Congressional Record, Senate, February 2, 2021 — Budget Resolution S. Con. Res. 5
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated February 2, 2021, beginning at page S226 with the end of a roll-call vote on a motion that is agreed to. The clerk reports the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 5, setting forth the congressional budget for fiscal year 2021 and budgetary levels for fiscal years 2022 through 2030. Mr. Sanders asks unanimous consent on floor procedures and speaks in support of the budget resolution, saying it would let the Senate pass President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan through reconciliation with 51 votes instead of 60, and citing childcare for 875,000 children, a larger child tax credit and a $15 an hour minimum wage. Near the end, a Senator discusses the Long Telegram and a bipartisan China strategy, and the Chair appoints Mr. Leahy of Vermont and Ms. Cortez Masto of Nevada to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, February 2, 2021 — Budget Resolution S. Con. Res. 5.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-02-02-crec-2021-02-02-pt1-pgs226-7b865622f3/
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S226 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 2, 2021
Hoeven Moran Scott (SC) icans losing their lives as a result of for passage. But I must say that when
Hyde-Smith Murkowski Shelby
Inhofe Paul Sullivan
COVID–19—90,000 Americans in 1 Republicans used this same reconcili-
Johnson Portman Thune month. ation process, I didn’t hear much about
Kennedy Risch Tillis In the midst of all of this, over 90 bipartisanship at that point. In fact,
Lankford Romney Tuberville million Americans are uninsured or Republicans used the reconciliation
Lee Rounds Wicker
Lummis Rubio underinsured and are unable to afford process to provide trillions of dollars in
Young
Marshall Sasse to go to a doctor when they become ill. tax breaks to the top 1 percent and
McConnell Scott (FL) The isolation and the anxiety caused large, profitable corporations by a sim-
NOT VOTING—1 by this pandemic have resulted in a ple majority vote. The only people who
Toomey horrible increase in mental illness, in voted for that bill were Republicans—
depression, in anxiety, and in suicidal no bipartisanship in that bill.
The motion was agreed to. ideation. My Republican colleagues used rec-
f Today, as we speak, over half of our onciliation to open up the Arctic Na-
SETTING FORTH THE CONGRES- people are living paycheck-to-pay- tional Wildlife Refuge for the drilling
SIONAL BUDGET FOR THE check, including millions of essential of oil—once again by a simple major-
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT workers who put their lives on the line ity. The only people who supported
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 each and every day. More than 24 mil- that were Republicans—not one Demo-
lion Americans are unemployed, under- crat.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
employed, or have given up looking for As we all remember, painfully, my
clerk will report the concurrent resolu-
work, while hunger in this country— Republican colleagues used the rec-
tion.
hunger in the richest country in the onciliation process to try to repeal the
The legislative clerk read as follows:
history of the world—is at the highest Affordable Care Act and throw up to 32
A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 5)
level that we have seen in decades. million Americans off of the healthcare
setting forth the congressional budget for
the United States Government for fiscal year
Because of lack of income, over 14 they currently have. As you will recall,
2021 and setting forth the appropriate budg- million Americans are behind on their that was a 100-percent partisan vote,
etary levels for fiscal years 2022 through 2030. rent, averaging some $5,800 per family, which fortunately lost by one vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- and many of those families face evic- Further, weeks—weeks—before a
ator from Vermont. tion all across this country. People are Presidential election, the last election,
worried that when the moratorium on my Republican colleagues pushed
ORDER OF PROCEDURE
eviction ends, they are going to be through their nominee for the Supreme
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask thrown out of their homes, put out on Court with 50 votes. That was a few
unanimous consent that for the dura- the streets. Americans who worry weeks before the election. Not one
tion of the Senate’s consideration of S. about eviction understand that they Democrat supported that nominee—a
Con. Res. 5, the majority and Repub- must not join the half a million Ameri- totally partisan vote.
lican managers of the concurrent reso- cans who are already homeless. Well, as the incoming chair of the
lution, while seated or standing at the That is some of what we are experi- Senate Budget Committee, this is what
managers’ desks, be permitted to de- encing today. That is what the Amer- I believe: If Republicans can use rec-
liver floor remarks, retrieve, review, ican people understand. onciliation to help the wealthy and the
and edit documents, and send email Meanwhile, in the midst of this dev- powerful and pass legislation strongly
and other data communications from astation to the working class and mid- opposed by the American people, we
text displayed on wireless personal dig- dle class of our country, the wealthiest can and must use reconciliation to help
ital assistant devices and tablet de- people in America are becoming much Americans recover from the worst eco-
vices. I further ask unanimous consent wealthier, and income and wealth in- nomic and public health crisis in the
that the use of calculators be per- equality—a longtime problem—is now modern history of our country. In
mitted on the floor during consider- soaring. Incredibly, while families other words, now is the time for this
ation of the budget resolution; further, throughout the country are struggling Congress to stand with the working
that the staff be permitted to make to put food on the table to feed their class and the middle class of this coun-
technical and conforming changes to kids during this pandemic, 660 billion- try and do what the overwhelming ma-
the resolution, if necessary, consistent aires—not a whole lot of people—have jority of the American people want us
with the amendments adopted during increased their wealth by over $1 tril- to do.
Senate consideration, including calcu- lion. It is worth pointing out that poll
lating the associated change in the net As a result of this pandemic, edu- after poll shows that an overwhelming
interest function, and incorporating cation in our country, from childcare majority of Americans—over 70 per-
the effect of such adopted amendments to graduate school, is in chaos. The cent—support what President Biden
on the budgetary aggregates for Fed- majority of young people in our Nation and what we are trying to do. They
eral revenues, the amount by which the have seen their education disrupted. know we have to act boldly.
Federal revenues should be changed, Kids are not getting the learning that So I hope we will not hear much
new budget authority, budget outlays, they need, falling further and further more about bipartisanship, given my
deficits, public debt, and debt held by behind. On top of that, it is likely that Republican colleagues’ record on that
the public. hundreds of colleges will soon cease to issue.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there exist. Let us be clear. The working class of
objection? In this moment of unprecedented cri- this country and the middle class are
Without objection, it is so ordered. ses, the Senate must respond through facing more economic desperation than
The Senator from Vermont. unprecedented action. The budget reso- at any time since the Great Depres-
BUDGET RESOLUTION lution we are debating today is simple, sion. I have to tell you that to me,
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I rise and it is straightforward. It will enable emotionally, it was a painful sight to
today to speak in support of the budget us to pass President Biden’s $1.9 tril- see in my own city of Burlington, VT,
resolution that was introduced today. lion emergency COVID relief plan hundreds of cars lined up so that fami-
Mr. President, let us be clear and let through reconciliation with 51 votes in- lies could get the food they needed to
us in the Senate understand what the stead of 60. feed their kids. What happened in Bur-
American people know all too well, and Now, I have heard from some of my lington is happening in every State of
that is that our country is currently Republican colleagues who tell us: this country. People—many of whom
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
experiencing the worst economic crisis Well, this reconciliation concept, that have never had any public assistance at
since the Great Depression and the is a radical idea. Why are you using all—are lining up to get emergency
worst public health emergency in over reconciliation? supplies of food in order to keep their
100 years. They are telling us that it is abso- families alive.
January marked the deadliest month lutely imperative that we go forward in Whether it is the pandemic, which is
of the pandemic, with over 90,000 Amer- a bipartisan way and require 60 votes killing 3,000 people a day; whether it is
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February 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S227
the economic collapse, which is leaving I want you just to think—whether it Further, all of us know that we have
millions of our people destitute; wheth- is Connecticut or Vermont or South a childcare crisis in America. It was se-
er it is the disruption of education in Carolina or anyplace else—think about, vere before the pandemic. It is even
this country, which means that kids during this terrible crisis, what it will worse now. This budget resolution
are falling further and further behind, mean to an average family to suddenly would begin to provide the resources
this Congress must act and act boldly. get a check for $5,600 for a family of necessary to provide childcare to
For too long Congress has responded four on top of the $600 per person that 875,000 children in America, and it
to the needs of the wealthy and the they received a few weeks ago. Think would expand the child tax credit from
powerful and big-money campaign con- about what that will mean to people $2,000 to $3,000 and $3,600 for kids under
tributors. Now is the time, in this un- who are losing hope right now. the age of 6. In other words, we hear
precedented set of crises, for us to re- Passing this budget resolution will what working families are going
spond to the needs of working families, give us the tools we need to raise the through, especially those who are
whether they are Black or White, minimum wage to a living wage of $15 struggling and have children. This will
Latino, Native American, or Asian an hour, expand unemployment bene- be a major, major step in improving
American. fits, expand the child tax credit, and lives and easing anxiety for young cou-
It is no secret that millions of our prevent eviction, homelessness, and ples with kids.
fellow Americans are literally giving hunger. In addition, let us not forget this
up on democracy—giving up on democ- Passing this budget resolution means pandemic has had a horrific toll on the
racy. They think that the U.S. Con- that during this raging pandemic, we finances of State and local govern-
gress and the U.S. Government does will be able to provide healthcare to ments, many of which are literally on
not care a whit about the needs of millions of Americans who are unin- the verge of bankruptcy. Over the past
working people. The people who go to sured and underinsured by expanding 10 months, State and local govern-
work every day, who keep our country Medicaid, improving the Affordable ments have laid off some 1.4 million
going, who put their lives on the line Care Act, and other approaches. workers, including 50,000 in December
during this pandemic, they look at us, Passing this budget resolution means alone. These are teachers, firemen,
and they say: Does anybody there in that we will go a long, long way for- cops, and other municipal and State
Washington—all you rich guys, do you ward to addressing the long-term prob- employees. The budget resolution that
understand what is going on in our lem of childhood poverty in America, we are debating today will provide $350
lives? and that is that by expanding the child
Well, this week, during this debate, billion to prevent mass layoffs of pub-
tax credit, we have the opportunity to
we are not only going to begin address- lic sector workers in State and local
cut childhood poverty in this country
ing the health and economic and edu- governments. The Congressional Budg-
in half and no longer be the major
cational crises we face, but maybe, et Office has said that the best bang for
country on Earth which has one of the
even more importantly, we are going to the buck of all the money Congress has
highest rates of childhood poverty.
begin the process of restoring faith in Let me very briefly mention a few of passed so far for COVID relief is to aid
the U.S. Government. Maybe, just the specific provisions in the budget State and local governments.
maybe, we can do what Abraham Lin- Further, if there is one thing this
resolution that will enable the Senate
coln talked about in the midst of the horrific pandemic should have taught
to pass this budget under reconcili-
terrible Civil War, and that is, be a all of us, it is that we must no longer
ation.
government and act like a government First, as I just mentioned, the over- consider healthcare as simply an em-
of the people, by the people, and for the whelming majority of the American ployee benefit. Healthcare must be a
people and not just powerful special in- people have told us very loudly and human right. It is unacceptable to my
terests and their lobbyists. clearly that the $600 direct payment mind that over 14 million Americans
What will this budget resolution that Congress passed in December was have lost their employer-provided
mean for the average American? I a good start but is not enough. In this health benefits over the past 10
know we are throwing out a lot of bill, we are going to increase that $600 months. Over 14 million workers have
numbers; $1.9 trillion is a lot of money. by another $1,400. lost their health coverage, impacting
What does it actually mean? How is it We cannot continue to allow workers even more people because there are
going to impact the lives of ordinary in America to work at jobs that pay wives and husbands and children in-
people? Let me just say a few words on them a starvation wage. A United volved as well.
that. States of America job should lift you This budget resolution, will, among
Everybody is concerned about the out of poverty and not keep you in it. other healthcare provisions, enable the
pandemic, which has taken so many So let us be clear: When we increase Senate to expand Medicaid. It will
lives and caused so much illness and that minimum wage to $15 an hour, not allow more Americans to receive the
suffering. What this legislation is only will we be providing a much need- primary care that they need through
about is an effort to aggressively crush ed raise for tens of millions of Amer- community health centers. It will ad-
the pandemic and enable the American ican workers, we will also, by the way, dress the serious shortage of doctors
people to return to their jobs and save taxpayers many billions of dollars and nurses in rural areas and inner cit-
schools by providing the funding nec- each and every year. ies by expanding the National Health
essary to establish a national emer- Moreover, this pandemic has caused Service Corps and will make sure that
gency program to produce the quantity tens of millions of American workers our veterans receive the healthcare
of vaccines that we need. We need to to lose their jobs through no fault of that they have earned and deserve by
increase vaccine production, and, their own. For 45 consecutive weeks, increasing funding at the VA by $17 bil-
equally important, we need to signifi- unemployment claims have been high- lion.
cantly improve the distribution of vac- er than during the worst week of the In addition, in the wealthiest coun-
cines so that we get them into the great recession in 2008. This budget res- try on Earth, we can no longer tolerate
arms of people as quickly as we can. olution that we are considering now hunger in America, and this budget
What this legislation means is that will provide the funding necessary to resolution will enable the Senate to
during this severe economic downturn, provide 18 million Americans with $400 provide nutrition assistance to tens of
we must make sure that all Ameri- a week in supplemental unemployment millions of families struggling to get
cans—low-income people, working- benefits until the end of September. the food that they need—and that in-
class people, middle-class people—have So, if you are watching us—if you are cludes the disabled and the elderly—by
the financial resources that they need watching TV now because you are un- expanding SNAP, WIC, and the Pan-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
to live with dignity. This budget reso- employed when you would rather be at demic EBT Program.
