My goal since the start of this pandemic has been to get students back in the classroom safely for in-person learning.

I want to thank both Secretary Cardona and Secretary Becerra for being here today to discuss this important issue, keeping our students safe and in school.

I am troubled, however, by the continuing testing challenges, which includes some schools not having access to enough tests.

I continue to encourage every American who is eligible for a vaccine, or a booster shot to get it without delay.

I have been very focused on making sure testing is widely available as a tool to prevent and respond to outbreaks.

It is a catch 22 for parents.

reserving the right to object, this unnecessary bill will undermine our efforts to end a pandemic that has killed over 685,000 people and counting. We are fighting a highly contagious virus. If people don't get vaccinated, variants like…

Senate Democrats just gave Republicans yet another opportunity to do the right thing--to make sure the U.S. Government pays its bills, like every working family in our country does. Now, Senate Republicans have acknowledged that, even…

early this week, the administration extended its border closure with Canada for another month. Another month that vaccinated Americans can travel into Canada, but vaccinated Canadians cannot cross our border; dealing another monthlong blow…

I ask unanimous consent to print the following letter in the Congressional Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: U.S. Senate, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and…

we are about to take two votes, and I will speak on both of them for just a few minutes.

this amendment is a serious threat to women's safety that would allow someone else's personal beliefs rather than a patient's best interests determine a patient's care. No healthcare provider should be able to refuse to give lifesaving…

you know, this amendment is simply an attempt to force the Federal Government to interfere with local school district decisions about curriculum and academic instruction. There are several longstanding provisions in Federal education law…

I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. We all agree that in-person learning is a top priority this school year. Democrats actually passed the American Rescue Plan without a single Republican vote so schools have the resources to…

even in the midst of a pandemic, a climate crisis, a childcare crisis, so many issues facing our working families, it is so disappointing but not surprising that Republicans continue to focus on restricting access to abortion care. Let's…

you know, when a disaster strikes--a tornado or an earthquake or a wildfire--the first thing we do is work to keep people safe, but that is far from the last thing we do. When the storm has passed, we rebuild. We rebuild homes and schools…

I rise today to pay tribute to Minority Veterans of America on the occasion of their fourth anniversary on August 7, 2021. Minority Veterans of America is doing important work in home State of Washington and around the country advancing…

I rise today to join my colleagues in saying I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my great friend Richard Trumka. To say Rich was a champion for workers is really an understatement. He dedicated his life to fighting to secure…

I ask unanimous consent to print the following letter in the Congressional Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: U.S. Senate, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and…

I ask unanimous consent that Andrew Zacher and Hannah Oakley, fellows who are assigned to my office, be granted floor privileges through September 1, 2022. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered

over the past 4 years, the National Labor Relations Board, which was founded to protect workers' rights, has again and again tipped the scales in favor of very large corporations. While Democratic nominees to the NLRB were blocked and…

I ask unanimous consent that Kimi Chernoby and Daniel Elchert, fellows who are assigned to my office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of this year. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered

I ask unanimous consent to complete my remarks before the vote starts. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

We are going to be exacerbating health disparities as sort of people, communities of color, black and brown people fall further and further behind.

The opportunity to actually have an impact on population health here is really, really huge.