Gary Peters

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the memory of a devoted veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, VADM John Currier, who passed away in March of 2020. I would like to take the time today to reflect on his service, courage, and tenacity as the hangar at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City is dedicated in his honor. Born and raised in Westbrook, ME, Vice Admiral Currier began his career in service as a police officer. Further expanding his devotion to serve, Vice Admiral Currier commissioned from Officer Candidate School as a naval aviator in 1976. He was first assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, where a few years later, his skills and commitment to protect were tested. On a snowy late October evening in 1980, the Coast Guard received a distress call from the TERRY T., a burning and sinking fishing vessel in 30 foot seas. Winds were gusting over 60 knots and visibility was cut to three-quarters of a mile from heavy rain, according to reports. Currier, unfaltering in his duty to be Semper Paratus, was able to maneuver his aircraft into position based only on voice commands by the hoist operator. He had rescued eight of the crew when two men were swept off the deck and were in the water. He was able to fly the aircraft into position in order to get the rescue basket beneath the drowning crew members and brought them on board. Vice Admiral Currier was awarded the Harmon International Aviation Trophy, but his accolades and awards for rescue missions do not stop there. The Alaska Air Command SAR Pilot of the Year Award, American Helicopter Society, Fredrick L. Feinberg Award, and the Naval Helicopter Association SAR Aircrew of the Year, all have been awarded to Vice Admiral Currier for various hazardous rescue missions throughout his career. During his career, Vice Admiral Currier stood the watch at six Coast Guard air stations, from Alaska to Florida. He was designated as an aeronautical engineer in 1982, and after a few years in Alaska, Vice Admiral Currier was assigned to Air Station Traverse City in 1985. Other assignments have included deputy program manager for the Coast Guard and Navy HH-60H/J joint helicopter acquisition at the Naval Air Systems Command, and chief of SAR operations and directory of auxiliary for the Ninth Coast Guard District. Vice Admiral Currier then served as commanding officer of Air Stations Detroit and then Miami, which was then the world's busiest air-sea search and rescue unit. An alumnus of the University of Southern Maine, he held a master's in business administration from Embry-Riddle University. He was a 1996 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air War College and held a level III acquisition program manager certification. Subsequently, he was assigned as Pacific area chief of operations, then area chief of staff, and was appointed commander of the 13th District, which covers the Pacific Northwest. He assumed the duties of the Coast Guard's chief of staff in 2009, later transitioning that position to the service's first deputy Commandant for Mission Support. Vice Admiral Currier assumed duties as the 28th Vice Commandant in May 2012, during which time he was awarded the title of Ancient Albatross of the Coast Guard, until his retirement in May of 2014. Vice Admiral Currier was a devoted military man and was supported by an incredible spouse--his wife of 45 years, Mary Jane Currier. They were known for their hospitality and for throwing spectacular parties for fellow Coast Guard members, family, and friends. Mary Jane and John had two sons, Benjamin and Andrew. John was a devoted father who spent countless hours coaching Little League and teaching his two sons woodworking and auto mechanics. In his retirement, Vice Admiral Currier and Mary Jane enjoyed boating on Lake Michigan with their four grandchildren. Mr. President, I ask you and my fellow colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and service of Vice Admiral John Currier. As we remember Vice Admiral Currier's life, I have no doubt his surviving wife, children, and family have found comfort in the precious moments they shared and in the love he showed them. With the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City hangar now dedicated in his memory, I hope those who had the honor of serving beside Vice Admiral Currier remember his legacy when they enter it and that future Coast Guardsman are inspired by his devoted and honorable career.