lution will allow us to keep the prom- work—understand that this bill will ex- In America today, some 14 million
ises that we made to the American peo- tend unemployment $400 on top of the Americans owe an average of $5,800 in
ple and increase the $600 in direct pay- normal unemployment your State pro- back rent. If we do not get our act to-
ments for working-class adults and vides until the end of September. We gether, tens of millions of Americans
their kids up to $2,000—another $1,400. have not forgotten the unemployed. will soon face the possibility of being
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S228 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 2, 2021
thrown out of their apartments and Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I will Of the Federal Reserve actions we
homes and onto the streets. This budg- be responding to my good friend Sen- took allowing the Federal Reserve to
et resolution that we are debating will ator SANDERS. Apparently, I will be the help business, we had a $5.7 trillion
provide the funding for rent relief, util- ranking member on Budget; he will be market cap, for lack of a better term,
ity assistance, and mortgage relief to the chairman. And I look forward to and we have allocated $2.6 trillion.
millions of tenants and homeowners finding some common ground where we The bottom line is, of the $900 billion
who are in danger of eviction or fore- can. Today is not that day, but hope that we passed recently—a little over
closure. springs eternal. There are things I $900 billion—we have only spent 20 per-
It also deals with the shame of home- think we can do on the Budget Com- cent of the money. And here we are
lessness in America. Today, in the mittee that will be good for the coun- being asked for another $1.9 trillion.
midst of the dead of winter, we cannot try. What is different between the first
have hundreds of thousands of Ameri- Here is the other side of the story. $1.9 trillion and this request? When it
cans sleeping in homeless shelters, in About a year ago—a little over a year was first offered, the $1.9 trillion, it
their cars, or out on the streets. And ago—the pandemic coming out of China was the largest single appropriation, I
right here, in walking distance from was detected, COVID, on the west coast think, maybe in the history of the
this Capitol, there are tents located in of the United States. It has just done a country since World War II. And the
parks where Americans are sleeping in number on us as a nation. Over 440,000 fact that 96 Senators would come to-
the middle of the winter. people have died from COVID-related gether and pass it 96 to nothing tells
This resolution provides investments infections. We finally got vaccines. you about the way we saw the problem.
in appropriate housing that will pro- They are in the pipeline. We need to And we have been adding and adding
tect the health of our people and help get them out quicker, but I do believe and adding.
decrease COVID–19 transmissions with that the vaccines are going to help us Now we are to a point where the
safe and socially distant housing. a lot. Biden administration is proposing $1.9
Further, all of us must acknowledge To the American people who have trillion of additional spending. We
that there is a pension crisis in Amer- been suffering, I think better days lie haven’t spent the money we have allo-
ica today. As a result of the greed on ahead, but we are not there yet. cated—nowhere near the money we
Wall Street, workers and retirees and But here is what is different. Feb- have allocated. And you have a bipar-
multiemployer pension plans are in ruary 2, 2021, things changed. Up until tisan group of Republicans—10—who
danger of seeing their retirement bene- now, we have been able, as a Congress went to the White House yesterday and
fits cut by as much as 65 percent. That and with the White House, to pass said: What about a little over $600 bil-
is unacceptable. Promises were made things together regarding COVID. We lion? See if that is enough.
to those workers, and the U.S. Con- passed over $4 trillion of COVID relief I am afraid the answer is going to be
gress cannot renege on those promises. in a bipartisan fashion up until today. no.
Not only is this $1.9 trillion emer- Now, how was that done? So what has happened here? Demo-
gency COVID-relief package the right You had a Republican President— cratic colleagues have won the White
thing to do from a moral perspective President Trump—working with a House. And Biden is President; he won.
and a public policy perspective, it is Democratic-controlled House and a Re- It is a 50–50 Senate. The Vice President
exactly what the overwhelming major- publican-controlled Senate beginning makes it a Democratic-controlled
ity of the American people want us to of January—I guess, March of last body, to the extent that the Vice Presi-
do. According to a recent poll from year. Here is what we were able to do dent breaks ties. And you have a small-
Change Research, nearly 70 percent of together. Phase 1, we approved 96 to 1 er majority in the House than we have
the American people support President the Coronavirus Preparedness and Re- had in the last 20 years. But the con-
Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID–19 plan; 83 sponse Supplemental Appropriations sequence of what I have just described
percent support boosting direct pay- Act of 2020. It was $8 billion. That was is that my Democratic colleagues are
ments from $600 to $2,000; 64 percent early on last year when we really now in charge of everything.
support raising the Federal minimum didn’t know what we were dealing When it was divided government—
wage to 15 bucks an hour; and 62 per- with. when you had a Republican President,
cent of voters support additional unem- Then, we did $355 billion, 90 to 8. a Republican Senate, and a Democratic
ployment benefits. Then, the next was $1.9 trillion. Listen House—we were able to come together
We are living in an unprecedented to this: We spent $1.9 trillion, 96 to with overwhelming votes to help the
moment in American history. The last nothing. So it is not like we don’t see American people. Now we find our-
year has been a year the likes of which a need to spend money. Ninety-six to selves at a crossroads. Our Democratic
none of us have experienced in our life- nothing, this body agreed to spend $1.9 colleagues are using a process called
time. And the American people, who trillion last year. budget reconciliation that begins today
are living in pain, in anxiety, in isola- After that, we did the paycheck pro- that would allow them to pass the $1.9
tion—they are looking to the U.S. Sen- tection enhancement of $355 billion by trillion basically on a party-line vote—
ate, and they are saying: Are you going voice vote. It is not like people on this a simple majority, not reaching the 60-
to hear and understand what we are side don’t see a need. vote milestone.
going through? Are you going to do We had a continuing resolution The 60-vote problem was never a
something to address the terrible prob- where we added another $8 billion, 84 to problem up until now because Repub-
lems in terms of healthcare, the econ- 10. licans and Democrats were able to
omy, and education that we are experi- In the omnibus, we did another $1.04 work together up until now. What
encing? trillion, 92 to 6. changed? They have got it all. Every-
It is no great secret that, for many So when you add all this up, we have thing we told you would happen in the
years, the Congress has listened very appropriated $4 trillion to deal with election is coming true. You have one
attentively to the needs of billionaires, the problems associated with COVID— party in control of Washington, and
to the needs of campaign contributors, money for people who have been strug- they are seizing the moment.
and to the needs of lobbyists. Now is gling, money for hospitals and doctors, What a $15-an-hour minimum wage
the time for us to listen to the needs of money for vaccine development and has to do with fighting COVID, I don’t
working families, the elderly, the chil- distribution, direct payments, the PPP know. But I do know this, now is the
dren, the sick, the disabled, and the program to keep small businesses from worst possible time to increase the cost
poor. Now is the time to restore con- going under that can’t operate at full on small businesses in South Carolina
fidence that the American Government capacity. It has been a great program. in the restaurant-hospitality industry.
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
works for all of us and not just the few. It was bipartisan until now. You are about to hit them with two
I urge passage of this important, im- Here is what I want the American government mandates that are going
portant piece of legislation. people to know: We have done a lot to- to put them out of business. They are
With that, I yield the floor. gether, and of the $4 trillion we have all struggling.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- appropriated, to date, we have spent A lot of States have reduced capa-
ator from South Carolina. $2.7 trillion. bility in terms of indoor dining. DC, I
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February 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S229
think last week, for the first time, you what healthcare you get—there are All I am suggesting to my Demo-
could dine indoors at 25-percent capac- some people like my good friend from cratic colleagues is, we are going to
ity. States all over the country have Vermont who wants single-payer have a different view on taxes, and we
different rules about how small busi- healthcare. That is one way of doing it. are going to have a different view on
ness operates. I just disagree. Everything is about healthcare, but this is the one area
The tourist industry is just about trying to help people. I don’t doubt the where I really do believe there is a bi-
squashed. So people in the hospitality motives; I just doubt where we are partisan middle ground to be had.
industry, in the restaurant business, headed is a good outcome for the Amer- To Senator SANDERS, there may come
and in the service industry, if this bill ican people. a time where I will work with you to
passes the way it has been proposed, So the bottom line is, up until now, raise the minimum wage.
are going to have a $15-per-hour per- we have had bipartisanship when it The PPP program has been highly
employee mandate. That is going to comes to COVID relief. The reason that successful. The $600 billion proposal by
sink them. They are going to have to bipartisanship has stopped is because Republicans has more money for that.
lay a lot of people off because they are we have one party in control of the It has more direct payments, but it is
barely making it as it is. U.S. Senate, the House, and the White more targeted.
Here is what we are doing to those House. Senator MANCHIN said that he wants
businesses. State and local govern- Here is what I think: That is going to more direct payments, but he wants it
ments are mandating a reduction in end not well because it is not like we targeted to people on the lower eco-
revenue. Why? Because you reduce the don’t want to help people; we just have nomic end.
capability to earn money by reducing a different view of how to help. And we MIKE ROUNDS—one of our colleagues
seating capacity and the other things would like to let some of the money we from South Dakota—got a check.
associated with fighting COVID. So have already appropriated go to work The bottom line is, I don’t mind help-
what does the Congress do? Do we re- and see how well it works and fill in ing people, but there has to be some
lieve that burden by having more PPP? gaps where you need to fill in gaps. sense that we can’t just constantly
No. We increase your cost of doing Count me in for more payments, di- write checks and hope one day that
business. rect payments, beyond $600. Count me doesn’t come back to bite us.
This $15-an-hour minimum wage in- out for giving $2,000 payments to peo- One thing about a $15-an-hour min-
crease will dramatically increase the ple who make almost $200,000 a year. I imum wage now—I think what it does
cost of doing business to small busi- think it needs to be more targeted. I is put pressure on businesses that can’t
nesses at a time they can afford it the don’t mind having more direct pay- stand any more pressure. It is going to
least. There are people out there work- ments; I would like to make it more cost people jobs that have a job. It is
ing today that will be out of work to- targeted. And I don’t mind discussing going to do more harm than good in
morrow if this bill passes. raising the minimum wage when the this environment.
My Democratic colleagues have COVID problem passes and we get back When you combine the mandate of
taken the energy sector head-on. They on our feet; I do mind doubling it in increasing wages where the $15 an hour
stopped the Keystone Pipeline. I don’t the middle of a pandemic. is the least wage and add what we are
know how many thousands of jobs And I do believe that this $1.9 trillion doing in terms of restricting income
would be affected by that. But all of package is going to do more harm than generation, that is a formula for dis-
these mandates and all of these good to the American economy. aster for small businesses.
changes in policies are making it real- The reason we are having this debate This is it. If this bill passes the way
ly hard right now to employ people. the way we are having this debate is it is written, there are going to be
So count me in for more COVID relief because they have unlimited power, my thousands of people out of work who
once I understand how the money we Democratic colleagues. were previously working in a small
have previously allocated has been You have chosen to do this. The 10 business that is going to fold. How does
spent. Republicans who went down to the that help COVID?
I think continuing to spend at this White House—I appreciate their effort. If you don’t believe that, you are not
level, without understanding what the Maybe some good will come from that. really walking and talking to the peo-
money in the past has done, is not very But this process we are engaged in ple out there on the frontlines of this
responsible. We have only spent 20 per- today makes me wonder if it was worth economy. The tourism industry in
cent of the $900 billion we passed just a their time. Maybe we can pull a rabbit Myrtle Beach, SC, has been decimated.
few weeks ago. Now we are going to do out of the hat and find a bipartisan You can’t fly from one State to the
$1.9 trillion more? compromise consistent with what we other without a 2-week quarantine.
Of the $4 trillion we did together, $2.7 have done over the last year. If not, we Hopefully, that will begin to pass when
trillion has been spent. Over $1 trillion are going to march down the reconcili- we get vaccine distribution at a higher
is sitting there not spent yet. ation road. We are going to take $1.9 level. But people along the coast of
So I guess the point I am trying to trillion of spending and let one party South Carolina in the hospitality tour-
make, and my Republican colleagues, spend it. We are going to have one ism business are hanging by a thread.
is that this $1.9 trillion package, there point of view about this money. We are The PPP program has been a lifeline.
has been no effort to make it bipar- going to let people spend $1.9 trillion The last $900 billion package had a new
tisan. We are spending a lot more without any input from the other side round of PPP money. If we need more
money before we understand how the of the aisle, in a 50–50 divided Senate. money, count me in. Again, I would
money we spent actually works. And I don’t know what you got from the like to have a higher direct payment
some of the policy provisions in this last election. Here is what I got: We did but not to people who make $150,000,
package, I think, are going to do more better in the House than I thought we $200,000 in combined income.
damage to the economy that is strug- would do; President Trump lost, but it This package is going to be dev-
gling to get back on its feet than good. was still a close election from an elec- astating to the hospitality service in-
But they have the power, and they are toral college point of view; and the dustry. It is going to take us down a
using it. Senate is 50–50. I don’t think the mes- path we haven’t gone before, which is a
He is right, Senator SANDERS. When sage from the last election was ‘‘We partisan approach to COVID. And I do
we had this authority, we cut your want Democrats to spend $1.9 trillion believe—and maybe I am wrong—that
taxes through budget reconciliation. and deal Republicans out.’’ That is ex- with some effort on our part, we can
That is what we did, so it is not like actly what you are doing. reconcile the difference between what
Republicans haven’t used this process. It would be different if we had had a our Republican colleagues proposed
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
Democrats used it pretty much to pass history over here of trying not to help. and what President Biden has proposed
ObamaCare. But this is one area where We were able, 96 to 0, to spend $1.9 tril- and find some middle ground like we
there has been pretty much a common lion less than a year ago. And now we have in the past, but there doesn’t
view of things. want to spend $1.9 trillion again—after seem to be a real effort to do that.
