some of this just defies common sense, and it is word games in order to advance an agenda.

Yes, but there must be some reason for it. There must be a lower cost of doing business.

I am not saying other countries like Mexico have a lower standard, but I think the company may be more comfortable producing a fermentated product in a country like Mexico as they currently are in China.

Are you suggesting--and just to be explicit--that we may consider doing a U.S. subsidy for a manufacturing facility that would be built not in the United States but in a near-shore country?

I think we really need to be clear on what the critical goods are, and when we talk about incentivizing companies to do this, we need to recognize that there are a lot of government obstacles, impediments, and regulations that have forced…

We want the orphan drug benefit, but we also don't want this kind of arbitrage where it then introduces a higher price than it should be for something else.

I need some legislation. So what's my legislation going to read? How do we thread that needle?

the initial stimulus checks that were as generous as they were... killed their ability to recruit staffing.

Even after hearing -- even after hearing of this at 2:24 p.m., President Trump tweeted that Mike Pence lacked courage.

we have got an issue in this country related to the pandemic but, more specifically, related to children not going back to school. And one thing that is of incredible concern is it appears that the Biden administration, which campaigned…

Democrats are selling out their own voters in a brazen attempt to permanently solidify their majority. States make their own voting laws, not the federal government. This power grab is shameful.

I call up my amendment No. 1161 and ask that it be reported by number. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Louisiana [Mr. Cassidy] proposes an…

I ask unanimous consent for 10 seconds, please. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

on a bipartisan basis, the December COVID relief bill included emergency assistance to private and parochial schools, reimbursing for things such as disinfectants, technology, and PPE. Guidelines prioritize schools serving low-income…

How many seconds do I have left? The PRESIDING OFFICER. I am sorry, the Senator has no time remaining.

I rise on behalf of myself and Senators Cotton and Cruz. Our amendment prevents $1,400 stimulus checks from going to inmates. You heard that right. This bill sends $1,400 stimulus checks to people incarcerated for heinous crimes. Prisoners…

This is the exact same language that we used in December. It targets children with private schools. To say that you are going to restrict it further than that is merely a way to keep the kids from having it. Seven percent of kids in…

I call up my amendment No. 1162 and ask that it be reported by number. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Louisiana [Mr. Cassidy], for himself and Mr…

I will reply, it only applies to people incarcerated for a year. That is not true. Vote on Amendment No. 1162 I call for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. Is there a sufficient second…

I ask unanimous consent for 2 minutes of debate, equally divided. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

This position is one of the most important decisions that no one ever hears of.

We have got to win in two years. We have got to win in four years. If we do that, we will do that by speaking to those issues that are important to the American people.

I enjoyed our phone conversation. I like the nuanced way in which you spoke of our relationship with China.

I just encourage that that be resolved ASAP so the folks back home who work in rice mills have fuller employment.

We are getting subsidized shrimp refused elsewhere because of phytosanitary concerns, putting my folks out of business.