[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 21, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2091-S2092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Infrastructure

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, before making a comment related to Vanita 
Gupta, which is before the Senate, I would like to respond briefly to 
the minority leader Senator McConnell's remarks.
  The Senate is a venerable institution, but when it comes to defining 
infrastructure in the 21st century, what we are hearing from the other 
side of the aisle is not venerable thinking. It

[[Page S2092]]

isn't even old-fashioned thinking. It isn't in tune with the times in 
America. It doesn't reflect reality.
  For the Republicans to argue that unless it is bricks and mortar, the 
government shouldn't be involved in building it for the good of the 
economy and the strength of business and good-paying jobs really is 
sinking their head deep into the sand.
  And I think we ought to make a record, at least for the moment, that 
in the last 4 years of the last Presidential administration, there were 
no infrastructure bills--none. After all the promises of the Trump 
campaign and what he would bring, nothing happened--nothing. So to be 
lectured by the Republicans about what infrastructure is all about is 
to suggest to them that they missed a golden opportunity to help 
America, and we are not going to miss it.
  To think that the Republican definition of infrastructure in America 
does not include the expansion of broadband coverage across this 
Nation--what are they thinking? Their minds are back 10 and 20 years 
ago.
  Is broadband coverage for all Americans in every corner of this 
country a socialist idea to the Republicans? I think it is a 
commonsense idea to the people of America. They know it when their kids 
have laptops, and they have to sit in the parking lot of a library or 
next to a McDonald's or Starbucks in order to get access. They know 
what that means to their child, to their student in terms of their 
progress. Businesses know it too.
  Try to advertise some section of America without access to broadband 
coverage to locate a new business. It is a laughing matter, and we know 
it.
  So when President Biden suggests that broadband is part of 
infrastructure in America and then he is mocked as being a socialist by 
the Republicans, we have a clear definition of where the party values 
are today.
  When it comes to other basic things, the Senator from Kentucky just 
doesn't empathize with what families go through to put people on the 
job. It isn't just a matter of finding a good job and being qualified 
to fill that job. There is also a family concern--a family concern that 
can literally make a difference as to whether you take that job.
  The Democrats believe that childcare--affordable quality childcare--
is part of the equation in terms of good-paying jobs being filled by 
Americans, where families want to be sure their kids are safe.
  Is that socialism? Is that another example of socialism for the 
Republicans--quality daycare, affordable for families? It is not 
socialism in my book. It is a family value. That is why I think the 
efforts of the Republicans to run down President Biden's attempts to 
strengthen this economy really are antiquated and perhaps not in the 
best interest of this country.