Taxes are different between Repub- the money previously allocated hasn’t All I can say is that the American
licans and Democrats. Who decides been spent? people want us to work together for
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S230 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 2, 2021
their benefit, and this will be the first COVID problem that we all face. It benefit, in particular, is what helped
time that I can recall where we have really is disappointing and disheart- scores and scores of communities all
spent $1.9 trillion based on one party’s ening that we are going to abandon across the country stay afloat because
view of things. That is not good. That that model when I don’t think we have that money was spent locally. It was
is a lot of money—and it is so unneces- to. But that will be up to my Demo- spent on rent. It was spent on gro-
sary. cratic colleagues. That will be up to ceries. And most of all, it was weekly.
I would encourage Senator SANDERS President Biden. Yet there was exactly one amendment
and my colleagues on the other side to BIDEN ADMINISTRATION on the original legislation, and that
give a chance to this negotiation and And finally, a message to President one amendment was to blow up the
see if we can get there. I hope we can, Biden: You won; we lost. You are the only way to get checks out to folks rel-
but this is not the right way. What we legitimate President of the United atively quickly—point No. 1.
are doing today is going to set into mo- States. I want to help you where I can. Point No. 2, these were not folks who
tion partisanship where there was pre- I just got a briefing about what you are didn’t want to work. They were told by
vious bipartisanship. proposing in Afghanistan. I think it is their government—told by their gov-
President Biden said he wanted to darned good. ernment—that they really needed to be
unify the Nation. You have picked the There are plenty of things we can do at home to deal with the virus. These
one topic that we have been pretty uni- around here together—on foreign pol- folks want to work; there is no ques-
fied on, and you are going to disrupt icy and domestic policy. It doesn’t tion about it.
that unification. have to be a fight to the death all the We are going to talk about this, I
The first COVID package had a $600 time. imagine, in this debate, but study after
Federal supplement to State unem- The infrastructure bill is there for study has shown that the expanded un-
ployment benefits, and I looked at the taking. I think most Americans re- employment during this period was not
that. My family was in the restaurant alize our roads and our bridges and our a disincentive to work. There is just no
business. Senator SANDERS gave statis- ports need upgrading, and count me in evidence of that. In fact, when we look
tics about support of the public. You for that. There are things that we can at crucial periods of time when people
are literally paying people more not to do. might have stayed home, they were
work than work. President Biden, you can do some- rushing to get back to work.
I want to help people because they We are going to discuss this, and I
thing too. You can say: Slow down in
are out of work—no fault of their own am going to start the debate now on
the Senate. Slow down in the House. I
because of COVID—but when we went where we are at this moment because I
am going to see if I can find middle
to $600, we were paying people $23 an think this discussion comes down to a
ground.
hour, I think, in South Carolina not to simple proposition; that is, whether
I am telling you right now that $1.9
work. That did not go over well with millions of workers and their families
trillion being spent the way this bill
the public at large. We are trying to re- should have to spend years and years
envisions is not responsible. We
duce that Federal supplement down to living in the wreckage of the COVID
haven’t spent the money we have pre-
$300, not $600, to help people who are economy. The jobs recovery for mil-
viously allocated. There is a lot in this
out of work but not to incentivize peo- lions is going in reverse.
bill that will cost jobs at a time we Millions of Americans have lost jobs
ple not to go back to work when the need jobs, and you are not going to through no fault of their own. Maybe
economy is beginning to open. help the COVID crisis by putting some- they were working at the airport.
In this package, we go back to $400, body out of work because of a govern- Maybe they were tending bar. Maybe
and it goes all the way to September, ment mandate that business can’t af- they were teaching our kids when the
which means it is going to be harder to ford to fulfill because they are hanging worst pandemic—the worst pandemic
hire people back when the economy by a thread. in a century—swept the United States.
does show signs of reopening. And it is We will have some time in the next They didn’t do anything wrong.
beginning to show signs of coming couple of days to talk about what is in The question now is whether the U.S.
back. The faster the vaccine is distrib- the package, what is not, our view of Senate is going to step in with big poli-
uted, the more people who get inocu- how this thing should all unfold. I will cies to actually be of help to them or
lated, the sooner we can go back to yield back here with a sense of opti- whether it is going to quit on those
business. mism. workers when they need a modest
I would just say to my Democratic To my Republican colleagues who amount of assistance until everybody
colleagues: You have chosen this path. went to talk to the White House, count gets vaccinated.
All of us are going to vote no to $1.9 me in. If you can work something out, President Biden has a strong, focused
trillion in spending—not because we I would like to be able to help. It is not plan that is going to meet the moment,
don’t care; it is because we would like like there is not some more money get relief to workers in the middle
to see what the money we spent in the that can be spent, but this approach— class, and kick-start the jobs recovery.
past is doing before we add another $1.9 the way you are spending the money, The plan that was brought forward yes-
trillion. the amount of money in this approach, terday by 10 Republican Senators
A lot of the provisions in your pro- I think, is going to make this place less doesn’t come close to meeting that bar.
posal, we think, have very little, if unified. If you are looking for unity, The debate isn’t a whole lot more
anything, to do with COVID, and it this is a lousy way to get it. complicated than that. I am glad that
would be unfortunate if we go down With that, I yield. there is some agreement on both sides
this road. But we are not in charge. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- for funding vaccines. Yet the economic
Now, 2022 will be here before you ator from Oregon. divide in this debate is very clear.
know it. Hopefully, by 2022, we will Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, we have Here are the key facts as we start
have the American people build up im- already begun to hear a little revi- this discussion. The independent ex-
munity to COVID, and our economy sionist history with respect to this cru- perts at the Congressional Budget Of-
will come back the way it was before cial issue. There was exactly one fice released a new report yesterday
the COVID pandemic. Before the pan- amendment on the CARES Act, and that shows how long-lasting this jobs
demic, the economy was doing well for that amendment, supported by almost crisis is really going to be. According
all sectors of the American people. I every Senator on the other side of the to the Budget Office, it could be more
think one of the things that helped was aisle, basically would have blown up than 5 years before the unemployment
that tax cut that Senator SANDERS op- the law that I put special focus on be- rate even begins to approach where it
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
posed. But we can have political de- cause it was deemed the only way to was a year ago.
bates about that. get expanded unemployment benefits Millions of workers could stay stuck
The point I am trying to make is, up out to folks in a timely way. on an economic tightrope, worried
until this moment in time, we have We were told that there was all this about eviction, worried about going
been able to achieve overwhelming bi- bipartisanship. Yet on the crucial hungry, wages to flatline for the better
partisan support dealing with the issue, that wasn’t the case because that part of the decade.
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February 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S231
Americans know what happens when into the RECORD. There has never been week and rail about the so-called blue
Congress takes its foot off the gas, hard evidence that enhanced, expanded State bailout and say it is all waste.
slows down the recovery, because that unemployment benefits in any way That is nonsense.
is what happened a little bit over a dec- held back the recovery. In fact, when State and local funding is first and
ade ago—12 years exactly. The great re- enhanced unemployment benefits ex- foremost about jobs that are a lifeline.
cession hit, but in early 2009, the Sen- pired last summer, the job recovery ac- It is about firefighters. It is about road
ate decided, we are going to go small. I tually slowed down. crews. It is about sanitation workers.
was around. Everybody was told: You In December, our colleagues on the It is about public health employees. It
know, not so bad if you go small be- other side extended unemployment in- is about teachers. It has nothing to do
cause the Senate will get a second bite surance just to mid-March, and they with red States or blue States; it is
at the apple. Nobody ever got a second cut the additional benefit in half. I be- about saving people’s jobs in commu-
bite at the apple, and workers suffered lieve that was also a big mistake. Be- nities across the country, and those are
and suffered some more. In my home tween the worst economy since World jobs where they are out saving people’s
State, it took 71⁄2 years in Oregon for War II and the pandemic entering its lives. Nearly 1.5 million of these essen-
the unemployment rate to fall back to second year in America, you couldn’t tial workers have already lost their
where it was before the recession. find a worse time for Senators to start jobs since the pandemic began, and un-
Recent history tells us you have to nickel-and-diming workers—hard-hit less Congress provides funding to
go big. We are hearing from economic workers—out of the relief they so des- States and localities, even more will be
experts telling the Senate to go big. perately need. laid off this year.
Treasury Secretary Yellen, fresh off As I noted, there was just one vote, Third, the budget resolution is going
her unanimous, 26-to-0 vote in the Fi- only one vote in the original CARES to put money into the pockets of work-
nance Committee, and Fed Chair Pow- package, and that vote was led by my ing families and the middle class. The
ell are saying: Go small and you make colleagues who would have blown up fact is, tens of millions of American
a big mistake. the only way to get benefits in a rel- families are literally one financial set-
That is why the outline that a group atively quick way out to millions of back away from devastation. That
of my Republican colleagues brought workers. should have been clear before the pan-
forward this week just does not get the In my hometown, the average rent demic. There is certainly no denying it
job done. It is the same playbook as for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,750. today.
2009, and it leaves too many workers on Traditional unemployment insurance Increasing relief checks to $2,000 is
the economic tightrope for years to benefits don’t come anywhere near going to help, especially because so
come. paying that rent. If you are a single many workers have lost hours or taken
The budget resolution before the Sen- parent trying to raise one or two kids, lower paying jobs than they had a year
ate has some big solutions on the econ- even with the expanded benefit, you ago. But the budget resolution also in-
omy and for our workers. Right off the are barely making ends meet. If you cludes fresh ideas from President Biden
top, it makes investments in vaccines are a two-income household, it can also and colleagues on this side to increase
and care that is needed to end the pan- be a big struggle. Nobody is going out family incomes—first and foremost, ex-
demic as quickly as possible. This is buying boats with their unemployment panding the earned income tax credit
the No. 1 way to get the lives of Ameri- insurance benefits. They are spending and the child tax credit. In my view,
cans back to normal. It is not going to it at corner stores, local markets, this is long overdue.
happen overnight. going to the pharmacy, paying for med- People always ask, well, what is it
In the meantime, our economy needs icine for kids who aren’t feeling well. really going to do? What is it going to
another rescue package. That is what The budget resolution before the Sen- do that is meaningful to our country?
the resolution, the budget resolution, ate calls for a 6-month extension with What we are told is that effort is going
essentially sets up. It is hard to figure, an extra boost of $400 per week. It is a to cut child poverty in half. Just try to
when you are at home, all of the proposal that I support. In later pack- put your arms around that.
legalese and lingo, but now we are real- ages, I want colleagues to know, I am When you go home to talk to folks
ly dealing with the lives and the well- going to keep pushing for the full $600. and they ask, hey, what is going on
being of the American people, and this And I believe that Congress ought to there, you can say, I am part of an ef-
is what starts us in the right direction. tie the extension of unemployment fort—a sensible effort which for many
Here are three examples of why this benefits to economic conditions in our years had some real Republican sup-
resolution is so important. communities, to economic conditions port—I am supportive of an effort to
First, it sends big financial support on the ground. It is just common sense. cut child poverty in half, give millions
to jobless Americans. There is not Unemployment insurance works best and millions of families a chance to get
going to be a full jobs recovery as long when it covers all workers, when it ahead. It sure sounds to me that a pol-
as it is unsafe to go to restaurants in- pays an adequate benefit, and when icy like that is a no-brainer.
doors or go to conventions or pack fans Members of the U.S. Senate can’t I am going to close by briefly ad-
in the basketball arenas. Those work- politicalize it by setting arbitrary dressing arguments I have heard com-
ers need help. dates and setting up cliffs when people ing from the other side.
