Congressional Record, Senate, May 12, 2022, Page S2469
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated May 12, 2022, at page S2469. A Senator recalls that Republicans called the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol legitimate political discourse and urges them to apply the same standard if the victims are members of the Supreme Court. Another Senator criticizes Medicare for All, saying nearly 180 million Americans have health insurance through their jobs, and argues that the Democrats' government childcare subsidy program favors institutional childcare and puts religious providers at a disadvantage. Mr. Thune, under the heading Democratic Party, says Democrats think the Federal Government knows best and blames the American Rescue Plan for the worst inflation in 40 years. The remarks are the speakers' own.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, May 12, 2022, Page S2469.”
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May 12, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2469
about the January 6, 2021, insurrec- healthcare. Under Medicare for All, take the opportunity to add a lot of
tionist mob that crashed through the Americans can look forward to a future new childcare mandates and regula-
Capitol here, desecrating it, endan- in which the government decides what tions. But more than that, Democrats’
gering the lives of innocent people— healthcare Americans can access and government subsidy program is set up
what did they say about it? They called what medications and procedures will to favor certain kinds of childcare and
it ‘‘legitimate political discourse’’—le- be covered. childcare providers. It is set to favor
gitimate political discourse—with five Never mind the nearly 180 million institutional childcare rather than
to seven people dead and 150 police offi- Americans who have access to health home care or other models, like neigh-
cers assaulted. That is illegitimate; insurance through their jobs, many of borhood co-ops. And it is set up to
that is unacceptable, whether the in- whom are satisfied with their coverage. place religious providers at a disadvan-
tended victims were Members of Con- No, that coverage would be decimated tage. That is right. Despite the fact
gress or the victims today are members in favor of Democrats’ preferred ‘‘one that more than half of working fami-
of the Supreme Court. size fits all’’ approach. I am not sure lies who use center-based care opt for
Have the good sense, I say to my Re- what Democrats have seen that makes faith-based centers, Democrats’ pro-
publican colleagues, to be consistent. If them think government can efficiently gram is set up to put these providers at
you are opposed to violence and believe run healthcare. Maybe they never had a disadvantage.
it is unacceptable in a democratic soci- to deal with the IRS. Democrats obviously think childcare
ety, make that standard apply whether Oh, and let’s not forget about the is better conducted in secular, institu-
the victims are in one branch of the part where it has been projected that tional settings, so they set up their
government or another. It is absolutely this government-run system could cost legislation to favor that kind of
unacceptable in both. taxpayers more than $30 trillion. So childcare, no matter—no matter—what
I yield the floor. what is the problem with that attitude parents actually prefer.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. the Democrats have? Why should all of That is pretty much par for the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The us be concerned by the fact Democrats course for Democrats, of course, who
clerk will call the roll. think the Federal Government—or have made it very clear that they have
The senior assistant legislative clerk maybe just the Democratic Party— their doubts as to whether parents are
proceeded to call the roll. knows best? the best decisionmakers for their chil-
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask For starters, it is clearly apparent dren.
unanimous consent that the order for that government does not always know Who can forget the Democrat can-
the quorum call be rescinded. best. Take our current inflation crisis. didate for Governor of Virginia who
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without A big reason we are currently dealing memorably said:
objection, it is so ordered. with the worst inflation in 40 years is I’m not going to let parents come into
schools and actually take books out and
DEMOCRATIC PARTY the Democrats’ decision to flood the make their own decision . . . I don’t think
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, if economy with unnecessary government parents should be telling schools what they
Democrats have made one thing clear money with their American Rescue should teach.
over the past 16 months, it is that they Plan spending spree. This is a view that President Biden
think that the Federal Government—or This legislation was billed as critical seemed to echo just days ago. I would
maybe just Democrats—knows best. It COVID relief that was going to help love to hear the reasons why Demo-
is evident in just about everything families and our economy recover. In- crats think government can make bet-
they do. And there is pretty much no stead, it helped plunge our economy ter decisions for children than parents
end to the things they think the Fed- into a massive inflation crisis that has who know their children as individuals
eral Government should be in charge left individuals and families struggling and raise them and love them.
of—healthcare, childcare, education, to afford necessities like gas and food. But to get back to my main point
elections, and the list goes on. To give another example, the Presi- here. The childcare program in Demo-
Take the current debate over abor- dent’s Department of Homeland Secu- crats’ tax-and-spending spree is a per-
tion. There is one thing Democrats are rity recently created a so-called fect example of what happens when
clearly terrified of is putting this issue Disinformation Governance Board. And government starts taking over. The
in the hands of the American people. the individual who has been chosen to government, instead of the individual,
Overturning Roe v. Wade would return head up this disinformation board is starts making decisions. The more sub-
the issue of abortion back to the people someone who, herself, has been a pur- stantial the government involvement,
and their elected representatives. veyor of online disinformation, as well the larger the government’s role in de-
Democrats are keen to make sure that as being hostile to what she apparently cision making is likely to be.
doesn’t happen, probably because they considers excessive free speech. Yet, Again, that is not to say that the
know the American people are not in apparently, the Biden administration government has no role to play in
agreement with Democrats’ extreme thinks we should trust her to rule on American life. We need the Federal
abortion agenda. disinformation. Government. Our national defense, for
And so the news that the Supreme Of course, this is not to say that we example, is most practically handled at
Court might overturn Roe and return should distrust every move the govern- the Federal level. But the Federal Gov-
the issue of abortion to people has been ment makes or whether the govern- ernment should be and is meant to be
met with hysteria from Democrats. ment can never do anything good. As- limited.
More than one has responded by calling suming the government always knows And allowing the government to take
for packing the Supreme Court so the best is to vastly overestimate the gov- over ever-larger aspects of American
Democrats can ensure they get the ernment’s abilities. The Federal Gov- life—whether it is childcare,
abortion decisions they desire. ernment, like society, is made up of healthcare, or anything else—is a rec-
Of course, yesterday, Democrats re- flawed human beings. Being a Member ipe for the loss of individual liberty.
sponded to the Supreme Court’s pend- of Congress or a Presidential adminis- Finally, Democrats’ ‘‘government
ing decision by holding a vote on what tration does not come anywhere close knows best’’ attitude is a problem be-
has to be the most extreme abortion to conferring infallibility. cause, as we have clearly seen, it
legislation ever considered by the U.S. Another big problem with ‘‘Demo- quickly leads to an attitude of ‘‘Demo-
Congress—a bill that would rip away crats’ knows best’’ attitude is it usu- crats know best,’’ which quickly leads
even the smallest protections for the ally involves a plan for government to
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to pushing for special privileges for
unborn and make abortion-on-demand, take over ever-greater areas of Amer- Democrats.
at any time, for essentially any reason, ican life. More government control Take recent conflicts involving the
the law of the land. usually involves less individual free- Supreme Court. Democrats have made
Meanwhile, today, the Senate Budget dom. it abundantly clear that they believe
Committee is holding a hearing on a fa- Take the childcare plan Democrats the only legitimate Supreme Court is a
vorite Democratic proposal—putting included in their Build Back Better Supreme Court that hands down deci-
the Democrats in charge of Americans’ legislation. First, of course, Democrats sions in line with Democrats’ policy
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S2470 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 12, 2022
preferences. And they haven’t just im- Commissioner of the Consumer Prod- Mr. BOOKER. Madam President, I
plied this. More than one Democrat has uct Safety Commission, CPSC. It ap- ask unanimous consent that the order
actually straight-out called this Su- pears that the Democratic leader, Sen- for the quorum call be rescinded.
preme Court illegitimate, despite the ator SCHUMER, finally has the votes The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
fact that every single Justice on the lined up for confirmation of Ms. Boyle objection, it is so ordered.
Supreme Court was duly nominated and that she will be elevated to this po- ARTISTS
and confirmed in accordance with the sition. I think this is a decision that Mr. BOOKER. I rise not expecting to
Constitution of the United States. Members of the Democratic Party and give a speech today, but I want to, first
And the Senate, despite having the the administration will come to regret and foremost, recognize the Chair, who
slimmest possible majority, in fact—a and Americans, in general, will come is my ‘‘mother’’ Senator, and I want to
merely technical majority and abso- to regret. thank her for her incredible service to
lutely no mandate for radical change— Recently, the Commerce Committee this institution.
Democrats have pushed to abolish the failed to report Ms. Boyle’s nomination I want to thank, which I rarely do,
legislative filibuster so they can favorably. All Democrats voted aye; all the staff who works here and runs the
steamroll through far-left Democratic Republicans voted no. Senate every day, but I rise today to
legislation, including a partisan take- I think Members should understand talk for a moment about groups that
over of election law and, of course, the this. CPSC plays a vital role in ensur- we don’t talk about enough on this
most extreme abortion legislation ever ing the safety of American consumers. floor. We usually talk about everybody
considered in Congress. For this reason, I have significant con- from law enforcement to our military,
Just imagine the howls that would cerns about major administrative fail- but we don’t talk about artists.
