American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 — Congressional Record, Senate, March 4, 2021
Summary
Page S1044 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for March 4, 2021, with Senate debate on the American Rescue Plan Act in interleaved columns. Mr. Kennedy argues that much of the money will not be spent until a year from now, that States and local governments whose revenues rose are receiving money, and that Democrats declined to negotiate when Republicans used reconciliation, which are his views. A later speaker explains an amendment to raise the tipped minimum wage from $2.12 an hour to $14.95 over 7 years, supported by civil rights groups and the National Organization for Women.
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“American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 — Congressional Record, Senate, March 4, 2021.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-04-crec-2021-03-04-pt1-pgs1044-48e9dc4fd2/
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S1044 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 4, 2021
released, is going to stimulate our some Americans who need help, but if Act—‘‘we,’’ meaning the Republicans—
economy substantially, in my judg- what the President is saying is accu- we went through reconciliation. We
ment. rate, then why is so much of the money did. And so a fairminded person might
Everyone involved is doing a wonder- not even going to be spent until a year be thinking, well, KENNEDY, you know,
ful job on the vaccines. President from now? how can you criticize your Democratic
Trump’s team did a wonderful job. I look at the bill, and I say, if all colleagues for using reconciliation if
President Biden’s team is doing a good that is true to deal with an immediate you did it? And that is fair, except
job. The Governors seem to be doing a crisis, why are we giving money to when we did the Tax Cuts and Jobs
great job. People are getting vac- States and local governments that Act, we asked our Democratic friends
cinated. We know that we have a lot of have actually seen their revenues go in leadership: Can we sit down and see
people in America who had the virus up? Why? There is no crisis. And I look what we can put together? And we were
and didn’t even know it. We are rapidly at the bill and I ask myself, you know, told: No, we don’t want to reduce taxes.
approaching the point where, either why are we giving money to bail out That is not what happened this time.
through vaccination or people who had pension plans? Can we talk about this? Ten of my colleagues—I wasn’t invited,
the virus and therefore have the anti- And I look at the bill and I say, why, as and that is OK. But 10 of my colleagues
bodies, we are going to have way over I just alluded to, why are we giving $160 went to the White House and visited
the majority of American people pro- billion—I think that is the figure—$160 with President Biden for 2 hours and
tected. billion to our elementary and sec- came back and said: You know, I think
So one point of view is that we don’t ondary education institutions when we he may want to put a bill together.
need to spend $1.9 trillion, but there have given them $70 billion in the past And we were excited. We were going:
was a middle ground here, and I am dis- and they have only spent $4 billion? Yay, that is great. Wonderful.
appointed that the President took the Where is the fire? They have $65 billion Then, the next thing we knew, the
position that, look, we need to spend $2 or so left. This is real money. There is White House issued a statement and
trillion right now, even though there is no money fairy. said: Our idea of unity is to do what we
$1 trillion at least in previously appro- I look at the bill—I mean, I want to say and don’t ask questions.
priated funds that we haven’t spent help the American people. Gosh, many Both of us know that is not unity.
yet. of them do need help. But should we So all of this could have been avoid-
Now, a reasonable approach would really be sending stimulus checks to ed. It all could have been avoided. And
have been to say: Do we really need to people who have never missed a pay- I think we are going to end up spending
spend $2 trillion? Maybe we ought to check out there? Do they really need money that doesn’t need to be spent
spend the other $1 trillion and see if the money if they haven’t been laid off right now. I think we are going to end
that will do it. Another reasonable ap- and if they have been paid the entire up spending money where we don’t
proach would have been to say: Maybe time of the lockdown? Why are we need to spend it.
we ought to reprogram some of the $1 doing this? I am so glad that Senator SCHUMER
trillion that hasn’t been spent. For ex- Couldn’t that money—first of all, one withdrew his bridge project and that
ample, we appropriated I think about option is not to spend it if there is not Speaker PELOSI withdrew her Silicon
$70 billion to our elementary and sec- a need. We can pay down our debt or at Valley subway. That is just spending
ondary schools. They have only spent least not increase our debt. Another porn as far as I am concerned.
