March 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S975 The question is, Is it the sense of the the people who make this country or executive compensation explodes, Senate that debate on the nomination work were obvious to all of us—to the and wages stagnate, and the middle of Cecilia Elena Rouse, of New Jersey, Presiding Officer who is on the com- class continues to shrink. to be Chairman of the Council of Eco- mittee, to Republicans, to Democrats Building Back Better—that is what nomic Advisers, shall be brought to a alike. Joe Biden is about, building back. That close? After a year when Black Americans is what Cecilia Rouse is all about. The yeas and nays are mandatory have endured so many painful remind- Building Back Better means taking on under the rule. ers of the yawning gap between the that system. It means creating an The clerk will call the roll. promise of our founding ideals, it is economy, creating an economy where The bill clerk called the roll. meaningful that our committee’s first hard work pays off for everyone, no Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is nomination—our first nomination com- matter who you are, what kind of work necessarily absent: the Senator from mittee hearing in the Banking, Hous- you do, with a growing middle class Tennessee (Mrs. BLACKBURN). ing, and Urban Affairs Committee— that everyone can aspire to; everyone The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there consider the nomination of two out- has a chance to join. any other Senators in the Chamber de- standing Black women who will take This won’t be the first time Dr. siring to vote? leading roles in our economic recovery: Rouse has helped us weather a crisis. The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 94, Dr. Rouse, and my Congresswoman, my She served on the Council of Economic nays 5, as follows: Congresswoman in Cleveland, MARCIA Advisers in 2009, after the George Bush [Rollcall Vote No. 71 Ex.] FUDGE. recession, during the Great Recession. YEAS—94 This matters on so many levels. It is Dr. Rouse has spent her career focus- important for our future that little ing on workers and ensuring that this Baldwin Hagerty Portman Barrasso Hassan Reed girls, including Black and Brown girls, economy works for everyone. Her ex- Bennet Hawley Risch see themselves in our leaders, from the pertise, her leadership will guide this Blumenthal Heinrich Romney Vice President to our economic lead- administration and Congress, as we get Blunt Hickenlooper Rosen to work not only to recover from this Booker Hirono ers. It matters because of the perspec- Rounds tives and the life experiences these two pandemic but to build a better—just a Boozman Hoeven Rubio Braun Hyde-Smith Sanders women—these two Black women—bring better economy for the future. Brown Inhofe Sasse to these jobs. For too long, American workers Burr Johnson Schatz Cantwell Kaine Dr. Rouse has family ties in my haven’t had anyone on their side in the Capito Kelly Schumer State, roots deep into the Mahoning White House. That ends now. We saw it Cardin Kennedy Scott (SC) Valley and Youngstown, and a real un- on Sunday night, with the strongest Shaheen Carper King derstanding of the people who make statement from a President of the Casey Klobuchar Shelby Cassidy Lankford Sinema this country work—all people. United States in support of union orga- Collins Leahy Smith The Council of Economic Advisers nizing that we have seen in my life- Coons Lee Stabenow will also play a key role both in help- time. We see it in President Biden’s Cornyn Luja´ n Sullivan Cortez Masto Manchin Tester ing our economy recover and in build- choice of Dr. Rouse to help guide our Cramer Markey Thune ing a better economic system out of economy and guide this rescue. Crapo Marshall Tillis this pandemic. Dr. Rouse is exactly Cecilia Rouse understands we have Cruz McConnell Toomey whom we need at the helm. She will the power to change how the economy Daines Menendez Van Hollen help direct our Nation’s economic pol- works. It rewards work instead of re- Duckworth Merkley Warner Durbin Moran Warnock icy to put Americans back to work at warding wealth. We create more jobs at Ernst Murkowski Warren better jobs with higher wages. middle-class wages. We expand eco- Feinstein Murphy Whitehouse Millions of Americans are still out of nomic security and opportunity for ev- Fischer Murray Wicker Gillibrand Ossoff work. Those job losses have dispropor- eryone. And we create a better system Graham Padilla Wyden tionately fallen on low-wage workers, that honors the dignity of all workers. Young Grassley Peters Black and Brown workers, and women. I suggest the absence of a quorum. NAYS—5 Three million women—three million The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Cotton Paul Tuberville women have been forced out of the paid clerk will call the roll. Lummis Scott (FL) labor force. At the same time, essential The legislative clerk proceeded to roll. NOT VOTING—1 workers are risking their health to go to work, while corporations still Mr. LEE. Madam