Congressional Record, Senate — March 17, 2021, S1608

Summary

This is S1608 of the Congressional Record, Senate, March 17, 2021, with interleaved columns of floor remarks. A Senator whose name is not printed in the text read speaks about hate crimes against Asian Americans, quotes the Attorney General, and describes a proposed NO HATE Act with more training for investigators and more resources for hotlines. The speaker also discusses the COVID-19 pandemic, saying more than half a million people have died, including over 7,800 in the speaker's State, and praises the Biden administration and the American Rescue Plan, with the views and figures attributed to the speaker.

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“Congressional Record, Senate — March 17, 2021, S1608.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-17-crec-2021-03-17-pt1-pgs1608-b40176d679/, SHA-256 6fe2a298159a09964dd04660ebea300b81b5c15a67b177cb4c83756ee8a8fb48.

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S1608 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 17, 2021
bias, bigotry, and prejudice. Now, hate- I have proposed a measure called the painful healthcare crisis in our lives
motivated violence, as Attorney Gar- NO HATE Act, which would provide and maybe for a full century, a time of
land said at his confirmation hearing, more training for investigators and heartbreak and hardship, when a dead-
‘‘tear[s] at the fabric of our society . . . more resources for hotlines because ly, insidious virus has threatened eco-
make[s] our citizens worried about these hate crimes are typically and re- nomic upheaval and disaster. It is a
walking [on] the streets and exercising peatedly unreported, and it would pro- pandemic that has left no family un-
even the most normal rights.’’ vide more incentives for reporting and touched, as all of us in this Chamber
And he is absolutely correct. It tears new penalties—or encourage the impo- know, and no community unscathed.
at our society. It degrades our trust in sition of penalties—that truly fit the We have lost more than half a mil-
each other and in the fairness of Amer- crime. lion of our fellow citizens and people to
ica and the survivability of values and Hate crimes are corrosive to our so- COVID–19, including 7,800-plus in Con-
rights that are central to our democ- cial fabric. They corrupt the pillars of necticut. While there is light at the
racy. our society, and their effect is unmis- end of the tunnel, each day brings a
The increase in violence against takable. new loss. And we don’t know how long
Asian Americans must end, and we all They traumatize and terrorize the that tunnel may be.
know it. We all say it, but we must do communities that are their targets—in The Biden administration has been
it. In Congress, we must do everything this case, Asian Americans, who have laser-focused on ending this pandemic
in our power to provide law enforce- become more and more fearful as these since day one. Every day, more and
ment and prosecutors with the re- incidents have multiplied. We all have more Americans are receiving the vac-
sources and the tools they need to a part to do in stopping this scourge. cine. Every day, more and more Ameri-
overcome it, to successfully fight it, And we know that it is rampant, in cans are beginning to see the big, bold
which they can do. And they need the part, because of the White suprema- benefits of the American Rescue Plan
will and determination to wield the cists and domestic terrorism and vio- that President Biden signed last week,
tools and resources that we give them lent extremism that showed its ugly and every day we are seeing strong
because they have to not only inves- face in this Chamber earlier this year. leadership from the Biden administra-
tigate, as they will this gunman, but It showed its brutal, cruel force in this tion in addressing this deep crisis.
also to effectively prosecute and assure building. While there is hope at this moment,
just punishment. It is the same virus and cancer that there are immense healthcare chal-
We don’t know for sure the motiva- is metastasizing in this country today. lenges still to be overcome, from in-
tion. We have evidence. And we can’t And its visible forms are the assaults, creasing healthcare affordability and
say for sure how many hate crimes harassment, and discrimination that reducing the uninsured rate to low-
there have been against Asian Ameri- may well have been reflected in those ering drug costs, to fighting back
cans or others in our great country, murders yesterday. against healthcare disparities and pro-
but we have a pretty good idea where it I hope the NO HATE Act passes, but tecting reproductive rights, and, I
all came from. it won’t be for a while. I hope we can would repeat, lowering prescription
The rise in anti-Asian-American vio- take other action, but it will take drug costs. Job No. 1 for America, low-
lence started with the previous admin- time. And in the meantime, we can all ering prescription drug costs. Job No.
istration, who failed to address and take it as a moral imperative as our 2, lowering prescription drug costs. We
manage the COVID–19 pandemic, and duty to denounce—not condoned by our need to reduce the prices of medicine
rather than listen to the scientists and silence—these groups and their extrem- that Americans need every day, aside
work to stop its spread, it sought to ist ideologies in White supremacists from the pandemic, every day. Pre-
scapegoat a part of our country. It that perpetuate and expand the virus scription drug prices plague them,
sought to scapegoat Asian Americans and cancer of hate crimes and hatred. cause them worry, force them to make
with xenophobic and hate-filled rhet- Hate speech—fighting words—incite- tough choices between eating and using
oric. ment in our society. the medicine, paying their rent, and
Words have consequences. We all say NOMINATION OF XAVIER BECERRA buying the drugs they need to survive.
it. We all know it. And we must de- Now, a bright spot for America today Attorney General Becerra served as
nounce the words that spur and spew is the confirmation, which we hope will deputy attorney general in California
hatred and cause or contribute to hate happen in the next 24 hours, of the first and later as a member of the State as-
crimes. Hate crimes are a growing Latino Secretary of Health and Human sembly before he went to the House of
scourge. The numbers are surging, Services in America, the first. He was Representatives, here in the Capitol,
whether it is against Asian Americans, the first in his working-class family to for more than two decades. As a Con-
Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, go to college. He broke barriers gressman—and I think this point is
Black Americans. When it is against throughout his career. really important—then-Representative
Americans, it is against America. Xavier Becerra, presently the attor- Xavier Becerra fought to pass the Af-
Words do have consequences. ney general of California, will be a fordable Care Act, and then he fought
Stop AAPI Hate, which tracks vio- leader of toughness, bravery, and vi- to defend it against the Trump admin-
lence and harassment against the AAPI sion at the Department of Health and istration.
community, Asian Americans, received Human Services. As California’s attorney general, he
more than 1,100 reports of COVID-re- I stand here as a former attorney was a warrior in fighting to preserve
lated harassment, discrimination, and general, actually, for 20 years. I know the ACA, and he will continue to fight
assault in its first two operational well how much of that job is spent on for the men and women who depend on
weeks last March. And now it has re- healthcare policy, and I know also the the ACA. And more and more of them,
corded more than 3,800 incidents since management skills it takes to achieve fortunately, are taking advantage of it
the start of the pandemic—3,800 inci- real concrete results. because of the American Rescue Plan.
dents of harassment, discrimination, Attorney General Becerra is deeply He is also a leader in taking on Big
and sometimes physical assault— qualified because of his work as State Tobacco. I sued the tobacco companies,
spurred and encouraged and condoned attorney general, but he also enjoys a helped to lead a multi-State attorney
by public officials who used that hate- wealth of other experience, both per- general group, and I know it takes
filled rhetoric to cover their own fail- sonal and professional, that make him courage to stand up and speak out and
ures in dealing with the pandemic. exactly the right person at this mo- act against Big Tobacco. And he has