As I mentioned when we heard a lit- are going to get cut off of those bene- First, I heard a number of Members
tle revisionist history on the expanded fits. say that the price tag is too high. Well,
unemployment earlier, as the ranking Second, the budget resolution helps I will tell you, if you voted for Donald
Democrat on the Finance Committee, I bring back jobs. The RESTAURANTS Trump’s deficit-financed handouts to
negotiated the $600-per-week boost and Act is a vital jobs program. It will save multinational corporations and billion-
expansion of unemployment insurance a lot of jobs in one of the industries aires, you cannot credibly argue that
last year in the CARES Act. It was an hardest hit by the pandemic, and it is the relief for workers is fiscally reck-
economic lifesaver for workers who particularly important because a lot of less. And the fact is, the deficit isn’t
used that money to pay rent, to buy restaurants weren’t able to take advan- going to get better until unemploy-
groceries, and to cover the cost of med- tage of the PPP, the Paycheck Protec- ment comes down and the economy
icine. I still have those workers come tion Program. gets back to strong and consistent
up to me and say: RON, I heard about Another key jobs proposal that is growth.
what was going on in the Senate. You part of this resolution is help for Second, I have heard some Senators
all gave me the money to pay for my States and localities. I want to make suggest that the budget resolution is
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
car insurance, because if I didn’t have something clear for the record about bad for unity. My answer to that is, the
that car insurance, life in our family State and local funding because this only place where big, bold economic re-
would just fall apart. has been attacked by our colleagues on lief is a divisive proposition is within
So contrary to what we heard ear- the other side since last March. I would the four walls of the U.S. Senate. We
lier—and during the course of this de- bet my last dollar that somebody will have seen the polls—overwhelming sup-
bate, I am going to put several studies come down to the Senate floor this port for these key positions, the key
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S232 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 2, 2021
policies that are part of this budget thing that has occurred to me, and that olence will get more attention for their
resolution. I would submit to my col- is the need to condemn all political vi- causes even after a Democratic victory
leagues, the only place where there is olence regardless of ideology. Like win for the White House.
really a strong division on the value of many Americans, I have been deeply Much of the violence of the summer
this budget resolution is within the troubled by the rioting, looting, anti- was specifically investigated by the
four walls of the Senate. police attacks, and deaths that have FBI as domestic terrorism. FBI Direc-
The last point is a little bit personal. occurred this summer. tor Chris Wray provides statistics on
The President of the Senate and I have While many very legitimately pro- domestic terrorism in his annual
known each other a lot of years. We tested the death of George Floyd in a threats testimony. He has previously
worked very closely in the other body peaceful manner, consistent with their testified that 900 to 1,000 domestic ter-
and here. I, over time, have gotten a rights under the First Amendment, rorism investigations exist at any
fair amount of flak for sometimes thousands of others did not do it in a given time. There are also about 1,000—
being too bipartisan, doing too much to peaceful manner and probably did it for what they call—homegrown violent ex-
try to bring both sides together. I al- a lot of other reasons than just George tremism investigations. These are
ways will say—always—it is better if Floyd’s death. One of the most upset- cases in which an entirely U.S.-based
you can find common ground. ting aspects of the violence of this person without direct contact with a
But calls for unity aren’t supposed to summer has been how it has targeted foreign terrorist organization is moti-
be a political baseball bat where you innocent law enforcement officers. vated by the global jihadist movement,
club somebody. They are supposed to Over 700 officers were injured between and, of course, there are thousands
be real. They are supposed to be about May 27 and June 8, 2020. This number is more international terrorism inves-
finding common ground, not about likely underreported as nearly 300 of tigations.
stalling for the sole purpose of stalling. those injuries occurred only in New Former U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy
What you see in this budget resolu- York City. Cox testified in a subcommittee hear-
tion is exactly the kind of plan that Acting Deputy Homeland Security ing that over 300 domestic terrorism
Americans voted for and the over- Secretary Ken Cuccinelli testified at a cases were opened due to the violence
whelming majority of Americans sup- hearing in front of the Judiciary Sub- just this past summer. This is a signifi-
port. That is why I am strongly behind committee on the Constitution that cant increase in the ordinary amount
this resolution. there had been 277 Federal officer inju- of domestic terrorism in the United
As a senior member of our party on
ries at the Federal courthouse in Port- States. That this violence occurred—
the Finance Committee, I am looking
land, adding further to that total pre- and the facts and the figures that sur-
forward to a lot of debate on this issue.
viously given to you. Officers were as- round it—should not be news to any-
That is why I felt it was important to
saulted nightly there for months— one. However, I must admit that I have
step in when we heard some revisionist
slashed, hard objects thrown at them, been extremely surprised by the re-
history from the other side that there
struck with objects like hammers and sponses of Democratic Members to this
hadn’t been any partisanship. There
baseball bats, even blinded by lasers. violence.
sure was on that very first vote on the In another offensive, 60 Secret Serv- For weeks and months, the most con-
CARES Act.
ice officers were injured during a sus- sistent response seemed to be to deny
This is an important debate. What is
tained attack on the White House, the violence was occurring at all. I saw
really most important is that while we
continue to listen to our colleagues on which caused then-President Trump to JERROLD NADLER on TV—the chairman
the other side, while we continue to be taken to a secure bunker. The of the House Judiciary Committee—
reach out, which I am committed to do, church across the street from the deny that antifa itself was real. In a
the U.S. Senate get this job done be- White House was lit on fire as part of nationally televised debate with then-
cause there is too much economic hurt that continued assault. Over 300 people President Trump, then-Candidate Joe
in America to do otherwise. were charged federally for their roles Biden wrongly stated that antifa was
We have another unemployment cliff in these weeks and months of violence. only an ‘‘idea.’’ This is even after FBI
coming in just a few weeks. Tech- Eighty of those charges related to the Director Wray had already testified to
nically, the date is March 14. That is use of arson and explosives. Others in- Congress that antifa was absolutely a
when the next round of unemployment volved assaults on officers and the de- ‘‘real thing’’ and that the FBI had
expires. I really think we have to get struction of government property. cases and investigations against those
this done by the beginning of March. However, the nationwide riots, which calling themselves ‘‘antifa.’’
There is no time to waste. broke out in nearly every major city in It seems that some Democrats are
I urge my colleagues to support the the country, were predominantly State living in a different world than those
resolution, as I will. offenses. At least 14,000 people were ar- who have seen businesses boarded up, if
I yield the floor. rested in 49 cities. At least 25 people not burned out, images of violence in
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MAR- died in violence related to the riots. the streets, and terrifying attacks on
KEY). The Senator from Iowa. Property Claim Services—a company police officers. When the violence was
PROTESTS that tracks insurance claims relating admitted by those same people, it
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I to riots and civil disorders—estimates seemed to have been condoned rather
come to the floor to bring up the point that the insurance losses from the than condemned.
that there must be equal attention to summer’s civil unrest ‘‘far outstrip’’ Now, Vice President HARRIS pre-
the dangers of extremism, whether it is all previous records to possibly exceed viously said:
extremism of the right or extremism of $2 billion. They’re not going to stop, and everyone,
the left. It has been a relatively frequent beware. [ . . . ] And they should not, and we
We have all been horrified by the sight at the summer’s violent events to should not.
senseless criminal acts that occurred see individuals acting in coordination You have seen that quote many
at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 of this in all black bloc, holding the ‘‘A’’ sym- times on various TV channels. Our new
year. A violent mob was able to over- bol of antifa. An admitted antifa adher- Vice President did not disclaim the ri-
run Capitol Police and quickly gain ac- ent in Portland murdered a conserv- oting and unrest and direct her fol-
cess to the area where a joint session of ative protester. Antifa supporters have lowers only to lawful action.
Congress was being held. Five people, been charged federally for promoting Congresswoman PRESSLEY stated:
including a Capitol Police officer, died riots and using Molotov cocktails. ‘‘There needs to be unrest in the
as a result of this attack. While that violence has slackened now streets for as long as there is unrest in
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I hope that together, Republicans since President Biden’s electoral vic- our lives.’’
and Democrats, we can get to the bot- tory was declared, it has far from Speaker PELOSI famously said this on
tom of what occurred on that day and abated. Antifa rioters attacked the Or- the widespread property damage. As
ensure that it never happens again. egon Democratic Party’s headquarters you saw, when asked about it, she was
In the spirit of collaboration, I must on inauguration day itself. The far left quoted as saying: ‘‘People will do what
direct everyone’s attention to some- of this country continues to believe vi- they do.’’ That is a direct quote from
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February 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S233
her, and you have seen that many any race of any kind thinking they are litically motivated violence. The men
times on television. supreme to anybody else because we and women of this Nation who have
Now, that indifference that seems to are all individuals that God loves, and been affected by antifa and other left-
be expressed in those and in a lot of if we were to return that love, we wing extremists are entitled to much
other quotations we could give to the wouldn’t have a lot of problems in this more than a cursory acknowledgment
violence that our constituents were en- country. of that fact. Likewise, I hope no part of
during was dramatically shattered We must absolutely combat White our effort will focus on demonizing the
when a violent riot came to this build- supremacism, wherever it occurs, and peaceful expression of ideas with which
ing itself. After that event, many Mem- we have a responsibility to understand Democratic Members disagree.
bers of Congress asked why a more the true factors that led to the attack I will be sharing the ideas that I have
militarized force had not protected on this building. I hope to learn more on this subject and these concerns that
them from a group of then-President from law enforcement over the coming I have stated today directly with my
Trump supporters who had turned vio- weeks and months about what the in- friend, the incoming Senate Judiciary
lent. Police officers were again consid- volvement of White supremacists or chairman, Senator DURBIN. He will get
ered heroes and protectors unlike last any other extremist was in this attack. a letter from me, and I look forward to
summer when they were attacked. The However, I am concerned that the use working with Senator DURBIN on the
presence of National Guard members of the term may have a different pur- path forward.
was all of a sudden welcomed rather pose: to try to portray any supporters I yield the floor.
than decried unlike last summer, in of former President Trump, who gar- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
cities like Portland and Seattle, when nered over 74 million votes in the most ator from Connecticut.
mayors condemned, maybe, the Presi- recent election, as White supremacists. GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS WEEK
dent or the Federal Government, gen- Congresswoman CORI BUSH stated on Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, right-
erally, for interfering and trying to the House floor that former President fully, when we talk about the issue of
bring peace to those cities. Trump was a ‘‘white supremacist presi- gun violence in this country, we think
Many of the people of this country dent who incited a white supremacist about it through the prism of those
would like to have such resources insurrection.’’ I hope everyone can lives that have been lost because the
available to them to ensure their safe- agree that such rhetorical and inac- numbers are just stunning. They are
ty, like every weekend in Chicago when curate characterizations are dan- hard to get your head wrapped around.
there are dozens of people hurt by gerous. Here are the rough numbers in front
shootings and a lot of people killed in More concerning seems to be the idea of me. On an average year, we have
that same weekend. that violence committed by the far left 39,000 people who lose their lives
Since the day of the attack on the or for left-leaning ideologies is in some through a gunshot wound. That is a
Capitol, I have heard much of a re- way tolerable because of the left’s as- suicide, a homicide, an accidental
newed focus among my Democratic col- sessment that the purpose of all that shooting, domestic violence crimes. If
leagues on combating domestic ter- violence is somehow noble. However, you break it down, that is around 100
rorism and political violence, and there right-leaning thought, whether accom- people a day, and there is no other
is nothing wrong with combating do- panied by violence or not, is considered high-income nation in the world that
mestic terrorism and political vio- terroristic. comes anywhere close.
lence. That is why my first words Former CIA Director John Brennan, We talk about the issue of gun vio-
today were that there needs to be equal whose credibility has been questioned, lence through the prism of people
attention to the danger of terrorism, praised incoming President Biden’s in- whose lives have been lost because it is
whether it is of the left or of the right. augural reference to defeating ‘‘white so morally disrupting, cataclysmic,
As I indicated in my words just stated, supremacy’’ and likened libertarians to when you have a loved one—normally,
this is very much welcomed—any at- ‘‘religious extremists, authoritarians, a young loved one, a brother or sister,
tention we can give to domestic ter- fascists, bigots, racists, nativists.’’ a child—who is there one instant and
rorism and political violence—and I It is hard to see how libertarian po- then gone the next because of a random
hope that we will be able to work to- litical philosophy, a mainstream con- shooting.
gether to keep Americans safe. servative political ideology which is I always get drawn back to the peo-
However, any work that we do in this scarcely in any way associated with vi- ple whom I have been lucky enough to
area must be focused on preventing vi- olence, is related to the other terms have had access to and friendships with
olence no matter what ideology is that Mr. Brennan lists, unless, of in Connecticut. One of them is Janet
given to justify that violence. In fact, course, Mr. Brennan is simply referring Rice.
in a recent Department of Homeland to religious Americans as religious ex- Janet lost her son Shane, who was 20
Security bulletin, that bulletin noted tremists, or those who believe in the at the time, to a gunshot wound back
the breadth of potential threats we rule of law rather than antifa rioting in 2012. It was actually only a month
may be facing after the Capitol riot, in- as ‘‘authoritarians’’ and ‘‘fascists,’’ or and a half before the Sandy Hook
cluding domestic violent extremists those who believe in having a func- shooting.