President, I ask Blackburn refuse, in far too many cases, to pay unanimous consent that the order for The PRESIDING OFFICER. The yeas them a living wage. the quorum call be rescinded. are 94, the nays are 5. The minimum wage hasn’t been The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The motion is agreed to. raised in 14 years. Year after year— objection, it is so ordered. f year after year, Republicans in this UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S.J. RES. 7 EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Senate and the White House profess to Mr. LEE. Madam President, the care about the working people in the Minor Consent for Vaccinations The PRESIDING OFFICER. The heartland of this country, but they Amendment Act of 2020 is a measure clerk will report the nomination. refuse to give them a raise while they adopted by the District of Columbia The bill clerk read the nomination of funnel tax cuts to the CEOs. that would allow for children 11 years Cecilia Elena Rouse, of New Jersey, to My first speech in this body was in old and older to consent on their own, be Chairman of the Council of Eco- January 2007. Sitting in the chair that without their parents’ knowledge or nomic Advisers. Senator SINEMA now sits in was Illinois acquiescence or consent, to being vac- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- freshman Democrat, Barack Obama. He cinated. They could receive a vaccine, ator from Ohio. was not even running for President at contrary to the wishes of their parents NOMINATIONS that point. Since we last raised the or without them even knowing. Mr. BROWN. Madam President, a minimum wage, he was President 8 Young children don’t necessarily month after Janet Yellen made history years and out of office for more than 4. know their own medical histories, their as the first woman to serve as Sec- That is how long. So while Republicans families’ medical histories, potential retary of the Treasury, today we are refuse to give raises, they funnel huge allergies, nor do they have the adult about to confirm another woman to tax cuts to CEOs. judgment that is sometimes needed to step into a leading role in our econ- It is part of the same corporate elite make an informed decision as to con- omy, Cecilia Rouse. mindset that treats American workers sent for a particular medical procedure When she came before the Banking as expendable instead of treating them or treatment or even vaccination, and Housing Committee, Dr. Rouse’s as essential to our country’s success. which is exactly why parents make knowledge of our economy and her pas- And we have seen the results: The healthcare decisions on behalf of their sion for service and her commitment to stock market goes up, corporate profits own children.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:46 Mar 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02MR6.019 S01MRPT2 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S976 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 2, 2021 Parents play the most important role The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- it is a simple issue of basic fairness. in caring for the health of their chil- ator from Delaware. For a Nation whose founding mantra— dren. Moms and dads are at the heart Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I re- ‘‘no taxation without representa- of their children’s education and care, spect the views of my colleagues. I re- tion’’—inspired the longest running ex- and it is crucial that they be able to spect the views of this colleague espe- periment in democracy, we should all make decisions about what kind of cially, and he knows that. We don’t al- be concerned that today more than healthcare is best for them and about ways agree on everything or even, 700,000 tax-paying Americans, over two- the timing of it and certainly that they maybe, most things, but I think it is thirds of whom are people of color, con- be not only able to make the decision important we be able to find ways to tinue to be denied a vote here in this but also that they be aware of it in the disagree without being disagreeable. body. first place. I understand that the senior Senator Our Nation’s Capital is home to more The DC legislation that I referenced from Utah is here today because he dis- than just monuments and museums. It a moment ago goes so far as to hide agrees with a particular policy. That is is a home to American families who go children’s vaccinations from their own certainly his right, his prerogative. He to work, to Americans who start busi- parents, even after it has occurred, in is welcome to register his views, as we nesses, to Americans who pay their other words. This information is with- all are. taxes, to Americans who serve our held from the parents. It requires doc- For instance, we have heard our country in times of war and peace, and tors, nurses, insurance companies, and friend from Utah defend the principles to Americans who are still denied rep- even public schools to conceal their of limited government and