$4 billion, so why are we giving them option would be to spend it on some- But, in any event, I wanted to get
another $160 billion in President thing that we really need. that off my chest. We are going to go
Biden’s bill? Maybe—I am not saying it I come to the conclusion—I am not through a vote-arama, where we all
is the case, but we ought to explore it— trying to be mean-spirited, but that is offer amendments. Maybe together we
maybe the schools didn’t need the full why I say calling this a coronavirus can make this bill better and get rid of
$70 billion we gave them if they have bill, you know, it is like calling Harvey some of the spending porn, as I call it,
only spent $4 billion or $5 billion. So Weinstein a feminist. This isn’t a and do the job that the American peo-
maybe we can reprogram some of that coronavirus bill, not the way it has ple sent us here to do.
money. been portrayed. Thank you.
Now, if we had this money sitting in Now, the American people still have I don’t see Senator SANDERS. I’m
a checking account, I would still needs. We still have some folks, pri- sorry.
think—because it represents a scarce marily in the leisure industry and in With that, I yield to my good friend
resource, I would still think that we the travel industry, who need our help. Senator PETERS.
need to take a look at the money we They do need help. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
have already sent and either spend it, We have a lot of folks who have lost ator from Michigan.
if it is well placed, or reprogram it be- their jobs through no fault of their f
fore we go out and spend $2 trillion. own. They are on unemployment that
But we don’t have the money in a is about to run out. They need our AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF
checking account. We will borrow help, and we ought to help. But the 2021
every penny of this money, $2 trillion. right way to do this is to sit down as a Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, as we
That is going to bring debt up to 27, 28, body—Democrats and Republicans— near the 1-year anniversary of the
29 trillion dollars, and we know that and go through our needs, not our coronavirus pandemic ripping our
right behind it is going to come a green wants, because that is another problem country, there is no question that
infrastructure bill. I am hearing that with this bill; it is more ‘‘wanty’’ than Michiganders and people all across our
could be $2 trillion to $3 trillion more. needy. Let’s go through our needs, and country are still hurting.
At some point, we are going to run out let’s discuss how much money we While we are making important
of digits. I mean, at some point, we are should appropriate to those needs in progress in the fight to combat this
going to have to change the name of light of the facts that we have already virus, this public health and economic
the Department of Treasury to the spent $4 trillion and we have a bunch of crisis continues to take a significant
‘‘Department of Debt’’ because there is money left over. And that is not the toll on families, workers who are out of
no treasury left. It is all debt. way this is being done. a job, educators, students, small busi-
The other thing that bothers me This is just being rammed down our nesses, hospitals, and communities all
about the bill is President Biden—and, throats. This is just raw gut politics, across our country.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
again, I understand politics. He has which I understand. I have been around We passed targeted, temporary relief
marketed this bill as an emergency. It it. You have, too, Mr. President. We in December, but we knew at that time
is an emergency. We have to do it now. have both been around the block a few that that was not going to be enough.
Right now, we need $1.9 trillion to deal times. But that is not how you allocate We need more robust, meaningful re-
with the economic crisis caused by the scarce resources. lief. We must act quickly to meet the
lockdown. And I understand that argu- The final point I will make is, I know urgency of this moment by swiftly
ment and that there currently are when we did the Tax Cuts and Jobs passing the American Rescue Plan.
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March 4, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1045
This is about relief for Michiganders In response to the negative impact vaccine makers, especially those in my
and Americans who are reeling and are that COVID–19 has had on education, a home State of Michigan, we now have
trying to make ends meet, funding to stronger and urgent investment in our three safe and effective vaccines. But I
help schools safely reopen, sources to schools is absolutely critical for know that many people have been frus-
speed up vaccine distribution, and sup- achieving safe operations and recov- trated and darn right angered by the
port for small businesses fighting to ering from gaps in learning. That is difficulties they have had in trying to
stay afloat. why the American Rescue Plan is abso- secure vaccines for their loved ones or
I continue to hear from Michiganders lutely essential. for themselves. I am encouraged that
from all across the State who are This legislation will provide $170 bil- President Biden and his administration
struggling to put food on the table, pay lion in emergency funding to our have been working tirelessly to expand
their rent, and keep the lights on. schools and to our students, with $130 vaccine production and speed up vac-
These folks are not asking for a hand- billion for K–12. The funding will help cine distribution. But to get those ad-
out; they simply want a lifeline to get schools take steps based on science and ditional vaccines into people’s arms, it
to the other side of the pandemic. recommended by the CDC to ensure will take additional resources.
