Congressional Record, March 11, 2021, from Page H1334 — House

Summary

A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated March 11, 2021, from page H1334, with the end of a roll call list, a unanimous consent request and a scheduling colloquy. Mr. Thompson of California asks to take up S. 579, a technical correction to the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019, and the text is printed. In the colloquy Mr. Hoyer outlines the coming schedule, including the Violence Against Women Act, a resolution to remove the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. Mr. Hoyer and Mr. Scalise also discuss changes to the schedule and security at the Capitol, and Mr. Yarmuth recalls an event in Louisville from a year earlier.

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“Congressional Record, March 11, 2021, from Page H1334 — House.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-11-crec-2021-03-11-pt1-pgh1334-2-5f4eb4be2d/, SHA-256 73108ca2a5ea9167b88e8cff7a5a0e2f4f33c053c287df10c9e553ae609366d7.

Full text

H1334 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 11, 2021
Moulton (Rice Roybal-Allard Strickland Madam Speaker, we will consider Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I
(NY)) (Leger (DeIBene)
Napolitano Fernandez) Thompson (MS)
several bills under suspension of the thank the gentleman for yielding.
(Correa) Ruiz (Aguilar) (Butterfield) rules. The complete list of suspension I agree with the Members, and I re-
Payne Rush Watson Coleman bills will be announced by the close of gret that we have had such a necessity
(Wasserman (Underwood) (Pallone) business Friday. on too many occasions to change the
Schultz) Steube
Pingree (Kuster) (Franklin, C.
Wilson (FL) In addition, we will consider two bills schedule. We did so, of course, to ac-
(Hayes) commodate not only work done but
Porter (Wexton) Scott) to honor Women’s History Month, in-
cluding the Violence Against Women also the very, very unusual start that
f
Act. This legislation is essential to we have had to this session, a tragic
MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTION help stamp out domestic abuse, vio- start that we have had to this session,
TO ALS DISABILITY INSURANCE lence against women and girls, and sex- dealing with issues that we would have
ACCESS ACT OF 2019 ual harassment, and to provide victims preferred not to deal with, but we had
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. and survivors with the resources to re- to as a result of the insurrection that
cover and seek justice. In addition to occurred on January 6, and other ac-
Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to
that, the House will consider a resolu- tions, including the security that the
take from the Speaker’s table the bill
tion to remove the deadline for ratifi- gentleman referred to. That concerns
(S. 579) to make a technical correction
cation of the Equal Rights Amend- us all.
to the ALS Disability Insurance Access As somebody who represents the
Act of 2019, and ask for its immediate ment.
The House will also consider two bills Washington metropolitan region, the
consideration in the House. openness of our Capitol is of particular
The Clerk read the title of the bill. to address our broken immigration sys-
tem. The first, H.R. 6, the American concern to me because my constituents
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. WIL- all live within driving distance, an
LIAMS of Georgia). Is there objection to Dream and Promise Act, is to protect
Dreamers and those with TPS and DED hour or less. So, I share the view.
the request of the gentleman from Madam Speaker, I want to assure
California? status. In addition, the Farm Work-
force Modernization Act is to create a Members that we are going to make
There was no objection. every effort and that we are trying to
The text of the bill is as follows: pathway for agricultural workers to
earn legal status and to reform the H– now finalize. We already have April,
S. 579 May, June, and July as the schedule. I
2A program, a bill which enjoys broad
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
bipartisan support. think that will not be changed in any
resentatives of the United States of America in dramatic fashion. But when we have
Congress assembled,
Additionally, the House will consider
a bill to ensure that we preclude cuts the final, I hope to make sure that ev-
SECTION 1. RETROACTIVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL SE- erybody, next week, before we leave
CURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS INDI- to Medicare, as well as farm supports
VIDUALS WITH AMYOTROPHIC LAT- and other programs implicated by se- here, knows what is going to happen in
ERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS). questration. April, May, June, July, before the Au-
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2(b) of the ALS Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I gust break. Because I understand, when
Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019 (Pub- thank the gentleman, and I appreciate the schedule is changed, for whatever
lic Law 116–250) is amended by striking ‘‘ap- reasons, however justified they may be,
the update on the schedule.
plications for disability insurance benefits it does disrupt.
filed after the date of enactment of this Act’’
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask
the gentleman, we have been getting a Although I heard some criticism last
and inserting ‘‘applications for disability in- Wednesday that we didn’t come in
surance benefits approved after the date that number of concerns expressed from
is 5 months before the date of enactment of Members on our side—and I would Thursday, no Member came up to me
this Act’’. imagine on the gentleman’s side as complaining that we didn’t come in
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment well—about the erratic floor schedule, Thursday. I did hear some political rap
made by this section shall take effect as if the changes that have occurred. This about it, but I didn’t hear any Members
included in the enactment of the ALS Dis- week, we were supposed to be here say, ‘‘Oh, jeez, I really wanted to come
ability Insurance Access Act of 2019 (Public
Tuesday to Friday. It was changed to in Thursday.’’ That usually is the case.
Law 116–250). Madam Speaker, I want to remind
Monday to Thursday. Next week, ini-
The bill was ordered to be read a the gentleman that we got all of our
tially, the calendar showed that it was
third time, was read the third time, work done last week. All that was
a week for Members to be in their dis- scheduled was done.
and passed, and a motion to reconsider tricts.
was laid on the table. I will assure the gentleman that we
Madam Speaker, we all have chal- are working very hard so that, the next
f lenges in our districts. There are small 4 months, Members can rely on it when
businesses that are struggling to stay they see on the calendar that they
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
afloat. Many Members are working have to be here or they don’t have to
(Mr. SCALISE asked and was given with their local school boards to try to be here, or that we are going to con-
permission to address the House for 1 encourage schools to reopen. And all sider this, that, and the other.
minute and to revise and extend his re- the other challenges that people have, We are going to try to hew very, very
marks.) whether it is trying to get water or closely to that because I do appreciate
Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I spread distribution of the vaccine, as that when you change the schedule, it
yield to the gentleman from Maryland they set those meetings in their dis- is very disruptive for people’s lives, for
(Mr. HOYER), the majority leader of the tricts, when the floor schedule changes people’s businesses, for our constitu-
House, for the purpose of inquiring as here, it disrupts their ability to prop- ents.
to the schedule for next week. erly represent their districts. Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I I know the schedule is laid out for thank the gentleman from Maryland.
thank my friend for yielding. the year for a reason, so that Members I appreciate the acknowledgment
Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, the can manage both the schedule here— about the concerns and the disruptions
House will meet at noon for morning- and we all represent 750,000 people, of schedules as Members try to meet
hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative roughly, back home—and the ability to the needs of their constituents back
business, with votes expected no earlier properly meet with and represent con- home, as well as doing the work up
than 6:30 p.m. stituents who aren’t even allowed to here. Clearly, getting our work done is
On Wednesday, the House will meet come to this Capitol to meet with us, the first and most important priority
at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate and so we want to go meet with them back to addressing those needs.