our system resentation. Again, it is home to vet- children’s vaccinations from their par- of federalism on this floor many times. erans and servicemembers who have ents. I have heard him and other colleagues signed up to protect our freedoms, who It would also fly in the face of par- of ours argue with passion that the have risked their lives for our country ents who may have religious beliefs Federal Government should not be in and are still denied the ability to have causing them to object to vaccinations the business of interfering in State or a say in our Nation’s future. It is home or who have made the decision for their local matters. to the hundreds of Capitol Police offi- children to forgo, either on a long-term Yet here we are, as our Republican cers who come to work every day in basis or for a particular period of time, colleagues try to tell a local govern- the Nation’s Capital to keep us safe certain vaccinations—like the HPV ment, once again, what it can and can- and are still denied a vote in the very vaccine, for example. not do. The Senator from Utah has in- institution they protect. Furthermore, it would pave the way troduced a resolution that seeks to For generations, those who call the for allowing children to consent to overturn a law passed by the duly District of Columbia home have been other types of medical treatment with- elected council of the District of Co- denied the right to fully participate in out parental knowledge down the road, lumbia. our democracy, and that is why we are other treatments in other contexts I am not here to debate the merits of here today. That is why our Republican that might have long-lasting, signifi- this law. After all, I was not elected by colleagues can call this vote to silence cant impacts on their health. the people living in the District of Co- the decisions made by local leaders Look, as a parent myself and as lumbia. In fact, no one, as far as I that DC residents have voted into of- someone who, as a parent, believes in know, in this room was elected by the fice. That is why they can exercise this vaccinations, I think it is imperative people of the District of Columbia. Federal overreach here today. to realize that regardless of how you, But the reason that these Senators I said at the beginning of my re- in particular, feel about vaccines, even have the ability to try to overturn a marks that my colleagues and I don’t if, like me, you support the idea of law passed by the local DC government always agree on everything, but we do being vaccinated and having your chil- is that the over 700,000 individuals who agree on quite a bit. But I strongly dren vaccinated, remember that there call the District of Columbia home agree and want to associate myself are those who don’t share those views, continue to be denied full representa- with the words of Senator MIKE LEE in, and remember that separate and apart tion in Congress—in fact, any represen- I think it was 2018, just a couple of from their views, there are some people tation here in the U.S. Senate. years ago. He said then: whose family histories and personal Under current law, Congress reviews We should allow each unique community medical experience might reveal some all legislation passed by the DC Coun- to develop unique solutions according to the tendency toward a reaction, an idio- cil before it can become law. The Dis- unique local preferences, and leave it at syncratic reaction that could be harm- trict of Columbia is not allowed to that. ful. In some circumstances the timing even control its own budget. The Let me just repeat that. of a vaccination can also be important. Mayor of DC cannot even deploy the We should allow each unique community These are all considerations that a par- men and women of the National Guard to develop unique solutions according to ent ought to be able to make, and in in case of emergency, a right every unique local preferences, and leave it at every jurisdiction that respects the other State executive can utilize. If that. independence of parental rights, these this were the case for any other State I could not agree more. I think it is ought to be decisions that are made by or local government, there would right- incumbent upon all of us who care parents and certainly ought not be de- fully be an outcry from the citizens of deeply for our democracy and the cisions made by children as young as 11 that State or local government. rights of all Americans to take up the years old without their parents’ con- I don’t believe that our colleague cause of our fellow citizens in the Dis- sent or even their knowledge. from Utah would take kindly to me or trict of Columbia and use our voices to In light of these concerns, as in legis- any of us in this body telling the city call out this historic injustice and fi- lative session, I ask unanimous consent council in, say, Salt Lake City—a city nally right this wrong. that the Committee on Homeland Se- with just under 200,000 residents—what With that, I stand opposed to Senator curity and Governmental Affairs