Congressional Record — Senate, S1010 (March 3, 2021)
Summary
Page S1010 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for March 3, 2021, in interleaved columns, with Senate remarks on the Biden relief bill. One speaker says the bill's benefits for Federal employees amount to paying them not to work and are grossly unfair, which is that speaker's view. Another says vaccination is running at roughly 3 million people a day with more than 70 million shots given, and that the bill adds temporary funding for Medicaid home and community-based services. A third speaker says only $160 billion of $1.9 trillion goes to health care and that unemployment insurance changes make past solutions worse, and says he is mystified by the partisan start.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record — Senate, S1010 (March 3, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-03-crec-2021-03-03-pt1-pgs1010-57b0e20b9d/
, SHA-256 fb429be1bceff9629923d0595bba250c33b8adb8246c8e51b95c514618d54290.Full text
S1010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 3, 2021
aren’t receiving these same benefits. But the good news is, the money we community-based services, make sure
This is clearly cherry-picking to ben- spent last year is having real results. that seniors and people with disabil-
efit Federal employees, to pay them The money we invested in treatments ities have a chance to continue to live
not to work. and research and development of vac- where they want to live, as opposed to
I respect the work that Federal em- cines and now the distribution of vac- living in a congregate setting. In many
ployees do. I respect the work that all cines—it is actually making a real dif- cases, that means they will have more
government employees do. But to give ference. We are vaccinating roughly 3 contact with their families, reducing
them preferential treatment in the million people a day in America. More the loneliness and social isolation that
midst of this pandemic by paying them than 70 million people have had shots can be damaging to their mental
not to work and using tax dollars from in arms, and we are doing our best to health. So this American Rescue Plan
other States and other places that try to get it in people’s arms as fast as includes temporary Federal funding to
don’t enjoy that benefit is simply we safely can. President Biden said we States to increase Medicaid home- and
grossly unfair. will get that job done by the end of community-based services.
Over the last year, countless num- May. That is wonderful news. If the bill were to pass, an additional
bers of parents have balanced the im- The other wonderful news is that un- $9.3 billion would be made available to
possible: work and remote learning for employment rates are going down and States to ensure that workers who pro-
their children. It has been hard. I un- State revenue is going back up. School vide these services have the protection
derstand that. Many parents turned districts across the country have safely and resources they need to provide the
their kitchen tables into makeshift of- resumed in-person learning. One in five care and to provide the services.
fices and classroom spaces until their adults in America has now received a More than 200 organizations from
children were able to physically return dose of the vaccine, and a third vaccine around the country wrote to Congress
to school. Today, less than 7 percent of has now been approved, so that number in support of these new dollars. For
the school districts in Texas are fully will climb faster and faster and faster. months, SEIU, one of the great unions
remote. Seven percent are fully re- Every day we are moving closer to in America representing workers—
mote, and two-thirds are fully in-per- the light at the end of the tunnel, and healthcare workers; the disability com-
son in my State. They have found a now is not the time to squander the munity, as well; advocates for older
way to safely return to the classroom. good will and trust that the American adults like AARP and others—have ral-
There is no reason why the Texans who people have had in us to be good stew- lied around the need for this funding.
have made that tough juggling act, ards of the public health and our econ- This funding can be used to increase
working and learning remotely, should omy by engaging in this sort of embar- wages for direct-service providers, the
now have to pay Federal employees rassing partisan exercise. workers. It can be used to secure addi-
who have not had to make that tough I yield the floor. tional personal protective equipment
choice. I suggest the absence of a quorum. and testing supplies for workers and
It is simply false advertising to call The PRESIDING OFFICER. The those that they support. Home- and
this a COVID–19 relief bill. It is decep- clerk will call the roll. community-based funds can also be
tive and outrageously so. Only $160 bil- The senior assistant legislative clerk used to help people transition from
lion dollars—8 percent of the total proceeded to call the roll. congregate settings back to their
cost—is directly related to combating Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I ask homes. It can also be used to provide
COVID–19. Eight percent. The rest of unanimous consent that the order for services for the 800,000 Americans wait-
the bill, as I have tried to point out, is the quorum call be rescinded. ing for this kind of help.
a variety of—it is a grab bag, really, of The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. For example, Ira Hall from West-
partisan priorities, wasteful spending, BALDWIN). Without objection, it is so moreland County, PA, just right in the
and counterproductive policy. ordered. southwestern corner of our State, next
What is worse, this restructuring, ac- The senior Senator from Pennsyl- to Pittsburgh, in that county, Ira will
cording to Mr. CLYBURN’s language, to vania. continue to receive services, and he
fit the vision of the Democratic Party f will receive that service from his direct
will cost taxpayers nearly $2 trillion. service worker, Ray Williams. I was
CORONAVIRUS
That is on top of the $4 trillion we al- able to visit both of these individuals
ready spent last year. Two trillion Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I last May during a virtual home visit.
