Unanimous Consent Request—S. 931 (Cong. Rec., March 23, 2021)

Summary

A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated March 23, 2021, at page S1699, headed Unanimous Consent Request on S. 931, with an exchange between Mr. Cruz and Mr. Wyden over stimulus checks for people in prison. Mr. Wyden, reserving the right to object, reads what he says the IRS has stated, that it does not receive the crime for which a person is incarcerated, and says the request would delay checks to millions of people, and he objects. Mr. Cruz says he voted for stimulus checks and that lists of currently incarcerated prisoners can be produced, and he objects to a request in turn. The page also carries a heading for a further unanimous consent request on S. 929.

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“Unanimous Consent Request—S. 931 (Cong. Rec., March 23, 2021).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-23-crec-2021-03-23-pt1-pgs1699-3-86727bcdbb/, SHA-256 dc8fa25c13fde497b4fc87618c35243f6d4c77394167a2cb58cd258ac400d5df.

Full text

March 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1699
The Senator from Texas. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- today. I further ask that the bill be
Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, the Sen- ator is recognized. considered read a third time and passed
ator from Oregon, I guess, dem- Mr. WYDEN. Thank you very much. and that the motion to reconsider be
onstrates the principle that hypocrisy Mr. President, there isn’t informa- considered made and laid upon the
is the tribute that vice pays to virtue, tion about this crime or these crimes table.
because the Senator from Oregon sug- at the Federal, State, and local levels. Mr. WYDEN. Reserving the right to
gests that somehow payments to peo- So, again, we are back in exactly the object.
ple who are not criminals will be de- same place. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
layed if we don’t pay criminals in pris- The Senator from Texas wants to ator from Oregon.
on. That claim, on the face of it, is ab- hold up the checks to millions and mil- Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I want to
surd. lions of people in spite of the fact that read, specifically, what the IRS has
The Federal prisons are administered he voted—he voted earlier—for a sys- told us, because I gather my colleague
by the Bureau of Prisons. Government tem that got the checks to everybody would like to just continue this for
may not be good at everything, but I in a timely way. And when you don’t some time. But here is what the IRS
feel quite confident that the Federal have the information about the specific says:
Government can produce a list of cur- crimes at the Federal, State, and local In the information the IRS receives from
rently incarcerated prisoners. I know levels, it becomes impossible to carry the Bureau of Prisons and State prison sys-
tems, we do not get the crime for which the
the States can. out what the Senator from Texas seeks person is incarcerated.
The IRS, likewise, is perfectly capa- to do. And the net effect is, again, that
ble of recognizing whether it is mailing So we can have a host more of these
millions and millions of Americans
amendments, if my colleague wants to
checks to prisoners in prison. This is aren’t getting the funds that they need
do it. But I get why he is so anxious to
not whether you have ever been con- to pay for essentials, rent and gro-
have his amendment passed—because
victed of a crime. It is, Are you sending ceries.
he was always for keeping people from
the checks to Sing Sing? If so, don’t I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- getting checks, and his amendment, if
send it.
passed, would put those checks on hold.
The claim that somehow Joe Six- tion is heard.
The Senator from Texas. So that is why I have objected, and we
Pack at home is not getting his check
Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, you know, will put this into the record as well.
because we don’t want to send checks I object.
to prisoners is demonstrably untrue. it could be hard in these partisan days The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MAR-
The Senator from Oregon also claims to know what the truth is. Both sides KEY). Objection is heard.
Republicans oppose stimulus checks, yell at each other. They insult each Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, once again,
