Senate Session of February 3, 2021, Page S304 — Congressional Record
Summary
Page S304 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for February 3, 2021, in interleaved columns, as the Senate considers S. Res. 30 to amend a resolution of the Ninety-eighth Congress. Mr. Blumenthal, reserving the right to object, calls the measure a pretextual, ideological and extreme step and says the country is fast approaching 450,000 deaths, with more than 3,000 a day, which is his view. Another speaker says about 20 percent of working adults cite disrupted childcare arrangements and that women accounted for all jobs lost, and a further speaker describes rural internet access challenges in Arkansas.
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“Senate Session of February 3, 2021, Page S304 — Congressional Record.”
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S304 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 3, 2021
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Here is the reality when it comes to The Senator from Connecticut.
clerk will report the resolution by what happens in the midst of this pan- Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam Presi-
title. demic: We know that families have dent, reserving the right to object, this
The senior assistant legislative clerk many reasons they can’t make ends measure, essentially, is a pretextual,
read as follows: meet, but, also, many families have ideological, and extreme step that real-
A resolution (S. Res. 30) to amend S. Res members of their families who want to ly detracts from what should be our
458 of the Ninety-eighth Congress, as amend- get back to work. We are told that primary purpose at this moment in our
ed. about 20 percent of working adults say history.
There being no objection, the Senate the reason they are not working is that Literally, we are fast approaching
proceeded to consider the resolution. COVID–19 has disrupted their childcare 450,000 deaths in this country, and peo-
Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous con- arrangements. So it is both a childcare ple continue to die at the rate of more
sent that the resolution be agreed to access and affordability question. than 3,000 per day. Our economic
and that the motion to reconsider be The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells progress continues to be stalled. In
considered made and laid upon the us that women accounted for all jobs fact, it is declining, with joblessness
table with no intervening action or de- lost in December of 2020—not most increasing across Connecticut and the
bate. jobs, not some jobs. All jobs lost in the country. People are struggling to stay
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without United States were among women. in their homes, put food on their ta-
objection, it is so ordered. Women lost 156,000 jobs. Their labor bles, and pay for the medicine they
The resolution (S. Res. 30) was agreed force participation rate is at its lowest need. Our goal should be making sure
to. point in a third of a century. One of the people have vaccines and the economic
(The resolution is printed in today’s big reasons is childcare. We need to ex- support that they need. Instead, we are
pand the child and dependent care tax here on a measure that would, essen-
RECORD under ‘‘Submitted Resolu-
credit to give parents the ability to re- tially, take away rights, burden rights,
tions.’’)
coup thousands—not hundreds but for people—women—who need that
Mr. SCHUMER. Thank you, Madam
thousands—of dollars in childcare ex- right.
President.
penses. We ought to be focusing our energy
I thank my good friend, the Senator That is what my legislation will do.
from Pennsylvania. and attention on winning our fight
That is what the new administration against this pandemic, but, instead, we
I yield the floor. wants to do, and that is what we should are here, debating a pretextual and ide-
f do in this next COVID bill, and there ological bill, another anti-choice bill—
are a lot of reasons for it. yet another attempt to restrict a wom-
SETTING FORTH THE CONGRES- I will end with this. Last year, the
SIONAL BUDGET FOR THE an’s right to choose about when and
National Academy of Sciences released whether to have a child. This bill pur-
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT a roadmap to reduce child poverty. We
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021—Continued ports to be about protecting individ-
have heard of the good provisions in uals with Down syndrome, but it is
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- this legislation on the child tax credit
merely a pretext for requiring
ator from Pennsylvania. and the earned income tax credit and
healthcare providers to scrutinize
S. CON. RES. 5 of the substantial impacts they have
women for their decisions to seek an
Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I will had on lowering child poverty—one es-
abortion. The pretext is to take away
continue with the brief discussion timate, by half.
Also contributing to this and to those individual rights.
about home and community-based As a matter of fact, this bill has
services. lower child poverty even more would be
nothing to do with protecting people
It is so critical, as I mentioned ear- to enhance the child and dependent
with Down syndrome, and it has noth-
lier, to have these services available care tax credit. Here are the numbers:
9.2, 9.2, and 518. What do I mean? The ing to do with addressing discrimina-
for seniors and for people with disabil- tion. If my colleague would like to
ities, and it is also relevant in the life National Academy of Sciences says
that, if you have a robust child and de- genuinely help people with Down syn-
of a child. We know—and as the Pre- drome, he would ask for unanimous
siding Officer knows well in her efforts pendent care tax credit, you can reduce
child poverty by 9.2 percent. Guess consent on legislation that the dis-
to provide these services to those in ability community actually has sup-
the disability community and among what happens to wages. There are
raised aggregate earnings across the ported. The National Down Syndrome
seniors—that it is important to chil- Society wants increased funding for
country also by 9.2, but it just happens
dren as well. Medicaid home and com- medical research at the National Insti-
to be billions—$9.2 billion. Then the 518
munity-based services provide over $4 tutes of Health. It wants better edu-
refers to the jobs—increased net em-
billion right now in support so that cational opportunities and settings for
ployment by more than 518,000 jobs ac-
children can receive therapy and other people with Down syndrome. It wants
cording to the National Academy of
necessary services to participate in laws and policies that ensure economic
Sciences.
school, and as I mentioned earlier, we So, among the many, many things we self-sufficiency and better workplaces
know the impact upon seniors and peo- are doing in this bill, we need to invest and a fight against discrimination.
ple with disabilities. So that is the rea- in home and community-based services Those are the legislative priorities of
son we are emphasizing, among many and also invest in a much more robust this disability community, but what
reasons, the investment in this bill for child and dependent care tax credit. this bill actually does is it essentially
home and community-based services in I yield the floor. requires healthcare providers to inter-
the context of the pandemic and the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- rogate women about their decisions to
devastation of the virus and more ator from Oklahoma. seek an abortion. Healthcare providers
broadly. UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 75 who might violate this bill, if it ever
The second issue I will raise—I know Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I ask became law, would incur fines, impris-
we are short on time—is an issue that unanimous consent that the Com- onment, or both.
I mentioned earlier. In addition to mittee on the Judiciary be discharged In conclusion, people have a right to
home and community-based services, from further consideration of S. 75 and make these kinds of deeply personal
this is an issue that relates to the fam- that the Senate proceed to its imme- decisions. Those rights are protected
ily’s ability to pay for childcare. So it under our Constitution. We should be
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diate consideration. Further, I ask
affects the parents as well as the chil- unanimous consent that the bill be protecting people with Down syn-
dren. It is the child and dependent care considered read a third time and passed drome, and we should be expanding
tax credit. Obviously, it is an existing and that the motion to reconsider be their opportunities and fighting dis-
tax credit, a credit that parents have considered made and laid upon the crimination, not using them as a pre-
been able to rely on, but it is nowhere table. text for restricting and burdening a
near robust enough to make it possible The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there woman’s right to choose.
for more parents to afford childcare. objection? Therefore, I object.
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February 3, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S305
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- Tragically, instead of helping to pre- BLACKBURN. Senator INHOFE’s bill, the
tion is heard. serve, strengthen, and sustain the lives Protecting Individuals with Down Syn-
The Senator from Oklahoma. of women and children abroad, our tax- drome Act, would affirm that disability
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I payer dollars have been used to harm does not determine or demean the dig-
have a hard time with that, I say to my women’s lives and to end the lives of nity and worth of a human life. And
friend from Connecticut. their unborn children, especially baby Senator BLACKBURN’s bill would ensure
Somehow, in protecting those with girls. that taxpayer funds under the Title X
Down syndrome, you are killing those In some of these countries, girls are Family Planning Program do not go to
with Down syndrome. disproportionately aborted, precisely any facility that performs or provides
Right now, I am really shocked that because they are female. U.S. aid is referrals for abortions.
people would talk about protecting used not to affirm the equal dignity of In our laws and throughout our lives,
children. The previous speaker was girls and women but to violently deny we ought to uphold the dignity of each
from Pennsylvania. He had a bill on it. And in some of these countries, and every human person, regardless of
childcare and taking care of kids. Yet abortion has been forced on women the race, sex, appearance, abilities, or
now we are talking about the fact that who don’t even want abortions—women age of the person in question. The
a baby, in having been diagnosed with in countries like Vietnam or Peru, for measures before us today do just that,
having Down syndrome, somehow instance, who were forced to endure and we should support them.
should be aborted. I can’t think of how And now I would like to yield time to
the coercive abortion and sterilization
anyone could oppose this bill, espe- my friend and distinguished colleague,
campaigns of the 1990s, just to name a
cially because the American people the Senator from Montana.
few examples.
overwhelmingly—70 percent of them— What kind of aid does violence to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
oppose aborting a child on the basis women and girls? What kind of help is ator from Montana.
that the child would be born with Down Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I
it to impose U.S. abortion extremism
syndrome. That includes 56 percent of want to thank my colleague from
on countries that culturally and demo-
the people who consider themselves to Utah, Senator MIKE LEE, for his re-
cratically reject it or contribute to
be pro-abortion people. Fifty-six per- marks.
international organizations that allow
cent of the people who support abor- Last week, with the stroke of a pen,
regimes to use abortion as a tool of op-
tion oppose this on the basis of a Down President Biden eliminated critical
pression? And what kind of progress is
syndrome diagnosis. pro-life protections. He reversed the
In the United States, over two-thirds it to encourage sex-selective abortion
and the denigration of human dignity Mexico City policy and began the proc-
of the unborn babies diagnosed with
for both the baby and the mother? ess of dismantling title X protections
Down syndrome are aborted right now.