have resulted if Republicans had an- ures at the agency during Ms. Boyle’s We are a nation that even from our
nounced that we were going to abolish tenure as Executive Director there, in- founding during Revolutionary times,
the legislative filibuster to institute a cluding the improper disclosure of there were extraordinary artists who
20-week abortion ban—a ban that is unredacted manufacturer and con- expanded the moral imagination of this
much more in line with the sentiments sumer data. country and helped us to see a nation
of the majority of Americans than An investigation I led as chairman of that could be free from British rule and
Democrats’ far-left abortion legisla- the Commerce Committee last Con- domination.
tion. gress determined that the unauthorized In every point of American history,
Or take the protests that have been release of this data, which violated sec- from protest movements to battles for
going on at the Supreme Court Jus- tion 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safe- suffrage, we have had artists who have
tices’ homes. The President and other ty Act, was the result of insufficient painted these pictures of an America, a
Democrats have made it clear they are training, ineffective management, and vision for what could be, but even more
perfectly fine with demonstrators con- poor information technology imple- than that, they have healed us during
gregating at the private homes of Su- mentation. difficult times. They have pulled us to-
preme Court Justices to try and in- All of these failings at the CPSC were gether with their inspiration. They
timidate them into changing their under Mary Boyle’s watch as the pri- have called out injustices. They have
vote. mary career official charged with the brought light to the dark places of our
I have to ask, would Democrats be day-to-day administration of the Agen- country.
fine with pro-life activists appearing at cy’s business, and yet today we are You know, Picasso talked about art
the homes of Justice Breyer, Justice being asked to elevate her to an even being something that helps to shake
Kagan, and Justice Sotomayor to try more important and responsible posi- the dust off the soul of humanity, but
to intimidate them into changing their tion at CPSC. I think it does more than that. As an
votes? I think we all know the answer I am also deeply troubled by the African American, I have seen art in
to that. But because abortion is one of CPSC’s curtailing of port inspections the tradition of healing, of providing
Democrats’ pet issues, clearly, the for several months beginning with the hope, of even calling out with speci-
usual rules don’t apply. ‘‘Government pandemic and Ms. Boyle’s involvement ficity the instructions on how to be
knows best’’ quickly becomes ‘‘Demo- in this decision. In addition, she pre- free.
crats know best,’’ which leads to one sided over the deficient and prolonged We remember the song that Harriet
rule for Democrats and one rule for ev- process of fully returning CPSC staff to Tubman pointed to:
eryone else. work at these ports. So the inspections Wade in the water, wade in the water, God is
‘‘Government knows best’’ is not a were not getting done. There are now going to trouble the water.
vision Republicans share. We believe hundreds, if not thousands, of unsafe That is the tradition that sourced my
that individuals, not Washington bu- products that entered the country family. From enduring the pain of a
reaucrats, are the best judges of what under Ms. Boyle’s watch, and we still nation that was unequal and divided,
they and their family and children lack a clear plan from the CPSC on often in church with gospel songs,
need. The government should be a how those dangerous products will be there was healing; there was hope. And
backstop, not Big Brother. removed from the market. even the poetry in the Harlem Renais-
We also know the more government This nominee has failed to dem- sance spoke to an America that could
expands, the more individual liberty onstrate strong and effective leader- possibly be if we just never stop believ-
shrinks, which is why we are firmly ship in her current position as execu- ing.
committed to a philosophy of limited tive director of the CPSC. Yet the ad- As the great poet Langston Hughes
government. Our country is founded to ministration and, apparently, the ma- said:
safeguard individual liberty and pre- jority leader of the Senate are America never was America to me,
serving that liberty it a sacred trust, inexplicably trying to promote her to a [But] I swear this oath—
which is why Republicans will continue higher position of trust and authority. America will be!
to oppose Democrats’ ‘‘Washington In light of these many problems at Who made America,
knows best,’’ Big Government philos- the Agency associated with Ms. Boyle’s Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and
pain,
ophy, and why we will continue to leadership, I think her confirmation Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in
fight to make sure that Americans’ will be a mistake, and I think my the rain,
right to run their own lives and shape Democratic colleagues and the admin- Must [make] our . . . dream [live] again.
their own destinies is protected.
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istration will come to regret this deci- O, yes, I say it plain,
I yield the floor. sion. America never was America to me,
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- I suggest the absence of a quorum. And yet I swear this oath—
ator from Mississippi. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. COR- America will be!
NOMINATION OF MARY T. BOYLE TEZ MASTO). The clerk will call the I lean on poetry and song today just
Mr. WICKER. Madam President, in a roll. to get myself up in the morning. I have
few moments, the Senate will vote on The legislative clerk proceeded to seen how artists have come to visit us
the confirmation of Mary Boyle to be a call the roll. here in the Capitol and Senators from
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