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise in support of the President's nominees to serve on the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors. I would like to thank Senator Portman for working with me to swiftly advance the nominations of Ron Stroman, Amber McReynolds, and Anton Hajjar to fill the remaining vacancies on the Postal Service Board of Governors. Today, we are voting on the nominations of Mr. Stroman and Ms. McReynolds, and I expect to take up Mr. Hajjar's nomination soon. The Board of Governors is an independent, bipartisan body that provides leadership, strategic vision, and oversight of the U.S. Postal Service--one of the oldest and most trusted American institutions. For nearly 250 years, the Postal Service has served communities all across our Nation. Countless Americans rely on the Postal Service to deliver critical medications and financial documents, to run their small businesses, to cast their ballots, to stay connected with family, and so much more. But the Postal Service continues to face enormous challenges. From longstanding financial constraints to the impacts of the ongoing pandemic, the Postal Service has struggled to provide timely delivery and plan for its future. Our dedicated postal workers have shown time and again that they can get the job done when they are given the right tools and measures. The Board of Governors will be responsible for guiding the Postal Service through its current challenges and working with Congress to ensure that Americans can rely on the Postal Service to deliver their mail each and every day. Mr. Stroman, Ms. McReynolds, and Mr. Hajjar are each highly qualified to serve as Governors. They are all accomplished leaders who bring diverse experiences and backgrounds that are currently not represented on the Board. Most importantly, they each understand the public service mission of the Postal Service and are committed to improving and preserving reliable delivery service for Americans all across our country. Ron Stroman is a lifelong public servant who served as Deputy Postmaster General for nearly 10 years. He has a deep operational knowledge of the Postal Service and an extensive record of working across the aisle on postal issues. Amber McReynolds is the chief executive of the nonpartisan, nonprofit National Vote at Home Institute and a former senior local government official for Denver, CO. She is a proven leader who drives innovation and understands how the Postal Service impacts both State and local governments. Anton Hajjar is an accomplished lawyer who understands the unique challenges faced by the Postal Service's large and diverse workforce. He has worked extensively in labor-management relations, including forging compromises between Postal Service workers and management. And prior to his decades of legal experience, as a high school student he spent a summer as a substitute letter carrier. Each of these nominees will each bring a fresh perspective to the Board, and I look forward to working with them to strengthen this vital public service for years to come. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting each of these highly qualified nominees to serve as Governors of the U.S. Postal Service. I yield

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I would like to thank my colleague from Ohio for working together on a bipartisan package of legislation that will increase our economic competitiveness and strengthen our national security. As chairman and ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, we are preparing legislation that will help our country respond to major cyber incidents, solidify our global leadership on artificial intelligence, incentivize domestic production of personal protective equipent to increase our ability to respond to pandemics, and strengthen ``Buy American'' laws to make sure Federal dollars support American workers and small businesses. I would like to briefly discuss one of the bills we are working on-- my colleague's Safeguarding American Innovation Act, which takes on the threat of foreign governments stealing American taxpayer-funded research and intellectual property developed at U.S. colleges and universities. This is a serious, complex problem, and we need to make sure we get the response right. This is why we plan to advance this bill out of committee and continue working through additional changes before this bill is incorporated to the Endless Frontier Act on the Senate floor. We intend to move a number of bills out of our committee, including the Safeguarding American Innovation Act after the recess and include them in bipartisan competitiveness legislation. If this broader package is considered on the Senate floor during the first week of the next work period, we will focus on preparing a bipartisan package from our committee's jurisdiction to be added during floor consideration. I know my colleagues and the administration have concerns about potential overlapping authorities, visa restrictions, and the reporting requirements for foreign gifts to colleges and universities, among other issues, I believe we must work through these in a bipartisan manner. As a result of Senator Portman' s important work and others in Congress, there has been positive movement already to address these issues by both the U.S. Government and institutions of higher education, which have been educating their staff and faculty about their serious responsibilities to disclose any foreign research support they receive. I will yield to Senator Portman to discuss the process we have agreed to undertake in the coming weeks and thank him again for engaging in this collaborative process.