This cultural imperialism is not pro- against abortion.
Why? Instead of receiving information,
woman. It is not pro-child. And it is I am glad to join Senator LEE, Sen-
resources, and support, mothers often
not pro-healthcare. It is pro-sexism and ator BLACKBURN, along with several
resort to feeling pressure to abort.
Justice Clarence Thomas put it a lit- pro-violence, and we must end it. other pro-life Senators fighting back
tle bit more directly. He said: ‘‘I am According to the latest Marist poll, and calling on the Senate to pass the
deeply concerned that for babies with the American people overwhelmingly important bills today to reverse Presi-
Down syndrome, abortion has become agree. Nearly 60 percent of Americans dent Biden’s pro-abortion actions.
‘a tool of modern day eugenics.’ ’’ That oppose using tax dollars to pay for The bottom line is, President Biden’s
was from a U.S. Supreme Court Jus- abortions, and more than 75 percent of actions were basically a handout to
tice. Americans oppose using tax dollars to Planned Parenthood. It is no surprise,
My bill would protect these innocent support abortions in other countries— as Planned Parenthood spent millions
lives from systematic discrimination 75 percent. to get the President elected. Now they
through abortion. We say that we sup- Now, thankfully, President Ronald are simply cashing in—this time, on
port equality in the United States. Yet Reagan first took steps to reverse this the taxpayer’s dime.
countless babies’ lives have been stolen kind of support in 1984, instituting The United States should not spend
because of their chromosome counts. what became known as the Mexico City taxpayer dollars to support a radical
So I am surprised that my colleagues policy to prohibit foreign aid from abortion agenda throughout the world,
can object to this commonsense bill going to organizations that provide for and we should absolutely not allow a
and that they reject protecting the or promote abortions or that advocate slush fund of taxpayer dollars to line
most vulnerable among us, and, cer- to change abortion laws within a for- the pockets of Planned Parenthood.
tainly, those who are born with Down eign country. I also want to thank my colleague
syndrome are among the most vulner- Since then, the policy has, unfortu- Senator INHOFE, who urged the Senate
able among us. nately, been rescinded and reinstated to pass his bill today to protect babies
I just want the people to know out again and again between changing ad- with Down syndrome from being tar-
there, our friends in the Down syn- ministrations. Between Republicans geted for abortion.
drome community—and there is a com- and Democrats, it has been moved as a Now, I watched what happened here
munity—that a lot of people are con- sort of political football. just minutes ago. The Democrats ob-
cerned about this. I am going to keep But the lives of babies and the dig- jected. It is truly astounding. This bill
fighting for you even though some are nity of women—these are not political should have passed unanimously, and it
using any kind of excuse that they can footballs. Women and children every- really exposes a terrible hypocrisy.
think of from protecting these babies. where have immeasurable, innate, in- Most Republicans and Democrats
Before I yield the floor, I will respond herent dignity and worth, regardless of today in Congress are unified in sup-
to any comments from the Senator where they are from, and they ought to port for the Special Olympics. We are
from Connecticut. be entitled to the right to life and pro- unified in supporting protecting those
Hearing none, I yield the floor. tection from harm, regardless of who individuals with disabilities. Yet my
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- happens to be in office at any given colleagues across the aisle today op-
ator from Utah. moment. posed this commonsense legislation
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 137 The Protecting Life in Foreign As- that would stop the most lethal kind of
Mr. LEE. Madam President, the sistance Act affirms this very truth. discrimination—the most lethal kind
whole point of American foreign aid is This bill would permanently stop the of discrimination imaginable—and that
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to assist countries in times of need and use of our foreign aid money from fund- is being singled out and brutally killed
in support of a common interest be- ing or promoting abortions overseas. simply because of a Down syndrome di-
tween us and them. Yet, for many I also defend the women and babies agnosis.
years, our foreign aid dollars have been everywhere and value the women and Last week, I stood right here to bring
used to impose violent, cultural impe- babies everywhere by supporting two attention to this very chilling issue.
rialism by promoting and providing for other measures introduced by my Today, babies with Down syndrome are
the practice of abortion. friends Senator INHOFE and Senator the most endangered on Earth. In fact,
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S306 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 3, 2021
sadly, in the United States, 67 percent contraception and pregnancy and new- Research published in the Lancet
of babies diagnosed with Down syn- born healthcare, results in 49 million medical journal last July found that
drome are aborted. That is two out of more women with unmet contraceptive the global gag rule under President
three. needs; 15 million additional unintended George W. Bush—which was imple-
And, for me, this is personal. Last pregnancies; 1.7 million women and 2.6 mented on an exponentially smaller
week, I shared the story of a sweet million newborns who will experience scale than what was done by President
baby boy named Andrew. He is the son major complications due to not receiv- Trump and what is proposed in the law
of some of my very good friends. An- ing the care they need; and most unfor- that my colleague from Utah is asking
drew has Down’s. He brings light and tunate and sad, 28,000 more maternal for unanimous consent to put forward,
joy to his family’s life every day. He deaths and 168,000 more newborn deaths that kind of reduction in access to
has an older brother, an older sister. I because of this policy. And that is just services increases a country’s typical
can tell you, this world, their family a modest 10-percent reduction in fam- abortion rate by 40 percent while re-
would not be the same without him. ily planning access. ducing the use of modern contracep-
I am deeply concerned that for babies So if you really care about families tives by 3.5 percent.
with Down syndrome, abortion has be- and newborns, you will ensure that See, this is what happens when you
come a tool of eugenics. It is the duty they have access to the critical serv- don’t base policy decisions on scientific
of this body to end this lethal discrimi- ices that they need so they don’t have data. You get these kinds of narratives
nation. It is our duty to protect every those unintended pregnancies. that are absolutely inaccurate. What
innocent life, no matter how small, no It is safe to say that the COVID–19 we know and what is repeatedly evi-
matter how many chromosomes they pandemic, which has diverted care and dent through the research is that the
may have. shut down access to family planning global gag rule or, as my colleague
I believe every human being is cre- clinics across the globe, is greatly ex- calls it, protecting life in global health
ated with God-given dignity and God- acerbating the situation. So now is not assistance, actually increases abor-
given protection. No court, no legisla- the time to place draconian limits on tions.
ture, no law can take that away. family planning dollars. It is, unfortunately, simple logic. De-
I will not give up this fight, and I In fact, we need a renewed commit- creasing access to family planning
know many of my colleagues standing ment to comprehensive family plan- methods like modern contraception,
here today will not give up as well. ning. That is why last week, along with counseling, and the health spacing and
I want to thank Senator LEE. 47 of our colleagues, we reintroduced timing of pregnancies, directly leads to
I yield the floor back to Senator LEE. the bipartisan Global Health Empower- more unwanted pregnancies. But be-
Mr. LEE. Madam President, I ask ment and Rights Act. The bill, also cause this policy also limits abortion
unanimous consent that the Com- known as Global HER, would ensure services that organizations provide
mittee on Foreign Relations be dis- that care is not limited based on the with other non-U.S. funds, women with
charged from further consideration of President in the White House because unwanted pregnancies are forced to
S. 137 and that the Senate proceed to if we are going to actually get serious seek out unsafe abortions. That is why
its immediate consideration. I further about improving the lives of women we see the abortion numbers increase.
ask that the bill be considered read a and girls, we should be working to end So it is a lose-lose policy, and, of
third time and passed and that the mo- the global gag rule, not to expand it. course, it is women and children who
So for all of these reasons, I object to pay the price.
tion to reconsider be considered made
my colleague’s request. The Foundation for AIDS Research
and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ob-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there found that one-third of 286 PEPFAR
jection is heard. Programs implementing partners who
objection? The Senator from Utah.
