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AGOA EXTENSION ACT--Continued

The Senate continued work on a bill that would extend through 2028 trade preferences giving duty-free U.S. access for exports from eligible sub-Saharan African countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, along with related customs fee extensions. The leader proposed a schedule for votes on moving ahead with the bill, including a vote between September 15 and 23 and rules for considering amendments. Most of the discussion centered on Senator Budd’s amendment to ban intoxicating hemp products marketed to children, which he said had caused poisonings among young people; Senator Klobuchar, joined by other Republicans and Democrats, asked colleagues to table the amendment, saying the spending bill already addresses fake hemp products and that four more weeks were needed to write rules for natural hemp, which she said supports farmers, small businesses, and tax revenue. The Senate voted 61-32 on the amendment-related motion and then passed the bill 90-6, with several senators absent.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

John Thune

Republican
“I am asking the Senate to schedule a vote to move forward on this bill between September 15 and September 23.”
Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate vote on the cloture motion with respect to the motion to proceed to S. 4668 at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Democratic leader, no earlier than September 15 and no later than September 23.

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John Thune

Republican
“I am asking the Senate to set the schedule and voting rules for this bill, a presidential nomination, another bill, and our upcoming recess.”
Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that all pending amendments and motions be withdrawn and the only amendments remaining in order be the following to be offered by the sponsor or their designee and with 2 minutes of debate, equally divided, prior to each vote: Collins No. 6732; Collins No. 6750; and Budd No. 6747; further, upon the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote in relation to the Budd amendment, if offered; and upon disposition of the amendment, the Collins amendment No. 6732, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with 60 affirmative votes required for passage; finally, if passed, the Collins amendment to the title, No. 6750, be agreed to and the title, as amended, be agreed to and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; further, that following disposition of H.R. 6500, the cloture motion with respect to the Blanche nomination ripen and, if cloture is invoked, all time be expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination and, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action and the Senate resume legislative session; provided, that it then be in order for the Senator from Ohio Mr. Husted or his designee to move to proceed to S. 5271 and present a motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed and the motion ripen immediately and the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture without intervening action or debate; provided, that if the cloture motion is agreed to, the motion to proceed be agreed to and that there be up to 2 hours of debate on the bill, with no amendments or motions in order, and that upon the use or yielding back of that time, the bill be read a third time and the Senate vote on the bill with a 60-affirmative vote threshold required for passage; further, if cloture on the motion to proceed is not agreed to, it then be in order for the majority leader to make a motion for the Senate to adjourn pursuant to this order and if the Senate has agreed to a motion to adjourn pursuant to this order, when the Senate completes its business on Saturday, August 8, following the recognition of the majority leader to dispense with wrapup items, the Senate convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted, on the following dates and times: August 10 at 10 a.m., August 13 at 8 a.m., August 17 at 1:30 p.m., August 20 at 11:30 a.m., August 24 at 12:30 p.m., August 27 at 8 a.m., August 31 at 11:30 a.m., September 1 at 12:30 p.m., September 4 at 10 a.m., September 8 at 1:15 p.m., and September 10 at 3 p.m.

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Ted Budd

Republican
“I want the Senate to end the pause and get back to work.”
Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moreno). Without objection, it is so ordered. Under the previous order, all pending amendments and motions are withdrawn, with the exception of amendment No. 6732.

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Ted Budd

Republican
“I want the Senate to pass my amendment to ban intoxicating hemp products that are marketed to children. Emergency rooms have seen a huge increase in young kids poisoned by these products. We should not delay this vote.”
Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, 9 months ago, both Republicans and Democrats overwhelmingly voted to close the hemp loophole. It happened right here. They wanted to stop intoxicating hemp products being sold and marketed to kids. It is no accident that these products are made to look exactly like something that a kid would want. Emergency departments have seen a 461-percent increase in cases of pediatric cannabis poisoning, and most of those were children 4 years old or younger. This body agreed right here 9 months ago that we wouldn’t compromise the health and safety of the American people--especially our kids--so today, I am simply asking my colleagues just to reaffirm a decision we made 9 months ago right here. My opponents have asked: What is the harm in a monthlong delay? I am going to tell you. The goal is not an extra month to work on policy, as many have said. The well-oiled hemp lobbying machine has already had 9 months to do that. The real goal is to jam us in December on a must- pass package and to permanently entrench their intoxicating products into the machinery of government. Opponents say that this would stop research into hemp-derived products for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who rely on Medicare, but what does allowing unregulated, intoxicating edibles on gas station shelves have to do with CMS’ ability to study hemp- derived products for pain relief? Not a thing. Not a thing at all. So once again, I ask my colleagues to join me in doing what we have already done 9 months ago. Support my amendment. Just vote no to table this and close this dangerous loophole, just as 76 of us, Republicans and Democrats, did just 9 months ago.

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Amy Klobuchar

Democrat
“I want the Senate to block this amendment. The spending bill already bans fake hemp products, but it gives us four more weeks to make good rules for natural hemp. Natural hemp supports farmers and small businesses, brings in tax money, and should not be quickly banned.”
Official Congressional Record

Mr. President, I rise this evening on behalf of myself and Senator Sheehy and several others, Democrats and Republicans. I represent farmers, small businesses, brewers, and consumers in my State, and I urge my colleagues to table Senator Budd’s amendment and give this body 4 more weeks to work toward legislation that supports a thriving hemp industry, ensures proper regulation, and protects kids from dangerous products. As is, the bipartisan continuing resolution that is before us delays a ban on naturally produced hemp products for 4 weeks while taking synthetic hemp derivatives off the market. That is important to note. That is included in this continuing resolution. The original ban, the broad ban, the entire ban--and I know that in my State, we have safety rules in place that have worked very well. The product is taxed. We have not had issues with it since we put those rules in place. The original ban was tucked into a bill to reopen the government last November. Many Members didn’t have the chance to learn about it. There had been no hearings. Now they have learned more. Bills have been introduced in the Senate and the House--bipartisan bills--to regulate this market. Back then, that ban moved forward without input from the people who would be impacted. In my State alone, hemp products brought in $16 million of State tax revenue in 2025. Senator Budd has raised concerns about certain hemp products, and I agree with him. That is why bad actors that sell synthetic products will not be allowed to sell them, in this continuing resolution. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to table this amendment and maintaining the bipartisan agreement included in the continuing resolution. Mr. President, I move to table amendment No. 6747, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

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John Barrasso

Republican
“Six Republican senators cannot be here to vote today. Senator Tillis would have voted no if he were here.”
Official Congressional Record

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Cotton), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). Further, if present and voting: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis) would have voted ``nay.’’

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Richard J. Durbin

Democrat
“I am announcing that Senator King is absent.”
Official Congressional Record

I announce that the Senator from Maine (Mr. King) is necessarily absent. The result was announced--yeas 61, nays 32, as follows: The motion was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Husted). Under the previous order, amendment No. 6732 is agreed to, and the clerk will read the bill by title for the third time. The amendment (No. 6732) was agreed to. The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a third time. The bill was read the third time.

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John Barrasso

Republican
“Three senators are away, and the Senate has voted 90 to 6 to pass this bill.”

  • Speech on a bill

    Signal 32 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Congressional Record

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell), and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis). The result was announced--yeas 90, nays 6, as follows: The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Moody). On this vote, the yeas are 90, the nays are 6. The 60-vote threshold having been achieved, the bill is passed. One Senator responded present. The bill is passed. The bill (H.R. 6500) was passed.

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