[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 123 (Monday, July 29, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5541-S5544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL FOSSIL ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of 
S. 3574 and the Senate proceed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3574) to amend chapter 3 of title 36, United 
     States Code, to designate the mastodon as the national fossil 
     of the United States.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and the motion

[[Page S5542]]

to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 3574) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed as follows:

                                S. 3574

       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 ``National Fossil Act''.

     SEC. 2. NATIONAL FOSSIL OF THE UNITED STATES.

       (a) Designation.--Chapter 3 of title 36, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 306. National fossil

       ``The fossil of the genus Mammut, commonly known as the 
     mastodon, is the national fossil.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections for 
     chapter 3 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking the chapter heading and inserting 
     ``NATIONAL ANTHEM, MOTTO, FLORAL EMBLEM, MARCH, TREE, AND 
     FOSSIL''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:

``306. National fossil.''.


            Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, tonight, I am very happy to announce that 
I just filed cloture on the Tax Relief for American Families and 
Workers Act, a bill to expand the child tax credit, expand the 
affordable housing tax credit, help small businesses with the R&D 
credit, and lift half a million kids out of poverty. For the 
information of Senators, the step I take tonight sets up a cloture vote 
on Thursday.
  Mr. President, it is time to get this bill done right away. This 
bipartisan bill passed the House overwhelmingly, 357 to 70. We hope 
this week the Senate Republicans will join us. Democrats strongly 
support moving forward on this bill because it is filled with good news 
for our kids and small businesses and jobs and housing.
  For one, Democrats strongly support expanding the child tax credit 
because we know it will do immense good for tens of millions of 
families--so many kids. In fact, one of the very first things this 
majority did in 2021 was expand the child tax credit significantly 
under the American Rescue Plan, and it cut child poverty in close to 
half. That turned out to be an enormous success, but unfortunately that 
provision expired. We have a chance to help more kids get out of 
poverty--many more kids, millions of kids--through this important 
provision once again.
  The bipartisan tax package will be a boon for small businesses 
because it will reward them and other businesses for investing in R&D 
and help them pay for new equipment so they can compete against larger 
competitors. This will inevitably mean more jobs for Americans. When 
businesses get this tax credit for investing, they are going to hire 
more people, more workers. It particularly benefits small businesses 
that don't have the flexibility to do these things on their own without 
this tax break.
  Of course, I am very happy that this tax package delivers big wins on 
something near and dear to my heart: affordable housing. The bill would 
expand the low-income housing tax credit, LIHTC, very significantly. 
LIHTC is one of the most effective tools we have for increasing the 
supply of affordable housing units. I was insistent that this measure 
go into the bill, and I said it is nonnegotiable. Well, I am glad it is 
in the bill.
  When it comes time to vote later this week, the American people will 
see for themselves who in reality supports the fine provisions of the 
tax bill and who does not. When we vote, the American people will see 
for themselves who, in fact, favors expanding the child tax credit and 
taking so many kids out of poverty, and they will see who opposes it. 
The American people will see who supports expanding affordable housing 
and who doesn't. The American people will see who stands for small 
businesses and who stands against them, as they have so requested this 
important R&D credit.
  I urge my Republican colleagues not to stand in the way of helping 
businesses, small businesses, families, and young people keep a roof 
over their heads when it is time to vote Thursday.
  I want to thank Chairman Wyden for his great leadership on this 
package, and I thank all the Senate Finance Committee members for their 
great work.


                   Orders For Tuesday, July 30, 2024

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now I ask unanimous consent that when the 
Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. 
on Tuesday, July 30; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal 
of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, 
the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the 
day, and morning business be closed; that following the conclusion of 
morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume 
consideration of the Neumann nomination; further, that notwithstanding 
rule XXII, the order of July 25 with respect to the House message to 
accompany S. 2073 be modified so that at 12 noon, amendment No. 3022 be 
withdrawn and the Senate vote on the motion to concur in the House 
amendment to S. 2073 with amendment No. 3021 without further 
intervening action or debate; further, that following the disposition 
of the House message to accompany S. 2073, the Senate resume executive 
session and recess until 2:15 to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; 
that at 2:30 p.m., the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on 
the Neumann nomination; further, that if cloture is invoked on the 
Neumann nomination, all time be considered expired at 4:15 p.m. and 
that if the nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table and the President be 
immediately notified of the Senate's action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Smith). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.


