March 3, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1031 the first time in almost a decade, even as children younger than age 10 say child care SENATE RESOLUTION 88—RE- women continued to face unjust gender and is one of their top 3 challenges during the QUESTING THAT THE PRESIDENT racial wage gaps; COVID–19 pandemic; TRANSMIT TO THE SENATE NOT Whereas 2,300,000 women have left the Whereas, in 2019, before the COVID–19 pan- labor force since the beginning of the demic hit the United States, there were LATER THAN 14 DAYS AFTER COVID–19 pandemic, including 275,000 who roughly 9,700,000 working mothers with a THE DATE OF THE ADOPTION OF exited in January 2021; child younger than age 6; THIS RESOLUTION DOCUMENTS Whereas participation by women in the Whereas 95 percent of the child care work- IN THE POSSESSION OF THE labor force was less than 55 percent in April force is comprised of women, and yet nearly PRESIDENT RELATING TO THE 2020 for the first time since 1986, in part be- 2⁄3 of child care workers with children report cause of the child care crisis caused by the AMOUNT OF FUNDING PRE- problems with accessing public support pro- VIOUSLY ENACTED UNDER CER- COVID–19 pandemic; grams and often struggle to afford high-qual- Whereas participation by women age 20 ity child care for their own families; TAIN PUBLIC LAWS AND CUR- and older in the labor force fell to a 33-year Whereas 60 percent of businesses in the RENTLY UNSPENT low in January 2021, hitting 57 percent; child care industry are minority-owned; Whereas women— Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, (1) have suffered the majority of pandemic- Whereas a significant investment in child Ms. ERNST, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. YOUNG, related job losses; and care would be simultaneously job creating (2) have lost over 5,400,000 net jobs since and job enabling, creating care jobs and sup- Mr. HAGERTY, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. CRUZ, February 2020, and account for 55 percent of porting parental employment, both of which Mr. BRAUN, Mr. ROUNDS, and Mr. overall net job loss since the start of the would benefit women; HOEVEN) submitted the following reso- COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas women of color are disproportion- Whereas 86 percent of net jobs lost in De- ately represented in many frontline indus- lution; which was referred to the Com- cember 2020 were jobs held by women, with tries that also lack critical benefits such as mittee on Homeland Security and Gov- women losing 196,000 jobs during that month; paid sick leave and flexibility to telework, ernmental Affairs: Whereas mothers in the prime of their including food services, hospitality, retail, S. RES. 88 working lives have paid an especially high and social assistance; price, with mothers ages 25 to 54 experi- Whereas the unprecedented burdens of Whereas the national debt of the United encing a 5.7-percentage point decline in em- child care, work, and remote learning have States is $27,900,000,000,000; ployment since the COVID–19 pandemic strained the mental and emotional health of Whereas this represents $223,441 in debt per began, compared to a 3.1 percentage-point mothers; and taxpayer; decline for fathers in the same age group; Whereas access to paid leave during the Where Congress appropriated over Whereas women are overrepresented in COVID–19 pandemic has been linked to a re- $4,000,000,000,000 on a bipartisan basis to ad- low-wage jobs and underrepresented in high- duction in the spread of COVID–19 by as dress COVID–19 during 2020; wage jobs; many as 15,000 new cases per day where peo- Whereas Congress passed additional Whereas employment in the bottom quar- ple were able to use the leave, such that paid COVID–19 relief legislation as part of the bi- tile of the wage distribution has declined by leave has prevented the compounded 17 percent since February 2020, far exceeding partisan-bicameral omnibus COVID–19 relief the overall employment decline of 6.5 per- stressors of countless evictions, hospitaliza- deal on December 21, 2020; cent; tions, and hungry children: Now, therefore, Whereas the latest reports from the Con- Whereas wages for women are key to the be it gressional Budget Office indicate that a sub- economic security of the families of such Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate stantial portion of funds previously allocated women; that— remain unspent; Whereas women of color play a particu- (1) mothers, especially mothers of color, Whereas Congress needs reliable informa- larly vital role in the financial stability of have been pushed to the brink of economic, tion on unspent funds before it should con- their families, and any disruption to their social, and emotional collapse during the sider allocating additional dollars; earnings can be detrimental to the welfare of COVID–19 pandemic because of the existing Whereas, according to Center for a