‘‘motivated by a range of issues, in- tioning immigration system as some- Shane was just selling a car to some
cluding anger over COVID–19 restric- how they seem to be bigots or racists acquaintances, and the conversation
tions, the 2020 election results, and po- or nativists. went off the rails. There was some
lice use of force’’ as well as ‘‘racial and In short, these are all terms that are pushing and shoving. There was a gun
ethnic tension’’ and homegrown violent applied regularly and unfairly to con- fired, and Shane was dead.
extremists ‘‘inspired by foreign ter- servative Americans using peaceful It is really hard for Janet to describe
rorist groups.’’ means to argue for their ideas of reli- how her life changed. She talks a lot
The response that I have seen to the gious freedom, law and order, and se- about in those early months and years
Capitol riot here in Congress has not cure borders, and probably a lot of really not being able to even leave the
given me hope that we are in agree- other things that they argue for. Con- house. She would drive a couple of
ment about combating this broad range gresswoman JACKIE SPEIER was even blocks to the corner grocery store be-
of threats in the spirit of giving equal more direct in a tweet, suggesting that cause she just didn’t want to walk
attention to the dangers of domestic all Republicans be labeled terrorists. down the street and encounter friends
terrorism or any kind of violation of As a body, we may begin looking into and have to talk about what happened.
law, whether it comes from the right or domestic terrorism more generally. I She had this habit of waking up in
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
the left. I have seen that many Demo- look forward to so doing. I am sure all the middle of the night and driving her
cratic Members of Congress seem to be Members will share my commitment car down to where Shane was shot,
discussing the need to combat White that the focus of our inquiry should be which is only about two blocks from
supremacism with reference to the on all of the politically motivated vio- where I live in Hartford. She would ar-
Capitol riot. I am not going to find lence we have seen in this country and rive there in the middle of the night,
fault with anybody who talks about not somehow just a subset of that po- she would pull up in the parking lot,
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S234 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 2, 2021
and she would turn on her high beams, cides in 2020 versus 2019. You saw guns being sold illegally or so many
half expecting that Shane was going to record numbers of gun sales. Those two guns being sold legally to people who
show up. things are not coincidental. And those shouldn’t have them, like people with
Her life is fundamentally different are just the reportable gun sales. Like- serious, violent criminal records and
today than it was when Shane was in ly, we saw a dramatic spike in illegal people who have been arrested for
her life. And I have no idea what it is gun transfers as well. More weapons things like domestic violence.
like to lose a child. I have no idea what equals more gun crimes in this coun- So, right now, our priority has to be
it is like to lose a loved one to gun vio- try. COVID relief, but as we take part this
lence. But we talk about it in these And so knowing that 20, 30 percent of week in Gun Violence Survivors Week,
terms because it is absolutely cata- guns get transferred outside of the we have to recognize that the status
strophic when you lose somebody that legal system, knowing that, as in the quo is not acceptable and that there is
way. case of Tyrek and James, it was illegal something fundamentally wrong with
This week, though, is Gun Violence guns that ended up being used to shoot democracy if a public policy measure
Survivors Week. This week we focus on them, as it was for Shane Oliver in can enjoy 90 percent support amongst
those who survived gunshot wounds, Hartford—that mother I talked about, the American public, and it can’t get
and I think I hate to tell you this, but Janet Rice; Shane was killed with an passed through the representative bod-
the numbers are much worse. More illegal gun—to honor Gun Violence ies that are assembled in the Nation’s
people survive gunshot wounds than Survivors Week, we have to make a Capitol.
are killed by gunshot wounds, and that plan this year. We have to make a plan Thirty-nine thousand people die
wound can change your life as well. to work on an issue that can bring us every year. More are injured and sur-
It can inflict you with physical pain all together. vive. And we owe them, in 2021, to pass
that you can never get over, render you I hope that Republicans join us in legislation that finally starts putting
unable to walk, and in our colleague voting for COVID relief funding. The these trajectories downward.
Gabby Giffords’ case, almost unable to things in President Biden’s package are I yield the floor.
speak. But it can also inflict you with supported by 70 percent of the Amer- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
an ongoing, cascading trauma from ican public. That is impressive. It is
clerk will call the roll.
which you may never recover. really hard to get the American public The legislative clerk proceeded to
James Harris was shot in Hartford in to agree on anything at a 70-percent call the roll.
2018. He was shot while he and another rate. They have actually done polling Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask
friend were just hanging out in the on things like kittens and baseball and unanimous consent that the order for
hallway of the friend’s apartment grandmas, and it is hard to get 70 per- the quorum call be rescinded.
building, when a man showed up and cent support for that stuff. So on Joe The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
shot James and his friend. The man Biden’s agenda, boy, it must be pretty objection, it is so ordered.
was charged with a whole bunch of popular to get 70 percent of the Amer- The Senator from Wyoming.
things, including possession of an ille- ican public supporting it. CORONAVIRUS
gal firearm. But they were just in the Universal background checks, requir- Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I
wrong place at the wrong time. ing that everybody have to prove you come to the floor today to discuss the
His friend lost his life. James sur- are not a criminal or seriously men- urgent need to get our kids back in
vived and, to this day, he experiences tally ill before you buy a gun—that has school. Kids deserve to be back in
post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic 90 to 95 percent support. Think about school.
pain, and mental health challenges that. That means that the vast major- Last week, the White House Chief of
that I don’t think anybody in this ity of gun owners, of NRA members, of Staff was on television. He was inter-
Chamber can get their head wrapped Republicans, Democrats, Independents, viewed. The interviewer asked him why
around. all support universal background so many public schools remain closed.
Tyrek Marquez was shot in the head checks. It is something that this body His answer—amazingly, astonish-
a decade earlier, in Hartford, when can come together on. ingly—was ‘‘money.’’
Tyrek was 7 years old, following a West And just like in Tyrek and James’s If I may, the record is very clear. Re-
Indian Day parade in Hartford in the case, every single day we are presented publicans supported more money for
summer of 2008. with evidence of what happens when we schools since last summer—a full $105
Guess what. The three shooters who let these illegal guns flow on to our billion to get our kids back to school.
were arrested were all found to have il- streets. In Pennsylvania, a man pur- In fact, the Senate Republicans’ tar-
legal firearms. One of the guns they chased two handguns advertised in a geted coronavirus bill included more
found in the perpetuation of that crime classified ad. He used those guns to kill money from schools than Speaker
had been used in 14 other crimes. a person and wound seven others inside PELOSI included in her bloated, liberal
It is a decade later, and Tyrek re- a psychiatric institute. He had failed a wish list.
mains partially paralyzed on the left background check at a gun store just a For months, Senate Democrats ob-
side of his body. But he is part of the few months prior. structed, delayed, and dragged their
anti-gun violence movement. He sur- In Illinois, a man killed a Chicago feet. For months, Democrats played
vived, and he wants to make sure that police commander with a gun he pur- politics with coronavirus relief. In all
this never happens to anybody ever chased online. He was prohibited from that time, families across America suf-
again. ‘‘You’ve got to overcome obsta- buying a gun because he had a restrain- fered.
cles and that’s what I have been’’ able ing order. It wasn’t until the end of December
to do, he says. Wisconsin, a man killed his wife and that Democrats finally agreed to pass
There are 100 people a day who die two other women and wounded four legislation to reopen the schools, and it
from guns, but there are just as many others with a gun that he purchased included $82 billion—less than Repub-
who survive gunshot wounds, and they outside the background system. Why? licans had offered the last summer.
are now demanding that something Because he was prohibited from pur- Well, the ink is now barely dry on
change. chasing a gun because of a domestic vi- the overall relief bill at the end of last
Right now, as we debate a COVID re- olence restraining order. year. It was a $900 billion relief bill. So
lief package, our focus, rightfully, is In Texas, a man killed 7 people and here we are, just 1 month later, and the
squarely on trying to reverse the dis- injured 22 others after being fired from new administration says that there is
turbing trend of this virus expanding his job. He had failed a background no money to reopen schools.
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
all across this country and righting the check but was able to find an unli- The White House Chief of Staff goes
economic ship of this country. But not censed seller. on television with a supposedly new
coincidental to the pandemic and the I can go on. Over and over and over idea. The idea is that ‘‘we, as a coun-
economic meltdown, we saw a dramatic again, the victims of gun violence are try, should make the investments to
increase in homicides. Some cities re- very often put at risk and put in make it safe’’ to get back to school—
ported 40, 50 percent increases in homi- harm’s way because there are so many astonishing, because we did that.
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February 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S235
If the Biden administration really ate Republicans listened to the science. force a decade ago, there has been no
wants their schools to reopen, they It is time for Senate Democrats to de- lack of criticism about its short-
ought to be talking to the teachers cide: Are they going to put our kids comings. For example, here on the Sen-
unions. They should talk to the leaders first or are they going to continue to ate floor last week, I outlined some of
of the teachers unions based in Fairfax put the teachers unions ahead of our the main issues with New START, in-
County, VA, just a few miles from here. kids? cluding the fact that it only placed
You know, it is one of the largest Senate Republicans have done our limits on strategic nuclear weapons,
school districts in America. Fairfax part to reopen our schools with incred- leaving room open for an endless arse-
County teachers demanded a vaccine ible amounts of funding and support. nal of tactical nuclear weapons, which
before they would go back to the class- This is no time for excuses, no time for were particularly of interest to Russia
room. Thanks to Operation Warp backtracking. The science supports it. in a potential land war in Europe. The
Speed, they got the vaccine. Yet they We have provided the funding. new Senator from Tennessee and
still refused to go back to the class- Now I would point out that students former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, BILL
room, which, of course, means that the in Wyoming have been back in school HAGERTY, has echoed that concern as
students aren’t in the classroom either. since September. That is where stu- well.
In Chicago, the teachers union is dents belong. Kids deserve to be in But it is not just Republicans who
threatening to go on strike rather than school. So let’s get our kids back in the acknowledge the need for a new ap-
to go back into the classroom, which, classroom. It is what is best for kids; proach. Victoria Nuland is an experi-
of course, means the students don’t get certainly, it is what is best for working enced and accomplished diplomat with
to back into the classroom either. families; and it is what is best for our more than three decades of experience,
In Washington, DC, the teachers future as a nation. and she has been nominated by Presi-
union would rather go to court than to I yield the floor. dent Biden for a high-ranking position
the classroom, which means that stu- I suggest the absence of a quorum. in the State Department. In an opinion
dents don’t get to go back to the class- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The piece she wrote last year, she wrote
room either. clerk will call the roll. that the United States ‘‘should not
Similar stories are taking place all The bill clerk proceeded to call the
grant Moscow what it wants most: a
across America. The union bosses roll.
free rollover of New START without
might think this is just a big game. Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask
any negotiations to address Russia’s
The truth is, this is doing terrible unanimous consent that the order for
recent investments in short- and me-
things to our children. the quorum call be rescinded.
dium-range nuclear weapons systems
Our teachers do incredible work. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
and new conventional weapons.’’ In
Many are working harder than ever in PETERS). Without objection, it is so or-
other words, Russia is building new
the virtual setting. Many want to go dered.
weapons that will not be included in
back to the classroom. Yet, because of BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
the New START negotiations, but they
the union bosses who pull the strings, Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, rela- should be.
our kids are being denied access to in- tions between the United States and
Russia are more precarious today than The President didn’t take the advice
person learning by our amazing teach-
at any other time since the Cold War. of Ambassador Nuland, obviously. He
ers.
From Russian-backed mercenaries didn’t advocate for new limits on tac-
On Wednesday, the New York Times
fighting in the Middle East to the tical weapons or these new weapons
said it was ‘‘breaking news’’ that the
Kremlin’s attempt to poison Putin’s systems or impose any other condi-
Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
critics like Alexei Navalny using a tions to combat Russian aggression. In
vention want the kids back in school.
nerve agent, the actions of Russia are a call with President Putin last week,
That is not breaking news. That is old
growing more and more aggressive. President Biden agreed to a clean 5-
news. The CDC said it last July.
That is especially true when it comes year extension—no conditions, no ne-
Experts have been echoing this call
to actions against the United States gotiations; in short, a capitulation. He
for months. One study estimated that
and our allies. gave him a green light to keep doing
because of the lockdown last spring, a
We know Russia made a clear at- what they have been doing.
typical student entered this school
year 35 percent behind schedule in tempt to interfere with the 2016 elec- Well, it didn’t take long for Russian
reading and nearly 50 percent behind in tion and delegitimize our democratic leaders to celebrate this win. The Dep-
math. processes, like our elections. Through uty Foreign Minister of Russia de-
The children hurt the most are, of everything from highly coordinated clared that the United States had
course, the most vulnerable—kids from disinformation campaigns to targeted agreed to extend the treaty on Russia’s
lower income families, like the mil- attacks on voting systems, it sought to terms, and both houses of Russia’s Par-
lions of kids who receive nutrition as- undermine and potentially change the liament unanimously voted in favor of
sistance, medical care, or counseling in result of a democratic election. the ratification of the extension within
public schools; also, the children of sin- Of course, it is not just our voting hours of the announcement. In other
gle parents, many of whom—the par- systems that have come under attack. words, the Biden administration is on
ents, that is—can’t work from home. Moscow has launched massive cyber at- exactly the same page as the Duma.
According to the National Education tacks against private companies and That ought to give them some pause. It
Association, a quarter of the families government agencies alike, the latest is fair to say there has been no celebra-
with kids ages 5 to 17 either don’t have being the SolarWinds hack. Last year, tion here in the United States, but the
a computer or don’t have wireless Russia attempted to steal coronavirus truth is, there has hardly been any at-
internet, so the lockdowns have been vaccine research from the United tention paid to this issue at all, includ-
especially tough on all of those kids in States and our closest allies. ing here in Congress.
those settings. The Biden administration has re- The administration has tried to
For many children, the lockdown has sponded to these mounting threats in maintain its focus on the President’s
been far tougher on their health than an unlikely way—by giving Russia ex- long list of executive actions. In his
coronavirus itself would be. That is be- actly what it wants. Sure, I know there first 2 weeks in office, President Biden
cause serious coronavirus symptoms were some press reports about a con- has used the power of the pen to cancel
among healthy children are extremely versation between President Biden and the Keystone XL Pipeline, rejoin the
rare. And Congress has provided fund- President Putin, but then again, that is Paris Climate Agreement, stop drilling
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
ing to prevent kids from spreading the all it was—words, not action. on Federal lands and in Federal waters,
coronavirus. It has done it by improv- This Friday is the expiration date for and so much more. Why did the Presi-
ing ventilation, by social distancing, the New START treaty—the only re- dent focus on this agenda? Well, be-
and by disinfecting our classrooms. maining bilateral strategic nuclear cause he has called climate change—
So while Democrats were taking agreement between the United States not nuclear weapons—the existential
their orders from teachers unions, Sen- and Russia. Since New START entered threat of our time.
