Congressional Record, Senate, March 2, 2021 — Coronavirus and the District of Columbia
Summary
This is S977 of the Congressional Record, Senate, March 2, 2021, with interleaved columns. The page opens mid-speech, with remarks on a District of Columbia policy, set to take effect on March 18, that a Senator whose name is not printed in the text read says would let a child as young as 11 years old make a medical decision without the parents knowing. Under Tribute to Donna Boley, Mrs. Capito thanks the West Virginia State Senate Pro Tempore, in her 10th term. Under the heading Coronavirus, Mrs. Capito criticizes the Democrats' $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, saying 90 percent of it has nothing to do with the core health needs, and a Senator from Montana speaks next, with the views attributed to the speakers.
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Cite this document
“Congressional Record, Senate, March 2, 2021 — Coronavirus and the District of Columbia.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-02-crec-2021-03-02-pt1-pgs977-2-4f2b73595b/
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March 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S977
that I have been a consistent champion make his or her own choice and not fortable with this policy being adopted
of federalism and localism, self-rule. only deprive a child’s parents from in your State—you have not only every
He and I agree that those principles being able to make that decision but right and every authority, but I believe
are important. My friend from Dela- also be able to deprive that child’s par- you have a moral obligation to stand
ware, being a former Governor himself, ents from ever even learning about it. up to this piece of legislation. Do not
understands the sovereignty of the These things are sometimes not with- let this kick in on March 18. This is
States and the need to respect their out consequence. wrong. It is not something we have to
judgment. Imagine, for example, a circumstance accept, and it is certainly not some-
This is a different circumstance here in which the parents are aware of some thing that the Constitution even al-
than that. This would absolutely be in- particular medical condition, a medical lows, much less compels.
appropriate for us, in any other cir- procedure that this child has recently I yield the floor.
cumstance, to tell a State or any polit- had. Imagine circumstances in which a The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MUR-
ical subdivision of any State—a city, child’s siblings or the child him or her- PHY). The Senator from West Virginia.
town, a county, any other subunit of self had previously reacted to a par- TRIBUTE TO DONNA BOLEY
one of our 50 sovereign States—it ticular vaccination in a particular way Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, today I
would be inappropriate for us to weigh or imagine a circumstance in which re- rise to speak on a couple of topics, but
in on a local policy issue like this. It ligious considerations come into play. first, I want to take this opportunity
is, in fact, part of our constitutional Do we really want to deprive parents of to thank really an icon in our State,
design that each State and each com- the ability to make that decision? and that is West Virginia State Senate
munity within each State needs to be I am not aware of any State legisla- Pro Tempore Donna Boley. She is a
able to express itself and make its own ture that would make that choice. I good friend of mine, and she is now in
decisions based on its own unique pref- certainly hope they wouldn’t. But re- her 10th term. She is the longest con-
erences. gardless, and even though this would tinuously serving member in our
Here is a very significant difference not be our choice, this would not be State’s State senate. At one point in
with respect to the District of Colum- within our authority if it were not history, Donna Boley was the only Re-
bia. It has its own provision of the Con- within the District of Columbia and, publican. She was the ranking member
stitution—in fact, its own clause in ar- therefore, within our plenary legisla- on every single committee and the lead
ticle I, section 8, known as the enclave tive jurisdiction under the enclave Republican, as she was the only one in
clause. This provision, found in article clause to make this decision from Con- the early nineties.
I, section 8, clause 17, gives Congress I want to thank her for her service,
gress. It is our decision here because,
exclusive legislative jurisdiction over for her service to our State, which
at the end of the day, the DC govern-
what we now call the District of Co- began in 1985, and wish her all the best
ment itself is acting on authority dele-
lumbia. It wasn’t called that in 1787, as she presides today—she is presiding
gated to it by the Congress.
when they wrote this. It hadn’t yet So whether you like it or not, wheth- today—over the West Virginia State
been designed, created, but it described er you like, in the abstract, the idea of Senate.
So, Donna, way to go. Really proud of
the area to be created out of land do- localism either as embodied in fed-
you. You are a role model for every
nated by one or more States, no more eralism or even more generally than
woman who is watching and certainly
than 10 miles square that would serve that, you can’t escape the fact that young girls as well.
as the seat of our national government. under our constitutional system, we
CORONAVIRUS
There was an understanding the are the lawmaker for DC, no less than
Founding Fathers had that the seat of Mr. President, I also rise to join my
any State’s legislature is the legisla-
government ought not be under the colleagues to discuss the Democrats’
tive body for that State. If you choose
control of any single State, but rather so-called COVID–19 relief package.
not to decide here, you still have made Prior to this past round, Congress
it ought to be in a special status. To a choice. You still have made a choice has been delivering much needed relief,
that end, the Founding Fathers put ul- to approve of that legislative body as you know—five times since the be-
timate legislative jurisdiction in the stripping away critical protections, ginning of this pandemic—with bipar-
hands of Congress, not in that district critical rights that parents have. We tisan support.
itself, not in the hands of the States have made that decision not just be- In this last month, my Republican
that donated the land to create it, but cause it sounds like the right thing to colleagues and I put forth a targeted
in Congress. do, but anyone who has ever been a proposal, presented to President Biden
Now, the DC Home Rule Act, of parent understands that it has to be in the Oval Office. He invited 10 of us
course, gives substantial authority to the parent’s choice. A parent has to be over, and we had a great discussion. It
the DC City Council and Mayor. As it in a position of making these decisions wasn’t just a plan, but it was a plan to
relates to this legislation, it gives the and, at least, for crying out loud, be work together, to be united and move
DC government 30 business days after made aware of this. This takes away forward in an area that we have had
the passage and enrollment of this leg- not only their authority or their rights great bipartisan consensus.
islation, and in that 30 business-day pe- but even their awareness of what has Let’s be clear. We don’t disagree on
riod, Congress has the ability to dis- happened to their child. the need for continued relief and re-
approve of that legislation, which So, yes, I understand the concerns of sources, but it needs to be done in a
would stop it from being implemented localism. They simply don’t apply here. targeted way. Throwing money ran-
when it is set to take effect on March Under our constitutional system, domly will not fix it, especially when
18. under the Constitution itself, the docu- some of these funds that are still being
Let’s remember what we are talking ment to which we all have sworn an spent—that we speak of right now
about here. We are talking about the oath to uphold, protect, and defend, haven’t been spent yet. And taking the
most basic fundamental choice that a this is not a State decision. opportunity to spend on favorite
parent has relative to his or her child: To the extent it is a decision for the projects is not the intention of a
the authority and the discretion to de- DC government, for the DC City Coun- COVID relief package.
cide when, whether, how, and under cil, and Mayor, that is authority that In December of 2020—that wasn’t that
what circumstances and what time cer- we have delegated to the District, and long ago, 2 months ago—we passed the
tain medical procedures may be per- it is authority that is ultimately ours. most recent recovery efforts, which
formed on the child. You might dis- We are ultimately answerable to the
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amounted to approximately $900 billion
agree with the medical judgment of a people, to those who have elected us, to in relief funds. President Biden’s relief
particular parent and at a particular make sure that is exercised respon- plan takes none of that into consider-
moment, but I am not aware of any sibly. ation. They don’t take into full ac-
State that would make the decision on So if you don’t like the fact that we count a sufficient understanding that
a statewide basis to take this choice are doing this—for that matter, if you the impacts of that bill from just 2
away from parents and to say that a don’t like the policy of this, if you as months ago have yet to be felt. In-
child as young as 11 years old could a State lawmaker wouldn’t be com- stead, it force-feeds funds and radical
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S978 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 2, 2021
policy ideas into a framework under process risks wasting millions of dol- takes a little more time as well. But
the guise of COVID relief. lars without the standard procedures for the good of Montanans and for the
Let’s just take our schools, for exam- that we go through on the Appropria- good of the American people, they ex-
ple. Everybody is frustrated because tions Committee and other commit- pect that of us here in the Senate.
our schools aren’t open and our stu- tees. This bill hasn’t even touched a Unfortunately, what we are wit-
dents are falling behind. Congress last committee over here in the Senate. But nessing today is that ‘‘bipartisanship’’
year appropriated $68 billion for K–12 it goes without the standard policy is no longer in the vocabulary of Presi-
schools, but of this amount, only $5 bil- guardrails and provisions that, when dent Biden and the Democrats. They
lion of that—5 billion of the 68—has we work together, we ensure that the have taken this bipartisan process that
been spent so far. According to the money is put to its intended use. We we have had over the course of the last
Congressional Budget Office, of the al- are creating slush funds in the name of 12 months and they have taken it hos-
most $129 billion for K–12 schools in- COVID relief. tage. It has become their way or the
cluded in this Biden COVID relief plan, Bottom line: This will be a fiscally highway. Take it or leave it. They are
only $6.4 billion of that is planned to be wasteful product. trying to jam through a
distributed through September of this There are good things in here that we hyperpartisan—not a bipartisan but a
year. The remaining $122 billion will all agreed on that the 10 who went to hyperpartisan $1.9 trillion COVID–19
not go to schools until the fiscal years the White House to talk about and package.
2022 through 2028. Now, we are being many of us have provided in the last We shouldn’t even call this a COVID–
sold this program because it is an five bills. 19 relief package, and here is why:
emergency. Well, I don’t know how you Many Americans will be getting Ninety percent of what is in it has
predict an emergency in the year 2028. checks, and while I agree with this, all nothing to do with the core health
This cannot possibly qualify as emer- of this would be better in a bill that we needs of combating COVID–19. Nothing.
gency spending. agreed on and that we negotiated. This nearly $2 trillion package is noth-
We are risking a potential economic
Here are some of the other areas ing more than a Pelosi payoff, a liberal
recovery with continued massive
where funds have yet to be spent: wish list that gives President Biden,
Of the $13 billion provided in our De- spending. As I have said time and again
NANCY PELOSI, and CHUCK SCHUMER bil-
cember plan for our agriculture com- in my 5-minute speech all over the
lions of dollars for these partisan pet
munity, only $11.5 billion—no, excuse State of West Virginia, we all agree on
projects.
continued COVID relief. However, we
me, $11.5 billion of the $13 billion has This COVID–19 relief package in-
need to do this in a targeted, fiscally
yet to be obligated. That is not even cludes a laundry list of liberal prior-
responsible—and working together,
spent; that is obligated. ities. Now, I am not making this up.
Roughly $14 billion in appropriated like we have the last five times. Doing
What I am about to share was actually
funding for COVID testing has not yet so allows us to effectively help individ-
included in the most recently passed
uals, families, and businesses that need
been obligated, and that is an ex- package of this COVID legislation out
help the most—and there are many out
tremely important part, and that is— of the U.S. House, which, by the way,
there that do, and they need it yester-
less than 10 percent of this plan are passed in the wee hours of the morning
day; we know that—while also consid-
things like testing, vaccines, and this past weekend, on Saturday, when
ering what other impacts might be
therapeutics. the American people were asleep, and
happening as we throw over a trillion
Twenty-one States have actually ex- it was not supported by a single Repub-
extra dollars to unrelated COVID relief
perienced revenue growth compared to lican Member.
items.
2019, 2020. Yet this bill expends $350 bil- By the way, contrast that to where
With that, I am in opposition to the
lion to States. This money needs to be we were a year ago. We passed a huge
bill, in case you couldn’t tell.
targeted. The parameters created in Now I see my friend from Montana is COVID package here in the U.S. Senate
this category alone reward States that here, but I want to thank you, Mr. 96 to zero. You can’t get any more bi-
were more restrictive in their eco- President. partisan than that. Yet, when they
nomic decisions and heavily weighted I yield the floor. jammed this package in the House Sat-
towards highly populated States. That The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- urday morning, not a single Republican
is not my State. My friend here from ator from Montana. supported it. In fact, a couple Demo-
Montana, that is not his State. And the Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, well, I crats opposed it.
parameters of this are so loose that I want to thank my colleague from West Here is what is in that so-called relief
can’t imagine what projects will be Virginia, Senator CAPITO, for clearly package for COVID–19:
dreamed up to be spent on. laying out her concerns with this One hundred million dollars for
As of January 19, none of the $27 bil- COVID package. NANCY PELOSI’s train to nowhere. It is
lion provided by the Department of I think about where we were a year a Silicon Valley underground rail
Transportation in December, 2 months ago. We were right here in this Cham- project to help Big Tech. You tell me
ago, under the Consolidated Appropria- ber. It was March of 2020, and we were what that has to do with COVID–19.
tions Act has been obligated. Yet there debating, working together in a bipar- Three hundred fifty billion dollars to
is more money in there for this as well. tisan fashion to come up with a bail out blue States that had financial
Also important to note is that the major—over $2 trillion—COVID relief problems before the pandemic. Now,
President’s plan includes many provi- package. Montana should not be footing the bill
sions that really have nothing to do In fact, if we look back over the to bail out States like New York, Cali-
with COVID relief—nothing—but this course of the last 12 months, Congress fornia, and Illinois, especially when we
is a COVID relief package. From an $86 passed five bipartisan COVID–19 relief have seen reports that States are actu-
billion bailout of union pensions to $100 packages—five of them. During that ally doing much better than projected
million—over $100 million, actually— time, as we know, the Republicans when we look at revenues coming in in
for a subway project in California, to were in the majority in the Senate, and 2020. In fact, listen to this, California is
funds provided to advance portions of we believed it was very important—we projecting a $25 billion surplus in 2020.
President Biden’s recent climate Exec- were dealing with COVID challenges in There is $50 million in this package
utive order and environmental justice our country—that we come together in for ‘‘climate justice.’’
priorities, these are some of the items a bipartisan way to address this hor- There are millions in bailouts for
in here that have nothing to do with Planned Parenthood. It also makes
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rible pandemic. It didn’t stop us from
coronavirus relief. These extra wish working with our colleagues across the Planned Parenthood eligible for tax-
list items make his plan more expen- aisle to reach a compromise in order to payer dollars through the Paycheck
sive and more partisan. get needed relief for Montanans and Protection Program.
To make matters worse, my friends the American people who were strug- Now, there is $130 billion in there for
on the other side of the aisle have de- gling because of the pandemic. schools. Now hear this: 95 percent of it
cided to do this in the most partisan Bipartisanship—it takes work. It won’t be spent this year. In fact, 95 per-
way possible: reconciliation. Using this takes both sides coming together. It cent of it is spent in years 2022 through
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March 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S979
2028. You tell me what that has to do in the Nation—No. 1 out of 50—for ad- Last summer, we unanimously passed
with this immediate rush to get this ministering vaccines received from the legislation making adjustments to the
package passed when most of the Federal Government. But in Montana, Paycheck Protection Program, pro-
spending is in the years out to 2028. we are in need of more vaccines. That viding further support for our small
This is ironic, as President Biden and is why I joined forces with the Gov- businesses and additional funding for
the Democrats are bowing to political ernor and Congressman ROSENDALE, re- hospitals, for healthcare providers, as
pressure from the teachers unions to questing them from President Biden. I well as for COVID–19 testing. We passed
keep kids out of the classroom. am pleased to see that it was an- it unanimously.