Mr. PETERS. Thank you, Senator Portman. You have my commitment to work closely together on this multi-committee process. I believe we can find common ground with our colleagues and an agreement with the administration and Leader Schumer in the coming weeks. Thank you for your partnership on these important issues. I look forward to advancing an important, bipartisan Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee package and ensuring our priorities are included in the final bill passed by the Senate.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise in support of confirming Jason Scott Miller to be the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Miller has an extensive track record of tackling difficult management challenges and driving innovation both in government and in the private sector. OMB is and will continue to be central to the administration's efforts to combat the pandemic and spur economic activity in communities all across our Nation. Mr. Miller's diverse experience and commitment to getting results for the American people will be an asset to the OMB as it takes on these current challenges and those challenges yet to come. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the confirmation of Jason Scott Miller as Deputy Director for Management at OMB.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise to recognize a historic confirmation that took place last week. On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Deanne Criswell to serve as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. I would like to thank Senator Portman for his support and for working closely with me to see that Ms. Criswell was swiftly confirmed for this critical position. Ms. Criswell is an experienced, crisis-tested leader, well deserving of the unanimous bipartisan support that her confirmation received. As she takes the helm of FEMA, Ms. Criswell brings more than 25 years of emergency management and disaster response experience at the Federal, State, and local level. Having served as an emergency management commissioner for one of the largest and most diverse cities in America, Ms. Criswell knows what it takes to ensure the coronavirus vaccination distribution is efficient and effective and that every community has the resources that they need to recover from this pandemic. As a former member of the National Guard and a firefighter, she understands the needs of our heroic first responders as they continuously protect Americans on the frontlines. However, the pandemic is just one of many challenges that FEMA faces, and Ms. Criswell understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to disaster response and every crisis, from hurricanes to historic flooding and wildfires, to the COVID-19 pandemic, requires a coordinated strategy. There is no doubt that Ms. Criswell's experience in emergency management, extensive record of tackling crises on a local and national level, and the desire to work on a bipartisan basis to improve our Federal disaster response in every community are exactly what is needed to meet the challenges that we are facing now and those challenges that lie ahead.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I also ask unanimous consent to deliver my complete remarks prior to the vote.

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise in support of confirming Shalanda Young as the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The OMB urgently needs Senate-confirmed leaders, and Ms. Young is exceptionally qualified for this role. Her budget experience and extensive record of bipartisan results are what the OMB needs to guide our Nation through the current pandemic and through the current economic crisis. During her 14 years as a senior staff member for the House Appropriations Committee, Ms. Young developed a deep understanding of the budget process and government operations, and she has been instrumental in negotiating bipartisan agreements on many critical issues. She is a proven leader who is ready to get to work at the OMB, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting her confirmation. I yield the floor. Vote on Young Nomination

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 minute.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise in support of Shalanda Young's nomination to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Ms. Young is a proven leader, a dedicated public servant with the experience and the expertise needed to tackle the challenges facing OMB and our Nation. Not only does Ms. Young bring a deep knowledge of the budget process and government operations, but she has a long track record of working successfully across the aisle. During her 14 years as a senior staff member on the House Appropriations Committee, she worked tirelessly to find a bipartisan path forward on many critical issues. She played a key role in ending past government shutdowns and in negotiating last year's bipartisan coronavirus relief legislation. Since President Biden announced Ms. Young's nomination, Members and staff, both Democrats and Republicans, have enthusiastically praised her ability to work with both sides and get results for the American people. This is exactly the type of leadership OMB needs to successfully steer the country through the current public health and economic crisis. The passage of the American Rescue Plan earlier this week was a historic achievement. But much of the work to fully implement this landmark bill still lies ahead, from getting money into the pockets of workers and families to ensuring schools open swiftly and safely and making meaningful investments in small businesses and local governments. I have no doubt Ms. Young is prepared to take on the challenging work of ensuring relief is delivered swiftly and effectively and that families, businesses, and communities across our country have the support they need to fully recover from this pandemic. I know that in order to move past this current crisis, we must work together. We all want to end the pandemic and reinvigorate our economy, but there are intense disagreements over how we achieve those shared