[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4979-S4981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Tariffs
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I particularly enjoyed the remarks of my
distinguished friend from Texas, a good man, who makes a real
difference around here.
I rise today to speak on the administration's recent actions
regarding global tariff policy. I am one of the President's strongest
supporters in most matters. I have been steadfast in working with
President Trump on our shared economic agenda, especially passage of
the most important piece of tax reform legislation in a generation.
Tax reform is already providing significant relief to families and
businesses, large and small. Businesses across the country are now more
globally competitive and are investing in their workforce through wage
hikes, bonuses, and increased 401(k) contributions that are benefiting
American workers, families, and their communities. But this roaring
economy, which we worked together to build for American workers and
businesses, is at risk because of the President's trade policies.
Tariffs against our allies and partners in Europe, Canada, Mexico,
and around the world are already harming American farmers and
manufacturers and raising costs for American families. If this
continues, our economy will suffer.
I have long advocated for implementing enforceable international
rules to level the playing field for American businesses, innovators,
and entrepreneurs, and I have consistently fought to protect U.S.
intellectual property rights around the globe. I have also been
committed to advancing a trade agenda that serves the American people.
But the administration's recent actions are misguided and will harm,
rather than protect, the American people.
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The administration has implemented or threatened global tariffs on
approximately $500 billion of goods. Pure and simple, tariffs are
attacks on American businesses and consumers. These actions put
American families and businesses at risk and threaten to undermine the
success of tax reform. Furthermore, they are closing off international
markets that our farmers, ranchers, and other exporters depend on.
I have heard from businesses from my home State of Utah that have
already been hurt by the imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs. Utah
manufacturers are struggling with higher steel and aluminum costs and,
as a result, are struggling to compete with foreign manufacturers.
I have also been hearing from U.S. auto manufacturers and share their
deep concerns about the consequences of raising tariffs on cars,
trucks, and automotive parts. A decision to raise auto tariffs would
lead to a net job loss and lower capital investment in the U.S. auto
sector by increasing costs and reducing choice. The result will be
lower demand for cars in the United States and lower auto sales and
production.
While I share the administration's goal of strengthening American
manufacturing, tariffs on cars and auto parts would directly injure one
of our country's most important manufacturing sectors.
Some of my colleagues have been pressing the need for legislation to
restrict the trade authorities that Congress has delegated to the
President, and I have been sympathetic to their efforts. If the
administration continues forward with its misguided and reckless
reliance on tariffs, I will work to advance trade legislation to
curtail Presidential trade authority. I am discussing legislative
options with colleagues both on and off the Finance Committee, and I
will continue to do so. However, I would much rather work with the
administration to advance a trade agenda that serves the interests of
the American people and job creators.
I want the President to hold our trading partners accountable. I want
him to negotiate strong deals that help our U.S. companies and workers
compete around the globe.
In particular, I agree with the President that China utilizes
mercantilist trade policies to benefit state-owned and Communist Party-
controlled firms, harming American companies and workers. We have to
help U.S. businesses, innovators, farmers, and ranchers compete
globally, and that means we have to confront the challenges posed by
China. That is why I have recommended to the President that it is time
to engage in negotiations with China, using a target of strategy to
address their unfair trade practices. While those efforts are under
way, the administration should not impose further tariffs on our allies
and partners, particularly on autos and auto parts. In that way, the
President can safeguard the economic growth we have worked so hard to
achieve and give himself a strong negotiating position with China.
The administration's actions on trade have hurt American
manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, workers, and families. The President
has asked all of those groups to endure losses so that he can negotiate
winning trade agreements. All are watching to see what the President
will achieve at the negotiating table in return for their
sacrifice. However, now is the time for the President to undertake that
effort. I believe that I will support him if he does undertake that
effort, and I hope he will.
I care a great deal for the President. I want him to be a success.
These approaches are not successful. They are not the way to go. I want
to help the President to get around those and do the things that he
ought to be doing to strengthen our economy and to strengthen our
workers and our businesses.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I have come to the floor to oppose the
nomination of James Blew for Assistant Secretary for Planning,
Evaluation, and Policy Development at the Department of Education. I am
opposing this nomination on behalf of the millions of parents,
students, and teachers who made it clear during Secretary DeVos's
confirmation process that they believe the Department of Education's
top priorities should be helping to educate our students and supporting
our public schools. They made it clear when they posted on social
media, voicing concerns about Secretary DeVos's lack of experience and
knowledge during her hearing in front of our HELP Committee, when they
overwhelmed the Senate switchboard urging their Senators to vote
against her nomination, and when they took to the streets to protest
her nomination and her ideological agenda.
They made it clear that they believe every student has the right to a
high quality public education--no matter where they live, how they
learn, or how much money their parents make. Despite an unprecedented
tie-breaking vote by Vice President Pence, Secretary DeVos has ignored
the public's overwhelming rejection to her extreme ideology. Instead,
she continues to promote her privatization agenda, trying to shift
taxpayer funds away from our public schools.
