Strategy that substantially reduces the likelihood of war and a nucleararmed iran. The time is running short. The Administration May be committed to a policy of regime change, but the senate can act. We can pass a bipartisan s. J. Res. 68 and other measures to make sure that this administration cannot take us recklessly to war with iran without congressional authorization or a declaration of war. We owe it to the American People and to our Service Members to do this. Mr. President , i would yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk shall call the roll. Quorum call quorum call a senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from tennessee. Mrs. Blackburn is the chamber currently in a quorum call . The presiding officer yes. Mrs. Blackburn i ask the quorum call be lifted. The presiding officer without objection. Mrs. Blackburn thank you, mr. President. Over the past few months, we have spent a great deal of time in this chamber discussing our adversarial relationships with other countries, but today i want to draw attention to a truly great economic and Foreign Policy victory negotiated with one of our adversaries. In fact, it was signed just a few hours ago. When it comes to trade, weve devoted most of our energy to drafting and promoting the benefits of the usmca, but weve also gotten a great start on two other trade deals. Those that were negotiated with japan that went into effect january 1, and also with china, signed today. And were looking forward to this chamber passing the usmca this week and sending it to the president s desk. Back home in tennessee, what i hear from our Agriculture Community is we want trade, consistent, dependable, respectful, fair trade. Entrepreneurs depend on consistent productive trade relations to keep their businesses up and running and put food on their employees tables. These tennesseans play a special role in the u. S. Relationship with china. In 2017, we exported 2. 7 billion worth of goods to china. That is from the state of tennessee. Imports from china accounted for 7. 3 of tennessees g. D. P. In 2018. They are our Third Largest trading partner after canada and mexico and let me tell you, when things go south with the chinese, tennesseans feel the heat because of our ag trade. Mr. President , they are really paying attention to the ins and outs of our dealings with china, the good and the bad, and they see the news stories about chinas behavior in hong kong and taiwan, about spying and about intellectual property theft and about those shady apps that children have probably downloaded onto their phones and their tablets, and yes indeed they are rightfully concerned. Theyre concerned because they see all of this in the context of their daytoday lives, and they know that diplomatic tensions have just as much potential to derail their operations as economic tensions. Make no mistake, todays signed deal with china is critical because it couples desperately needed relief with backstops that will help to keep our friends in beijing in line. So what does that look like . China agreed to increase purchases of American Products and services by at least 200 billion over the next two years, which will reduce our trade deficit and take care of our farmers, our energy producers, and our manufacturers. They committed to reducing nontariff barriers to agriculture products and ease restrictions on the approval of new buyer technology. American producers are covered in terms of freeflowing goods, and when it comes to the nuts and bolts of the business of innovation, the phase one deal includes stronger chinese Legal Protections for patents, trademarks, and copyrights. We wrote in improved criminal and civil procedures to combat online infringement and the exchange of pirated and counterfeit goods. These are good signs for our Creative Community in tennessee. It contains commitments by china to follow through on pledges to eliminate pressure on Foreign Companies to transfer technology to chinese firms before theyre given market access. And i will tell you were going to be keeping an eagle eye on this one as we move to the phase two negotiations. It also includes new pledges by china to refrain from competitive currency devaluation and Exchange Rate manipulation. All of this is covered by enforcement measures u. S. Officials can trigger if we discover beijing is acting in bad faith. And, mr. President , i will tell you so many in our Agricultural Community have said these Enforcement Mechanisms, this is what is going to make a difference in their ability to count on trade. Now, these protections are more than just an ace up our sleeve. Its peace of mind for every american who depends on trade to support their family. So phase s. 1 in the books. And whats next . More of the nuts and bolts that i just talked about. If youve been following the past few years of our relations with china, you know that business, trying to deal with beijing run the constant risk of losing control over their own inventions, intellectual property theft and forced Technology Transfers have defined chinas relationship with foreign businesses. This is what they complain about. They still steal those inventions, and sometimes actually beat them or match them moving into the marketplace. In phase two, well be negotiating a deal that ensures participation in the Chinese Market is not dependent on these unbalanced arrangements. Our efforts will be backed by previously passed legislation that enhanced our controls on the export of new Technology Like advanced robotics and Artificial Intelligence and strengthen reviews of Foreign Investment in the u. S. We