American Rescue Plan (Cong. Rec., March 9, 2021)
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated March 9, 2021, at page S1410, headed American Rescue Plan. A Senator at the top of the page criticizes Amazon over book publishing and censorship and suggests lawmakers reconsider government contracts. Mr. Schumer then sets out the Senate's business, saying it will confirm Marcia Fudge as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, followed by votes on Merrick Garland as Attorney General and Michael Regan as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and begin the process for Deb Haaland. He says the Tax Policy Center predicts the American Rescue Plan will boost the incomes of the poorest 20 percent of Americans by 20 percent and the top 1 percent by zero.
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“American Rescue Plan (Cong. Rec., March 9, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-09-crec-2021-03-09-pt1-pgs1410-2-f825774939/
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S1410 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 9, 2021
speech has already been done. Books Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I child poverty in half. This has been a
like ‘‘When Harry Became Sally’’ won’t ask unanimous consent that the order goal of this country for decades, and
get published anymore. Writers who for the quorum call be rescinded. now we are taking real steps to accom-
hold unfashionable opinions that just a The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without plish it.
few days ago were considered basic objection, it is so ordered. In fact, the Tax Policy Center pre-
mainstream views of a large majority RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER dicts the American Rescue Plan will
of Americans, may decide to self-cen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- boost the incomes of the poorest 20 per-
sor, stay silent. jority leader is recognized. cent of Americans by 20 percent, in-
The virtual book burning may spread BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE cluding significant boosts all the way
to other companies. Maybe Amazon Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, through the middle class.
will put a book burning app on its Kin- the Senate returns this week to the Meanwhile, the wealthiest 1 percent
dle so readers can drag books from its business of nominations. Today, the of Americans will receive an income
catalog into the virtual bonfire. Senate will confirm Congresswoman boost of zero—zero percent for the top
Political correctness will only grow MARCIA FUDGE to be the Secretary of 1 percent wealthiest Americans.
more oppressive if its enforcers, like Housing and Urban Development, fol- Let me say that again because this
Amazon, don’t face some consequences lowed by confirmation votes later this shows who we are as a party here in the
for their actions. Amazon, for instance, week for Merrick Garland to serve as Senate and who we should be as a na-
makes billions of dollars each year Attorney General and Michael Regan tion. Let me say: A 20-percent boost in
hosting websites and storing data for to serve as the Administrator of the incomes for Americans who are strug-
the government. Almost all of Ama- gling the most; zero percent for those
Environmental Protection Agency.
zon’s profit is made in these enterprise Finally, the Senate will begin the who are at the top already, who are
services, not in its consumer-facing re- confirmation process for Congress- doing very well.
tail business. Those are our tax dollars Let’s contrast this to the Republican
woman DEB HAALAND before the week
flowing to a company that uses its tax bill, which skewed in exactly the
is out. She would be the first Native
power to censor the beliefs of a large opposite direction. If people want to
American Cabinet member of any
majority of Americans. Perhaps it is know the difference—the difference in
Agency and the first indigenous Sec-
time for lawmakers to reconsider terms of how Democrats feel about
retary of the Interior—a profoundly
whether these contracts are in the best whom we should help and how Repub-
important moment given the histori-
interest of our country. licans feel about whom we should
cally troubled relationship between the
I also note Amazon is the country’s help—contrast this bill with the most
Federal Government and Tribal na-
largest bookseller, selling three out of major accomplishment during the 4
tions. Despite Republican obstruction, years that Donald Trump was Presi-
every four e-books in America. It is
Representative HAALAND will be con- dent and it is very apparent.
time for lawmakers to evaluate wheth-
firmed by the Senate to be Secretary Back in December, Democrats prom-
er Amazon’s practices are consistent
HAALAND. I will file cloture on her ised that, if we won the majority, we
with our antitrust laws or whether
nomination immediately after my re- would deliver $2,000 checks to Amer-
antitrust laws need to be updated to
marks. ican families. That is exactly what we
address this type of behavior from a
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN have done. Promise made; promise
monopolistic firm. We better hurry,
though, because maybe they will ban Now on the rescue plan, on Saturday, kept. We helped pass $600 checks in De-
all books on antitrust and monopoly the American people got to see what a cember and added $1,400 in the bill we
behavior before we have a chance to responsive and effective government just passed.
