On the recordMarch 10, 2022
we have had this debate before many, many times. Vaccines are safe; they are effective; and they are lifesaving. Because of our ability to get safe and effective vaccines out to Americans, nearly 100 percent of our schools are open again. More than 90 percent of people are in communities with low or medium levels of COVID, and people are finally getting back to a sense of normal in their everyday lives. Vaccines have helped to make that happen. Here we are once again. It is hard to believe this isn't the first or even the second time that a few Senate Republicans have decided they want to risk a damaging government shutdown in order to oppose steps that save lives. I hope, for the sake of the people of this country, it is the last time this happens. There are problems real families want us to solve. They want us to bring down costs with steps like the Democrats have proposed. They want us to stand up for democracy and the people of Ukraine, who are facing a war and a humanitarian crisis. They want us to learn from this pandemic so we are better prepared for whatever is next. I am going to focus on finding steps that we can actually take to help families, and I believe that is what most of us want too. I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment, which risks derailing this important bipartisan bill, delaying needed aid to Ukraine, and causing a dangerous government shutdown.
