Congressional Record — Senate, March 16, 2022, Page S1195
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Congressional Record, Senate, page S1195, March 16, 2022. A senator's remarks call for the President to expand lethal aid to Ukraine, including longer range air defense capabilities. Under the heading The Economy, the senator says consumer prices rose 0.8 percent in the month of February and annual inflation hit 7.9 percent, and criticizes the American Rescue Plan. Durbin responds that the American Rescue Plan did not receive a single Republican vote and says it bought vaccines.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, March 16, 2022, Page S1195.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-03-16-crec-2022-03-16-pt1-pgs1195-837d7b5ac1/
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March 16, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1195
Monday, the White House scuttled a bi- States is, indeed, the leader of the free This is Biden’s inflation and he needs to
partisan congressional bill to end nor- world, so it is time we acted like it. own it.
mal trade relations with Russia, only THE ECONOMY Working Americans understand it
to make a public show on Friday of Mr. President, on another matter, just as well as the experts. Everybody
calling for exactly the same action. last week marked 1 year since Demo- knows where the buck stops. One re-
At every step of the way—every step crats rammed $2 trillion of runaway tired mechanic who lives in Los Ange-
of the way—the self-deterred White liberal spending through the Senate on les recently explained to a reporter
House has insisted its hesitation and a party-line vote. Working families that he is facing $6 gasoline and rising
restraint was aimed at avoiding esca- were certainly not celebrating this par- food prices. He is a registered Demo-
lation, but at every step, Putin has es- ticular anniversary; they were too busy crat, but he knows where this inflation
calated. contending with the worst inflation in came from. Here is how he described it.
Now, 3 weeks into Putin’s invasion, modern American history, unleashed in He said:
the reality on the ground is evolving. large part by that very bill. Uncle Joe has put us on a diet. I like to
It is harder now than it would have Democrats’ policies have conjured up have a steak once or twice a month. I can’t
been a few months ago to keep the do it now.
the worst inflation in 40 years. Con-
pipeline of weapons and supplies and sumer prices rose 0.8 percent in the This is exactly what Republicans said
intelligence for Ukraine’s brave resist- month of February alone. Annual infla- would happen when Democrats dumped
ance open. Russia’s air offensive in par- tion hit 7.9 percent. It is still getting trillions of dollars into printing and
ticular is hitting a deadlier, more ag- worse. We just learned yesterday that spending on a partisan basis last year.
gressive stride. But, as I have been say- the Producer Price Index, which meas- Even top liberal economists said Demo-
ing literally for months, it is not too ures inflation upstream at the whole- crats’ reckless spending spree would
late for the Biden administration to do sale level, is up 10 percent—10 per- bring about inflationary pressures like
the right thing. So here is what Presi- cent—since last year. we have not seen for a generation.
dent Biden should be doing right now: This is hammering American fami- Ah, but Democrats didn’t listen.
No. 1, he should use the money and lies. Experts estimate that inflation They pushed ahead, and, for 12 months
authorities we have just provided him alone is costing the average household and counting, working families have
to expand the scope of our lethal aid to more than $296 every single month— been paying a heavy price.
Ukraine to include more effective, the equivalent of an extra $300 monthly The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
longer range air defense capabilities. bill courtesy of Democratic policies. jority whip.
That means working with NATO allies No wonder almost 60 percent of Ameri- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the Re-
with urgency to get Ukrainian pilots cans say inflation is causing them per- publican leader referred to the Amer-
more aircraft and munitions and facili- sonal financial pain and the Demo- ican Rescue Plan, which did not receive
tating the transfer of weapons crats’ approval ratings on the economy a single Republican vote in support. He
Ukraine’s forces are most familiar are way underwater. Even with a lit- referred to it as runaway Federal
with, like air defense systems from eral land war in Europe, the Demo- spending.
countries with stockpiles of Soviet leg- crats’ inflation is so painful that infla- What did we buy with the American
acy systems. President Zelenskyy spe- tion and not Ukraine still tops the Rescue Plan?
cifically pleaded for these air defense We bought vaccines, and we bought
American people’s biggest list of con-
systems this morning—this morning. an administration and management of
cerns.
No. 2, President Biden should deploy delivering those vaccines to the Amer-
From the gas pump to the grocery
more U.S. forces to reinforce NATO’s ican people in the midst of a pandemic
store, to clothes, diapers, and baby for-
eastern flank and use the new draw- that was claiming American lives
mula, to furniture and home essentials,
down and loan guarantee authorities to every day.
to car repairs and car replacements,
help harden the defenses of our front- Runaway Federal spending—how
Democrats’ policies have put working
line allies and partners. Many of these much stronger would this Nation be if
families on a treadmill where they
partners are generously helping we were still in the depths of this pan-
have to run faster and faster every
Ukraine, and we should help them demic?
month just to stay in place. Rent
backfill their inventories with more We are emerging from it, thank God.
prices are spiking faster than they
modern American capabilities that will But it wasn’t for lack of effort on our
have since 1991. Grocery prices are
improve NATO’s interoperability and part on this side of the aisle.
soaring faster than they have since
bolster deterrence at the same time. Yes, we spent the money. We admin-
1981. New cars and truck prices are
No. 3, on a trip to Europe next week, istered the shots, and people across
climbing at their fastest rates ever.
