[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S186-S188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE OBSERVATION OF NATIONAL TRAFFICKING AND MODERN SLAVERY 
                      PREVENTION MONTH--Continued

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.


                               Inflation

  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam President, I rise today to discuss yet another of 
the consequences of President Biden's policies, and that is that prices 
are going up, the price hikes.
  Families in West Virginia and across our Nation are struggling 
because the policies and priorities of these past 2 years have made 
essential items and goods seemingly unattainable. Whether it is gas, 
goods or services, energy prices, utility costs, small business 
expenses, owning a home, or simply affording to put food on the table, 
American families are squeezed at every turn.
  According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, prices have 
risen 13.7 percent since President Biden took office. A recent report 
from the Heritage Foundation found that because of that staggering 
rise, the average American family has $7,400 less in their pocket at 
the end of the year.
  This is a timely topic today because the Federal Reserve has just 
announced the eighth consecutive interest rate hike they have had to 
deploy in order to curb this administration's 2-year spending spree 
which is fueling our high-inflation economy. But an interest rate 
hike--once reserved as a measure that sends a direct signal to 
policymakers--is just another Wednesday in this President's America.
  Chairman Powell warned last August that the continued interest rate 
increases and inflationary pressures would bring ``pain to households 
and businesses.'' And, boy, does that ring true today. Meanwhile, 
President Biden continues to laud small inflation changes and slowed 
economic growth, but he refuses to recognize his administration's role 
in the record-high prices that the American middle class is continuing 
to have to face or the further economic fallout Americans are likely to 
face--projected by many economists--later this year from interest rate 
hikes in the past year.
  So let's just dive into this a little bit. Whether it is a 
conversation with Senate colleagues, waiting in line at a store, or a 
constituent calling my office, the cost of food remains a central topic 
of concern all across this Nation. According to the most recent reports 
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of groceries went up 11.8 
percent from the year prior. You hear about it with meat, eggs, bread, 
and butter--all the essentials. To add to this, the cost of restaurant 
purchases is up 8.4 percent. In fact, the price of every food category 
has continued to grow at a faster rate than its historical average.
  A recent PBS analysis also points out that America's rural population 
is experiencing their cost of living going up faster and lingering 
longer than those in urban areas, and that is a factor that 
disproportionately impacts people in my State of West Virginia. In the 
words of one West Virginian who wrote in to my office, ``How are we 
supposed to keep our houses warm and food on the table?''
  Speaking of housing, it remains unaffordable. Because of President 
Biden's price hikes, fixed mortgage rates rose from 3.4 percent in 
January of 2022 to over double, 7.12 percent, in a matter of months. 
The National Association of Realtors' Housing Affordability Index 
dipped below 100, signifying that average American families do not have 
enough money to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home. In 
other words, new families and hard-working individuals who made smart 
financial decisions with the hope of purchasing a home can no longer 
pursue that dream because it is out of reach; it is unaffordable.
  Moving to energy--something that is absolutely central to the proud 
history and tradition of our State, my State--despite the recent 
downturn in energy prices, it can't be forgotten that Americans are 
still paying 30 percent more for energy, and at its peak in June of 
2022, it was 70 percent more. With costs

[[Page S187]]

like this becoming more mainstream--actually, gas is going up just 
recently--American families are having to choose again between keeping 
their lights on, filling their car with gas, or buying groceries.
  This is not only unfair, but it is avoidable. It is avoidable for 
folks living in a country with as many resources as we have right here 
in the United States. It also shows the direct impact on our families 
when leaders turn their backs on American energy.
  Additionally, the U.S. manufacturing industry has not been exempt 
from the economic woes created by this administration. The Institute 
for Supply Management's manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index--that 
is a big clump of words there--fell into contraction category in 
November and December of 2022. Meanwhile, despite this, President Biden 
has been touting a historic manufacturing boom that doesn't really 
exist. The reality is, U.S. manufacturers may be on their way to a 
recession, and the downturn will likely deepen as purchasing power 
decreases and interest rates continue to rise, as they did today. This 
further demonstrates how out of touch the administration is from the 
devastating reality that American businesses are grappling with.
  So if you don't believe me--I hope you do, but if you don't believe 
me, take it from my constituents. Back home, they write frequently to 
express the middle-class squeeze they are feeling. Erwin from Mercer 
County in Southern West Virginia said that the current economic 
condition has created a choice for him between driving to work and 
feeding his family.
  Paige from Buckhannon said something similar. She said:

