[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 73 (Monday, May 1, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1442-S1443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Booker, 
        Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Markey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Whitehouse, 
        Ms. Warren, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Smith, and Ms. 
        Duckworth):
  S. 1392. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to 
provide for the adjustment of status of essential workers, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Citizenship for 
Essential Workers Act.
  This legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship for these 
workers and their families, who have played a critical role in getting 
us through the pandemic and are helping with recovery efforts.
  A little over 2 years ago, after I was first sworn into the U.S. 
Senate, this was the very first bill I introduced.
  Every day, over 5 million essential workers without permanent legal 
status kept Americans healthy, fed, and safe during the COVID 
pandemic--all while risking their own health and the health of their 
families.
  They couldn't just Zoom into the office.
  Many served us while living in constant fear of deportation.
  Back then, for the first time, Americans were waking up to a reality 
what families like mine knew for years: that not only were these 
immigrant workers saving lives in a time of need but that their work 
had always been essential to our country.
  As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico whose mother worked as a 
housekeeper and father a short order cook--two jobs that today would be 
deemed essential--I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty my family 
would have experienced every day my dad walked out the door or my mom 
set off to enter another family's home in the middle of a pandemic.
  The Federal COVID-19 public health emergency comes to an end next 
month, but we can't forget the sacrifices these workers made--and still 
make every single day--for our country.

[[Page S1443]]

  My legislation not only honors their sacrifice but also recognizes 
how critical essential workers are to our economy even beyond a public 
health emergency.
  They have earned their place in this country.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. 
        Whitehouse):
  S. 1395. A bill to temporarily suspend the debt limit through 
December 31, 2024; read the first time.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text 
of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1395

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF PUBLIC DEBT LIMIT.

       (a) In General.--Section 3101(b) of title 31, United States 
     Code, shall not apply for the period beginning on the date of 
     enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2024.
       (b) Special Rule Relating to Obligations Issued During 
     Extension Period.--Effective on January 1, 2025, the 
     limitation in effect under section 3101(b) of title 31, 
     United States Code, shall be increased to the extent that--
       (1) the face amount of obligations issued under chapter 31 
     of such title and the face amount of obligations whose 
     principal and interest are guaranteed by the United States 
     Government (except guaranteed obligations held by the 
     Secretary of the Treasury) outstanding on January 1, 2025, 
     exceeds
       (2) the face amount of such obligations outstanding on the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (c) Extension Limited to Necessary Obligations.--An 
     obligation shall not be taken into account under subsection 
     (b)(1) unless the issuance of such obligation was necessary 
     to fund a commitment incurred pursuant to law by the Federal 
     Government that required payment before January 1, 2025.

                          ____________________