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
noon for legislative business. home. It is hard to do that when the Hopefully, as we look toward our re-
On Thursday, the House will meet at schedule continues to change. turn after we come back in April, the
noon for legislative business. If the gentleman would address the appropriations process will begin. We
On Friday, the House will meet at 9 concerns that have been raised, right- would surely like to see us get back to
a.m. for legislative business, with the fully so, about those erratic changes, I a more regular order for doing appro-
last votes no later than 3 p.m. yield to the gentleman from Maryland. priations bills, where we can have bills

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March 11, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1335
go through committee, go through a We continue to consult the Capitol the high-profile issues that are the bat-
markup process, with bipartisan input, physician on his advice on what we tleground issues where we are on our
which we haven’t seen, but, ultimately, ought to be doing. It would be a lot own sides, but in many cases it is
be able to bring those bills to the floor simpler if every Member had been vac- where one sees the kind of collegiality
with a typical, traditional amendment cinated, I will tell my friend. Although, where Congress can come together and
process. obviously, the information as to who work, and that isn’t happening either.
Madam Speaker, I know the gen- gets a vaccination and who does not is I would hope we could come up with
tleman is well aware of this. Histori- privileged and private information, as a standard that is not 100 percent. If we
cally, when appropriations bills come it should be, I would ask my friend to are at 75, then it has got to be some-
to the floor, there are many amend- urge his Members to get the vaccina- where at a different place to get back
ments. Sometimes, it is a completely tion so that both sides will know that to a House floor functioning schedule,
wide-open amendment process, which all of our Members have been vac- as well as a committee structure.
we would surely encourage. cinated. That will facilitate getting to Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
I know many of those years when we where the gentleman wants to get and tleman.
were in the majority and bills would where, I share his view, I want to get Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I
come to the floor that were appropria- and the Speaker wants to get. So, we thank the gentleman for his comments.
tions, a Member literally could write will continue to talk about that. Let me make a few comments. First
their amendment on a piece of paper Although we have a regular schedule, of all, the gentleman mentioned about
and turn it in and that amendment it is not the old schedule. It is not the the White House and the President. I
would be debated and voted on, on the 15-minute vote or 17- or 20-minute vote am going down with the President, who
House floor. Sometimes, you would see that we had, which was much more ef- is going to sign the American Rescue
over 100 amendments on a single appro- ficient, as you may have seen me Plan tomorrow, an extraordinary piece
priations bill, which are all important quoted in the paper the other day of legislation that we are very excited
and should be debated, so we would go about virtual, that we prefer to come about and that is going to help lit-
to 2-minute votes. together in this Chamber, in com- erally millions and millions of Ameri-
The question I would have is, now cans and our entire economy, our fami-
mittee rooms, on this campus, to dis-
that we have seen—from reports I have lies, and our children. So we are very
cuss with one another, to work with
seen, and maybe you have too—that excited about that.
one another. We think that is the ideal,
roughly 75 percent of all Members in I was required to have a test. Now, I
and we hope to get there as soon as
this House have had a vaccination for have had two shots, but I was required
possible.
COVID–19, there is a strong desire to to have a test this morning by the Cap-
We are making progress, obviously.
get back to a regular floor schedule itol physician before I went down to
We are getting a lot of Americans vac-
here on the floor, where we are con- the White House. The gentleman says
ducting our business and have the abil- cinated. We are not anywhere close to
the 75 percent yet, but, hopefully, we that you don’t wear a mask, but one
ity to interact with each other as col- has to have a test before one gets into
leagues. will be there soon.
I would think and hope we could get the room.
It is a much different experience than
to 100 percent of Members and make Now, with respect to the 100 percent,
when people have to trickle in, trickle
sure that our staff is vaccinated as I think we ought to have 100 percent. I
out, limiting the number of people, the
well. The sooner we do that, the sooner think everybody in this body and every
ability to debate things, 45-minute
we can accomplish what the gentleman one of our staff ought to have the vac-
votes for every bill. If you have 100
wants to accomplish. cine to make sure that we are safe and
amendments on a bill, this House can’t
Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I that others who deal with us are safe.
function at 45 minutes per vote. To get
hope the gentleman is not suggesting The CDC guidelines, by the way, rec-
back to a 15-minute, 5-minute, and 2-
that it would take a 100 percent vac- ommend that people be vaccinated but
minute voting schedule—again, CDC
cination rate. I know with the rest of that they avoid medium and large
guidance just came out this week, say-
ing if someone is vaccinated, they the country, when States make deci- crowds.
sions to reopen, when CDC issues guid- Now, depending upon what the gen-
don’t even have to have a mask to be
ance, I have never seen any guidance tleman says, Madam Speaker, if you
around other people.
The Senate doesn’t require masks on that said 100 percent vaccination is the have 300 people on this floor, that is a
their floor. There is no reason why we standard for bringing something back. reasonably good-sized crowd, and we
would have to have a mask to have this Mr. HOYER. Would the gentleman are in great proximity to one another
conversation. The President of the yield? because of the size of this Chamber.
United States doesn’t wear a mask Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I The CDC also says—the Senate has
when he is giving speeches, or his Press would yield because I would suggest not listened to the CDC. The CDC says
Secretary when she is meeting with the that if we are at 75 percent now, you wear masks. So in terms of the gentle-
press. also have Members who have anti- man’s suggestion about the CDC chang-
Can we get back to a regular floor op- bodies, who may have had COVID ing its rules, that is true, but they
erating schedule where we can meet as months ago and who have even taken haven’t changed their rule on masks.
colleagues in person? If somebody the test that shows they have anti- They say wear a mask and try not to
doesn’t want to be around others, bodies. Whether they have taken the congregate in large crowds.
maybe a voting station can be set up. vaccine or not, the antibodies can fight However, having said that, we want
But for anybody else who wants to off COVID. to get to the same objective that the
interact following CDC guidance, rec- gentleman references, and we are work-
b 1245 ing towards that with the consider-
ognizing the vaccination rate, and get-
ting back to the ability to have a vot- But at 75 percent, is there a number ation of the safety of our staff, the
ing schedule that allows us to conduct higher than that that the gentleman is safety of our Members, and the safety
business the way we are going to need setting as a standard? of security folks. We hope to get there
to when we start taking up those ap- I would hope it wouldn’t be 100, but I sooner rather than later, and we are
propriations bills, I would ask the gen- would also hope we could have a con- working on it.
tleman if he has a plan for that, if he versation together to work through Mr. SCALISE. I appreciate the gen-
could lay that out. what that standard should be so we can tleman’s offer to work. Obviously,
I yield to the gentleman from Mary- get to a place where we have a normal when one looks at the way the Senate