                         Orders For Adjournment

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, if there is no further business to come 
before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous 
order following the remarks of Senators Cramer and Merkley.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.


                    Recognizing Rick Electric, Inc.

  Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, thank you to my friend and colleague Mr. 
Merkley for yielding a few seconds early in the evening.
  It is my honor to recognize a remarkable milestone in the Fargo, ND, 
and Moorhead, MN, area. For 60 years, Rick Electric, Inc., has been a 
shining example of hard work, dedication, and innovation in the Fargo-
Moorhead area.
  Founded by David and Beverly Rick in 1964, this family-owned business 
has been a fixture in Fargo-Moorhead, providing topnotch electrical 
services and unwavering commitment to excellence. Their sons Gregory 
and Dennis took the helm in 1998, continuing the legacy of their 
parents with a passion for their craft and a deep-seated commitment to 
serving their communities and the region.
  Rick Electric's involvement in the National Electric Contractors 
Association speaks volumes about the family's dedication to upholding 
the highest standards of safety and professionalism. Their 
contributions go beyond providing quality service, as they have been 
integral to the growth and prosperity of the Fargo-Moorhead area and 
the surrounding region.
  As they celebrate this anniversary, I speak on behalf of all North 
Dakotans in recognizing Rick Electric for 60 years of outstanding 
service, leadership, and community involvement. The impact they have 
had on our region cannot be overstated, and I am honored to 
congratulate them on this remarkable achievement.
  Here is to Rick Electric and to many more years of success and 
prosperity. Thank you for all you have done over these past 60 years. 
Congratulations and happy birthday.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.


                          U.S. Postal Service

  Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, the Postal Service in the United States 
has always in the past been about great service. Their motto said all: 
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night shall stop these 
courageous couriers from swift completion of their

[[Page S5543]]

appointed rounds. That just rings with the ethic of good service.
  But today the Postal Service is run by a man named Louis DeJoy. Louis 
DeJoy is the Postmaster General, and I am sorry to report that there is 
no joy in DeJoy-ville.
  Smalltown America relies on the U.S. Postal Service. In the Postal 
Service's own words, it ``operates as a basic and fundamental service 
provided by the Government of the United States to the American 
people.''
  It continues:

       Our basic mission is to provide prompt, reliable, efficient 
     mail and packaging service to all Americans, regardless of 
     where they live and at affordable rates.

  So one can understand, then, why so many Members of this Chamber on 
both sides of the aisle are alarmed by the growing chorus of complaints 
about the deteriorating quality of service by the U.S. Postal Service.
  Postmaster General DeJoy labeled his restructuring plan ``Delivering 
for America.'' A better name for this plan would be ``Delaying Mail in 
America.'' You only need to look at what is happening in my home State. 
Postmaster DeJoy's 10-year ``Delivering for America'' reorganization 
plan for the U.S. Postal Service calls for consolidating mail 
processing, which means downgrading regional mail processing 
facilities, which means sending all the mail to Portland, OR, to be 
sorted before it is returned to the community it originated in.
  Now, my State is 300 miles north to south, 400 miles east to west. 
That is a very large place, so it takes a lot of time if all the 
processing occurs in Portland.
  Medford in Southern Oregon was the postal sorting facility. It 
sorted, postmarked, and distributed millions of pieces of mail every 
year for Southern Oregon. But now, under ``Delivering for America''--
otherwise known as ``Delaying Mail in America''--now all that mail has 
to be shipped to Portland, OR, 270 miles to the north, and sorted and 
then trucked 275 miles back to the south even if you are sending a 
letter just across town. The Postal Service claims that this doesn't 
delay mail, but they refuse to explain how adding on 500 to 600 extra 
miles of driving doesn't delay the mail.
  Meanwhile, for this deteriorating service, they are raising prices. 
July 14--a single stamp now costs 73 cents. So, folks, just start to 
think about, if I want to send a letter, it is going to cost me a 
dollar, the envelope and the stamp.
  The Postal Service says: Our new system is more efficient and more 
cost-effective.
  It is not more cost-effective if people quit using the service 
because it is so terrible.
  You know, these price hikes and these delivery delays--they hit our 
rural communities the hardest. Smalltown Americans rely on the Postal 
Service to deliver lifesaving medications, to pay their bills, to run 
their small businesses. When they get an order, they need to be able to 
mail out the product. Newspapers in rural and coastal communities rely 
on the Postal Service for timely delivery. Even large corporations like 
Amazon and FedEx and UPS rely on the Postal Service to deliver a huge 
portion of their packages.
  Reliable, timely mail service keeps our friends, families, 
businesses--and in vote-by-mail States like Oregon--keeps them 
connected.
  That is why I have been raising the alarm about this ``Delaying Mail 
for America'' plan of DeJoy's over this last year. I called him up to 
discuss it. He didn't call me back, so I called him again, and he 
didn't call me back. So I organized a bipartisan group of Senators to 
send him a letter. Hopefully it didn't get delayed because he took away 
so many processing centers. Well, we know he did get the letter because 
we sent a bunch of them, and we did get some replies. But these letters 
are from bipartisan Senators who have been seeing the challenges that 
his plan is creating in their communities.
  The letter said: Stop doing this. Stop taking away our processing 
centers. That is making mail so much slower.
  Do you know what? We won a round. He said he will stop taking away 
these centers at least for the balance of this year--meaning until 
after the election. Well, that is politics. That is not good business; 
that is just politics.
  But in States that have already suffered the downgrade of their 
facilities--places like Oregon, Georgia, Virginia, States all over this 
country--we need those distribution centers reopened. We need the 
sorting machinery reinstalled. We need reliable, affordable mail 
service restored.

