the world. We should confront what iran is trying to do to continuing to provide heavy arms. As of monday, the United States will move into a different mode with iran. As of midnight sunday night, snapback sanctions begin on iran on monday. That is a different moment for us as a nation to say we have stated as a country, now through multiple presidencies, we will not allow iran to be a Nuclear Power or to continue to arm itself in such a way to do its neighbors harm. Snapback sanctions occur on monday. All of our allies should be aware the United States is steadfast in that commitment, and we would ask you to join us in that as well. Over the past few months, thousands of troops have come back home from the middle east. From syria, from iraq, from afghanistan. By the end of this year, well have 4,500 troops still in afghanistan. Fleas a high just a few years ago of 100,000 boots on the ground. Ongoing negotiations for peace continue between afghan leadership and the taliban. Those are problems that have existed for decades and in some areas generations. While i dont believe that afghanistan will suddenly break out and be a bastion of peace for the world, we do have a responsibility to help them where we can but also an obligation to protect our sons and daughters, our blood and our treasure has been spilt in afghanistan for decades. We shouldnt lose the investment of that have blood and treasure of that blood and treasure, but its good to see so many people coming home. In europe, Free Trade Agreement is actively being negotiated with the u. K. Were pleased to be able to partner with such a special relationship country like the united kingdom. Weve had a longlasting friendship with them since we settled a little conflict in 1776 and another dustup in 1812. That special relationship with the u. K. Should continue on with a very good trade agreement. And im pleased that the administration continues to be able to push forward in the area of trade. An area that its amazing that many people didnt notice was the powder keg of europe that just recently was resolved. For generations the area around serbia and kosovo had been a hotbed area for conflict. In of the past few weeks, the Trump Administration has negotiated a peace deal between serbia and kosovo that leaves serbia to actually recognize kosovo. That may not seem like a big deal to many other people. But 0 to oklahomans, many who have served in our 45th, that have served there in kosovo helping protect and stabilize that country and provide security there in that region, its very significant to us. To be able to see peace breaking out between serbia and kosovo. While many people dont Pay Attention to whats happening in serbia and kosovo, the Trump Administration has and their team has been doing a good job in negotiating that and bringing to them a stability. In those negotiations, serbia and kosovo agreed to designate hezbollah as a terrorist organization and to recognize jerusalum another affirmation of what is happening in the middle east and the strength of what is ongoing. One last comment that many people may have missed. We all grieve for what is happening in lebanon. That experiment and multiracial and multifaith and cooperative government has been a struggle but they have been a stronghold for religious tolerance in lebanon. Watching the hundreds of people that were killed and thousands that were injured in the explosion at the docks in beirut, it was painful for the entire world and the United States has stepped up as being the top donor to humanitarian aid to lebanon during this time period and engaging in multiple ways. At the end of the day if were going to help lebanon be stable, we have to let that experiment, their democracy, in the middle east. I partnered with senator murphy to help lebanon rebuild, including utilizing the u. S. Development finance corporation, which is called the d. F. C. , to help them and their infrastructure projects, to be able to push out china who has been working their way into the middle east and to allow the people of lebanon to decide their own future. Leveraging levership and the International Monetary fund and not allowing for real reforms in their Banking Systems to be able to push out corruption and hezbollah. There are things that we can do that are not a partisan nature that senator murphy and i have worked together on. Its important they continue to be a stable force in the region. This is a real time of testing for them as a country. Im proud the administration has pushed our diplomats in lebanon to be able to find ways where we can practically help now and long term for real reform for them. Theres a lot of things going orrin the world. While were focus on covid, and while we focus on racial inequality, we cannot lose traction of the issues we need to be engaged in around the world. Its important that america continues to be a leader in diplomacy and a leader in bringing religious liberty and freedom and the opportunity for all people, whether youre in hong kong, as weve discussed before, or whether youre in abu dhabi, all people deserve the recognition of their humanity and respect and be able to live their lives with freedom. Lets represent the values that define us and define us all together. With that, i yield he the floor. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator for maine. Mr. King mr. President , im sure you and i and all the members of this body remember that night in late march. It was late at night. I remember standing in the back of the chamber to see one of the truly historic votes, and it was a unanimous vote of the United States senate to pass the cares act. It was an amazing achievement to see the senate and the Congress Come together in that way with the white house, with the president to help meet the needs of the American People. When we passed that bill back in march, september seemed a long way away. We thought we had provided enough aid for Small Businesses. It turns out we didnt. We thought we had provided enough aid for people, unfortunately, who have fallen into unemployment through no fault of their own, but through the fault of this dreaded covid19, but we didnt provide enough. We hoped we had provided enough for first responders, for schools, for health care professionals, for testing, for all of the things that were necessary to get us out of this terrible pandemic. It turns out that wasnt the case. Here we are in september facing a renewed version of this virus thats now spreading in parts of the country that werent affected back in march. And i want to address, number one, that we must do something. We have to respond to the needs of the American People just as we did in march. And i dont understand, mr. President , why this time it seems to be a partisan issue. Why this time we cant have the same spirit that we had then of negotiation, of give and take, of compromise to reach a bill which all realize now was a really significant accomplishment. But for some reason now it just seems to be much harder. And i understand the concern about the debt and the deficit. I used to be a governor. I know about balancing budgets. States have to balance their budgets. But now is not the time. If we dont take further action to shore up the economy and protect the people that are being impacted by this, the fiscal cost in the long run will be worse. The the revival of the economy will take longer. The cost to the treasury will be greater th

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