know its an uphill battle. We certainly believe it can be done. And i want to make it clear that no trade deal is ever going to be perfect. Its impossible, but the first phase of this is a good, solid first step. Were taking care of our producers, our workers and opening up the flow of goods and services. Were protecting our innovators in a way that will allow them to prospect in one of the globes most competitive markets without risking the loss of their intellectual property. Were giving Business Owners and families peace of mind in the form of Enforcement Mechanisms that will kick in the moment officials determine our relationship with china is about to go off the rails. Today our president signed this deal on behalf of the American People, and i encourage my colleagues to get involved now as we move forward with discussions for phase two. I yield the floor and notice the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Mcconnell mr. President. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent that further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i move to proceed to calendar number 406, h. R. 5430. The presiding officer the clerk will report the motion. The clerk motion to proceed to h. R. 45430, an 5430, an act to implement the agreement between the United States and canada to replace the United Statesmexicocanada agreement. The presiding officer the motion is not debatable. The question is on the motion. All in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The motion is agreed. The clerk will report the bill. The clerk calendar number 406, h. R. 5330, an act to implement the agreement between the United States of america, the united mexican state to replace the north American Free trade agreement. The presiding officer in accordance with section 151 of the trade act, there will be 20 hours of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees. Mr. Mcconnell i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Merkley mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from oregon. Mr. Merkley i ask that the quorum call be lifted. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Merkley and that my fellow would have privileges of the floor for the balance of the day. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Merkley thank you, mr. President. A lot is happening right now across the country and here in washington, d. C. , in the house and the senate, across the globe for that matter. A lot of issues but theres one that has really not received the attention it should which is about a group of americans who have suffered enormous calamity in the last few days who deserve our attention and our focus. Im speaking, of course, about the devastation in puerto rico. Seismologists report that over 1,200 tremors, earthquakes, after shocks have struck the island since january 1. More than 70 of these were of a magnitude 3. 5 or greater. Residents on the island have felt at least a hundred of these earthquakes. The largest, a magnitude 6. 4 struck last tuesday taking one life and injuring many others. More than two weeks after the earth started shaking, these quakes and aftershocks are still going on. In fact, this last weekend the island was struck by an earthquake with a 5. 9 magnitude. Yesterday morning a 4. 6 magnitude tremor. This morning a 5. 1 magnitude quake. The damage from these quakes is so severe, it can be seen from space. According to nassau, the satellite shows that near the epicenter of the quake have moved five and a half inches. That is a very dramatic change in the landscape. But you dont have to be in space. You dont have to be to have those images or orbiting the planet looking down to see the damage because the damage is everywhere. 110 million in damage estimated by the governors office. Other estimates from the Geological Survey now have the damage approaching a billion dollars. Power has been restored to most of the island but periodic outages are still happening in different parts of the island and severe Energy Conservation is in place. The plant was so severely damaged, theyre telling us that it will take over a year to get it up and running. That island needs 500 mega watts of emergency generation until that plant is fixed. As of last thursday, hundreds of thousands were without water. The world renown Chef Jose Andres relief organization, the world central kitchen has served tens of thousands of meals in just the last few days. Buildings and homes collapsed, destroyed. Thousands living outside their home both from the damage done and the damage feared. Its reported that a total of 559 structures are affected. Look at this picture. Look at this pile of rubble lined up and crossing the street of collapsed buildings. Hundreds of piles like that where building, or parts buildings or parts of buildings once stood. Thousands in shelters. Thousands sleeping on hammocks or inflatable mattresses or tents because theyre afraid to sleep in their homes. My heart goes out to the people of puerto rico who are enduring yet another Natural Disaster while they still have been fighting to rebuild their homes and their lives after the destruction of Hurricane Maria three years ago. The truth is we havent done nearly enough to help them, not nearly enough from the last disaster has made it to the island to help them repair all that damage done. The aid that has come has not come quickly enough. Indeed just today were hearing that the aid that was supposed to be released no later than last september, 8 billion related to Hurricane Maria is being released or at least put in the federal register so it can be prepared