goals. Ms. Young has demonstrated the ability to work hard, to find common ground during times of crisis and in the face of a deeply divided political climate, experience that makes her uniquely qualified to serve at OMB at this very moment. Having spent most of her career working in Congress, Ms. Young will also bring a profound respect for the role of the legislative branch. She understands the importance of Congress's oversight role and has firmly pledged to work with Congress in a cooperative and a transparent manner. Ms. Young also fully understands that laws enacted by Congress are the law of the land, and they remain the law of the land regardless of her own personal views. You know, I know that some of my Republican colleagues have expressed concerns about Ms. Young's personal views. However, I hope they recognize that she has repeatedly committed to following the laws put forth by Congress, including laws that she may personally disagree with. There is no doubt that Ms. Young is exceptionally qualified for this role. OMB urgently needs qualified, Senate-confirmed leaders, not only to address the current public health and economic crisis but also to strengthen Federal cybersecurity, review regulations, and modernize the Federal workforce. In short, OMB works to ensure that every part of government is working effectively for the American people. Her budget expertise, extensive record of bipartisan engagement, and deep-rooted understanding and respect for Congress are exactly what is needed to meet the challenges that we face now and the challenges that lie ahead. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the confirmation of Shalanda Young as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary public servant and Michigander, Eric Feldman. Since my first days serving in the U.S. House of Representatives more than 12 years ago, Eric has served as my chief of staff. I still vividly remember him coming to my home just a couple of weeks after my election to interview for the chief of staff position. I was immediately impressed by his extensive knowledge of American politics and his passion to serve the people of the State of Michigan. But to fully know Eric is to know his family's story and how it shaped the man he is. All four of his grandparents survived the Holocaust. His maternal grandmother was imprisoned in Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, among others. His maternal grandfather was in a forced labor camp in Plaszow. His grandparents met and married in the Bergen- Belsen concentration camp. They were liberated from there and remained after it was converted to a displaced persons camp following World War II. That camp is where Eric's mother was born. His grandparents and mother immigrated in 1949 to Detroit, where his grandfather worked as a janitor at Ford Motor Company during the day and worked as a tailor at night. His mother won a full scholarship to the University of Michigan from Ford Motor Company as part of a program for employees. Eric's paternal grandparents fled Poland on the eve of the Nazi German invasion. They survived the war as slave laborers in Siberia, where Eric's father was born. Following the war, they immigrated to Israel before settling in Detroit. Eric's father went to Wayne State University, thanks to the GI bill, after serving honorably in the U.S. Air Force. After immigrating to Detroit, Eric's family worked hard, and they were able to achieve the American dream. There is no question that their life experience and their journey instilled in Eric a sense of service and devotion to country. As a freshman Member of Congress, I was fortunate to have Eric on my team. He brought with him extensive political and policy experience, having worked for Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Rahm Emanuel. He built on that experience, leading our office with steady, unwavering leadership, brilliant vision, and wise counsel. Through four reelections--including my election to the Senate and reelection last year--and many crises impacting Michigan and our country, I entrusted Eric to help ensure that we were able to come together, solve tough problems, and ultimately deliver results. He never flinched. I could always count on Eric to work with our team to develop creative ideas to tackle challenges or empower staff to make sure that we were on the leading edge of issues critical to Michigan. He has guided my office through countless high-profile events and crises: the great recession and auto crisis, the Flint water crisis, several government shutdowns, the COVID-19 pandemic, the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and two impeachment trials. Through it all, Eric has provided stability and focus--a focus on working in a bipartisan manner to pass important legislation and to make progress for Michigan and for our entire country. Last week, I was humbled to be recognized by the Center for Effective Lawmaking as the most effective Senator in the 116th Congress. Recognition of this sort does not happen without having an incredible team. Eric played a critical role in helping me enact 10 bills into law--the most of any Senator from either party over the last 2 years. And I know that Eric will tell you, without a doubt, that there is no ``I'' in team. As a leader, Eric has focused on hiring talented staff, both in DC and across Michigan, staff that humbly, selflessly, and effectively serve the people of Michigan each and every day. With Eric's laser focus on what is best for Michigan, together with our team, we have secured record funding to protect the Great Lakes, worked to increase security at our Nation's borders, expanded apprenticeships and skills training, saved taxpayer dollars, and made the Federal Government more efficient, all the while standing up for Michigan workers, including those working in our auto industry. Eric is always on the leading edge, and he has distinguished himself through his work with Michigan's auto manufacturers and automotive stakeholders. In particular, Eric has helped drive policy efforts focused on innovation and emerging technologies so that in the near future, self-driving