study the question. looks like. A month and a half after as- Because Democrats kept that prom-
I will close by quoting from the book suming the majority, Senate Demo- ise, Americans are going to receive the
that Amazon banned, which predicted crats followed through on our promise help they need quickly. The checks
the very events we are witnessing here to deliver a bold COVID relief bill to will stimulate the economy, and they
today: help crush the virus, lift this country are targeted to those Americans who
If trans activists succeed in their political out of the crisis, and set our economy need it the most. It is a promise kept.
agenda, our nation’s children will be indoc- on a path to a strong recovery. The OECD, or the Organization for
trinated in a harmful ideology, and some will Earlier today, the final text of the Economic Cooperation and Develop-
live by its own lies about their own bodies, Senate bill was sent to the House of ment, projected that the American
at great harm to themselves physically, psy- Representatives. Congress remains on Rescue Plan could as much as double
chologically, and socially. Lives will be ru- track to deliver the American Rescue America’s economic growth this year.
ined, but pointing out the damage will be Plan to President Biden’s desk for his As a result, it also revised upward its
forbidden. Dissent from the transgender
worldview will be punished in schools, work- signature before enhanced unemploy- projections for the entire world’s eco-
places, and medical clinics. Trying to live in ment benefits expire on March 14. nomic recovery. Once again, the United
accordance with the truth will be made hard- We said we would do it. We are doing States is going to lead the way.
er. it. And so, because of what the Senate
This is not a fight over hate or big- Once President Biden signs the did last week, healthcare costs will go
otry, respect or compassion. It is a bat- American Rescue Plan into law, it will down, child poverty will be cut in half,
tle over truth itself, the truth of who immediately become one of the most Americans will receive direct financial
we are as human beings and the funda- sweeping Federal recovery efforts in support, and the economy is set for an
mental freedom to speak that truth or modern history. It will help restore enormous boost. It is a great beginning
any other truth without fear. Americans’ faith in government at a for a new administration and a new
Throughout our history, Americans time when that is sorely needed, and it Senate.
have never surrendered to an oppres- will deliver more help to more people And that is to say nothing of the
sive tyranny of opinion, whether a ma- than almost anything Congress has ac- schools that will receive support to re-
jority or, in this case, a small but high- complished in past decades. open faster and safer, the restaurants
ly influential minority, and we won’t Already the positive reviews are and small businesses that will receive a
be cowed in silence today. We will fight pouring in. According to several re- lifeline, the millions of recently unem-
for what is true. We will fight for the ports, the bill will help millions of ployed Americans who will continue to
freedom to say it. No matter what the Americans save hundreds of dollars in receive enhanced benefits until Labor
cultural forces arrayed against us do, healthcare costs. Thanks to a historic Day, and the millions of workers and
we will never back down. expansion of the child tax credit—up to retirees who will see their pension
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I yield the floor. $3,000 per child under 17 for an over- plans protected.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. whelming majority of families—ana- Of course, one of the most important
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. lysts predict the American Rescue Plan aspects of all is the support this bill
SINEMA). The clerk will call the roll. will cut child poverty in half. will give to speed vaccinations and ex-
The legislative clerk proceeded to Let me say that again: Analysts pre- pand testing—exactly what we need to
call the roll. dict the American Rescue Plan will cut defeat the virus.
