On the recordAugust 6, 2022
the Biden administration continues to declare that we are in a public health emergency because of COVID-19. This public health emergency, first declared in January 2020, has been renewed 10 times. Title 42 is the health authority specifically designed to prevent people from coming into the country during a pandemic. It is nonsensical to say that we have a COVID health emergency everywhere but on our southern border. If there is a public health emergency in this country, then title 42 authority must remain in place. Title 42 authority is the last line of defense that our Border Patrol agents have to protect our Nation, and my Democratic colleagues said they agreed with that idea back in April. The situation has only worsened since that time so surely they will agree with me more today. I urge the adoption of this amendment, that we would remain consistent with title 42 authority in this Nation. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The senior Senator from Washington.
