Congressional Record, House, January 13, 2022 — Legislative Program
Summary
Congressional Record, House, January 13, 2022 (page H175 and following). The page opens with the end of a roll call listing (NOT VOTING-10), a vote change, and the announcement that the motion to concur was agreed to. Calvert asks unanimous consent to be considered the first sponsor of a bill originally introduced by Representative Nunes of California, and there is no objection. Under Legislative Program, Scalise asks the majority leader about next week's schedule, and Hoyer lists House meeting times and says the House will consider the Supplemental Impact Aid Flexibility Act under suspension of the rules and the EVEST Act sponsored by Chairman Mark Takano. Scalise asks whether school funding legislation would require schools to be open.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
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“Congressional Record, House, January 13, 2022 — Legislative Program.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-01-13-crec-2022-01-13-pt1-pgh175-2-a5b6d47236/
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January 13, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H175
Kim (CA) Moore (AL) Smith (NJ) Nadler (Pallone) Reschenthaler Suozzi (Raskin) upon which they have relied to address
Kinzinger Moore (UT) Smucker Napolitano (Armstrong) Swalwell
Kustoff Mullin Spartz (Correa) Roybal-Allard (Gallego)
COVID–19 learning loss by giving them
LaHood Murphy (NC) Stauber Nehls (Babin) (Correa) Titus (Connolly) more flexibility to use prepandemic
LaMalfa Nehls Steel Ocasio-Cortez Ruiz (Aguilar) Tlaib (Khanna) data to calculate funding needs.
Lamborn Newhouse Stefanik (Bowman) Ruppersberger Torres (NY) The House may consider other bills
Latta Norman Steil Panetta (Kildee) (Trone) (Cicilline)
LaTurner Obernolte Steube Rush (Kaptur) under suspension of the rules. The com-
Payne (Pallone) Vargas (Correa)
Lesko Owens Stewart
Pingree
Salazar (Mast)
Vela (Correa)
plete list of suspension bills will be an-
Letlow Palazzo Taylor Schrier nounced by the close of business to-
(Cicilline) Waltz (Mast)
Long Pence Tenney (Spanberger)
Loudermilk Perry Thompson (PA) Pocan (Raskin) Sires (Pallone) Waters (Takano) morrow.
Lucas Pfluger Tiffany Porter (Wexton) Smucker (Keller) Watson Coleman The House will also consider H.R.
Luetkemeyer Posey Timmons Pressley (Garcı́a Speier (Escobar) (Pallone) 4673, the EVEST Act sponsored by
Mace Reed Turner (IL)) Stansbury Welch
Price (NC) (McGovern)
Chairman MARK TAKANO of the Vet-
Malliotakis Reschenthaler Upton (Jacobs (CA))
Mann Rice (SC) Valadao (Connolly) Stanton (Levin Wilson (FL) erans’ Affairs Committee, the rule for
Massie Rodgers (WA) Van Drew Reed (McHenry) (CA)) (Cicilline) which we adopted this week.
Mast Rogers (KY) Van Duyne
f This legislation would automatically
McCarthy Rose Wagner enroll eligible veterans into the VA
McCaul Rosendale Walberg PERMISSION FOR MEMBER TO BE
McClain Rouzer Walorski healthcare system so that no veterans
McHenry Roy Waltz
CONSIDERED AS FIRST SPONSOR are left behind when it comes to receiv-
McKinley Salazar Weber (TX) OF H.R. 4394 ing quality, affordable healthcare.
Meijer Scalise Wenstrup
Meuser Schweikert Westerman
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I Lastly, Madam Speaker, the House
Miller (IL) Scott, Austin Wilson (SC) ask unanimous consent that I may stands ready to act on the Build Back
Miller (WV) Sessions Wittman hereafter be considered to be the first Better Act, as well as the Freedom to
Miller-Meeks Simpson Womack sponsor of H.R. 4394, a bill originally Vote: John R. Lewis Act should the
Moolenaar Smith (MO) Young
Mooney Smith (NE) Zeldin introduced by Representative Nunes of Senate amend them and send them
California, for the purposes of adding back to us.
NOT VOTING—10 cosponsors and requesting reprintings Additional legislative items, of
Cartwright McClintock Webster (FL) pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. course, are possible.
Cline Palmer Williams (TX)
Green (TN) Rogers (AL)
The SPEAKER. Is there objection to Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, on
Higgins (LA) Rutherford the request of the gentleman from the school bill, I know one of the big
California? concerns many people have been rais-
b 1125 There was no objection. ing is trying to get schools open again.
f Last week it was reported that 5,200
Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio changed his
different schools were closed last week.
vote from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ b 1130
And I know this Congress has sent bil-
So the motion to concur was agreed LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM lions of dollars to school systems
to.
(Mr. SCALISE asked and was given across the country. The intent was
The result of the vote was announced
permission to address the House for 1 that that money be used to get schools
as above recorded.
minute and to revise and extend his re- opened, and yet, there are some schools
A motion to reconsider was laid on
marks.) taking the money and staying closed,
the table.
Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I rise which goes against all the medical
Stated against:
for the purpose of inquiring of the ma- science out there. We know the damage
Mr. GREEN of Tennesse. Madam Speaker,
jority leader the schedule for next this is doing to our young children,
had I been present, I would have voted ‘‘nay’’
week. learning, depression, and so many
on rollcall No. 9.
Madam Speaker, I yield to my friend, other challenges that it creates for
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I am not re-
the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. them.
corded because I was absent due to illness.
HOYER), the majority leader of the Will there be any part of that legisla-
Had I been present, I would have voted ‘‘nay’’
House. tion that helps require that in order to
on rollcall No. 9.
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I get money schools have to be open?
MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE
thank Mr. SCALISE for yielding. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS
Madam Speaker, on Tuesday the tleman from Maryland (Mr. HOYER).
Adams (Ross) DeGette (Blunt Kim (NJ) Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, be-
Auchincloss Rochester) (Pallone)
House will meet at 12 p.m. for morning
(Clark (MA)) DelBene (Kilmer) Kind (Connolly) hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business cause I don’t have it in front of me, and
Barragán (Beyer) DeSaulnier Kinzinger with votes postponed, as usual, until I haven’t read it as carefully as perhaps
Bass (Cicilline) (Beyer) (Meijer) 6:30 p.m. I should have, I don’t know the specific
Bera (Kilmer) Doggett (Raskin) Kirkpatrick
Blumenauer (Pallone) On Wednesday and Thursday, the answer to that question.
Doyle, Michael
(Beyer) F. (Connolly) Lamborn House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning What I do want to say, however, is
Bonamici Evans (Mfume) (McHenry) hour and 12 p.m. for legislative busi- that we need to have kids in school.
(Kuster) Langevin Everybody says that the learning expe-
Boyle, Brendan
Frankel, Lois
(Lynch)
ness.
(Clark (MA)) And again, as usual, on Friday the rience is substantially compromised by
F. (Gallego) Gaetz (Boebert) Lawson (FL)
Brooks (Moore
Garamendi
(Soto) House will meet at 9 a.m. for legisla- virtual learning. It is better than noth-
(AL)) Lee (CA) tive business. ing, and it has been pursued very vigor-
(Sherman)
Brownley (Khanna)
(Kuster)
Gohmert (Weber
Leger Fernandez
The House, Madam Speaker, will con- ously and with great positive effect.
(TX)) sider Senate 2959, the Supplemental But having said that, we all think
Bush (Bowman) (Clark (MA))
Gomez (Gallego)
Cárdenas (Soto)
Gonzalez,
Lieu (Beyer) Impact Aid Flexibility Act under sus- that young people ought to be back in
Casten Lofgren (Jeffries) pension of the rules. This bill passed schools. But I don’t know whether this
(Underwood) Vicente
Lowenthal
Castor (FL) (Correa)
(Beyer) the Senate unanimously. It is on sus- bill, which passed the Senate unani-
(Soto) Grijalva (Garcı́a Mace (Timmons) pension in the House. It is coauthored mously, deals with that particular as-
(IL))
Chu (Clark (MA))
Hagedorn (Carl)
Maloney, by Representative JOE COURTNEY of the pect that the gentleman asked about.
Cleaver (Davids Carolyn B.
(KS)) Herrera Beutler (Wasserman
House. But let me say this: I think that every
Cohen (Beyer) (Moore (UT)) Schultz) This bipartisan legislation allows school system has adopted the premise
Cooper (Clark Hudson Maloney, Sean local educational agencies partici- that in school is better.
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(MA)) (McHenry) Patrick
Jacobs (NY)
pating in the Impact Aid Program to Clearly, we have been assaulted by a
Crawford (Jeffries)
(Stewart) (Garbarino) McCaul (Ellzey) use the student count or Federal prop- virus whose transmissibility is sub-
Crenshaw Jayapal (Raskin) McEachin erty valuation data from their fiscal stantially more than the previous
(Sessions) Johnson (TX) (Wexton) year 2022 program applications for virus, the delta variant. The omicron
Crist (Soto) (Jeffries) Meng (Kuster)
Kahele (Case)
their fiscal year 2023 applications. variant, as we know, one of the prob-
Cuellar (Correa) Moore (WI)
DeFazio (Brown Katko (Meijer) (Beyer) This, Madam Speaker, will prevent lems is it is easily caught and easily
(MD)) Kim (CA) (Steel) Moulton (Beyer) schools from losing substantial funding transmitted.
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H176 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 13, 2022
The good news is if you have taken a stress, as have parents generally have prices, whether it is the border crisis—
vaccination and had a booster, the been put through stress. all that are running out of control—the
likelihood of you going to the hospital So I think the gentleman’s concern is empty shelves that we are seeing at so
is much smaller, and if you go to the rightfully placed, and we need to do ev- many stores.
hospital, you are much less sick. But erything we can to make sure kids get Will the gentleman commit to work-
having said that, we continue to have a back in school and have a learning ex- ing with us to bring some of the bills to
challenge to get this under control. perience like you and I had in the the floor to address the real crises that
And the administration, properly so, classroom. are hurting hardworking families like
and the overwhelming majority of the Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, our the ones I just mentioned?
medical community, properly so, and teachers have been true heroes through Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
the overwhelming majority of sci- this, our frontline hospital workers, tleman from Maryland.
entists are recommending that we wear people that work at grocery stores; we Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, first of
a mask, that we wear a KN95 or N95 have seen so many people rising up to all, let me say inflation is a serious
mask because they are much better the challenge, and even where govern- challenge confronting American fami-
than the surgical masks or the cloth ments failed their ability to do their lies, particularly working families in
masks, that we continue to wash our job. this country.