President Biden should go beyond America are now protected from hos-
Forget about getting ahead and sav-
Brussels. He should go to countries like pitalizations and death because of it.
ing—households are lucky if they are
Poland, Romania, or Lithuania to meet No apologies here to my colleague from
even able to tread water.
with NATO eastern flank allies. He Kentucky. It was money well spent,
Lately, Democrats have launched a
should look beyond NATO to deepen not just for that—and that was the
shameless campaign to blame 12
our diplomatic security cooperation number one public health purpose—
months of inflation not on 12 months of
with important American partners like but, secondly, to keep businesses afloat
their bad policies but instead on the
Finland and Sweden. so they can reopen their doors as the
last 3 weeks’ crisis in Europe. The
Finally, if President Biden wants the pandemic ebbed.
White House informs us that ‘‘Putin’s That investment in the capital of
United States to lead our allies by ex-
price hike’’ is the culprit. Of course, America, in the businesses of America,
ample and to keep pace with adver-
that is utter nonsense. Even liberal ex- paid off for business owners who other-
saries like Russia and China, the place
perts are rejecting their shameless wise would have lost their life savings
to start is with robust investments in
spin. and family investments and for their
our own defense capabilities. The com-
A former top economist for President workers who finally returned to work.
ing year’s appropriations process is an
Obama directly responded to the Biden I think it helped the small busi-
opportunity to finally—finally—show
administration’s attempt to shift the nesses, and I think it helped the fami-
we are serious.
blame. He said: lies. The child tax credit, which cut in
Vladimir Putin has proven to the
world that he is willing to stoop low in Well— half child poverty in America—that
pursuit of power, and he has shown us This is what he said— child tax credit, according to the Sen-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
exactly—exactly—how he responds to Well, no. These are February numbers and ator from Kentucky, was runaway Fed-
weakness. We cannot afford to stay be- only include [a] small Russia effect. This is eral spending. Tell that to the family
hind the curve. America must lead and Biden’s inflation and he needs to own it. who lives paycheck to paycheck and
lead with strength. The White House spin has not even tries to provide the basics in life for
A few minutes ago, President persuaded former Democratic officials. their children. No apologies here for
Zelenskyy reminded us that the United Here is another quote: the American Rescue Plan.
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S1196 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 16, 2022
And when you ask the American peo- much more complex on the continent loophole,’’ but that was beyond our
ple, ‘‘What about this inflation,’’ it is a of Europe. Joe Biden knew that, and he reach in this effort.
problem. Of course, it is. We see it as paced himself accordingly. And because The lack of those provisions could
they do. And we see it all across the of that today, we have the strongest al- not attract enough bipartisan support
world. Inflation isn’t confined to the liance in the face of Vladimir Putin in the Senate to pass on their own.
United States. It is reflected in a world that he has ever seen and that we have They will be saved for another day.
that is emerging from COVID–19, where ever seen. For nearly 30 years, VAWA has trans-
economies—local economies—were The last point I want to make to formed the way we address domestic
strangled and choked and restricted. this, you could not watch the graphic and sexual violence in America and
Now, they are expanding. People are video presented by President saved countless lives. At a moment
expanding their needs and spending on Zelenskyy without breaking your when nearly one in three women—one
that side of it. If the supply doesn’t heart. Every parent and grandparent in in three—have experienced some form
keep up with it, then inflation results. America watching that video saw a of physical or sexual violence, a crisis
We have a battle ahead of us and many member of his family, a child, a lifeless that has grown worse during the pan-
plans here to try to address it with a corpse because of a man named Vladi- demic, VAWA is going to help save
number of items to reduce the cost of mir Putin and what he is doing to that lives.
living for families. poor country. Unprovoked, he has in- Let me tell you a story. My office re-
UKRAINE vaded them and kills innocent people ceived a letter from a woman named
Mr. President, the second item I every single day. Kesha, who works with Connections for
would like to mention refers to a mov- Last night, unanimously, the Senate Abused Women and their Children in
ing, historic presentation this morning decided, as they should, that the con- Chicago. Kesha told me that VAWA
by the President of Ukraine to a joint duct of Vladimir Putin was nothing provides funding for domestic violence
session of Congress. short of a war crime. I can’t think of services at Chicago’s Haymarket Cen-
He did it virtually by remote because any other way to describe it and cer- ter, an amazing agency I know full
he is literally in Kyiv, risking his life tainly never excuse it. well.
