[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 212 (Wednesday, December 8, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9015-S9016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Build Back Better Act

  Mr. President, on a related matter, just before Thanksgiving, the 
House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act. It is one of 
the most pro-family pieces of legislation in modern history.
  For nearly 50 years, the wealthy in America have gotten richer while 
the middle class has been squeezed. Build Back Better is about 
restoring fairness.
  Four years ago, when the Republicans had their chance to use the 
reconciliation process, they really identified their highest priority: 
tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. They continue to hold to the 
philosophy that if you give tax breaks to wealthy people, eventually 
people who are in the middle-income categories--working families--will 
start to see some benefits coming their way. I couldn't disagree more.
  I believe investing in working families in America has always been 
the best investment. These are families with kids who are destined for 
college and even better jobs if we invest in those families and give 
them a fighting chance. The wealthy are going to do just fine by 
themselves, and they are doing pretty well, I might add.
  We have got to make sure that this Build Back Better Act, which 
President Biden supports, really focuses on working families. And that 
is why the

[[Page S9016]]

bill that passed the House has the largest tax cut for middle-class and 
working families ever in America's history.
  That bears repeating.
  Four years ago, the Republicans gave a tax break to the wealthiest 
people in America. The bill that we are considering will give the 
largest tax cut for middle class and working families in our Nation's 
history. It helps families with big-ticket items that keep people up at 
night: affordable childcare; universal pre-kindergarten; expanded, 
affordable healthcare coverage; help with affordable housing. It makes 
serious investments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  Let's be very clear about it. I can remember a time when the whole 
issue of climate change and global warming was a truly bipartisan 
concern. The bills that used to come to the floor were cosponsored by 
the likes of John McCain and Joe Lieberman, a Republican and a 
Democrat, both very seriously concerned about what was happening to the 
world's environment.
  That is no longer the case. It is a struggle for us to get 
Republicans to even acknowledge that there is a challenge, let alone 
accept the challenge of the solutions that lie ahead.
  We need to make serious investments in reducing greenhouse gas 
emissions and the effects of climate change. And critically important 
to our future economic prosperity, we need Build Back Better to make 
investments in higher education and affordability, which is the next 
topic I would like to address.