First 100 Days (Cong. Rec., April 26, 2021)
Summary
Page S2190 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for April 26, 2021, under the heading First 100 Days, in interleaved columns. One speaker discusses congressionally directed spending reforms adopted in 2007 and says members must have a stake in appropriations bills. Another speaker, on the coming week, says the Senate will consider nominees including Janet McCabe, Colin Kahl and Samantha Power, will take up the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021, and notes President Biden's goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade. A third speaker criticizes putting energy workers out of work during a recession and pandemic, and a cloture motion is read.
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“First 100 Days (Cong. Rec., April 26, 2021).”
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S2190 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 26, 2021
the funds are spent, Members seem to Janet McCabe for Deputy EPA Admin- measure will help us address the cli-
have lost incentive to debate these istrator, Colin Kahl for Under Sec- mate crisis in a major way. It is no-
bills. That is one of the reasons why we retary of Defense for Policy, and where close to everything we want or
constantly face the threat of a govern- Samantha Power for Administrator of need, but it is very important.
ment shutdown each fiscal year or that USAID. Last week, President Biden set an
are forced to package these bills into Our Senate committees will continue ambitious goal for the United States to
an omnibus in a take-it-or-leave it holding hearings and markups on at cut its greenhouse gas emissions in
form. This is no way to govern. Mem- least a dozen other nominees. The Sen- half by the end of the decade. This
bers must have a stake in these bills. ate will also consider two important week, the Senate will take up the first
In 2007, we instituted major reforms environmental infrastructure policies. of many important steps we need to
for accountability and transparency to First, the Senate will take up the take to achieve that ambitious goal.
the process of congressionally directed Drinking Water and Wastewater Infra- FIRST 100 DAYS
spending. We had to certify that nei- structure Act of 2021. This legislation Madam President, now, on our first
ther we nor any member of our imme- passed through the Committee on En- 100 days, Thursday, the 29th, will be
diate family would financially benefit vironment and Public Works with the 100th day since President Biden
from the requests we made. And we re- unanimous support. In fact, this water took the oath of office on the East
quired each earmark to be clearly iden- infrastructure bill is a core component Front of the Capitol. President Biden
tified in the committee and conference of the Republican infrastructure pro- will mark the occasion with his inau-
reports. These reforms brought new posal released last week. It also ad- gural address to a joint session of Con-
transparency to the process, and I fully dresses many of the recommendations gress on Wednesday.
supported them. These rules remain in put forward by the Problem Solvers Historically, the first 100 days have
place today in rule XLIV of the Stand- Caucus last Friday. So I hope that this been a yardstick by which Presidential
ing Rules of the Senate. is a signal to the entire Senate that we administrations have been measured.
Today I am announcing that the Sen- should work together on infrastructure For the first time in recent history,
ate Appropriations Committee will where and when we can. however, due to the lateness of the
again accept requests for congression- Senators CARPER, DUCKWORTH, and Georgia runoff elections, Thursday also
ally directed spending items on a bi- CARDIN have been outstanding leaders marks the 100th day of the new Demo-
partisan basis, and we will do so in a on this issue and have made sure Mem- cratic Senate majority and, on a per-
manner that promotes transparency bers from both sides of the aisle have sonal note, my 100th day as majority
and accountability. In addition to ad- had the opportunity to offer amend- leader.
ments, just as we did last week on the Without exaggeration, the first 100
hering to rule XLIV of the Standing
anti-Asian hate crimes bill. We are days of the Biden administration and
Rules of the Senate, we will put a 1-
going to continue working with our Re- the Senate Democratic majority have
percent cap on all congressionally di-
publican colleagues on the timing for a been more productive than nearly any
rected spending items and ban congres-
in recent memory. Despite a delay in
sionally directed spending items to for- vote on the water infrastructure bill.
passing the organizing resolution and
profit entities. On a topic this straightforward and bi-
the time constraints imposed by the
We will require Senators to make partisan, I hope that our Republican
Presidential impeachment trial, the
their requests public on their websites, colleagues will cooperate so that we
Senate has confirmed the most diverse
and we will make public any items that may finish the bill ASAP. We have a
Cabinet in history, faster than either
are actually funded in the appropria- lot to do.
of the prior two administrations. Every
tions bills. The Senate Appropriations I want to also thank Senator CAPITO,
single Cabinet Secretary received a bi-
Committee will also ask GAO to audit the ranking member of the committee,
partisan vote in favor of confirmation.