The Senator from New Hampshire. were surveyed had altered their serv-
Mr. LEE. Madam President, 75 per- ices or organizational operations in re-
Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, cent of Americans, regardless of how
my colleague from Utah tells a nice sponse to the global gag rule under
they feel on other issues—I understand former President Trump—a great pro-
story, but it is not accurate. He is not my colleagues take different positions
being honest about what is going on gram, PEPFAR, under George W. Bush,
on issues related to the sanctity of that has saved millions of lives, and
with the global gag rule, and I am real- human life. I understand that. As much yet what we saw under the Trump im-
ly disappointed that he is once again as I disagree with them, I respect that plementation of the global gag rule is
trying to push this dangerous legisla- it is their right to hold that opinion. that they had to alter the services that
tion. This bill is about something much they provided, including reducing sex-
As I pointed out when I objected to narrower, something upon which Amer- ual and reproductive health and preg-
the same bill less than a year ago, the icans—75 percent of them—overwhelm- nancy counseling, youth outreach, con-
policy in question closes health clinics, ingly agree, and that is that we traception services, and HIV coun-
decreases care, and needlessly puts the shouldn’t be using U.S. foreign aid seling, testing, and treatment.
lives of women, children, and families money to fund or promote abortions The policies that my colleague is ad-
at risk. In fact, instead of protecting overseas. vocating for makes the situation worse
life, the global gag rule erects new bar- If we can’t accept that, it is terribly for women and families, and if he
riers to critical health services, includ- disappointing and would be news to would look at the scientific data, he
ing reproductive health services for most Americans. would understand that.
people and communities that already Thank you, Madam President. I yield the floor.
have limited access to affordable, qual- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
ity healthcare. ator from New Hampshire. ator from Tennessee.
And let’s be clear: America’s tax- Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 88
payer dollars do not go to fund abor- again, I would just like to correct what Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Presi-
tions overseas. my colleague is saying. We do not use dent, since 1976, Federal law has pro-
What my colleague is objecting to is foreign aid money to perform abortions hibited the use of Federal funds—tax-
funding for family planning services to overseas. In fact, a poll conducted by payer dollars—for abortion.
help women protect their families. And CHANGE, Center for Health and Gen- Section 1008 of the Public Health
the policy that he wants to codify into der Equity, demonstrates that 59 per- Service Act explicitly States that title
law is dangerous in the best of times, cent of likely voters—if we want to
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X funds ‘‘shall not be used in programs
but during a global pandemic, when talk about polls—59 percent of likely where abortion is a method of family
care is already stretched, it is down- voters in America oppose banning U.S. planning.’’
right deadly. global health assistance going to orga- But, as often happens in Federal law,
The Guttmacher Institute estimates nizations in other countries that pro- there is a loophole: Federal regulations
that a 10-percent—just a 10-percent de- vide legal and safe abortions or abor- do allow abortion facilities to be co-
cline in family planning services, in- tion referrals. Only 30 percent support located within clinics that are fol-
cluding reduced access to reversible this policy. lowing the title X rules, and those
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February 3, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S307
rules are providing healthcare to to women and men across the country. week make it clear that they do not
women. He has made clear that he wants have any intention of working with Re-
The Title X Abortion Provider Prohi- healthcare to be a right, not a privi- publicans on a bipartisan COVID pack-
bition Act would close that loophole by lege, and he has already directed his age. There is no other explanation for
prohibiting the awarding of these funds administration to review the damage of the budget resolution that was intro-
to entities that perform abortions or title X gag rules that have been so duced this week.
that provide funds to entities that per- harmful to so many people—an impor- We are not considering this budget
form abortions. tant step toward rescinding the rule, as resolution for the usual purpose of es-
The bill allows for exceptions to be I continue to push for. tablishing overall spending and rev-
made in cases of rape or incest or to So I urge my Republican colleagues enue levels for the fiscal year. That has
save the life of the mother. It would to stop these attacks on women’s already been done. The sole purpose,
also require HHS to provide an annual healthcare and turn their attention to then, of this budget is to establish rec-
report to Congress listing entities re- something families actually want, onciliation instructions whereby the
ceiving grant funds, and specifying which is serious action to end this pan- majority can pass a partisan COVID
which of those grantees performed demic. package on a party-line vote, quite
abortions under the exceptions. I object. contrary to the inaugural address of
This is not a big change. As I said, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ob- President Biden where he said he was
this is a simple change. It is one that jection is heard. going to be reaching out to Repub-
would add to the protections of women The Senator from Tennessee. licans.
and their unborn children. It is a statu- Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Presi- I know there has been some discus-
tory fix that will redirect tens of mil- dent, I appreciate the opportunity to sion with Republicans but not a serious
lions of dollars in funding to providers, respond to much of what my colleague effort to compromise. Embarking down
our community care clinics that are of- had to say about we are in the middle this inherently partisan path of going
fering comprehensive healthcare serv- of a pandemic. Families are struggling. the budgetary reconciliation route now
ices for women. Yes, indeed, that is very true. And if poisons the well for any fruitful bipar-
Madam President, I ask unanimous you want to talk about making tisan negotiation. And you can’t say it
consent that the Committee on Health, healthcare services more available to too many times that it is completely
Education, Labor, and Pensions be dis- more women, then, yes, indeed, what at odds with President Biden’s call for
charged from further consideration of you want to do is make certain that unity and bipartisanship during the
S. 88, and the Senate proceed to its im- these taxpayer funds are not used to campaign and told to the people of the
mediate consideration. I ask unani- provide abortion services, that these United States in the inaugural address.
mous consent that the bill be consid- funds are going to the community clin- It doesn’t have to be this way. My
ered read a third time and passed and ics that are the ones that are providing Republican colleagues and I stand
that the motion to reconsider be con- the screenings. ready to engage in bipartisan discus-
sidered made and laid upon the table. Many of the Planned Parenthood sions to reach an agreement to provide
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there clinics do abortions. They refer women targeted COVID relief. A consensus
objection? to the community clinic around the package could be done very quickly,
The Senator from Washington. corner for the cancer screenings, for just as happened with the bipartisan
Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, re- the breast exams, for the Pap smears. CARES package back in March of last
serving the right to object. We are in So there should be agreement that, year. The relief package Congress
the middle of a pandemic. Families are yes, individuals should have access to passed in December came together very
struggling, and we should be doing ev- this healthcare. And if you say: If you quickly once both sides agreed to set
erything we can to make it easier for perform abortions, you cannot have aside partisan poison pills. Republicans
them to get the care they need from these title X dollars, then the hundreds did that for things we wanted, and
providers that they trust. of community clinics that are access Democrats did that for things they
The title X program has been incred- points to healthcare for women in un- wanted.
ibly helpful to people seeking all kinds derserved communities, these funds Now, hardly 6 weeks later, here we
of healthcare, from cancer screenings would be made available to them. are back on a partisan approach to
to STI screenings, to birth control, and I think we also have to talk about helping the needy people because of the
more. And before the Trump adminis- rights and privileges and touch on that pandemic and helping the healthcare
tration’s gag rule slashed the capacity for just a moment. I fully appreciate, crisis because of the pandemic. In the
of the title X network in half by cut- we all have different opinions, and it is past year or so, we have done a lot. We
ting out trusted healthcare providers, wonderful that we live in a country have been able to come together in a
over 4 million patients a year turned to that allows freedom of speech, where bipartisan way to pass around $4 tril-
title X-funded providers for their we can express our difference of opin- lion in COVID-focused relief, and we
healthcare. ions. did that all—you can’t say it too many
These patients are disproportionately What we do have to realize is this, times—with strong bipartisan support.
young people, women who have low in- that we have in this country 1,700 lives Why not now? There is no reason we
comes, and women of color. An over- lost every day to abortion—1,700 voice- can’t come together for the American
whelming majority of them have his- less and vulnerable—and to me that is people and do it once more and prob-
torically turned to providers like just an absolutely heartbreaking stat ably have to do it again after some-
Planned Parenthood, which would be that these unborn children do not have thing would be passed the early part of
permanently kicked out of the program the opportunity to enjoy that right to this year.
by this bill. life. I find that very sad. Instead of wasting our time with a
We need to be tearing down barriers, As I said, this legislation would make weeklong partisan exercise, we could
like former President Trump’s title X certain that all of this money goes to be working together today to forge a
gag rule, that are jeopardizing access these health clinics but not to a clinic bipartisan compromise. If this was the
to care for patients, not reinforcing that provides abortion service. course that the majority were to take,
them. And we need to be focused on ad- This is the kind of access that, yes, I think there is much that we could
dressing the pain of this pandemic and indeed, many families would appreciate agree to with near universal support
on taking steps to finally end it, not having more access and more services and do it in short order. Everyone rec-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
wasting time with blatantly ideolog- available to women at their commu- ognizes we need to get control of the
ical bills that appeal to the far-right nity clinics. virus as a first priority. That is nec-
base at the expense of our families. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- essary to save lives and get back to
While Republicans seem intent on ator from Iowa. anything close to resembling a nor-
keeping patients from getting the S. CON. RES. 5 mally functioning economy.
healthcare they need, I am glad we fi- Mr. GRASSLEY. Thank you. The ac- Rapid deployment of the vaccine is
nally have a President who is listening tions of my Democratic colleagues this our best hope for our getting there to
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S308 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 3, 2021
get the economy functioning. I doubt a I yield the floor. Democrats have no problem going on
single Member of this Senate body The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- the record as the party that fought for
would object to additional funds for ator from Washington. people during the pandemic because,
vaccine distribution if it will get more Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I when your house is in flames, you do
people vaccinated sooner. I am also rise today to discuss the urgent chal- not argue about how much of the fire
confident that many on my side could lenge our Nation is facing and the ur- to put out or how much water to use or
agree to additional relief for individ- gent response that it requires. how many lives to save; you do what-
uals and small businesses that have I am always willing to work across ever it takes until the crisis is over and
been hardest hit by the pandemic. I am the aisle to look for common ground everyone is safe, and you do it as fast
sure of that because we have done it and commonsense solutions. I think as you can.