more. wanted to speak in particular terms Home- and community-based services
Well, somebody is going to have to about the American Rescue Plan and in make it possible for Ira, who has a de-
pay that money back, and I fear it will particular about the provision of home- velopmental disability, to live in his
not be us because we will be long gone. and community-based services. We own apartment. Ray, who is his direct
It will be our children and grand- know that when we speak of these service worker, helps Ira plan his day
children, and at this rate of reckless kinds of services, we are talking about and helps him throughout his workday
spending, our great-grandchildren will services that benefit seniors across the and helps him find the resources he
have to be the ones to pay the money country as well as Americans with dis- needs to meet his goals.
back. abilities. We are also concerned as well During the pandemic, Ray’s support
This bill is not the answer to the real for the heroic frontline workers who made it possible for Ira to remain in
challenges that face our country posed provide those services, most of whom— his home and to be safe from con-
by the pandemic. We have shown our virtually all of whom have been under- tracting the virus. The services Ray
willingness to work together in a bi- paid and, frankly, underappreciated for provides also helps Ira maintain his
partisan way to enthusiastically sup- far too long. physical and mental health. We know
port the need to provide real relief both Let me start with the provision of that the American Rescue Plan makes
from the public health consequences these home- and community-based it possible for services like those Ira
and the economic fallout associated services in terms of the people who are receives and Ray provides. It will also
with the virus, but this bill doesn’t benefiting from these services. Right mean the agencies providing these
even attempt to do that. now, about 4 million Americans receive services will continue to operate and
Fortunately, as a result of the work home care and home health services in provide essential home- and commu-
we did last year, including last Decem- their own homes or apartments. Re- nity-based services throughout the
ber—and by the way, only about 20 per- ceiving these services at home reduces public health crisis.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
cent of the money that we appropriated the likelihood that that older Amer- Passage of the bill would be a down
just a few weeks ago—actually, a cou- ican will be infected by the virus. payment on securing strong and com-
ple of months ago in December—has ac- Serving and supporting older adults prehensive home- and community-
tually been spent. Only about 20 per- and people with disabilities reduces based services infrastructure, but it is
cent has been spent, and here we are pressure on nursing homes and other only a down payment. This pandemic
being asked to appropriate $1.9 trillion congregate settings. We know that has revealed a fragile home care and
more. these kind of services, the home- and home health system. These funds
VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Mar 04, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03MR6.021 S03MRPT1
March 3, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1011
should be the first step in creating I was one of the 10 Republicans who that. And, by the way, the alternative
home- and community-based services went down to the White House to meet I mentioned that we offered to Presi-
infrastructure that can serve seniors with President Biden about this a few dent Biden—$160 billion. We totally be-
and all people with disabilities who weeks ago, and we offered our own pro- lieve in that part of the bill, and that
want to live in their own homes and re- posal and said we would like to work we should put all of that in there, par-
main in their communities with their with you and negotiate with you. And, ticularly with regard to the vaccines.
families, friends, and neighbors. you know, there has been no interest, So it is frustrating because not only
With the passage of this American to be honest, and I wish it weren’t the is the process not what we have done in
Rescue Plan, we will be able to address case. the past and is best for this country,
the immediate pandemic needs of older And $4 trillion has already been allo- but also the substance of this bill is
adults, as well as people with disabil- cated to the COVID–19 issue, and it was just not targeted on COVID–19. How do
ities. Let’s work to ensure this first needed. It is a crisis. It still is. It is not I tell hard-working families in my
step starts to create the path to a ro- over yet, although things are getting a State of Ohio that there is a provision
bust, comprehensive home care and lot better, both in terms of the in the bill that asks Medicare to spend
home health network in every State healthcare crisis and in terms of the more money in New Jersey, Delaware,
for every senior and every American economy. But we did that, again, five and Rhode Island but not in Ohio and
with a disability. different times—over $4 trillion, five other States? How do I explain that we
I yield the floor. different times in a bipartisan way. need to set aside hundreds of millions
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The jun- So we know we can do it. It is hard of dollars that are in this bill in addi-
ior Senator from Ohio. for us to do it on other issues—let’s tional Federal funds for the arts? We
f face it—like taxes or even healthcare, can have that debate on the arts, but it
but it is not with regard to COVID–19. has nothing to do with COVID–19. We
CORONAVIRUS have the highest deficit, as a share of
At least it hasn’t been until now.
