Congressional Record, Senate, February 23, 2021, Page S794

Summary

A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated February 23, 2021, at page S794, with remarks under the headings Coronavirus and Protests. Mr. McConnell cites recent headlines on vaccine distribution and the economy, says the Senate spent $4 trillion on five overwhelmingly bipartisan packages, and describes the Democratic spending plan as a massive spending plan on a completely partisan basis that did not receive a single House Republican vote in committee. Under the heading Protests, Mr. McConnell says January 6 is a day all will remember, that the Capitol was breached by a violent mob and that five Americans lost their lives, including a Capitol Police officer. He says the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee are holding a joint hearing on the attack that morning.

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“Congressional Record, Senate, February 23, 2021, Page S794.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-02-23-crec-2021-02-23-pt1-pgs794-3-41dea220d8/, SHA-256 11e4d375ab37af2483db9e6e3cf57651f944964999840250c8af017a88865c74.

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S794 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 23, 2021
It will send a direct check to Ameri- ers, citizens, Americans, Republican CORONAVIRUS
cans struggling with a once-in-a-life- citizens, Republican Americans—agree Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President,
time financial burden. It will boost with this plan. The Nation understands millions of American kids in the public
vaccine distribution. And it will pro- that we are not out of the woods yet school system have been robbed of a
vide funding and guidance for schools and that Congress should do what is year, and counting, of anything resem-
to reopen as quickly and safely as pos- necessary to finish the job. Where are bling a proper education. It has been a
sible. our Republican friends? historically tough year. That is why
That last point, in particular, should As I have said from the start, Demo- Americans are so excited our Nation
appeal to my Republican friends who crats remain committed to working appears to be approaching a major
have been raising concern about school with our colleagues from the other side turning point.
closures. We all want the schools to re- of the aisle to improve the bill, but at Here are just a few recent headlines:
open safely. We are all worried about the end of the day, the American peo- A U.S. Vaccine Surge Is Coming, With Mil-
the cost of virtual learning on children ple sent us here with a job to do, and lions of Doses Promised
and parents. the clock is ticking. Democrats will Another headline:
The solution is simple. It is not giv- not wait to move forward with the America’s vaccine rollout has been among
ing a speech here on the Senate floor. American Rescue Plan and taking the the best in the world
It is not criticizing teachers or school next important step in getting our Another headline:
administrators. It is giving school dis- country back to normal. CDC finds scant spread of coronavirus in
tricts the funding they need to reopen PROTESTS schools with precautions in place
safely. It is expensive—expensive—to Mr. President, finally, January 6 is a Here is one from my home State:
reopen safely during the COVID crisis. day all of us will remember forever. COVID–19 cases plummet in Kentucky
We want to do it as quickly as possible, The Capitol was breached by a violent nursing homes, a key target for the vaccine
and it is hard to understand that our mob. The Confederate flag was flown in So let’s take a look at the economy:
Republican friends are saying: ‘‘Open the halls of our Union for the first time
up the schools’’ and ‘‘I won’t vote for U.S. Retail Sales Surprise With Sharpest
in American history. Insurrectionists— Advance in Seven Months
any money for the schools’’ to do just angry, bigoted—stood a few inches Blue-Collar Jobs Boom as COVID–19 Boosts
that. It is a complete contradiction. from where I am standing now. It is Housing, E-Commerce Demand
The Republican position seems to be hard to believe these hallowed halls Another headline:
that these difficult challenges will fix were occupied by such terrible, awful Consumer Demand Snaps Back. Factories
themselves, that we don’t need any lawbreakers. Five Americans lost their Can’t Keep Up.
more aid; we did enough already. Any- lives, including a Capitol Police officer. To be clear, this isn’t over. The bat-
one who knows anything about schools
The impeachment of Donald Trump tle is not won yet. But the day is ap-
knows, in the vast majority of schools
was one necessary consequence of the proaching when we will be able to end
in this country, that is just not the
attack of January 6, but it is far from this defensive crouch and safely re-
case.
the only one. We must and will con- claim our normal lives.
So let our Republican friends put
tinue to recon with the events of that Last year the Senate built the larg-
their votes where their speeches are, in
day. This morning—in fact, as we est peacetime fiscal expansion in
helping the schools, in getting the
speak—the Senate Rules Committee American history. We spent $4 trillion
money, in opening the schools safely—
and the Senate Homeland Security and on five overwhelmingly bipartisan
not in simply trying to make a polit-
Governmental Affairs Committee are packages. The most recent became law
ical point and then trashing the
holding a joint hearing to examine the just 2 months ago. Funding for hos-
schools without giving them the money
attack on the Capitol. The committees pitals and providers kept our
they need. It makes no sense whatso-
will hear important testimony from healthcare system above water. The
ever. It is a total contradiction.
Also, if we don’t act, enhanced unem- the acting chief of the Capitol Police, Paycheck Protection Program saved
ployment benefits will expire for mil- the former chief of police, and former Main Street small businesses. Direct
lions of Americans in need. If we don’t members of the Sergeant at Arms. relief and extra unemployment aid
act, millions of struggling families will Later this week, Senators will be helped working families endure the
miss out on direct payments and an ex- briefed by the acting chief of police and shutdown. Operation Warp Speed laid
pansion of the child tax credit and the the Acting Sergeant at Arms on the the groundwork for our historic sprint
earned income tax credit. If we don’t current and future security measures toward vaccinations.
act, we risk the same long, slow, and around the Capitol. These were strong, bipartisan poli-
painful recovery we experienced after It is our solemn responsibility to pro- cies, targeted to what families specifi-
the financial crisis of 2008, when Con- tect the Capitol and everyone who cally needed to wage the war, but
gress did too little to get our country works and visits within it. It is our sol- today Democrats are steamrolling
back on track. emn duty to prevent a day like Janu- ahead with a massive spending plan on
The worst thing we could do would be ary 6 from ever, ever being repeated. At a completely partisan basis. It did not
to slow down now before the race is the same time, the Capitol has been receive a single House Republican vote
won. We will not do that. Later this and must be once again a symbol of de- in committee yesterday because their
week, the House—and, soon thereafter, mocracy that is accessible to the peo- partisan plan is not targeted toward
the Senate—will start working on ple. No one expects the Capitol to re- helping Americans reclaim their lives
President Biden’s American Rescue main a militarized zone in perpetuity. and their country from this invader.
Plan. As I said, no one expects the Capitol to Instead, here is what it is: a combina-
Mayors, Governors, and economists remain a militarized zone in per- tion of miscellaneous, non-COVID-re-
from across the political spectrum petuity. We must strive to strike the lated, liberal wish-list items and the
agree that it should be a sizable effort. difficult balance between access and se- kinds of bandaid policies that make a
Treasury Secretary Yellen told us that curity and better understand the intel- defensive crouch slightly less painful
‘‘the smartest thing we can do is act ligence and security failures that led to but don’t help get us back on offense.
big.’’ Federal Chairman Powell warned the attack on January 6. This will be a Let’s take a look at K–12 schooling.
that we are ‘‘a long way off from full crucial and bipartisan undertaking. I Until very recently, the new adminis-
recovery’’ and that the greater risk lies am glad that Senators from both the tration’s own scientists had been crys-
in doing too little rather than doing Rules and Homeland Security Commit- tal clear. Earlier this month, CDC Di-