I cannot tell you how many parents nounced just this week that Montana In late December, just over 2 months
we are hearing from who want to see will be receiving 8,000 doses of the J&J ago, we provided an additional $900 bil-
the schools opened up and want to see vaccine in the coming days. lion in relief, including direct pay-
the kids back in school, back in the Vaccines and vaccine distribution are ments to individuals, $120 billion in ad-
classroom. what we should be focusing on now. ditional unemployment insurance, $25
They support opening the southern They are what will help us get life back billion in rental assistance, $25 billion
border for illegal immigrants over to normal. They are what will end this in nutrition and ag assistance for our
opening schools for American students. pandemic. Yet, sadly, only 1 percent of farmers, and $325 billion in additional
As I have laid out, President Biden, Biden and PELOSI’s COVID–19 package support for small businesses—again,
NANCY PELOSI, and CHUCK SCHUMER’s goes to vaccines. That is unacceptable. with an overwhelming bipartisan
COVID–19 package is not about COVID– It is unacceptable that the partisan vote—bipartisan. All five of these were
19 relief at all. In fact, the White House Pelosi-Schumer bill lacks foresight and passed with big bipartisan votes—some
Chief of Staff, Ron Klain, said this: badly misdiagnoses what America of them unanimously—and much of
‘‘This is the most progressive domestic needs now, because we are seeing the that money has yet to be spent.
legislation in a generation.’’ light at the end of this tunnel. We Now Democrats in Congress and the
I believe that. This is all about polit- must keep moving in this direction. administration want to pass, on a par-
ical favors for Democrats. It is about Any future relief must be targeted and tisan basis with only Democratic votes,
cashing in on campaign promises, and focused on vaccine distribution. a massive $1.9 trillion bill with no
it is outrageous. While Democrats are Let’s just start by retargeting the $1 input from Republicans, unlike the pre-
trying to further their liberal agenda trillion that is not even yet out the vious COVID–19 relief bills that we
under the guise of passing COVID–19 re- door. Why don’t we start there? But, worked together on to pass to respond
lief, we are sitting on $1 trillion of instead, the Democrats continue to go to this COVID epidemic.
unspent, already allocated COVID–19 their own way in a purely partisan In the House, the bill passed. It
relief dollars from the prior five pack- piece of legislation to spend another didn’t get any Republican votes, and it
ages. $1.9 trillion, most of which does not ad-
In fact, of the last package we passed didn’t even get all the Democratic
dress anything related to the COVID–19 votes. It was passed solely with Demo-
in December of $900 billion, only about pandemic. It must be directed instead
50 percent of that—allocated dollars—is cratic votes, no Republican votes, and
toward ending the pandemic, helping some Democrats voting against it as
out the door. the American people, not supporting
So shoveling out almost $2 trillion— well. And, again, we haven’t even spent
the liberal dreams of NANCY PELOSI and the $900 billion we just passed on a bi-
and how much is $2 trillion? The entire CHUCK SCHUMER.
annual Federal discretionary budget of partisan basis in December.
I yield the floor. Also, the bill includes billions in
the U.S. Government is about $1.4 tril- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
lion—the entire discretionary budget. spending for nonpandemic-related pro-
ator from North Dakota.
The Democrats want to push another Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise grams, including $480 million for the
$2 trillion into this economy that is today to discuss the $1.9 trillion spend- National Endowment for the Arts, the
poised to rebound as businesses reopen. ing bill that we expect we will be con- National Endowment for Humanities,
It is deeply irresponsible. It will need- sidering probably starting tomorrow. and the Institute of Museum and Li-
lessly cause our debt to soar to new The COVID–19 pandemic has deeply brary Services.
heights and could harm our economic impacted our communities, causing As a matter of fact, here is just some
recovery by sparking inflation. Its par- heartbreak and grief for hundreds of of the things in here that don’t relate
tisanship is exceeded only by its reck- thousands of families who have lost to COVID: $50 million for ‘‘climate jus-
lessness. loved ones. At the same time, it has tice,’’ $50 million for family planning
The American comeback is well un- turned our economy upside down, and funding without the Hyde protections,
derway. Our economy is rebounding. it has shuttered small business, as well $112 million for Speaker PELOSI’s Sil-
GDP is expected to grow 10 percent by as schools and churches. icon Valley subway, $135 million for
the end of the first quarter. Personal Without a doubt, it is during a pan- the National Endowment for the Hu-
saving rates are way up—20.5 percent demic that we here in Congress should manities, $135 million for the National
this past January, compared to 7.6 per- be coming together and working to Endowment for the Arts, $200 million
cent in prepandemic January 2020. provide relief for those who are strug- for the Institute of Museum and Li-
Manufacturing is at its highest growth gling, and it is for that very reason brary Services, $12 billion in foreign
level since August of 2018. that I am proud that Republicans and aid, and $30 billion for public transit, of
Vaccines are being distributed and Democrats have worked together. We which $4.5 billion is for New York
hospitalizations are going down. In worked together over the past year on City’s subway system. How does that
fact, hospitalizations are down nearly a very bipartisan basis—a bipartisan relate to addressing COVID?
20 percent this week versus last week, basis—to pass five different pieces of Again, like I said, we just passed $900
looking across the country. In fact, legislation to address the pandemic. billion in December, which has yet to
more than 40 percent of those over the In March of 2020, we passed the be spent, that does address COVID. So
age of 65 are vaccinated with at least Coronavirus Preparedness and Re- we need to focus on spending the
one dose. That is good news. sponse Supplemental Appropriations money that we have already provided.
On vaccines, I want to recognize our Act by a vote of 96 to 1. We passed the We need to make sure that it gets to
Governor back home in Montana, Gov- Families First Coronavirus Response the needs. We need to get our economy
ernor Gianforte, for his outstanding Act by a vote of 90 to 8, and the land- opened up. We need to get our kids
mark Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Eco- back in school. Those are the priorities
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leadership on getting vaccines distrib-
uted across Montana. I also want to nomic Security Act, or the CARES right now.
thank Montana’s healthcare heroes for Act, which is the one I think most peo- And then, when we look at this bill,
their dedication to getting the vaccines ple are very familiar with. That pro- in addition to spending on things that
out and keeping our communities and vided $2.2 trillion in relief, and it aren’t related to COVID, let’s also look
our families safe. passed the Senate unanimously. It got at how the funding is allocated. The
In fact, just last week, Montana was every Republican and every Demo- bill provides $350 billion in funding to
recognized as the most efficient State cratic vote. States, Territories, and localities. But
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S980 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 2, 2021
it is not based on population. Instead, trillion—from our grandchildren to I yield the floor.
it is based on unemployment. Well, fight this virus. But over $1 trillion re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
that unfairly awards the States that mains on the sideline and is yet to be ator from North Carolina.
shut down over those that stayed open. spent. Now, my suggestion is, Why Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I join my
And the reality is that what we really don’t we start by repurposing those colleagues in the discussion over the
need to do is get the vaccine out so, dollars and target them where they are relief package we are going to be vot-
again, we can open up our businesses needed the most, which is exactly what ing on later this week.
and make sure we get our kids in we would do in the business world from We need to go back to last year and
school. That has got to be the priority which I came very recently? recognize what happened in this Cham-
now. But how do you go forward with Look, this great American economy ber on five different occasions. I have
that kind of a formula that isn’t fairly is coming back. The long, dark, cold been in the Senate now for 6 years, and
delivered as well? winter is almost over. Unemployment very seldom do we see both parties
Under this flawed methodology, in is under 4 percent in Kansas and many come together and recognize we have a
this bill the city of New York would re- other States, and it looks like we are problem and we have to relieve the
ceive about $4.3 billion. That is actu- going to have a strong first-quarter American people.
