Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Jan. 21, 2021)
Summary
Senate page of the Congressional Record dated January 21, 2021. A speaker discusses a power-sharing agreement for the evenly split Senate, citing the agreement brokered 20 years ago, and argues that the legislative filibuster is a crucial part of the Senate. The remarks also criticize the Biden administration's first-day steps, including re-entering the Paris climate agreement and canceling the Keystone XL project. Durbin, under the heading Coronavirus, states that America lost over 400,000 people to the pandemic and that Illinois has seen more than 1 million COVID cases. Scott of Florida also speaks on economic growth.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Jan. 21, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-01-21-crec-2021-01-21-pt1-pgs80-3-3a2e5f9473/
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S80 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 21, 2021
Now, the Senate has handled an even But if and when our Democratic friends MORNING BUSINESS
split before. Twenty years ago, faced depart from common sense, when they The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
with the same scenario, the two leaders retreat from common ground or their the previous order, the Senate will be
brokered a power-sharing agreement so proposals harm the common good, then in a period of morning business, with
the institution could function smooth- we will use the power the American Senators permitted to speak therein
ly. people have given us to push for what for up to 10 minutes each.
The Democratic leader and I are dis- we think is right. Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab-
cussing a similar agreement now. I On the Biden administration’s very sence of a quorum.
have been heartened to hear my col- first day, it took several big steps in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
league say he wants the same rules the wrong direction. The President re- clerk will call the roll.
from the 2000s to apply today, because, entered the failed Paris climate agree- The senior assistant legislative clerk
certainly, 20 years ago there was no ment, a terrible bargain that would set proceeded to call the roll.
talk—none whatsoever—of tearing us up to self-inflict major economic Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask
down longstanding minority rights on pain on working American families unanimous consent that the order for
legislation. with no assurance that China or Russia the quorum call be rescinded.
The legislative filibuster is a crucial would honor their commitments. In The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
part of the Senate. Leading Democrats, fact, the United States has already objection, it is so ordered.
like President Biden himself, have long been reducing carbon emissions, while The majority whip.
defended it. Democrats themselves just China and other nations in the agree-
spent 6 years using it, literally, to f
ment have kept increasing theirs. Re-
block bills from Senator TIM SCOTT’s joining will just set us up to kill Amer- CORONAVIRUS
police reform to coronavirus relief. ican jobs while our competitors con-
And less than 4 years ago, when it Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I am
tinue to roar on by. happy to be standing here today on the
was Republicans who held the Senate, The President also unilaterally can-
the House, and the Presidency, 27 cur- Senate floor during an exciting week
celed the Keystone XL Pipeline. The and one that really provides us with
rent Democrats plus Vice President day-one priority was to kill thousands
HARRIS signed a letter insisting this hope for the future. I welcome Presi-
of American jobs, including union jobs, dent Biden and, of course, Vice Presi-
longstanding rule should not be bro-
disappoint our strong ally Canada, and dent HARRIS to their new roles and
ken.
reverse some of our progress toward en- look forward to their leadership that
So if the talk of unity and common
ergy security. This is a project that the they will provide in these difficult
ground is to have meaning and, cer-
liberal Canadian Government and times.
tainly, if the rules from 20 years ago
Prime Minister Trudeau support—an We can never forget that America is
are to be our guide, then I cannot
investment in North American energy. still in the midst of a deadly pandemic.
imagine the Democratic leader would
Even the Obama State Department Tragically, we lost over 400,000 Ameri-
rather hold up the power-sharing
concluded it would not harm the cli- cans. In my State of Illinois, we have
agreement than simply reaffirm that
mate. But because canceling the pipe- seen more than 1 million COVID cases,
his side won’t be breaking this stand-
line project just feels like the green and 18,398 of my neighbors and friends
ing rule of the Senate.
thing to do, the new administration in Illinois have died due to this deadly
I appreciate our ongoing, good-faith
killed all these jobs. This was not the virus.
discussions and look forward to finding
day one the American workers de- As we continue to try to stop the
the solution together.