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
too much. tees, from both parties, are starting rector Rochelle Walensky said:
Most importantly, the American peo- that important work today. There is increasing data to suggest that
ple in poll after poll overwhelmingly I now yield the floor. schools can safely reopen.
approve of President Biden’s American RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER A major CDC study found in-person
Rescue Plan. One of the last polls I saw The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- schooling does not—not—fuel commu-
showed a majority of Republicans—vot- publican leader is recognized. nity transmission.

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February 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S795
Last month, Dr. Fauci said: The Biden administration has a clear The senior assistant legislative clerk
It’s less likely for a child to get infected in obligation to tackle the special inter- proceeded to call the roll.
the school setting than if they were just in est madness head-on. Our kids are suf- Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask
the community. fering, not because science says they unanimous consent that the order for
But Big Labor special interests didn’t must be—it doesn’t. It is just because a the quorum call be rescinded.
appreciate science undercutting their small group of powerful grownups has The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
political goals. The empire struck decided they prefer it this way. In- objection, it is so ordered.
back, and the Democratic leaders who stead, the White House keeps parroting CORONAVIRUS
love to claim the mantle of science ran the anti-science myths. They back this Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, in his in-
away from the science as fast as they notion that schools need the Demo- augural address, President Biden spoke
could. Now the CDC Director admits crats’ new spending plan before they about his desire to unify.
that ‘‘the lived experiences’’—whatever can reopen, except that science com- He said this:
that is—of government employees got pletely disagrees—completely; except Today, on this January day, my whole soul
between the hard science and the final that only a tiny fraction of the funding is in this: bringing America together, unit-
guidance. It is a lot of points for can- request would even be spent this fiscal ing our people, uniting our nation.
dor. year. Admirable words, but words have to
The unions had spoken. The goal- Our children’s futures are literally at be met with action, and, right now, we
posts were on the move. And the White stake. The administration has got to are not seeing much of an attempt to
House keeps endorsing the idea that stop taking orders from the public sec- unify from the President or his party.
schools need the Democrats’ new tor unions that give generously to In fact, we are seeing pretty much the
spending plan to reopen, when the Democratic campaigns. This is exhibit opposite. The Democrats have made it
science disagrees. And furthermore, A in why relief legislation must be tar- very clear they are determined to pass
just 5 percent—5 percent—of what they geted to the actual needs we face now. another COVID bill on a purely par-
propose to spend on schools would even American families should be the start- tisan basis, which is particularly dis-
be spent this year. Let me say that ing point, not preconceived political appointing because, up until now,
again. In this big COVID package, only priorities. COVID relief has been a bipartisan
5 percent of what they propose to spend NOMINATION OF XAVIER BECERRA process. That is right. To date, Con-
on schools would be spent this year. In Now, Mr. President, on one related gress has passed five COVID relief bills,
other words, the spendout is over years matter, today, our colleagues on the and every single one of those bills has
ahead. You would think their view is, HELP Committee will question Xavier been overwhelmingly bipartisan.
we are never going to get over the Becerra, President Biden’s nominee to I might add, last year, when we were
coronavirus. run the Department of Health and in the majority, Senate Democrats
The United Kingdom just announced Human Services. made it very clear that they thought
they will have kids back in school in Amid a global pandemic, the Presi- the minority should have a voice in
less than 2 weeks—2 weeks. Countries dent has made a puzzling selection for COVID relief and that any legislation
like Spain and France have had kids in this crucial post: the famously partisan should reflect the thoughts of both par-