When we passed $600 relief checks in that students and educators can safely Through my work on the Senate
December, I pledged that we must do return to the classroom. This includes Homeland Security Committee, I have
more and that we could do that by pro- repairing ventilation systems, reducing been leading the charge to ensure that
viding people with an additional $1,400 class sizes, implementing social the Federal Emergency Management
to fulfill the promise of $2,000 in relief distancing guidelines, purchasing per- Agency has the essential staff, sup-
funds. With the American Rescue Plan, sonal protective equipment, and hiring plies, transportation, and other re-
the majority of Michiganders and support staff to care for students’ sources necessary to ensure that every
Americans who received these relief vaccine dose is actually reaching an
health and their well-being.
checks in December are going to be eli- Every family and community has arm in this country.
gible once again. been facing a very unique set of chal- I have spoken with President Biden
This bill would mean a family of four both in the Oval Office and at the
lenges, and we need to provide robust
could receive an additional $5,600. That Pfizer vaccine facility in Portage, MI,
funding so schools and parents have
support is vital to make sure that peo- about the critical need to expedite the
what they need to keep children con-
ple don’t fall into poverty as a result of deployment of vaccines and to do ev-
nected with learning opportunities
this pandemic and that they can get erything—do everything in our power
back up on their feet as quickly as pos- that are both safe and effective.
And while these are important steps, to ensure vaccines are free and widely
sible. available in every community as
We know that millions of workers we also know that if we are going to
come back stronger from this pan- quickly and as efficiently as possible.
across our country, including workers The American relief plan includes $50
in Michigan, are on the verge of seeing demic, we also need to support the very
backbone of our economy, which is our billion to help FEMA support a na-
unemployment benefits expire on tional vaccine program to efficiently
March 14. We cannot abandon folks small businesses. While we have passed
administer vaccines, including under-
who are out of work through no fault of several rounds of relief for small busi-
served communities. It also provides
their own because of COVID–19. They nesses, too many of our hard-hit small
frontline medical professionals the per-
have seen this pandemic disrupt their businesses are still reeling—from res-
sonal protective equipment, testing
jobs and their incomes. The need for taurants to boutiques, to family-owned
supplies, and workforce needed to slow
unemployment assistance is wide- and minority-owned businesses.
and to eliminate the spread of COVID–
spread, and it is necessary in Michigan. The American Rescue Plan has sig-
19.
For example, there were over 840,000 nificant small business relief, including
All of these resources are mission
active claims for Michiganders for un- $25 billion in grants for restaurants and critical as FEMA plays a leading role
employment assistance in Michigan bars that have lost revenue because of in assisting the Federal Government’s
just in February. That is up from the pandemic; $15 billion for economic response to COVID–19 by coordinating
529,000 in January. And these claims injury disaster loan advance grants; $7 medical supply acquisition and dis-
for assistance come from every single million in funding for Paycheck Pro- tribution and assisting State and local
county all across our State. We need to tection Program loans and expanded governments with funds for response
act now so these individuals remain el- eligibility for nonprofits. activities, such as vaccine distribution
igible for unemployment benefits, in- Additionally, this package reauthor- and overtime pay for public health offi-
cluding if they were self-employed izes and provides $10 billion in Federal cials.
workers, like small business owners, funding—including $1.5 billion specifi- As we consider the American Rescue
freelance workers, independent con- cally for minority-owned small busi- Plan, there are signs of hope, particu-
tractors, or gig workers. We must en- nesses—to the State Small Business larly with ramped-up vaccine produc-
sure families receiving unemployment Credit Initiative. tion. We are beginning to emerge from
have enough assistance to get by, I was proud to help establish this a very dark winter, but our work is not
which is why I support an additional program in 2010 while serving in the done.