Our side takes a great deal of pride in served. spread of this pandemic, I am glad that
the accomplishments that three con- The new administration has also the vaccine rollout has been able to
secutive Republican Senates have de- sketched out a massive proposal for help some in my State—537,000 people
livered for the American people. blanket amnesty that would gut en- in Illinois have received vaccines. It is
In 2014, our majority was elected to forcement of American laws while cre- a refreshing and long overdue sight to
check and balance the last years of a ating huge new incentives for people to have the President and White House
lameduck Presidency. rush here illegally at the same time. fully engaged in addressing this pan-
In 2016, we were reelected to help ig- This kind of failed approach will invite demic with a focus on science and ra-
nite a real, all-American economic another humanitarian crisis on our cial equity.
comeback, rebuild and modernize our border and privilege powerful interests On his first day yesterday, President
military, and fight for the forgotten ahead of American workers. Biden signed several important Execu-
corners of our country. Together with For all the talk about norms within tive actions, including instituting a
the Trump administration and a Re- government, last night brought a truly mask mandate for all Federal facilities
publican House, we did just that. unprecedented move at the National and buildings.
In 2018, we were rehired again on Labor Relations Board. The President Secondly, he moved to rejoin the
those strong results, especially the his- fired the Board’s independent general World Health Organization. This was
toric job market for American workers counsel almost a year before the end of one of the most confounding decisions
and our commitment to the judiciary. his term. Even leftwing activists called by the Trump administration. In the
And now, even as voters chose Presi- the unprecedented move ‘‘aggressive.’’ midst of a global pandemic, President
dent Biden for the White House, they Now, it is still early. There is still Trump opted to remove the United
simultaneously shrunk Democrats’ plenty of time for President Biden to States from the World Health Organi-
House majority and elected this evenly remember that he does not owe his zation, which was focusing on the
divided Senate. election to the far left. The President spread of this pandemic and its impact
The 2020 election was as far from a can and should refocus his administra- on nations around the world.
sweeping mandate for ideological tion on creating good-paying American Finally, President Biden created an
transformation as any election we have jobs, not sacrificing our people’s liveli- office to coordinate a national response
seen in modern history. The American hoods to liberal symbolism. Senate Re- to the pandemic. Today he is outlining
people stunned the so-called experts publicans will be ready, willing, and a strong plan to provide a national
with the number of Republicans they eager to help make that happen. strategy to liberate us from this
sent to the House and to the Senate to threat.
make sure commonsense conservative f I must say that I was disappointed in
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values have a powerful say in the gov- the transition when at first President
ernment. Trump refused to acknowledge that he
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
So our side is ready to share ideas lost the election, and then his Agencies
and work with the Biden administra- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under dragged their feet when it came to in-
tion, applying common sense to find the previous order, the leadership time forming the Biden administration of
common ground for the common good. is reserved. the status quo in America. Thus,
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January 21, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S81
today, we learn that we were not as how to allocate and address racial and $50 billion for testing that President
prepared as we should have been when ethnic disparities that have been mag- Biden has asked for as part of his res-
it came to distributing the vaccines nified by this crisis. cue package so we can finally, once and
that were being manufactured across We know the economic damage of for all, crush this virus, get the econ-
this country. Now we almost have to this virus continues to linger. Nearly omy back on its feet, and get our kids
start from zero to find a way to meet one in four people in my State in back in school.
President Biden’s challenge of 100 mil- renter households reports being behind It also means investing in the health
lion Americans vaccinated in the first on rent, and one in three households workforce, such as through a bill I
100 days that he is in office. I pray that reports having difficulty just covering have introduced with Senator MARCO
he is successful. We should do every- usual household expenses. RUBIO, Republican of Florida, to pro-
thing in our power on both sides of the We continue to see historic numbers vide scholarship and loan repayment
aisle to give him the resources and the of Americans filing for unemployment, through the National Health Service
cooperation he needs. including more than 100,000 people in Corps for doctors and nurses to serve in
The fact sheet of things that will be Illinois who applied for unemployment communities with a shortage of pro-
done by the Biden administration on last week. But to fully address the viders.