       I have full time jobs and two children. I'm tearful because 
     I sit here [wondering and] looking at upcoming bills and I'm 
     having to . . . pay a bill or buy groceries.

  Ronald from Cabell County, over in the Huntington area:

       How do you propose that I continue to be able to live with 
     increasing food prices--gasoline prices--and the ever-
     increasing utility costs?

  Jeremy in Raleigh County told me:

       My electric bill at my residence is double the cost of my 
     mortgage every month. This is not sustainable. I will go 
     bankrupt just trying to keep the lights on.

  But this isn't just impacting Jeremy because Jeremy is a great family 
man and a great friend, and he is trying to help his friends, 
neighbors, and family pay their electric bills as well.
  So I am continuously inspired by this kindness that I see and the 
generosity of West Virginians toward one another, but it shouldn't have 
to come to this.
  So my question to President Biden this week is, When is enough 
enough? Even in areas where we have prices that are decreasing in 
recent months, President Biden is trying to take credit when, in 
actuality, prices are still much, much higher than when he took office.
  Now more than ever, American families need leadership, not misleading 
messages and attempts to take credit when it is not deserved. American 
families are asking for a path out from the hole created by the price 
hikes my colleagues and I will continue to highlight on the Senate 
floor today.
  With that, I see Senator Hyde-Smith from the great State of 
Mississippi here to talk about, I am sure, similar issues. She has been 
a champion of affordability and the middle-class worker to try to help 
meet these very challenges that I outlined. So I welcome her.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, in less than a week, President 
Biden will deliver his State of the Union Address to the Nation. In the 
buildup to that speech, we are already seeing the President and his 
administration spinning a tale about just how wonderful things are in 
this country, particularly after they took power and racked up more 
than $3 trillion more in spending. Unfortunately, those tall tales do 
not reflect the reality for the people in my home State of Mississippi 
or across the Nation.
  In the 2 years since President Biden took office, we have seen his 
administration fail the American people time and time again. Inflation 
was 1.4 percent in January of 2021, but the policies the President has 
forced on this Nation since then have made daily living unaffordable 
for families. Today, a strong majority of Americans--more than 70 
percent--believe that the country is on the wrong track, and it is easy 
to understand why. Too many workers and families now live paycheck to 
paycheck, trying to keep the lights on, put food on the table, get gas 
in their cars, and stock up on everyday essentials that they have to 
have.
  President Biden's inflationary runaway spending is a root cause of 
the skyrocketed prices we are paying for all goods and services. Not a 
single industry is spared the cost of this inflation. Since Joe Biden 
took office, higher prices have cost families an additional $10,000, 
and there seems to be no end in sight. Prices have gone up across the 
board to 13.5 percent, and grocery costs have jumped 18.6 percent. Just 
look at the price of essential staples: Chicken breast prices have gone 
up by 33 percent, and ground beef, whole milk, and bread have gone up 
by 21 percent.
  Unlike President Biden, I actually have to take a trip to the grocery 
store to feed my family. I do all of my own shopping, and I see 
firsthand how these price increases affect the people of Mississippi. 
In the checkout line, I have watched a mother forced to put something 
back on the shelf after realizing that she can't afford everything in 
her cart. I have seen a retired husband grabbing only the barest 
necessities for the week. Up and down the aisle, as I push my buggy, 
the conversation is constant on ``Can you believe how much the price of 
groceries has increased and how expensive it is?''
  It breaks my heart to see the individuals in my community and the 
Nation struggling to get by. It shouldn't be this way, but in Joe 
Biden's America, you are forced to weigh priorities on buying 
groceries, prescription medicine, or putting gas in your car.
  When it comes to energy prices, the hardship continues for many 
Americans. This pain is 100 percent self-inflicted by the Biden 
administration's stubborn refusal to maximize American energy 
production. According to census data, about 22 percent of American 
households could not pay their energy bill last year. When families 
were actually able to pay, they had to sacrifice other necessities, 
such as groceries, their medicine, or their gasoline.
  This winter isn't bringing any relief either. Compared to last 
winter, the average household will spend upwards of 28 percent more to 
heat their home with natural gas, according to the Energy Information 
Administration. Electricity rates are also expected to continue to rise 
due to lower domestic supply of liquefied natural gas as well as labor 
shortages and the cost of materials. But this should come as no 
surprise since the attack on American energy began on day one of the 
Biden Presidency. In fact, this administration's regulatory overreach 
also contributes to rising costs across our economy.
  Despite record-high prices, Joe Biden wants to further regulate the 
agriculture industry. The Food Safety and Inspection Service, for 
instance, is studying line speeds of poultry plants with the ultimate 
goal of just slowing them down, which will affect costs and supplies in 
the grocery stores. In addition, the EPA recently unveiled its new 
waters of the United States rule, which will further hamper the ability 
of farmers to grow food because the Federal Government will have the 
ability to regulate ditches and low spots on private land.
  It is a basic fact that it is expensive to comply with overly 
burdensome regulations. The Biden administration's desire to 
overregulate everything makes it seem as if the President wants 
Americans to struggle to afford food.
  Madam President, the American people are smart, and they understand 
when things aren't going well.
  The rosy stories the White House will barrage us with before the 
State of the Union Address won't change the fact that the American 
dream seems further from attainable for hard-working families because 
we just cannot afford Joe Biden.
  My colleagues and I want to get our economy back on track to relieve 
the financial stress that families are experiencing. We must stop the 
irresponsible government spending, unleash