$400 in weekly benefits. We also need to House of Representatives. This pro- We cannot be complacent. We cannot
provide certainty that this assistance gram is a proven success. In Michigan, let up. This virus does not take a day
will continue to be there for them in it has helped small businesses create or off, and neither can we.
the months ahead, not just for the next retain over 12,000 jobs, and it strength- We must pass the American Rescue
few days. The American relief plan will ens State programs that support fi- Plan. This package is not only what
do just that by bolstering our State un- nancing of small businesses, allowing the American people need, but it is
employment programs with additional them to both grow and to create more what they want. There is widespread
Federal support through August 29. jobs. support across the country for this
To help families get back to work, we I am pleased to again champion this package—from mayors to Governors,
all know that we must also safely re- program, and with additional invest- to economists across the political spec-
open our schools. Many parents and ment, it will again provide crucial sup- trum, and the majority of the Amer-
educators are struggling to assist chil- port to small businesses in Michigan ican people.
dren through lessons while juggling and all across our country. We must deliver comprehensive and
And, finally, to completely get this urgently needed relief so we can do just
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
other work and caregiving demands
during the pandemic. The American pandemic under control, we must ramp that by passing the American Rescue
Rescue Plan reflects a point of con- up the distribution of vaccines. That is Plan. This package will not mark the
sensus that we want our students to re- one of my top priorities as chairman of end of our efforts to crush this virus,
turn to in-person learning as quickly the Committee on Homeland Security but it will provide a massive shot in
and as safely as possible. And the more and Government Affairs. the arm to help families, to safely open
resources that we can provide, the bet- Thanks to the extraordinary work of up our schools, and to accelerate the
ter. our scientists, our researchers, and our development of more vaccines.
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S1046 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 4, 2021
So, with that, I urge all of my col- about women; and that is why it is sup- Now, I know that, here in Wash-
leagues to support the motion to pro- ported by groups like Unidos, the ington, anytime we bring forth serious
ceed and final passage. American Association of University and important legislation for working
I suggest the absence of a quorum. Women, Indivisible, Justice for Mi- people, the Big Money interests get to
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The grant Women, the National Domestic work, and all of their lobbyists, who
clerk will call the roll. Workers Alliance, and the National make their six figures or seven figures
The legislative clerk proceeded to Women’s Law Center. a year, they get to work on Congress
call the roll. So, once again, this is legislation and tell you why you can’t do anything
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask that will increase wages for 30 million to protect the most vulnerable and
unanimous consent that the order for American workers. And if you ask me hard-hit people in this country.
the quorum call be rescinded. what the great economic crisis in our So the National Restaurant Associa-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without country is today, it is not just high un- tion, they are a very powerful lobbying
objection, it is so ordered. employment; it is not just income and organization. I guess they have been
f wealth inequality; it is that half of our enormously successful because we have
FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE people today, and before the pandemic, not raised the Federal minimum wage
were living paycheck to paycheck. since 2007. So the powerful lobbying or-
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, later Their wages were so low that if they ganizations are going around, and they
today or tomorrow, as part of the had a problem with their car or their are telling Members of the House and
American Rescue Plan, which we will kid got sick, suddenly they were in fi- the Senate that raising the tipped wage
be discussing in the next few days, nancial crisis. is opposed by restaurant workers and it
which I happen to believe is the most And in the richest country in the his- would be harmful to the interest of
significant piece of legislation to come tory of the world, half of our people waiters and waitresses and other peo-
to the floor of the Senate in decades in should not be facing economic despera- ple.
terms of addressing the crises facing tion when their car breaks down. The That is not true. That is what lobby-
working families—as part of that piece reason for that is, significantly, that ists say, representing Big Money inter-
of legislation, I will be offering an many millions of workers are earning ests. That is what they are paid to say,
amendment to raise the Federal min- starvation wages—and I underline that, but that is not what workers who wait
imum wage from $7.25 an hour, which I starvation wages—in this country. on tables are telling us.