twice in the past. We can have a discus- my colleagues know this and my record This crisis is not over. Everyone is
sion on unemployment assistance, shows it. I am going to keep talking to not safe—not from this virus and not
rental assistance, funds for reopening my Republican colleagues in hopes from this economic crisis. There are
schools, and additional grants to small that there are areas where we can find 440,000 people who have died. We are
businesses to help them keep the lights common ground to help our workers still averaging 140,000 new cases a day.
on. I can say that very positively be- and our families and get our arms New strains are presenting new chal-
cause we have done it twice in the past. around this pandemic. But what we lenges. Underlying disparities are
But any relief, from our point of cannot do is allow the possibility of growing deeper, and we are already see-
view, ought to be targeted and focused further delay or weaken our response ing with vaccination rates that com-
on the task at hand. At $1.9 trillion, efforts. munities of color are being left behind.
the President’s proposal is far from With the resources in this resolution,
We do have to take action, and that
we will be able to reinforce our public
being targeted and far from being fo- is exactly what Democrats are doing
health workforce, our community
cused. It includes permanent, liberal, today.
health centers, and our supply chain, I yield the floor.
structural economic reforms. This is
all of which are stretched incredibly I suggest the absence of a quorum.
using a crisis to enact long-term Demo-
thin. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
cratic policy priorities rather than ad- We will be able to scale up testing
dressing the immediate needs of the clerk will call the roll.
and tracing and vaccination and
day. The bill clerk proceeded to call the
genomic sequencing and surveillance
It also includes a bailout of fiscally roll.
for new strains of virus and address Mr. MURPHY. I ask unanimous con-
irresponsible States at the expense of
harmful health inequities that con-
States that have managed their budg- sent that the order for the quorum call
tinue to make this crisis so much more
ets very wisely, like my home State of be rescinded.
deadly for communities of color. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
Iowa. This is fundamentally unfair to We will be able to provide needed
the taxpayers in responsibly governed OSSOFF). Without objection, it is so or-
support to our students, our educators,
States. dered.
our public schools, and those in higher
The President putting forward his Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I am
education as they grapple with this cri-
proposal should have marked the be- here today to speak in favor of the un-
sis and work towards safely reopening
ginning of the discussion, not the end. derlying resolution and urge my col-
for in-person learning.
If my Democratic colleagues would We will be able to provide to parents leagues to support it. I will be very
abandon this partisan exercise, bipar- in need of quality, affordable childcare brief.
tisan discussions could start in ear- and to a childcare sector staring down I would like to tackle three topics,
nest. In fact, 10 Republicans made an mass closures and layoffs. amongst many, in this package. I
attempt to do that by spending 2 hours We need to help workers who are would like to talk a bit about the crisis
with President Biden at the Oval Of- struggling today to make ends meet, that stands ahead of us with respect to
fice. They reached out, obviously, and who are unemployed, and who are wor- summer learning and summer program-
President Biden listened and discussed ried about their retirement being ming for kids all across this country. I
in good faith, but it doesn’t seem like thrown into jeopardy. We need to help would like to talk a little bit about the
anything can come of it. This may families across the country who are importance of expediting the pace of
mean that you have to compromise on struggling today to make ends meet, vaccinations and then, lastly, about
some priorities. That is a simple part by providing them with direct financial the global fight that lies ahead of us to
of life here in the U.S. Senate if you assistance. We need to help States and make sure that we are building a pan-
want to get anything done. Tribes and cities and communities demic response infrastructure around
The excuse that there isn’t enough whose budgets have been stretched the world that makes sure this never,
time or the need for relief is so urgent dangerously thin, by providing needed ever happens again.
that bipartisanship must go out the funds. Before delving into those three top-
window is just that—nothing but a sim- I see no reason why pursuing this ics, let me just say that we have an op-
ple excuse. By following the current path has to be partisan. After all, if Re- portunity to pass programming to
path, this entire week is being wasted publicans can use budget reconciliation meet this moment that is wildly pop-
on partisan theater, with no tangible to give huge tax breaks to the wealthi- ular. There was a poll out yesterday
benefit for the American people. At the est corporations, surely they are will- that suggests that many of the most
end of this week, the Senate will be no ing to use it to give relief to commu- important programming in this pack-
closer to drafting actual relief legisla- nities and families who are struggling age enjoy 70 percent support amongst
tion. in this economic crisis. If they can try the public. The relief checks, which
We should instead be working to- to use reconciliation to cause a will total $2,000—$600 from last year,
gether to iron out our differences, to healthcare crisis by taking health cov- $1,400 in this package—have 74 percent
get bipartisan relief to the American erage and healthcare protections away support among the American public.
people, and that can be done sooner from hundreds of millions of people, Only 13 percent of Americans oppose
than using the reconciliation process surely they can support this process, those checks. Increased Federal fund-
that turns out to be a partisan ap- using it to fight the healthcare crisis ing for vaccinations—69 percent favor
proach that is needless to do based on that has claimed over 440,000 lives in that increased funding; 17 percent op-
the fact that twice in the last 11 our country and counting. But if they pose it. Those are difficult numbers to
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months, we have passed bipartisan do not, if they insist that using this get on any major area of policy in the
virus relief packages to help fight the process to provide relief during a his- United States today. To have 74 per-
pandemic, to help people who are hurt toric pandemic is a partisan vote or cent in favor of anything is pretty im-
by the economic consequences of that that the amount of the relief is too pressive.
pandemic, and also to give confidence much, I think they are going to have a But it speaks to the moment. It
to the American people. Let’s move in tough time explaining what and whom speaks to the expectations that Ameri-
a bipartisan way. they stand for. cans have. But it also speaks to the
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February 3, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S309
fact that there is unity in the Amer- kids—programming that is emotion- the correct allocation. So inside Presi-
ican public about what we need to do. ally healthy, that addresses some of dent Biden’s package is funding to
President Biden rightly talked about this learning loss. start to rebuild the global pandemic
unifying the country around an agenda In a typical year, middle-class kids— prevention infrastructure.
to build back this country better, and kids with families that have some I won’t go into the details of how we
these polling numbers show that he has means—are five times as likely as do that today, but there are estimates
done that because you don’t get to 74 those living in poverty to attend a suggesting that we are going to need
percent support for an initiative with- summer camp, twice as likely to visit a over $20 billion globally in order to
out a whole bunch of Democrats, Inde- museum or go to a performance. We stand up greater capacities. That
pendents, and Republicans supporting can’t allow for that disparity to be means more resources at a reformed
that measure. present this summer, not this summer. WHO. That means more U.S. diplomats
So we hope—we want to get to a We have to have funding in this bill. who are working in the public health
place where we have bipartisan support We have to pass funding through Con- space. That means doing partnerships
in the Senate, but we know we have bi- gress to make sure that every kid in with developing nations in which we
partisan support for this agenda out in this country, especially kids coming put some money on the table in ex-
the American public. These polling from limited-means backgrounds, can change for public health reform so that
numbers and polling numbers to come get into quality summer programming. they can strengthen their own systems
will prove that. The reason is that the This summer we have to make that of pandemic detection and prevention.
crises we are trying to address don’t promise to them. But even if you drive this thing down
really care what your politics are. Second, let me talk about vaccines. I in the United States, so long as there
Let me talk about these three dis- know my colleague from Connecticut are outbreaks that exist on the other
tinct areas. is going to talk about this as well. side of the world, we are still at risk.
First, I want to talk about what is We did well this past week. There And there may come along a virus
happening in our schools. Others have were 1.36 million doses administered. I down the road that is even more con-
done that in a far more articulate way, say ‘‘well’’ because that is 20 percent tagious, that spreads even faster than
so I want to drill down specifically on more than we did the following week, this one, so shame on us if we don’t, at
what is going to happen this summer. but it is not good enough. the same time, lock down this virus do-
Schools are in crisis right now. I In this plan from President Biden is mestically and set up a system of de-
know that because I have two kids in $10 billion to operationalize the De- fense internationally to make sure
public school—in a big, urban public fense Production Act. Senator BALDWIN that we are ready for the next one.
school. They haven’t been back in the and I have been working on this issue We can walk and chew gum at the
classroom at all. They have continued for the better part of a year. If you same time. And President Biden’s focus
to learn from home the entire time. want to produce more vaccine, if you on rebuilding our alliances comes at
But they have all the support that they want to produce more testing equip- the right time because we are not
need around them—two loving parents ment, more PPE, then you have to or- going to be able to do this by ourselves.
who are willing and able to help in any ganize America’s industrial base better We have to meet the moment. We
way that we can. Not every child has than what was happening under the can’t go small right now. The problems
that. So schools have been scrambling Trump administration. You have to go are too big.
just to make sure that they are doing out and find every potential manufac- Senator BLUMENTHAL and I have
instruction right, that they are open- turing partner who can help Pfizer and spent lots of time at food banks in Con-
ing schools safely, that they are build- Moderna and Johnson & Johnson and necticut. We have never, ever seen the
ing support systems around students. any vaccine maker that comes after desperate need that exists today in our
But come this summer, you are going them be able to make more and make State. Shame on us if we don’t use the
to have all sorts of kids who aren’t it faster. power that has been granted us to both
going to have programming ready for We are standing up capacity in Con- take on this virus and deliver economic
them, aren’t going to have a safe place necticut. We are doing well—No. 3 na- prosperity to people who have had it
to go, and are going to have tremen- tionally in terms of the percentage of robbed from them through no fault of
dous amounts of learning loss. shots that we get into people’s arms— their own.
