Rick Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, older American workers are a vital source of economic strength. Before the pandemic, there were more seniors in the workforce than there were 20 years ago, and men and women age 55 and older lifted the overall labor force participation rate by a substantial margin. During the pandemic, more than 3 million seniors retired early, and millions more are considering early retirement. These losses harm seniors' retirement security by reducing their income and benefits. That is why today, with my good friend Senator Rubio, I am introducing the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act, which would repeal the Social Security retirement earnings test. The earnings test is a confusing work disincentive. It says that you lose half your Social Security benefits if you earn more than $18,960. Then it gives your benefits back at full retirement age. The problem is that many seniors know their benefits will be cut if they make too much money, but not that they will be replaced later. They treat the earnings test like a 50-percent tax and work less to avoid it. When I have spoken to small business owners in South Carolina they have made clear to me that the earnings test is in fact a disincentive for many older workers, and it harms their businesses. Older Americans want to earn just enough that they fall right under the threshold so their benefits don't get cut, which makes it harder for small businesses to hire them even on a part-time basis. It is not surprising that research shows the earnings test reduces labor force participation by more than 3 percent. The earnings test also deepens inequality. It punishes lower-income seniors who need Social Security benefits and earned income to get by. And if you need Social Security benefits and earned income to meet caregiving responsibilities or pressing financial obligations or because you have a lower life expectancy, the earnings test says no, you have to wait until you reach full retirement age, whether that is 65 or 67. Many seniors just can't wait that long, and the economy can't either. The Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act will give these older Americans the freedom and flexibility they need, promote work, and help employers and workers find arrangements that work best for them. Thank you.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, older American workers are a vital source of economic strength. Before the pandemic, there were more seniors in the workforce than there were 20 years ago, and men and women age 55 and older lifted the overall labor force participation rate by a substantial margin. During the pandemic, more than 3 million seniors retired early, and millions more are considering early retirement. These losses harm seniors' retirement security by reducing their income and benefits. That is why today, with my good friend Senator Rubio, I am introducing the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act, which would repeal the Social Security retirement earnings test. The earnings test is a confusing work disincentive. It says that you lose half your Social Security benefits if you earn more than $18,960. Then it gives your benefits back at full retirement age. The problem is that many seniors know their benefits will be cut if they make too much money, but not that they will be replaced later. They treat the earnings test like a 50-percent tax and work less to avoid it. When I have spoken to small business owners in South Carolina they have made clear to me that the earnings test is in fact a disincentive for many older workers, and it harms their businesses. Older Americans want to earn just enough that they fall right under the threshold so their benefits don't get cut, which makes it harder for small businesses to hire them even on a part-time basis. It is not surprising that research shows the earnings test reduces labor force participation by more than 3 percent. The earnings test also deepens inequality. It punishes lower-income seniors who need Social Security benefits and earned income to get by. And if you need Social Security benefits and earned income to meet caregiving responsibilities or pressing financial obligations or because you have a lower life expectancy, the earnings test says no, you have to wait until you reach full retirement age, whether that is 65 or 67. Many seniors just can't wait that long, and the economy can't either. The Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act will give these older Americans the freedom and flexibility they need, promote work, and help employers and workers find arrangements that work best for them. Thank you.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, right now, American families are worried. The White House thinks inflation is a high-class problem. I clearly imagine the price of Prada bags has gone up, but what the White House continues to miss is that inflation is killing the buying power of Americans on low and fixed incomes. Across America, families are going through grocery store aisles, seeing higher prices, and having to figure out what they can afford to eat this week. Folks are passing by gas station after gas station, looking for lower prices--to no avail. These aren't just headlines and stories; these are real families who are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to keep up. I grew up poor. When my parents' bills went up, it made it more difficult for my family. When gas prices went up, it meant we had less food to put on the table. None of us would wish that on anyone, but that is exactly what is happening in Biden's America--high prices on food, high prices on gas, empty shelves and supply shortages, skyrocketing debt, and Big Government overreach--and that is just the start. Energy prices are through the roof. Let's take a look at the rising cost at the pump. Just this week, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel ran a story with the headline: ``Gas prices hit their highest levels since 2014. When will we get a break?'' As gas prices keep rising, the message from Florida couldn't be more clear. Last week, the national gas average was $3.36 a gallon. It was $2.16 per gallon this time last year. That is a 55-percent increase in just 1 year. If you are driving a car, that means you are seeing an extra cost of about $800 annually. If you are driving a truck, that means you are probably seeing an extra cost of $1,400 annually. More than 5,000 gas stations across the country are charging more