Build Back Better Agenda (Cong. Rec., Oct. 19, 2021)
Summary
Congressional Record, Senate, October 19, 2021 (beginning at page S7038). The page opens with the end of remarks on the Build Back Better agenda that cite Senator Manchin's statement that inaction is not an option on voting rights and describe continuing talks with Speaker Pelosi and President Biden. Under The Economy, McConnell says Americans face the highest inflation in more than 10 years and that the Democrats' plan contains more than 40 separate tax hikes. Under Protests, McConnell criticizes the White House's response to a demonstration in which a mob set upon the Department of the Interior and put one law enforcement officer in the hospital.
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“Build Back Better Agenda (Cong. Rec., Oct. 19, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-10-19-crec-2021-10-19-pt1-pgs7038-9af155889a/
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S7038 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 19, 2021
What Republicans should not do— meaningfully address the climate cri- hand the IRS new snooping powers to
what they must not do—is squelch any sis. start digging through individual Amer-
chance for the Senate to debate some- We still have work to do, but we are icans’ bank accounts. They want to
thing as critical and sacrosanct as the going to continue at it until—until the pay for their reckless taxing-and-
right to vote, nor should they pretend job is done. spending spree by treating normal
like the Federal Government has no I yield the floor. American households like everybody is
role to play in protecting our democ- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER under audit. They want to treat nor-
racy. On the contrary, throughout his- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- mal American households like every-
tory, the Federal Government has pore. The Republican leader is recog- body is under audit.
sometimes been the only remedy when nized. So, to review, this has been the story
States try to suppress the vote. And no THE ECONOMY of Democrats’ unified control of gov-
honest observer can look at the way Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, ernment in 2021. Here is what they have
the States have changed election laws every day, American families are feel- done: First, they knee-capped our eco-
this last year and pretend that there is ing real pain because of the reckless nomic recovery with stifling spending,
nothing malicious afoot. and inflationary policies that Demo- including to pay Americans more to
As Senator MANCHIN said earlier this crats have already rammed through. stay on the sidelines than to rejoin the
year regarding congressional action on The American people are facing the workforce. Then, as working families
voting rights, inaction is not an op- highest inflation in more than 10 years. feel the pinch of runaway prices, they
tion. Let me repeat that because this is They are paying an extra dollar a gal- are putting forward even more spend-
one place where Senator MANCHIN and I lon at the pump and soaring prices at ing and also massive tax hikes. As
agree. As Senator MANCHIN said earlier the grocery store. Real wages are icing on the cake, they have schemed
this year regarding congressional ac- down. Rising prices are wiping out for even greater access to Americans’
tion on voting rights, ‘‘Inaction is not raises and bonuses. Last month’s jobs personal finances so Washington bu-
an option.’’ Inaction is not an option. I report was another huge disappoint- reaucrats can spy—can spy—on citi-
agree. All 49 other Democrats agree ment, showing less than half the hiring zens’ routine transactions.
with Senator MANCHIN. Inaction is not that had been expected. This is not what American voters
an option. But, amazingly, the Biden adminis- signed up for, and it won’t earn a shred
The Senate can rise to the task if tration and many of our colleagues of support from this side of the aisle.
given the chance, but its Members seem to think the cure for this infla- PROTESTS
must vote to begin debate first. tion hangover is the hair of the dog. Mr. President, now on another mat-
BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA They are trying to exploit the eco- ter, last week, Washington, DC, was
Mr. President, now on Build Back nomic anxiety they have created by again the site of illegal political vio-
Better, for decades now, millions of pitching yet another multitrillion-dol- lence from the radical left. A mob of
families in this country have found the lar socialist spending spree. They want environmental extremists set upon the
basic American promise that if you to try to inflate their way out of infla- Department of the Interior. They
work hard, then you can have a better tion. shoved through blocked doors. They
life for yourselves and your loved ones, Oh, and get this: The Biden adminis- hurt the police and security personnel
the proverbial American dream—Amer- tration is simultaneously saying that who tried to hold the line. These radi-
icans have found it is getting harder to their latest spending spree will cost cals put one law enforcement officer
reach. That is what creates a sourness zero dollars. actually in the hospital.
in the land. That sunny optimism so Let me say that again. The Biden ad- Political violence and attacks on
crucial to our identity has receded ministration is simultaneously saying government buildings are flatout
away from view. their latest spending spree will cost wrong no matter who is perpetrating
Democrats have promised to do zero dollars—it will be totally free— them or what they claim to believe.
something about it. When Senate and it will come with massive, historic That is why it is puzzling that last
Democrats secured our majority this tax hikes in order to pay for it. week’s incidents attracted so little at-
year, we committed to delivering on All this socialism is going to be to- tention and condemnation. The White
the trust that the American people tally free of charge—but it also needs House was directly asked about the
placed in us and to respond to the chal- the biggest IRS cash grab in decades in day’s demonstrations just a few hours
lenge of our times. That is why we im- order to pay for it. Go figure. The after the violence and the break-in oc-
mediately set to work and passed the Democrats’ plan contains more than 40 curred. Instead of condemning the radi-
American Rescue Plan to propel our separate tax hikes on the American cals, the Biden administration actually
economy out of the crisis of COVID. people—40 separate tax hikes on the praised them—praised them.
And that has been the driving force be- American people. These increases The White House Press Secretary was
hind our efforts to make President would impact taxpayers at every in- asked about the protests multiple
Biden’s Build Back Better agenda into come level. Small business owners and hours after the violence and the break-
law. family farmers would feel yet another in and said—this is a direct quote—‘‘Of
Last night, I continued my discus- pinch. Even the tax hikes that are os- course we’re listening to advocates and
sions with Speaker PELOSI and Presi- tensibly aimed at Washington Demo- people who have been elevating the
dent Biden as we work to an agreement crats’ favorite punching bag, American issue of climate for decades. They have
on legislation we can bring to the floor. industry, would find their way back important voices.’’
I know that, throughout the day, the down to working families. So that is how the Biden administra-
President will meet with a number of Democrats’ war on affordable Amer- tion officially described the demonstra-
Members from both Chambers, and, as ican energy would hit pocketbooks just tors who put a cop in the hospital—
the week progresses, I will continue to in time to spike winter heating bills ‘‘important voices.’’ This is just ab-
hold talks with my colleagues as we and the prices of made-in-America surd. But those weren’t just regret-
move forward to the finish line. goods. Their corporate tax hikes would table comments; they capture the po-
Here is what matters: Build Back leave American businesses paying a liticized and selective approach to law
Better legislation is going to dramati- higher tax rate than businesses—listen enforcement that increasingly defines
cally improve the lives of tens of mil- to this—in communist China. As the the Democratic Party.
lions of American families for years to Joint Committee on Taxation has Last year, our Nation saw a 30-per-
come. Something that impactful is not shown, two-thirds of the burden of cent jump in homicides—the biggest
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
an easy feat, but we are going to keep Democrats’ proposed new taxes on jump in the murder rate in modern his-
working. By passing this legislation, businesses would fall on lower and mid- tory; the worst spike in the homicide
we can create good-paying jobs for this dle-income Americans—two-thirds. rate in modern American history. The
generation and the next; we can lower But Washington Democrats aren’t head of the National Center for Health
costs and cut taxes for American fami- just laying out massive new tax hikes Statistics says it was the worst in-
lies while taking overdue steps to in the light of day; they also want to crease in more than 100 years, since at
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