hands regularly, and we continue to I know one challenge that, hopefully, I live alone, and because I am just
keep our distance. we see resolved in the United States one person, I buy relatively small
But the gentleman and I agree that Supreme Court—it won’t be today; we amounts of food at the grocery store.
we need to ensure that—to the extent were expecting it maybe this week, And I go to the grocery store nowadays
that it is possible and that parents will but, hopefully, early next week we see and whether it is the price of bacon,
send their children to school because of the Supreme Court resolve these chal- which is at $12 a pound for Hormel or
being dissuaded by the transmissibility lenges where there were mandates on another meat packing, it is high, and I
of this disease—we need to have kids in vaccines that required people to get think to myself how a family not doing
school. fired from their job if they chose a as well as I am doing and with kids to
Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I ap- healthcare decision on vaccinations. feed, how tough it is on them. So this
preciate that. Maybe we can work on I have been vaccinated. I know the inflation is very tough.
something that would ensure that as gentleman from Maryland has too, but It is a worldwide phenomenon. It is a
tax dollars are going to school systems for those who haven’t, whether they phenomenon that is caused obviously
that it is going to keep the schools are frontline hospital workers or teach- by a pent-up demand asking for a lot of
open, not to allow them to then shut ers, people shouldn’t be forced to lose goods and chasing a lot of goods. And
down on the kids because, as we know, their job based on that choice they elementary economics, that any of us
the science is very clear that kids are make. But the Supreme Court will, took in college, is that there are a lot
much better off in school, safer in hopefully, address that and resolve of resources chasing few resources, i.e.,
school than not being in school, and that next week. It is something that is a lot of money chasing a short supply
that the learning experience is dra- out of our hands now, but it is in the of goods, and you have that demand so
matically less if they are not in school, court’s hands at the highest level. that it drives prices up.
as well as the mental conditions, the Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I un- This pandemic has had a global effect
social development that is not occur- derstand the gentleman’s position, on the supply chain. The supply chain
ring if they are not in the classroom. which is held by a number of people.
Mr. HOYER. Will the gentleman has been substantially affected. This
My own view is that employers make was not the fault of, frankly, either
yield? a reasonable decision when they say to
Mr. SCALISE. I yield to the gen- Biden or his predecessor in terms of
an employee—for the sake, not only of what happened to the supply chain. In
tleman from Maryland.
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I think the employee but for everybody else in Singapore they shut down companies,
everybody is concerned about this. Cer- the workplace with whom they work— as you know, for months at a time.
tainly, every parent in my district and that you are required to be vaccinated They just shut them down, which is
your district is concerned about this, because we believe that science and one of the things that has led to this
and anybody who is concerned about medical personnel tell us that is a chip shortage, which has had ramifica-
the welfare of our children is concerned much safer route. But I understand tions.
about it. there is a difference on that. So I want to assure the gentleman
But I think it would be appropriate But even then, I know Governors who that the administration, our side of the
for me to say that the teachers of have been against vaccines are not nec- aisle—I know your side of the aisle is
America—and my wife was a teacher, essarily against the employer requiring very concerned about the inflationary
and I happen to believe that teachers that as an employee requirement as op- pressure that is putting such a stress
are the most important people in any posed to a governmental requirement. on America’s families. This pandemic
society because they educate the lead- Mr. SCALISE. And I would hope the has caused extraordinary, historic
ership and the citizens of tomorrow— government would drop that mandate, things to happen. That is the bad news.
have been put to an extraordinary but if not, it is hopeful that the Court The good news is we have created
challenge. would make it clear that the govern- more jobs in the last year and 2 months
And I have a granddaughter who has ment doesn’t have the authority to re- than were created—of course, net we
four children, so I have four great- quire that people get fired if they don’t lost jobs for the previous 4 years; over
grandchildren, three of whom are in get vaccinated, encourage people to 2 million jobs net lost. So the good
school and were in school in 2020 and follow the science. If they have ques- news is that we have a number of eco-
2021. And Judy, my granddaughter, who tions or concerns, that is a conversa- nomic statistics that are, in fact, posi-
is named after my wife, has told me on tion they should have with their doc- tive. However, having said that, we do
numerous occasions what extraor- tor, not a government mandate. need to be very concerned about infla-
dinary ends her children’s teachers— But as the gentleman knows, we may tion. The administration has expressed
there were three different teachers at have disagreement on that, but fortu- their concern.
different levels in the school system— nately for us, it will get resolved at the We believe that the infrastructure
went to make sure that while they Supreme Court, hopefully, early next bill will have a positive impact on in-
were home, while they were learning week. flation, assuming the Build Back Bet-
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virtually that they had a positive, pro- I wanted to ask the gentleman since, ter Act passes, which I assume at some
ductive experience. But all of them we are looking at the schedule for next point it will.
felt, I think, it is a lot easier to have week, I didn’t notice any of the bills
kids in school if they can do so safely. that we have highlighted in the past b 1145
I think that bears saying. that would address some of the many I think that is going to have a very
Like medical personnel, teachers crises our country is facing, whether it positive affect on inflation because it
have been put through extraordinary is inflation, whether it is high gas will help the supply chain, help the
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January 13, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H177
health of the people, the employees, it about $6 trillion that has been spent on from one pocket to another pocket,
will make people more able to get out. various relief packages—some of it was none of which is their pocket.
