[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 99 (Wednesday, June 7, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1996-S1997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Senate Legislative Agenda

  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam President, I rise today to bring attention to the 
issues that Americans are facing at home--the problems that I see and 
hear from my constituents in West Virginia, and I am sure the Presiding 
Officer hears many of the same in your home State. I want to raise the 
question as to why the Senate is not bringing some of the solutions to 
the floor.
  As you know, I am a lifelong West Virginian. I care deeply about and 
understand the concern of our residents and the difficulties that our 
families are facing. Our families, our veterans, our small business 
owners, our manufacturers, law enforcement, and communities--they are 
struggling--what they are struggling with.
  I was initially inspired to get involved in public service when I saw 
these local issues arising, and many of those I have tried to help face 
in my own home community of Charleston, WV. Later on, as the passion in 
me sort of grew, I decided to seek a bigger platform in the House of 
Representatives and, now, here in this esteemed body, the U.S. Senate. 
As public servants, it is our responsibility to not only put forth but 
to take action on issues that Americans are facing. We can do that to 
improve the lives of those we serve.
  But it seems to me and it pains me that so many of the legislative 
solutions that we have come to work to craft--some of which are 
bipartisan--collect dust on the majority leader's desk. In fact, that, 
to me, is very unacceptable.
  Let's start with the issue that touches so many lives--the issue of 
addiction. Our country is in a deep and continued battle with an 
addiction crisis, something I raised multiple times on this Senate 
floor and something that I am committed to curbing and stopping. With 
the data available from the CDC--the latest report on drug overdose 
deaths--it is obvious that fentanyl, our clear and common enemy, is 
fueling the highest overdose rates we have seen for individuals between 
25 and 44.
  CDC provisional data released on May 17 also revealed that more than 
100,000 Americans--100,000 Americans--died from drug overdoses in 2022, 
becoming the most deadly year on record. And some of those, I think--
some of us in the Chamber tonight might know one or two people or at 
least families who are affected.
  My colleagues and I have introduced legislation that will further 
coordinate efforts to disrupt the distribution of fentanyl, to block 
efforts to ship illicit drugs into the United States, and to improve 
law enforcement training to crack down on drug trafficking tactics.
  In a crisis this deadly and urgent, time is of the essence, and these 
bills deserve the time to be considered. Yet, despite these alarming 
statistics and the commonsense solutions that we have put forward, the 
majority leader has refused to take any of these bills up on the Senate 
floor.
  Regarding law enforcement, over the weekend we had one of the saddest 
things happen in our State of West Virginia. A West Virginia State 
trooper was tragically killed in the line of duty.
  Our hearts are broken with the loss of Sergeant Cory Maynard. He was 
only 37 years old. He had a wife and two children. It is a very tragic, 
tragic story.
  Our brave law enforcement officers defend communities across our 
States from crime and work incredibly hard to help keep our cities and 
towns safe. They are the first to answer the call. They continuously--
continuously--show courage and heroism. There must be swift penalties 
in place for criminals who target our officers, and resources must be 
available to ensure their safety.
  I joined several of my colleagues last month to introduce several 
pieces of legislation that support law enforcement officers and 
increase their safety. But I will say it again: The majority leader has 
yet to take up any of the legislation that we have offered.
  Additionally, residents across my State and the entire country are 
still reeling with the elevated costs of all things--from housing, 
energy, food, and everyday essential items. And, as our economy 
continues to prove its weakness under President Biden, the hard-earned 
dollars of hard-working Americans do not stretch as far as they need 
to.

[[Page S1997]]

  In May, the Institute for Supply Management's industrial PMI showed 
that our manufacturing sectors are shrinking. We hear all about that we 
have to make more here. Guess what. Our manufacturing sectors are 
shrinking. Extended pressure on manufacturing output and prices for 
goods has been caused by higher interest rates, increased cost of 
living, and complete economic uncertainty. And this further restricts 
our ability to make things in this country.
  That is why I have introduced the American Investment in 
Manufacturing Act. It is a bill that would reinstate a much needed 
measure that allows industries affected by sustained high interest 
rates to grow, to increase jobs and wages, and to contribute to the 
U.S. economy. It is past time that this body stand with American 
manufacturing--our small business owners and the employers and 
employees that keep this great country running.
  My colleagues and I continue to put forward solutions that invest in 
an ``all of the above'' energy plan: innovative ways to utilize 
everything from conventional, renewable, and nuclear energy sources to 
build back our energy independence; solutions that rein in government 
spending, that attack the true causes of fraud, waste, and abuse, that 
will saddle future generations with insurmountable debt; solutions that 
provide proper resources to our veterans, those who have served our 
country and put their life on the line for our freedom deserve our 
utmost respect and support.

  What makes this all the more frustrating is that the Senate has 
proven our ability to legislate in a bipartisan way. We have done so on 
multiple fronts in recent memory on issues like infrastructure, 
American competitiveness, and just last week as we acted to raise the 
debt ceiling and avoid economic catastrophe.
  There is no reason why this body should be hamstrung on addressing 
the biggest needs of our country and improving the lives of our 
residents in the areas where they need it the most.
  I understand that floor time is a precious commodity, especially 
knowing that we have to take up action on several must-pass pieces of 
legislation. We have to pass 12 appropriations bills out of this body; 
we have to pass the farm bill; we have to pass FAA reauthorization; and 
perhaps, most significantly, a bill that under this Democratic leader 
has never gotten a fair amount of its time or consideration, the 
National Defense Authorization Act.
  The American people want to see this place work for them. They want 
to see action on issues that impact them every single day. I encourage 
the majority leader to heed the concerns of our constituents and join 
in our efforts to provide the answers American families and communities 
are desperately looking for.
  Until then, my Republican colleagues and I will continue to put 
forward the answers that the American people deserve.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.