Mr. PORTMAN. Madam President, I The most recent $900 billion COVID GDP, since World War II—the highest
worked with my colleague from Penn- debt as a share of GDP. You know, I
relief package passed at the end of De-
sylvania on some of these home care don’t think we should be spending that
cember by a 92 to 6 vote—92 to 6. I
options, and I think it is a very posi- kind of money on things that don’t re-
came out to the floor to give speeches
tive thing. In fact, it saves a lot of cost late to COVID–19.
on this Senate floor over 20 times in
for the system, but the question is, Beyond these kinds of unrelated pro-
the months prior to that legislation fi-
What is it doing in a COVID relief bill? visions, there are also proposals in this
You know, I just have to say, having nally being passed, urging Congress to
come out of our partisan corners, stimulus that are directed at impor-
been involved in a bipartisan way on tant issues, but, based on what is need-
five different COVID relief packages Democrats and Republicans alike, and
to come up with a COVID relief pack- ed to respond to the current chal-
over the last year, I am just so discour- lenges, are simply unnecessary and add
aged that we can’t sit down, Repub- age, because I saw so much middle
ground. And we found it by the end of up to more wasteful spending.
licans and Democrats alike, and work For example, we reached a point in
out a targeted, focused bill on COVID, December. I was part of a group of five
this pandemic where the CDC, or the
and, by the way, then move on to other Democrats and five Republicans who
Centers for Disease Control, has said
things, including healthcare reform, in- sat down over a month-long period or
that schools can start to open safely
cluding issues that traditionally have so. We actually wrote a bill. The ‘‘908
with the right measures in place—
also been bipartisan, like infrastruc- Coalition,’’ we called ourselves because
thank goodness. We want to get our
ture and broadband expansion, like re- we wrote a bill for $900 billion that was kids back to school. That should be a
tirement security or dealing with the basis for that $900 billion legisla- cause for celebration. But the plan
China and supply chain issues. tion that eventually passed. So I have here, the $1.9 trillion, doesn’t reflect
But this is not the way to start. We been there. I have done it. We have those findings. Last year, we appro-
are looking at a $1.9 trillion package, done it. We can do it. Yet we are look- priated $113 billion for schools to help
the second largest ever written by Con- ing here at an entirely different proc- navigate the pandemic, but, as of now,
gress. The first one went through last ess and, unfortunately, a product that of that $113 billion, only $15 billion has
year. And there was no input—vir- is not targeted, not focused. been spent. So, roughly, $100 billion is
tually no input—from anybody on our It is interesting to note that of the left over from last year with regard to
side of the aisle because the adminis- $900 billion that we appropriated just a schools.
tration decided they didn’t want it. couple of months ago, at the end of the If we are already opening classes
They wanted to jam this thing through year, more than half of that, we are safely with that amount, why does this
without our participation. And it is too told, has not been spent yet. So while $1.9 trillion plan instead call for an ad-
bad, because they will end up with a we are starting a $1.9 trillion new ditional investment of $130 billion in
product that is not going to be as fo- spending project, about half of what we our schools, but especially when we are
cused and targeted, but, also, it is just just did has yet to be spent. So how do told that most of that $130 billion will
getting off on the wrong foot and mak- we know how much is needed? It is not be spent in this calendar year? No-
ing it more difficult for us to figure out very hard to know. body thinks that next year, at this
how to come together on other issues. I will say that it is troubling to me time, we are going to have the crisis we
It is really the opposite. This process that this bill is loaded up with provi- have now, and yet the $130 billion of
is really the opposite of what President sions that don’t relate to addressing new money will not be spent until the
Biden talked about. He talked about it the COVID–19 pandemic, because we end of 2028.
in his campaign. I mean, he won a cam- should be targeted and focused like a By the way, the nonpartisan Congres-
paign, including in his primary, saying laser on that issue and not on other sional Budget Office estimates that
he wanted to work across the aisle; he things. In fact, when you look at the about half of the funds in the entire
wanted to change the tone in Wash- healthcare part of this, most people proposal won’t even be spent in this
ington. That was pretty brave of him would think: OK, what would you do calendar year. That is their analysis—
to say, really. with a COVID–19 bill? You would focus objective, nonpartisan. No one expects,
And, then, in his inaugural address, on the coronavirus. You would focus on again, that we will be in this crisis at
he did the same thing; didn’t he? He the testing and the tracing. You would that time. So it just doesn’t seem to
talked about the need for unity. He focus on the vaccine development and
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
make sense to me.
talked about wanting to get people to- distribution. You would focus on the There are other provisions in this bill
gether and to work with Democrats healthcare side, including healthcare that seem to actually take solutions
and Republicans alike and kind of get providers. we have come up with in the past
back to that. This is exactly the oppo- Unfortunately, that is a very small COVID–19 package and make them
site of that. I just don’t get it. I have part of the funding of this bill. It is worse. Unemployment insurance is a
to tell you, I am mystified why they $160 billion out of $1.9 trillion, so less good example. Republicans and Demo-
want to start off this way. than 10 percent of the bill is focused on crats alike believe there needs to be
VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Mar 04, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03MR6.024 S03MRPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2021-03-03_crec-2021-03-03-pt1-pgs1010.pdf
- Size
- 216,950 bytes
- SHA-256
- fb429be1bceff9629923d0595bba250c33b8adb8246c8e51b95c514618d54290
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov