event in milwaukee on july 15th. next up catch the democrats as they convene in chicago, kicking off august 19th. stay connect today c-span for an uninterrupted and unfiltered glimpse of democracy at work. watch the democratic and republican convention live this summer on c-span. c-span free mobile video app and online and c-span your unfiltered view of politics powered by cable. >> view of government who are funded by these television companies and more including sparklight. >> the greatest town on earth is the place you call home. at sparklight it's our home too. and right now we're facing our greatest challenge. that's why sparklight is doing all it can, we're doing our part so you can do yours. >> sparklight support along with these other television providers giving you a front

row seat to democracy. >> on this wednesday morning, we take you live now to the u.s. senate where today lawmakers are voting on the to be on the federal regulatory commission. this five-member regulates electricity, natural gas and oil. now, live coverage of the u.s. senate here on c-span2. ... the presiding officer: the senate will come to order. the chaplain, dr. barry black, will lead the the chaplain: let us pray. sovereign god, our lawmakers face complex issues that challenge the best of human thoughts and actions. as you gave insights to king solomon, impart wisdom to your

servants in the senate. lord help them to believe that you are real and relevant and a ready help for all of their challenges. may they recognize their need for divine intervention and develop the necessary humility to seek it. shower them with wisdom and strength far beyond their own to in their worries and cares, give them the joy of knowing you are we pray in your strong name. amen.

the presiding officer: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag. of allegiance to our flag. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the presiding officer: the clerk will read a communication to the senate. the clerk: washington, d.c., june 12 it 2024. i hereby appoint the honorable peter welch to perform the duties of the chair. signed patty murray. under the previous order of the senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following nomination which the clerk will report >> nomination federal energy revelatory commission, david rosner of massachusetts to be a member.

later this week senate lawmakers will be working on legislation that protect nationwide access to in vitro fertilization pregnancies be stopped live coverage of the u.s. senate is here on c-span2.

protecting ivf should be the definition of an senators on

both sides of the aisle. nearly everyone knows someone who used ivf to start a family. i've seen it with my own family. where my grandkids was conceived with the help of ivf and gratefully have access to the service to sgrow our family. my family story is not unique at nd millions of americans across the country have the joy of children thanks to ivf. i will be meeting today with a few families and advocates from new york who benefited from ivf and that's why the vast majority of americans 86% support ivf and only 14% oppose. despite claims from my colleagues on the other side, protecting ivf is not a showboat at all. it's a show us who you are vote. this will be a chance for senators on both sides to show their support for strengthening

from people who start families. shirley, mr. president, surely the opportunity to start a family is something all senators can and should agree on. the meeting with speaker johnson later today senate republicans will meet with speaker mike johnson to lay out as has been described " large-scale and " far-reaching agenda republicans plan for america should they regain control of government. i will spoil the ending right now if there is one thing republicans absolutely love to do in congress is giveaways for the very wealthy that's what they plan on talking about today using reconciliation to got as much of the democrat middle-class agenda as possible while passing another round of costly tax breaks that cater to wealthy elites. i understand that nowadays it's tempting to think about elections in terms of

personalities. but that is a grave mistake. look at the agendas, look at what republicans say they want to do. republicans say their biggest priority, their northstar is undoing all the things president biden and we democrats have passed these past few years. while recycling the same trump tax cuts that proved to be a dud seven years ago. remember 2018? they couldn't even run on these things because democrats made a strong message that these were not tax cuts for the middle class these werelp benefit the very wealthy. so they're knocking to be able to sustain this argument but the right wing ideologues put them in a direction many of them probably know is wrong anstep it also means that they want to repeal everything the democrats did it means repealing $35 month insulin for people on medicare that's what republicans want and mean stopping medicare from negotiating the price of prescription drugs. that's what republicans want too. it's also by the way, what big

pharma wants. it means cutting programs that feed kids during summer break that feed seniors like meals on wheels that by congestion on our streets and pollution are air. to republicans these things are like their version of greatest hits. means cutting all the clean energy investments that we passed that create good paying jobs in productive environments.re republicans are in the pocket of big oil was always oppose efforts to grow clean energy. and remember what donald trump said to all executors recently at mar-a-lago, if they asked him, he will do as much as possible to repeal our climate agenda starting day one anyone who cares of climate and sees the change in weather and the tornadoes and hurricanes, and all the bad weather, the cold waves and heat waves,, our republican friends want to undo

the great progress we've made in the ira and will itry to do it in reconciliation stop and that's a real threat. i know replicants were even pain, also means as much as republicans try to avoid saying it, pug like social security and medicare on the chopping and telling seniors the social security retirement age is going to go up. i know republicans arrive in pain when people bring this up but look at the platform released by the republican study committee which covers over 180 house members let's not forget if they take over if they keep control of the house, which i hope they won't come i don't believe they won't, they will set the agenda and senate republicans even those who know better will just blindly follow. and they in the house study ittee 180 of the 220 some odd republicans in endorse not only national abortion ban but cuts for social security and medicare. so that's what they're gonna