when he knows that is simply not the other. It is hard to know who is telling the Senator from Oregon has said
case. As he noted, this body over- the truth. something that is demonstrably false
whelmingly passed bipartisan COVID I ask the folks at home who are lis- and that he knows is false, which is
relief five times last year. It is only tening to this debate to exercise a lit- that he has suggested that I opposed
when Senate Democrats took the ma- tle bit of common sense. The Senator sending stimulus checks to the Amer-
jority that bipartisan legislation ended from Oregon just told you the Federal ican citizens, to law-abiding citizens. I
because the Democrats decided to push Government has no idea who are mur- not only didn’t oppose it, I voted for it.
a hard partisan bill instead. derers currently in prison. I want to Republicans supported it. He knows
A clean bill providing relief checks suggest that doesn’t make any sense. that. That is a red herring.
would have passed with an over- I feel quite confident the Department He just read a statement from the
whelming bipartisan majority in this of Justice could produce a list of cur- IRS Agency saying they get a list of
body, and the Senator from Oregon rently incarcerated murderers in Fed- prisoners from the Bureau of Prisons,
knows that. eral prisons within 24 hours. I am abso- and he said: But we don’t know the
We have now discovered, though, lutely certain the State of Texas could crime.
that given a straight-up choice be- produce that list. I am confident the The first unanimous consent request
tween sending checks to criminals in State of Connecticut could produce the I put before this body is, everyone on
prison versus sending checks to the list of the murderers currently in Con- that list in the Bureau of Prisons, don’t
victims of crime, Senate Democrats necticut prisons. I am even confident send them a check. That doesn’t delay
stand with the criminals. the State of Oregon could produce a your check. If you are not looking at
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 929 list of the murderers convicted of bars, if you are not in a jail cell that is
Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, I am going homicide currently incarcerated in the 5 feet by 10 feet, this doesn’t affect you.
to suggest an even narrower situation. State of Oregon. This only affects criminals currently in
Perhaps we can’t agree on victims of The claim that we don’t know who prison.
crime. How about murderers? the murderers are who are in our pris- UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 931
We just had a hearing in the Senate ons serving time for murder—it doesn’t Mr. President, let’s try one more
Judiciary Committee on gun violence. pass the laugh test. time. The Democrats have objected to
We saw a horrific mass murder in Colo- UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 930 not sending checks to criminals in pris-
rado. Can’t we agree that murderers Mr. President, so let’s see if we could on. The Democrats have objected to
shouldn’t get checks—$1,400 stimulus agree in a different area—rapists, those not sending checks to murderers in
checks—from the taxpayers? Let’s take who committed sexual assault. prison. The Democrats have objected to
the money going to murderers and put Again, these are public records and not sending checks to rapists in prison.
it in the crime victims task force fund the Department of Justice and every Let’s try a group that I think may be
instead. State criminal justice authority have a the lowest of the low, which is child
And so, Mr. President, as if in legisla- list of all the rapists. How about let’s molesters. I spent a lot of years in law
tive session, I ask unanimous consent not send $1,400 checks to rapists? Take enforcement, and I think there is no
that the Senate proceed to the imme- the money and give it to the Crime more horrific offense than those who
diate consideration of S. 929, intro- Victims Fund so it can go to victims of commit crimes of violence and sexual
duced earlier today. I further ask that rape. assault against kids. When I was solic-
the bill be considered read a third time Here is a choice for Democrats: Do itor general of Texas, the cases where
and passed and that the motion to re- you want to send money to the rapists people sexually abused kids I thought
consider be considered made and laid or the victims of sexual assault? This should be in Dante’s Ninth Circle of