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land. operating process both in the House operates, they have said that to speak,
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I would and in committees. especially, you don’t need to wear a
tell the gentleman that would cer- The committee work being done vir- mask.
tainly be the ideal. There is no doubt tually is a true disservice to the ability I don’t see the science that would say
about that. We would like to get to for us to collegially work on issues. that the gentleman and I have to wear
that position. Many of our committees deal with not masks to have this conversation.

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H1336 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 11, 2021
Again, I would direct my friend to meet with the House Attending Physi- cause we don’t want anybody to see
when the President is giving a speech, cian. Hopefully, that can spur some ad- it—when they should be in the class-
he is not wearing a mask. If there are ditional ideas about how we can do room teaching our kids.
other people around, then they might this, and then have us work together to That debate never got to happen here
be wearing a mask; but when they achieve that. on the House floor and, frankly, in
speak, they take off their mask. Just Finally, on the House committee most of the committees. Because these
look at those protocols as well and just schedule especially, we have taken up bills aren’t going through committee.
try to inject some of those common- 14 different rules bills this Congress so And that one bill went through com-
sense measures to try to get back to far, bills that have actually come to mittee with the order clearly given not
doing our job. the floor under a rule. Unfortunately, to allow a single amendment. Not a
One final point, I hope, again, we only one of those bills actually went to single amendment in the House was
would all want everyone who has the committee. Meaning, 13 of the 14 bills added to a $1.9 trillion spending bill.
interest in getting the vaccine to have never even went to committee to have I am sure some people might think
access to the vaccine. But if one Mem- the debate in the openness and the that was the perfect bill, that there
ber out of 435 felt they didn’t want to transparency that this Congress de- was not a single change. But some-
have the vaccine, then I would hope serves. times the smallest bill has a change
that wouldn’t be enough to prohibit I think that millions of people across made that makes it a better bill, but
the rest of us from carrying out more the country would expect that we not that bill. That kind of closed proc-
normal functions on the House floor would be having—as we are shaping ess is not who we should be as a House.
and in committee. policy, that it is not just a one-sided Madam Speaker, 13 out of 14 bills
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- approach. That if a socialist agenda is didn’t even go through committee, and
tleman. being pushed by one side, then can’t the one that did—the $1.9 trillion bill—
Mr. HOYER. My point on the White the other side at least have that dis- not a single amendment by a Repub-
House was that a Member may decide cussion in a committee process and lican or Democrat in the House was al-
that. And if they don’t want to get a offer amendments? lowed to be added. I hope that is not
test, then they can’t go to the White The amendment process is critically the standard. It is surely not reflective
House, for the safety of everybody important, and that has been lost too of what this House should be doing.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
there. often—even the $1.9 trillion spending
Mr. SCALISE. If maybe a require- tleman.
bill that over 90 percent of which had Mr. HOYER. The gentleman was here
ment of a test once a week when we nothing to do with health needs and in 2017, of course. There was a bill that
come in or something like that would not a dime of which was dedicated to approximated the size of this bill. It
help get us to a better place where we safely reopening schools, which is a was about $1.5 trillion, $1.6 trillion.
can have in-person, on the floor, and huge cry amongst millions of parents This is a little more—substantially a
in-committee processes and meetings— across the country. little more, $300 billion, $400 billion,
the testing capability is now there in Madam Speaker, not only on one but in the same ballpark. There were
the Attending Physician’s office. If it side, but, frankly, nobody on the ma- no hearings on that bill. There were no