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March 9, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1411
In short, this is one of the very most and then turn those solutions into ac- Kiandoli, Cietta, Kuiken, Mike, Lee,
significant pieces of legislation to pass tion. Monica, Lopez, Julietta, Lynch, Mike,
the Senate in years. It is broader, deep- And thank you to my executive Magaletta, Grace, Mann, Steve, Mannering,
team, who keeps me somewhat on time Amy, Marcojohn, Anneliese, Martin, Ryan,
er, and more comprehensive in helping
Mehta, Hemen, Meyer, Ken, Molofsky, Josh,
working families and lifting Americans and is a tremendous asset to the entire
Moore, Catey, Moreno-Silva, Michelle, Mor-
out of poverty than anything—any- Democratic caucus. gan, Rachel, Murphy Vlasto, Megan.
thing—Congress has accomplished in a Thank you to our phenomenal re- Myrick Gary, Najafi, Leela, Nam, Alice,
very long time. search team, ready to supply the right Nehme, Joe, Nguyen, Alex, Nicholson, Jor-
So I am extremely proud of the bill fact at the right moment. You ask dan, Nunez, Diana, Odgren, Andrew, Olvera,
we passed this week—exceedingly them: Look this up, find this out. Lorenzo, Orlove, Suzan, Ortega, Sol,
proud. I am exceedingly proud of every- Boom, the answer appears right away. Osmolski, Rebecca, Oursler, Nate, Paone,
body in our caucus; our committee To everyone at the Senate Demo- Stephanie, Patel, Vandan, Patterson, Liza,
cratic Media Center, the SDMC, who Patterson, Mark, Petrella, Gerry, Pina,
chairs, whose leadership allowed us to Oriana, Reese, William.
act swiftly at a moment when Ameri- are clipping and editing videos at 3, 4,
5 in the morning; to our amazing press Revelle, Justine, Rivera, Tony, Robinson,
cans needed help fast; and the Mem- Alexandra, Rodarte, Sam, Rodman, Scott,
bers, who pulled together and realized team, who gets the word out so skill- Rodriguez, Crisitian, Roefaro, Angelo,
no one is going to get everything he or fully; our engagement team, who does Rosenblum, Zack, Ryder, Tim, Seijas, Nel-
she wants, but the need to come to- fantastic work with the groups affected son, Shah, Raisa, Sharbaugh, Tyson,
gether and get something done when by the legislation we pass; and our en- Sinpatanasakul, Leeann, Skapnit, Amanda,
we had no margin for error was won- tire State staff—I just visited some of Sledge, Alexa, Smith, Hannah, Sonnier-
them. I just came back from Buffalo Thompson, Bre, Spellicy, Amanda,
derful. Sundaramoorthy, Dili, Sweda, Emily.
I want to thank President Biden for and Syracuse—who make sure that our
work in Washington always responds to Talley, Hanna, Taira, Meghan, Tam, Cat-
his bold and steady leadership. He was alina, Taylor, Anna, Taylor, Terri, Tepke,
instrumental in putting this bill to- the needs of New York.
Paige, Timothy, Kimarah, Tinsley, Dan,
I wanted to mention each of these
gether and helping to get it over the Vaughn, Erin Sager, Velez, Cyre, Virgona,
different groups, but in reality they are Nicole, Vogel, Kai, Vorperian-Grillo, Karine,
finish line.
And I am exceedingly proud of the a team. They pull together, and they Watt, Brad, Watters, Veronica, Weir, Emma,
are friends as well. They celebrate holi- Yoken, Dan, Younkin, Nora, Zeltmann,
staff, who toiled behind the scenes, who
days together, and we share each oth- Chris, Zomorrodian, Reza.
worked incredible hours under incred-
er’s joys and sadnesses in life—a team Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
ible stress to prepare, perfect, and pass
that works together, helps each other, want them all to know how much I ap-
the American Rescue Plan. The staff
supports each other, and supports me; a preciate their work and how much the
are the unsung heroes of this bill. So I
team that gets up every morning with country does and what a great dif-
want to spend just a moment to sing
a passion to make the lives of their fel- ference it has made in the trajectory of
their praises.
First of all, to all the members and low citizens better. It is impossible, our wonderful Nation.
staff of the Senate committees, thank just impossible not to be inspired by
them and by that. f
you. I have submitted all of their
So I ask unanimous consent to enter LEGISLATIVE SESSION
names into the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
the names of my entire staff into the
to acknowledge their weeks of hard Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
RECORD because, as I told them on the
work assembling different portions of phone Sunday, even if they do nothing move to proceed to legislative session.
the bill, negotiating compromises, else in life, they have saved by their The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
writing legislative text, petitioning the work many, many lives. They have question is on agreeing to the motion.