believe is a starvation wage, to $15 an I would love to hear anybody get up One Fair Wage, a grassroots organi-
hour over a 5-year period—5 years. here and tell me that they could live zation representing service employ-
I think there has been some on seven and a quarter an hour, they ees—waiters, waitresses, and others—
miscommunication around here, and could live on 8 bucks an hour, they has just delivered to the White House a
there are people who are saying it is could live on 9 bucks an hour. You petition with 140,000 signatures on it
going from 7.25 to 15 bucks an hour in can’t. And I have been all over this from service workers who are demand-
1 year. Not true. It goes from 7.25 to country, and I have talked to workers ing that they receive the same min-
9.50, to 11, to 12.50, to 14, to 15 dollars who are making 10, 11 bucks an hour, imum wage as every other worker in
an hour. So anyone who says we are with tears streaming down their this country. And polling among serv-
raising the minimum wage in 1 year, in cheeks, telling me what it is like to ice employees and nonservice employ-
the midst of a pandemic, to $15 an hour work for starvation wages and try to ees also supports the reality that
is simply not telling the truth. raise your kids. Americans want our waiters and our
This amendment is similar to a bill So the time is long overdue. The last waitresses and other service employees
which I have brought forth, the Raise time this Congress passed an increase to get a fair and equal minimum wage,
the Wage Act, which I am proud to say in the minimum wage was in the year similar to what other low-wage work-
has been cosponsored by some 38 Mem- 2007—2007. It is time to raise the min- ers are receiving.
bers of the Senate, and this is also imum wage. It is time to raise the min- Now, I have heard from some who tell
similar to legislation which has al- imum wage to a living wage of 15 bucks me that people who are waiting on ta-
ready passed the U.S. House of Rep- an hour. bles—and, by the way, I was one of the
resentatives. And I thank them, and I Now, later on today or this evening, worst waiters in the history of the
thank my friends in the Progressive as part of my support for this enor- country, but I was a waiter a long time
Caucus in the House for doing a great mously important piece of legislation— ago. I know a little bit about it. I am
job in pushing this legislation. and, as chairman of the Budget Com- hearing from some that waiters and
I should also add, for my Senate col- mittee, I will be speaking more about waitresses, they are doing really well,
leagues, that this legislation raising why we need to raise the minimum making a whole lot of money, and they
the minimum wage is supported by wage, but I want to focus on one part of don’t need an increase in the minimum
some 300 national organizations, in- the minimum wage bill that I have wage.
cluding the 12 million members of the been hearing a little bit about in the Let’s be clear. When you talk about
AFL–CIO and virtually every major last couple of days from some of my the restaurant and the hotel industry,
union in this country. This is some- colleagues, and that is the provision to you are talking about mass discrep-
thing that unions like the SEIU, one of raise the tipped wage. ancies in the kind of incomes that peo-
the largest unions in this country, Now, the tipped wage, so everybody ple receive. I will not deny it for a sec-
have been fighting for, for a very long understands it, is the Federal min- ond. My daughter worked in a fancy
time. imum wage that applies to waiters and restaurant. She did quite well.
I should also add here that while waitresses, barbers, hair stylists, park- So if you are working in a hotel in a
raising the minimum wage is going to ing attendants, and others. Fellow fancy restaurant where you have a
impact every low-wage worker in this Americans, do you know what that menu that is quite expensive—you have
country—because African-American Federal minimum wage today is for got a $100 meal and your 20 percent is
and Latino workers often are earning that person who waits on your table at 20 bucks, you are waiting on three or
poverty wages—it significantly im- a restaurant? It is $2.12 an hour. Yeah, four tables—you are doing OK. I don’t
pacts the lives of the minority commu- you heard me correctly: $2.12 an hour. deny that for a second, and I wish those
nities as well. That is why, among so And the proposal, as part of the min- waiters and waitresses who work so
many other organizations supporting imum wage bill, the amendment that I hard continued success.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
this amendment, it is supported by the will be offering, is that tipped min- But let us be clear. Not everybody
Leadership Conference on Civil and imum wage would go up from $2.12 an works in a fancy restaurant or a big
Human Rights; it is supported by the hour to $14.95 over a 7-year period, hotel which has a high-priced menu.
National Organization for Women be- longer than the overall national min- You have got a whole lot of people
cause, again, when we talk about low- imum wage would go up. And this is working in diners, working in working-
wage workers, we are talking about the something that clearly is desperately class restaurants where the menu is
minority community, we are talking needed. not that fancy, and maybe it is $10 for
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