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S236 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 2, 2021
Don’t get me wrong—I think our Here we are, a year and a half after working with this new administration.
country can and should do more to re- that estimate, and there is no reason If you recall, the Senate is now a 50–50
duce emissions and preserve our land to believe that China has changed its split. That is as closely divided as you
and waters for future generations, but course. In fact, it appears the an- can possibly be. There are 50 Senators
those measures shouldn’t come at the nouncement of a New START exten- on this side and 50 Senators on that
cost of thousands of jobs, reduced en- sion received a warm welcome in Bei- side. The House is more closely divided
ergy independence, and higher prices jing, just as it did in Moscow. The than it has been in years. And, signifi-
for consumers, including seniors on story that ran this weekend in the cantly, the American people are more
fixed incomes. South China Morning Post said this ex- divided than they have been in years.
I have always been a proponent of the tension ‘‘means the gap between China I think the American people, as a
‘‘all of the above’’ energy strategy, and the two nuclear giants. . . . will general matter—not everybody, but I
which relies on fossil fuels and renew- not widen and Beijing could spend the think the American people are looking
ables, as well as innovative tech- next five years catching up.’’ There for us to deal with these divisions here
nologies to provide our country with you have it. That is the real takeaway in the country by working together to
reliable, affordable, and lower emis- of a clean extension of New START. try to get something done, by working
sions energy sources. In fact, just The Biden administration has agreed together to help heal the wounds that
about a month ago, I introduced a bill to leave in place a framework in which are out there.
to help spur that innovation, which the Russians continue to cheat, the As for me, one Senator, I am very in-
was signed into law. But based on the Chinese play catch up, and the United terested in helping President Biden
emphasis of the Biden administration States is left to play by the rules of a make good on the pledge that he made
on climate change and the near silence bygone era. on the steps of the Capitol. On the west
we are hearing on nuclear treaties, you Rather than enter into a 5-year ex- steps, just that way in the U.S. Capitol,
would think that climate change is a tension of New START, the adminis- on Inauguration Day, January 20, the
bigger threat to the world than a nu- tration should have used its leverage to President said that he wanted to bring
clear war. Only in a fevered imaginary convene multilateral nuclear talks. our country together. He wanted to
world could that be true. America should invite the other non- help heal those wounds. He wanted us
Our Democratic colleagues in the proliferation states—Russia, China, to work across the aisle. He wanted to
Senate and many members of the France, and the UK—to the negotiating go back to an era here where we actu-
media played along as well, praising table and encourage multilateral talks ally sat down, debated things, worked
the President’s efforts to combat one limiting the growth of nuclear arsenals them out together, and, therefore,
self-proclaimed crisis while ignoring worldwide. helped bring our country together.
its failure to address a clear and I understand President Biden’s desire I hope, with regard to the COVID–19
present danger and a threat to the to focus on the issues he campaigned discussions, that Republicans and
planet. on—whether it is climate change, im- Democrats will agree to keep working
The fact is, the administration migration reform, or any other policy on charting the Federal response to the
missed a huge opportunity by extend- area—but in doing so, he should not ig- ongoing healthcare and economic crisis
ing the New START treaty without nore the larger threats to global secu- in a bipartisan way. It is the one area
any other conditions, and it has to do rity or relinquish the leverage we have where we have done it.
with much more than just the threats to secure a deal that improves global Yet when you think of all the divi-
posed by Russia. While the United security at large. sion in all of the times when we
States and Russia are the two biggest Nuclear weapons, not climate haven’t been able to find agreement on
nuclear powers in the world, we are not change, are the greatest existential things around here, one place we have
the only ones. There are five non- threat we face, and the United States been able to find agreement has been
proliferation treaty states, two of cannot sit idly by while Moscow and with regard to COVID–19. Specifically,
which are Russia and the United Beijing pass us by. we have passed five different bills—five
States. But there is also the UK and I yield the floor. bills—with big majorities, bipartisan
France, both of which provide regular I suggest the absence of a quorum. majorities. One was actually by unani-
information about the size and makeup The PRESIDING OFFICER. The mous consent.
of their nuclear arsenals. clerk will call the roll. The most recent one was just 5 weeks
The fifth and final power is China, a The bill clerk proceeded to call the ago or less, at the end of the year,
police state and one of the world’s roll. when Congress passed a $900 billion
greatest secret keepers, especially Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask COVID-relief package in an entirely bi-
when it comes to its nuclear arsenal. unanimous consent that the order for partisan way. And $900 billion, by the
China, we think, has quietly been the quorum call be rescinded. way, makes that the second most ex-
growing its nuclear arsenal for years, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without pensive legislative package that Con-
and the thick cloak of secrecy sur- objection, it is so ordered. gress has ever passed—$900 billion. The
rounding the Chinese Communist Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I am first one was the CARES Act, which
Party has made it nearly impossible to here on the floor today to talk about also related to the coronavirus pan-
verify information about the breadth the way forward for this new Congress demic that we are in. Over $4 trillion—
and depth of its nuclear capabilities. and the new Biden administration. that is trillion with a ‘‘t’’—has been
But from the information we have, we Specifically, this afternoon, we are spent on this, larger than our typical
know China continues to pursue a nu- talking about the budget resolution annual budget for everything in gov-
clear triad, and experts estimate China that the Democratic side has proposed. ernment. And do you know what? It is
to have about 300 nuclear weapons. As- There was a vote today to begin to pro- a crisis, and we needed to step up to
suming that figure is correct, it makes ceed on that. My understanding is that the plate.
China the third most powerful nuclear by the end of this week, we will have a But now, while the ink is still drying
country in the world, behind the number of amendments about the on the bill that we passed at the end of
United States and Russia, and we have budget, and this all goes toward a proc- the year, the Biden administration has
every reason to believe that the size of ess called reconciliation. If the two proposed another $1.9 trillion to deal
its arsenal will continue to grow. budgets are agreed upon, that would with the coronavirus pandemic.
In May of 2019, then-Director of the enable us—with 50 votes rather than My own view is that, again, this is an
Defense Intelligence Agency, Robert the normal 60 votes—to take on a real- area where we have been able to come
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
Ashley, said China is likely to at least ly important issue, which is the issue together. Let’s do it again.
double the size of its nuclear stockpile of how we should address the COVID–19 Is there more need out there? Well,
over the next decade. He referred to pandemic. when Congress passed the $900 billion
this effort as ‘‘the most rapid expan- But, to me, this is an even bigger legislation, we all said: This is a bridge
sion and diversification of its nuclear question. It is a question about how we to get us to between now and when the
arsenal in China’s history.’’ are going to proceed, as a Congress, vaccines are readily available, which
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February 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S237
we all hope happens sooner rather than able to agree, it helped get our leader- crats who are on the 908 Coalition were
later. ship more focused on how to find a bi- not consulted, period.
But there may be some things we partisan result, as we had done pre- That is not the way forward. Why
need to do in the interim—I think viously, because things weren’t going would we do that? Why wouldn’t we,
there are—and maybe some things very well. They weren’t talking to each once again, do what we have proven we
after the March, April time period that other. They weren’t making the can do, particularly following what I
we hadn’t thought about for the vac- progress that we had hoped. That group thought was an excellent speech, talk-
cine availability. The vaccines are has shown that we can, indeed, come ing about how we can work together.
moving out more slowly than expected. together and make tough choices. Not The $1.9 trillion package that was
So I, for one, am willing to sit down one thing in that legislative effort was sent up does have extraneous matters
with Republicans and Democrats alike, not bipartisan. that have nothing to do with COVID–
as we have done, again, five different By the way, there were five of us on 19, as the Heroes Act did. I understand
times, to work on how we can come to- the Republican side, five on the Demo- that these are popular proposals, par-
gether to provide that bridge to a bet- cratic side. None of us agreed with all ticularly on the Democratic side. We
ter time when the economy will im- of it. It was a matter of compromise— can debate those, and we can have a
prove because the COVID–19 issue will a word that maybe isn’t too popular vote on those, but let’s do it outside of
have been addressed. anymore, but that is how you get the COVID–19 context.
My concern is that, again, today, we things done around here. You have to We should have a debate about min-
started down a track, by starting on figure out: What is that common imum wage. We should have a debate
the budget, to end up with budget rec- ground? What is the way in which you on changing the child tax credit, the
onciliation, which would mean a 50- can make progress without having ev- earned-income tax credit, which would
vote rather than a 60-vote margin be- erything your way? not affect COVID–19 at all because no
cause the other side of the aisle— We have shown we can do it. The 908 one believes that a year from now that
Democrats—think it would be better Coalition is ready to go again. we are going to be in this position,
not to try to work out something on a I will say that what we were able to which is when people could take advan-
bipartisan basis but to simply use their do with that coalition was to help tage of those tax credits. But they are
majority to get something through move the process forward in a bipar- in the legislation, as an example.
here that they would like to do that is tisan way. And, in the end, we got $69 There are provisions in there for
clean energy. That is a good debate for
consistent with where President billion in funding for vaccine develop-
us to have but not in the context of
Biden’s $1.9 trillion package is. ment and distribution, $82 billion to
We will see. Maybe they could be suc- this. There are provisions in there for
support our students in school, $325 bil-
cessful at that, maybe not, because it cyber security—$10 billion for improv-
lion to restart the highly successful
would require every Member on that ing our cyber security in the Federal
small business program called the Pay-
Government. The Presiding Officer and
side of the aisle to agree with the $1.9 check Protection Program.
I actually like that idea, to have cyber
trillion package, which is a comprehen- At unprecedented deficit times,
security funds and to set up a new way
sive, complicated package, which in- where we want to be sure every dollar
to push back against these terrible
cludes a number of things addressed to is wisely spent, that $900 billion was
cyber attacks that we have had, par-
COVID–19 but another number of about one-seventh of the size of the
ticularly recently—a massive one. But
things that are unrelated to COVID–19, Democratic proposal that was origi-
that is not appropriate for the COVID–
some of which are popular on the other nally out there and was supported by a
19 bill. As much as I would like to have
side of the aisle in particular, like lot of Democrats here in the Senate—
that debate, let’s do it separately. By
changes in tax law that have nothing not one Republican, by the way. That the way, that can be bipartisan as well.
to do with COVID–19, changes to the was a $3.5 trillion bill called the Heroes The $1.9 trillion proposal also has a
Federal minimum wage that have Act. We ended up doing something that new round of stimulus checks that are
nothing to do with COVID–19. But we was smaller but more targeted and written so that a family with three
will see. more effective in dealing with the im- kids making $290,000 a year can end up
But even if they could pass it by the mediate problems with no extraneous getting a check from the Federal Gov-
barest majority, given that it is a 50–50 provisions that had nothing to do with ernment, even if they have had no neg-
Senate, it is not the right way to go for COVID–19, which was the case of the ative impact from COVID–19. That
our country. I don’t think anybody Heroes Act. seems, to us, to be wrongheaded. And, I
truly believes it is the best thing for So we have done it time and time think, frankly, a lot of Democrats
our country. again—five different times. Let’s do it agree to that, too, and believe it ought
Again, if we can’t come together as again. to be more targeted toward those who
Republicans and Democrats, as we have If we are going to continue respond- need it the most.
proven that we can time and again over ing to this crisis in a smart way that The economic analysis in this is
the last year, what can we come to- meets the needs of our constituents, it clear, which is that these higher in-
gether on? And wouldn’t that poison is going to require us having that kind come individuals who have received
the well? Wouldn’t it make it harder of a good-faith, bipartisan negotiation. earlier stimulus checks have ended up
for us, then, to find that common Again, in his inaugural address, not spending them, meaning they don’t
ground on things like infrastructure President Biden said: ‘‘This is our his- stimulate the economy, which is the
investments, on things like retirement toric moment of crisis and challenge, whole idea of the stimulus checks.
security? I think it is going to be hard- and unity is the path forward.’’ There is some recent data out by an
er if we start off on the wrong foot, if I don’t think he meant just unity economist named Chetty, who is well
we start off in a purely partisan way. with one party or another. Clearly, the respected, that says, of the $1,400 that
I was part of the group of five Demo- context of that speech and his other the proposal that the President has
crats and five Republicans who sat comments were about outreach to Re- laid out going to these families—of
down—we call ourselves the 908 Coali- publicans and Democrats alike to get that $1,400, if someone makes over
tion because we put together a bipar- back to an era where we worked to- $78,000 a year, likely they only spend
tisan framework, actual legislation, on gether. about $105 of that money. The rest they
COVID–19. This was over the last few Unfortunately, since that address, will save, put in the stock market, do
months before Christmas. Then, at the the President’s team and his party ap- something else with it but not spend.
end of the year, Congress passed the pear to have chosen a different path, So let’s target it. We are not against
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
$900 billion bill. Our framework pro- introducing this new COVID–19 pack- stimulus checks, but we are against
vided a basis for that. It wasn’t exactly age I talked about without any input, sending stimulus checks to people who
the same, but it provided a basis for any consultation with any Republican are wealthy, who don’t need it. That
that. or, for that matter, I think it is fair to seems like not an effective use of tax-
Frankly, because Republicans and say, any Democrat in this Chamber. I payer dollars at a time of these unprec-
Democrats alike—five and five—were may be wrong. But I know the Demo- edented deficits and debts, with our
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S238 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 2, 2021
debt being the highest it has been, as a That is why I don’t understand this We also provide an additional $12 bil-
percent of our economy, since World process. lion for nutrition programs to combat
War II. Our 908 Coalition—this bipartisan food insecurity and ensure that fami-
We also have to realize that the $900 group, which is now 20 Members, 10 Re- lies, kids have food on the table. This
billion that was in the package that publicans and 10 Democrats—and we is consistent, again, with the Biden ad-
just passed 5 weeks ago or less has not took it up to 10 Republicans because we ministration plan. These are ones that
been fully spent. In fact, most analyses wanted to show that you can get to 60 we agree on.
