On the recordAugust 10, 2021
in over a year of uncertainty and the pain of living through a pandemic, I have to admit I am shocked that I have to come down here to talk about the importance of quality, in-person education. Today, we are debating a $4 trillion tax-and-spending bill, and that is on top of the $2 trillion we spent in March and the $4 trillion we spent last year. How insane is it that with all that spending, there is still no guarantee that our kids will be back in school this fall? The sad reality is, more than 1 million kids did not enroll in their local schools during the pandemic. Thanks to labor union bosses and their unneeded and damaging school shutdowns, kids have been kept out of school, and many--far too many--have suffered psychologically. For our children's sake, I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on my amendment and to join me in ensuring our children are no longer confined to virtual learning. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.
