Having a seriously ill child is not a perk. Taking time to deal with active-duty deployment is not a perk.

Does anyone seriously believe that this is good public policy?

As we emerge from a deadly health crisis that has exacerbated gender, racial, and economic disparities and weakened the work force, it is time for paid leave for all as a national priority.

This is the very definition of government mismanagement and is ripe for congressional oversight.

I will be blunt. I do not believe we are moving fast enough.

It is, and I quote, 'forcing a recognition that our country is still suffering the consequences of centuries of racism.'

the largest increase in budget authority for CDC in nearly two decades.

I think it will be important to balance the promise of this new approach with a continued commitment to basic research.

one-time investments do not ensure the CDC and our public health departments are ready to address chronic challenges.

We absolutely need to accelerate the production of COVID vaccine by any means necessary.

The irresponsible, monopolistic behavior of Moderna is infuriating.

We need to start providing funding to address core public health activities.

This is unacceptable. NIH and BARDA must be aggressive in protecting and asserting legal rights to their work.

As I have often said, these issues have been further exposed and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

I do sincerely appreciate the work that the Biden administration has done.

I am particularly proud of the work that my friend, Dr. David Kessler, who joins us here today, has done.

I am disturbed by the general lack of urgency in ensuring that every person across the world has access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

That is unacceptable.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why we are beholden to this company.

I was also glad to see that the budget doubles funding for research on gun violence prevention at the NIH.

We must dramatically increase the NIH's budget, so that a lack of funding is not the reason why patients go untreated.

Thank you to President Biden who has embraced the child tax credit, and who in his press conference today, that is what he -- you know, he opened with.

This is a lifeline, Lawrence, for middle class families, and yes, and these are not Gene Sperling’s ideas or mine or numbers. This is coming from the National Academy of Sciences, Columbia University who tell us that the effect of this is…

It is a new deal. It is transformative, and you know, I wish it didn’t take the 18 years it has, but it’s here, and it’s now, and it is going to be real starting on July 15th for families.

As a Nation, we will always be indebted to our women and men in uniform and to the families and communities who support them.