show that less than half of that $900 votes. If you had 50 Democrats, you Our proposal also includes $20 billion
billion has gone out the door. So we would have 10 Republicans willing to for the childcare and development
can’t know what the impact has been work with them. And I am sure there block grants so our childcare facilities
of what we just spent—again, the sec- are many, many more than those 10. I across the country can stay open, so
ond largest expenditure of funds ever in know there are. This group is now the parents can go back to work.
the history of this Congress because being tested. Childcare is incredibly expensive.
half of it has not even got out the door, This group was bipartisan under Again, this is where we agree.
or more. Let’s do an analysis there. President Trump. I hope it will be bi- We have a new round of $50 billion in
Apparently, without taking the time partisan under President Biden. I hope financial support for small businesses,
to see if there are 60 Senators willing that that bipartisanship shows up but we use it in a program we know
to move forward with this new idea of quickly before we go down this path. works rather than setting up a new
a new bipartisan package, this rec- We had a meeting last week of our program, which would take a long time
onciliation approach I talked about 908 Coalition, and our Democratic col- to put in place.
earlier is the one that Democrats seem leagues asked us: What can we support? We help the hardest hit families and
to want to take. It is a rare process. If it is not $1.9 trillion, what is it? Fair individuals through expanding unem-
question. Again, many of us think we ployment insurance for those who lose
You have to have a budget passed by
ought to find out what happened to the their jobs through no fault of their
both sides. It only happens every few
$900 billion first, hard-earned tax own. We expand it from where it cur-
years. The reconciliation is in the un-
money that hasn’t been spent yet. But rently ends now, in mid-March, to the
derlying budget we are voting on over
we said: OK. We will put together a end of June, so June 30.
the next couple of days here. It is
proposal that we could support—not We extend it at $300 per week, which
something that can be used—reconcili-
that we support all elements of it but is the Federal supplement now in place.
ation—only for budget-related issues,
we could support in order to respond to There, the Biden administration wants
only for mandatory spending and for
the President’s $1.9 trillion package in $400 rather than $300 and wants to ex-
revenue, for taxes, and for reducing the
addressing all of the major issues that tend it into September, to September
debt. So it has to be budget related. he addressed.
Actually, some of the things in the 30. There is no economic data that says
Over the weekend, we outlined a $600 that that will be necessary. If it is, we
$1.9 trillion dollar package can’t even billion package that does just that. It can take it up again. So there we have
be done by reconciliation, which would addresses the most urgent needs of our a proposal that is similar but more tar-
mean we would have to be changing the country. It does not include any of the geted to meet the real needs of our
rules of this body in order to include unrelated provisions in the Democrats’ economy.
them in reconciliation. That is another package that have nothing to do with Our proposal also provides direct
bad idea. First bad idea, not to work on COVID–19. What it does contain is the stimulus checks to Americans who
a bipartisan basis. At least try. At same $160 billion that is in the $1.9 tril- really need that extra amount of
least try. The second one is, using rec- lion package as it relates to money to pay their rent or put food on
onciliation, which is a mere 50-vote healthcare. the table or pay their mortgage. By the
margin for something that is not di- What does that mean? It means that way, we do it by lowering these limits.
rectly related to the budget that has a if we are going to get out of this crisis Instead of going to families that make
direct impact. It can’t be merely inci- we find ourselves in, we have to address 300,000 bucks a year or more—if they
dental to the budget, as an example. the COVID–19 issue, right? We are not have got three or four kids, we say let’s
There are a number of provisions in just going to have an economy improve cap it at $50,000 for individuals, $100,000
there that fit that category. And there immediately to the extent we would for families, an additional $500 per
is at least discussion, I am told—and like to see it without dealing with the child.
we have heard it openly from my col- healthcare crisis. That is what is driv- Again, all the economists say that is
leagues on the other side of saying: ing the fact that restaurants are closed what makes sense because those are
Well, we are just going to overrule the down, the fact that people are losing the folks who are really going to spend
Chair—essentially nuke—going the nu- jobs through no fault of their own, the it and need it. Let’s target this to
clear option, as they say. The nuclear fact that we have these economic those who really need the help.
option means that you overrule the issues related to COVID. So the sen- We accomplish all these things at
Chair—and by a mere 50 votes, change sible thing to do is to be sure we are one-third of the cost of the Biden pro-
the rules of the Senate. dealing with the vaccine, development posal. Much of the difference between
Please don’t do that. That would be, and distribution, dealing with testing, our proposal and the Biden administra-
again, setting us down a path of par- dealing with tracing, making sure we tion’s is we don’t include the extra-
tisanship we don’t need to do. It would have proper PPE. All of that is in the neous matters, but also it is how we ad-
be poisoning the well. It would be say- $160 billion that is in the Biden pro- dress these two crises: the healthcare
ing—just as getting rid of the filibuster posal. It is also in the proposal that we crisis to defeat the underlying disease
would—we are going to change the Republicans on the Coalition put for- and the work we are trying to do to en-
rules now that we are in charge. ward—$160 billion, the same. sure the economy can recover. Both
The rules are there for a reason. And For those issues, we are consistent proposals rightly provide the resources
that is to ensure that, to the extent with President Biden’s plan on addi- needed to address the healthcare crisis,
possible, the Senate is a body where tional healthcare support. Our proposal as I said.
you find at least some modicum of bi- also prioritizes getting kids back to But with regard to the economic cri-
partisanship to move forward because the classroom, which we think is really sis, we take a little different approach.
you have to get those 60 votes, not just important. Specifically, we have $20 Our focus is on getting targeted aid to
50 votes or 51. billion toward getting children safely those who need it the most. In con-
By trying to jam through this $1.9 back into classrooms, which is on top trast, a large portion of the adminis-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
trillion legislation, it sets exactly the of the $82 billion we just spent on tration’s $1.9 trillion package is about
wrong tone for the country and also for schools at the end of year. As a parent, spending taxpayer dollars to stimulate
the administration. I think President I couldn’t feel more strongly about the economy that, based on all the
Biden has a real opportunity to help this; we need to get our children back data, is already beginning to recover.
heal our country—I really do. By the to school, and we need to make sure we And that is something that, frankly, is
way, I think he sincerely wants to. it is safe—and we can do both. not an effective use of taxpayer dollars.
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February 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S239
Just yesterday, the nonpartisan Con- ing: ‘‘It shouldn’t take $1.9 trillion to Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I
gressional Budget Office, or CBO, re- fill a $400 billion or $800 billion hole’’ in want to compliment my good friend
ported that the economy is growing our economy. and colleague Senator PORTMAN, the
quite well right now. They project a We have more data to suggest that great Senator from the State of Ohio,
3.7-percent real economic growth in the economy is on a path to recovery. who has done so much in this Chamber
this year we are in, in 2021. That is sig- For example, we know that household on so many issues—COVID–19 relief is
nificant economic growth. That takes incomes rose slightly—but they rose— just one—to help our great Nation.
into account inflation, real economic in December. This was the first in- Some of you may have heard the
growth at 3.7 percent. That just came crease in 3 months. The personal sav- news that Senator PORTMAN—I am still
out yesterday. ings rate in December rose signifi- very distraught about it—has an-
By the way, the Wall Street Journal cantly—13.7 percent—indicating there nounced that he is not going to be run-
does a survey of a bunch of econo- is a lot of pent-up demand right there ning for reelection in 2 years, and I
mists—60 economists—and their con- for people to get out and start spending think that is going to be a huge loss,
sensus for the economic growth in this money again. not just to the State of Ohio but to our
year is not 3.7 percent, it is 4.3 percent. To me, all this points to a pretty great Nation.
Even better. So the economy is pro- clear conclusion that in the immediate I want to commend Senator PORTMAN
jected to grow quite well this year. aftermath of the $900 billion bipartisan for all his phenomenal work. He is
Importantly, the CBO also said that package just passed at year end, there proving, again, his leadership and his
the economy is expected to recover to is simply not a strong argument to statesmanship here as we are trying to
prepandemic levels by the middle of spend an additional $1.9 trillion on attack and take on big challenges for
the year. They say that by June 30, the stimulus. Instead, we need to use this our Nation.
economy will be back to where it was next COVID–19 package to focus on the CHINA
before the pandemic, which was a very ongoing healthcare challenges of the Mr. President, I also want to talk
strong economy. In fact, a year ago pandemic—that is the key thing—and about another big challenge for our Na-
February, this month, we had 19 on getting targeted economic relief to tion, something that I have come down
straight months of wage growth of over the hardest hit Americans, which is on the floor since I was elected 6 years
3 percent. We had the lowest poverty what our $600 billion proposal does. ago to the Senate to talk about, and
rate in the history of our country. I appreciate that, in the last few that is the challenge that we have with
There was a lot of good things going on days, President Biden has expressed
regard to the rise of China. As a matter
in our economy. And they say we are more willingness to work with bipar-
of fact, this is an area I talk frequently
going to get back to that—this is CBO, tisan Members of Congress on this crit-
about because there is a lot more bi-
not me—by the middle of this year. ical challenge. After we wrote to Presi-
partisan progress on this incredibly im-
Meanwhile, after record-high jobless dent Biden on Sunday requesting a
portant issue—the most important
claims we saw last spring when unem- meeting to discuss our targeted
geostrategic challenge facing our Na-
ployment hit 14.7 percent, the national COVID–19 relief proposal, he quickly
tion right now, probably the challenge
unemployment rate has fallen to 6.7 accepted, and, yesterday, we had a
that will be facing us for the next 50 to
percent, which means Americans are lengthy and, I thought, very productive
discussion at the White House. While 100 years—that is with us today.
able to find work, for the most part. Is But there has been progress. I want
it where I would like it to be? No. But we didn’t come to an agreement on a
to talk about this progress, and I want
the CBO says the unemployment num- proposal—and as you can see today on
to talk about something, another de-
the floor, Democrats are moving for-
bers are going to go down, as does ev- velopment that I think is very impor-
ward with this budget process, regard-
erybody else who has projected this tant.
less—it was a productive discussion
over the next year. They say it is going There has been an awakening. When I
and gives me hope that we can follow
to drop this year to 5.3 percent. Five started to come down and talk about
the bipartisan approach we have taken
percent used to be considered full em- the rise of China, not a lot of people
from the previous five COVID bills. The
ployment. We would like to see it even were talking about it, but there has
meeting reaffirmed that there is a lot
better than that. But the point is, the been huge progress in that now every-
of common ground for us to build an-
economy is improving. And as we get body is talking about it—the Biden ad-
other bill upon and that we share the
these virus pandemic issues under con- ministration, and the Trump adminis-
belief that we need to ensure the hard-
trol, the economy will improve even tration had been. I think President
est hit individuals and families and
more. Having the vaccines readily small businesses get more support they Trump and his team, with their na-
available is going to make a big dif- need during this crisis. tional security strategy, their national
ference. And, of course, again, that is My hope is that we can use these two defense strategy, deserve a lot of credit
why we put so much money into that proposals as a starting point for nego- from reorienting our focus, which was
in our proposal. tiations on a COVID–19 response pack- the appropriate focus post-9/11 on vio-
CBO is basing these projections, by age that Congress can pass, as we have lent extremist organizations, like al-
the way, without factoring any of the before, consistently, with bipartisan Qaida and ISIS, to the new challenge of
new $1.9 trillion. They don’t assume support, not through partisan par- great power competition with China as
that there will be any more stimulus liamentary maneuvers. the pacing threat that we have with re-
than what we just passed several weeks This pandemic gives us an oppor- gard to our Nation.
ago. In other words, while the Biden tunity to come together as Republicans Again, this is something that has
Administration says we need $1.9 tril- and Democrats and show the American been very bipartisan. When you look at
lion in new spending or our economy people we can put aside the partisan- Members of this body, particularly
will tank, CBO says very clearly that is ship and the divisions that have be- those who focus on foreign policy and
not true. come the norm around here and get national security, they all agree that
Instead, we need to help those who things done. this reorientation on this challenge is
are still struggling and cannot find a If we can’t do it on COVID–19, as we something that we need to be doing as
job because their industry shuttered or have five times already, where can we a country in a bipartisan way—dealing
their business isn’t allowed to reopen, do it? with the rise of China.
and that is what our targeted proposal I look forward to continuing to work I think, when we talk about this
will do. with my colleagues on both sides of the challenge, we are at a place in history
Other respected sources agree with aisle and with President Biden to fol- that, in many ways, is analogous to the
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
CBO’s optimism. I mentioned these 68 low his desire to make good on his period right after World War II. I want
economists indicating 4.3 percent eco- pledge in the inaugural address to work to talk briefly about that in my re-
nomic growth. The Committee for a together to respond to this crisis. marks.
Responsible Federal Budget said yes- I yield the floor. In 1946, we had what at the time was
terday that the CBO data underscores The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- a recognition that, post World War II,
the need for a targeted package, say- ator from Alaska. we had a new challenge—similar to the
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S240 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 2, 2021
challenge we are seeing right now, the similar to that ‘‘X Article’’ in 1946 and well beyond his country’s own borders to the
recognition that we have this challenge 1947. The author is anonymous and put world at large. China, under Xi, unlike under
with China. In 1946, we started to rec- out a strategy with insights on how we, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu
Jintao—[three previous Chinese leaders]—is
ognize that we have a challenge with as a nation, should deal with the rise of no longer a status quo power. It has become
our old World War II ally, the Soviet China. The Atlantic Council, as I said, a revisionist power.