a sample of enacted congressionally di- for working with Senators CARPER, Last week, by a vote of 94 to 1—
rected spending items in order to in- DUCKWORTH, and COLLINS so well. again, led by the Presiding Officer and
crease accountability for the projects The Senate will also vote on a meas-
Senator HIRONO—the Senate passed
that are funded and to restore the trust ure this week to restore critical regula-
legislation to combat the recent surge
of the American people in this process. tions on the release of methane into
in hate crimes, particularly against
Congress holds the power of the our atmosphere. In 2016, the Obama ad-
Americans of Asian descent. Then, of
purse. We should use it responsibly and ministration instituted a rule that re- course, Congress passed the landmark
transparently to address the needs of quired energy companies to better legislation and the top priority of the
our communities. monitor and reduce methane leaks. Biden administration, the American
I want to thank the distinguished The rule not only drew cheers from the Rescue Plan. It was the most sweeping
majority leader for putting Samantha environmental community, it earned Federal recovery effort in a generation,
Power on the agenda this week. I think the support of industry as well. more than twice the size of the stim-
she is extraordinarily well qualified, Even though methane is far less ulus package after the financial crisis
and I look forward to voting for her. talked about than carbon dioxide, it is of 2008.
Madam President, I see my distin- far more potent. A tonne of methane The Democrats promised big, bold re-
guished colleague on the floor. warms the atmosphere 86 times more lief. The Democrats have delivered big,
I yield the floor. than a tonne of carbon dioxide. On the bold relief. As a result, vaccinations
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER plus side, however, methane does not are up; unemployment is down; and
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- linger in our atmosphere as long as CO2 businesses, schools, restaurants, and
jority leader is recognized. does, and emissions can be reduced bars are finally—finally—starting to
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I rather cheaply. So, when it comes to reopen. It is no wonder that more than
thank my good friend—our Senate pro combating climate change, tackling 70 percent of Americans approve of the
tempore, our chairman of Appropria- methane delivers a huge bang for your way that the Biden-Harris administra-
tions, our longtime chairman and buck. tion has handled the pandemic in the
ranking member of the Judiciary, who That is just what the Senate intends first 100 days.
has done a lot on patent work, et to do this week by reimposing com- For much of the past year, the coun-
cetera—for his graciousness. monsense rules to reduce methane try has been plagued by two major cri-
BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE emissions—hopefully, on a bipartisan ses: a public health crisis and an eco-
Madam President, now, the Senate basis. We already have the support of
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nomic crisis. That is what the Biden-
has a lot to accomplish by the end of at least one Republican Senator. We Harris administration and the Senate
this week. welcome more. The industry supported Democratic majority inherited when
We will confirm several highly quali- this. Again, Donald Trump, often with they assumed power back in January.
fied nominees to the executive branch, just the nastiness of ‘‘it was Obama’s Let’s look at how the country has pro-
starting today with the nominee for rule, so I ought to repeal it’’ did. It gressed on both fronts.
Deputy OMB Director, Jason Miller. hurts us big time. I want to be clear. First, when it comes to the pan-
Later this week, we will also confirm The methane CRA is a big deal. This demic, we have far outstripped even
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April 26, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2191
the rosiest of predictions for the num- Khan. Faith in our democracy and Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
ber of vaccinations. President Biden trust in our elections were brought to move to bring to a close the debate on the
initially promised 100 million vaccina- new lows by the persistent and menda- nomination of Executive Calendar No. 61,
Samantha Power, of Massachusetts, to be
tions to be administered in the first 100 cious lies by the former President, cul-
Administrator of the United States Agency
days, but the pace of vaccinations was minating in an armed insurrection here for International Development.
so fast that the President had to dou- in the Capitol. Charles E. Schumer, Mazie K. Hirono,
ble his initial goal to 200 million in the Part of our mission here in Congress, Ron Wyden, Jack Reed, Benjamin L.
first 100 days, and we have already in working with the Biden administra- Cardin, Patrick J. Leahy, Michael F.
reached it. It is fair to say that, in the tion, is to restore Americans’ faith in Bennet, Tim Kaine, Christopher Mur-
first 100 days, America is winning the our institutions and Americans’ faith phy, Richard J. Durbin, Christopher A.
all-important ‘‘arms race’’ to get our in our government. Through the Amer- Coons, Cory A. Booker, Robert P.
Casey, Jr., Martin Heinrich, Chris Van
citizens vaccinated. ican Rescue Plan and the successful
Hollen, Sherrod Brown, Edward J. Mar-
On the most important measure of roll-out of the vaccine, we are slowly key, Bernard Sanders.
progress—getting the country pro- proving to the American people that
tected against COVID–19—the new Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
government can work for them.
