Congressional Record, Senate, November 4, 2021, Page S7793
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated November 4, 2021, at page S7793. It lists additions of cosponsors to amendments intended to be proposed to H.R. 4350, including amendment No. 4097 by Mr. Lankford and amendment No. 4112 by Mr. King. Under statements on introduced bills, Mr. Cardin, with Ms. Stabenow, introduces S. 3166, a bill to improve coverage of dental and oral health services for adults under Medicaid. He says the COVID–19 pandemic continues to take a toll, notes he reintroduced the Medicare Dental Benefit Act, which he says would help more than 56 million seniors and people with disabilities, and cites a finding that nearly 70 percent of seniors lack or have limited access to dental insurance.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, November 4, 2021, Page S7793.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-11-04-crec-2021-11-04-pt1-pgs7793-2-4ec91166f8/
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November 4, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7793
military activities of the Department posed to H.R. 4350, to authorize appro- forts to address the longstanding gaps
of Defense, for military construction, priations for fiscal year 2022 for mili- in healthcare access. For instance, we
and for defense activities of the De- tary activities of the Department of have a once-in-a-generation oppor-
partment of Energy, to prescribe mili- Defense, for military construction, and tunity to make major reforms to the
tary personnel strengths for such fiscal for defense activities of the Depart- Medicare benefit.
year, and for other purposes. ment of Energy, to prescribe military Earlier this year, I reintroduced the
AMENDMENT NO. 4097 personnel strengths for such fiscal Medicare Dental Benefit Act, which
At the request of Mr. LANKFORD, the year, and for other purposes. would add dental benefits to Medicare.
names of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. f It would help more than 56 million sen-
MORAN) and the Senator from Mis- iors and people with disabilities afford
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED
sissippi (Mrs. HYDE-SMITH) were added much-needed dental care.
BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
as cosponsors of amendment No. 4097 According to the Wisdom Tooth
intended to be proposed to H.R. 4350, to By Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Project of Oral Health America, nearly
authorize appropriations for fiscal year Ms. STABENOW): 70 percent of seniors lack or have lim-
2022 for military activities of the De- S. 3166. A bill to amend title XIX of ited access to dental insurance, and
partment of Defense, for military con- the Social Security Act to improve fewer than half have access to dental
struction, and for defense activities of coverage of dental and oral health serv- care each year. Those numbers are in-
the Department of Energy, to prescribe ices for adults under Medicaid, and for excusable. We should be working to
military personnel strengths for such other purposes; to the Committee on strengthen and expand access to qual-
fiscal year, and for other purposes. Finance. ity, affordable dental care for all
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, the Americans, regardless of age or in-
AMENDMENT NO. 4112
COVID–19 pandemic continues to take come.
At the request of Mr. KING, the name a tremendous toll on our Nation.
of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. That is why, today, I am introducing,
Healthcare workers have valiantly along with Senator STABENOW, the
OSSOFF) was added as a cosponsor of served our communities throughout
amendment No. 4112 intended to be pro- Medicaid Dental Benefit Act, which
the crisis. Still, we face unprecedented would extend comprehensive dental
posed to H.R. 4350, to authorize appro- challenges, and this moment calls for
priations for fiscal year 2022 for mili- health benefits to tens of millions of
historic action. low-income Americans.
tary activities of the Department of The pandemic laid bare the gaps in
Defense, for military construction, and Currently, States have flexibility to
our healthcare system and magnified determine whether to provide dental
for defense activities of the Depart- longstanding inequities. Health inequi-
ment of Energy, to prescribe military benefits to adult Medicaid enrollees.
ties have been eating away at our com-
personnel strengths for such fiscal Although most States, including my
munities for many years, which is why
year, and for other purposes. State, provide at least emergency den-
I have fought for policies to reduce eco-
AMENDMENT NO. 4133
tal services for adults, fewer than half
nomic and social inequalities overall—
of the States provide comprehensive
At the request of Mr. KAINE, the in short, access to nutrition, edu-
dental care.
name of the Senator from Hawaii (Ms. cation, and housing, and increased
The consequences of such haphazard
HIRONO) was added as a cosponsor of funding for social and mental health
access could not be clearer: higher
amendment No. 4133 intended to be pro- services.
Earlier this year, Congress enacted costs and worse outcomes.
posed to H.R. 4350, to authorize appro-
A recent report by the Agency for
priations for fiscal year 2022 for mili- some of those reforms in the American
Rescue Plan Act, which is bringing Healthcare Research and Quality found
tary activities of the Department of
much-needed help to Marylanders and that Black, Hispanic, and low-income
Defense, for military construction, and
Americans across the country. It was a adults visited the emergency room for
for defense activities of the Depart-
strong investment to complement on- dental care at the highest rates of any
ment of Energy, to prescribe military
going efforts to curtail the rapid spread group in 2018.
personnel strengths for such fiscal Many of you have heard me speak be-
year, and for other purposes. of the virus, particularly as we grapple
with more contagious variants, such as fore of the tragic loss of Deamonte
AMENDMENT NO. 4148
the Delta variant. Now, we have the Driver, a 12-year-old Prince George’s
At the request of Mrs. FEINSTEIN, the County resident, in 2007. Deamonte’s
name of the Senator from Iowa (Ms. opportunity to enhance that effort
through the Build Back Better Act. death was particularly heartbreaking
ERNST) was added as a cosponsor of because it was entirely preventable.
amendment No. 4148 intended to be pro- Even with the significant invest-
ments in healthcare over the last year What started out as a toothache turned
posed to H.R. 4350, to authorize appro- into a severe brain infection that could
priations for fiscal year 2022 for mili- and a half, Americans are struggling to
pay for their basic healthcare needs, have been prevented by an $80 extrac-
tary activities of the Department of tion. After multiple surgeries and a
Defense, for military construction, and like prescription medications and men-
tal healthcare. Waiting lists for home- lengthy hospital stay, Deamonte
for defense activities of the Depart- passed away nearly 15 years ago, just a
and community-based services so indi-
ment of Energy, to prescribe military few miles from this building.
viduals can age in place with dignity
personnel strengths for such fiscal It is imperative that we use this
are in the thousands or tens of thou-
year, and for other purposes. once-in-a-generation opportunity to in-
sands in States around the country. In
AMENDMENT NO. 4211 crease access to dental care, which will
my State of Maryland, over 30,000 sen-
At the request of Mr. PADILLA, the iors and individuals are waiting to get improve the overall health of millions.
name of the Senator from West Vir- access to home- and community-based To echo former U.S. Surgeon General
ginia (Mr. MANCHIN) was added as a co- services. C. Everett Koop, ‘‘there is no health
sponsor of amendment No. 4211 in- Now, we have the opportunity to without oral health.’’
tended to be proposed to H.R. 4350, to make prescription drugs more afford- Adequate access to oral health is es-
authorize appropriations for fiscal year able, expand access to home- and com- sential to preventing tragedies like the
2022 for military activities of the De- munity-based services, extend en- death of Deamonte Driver from ever
partment of Defense, for military con- hanced financial support to individuals happening again. Let us continue to
struction, and for defense activities of in the individual market, and perma- build upon the progress made today in
the Department of Energy, to prescribe nently fund the Children’s Health In- advancing access to oral health to pro-
military personnel strengths for such surance Program—CHIP. tect individuals around the country.
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
fiscal year, and for other purposes. We have been working on these prob- As we work to pass this legislation,
AMENDMENT NO. 4218 lems for years and, in some cases, for let us not lose sight of what is at stake.
At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the over a decade. Congress is long overdue Just in the last few days, we have seen
name of the Senator from Florida (Mr. in acting to remedy them. some of the best that American
RUBIO) was added as a cosponsor of As we make these historic invest- healthcare can provide, but also some
amendment No. 4218 intended to be pro- ments, we must also redouble our ef- of the worst.
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S7794 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 4, 2021
Vaccines are making a critical dif- disabilities, who often live on fixed in- ‘‘(d) Subparagraphs (A), (C), and (D) of sec-
ference in the fight against COVID–19, comes. More and more seniors and peo- tion 3716(c)(3) of title 31, United States Code,
and just this Wednesday, they will be ple with disabilities are having their as such subparagraphs were in effect on the
date before the date of enactment of the Pro-
available to all ages 5 and older. It is a Social Security and other lifeline bene-
tection of Social Security Benefits Restora-
momentous achievement and a great fits taken away to pay Federal debts. tion Act, shall be null and void and of no ef-
relief to families and communities For example, according to recent data fect.’’.
around the Nation. from the U.S. Bureau of Fiscal Service, (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
At the same time, women in Texas over 167,000 Americans had their bene- (A) Section 14(a) of the Railroad Retire-
are being denied access to reproductive fits garnished for student loan debt. ment Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 231m(a)) is
healthcare while, on Monday, the Su- While 167,000 seems small compared to amended by adding at the end the following:
preme Court heard oral arguments on a nation of over 320 million, those ‘‘. The provisions of section 207(d) of the So-
167,000 had nearly $200 million gar- cial Security Act shall apply with respect to
two cases challenging the Texas anti-
this title to the same extent as they apply in
abortion law S.B. 8. Roe v. Wade has nished from their earned benefits. This
the case of title II of such Act.’’.
been the established legal precedent in is just the tip of the iceberg as more (B) Section 2(e) of the Railroad Unemploy-
this country for more than half a cen- Americans start receiving benefits. Be- ment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(e)) is
tury, but anti-choice activists continue tween 2008 and 2018, the number of indi- amended by adding at the end the following:
to push policies like S.B. 8 that are viduals whose Social Security benefits ‘‘The provisions of section 207(d) of the So-
sending this country and women’s were offset to pay student loans debt cial Security Act shall apply with respect to
health and well-being in the wrong di- increased by 133 percent, from about this title to the same extent as they apply in
72,000 to 169,000. Over that same period, the case of title II of such Act.’’
rection. Women and their healthcare
should not be under constant threat. If the amount collected from Social Secu- (b) REPEAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFSET AU-
rity benefits ballooned from almost $63 THORITY.—
we fail the women of America, we fail
million to nearly $200 million, a 217- (1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (3) of section
our Nation. 3716(c) of title 31, United States Code, is
Right now, we have a choice on how percent increase.
amended—
we as a nation want to emerge from Social Security plays a critical role (A) by striking ‘‘(3)(A)(i) Notwithstanding’’
the pandemic. We can continue on the in keeping seniors and people with dis- and all that follows through ‘‘any overpay-
same course, leaving millions of fami- abilities out of poverty. In Oregon ment under such program).’’;
lies behind, or we can answer the call alone, Social Security cuts the poverty (B) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D);
of the American people and invest in rate of the elderly from about 35 per- and
high-quality, equitable healthcare. cent to 5 percent. However, despite So- (C) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
cial Security’s critical role in the safe- paragraph (3).
Let us answer the call.
ty net, close to 1 out of every 10 seniors (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph
(5) of such section is amended by striking
By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. over age 65 and 1 in 5 disabled workers ‘‘the Commissioner of Social Security and’’.
WHITEHOUSE, Mr. PADILLA, Ms. still live in poverty and that is simply
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments
WARREN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mrs. unacceptable. made by this section shall apply to any col-
MURRAY, Mr. BROWN, Mr. SAND- I, along with Senators BROWN, WHITE- lection by administrative offset occurring on
ERS, Ms. HIRONO, and Mr. HOUSE, LEAHY, WARREN, HIRONO. SAND- or after the date of enactment of this Act of
LEAHY): ERS, PADILLA, VAN HOLLEN, and MUR- a claim arising before, on, or after the date
S. 3177. A bill to restore protections RAY am reintroducing the Protection of of enactment of this Act.
for Social Security, Railroad retire- Social Security Benefits Restoration
ment, and Black Lung benefits from Act. The bill would restore the strong By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and
administrative offset; to the Com- protections in the law that prevented Mr. KING):
mittee on Finance. the government from taking away S. 3178. A bill to express the sense of
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, Social earned benefits to pay Federal debts, Congress on interoperability with Tai-
Security provides vital benefits mil- and guarantee beneficiaries will be able wan; to the Committee on Foreign Re-
lions of Americans who work and pay to maintain a basic standard of living lations.
into the system with each paycheck. by receiving the benefits they have
Because Social Security is funda- earned. The bill is supported by the Mr. CORNYN, Mr. President, I ask
mental to workers’ retirement secu- Strengthen Social Security Coalition, unanimous consent to have my bill
rity, the law protected benefits from Social Security Works, National Asso- printed in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
creditors. The only exceptions were un- ciation of Disability Representatives, The bill expresses the sense of Congress
paid Federal taxes, child support or ali- AFL-CIO, the American Federation of on interoperability with Taiwan.
mony payments, and court-ordered vic- Government Employees, National Or- There being no objection, the text of
tim restitution. These protections en- ganization of Social Security Claim- the bill was ordered to be printed in
sured that the social safety net pro- ants’ Representatives, Justice in the RECORD, as follows:
grams would be there for basic needs. Aging, American Federation of Teach- S. 3178
That protection was weakened over 20 ers, Alliance for Retired Americans,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
years ago when the law was changed. and the National Committee to Pre- resentatives of the United States of America in
Now, more and more seniors face cuts serve Social Security & Medicare. Congress assembled,
in their Social Security benefits be- I ask unanimous consent that the bill
SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTER-
cause of student loan debts. While Con- be printed in the RECORD following this OPERABILITY WITH TAIWAN.
gress and the Biden-Harris Administra- statement.
It is the sense of Congress that, consistent
tion took significant steps to protect S. 3177
with the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law
Americans from facing crushing debt Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- 96–8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and the Six Assur-
during a global pandemic, exempting resentatives of the United States of America in ances, the United States should seek to sup-
the economic impact payments from Congress assembled, port the goals of—
garnishment and extending the freeze SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
(1) improving asymmetric defense capabili-
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protection ties of Taiwan;
on student loan payments through Jan-
of Social Security Benefits Restoration (2) bolstering deterrence to preserve peace,
uary 2022, seniors will still be on the Act’’.
hook for cosigning their child or grand- security, and stability across the Taiwan
SEC. 2. PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY, RAIL- Strait; and
child’s student loan debt when those ROAD RETIREMENT, AND BLACK
LUNG BENEFITS FROM ADMINISTRA-
(3) deepening interoperability with Taiwan
payments resume. We need to take ac-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
TIVE OFFSET. in defense capabilities, including in—
tion today to restore the strong protec- (A) maritime and air domain awareness;
(a) PROHIBITION ON ADMINISTRATIVE OFFSET
tions to Social Security and other ben- AUTHORITY.— and
efit programs. (1) ASSIGNMENT UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY (B) integrated air and missile defense sys-
We now realize what a profound ef- ACT.—Section 207 of the Social Security Act tems.
fect the loss of these protections has (42 U.S.C. 407) is amended by adding at the
had on retirees and individuals with end the following new subsection: By Mr. VAN HOLLEN:
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