ally more than 36 States would get. GDP number. We had a historic pandemic, first of
Also, the city of Chicago would receive Now, as an aside, I have to highlight, its kind, in 100 years. COVID hit our
$1.98 billion. There are 20 States that though, the way this partisan bill is shores. What did we do? We spent days
wouldn’t get that amount. Los Angeles written, it rewards those States that and weeks, but over the course of those
would receive $1.35 billion, which is overreacted and totally shut down days and weeks, we came together with
more than 13 different States would re- their economies and their schools. five bipartisan packages that really ad-
ceive. In addition, L.A. County would Bailing out mismanaged States at the dress the root problems and the chal-
receive $1.95 billion, bringing that val- expense of taxpayers is simply not lenges created by COVID.
ley’s total to $3.3 billion. Why is that American. We passed the Paycheck Protection
the allocation formula? If this administration and our Gov- Program, something that I think was
Republicans stand ready to work ernors do their job, we can have na- extraordinary. The banking commu-
with our Democratic colleagues to pro- tionwide herd immunity by April or nity got together even before we had
vide the necessary support to fill in May, and, by summer, our economy the rules on how the loan should be un-
any remaining gaps and provide tar- can be back to prepandemic levels, all derwritten and how they would be for-
geted COVID–19 relief to our healthcare without borrowing another $2 trillion given, and they decided to mobilize and
from our grandchildren. That comes provide desperately needed capital and
workers, continue vaccine distribution,
out to $6,000 to each child and to each liquidity to businesses, and they saved
safely reopen our schools, and provide
one of your grandchildren—$6,000 we many, many businesses in North Caro-
help for those in our communities who
want to borrow. So walk up to your lina.
are struggling the most. But we cannot
children or to your grandchildren and We passed Operation Warp Speed, a
support this $1.9 trillion partisan bill
say: Hey, we want to borrow $6,000 from program that for the first time in this
which will add to our national debt on
you to help bail out some mismanaged Nation’s history, or any nation’s his-
the backs of hard-working Americans.
governments. tory, we went from a known virus to
I yield the floor. So, listen, we truly want to help
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- two multiple vaccines with high de-
those who need the help. And I ask my
ator from Kansas. grees of efficacy that are now being put
colleagues across the aisle: Why do you
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I into the arms of Americans at a rate of
want to borrow another $2 trillion from
rise today to keep fighting for those almost 2 million a day. We did that be-
our grandchildren and only spend 9 per-
who are still hurting from this plague. cause we focused on a problem and we
cent—only 9 percent—on direct COVID
I am fighting for those who have yet to fixed it and we continue to evolve it—
relief? We simply cannot print enough
receive the vaccine, and I am fighting five different bipartisan bills.
money up here to solve these problems
for those who are not back to work. I Now the sixth one is before us. It is
long term unless we lock in on the real,
am fighting to protect Medicare dol- called a COVID relief package, but we
most pressing challenges.
lars. This is what we need to do to defeat all know that much of what is in this
But do you know who I am really the virus, and it is very simple: get bill has nothing to do with the COVID
here to speak for today? My three shots into arms, get people back to impacts and nothing to do with the im-
grandsons. I actually received a phone work, and get our kids in school. If we mediate spending in this coming year.
call this morning from two of them— do these three things, our economy and Now, I understand elections have
actually, a FaceTime—and they want- Republic will come booming back. consequences. It has been said by
ed to share a story with me of a fish Call this bill in front of us what you President Obama and others, and we
they caught last night. I am here to want: a boondoggle, a Christmas tree— have a change of leadership here in the
protect their future and to make sure a Christmas tree decorated with ear- Senate and change of leadership in the
that someday their grandkids will be marks as ornaments and full of so White House. But I really hate that we
able to call them and talk about a much pork, it is dripping grease. are going to leave a mark. Probably,
great moment in their lives. My friends across the aisle focused 91 and hopefully, the last COVID—the last
Certainly, I am here to fight to get percent of their attention in this bill to bill that would have some COVID relief
our children back to school, but do you pay for things like a bridge from New in it is going to go down as one of the
know what I believe is the largest York to Canada and an underground most probably partisan fights that we
threat to their future, to their dreams, railroad project in Silicon Valley, are going to have this year on this
and to their success? It is the national money for Planned Parenthood, and floor later this week.
debt. It is not just a threat to their stimulus checks for illegal immigrants My colleagues on the other side of
education. It is a threat to the infra- and violent criminals. the aisle decided to go it alone. That is
structure they will be using for the Now, you can argue for this loan exactly what you are going to see in
next 20 years of their life, as well as a from our grandchildren, if you would full display come Thursday this week
threat to the national security of their like and if you don’t care about their when we go into what we call vote-
families. future, but at the end of the day, we arama.
Now, without question, I am here to I feel like we have to be intellectu-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
are trying to borrow $2 trillion from
fight for those who need the help now, our grandchildren to spend on partisan ally honest with the American people.
but I am also called to help the future pet projects, and I will never agree to We know that we have to provide more
of our country, and our children and that. relief. We know that people are strug-
our grandchildren are the future of this Let me stress once more what I am gling, businesses are struggling, indi-
country. for: getting vaccines into arms, getting viduals are struggling, and I get all
As everybody in this room knows, we people back to work, and getting kids that, and that is why I wish so much
have already borrowed $4 trillion—$4 back to school. that we were going to have another bill
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March 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S981
laid down on the floor that was going want to think that they are going to Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, with a
to get strong bipartisan support. But to get a $3,000 or $4,000 check in the one-party monopoly of Washington,
call this bill that is coming before us mail—whether you were out of work at DC, Democrats are back to their old
this week a COVID relief package, I all, whether your combined household spending habits. Most of the $1.9 tril-
think, is being dishonest with the income is $150,000, and you are still lion within the Democrats’ ‘‘COVID’’
American people. working. You weren’t impacted by it. I package has absolutely nothing to do
This chart probably best illustrates understand why it is popular. But is it with COVID.
what the American people need to un- really fair? Unlike the previous five pandemic re-
derstand. That is how much is in this You know, there is a trailer park in lief bills that were approved with over-
bill that is legitimately focused on the Antioch, TN, on Richards Road. I grew whelming bipartisan support, Demo-
crisis that we are trying to continue to up in it, and I ride there when I go visit crats have shown no interest in work-
manage through very targeted, focused my family. I go back and visit with ing with Republicans and are instead
dollars—American taxpayer dollars— people who live in that trailer park. fast-tracking this highly partisan bill
that in this case, as some of my col- My guess is almost every single one of through Congress.
leagues have said, they are not even them need help, and my guess is many Now, the bulk of this budget-busting
dollars we have collected yet. We are of them who work in the service indus- bill is devoted to fulfilling a wish list
going to collect them from my two try have been out of work for the bet- of longtime liberal priorities, including
granddaughters and future generations: ter part of the last year. We should tell billion-dollar bailouts, progressive pro-
a $1.9 trillion package with about 9 per- them: You are going to get some help, gram expansions, and pricey partisan
cent going to something that you could but that neighborhood that is about a pet projects.
reasonably argue has a nexus with the mile down the road from that trailer And let’s talk about a few of those.
impact of COVID, whether it is on indi- park I grew up in, where you have got Look at this right here, a New York
viduals, whether it is people out of combined household incomes of bridge to Canada. That is $1.5 million
work, or whether it is businesses that $150,000, both the husband and wife are for a bridge connecting the State of
are trying to make payroll. That is a working, both of the kids have daycare New York to, yes, another country,
fact, 9 percent. options, they are going to get it too. Is Canada.
Now, I feel like at some point we it really fair for the people who are What about this one: the cleverly
need to get back to what we did on five struggling the most? Is it really fair to worded provision that earmarks—yes, I
different occasions before. We knew say that we are providing education re- said it, folks. Earmarking is already
businesses were failing. They needed lief, and it is not going to be spent happening right here—$140 million to a
relief. We gave them the Paycheck until I would have to run for reelection subway in Silicon Valley in California.