Childcare. It is going to help people get targeted to COVID, which we all sup- So the difference, I think, really is
back to work, which will have a posi- ported, very bipartisan, some of it had you look at it as spending, we look at
tive impact on the supply chain and on nothing to do with COVID which, un- it as investment. We think it will have
the availability of goods and services. fortunately, has created higher infla- big, big return for our country. And
So I think we are moving in the right tion—there is talk right now that the that is what Build Back Better is
direction. administration—and I am not sure if about. The building back better you
Unemployment, as the gentleman the Democratic leadership is having se- say it was not related to the pandemic.
knows, which is down 3.9 percent. So rious conversations on this—is looking It clearly was related to the pandemic.
while inflation is up and unacceptably at yet another bill, potentially over a The pandemic hit us in the gut. It hit
high, historically high, over the last 4 trillion dollars of additional spending. everybody throughout the world in the
years, we need to get it down. And we I would ask the gentleman, is that gut. We have recovered better than
see this phenomena happening all over something that is anticipated to be anybody else in the world. And that is
the world. This is not the fault of the brought to the floor? I would urge, if because we invested, sometimes in a bi-
President or the Congress, it is the that is being looked at, to not do it be- partisan way, and sometimes in a par-
fault of an extraordinary, invasive, and cause there is about $800 billion re- tisan way, but we invested in our peo-
widespread disease that has caused ex- maining from other relief packages ple, in our children, in our families, in
traordinary disruptions within our so- that are unspent. And hopefully we our businesses, and in our health, gen-
ciety and economy. stop the spending in Washington that erally of our country and indeed trying
But we need to get a handle on it. We is driving inflation and try to encour- to help other parts of the world as well
need to take action. So I will talk to age the economy to get opened at a because this is a global pandemic that
the gentleman about what issues he be- more rapid pace. And if people need ad- affects us all.
lieves would be helpful in that regard. ditional help, to look to the money But I think the real difference is, we
Mr. SCALISE. Clearly, some of those that is sitting there, the $800 billion perceive this as an investment. We
bills that have been discussed and of- that is unspent, rather than trillions think it will help grow America. I am
fered up in the past to address the in- more dollars that would be put into a sure you have heard me talk about,
flationary problems but also the poli- marketplace that is already over- from time to time, the Make It In
cies of this administration that have saturated with Federal spending that is America agenda. Our investment in
caused that. And as we know from the driving this inflation. both the infrastructure bill and the
energy crisis, it is not pandemic re- Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- Build Back Better will have a positive
lated that gas prices are so high. This tleman. effect on Make It In America.
President made a decision starting on Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I So we see it, Mr. Whip, as invest-
day one of his administration to shut thank the gentleman. Of course, as you ment. We think it will have a positive
down American energy production, to know better than probably anybody, effect. We think it is having a positive
shut down pipelines in America, green the Speaker appointed a task force to effect. And as I say, unemployment is
lighting pipelines in other countries, look exactly at that issue of the $800 down below 4 percent and jobs are up
begging foreign countries to make billion and what has been done, what over 6 million over the last 11 months.
more oil, but shutting off and making has been spent to make sure that it has So that is a good accomplishment. Is it
it harder to make energy in America. been properly spent, because you are enough? Do we still have people who
Clearly, that self-imposed supply the ranking member on the committee aren’t working for a varied number of
shortage has created higher prices that headed up by JIM CLYBURN that is look- reasons, many of which are related to
we would love to see addressed. We ing at those issues. I know you had a COVID–19?
might disagree philosophically on how hearing this past week. So we see it as an investment, and I
to get there, but I don’t think there is Yes, we have a difference of opinion. am hopeful the Build Back Better Act
much disagreement from people who The difference of opinion, you call it will pass and I hope that will have a
spend over $100 filling their car up that spending, I call it investment. We are positive effect not only on, as the
it needs to change. But if you look at investing in our children. We are in- President says, the next 5 years, but on
the workforce challenges, and every vesting in our families. We are invest- the next five generations. So we are
small business owner I talk to—I would ing in small businesses. We are invest- continuing to pursue that.
imagine all of us could share similar ing in growth and opportunity. And we But inflation, which is how we start-
stories—our small business owners are are investing in the ability of those ed this discussion, is a problem and we
telling us they can’t find workers. folks that you talk about that are not need to deal with it. I would be glad to
Somebody might want to go to their in the workforce, the restaurant can’t talk to the gentleman about what he
favorite restaurant but they are wait- hire. Why can’t they hire them? Be- thinks will be helpful to do that. I
ing an hour and a half and wondering cause they are not paying sufficient know part of that is stop spending
why a third of the tables are empty, be- amount to justify a mom getting money. I think if we stop investing
cause they can’t get people to work. childcare because childcare is so expen- money, our country will not get to
And so as some might want to look sive. Or she is caught—or a single dad— where it wants to be and where it is
at the unemployment number, clearly is caught in the catch-22 situation. If I now with respect to the rest of the
the number of people that are not even go to work, I will earn money but I will world, leading the rest of the world in
in the workforce that just stopped pay it all to childcare. If I am going to terms of economic recovery from the
working because they can get paid, pay it all to childcare, it is much bet- pandemic. We are not there yet but we
right now large amounts of money, to ter for me as a parent to be with my are going to get there
stay at home is a challenge that we child, if the net result is going to be Mr. SCALISE. I thank the gen-
should confront here in this Congress pretty much a wash. tleman, and clearly we have a dif-
to help encourage people to get back We are investing in that. We are in- ference on——
into the workforce, not to be paying vesting in childcare in the Build Back Mr. HOYER. Right.