vehicles will not only be safely deployed and save thousands of lives on our highways but also be developed and built in Michigan and in the United States, creating good-paying jobs for the next generation of workers. At every step of the way, through all of his hard work, Eric has carried himself with his characteristic enthusiasm and passion. It is only fitting, as an alum of the University of Michigan and a fervent-- very fervent--Wolverine fan, he has, and I quote, an ``enthusiasm unknown to mankind.'' Whether it is policy, politics, casework, or an issue important to constituents, there is no doubt that Eric approaches it with keen interest and with high energy and that he will think through every single possible angle. But Eric has been much more than just a chief aide. Colleen and I feel incredibly fortunate not only for all that Eric has done to lead my office and deliver for the people of Michigan; we count on him as a confidant and a dear friend. Eric, you will be missed dearly as you depart for your next endeavor in the private sector. But I am grateful for what you have built, and I know that it will endure--a culture of teamwork, hard work, productivity, and a commitment to what is best for Michiganders Eric, Colleen and I know that you have devoted countless hours to a job that you love while balancing the two most important roles in your life: being a loving husband and a father. I have been proud to watch you celebrate many of life's milestones over the years, including the birth of your two beloved sons, and I will certainly never forget your eldest son Avi's birthday on November 4, 2014, the day Michiganders elected me to the U.S. Senate. Eric, Colleen and I wish you much success, and we hope you enjoy this next chapter with Dena, Avi, and Ethan. Know that Colleen and I will always be thankful beyond measure for your service and for your leadership and that you will forever be part of Team Peters. I yield the floor.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. For the information of Senators, we expect two rollcall votes during Wednesday's session of the Senate in relation to the Tai and Becerra nominations.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it recess until 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 17; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the nomination of Katherine Tai to be Trade Representative; and finally, that the postcloture debate time with respect to the Tai nomination expire at 11:30 a.m.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 118, submitted earlier today.

Mr. PETERS. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it recess under the previous order.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, as we near the 1-year anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic ripping our country, there is no question that Michiganders and people all across our country are still hurting. While we are making important progress in the fight to combat this virus, this public health and economic crisis continues to take a significant toll on families, workers who are out of a job, educators, students, small businesses, hospitals, and communities all across our country. We passed targeted, temporary relief in December, but we knew at that time that that was not going to be enough. We need more robust, meaningful relief. We must act quickly to meet the urgency of this moment by swiftly passing the American Rescue Plan. This is about relief for Michiganders and Americans who are reeling and are trying to make ends meet, funding to help schools safely reopen, sources to speed up vaccine distribution, and support for small businesses fighting to stay afloat. I continue to hear from Michiganders from all across the State who are struggling to put food on the table, pay their rent, and keep the lights on. These folks are not asking for a handout; they simply want a lifeline to get to the other side of the pandemic. When we passed $600 relief checks in December, I pledged that we must do more and that we could do that by providing people with an additional $1,400 to fulfill the promise of $2,000 in relief funds. With the American Rescue Plan, the majority of Michiganders and Americans who received these relief checks in December are going to be eligible once again. This bill would mean a family of four could receive an additional $5,600. That support is vital to make sure that people don't fall into poverty as a result of this pandemic and that they can get back up on their feet as quickly as possible. We know that millions of workers across our country, including workers in Michigan, are on the verge of seeing unemployment benefits expire on March 14. We cannot abandon folks who are out of work through no fault of their own because of COVID-19. They have seen this pandemic disrupt their jobs and their incomes. The need for unemployment assistance is widespread, and it is necessary in Michigan. For example, there were over 840,000 active claims for Michiganders for unemployment assistance in Michigan just in February. That is up from 529,000 in January. And these claims for assistance come from every single county all across our State. We need to act now so these individuals remain eligible for unemployment benefits, including if they were self-employed workers, like small business owners, freelance workers, independent contractors, or gig workers. We must ensure families receiving unemployment have enough assistance to get by, which is why I support an additional $400 in weekly benefits. We also need to provide certainty that this assistance will continue to be there for them in the months ahead, not just for the next few days. The American relief plan will do just that by bolstering our State unemployment programs with additional Federal support through August 29. To help families get back to work, we all know that we must also safely reopen our schools. Many parents and educators are struggling to assist children through lessons while juggling other work and caregiving demands during the pandemic. The American Rescue Plan reflects a point of consensus that we want our students