Affordable Care Act (Cong. Rec., March 24, 2021)
Summary
Page S1760 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for March 24, 2021, under the heading Affordable Care Act, in interleaved columns. A speaker marks Women's History Month, recalling the Chicago celebration of Vice President Kamala Harris's election and praising Juliana Stratton, whom Illinois voters elected in 2018, and credits scientist Katalin Kariko, an immigrant, with pioneering research behind the COVID-19 vaccines. Another passage tells of a woman whose family has health insurance through her employer because of the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Reed asks to print a notice of a tie vote under S. Res. 27, and an arms sale notification for the Republic of Korea lists a total estimated value of $36 million.
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“Affordable Care Act (Cong. Rec., March 24, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-24-crec-2021-03-24-pt1-pgs1760-24652588d6/
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S1760 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 24, 2021
jubilance once again erupted in the In 2018, the people of Illinois elected cinated than our total number of
streets of Chicago. Drivers honked Juliana Stratton as our 48th Lieuten- coronavirus cases since the beginning
their horns all along Michigan Avenue, ant Governor, the first woman of color of the pandemic. By the beginning of
while passengers leaned out of their ever elected to hold a constitutional summer, we should have a large enough
windows, waving American flags. Joe office in our State. She is a dynamo supply of vaccines to inoculate every
Biden had finally been declared the vic- and part of a new generation of women adult in America. This is one of the
tor of the 2020 Presidential election, his who are taking their rightful place as greatest scientific feats in modern his-
running mate: KAMALA HARRIS, the political leaders in our Nation. In the tory.
first African-American and first 2020 elections, women across America A major reason we were able to de-
woman Vice President of the United turned out in historic numbers, and velop COVID–19 vaccines at such light-
States. The scene in Chicago was a fit- voters elected a record number of ning-fast speed is because of the pio-
ting tribute to the 100th anniversary of women to higher office. neering research conducted over dec-
the 19th Amendment’s ratification. But we still have a long way to go. ades by a brilliant scientist, one of the
This month, America celebrates America lags well behind other devel- unsung heroes of our world. Her name
Women’s History Month. And the peo- oped nations when it comes to gender is Katalin Karikó. Like many Amer-
ple of my State are proud of the lead- equality in our government. Women ac- ican heroes, she is an immigrant. She
ing role Illinois has played in Amer- count for fewer than 30 percent of our began her research in a lab in Hungary,
ica’s long struggle for gender equality. representatives in either Chamber of when it was still under Communist
In 2018, Illinois lawmakers ratified the Congress. Countries like Finland, Swe- rule. Back then, she believed that syn-
Equal Rights Amendment. Our State den, and New Zealand are far closer to thetic messenger RNA could hold the
attorney general, along with the attor-
50 percent, meaning complete gender key to treating some of the world’s
neys general of two other States, is
parity. most debilitating diseases.
now pressing in Federal court for the So it is certainly welcome news that She followed that dream across con-
ERA to be officially recognized as the
President Biden has nominated 12 tinents, immigrating to the United
28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitu-
women for Cabinet and Cabinet-level States in the 1980s. But people—and,
tion, as it should be.
We are proud of the remarkable positions, including Janet Yellen, the let’s be honest, men—doubted her at
women our State has produced. Some first female Secretary of Treasury, and every turn. Her grants were rejected.
were Illinoisans by birth, others by Congresswoman DEB HAALAND, who She faced demotions. She was even
choice. They include Ida B. Wells, the would be the first Native American to threatened with deportation. One of
courageous journalist, anti-lynching ever serve as a Cabinet Secretary. the few institutions that supported
leader, and suffragist; Jane Addams, While the past year has been one of Katalin’s work was the National Insti-
the first American woman to win the historic triumph for women, it has also tutes of Health. The experts at NIH
Nobel Peace Prize and a cofounder of been one of unprecedented challenge. didn’t just follow the science; they sup-
the Hull House, a Chicago landmark; The pandemic has disproportionately ported the visionary behind the
Mamie Till Mobley, a mother who devastated women. In December, the science. And that investment paid off.
forced the world to reckon with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Her research into messenger RNA even-
brutality of racism when she opened that the United States lost 140,000 jobs tually blazed a trail for the Moderna
the casket of her only son, Emmett; in a single month. A staggering num- and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, which
Betty Friedan, author of ‘‘The Femi- ber that is even worse than it seems, are helping curb the spread of COVID–
nine Mystique,’’ a book that inspired a women accounted for every single one 19 at this very moment.
new wave of American feminism; of those job losses. Men, meanwhile, As we turn the corner of this pan-
Gwendolyn Brooks, poet laureate of Il- managed to gain 16,000 jobs that demic, let us remember that it was not
linois from 1968 until her death in 2000 month. a miracle that got us here. It was
and the first Black woman inducted Working women, and especially science. It was dedication. It was the
into the American Academy of Arts working women of color, have been work of trailblazers like Katalin
and Letters; Sandra Cisneros, a re- hardest hit by this pandemic. When Karikó.