than $4.50 a gallon. In one California community, gas was nearly $8 per gallon last week. That is insane. Prices may go up even more as forecasters warn that oil could rise to more than $100 a barrel. But rising costs don't stop at the pump; they follow you home. For the nearly half of U.S. families who use natural gas to heat their homes, it is going to cost them $746 just to stay warm during the winter months. If you are using electric heat, prepare to spend more than $1,200 on your electric bills. Reports show that, this winter, home heating prices are going to rise by more than 40 percent for homes that use heating oil, more than 30 percent for homes using natural gas, and 54 percent for homes using propane. Factor in the rising cost of meat, diapers, milk, and other everyday items, and things are looking pretty dire for the American family. Last week, President Biden said he ``doesn't have a near-term answer'' for reducing gas prices. He doesn't appear to have a long-term answer either. In the meantime, he expects families to just hang tight while he does nothing until next year, when things will magically get better. We all know President Biden likes to play the blame game. This time, he is blaming OPEC for not pumping out more foreign oil. Remember when America was energy independent? Not anymore, thanks to Joe Biden. He has done everything in his power to cut off America's domestic supply and resources needed to warm our homes and run our cars. In his first month in office, he cut the Keystone Pipeline permit and killed thousands of American jobs. Then he suspended new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits for Federal lands. He filled his administration with people who have been longtime advocates of a carbon tax, including Treasury Secretary Yellen, which would only make the current problem worse. He has others, like Interior Secretary Haaland, who want to completely ban fracking. Oddly enough, he supported Russia's getting the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline, which gives Russia a massive win, and he has put us back into the Paris climate accords, which are already ruining Europe. European countries are scaling back on oil and gas production to meet the Paris Agreement. In Portugal, electricity prices have tripled over the past 6 months, and Germany's prices are three times the U.S. average. Across Europe, they have to rely on energy imports from Russia. Instead of pursuing a path of energy independence, Biden continues to push ridiculous energy policies in his massive $5.5 trillion spending package that will cut our legs out from under us and cause America to become even more dependent on Russia and the OPEC countries, and he is relentlessly pursuing a reckless tax-and-spending spree even though we know reckless spending causes inflation. These effects might not be felt by President Biden, but I can tell you that, since Biden took office, more families across the State of Florida and across the Nation have felt the pain of having to count their pennies. For the sake of American families, we need to figure out what the heck is going on. This is why I have introduced a very simple bill to get to the bottom of these sky-high prices. I am thankful for Senators Marshall, Lummis, Capito, Johnson, Moran, and Blackburn, who have cosponsored this legislation. The GAS Price Act will simply require the Energy Information Administration to report publicly to Congress on any Federal Agency policies or regulations that it determines will cause energy prices to rise. All my bill does is ask a Federal Agency to provide important information to us in Congress with a statement of facts on what is causing rising energy prices since President Biden was sworn into office. Then we can take this information, see what needs to be fixed, and help the American people. That is it. Let's tell Americans why this is happening, and let's figure out how to fix it. It is as simple as that. I am sure none of my colleagues would disagree to keeping Congress informed about new rules or policies that have a negative financial impact on families in our great State. Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3086, which is at the desk. Further, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. That would be interesting if it was true. When you think about it--and you can look at oil prices, and they are international oil prices--it is illogical to believe that the American oil companies want to spend the transportation dollars to send the oil overseas if they could sell it in America. So, first off, I am truly shocked that my colleague would say those things. I am shocked that he would object, but I get it. I know my Democratic colleagues have to bend over backwards to protect the Biden administration's disastrous energy policies. But I find it hard to believe they would go so far as to object to having basic transparency. Maybe, if what my colleague said was true, then my bill would show-- they would come back and say: Yup, that is exactly what happened. My bill would simply provide us with greater insight into the cause of rising gas and energy prices in the United States. We must be committed to making the American dream work for everyone, ensuring that every family, including poor families, have a chance to get ahead. I think about my mom and dad. I watched them struggle to make ends meet. This inflation, these gas prices, food prices, all these things, are hurting the poorest families in this country. When you get very little, like we did, and prices go up--gas prices, food prices--it means it is a very difficult time for these families. Hard-working families are trying to get by. We need to provide more information to Congress so we can make good decisions to figure out why these gas prices are going up the way they are. So I am disappointed that my colleague would object to a simple way of trying to figure out exactly what has happened here, why gas prices are going up, and what should Congress be doing to make sure that doesn't continue. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

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

