March 10, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 46 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Pages S1641-S1642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                S. 2657

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, this week, we have 
the opportunity to pass major legislation to strengthen our domestic 
energy. Chairman Murkowski, Senator Manchin, and the Energy and Natural 
Resources Committee have assembled a strong, bipartisan bill. I look 
forward to passing it.
  I was disappointed yesterday when the Senate failed to advance the 
legislation and clear a path toward completing the bill. The 
committee's product includes about 50 different bills and contributions 
from nearly three-fourths of the Members of this body, and contrary to 
the Democratic leader's assertions on the floor, I am certainly not 
blocking any bipartisan amendment. I have stated right here on the 
floor that I hope and anticipate that we will vote on amendments this 
week.
  Don't be fooled by the finger-pointing. I am not standing in the way 
of bipartisan amendments. What is really

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happening is that the Democratic leader is moving the goalposts. There 
had been a bipartisan understanding about how to finish this bill, but 
yesterday the Democratic leader decided to change his tune and demand a 
vote on something outside the scope of the current debate. I hope we 
can get past this showmanship, finish this bipartisan legislation, and 
send it to the House so we can get it on the President's desk. Let's 
don't squander this real opportunity.
  Chairman Murkowski's and Senator Manchin's compromise product will 
help our Nation move toward greater energy security, energy efficiency, 
and energy affordability for years to come--new support for energy 
efficiency efforts, new incentives for innovation, new tools to secure 
our electrical grid, and new ways to strengthen our domestic supply 
chain for important minerals, and on and on and on.
  This Chamber got it right last week when it proceeded to the bill by 
a vote of 90 to 4. It hasn't suddenly become controversial overnight. 
Everyone knows there are plenty of outside issues that Senators do not 
agree on. We should let ourselves agree on what we do agree on. Let me 
say that again: We should let ourselves agree on what we do agree on 
and complete this legislation this week.
  Let's keep legislating. Let's get this done. The American people 
deserve it.

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