[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1811-S1812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Budget Proposal

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, yesterday, President Biden released 
the

[[Page S1812]]

second budget of his administration, a strong, forward-looking, and 
optimistic vision of our country's potential. It is a budget calling 
for greater investments in the things that make the biggest difference 
in the lives of middle-class families and in those working to get to 
the middle class: more support for our schools, increased funding for 
childcare and healthcare services, strong investments in clean energy 
and climate change mitigation, support for our farmers and small 
businesses, as well as relief for our strained supply chains.
  The Republican leader asserted yesterday that the President's budget 
is ``fundamentally disconnected'' from what America needs right now. 
This begs the question: Just how does the Republican leader think the 
recovery of the past 12 months came to pass?
  We have seen the greatest jobs recovery in history, the strongest 
economic surge in 40 years, and a steady return to normal after the 
worst health crisis of modern times. Does he think it happened by 
magic? Of course not. These were the results of the right leadership 
pursuing the right policies at the right moment in our country: robust 
investments in vaccines, aid for families trying to feed their kids 
through a crisis, help for businesses and local communities struggling 
to stay open.
  And as our recovery continues under President Biden, Republicans seem 
to think the right answer is to shortchange the American people and cut 
off vital resources that help our country grow.
  Republicans can't stand the thought of asking the ultrarich to pay 
their fair share, and as a result, efforts to strengthen the middle 
class, which would be paid for by taxes on those at the very top, are 
anathema to them. Keeping the wealthy wealthy is more important for 
Republicans than strengthening the middle class.
  Republicans, indeed, seem to think it is ``fundamentally 
disconnected'' to increase investments in things like public education, 
Pell grants, title 1, which helps kids most at need. Republicans 
believe it is somehow wasteful or far left to dare help families afford 
childcare and pre-K, which never have been pricier than they are today.
  And beholden as they are to corporate polluters, Republicans seem to 
think it is radical for the Federal Government to dedicate resources to 
a clean energy future: more renewables, more clean cars right here from 
America, and a more prosperous planet for our kids and our grandkids.
  But, of course, Republicans think it is perfectly fine to try and rip 
away healthcare for millions of Americans and push trillion-dollar tax 
cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy, but helping the middle 
class with childcare and education and healthcare is a bridge too far 
for our Republican friends--sad.
  For all these reasons, the contrast between President Biden's budget 
and the vision we are seeing coming from Republicans is stark and 
glaring. One budget, ours, is for the working and middle class; the 
other, the Republican budget, is an offering entirely for the 
ultrawealthy.