Protection Program. We knew that again in 2028? What does that have to do with COVID?
people were out of work because of I think we need to be honest with the And a whopping $350 billion blue-
business closures. Maybe you had to American people. If we want to have a State bailout that rewards the States
take off work because you didn’t have debate about all of the red, all of the that have imposed the strictest
daycare because your school was money that is going to be committed lockdowns. Folks, we should be reward-
closed. All of those are legitimate rea- this week that has nothing to do with ing the States that demonstrated lead-
sons to provide additional relief. That COVID relief, let’s be honest with the ership by finding ways to safely stay
is what we should be voting on this American people. What we are doing open, not those that shut down our
week, and in small part we are, but in this week, I think, is dishonest. schools, closed our businesses, and
large part we are not. What we are doing this week is bail-
killed our American jobs.
I think it was someone in the Obama ing out States like my State of North But, most importantly, COVID relief
administration who was famously Carolina, a $4 billion surplus this year; should stay focused on COVID. There is
quoted for saying: ‘‘Never waste a cri- bailing out the States of North Caro- still about $1 trillion of COVID funding
sis.’’ And it looks like, to me, that this lina, New York, Illinois, California, in-
that Congress previously approved that
crisis is being used to advance policy stead of trying to use that money,
hasn’t even been spent yet. Yes, folks,
discussions that we should have a de- which we don’t have—but if we need to
bate on the floor, but we are not going $1 trillion. So why in the world are we
spend it, let’s spend it on those folks
to have that. We are going to have a looking at spending yet another $2 tril-
who grew up like I did. Let’s spend it
vote with a simple majority, not rising lion, of course, on things that are not
on the businesses that may shutter
to the gold standard in this institution even related to COVID?
their doors. Let’s do that. Let’s let
for 60 votes, and we are going to pass That isn’t to say that there aren’t
that be the sixth bipartisan COVID-re-
things that have virtually nothing and, needs, because there are. We know that
lief package that we put together, not
in most cases, absolutely nothing to do all across our country. But instead of
what we are going to be forced to vote
with COVID. bridges and bailouts, the money should
on this week.
How on Earth can you provide edu- I hope the American people know we be focused on immediate help to get
cation funding and say that you are recognize—we Republicans recognize our moms and dads back to work. And
doing it for COVID impacts, and much people are hurting, and we want to give to do that, we need to do a few things:
of that money—the majority of the them help. We have proven that be- No. 1, let’s safely reopen our schools.
money—is not even going to be spent cause we voted in five different in- Let’s, No. 2, expand access to quality,
until beginning in 2022 and then play- stances, on a bipartisan basis, to do affordable childcare. And, No. 3, let’s
ing out in 2028? How can you say that that. What the leadership of this distribute the vaccine as quickly as
has anything to do with the immediate Chamber is doing this week is taking possible.
crisis of getting these kids back in us down a course to where we will prob- While the bill does actually provide
school, making sure that teachers are ably never have a chance to come back some assistance for these purposes,
safe, and making sure that we can re- together and have that kind of bipar- even here, the Democrats show how out
cover from what I think will be irrep- tisan result for this crisis or future of touch they are with what is actually
arable damage for a number of students ones. happening on the ground.
who have never been allowed to go So I am going to work hard on For example, nearly $15 billion is in-
back into school? amendments to potentially tailor and cluded for the childcare and develop-
When we talk about the economic remove some of the red. In the mean- ment block grant. You would think
that is a good thing because it is need-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
stimulus payments, there are a lot of time, I think anybody who supports the
people who need help. There are a lot of bill that is coming over from the House ed. At a time when so many moms are
people who need a check. But the pro- should seriously consider whether they being forced to choose between their
posal that I have seen, the proposal we are being honest with the American careers and children as a result of
are going to vote on this week, is giv- people and their constituents. school closures, the support is needed.
ing money to people who would like it. I yield the floor. But a loophole in the bill that is com-
I can understand why it is very pop- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ing over from the House allows mil-
ular. Who wouldn’t, in this Chamber, ator from Iowa. lionaires to use up this program, which
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S982 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 2, 2021
was created to make quality childcare testing, nor do I rise to oppose stim- tunately, has been substantiated, that
affordable for working parents who are ulus spending for those who really need there was an intention to move for-
struggling to make ends meet. Yes, it—our hard-hit businesses, rank-and- ward, regardless of the respectful and
millionaires qualify for this assistance, file fellow Americans—and I certainly fact-based exchange we had about the
not just our struggling families. And don’t rise to oppose additional grants wastefulness of the $1.9 trillion pack-
while additional funding will certainly and loans for other enterprises out age and the extent to which the $600
help many, expanding eligibility to there that just aren’t going to be able billion package more than met the
those millionaires who have the finan- to make it through this, like our not- needs of getting people vaccinated, get-
cial means to afford their own nannies for-profits that are essential to all of ting people back to work, and getting
will not. our communities. But I rise today, in- our kids back to school as safely and as
While the bill also extends the unem- stead, to oppose this partisan, pork- quickly as possible.
ployment benefit, and it does provide filled American Rescue Plan. Here we are, though. Instead of a tar-
an extra $400 per week for those who You know, I am not known for geted relief package, we have seen our
are out of work because of the pan- histrionics in this body, and I am not Democratic leaders load up a $1.9 tril-
demic—there, again, another loop- engaging in them. This is a partisan lion bill with wish-list items.
hole—there is no limit placed on the bill full of a liberal wish list of items And so here is what I am going to
eligibility. That means someone who that, frankly, aren’t popular with Hoo- have to educate Hoosiers on in the
may be out of work but is still earning siers, and they won’t be popular with coming months because I think they
$1 million or more qualifies for these the American people the more they get actually believe this is mostly about
bonus payments. to know about what is loaded up in this vaccination and getting kids back to
Now, you might laugh—you might $1.9 trillion package of goodies. school and getting people back to
laugh—and ask: How many people In the last year, during a time of po- work—and I wish that were the case.
would apply for unemployment assist- litical division and strife, this Congress But, no, it is about borrowing money so
ance if they were making $1 million? came together around COVID relief. We that we can pay for I think what can
Well, folks, the answer is thousands. rose to the challenge presented to us fairly be characterized as a Blue State
During the great recession just a dec- by this global pandemic. We didn’t bailout to the tune of $350 billion.
ade ago, more than 3,000 individuals bring it on. By most accounts, it came You see, a lot of States aren’t like
with adjusted gross incomes of $1 mil- from China. But we came together to the State of Indiana. The State of Indi-
lion collected unemployment benefits. address this foreign threat that came ana, over the years, has balanced our
Because this bill doesn’t cap who may to our shores that has decimated our budget and come up with a rainy day
receive support, jobless millionaires economy, that has threatened lives and fund. And we are criticized, oftentimes
may end up collecting as much as $1 livelihoods, and we passed 5 relief for not spending money out of that
million in enhanced unemployment as- measures with well more than 90 votes rainy day fund. But the rainiest of days
sistance every week. This is like a re- in every instance. hit, and Indiana was ready. Not every
verse millionaires’ tax. The Democrats The total, nearly $3.5 trillion—and I State did that. Many States have elect-
are paying millionaires not to work make no apologies for those invest- ed leaders who have made unfulfillable
with taxes paid by lower income work- ments. Those were investments in pub- promises to their constituency over the
ers. How do you like that socialist lic health. Those were investments in years related to their retirements and
scheme? our communities. Those were invest- so forth. So now, in this package, is
So if you are a coastal elite living in ments in our employers. Those were in- $350 billion going toward those States
California or New York and maybe vestments in our loved ones, to provide to be used for purposes other than pan-
making a million bucks despite being them safety and security and a meas- demic relief.