You are also going to have kids who but we can do a lot more. We just need I urge my colleagues’ support for the
are in need of a really healthy, safe that production to be ramped up. In budget resolution.
place to be this summer. Some kids this bill is specific money to I yield the floor.
will need deep academic experience, operationalize the Defense Production The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
but others kids are just going to need Act so that we can make more vac- ator from Connecticut.
some emotional growth, are going to cines. That is one of the most impor- Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I
need something fun to do so that they tant parts of this bill. am really pleased to follow my col-
have the ability to restart and be ready Finally, I wanted to talk about the league Senator MURPHY after that very
to reenter what will, hopefully, be a global challenge that we have ahead of articulate case and to build on the case
much more normal-looking classroom. us. This virus didn’t start in the United for keeping our promises to America.
In this bill is over $100 billion for States. But, man, it moved quick— The Presiding Officer knows that
schools, to support the safe reopening from a wet market in China to the west promises made must be kept, including
of schools. And what we do in this plan coast of the United States to today, another $1,400 in stimulus payments to
that the President is proposing to us is with 400,000 lives having been lost. And every individual, bringing that total to
to allow for some of that money to be the question is: Why? Why was this $2,000, which is what we promised; to
used for summer programming. virus able to move so quickly? Why make sure that vaccines are available
I am going to make a pitch to have a weren’t we able to contain it? Why broadly across this country and that
set-aside, a portion of money dedicated didn’t we learn more about it earlier? schools become places of learning
to summer programming. But what we Why wasn’t the world ready for this again, in person for students and teach-
all agree on—those of us who support moment? ers in a safe learning environment.
this package—is that the challenge Now, China has a lot to answer for. What we are doing in this package,
ahead of us is not just how we keep But, frankly, the whole world has to which is big and bold—and it has to
schools open and open those that have understand that we didn’t allocate re- be—is to put money in people’s pock-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
had their doors closed, but what we do sources properly. The United States ets, put vaccinations in people’s arms,
to support kids for 12 months of the didn’t allocate resources properly. We and put children back in schools safely.
year, not just 9 months of the year. spent, last year, $740 billion on hard- And I emphasize ‘‘safely.’’
This is going to be a tough summer ware for the Department of Defense Now, I was very excited over this
for a lot of kids, and we have to have a and $12 billion on global public health. past week or 10 days to travel through-
specific focus—as this plan does—on Nobody today, living in the United out the State of Connecticut and visit
meaningful summer programming for States, would tell you that that was clinics where vaccinations are being
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S310 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 3, 2021
provided to thousands of people in Con- which is thought to be a very sophisti- The people of Nevada, the American
necticut, raising our rate to one of the cated and advanced State, still lack people—they are desperately calling
highest in the country—about 10.3 per- that connectivity—a third of our sen- out for a lifeline, and we must deliver
cent. iors. Safe and fair learning environ- a real one and as soon as possible.
I saw nurses and doctors at Danbury ments mean broadband, and that is COVID–19 is a global public health
Hospital, led by John Murphy, making also another reason for that $130 billion emergency, and it requires the full
promises real for people. in this package. force of the U.S. Government. We must
I visited Rentschler Field, a former Many of these students face serious act boldly and efficiently as we work to
runway turned into a vaccination site gaps—1 to 3 months and even longer for overcome this crisis and meet the
for people receiving those shots in some students who have lacked that needs of this moment.
their arms from the Community Health connectivity—up to 6 months in basic We need real relief—real relief for
Center, headed by Mark Masselli. skills: reading, writing, and arith- families who are struggling to pay
I saw vaccinations at Griffin Hos- metic. These kinds of gaps have to be their bills, for those who are struggling
pital, a wonderful team headed by Pat filled. to afford basic necessities, for parents
Charmel. But here is the story at Grif- We need a major effort to focus on who are struggling just to feed their
fin Hospital. Last week they did 6,000 our students who have been left behind, kids.
doses. This week it will be 2,000, not be- and that is why this kind of package is We need real relief. We need real re-
cause of any lack of skilled vaccination a moral imperative. It is a social obli- lief for our travel and tourism indus-
person power, not because of any lack gation. We will lose talents and skills, tries. We need to ensure that they can
of determination—because of lack of but students will also lose their future. make it through this turbulent time.
vaccine. We should come together on a bipar- We need a framework for ensuring that
Shortages in Connecticut and around tisan basis. There is nothing wrong health and safety standards are met,
the country are impeding and setting with cooperation, and I hope that my and we need a path toward restoring
back our effort. They are lengthening colleagues across the aisle will join consumer confidence.
the tunnel. There is light at the end of We need real relief—real relief for
with us as we move forward, but we
the tunnel, but it is longer as we delay our small businesses, including tax
will move forward. We cannot repeat
the vaccine that is necessary to do the credits to help businesses get by and
the mistakes of the past when efforts
job. full EIDL loans and grants without ar-
There is not enough. It is not reach- to wait meant unconscionable delay.
We have no such luxury in this human- bitrary caps.
ing the people who need it in enough
itarian crisis. We must move forward, We need real relief—real relief for
supply, and it is not being delivered eq-
and we will. our workers, including increased unem-
uitably. The numbers in Connecticut
I yield the floor to my colleague from ployment benefits and proper IT infra-
show that people in communities of
Nevada. structure to get those benefits out fast-
color are nowhere near as likely to re-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- er to Americans in need.
ceive that vaccine—in fact, perhaps
ator from Nevada. We need real relief—real relief for
three times less likely.
We need to make sure that delivery Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, the State and local governments so that
is fair and effective in this country, or American people need our help, and they can continue working tirelessly to
we will never conquer this pandemic they need it now. Far too many fami- save the lives of Americans in every
and put America back to work. Using lies are struggling just to get by. corner of our Nation, so that they can
the national Defense Production Act is My home State of Nevada has been continue testing and tracing in our
absolutely necessary, but so is the hit especially hard during this pan- communities, so that they can con-
commitment of $160 billion in this big demic. Before COVID, Nevada was sta- tinue to provide childcare for essential
and bold relief program. ble, and Nevada was thriving, but since workers, and so that they continue to
It has to be big and bold. It also has the pandemic began, our industries— provide PPE and things to limit the
to be done now. Time is not on our especially our travel and tourism, key spread of COVID–19.
side. I have no tolerance for delay or economic pillars of our State—were We need real relief—real relief that
dithering. I have no patience for cuts devastated. In fact, countless Nevada supports a greater vaccine distribution
in this package; $1.9 trillion ought to businesses have struggled, and unfortu- and accelerates vaccine deployment,
be our floor, not our ceiling. And if nately many have had to close their including to our communities of color
there is a need for targeting those doors permanently. This is forcing Ne- and rural areas where healthcare ac-
stimulus payments, the money ought vadans out of work and putting their cess is too frequently a challenge.
to be reallocated to vaccines and to financial well-being in jeopardy. Now, Senator CORTEZ MASTO and I have
creating safer environments to work during this public health and economic been working with our Governor. We
and to learn. crisis, Nevada is close to having the have been working with our Governor
Vaccines are important to our highest rate of unemployment in the and working with all of our local gov-
schools. Teachers are essential work- Nation. ernments to get more shots in arms
ers. They are on the frontlines. They Here in Congress, we have passed across the State of Nevada, but we
are putting their lives at risk. They stopgap packages to try to help all need more.
have been demonstrating the courage those who are facing these tough When so many in our country are
and conviction to come to school, but times. The relief measures we have de- hurting and they are struggling, we
they should receive this vaccine. livered for the American people have must ask ourselves why American fam-
A safe learning environment means been a good start, but they are not ilies, why members of our commu-
also personal protective equipment, enough to safely see our country nities, why would they deserve any
barriers such as we are seeing in res- through this pandemic. less? It is time for a comprehensive re-
taurants and other public places— Small business owners risk losing lief package that truly provides relief
plexiglass and other kinds of dividers. their businesses if they cannot access to the American people.