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2997, which is at the desk. Further, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, this time last year, we still didn't know how much longer this pandemic would last. We didn't know when the vaccine trials would be completed. Thankfully, by December, the vaccine had been approved and brought normalcy back to the lives of many Americans. The Trump administration worked with public and private partners, doctors and scientists across our country to develop a safe and effective vaccine in record time. It was a feat of science, and it was an example of what Americans can do when we are working together. I had COVID, and I am grateful that I was able to get vaccinated. I hope that all Americans talk with their doctors and consider making the same decision. It is a personal decision every individual gets to make. That is not how President Biden sees it. Lately, the Biden administration has decided to try and take this decision out of the hands of the American people. With this recently announced unconstitutional vaccine mandate for private businesses, King Biden again is saying that government knows best and has taken choice away from families in Florida and across the country. That is not what the American people expect government to do. Government's role is to give Americans all the information and data it has so they can make the right decision for their individual family. That is exactly what I did when I was Governor of Florida. In the face of life-threatening hurricanes, I made sure Florida families were informed. I went out and made sure everyone knew exactly what to expect and how dangerous the storm could be, but I didn't issue mandates because that is not what governments should do. When I was Governor of Florida, we had the Zika healthcare crisis, which impacted newborns. Rather than placing mandates on pregnant women or restricting their travel to areas with local transmission of Zika, we simply informed Floridians, worked to be as transparent as possible, and offered free Zika testing to all pregnant women in Florida. But, again, that is not the approach--that is not the approach--Joe Biden has decided to take. President Biden has decided that threatening corporations and businesses and misleading the American people is a better option. It is dishonest and authoritarian, and it is no way to lead a nation. Americans should be free to make choices they feel are in the best interests of their own health and the health of their loved ones. In December, President Biden promised he would not require Americans to be vaccinated or require that they carry vaccine passports. But here he is, less than 10 months into his Presidency, breaking promise after promise and going back on his word. How can the American people believe anything he says? Americans are sick and tired of the government telling them what to do and are more than capable of making the right choices to protect themselves, their family, and their neighbors. But even as there are some of us in this Chamber who disagree about national vaccine mandates for private businesses, I wanted to try to find some common ground. Food stamps, supplemental assistance for women, infants, and children, and free and reduced lunch programs are programs run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provide food to hungry families and are some of the most basic of programs our government provides to those in need. For kids who are at school and who come from families who are struggling, I am saying you shouldn't have to be vaccinated in order to eat. Or for families who have trouble putting enough food on the table, I am saying you shouldn't have to be vaccinated to get groceries. I wish--I hoped--my colleague would agree. I offered a simple bill to say that families who need food stamps and additional support for women, infants, and children shouldn't have to be vaccinated in order to have a full stomach. I was a poor kid growing up. My parents struggled to put food on the table, but my colleague is telling families like mine growing up that they don't care about their personal choices: If you want to be able to eat, you have to get a shot. This is ridiculous. This is un-American. This is an attempt by President Biden to take over every aspect of your life. I am not going to stand for it. The American people are not going to stand for it. I hope every household in America sees what happened on the floor today. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, I want to talk about two things as we are waiting for Senator Wyden. First, I have been hearing all across the State of Florida, people are really concerned about the Democratic proposal basically to look at everybody's bank accounts. The latest is that the proposal will take it from looking at every $600 transaction or $600 account to $10,000. Well, if you look at it, almost everybody has a $10,000 account because what they are talking about is cumulative dollars. So why does the IRS want to look at everybody's accounts? It is for one reason. The one reason is to take more dollars out of somebody's pocket. We can't let this happen. We have a right to privacy in this country. We should be able to not have to tell the government everything we buy. If you want to buy a sofa or anything, you shouldn't have to tell the Federal Government. So I completely oppose this significant overreach by the Democrats trying to look into everybody's bank accounts, because that is exactly what it would do. Supply Chain Madam President, the second thing I want to talk about is the supply chain. We have a significant problem in the supply chain. Not only do we have a big problem, but if you look at what is going to happen with regard to the vaccine mandate, it is going to cause even more problems. My dad was a truck driver. If he had to choose, he would have a tough choice if he wasn't comfortable, for whatever reason, getting the vaccine--and I took the vaccine and I had COVID--then he is going to lose his job, which is going to impact a lot of American families. It is going to cause the supply chain to be in worse shape, and it is going to cause even more inflation. So with President Biden's recently announced unconstitutional vaccine mandates for private businesses, the President is saying government knows best and is taking choice away from families all across our country, but clearly my State of Florida. That is not what the American people expect government to do. The government's role is to give people information. Give them the information and let them make good choices. They will make good choices. My parents didn't have much of an education, but they could make good choices. They figured out what was good for our family. These decisions should be up to individuals, not government. That's why I asked consent to pass S. 2997, and, unfortunately, the Senate Democrats objected. I hope we can find some common ground. Unanimous Consent Request--S. 2998 Madam President, I hope everyone here believes you should not have to receive a vaccine in order to obtain a Social Security check or Social Security disability check. Forcing families to choose between receiving Social Security and choosing to get vaccinated is a terrible choice. That is why I introduced legislation to protect Social Security recipients and ensure that Biden won't be able to strong-arm them into compliance with his unconstitutional mandate. As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2998, which is at the desk. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, well, clearly I am pretty shocked. By objecting to this bill, my colleague is suggesting that it is acceptable for the government to deny Social Security checks to American seniors and checks to those who are physically disabled because they have made a personal medical choice to not receive the vaccine. This is not farfetched. The Biden administration is already doing it to companies, and people are out of a job. The Social Security system is meant to help those who have spent their lives working in this country, and disability checks are designed to help those who cannot work. These checks are not a tool for government to impose its will on the people, just as it shouldn't be the position of the Biden administration to require companies to enforce the vaccine mandate. But if you are on Social Security or your parent is receiving Social Security checks, this is what my colleague is suggesting by blocking this legislation: Get the vaccine or go broke. As we all know, prices are going up, and the Social Security Administration just announced a record cost-of-living increase in benefits to keep up with Biden's inflation crisis. Individuals dependent on Social Security still need to get gas and groceries to survive. By objecting to this simple bill, my colleague is comfortable offering an ultimatum: Get the vaccine or go broke. It is wrong--it is wrong to the core--and the American people know it. Unanimous Consent Request--S. 2999 Mr. President, perhaps my colleague may agree with me on a different point--that vaccine mandates shouldn't be tied to participation in Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP. There are more than 60 million Americans on Medicare and more than 80 million Americans receiving Medicaid or CHIP assistance. These programs are important for ensuring that our families, our seniors, and our kids can stay healthy and have access to a doctor. No one should be deprived of healthcare because they have chosen not to receive the vaccine. It would be simply unethical to do so. It seems like pretty common sense. My proposal would protect individuals on Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP from any overreaching vaccine mandates, like the President has done with companies, and ensure that a personal medical decision does not strip them of the access to healthcare they need. Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2999, which is at the desk. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, first of all, let's remember that the President is requiring a vaccine mandate if you have a job. So there are people there who are going to lose their job because they, for whatever reason, are uncomfortable getting the vaccine. So this is not farfetched. I thought my colleagues had gone too far by suggesting it would be acceptable for the government to tie vaccines to Social Security checks, but this is another level of insanity. My colleague is comfortable denying healthcare to someone because of their vaccine status. It is really quite ironic because for the past 10 years, we have had Democrats falsely claim Republicans want insurance companies to be able to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions. But here we have it right here on the Senate floor--Democrats are doing exactly what they have falsely accused Republicans of. They want to be able to deny healthcare to Americans who have not received the vaccine. Does anyone really think that denying healthcare to people who don't want to get the vaccine for whatever reason is truly in the best interest of public health? What do you do when someone is a bit hesitant on the vaccine? And we all have met people like that. For my Democratic colleagues, the answer is simple: Take away their healthcare. Do you need to refill your arthritis prescription? It seems Democrats want to make sure that pharmacists charge you more unless you get the shot. Maybe it is time to get your physical. If you have been on Medicaid, you are left with two options: Either get the shot or go home because the Democrats don't want you to get your ears checked or your blood work completed unless you have met their standard of getting the shot. Whether you like it or not, some people are not comfortable. It doesn't matter how poor you are; they are willing to strip you of your health insurance and take away your ability to get your prescriptions unless you get the vaccine. The American people know these choices are wrong, and the fact that my colleagues stand by their decision I think is outrageous. Unanimous Consent Request--S. 3000 Mr. President, now, hopefully, we can get to some common ground. I think our colleagues disagreed on some of these things, but let's see if we can find another one they will agree on, and that is access to housing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development provides a wide variety of housing programs meant to help individuals and families in need of a home and those who are struggling and down on their luck. They help with everything from loans to first-time home buyers to homeless shelters and housing assistance. More than 5 million people currently receive some kind of housing assistance from HUD. I can't imagine anyone would think that the government should mandate vaccines for Americans who need to have basic access to housing or be able to limit, if you don't want to get the vaccine, your access to housing. Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3000, which is at the desk. I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, well, first off, the Senator might not know I grew up in public housing, so I do have a little bit of knowledge about public housing, and we had public housing for my constituents as Governor of Florida. So I watched my friends struggle to make do. Let's all remember that President Biden promised us that he would not require anybody to get the vaccine or require vaccine mandates, and that has clearly changed. So, you know, my parents didn't have much of a formal education, but they worked hard, and they made the best choices they could with the information they had, and they focused on the well-being of our family. So it is baffling to me that my colleague might be willing to tell a family like mine that a vaccine was a precondition to have a roof over their head. I am surprised that Senate Democrats are willing to look in the eyes of struggling families and say: We can't help you unless you have been vaccinated first--which is actually going on right now when you are telling people in this country that if you don't get vaccinated, you lose your job. You will lose your job, so you will not be able to pay the rent; you will not be able to afford your house; you will not be able to afford to put food on the table. That is exactly what is going on. So this is not farfetched. These HUD programs were not meant to be used to force somebody to get a vaccine. So I am shocked that my colleague would object. My colleagues have objected to several proposals. All my proposals are designed to make sure that there is no government overreach. Why is this important? Because let's remember, Joe Biden promised he would not require anybody to get a vaccine, and he went back on that promise. I don't believe anybody sitting on this floor should ever be in a position to say that they are OK with somebody not getting in a government program because they haven't had a vaccine--food assistance, Social Security, healthcare, or housing, any of them. Now, look, I want to be clear. I had COVID. I got the vaccine, and I hope every American will consider getting the vaccine. But it is a decision that every American gets to make. They should talk to their doctor and make a decision for their family, and our government should never be in a position to tell somebody to get a vaccine. We can't give people an ultimatum to comply with unconstitutional mandates or go without anything--Social Security, healthcare, housing, food benefits, or a job--which is going on all across this country right now. It is a gross overreach by the Federal Government at a time when we need more information and more compassion, not mandates from an administration more focused on advancing its socialist agenda than looking out for every American. So, unlike Joe Biden and Democrats in Washington, I don't believe the government knows best. I grew up in a family--and my parents didn't have much of an education, but they did the best they could for our family. They worked hard. They made choices to make sure we all stayed safe. They didn't rely on a government program other than to get information. They were trying to get good information from the government and make their own choices. So with that, I am very disappointed that my colleagues would disagree. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam President, on rollcall vote No. 414, I voted no. It was my intention to vote yea; therefore, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to change my vote since it will not affect the outcome.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I would like to thank Senator Tuberville for leading this very important effort. I want to be very clear. What President Biden is proposing here is as close to policy from communist China as we have seen in the United States. In oppressive regimes like Cuba and communist China, we have come to expect a surveillance state where the government has access to every part of a person's life. Now Joe Biden wants to bring that here to America. Let me explain what the Biden administration and Democrats in Washington are proposing. Democrats want to open your bank account to Federal agents. Under Joe Biden's America, the Federal Government's authority would be vastly expanded so the IRS can get a look at any account over $600. The madness doesn't stop there. This new rule from Joe Biden would also require banks to report every transaction of $600 or more. Does anyone honestly think the Federal Government will keep your private information safe? Want to buy a bed? Here comes the Federal Government. But say you want to buy a new shotgun. Hunting season is coming up. Again, here come the feds. How about giving money to your favorite charities; supporting a cause or a political candidate you care about; for childcare or paying for mental health counseling? Perhaps you are just selling off a little furniture and want to put your profits in a savings account. For every one of these transactions I have just described, the government is going to come take a look. Every American should be disgusted and furious by this insane overreach of the Federal Government. Think about the private, personal information the government would have access to. It is incredibly intrusive, and Joe Biden wants to make it nearly limitless. Again, does anyone honestly think the Federal Government would keep your private information safe? I understand that families are angry. I have heard from more than 18,000 constituents over just the last 2 weeks about how disgusted they are with this plan. Biden wants to expand the surveillance state of the Federal Government to target every American family. Ninety-five percent of American households have a bank account, and this policy will have impacts on every single one of those accountholders. But it is not just banks; Joe Biden is expanding the Federal surveillance state to monitor your finances across the board. They will be watching your local credit union and your PayPal and Venmo accounts. They will even be watching to see how you spend and earn cryptocurrency. This is an outrageous violation of Americans' privacy. I think the Democrats are also hearing from their constituents. Recent reports say the President and Democrats in the House are looking at raising the threshold from $600 to $10,000. That would still hit many Americans families. We are not just talking about checking accounts; this applies to savings, retirement, and investment accounts. You name it, the feds want to take a look. Again, I am not describing something in Cuba or communist China; I am talking about what Joe Biden and the Democrats want to do right here in the U.S.A. I can't wait for my Democratic colleague to explain why President Biden is even proposing this. How can you possibly justify to the American people that the IRS should be snooping around in their bank, retirement, or investment accounts? There is only one explanation, and it is simply