[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5559]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday we had another opportunity to 
move the energy security and water infrastructure funding bill forward, 
and I was disappointed to see it stalled once again.
  I wish to reiterate what Senator Alexander, the chairman of the 
Energy and Water Subcommittee, said. Advancing this funding bill is 
important--not only for policy but also for process. Members worked in 
committee and arrived at a bill they reported out unanimously. Many 
more Members had their voices heard on the floor, where we processed 17 
amendments from both Democrats and Republicans.
  Now, after much research, debate, and input from both sides, we are 
almost ready to move this bill across the finish line. We have one 
outstanding issue to address. It is the amendment authored by Senator 
Cotton, and we will have a vote on it no later than tomorrow. Senator 
Cotton was rightly concerned about the administration's recent 
announcement that it would purchase so-called heavy water from Iran, so 
he filed an amendment that would keep the funds we are appropriating 
through this bill from being spent on future heavy water purchases from 
that country.
  Let me repeat that point. This amendment does not impact the current 
heavy water agreement. Instead, it aims at preventing future funds from 
going to Iran--funds that country could use to procure ballistic 
missiles or air defenses that could be used against us or our allies.
  I agree with Senator Cotton's objective, and I will be supporting his 
amendment, which aims to keep Americans safe. But regardless of 
Members' positions on this issue, we will each have an opportunity to 
have our opinions count with a vote. Whether or not Senators support 
the amendment, this is the way the process works.
  The amendment is a restriction on the use of funds--clearly a matter 
related to the use of appropriated funds.
  No matter how Senators choose to vote on this amendment, we all know 
the importance of moving forward with this Energy and Water 
appropriations bill.
  I leave colleagues with one last point offered by Senator Alexander 
yesterday. This energy security and water infrastructure funding bill 
is one that ``virtually every Senator in this body has some interest 
in,'' and passing it would help us ``set a good example for the other 
11 appropriations bills.''
  We will soon have the opportunity to keep moving forward.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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