Parliamentarian, and managing a co- made the lives of millions—millions— The motion was agreed to.
lossal amendment process. of people considerably better because f
To all of the floor staff—the door- of their hard work, their dedication,
keepers, the clerks, the reporters, the and their faith. EXECUTIVE SESSION
cafeteria workers, the custodial staff, So I ask unanimous consent to have
the Capitol Police and National printed in the RECORD the names of my
Guard—the entire Senate gave you a entire staff. EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
standing ovation on Saturday, and you There being no objection, the mate- Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
deserved every second of it. Thank you, rial was ordered to be printed in the move to proceed to executive session to
thank you, thank you once again. RECORD, as follows: consider Calendar No. 31.
And, finally, I need to spend some I would like the Record to include the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
time thanking my own staff. I think names of my staff who worked tirelessly to question is on agreeing to the motion.
they are the best staff anyone could prepare, perfect, and pass the American Res- The motion was agreed to.
ever have. They are amazing. They are cue Plan: one of the most significant pieces
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
amazing. Every Senator believes they of legislation to pass the United States Sen-
ate in decades. Their names are as follows: clerk will report the nomination.
have the best staff on Capitol Hill, I The bill clerk read the nomination of
Abdelhaq, Yazeed, Achibar, Kathleen,
guess, but I am no exception. I couldn’t Aleman, Jasmin, Armwood, Garrett, Babin, Debra Anne Haaland, of New Mexico, to
do what I do without them. They are Reggie, Banez, Robert, Barjon, Didier, Bar- be Secretary of the Interior.
amazing. The chiefs who run the show: ton, Steve, Battle, Sharon, Benavides, Jack- CLOTURE MOTION
Mike Lynch, Martin Brennan, Erin ie, Biasotti, Allison, Bluitt, Tinae, Bodian,
Mr. SCHUMER. I send a cloture mo-
Sager Vaughn. The floor staff: the Lane, Bowman, Quinn, Brennan, Martin,
Burns, Caroline, Byrne, Sean, Cardinal, Jon, tion to the desk.
amazing Gary Myrick, Tricia Engle,
Cardona, Selena, Carranza, Ramon. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo-
the whole floor staff—thank you.
And then three names that I have to Chang Prepis, Joyce, Charlery, Kristen, ture motion having been presented
Cole, Emily, Contes, Helena, Cook, Andrew, under rule XXII, the Chair directs the
give a particular shout-out to because Cooke, Dave, Coutavas, Sophie, Daly, Annie,
you could truly say that without these clerk to read the motion.
Dayal, Tushar, Deveny, Adrian, Dickson, The bill clerk read as follows:
three we wouldn’t have a bill: Gerry Jeff, Dirienzo, Lindsay, Donovan, Patrick,
Petrella, Meghan Taira, Charlie Ells- Eagan, Ryan, Ellsworth, Charlie, Emanuel, CLOTURE MOTION
worth. Marissa, Engle, Tricia, Fado, Kelly. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
My staff—I would like to brag a little Flood, Sam, Fuentes, Matt, Geertsma, ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
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about them if I might. My staff boasts Joel, Glander, Megan, Goodman, Justin, Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
Gray-Hoehn, Hayley, Gutmaker, Joshua, move to bring to a close debate on the nomi-
some of the most brilliant legislative
Haberl, Gunnar, Harris, Jasmine, Hawley, nation of Executive Calendar No. 31, Debra
minds in the country—folks who know Marisa, Hickman, Rob, Housley, Jon, Huus, Anne Haaland, of New Mexico, to be Sec-
the nitty-gritty of every issue in their Amber, Iannelli, Mike, Ileka, Steven, Jack- retary of the Interior.
portfolio, who fashion solutions to the son, Rachel, Jamaica, Jessica, Jean, Mike, Charles E. Schumer, Chris Van Hollen,
most difficult problems in the country Kazibwe, Rodney. Michael F. Bennet, Jack Reed, Tammy
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