needs to be widened more, I know there jority side was even allowed to offer an amendments on that bill. It came to
are other rooms that are doing some of amendment. A $1.9 trillion spending the floor, and there were no amend-
the testing—then that would be a sug- bill, probably the largest bill that has ments to that bill. None. Zero.
gestion, I think, worth us discussing if come through Congress in the history Now, of course, 83 percent of that bill
it helps us get back to a more func- of our country, and not a single amend- went to the top 1 percent of Americans.
tioning Congress, especially a more ment, Democrat or Republican, was al- This bill was just about the opposite; 85
functioning House on the floor and in lowed in the House on that bill to be to 90 percent go to probably the bottom
committee. brought forward. two-fifths in terms of income level and
Madam Speaker, I yield to my friend. We were able to bring some amend- wealth. Hundreds of amendments were
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, every- ments in committee. Every one of offered, as the committees marked up
body in America wants to get back to them was voted down or removed. Not their instructions from the Budget
normal. Everybody in America. We one Democrat that I saw was even al- Committee. Hundreds.
agree with them, and we are hopeful lowed to bring an amendment up in Amendments were, of course, offered
that we will get there sooner rather committee on a $1.9 trillion bill. in the Senate, as well. As my friend
than later, and we are making good That is a major concern. It is a con- knows, they had their vote-a-rama;
progress. cern that denies the people’s House they met for over 24 hours. To indicate
We just, yesterday, invested a large from being able to express the will of that this bill did not have a robust
number, billions of dollars, to facili- the people when we have ideas and sug- committee process in which Repub-
tate getting to where we want to be. gestions maybe, for example, as we licans and Democrats could offer
And Americans want to be in testing, wanted to in the House to say: Should amendments and have them adopted, I
vaccination, and tracing. So I don’t a felon who is in a prison be able to get think, is not accurate, with all due re-
want to have anybody think we are in a $1,400 check? spect, Madam Speaker.
disagreement. We want to get there. We weren’t even able to bring that Furthermore, this bill enjoyed the
We want to get there safely. We want amendment up for debate. overwhelming support of the American
to get there consistent with good Can we at least require that schools people. Madam Speaker, 77 percent of
health practices and the advice of the reopen? Americans—59 percent of Republicans
scientists and the physicians who treat If hundreds of billions of new dollars in the Morning Consult poll, 67 percent
us. But we are talking about it as we are going to go to schools, shouldn’t of Americans supporting the minimum
were here this week, and we are going the requirement be that they use that wage, which was rejected, of course, by
to be talking about it next week be- following the CDC guidance and fol- the parliamentarian in the Senate; 83
cause we all want to get to the same lowing the science that is widespread percent of Americans supporting H.R.
place. that says the schools should be open 1, one of the bills that passed; 89 per-
Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I ap- and that long-term damage is being cent supporting comprehensive back-
preciate that. done to kids by not being in the class- ground checks, which passed today; 72
Again, hopefully, this is a discussion room? percent of Americans supporting equal
that we can all have, not just the ma- Millions and millions of kids—maybe protections for LGBTQ Americans.

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jority making this decision, but the over 60 percent of the children in The point I am making is, A, the bill
majority working with the minority. America—are not getting daily in-the- to which my friend refers, the Amer-
We have an active group of Members classroom learning. Unions are more ican Rescue Plan, had very substantial
who are medical doctors, the Doctors concerned, saying: You can go to consideration over days.
Caucus, who have a lot of good sugges- spring break if you are a union mem- The Ways and Means markup took 2
tions. I think they are going to try to ber, but just don’t post pictures be- days and many amendments offered. So