Respon- their families; economic and social inequalities that women sible Federal Budget, the proposed American Whereas the absence of affordable child have long faced; Rescue Plan allocates less than 10 percent of care exacerbates inequality by severely in- (2) any relief and long-term recovery pack- its total funding to directly combat COVID– hibiting low-income parents from attaining age to address the COVID–19 crisis should 19 needs; promotions and higher salaries; recognize and rebuild moms in the work- Whereas, according to the Congressional Whereas child nutrition is strongly linked force, in order to secure meaningful and sus- Budget Office, the level of spending in the to the employment status of mothers, such tainable economic recovery, by including, at proposed American Rescue Plan is at least 3 that almost 1 in 4 children experienced food a minimum— times the size of the output shortfall in our insecurity in 2020 at the same time that (A) a robust paid leave plan, which is es- mothers experienced work disruptions or un- economy, which will lead to higher inflation; sential to securing the physical health and employment that led to income loss; and Whereas work interruptions caused by financial health of families, including emer- Whereas, almost half of the American Res- school closures and child care closures have gency paid leave policies that would create a cue Plan would not be spent until fiscal year disproportionately impacted women, forcing path toward permanent paid leave solutions; 2022 or later, with at least $140,000,000,000 not women to reduce work hours, take a leave of (B) the means to rebuild and stabilize the being spent until fiscal year 2024 or later: absence, or permanently leave the work- child care industry, which is essential to eco- Now, therefore, be it force; nomic recovery and bolstering women in the labor force; Resolved, That the President is requested Whereas, without reliable and affordable to transmit to the Senate not later than 14 child care, mothers who have left the work- (C) major investments in our education days after the date of the adoption of this force will not be able to return to work, systems, which must be made in order to since such mothers often cannot pay for safely reopen schools and campuses, pro- resolution documents in the possession of child care without the income made from viding funding to support and protect the the President relating to the amount of going back to work; safety and health of educators, support staff, funding previously enacted and currently Whereas essential workers who are single students, and families; unspent provided under the following laws: parents face additional challenges and great- (D) recurring child benefits, and expanded (1) The Coronavirus Preparedness and Re- er financial burden due to needing affordable and improved child tax credit and earned in- sponse Supplemental Appropriations Act, child care; come tax credit to help reduce child poverty 2020 (Public Law 116–123). Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has exac- and provide economic security for families; (2) The Families First Coronavirus Re- erbated existing stigmas against working (E) an expanded unemployment insurance sponse Act (Public Law 116–127). mothers that falsely assume that their role program that benefits struggling workers, (3) The CARES Act (Public Law 116–136). as caregivers will negatively impact their including those experiencing long-term un- (4) The Paycheck Protection Program and work performance; employment; and Health Care Enhancement Act (Public Law Whereas mothers forced to permanently (F) access to mental health support for 116–139). mothers, which is essential to maintaining leave the workforce or reduce work hours be- (5) Division N (relating to additional the health of the family; and cause of the COVID–19 pandemic are experi- coronavirus response and relief) of the Con- encing career trajectory disruptions that (3) employers and policymakers in the solidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public lower their lifetime earnings potential and United States must prioritize addressing the Law 116–260). endanger their future Social Security earn- economic cliff facing mothers, and make per- ings and other potential retirement income; manent the aforementioned policies so that Whereas child care is a lifeline for working mothers are protected against any future mothers, and over 75 percent of mothers with economic calamities.