terrifying. The Democrats want to control how you spend your money. Democrats want to control your expenditures, your charitable and political giving, and your investments. The more power Democrats can grab from American families, the more control they think they will get over each and every American. This all boils down to Joe Biden and the radical left bringing the American people under the thumb of his socialist tax-and-spend agenda. After all, how else is he going to be able to squeeze every last penny out of American families' bank accounts to pay for his socialist plans? Here is how the Democratic Party works: They refuse to audit our Federal Agencies that year after year send billions in improper payments to the wrong people, which they rarely ever recover. They refuse to hold their government accountable for reckless waste and massive debt. But they want to put the magnifying glass on hard-working families who are just trying to live their dreams. Under Biden's socialist regime, it is rules for thee but not for me. How is that different from communist China, where the government lives in opulence while their citizens live totally dependent on the government in poverty? I will not stand for this outrageous plan. No American should tolerate this unprecedented overreach. I am proud to support Senator Tuberville's legislation and hope every one of my colleagues looks at this for what it is: communist China-style totalitarian surveillance. I yield back to Senator Tuberville.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. President Biden ran on a promise to be a unifying moderate. He promised to bring America together. On the campaign trail, he promised to ``shut down the virus, not the country.'' As we have seen with his vaccine management, the opposite has happened. Joe Biden and Democrats in Washington have adopted an agenda of systemic socialism focused on expanding government and Federal control. In Joe Biden's America, the government knows better than the people, and President Biden has shown that he is eager to use government mandates to keep families in check. President Biden's latest vaccine mandate for private companies tramples on the personal freedoms of Americans. This unconstitutional order will push more Americans out of the workforce, devastate our economy with product and service shortages that cripple supply chains, and throw America into a stagflation crisis not seen since the 1970s. By forcing some working Americans to choose between keeping their jobs or doing what they believe is best for their health, Biden's mandate hurts the people he claims to help--workers, low-income Americans, and seniors on a fixed income, who will all be either hit with higher unemployment, higher prices, or a shortage of available goods. When I think about the impact of burdensome government regulations, I think about my dad. My adopted father was a truckdriver. Anyone who has driven trucks or been close to someone in that line of work knows how demanding that job can be. It is hard work, and it is one of the most critical jobs in our country. Truckdrivers are like the offensive linemen of America's supply chain--often overlooked but absolutely essential to getting things moving. Our country is already experiencing a significant shortage of truckdrivers. We can't afford to lose any more. Of course, trucking isn't the only industry that will be affected by Biden's unconstitutional mandate; nearly every sector is under the gun. In an economy where simply keeping shelves stocked is an everyday challenge, losing workers in almost any critical industry will have a catastrophic impact across our supply chains and drive prices even higher. Just this week, a month and a half before Thanksgiving, Amazon began already giving Black Friday discounts on goods because they expect so many delays and shortages on goods. That means families who have to wait for holiday bonuses before they can go shopping are going to be facing ``out of stock'' signs online and in stores. Joe Biden needs to answer this question: How is he going to fix this? How can Joe Biden guarantee that our supply chains won't completely crumble under his failed policies and mandates? In fact, I urge President Biden to have Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testify to the Commerce Committee on the shortages we are already seeing and the shortages that we anticipate. Ensuring the stability of American supply chains requires the urgent attention of the Biden administration. As a member of the Commerce Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion, I know this testimony from Secretaries Buttigieg and Raimondo would be useful in understanding how this will be addressed. We are already starting to see major supply issues. Seafood restaurants in Miami are seeing price increases of 50 to 60 percent on fish. Furniture stores in Florida are seeing wait times of 6 to 8 months before they can deliver certain products. Florida grocery stores are warning of product shortages as customers are starting to see empty shelves. Small business owners and families aren't able to afford those kinds of drastic increases, but if President Biden has his way, those transportation difficulties are going to become even worse and prices will rise even higher. Right now, rising prices on everyday goods are forcing American families to make hard choices. I have said it on this floor countless times, and I will say it again: Reckless government spending causes inflation. The reckless spending agenda of Joe Biden and Democrats here in Washington is having disastrous effects on families across our country. We can never forget that, as inflation worsens and prices surge higher, it is the poorest Americans and those on fixed incomes who are hurt the most. There are single moms wondering if they can put an extra few gallons of gas in the car and still afford to put dinner on the table this week or moms like mine who took on odd jobs to make ends meet and watched the smallest price changes at the grocery store to make sure we could still get by. If President Biden actually spoke with small and midsized employers and hard-working families instead of big banks and CEOs, he would learn that massive Federal mandates won't help us get our economy back on track. His Big Government mandates will only hurt us. I want to be clear. I got the vaccine. I had COVID. And I encourage every American to talk with their doctor and consider doing the same. But getting the vaccine is a choice every American gets to make for themselves. We