to be released years after the disaster. When that aid was needed immediately after the disaster to rebuild. The citizens of puerto rico are american citizens. Now, they dont have a vote in this chamber and that is a problem we should remedy because what we see is when citizens dont have a senator that represents them, theres no one to stand up and advocate with the same ferocity and passion as somebody elected by those individuals. So the rest of us need to stand in. Democrats and republicans, senators from the south and the north, east and wez we need to stand and west we need to stand in together on behalf of our fellow americans in this devastated landscape of puerto rico. Mr. President , this neglect of the citizens of puerto rico, of this island that is part of america is staggering. Thats why ive joined with senator schumer and 31 of my democratic colleagues on a letter to President Trump supporting the governor of puerto ricos request for a major disaster declaration. But this shouldnt be a partisan letter. Lets all join together, democrats and republicans together, to fight for the aid that is needed by our fellow citizens. Now, President Trump signed a declaration that provides only 5 million for immediate Energy Services emergency services. 5 million isnt close to addressing what the Geological Survey says is close to a billion dollars in damage. That 5 million, its useful but far more is going to be needed. Far more removing debris and building temporary shelters and providing electric generators and distributing food and water, providing immediate emergency lifesaving medical care. But theyre going to need a lot of help in addition for longterm rebuilding and a major disaster declaration can help in that. That has not happened. Its been sitting on the desk in the oval office since last saturday. Lets join together, democrats and republicans together and say, mr. President , sign that declaration that brings along with it crisis counseling, help rebuilding homes, help repairing roads, help restoring bridges, water control, water supply, clean water supply is so important to health. Water treatment so important to preventing cholera. Job training, aid for business businesses. Thats the type of thorough, significant assistance that people of puerto rico need and they need it right now. Not tomorrow and not a month from now, not years from now. They need it now. So i say lets join together and call on President Trump to sign that major disaster declaration that unleashes this help. Theres a lot going on in the world, mr. President , a lot right here in washington. We prepare for one of the rare moments in American History where we will be conducting a trial related to articles of impeachment. Just a week ago tuesday, eight days ago, i was sitting in front of a television very worried about escalation to major war with iran. So there are big issues going on, absolutely. But let these big issues not prevent us from addressing the plight of our fellow americans. Lets pay attention. Lets make sure the people of puerto rico are neither ignored nor neglected. Mr. President , swift action is needed. Lets join together and make it happen. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley thank you very much. Last week the Senate Finance committee and the entire senate to some extent lost a dedicated Public Servant. And by the way, an allaround wonderful man with the unexpected passing of chris allen. Chris has been a member of the finance Committee Tax team since 2018. I was fortunate that he was willing to continue in that role when i reclaimed the gavel last year after the retirement of my friend and former chairman orrin hatch. As members were blessed with the dedicated people like chris who come to capitol hill to perform a public service, they come here to make a difference no matter what their party or ideology. They come from all walks of life, religious backgrounds, and from all over the country. They work long hours and sometimes their work is stymied by the political headwinds that we know about here in the congress of the United States. But when an idea is a good one and the people pursuing it do so with a full heart and focused mind, it will eventually become law. Last year proved to be a year when a number of good ideas finally became law in the area of Retirement Security and in no small part because of chris hard work and dedication. After more than three years, we were finally able to pass the finance committees retirement enhanced and savings act. We use acronyms around here and thats resa. Resa became law after it was incorporated Setting Every Community up for Retirement Enhancement act and that acronym is secure. Chris was very instrumental in helping navigate the long and at times very contennous owe contentious process that culminated in this important package of retirement provisions being enacted just before the last christmas. Possibly even more important, chris brought a very deep knowledge of multiemployer pensions to bear over the past several years to help us move forward on important returns reforms. In the last congress chris served as the staff director of the joint select committee on solvency of multiemployer pension plans. Congress formed this committee for the very important job of addressing the impending insolvency of a number of multiemployer plans and the projected insolvency of the multiemployer fund of Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation guaranty corporation. With chris steady hand and chris tireless efforts, the joint select committee laid a Critical Foundation in 2018 for addressing the multiem