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upon the table. ought to be a hundred-or-nothing Hell.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there choice. So here is a chance for some bipar-
objection? Mr. President, as if in legislative ses- tisan agreement. Can’t we all agree
The Senator from Oregon. sion, I ask unanimous consent that the that the Federal Government shouldn’t
Mr. WYDEN. Reserving the right to Senate proceed to the immediate con- send $1,400 checks to the child molest-
object. sideration of S. 930, introduced earlier ers in prison right now for molesting

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S1700 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2021
kids? And before the Senator from Or- Democrats now say we will send tax- was an Asian American. His name was
egon says, ‘‘Who knows who the child payer stimulus checks to millions of il- I.M. Pei. Mr. Pei emigrated from China
molesters are,’’ well, the Department legal immigrants. We have seen Demo- to the United States in the 1930s.
of Justice and every State department crats say we will send the taxpayer By the time he passed at the age of
of justice knows who the child molest- stimulus to criminals in prison. We 102, he had designed a number of fa-
ers are in their prisons. have seen the Democrats say we will mous buildings. He had done that all
Let’s take the money that the Demo- send the taxpayer stimulus checks to across the world, including on U.S.
crats want to send to child molesters, murderers in prison. We have seen soil, including the John F. Kennedy
and let’s take it from the child molest- them say we will send the checks to Presidential Library.
ers and give it to the victims of crimes, rapists in prison. And we now just saw America is proud of Mr. Pei. He is
the kids who have been molested. This them say we will send the checks to just one of millions of Asian Americans
is as simple a legislative choice as I child molesters in prison. whose talents have helped America
can imagine. It should be the essence of common continue to be an exceptional nation, a
Mr. President, as in legislative ses- sense to say don’t give this money to nation made up of exceptional people
sion, I ask unanimous consent that the violent criminals; give it to victims of who take advantage of all of the oppor-
Senate proceed to the immediate con- crime instead. In a sane world, that tunities that these United States have
sideration of S. 931, introduced earlier would be a hundred-to-nothing propo- to offer.
today. I further ask that the bill be sition. The contributions of individual Asian
considered read a third time and passed I challenge any one of you in the Americans have helped our country
and that the motion to reconsider be brightest of blue States: Go home and pioneer—and the Presiding Officer
considered made and laid upon the explain to your constituents that you knows this—advances in architecture,
table. refused to take the money from child in medicine, in art, and in technology.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there molesters and give it to the victims of But, more than that, Asian Americans
objection? that crime. That is the position of are our friends, and they are our neigh-
Mr. WYDEN. Reserving the right to every Democrat in this Chamber be- bors.
object, Mr. President. The recent murder of Asian-Amer-
cause every single Democratic Senator
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ican women in an evil assault in At-
was the deciding vote rejecting the
ator from Oregon. lanta was an assault not just on the
amendment on the floor.
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, once Atlanta community but on the United
It is unfortunate just how extreme
again, our colleague from Texas is of- States of America. President Biden has
the hard left is right now, but it is far
fering an idea that would disrupt the correctly denounced these attacks, and
out of touch with the American people,
system in a way that would keep mil- he is not alone.
and it has long abandoned any sem- I know the Presiding Officer can join
lions and millions of Americans who blance of common sense. me in this. I condemn these evil mur-
are hurting from getting help in a I yield the floor. ders in the strongest possible terms. No
timely way. He has come back with, es- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- one can justify—no one—the brutal
sentially, one version after another be- ator from Oregon. theft of eight lives. Every commu-
cause he thinks that, somehow, this is Mr. WYDEN. Here is what we are for.
nity—every single one—across our
the kind of sensational idea that will We are for making sure that needy peo-
country is grieving for the victims and
cause people to rally to his side. ple get help to pay for groceries and is grieving for the families.
I believe what he has been pro- make rent rather than have one of our These victims were all made, they
posing—now, I gather, four times—is so colleagues come out with something were each made, in God’s image, and
disruptive, so unworkable that it is that is unworkable and disruptive and Americans know that. I also feel the
going to hurt the millions of people is going to keep those people from get- same way about the shooting in Boul-
whom this Congress wanted to help, ting help. That is what this debate is der. We all do.
and that is what the Senator from all about, something that is unwork- America pioneered government that
Texas has sought to do from the very able. is based on inalienable rights that God
beginning. I object. I read the direct comment from the gives each person. God has imbued
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- IRS with respect to not having the in- every man and woman with dignity,
tion is heard. formation or getting help to people and Americans answer that dignity
Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, there is an who are hurting. with respect, respect for each indi-
old saying that you don’t learn any- I yield the floor. vidual and their right to make the
thing from the second kick of a mule. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- most of the manifold opportunities our
The first time the Senator from Or- ator from Texas. country offers.
egon said that I sought to disrupt stim- Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, the Sen- Unfortunately, President Biden’s
ulus payments, perhaps he did so be- ator from Oregon suggested that the rhetoric in defense of the Asian-Amer-
cause he didn’t know my views on that concern of the Democrats is to get tax- ican community is not altogether
topic, but he has since been corrected payer funds to needy people. People matched by respect for the right of
that I voted for stimulus payments to currently incarcerated are not needy. Asian Americans to reap the reward of
American citizens in the time of eco- The Senator from Oregon said we need their talent and grit.
nomic crisis and didn’t oppose them. to help Americans struggling with The Biden administration, thus far—
So he is now repeatedly stating false- rent. You know what? People currently it has time to correct its course—has
hoods, knowing that they are false. incarcerated pay zero in rent. They shown and did show right out of the
You know, all of us were there when don’t have rent costs. gate a determination to stick its head
Joe Biden gave his inauguration speech So the argument of the Democrats is: in the sand while some of America’s
making a call to unity, making a call We don’t know who the criminals are top universities are actively discrimi-
to healing, and there was a chance we who are currently in jail. That does not nating against Asian Americans.
could have done that. On COVID relief, comport with reality, and any fair- Last year, as the Presiding Officer
you don’t have to ask theoretically. minded person watching this knows knows, the Justice Department sued
Last year, when Republicans had con- that. Yale University. The Justice Depart-
trol of the Senate, we passed five bipar- I yield the floor. ment contended that Yale rejected
tisan COVID relief bills, coming to- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- many qualified Asian-American appli-
gether with overwhelming bipartisan ator from Louisiana. cants on the basis of race—not on the

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majorities. STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS V. HARVARD basis of qualification, on the basis of
The Democrats decided, when they Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am race.
took control, they didn’t want to do sure you have been to Paris. The archi- The decision by the Justice Depart-
that. You want to know just how far tect, as you undoubtedly know, who de- ment came 2 years after several Asian-
out of touch and how radical today’s signed the Louvre’s iconic glass pyr- American organizations filed a com-
Democratic Party is? We have seen the amid was actually an American. He plaint with the Department of Justice

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