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As the investigators and prosecutors ment for that job. He knows the impor- done more. He has taken that fight to
go forward, we will learn more, and we tance of healthcare—equitable a new frontier. He is committed to pro-
need to let them do their jobs. But that healthcare, reducing the disparities in tecting our children from the scourge
doesn’t mean we should remain silent, healthcare in our country that afflict of flavored tobacco and the insidious
nor does it give us an excuse to be us now. products—often they are flavored too—
inert. We need to denounce that kind of We have been in a healthcare crisis that are sold by vaping giants, which
rhetoric. We need to take action. for more than a year, the deepest, most now include some tobacco companies.

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March 17, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1609
Attorney General Becerra is a leader erenced already, Attorney General Let me also say this. As some of the
in protecting reproductive rights. He is Becerra was the leading force behind first Latinos in our respective posi-
a leader in expanding mental the lawsuit to protect the Affordable tions, both Xavier and I are not unfa-
healthcare services. He is a leader in Care Act. Yes, he had the audacity to miliar with being held to a different
the fight against the opioid epidemic. maintain protections for people with standard. It is a different standard
He is a leader for LGBTQ health and preexisting conditions and for those today that is so stark that our col-
for ending the disparities. suffering from a mental illness. Over leagues are willing to delay his con-
We are in a racial justice movement the course of this past year, he has also firmation through the night. Yes, in
now, a racial justice movement that is fought to protect frontline healthcare the middle of a global health pandemic,
seeking to end those deep disparities, workers from further exposure to Republicans are holding up the nomi-
causing twice as many people in com- COVID–19. nee for Secretary of Health and Human
munities of color to die during the pan- Xavier Becerra’s parents emigrated Services. They are holding up the first
demic and only half as many now to from Mexico, just like my parents did, Latino nominee to head this critical
have the vaccine so far because we with a dream of building a better life agency during a pandemic that has dis-
have lived through 4 years of dishon- for themselves and their family. Just a proportionately devastated the Latino
esty and disregard for science and 4 few days ago, I spoke in this Chamber community.
years of attacks on our healthcare sys- about my family’s history and journey It is time to let Xavier Becerra get to
tem, particularly for the underserved. in this country. A hard-working short- work. I urge my colleagues to end the
That is the challenge, among others, order cook and housekeeper raised the delay on Xavier Becerra’s confirmation
that Attorney General Becerra will son who now serves in the U.S. Senate. for Secretary of Health and Human
confront. He will be vigorous, brave, The same is true for Xavier Becerra’s Services.
and tough, and he will work to lower family. He, the son of a construction Thank you, Mr. President.
the cost of prescription drugs. He will and clerical worker, is on the verge of
becoming the most important health f
take on those interests that may be
against the healthcare goals and pur- official in our Nation. That is the LEGISLATIVE SESSION
poses of the American people. And we American dream.
need him now more than ever in this But, unfortunately, tragically, over ---