classrooms for months already. The attorney general of California. Mr. ties. The Democratic leader filibus-
European Centre for Disease Preven- Becerra has no particular experience or tered the CARES Act—our largest
tion has no problem affirming the expertise in health. His chief passion COVID relief bill—multiple times until
science—that closing schools is ‘‘un- project in California seemed to be he got a version that he was satisfied
likely to provide significant additional using the force of the government to with, but now that the Democrats are
protection of children’s health.’’ Even attack Americans’ religious liberty and in the majority, apparently, they have
here at home, private and religious freedom of conscience. decided that it is their way or the high-
schools have been teaching kids in per- In 2017, the Department he is nomi-
way. Forget the fact that the Senate is
son for months without causing any ex- nated to lead finally provided a reli-
evenly divided between Republicans
plosion in the spread of the virus. gious exemption to a controversial
and Democrats. The Democrats are de-
Science tells us unambiguously that ObamaCare mandate. Mr. Becerra led
termined to ensure that the Repub-
in-person schooling can be quite safe the lawsuit to challenge it. He used his
and that having young children spend taxpayer-funded office to sue Catholic licans and the Americans they rep-
all day staring into a laptop is a night- nuns who didn’t want government to resent don’t have a voice in this bill.
The Democrats’ move to use rec-
mare. The evidence is crystal clear. Big force them to violate their beliefs. This
onciliation to force through a purely
Labor bureaucrats keep refusing to fol- is a pattern with Mr. Becerra. When a
partisan COVID bill might be under-
low the science. California law forcing pro-life crisis
In my hometown of Louisville, our standable—and I add ‘‘might’’—if the
pregnancy centers to advertise abor-
union-backed school board vice chair- tion was challenged in court, Mr. Republicans had made it clear that we
man now asserts, with no evidence: Becerra defended it to the bitter end. opposed doing anything else on COVID,
I think we’re probably likely to see better His absurd position in favor of gov- but that couldn’t be further from the
instructional outcomes . . . if we stay [re- ernment-compelled speech was slapped truth. The Republicans have made it
mote] for the rest of the school year. down by the Supreme Court. Over the very clear that we are willing to work
Ridiculous. No facts. No evidence. last 2 years, the HHS Office for Civil with the Democrats on additional tar-
Just a personal whim. These are the Rights literally has had to hold Cali- geted relief. Just weeks ago, 10 Repub-
people controlling our kids’ futures and fornia and Mr. Becerra in violation of lican Senators put together a plan and
their parents’ lives. conscience protections that are actu- met with President Biden for 2 hours to
One anonymous teacher told report- ally written into Federal law. His zeal- discuss a bipartisan agreement, but
ers: ous refusal to respect the citizens’ while the President certainly listened
We already have a schedule and a routine legal rights positioned his State to po- to them graciously, it quickly became
going. We don’t need to be babysitting for six tentially forfeit hundreds of millions of clear that their efforts didn’t matter.
weeks because parents are upset. dollars in HHS funding. That is how It didn’t matter how willing the Repub-
Let me say that again. committed they were to these viola- licans were to negotiate; the Demo-
One anonymous teacher told report- tions. And now the fox wants to guard crats had no intention of reaching an
ers that we already have a schedule the henhouse? agreement. They wanted to go it alone,
and a routine going. We don’t need to We will review Mr. Becerra’s testi- and they were not going to let the Re-
be babysitting for 6 weeks because par- mony today, but I am hard-pressed to publicans stop them.

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
ents are upset. see any way such a radical and under- In a speech a few days ago, President
By the way, failing grades in middle qualified nominee should fill such a Biden acknowledged that people have
schools are up 388 percent in our coun- critical post at this crucial time. criticized his $1.9 trillion plan but
ty. Failing grades in middle schools are I suggest the absence of a quorum. asked:
up 388 percent in our county while The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. What would they have me cut? What would
these kids are stuck at home. PADILLA). The clerk will call the roll. they have me leave out?

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