Economic Recovery (Cong. Rec., June 7, 2021)
Summary
This is S3944 of the Congressional Record, Senate, June 7, 2021, with interleaved columns. A Senate Democratic speaker discusses judicial nominations, saying the Senate will confirm President Biden's appointments to the Federal bench, announces two judicial recommendations, Myrna Perez for the Second Circuit and Dale Ho for the Southern District of New York, and discusses a bill on pay equity for women. Under the heading Economic Recovery, another speaker criticizes the American Rescue Plan and additions to unemployment insurance, saying hiring is falling short of forecasts and small businesses report unfilled job openings, with the views attributed to the speakers.
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“Economic Recovery (Cong. Rec., June 7, 2021).”
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S3944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 7, 2021
On the flip side, President Obama ap- it is a bachelor’s degree or an advanced so-called American Rescue Plan would
pointed 320 judges, and President Biden degree. Many women with advanced de- boost job creation in 2021 by 4 million
now has the opportunity to fill more grees actually make less than their over existing expectations. Meeting
than 80 vacancies. Under this Demo- male counterparts who don’t have that new higher goal meant the econ-
cratic majority, the Senate will swiftly them. So, looking at the facts, women omy would have to grow by over 900,000
and consistently confirm President with the same jobs, the same degrees— new jobs a month. Needless to say, the
Biden’s appointments to the Federal sometimes better degrees than their job market is nowhere close—nowhere
bench, bringing balance, experience, male colleagues—are making less close—to meeting this target. In fact,
and diversity back to the judiciary. Mr. money. That is the very definition of hiring is falling short of where non-
Neals and Ms. Rodriguez are two great gender discrimination, and it is holding partisan experts forecasted it would be
examples, along with Ms. Brown Jack- back women in every industry and area even if—even if—Democrats hadn’t
son. of the country. rammed through a multitrillion-dollar
In the same vein, today, I also an- The pandemic has only made matters liberal wish list this spring.
nounced two judicial recommendations worse. Faced with impossible choices I have been clear on the dangers of
to President Biden: Myrna Perez, the between careers and childcare, women that bill from the beginning, and the
director of voting rights at the Bren- have fallen out of the workforce at an data is now spelling it out very clearly.
nan Center for Justice, to serve on the alarming rate. By one measure, the Democrats’ bloated additions to unem-
prestigious Second Circuit Court of Ap- COVID–19 pandemic has set women’s ployment insurance haven’t just failed
peals, and Dale Ho, the leader of the labor force participation back by more to help our recovery, they have actu-
voting rights project at the ACLU, to than 30 years, leading some economists ally hurt it, and the consequences on
serve on the Southern District of New to describe the 2020 year not as a reces- Main Street are now in full focus.
York. Ms. Perez and Mr. Ho are two of sion but as a ‘‘she-cession.’’ As hiring lags, employers are strug-
the foremost voting rights and election So there is a lot of work to do to not gling to entice workers to rejoin and
experts in the country. With a national only recover from a devastating year keep their facilities staffed. After a
focus on voting rights right now, their for women in the workplace but also year that already tested budgets to the
elevation is timely, and their perspec- establish an equal playing field where breaking point, small business owners
tives will be invaluable. Ms. Perez women are paid what they deserve. are having to dig even deeper to at-
would also be the first Latina to serve Senate Democrats have put forward a tract staff, offering bigger bonuses and
on the Second Circuit Court since now- bill that would make it much easier for flexible hours. But even that hasn’t
women to petition for pay equity. It been enough. For the fourth straight
Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Diversity on the Federal bench is doesn’t mandate that employers set month, one survey of small businesses
very important to me, both demo- wages at a certain level. It doesn’t came back with record-high reports of
graphic diversity and diversity of expe- have the government reach into the unfilled job openings. As one small
private sector. It merely makes it easi- business owner in London, KY, re-
rience. The courts have long been
er for women to overcome pay dis- ported to me, ‘‘The current labor short-
packed with former prosecutors and
crimination. age is by far the worst’’ he has ever
corporate lawyers. It is about time
In my view, this straightforward, seen. In fact, his short staff has had
that civil rights attorneys, voting
unobjectionable piece of legislation such a hard time keeping up with or-
rights attorneys, and Federal defenders
should merit bipartisan support and ders that ‘‘customers are already con-
start getting the nod. My recommenda-
should not require changes. All 50 sidering moving business from this fa-
tions of Ms. Perez and Mr. Ho are part
Democratic Senators are cosponsors of cility to other states.’’
of that effort. Unfortunately, this situation isn’t
Last month, I also recommended Eu- the bill—all 50. Will our Republican
colleagues step up to the plate and join unique. As I traveled the State last
nice Lee, an appellate attorney with week, I heard the same story from em-
the Federal Defenders of New York, to us tomorrow to advance this common-
sense legislation? ployers of all sizes. Kentucky’s labor
serve as a judge on the Second Circuit. force is still 90,000 workers below
Lee could become just the second I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. prepandemic levels. Nationwide, work-
Black woman to sit on this prestigious force participation has remained stag-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
appeals court, a court that has never— nant for nearly a year. All the while,
pore. The clerk will call the roll.
never—had a former Federal defender The legislative clerk proceeded to prices for consumers are continuing to
on its roster. call the roll. creep up.
Just like Ms. Perez and Mr. Ho, Eu- Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, This is exactly what Republicans and
nice Lee will bring demographic and I ask unanimous consent that the order nonpartisan experts had warned
professional diversity to the Federal for the quorum call be rescinded. against months ago. We urged Demo-
bench. The three of them, in tandem, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- crats not to force our country’s prom-
will bring dynamism, brilliance, and a pore. Without objection, it is so or- ising early recovery into a permanent
real diversity of experience to courts in dered. defensive crouch. Now, as States and
New York. business owners grapple with the con-
f
As a Senator from New York and as sequences, I hope Democrats in Wash-
majority leader, I am intent on restor- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY ington are paying attention and learn-
ing balance to a judiciary that has LEADER ing from this costly mistake.
been thrown out of whack by 4 years of The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- f
President Trump’s selections. pore. The Republican leader is recog-
f nized. SENATE AGENDA
f Mr. MCCONNELL. Now, Madam
PAYCHECK FAIRNESS
President, on another matter, after a
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, fi- ECONOMIC RECOVERY week of work with our constituents,
nally, on paycheck fairness, tomorrow, Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, the Senate reconvenes with a chance to
the Senate will decide whether to take on Friday, the U.S. job market got an- refocus on the most important issues
up legislation to address the gender other monthly checkup. Hiring in May facing our folks back home.
pay gap. was up from the previous month but Already on multiple occasions this
Right now in America, women earn, still fell short of the level experts and year, we have demonstrated that even
roughly, 82 cents for every dollar a American employers had hoped for. a narrowly divided Chamber is capable
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
man makes. The gap is even wider for Of course, the highest expectations of taking productive, bipartisan steps
women of color. Even when you ac- for our economic recovery under Demo- on serious issues. Wide majorities have
count for educational attainment, cratic control were set by none other come together to extend access to the
Black and Latina women earn only 65 than the Democrats themselves. critical PPP loans, invest in drinking
to 70 percent of what a White man Back in February, the Biden adminis- water infrastructure, and equip the jus-
makes with the same degree, whether tration pointed to projections that its tice system to better combat hate
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