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March 11, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1337
from the standpoint of the public’s and dads or their grandparents? They ing a vaccine, but prefunding the man-
knowing what was going on, I would are. So we need to be safe. ufacturing of the vaccinations even be-
suggest to my friend that that was But this bill, which all our Repub- fore FDA approves them so we don’t
very much greater than when the tax lican friends voted against, has sub- have to wait an extra few months that
bill—about the same—in the same stantial billions in there to make the we don’t have. That is why we are at a
range of, in that case, $1.5 trillion with schools safe so that people can go back point where we can have 100 million
interest approaching the $1.9 trillion. with the confidence that they will be vaccinations. We tried to double that
So we think, very frankly, that there safe. number in this bill. That amendment
has been a lot of discussion on that So I would simply say to my friend was voted down.
bill. and others that they have talked about But on schools, my colleague, ASH-
One of the things, Madam Speaker, openness. In the 115th Congress—that LEY HINSON, had a bill to say, let’s say
that concerned me the most was we is the last Congress in which there was if the schools are going to get new
worked in a bipartisan fashion on six a Republican majority—there was not money—which they already have
prior bills. One passed on voice vote, a single open rule, not one. In the 115th enough money to fortify their schools
the CARES Act, on the floor. Others Congress, you had 103 closed rules. In to reopen safely. Many took us up on
passed with well over 150 Republicans the last Congress, which we were in that and are open in the classroom
and well over 150 Democrats—more charge, we had that number to less today. Some have chosen not to, but
than that, but well over 300 votes. They than 52, 51. not for a lack of money. Let’s be very
were all bipartisan. They were nego- JIM MCGOVERN, the chairman of the clear about that.
tiated with the administration—the Rules Committee, is very committed to In fact, 95 percent of the money for
Trump administration. The CARES trying to make amendments, including schools in the bill that was passed yes-
Act, Madam Speaker, was about ex- amendments on the Republican side, in terday can’t even be spent this year; 95
actly the same amount of dollars, and order; and I have urged him to do that. percent of it. Then you have hundreds
it passed on a voice vote here. So, hopefully, we will move forward of billions of dollars still unspent that
What was the difference? in a way that continues to allow this can be used to reopen schools who want
Trump was President. That was the House to operate effectively, and also to get back in the classroom, that
difference in all five. And it had been give opportunity to your side and our money is already there. That money
negotiated with him—or the Secretary side to raise issues. did not require—that need did not get
of the Treasury, to be more accurate. Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, when met yesterday. That need was already
But substantively there was very lit- you look at the bill that passed yester- met by Congress.
day, the only bipartisan vote was Some chose to do it. Some have cho-
tle difference in terms of the broad na-
against the bill. Every Republican—in sen not to reopen, even though not
ture of their impact, the dollar value of
fact, a Democrat voted against it as only is the money there to reopen, but
the bills, and the diversity of their ob-
well. You had two Democrats who the science is there. The science lays
jectives. To that extent, they were
voted against it originally when it out not only how to safely reopen, but
very much like this bill.
came through the House the first time. it points out the devastating damage
But, Madam Speaker, what was the
But the bottom line is, it was the being done to children in this country
difference? by not reopening.
The same thing that was the dif- majority party and President Biden
So when the gentleman talks about
ference when we did the Recovery Act who chose to go it alone, who chose to
polls and, well, the polling says this
in ‘09. The gentleman was here. He was have a closed process where Repub-
bill is really popular. Hey, do you want
elected in ‘08. He came here and he licans were shut out.
a check for $3,500? I am sure a lot of
voted ‘‘no’’ on the Recovery Act. Every There were many efforts, including a
people would say yes, until they realize
Republican voted ‘‘no’’ on the Recov- number of Senators going to the White
that $350 billion of this money goes to
ery Act—$787 billion. In my view, it House to meet with the President, who
bail out failed States. And a State like
kept us out of a depression. But that offered ideas, and every one of those
California, who has a $10-plus-billion
was not my view alone. It was ideas was thrown in the trash can.
surplus, is going to get over $40 billion.
Bernanke’s view and it was the Sec- That is not a unity message. That is So I am sure if we asked a poll ques-
retary of the Treasury’s view. So we not trying to work with people from all tion to people across this country: Do
see the same thing happen again. We parties and all walks of life to come up you think it is right to borrow $1.9 tril-
went from bipartisan to partisan votes. with the best ideas. lion from our children? Because some-
I, frankly, Madam Speaker, find it It was a go-it-alone socialist agenda, body is going to have to pay for this.
hard to believe that there wasn’t a sin- very little focused on COVID; $1.9 tril- This money didn’t fall out of the sky.
gle Republican who thought the invest- lion, over 90 percent of which wasn’t Is it right to borrow $1.9 trillion from
ments in opening up schools—some dedicated to healthcare. our children to give California $41 bil-
people say, well, you open up schools, You want to talk about schools. lion when they currently have a $10 bil-
that is the big cry now. There was not a single dime in that bill lion surplus? I think we would get a
Yes, and we are doing something that requires schools to reopen. You different answer than the 70 percent
about it. They weren’t open when we look at the money for schools, and saying yes.
took over, but they are coming to be hundreds of billions of dollars, by the If you said, in this bill, which we
open. way, are already out there that aren’t tried to correct, every felon in prison
I think it is unfortunate, Madam spent, hundreds of billions that we all today in America will get a $1,400
Speaker, that some demean our teach- worked on together. check from the taxpayers. That is in
ers. I will tell you, Madam Speaker, I When President Trump said he want- the bill.
have four great-grandchildren. All but ed to work with Republicans and They tried to take it out in the Sen-
one, who is too young, were taught vir- Democrats, he actually followed ate when they allowed them on the
tually for these many, many months. through on that promise, as the gen- floor to bring an amendment. Not a
And my granddaughter, their moth- tleman noted, and every CARES Act single amendment was allowed on this
er, raves about their commitment of bill was a very bipartisan bill. That House floor to fix those kinds of dis-
the teachers to those three children, was an effort made on both sides to parities.
and the work that they put in, day work together and they were targeted. Every Democrat in the Senate voted
after day after day. It was targeted on helping families who ‘‘no.’’ They said continue to give $1,400
were struggling or helping small busi- checks to prisoners, felons in prison,
b 1300