She is ignoring key parts of our Nation's K-12 law by refusing to
hold States accountable for the success of our most vulnerable
students. She is making it easier for predatory for-profit colleges and
corporations to take advantage of students, rolling back protections
for students and dismantling the unit that investigates claims of fraud
and abuse. Time and again, she is failing our students and her duty to
protect their civil rights.
She has tried to shrink the Office for Civil Rights, has rescinded
guidance for schools on how to investigate claims of campus sexual
assault, and has rolled back rules that protect transgender students,
students of color, and students with disabilities.
All of those students, parents, and teachers who voiced their
concerns about Secretary DeVos during her nomination have not gone
away. They are still making their voices heard, demanding that the
Department of Education start standing up for students.
Unfortunately, Mr. Blew, whose nomination is before us, has made it
clear that he is cut from the same cloth. During his career, Mr. Blew
has advocated for vouchers. He has failed to adequately support
teachers with the tools they need to help their students succeed. He
has even worked closely with and helped to fund Secretary DeVos's
privatization efforts.
The Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development advises the
Secretary in developing and implementing policy, which impacts every
student in our country. It is a critical position. Given the actions
and decisions by Secretary DeVos, it is very clear that we need an
independent voice in this position. Unfortunately, Mr. Blew has proven
that he is not up for that challenge. For that reason, I will vote
against his nomination. I ask my colleagues to do the same.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, today the Senate is finally voting to
confirm James Blew, who has been nominated to be Assistant Secretary
for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the U.S. Department
of Education. He is well-qualified to lead that office. For 20 years,
in various roles, he has advocated for improving educational
opportunities by overseeing grants to low-income, high-risk schools. He
has a M.B.A. from Yale University. He will be in charge of helping to
manage the Department's budget and ensure that programs are working as
intended.
Mr. Blew's sin with some of my friends on the other side is that he
is in favor of giving low-income children a choice of a better school
and in favor of
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public charter schools, which gives teachers more freedom to teach and
parents more freedom to choose the school for their child.
No one should be surprised that a Republican president would nominate
such an Assistant Secretary of Education. Every Republican president
has nominated assistant secretaries of education and secretaries of
education--I was one of them--who support giving low-income children
more choices of good schools--the same choices that wealthier children
have--such as public charter schools.
As far as public charter schools go, every Democratic president since
1990, when the first charter schools were formed, has supported public
charter schools.
Mr. Blew did not deserve to be subjected to the unreasonable delay
and obstruction that the Democrats have given to his nomination. He was
nominated on September 28, 2017, 292 days ago. We held a hearing on
November 15, 2017, 244 days ago.
Going back to the Clinton administration, there had been no hearings
for this position, but I held one anyway, as chairman of the committee,
as a courtesy to Democrats. Then, Democrats forced Mr. Blew's
nomination to be returned to the President at the end of the
congressional session last year.
Let's see how that compares to how President Obama's first Assistant
Secretary for the same job was treated. Carmel Martin was nominated on
March 18, 2009, and was confirmed by voice vote without a hearing on
May 1, 2009, 44 days later.
It is one thing to vote against a presidential nominee. That is
appropriate. Any of us can do that. I think it is wrong to always vote
against a presidential nominee just because you disagree with that
nominee's point of view. Why would you not expect a Republican
president to nominate an assistant secretary who favors giving poor
children choices of good schools and supports public charter schools
that were invented by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota
and were supported by every Democratic president since 1990? So this
unreasonable delay of a well-qualified Assistant Secretary is not good
for the Senate, not good for the country, and not good for children who
need that sort of leadership.
I support and urge my colleagues to vote for Mr. Blew.
I yield floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and
consent to the Blew nomination?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk called the roll.
Mr. CORNYN. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator
from Arizona (Mr. McCain).
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Young). Are there any other Senators in
the Chamber desiring to vote?
The result was announced--yeas 50, nays 49, as follows:
[Rollcall Vote No. 156 Ex.]
YEAS--50
Alexander
Barrasso
Blunt
Boozman
Burr
Capito
Cassidy
Collins
Corker
Cornyn
Cotton
Crapo
Cruz
Daines
Enzi
Ernst
Fischer
Flake
Gardner
Graham
Grassley
Hatch
Heller
Hoeven
Hyde-Smith
Inhofe
Isakson
Johnson
Kennedy
Lankford
Lee
McConnell
Moran
Murkowski
Paul
Perdue
Portman
Risch
Roberts
Rounds
Rubio
Sasse
Scott
Shelby
Sullivan
Thune
Tillis
Toomey
Wicker
Young
NAYS--49
Baldwin
Bennet
Blumenthal
Booker
Brown
Cantwell
Cardin
Carper
Casey
Coons
Cortez Masto
Donnelly
Duckworth
Durbin
Feinstein
Gillibrand
Harris
Hassan
Heinrich
Heitkamp
Hirono
Jones
Kaine
King
Klobuchar
Leahy
Manchin
Markey
McCaskill
Menendez
Merkley
Murphy
Murray
Nelson
Peters
Reed
Sanders
Schatz
Schumer
Shaheen
Smith
Stabenow
Tester
Udall
Van Hollen
Warner
Warren
Whitehouse
Wyden
NOT VOTING--1
McCain
The nomination was confirmed.
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 Senate's action.
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