[[Page S188]]

American energy production, cut regulations, and embrace pro-growth 
commonsense policies. The American people deserve that.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I am pleased to rise today and join my 
colleagues from West Virginia and Mississippi, and I join them to, once 
again, call attention to the disastrous effects of President Biden's 
price hikes and his policies.
  Americans are facing soaring inflation that has not been seen in 
generations. Price increases families are seeing at the grocery store, 
at the pump, in monthly electric bills, and for basic housing needs 
have far outpaced wage gains and left Americans struggling to make ends 
meet.
  The numbers speak for themselves. In 2022, annual average inflation 
reached 8 percent, the highest level in 40 years. Rather than working 
to solve the problem, the Biden administration seems set on making it 
worse. You don't need to look any further than your kitchen to find the 
latest example.
  In 2022, the food-at-home price index, which measures grocery prices, 
rose 18.6 percent--18.6 percent--reaching heights not seen since the 
Carter administration. This rise in food prices is directly related to 
increases in the cost of production faced by our hard-working farmers 
and ranchers.
  These increases are driven by the Biden administration's continued 
regulatory overreach, failure to empower our domestic energy producers, 
and failed economic policies. Our producers are facing increased prices 
for diesel fuel, fertilizer, and for crop protection products, and 
more. New regulations from this administration threaten to drive up the 
cost of production even further.
  The recently published ``Waters of the United States,'' or WOTUS, is 
a prime example of regulations that will stifle our agriculture and 
energy industries and make inflation worse. Instead of this disastrous 
rule--this WOTUS rule--we should take a States-first approach to 
protect our land and water that respects private property rights. This 
comes on top of the administration's misguided approach to domestic 
energy production, which has caused us to increase our reliance on 
foreign energy suppliers, which has increased the price of the gallon 
of gasoline by more than $1 since the administration took office--more 
than $1 a gallon.
  We should be empowering our domestic energy producers, including 
those in my State of North Dakota, to restore our energy independence, 
reduce our reliance on foreign oil imports, create more jobs here at 
home, and help reduce prices for consumers. We need to unleash 
America's vast energy reserves. That is the right solution to lower 
prices and help provide hard-working families and businesses relief 
from the record inflation that has been caused by the policies of the 
Biden administration.
  The Biden administration needs to stop doubling down on failed 
economic policies. The administration needs to get government out of 
the way and focus on the fundamentals. That includes increased domestic 
energy production, securing our border, and taking meaningful action to 
reduce inflation.
  I yield the floor.