be laws they could or could not pass, and LEE’s joint resolution. discharged from further consideration he would be right. He would be right. I yield the floor. of S.J. Res. 7 and that the Senate pro- Luckily, the people of Salt Lake City The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there ceed to its immediate consideration. I have a Senator who has come to Wash- objection? further ask that the joint resolution be ington, speaks his mind on the Senate Mr. CARPER. Objection. considered read a third time and passed floor, and votes to advance the inter- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- and that the motion to reconsider be ests of not just Salt Lake City citizens tion is heard. considered made and laid upon the but the rest of Utah as well. I think The Senator from Utah. table. that is really, in its essence, all that Mr. LEE. Madam President, I appre- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there the people of Washington, DC, are look- ciate the thoughtful words of my friend objection? ing for. and distinguished colleague, the Sen- Mr. CARPER. Reserving the right to For me, the issue of DC statehood is ator from Delaware. I am grateful any- object. not a Democratic or Republican issue; time someone is willing to recognize

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Mar 03, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02MR6.022 S01MRPT2 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE March 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S977 that I have been a consistent champion make his or her own choice and not fortable with this policy being adopted of federalism and localism, self-rule. only deprive a child’s parents from in your State—you have not only every He and I agree that those principles being able to make that decision but right and every authority, but I believe are important. My friend from Dela- also be able to deprive that child’s par- you have a moral obligation to stand ware, being a former Governor himself, ents from ever even learning about it. up to this piece of legislation. Do not understands the sovereignty of the These things are sometimes not with- let this kick in on March 18. This is States and the need to respect their out consequence. wrong. It is not something we have to judgment. Imagine, for example, a circumstance accept, and it is certainly not some- This is a different circumstance here in which the parents are aware of some thing that the Constitution even al- than that. This would absolutely be in- particular medical condition, a medical lows, much less compels. appropriate for us, in any other cir- procedure that this child has recently I yield the floor. cumstance, to tell a State or any polit- had. Imagine circumstances in which a The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MUR- ical subdivision of any State—a city, child’s siblings or the child him or her- PHY). The Senator from West Virginia. town, a county, any other subunit of self had previously reacted to a par- TRIBUTE TO DONNA BOLEY one of our 50 sovereign States—it ticular vaccination in a particular way Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, today I would be inappropriate for us to weigh or imagine a circumstance in which re- rise to speak on a couple of topics, but in on a local policy issue like this. It ligious considerations come into play. first, I want to take this opportunity is, in fact, part of our constitutional Do we really want to deprive parents of to thank really an icon in our State, design that each State and each com- the ability to make that decision? and that is West Virginia State Senate munity within each State needs to be I am not aware of any State legisla- Pro Tempore Donna Boley. She is a able to express itself and make its own ture that would make that choice. I good friend of mine, and she is now in decisions based on its own unique pref- certainly hope they wouldn’t. But re- her 10th term. She is the longest con- erences. gardless, and even though this would tinuously serving member in our Here is a very significant difference not be our choice, this would not be State’s State senate. At one point in with respect to the District of Colum- within our authority if it were not history, Donna Boley was the only Re- bia. It has its own provision of the Con- within the District of Columbia and, publican. She was the ranking member stitution—in fact, its own clause in ar- therefore, within our plenary legisla- on every single committee and the lead ticle I, section 8, known as the enclave tive jurisdiction under the enclave Republican, as she was the only one in clause. This provision, found in article clause to make this decision from Con- the early nineties. I want to thank her for her service, I, section 8, clause 17, gives Congress gress. It is our decision here because, for her service to our State, which exclusive legislative jurisdiction over at the end of the day, the DC govern- began in 1985, and wish her all the best what we now call the District of Co- ment itself