do. and who here cremembers the campaign platform that our colleagues from florida released back in 2022? he's now running for leader over here. he thought it was a good idea to run on tax hikes for the middle class while putting programs like social security and medicare at risk what a shock the message didn't work with the american people i don't think it's working with the voters of florida either. speaking of tax cuts, let me add this, according to the washington post, republicans not only plan to do another round of trumps tax cuts for the very rich they want to go further, they want even lower rates for corporations. they want even lower rates for those making over $1 billion a year while making it easier for tax cheats to get away withoshare. donald trump's message to donors is reportedly pretty simple, support me, i will get you sweet tax deal and return republicans love to claim their party of fiscal responsibility

but that goes out the window whenever they start salivating over the thought of the tax cuts for the high end people in america. the cbo has cpointed out that expending the trump tax cut 4.5 trillion to the deficit. so you want to cut spending when it comes to feeding kids or g kids or helping kids pay for college, you want to cut the deficit and that's your way of cutting the deficit by cutting money to feed kids or educate kids, the high cost of college. but the deficit doesn't matter when it tax cuts for the very very wealthy. it's utterly callous when it comes to funding things like nutrition or healthcare for kids they scream and holler we can't but when it comes to sweeping tax cuts to the rich suddenly the deficit doesn't matter. the old clichc says th they stay the same.

republicans today have been totally transformed by the cult but if they are given control of government that will continue to give middle-class americans the same raw deal republicans have pushed for your. tax giveaways for onthe ultrarich and crumbs for everyone else become ideal before.

wr

ting for a senator to come to the floor to speak. today lawmakers are working on several nominees to be members of the federal energy revelatory commission five-member body which would have a 3 ã2 democrat majority

of all nominees are confirmed the agency regulates the interstate transmission of electricity national ãand oil. laweek senate lawmakers will be working on legislation that would protect nationwide access to in vitro fertilization treatment for pregnancies. live coverage of the u.s. senate is here on c-span2. >> since president biden took office consumer prices have risen more than 20%.

avoid the obvious comparison to the

documented. and his plan to let some of the masterminds of terrorist violence against americans off the hook is only the most enduring example. now, on one final matter. it's no secret that american

farmers face a lot of uncertainty. unstable markets, weather, pro projected drop in farm income all makes a job that is inherently difficult even more one producer in my state put it farming is margins are tight. certainly -- certainty and stability oil the engine of american agriculture, which is why farm families in kentucky and the rest of rural america look to the farm bill tode support and safeguard our food supply. unfortunately, with the farm bill's september expiration fast approaching, senate democrats don't seem to be in any rush to address farmers' immediate needs. the agriculture committee's majority has yet to introduce a

bill set a markup or secure a singlef floor time with the democratic leader. the committee has a long tradition of bipartisanship. there's no reasonolleagues can't show some good faith and start working to advance serious legislation. it's time to get to the table. and yesterday ranking member boozman put forward a republican farm bill frachl work that would give our colleagues a good place to start. the ranking member's plan reflects the actual reality of owning operating a farm today, and it addresses the biggest bone of contention among america's producers. less fluff and more farm in the farm bill. from bolstering the farmers' safety net to expanding our competitiveness in world markets to providing new producers with

means to get off the ground i've served on the agriculture committee my entire time in the senate. i know drafting this legislation is certainly not easy and i'm grateful to the ranking member for his work on this important issue. i hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will look to this framework for guidance as we work to deliver certainty and stability to america's farmers. i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. the clerk: ms. baldwin.

i understand that nowadays it's tempting to think about elections in terms of personalities. but that is a grave mistake. look at the agendas, look at what republicans say they want to do . republicans say their biggest

priority, their northstar is on doing all the things president biden and we democrats have passed the past few years. while recycling the same trump tax cuts that proved to be a dog seven years ago. remember n on these things because democrats made a strong message that these wanted tax cuts for the middle class, these were tax cuts to help benefit the very very wealthy. there not to be able to sustain this argument but the right wing ideological push them at a direction that many of them probably know is repeal everything the democrats did it means repealing $35 a month insulin for people on medicare. it means stopping medicare from negotiating the price of prescription drugs. that's what were publicans want too. also by the g pharma want to start a means cutting programs that feed kids during summer breaks.

that feeds seniors like meals on wheels that fight congestion on our streets and pollution in our air. to republicans these things are like their version of greatest hits. means cutting all the clean energy investments passed that create good paying jobs and protector environments. republicans are in the pocket of big oil which will always oppose efforts to grow clean energy and remember ves recently at mar-a-lago, if they back them, he will do as much as possible to appeal the climate agenda starting on day one piece of anyone who cares about the climate and sees the change in weather and the tornadoes and hurricanes, and all the bad weather, cold waves and heat waves, our republican friends want to undo the great progress we made in the ira and try to do it in i know republicans but it also means

as much as were publicans try to avoid saying it, putting vital programs like social security and medicare on the chopping block and telling seniors social security retirement age is going to go up i know were publicans rise in pain with people bring this up look at the platform released study committee which covers over 180 house numbers, let's not forget if they take if they keep control of the house, which i hope they want, i don't believe they want, they are going to set the agenda and senate republicans even those who know better will just blindly follow. they in the house study and the republicittee, 180 of the 220 some odd republicans endorse not only national abortion ban but cuts for social security and medicare. so that's what they are going to do. >> i would ask unanimous consent that it be lifted.