out of work, this bill is especially gen- ure of comfort but to save their very Also in this bill, $1.9 trillion package,
erous for you. lives. These are investments in our is a Silicon Valley subway. I am not
But, folks, this isn’t Monopoly frontline workers. We did all of that in sure how it got in there. I do know that
money. This is the real deal, and some- a bipartisan fashion with very little op- Speaker PELOSI hails from the area.
one has to eventually pick up the tab. position—very little opposition. The National Endowment for the
Sadly, it is going to be paid out of the Unity, that is what this country Arts, the National Endowment for the
pockets of essential workers and others needs. I heard that coming from the Humanities—I love arts; I love the hu-
who are continuing to work, those who lips of Republicans and Democrats manities. We can debate the proper
pay taxes and keep America running. alike at the highest levels weeks ago, role of government in funding these
Now, as an eternal optimist, I am and that is what I pine for. I want our public cultural goods, but let’s do it
hopeful that when this bill comes be- country to be unified. I believe we can some other time. Let’s not do it in the
fore the Senate, my Democratic col- be unified. But this is not a step in the course of pandemic relief legislation.
leagues will actually work with us to right direction. Expansion of the Paycheck Protec-
cut the pork and refocus the bill on Even though much of the money that tion Program to provide loans to
what it should be focused on: the im- we have allocated to address the many Planned Parenthood, will force certain
mediate needs of the COVID pan- consequences of this global pandemic taxpayers, like myself, to violate our
demic—not a fancy subway, not a has not been spent yet, we Republicans conscience—much, much more. It is
bridge to Canada, and, certainly, not have tried to work with the Biden ad- full of waste. It is fat with waste.
wealthy State bailouts. Focus on the ministration on a sixth relief package This body passed a $1.9 trillion
immediate needs of the COVID pan- over the past month. In fact, I was 1 of CARES Act in March of 2020.
demic. 10 Republicans who—I say this com- One year later, Democrats, along
And if not, I am afraid the Democrats mendably toward the Biden adminis- party lines, are poised to jam through
will just keep passing go and collecting tration; specifically, I commend the another $1.9 trillion package. To give
hundreds of dollars from hard-working President for inviting myself and nine you some sense of how much a trillion
taxpayers across this country, only to other Republicans into the Oval Office dollars is—these numbers can be ab-
pay for their pricey partisan pet to discuss our counterproposal. stract sometimes—try to visualize $1
projects and wish-list items that have And I have to say, the $600 billion bills stacked from the ground halfway
nothing to do with COVID. proposal that we were providing was, up to the moon. That is a trillion dol-
for this U.S. Senator, a bit of a stretch. lars, I was told earlier today. That is a
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Thank you.
I yield the floor. You know, so much money was still in lot of money, and we are borrowing
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- the pipeline, it wasn’t even clear that every cent of it.
ator from Indiana. that much was needed. But we cer- I think it is important we consider
Mr. YOUNG. I don’t rise today, Mr. tainly did not need $1.9 trillion, and we the difference between what we passed
President, in opposition to COVID re- all agreed upon that. a year ago and what we are now consid-
lief, nor do I rise today to oppose Unfortunately, we sort of left that ering as likely to pass along party-line
money for vaccine distribution and meeting with a supposition that, unfor- votes. When the CARES Act went into
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March 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S983
effect, the Nation was shut down. Only and Democrats, for the good of the We have seen this patchwork of re-
so-called essential businesses, busi- country. This does indeed remain a na- sponse, but one thing is very true
nesses that could operate safely, were tional crisis. We had negative eco- about right now versus 11 months ago.
open. nomic growth last year because a glob- We are in a very different place now, as
Indiana’s unemployment rate then al pandemic interrupted the greatest an economy and as a nation, than what
was 17.5 percent. We have done a great period of economic growth in my life- we were 11 months ago. But the strange
job managing this crisis in the State of time. thing is, now, 11 months later, my
Indiana. Most businesses are reopened. We need to recover. We are poised for Democratic colleagues are putting for-
The unemployment rate is 3.4 percent a recovery this year, but we need to do ward a $1.9 trillion package, almost the
in our State. We don’t have the same it in a targeted and in a fiscally re- exact same size of what we had getting
public health challenges of other places sponsible way and in a fashion that into the beginning of this. They are
that have shut everything down. I will doesn’t undermine trust among one an- doing it. As just about everyone sees
let others try and define why that is. other and one that doesn’t break trust we are at the end, they want to borrow
When the CARES Act became law, with the American people by spending another $2 trillion.
not a single school in Indiana was their money irresponsibly. I regret It is not just $2 trillion to be able to
open, and in Indiana today most that that probably won’t happen in the spend toward COVID. I wish that were
schools are open to in-person learning, next few days, but I resolve to continue so. One percent of this package actu-
in-person instruction, many full time. fighting for Hoosiers, for fiscal respon- ally goes toward vaccines. Five percent
And let me take this opportunity to sibility, and to constructively work of this package actually goes toward
commend our administrators and our with this administration however we public health. In the school funding
teachers in the State of Indiana for can moving forward. portion of it, 95 percent of the funding
showing up for work. We don’t see that With that, I yield the floor. in the school funding portion of it,
all around the country. Last week, in The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MAR- which is $170 billion for school funding,
more than 2,000 schools in Indiana, KEY). The Senator from Oklahoma. won’t even be spent this year at all—at
there were only 62 teacher cases. I told Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, last all.
you basically all the schools have week we paused as a Congress to recog- Let me run that past you again.
opened up. Only 62 teacher cases in In- nize half a million people who have Ninety-five percent of the $170 billion
diana. That is one case for every 33 died in the United States due to allocated for funding for schools won’t
schools. I would say we are doing a COVID. Unfortunately, that number is be spent in the year of the pandemic at
pretty good job managing the risk, fol- still climbing. Half a million. That is a all. It is future spending. To give you a
lowing the science. lot of families that are affected. Those picture of how big $170 billion is toward
When the CARES Act became law, a are a lot of lives lost. That is a lot of education, the total U.S. education
vaccine was a far-off dream. I can re- pain that we have experienced as a na- budget for the entire Department of
member President Trump indicating tion, and obviously that is a global Education this year is $66 billion. For
there would be a vaccine by year’s end. pain that is being experienced. the entire year, for all of education in
People laughed. Democrats scoffed, Over the last now 11 months, this the whole country, it is $66 billion, and
mocked. Members of the media mocked Congress has gathered in a bipartisan my Democratic colleagues say: But we
him. Not only do we have one vaccine, way five times, with wide bipartisan need to spend $170 billion just for
but then comes vaccine number two majorities, to be able to address the COVID, which, by the way, we are not
and vaccine number three, all in the issue of COVID–19. We have allocated $4 going to even start spending until next
pipeline because of Operation Warp trillion, all of it borrowed, all of it— year.
Speed that the Trump administration none of this was budgeted money—all Do you know why? Because this bill
implemented to, at once, streamline of that borrowed money, with a com- is not about COVID. I wish it were, be-
the regulatory process for approval and mon agreement that this is a pandemic cause there is real need out there. I
also begin manufacturing in parallel. It and a crisis and that to be able to sta- wish it were. This is for things like $350
is good that the Biden administration bilize the American economy, we have billion to go to cities and States, to be
is building on those successes. to do what we have to do, but we able to bail out some of their pension
So, look, there is no doubt that some should not do more than we have to, funds and other things that are there.