  The Postal Service has repeatedly said to my team that they aren't 
hearing about any significant issues for the Delivering for America 
plan. Well, maybe that is because they are not asking, or maybe that is 
because the letters of complaint came to us rather than them.
  So I have collected some concerns from my Oregon constituents. I 
asked them--particularly in the Medford and Eugene area, where the two 
service centers were recently downgraded--if they had been affected.
  I didn't receive one or two letters. You know, if you asked DeJoy, 
apparently, he would only expect me to receive letters that say how 
great the Postal Service was doing. I didn't receive any letters like 
that. I received hundreds of pages of responses, and they are 
describing--these Oregonians--the same problems that the Postmaster 
General's inspector general found in his recent report on Virginia.
  And, right now, the inspector general is preparing a report on 
Oregon, and I fully expect it will have similar issues documented. But, 
for now, let me document the issues by citing those letters that my 
constituents sent to me.
  A woman in Medford said:

       I am a 71-year-old disabled senior citizen. I order 
     medicine, food, and household items through the mail. It is 
     consistently late.

  A constituent in Klamath Falls reported:

       It's taking 2 to 3 weeks to send mail from Klamath Falls to 
     Klamath Falls. Ridiculous!

  Her comment, of course, is a reflection of the mail having to be 
trucked almost 300 miles to be sorted and then trucked back.
  I have heard from many small-town Oregonians who are concerned about 
the delivery of their lifesaving medications. An Oregonian from White 
City shared:

       My elderly mother relies on mail delivery of her 
     medications. Twice in the last few weeks she's had to go days 
     without necessary inhalers because of postal delays. 
     Miserable, breathless, dangerous days.

  Patricia Coats, in Waldport, on the coast said:

       We get our medications through the mail. . . . In some 
     instances it's been delayed to the point that my husband has 
     gone without for up to 5 to 7 days.

  Antoinette Corrente Evans, in Grants Pass, said:

       My insurance company will not let me order early to 
     compensate for the delays.
       So, if I run out before delivery, I need to pay the full 
     price for my expensive medicines.

  And these delays can seriously affect medical care as well as the 
delivery of pharmaceuticals.
  Blanche McKenna, in Ashland, a mother, said:

       As guardian for my son with severe disabilities, I need to 
     go through mail service to give written consent for his 
     services. . . . It took weeks for a simple consent to get to 
     his provider, delaying much needed services.

  Those are services for her disabled son.
  These late deliveries risk lives; they risk livelihoods. Businesses 
of all sizes depend on the Postal Service.
  Honora Ni Aodagain, in Grants Pass, said:

       I depend a lot on the mail as part of my business. . . . 
     Packages are not showing up when they are supposed to. 
     Payments for bills are not getting to the vendor on time. 
     It's a source of major frustration.

  And that word, ``frustration,'' showed up time and time and time 
again.
  Carolyn Rust, in Eugene, described how hard it is to keep the books 
balanced:

       Our company has seen our accounts payable deliveries 
     delayed by 5 to 10 days. This has resulted in late fees.
       We finally resorted [to] paying all of our vendors a week 
     early so . . . our payment would be received within a day of 
     being due.
       We also have seen checks from our customers take 3 to 4 
     weeks to be delivered.