can't give people an ultimatum to comply, quit, or get fired. It is a gross overreach by the Federal Government at a time when we need more jobs, not less; lower prices on everyday goods, not higher. Unlike Joe Biden and Democrats in Washington, I don't believe that government knows better than the American people. My parents didn't have much of a formal education, but they worked hard and made the choices they felt were right for the health and well-being of our family. They relied on government to keep them informed, and they made their own choices. That is how government should work. That is what I did when I was Governor of Florida. In 2016, Florida was faced with the Zika virus, which impacted newborns. Rather than placing mandates on pregnant women or restricting their travel to areas with local transmission of Zika, which we knew where they were, we simply informed Floridians. We worked to be as transparent as possible and offered free Zika testing to all pregnant women in Florida. That is how the Federal Government should deal with COVID. The government's role in public health is to inform and support, not mandate. Our country has seen labor shortages caused by Democrats' failed policies of rewarding unemployment, paying people more to stay at home than to get back to work. Energy prices are surging, and inflation is raging. American families can't afford more of President's Biden's radical policy decisions that are inflicting lasting damage and driving our economy backwards. Restoring and strengthening our supply chains is a critical step in getting the American economy rolling forward. It is time for President Biden to acknowledge that massive, unconstitutional mandates on private companies won't do anything but hurt American business and throw gasoline on the already raging inflation crisis he has created. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, reserving the right to object. First, happy birthday. Is it your birthday?

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. As my colleague knows, the Census Bureau performs critically important functions to collect accurate and timely data. Unfortunately, I am concerned that this nominee will politicize the Census Bureau and will not perform his duties in a fair and unbiased fashion, which this position demands. I cannot and will not consent to allowing this nominee to move forward in an expedited manner. We should take a vote so every Senator can get on the record with their support or opposition to this nominee. Therefore, Mr. President, I object.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, the past 18 months have been trying for our Nation. Thankfully, the vaccine has brought normalcy back to the lives of many Americans. In record time, thanks to the hard work of the Trump administration and scientists across our country, we developed a safe and effective vaccine to protect Americans against COVID-19. These vaccines show us what can happen through cooperation, ingenuity, and hard work. And I am grateful for all those who helped us get here. I got the vaccine and encourage everyone to talk to their doctor and consider doing the same. That is what we all should do: give Americans all the information and data so that they have everything they need to make a good decision for their family. That is exactly what I did when I was Governor of Florida in the face of life-threatening hurricanes. I made sure Florida families were well informed. I went out and made sure everyone knew exactly what to expect and how dangerous the storm could be, but I didn't issue mandates because that is not what governments should do. When I was Governor of Florida, we had the Zika healthcare crisis, which impacted newborns. Rather than placing mandates on pregnant women or restricting their travel to areas with local transmission of Zika, we simply informed Floridians, worked to be as transparent as possible, and offered free Zika testing to all pregnant women in Florida. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has gone in the complete opposite direction. The White House has tried to use the new OSHA guidance to create fear; push another round of trillions of dollars in reckless, wasteful spending; lock down our Nation; close our schools; and kill the economy that so many Americans have worked so hard to preserve and protect. Americans are sick and tired of the government telling them what to do, and the American people are more than capable of making the right choices to protect themselves, their families, and their neighbors. As families and businesses in Florida and across the U.S. continue to work hard to recover from COVID-19's devastation, travel is critical to getting our economy fully reopened. America's truckers, shippers, pilots, and deliverymen and -women play an important role in delivering the goods needed to keep our economy going. Everything from gas and groceries to packages from small businesses and department stores, they help keep this country running. They also haven't had the luxury of working from home. For 18 months, they have shown up to work. They have figured out how to be safe without the feds telling them what to do. But the job-killing Biden White House is now considering requiring those engaged in interstate commerce or interstate travel be vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination and a vaccine passport. The Federal Government has no business imposing vaccine mandates on the American people and our hard-working businesses. This proposal reeks of a power grab and is another attempt by the Biden White House to control Americans. The Biden administration wants to control Americans through fear and mandates so the Federal Government is touching every single part of your life. I won't stand for it. Americans won't stand for it. They know that such an order is an overreach of power. Americans should be free to make choices they feel are in the best interests of their own health and the health of their loved ones, and the Federal Government has no business requiring travelers to turn over their personal medical information in order to make a delivery or to catch a flight. I believe Floridians and Americans across this country know what decisions are best for them. They don't need the Biden administration controlling their lives. The Supreme Court has already ruled that the Federal Government can't force people to purchase health insurance under the Commerce Clause. Why would President Biden think he could do so with a vaccine mandate? In December, President