COVID–19 is lengthy and impressive. health and economic toll of the pan- I say to the Presiding Officer, I am
The President, on the first day, estab- demic, Congress needs to build upon sure you are personally aware that
lished a White House COVID–19 Re- the work we did in December and heed there are fewer African-American doc-
sponse Office and Coordinator, as I the call of the $1.9 trillion plan that tors in the United States today than
mentioned, required mask wearing and President Biden outlined last week. there were 10 years ago. I am sorry to
social distancing in Federal facilities, I was part of a bipartisan group of report that. It should be just the oppo-
and rejoined the World Health Organi- Senators who met several months ago. site. We should have so many more, for
zation. We talked about following on the many reasons, not the least of which is
Today, President Biden also unveiled CARES Act with some measure of to overcome health inequity.
a national strategy to leverage Federal COVID relief. We proposed a plan of This scholarship program that Sen-
resources. It outlines detailed plans for $908 billion, which was then embraced ator RUBIO and I are proposing builds
a comprehensive vaccination strategy. by the leaders on both sides of the aisle on the model of the National Health
If there was cheering—and there should and the White House, and they nego- Service Corp, which tracks young doc-
have been—for the Warp Speed project tiated further. That resulted in the tors to come and serve in underserved
developing successful vaccines in a measure we passed just a few days ago. areas and to help underserved popu-
short period of time, it was followed by But make no mistake, that was not the lations, and then helps pay off their
some disappointment that even with end of the story, nor did we envision student loans. We take this approach:
these vaccines and the knowledge of that it would be. This was done on a Keep that; it is good. Expand it where
how to make them, we are not pro- temporary emergency basis to cover we can, but let’s look at another as-
ducing them in the quantities nec- the first quarter; that is, the first 3 pect. What if we provided scholarship
essary, and we are not addressing the months of this calendar year. I pray assistance and really directed it toward
logistics of spreading these vaccines that this pandemic and all of the prob- minority candidates to become doctors
across America where they are needed lems it has caused will soon be gone, and dentists and nurses and healthcare
the most. but I doubt that it will happen in the professionals? All of those aspects
The President is setting out to re- next 3 months. would be encouraged if people knew
store trust by leading with experts for We have more work to do, and Presi- that they had a scholarship through
public outreach, and he is relying on dent Biden knows it. I think we all do. the National Health Service and the
science. That is refreshing. It is hard to We need to come together again on a promise that they would serve where
imagine something that basic is as re- bipartisan basis. they were needed after they graduated.
freshing as it is. He is providing re- The first CARES Act passed the Sen- We hope this will be included in any
sources and guidance to reopen most ate by a vote of 96 to nothing. There measure that is passed in the near fu-
K–8 schools in 100 days. Wouldn’t that were no dissenting votes. The second ture.
be a blessing? There isn’t a parent or measure, I believe, had 91 or 92 votes in The President’s plan sets out addi-
grandparent in this country who won’t favor of it. So we have shown real bi- tional relief measures that will float to
cheer that particular goal. He is ad- partisanship. We can’t quit on this those in need. I am especially encour-
dressing supply gaps and State capac- challenge. aged by making the child tax credit
ity. We are finding them virtually all Janet Yellen has been named as the fully refundable. That is going to ben-
across the United States. And he is fo- Treasure Secretary designate by Presi- efit 1 million kids in my State.
cusing on vulnerable populations, in- dent Biden. I had a conversation with Also, the Biden plan aims to safely
cluding those in long-term care facili- her 2 weeks ago. We talked about the open schools, businesses, and travel
ties and communities of color. perilous state of the economy. It is while protecting workers in these areas
To implement this plan, President naive for us to believe that the worst is and committing to protecting our most
Biden will sign Executive orders today behind us. We have to face the reality vulnerable populations.
to direct agencies to exercise all au- that we may have darker days ahead, I am ready to continue pushing for
thorities, including the Defense Pro- and we have to be prepared to deal with COVID relief. The job isn’t finished by
duction Act, to accelerate the manu- them—first, with the pandemic and, any means. We must provide American
facturing and delivery of vaccination, second, with the economy. Even the families and workers the tools they
testing, and medical supplies. Let me Chairman of the Federal Reserve has need to survive in this difficult eco-
say, I have never understood why encouraged us not to take our foot off nomic time.
