Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., April 12, 2021)
Summary
Congressional Record, Senate, page S1866, April 12, 2021. Under the heading Coronavirus, Mr. Cornyn describes a trip through Texas, says 9 million Texans have received at least 1 dose of the vaccine and 5.6 million are fully vaccinated, and mentions the Paycheck Protection Program. Under the heading Border Security, the remarks say Customs and Border Protection encountered more than 100,000 migrants along the southern border in February and more than 172,000 last month, and describe a visit to the Carrizo Springs Influx Care Facility. The page also covers legislation introduced with Senator Klobuchar to increase resources for FTC and DOJ antitrust enforcement.
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Cite this document
“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., April 12, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-04-12-crec-2021-04-12-pt1-pgs1866-7228c9ae93/
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S1866 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 12, 2021
Entrepreneurs want to challenge human beings, and we thrive on and Even though the issues I was dis-
these big tech companies. Unfortu- we, I believe, need that kind of inter- cussing throughout my State were dif-
nately, the system is rigged against action. But so far this year, most of it ferent, one common theme that I
the little-guy startup. These companies has been virtual. brought up everywhere I went was to
can remove your website from the I did have a chance to speak to the continue to encourage Texans to get
internet, delete your app from the app Texas Hispanic Chamber members and vaccinated. So far, 9 million of us have
store, and permanently ban you from the members of the U.S. Hispanic received at least 1 dose of the vaccine,
their platforms. These companies can Chamber as part of their annual legis- and 5.6 million Texans are fully vac-
also remove competitors or those they lative summit. Like many of the folks cinated. Obviously we are not out of
disagree with, largely with no recourse. who do fly-ins at least once a year, we the woods yet, but Americans have
Millions of small business owners use have had to forgo that, so this was a every reason to be optimistic about the
tech platforms to operate their busi- virtual meeting. But I did get a chance headway made in the fight against
ness. It has been a big boost to our to hear from many of the members and COVID–19.
economy over the last 25 years. Many particularly their board members on BORDER SECURITY
business owners have been censored, the importance of our response to the Unfortunately, just as we are seeing
banned, and demonetized. This can be pandemic and the progress they have in progress on the pandemic, we are see-
done without warning, no explanation turn been able to make through things ing another crisis on our border.
whatsoever, and many times without like the Paycheck Protection Program. In February, Customs and Border
any meaningful due process. I also was able to join friends from Protection encountered more than
Our antitrust regulators need to take Webb County—that is Laredo, TX—the 100,000 migrants along our southern
a harder look at the actions of Big North American Development Bank border—the highest total since 2006.
Tech. I recently introduced legislation and their private partners, to announce Last month, things continued to trend
with Senator KLOBUCHAR to increase a $216 million investment in a new in the wrong direction. CBP encoun-
resources for FTC and DOJ antitrust solar farm, which they are very excited tered more than 172,000 migrants along
enforcement. This legislation would about. our border, which is the highest in two
provide an immediate boost to these I was glad to be able to visit with a
decades.
number of Texans in person, with all of Put simply, our immigration system
Agencies’ effective competition respon-
the appropriate safety precautions we cannot accommodate this many mi-
sibilities.
Right now, there are essentially five have all learned so well. grants coming at one time. We lack the
I was able to kick off National Vol-
companies within just the United personnel, the facilities, the resources,
unteer Month at the San Antonio Food
States that determine what can and and the policies to efficiently process
Bank with a number of incredible non-
cannot be viewed by the American pub- these migrants to make sure those
profits and people with big hearts who
lic. It is becoming increasingly clear with valid claims, say, for asylum are
are volunteering even amidst the—
that these companies are more be- protected and to provide quality care
hopefully the waning days of this pan-
holden to cancel culture and not to the demic, at the food bank. I hope Texans to all of those in our custody in the
free speech principles that this country and folks all across the country will meantime. That is true for adults and
was founded upon. continue to find ways to support one family units but especially for the
When I talk about what these Agen- alarming number of unaccompanied
another by volunteering with local
cies—the FTC and the DOJ—ought to nonprofits this month and into the fu- children.
be doing, I am not excluding anything In the summer of 2014, we saw a simi-
ture.
that this Congress ought to be doing I also was able to meet with venue lar spike of children arriving at our
beyond what these Agencies have a re- owners and operators at Antone’s in border, which President Obama called a
sponsibility to do. Austin, which is the live music capital ‘‘humanitarian crisis.’’ It absolutely
So I go back to a famous quote by of the world, on the day before applica- was. Between October 2013 and Sep-
Justice Brandeis: tions opened for the U.S. Small Busi- tember 2014, more than 68,500 unaccom-
If there be time to expose through discus- ness Administration shuttered venue panied children entered the United
sion the falsehoods and fallacies, to avert the operators grant. This grant program States. We are only halfway through
evil by the processes of education, the rem- fiscal year 2021 and are already reach-
edy to be applied is more speech, not en-
was established through the Save Our
Stages Act, which Senator KLOBUCHAR ing that total, with more than 48,500
forced silence.
and I introduced and which was signed migrant children having crossed our
It is time that we examine the need border just in the last 6 months. Nearly
into law as part of the December relief
for section 230 immunity—that is be- 19,000 of these children came last
bill. These small venues were excluded
yond what we expect the DOJ and FTC month alone, the highest monthly
from the Paycheck Protection Pro-
to do—examine the need for section 230 total on record. Putting that in per-
gram and, of course, were among the
immunity and to what extent these spective, almost 19,000 children in 1
first to close and will be among the
tech companies are abusing their mo- last to open. But what we did in the month is roughly enough to fill every
nopoly power. It is time that these Save Our Stages Act will go a long way seat in the AT&T Center in San Anto-
companies stop arbitrarily deciding to ensure that the marquees at our nio, where the San Antonio Spurs play.
what speech is acceptable for our coun- most beloved live entertainment There are grave, cascading con-
try and the 335 million Americans. venues can shine bright once again, sequences to this flow of humanity
I yield the floor. and I am eager for the funds to reach coming across our border. It obviously
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- impacts these children as well as the
Texas venues.
ator from Texas. Then, in Dallas, I joined my friend communities and organizations that
CORONAVIRUS Congresswoman EDDIE BERNICE JOHN- care for them. And, of course, the
Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I SON to announce bipartisan legislation criminal organizations that smuggle
was grateful for the opportunity, as I we are introducing in response to the people into the country, along with il-
am sure we all were, to be back home deadly winter storm that hit Texas last licit drugs, are getting richer in the
for the last 2 weeks for the State work February. This legislation will help process.
period and to talk to our constituents. build resilience in our electrical infra- Over the last several weeks, I have
Some of my conversations—and I sus- structure throughout the country and spent time in these communities that
pect I am not alone—some of these con- are managing this crisis to learn more
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
will help ensure we are better prepared
versations were virtual. But most of us for whatever extreme weather Mother about the challenges they face. Last
are glad to get back to whatever the Nature sends our way. month, my friend HENRY CUELLAR, a
next normal is and have more and more It was great, as I said, to visit with Congressman from Laredo, TX, and I
human interaction rather than the iso- folks in person again, and I am glad to visited the Carrizo Springs Influx Care
lation and, frankly, some of the anx- see a gradual return to our new nor- Facility, which is one of the shelters
iety that comes along with being kept mal, as more and more Americans are that house young boys aged 13 through
apart. We are social animals, we vaccinated. 17. We heard from the men and women
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