[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 100 (Thursday, June 8, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2031-S2033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. DURBIN:
  S. 1882. A bill to amend chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, 
to provide procedures for congressional disapproval of the issuance of 
additional debt; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1882

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Debt Ceiling Reform Act''.

     SEC. 2. PROCEDURES FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF ISSUANCE 
                   OF ADDITIONAL DEBT.

       Section 3101 of title 31, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``Sec. 3101. Public debt limit

       ``(a) Definition of Joint Resolution.--In this section, the 
     term `joint resolution' means a joint resolution--
       ``(1) that is introduced during the period--
       ``(A) beginning on the date on which a certification under 
     subsection (b)(1) is received; and
       ``(B) ending on the date that is 3 calendar days after the 
     date described in subparagraph (A) (or, if a House was not in 
     session, the next calendar day on which that House is in 
     session);
       ``(2) which does not have a preamble;
       ``(3) the title of which is only as follows: `Joint 
     resolution relating to the disapproval of the Secretary of 
     the Treasury's exercise of authority to issue additional 
     debt, as submitted under section 3101 of title 31, United 
     States Code, on ______' (with the blank space being filled in 
     with the date on which the applicable certification under 
     subsection (b)(1) was received); and
       ``(4) the matter after the resolving clause of which is 
     only as follows: `That Congress disapproves of the Secretary 
     of the Treasury's exercise of the authority to issue 
     additional debt, as exercised pursuant to the certification 
     under section 3101(b) of title 31, United States Code.'.
       ``(b) Certification.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     submit to Congress a written certification whenever the 
     Secretary of the Treasury determines that the debt is within 
     $100,000,000,000 of a $1,000,000,000,000 increment and that 
     further borrowing is required to meet existing commitments.
       ``(2) Authority to issue debt after certification.--Subject 
     to the requirements of this section, the United States may 
     issue additional debt as necessary to meet existing 
     commitments on and after the date on which the Secretary of 
     the Treasury submits a written certification to Congress 
     under paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Resolution of disapproval.--Congress may consider a 
     joint resolution relating to each certification submitted by 
     the Secretary of the Treasury under paragraph (1).
       ``(c) Enactment of Joint Resolution.--The United States may 
     not issue additional debt if, not later than 30 calendar days 
     after the date on which Congress receives a certification 
     submitted under subsection (b)(1) (regardless of whether 
     Congress is in session), there is enacted into law a joint 
     resolution disapproving the Secretary of the Treasury's 
     exercise of authority to issue additional debt.
       ``(d) Expedited Consideration in the House of 
     Representatives.--
       ``(1) Reconvening.--Upon receipt of a certification 
     submitted under subsection (b)(1), the Speaker, if the House 
     of Representatives would otherwise be adjourned, shall notify 
     the Members of the House of Representatives that, pursuant to 
     this section, the House of Representatives shall convene not 
     later than the second calendar day after receipt of such 
     certification.
       ``(2) Reporting and discharge.--Any committee of the House 
     of Representatives to which a joint resolution is referred 
     shall report it to the House of Representatives without 
     amendment not later than 5 calendar days after the date of 
     introduction of the joint resolution. If a committee fails to 
     report the joint resolution within that period, the committee 
     shall be discharged from further consideration of the joint 
     resolution and the joint resolution shall be referred to the 
     appropriate calendar.
       ``(3) Proceeding to consideration.--After each committee 
     authorized to consider a joint resolution reports it to the 
     House of Representatives or has been discharged from its 
     consideration, it shall be in order, not later than the sixth 
     day after introduction of the joint resolution, to move to 
     proceed to consider the joint resolution in the House of

[[Page S2032]]