Democratic administration and con- ask unanimous consent that the man-
So we have a long way to go, but in
gressional majorities have been a roar- datory quorum call for the cloture mo-
the first hundred days, this new Con-
ing success. Thanks to the American tion filed today, April 26, be waived.
gress has made an important downpay-
Rescue Plan, our economy has gotten The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
ment. Congressional approval is now
its own shot in the arm, too. Over the objection, it is so ordered.
the highest it has been since June of
Mr. SCHUMER. I yield the floor and
past several weeks, the Biden adminis- 2009.
once again thank my friend from
tration has delivered more than 150 Here in the Senate, the first hundred
Vermont.
million stimulus checks to the Ameri- days have shown that this Chamber can The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
cans who have needed them the most. legislate. Bipartisan work on the anti-
Weekly unemployment claims have ator from Alaska.
Asian hates crime bill, the water bill
fallen to their lowest level during the JOHN KERRY
this week, and hopefully an American
pandemic. The month of March saw the competitiveness bill in the coming Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I
economy create nearly 900,000 jobs. Re- weeks proves that there are still many rise today on the Senate floor to call
tail sales are surging. Consumer con- issues that unite Republicans and for the resignation of John Kerry as a
fidence has rebounded. Economic fore- Democrats. Of course, our two parties member of the Biden administration’s
casters are now projecting that our are not always going to agree. In those National Security Council.
economy could grow as fast as 7 per- instances, the Senate must still make Now, I don’t do this lightly. As a
cent this year. In the wake of the progress on the challenges of our time. matter of fact, in my entire time in the
American Rescue Plan, the economic We did that through the American Res- Senate, I have never called for any-
boost was so significant that fore- cue Plan. one’s resignation—Obama-Biden ad-
casters had to increase their projec- So in the first hundred days, the Sen- ministration, Trump administration,
tions for global growth as well. ate has accomplished a lot more than Biden administration now. I have been
Our former President blithely pre- most observers might have predicted. tempted, particularly when some in
dicted that electing Joe Biden would The next hundred days will bring more government have tried to hurt my
crash the stock market. It turns out of the same. State. A lot of that is going on right
President Biden’s first 100 days have now with the Biden administration.
f But his record—John Kerry’s record—
delivered the best stock market results
in 75 years, since President Eisen- LEGISLATIVE SESSION of undermining working families and
hower. working against American national se-
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I curity interests is too much to bear. He
At the same time, the Democratic
move to proceed to legislative session. needs to go.
majority in Congress has made sure
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Today, I have heard such disturbing
that our Nation’s economic recovery
question is on agreeing to the motion. news that, if true, it should absolutely
will be felt by everyone. The American
The motion was agreed to. result in the call of John Kerry either
Rescue Plan is expected to boost in-
comes of the lowest 20 percent by 20 f being fired or resigning. Enough is
percent. Guess what those in the top 1 EXECUTIVE SESSION enough. Why am I saying this? First,
percent will receive? It will be so con- he is killing jobs, arrogantly killing
trary to what the Republicans did American jobs. That is a fact. He is
when they had power. They will get EXECUTIVE CALENDAR putting hard-working Americans, par-
zero percent instead of the over- ticularly in the energy sector—the
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I great men and women who make our
whelming percentage in their bill,
move to proceed to executive session to country strong by developing oil and
their tax cuts. Just one policy in the
consider Calendar No. 61. gas resources; a lot of my constitu-
American Rescue Plan—the historic
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ents—in the name of climate goals, he
expansion of the child tax credit—is ex-
question is on the motion. is putting them out of work. He is
pected to cut child poverty in half.
The story of the first 100 days is The motion was agreed to. going to Wall Street, saying: Don’t fi-
about shots going into arms, checks The PRESIDING OFFICER. The nance these projects anymore. That is
going into pockets, and life finally re- clerk will report the nomination. what reporters are saying.
turning to normal. The story of the The bill clerk read the nomination of On these issues, I completely and
first 100 days is about the country Samantha Power, of Massachusetts, to adamantly disagree with the arrogant
turning a corner and seeing some hope be Administrator of the United States way—frankly, callous way—he says:
on the horizon. More broadly, the first Agency for International Development. Hey, people need to move on to better
100 days of this administration and this CLOTURE MOTION jobs. But for this issue alone, I
Congress have proven two things: one, Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I wouldn’t be calling for his resignation.
that the government can work for the send a cloture motion to the desk. This is a major difference in the Biden
American people; and, two, that the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- administration’s policies and priorities
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Senate can legislate. ture motion having been presented with regard to the American people. I
The last few decades have brought under rule XXII, the Chair directs the think it is going to really come back
faith in our government to alltime clerk to read the motion. and hit this administration hard be-
lows. You don’t have to look very far The bill clerk read as follows: cause the vast majority of Americans
in the past to find surveys about how CLOTURE MOTION don’t agree with putting people out of
Congress has been less popular than We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- work, energy workers out of work dur-
traffic jams, root canals, and Genghis ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the ing a recession and pandemic, but that
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