President Trump refused to use this the accelerator, lest we lapse into a re- As Chair Yellen said earlier this
Defense Production Act to its full ca- cession or worse. week, ‘‘Without further action, we risk
pacity, to use his leadership as Presi- Let’s take this seriously. Let’s help a longer, more painful recession now—
dent to marshal the resources of pro- the businesses, help the workers, help and long-term scarring of the economy
duction and distribution of vaccines the families, and do our best to get this later.’’
and other absolutely necessary medical economy back on its feet. Let’s do this, America. Let’s do it to-
devices. Illinois has spent $843 million in our gether. Let’s let the spirit of unity
President Biden also is directing health departments to expand testing that we saw on the West Front of the
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FEMA to increase Federal reimburse- and vaccine delivery from the Decem- Capitol yesterday bring us together
ment to States from 75 to 100 percent ber package. But with half a million here in the Senate and the House in a
for emergency supplies, such as PPE, people vaccinated so far in a State of 13 joint effort to help the American peo-
and National Guard personnel. He is es- million, more resources and support ple with the resources they need to sur-
tablishing a Healthy Equity Task are needed. That means providing the vive this pandemic and this lengthy fi-
Force to provide recommendations on $20 billion for vaccine distribution and nancial hardship.
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S82 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 21, 2021
I yield the floor. It means working together to con- good-paying job. That is where the
I suggest the absence of the quorum. front our Nation’s challenges, instead American dream begins.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The of adopting an ‘‘our way or the high- Today, as our Nation fights to over-
clerk will call the roll. way’’ approach. It means preserving come the horrendous health and eco-
The senior assistant legislative clerk minority rights in the Senate when it nomic impacts of COVID–19, we must
proceeded to call the roll. comes to legislation, the heart—the balance our approach. We have to pro-
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask heart—of what makes the Senate spe- tect American families and individuals
unanimous consent that the order for cial and something Republicans, I who have been hurt by this crisis, sup-
the quorum call be rescinded. might add, defended during our time in port commonsense public health poli-
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. cies and an aggressive vaccine distribu-
the majority.
KING). Without objection, it is so or-
For the President, it means nomi- tion effort, while also keeping busi-
dered.
nating individuals who represent a ma- nesses open, incentivizing future
f jority of Americans, not the far left growth of businesses, large and small,
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION fringes of his party. I have seen some and standing up to our economic adver-
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I want to hopeful actions from President Biden. saries, like Communist China, by re-
start by congratulating President Several of his nominees for important shoring our supply chain back home.
Biden and Vice President HARRIS, who posts, while perhaps not those whom I We also need to continue cutting reg-
took office yesterday. We have a team would have chosen, are public servants ulations to make it easier for busi-
of former Senators in the White House. whom I believe will serve our country nesses to operate and for entrepreneurs
Yesterday was a hopeful day. The well in positions like Director of Na- to create jobs.
Capitol Building, so recently besieged tional Intelligence, whom we voted on President Biden and his Cabinet have
by violence and lawlessness, resumed yesterday. And the President has dem- the important task of revitalizing our
its rightful place as the seat of our de- onstrated both his leadership and his economy amid one of our Nation’s
mocracy and backdrop for the peaceful concern for all Americans by worst economic crises. In my 8 years as
transfer of power from one President to prioritizing the pandemic and focusing Governor of Florida, we balanced our
the next that is a hallmark of our sys- on getting Americans vaccinated. budget each year, cut $10 billion in
tem of government. The faith of many But there have been troubling things taxes, paid off one-third of our State
Americans has been shaken in recent as well. While the President has nomi- debt, and Florida companies added
weeks. But yesterday reminded us that nated some mainstream candidates, nearly 1.7 million jobs. But instead of
our democracy still stands and our Na- other nominations raise serious con- looking to innovation and approving
tion endures—bruised, maybe, but un- cerns on issues like overregulation of policies of States like Florida that will
broken. the economy and life and conscience create jobs and help Americans and
I also want to express my profound protections. small businesses, the Biden administra-
gratitude to the Capitol Police officers While I applaud the President’s focus tions is already making promises to go
and other law enforcement who, on the pandemic, I am concerned that in the opposite direction—promises
though outnumbered and overrun, de- a number of the measures in his pan- that are being championed by his
fended this Capitol on January 6, and demic relief proposal are heavily par- nominee for Treasury Secretary, Janet
to the soldiers and the law enforcement tisan—and, certainly, not things that Yellen.
