[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Coronavirus

  Mr. President, on COVID relief: finally, there is another issue in 
which Republicans must work with Democrats--passing another round of 
COVID relief.
  COVID funding is not a matter of ``nice to have if we can afford 
it.'' COVID funding is a must-have. It is something our Nation cannot 
possibly afford to go without.
  Yesterday, the White House made clear that other countries like 
Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam are already in front of us when it 
comes to purchasing new vaccines and treatments. American companies, 
with their ingenuity, come up with these vaccines and treatment; but 
because we are unwilling--our Republican colleagues so far have blocked 
financing this--other countries are going to buy from us.
  We don't want to be in a position in the fall where we desperately 
need these medicines but our companies have signed contracts with other 
countries--other countries. That would be a huge mistake.
  Given our Federal budget, it is a small amount to ask that we provide 
money for these therapeutics so that we can have them for our country, 
for our folks, as much as the rest of the world may need them, so that 
we have vaccines--the best vaccines--developed and ready to go and so 
we have enough testing and treatment.
  But other countries are beating America to the punch because 
Republicans have blocked the Senate from approving new funding. The 
answer to avoiding another shutdown of our communities is very simple: 
Senate Republicans should work with us to quickly pass another round of 
COVID funding. It is not more complicated than that.
  Let me say it again. If we want to keep life as close to normal down 
the line, if we want to keep schools and churches and businesses open 
if, God forbid, another aggressive variant arises, Republicans should 
work with us to approve more money for vaccines, testing, and 
lifesaving therapeutics.
  The longer that Senate Republicans hold out on working with us to 
approve new funding, the higher the cost will be for our country down 
the line. And when we don't get back to normal, we can't stay at normal 
because of a new variant, people will know what happened.
  God forbid that happens. We don't want it to happen. We want them to 
work with us; but, unfortunately, so far, we are not seeing that 
cooperation. From some we have, I must be clear. I had good discussions 
with several of our Republicans, but then it was blocked by the 
Republican leadership.
  I yield the floor.