[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1992-S1993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Coronavirus

  Yesterday, Mr. President, was, truly, a sorry sight here on the 
Senate floor. Senate Republicans, down to the last Member, blocked 
critical funding for more vaccines, more testing, more lifesaving 
therapeutics that our country needs to protect against the dangers of 
future COVID variants.

[[Page S1993]]

  The proposal we had before the Senate was exceedingly reasonable, 
carefully negotiated, and desperately needed, but Senate Republicans 
blocked a mere debate on COVID aid, knowing full well of the 
consequences for the American people. In knowing the consequences, 
Republicans said no to merely debating more money for booster shots and 
vaccinations and research into future treatments. In knowing the 
consequences, Republicans said no to merely debating more testing. In 
knowing the consequences, Republicans said no to merely debating no 
less than $5 billion for lifesaving therapeutics--an indispensable tool 
for those with COVID illnesses.
  And why did Republicans say no?
  Because they wanted to cripple COVID funding legislation with poison 
pills that they knew would derail this bill--would derail the bill. Let 
me say it again. Instead of joining Democrats to begin a simple debate 
on COVID legislation, Republicans wanted to kill this bill with 
unrelated poison pills.
  This is potentially devastating for the American people. Vaccines, 
therapeutics, and testing were negotiated in good faith, and they 
should not--they should not--be held hostage to extraneous, unrelated 
issues. This is too important for the health of our country.
  The administration, for months, has made clear that new COVID funding 
is a matter of the highest urgency. Some critical COVID response 
measures are already being scaled back due to dwindling funding. 
Their message that Congress had to act--the administration's message--
was unmistakable.

  I hope Republicans will get serious about this. It should not be so 
difficult to do something so good and important for our country.
  Let me say one other thing.
  Our Republican colleagues think they may be gaining some temporary 
advantage, but God forbid a second variant hits and people ask: Why 
aren't the vaccines there? Why aren't the therapeutics there? The 
answer will be that the Senate Republicans, to a person, blocked the 
ability to move forward and get this legislation done because they 
wanted to play politics and inject extraneous issues into the debate.
  But it is not going to deter us from getting this done. It is vital 
for keeping schools, churches, business, and other communities open if 
and when a future, more potent variant rears its ugly head. It is 
certainly better to act now than to pay the price 10 times down the 
line. We are going to keep working to make sure that Congress sends 
COVID funding to the President's desk.