nowned writer and educator whose schools across the country were forced As I mentioned, Betty Friedan is one
work is taught in classrooms across to shut their doors, these women were of the great women leaders to come out
the country; Jeanne Gang, a world- thrust into the dual roles of bread- of Illinois. In her seminal work, ‘‘The
class architect whose work graces the winner and primary caregiver. They Feminine Mystique,’’ she asked: ‘‘Who
skyline of Chicago, including the tall- shouldered the burden of keeping our knows what women can be when they
est building in the world designed by a families and children safe. This is es- are finally free to become themselves?’’
woman, the St. Regis Chicago; Jackie sential work. And just as frontline As we celebrate women’s history, let
Joyner-Kersee, one of the world’s workers need PPE to safely do their us also renew our commitment to in-
greatest track and field athletes and jobs, working mothers need economic vesting in women’s futures. Who knows
the founder of the Jackie Joyner- relief to do theirs. how many Katalin Karikós are out
Kersee Foundation, which offers ath- That is what the American Rescue there, ready to change the world?
letic and educational programming to Plan President Biden signed into law For our own good, for the good of hu-
kids in my hometown of East St. this month delivers. It expands the mankind, let’s ensure every woman has
Louis, IL; Precious Brady-Davis, an en- child tax credit, offering up to $3,600 an opportunity to ‘‘become them-
vironmentalist and transgender woman per child; it invests in our families, by selves.’’
who has shed light on the experiences increasing the value of SNAP benefits f
of transgender parents; Oprah Winfrey, and expanding childcare assistance;
the host of a daytime talk show you and it gives every working American AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
may have heard of—her career as a $1,400. The American Rescue Plan will Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, as a
talk show host actually began on help working mothers weather this Member of Congress, I have cast a
‘‘A.M. Chicago’’; Hillary Clinton, the once-in-a-century public health and number of important votes over the
first woman to be nominated for Presi- economic crisis. years, votes on whether to send our Na-
dent by a major political party, she After a year of COVID lockdowns and tion’s brave servicemembers to war or
may have represented New York in the losses, America is finally beginning to to impeach a President, but perhaps
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE
U.S. Senate, but her roots are firmly feel a sense of hope that the end of this the most important vote I have ever
planted in Park Ridge, IL; Michelle pandemic is coming, and looking at the cast was 11 years ago this week, in sup-
Obama, another former First Lady who headlines, it is hard not to share that port of the Affordable Care Act.
broke barriers—she is the pride of Chi- optimism. Since the law’s passage in 2010, the
cago’s South Side, and I am grateful to Under President Biden, we are vacci- ACA has provided health insurance to
call her a friend; and my colleague in nating more than 2 million Americans more than 23 million Americans, in-
this body, Senator TAMMY DUCKWORTH, a day. As of last week, more people in cluding nearly 1 million Illinoisans.
an American hero. the United States have been fully vac- That is almost 1 out of every 20 people
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March 24, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1761
living in my home State. Thanks to based health plan can no longer deny There being no objection, the mate-
the ACA, they are now covered. That Michelle health coverage or charge her rial was ordered to be printed in the
measure was called the Affordable Care higher premiums because she has a pre- RECORD, as follows:
Act for a reason: It is estimated to existing condition. Her insurer can no The Secretary of the Senate:
have saved every family in America longer impose annual or lifetime caps PN79–6, the nomination of Colin Hackett
about $4,000 in health insurance pre- on her care. It can’t cut her off right Kahl, of California, to be Under Secretary of
miums. when she needs healthcare the most. Defense for Policy, having been referred to
I don’t think any of us could have Michelle’s daughter, Meredith, a junior the Committee on Armed Services, the Com-
predicted 11 years ago just how impor- at the University of Illinois-Spring- mittee, with a quorum present, has voted on
tant the protections it guaranteed to the nomination as follows—
field, is able to stay on her parents’
On the question of reporting the nomina-
Americans would become. Then came plan until age 26. Because of the ACA, tion favorably with the recommendation
the coronavirus. In the year since the Michelle’s health plan must cover her that the nomination be confirmed, 13 ayes to
pandemic was declared, the virus has family’s prescription drug costs. 13 noes; and
claimed more than half a million Without insurance coverage, treating In accordance with section 3, paragraph
American lives. That is more than the common variable immune deficiency (1)(A) of S. Res. 27 of the 117th Congress, I
number of American lives lost in World can cost patients more than $100,000 a hereby give notice that the Committee has
War I, World War II, and the Vietnam year. Put simply, these protections not reported the nomination because of a tie
war combined. vote, and ask that this notice be printed in
were not in place before the Affordable
the RECORD pursuant to the resolution.