Union. There was a big focus on this has been around for decades. They pub- That is very troubling for the United
challenge, but not necessarily in orga- lished this, and they said this is prob- States, and this is the situation as laid
nizing foreign policy principles that ably the most impressive strategy doc- out by the author of the ‘‘Long Tele-
could help us get through it. ument that they have ever published.
Then, in the 1946–1947 period, an gram.’’
Now, is it perfect? Is this the answer? What has the U.S. response been so
American diplomat named George Ken- Is this the containment strategy from far? It has been good, but it needs to
nan wrote an article. It was an anony- 1946 and 1947 that was the triumph of improve.
mous article—he signed it the ‘‘X Arti- American diplomacy over the last 50 The author gives credit to the Trump
cle’’—in Foreign Affairs, and it was years with the Soviet Union? administration for sounding the alarm
called ‘‘The Sources of Soviet Con- We shall see. We don’t know. But I in its national security strategy and
duct.’’ What Kennan did, really, for the looked through it, and I do think it is national defense strategy with regard
country, for elected officials, for the quite a remarkable document, and it is to the ‘‘strategic competition,’’ the
Senate, for the executive branch, is a great important development that we ‘‘central challenge’’ to our foreign pol-
that he laid out what he saw as the all need to come together on and this icy, and great power competition that
challenge that we are facing with re- new administration—the Biden admin- all have resulted from the rise of
gard to the Soviet Union—the internal istration—needs to take a hard look at. China.
weaknesses that the Soviets actually The focus of this strategy document Anonymous writes that a simple,
had—with incredible insights in that says, which we all believe now, that Kennan-like strategy of containment
regard, and, then, what our long-term ‘‘the single most important challenge won’t be effective with regard to China
strategy should be. facing the United States in the twenty- because China has studied what hap-
Here is what he said in this article. first century is the rise of an increas- pened to the USSR, learned from its
He said that American policymakers
ingly authoritarian China under Presi- mistakes, and understood that the in-
need to enact a policy of ‘‘firm contain-
dent General Secretary Xi Jinping.’’ herent structural weakness with regard
ment’’ with regard to the Soviet Union,
I think a lot of us know that. A lot of to the Soviet model itself was some-
a country that always was trying to ex-
us have been talking about that. That thing that caused it to collapse, so
pand. He said, if we, as a nation, with
is the awakening that I believe has China has focused on that.
our allies, try to contain this expan-
happened here in the United States and Yet, as I mentioned, the author em-
sion, it would ‘‘increase enormously
certainly here in the U.S. Senate. phasizes another central vulnerability
the strains under which the Soviet
But like the Kennan article, this one of the Chinese system, one which he or
[Union and its] policy must operate
has some very perceptive insights. One she, the author, thinks we need to take
. . . and in this way promote ten-
is that it focuses on what it sees as one advantage of.
dencies which must eventually find
of the biggest weaknesses in China Here is what Anonymous writes:
their outlet in either the breakup or
the gradual mellowing of Soviet right now, and that is the fracturing of The political reality is that the [Chinese
the Communist Party leadership. I am Communist Party] is significantly divided on
power.’’ Xi’s leadership and his vast ambitions. Sen-
Think about that. That was the going to talk about that because it em-
ior party members have been greatly trou-
strategy of containment laid out by phasizes—‘‘anonymous’’ here empha-
bled by Xi’s policy directions and angered by
George Kennan, followed for decades by sizes—that should be our focus. his endless demands for absolute loyalty.
American administrations, by this The piece begins by setting the stage They fear for their own lives and the future
body, Republicans and Democrats—the of where we are right now. livelihoods of their families.
strategy of containment. And we all The strategy article published by the Of particular political toxicity in
know what happened. Atlantic Council is titled ‘‘The Longer this mix are the reports unearthed by
George Kennan’s fundamental in- Telegram: Toward a New American the international media of the wealth
sights into this policy—that the Soviet China Strategy’’ and can be found at amassed by Xi’s family and members of
Union would either mellow or com- https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/con- his political inner circle, like so many
pletely break down and collapse be- tent-series/atlantic-council-strategy- other authoritarians who amass wealth
cause we were putting containment paper-series/the-longer-telegram/. through corruption, despite the vigor
pressure on them—ended up happening. It talks about the scale of the econ- with which Xi has conducted his own
The Berlin Wall came down just as omy of China and its military and the anti-corruption campaign, which has
Kennan predicted. The Soviet Union speed of its technical advancement and destroyed many of his rivals.
broke up peacefully, and this was a re- its radically different world view than So what do we do with this informa-
markable triumph of American democ- that of the United States. It notes that tion? As Anonymous writes here—the
racy and strategy that our Nation China now profoundly impacts every author of the ‘‘Long Telegram’’—we
should be proud of. That is what hap- major U.S. national interest. This is need to focus on Xi Jinping himself.
pened then. our challenge, one that is gradually U.S. strategy must remain laser-focused on
A lot of us have been saying that we emerged over two decades and has ac- Xi, his inner circle, and the Chinese political
are at a new point with regard to celerated greatly under the leadership context in which they rule. Changing their
China. There is an awakening. What of Xi Jinping. decision-making will require understanding,
should that strategy be? I want to talk How has Xi Jinping ruled during this operating within, and changing their polit-
about a strategy document that just rise? He has eliminated his political ical and strategic paradigm. All U.S. policy
came out. opponents. He has stalled market re- aimed at altering China’s behavior should
Kennan’s document was called the revolve around this fact, or it is likely to
forms, used ethno-nationalism to unite prove ineffectual.
‘‘Long Telegram.’’ Just this past week- his country, and his treatment of eth-
end, the Atlantic Council—which is a This, Anonymous writes, has been
nic minorities has bordered on geno-
think tank here in DC and has been the missing piece of the puzzle for our
cide. In doing so, he has fostered a
around for decades and is very well re- China strategy so far.
quasi-Maoist personality cult and a
spected on the Republican side and the While U.S. leaders often differentiate be-
new form of totalitarian, high-tech po- tween China’s Communist Party government
Democrat side—put out a strategy that lice state.
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
and the Chinese people [correctly], Wash-
they called the ‘‘Longer Telegram,’’ Anonymous writes: ington [leaders] must achieve the sophistica-
literally in kind of the analogous situa- In what is a fundamental departure from tion necessary to go even further. U.S. lead-
tion that George Kennan had done this his risk-averse post-Mao predecessors, Xi ers also must differentiate between the gov-
in 1946 and 1947. [Jinping] has demonstrated that he intends ernment and the party elite, as well as be-
This strategy, also, coincidentally, to project China’s authoritarian system, co- tween the party elite and Xi [Jinping him-
does not identify the author. So it is ercive foreign policy, and military presence self].
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February 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE CORRECTION S241
That is critical. only provide a model, and we can only I yield the floor.
According to Anonymous, we must show the way. We need to do so with (Mr. HICKENLOOPER assumed the
work to drive a wedge between these confidence and with our allies. Chair.)
groups and to frustrate Xi’s ambitions As Anonymous concludes, there is a The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. HAS-
in order to ‘‘cause China’s elite leader- subtle, yet corrosive, force that has SAN). The majority leader.
ship to collectively conclude that it is been at work in the United States for f
in the country’s best interests to con- some time, raising doubt about our Na- HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY
tinue operating within the existing tion’s future, and some who are encour- OF HENRY LOUIS AARON
U.S.-led liberal international order aging a sense that, as a country, Amer-
rather than build a rival [authori- ica’s best days may now be in the past. Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
tarian] order [throughout the world], Well, I, for one, certainly and fully dis- ask unanimous consent that the Com-
and that it is in the party’s best inter- agree with this, as does the author of mittee on the Judiciary be discharged
ests . . . not to attempt to expand Chi- the ‘‘Long Telegram.’’ We are a young from further consideration and the
na’s borders or to export its political country. We are a resilient country. Senate now proceed to S. Res. 23.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
[authoritarian] model beyond China’s Our innovation is beyond compare. We
objection, it is so ordered.
shores.’’ are a free country, and as a result of The clerk will report the resolution
That is the juxtaposition of the sig- the long twilight struggle with the So- by title.
nificant challenge we have right now viet Union, we also know what works: The legislative clerk read as follows:
with the current strategy in what maintaining peace through strength, A resolution (S. Res. 23) honoring the life
Anonymous writes in this document promoting free markets and free people and legacy of Henry Louis Aaron.
that we should be building on. at home, and having the confidence in There being no objection, the com-
In building on these insights, the au- George Kennan’s insights from 1946 and mittee was discharged and the Senate
thor emphasizes that U.S. strategy 1947 that the Chinese Communist proceeded to consider the resolution.
should comprise seven integrated com- Party, like the Soviet Communist Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous con-
ponents. Many of us have come down to Party, likely ‘‘bears within it the seeds sent that the resolution be agreed to,
the floor to talk about some of these, of its own decay.’’ the preamble be agreed to, and that the
but let me touch on a few: rebuilding While democracies are resilient, motions to reconsider be considered
the economic, military, technological, adaptive, and self-renewing, there are made and laid upon the table.
and human capital underpinnings of many vulnerabilities embedded in Chi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
long-term U.S. national power, and I na’s perceived strengths. One-man rule objection, it is so ordered.
think we can all agree on that; agree- creates acute political risks, as Anony- The resolution (S. Res. 23) was agreed
ing on a set of limited, enforceable pol- mous has described, that we need to to.
icy ‘‘red lines’’ that China should be take advantage of. Historical grievance The preamble was agreed to.
deterred from crossing under any cir- can breed violent nationalism. State- (The resolution, with its preamble, is
cumstances, such as forcibly invading directed economic growth can produce printed in the RECORD of January 28,
Taiwan; agreeing on a larger number of massive overcapacity and mountains of 2021, under ‘‘Submitted Resolutions.’’)
‘‘major national security interests’’ debt. f
which are neither vital nor existential The gradual and, in some ways, ab-
NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK
in nature but which require a range of rupt snuffing out of freedom in places
retaliatory actions to inform Chinese like Hong Kong is creating sponta- Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
strategic behavior; defining those areas neous protests of tens of thousands of ask unanimous consent that the Sen-
where continued strategic cooperation young people that we have been seeing ate proceed to the consideration of S.
with China remains in U.S. interests; now for months. China’s budding mili- Res. 25, submitted earlier today.
and prosecuting a full-fledged global tary power and historical view of itself The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
ideological battle in defense of our po- as a nation and culture superior to clerk will report the resolution by
litical and economic models in con- many others is alarming its neigh- title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
trast with China’s authoritarian state boring states, inspiring them to step up
A resolution (S. Res. 25) designating the
capitalist models around the world. Fi- their security cooperation with the week of January 24 through January 30, 2021,
nally, all of this needs to be done in United States. Nearly half of wealthy as ‘‘National School Choice Week’’.
conjunction with and closely coordi- Chinese want to emigrate, and these
There being no objection, the Senate
nating with all of our allies in Europe, are the winners from China’s four dec-
proceeded to consider the resolution.
in North America, and, of course, in ades of heavy economic growth. Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous con-
the Asia-Pacific. As we have in the past, Americans sent that the resolution be agreed to,
This last point is critical. Our allies can prevail in this long-term geo- the preamble be agreed to, and the mo-
are critical. We need to remember we political and ideological contest, but tions to reconsider be considered made
are an ally-rich nation. China is an doing so will require a new level of and laid upon the table with no inter-
ally-poor nation. That is one of our strategic initiative, organization, and vening action or debate.
huge comparative advantages in the confidence in who we are and what we The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
geostrategic challenge that we have stand for. This also means we must re- objection, it is so ordered.
with China over the next decades double our efforts in making the stra- The resolution (S. Res. 25) was agreed
At the end of the day, as Anonymous tegic case not just to Americans but to to.
writes, ideas matter. Ultimately, this others around the world, particularly The preamble was agreed to.
is going to be the contest of ideas—Chi- our allies. (The resolution, with its preamble, is
na’s authoritarian model, which it Let me conclude by saying that the printed in today’s RECORD under ‘‘Sub-
wants to promote and export, versus ‘‘Long Telegram,’’ while not perfect, mitted Resolutions.’’
the U.S. Western model of open econo- sets out what I believe is certainly one f
mies, just societies, and competitive, of the best strategies I have read to
free political systems. date about how the United States APPOINTMENTS
sradovich on DSKJLST7X2PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE
Over the long term, the author needs to address the significant chal- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
writes, the Chinese people may well lenge that we will be facing for dec- Chair, on behalf of the Vice President,
come to question and challenge the ades. pursuant to the provisions of 20 U.S.C.,
party’s century-long proposition that I hope my colleagues, Democrats and sections 42 and 43, appoints the fol-
China’s great, ancient civilization— Republicans, all have the opportunity lowing Senators as Members of the
thousands of years old—is forever des- to read this and analyze it, for, like Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
tined to an authoritarian future over Kennan’s strategy of containment, our Institution, respectively: the Honor-
which the people have no choice. That China policy, to be successful, also able PATRICK J. LEAHY of Vermont (re-
decision, however, must come from the needs to be very bipartisan and ready appointment) and the Honorable CATH-
Chinese people themselves. We can to be operationalized for decades. ERINE CORTEZ MASTO of Nevada.
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