>> is a member of the senate agriculture committee and a resident of the state lifeblood literal lifeblood is agriculture, the bills in congress takes up every few years on my top priorities had the chance to help craft for farm bills during my time in congress and the number one goal is always to ensure that each bill accurately reflects the needs and priorities of the men and women on the ground. the ones who are doing the hard work of feeding our country. as i travel around my state of south dakota i always take special note of my conversations with agricultural producers. many of the bills that i introduce from inclusion in the farmville are based in these conversations. the expire later this year stop with deadlines approaching and updates needed to a number of farm programs, congress needs to focus on advancing the next

farmville. this is all the more important given the headwinds of farmers and ranchers are currently facing with net farm income declined by 25% this year and with input costs projected to get a record high and especially important we make sure farmers and ranchers have the support they neneed to carry on with their vital work. last month the house agriculture committee marked up as graph for the next farmville and the bill passed committee

special interest aliens. illegally present here not vetted on our southern border

but released on their own recognizance. and now, with an announcement yesterday from the fbi, a connection to terrorism, specifically isis terrorism. in the past several months fbi has also pickedpal alshab be a terrorists that crossed on the southern border listed as special interest aliens now have been picked up. we are literally living on borrowed time. this is i've brought up over and over again to this to say we need to pay attention to this issue of what's happening on our southern border. now, currently, the administration has put in place a new executive order to try to lower somewhat the number. people coming across but the way they're doing it is by turning around people from the western hemisphere, but folks from other areas, like tajikistan those folks are ing through. some are being detained but ha large number are actually being

released on their own recognizance as special interest aliens. we don't have information on direct tie to terrorism at the time they're at the border so they're being released. the bill that i brought to this body would have changed the way we did screening dramatically would have taken all these issues about terrorism from the end of the process and moved it to the beginning. so that we're not releasing people and then trying to figure out if we can chase them. right now, what's really happening day to day is that individuals crossing our border we're hoping that the fbi can pick up any information on them after they're already released into the country. remember there were 70,000 individuals like this last year. 53,000 so far this year. we're hoping the fbi is able to discern their terror threat before they carry out an act of terrorism. of that is exactly the wrong way to did this. we need to enforce our southern

border with more than just some action to be able to reduce what's happening. we should not be living on borrowed time every day, awaiting the next terrorist attack in the united states because our border was open. what have we done in the past? last year we deported four tajiks last year four. now we're in the process of deporting another eight. we don't know what the numbers are here. at the end of the day, that's a very bad spot for us to be in as a country. i don't want the united states of america living on borrowed time awaiting the next terrorist attack because we were not paying attention, and enforcing our own southern border. we need to be able to wake up on this. with that i yield the floor.

mr. boozman: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from arkansas. mr. boozman: thank you, mr. president. prior to break being for the memorial day recess the house agriculture committee did something few beltway pundits the committee approved in a bipartisan manner a farm bill that meets the needs of farmers ranchers foresters, rural communities, and consumers across america. i commend chairman g.t. thompson for his stewardship of this bill through an open process that let every committee member have a say in the bill. likewise i want to express my appreciation for each of the members that voted to advance this legislation out of committee. chairwoman stabenow also recently released her farm bill framework, putting the senator majority's priorities on paper and advancing the discussion forward. cumiatively these efforts

exhibit the first real progress towards passage of a new farm bill since the process began two years ago. this week republicans on the agriculture committee are building on that momentum by releasing our farm bill framework. we believe our framework reflects the chamber's shared commitments across all 12 title, while putting more farm in the farm bill. something we've been calling for since the onset. let's talk about what that means. it means we directly -- we direct additional resources to the tools farmers rely on and they're calling for us to invest in while ensuring we do no harm to our nutrition programs0% of the bill's baseline spending. for example, we doubled the funding for the farm bill's premier trade programs to help increase our competitiveness overseas. this is desperately needed considering we're projected to see a record $32 billion agricultural trade deficit this year. u.s. farmers have been able to

point to their positive trade balance in agriculture as a sort of pride for the better part of the last 50 years as they work to feed clothe and fuel the world. unfortunately, this administration's refusal to engage on the issue has created an agricultural trade imbalance that is projected to reach record heights and is showing no signs of slowing. our framework can help reverse this unsustainable trend. another area where we double funding is agricultural research. our public sector investment in agricultural research lags other developed economies and has fallen by more than a third over the past two decades. this is another concerning trend that our framework can help reverse. agricultural research programs spur innovation productivity allowing farmers to produce more while using less in an environmentally friendly manner

