[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 67 (Monday, April 25, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2118-S2119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          America COMPETES Act

  Madam President, finally, this week, the Senate will also begin a 
formal conference committee with the House to finalize our jobs and 
competitiveness legislation. If there is anything that Republicans and 
Democrats should be able to agree on and move speedily on, it should 
certainly be a bipartisan bill that increases jobs, boosts innovation, 
and gets tough on the Chinese Communist Party, while shoring up our 
chips manufacturing here at home.

[[Page S2119]]

  This legislation has been in the works for well over a year, and I 
know that Members from both sides want to see us enter a conference as 
soon as we can.
  As the week progresses, Republicans must come to the table and show 
they are willing to work with us to finalize a vote to enter the 
conference. Both parties in both Chambers have already announced their 
choices of who should serve as conferees, so the time has come to wrap 
up this process and begin a conference.
  I hope both sides will reach an accord soon so we can finish the 
yearlong work of sending the competitiveness legislation to the 
President's desk for his signature. Our economy and American consumers 
will be far, far better off for it.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, the Senate is now, of course, back in 
session following a 2-week home work period, as we refer to it. That is 
when we get to go back home and see our friends and constituents and 
travel around our States. And in my case, representing 29 million 
Texans, that entails a fair amount of travel, but it is always good to 
get reconnected with your friends and your neighbors and your 
constituents.
  I know we are eager to hit the ground running here this week, and 
certainly, we have a lot to do. For example, the conference committee 
process for the China competitiveness bill will begin soon, and I am 
eager to work with the fellow Members of the conference committee to 
reach a strong, bipartisan bill.
  The long list of unrelated partisan provisions in the House bill, 
though, have no place, in my opinion, in the final agreement, but I am 
ready to get the ball rolling so we can pass a bill that serves the 
American people, our economy, and, most importantly, our national 
security.