[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 133 (Saturday, August 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4061-S4062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2022

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam President, I am so proud to be here today to 
speak in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act, which hopefully we are 
on the cusp of passing.
  It is historic. We will save lives, save money, save taxpayers. It 
will lower costs for all Americans in healthcare, particularly 
prescription drugs. It is the most important action to cut medicine 
costs in our history--certainly, in recent history. It is the most 
significant tax fairness measure in recent history, and it is the 
largest investment and most important action to fight climate change in 
our history. So it is a big deal, and it will be measurable for all 
Americans in what they pay to keep themselves healthy, to keep the 
planet inhabitable, to keep the highest income people from avoiding or 
evading taxes, and, in so many ways, it will make a difference in 
people's lives.
  But it is a compromise, like many measures that we have passed that 
have accomplished very significant improvements in people's lives. It 
is an agreement where some people get some of what they want and others 
don't get what they want. And one point where I think a number of us 
wanted to advance was the cause of childcare, and we see an absence.
  But listening to Senator Schumer, especially, I am more confident 
than ever that we will fight and win more aid for childcare, and 
Senator Murray and Senator Kaine have spoken so eloquently. I will 
simply say to what they said that I agree whole-heartedly because 
childcare is critical to kids. It is essential to early development, 
education, and physical and mental well-being.
  It is essential for families because they need it to go back to work, 
particularly moms who have been out of the workforce. It is essential 
to our economy because employers--big, small--all need more workers, 
and they need to train those workers, and the way to find those workers 
and give them the skills they need to fill those jobs is to enable them 
to be secure in knowing their children have good childcare.
  It is important to the men and women who form the childcare 
workforce. I have been all around the State

[[Page S4062]]

of Connecticut--to Torrington, Hartford, Bristol. In fact, I 
accompanied the President of the United States to visit one of 
Connecticut's childcare facilities. They do great work. They have been 
doing great work during the pandemic, reporting for duty, taking care 
of children, even as their industry was impacted by smaller amounts of 
children being able to go there because parents had smaller amounts of 
income to afford it. And the fact of the matter is, in Connecticut, the 
yearly cost of childcare is about $20,000. We have lost a major part of 
our childcare workforce, and this measure is essential to those men and 
women who take care of kids in those childcare facilities with their 
courage and diligence and strength that befits the enormous 
responsibility that they have.
  We are determined to make childcare affordable and accessible for 
every American family. The proposal that no more than 7 percent of any 
family's income be required for childcare is one that I still think 
makes eminent good sense.
  We need to recognize that childcare facilities need to be sustained 
and supported, and those families need that same support and resource.
  So I am absolutely determined that we will move forward on childcare. 
As frustrated as I may be that this great compromise we see in the 
Inflation Reduction Act fails to include it, I am proud to support it 
and vote for it, and to continue this fight which we can and will win. 
And I thank my colleagues who will be joining us for their support as 
well.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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