Hoosiers and many Americans are still knowing that every dollar we are Why do I say that? Because when you
hurting. We can and we will and we spending is borrowed. look at the statistics of the revenue
must help those people, but President Last year, at almost this exact same loss for the States—across the entire
Biden and the national Democrats’ so- date, this Congress gathered together United States, the revenue loss for all
called American Rescue Plan is not the and put together a $2 trillion CARES States is .1 percent from last year—.1
way to do it. It just is not responsible. Act package. It was an aggressive percent—not 1 percent, .1 percent
We are better than that. package because we saw the shutdown change, because almost every State is
So we who oppose this, we who hap- of the American economy. Quite frank- dependent on property tax, and as peo-
pen to be Republican U.S. Senators ly, we saw the shutdown of the world’s ple who pay property tax know, you are
who oppose this partisan effort to use economy at that time period. Literally, still going to have to pay your prop-
this crisis to advance initiatives like the world seemed to stop by the end of erty tax. So the revenues, quite frank-
arts funding and a subway next to March, and we all went into seclusion. ly, continue to stay strong.
Speaker PELOSI’s district, along par- We saw dramatic spikes in unemploy- In many of the cities that I have in
tisan lines, we are not going to just let ment and desperate need around the Oklahoma—in fact, one of the cities in
this pass and allow the national Demo- country, but we all knew this was a cri- my State just last week reported their
crats to cram unrelated policies into sis moment and we would get through revenue for sales tax revenue is up 20
what should be a bill squarely targeted it and we would get out of it. percent—20 percent, in their revenue—
at this crisis. We need a bill just like Now, almost a year later, where we because people are staying home and
the five bills that we passed in a saw unemployment soaring to 15 per- shopping more. They are doing more
strongly bipartisan fashion just last cent-plus across the country, we are shopping online, so the tax revenue is
year. now at 6.7 percent unemployment. actually coming back into their States
So today we have more than a mil- Every State is opened at some stage, and their cities even more in many of
lion Hoosiers who have received their and some States completely opened. these communities.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
first dose of vaccine, including more Many schools are open. Some schools But there is $350 billion allocated to
than 70 percent of Hoosiers age 70 and continue to stay closed and say they these cities. You would think, well,
older. There is no doubt that some are afraid and that they are not going there will be some fair distribution.
Hoosiers are still hurting. Again, we to reengage, while thousands and thou- Actually, that would be nice, but it is
will be helping those folks. sands of other schools around the coun- not true. They set up an unemploy-
So this is really quite simple. We try are open and taking care of their ment formula that is based on, those
need to work together, Republicans kids in person. States that shut down the longest and
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S984 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 2, 2021
kept everything closed the longest, sounds good when you say you need More progressive than ObamaCare,
they are the ones that actually get the more money for education, except for more progressive than the Obama-
most money. the vast majority of the education Biden stimulus—that doesn’t sound
So, in other words, if you reopened funds, like around $86 billion, is still like a coronavirus relief bill to me.
your economy and you worked to get unspent from the previous bills in edu- The White House Chief of Staff ad-
your schools opened and you worked to cation money that was sent. mits this isn’t mainstream. This is rad-
get jobs opened, you get a chance to For the ag money that has been allo- ical. And you know, he is absolutely
have very little support. If you stayed cated, $26 billion for ag just done in De- right about that. In the House, not a
closed and kept your schools closed and cember, only $24 billion remains of that single Republican voted for this bill.
kept your businesses closed, well, then $26 billion. In other words, ample funds Actually, Democrats joined every Re-
you will get additional dollars coming are still sitting there for ag, for assist- publican in opposing it.
in, regardless of what your revenue is— ance for schools, for vaccines, for test- President Biden ran for President as
even for big States like California that ing. being mainstream, as being a unifier.
their revenue actually went up last There is $14 billion still remaining in That is how he got to the Oval Office.
year. the fund for testing, untapped. But my But ever since then, it has been
Let me run that past you again. Cali- Democratic colleagues can go to the scorched-earth partisanship every day
fornia’s revenue went up last year. microphone and say we need money for since that time.
They get $27 billion out of this, after schools and for vaccines and for test- Last week, President Biden gave a
their revenue went up. ing. And everyone is like, ‘‘Oh, my speech about the bill. He talked about
Remember that, in the CARES Act gosh, certainly, we do,’’ until you Senate Republicans, those of us who
last March, this Congress added $150 check the facts and find out this is not are on the floor today and coming up
billion to cities and States, $150 billion, about vaccine and testing and schools next. He said: ‘‘What would they cut?’’
and spread that around the country to I am very glad he asked. President
at all. It is about all the pet programs
be able to cover it because there was a Biden can start by cutting $350 billion
that go with it, and it is about allo-
panic to think there were going to be of bailing out States and local govern-
cating billions and billions and billions
major losses, but at the end of it, .1 ments. State tax revenues are down
of dollars to agencies so they can hold
percent off of the previous year. less than 0.1 of a percent, as we just
them and use them for other things.
This has additional funding for heard from the Senator from Okla-
That is what this is about, and it
Planned Parenthood. I am not sure why homa. Most States actually have more
hides under the cloak of COVID, and it
abortion is needed for COVID relief, tax revenue than before the pandemic.
hides behind the pain of half a million
but they have additional money for Actually, 44 States have more tax rev-
Americans who have lost friends and
Planned Parenthood included. They enue than before the pandemic.
family members. President Biden could cut the $85 bil-
have a tunnel for San Francisco, which Don’t use their pain to be able to lion that is earmarked for union pen-
clearly is not COVID related, a bridge amp up government. Let’s have the de- sion funds, to bail them out. This has
in New York State, $50 million for cli- bate about issues that we need to have nothing to do with coronavirus. Unions
mate justice grants. There are—on and on government, but don’t abuse the have been mismanaging their mem-
on and on—all these additional things pain of Americans and pretend you are bers’ money for decades.
that are just stuck into the process. trying to fix something that we are not President Biden can cut the $4.5 bil-
And I would say this Congress has trying to fix. lion for the New York City subway sys-
been active to be able to do what it I yield floor. tem. He could cut $111 million for a
takes to be able to help in every mo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- subway system in Silicon Valley for
ment, but we have also tried to be wise ator from Wyoming. NANCY PELOSI, $270 million in funding
in the process to say let’s spend what Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I for the arts and humanities. He could
needs to be spent when it needs to be would like to join my friend and col- cut $200 million from museums and li-
spent. league from Oklahoma, as well as the braries. That is not coronavirus. He
Let me give you an example of that. Senator from Iowa, who has previously could cut $12 billion in foreign aid. He
As I mentioned, for vaccines in this spoken, and the Senator from Indiana could cut $36 billion in subsidized
particular bill, 1 percent is set aside for in opposing the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion health insurance for people making
vaccines. That would be interesting ex- spending bill. over $100,000 a year. It is a lot of in-
cept for the fact, in vaccines, the CDC The Democrats want to call it the come to additionally get health insur-
has distributed only $3 billion of the al- sixth coronavirus bill. In fact, that is ance subsidies.
most $9 billion that Congress has allo- false. It is not a true statement be- We all know President Biden loves
cated to the CDC for vaccine distribu- cause only about $1 out of every $11 Amtrak. Well, he could cut $1.5 billion
tion. They still have almost $6 billion being spent on this monstrosity is real- in funding for Amtrak in this bill. That
remaining for vaccines right now. ly focused on coronavirus health. The has nothing to do with coronavirus. He
They have spent only $20 billion of rest is a partisan liberal wish list that could cut $1.5 million for the funding
the $37 billion allocated for the vaccine the Democrats have wanted to pass for for the bridge from New York to Can-
treatment and development and test- a long, long time—long before the pan- ada. It is probably a pet project for the
ing—only $20 billion of the $37 billion demic, long before anyone in this coun- majority leader.
for the actual development and treat- try had ever even heard of coronavirus. To answer the President’s question of
ment—still another $6 billion remain- I remember President Obama’s Chief what could we cut, we could cut a lot.
ing for distribution. of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, famously Thankfully, the Senate Parliamen-
And on top of all that, today the said: ‘‘Never let a good crisis go to tarian already cut $67 billion from the
Biden administration said they have waste.’’ Well, that is what they did bill. That is how much Democrats’ na-
struck new deals with vaccine folks so under President Obama. They saw a tional wage mandate was going to cost.
they can get vaccines to every single crisis. They passed laws that had noth- Yet there is still a lot we can cut.
