On the recordFebruary 3, 2021
I am so proud. Only 2 weeks into the new Presidency, we are now moving ahead, right now, boldly, to answer the cry of the American people and to ultimately pass and implement the American Rescue Plan. If you don't hear the cry of your constituents, then you aren't listening. I want to focus on our communities, our States, our counties, our cities, large and small, that are in a crisis situation right now. They are starving for help to cover the basic costs that they have, and we have an opportunity to give them $350 billion in relief and flexible aid that can be used to make sure that our communities stay strong. It is not just about budgets, and it is not just about employees. It is about our constituents who will find that if we aren't able to fund the essence of what our communities need, then we are going to see firefighters lose their jobs; we are going to see paramedics and police and nurses and teachers and sanitation workers not available for our communities; and we will see towns and counties not able to fund their transportation systems. It is time for us to act. It is past time for us to act. Let's do it.