We grieve with every family who has Care Act, and Michelle and her family
suffered a loss, and we know there are are alive today because of these protec- f
millions more Americans who have tions. This family’s story is proof that ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
been affected by the virus. Thirty mil- the ACA is one of the greatest legisla-
lion of our family members, friends, Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, sec-
tive accomplishments in modern Amer- tion 36(b) of the Arms Export Control
colleagues, and neighbors have been di- ican history, and it is also proof that
agnosed with COVID–19. That is 30 mil- Act requires that Congress receive
there is a lot more we can do to protect prior notification of certain proposed
lion Americans who are now living people like her and her family.
with a preexisting condition. We have arms sales as defined by that statute.
While Michelle is grateful for the Upon such notification, the Congress
heard stories about the so-called long- ACA, she recently told me that ‘‘I feel
haulers, individuals who report they has 30 calendar days during which the
there is more work to be done.’’ And sale may be reviewed. The provision
are still having health problems she is right, which is why we fought, as
months after their original diagnosis. stipulates that, in the Senate, the noti-
part of the American Rescue Plan, to fication of proposed sales shall be sent
They are struggling with shortness of expand health insurance subsidies and
breath, trouble sleeping, severe fa- to the chairman of the Senate Foreign
eligibility for plans covered under the Relations Committee.
tigue, and other symptoms that NIH ACA. These provisions will ensure that
Director Dr. Francis Collins has In keeping with the committee’s in-
no enrollee spends more than 8.5 per- tention to see that relevant informa-
deemed a ‘‘significant public health cent of their income on health insur-
concern.’’ tion is available to the full Senate, I
ance premiums. The typical 60-year-old ask unanimous consent to have printed
These Americans have enough to couple in Illinois could see their pre-
worry about as it is with their recov- in the RECORD the notifications which
miums reduced by $1,300. have been received. If the cover letter
ery; could you imagine if they also had The ARP also increases eligibility for
to worry about being able qualify for references a classified annex, then such
premium subsidies to working-class annex is available to all Senators in
health coverage? In a world without American families earning more than
the ACA, they would have. Before the the office of the Foreign Relations
400 percent of the Federal poverty Committee, room SD–423.
ACA was the law of the land, people level.
could be denied health coverage or There being no objection, the mate-
Outside of the ARP, the Biden-Harris rial was ordered to be printed in the
charged significantly higher premiums administration has taken other steps
for having diabetes or asthma—even RECORD, as follows:
to bolster the ACA, like creating a spe-
acne. DEFENSE SECURITY
cial open enrollment period and ensur- COOPERATION AGENCY,
Could you imagine if this pandemic ing that the DOJ defends the law in the
hit before we passed that law? The tens Arlington, VA.
case before the Supreme Court. All of Hon. ROBERT MENENDEZ,
of millions of Americans who would this is welcome news, and I look for- Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
have to wonder how they were going to ward to working with the Biden-Harris U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
pay for their care, their children’s care, administration to accomplish even DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Pursuant to the re-
in the middle of a pandemic? more. That is why we not only cele- porting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of
Thanks to the ACA, they are covered. brate the historic passage of the ACA the Arms Export Control Act, as amended,
It has been a lifeline for millions of but all of the lives it has saved as well. we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No.
Americans, like Michelle Crifasi, one of 21–31 concerning the Army’s proposed Let-
After years of unrelenting, unjusti- ter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Repub-
my neighbors in Springfield, IL. Re- fied attacks on this critical piece of lic of Korea for defense articles and services
cently, Michelle wrote to me about legislation, we are finally in a position estimated to cost $36 million. After this let-
what the ACA has meant for her and to build on it. I am ready to work with ter is delivered to your office, we plan to
her family. For much of her life, the Biden-Harris administration to cre- issue a news release to notify the public of
Michelle was burdened with an un- ate a public option, lower prescription this proposed sale.
known illness, until she was finally di- drug prices, and address racial and eth- Sincerely,
agnosed with common variable im- nic disparities in our healthcare sys- HEIDI H. GRANT,
mune deficiency in her mid-thirties. It Director.
tem. Enclosures.
is a rare condition that limits the im- After 11 years since its passage, I am
mune system’s ability to fight infec- TRANSMITTAL NO. 21–31
proud to declare: The ACA is here to
tion. The diagnosis was bittersweet. stay.
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of
While she could finally begin to under- Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the
And here in Congress, we will con- Arms Export Control Act, as amended
stand and treat her condition, she later tinue working to perfect it.
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Republic of
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE
learned that she had passed it down to
her daughter. Her husband also devel- f Korea
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
oped it after undergoing cancer treat-
NOTICE OF A TIE VOTE, UNDER Major Defense Equipment * $33 million.
ment. Other $3 million.
The good news is that Michelle and S. RES. 27
Total $36 million.
her family have health insurance Mr. REED. Mr. President, I ask unan- (iii) Description and Quantity or Quan-
through her employer, and because of imous consent to print the following tities of Articles or Services under Consider-
the Affordable Care Act, this employer- letter in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. ation for Purchase:
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