[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Coronavirus

  Mr. President, now on COVID, negotiations on COVID public health 
response funding continue. Yesterday, I met again with my Republican 
colleague Senator Romney, as we work to an agreement, and, today, these 
negotiations will keep going.
  To keep the process moving forward in the Senate, last night I took 
the first procedural step on a legislative vehicle through which the 
Senate could pass COVID public health funding, when the time comes that 
both sides reach an agreement.
  We are not yet at the finish line, but we will keep working 
throughout the day, and I am committed to working with the other side 
reasonably and in good faith. The consequences of not getting COVID 
funding are really serious--scary, almost.
  Additional public health funding is crucial for making sure every 
American can get a vaccine if needed, including booster doses and 
potentially new, more effective vaccines down the line. New funding 
would help make sure we have enough testing supplies throughout the 
country, which we know is perhaps the most effective way to keep track 
of the spread of the virus.
  Of course, more funding would ensure the Federal Government can 
continue providing treatments like monoclonal antibody treatments, 
which are invaluable for preventing severe COVID infections. The lack 
of therapeutics is probably the greatest need of all, and we need money 
so we can have a supply so when, God forbid, the next variant hits, we 
will immediately be able to counter it with the kind of medicines that 
are needed that limit the severity of the infection. The rest of the 
world is racing to buy up the supply of these treatments and these 
therapeutics, and if the United States falls behind because of a lack 
of funding, vulnerable Americans and our whole country will pay the 
price.

  The bottom line is this: Both sides should come to an agreement for 
more funding as quickly as possible because that would mean more 
vaccines, more therapeutics, and more testing so we can keep schools 
and communities open, and when and if another new variant hits, we can 
stay as ``normal'' as possible.
  If a new COVID variant extends its nasty tentacles across the country 
and we don't have the tools to respond, then woe is us. We don't want 
to see that. Americans don't want to endure that. So let's keep working 
to try to reach an agreement soon.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The Senator from South Dakota.