These kinds of essential equipment are the full loans and grants that Congress I urge all of my colleagues to join me
the reason that we are advocating $130 promised them but that the last ad- in this effort to help see our Nation
billion for our schools. ministration failed to deliver. Our through this challenge. Lives are de-
There are many other steps that State and local governments have ex- pending on us. Our States are counting
hausted their budgets responding to on us. The whole country is looking to
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
must be taken to ensure not only that
our learning environments are safe but this public health crisis, and as a re- us—looking to us to show leadership,
also that students have the sult, they face looming cuts to essen- to stand up, to save lives and liveli-
connectivity they need remotely be- tial support and services that our com- hoods. So let’s ensure that we don’t let
cause for some period of time, that will munities are relying on. them down. Let’s pass that real relief,
be the way they learn. This isn’t something that is hap- thoughtful and targeted relief, and do
More than a third of communities of pening just in my State; this is the it now.
color in the State of Connecticut, common experience across our country. I yield the floor.
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February 3, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S311
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The senior assistant legislative clerk friends and their families. Mental ill-
ator from New Mexico. proceeded to call the roll. ness is soaring with increased numbers
Mr. LUJÁN. Mr. President, more Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ide-
than 3,000 of my fellow New Mexicans unanimous consent that the order for ation.
have lost their lives to COVID–19. They the quorum call be rescinded. This country faces just terrible, ter-
were New Mexicans like Teresa, an es- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without rible problems. I think we can agree
sential medical worker from Springer, objection, it is so ordered. that the year 2020 was the worst year
NM. She bravely went to work to test The Senator from Vermont. in so many ways in our lifetime, maybe
Haitians for COVID–19 and to stop the Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, as the in the history of this country. And
spread of the disease. Tragically, Te- new chairman of the Budget Com- now, right now, it is absolutely impera-
resa contracted COVID–19 and passed mittee, I wanted to take a few mo- tive that the Congress of the United
away over the Christmas holiday, leav- ments to talk about the $1.9 trillion States understands that reality and
ing behind her husband Roger and their budget resolution that I hope will be keeps faith with the American people.
three children. passed late tomorrow night. One of the reasons, by the way—and
But Congress has another chance to I think sometimes our friends in the I say this to the Presiding Officer
spare other families the pain that Tere- media make the political process much today, who is from Georgia and re-
sa’s family is experiencing, the very more complicated than it is. Real poli- cently won his election—it is doubly
thing that drove Teresa every day to tics in a democracy is not that com- important that we keep faith with the
go and save others. This resolution will plicated. What it is about is assessing American people is because promises
allow Congress to mount an aggressive the problems facing the Nation and were made in this election in Georgia,
public health response and prioritize coming up with solutions to those which was not just a Senate race. It
resources where they are needed problems. was more of a national race. President
most—for vaccines, testing, and public One of the great tragedies that has Biden was involved. Majority Leader
health programs that fight COVID. occurred, in my view, in recent years is SCHUMER was involved. I was involved.
Funding included in this package will that for working-class people, middle- A lot of leading Democrats were in-
be aimed at dramatically increasing class people, lower-income people, volved.
rates of testing, bolstering the supply these are folks who in a variety of We said to the people in Georgia and
chain to increase the availability of ways are hurting and have hurt for we said to the people in America: If we
testing supplies and personal protec- many, many years. Wages in this coun- gain the majority, we are going to sig-
tive equipment, hiring and training try have been stagnant for decades. nificantly improve lives for working
public health workers to administer Young people are finding it increas- people all over this country. Those are
the vaccine, and increasing vaccine ingly difficult to go to college. Ninety promises made that must be kept.
production. million Americans are uninsured or I want to just spend a few moments
As Congress focuses on getting vac- underinsured. We have a political sys- to talk about what is in this bill. We
cinations into every arm as quickly as throw out numbers—$1.9 trillion. Who
tem which is significantly corrupt be-
possible, strong Federal funding is es- knows what $1.9 trillion is? It is such
cause big money can buy elections.
pecially critical for States like New an unfathomable number. It is such a
And people look around them and they
Mexico, where vaccines and medical huge number. What does it mean? Who
say: Who cares about me? Who is wor-
supplies must travel longer distances knows? Who understands that?
ried about me or my parents or my I want you to understand what is in
to reach the communities that need
kids? this bill. For a start, what I believe and
them.
We know we have the capacity to get When that happens—when that kind I know you believe is that when people
these vaccines in people’s arms. We of political alienation happens—people are hurting, when they owe back rent,
need more vaccine. Vaccines are essen- can become prone to conspiracy theo- when they can’t afford to feed their
tial to the priorities I have heard from ries and all kinds of big lies and every- kids, when they can’t afford to go to
many of my constituents—safely open- thing else. Here is the simple truth, the doctor, we need to get cash into the
ing schools as soon as possible because not complicated. Right now in this pockets of those people as soon as we
this pandemic is widening the achieve- year 2021, we face more crises than this possibly can.
ment gap that already existed. To meet country has faced certainly since the I was one of the people here a month
this goal, Congress must invest in safe- Great Depression and maybe going ago when a whole lot of people were
ly reopening schools and make facility back to the Civil War, when the very talking about it. I said we need direct
improvements to ensure every educa- existence of this country was at stake. payments. We need to get cash into the
tor, the people who prepare the food, As we speak right now, whether it is hands of people. I fought very hard. We
drive the buses, keep the schools look- in the State of Georgia or my State of ended up with just $600 in the last bill.
ing clean, social workers and nurses, Vermont and all over this country, It wasn’t enough. It is a start, but not
and every student is safe to return. there are tens of millions of working enough. We said our goal was $2,000.
America must provide quality dis- families who have lost their jobs, lost And in this bill, there will be an addi-
tance learning to those who are not yet their incomes, and they are worried to- tional $1,400 for every working-class
ready to return and work to address night as to how they are going to be man, woman, and child.
widespread learning loss that exacer- able to feed their families. They are So if you are an individual, a single
bates the achievement gap. It is also worried about the back rent they owe. person making $75,000 or less, when we
clear that the toll of COVID–19 on stu- We have a moratorium on evictions, pass this legislation you are going to
dents’ learning and mental health will but that moratorium some day is going get a check for $1,400. If you are a cou-
last for years, meaning investments to end. People say: How am I going to ple earning less than $150,000, and let’s
are necessary well beyond this aca- pay thousands of dollars in back rent? just say you have two kids, each person
demic year. I am going to be evicted. I am going to in the family, the husband, the wife,
The Senate must act for the families be out on the street. and the two kids get $1,400 apiece. That
who have lost loved ones, for Roger and People are in the midst of this ter- is $5,600.
Teresa and their three kids, and for rible, terrible pandemic, where we have Let me tell you something. For a
parents struggling to keep their stu- lost over 400,000 lives—well over 400,000 struggling working-class family, that
dents safe and healthy. lives. There are over 90 million people $5,600 is going to mean an enormous
who are uninsured or underinsured and
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
The Senate must act to defeat this amount. It will allow people to pay the
virus and to rebuild our Nation’s econ- are having difficulty affording going to rent, allow people to pay off their
omy. It must pass this budget resolu- the doctor, and on and on it goes. debts, allow people to go to the doctor.
tion. Kids. I have seven grandchildren. That is what this legislation is about.
I yield the floor. Kids all over this country have had We made a promise. Some of us made
I suggest the absence of a quorum. their education disrupted. that promise—I did—that we would
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The As a result of the pandemic, people make sure that in working-class fami-
clerk will call the roll. have become isolated from their lies, each individual gets $2,000 and we
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S312 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 3, 2021
will keep that promise: $600 then, $1,400 long way to reducing child poverty in My own view is that we need to put in
now. America, and that is something that a Medicare for All, single-payer pro-
As a result of this pandemic, we have we must do. gram so that we are not spending twice
seen a horrific increase in unemploy- It is no great secret that, as a result as much per capita on healthcare as
ment. Unemployment is soaring all of the pandemic, our revenues going any other country on Earth despite so
over this country. Millions of workers into State and local governments are many people being uninsured or under-
have lost their jobs. They have no in- in significant decline. The result of insured. Well, Medicare for All is not in
come coming in. The extended unem- that is that, in the last year, well over this bill, but what is in this bill is a
ployment benefits that were previously a million State and local employees significant amount of money to expand
passed are going to expire in mid- have been laid off. We are talking healthcare, and we are still looking at
March. What this legislation does— about teachers. We are talking about the best ways to do that. One of the
very importantly—if you are unem- firemen. We are talking about police ways will probably be by expanding
ployed right now and you are worried officers and other municipal and State Medicaid and also investing signifi-
you are going to lose your employ- employees. When you have those lay- cantly in community health centers
ment, when we pass this legislation, offs, not only is that a crisis unto itself and the National Health Service Corps.