who have guarded this building in the should be rushed through Congress Let me be clear. I support targeted
days since. We live in peace and free- without serious consideration of the relief to help our small businesses and
dom because of the service and sac- long-term impact they would have on individuals who are hurting because of
rifice of our military and our police of- our economy and American families. the coronavirus. With the start of a
ficers. If there was any mandate given in new administration, I was hoping to
After the election of November, this election, it was a mandate for hear some fresh, new ideas on how to
President Biden gave a victory speech moderation. A historic number of accomplish our shared goal of address-
in which he pledged to be ‘‘a President Americans voted for President Biden, ing this crisis. But that is not what we
who seeks not to divide, but to unify. but a historic number voted for Presi- are hearing from the Biden administra-
Who doesn’t see Red and Blue states, dent Trump as well. Democrats lost tion. Their answer is the same as it al-
but a United States. And who will work seats in the House of Representatives, ways has been for Democrats: more
with all my heart to win the confidence and the Senate is evenly divided. government, more spending, higher
of the whole people.’’ I hope—I really hope—that Democrat taxes, no accountability.
He reiterated that commitment in leaders and the President will remem- Voters are befuddled by the claim
yesterday’s speech, stating: ‘‘On this ber that and not allow the far left, that while families cannot borrow
January day, my whole soul is in this: which has sought to hijack the Demo- without limits or consequences, some-
Bringing America together, uniting our cratic Party in recent years, to deter- how the Federal Government can. It is
people, uniting our nation.’’ mine their agenda. We have a chance— irresponsible, and I won’t stand for it.
That is what we need right now—a a chance—for a new day here in this We have to get serious about how we
President who will unite us. If Presi- country, and I believe that President are spending taxpayer dollars. We al-
dent Biden can truly be a President Biden is committed to leading us there. ready have more than $27 trillion in
who governs for all Americans, who re- I pray that that commitment will en- Federal debt.
spects all Americans, and who works to dure and that we can spend the next If interest rates return to their 50-
win the confidence of the whole people, months and years working together, year average, the interest on our Fed-
he will have done our Nation a great legislating together, and ensuring the eral debt will make it impossible to
service. voices of all Americans are respected fund our military, Medicare, and Social
And I do think President Biden is ca- and heard. Security.
pable of doing this, but I do want to I yield the floor. President Biden wants to spend more
sound a cautionary note. It is common The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- than $350 billion to bail out wasteful,
to talk about unity at Presidential in- ator from Florida. liberal States for their decades of mis-
augurations. But all too often that f management, and his nominees, includ-
commitment to unity is forgotten—by ing Ms. Yellen, support this nonsense.
the President or by the members of his BIDEN ADMINISTRATION Andrew Cuomo has threatened the
party. I hope this commitment will be Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, New York wealthy that if they don’t
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backed up with action and that Demo- there have been few other times in help him get a Federal Government
crat leaders in Congress will embrace American history when the need for bailout, he will raise their taxes.
the President’s words. That means re- economic growth through strategic, re- I was elected Governor of Florida
specting those Americans who didn’t sponsible, pro-business policies has when Cuomo was elected Governor of
vote for President Biden as well as been as great as it is today. Nothing is New York. While Governor of Florida, I
those who did. more important to a family than a lowered taxes each year. Cuomo raised
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