to return to in-person learning as quickly and as safely as possible. And the more resources that we can provide, the better. In response to the negative impact that COVID-19 has had on education, a stronger and urgent investment in our schools is absolutely critical for achieving safe operations and recovering from gaps in learning. That is why the American Rescue Plan is absolutely essential This legislation will provide $170 billion in emergency funding to our schools and to our students, with $130 billion for K-12. The funding will help schools take steps based on science and recommended by the CDC to ensure that students and educators can safely return to the classroom. This includes repairing ventilation systems, reducing class sizes, implementing social distancing guidelines, purchasing personal protective equipment, and hiring support staff to care for students' health and their well-being. Every family and community has been facing a very unique set of challenges, and we need to provide robust funding so schools and parents have what they need to keep children connected with learning opportunities that are both safe and effective. And while these are important steps, we also know that if we are going to come back stronger from this pandemic, we also need to support the very backbone of our economy, which is our small businesses. While we have passed several rounds of relief for small businesses, too many of our hard-hit small businesses are still reeling--from restaurants to boutiques, to family-owned and minority-owned businesses. The American Rescue Plan has significant small business relief, including $25 billion in grants for restaurants and bars that have lost revenue because of the pandemic; $15 billion for economic injury disaster loan advance grants; $7 million in funding for Paycheck Protection Program loans and expanded eligibility for nonprofits. Additionally, this package reauthorizes and provides $10 billion in Federal funding--including $1.5 billion specifically for minority-owned small businesses--to the State Small Business Credit Initiative. I was proud to help establish this program in 2010 while serving in the House of Representatives. This program is a proven success. In Michigan, it has helped small businesses create or retain over 12,000 jobs, and it strengthens State programs that support financing of small businesses, allowing them to both grow and to create more jobs. I am pleased to again champion this program, and with additional investment, it will again provide crucial support to small businesses in Michigan and all across our country. And, finally, to completely get this pandemic under control, we must ramp up the distribution of vaccines. That is one of my top priorities as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. Thanks to the extraordinary work of our scientists, our researchers, and our vaccine makers, especially those in my home State of Michigan, we now have three safe and effective vaccines. But I know that many people have been frustrated and darn right angered by the difficulties they have had in trying to secure vaccines for their loved ones or for themselves. I am encouraged that President Biden and his administration have been working tirelessly to expand vaccine production and speed up vaccine distribution. But to get those additional vaccines into people's arms, it will take additional resources. Through my work on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, I have been leading the charge to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has the essential staff, supplies, transportation, and other resources necessary to ensure that every vaccine dose is actually reaching an arm in this country. I have spoken with President Biden both in the Oval Office and at the Pfizer vaccine facility in Portage, MI, about the critical need to expedite the deployment of vaccines and to do everything--do everything in our power to ensure vaccines are free and widely available in every community as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The American relief plan includes $50 billion to help FEMA support a national vaccine program to efficiently administer vaccines, including underserved communities. It also provides frontline medical professionals the personal protective equipment, testing supplies, and workforce needed to slow and to eliminate the spread of COVID-19. All of these resources are mission critical as FEMA plays a leading role in assisting the Federal Government's response to COVID-19 by coordinating medical supply acquisition and distribution and assisting State and local governments with funds for response activities, such as vaccine distribution and overtime pay for public health officials. As we consider the American Rescue Plan, there are signs of hope, particularly with ramped-up vaccine production. We are beginning to emerge from a very dark winter, but our work is not done. We cannot be complacent. We cannot let up. This virus does not take a day off, and neither can we. We must pass the American Rescue Plan. This package is not only what the American people need, but it is what they want. There is widespread support across the country for this package--from mayors to Governors, to economists across the political spectrum, and the majority of the American people. We must deliver comprehensive and urgently needed relief so we can do just that by passing the American Rescue Plan. This package will not mark the end of our efforts to crush this virus, but it will provide a massive shot in the arm to help families, to safely open up our schools, and to accelerate the development of more vaccines. So, with that, I urge all of my colleagues to support the motion to proceed and final passage. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I have 5 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on subcommittee Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Committee on Veterans' Affairs The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March at 10 a.m., to conduct a closed briefing.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I reserve the right to object.