is acting on authority dele- as she presides today—she is presiding lumbia. It wasn’t called that in 1787, gated to it by the Congress. when they wrote this. It hadn’t yet So whether you like it or not, wheth- today—over the West Virginia State been designed, created, but it described er you like, in the abstract, the idea of Senate. So, Donna, way to go. Really proud of the area to be created out of land do- localism either as embodied in fed- you. You are a role model for every nated by one or more States, no more eralism or even more generally than woman who is watching and certainly than 10 miles square that would serve that, you can’t escape the fact that young girls as well. as the seat of our national government. under our constitutional system, we CORONAVIRUS There was an understanding the are the lawmaker for DC, no less than Mr. President, I also rise to join my Founding Fathers had that the seat of any State’s legislature is the legisla- colleagues to discuss the Democrats’ government ought not be under the tive body for that State. If you choose control of any single State, but rather so-called COVID–19 relief package. not to decide here, you still have made Prior to this past round, Congress it ought to be in a special status. To a choice. You still have made a choice has been delivering much needed relief, that end, the Founding Fathers put ul- to approve of that legislative body as you know—five times since the be- timate legislative jurisdiction in the stripping away critical protections, ginning of this pandemic—with bipar- hands of Congress, not in that district critical rights that parents have. We tisan support. itself, not in the hands of the States have made that decision not just be- In this last month, my Republican that donated the land to create it, but cause it sounds like the right thing to colleagues and I put forth a targeted in Congress. do, but anyone who has ever been a proposal, presented to President Biden Now, the DC Home Rule Act, of parent understands that it has to be in the Oval Office. He invited 10 of us course, gives substantial authority to the parent’s choice. A parent has to be over, and we had a great discussion. It the DC City Council and Mayor. As it in a position of making these decisions wasn’t just a plan, but it was a plan to relates to this legislation, it gives the and, at least, for crying out loud, be work together, to be united and move DC government 30 business days after made aware of this. This takes away forward in an area that we have had the passage and enrollment of this leg- not only their authority or their rights great bipartisan consensus. islation, and in that 30 business-day pe- but even their awareness of what has Let’s be clear. We don’t disagree on riod, Congress has the ability to dis- happened to their child. the need for continued relief and re- approve of that legislation, which So, yes, I understand the concerns of sources, but it needs to be done in a would stop it from being implemented localism. They simply don’t apply here. targeted way. Throwing money ran- when it is set to take effect on March Under our constitutional system, domly will not fix it, especially when 18. under the Constitution itself, the docu- some of these funds that are still being Let’s remember what we are talking ment to which we all have sworn an spent—that we speak of right now about here. We are talking about the oath to uphold, protect, and defend, haven’t been spent yet. And taking the most basic fundamental choice that a this is not a State decision. opportunity to spend on favorite parent has relative to his or her child: To the extent it is a decision for the projects is not the intention of a the authority and the discretion to de- DC government, for the DC City Coun- COVID relief package. cide when, whether, how, and under cil, and Mayor, that is authority that In December of 2020—that wasn’t that what circumstances and what time cer- we have delegated to the District, and long ago, 2 months ago—we passed the tain medical procedures may be per- it is authority that is ultimately ours. most recent recovery efforts, which formed on the child. You might dis- We are ultimately answerable to the amounted to approximately $900 billion agree with the medical judgment of a people, to those who have elected us, to in relief funds. President Biden’s relief particular parent and at a particular make sure that is exercised respon- plan takes none of that into consider- moment, but I am not aware of any sibly. ation. They don’t take into full ac- State that would make the decision on So if you don’t like the fact that we count a sufficient understanding that a statewide basis to take this choice are doing this—for that matter, if you the impacts of that bill from just 2 away from parents and to say that a don’t like the policy of this, if you as months ago have yet to be felt. In- child as young as 11 years old could a State lawmaker wouldn’t be com- stead, it force-feeds funds and radical

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