even as threats from pests, diseases and unpredictable weather become more common. not only do our farmers gain in the long-term, but our land grant institutions and colleges of agriculture conduct groundbreaking research see immediate benefits. this truly is a win-win investment. we also make a historic investment in the conservation title, while ensuring programs remain locally led and flexible farmers, ranchers foresters have diverse conservation needs, and our framework reflects that providing equity across practices to address drought, water quality, wildlife habit biodiversity soil erosion and climate resiliency while continuing to provide for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reducing practices. our framework increases funding in the conservation title by

more than 25%. every year moving forward. while making sure its programs continue to empower producers to make their best decisions to meet the resource concerns of their operation. our farmers and ranchers and foresters also need investments in the communities they call home and our framework makes those too. it is no secret that rural america has seen more than its share of difficulties over the last several years. recent census data shows over half the nation's rural counties have lost population in the last census. these communities must have the modern infrastructure necessary to attract and retain talent. our framework offers help by making significant investments in small business development, broadband expansion, water and energy infrastructure programs as well as funds to increase access to rural health care child care and public safety. most importantly, putting more

farm in the farm bill requires a modernized farm safety net. we accomplish this by giving producers access to risk management tools that reflect the nature of the challenges under which they operate. as i've stressed before this isn't an either-or decision. meaning farmers won't be forced to choose between crop insurance and vital title one programs. our framework makes crop insurance more accessible and affordable and makes meaningful increases in statutory reference prices for all producers of all commodities in all regions. the safety net programs our farmers operate under right now are outdated. we cannot consider a farm bill that fails to revving nize and protect -- to recognize and protect farmers from historic inflation and input costs they face on the farm. the world and agriculture in particular are in a much different place today than they were during the last farm bill.

farmers are already experiencing unprecedented challenges and economic uncertainty for the crops they are sowing into the ground right now as we speak. this follows historic inflation, a record trade deficit, rising interest rates, devastating natural disasters, and geopolitical unrests that have shrunk the bottom line for farmers. under this president, u.s. farmers have seen the largest decline in farm income of all time. like i said that is only expected to g to put more farm in the farm bill. in my home state of arkansas where agriculture accounts for about a quarter o the state's gdp, inflation-adjusted net farm income is expected to decline more than 40% compared to two years ago. this trend is playing out across the nation, which is why reference prices have been the top ask for farmers at the over 20 farm bill rou held

around the country. while each of these states have diverse agriculture economies, the r has been consistent. in fact it was one of my earliest roundtables in north dakota where the mantra of quote, more farm in the farm bill was born. it wasn't wasn't a republican senator who first sailed that. it was a -- first said that. it was a plea from a farmer. that is camera interest is -- that is what this is truly all about. farmers, ranchers foresters, consumers and others helped to faction fashion a farm bill that meets their needs. it's made more difficult this time around by the way a-s taken outsides of the farm bill impacted our baseline. but on the agriculture committee, we have shown we can come together to carry these heavy lifts across the finish line. i've been proud to partner with chairwoman stabenow to shepherd significant reforms into law and

priority issues particularly in the climate and nutrition spaces. together we worked to enact the growing climate solution act, making it easier for producers to pra incorporate in emerging voluntary c markets. we passed the bill with support of over 90 colleagues. in the nutrition space, we worked to pass the keep kids fed act, which extended needed flexibilities to schools and meal providers for an additional year at a time when supply chain breakdowns persisted and soared because of -- food costs soared because of inflation. i'm most proud of our successful effort working with senator stabenow under her leadership to modernize the out-dade the summer meals -- outdated summer meals program to reach children in rural and urban communities, filling the gap children face during the month when classes are out of session. marking the first substantial reform to the summer meals

program in over 60 years, this investment of over $20 billion ensures children will never again face hunger in the summer months. that is what our work here is all about, identifying a problem, then coming together to solve it. we've proven we can do that in the past. i believe with all my heart that we can do it again by passing a bipartisan farm bill. i look forward to taking our two frameworks forging a bipartisan farm bill, and passing it into law before the 118th session of congress comes to a close. with that mr. chair, i yield.

mr. boozman: mr. president. i notem. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. baldwin.

