On the recordSeptember 7, 2023
schools throughout and the Nation implement public health requirements to keep students, teachers, and their communities safe. Let me remind my colleagues, the pages are in the Page School. They should be treated no differently, as far as the protection of their health, than other students around the Nation and those responsible for their safekeeping. We need to follow science. We need to follow what science tells us we should do. We shouldn't respond to the political whim or the political pressures. We should let science make the judgments that keep our people safe, particularly our Senate pages. There is no credible evidence that supports a prohibition on requiring COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, or masking. In contrast, overwhelming evidence indicates that they are important tools in helping to deal with these issues. I will mention one other issue just in passing because I know we are going to get to debate on the floor soon about the spending programs for our country and how we are dealing with the costs. Well, there are a lot of healthcare costs that we would like to get contained. Every time we don't deal with the spread of an illness or a disease, it adds to the costs to the taxpayers of this country. The Senate has a duty of care with respect to the pages. Their well- being is our responsibility. For those reasons, I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Kentucky.