American by the end of May. They al- ing to do with what had caused it. And Here is the bottom line. The people of
ready have all that they need for vac- now here we are a dozen years later. Wyoming, whom I visit with every
cine distribution, development, and President Biden is in the White House, weekend while I am at home, don’t
purchasing, yet this particular bill and he is using that playbook once want to live with wish lists. They want
asks for billions more in vaccine be- again.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
to make sure they can stay at work,
cause that sounds like a good idea—ex- President Biden’s Chief of Staff calls their kids can stay in school, and they
cept, when you check the facts, they this bill, the one coming to the floor get the virus behind them.
already have all they need for the vac- right now—he described this on When I say ‘‘stay,’’ that is because
cine purchase, development, distribu- MSNBC the other day as—‘‘the most the kids in Wyoming have been in
tion. progressive domestic legislation in a school since last August, in spite of the
But it sounds good, kind of like, we generation’’—‘‘the most progressive do- fact that it seems like only half the
need more money for education. It mestic legislation in a generation.’’ kids in America are back in school.
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March 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S985
You can either get to yes or you can numbers than before, and its whistle- and continue to fund the operation and
get to no. And the people in Wyoming blower program has grown at a much to pay for staff.
wanted to get to yes when it came to faster rate than Congress expected What often happens around here is
getting kids back to school. What we when we created it in 2010. that this effort, unfortunately, also hit
see President Biden doing is saying yes Last year, the Commission issued a a roadblock, and the language wasn’t
to the teachers union. He has paid the single whistleblower award for approxi- included by the House of Representa-
ransom note, and this is the money mately $9 million. In the past, it has tives. Now, 2 months have passed since
being paid to them, not to get our kids given out awards for as much as $30 then and a matter that was already ur-
to school but to keep the teachers million. Remember, this is money gent in December has become even
unions happy. given out to find out about fraud so more critical right now.
I believe teachers want to get kids people can be punished, bringing The Commission told my office they
back to school. Teachers want to money into the Federal Treasury. have now completely stopped work on
teach, but not the unions who pull the As a result of these successes, in the four cases, and these four cases poten-
strings and are certainly pulling the near future the Commission faces the tially would have large awards. And if
strings of Joe Biden in the White possibility of having to pay out several they get these large awards, it could
House. large whistleblower awards in close bankrupt the fund. It is now a conflict
Working families don’t want politi- succession. Now, if that happens, the of interest for staff who are still paid
cians to exploit a crisis for political whistleblower program could run short to even work on those cases because
gains. They want to protect their phys- of having the cash on hand that it they know if they were to approve the
ical health and their financial health needs to pay these awards and other of- large awards, it could mean putting
and well-being. So it is time to stop fice operating expenses. Again, this is themselves out of a job. That is totally
trying to exploit a crisis, which is what not an issue of bad management. It unacceptable. Whistleblowers shouldn’t
I see every Democrat doing. Let’s give just means that the program works have to wait just because Congress has
the American people what they really better than we thought when we en- been dragging its feet on this issue.
need all across the country—getting acted it in 2010. That is why I reintroduced my bill and
back to work, getting kids back to By law, the Commission is only al- ask my colleagues to support this leg-
school who aren’t there already, and lowed to keep a certain amount of cash islation to fix the cap and to protect
putting the disease behind us. on hand to pay out awards, and that this very successful whistleblower pro-
I yield the floor. amount is capped under existing law at gram.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- $100 million. Because Congress ex- This is a stand-alone bill, a very
ator from Iowa. pected the program to remain rel- short and simple bill. It increases the
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, be- atively small, which it has not, it set cap on the Customer Protection Fund
fore I speak, I ask unanimous consent the cap for the Consumer Protection from $100 million to $150 million and
that myself, Senator BRAUN, and Sen- Fund lower than the cap it has set for requires that funds needed for the oper-
ator HIRONO be able to complete our re- larger whistleblower programs, such as ating expenses of the Whistleblower Of-
marks before the vote. the one at the Securities and Exchange fice be held in a separate account to
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Commission. ensure that the Whistleblower Office
objection, it is so ordered. The Consumer Protection Fund is will have the resources it needs to con-
WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAM also used to pay the operating expenses tinue employment of staff while the
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I of the Whistleblower Office—in other amount in the Customer Protection
want to compliment that the Com- words, the employees that follow up on Fund builds to a higher level.
modity Futures Trading Commission these fraudulent claims. Allowing this successful Whistle-
operates a highly successful whistle- Increasing the cap will ensure that blower Office to close simply because it
blower program. As one of the Senators the Commission can keep enough of the is doing its job—a job well done—is un-
who led the effort to establish that proceeds from the fines it collects on acceptable to me, and I hope it is unac-
whistleblower program back in 2010, I hand to pay whistleblower awards and ceptable to the other 99 Members of
am proud of what this program has ac- also to ensure that the program itself this Congress. We ought to be able to
complished. doesn’t run out of money. get this bill passed quickly so that we
Since the Commission issued its first In 2019, I introduced the Whistle- can keep this successful whistleblower
whistleblower award in 2014, whistle- blower Programs Improvement Act, program going to protect the cus-
blowers have helped the Agency root which increased the cap on the fund tomers. It ought to be unacceptable,
out waste, fraud, and abuse in the com- and made several additional improve- then, to every Member of this Con-
modities trading industry and has re- ments to the program, including provi- gress. It is important that we act now
covered nearly $950 million. That is a sions that would allow the Commission to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
very good reason to compliment the greater flexibility to share information That is why I urge my colleagues on
Commodity Futures Trading Commis- with law enforcement. both sides of the aisle to support this
sion. That is a lot of restitution for I did this because I realized that as bipartisan legislation.
harmed investors. It is also a lot of the awards became bigger and more I yield the floor.
money going to the U.S. Treasury and frequent, it was only a matter of time The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
to the American taxpayers. before the Commission would run into ator from Indiana.
Now, if Congress doesn’t act quickly, trouble. A year later, my prediction UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 294
all of that progress could come to a came true, and the Commission itself Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, today I
swift and sudden halt. notified me of their impending money rise to ask that the Senate grant unan-
Several months ago, the Commission problems—those same money problems imous consent to pass a bill that re-
contacted my office to tell me that its I am talking about. stores parents’ rights to be part of
whistleblower program is facing the I introduced a bipartisan bill, along medical decisions for their children.
prospect of a sudden cash shortage— with Senators HASSAN, ERNST, and More than 70 percent of Americans
one that could require it to furlough BALDWIN, in December, just a few agree that parents should have the
staff and even close down its oper- months ago, to quickly address this legal right to stop an abortion from
ations. problem. I worked with then-Chairman being performed on their minor child.
The reason for this potential short- Roberts and then-Ranking Member Consequently, more than half of the
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
age isn’t that the whistleblower pro- STABENOW to include language that States have laws on the books that re-
gram has wasted or mismanaged funds would have made the most critical up- quire some form of parental notifica-
or that it hasn’t been doing its job. It dates for the program in last year’s tion. Unfortunately, the State laws
is just the exact opposite. Whistle- omnibus. These updates would have en- cannot be fully enforced when children
blowers have been approaching the sured that the Whistleblower Office travel over State lines or abortion pro-
Commission to report actionable could keep enough funds on hand to viders assist minors in circumventing
claims of wrongdoing in far greater pay upcoming whistleblower awards State laws.
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