                               S. Res. 21

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the 
resolution designating January as ``National Trafficking and Modern 
Slavery Prevention Month.''
  I am proud to introduce this resolution every year to raise awareness 
about the ongoing atrocities of human trafficking. We must continue to 
support the ongoing partnerships between governments, nonprofits, 
service providers, and survivors, who are all working to end human 
trafficking.
  The human trafficking industry generates an estimated $150 billion in 
illegal profits a year. And human trafficking impacts 50 million 
victims around the world. Many of the victims of human trafficking are 
often difficult to identify and are subjected to manipulation, force, 
fraud, and abuse. We cannot turn a blind eye to ongoing exploitation 
and forced labor in our country and throughout the world. We have a 
responsibility to raise awareness of these horrendous acts, ensure 
victims understand that they are not alone, and provide legislative 
solutions to support and protect survivors.
  Last Congress, I was able to work with my Senate colleagues to 
reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. By designating 
January as ``National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention 
Month,'' we will shine a light on the issue and continue the bipartisan 
charge to end trafficking and exploitation.
  I respectfully ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Baldwin). The senior Senator from Montana.
  Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we start 
the vote immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.


                           Vote on S. Res. 21

  The question is on adoption of S. Res. 21.
  Ms. SMITH. Can we have the yeas and nays, please?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk called the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Wyden) is 
necessarily absent.
  Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator 
from Alaska (Ms. Murkowski) and the Senator from Florida (Mr. Rubio).
  The result was announced--yeas 97, nays 0, as follows:

                       [Rollcall Vote No. 4 Leg.]

                                YEAS--97

     Baldwin
     Barrasso
     Bennet
     Blackburn
     Blumenthal
     Booker
     Boozman
     Braun
     Britt
     Brown
     Budd
     Cantwell
     Capito
     Cardin
     Carper
     Casey
     Cassidy
     Collins
     Coons
     Cornyn
     Cortez Masto
     Cotton
     Cramer
     Crapo
     Cruz
     Daines
     Duckworth
     Durbin
     Ernst
     Feinstein
     Fetterman
     Fischer
     Gillibrand
     Graham
     Grassley
     Hagerty
     Hassan
     Hawley
     Heinrich
     Hickenlooper
     Hirono
     Hoeven
     Hyde-Smith
     Johnson
     Kaine
     Kelly
     Kennedy
     King
     Klobuchar
     Lankford
     Lee
     Lujan
     Lummis
     Manchin
     Markey
     Marshall
     McConnell
     Menendez
     Merkley
     Moran
     Mullin
     Murphy
     Murray
     Ossoff
     Padilla
     Paul
     Peters
     Reed
     Ricketts
     Risch
     Romney
     Rosen
     Rounds
     Sanders
     Schatz
     Schmitt
     Schumer
     Scott (FL)
     Scott (SC)
     Shaheen
     Sinema
     Smith
     Stabenow
     Sullivan
     Tester
     Thune
     Tillis
     Tuberville
     Van Hollen
     Vance
     Warner
     Warnock
     Warren
     Welch
     Whitehouse
     Wicker
     Young

                             NOT VOTING--3

     Murkowski
     Rubio
     Wyden
  The resolution (S. Res. 21) was agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Murphy). Under the previous order, the 
preamble is agreed to and the motions to reconsider are considered made 
and laid upon the table.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.

                          ____________________