Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., July 26, 2021)
Summary
This is S5061 of the Congressional Record, Senate, July 26, 2021, with floor remarks by a Senator whose name is not printed in the text read. Under the heading Coronavirus, the speaker says 340 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, 80 percent of Americans over the age of 65 are fully vaccinated, and the Delta variant is spreading among unvaccinated people, and urges vaccination while quoting Dr. Walensky. The speaker also notes a coming Senate Judiciary hearing on ransomware and, under the heading Gun Violence, describes a weekend in which more than 70 people were shot in Chicago, with the views and figures attributed to the speaker.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., July 26, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-07-26-crec-2021-07-26-pt1-pgs5061-7681f55e08/
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July 26, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5061
but he was unlucky and was unable to in the right direction, but we ought to ate Judiciary Committee, is going to
get that done, but he has maintained make it clear once and for all publicly, have an important hearing tomorrow
the procedural option of reconsidering where we can, that those who are on the issue of ransomware.
that vote. I certainly hope that will spreading this anti-vax rhetoric are lit- For those who may be unfamiliar,
happen soon. erally risking the lives of our fellow ransomware is a type of malicious soft-
CORONAVIRUS Americans. ware that can infect a computer. If
Madam President, on a separate We are seeing the good that comes hackers attack your computer system
issue, we are at a pivotal moment in from sharing the facts about vaccines with it, they can lock up all the data in
the fight against COVID–19. Thanks to and potential to save lives. As of yes- your system and demand a ransom pay-
the leadership of this administration, terday, the 7-day average of newly vac- ment in exchange for unlocking the
our Nation has had one of the most cinated Americans is up nearly over data. As a product of our digital age,
successful vaccination efforts in the one-third from last year week. Nearly 7 ransomware is a relatively new threat,
world: 340 million doses of COVID–19 in 10 American adults have one dose of but it could impact any individual,
vaccines have been administered in the COVID vaccine. We need to keep it up. business, or organization.
United States, 80 percent of Americans More than 610,000 of our family mem- Many Americans had a rude awak-
over the age of 65 have been fully vac- bers and friends and neighbors in ening about this threat earlier this
cinated—80 percent. That means the America have died from this disease— year, when a cyber crime syndicate
vast majority of our senior population and millions more around the world. used ransomware to shut down the
is protected from being hospitalized or We have the power within our hands, largest petroleum pipeline in the
dying from COVID–19. with vaccines, to stop this pandemic. United States: the Colonial Pipeline.
Yet, at this moment, there is trouble We all have to do our part. That shutdown sparked a nationwide
on the horizon. Case numbers across I want to take an opportunity to rec- panic that had people lining up at gas
ognize something else. Disinformation stations for hours, and it put the
the country are ticking back up. It is
is not the only reason why people are threat of ransomware into plain view
important to note why. The Delta vari-
not getting vaccinated. Sadly, there is for all Americans. Perhaps someone
ant is spreading like wildfire among
a long history of racial bias in our Na- you know has had their world turned
unvaccinated people. I have heard
tion’s institutions, from education to upside down by a ransomware attack.
quotes from some that it is a thousand
housing, to healthcare. That history of Tomorrow, we will discuss it at length.
times more transmissible than the
racial bias has, understandably, led GUN VIOLENCE
original COVID–19. And it has quickly
some Americans to question our insti- Madam President, we begin this week
become the dominant strain of this
tutions based on fear. with yet another devastating toll of
virus in America. Let me first say this: Trust has to be
There is good news. The vaccines weekend gun violence across America,
earned. including the city of Chicago. More
that we all have access to right now We have a lot of work to do as a na-
will stop the Delta variant in its than 70 people were shot this past
tion to address racial inequities in our weekend in Chicago. Ten died. If you
tracks. They will save your life. With healthcare system, like the fact that
the spread of the Delta variant, the re- remember 2 weeks ago, Fourth of July
Black women are three times more weekend, over 100 people were victims
ality for Americans is quickly becom- likely than White women to die from
ing: Get vaccinated or risk contracting of gunshots in Chicago. In that case, 19
pregnancy-related complications. Ac- of them died.
a serious or deadly case of COVID–19. knowledging these inequities, doing
As Dr. Walensky, the Director of the It is a mass killing on a regular basis
something about them, is how we can in that great city. Much of it is con-
CDC, said last week—and I quote her— build and regain trust. That is the
‘‘this is quickly becoming a pandemic centrated in sections of the city, but it
work we have to do. is starting to spread because it is so
of the unvaccinated.’’ President Biden’s American Rescue
Over the past week, we have started darned easy for a person to get their
Plan was an important investment in hands on a gun in that city.
to see a renewed sense of urgency from tackling health disparities. It in- Shootings in Chicago have surged
my colleagues on the other side of the creased funding for community out- during the COVID pandemic. We see it
aisle. They finally—finally—become reach, expanded support for commu- happening across America. The Biden
more vocal about dispelling nity health centers. It provided a $1 administration is taking steps in the
disinformation about the vaccines. billion investment in the National right direction to stop this gun vio-
Even FOX News has begun airing pub- Health Service Corps to help recruit lence: Cracking down on untraceable
lic service announcements and encour- more doctors, nurses, and other health ghost guns, rogue gun dealers, and
aging viewers to get vaccinated against professionals from communities of these braces, this equipment that can
the coronavirus. I applaud them for color. That was a provision that I effectively turn pistols into short-bar-
starting to join the chorus of scientific added to the bill. reled rifles.
experts, health officials, and commu- At this moment, if you are still Crucially, the Department of Justice
nity leaders who have been calling on unvaccinated against COVID–19 and announced the launch of five firearm
Americans to protect themselves and you have questions, reach out to a trafficking strike forces. Chicago is
their loved ones, because it was only a medical professional that you trust. one of the cities. New York; San Fran-
few weeks ago when a couple prime- Talk with your doctor, ask them what- cisco; Washington, DC; and Los Ange-
time hosts on FOX expressed their dis- ever questions you wish, but make sure les, are the others.
pleasure with me personally. you have the facts on your side, be- These strike forces will confront
I was alarmed, and said so on the cause the sad truth is the pandemic has what I believe to be one of the most
floor of the Senate, by some of the deepened the existing racial disparities important causes of this gun violence:
ideas that Tucker Carlson and Laura in America. the illicit trafficking of guns. These
Ingraham were pedaling. Their anti- Last year, there was nearly a 3-year strike forces will also provide support
vax rhetoric, quite simply, put their drop in life expectancy among Black for law enforcement who are on the
viewers and the families of their view- and Brown Americans—3 years. Com- frontlines of fighting gun violence.
ers at risk. We can disagree on political munities of color have been three As a testament to that fact, last
issues, and I am sure we will continue times more likely to be hospitalized, week, Attorney General Garland joined
to do so, but we shouldn’t play polit- twice as likely to die from COVID. We me in Chicago to highlight how the
ical games with life and death when it can end this cycle of sickness and de- Justice Department is standing with
comes to COVID–19 vaccines. spair, but we have got to stop the our police officers and first responders.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
We have seen a shift in tone recently. spread of the new variants. So please I am grateful that Attorney General
Some hosts on FOX, specifically Sean consult a medical professional and ask Garland returned to his hometown of
Hannity and Steve Doocy, now encour- about getting vaccinated. Chicago for this purpose. But sadly, it
age their viewers to get vaccinated. At RANSOMWARE was a somber homecoming.
the very least, they call on them to Madam President, on another issue, a We first met with police officers and
consult with their doctors. It is a move committee we both serve on, the Sen- the mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot,
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