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
nesses who were struggling; on getting when we are already paying for their
So are they concerned about their money into the search for a vaccine. food, for their lodging, for their
own safety? Are they concerned about Operation Warp Speed should be healthcare. Now they are going to get
the safety of the children? Are they something we all celebrate, where a $1,400 check from the taxpayers of
concerned about other children and President Trump said he wants to put this country, borrowed from our chil-
children taking it home to their moms all the focus at FDA on not only find- dren.

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H1338 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 11, 2021
Do most Americans know that? I The gentleman apparently wants to us. Not on the floor, on the table. I
hope they do because when we then ask say in this bill, open the schools no know because I was sitting there in the
them the question later: Now that you matter what. We don’t care what your room when President Obama was try-
know what is really in the bill, what do locals say. We don’t care what your ing to reach bipartisan agreement.
you think about it? When you recog- PTAs say. We don’t care what your su- Zero Republicans, three in the Sen-
nize some of the other ideas that were perintendents of schools say. Open the ate, helped on the American Recovery
brought forward, not only to reopen schools because we mandate it. Act, which kept us out of depression.
schools, but to target the money, to I don’t think that is what the gen- And I wasn’t surprised that we had zero
focus on helping small businesses, tleman, Madam Speaker, in the past on this reconciliation bill, and I wasn’t
those were the things that we wanted has stood for, mandating what States surprised that it changed from the six
to do, trying to put some guardrails do. Now maybe he thinks that we votes previously, where Donald Trump
and limitations in place, like the pre- ought to take over the local education said this bill is okay; I am going to
vious CARES Act bills did, which is systems and tell them to open. We sign it; because nothing could have be-
why they were all bipartisan. didn’t do that. come law without him signing it. And
But when you look at these expendi- What we did was, however, gave them Republicans voted overwhelmingly, in
tures, and then you recognize that $130 billion, over time—he is right, not most cases, for it.
there is no money requiring schools to immediately—over time to spend to But now that we have a Democratic
reopen. But our border is wide open make those schools safe; make their President, they have decided to return
right now and if someone comes over ventilation systems safe for kids; make to the ‘‘no’’ votes that they cast on the
legally, they will get a check. That is the accommodations in the schools safe Recovery Act, on the Affordable Care
a concern to a lot of people. for kids and teachers and parents who Act, which has helped millions and mil-
So, yes, look at the bill. The Tax
go there. lions of people, and so many other
Cuts and Jobs Act, it did go through
So, Madam Speaker, we get dis- pieces of legislation.
committee. It did have markups and
tracted by these assertions of some I would urge, my friend, Madam
hearings. And, in fact, it yielded a
sort of ideological patina that reso- Speaker, to, when we say we want to
great benefit to every American. Every
nates with the right wing in America. work in a bipartisan way, let’s try to
income group benefited from the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act. And, as the gen- And we can do that, or we can talk do it. It is worth doing.
about substance. Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, it is
tleman knows, the income group level
that benefited the most by us cutting Yes, I mentioned Americans over- worth doing. Again, that is why you
taxes were the lowest income, because whelmingly said that the substance had a number of Republican Senators
we rebuilt our middle class because of that we had in this bill was what they go to the White House to offer that
that bill. We made America competi- liked. So, I would hope the Republican olive branch. They were turned down,
tive because of that bill. whip would talk about the substance of and that is unfortunate.
And in this bill that passed yester- these bills. On this bill, clearly it wasn’t just Re-
day, with a bipartisan vote against it, We can have differences. But over publicans who voted against it. It was