>> since president biden took office consumer prices have risen more than 20. the nation has been seeing this sort of persistent drain on our economy since the carter -- hasn't seen this sort of persistent drain since the carter administration. and the biden administration is desperate to avoid the obvious comparison to the stagflation back in the 19700s -- 1970 tos. the white house recently asserted that, quote president biden's top priority is beating inflation, which is why he has taken historic action. if that begs the question, which historic action are we talking about here? is the administration referring

to the time it invited historic inflation over the warnings of top liberal economists like larry summers? but they ignored that and went ahead with the is so-called american rescue plan. or the time they did the same thing again but called it the inflation reduction act. the biden administration is still looking for a safe landing spot and liberal commentators are literally tying if knots -- in knots. one liberal editorial board recently suggested that since employment and consumption levels are steady, quote people will start to notice and -- will also return to normal levels.

quote, it's possible that americans are experiencing the economic e give e equivalent of a hangover. mr. president that's just utter nonsense. and it's not fooling anyone who actually has to balance a family budget. a survey reported that nearly two-thirds of middle class americans say they're facing economic hardship. numbers don't lie. neither do consumers. the high prices they're facing aren't a matter of bad vibes they're the predictable and avoidable consequences of bidenomics. on another matter, i've spoken before about the biden

administration's political obsession with closing the terrorist detention facility at guantanamopr bay. i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. borrow mr. barrasso: i ask that the following detailee from my office be granted floor privileges until the end of the 118th congress mr. bartholomew and . r i come to the floor today to support the three individuals all nominated to the federal energy regulatory commission david rosner lindsay see and judy channing. ferc is often called the most important agencies that nobody heard of they oversee electric power in the wholesale market

are just. it oversees electric reliability and it licenses interstate pipelines and hydropowered projects. by one estimate, the federal energy regulatory commission accounts for 7% of our nation's economy. we must fulfill our responsibility to maintain a quorum on the commission. in 2015 and 2015 president obama rye fused to fill the vacancy -- refused to fill the vacancies left by two republicans, and the chairman left as well. it was left without a quorum. it took seven full months to restore the quorum at the ferc during that time too many projects that keep the lights on and heat our homes and aid our allies abroad were put on hold. we can't let that happen again, mr. president. too much is at stake for american workers, for our energy security and for our nation's

economy. that's why i'm glad the senate is acting on these three nominations this very week. and while i may not agree with each of the nominees on all the items all the time all of them are well qualified. i'm especially supportive of ms. lindsay see, she has distinguished hers as a person with discipline drive and determination. she graduated summa cum laude from patrick henry college and graduated magnum coupleum laude -- cum laude from and then she clerked on the u.s. court of appeals for the district court. ms. see is an outstanding appellate lawyer she was the solicitor general of west virginia. during that time she has overseen criminal and civil appeals. she has fought for affordable

and reliable energy for american argued two cases before the u.s. supreme court, she not only advocated on behalf of west virginia and also other states including my home state of wyoming and she won. ms. see has a long track record of helping others. farmers and other landowners are a principle reason i do support ms. see. during the hearings on the nominations, she was asked if she would exercise extreme care when considering applications for electric transmission lines. of course she said yes. she said that she would adhere to and apply the law. when asked written questions, she said she would would follow the law. she said that her time as a stoirj has her respect for the way federal policies affect people across the country. she added that i've seen how

federal rules and permitting actions can threaten people's livelihoods and local economies. she went on to say, sense activity to how federal actions affect states and local communities is essential when making policy decisions and then she said i would consider a proposal's consequences for local landowners important to the public interest analysis. if confirmed, she will bring an impressive experience list working with complex statutes to the constitution -- to the commission. she will also help the how its decisions impact farmers and other landowners. i firmly believe that if we fail to confirm ms. see, farmers and landowners would be worse off. and for that reason mr. president, i encourage all voters and all senators to vote in favor of ms. see. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor.

mr. hoeven: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from north dakota. mr. hoeven: mr. president, just a few minutes ago, the ranking member of our ag committee, the senior senator from arkansas senator boozman, put forth a statement of principles that he has developed with his outstanding staff that really identify and describe a framework that we absolutely need in the farm bill and as you know we have a one-year extension in place on the farm bill and you know it's something that wes just incredibly important to get done on a bipartisan basis, and so we need toe get it done -- to get it done and if we don't get it done now, we will have to put another extension on the farm program in place.

when we talk about our farmers and ranchers we talk about the favrl farm bill we talk about foreign policy we think we're focused on agriculture,t the case. a good farm policy in this country, gives us the highest quality, lowest-cost food supply in the world. who does that impact on a daily basis, mr. president? everybody. every single person in this country, eve single day multiple times a day. highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world. more choice higher quality, better food than anywhere else in the world, and -- and americans spend less of their budget on their food than any other developed country. i'd say that's something we should not take for granted. and it's amazing, you ow i mean i think now days so many people don't come from the farm

anymore. obviously live we're a huge ag state and we have a lot of nexus with farming, but most people are not farmers. so that's one of those things that is just incredibly important until we don't have it until we don't have this network of family farmers and ranchers across the country that is better than anywhere else in the world, with we take it for granted. we need to get a farm bill done and get it done right. that's why i'm here. if we follow the framework that out, we'll get it right and so we need to do it. that's the simple point that i want to make that that is the framework that we need to embrace on a bipartisan basis, on bicameral basis, get to passed to the president and get it place, we need it for farmers and ranchers and we need it for every single american every single day. so i want to thank -- i want to start out by thanking senator