people not to work. And the enhanced Better Act. We are investing in early Mr. SCALISE. What the effects of
unemployment benefits were, one, part childhood education, three- and four- spending trillions of dollars would
of that problem, but there were many year-olds. We believe that is invest- have. And Build Back Better, as the
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other parts of that problem. ment. And it also is very important for gentleman brought up, would be about
But it is the idea that there are too that small business so that that mom $4.5 trillion of higher taxes, additional
many dollars, as the gentleman said, or dad who has that child who is then spending, things that, by many ac-
chasing too few goods is the driver of going to go and be in a preschool envi- counts, would increase inflation even
inflation, but the biggest driver of that ronment can have time to themselves higher; but we will see where the Sen-
is all of the money that has been spent so that they can, in fact, pursue em- ate goes on that bill. I am not sure if
in Washington. And if you look at ployment without simply putting it the gentleman is anticipating bringing
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H178 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 13, 2022
other legislation, the bipartisan bills any response to the affirmative on ference. If you find out you are sick,
that we did, to do things like create that. you quarantine.
Operation Warp Speed, which was I don’t know if the gentleman has I suggest to the gentleman that the
maybe one of the most successful anything to add. Maybe the gentleman Biden administration has made an ex-
things government did in reaction to a would agree that we would have these traordinary difference. Is the situation
pandemic in the history of the world, kind of hearings to get some of these where we want it to be? Absolutely, it
to come up with not one, not two, but facts out or get some of these issues is not.
now three proven and effective vac- addressed. Do we have a new variant that appar-
cines in less than a year to a virus no Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- ently came out of South Africa or was
one even knew about. It never hap- tleman. first identified in South Africa that
pened in the history of the world but Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I spiked up?
something that we came together, Re- thank the gentleman for yielding, and I talked to Dr. Monahan yesterday,
publicans and Democrats with Presi- I would say at the outset, I believe the and apparently, just in recent days, we
dent Trump, to achieve a great committee on which he serves with Mr. have had a fall-off in disease recog-
achievement, something we would sure CLYBURN is one of the committees, nized. I hope that is the case. I hope it
urge President Biden to build on. among many, who ought to be looking keeps going down because we are per-
Because President Biden did run with at those facts. haps now using the KN–95 or N–95
a promise that he would, ‘‘shut down But let me say this, because in stat- masks and keeping our distance a little
the virus.’’ Clearly, he has failed at ing the facts, as you just did, the ap- more conscientiously. Let’s hope all of
that. We have asked through a number pearance is that substantial progress that works for the people, for the coun-
of different means to have hearings on has not been made. I don’t think that try, and for the globe.
some of the things we have heard con- premise is correct. Let me read you Mr. SCALISE. The problem with
cerns about. And I would start with some statistics. President Biden’s plan is that it has
testing. There was an article recently Last year, the first year the Presi- been reactionary and not visionary.
that the President was presented with dent came into office, testing in Amer- When he was presented with a plan in
a plan in October to come up with ica was molecular in at-home tests per October to make sure that every Amer-
about 750 million tests that people day. The beginning of last year, 1.7 mil- ican that needed a test would have it in
could have for COVID at home that lion per day. Today, 11.7 million tests December, when they in October said
would be readily available by Christ- per day are being conducted. there will probably be a real uptick in
mas where they, in October, antici- So to imply that somehow there has December, the President said no to
pated a resurgence of COVID by De- not been substantial progress, that is a that.
cember. 10-fold increase in the testing available So if today he says let’s go and order
It has been reported that the Presi- to Americans every day. And when 500 million tests, that sounds fine and
dent rejected that plan. We have asked Biden took office, zero at-home rapid well, except that he said no to that in
for a hearing into that. For whatever tests were available to consumers— October when he could have staved off
reason, the majority has not agreed to zero. Today, 300 million at-home rapid what we see, and that is hours-long
that. Here is a letter I sent to Mr. CLY- tests are on the market each month. lines of people to get tested. People
BURN and Mrs. MALONEY through the Enough? No. Are more coming? Yes. shouldn’t have to be waiting 5 hours in
Select Subcommittee on Coronavirus, Has the government used the Defense a line to get tested when the President
as well as through the Committee on Production Act to accomplish greater in October was presented with a plan.
Oversight and Reform. Myself and production? They have. The adminis- Again, if he wasn’t, as it has been re-
Ranking Member COMER asked to have tration started using, as I said, the De- ported, he should come out publicly
a hearing into some of these things, fense Production Act. The Biden ad- and say that. The report has been out
the testing failures that were reported. ministration is increasing places peo- for weeks now, and he hasn’t done that.
