We are a great Nation, and a great Nation must take care of its people.

The good news is that Governor McMaster has unveiled a plan that puts our state in a position where, frankly, everybody 55 and up can get access to the vaccine.

Thank God for the qualified health centers throughout the country that are trying to fill that gap.

I look forward to continuing the long tradition of having the Aging Committee be the most bipartisan committee in the United States Senate.

Thank you for your continued efforts around making sure that the vaccination is something that is available.

Let me finally say to the Nation, and specifically to our seniors who have gone through so much for so long, isolated, depressed, good news is coming.

By the year 2034, the seniors in America will, for the first time, outnumber the children in America.

To address the disproportionate adverse impact of this virus, we need to address the needs of families.

It is really an issue that we should all take very seriously.

Thank you, Chairman Casey, and good job on your first hearing. This has been a very strong, I think, informative hearing.

There is a real concern. I think we should all be very interested and concerned about the number of hospitals that have closed in rural parts of the country, and specifically in the South.

What we are looking for are solutions and not blame, and I thank each and every person who have provided care to our seniors across this country.

I think Dr. Iyer hit the nail on the head as it relates to the importance of telemedicine being a permanent feature or characteristic in our health care system going forward.

For the past year, nursing homes and other senior care providers have served on the front lines of our Nation's pandemic response efforts, working tirelessly to protect many of the most vulnerable Americans from the threats posed by…

Unfortunately, credible evidence suggests that a number of State governments have taken actions that have undermined our ability to mount a response that can effectively target resources, supports, and interventions.

To make matters worse, recent reports suggest that in New York, Governor Cuomo's advisors actively intervened to distort data on nursing home resident fatalities, downplaying the dire consequences of the Governor's actions.

I ask unanimous consent to have 30 seconds to respond. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I have been doing some research as the ranking member of the Aging Committee. As of last month, 40 percent of COVID-related deaths in this country were residents or staff of long-term care facilities. Lawmakers are charged with the…

I call up my amendment No. 1030 and ask that it be reported by number. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment by number. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from South Carolina [Mr. Scott of South Carolina], for…

Thank you, Mr. President. I would simply say that what my amendment does is it says that you can't lie about the numbers. The bottom line, it simply says that it is very important for us to have accurate information about the deaths in…

I urge my colleagues to do the right thing and vote in favor of this amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who rises in opposition?

I ask unanimous consent for 2 minutes of debate, equally divided. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Senator Scott will proceed.

Thank you, Mr. President. I will just simply say that even President Biden himself has suggested that investigations are warranted into this issue. Vote on Amendment No. 1030 The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time has expired. The question is on…

I ask for 10 seconds to respond to my good friend from Oregon. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.

The only parents who do not have school choice are poor parents, and those are consistently African American and Hispanic parents.