your unemployment is going to be ex- for those workers, it means that State We have a crisis in terms of the num-
tended through the end of September. and local governments cannot provide ber of doctors and nurses that we need,
And on top of the normal unemploy- the services that need to be provided in and the National Health Service Corps
ment benefits you get from your the midst of this terrible crisis. So this is a program which will forgive debt for
State—and they vary State to State— legislation would provide $350 billion to doctors and nurses if they practice in
you are going to get an additional $400 State and local governments, many of underserved areas.
a week. We will not turn our backs on which are facing bankruptcy. I know sometimes we get consumed
the millions of unemployed workers in Now, obviously, the crisis that we are by numbers. It is going to be $2.1 tril-
this country. facing today is not only an economic lion, $1.9 trillion, $1.7 trillion. That is
Included in the legislation that we crisis, it is clearly a health crisis. The not the issue. The issue is whether we
are fighting for is the need to raise the good news is that, in a relatively short are prepared to address the crises fac-
minimum wage in this country from period of time, at least two manufac- ing the American people. Will this bill
the starvation wage that currently ex- turers in this country—and more, I solve all of the problems that we face?
ists of $7.25 an hour to a living wage of think, are coming on board—have in- No, it will not. Will it go a long way to
$15 an hour. Now, we understand that troduced and created vaccines, which addressing many of the crises and eas-
restaurants and small businesses are are now being distributed. That is the ing the anxiety of so many working
hurting, and in this legislation, there good news. The bad news is that we families? Yes, it will, but this should
will be a significant amount of money need to significantly increase the pro- not be the end of the process. As soon
to make sure that small businesses will duction of those vaccines. We don’t as we pass this, we are going to come
be able to afford that wage increase. have enough. Even more importantly, back with another major piece of legis-
You know, when we talk about the we have to do a heck of a lot better job lation, and that will deal with some of
economy, the media very often focuses in distributing those vaccines and get- the long-term structural problems our
on the stock market. That is impor- ting those vaccines into the arms of country faces in terms of a crumbling
tant. We can focus on unemployment— people, and this legislation will provide infrastructure and in terms of the need
terribly important. Yet what we don’t billions and billions of dollars to do to deal with the existential threat of
focus on enough is that half of our just that. climate change. We need to create mil-
workers in this country are living pay- At a time when we are looking at the lions of good-paying jobs. That is some-
check to paycheck. They have nothing highest level of hunger in this country thing that this Congress has got to ad-
in the bank, and they have to live off in decades, many billions of dollars are dress. Too many of our people are un-
the paychecks they make. If they have going to make sure that our children employed, and too many of our people
an automobile problem—the car breaks and our families do not go hungry. are underemployed. This we will be
down—or somebody in the family gets Clearly, one of the major crises facing dealing with in the next COVID rec-
sick, they are in deep financial trouble. this country is that schools in every onciliation bill.
It seems to me that, in the richest State are either not open or they are Now, there has been some discussion
country in the history of the world, it open with irregular hours. Kids are try- on—and the media seems fixated on—
is not too much to demand that, if you ing to get an education online. Some- the issue of partisanship. Oh, my God.
work 40 hours a week, you don’t live in times it works and sometimes it We are being so partisan here. Let me
poverty. Fifteen bucks an hour is not doesn’t, but our goal is to make sure remind everybody that, under the
going to make anybody rich, but I have that we can reopen schools and expand Trump administration, massive tax
seen workers and talked to workers all after-school and childcare programs for breaks were passed that went to the
over this country who are trying to working families and do it in a way top 1 percent and large corporations.
raise their kids on $10, $12 an hour, and that is safe. We want parents to feel Eighty-three percent of the benefits in
you can’t do it. So $15 an hour is an im- good and know that the facilities they the Trump tax plan went to the 1 per-
portant start in making sure that all are sending their children to are safe, cent and large corporations. Do you
working people in this country can live and we have a whole lot of money in know how bipartisan that bill was that
with dignity. this bill to do just that. passed in reconciliation? There was not
This legislation will expand the child In this bill, in order to protect work- one Democrat who voted for that bill.
tax credit from $2,000 to $3,000 and to ers, there is a sizable sum of money to It was voted just with Republican
$3,600 for families with kids under the prevent the pensions of millions of votes.
age of 6. Now, what is not talked about workers and retirees from being Then, outrageously, as part of the
very much in America—not by politi- slashed by 30, 40, or even 65 percent. A reconciliation, the Republicans came
cians, not by the media—is the fact number of years ago, in the middle of forward and said: Hey, we think it is a
that we have one of the highest rates of night, in some big omnibus bill, lan- brilliant idea to repeal the Affordable
childhood poverty of almost any major guage was put in that would destroy Care Act and throw up to 32 million
country on Earth, and that is a ter- the promises made to millions of work- people off the healthcare that they
rible, terrible thing. You know, politi- have. I don’t know what people are
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
ers in terms of the pensions that they
cians give speeches of ‘‘the future of were guaranteed, and we rectify that in thinking about when they propose to
this country is with our children,’’ so this bill. throw tens of millions of people off the
forth and so on, but they have millions Right now, in America, as I men- healthcare that they have, but that
of kids living in poverty. Millions of tioned earlier, some 90 million of our was their idea to repeal the Affordable
families can’t afford to send their kids people are either uninsured or under- Care Act. By one vote by the late John
to decent quality childcare. So expand- insured, which speaks to the need, in McCain, that did not happen, but not
ing the child tax credit will go a very my view, of major healthcare reform. one Democrat voted for that bill.
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February 3, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S313
My point is that it is one thing for as a country. We used American inge- crucial unemployment programs, boost
my Republican friends here to be talk- nuity to build an arsenal of democracy, the child tax credit and earned-income
ing about the need for bipartisanship, which, by the middle of 1944, was tax credit, which will lift half of Amer-
which all of us support, but the reality churning out B–24 bombers every 60 ican children out of poverty this year.
is they used exactly the same process minutes at Ford’s Willow Run plant in Can you imagine? We have an oppor-
to pass or at least try to pass major, Michigan. tunity here in Congress, working with
major pieces of legislation. Now is the time again to take bold our wonderful new President and Vice
So all that I want to say is that we action on behalf of the American peo- President, to pass a policy that will lift
are living in an unprecedented moment ple. We are now a year into a pandemic half the children in poverty out of pov-
in American history. Again, it is quite that has claimed the lives of nearly erty—not 10 years from now, not 5
likely that this Congress today and 450,000 Americans—450,000 Americans— years from now—this year. What an ex-
President Biden are facing more seri- parents and grandparents and friends citing prospect. And we need to get it
ous crises than any President—cer- and neighbors and cousins and cowork- done.
tainly, since FDR and maybe going ers and community leaders. Almost This means struggling families will,
back to Abraham Lincoln—has faced. 15,000 lives have already been lost in with all of this help, be able to cover
We have a healthcare crisis. We have a Michigan—dear souls lost to us. the rent or the mortgage, pay their
pandemic. We have an economic melt- And it is not just lives that have bills, keep food on the table. And keep-
down. We have an education crisis. We been lost. Businesses have closed, ing food on the table is especially cru-
have an infrastructure crisis. We have workers have been laid off, folks have cial in a time when so many of our
a criminal justice crisis. We have an been without paychecks for months neighbors are going hungry.
immigration crisis. You name it, we and months. In fact, we know that 50 million
got it. Either we are going to have the Parents are struggling to keep food Americans across the country—moms
courage to address those problems or on the table and the heat on while and dads and children—right now are
troubleshooting the spotty internet facing hunger every day. We are better
we are not, and I think now is the time
their children depend on to keep their than this as a country.
to do it. We certainly look forward to
classes going on Zoom. We have all heard stories about sen-
the support from our Republican col- And grandmas and grandpas are iors waiting hours in lines for a box of
leagues, but what is most important is missing out on seeing their families food or parents skipping meals so their
that, at a time of massive pain and grow up. Babies born last March are al- children can have a little more to eat.
anxiety, this Congress acts boldly on ready learning to walk and talk, and The agriculture and nutrition fund-
behalf of working families. too many have not had a chance to be ing in this American Rescue Plan will
For too long, we have seen the Con- with them in person. tackle hunger head-on by extending
gress give tax breaks to billionaires. Americans know how to meet the pandemic EBT for the duration of the
We have seen lobbyists work to get moment, and it is time for us to do it pandemic. What does that mean? This
hundreds of billions of dollars in cor- again. It is time to pass a rescue plan is about children. This is about feeding
porate welfare for people who don’t bold enough to stamp out this pan- children—children who otherwise may
need it. We have seen a tax system in demic, get families the immediate help get fed at school but aren’t able to do
which major corporations like Ama- they need to weather the economic cri- that to be able to have the resources
zon—maybe the most profitable cor- sis, and get our children safely back in they need from moms and dads to feed
poration in America or one of the most school. them while they are not in school, as
profitable corporations and owned by That is just what our American Res- well as in the summer.
the wealthiest guy in America—pay cue Plan will do, and we need to get it It will also provide more fruits and
zero in Federal taxes, and, right now, done as soon as possible. American vegetables for moms and babies and
the very rich have an effective tax rate families have waited long enough. make sure that families who are eligi-
which is lower than that of working There are a lot of good things hap- ble for help are getting it. People who
families. pening right now. A home COVID–19 need help in this country need to get
So I know it may sound like a radical test was just approved. Soon we will that help. They need to know we have
idea, but the time is now for the U.S. have three effective vaccines available. their back.