If they are true, we ought to hear ple can get free tests, for instance. We should be having hearings on this
about them. If they are false, the ad- You talk about a plan. When Biden to find out what was the plan that was
ministration ought to be pointing that took office, there were only 2,500 phar- presented and who was involved, by the
out. They have not, which tells me macies offering free testing. Today, way, in rejecting that plan. Was the
they must be true. But then why in Oc- there are 20,000 sites, an 8-fold increase. CDC involved? Was NIH involved? Was
tober would the President have re- The administration is purchasing 500 HHS involved in rejecting a forward-
jected a testing plan that could have million at-home rapid tests to be dis- thinking plan in October that predicted
prevented us from getting to the place tributed for free to Americans who what inevitably did happen this Christ-
we are at right now with this resur- want them, with initial delivery start- mas?
gence? ing this month. Who was involved in the rejection of
What about some of the national that plan, and why did they do it? Is it
plans that the President said he had as b 1200 that the administration doesn’t want
a candidate that then he later told The administration is distributing up accountability? I don’t know, but we
Governors recently he doesn’t have a to 50 million free at-home self-tests to have asked those questions, and we
national plan on COVID. The mixed community health centers and rural have asked for a hearing on that.
messaging coming from the adminis- health clinics. In addition to already We have been told that it is not going
tration is causing tremendous confu- covering PCR tests, the administration to happen. I hope the gentleman would
sion across America, and we have is requiring private insurance plans to help push to get this to happen, to find
asked that we have hearings to clarify, cover at-home tests starting on Janu- this out so we don’t play catch-up
give the administration a chance to ary 15, just a couple of days from every time something happens, when
state their plan or the lack thereof, today. A lot is happening. there were there people saying: Let’s
state whether or not they rejected a Is enough happening? Enough is not try to stop something before it be-
massive testing plan for the Nation in happening until everybody has imme- comes a problem.
October that would have prevented diate availability. ‘‘Immediate’’ may If there are people in the White
what happened in December. overstate it, but easy access. The fact House who said, no, we are not going to
The lack of desire by the administra- is that some people are having prob- do it until it is a problem for families,
tion to be transparent about any of lems finding the at-home tests now, those people ought to be removed from
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
this is creating tremendous confusion and we need to work on that. the White House. And they shouldn’t
across the country. This Congress Those statistics show you that ex- be involved in the decisionmaking
could address that by holding hearings traordinary increases have occurred chain because their decisions caused
to get the facts out. I know we are under the Biden administration, and maybe more death, surely caused a dra-
going to continue to press for those that is their plan, to make sure that matic increase in ills that people are
kinds of hearings. I would hope we have these tests are available, because we facing right now because it could have
them, but so far we have not gotten know that testing will make a dif- been staved off, and it wasn’t. We don’t
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January 13, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H179
have that information from an admin- heads above water and can, in fact, to have a plan, but then he comes out
istration who promised to be trans- have childcare that they can rely on and obviously didn’t crush the virus
parent. and feel their children are safe so they and tells Governors that there is no
We did have a hearing a few days ago can take a job, be productive citizens, Federal plan, I do think that is a mixed
in the select subcommittee. It was a and add to the growth of our economy. message, at the least. That dereliction
private hearing; it wasn’t open to the We believe we are doing that. Are we in his promise, at the worst, ought to
public. I didn’t agree with that, but doing it perfectly? None of us do it per- be confronted.
that was the decision made by the ma- fectly. Perhaps we need to do more, as What is the plan, if there is a plan? If
jority. We have to start having trans- the gentleman implies, and have hear- there is not a plan, admit there is not
parency, as was promised to the people. ings. a plan. But you campaigned saying
People deserve transparency. They The gentleman says he was in a hear- there was going to be a plan, and clear-
deserve to have these questions an- ing. Private or public, I presume the ly, there is not one. Those are other
swered and, frankly, to have a more gentleman had an opportunity to ask facts that we can put on the table.
forward-thinking plan, not a reac- questions. I don’t know who the wit- Clearly, when you look at how Presi-
tionary plan when forward-thinking nesses were, so I don’t know what ex- dent Trump pushed the Federal Gov-
was presented and rejected. pertise they have. ernment to work and partner with the
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- I can’t believe that if you requested private sector to move red tape so we
tleman from Maryland. of Mr. CLYBURN that you have relevant can expedite the research and the
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I witnesses to come by and that you trials, more tests than were ever done
thank the gentleman for yielding. want to question about the progress maybe on any other attempt for a vac-
Madam Speaker, this has been a calm that either has been made or you think cine, and come up in less than a year
discussion so far. Let me remind the ought to be made or further things that with vaccines when many said it would
gentleman that the previous President could be done, I can’t believe that he take years, it was clearly a remarkable
said in February or March of 2020 that wouldn’t agree to do that. achievement that we all worked on.
this is going to go away in about 30 In any event, great progress is being President Trump led the effort, and we
days: Don’t worry about it. It will go made, but the entire world—not the funded it in a very bipartisan way, and
away. Biden world, not America—the entire it was very effective.
A lot of your Members said we don’t world is confronting a crisis and is hav- Obviously, this is a challenge for
need a mask; we don’t need to keep dis- ing a tough time getting ahold of it. every country. There were other things
tance; we don’t need to wash our hands; We have done it better than anybody said that ought to be put out there, and
this is going to go away. It is here else in terms of growing our economy let’s at least try to all be saying the
today and gone tomorrow. That was and keeping our people’s heads above same thing and focusing on the same
the previous administration’s plan. water. That is to be applauded. thing.