there was tucked away language that and over, in the newspapers and on this a bipartisan vote in opposition. I hope
prohibits States from cutting taxes. floor, the socialist agenda resonates in that is not the model. And that was the
Explain what that has to do with your polls. It resonates in some of the point.
COVID. districts; we saw that. It was not true. Thirteen of 14 bills have come to the
If you are a State, every State will Social Security was called socialist floor under a rule so far; didn’t even go
get money from that bill. Again, Cali- when it was adopted; Medicare, as well; through committee. Let’s get back to
fornia gets over $40 billion, even Medicaid certainly, socialist, efforts to that collegiality. Let’s get back to
though they have a $10 billion surplus. try to lift people up. bringing bills to committee, having the
But if a State tries to cut taxes, they And when the gentleman tries to committees actually work in person so
actually get penalized in the bill. Peo- make an analogy to a bill that sent 83 Members can have the ability to have
ple are aghast when they hear that. It percent of $1.5 trillion to the top 1 per- those conversations and come and find
just came out yesterday. cent in America as being a bill to help common ground, which has happened
What does that have to do with the middle class, and working Ameri- in the past, and it surely can happen
COVID? cans, boy, that is a stretch, Madam again now. I hope we can get to that
Why wasn’t this a targeted relief Speaker. point soon.
bill? It was because one side wanted to Now, I want to go back to the sub- I yield to the gentleman to add any-
close the process out and just go it stance of what the gentleman has thing else.
alone and push a socialist agenda that raised. We want to see us working to- Mr. HOYER. I have nothing to fur-
has nothing to do, or little to do, with gether. I see my friend from Texas on ther to say, Madam Speaker.
COVID relief. the floor. He and I have had these dis- Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I
I yield to the gentleman from Mary- cussions. yield back the balance of my time.
land. It is a shame that we accuse one an- f
Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman
other of this epithet or that epithet b 1315
for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I don’t think there and try to put one another in a corner.
I lived through the Gingrich era, and NEVER STOP SAYING HER NAME
is a socialist agenda on this floor, any
more than I think there is a fascist that was almost the entire rhetoric (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given
agenda on this floor. And we hear so- that I heard from the floor all the permission to address the House for 1
cialist. When Gingrich was here it was time. minute.)
liberals. Now it is socialists; trying to But if we are going to do that, it is Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, 1
distract from substance, trying to in- going to be because people really do year ago this Saturday, a young couple
flame. want to work in a bipartisan fashion. in my hometown of Louisville were in
It wasn’t socialists that stormed the There was discussion—I know for a bed when their door was broken down.
Capitol, and they weren’t carrying fact, I was here, and I saw President The terrified couple leaped for cover,
Biden signs, they were carrying Trump Obama try to work in a bipartisan and the man, a licensed gun owner,
signs. fashion on the American Recovery and fired a single shot toward the men
I am tired, Madam Speaker, of this Reinvestment Act. Yes, he put his bill busting into his home, hitting one in
socialist drivel. First of all, I think a on the floor—excuse me—not on the the leg.

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
lot of them don’t have the faintest idea floor, he put it on the table. The intruders responded with a bar-
what socialism is versus dictatorship And I heard the meetings at the rage of gunfire so wild that it not only
or authoritarian regimes. White House. I heard the meetings here killed the woman but narrowly missed
And the schools weren’t reopened when the Republicans said: Well, he a 5-year-old in another apartment.
when we took over. Trump was Presi- didn’t try to talk to us; he put this bill There is no mystery about the kill-
dent for 10 months. on the floor before he even talked to ers’ identities, yet they remain free.

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