  Now, businesses aren't the only ones getting smacked with late fees 
for bills they have paid on time; ordinary folks are as well.
  Nadya Geras-Carson, in Eugene, told me:

       My bills arrive basically a day before they are due. . . . 
     Which means, even if I mail the payment back on the next day, 
     it is already late, and I am charged a late payment fee.


[[Page S5544]]


  Diana Dillard, in Brookings, said:

       On March 27, we mailed our Verizon and Geico payments as 
     usual.
       On April 10, we received notification that our payments had 
     not been received and . . . we were facing [a] cut-off of 
     services.
       We made arrangements to pay over the phone and were shocked 
     and angered when Verizon charged us $10 to speak to a 
     customer service agent. . . . Extremely frustrating.

  A woman in Baker City said:
       I pay my estimated taxes quarterly. . . . More than one 
     time, checks I have mailed never reached their addresses. . . 
     . Local services recommend using a credit card to avoid late 
     payment because of poor USPS service--even just across town.

  Another constituent, Denise Brooks, wrote to say:

       I work with a non-profit organization in Medford that 
     provides assistance to the working poor and [to the] 
     homeless. The one-week delivery time can have catastrophic 
     outcomes to families [who are] already struggling.
       The delays cause late fees of $75 added onto . . . 
     families' rent obligations and the potential for eviction 
     from their rental.

  Late deliveries are a massive problem for one of the Postal Service's 
most important customers: newspapers. Timeliness is essential for 
newspapers. In this fast-changing world, nobody wants to read news that 
happened 3 or 4 days earlier. That seems like it is almost a month old. 
It just feels that way. But most small, local, and regional newspapers 
can't afford to hire a delivery service. So they rely on the Postal 
Service to deliver the papers.
  But since July of 2022, the Postal Service has jacked up the delivery 
prices for newspapers by about 42 percent. It makes it a lot more 
expensive for small newspapers that are often already struggling from 
the loss of advertisements for local goods in this electronic age, the 
loss of classified ads. It makes it much more expensive to deliver 
their newspapers.
  We need these smalltown newspapers to thrive. But if the newspapers 
are delivered late and if the cost of delivery is going up, that is 
just one more challenge affecting them and making it harder for them to 
thrive.
  And when people get their papers late, it isn't just that they are 
frustrated; it is that they start canceling their subscriptions--again, 
hitting our small newspapers hard.
  Publisher Joe Warren, with Country Media, which has community papers 
up and down the Oregon coast, told my team:

       Delivery is sporadic. Some weeks local mail--which is 
     guaranteed the same day if we get papers to them by a certain 
     time [of day]--is not happening. . . . Some weeks it's the 
     next day or two.

  Other publishers have told me that they have taken it upon themselves 
to hand-deliver papers to some subscribers because the Postal Service 
simply did not deliver, while still charging them an arm and a leg.
  Perhaps Matt Hall, who has multiple newspapers in Southern Oregon, 
said it best when he said to my office:

       The USPS treats newspapers like a mine.
       They know we are a reliable source of revenue, but they 
     keep extracting, and soon there will be nothing left.

  Postmaster DeJoy claims that their service changes are necessary to 
run the Postal Service like a profitable business. But here is the 
thing: Profitable businesses thrive by delivering good service. If they 
don't deliver good service, they don't stay profitable, and, very soon, 
they are out of business.
  That is the challenge. This is not a sustainable situation. The 
challenges reported by my constituents back home in Oregon: late 
deliveries of lifesaving medications; small businesses and individuals 
struggling to pay their vendors, struggling to get their checks 
delivered on time to avoid late fees; newspapers losing subscribers; 
mail taking weeks to go to a house just down the street because it has 
to go hundreds and hundreds of miles to be sorted, instead of going to 
a more local regional sorting facility.
  Now, we need to reverse DeJoy's downgrades. Now, we need to restore 
reliable, affordable mail delivery. Now is the time to take the 
Delivery for America plan and return it to the sender.
  Let's restore the vision that is so powerful in the USPS--U.S. Postal 
Service--motto: that rain nor heat nor gloom of night shall stop 
courageous couriers from swift completion of their appointed rounds.
  Let's not accept a world where there is no ``joy'' in ``DeJoyville'' 
and our constituents are so poorly served.

                          ____________________