I agree with you. The science com- Do we still have a challenge? We do. When scientific experts say that this
munity, the private-sector community, Are we still working on it? We are. Do is what we anticipate happening—if
and government on Operation Warp we need to continue? Yes. you are going to reject that science, at
Speed did a good job—extraordinary Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, least hold people accountable who were
work in the private sector, extraor- under President Trump, when he cre- part of the discussions to reject that
dinary work around the world. Because ated Operation Warp Speed, the one science, as I referred to the October re-
of the computer age in which we live, thing he did say is that we are going to jection of a testing plan that would
they were able to share information in- move red tape so we can focus the en- have been in effect for December that
stantaneously, in real time, and say tire scientific community, both the was rejected.
that this alternative doesn’t work, Federal agencies but also the private Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
which accelerated greatly the ability sector, in working together in remov- tleman from Maryland.
to get, within a year, an extraordinary ing the red tape so they can focus on Mr. HOYER. For a long time, the
accomplishment, largely from our sci- getting a vaccine. He didn’t say three, former President of the United
entific and medical community but fa- but he said let’s at least get them the States—apparently, he changed his
cilitated by Warp Speed. No doubt ability, all of these great companies, view now and criticized DeSantis for
about that. Give credit where credit is many that are American companies, to not pursuing mask wearing, et cetera,
due. go put their innovation to work and et cetera. The fact of the matter is, of
Very frankly, the leader—unlike get bureaucracy and red tape out of the course, the former President discour-
President Biden, who said this is a way and follow science but expedite so aged wearing masks early on. He dis-
problem; we have to be careful; we have that we can get there quicker when couraged it: Oh, no, you don’t need to
to pursue it; we have to invest—said no many scientists, including some who wear a mask.
problem. The gentleman conveniently still testify at committees today, said He had events that were spreader
forgets that. it was going to take years to get a vac- events, as we call them.
He also ignores the statistics I just cine. The gentleman heard me say that I
gave where we have had a tenfold, In less than a year, we had three. think the President followed good ad-
eightfold increase in the availability of President Biden inherited that when he vice and made a decision on Warp
testing and pharmaceutical access for walked in the door and took the oath Speed that was helpful. As the gen-
literally millions of people. This is per of office. He had three proven vaccines. tleman noted, it was the scientists at
day that we are talking about, 11.7 mil- I know the gentleman talks about NIH and scientists in the private sector
lion people per day. statistics. Look at COVID deaths. Dur- and scientists throughout the world,
It doesn’t take too long at that rate ing the campaign, President Biden not but mainly our people, who did an ex-
that the whole country, all 330 million only said he would crush the virus, but traordinary thing in an extraordinarily
people, in about a month and a few he said that anybody who presided over short timeframe—never been done be-
days has been taken care of. When you that many deaths—that was months fore—to develop this kind of vaccine.
say we have to make progress, we have before the election—doesn’t deserve to You talk about the three vaccines.
made extraordinary progress. be President of the United States. I The three manufacturers, it had never
Our view is—and I know we differ on thought that was an inappropriate been done before. It was a wonderful
this—we have made investments in the statement. event. Unfortunately, too many people
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
American Rescue Plan Act to deal with More people have died under Presi- are advising: Don’t take the vaccine.
the pandemic crisis; in the infrastruc- dent Biden’s watch from COVID than You don’t have to take the vaccine.
ture bill to create jobs, additional under President Trump’s. It was an un- Don’t sweat it.
manufacturing capacity, and training fair standard that President Biden put The government tells people they
and apprenticeships for our people; in in place when he was at one of the de- have to vaccinate their children to
the Build Back Better bill to make bates. If he is going to say things like send them to school. Why? So other
sure that our families can keep their he is going to crush the virus and going children don’t get sick.
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H180 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 13, 2022
I told you I had those great-grand- Mr. HOYER. I just want to say in Again, in the past we have seen this
children, three of whom are in school. terms of where we are today, the over- suggested by some in the medical com-
They have a child that sits in front of whelming percentage—I am talking munity inaccurately that if you get
them, a child that sits to the right, a about 90 percent—of people who are vaccinated you can’t get the virus. A
child that sits to the left, and a child getting really sick are people who are Supreme Court Justice said that if you
that sits behind them. I want all of not vaccinated. And for the govern- get vaccinated you can’t spread the
them well because I don’t want my ment to say: You need to be vaccinated virus. That turned out to be false. We
great-grandchild getting sick. because we don’t want you coming to know whether vaccinated or not you
I don’t think there was a very suc- the office, we don’t want you coming can get the virus. You can receive the
cessful effort either by the former with other people who are being care- virus, you can give it to other people,
President or by many on your side of ful, who have been vaccinated, and who and you can die. We know in the hos-
the aisle to say—you talk about have done the responsible thing and pitals the higher propensity of people
science—do what the scientists tell you getting them sick. Because what we in the hospitals are unvaccinated.
to do. Now, I notice most of your Mem- have seen, unfortunately, even with Those are the kinds of things that we
bers are doing so now, but still some vaccination, is that people who are should be encouraging to get the facts
wear it as a badge of courage and raise vaccinated, of our own Members on out and then encouraging people to go
money off of it. I think that is harmful both sides of the aisle who have been make their decision with their doctor
to our communities. vaccinated, have gotten—thankfully— if they have concerns and questions.