boozman, but most of all i want to thank our hardworking farmers and rachers who face in -- ranchers who face incredible challenges whether it's weather or chain policy things they don't control. year in and year out, they go out and plant a crop and they raise livestock and feed the world. and those challenges they face every single year. this year we're looking at lower farm net income. obviously inflation and high interest rates have put a real squeeze on their operations. and, you know it's often said that farm bills are written for not good times. and that's what we've got to keep in mind. the whole concept of this farm bill is that it's countercyclical. makes sure it provides help to farmers and ranchers when they need it and obviously when they don't need it then it's not there. and, of course that's the way it should be. that is not only what affects

farmers and ranchers that's what's most beneficial in terms of the hardworking taxpayers of this country. and of course senator boozman's framework does just exactly that. it makes the investments we need in the farm safety net. and that's ultimately the bedrock and the foundation of what the farm bill is all about. and he emphasizes that in a lot of different ways whether it's strengthening crop insurance which we obviously have to do very important. improve access to credit for our farmers and ranchers. and also making sure that our livestock producers, our ranchers as well as our farmers, are able to operate year in and year out and that -- for the next generation we're doing every single thing we can to bring that next generation into farming and ranching. remember this is -- there's about 16 million people across the country, either directly or

indirectly involved in agriculture. and the average age now for these family farms and ranches, the average age is about 60 years old. we also h bringing this next generation into farming and that we're keeping that farm -- that family farm familyranch, that network of millions of small businesses across this country that feed and fuel the world, we need to make sure that we do everything we can to sustain it. senator boozman's framework does that. let's come together in a bipartisan way, in a bipartisan committee and in a bicameral way and get this thing done for our farmers, for our ranchers for all americans. thank you, mr. president. with that i yield the floor.

a senator: mr. president. senator from west virginia. mr. manchin: i ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call with ro the see cloture motion be waived. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mr. manchin: mr. president, i spoke at some length about the important work of the federal energy regulatory commission yesterday. i spoke also about the statutory requirement the commission members be able to assess fairly the needs and concerns of all interests affected by federal energy policy. i believe that is why in earlier congress when it created the department of energy in 1977 and concentrated most energy functions in the hands of the secretary of energy insisted on maintaining a separate independent five-member collegial body for electric and natural gas regulation. when it comes to fairly assessing all interests, five

heads are better than one. bringing together five different people with five different life experiences and perspectives helps ensure that all affected interests will be heard and fairly considered and assessed. david rosner lindsay see and judy chang are very different people from very different backgrounds. what matters most is their another to consider and assess fairly different interests and points of view and to put partisan passions aside in favor of the public interest. after meeting all three, listening to them testify and watching them respond to senators' questions, i am convinced that all three are willing and able to work with each other and with chairman phillips andchristi on the commission to ensure energy reliableers. lindsay see is currently the solicitor general of west virginia a post she has held for the past six years. in that role she represents my state's legal interests in both state and federal courts including the u.s. supreme

court. as lindsay explained in her testimony before our committee, energy adjacent matters are front and center for west virginia's solicitor general. and she has worked on dozens of cases and rule makings which demonstrated the grid reliability, the regulatory certainty, and affordable energies are essential. prior to her appointment of solicitor general, she served as special assistant in the west virginia attorney general's office for two years. before that she practiced palate and administrative lawor five years at a law firm here in washington, d.c. after graduating from harvard law school she clerked for judge thomas griffith on the u.s. court of appeals for the district of the columbia circuit. she is a very capable and experienced lawyer and well qualified to serve on the commission. judy chang is an energy economics and policy expert with more than 20 years of experience working with energy companies, trade associations and governments on regulatory and

financial issues. as they relate to investment decisions and energy generation transmission and storage. she served as the under secretary of energy and climate solutions under governor charles baker from massachusetts where she helped develop massachusetts clean energy and climate plan. i can think of no better preparation for serving on a bipartisan commission than working for a republican administration in a very very blue state. judy also has been an adjunct lecturer in public policy at school and a senior fellow at the kennedy school are in for business and government. she holds a bash losh's of science degree in electric engineering and computer science from the university of california at davis and master ever public policy from the harvard kennedy school. energy reliability and affordability is perhaps more personal to judy than most of us. in her testimony before our co explained that when she was growing up in taiwan power outages were a daily event. she said from a young age my parents instilled in me the

principle that no resource should be wasted working hard to save every penny. we will all be served well by having that perspective on this commission. we have three extremely qualified, capable, honorable people who are willing to serve our great country. that makes up a five-member ferc and i can tell you as they've said as i started, fivesv to join me in supporting both lindsay see and judy chang's nomination today. thank you, mr. president. i notice the absence quorum. hold on. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the question is on the nomination. is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the clerk will call the roll.