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:28 Mar 04, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03MR6.032 S03MRPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S1032 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 3, 2021 SENATE RESOLUTION 89—HON- Whereas, in 1995, President of Portugal and parents deal with personal trauma as ORING THE HUMANITARIAN Mario Soares posthumously bestowed on well as tragedies in their communities and WORK OF DR. ARISTIDES DE Sousa Mendes the Grand Cross of the Order the United States; SOUSA MENDES DO AMARAL E of Christ; Whereas students face myriad challenges Whereas, in 2017, President of Portugal every day, including peer pressure, bullying, ABRANCHES TO SAVE THE LIVES Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa posthumously be- mental health issues, the deployment of fam- OF FRENCH JEWS AND OTHER stowed on Sousa Mendes Portugal’s highest ily members to serve in conflicts overseas, PERSONS DURING THE HOLO- honor, the Grand Cross of the Order of Lib- and school violence; CAUST erty; Whereas a school counselor is one of the Mr. ROMNEY (for himself and Mr. Whereas, in 2020, the Parliament of Por- few professionals in a school building who is tugal unanimously voted to memorialize trained in both education and social and MURPHY) submitted the following reso- Sousa Mendes in the National Pantheon in emotional development; lution; which was referred to the Com- Lisbon; and Whereas the roles and responsibilities of mittee on the Judiciary: Whereas, in 2020, on the 80th anniversary of school counselors are often misunderstood; S. RES. 89 his heroism, the United States Commission Whereas the school counselor position is Whereas Nazi Germany invaded France on for the Preservation of America’s Heritage often among the first to be eliminated to May 10, 1940, and after brief but intense hos- Abroad initiated commemorations in honor meet budgetary constraints; tilities, secured the surrender of France on of Sousa Mendes in Bordeaux, France, and Whereas the national average ratio of stu- June 22, 1940; Portugal: Now, therefore, be it dents to school counselors is 430 to 1, almost Whereas, as a consequence of the Nazi con- Resolved, That the Senate— twice the 250 to 1 ratio recommended by the quest, the lives of French Jews and Jewish (1) honors and salutes the humanitarian American School Counselor Association, the and non-Jewish persons of other nationali- and principled work of Dr. Aristides de Sousa National Association for College Admission ties seeking refuge in France were put in Mendes do Amaral e Abranches, Consul of Counseling, and other organizations; and grave and imminent danger; Portugal in Bordeaux, France, for acting Whereas the celebration of National Whereas many thousands of those persons with great courage and at personal risk to School Counseling Week will increase aware- fled to Bordeaux, France, and elsewhere in issue transit visas to French Jews and other ness of the important and necessary role southwest France, seeking to traverse Spain persons, sparing them from Nazi occupation school counselors play in the lives of stu- and escape to Portugal; and the Holocaust, thus saving many thou- dents in the United States: Now, therefore, Whereas, in 1939, the Government of Por- sands of innocent lives; be it tugal under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar (2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to Resolved, That the Senate— issued Circular 14, which sharply restricted transmit copies of this resolution to the (1) designates the week of February 1 the availability of visas to displaced persons; President; and through 5, 2021, as ‘‘National School Coun- Whereas the Consul General of Portugal in (3) requests that the President transmit a seling Week’’; and Bordeaux was Dr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes copy of this resolution to the President of (2) encourages the people of the United do Amaral e Abranches; Portugal and the President of the Assembly States to observe National School Coun- Whereas, in June 1940, confronting a hu- of the Republic of Portugal. seling Week with appropriate ceremonies manitarian crisis and in defiance of Circular f and activities that promote awareness of the role school counselors play in schools and 14, Sousa Mendes, assisted principally by his SENATE RESOLUTION 90—DESIG- diplomatic colleagues Jose de Seabra, the community at large in preparing stu- Manuel de Vieira Braga, and Emile Gissot, NATING THE WEEK OF FEB- dents for fulfilling lives as contributing issued without charge tens of thousands of RUARY 1 THROUGH 5, 2021, AS members of society. visas, including thousands to fleeing Jews; ‘‘NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING f Whereas Sousa Mendes reportedly stated, WEEK’’ SENATE RESOLUTION 91—SUP- ‘‘I declare that I shall give, free of charge, a Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Ms. COL- visa to whosoever shall request it. My desire PORTING THE GOALS AND LINS, Mr. MERKLEY, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, is to be with God against Man rather than IDEALS OF ‘‘CAREER AND TECH- Mr. MARKEY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. with Man and against God.’’; NICAL EDUCATION MONTH’’ Whereas those visas, as well as Sousa BLUMENTHAL, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. STABE- Mendes’ personal intervention at the border NOW, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. VAN Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. between France and Spain, enabled the refu- HOLLEN, Mr. KING, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. PORTMAN, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. YOUNG, gees to reach safety in Portugal; BALDWIN, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BROWN, Mr. Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. BENNET, Mrs. Whereas, in July 1940, the Government of HEINRICH, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. PETERS, BLACKBURN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. Portugal under Oliveira Salazar responded and Ms. ROSEN) submitted the fol- BOOZMAN, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. BROWN, Ms. by recalling Sousa Mendes, dismissing Sousa lowing resolution; which was consid- CANTWELL, Mr. CARPER, Mr. CASEY, Mr. Mendes later from active diplomatic service, COONS, Mr. CORNYN, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, and subjecting him to economic retribution ered and agreed to: and subsequent ostracism; S. RES. 90 Mr. CRAMER, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. DAINES, Whereas, in 1941, Sousa Mendes explained, Whereas school counselors are more impor- Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. ‘‘In truth, I disobeyed, but my disobedience tant now than ever, as the COVID–19 pan- ERNST, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. FISCHER, does not dishonor me. I chose to defy an demic has magnified the mental health crisis Ms. HASSAN, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HOEVEN, order that to me represented the persecution among the youth of our Nation; Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. of true castaways who sought with all their Whereas the American School Counselor KING, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. MANCHIN, strength to be saved from Hitler’s wrath. Association has designated February 1 Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MURPHY, Mrs. MUR- Above the order, for me, was God’s law, and through 5, 2021, as ‘‘National School Coun- RAY, Mr. PETERS, Mr. RISCH, Mr. ROM- that’s the one I have always sought to ad- seling Week’’; here to without hesitation. The true lesson Whereas school counselors have long advo- NEY, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. of Christianity is to love one’s neighbor.’’; cated for equitable opportunities for all stu- RUBIO, Mr. SANDERS, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Whereas, in 1954, Sousa Mendes died penni- dents; Ms. SMITH, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. THUNE, less in Lisbon, Portugal, under the cloud of Whereas school counselors help develop Mr. TILLIS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WAR- the discipline imposed for his defiance; well-rounded students by guiding students NER, Mr. WICKER, Mr. WYDEN, and Mr. Whereas, in 1966, Yad Vashem recognized through academic learning, social and emo- SCOTT of South Carolina) submitted Sousa Mendes as a Righteous Among the Na- tional development, and career exploration; the following resolution; which was tions for his selfless efforts to save Jewish Whereas personal and social growth can considered and agreed to: lives at personal risk to himself, making help lead to increased academic achieve- Sousa Mendes the first of a number of diplo- ment; S. RES. 91 matic rescuers to be so honored; Whereas school counselors play a vital role Whereas a competitive global economy re- Whereas, in 1988, the United States Senate in ensuring that students are ready for both quires workers who are prepared for skilled passed Senate Resolution 270, 110th Congress, college and careers; professions; agreed to June 23, 1988, to commemorate Whereas school counselors play a vital role Whereas 3,000,000 workers will be needed Sousa Mendes’ humanitarian efforts; in making students aware of opportunities for the United States’ infrastructure in the Whereas, in 1986, President of Portugal for financial aid and college scholarships; next several years, including designing, Mario Soares posthumously rehabilitated Whereas school counselors assist with and building, and operating transportation, hous- Sousa Mendes, decorating Sousa Mendes as coordinate efforts to foster a positive school ing, utilities, and telecommunications; an Officer of the Order of Liberty; climate, resulting in a safer learning envi- Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has dis- Whereas, in 1988, the Parliament of Por- ronment for all students; placed millions of workers in the United tugal posthumously granted Sousa Mendes Whereas school counselors have been in- States and fundamentally shifted entire in- the status of Ambassador; strumental in helping students, teachers, dustries within foundational aspects of the

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