critical position. I urge my colleagues half a million Americans have had MORNING BUSINESS
to vote for him tomorrow when we their dream cut short by COVID–19,
over half a million lives lost and mil- Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I ask
have the chance to do so. unanimous consent that the Senate
I yield the floor. lions more lives upended by this pan-
demic. We need to act with urgency to proceed to legislative session and be in
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. a period of morning business, with Sen-
OSSOFF). The Senator from California. end this crisis—urgency.
But as I rise today to address this ators permitted to speak therein for up
GEORGIA SHOOTINGS
Chamber, urgency is severely lacking. to 10 minutes each.
Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I want The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
to begin by joining with so many of our While millions of Americans continue
to struggle, our Republican colleagues objection, it is so ordered.
colleagues and leaders around the (At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the
are dragging things out, playing poli-
country expressing our condolences to following statement was ordered to be
tics with the confirmation of Attorney
the victims of the senseless shootings printed in the RECORD.)
General Becerra, one of the most quali-
in Atlanta yesterday, in sharing our
fied nominees to lead the Department f
thoughts and prayers to their families
of Health and Human Services that
and friends. Our heart goes out to the VOTE EXPLANATION
this Chamber has ever considered.
greater community, and, of course, we
They have distorted his record. ∑ Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I was
stand here to not only try to under- Let me point out that many Members necessarily absent for votes on March
stand better what happened, how it of this Senate have worked alongside 17, 2021, so I could return to Hawaii to
happened, but do the work necessary to Xavier Becerra here in Congress for tend to a family matter.
try to ensure that it doesn’t happen decades. Republicans and Democrats On March 17, had I been present, I
again—not in Atlanta, not anywhere in know Xavier Becerra is both a thought- would have voted yea on confirmation:
the United States of America. ful leader and someone who is always Katherine C. Tai, of the District of Co-
NOMINATION OF XAVIER BECERRA willing to listen to both sides of an ar- lumbia, to be United States Trade Rep-
Mr. President, I rise today to speak gument. He built an outstanding rep- resentative, Rollcall vote 123.
in support of the nomination of my utation in the House, both as a legis- Mr. President, I was necessarily ab-
friend California Attorney General Xa- lator and as a colleague. sent for votes on March 17, 2021, so I
vier Becerra to serve as Secretary of As attorney general of California, could return to Hawaii to tend to a
the Department of Health and Human overseeing the largest department of family matter.
Services. justice in the Nation, second only to On March 17, had I been present, I
As we all know, as we all feel, our the U.S. Department of Justice, Xavier would have voted yea on cloture mo-
Nation is going through one of the showed no fear in working across the tion: Xavier Becerra, of California, to
toughest health crises in our history. aisle. In fact, he partnered with Repub- be Secretary of Health and Human
The COVID–19 pandemic has taken an lican attorneys general to increase ac- Services, Rollcall vote 124.∑
incredible toll on our country. Every cess to lifesaving drugs to treat (At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the
State has been impacted. Every com- COVID–19. He worked across the aisle following statement was ordered to be
munity has suffered, especially work- to protect drug discounts for health printed in the RECORD.)
ing-class communities and commu- centers.
nities of color, like the very neighbor- I can’t help but point out the obvi- f
hoods that Attorney General Becerra ous. In fact, I am prepared to make CONFIRMATION OF
and I grew up in. These communities this abundantly clear to the American
are hurting and people are dying at people. The cynical delays and political KATHERINE C. TAI
alarming rates, and they desperately games that we see being played are not ∑ Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise to
need someone who knows these com- actually about Mr. Becerra’s qualifica- support the nomination of Katherine
tions. He is just as qualified as any of Tai to serve as the next United States

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munities to their core.
Throughout his career, Xavier his predecessors. Sadly, Xavier Becerra Trade Representative. When confirmed,
Becerra has always fought to improve is being held to a different standard—a Ms. Tai will be the first woman of color
the lives of his constituents. As the different standard than other nominees and first Asian American to lead the
first Latino attorney general of Cali- this Chamber has supported and con- Office of the U.S. Trade Representa-
fornia, he made it his mission to tackle firmed over the last 4 years, including tive.
the structural inequalities in our our most recent Health and Human Katherine Tai’s story is America’s
healthcare system. As has been ref- Services Secretary. story. Her parents came to the United

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