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I certainly appreciate the Senator from Florida's interest in oversight of the coronavirus emergency relief funds. This funding has been and continues to be critical to the American people throughout the pandemic. I also appreciate the Senator's support for the creation of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee when he voted for the CARES Act. This was a provision that I authored to ensure that we would have strong oversight of coronavirus relief dollars. I agree wholeheartedly that we must be faithful stewards of taxpayer money. That is why the CARES Act directed the Government Accountability Office, our congressional watchdog, to oversee coronavirus spending. We are fortunate to receive consistent, detailed reporting and recommendations on these issues. The Senator's resolution, however, will not strengthen these oversight mechanisms, nor will it deliver any form of relief to families who are hurting and small businesses that are struggling. If the Senator from Florida wants an update on the current status of funding from previous coronavirus relief bills, I am happy to provide one to him. Let's first look at the first coronavirus relief measures, all of which were passed in March and April of last year. To date, approximately 93 percent of those funds have been obligated and 88 percent have been outlaid. After accounting for benefits that are, by design, continuing to be paid out over time, there is less than $100 billion of uncommitted funds left, and approximately half of that is in the Provider Relief Fund for struggling medical providers, whose needs continue to be extremely high. For the legislation signed into law on December 27, 2020, more than half of this funding has already been committed, but if we set aside expanded unemployment benefits, which expire next month; small business relief; and the tax credit portion of the economic impact payments, which will be disbursed over time, less than 12 percent of the funding from December remains unobligated. We know the status of funds from past COVID relief bills. This information is not being kept secret in any way. In addition to reports from the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee and the Government Accountability Office, we have a monthly SF 133 report from the Office of Management and Budget. Coronavirus-related spending is also publicly tracked--publicly tracked--on both USASpending.gov and on the website of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee. We don't need more reports right now; we need action. We have been fighting a public health and economic crisis, neither of which will magically disappear without additional Federal action. We can't wait until more small businesses close or hospitals run into the red. We know how badly Americans are hurting, and they are hurting right now. We are a full year into this pandemic that has taken the lives of over 515,000 Americans. And this pandemic is not over. It is continuing to ravage communities all across our Nation. Let's look at where we are right now. Upwards of 2,000 Americans are dying each and every day. Daily cases are at the same levels we saw during the last surge in July, with over 50,000 Americans testing positive for COVID-19 every day. We are also facing the new threat of emerging variants like the UK and South African strains, which unfortunately could lead to even more cases. The economic toll continues to go on. Millions of Americans remain out of work. In January, the unemployment rate was nearly double that of prepandemic levels, and unemployment claims are still more than double prepandemic levels. We all have friends, family members, and neighbors who are hurting right now. Small businesses have had to slash their hours, cutting into their own bottom line and employees' paychecks. We need to help struggling families by providing rental assistance, stimulus checks, and unemployment benefits. We need to help kids by supporting our schools so we can get back to in-person learning. We need to invest in the public health infrastructure necessary to combat this virus by increasing testing capacity, implementing vaccine education campaigns, and tracking and containing the new COVID variants that we see springing up. We are starting to see a glimpse of light at the end of this very long--far too long--tunnel, but we must keep moving forward. The American Rescue Plan will finally allow us to control the virus, improve the lives of all Americans, and get us out of this crisis. We should not be wasting time on partisan resolutions that will neither deliver relief nor meaningfully improve oversight of COVID relief efforts. We must come together and provide the relief that families and small businesses all across our country so desperately need. Madam President, I object.