     Representatives. All points of order against the motion are 
     waived. Such a motion shall not be in order with respect to a 
     joint resolution relating to a certification after the House 
     of Representatives has disposed of a motion to proceed that 
     joint resolution. The previous question shall be considered 
     as ordered on the motion to its adoption without intervening 
     motion. The motion shall not be debatable. A motion to 
     reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall 
     not be in order.
       ``(4) Consideration.--A joint resolution shall be 
     considered as read. All points of order against a joint 
     resolution and against its consideration are waived. An 
     amendment to a joint resolution is not in order. The previous 
     question shall be considered as ordered on a joint resolution 
     to its passage without intervening motion except 2 hours of 
     debate equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an 
     opponent. A motion to reconsider the vote on passage of a 
     joint resolution shall not be in order.
       ``(e) Expedited Procedure in the Senate.--
       ``(1) Reconvening.--Upon receipt of a certification under 
     subsection (b)(1), if the Senate has adjourned or recessed 
     for more than 2 days, the majority leader of the Senate, 
     after consultation with the minority leader of the Senate, 
     shall notify the Members of the Senate that, pursuant to this 
     section, the Senate shall convene not later than the second 
     calendar day after receipt of such message.
       ``(2) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in the 
     Senate, a joint resolution shall be immediately placed on the 
     calendar.
       ``(3) Floor consideration.--
       ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding rule XXII of the 
     Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order at any time 
     during the period beginning on the day after the date on 
     which Congress receives a certification under subsection 
     (b)(1) and ending on the 6th day after the date on which 
     Congress receives the certification (even though a previous 
     motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to 
     proceed to the consideration of a joint resolution relating 
     to the certification, and all points of order against the 
     joint resolution (and against consideration of the joint 
     resolution) are waived. The motion to proceed is not 
     debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. 
     A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed 
     to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to 
     proceed to the consideration of a joint resolution is agreed 
     to, the joint resolution shall remain the unfinished business 
     until disposed of.
       ``(B) Consideration.--Consideration of a joint resolution, 
     and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection 
     therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which 
     shall be divided equally between the majority and minority 
     leaders or their designees. A motion further to limit debate 
     is in order and not debatable. An amendment to a joint 
     resolution, a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to 
     the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit 
     a joint resolution is not in order.
       ``(C) Vote on passage.--If the Senate has voted to proceed 
     to a joint resolution, the vote on passage of the joint 
     resolution shall occur immediately following the conclusion 
     of consideration of the joint resolution, and a single quorum 
     call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in 
     accordance with the rules of the Senate.
       ``(D) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the 
     decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the 
     rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure 
     relating to a joint resolution shall be decided without 
     debate.
       ``(f) Coordination With Action by Other House.--
       ``(1) In general.--If, before passing a joint resolution 
     relating to a certification under subsection (b)(1), one 
     House receives from the other a joint resolution relating to 
     the same certification--
       ``(A) the joint resolution of the other House shall not be 
     referred to a committee; and
       ``(B) the procedure in the receiving House shall be the 
     same as if no joint resolution had been received from the 
     other House until the vote on passage, when the joint 
     resolution received from the other House shall supplant the 
     joint resolution of the receiving House.
       ``(2) Treatment of joint resolution of other house.--If the 
     Senate fails to introduce or consider a joint resolution 
     under this section relating to a certification under 
     subsection (b)(1), the joint resolution of the House relating 
     to the same certification shall be entitled to expedited 
     floor procedures under this section.
       ``(3) Treatment of companion measures.--If, following 
     passage of a joint resolution in the Senate, the Senate 
     receives the companion measure from the House of 
     Representatives, the companion measure shall not be 
     debatable.
       ``(4) Consideration after passage.--
       ``(A) In general.--If Congress passes a joint resolution, 
     the period beginning on the date the President is presented 
     with the joint resolution and ending on the date the 
     President signs, allows to become law without his signature, 
     or vetoes and returns the joint resolution (but excluding 
     days when either House is not in session) shall be 
     disregarded in computing the calendar day period described in 
     subsection (c).
       ``(B) Veto message.--Debate on a veto message in the Senate 
     under this section shall be 1 hour equally divided between 
     the majority and minority leaders or their designees.
       ``(5) Veto override.--If, within the calendar day period 
     described in subsection (c), Congress overrides a veto of a 
     joint resolution relating to a certification submitted under 
     subsection (b)(1), the United States may not issue any 
     additional debt under this chapter.
       ``(g) Rules of House of Representatives and Senate.--This 
     subsection and subsections (a), (d), (e), and (f) are enacted 
     by Congress--
       ``(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
     and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such are 
     deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but 
     applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed 
     in that House in the case of a joint resolution, and they 
     supersede other rules only to the extent that they are 
     inconsistent with such rules; and
       ``(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
     either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the 
     procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and 
     to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that 
     House.
       ``(h) Debt Defined.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     `debt' means the face amount of obligations issued under this 
     chapter and the face amount of obligations whose principal 
     and interest are guaranteed by the United States Government 
     (except guaranteed obligations held by the Secretary of the 
     Treasury).
       ``(2) Determination of face amount.--
       ``(A) In general.--For purposes of this section, the 
     current redemption value of an obligation issued on a 
     discount basis and redeemable before maturity at the option 
     of its holder is deemed to be the face amount of the 
     obligation.
       ``(B) Certain obligations not redeemable before maturity.--
     For purposes of this section, the face amount, for any month, 
     of any obligation issued on a discount basis that is not 
     redeemable before maturity at the option of the holder of the 
     obligation is an amount equal to the sum of--
       ``(i) the original issue price of the obligation, plus
       ``(ii) the portion of the discount on the obligation 
     attributable to periods before the beginning of such month 
     (as determined under the principles of section 1272(a) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 without regard to any 
     exceptions contained in paragraph (2) of such section).''.