every single day for his nation. Zelenskyy touched our hearts too. She shared the story of Cassandra,
Volodymyr Zelenskyy may have His people are fighting a valiant effort, who was receiving treatment at the
started his life as a standup comedian, and the United States and allies and Center for Substance Abuse and dis-
but at this moment in life, he is a countries that share our values stand closed to a counselor that she was the
standup President of Ukraine, who is behind him and will continue to. victim of abusive treatment. Her coun-
confronting the monster of Moscow VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT selor referred her to VAWA, and that
who has unleashed this invasion on his REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022 program gave her an opportunity to
country. He begged us to continue to Mr. President, I am honored to join ‘‘open up about the emotional, finan-
help, and we will. my colleagues Senators MURKOWSKI cial, and physical abuse she had suf-
Last week, we added almost $14 bil- and ERNST and, of course, my friend fered for years at the hands of [an] abu-
lion to the effort to support the and colleague Senator FEINSTEIN to sive husband.’’
Ukrainian defense and resistance. We celebrate the reauthorization of the Vi- Kesha wrote:
need to do that and more. olence Against Women Act, more com- After weeks of domestic violence
Many of the suggestions by the Re- monly known as VAWA. Yesterday, psychoeducation, a supportive network en-
publican Senator are consistent with President Biden signed it into law. couraging her, and her own personal resil-
ience, Cassandra decided that if she wanted
that goal, and I would endorse it. But I This is a monumental achievement for to remain in recovery and not relapse, [she
want to leave it to President Biden to the survivors of domestic sexual vio- had to find a new home, away from her
make the critical decisions as our lence and those who stand by them. abuser.] With the help of her domestic vio-
Commander in Chief who is really It is an achievement that wouldn’t lence counselor, Cassandra was able to break
tasked with America’s national secu- have been possible without bipartisan free and transition into temporary housing.
rity as his highest priority. cooperation. It, literally, would not She has been able to gain financial
I take exception to this notion that have been possible. I have been proud independence and find a job. She has
Joe Biden didn’t understand the timing to work with my three colleagues remained on her path to recovery, a
of this crisis. He understood it better whom I mentioned. success story, and a reminder that
than anyone. He knew that if he pushed With this strengthened version of VAWA doesn’t just help save lives, it
too far and too fast, two things might VAWA, we have helped to ensure that gives survivors the power to rebuild
occur: first, that the Russians would every survivor in America, no matter their own lives.
move because we had precipitated it where they live, will be able to reach VAWA also provides funding for edu-
with an action we had taken. He was for a lifeline in a moment of crisis. We cational programming, and it has done
hoping, as we all did, that this could be have expanded and authorized services it so well.
ended bloodlessly and that an innocent for rural survivors, survivors who need I want to thank Senator FEINSTEIN,
people would be saved from what we culturally specific services, and Senator ERNST, and Senator MUR-
see, the devastation that is happening LGBTQ survivors. We have reauthor- KOWSKI for their partnership and tire-
in Ukraine today. So he was careful to ized programs that ensure survivors less leadership in getting this bill ad-
make those moves in a way that Putin and their families can access housing, dressed, introduced, and across the fin-
couldn’t use them as an excuse for healthcare, and essential support serv- ish line.
starting the invasion. ices. We have improved rape prevention I want to thank their staff: Jessica
Second, and more important, he and education, as well as services and Jensen, Senator FEINSTEIN’s chief
needed to move at a pace consistent protections for young survivors. We counsel, as well as Nick Xenakis, her
with building the NATO alliance. have enhanced critical protections for former chief counsel; Corey Becker and
President Joe Biden succeeded in that Native American women and children Kristina Sesek, Senator ERNST’s legis-
effort. The NATO alliance today is who experience violence at the hands of lative director and general counsel; and
stronger than it has ever been. Don’t non-Native perpetrators. Anna Dietderich, Senator MURKOWSKI’s
believe the last President of the United It doesn’t include everything we had legislative assistant.
States had anything to do with that, hoped for. That is the nature of legisla- On my Judiciary Committee staff, I
just the opposite was true. tion and compromise. I wish there had would like to give thanks especially to
Joe Biden picked up that alliance been stronger protections for housing Stephanie Trifone and Nicole McClain
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
from the mat and brought them up to and economic assistance, but we had to Walton and Chastidy Burns.
fighting trim, to be ready, if needed, to find an agreement, and we did. I want to thank the other members
‘‘defend every square inch,’’ as he says, The bill contains several important of the committees of jurisdiction and
‘‘of NATO territory.’’ That timing was provisions to help boost enforcement of their staffs, along with Ranking Mem-
crucial. And decisions which seem so our gun laws. I wish it would have fi- ber MURKOWSKI and the minority staff
easy and obvious in America were nally closed the so-called ‘‘boyfriend on the Indian Affairs Committee,
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