vote: the clerk: ms. baldwin. mr. barrasso. mr. bennet. mrs. blackburn. mr. blumenthal. mr. booker. the clerk: mr. boozman. mr. braun. mrs. britt.

mr. brown. mr. budd. ms. butler. ms. cantwell. mrs. capito. mr. cardin. mr. carper. mr. casey. mr. cassidy.

ms. collins. the clerk: mr. coons.

the clerk: mr. cor ms. cortez masto. mr. cotton. mr. cramer. mr. crapo. mr. cruz. mr. daines. ms. duckworth. mr. durbin. ms. ernst. mr. fetterman.

mrs. fischer. mrs. gillibrand. mr. graham. mr. grassley. mr. hagerty.ssan. mr. hawley. mr. heinrich. mr. hickenlooper. ms. hirono. mr. hoeven.

mrs. hyde-smith. mr. johnson. mr. kaine. mr. kelly. mr. kennedy. mr. king. ms. mr. lankford. mr. lee. mr. lujan.

menendez. mr. merkley. mr. moran. mr. mullin. ms. murkowski. vote:

the clerk: mr. murphy. mrs. murray. mr. ossoff. mr. padilla. mr. paul. mr. peters. mr. reed. mr. ricketts. mr. risch. mr. romney. ms. rosen. mr. rounds.

mr. rubio. mr. sanders. mr. schatz. mr. schmitt. mr. schumer. florida. mr. scott of south carolina. mrs. shaheen. ms. sinema. ms. smith. ms. stabenow. mr. sullivan. mr. tester. mr. thune. mr. tillis. mr. tuberville. mr. van hollen.

mr. vance. mr. warner. mr. warnock. ms. warren. mr. welch. mr. whitehouse. mr. wicker. mr. wyden.

mr. young. the clerk: senators voting in the affirmative -- baldwin, booker capito, casey cassidy, cornyn, duckworth,

grassley hassan, hickenlooper, king man chin, moran mullin, murkowski, murray, ossoff, padilla, peters, reid ricketts, rosen, rounds, schatz tester warnock, whitehouse. mr. merkley, aye. ms. stabenow, aye. mr. heinrich, aye. mrs. hyde-smith, aye. senators voting in the negative -- hagerty, kennedy, schmitt, scott of florida tuberville, vance.

the clerk: ms. warren, aye.

the clerk: mr. cardin, aye.

the clerk: mr. marshall, no.

the clerk: ms. collins, aye.

the clerk: mr. kaine, no. the clerk: mr. johnson, no. mr. warner, aye. mr. kelly, aye. mr. coons, aye.

the clerk: mr. cramer, aye. mr. brown, aye.

the clerk: ms. cortez masto, aye. mr. thune, no. the clerk: mrs. blackburn, no.

vote: the clerk: mr. carper aye.

the clerk: mr. welch, aye.u4

he pale. vandalism like this and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. it sickens me that of all the targets these anti-semis could chosen it was the leadership of the brooklyn museum. the brooklyn museum is deeply concerned with issues of social juice. w more than most museums. its doors are always open to all. i have visited the brooklyn museum many times with my children and my grandchildren.

i have spoken at their great first saturday events. i've even voted there. the best antidote for the poison of ignorance is knowledge. that is precisely what we find in our museums, knowledge. these images break my heart. they fill deep grief and profound anger. cy condemn the actions -- i condemn the actions of those who smeared these hateful images of the leadership of the brooklyn exactly me. the perpetrators must be held accountable for this hateful vandalism. these hateful actions, make no mistake about it do nothing, nothing at all, to advance the cause these individuals pro guess to -- profess to care about. again, this is not new york. this is not america. and we must confront this intolerance and bigotry with

courage, with perseverance and with common cause with all those who wish to promote tolerance and acceptance here in america. i yield the floor. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. the clerk: cloture motion we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of executive calendar number 670, lindsay s. see, of west virginia to be a member of the federal energy regulatory commission signed by 17 senators. the presiding officer: by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. the question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of lindsay s. see, of west virginia to be a member of the federal energy regulatory commission shall be brought to a close. the yeas and nays are mandatory

under the rule. the clerk will call the roll. vote: the clerk: ms. baldwin. mr. barrasso. mr. bennet. mrs. blackburn. mr. blumenthal. mr. booker. mr. boozman. mr. braun. mrs. britt. mr. brown. mr. budd. ms. butler. ms. cantwell. mrs. capito. mr. cardin. mr. carper. mr. casey. mr. cassidy. ms. collins. mr. coons. mr. cornyn.

ms. cortez masto. mr. cotton. mr. cramer. mr. crapo. mr. cruz. mr. daines. ms. duckworth. mr. durbin. ms. ernst. mr. fetterman. mrs. fischer. mrs. gillibrand. mr. graham. mr. grassley. mr. hagerty. ms. hassan. mr. hawley. mr. heinrich. mr. hickenlooper. ms. hirono.