     SEC. 3. REPEAL OF EXPIRED PROVISION.

       (a) Repeal.--Section 3101A of title 31, United States Code, 
     is repealed.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for 
     subchapter I of chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, 
     is amended by striking the item relating to section 3101A.

     SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Section 8348 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking subsections (j), (k), and (l).
       (2) Section 8438 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking subsections (g) and (h).
       (3) Section 14(d)(2)(A) of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
     Act (12 U.S.C. 1824(d)(2)(A)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``in section 3101(b)'' and inserting 
     ``under section 3101''; and
       (B) by striking ``an obligation to which such limit 
     applies'' and inserting ``debt, as defined in subsection (h) 
     of such section''.
       (b) Savings Provisions.--Notwithstanding the amendments 
     made by paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a)--
       (1) paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (j) and 
     subsection (l)(1) of section 8348 of title 5, United States 
     Code, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of 
     this Act, shall apply to any debt issuance suspension period 
     (as defined under section 8348(j)(5) of such title) that is 
     in effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and
       (2) paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (g) and 
     subsection (h)(1) of section 8438 of title 5, United States 
     Code, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of 
     this Act, shall apply to any debt issuance suspension period 
     (as defined under section 8438(g)(6) of such title) that is 
     in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Welch, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. 
        Booker, and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 1917. A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to provide for the 
establishment of standards to limit the carbon intensity of the fuel 
used by certain vessels, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Clean Shipping 
Act of 2023. This legislation aims to reduce harmful emissions from 
ocean going vessels and improve air quality for the nearly 40 percent 
of Americans who live within 3 miles of a port.
  Globally, maritime shipping is a major source of greenhouse gas 
emissions, emitting an estimated 1 billion tons of GHG emissions per 
year and roughly 3 percent of total anthropogenic global-warming 
carbon-dioxide

[[Page S2033]]

emissions. According to the International Maritime Organization, global 
shipping emissions could more than double between 2018 and 2050.
  That is why the United States signed two shipping declarations at 
COP26 to call for zero-emission fuels on international commercial 
vessels by 2030 and the establishment of zero-emission shipping routes 
by the middle of the 2020 decade.
  This legislation would set a path to eliminate greenhouse gas 
emissions from all oceangoing vessels that do business with the United 
States.
  The Clean Shipping Act will help reduce emissions consistent with the 
goals of the Paris Agreement and keep global warming below 1.5 degrees 
Celsius, protect air quality and public health for near-port 
communities, reduce climate pollution emissions from large marine 
vessels that call on U.S. ports, and ensure that the global maritime 
sector reduces, while providing the EPA with the flexibility needed to 
ensure smooth implementation.
  The bill would direct the EPA to set progressively tighter carbon 
intensity standards for fuels used by ships consistent with a 1.5 deg.C 
decarbonization pathway, and to eliminate in-port ship emissions by 
2030 for all ships at-berth or at-anchor in U.S. ports.
  Importantly, this legislation is supported by global industry leaders 
and environmental advocates and will ensure that the global maritime 
sector reducesemissions consistent with the Paris Agreement, while 
providing the EPA with the flexibility needed to ensure smooth 
implementation.
  More than 90 percent of global trade is transported by oceangoing 
vessels, which produce an estimated 3 percent of global anthropogenic 
emissions, yet these emissions are unregulated in the United States.
  The International Maritime Organization's Intersessional Working 
Group on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships plans to meet at the 
end of the month.
  This bill would send a strong signal of our commitment to our 
international partners, empower the EPA to set standards to reduce 
harmful pollution in accordance with our national and international 
climate goals, provide certainty to the global shipping industry, and 
catalyze research and development to transition oceangoing vessels that 
rely on diesel engines.
  This bill enjoys the support of environmentalists and industry 
stakeholders alike who recognize the urgent need to reduce emissions 
from the shipping sector.
  I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives Robert Garcia 
and Nanette Barragan for championing this bill in the House.
  I Look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Clean 
Shipping Act as quickly as possible.

                          ____________________