[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5090-S5091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Simone Biles

  Mr. President, on an unrelated topic, over this past week, the 
Olympics have been an inspiring display of global unity and friendly 
competition.

[[Page S5091]]

  The champions representing America have taken Tokyo by storm. We have 
won 25 medals, 9 gold medals so far. But earlier today, we received 
word that one of our great athletes, Simone Biles, was taking a step 
back from today's competition. In announcing her decision, she cited 
the need to ``focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health 
and wellbeing.''
  There is no doubt that this is one of the hardest decisions Ms. Biles 
has had to make in her young life, but it is not only what she viewed 
as the right decision, it was a courageous decision.
  She is the most decorated gymnast in America's history. She is an 
inspiration to millions of aspiring athletes and fans around the globe. 
And she is by all means a living legend. But she is also a human, a 
young woman who today had the courage to step forward and share her 
humanity with the world. She is an inspiration to all of us, on or off 
the mat, in competition or not in competition.
  Over the past 18 months, the pandemic has compelled each of us to 
appreciate our common humanity. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of too 
many friends and family members. It has prevented us from coming 
together with people we cherish, and it has put many of our plans on 
hold. It has caused and compounded unimaginable stress, and it has 
exacted an unimaginable toll. Job loss, not enough food on the table, 
hardship, paying bills, racial injustice, all of these stressors on 
life have been magnified.
  So if we can learn from Simone Biles' example today, it is that 
everyone has a burden to carry, and the pandemic has made many of these 
burdens heavier, especially for working families.
  I happen to think we have a responsibility--if we can--to help each 
other carry those burdens. Here in Congress, we--as lawmakers--have the 
power to help people. For the single mother who lost her job waiting 
tables because of the pandemic, we have the power to help her pay her 
utility bills. For the recent graduate struggling to afford student 
loan payments and health insurance, we have the power to make their 
life more affordable. For the owner of a coffee shop who is considering 
laying off employees to stay in business, we have the power to help him 
keep those employees on the payroll. To me, this is what President 
Biden's plan to build back better is all about: eliminating the daily 
stressors that keep people up all night, giving people some breathing 
room so that they can focus on the things that really matter.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Delaware