mr. hoeven. mrs. hyde-smith. mr. johnson. mr. kaine. mr. kelly. mr. kennedy. mr. king. ms. klobuchar. mr. lankford. mr. lee.mr. lujan. ms. lummis. mr. manchin. mr. markey. mr. marshall. mr. mcconnell. mr. menendez. mr. merkley.

mr. moran. ms. murkowski. mr. murphy. mrs. murray. mr. ossoff. mr. padilla. mr. paul. mr. peters. mr. reed. mr. ricketts. mr. risch. mr. romney. ms. rosen. mr. rounds. mr. rubio. mr. sanders. mr. schatz. mr. schmitt.

mr. schumer. mr. scott of florida. mr. scott of south carolina. mrs. shaheen. ms. sinema. ms. smith. ms. stabenow. mr. sullivan. mr. tester. mr. thune. mr. tillis. mr. tuberville. mr. van hollen. mr. vance. mr. warner. mr. warnock. ms. warren. mr. welch. mr. whitehouse. mr. wicker. mr. wyden. mr. young. senators voting in the affirmative, britt, budd cotton crapo, fischer,

grassley hassan hickenlooper johnson, lee, manchin, mullin murray paul reed ricketts rubio, schumer, smith, stabenow and tuberville. no senator voted in the

can the clerk: mer moran, aye. the clerk: mr. moran, aye. . mr. murphy aye.

the clerk: mr. barrasso, aye. .

the clerk: mr. barrasso, aye.

the clerk: mr. cruz, aye. mr. hagerty, aye.

the clerk: mr. marshall, aye.

the clerk: mr. kennedy, aye.

the clerk: ms. ernst, aye. mr. cassidy, aye. mr. rounds, aye.

the clerk: mr. peters, aye. the clerk: mr. boozman, aye.

the clerk: mr. schmitt, no. the clerk: mr. coons, aye.

mr. cramer, aye. the clerk: mr. hawley, no. mr. mcconnell, aye.

the clerk: mr. braun, aye. the clerk: mr. cornyn, aye. mr. warnock, aye.

mrs. hyde-smith, aye. mr. schatz, aye. mr. tester, aye. the clerk: mr. risch, aye.

ms. warren, aye. ms. duckworth, aye.

the clerk: ms. hirono, aye.

the clerk: mr. kaine, no. mr. merkley, no. the clerk: ms. baldwin, aye.

ms. cortez masto, aye. the clerk: ms. collins, aye.

the clerk: mr. heinrich, aye. mr. casey, aye. mrs. blackburn, aye. mr. kelly, aye. mr. young, aye.

mr. booker, aye. mrs. gillibrand, aye. mr. wicker, aye. ms. rosen, aye. mr. sanders, no.

mr. lankford, aye. mr. scott of florida, aye. the clerk: mr. king, aye. mr. durbin, aye.

mr. whitehouse, no.

the clerk: mr. ossoff, aye. mr. fetterman, aye. mr. warner, aye. mr. welch, aye.

the clerk: mr. vance, aye. mr. reed, no. ms. klobuchar, aye. ms. murkowski, aye. mr. daines, aye.

mr. cardin, aye. the clerk: mr. lujan, aye.

the clerk: mrs. capito, aye. the clerk: mr. schumer, aye.

the clerk: mr. bennet, aye.

mr. tillis, aye. ms. cantwell, aye. the clerk: mr. blumenthal, aye.

vote:

the clerk: mr. padilla, aye.

the clerk: mr. scott of south carolina, aye.

the clerk: mr. van ho

the clerk: mrs. shaheen, aye.

the clerk: mr. thune, aye.

ms. lummis, aye. the clerk: mr. hoeven, aye.

the clerk: mr. markey no. mr. romney, aye.

the clerk: mr. carper, aye. the presiding officer: on this vote the yeas are 87. the nays are 8.

the motion is agreed to. the crk will report the knoll nation. the clerk: nomination federal energy regulatory commission lindsay s. see of west virginia to be a member. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the senate stands in recess until 2:15 >> the senate has gaveled out ask is now in recess until about 2:15 eastern this afternoon. when lawmakers return, they'll continue working on nominees to be approved for the federal energy regulatory commission. on thursday, they'll vote whether or not to start work on a measure to protect invitro fertilization treatment. if live coverage when lawmakers return right here on c-span2. >> batter up, get ready the cheer on your favorite team in

this year's congressional baseball game. watch today at 7 p.m. eastern on c-span, c-span now our free mobile video app a or online at c-span.org. >> and here's a ball hit by steube deep into left field and bouncing up and into the bullpen! [cheers and applause] >> earlier today the chair of the federal reserve question roam powell, held a news conference to discuss interest rates, monetary policy and the u.s. economy. you can watch the news conference tonight at 9:30 p.m. eastern on c-span, c-span now or online at a