I think you sort of just set aside no mild cases of COVID. There are valid questions. There are
plan. Well, no plan has resulted going But when we talk about the Presi- people in the past who have raised reli-
from 1.7 million to 11.7 million tests dent wanting people to get vac- gious exemptions to other vaccines
per day. That is the plan. We invested cinated—and my friend indicates that and, by the way, been given approval
in March, in the American Rescue Plan he and I both are advocates of that, for those religious exemptions that
Act, in making sure that health serv- and/or requiring them to get vac- today are not getting similar religious
ices could respond properly. A lot of cinated—the reason you require people exemptions for this.
money went into health and testing in to get vaccinated, the more people you So let’s just treat it equally, let’s
the American Rescue Plan. have unvaccinated, the more hosts this treat it fairly, and let’s just focus on
You keep saying there is no plan. We
virus has to metastasize and to grow the facts. This idea that if you man-
have adopted plans, and we think they
into a different type of virus that can date something and threaten somebody
are positive plans. We think, hopefully,
attack in different ways. That is why it is going to change behavior, it is just
that we are going to get better soon.
Neither President Trump nor Presi- you do that. That is why they talk 70 not proving itself to be correct, and it
dent Biden was responsible for this ex- percent. Now we just have about 70 per- is causing more division and forcing
traordinary virus. Our view is Presi- cent in America now. Very frankly, if people into corners that they shouldn’t
dent Trump laid back for a long, long we had a higher percentage we would be on. So hopefully, again, we can con-
time before he really engaged heavily be better off. So let’s hope that we can tinue this conversation and get back to
in this, and now he has changed his work together to make sure that we a place where we are in agreement
tune to a much more positive ‘‘listen give encouragement to people to do which we have been in things like Op-
to the scientists’’ kind of attitude, what the scientists advise. eration Warp Speed.
which we welcome. My friend talks about the reason we Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal-
were so successful in that year under ance of my time.
b 1215 Warp Speed of getting those three vac- f
I disagree with the gentleman that cines is because the scientists knew
there is not a plan. We adopted to- what had to be done. They found out HAPPY FOUNDERS DAY TO DELTA
gether in 2020 five major pieces of legis- and they had quick discoveries and SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCOR-
lation to address this challenge, and we eliminated a lot of dead-ends relatively PORATED
have adopted in a partisan way, unfor- quickly because of our computer capa- (Mrs. BEATTY asked and was given
tunately, bills that continue to fight bility and transformation of informa- permission to address the House for 1
that fight, and I think it is fighting it, tion around the world and dead-ends. minute.)
not as successfully because we have a If we listen to them, we would be bet- Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I
new variant, much more transmissible, ter off. But an awful lot of people are rise today to commemorate 109 years of
a different type. It has metastasized saying: Don’t listen to them. Don’t do sisterhood, scholarship, and service in
into a more communicable disease. it. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incor-
That has caused us a challenge, we are When the gentleman says for health porated.
addressing that, and we are accel- reasons, there are hundreds, probably Founders Day embodies the living
erating the availability of resources to billions, I don’t know what the billions legacy of our predecessors. Today six
do so. are, people who have been vaccinated members of the Congressional Black
Mr. SCALISE. Clearly, we have some with a miniscule and almost Caucus—Congresswoman YVETTE
disagreements, but as we both have ad- undetectable adverse reaction. So I CLARKE, Congresswoman BRENDA LAW-
vocated for the vaccine, I do think one don’t know what the gentleman talks RENCE, Congresswoman VAL DEMINGS,
of the differences that we may have is about for health reasons. I know Congresswoman LUCY MCBATH, Con-
that I strongly feel that it is a personal Djokovic is saying he is doing it for gresswoman STACEY PLASKETT, and I—
decision. It is a medical decision. And health reasons. I don’t know what stand proudly in our Founders’ foot-
if government thinks that shaming those are. Maybe my friend does. I am steps.
people, threatening people, and firing not an expert enough to know what Happy Founders Day to the Colum-
people is going to address that chal- that is. But all the doctors I talk to— bus Alumnae Chapter, Delta Kappa
lenge, they have missed the mark, and and certainly our own doctor here Chapter, and to all my sisters in Delta
I wish they would instead move away whom we consult with on a regular Sigma Theta Sorority.
from the shame and the firing. Hope- basis, I know both of us have done f
fully the U.S. Supreme Court agrees that—say get the vaccine.
with us and stops at least the firings of So I would hope that all of us would MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
people by mandates from the govern- ask our constituents to get the vac- A message from the Senate by Ms.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
ment and just encourages people to cine. It is good for you, it saves your Byrd, one of its clerks, announced that
have that conversation with their doc- lives, it saves your families, and it the Senate has passed bills of the fol-
tor if they have hesitation. But, ulti- saves others. Get it. lowing titles in which the concurrence
mately, it is a decision that each indi- Mr. SCALISE. To be clear, I never of the House is requested:
vidual would have to make. said it was for health reasons. I said it S. 2201. An act to manage supply chain risk
We will continue this conversation I was a health decision. So this is a med- through counterintelligence training, and for
am sure, and I yield to the gentleman. ical decision that people are making. other purposes.
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