Congress to begin to represent the vast We know that we can’t get back to nor- We know that two-thirds of SNAP
majority of the people—the working mal, though, or revive our battered benefits—the Supplemental Nutrition
class of this country, the middle class economy unless we get vaccine off Assistance Program—two-thirds of it
of this country, and lower income peo- shelves and into American arms. goes to families with children. By ex-
ple—who are struggling. Let us work That is why our plan will increase tending the bump-up in SNAP funding
together. Let us crush this terrible the number of people being vaccinated, through the end of September, we can
pandemic. Let us get our kids back to boost our testing capacity, and ensure make sure families aren’t running out
school. Let us reopen our economy. Let that our healthcare professionals and of food and going hungry at the end of
us create a government that works for other frontline workers have adequate the month.
all of us and not just the very few. protective equipment. That is especially important for chil-
I yield the floor. The plan will also provide additional dren because it is hard to learn—it is
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. funding for rural health infrastructure hard to learn how to read and write,
KELLY). The Senator from Michigan. through the agriculture portion of our and it is hard to focus when your stom-
Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, it is bill, which I am so pleased to lead. ach is rumbling, when you have got a
wonderful to see you in the Chair. Our rural hospitals are struggling to headache because you haven’t eaten.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. My first survive right now like places where I Our children need to be fed, and they
time. grew up in Northern Michigan. This need to be back in class as well.
Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, one funding will help them keep their doors We can’t get our economy moving
thing you can say about Americans, we open, purchase necessary supplies, vac- again if parents can’t return to work,
know how to meet the moment. cinate more people, and treat more pa- and parents can’t return to work if
When the world was upended by a tients via telehealth, which has become they are worried that their children
Great Depression and a quarter of our so important. aren’t safe at school or one of the par-
people were out of work, we took bold In the meantime, we know that ents or the only parent has to be home
action. A brandnew President, Frank-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
American families need help to survive with the children. What do they do?
lin Delano Roosevelt, and large majori- during this pandemic. They need help. So all of this fits together, and this
ties in Congress ushered in a New Deal They need to know we have got their American Rescue Plan will provide the
that put folks back to work, stabilized backs. They have got to know that, in support needed to safely reopen the
our economy, and invested in Amer- all of this, somebody has got their majority of K–12 schools within Presi-
ica’s future. back. dent Biden’s first 100 days.
When freedom abroad was threatened The American Rescue Plan will give How important is that? What a great
by fascism, we again took bold action working families direct checks, extend goal for us to have, and we can do that.
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S314 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 3, 2021
We are just days away from working opportunity. Those things have created experienced long delays at meat pack-
together and being able to get that better economies and more jobs. ing plants where workers were hard hit
done, and it will serve all students, no So, broadly, we are committed to by COVID–19. Those workers need help
matter how, no matter where they making sure everyone shares in the too. The pandemic also made it harder
learn. prosperity of our country, and these to find workers to cultivate the land
And for our farmers, speaking as the policies create the conditions nec- and tend to the animals.
incoming chair of the Agriculture, Nu- essary to help people dream big dreams This resolution also supports a provi-
trition, and Forestry Committee, our and actually achieve them. sion I advocated for to provide debt re-
farmers who have been directly af- It is a new year. It is a new Congress. lief for minority and disadvantaged
fected by the ups and downs of the pan- It is time to act. It is time to end this farmers and ranchers who did not re-
demic, the plan addresses the break in pandemic, give families the economic ceive their fair share of COVID relief
the food supply chain, and it enables us support they need, and get our children under the last administration.
to buy and donate their products to safely back to school. This is the mo- It is said that societies are judged by
food banks. ment. This is the moment we need to how they treat their most vulnerable.
You know, we had so many selling to think big. We need to be bold. We need It is sad because not everybody opens
restaurants and big enterprises, the to lean in on policies that we know their eyes to see how this should be
food supply chain stopped. They have work—because they have worked be- measured.
excess food. I know dairy farmers in fore. The Senate must act for the families
Michigan; it breaks their hearts to Americans know how to meet the and children facing hunger and for our
think of the idea of dumping milk moment, and our moment is now. hard-working farmers and ranchers—
when we need that. I yield the floor. those that are producing food, picking
So the efforts that are in this bill Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I food, preparing food, and getting it to
will help them be able to move from a suggest the absence of a quorum. market and stocking the shelves.
bulk supply chain to be able to get gal- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The We must pass this budget resolution.
lon jugs, put the milk into the hands of clerk will call the roll. I yield the floor.
families, and stop the wasting of pre- The senior assistant legislative clerk I suggest the absence of a quorum.
cious, valuable food that our families proceeded to call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
need. This is going to help farmers’ Mr. LUJÁN. Mr. President, I ask clerk will call the roll.
bottom lines, and it feeds families in unanimous consent that the order for The senior assistant legislative clerk
need. the quorum call be rescinded. proceeded to call the roll.
Our agriculture provisions also pro- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask
vide critical funding for PPE for farm- objection, it is so ordered. unanimous consent that the order for
workers and workers who labor every The Senator from New Mexico. the quorum call be rescinded.
day in food processing plants so we Mr. LUJÁN. Mr. President, 50 million The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
have the food that we need—protective Americans, including 17 million chil- objection, it is so ordered.
equipment that they need and that dren, are facing food insecurity because
f
they deserve. of this public health and economic cri-
The plan also targets help for farm- sis, with Black and Latino families MORNING BUSINESS
ers of color who have been hit espe- more likely to go hungry. In New Mex- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask
cially hard by the pandemic, on top of ico, one in three children and one in unanimous consent that the Senate be
the historical challenges and discrimi- five adults are at risk of hunger. In the in a period of morning business, with
nation they have faced in accessing wealthiest country in the world, this is Senators permitted to speak therein
land and capital. The plan provides simply unacceptable. for up to 10 minutes each.
critical debt relief to help them weath- The budget resolution focuses on get- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
er the storm and keep their operations ting relief to the people who need it objection, it is so ordered.
going until the next growing season. most, beginning with an extension of
f
Vaccinating Americans, providing the 15-percent increase in supplemental
economic help for families, getting our nutrition assistance benefits through ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
children back to school safely, those September of 2021. Increasing SNAP
are the three main goals of this plan. benefits has proven to be one of the
All of these goals have one thing in most effective forms of economic stim- RECOGNIZING ARKANSAS PBS
common: It is about investing in peo- ulus, and it has the dual benefit of al- ∑ Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise
ple. It is about putting people first— lowing families to purchase the food today to congratulate Arkansas Public
the American people first. Over our Na- that they need to stay healthy, as well Broadcasting Service, PBS, for its tre-
tion’s history, the policies that have as supporting businesses that accept mendous work to provide educational
truly been lifting people out of poverty SNAP dollars. resources throughout the COVID–19
and moved them forward have invested The budget resolution also bolsters health crisis.
in people, from our land grant univer- the WIC Program to ensure that chil- Arkansas PBS was recently recog-
sities to social security and Medicare dren and their mothers have access to nized with five national Public Media
and Medicaid, to the Civil Rights Act, a nutritious diet necessary for healthy Awards from the National Education
to the Children’s Health Insurance Pro- development, an important investment Telecommunications Association,
gram, to increasing the minimum in the future of our country. This fund- NETA, including honors for overall ex-
wage. And these are all policies, I am ing increase is especially significant cellence for the programing it provided
proud to say, created and supported by for States like New Mexico, where to children, parents, and teachers
Democrats. nearly a quarter of children are born through Arkansas AMI, Alternative
Investing in our people helps Amer- into families with incomes that fall Methods of Instructions.
ican families, and it helps our economy below the Federal poverty line. As the COVID–19 emergency pro-
too. We have seen these Democratic In addition to addressing hunger, this gressed in March 2020, Arkansas PBS
policies create more jobs when you resolution includes critical support for upended its weekday schedule and
look at the numbers. When we look at the people who grow our food, produce began broadcasting streamlined, cur-
the numbers, under which policies and our food—our farmers and ranchers. In riculum-based programming for chil-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
which Presidents have we seen more New Mexico, farmers and ranchers, who dren from Pre-K through eighth grade.
good-paying jobs? And over and over were already struggling due to drought When schools first closed in Arkan-
again it is Democratic Presidents be- conditions, face new challenges due to sas, educators were immediately chal-
cause of the way that we invest. It is COVID–19. Shuttered restaurants left lenged by the lack of internet access in
what we do, how we invest, to create chile growers and dairy farmers with- many rural areas of the State. This
opportunity to give everybody a fair out their customer base and scram- made the Arkansas AMI project even
shot to succeed, to invest in people and bling to find new markets. Ranchers more important. For many without
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