Biden promised--promised--he would not require Americans to be vaccinated or require that they carry vaccine passports--promise by President Biden. The new OSHA order breaks that promise. It has been one lie after another with this President. Today, I am introducing legislation which will prevent unconstitutional vaccine mandates for interstate commerce. I am thankful for Senators Johnson, Lummis, Marshall, and Lee cosponsoring this legislation and for Congressman Dan Crenshaw, who is introducing the companion bill in the House of Representatives. We are working to make sure that families across our country can travel freely and businesses can conduct interstate commerce without the ridiculous government bureaucracy created by vaccine passports. This bill would prohibit the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, and other Federal Agencies from requiring proof of vaccination or the use of a vaccine passport to engage in interstate commerce or travel. It protects people like my dad, who used to drive a truck and would carry goods across State lines. It protects the rights of American citizens, as laid out in our Constitution. President Biden is trying to upend our way of life and impose his view of health on every American--and I am here to say that I won't stand for it. Now, I would like to yield to my friends Senator Johnson and Senator Lee, as they will talk about this same bill.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, under no circumstances should the Federal Government attempt to mandate these vaccines and require proof of vaccination in order to conduct business. Small business owners who are trying to restart their businesses, families trying to take vacations, and truckers who are getting back to work shouldn't have to choose between living their lives and meeting President Biden's demands.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2895, introduced earlier today. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. First off, I am disappointed my colleague objected. I think No. 1 is this is unconstitutional. First off, President Biden promised he wouldn't be doing this. This is unconstitutional. Here is what it is going to do. If you talk to businesses around this country, they are already struggling to get people back to work because of excess funding that has been provided. And now we are going to tell a bunch of people that you can't come back to work because you haven't been vaccinated. We are going to tell people, you can't get on an airplane because you haven't been vaccinated. This is wrong. This is not what the Federal Government ought to be doing. They ought to do what I did when I was Governor. You give people the information and feel comfortable that the American public will make a good decision. I think this is a mistake. I hope my colleague will change her mind. And I hope this President will not continue down the path of requiring Americans to get vaccinations, because I don't think it is fair to Americans and I think it is unconstitutional. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, under no circumstances should the Federal Government attempt to mandate these vaccines and require proof of vaccination in order to conduct business. Small business owners who are trying to restart their businesses, families trying to take vacations, and truckers who are getting back to work shouldn't have to choose between living their lives and meeting President Biden's demands.

Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, the past 18 months have been trying for our Nation. Thankfully, the vaccine has brought normalcy back to the lives of many Americans. In record time, thanks to the hard work of the Trump administration and scientists across our country, we developed a safe and effective vaccine to protect Americans against COVID-19. These vaccines show us what can happen through cooperation, ingenuity, and hard work. And I am grateful for all those who helped us get here. I got the vaccine and encourage everyone to talk to their doctor and consider doing the same. That is what we all should do: give Americans all the information and data so that they have everything they need to make a good decision for their family. That is exactly what I did when I was Governor of Florida in the face of life-threatening hurricanes. I made sure Florida families were well informed. I went out and made sure everyone knew exactly what to expect and how dangerous the storm could be, but I didn't issue mandates because that is not what governments should do. When I was Governor of Florida, we had the Zika healthcare crisis, which impacted newborns. Rather than placing mandates on pregnant women or restricting their travel to areas with local transmission of Zika, we simply informed Floridians, worked to be as transparent as possible, and offered free Zika testing to all pregnant women in Florida. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has gone in the complete opposite direction. The White House has tried to use the new OSHA guidance to create fear; push another round of trillions of dollars in reckless, wasteful spending; lock down our Nation; close our schools; and kill the economy that so many Americans have worked so hard to preserve and protect. Americans are sick and tired of the government telling them what to do, and the American people are more than capable of making the right choices to protect themselves, their families, and their neighbors. As families and businesses in Florida and across the U.S. continue to work hard to recover from COVID-19's devastation, travel is critical to getting our economy fully reopened. America's truckers, shippers, pilots, and deliverymen and -women play an important role in delivering the goods needed to keep our economy going. Everything from gas and groceries to packages from small businesses and department stores, they help keep this country running. They also haven't had the luxury of working from home. For 18 months, they have shown up to work. They have figured out how to be safe without the feds telling them what to do. But the job-killing Biden White House is now considering requiring those engaged in interstate commerce or interstate travel be vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination and a vaccine passport. The Federal Government has no business imposing vaccine mandates on the American people and our hard-working businesses. This proposal reeks of a power grab and is another attempt by the Biden White House to control Americans. The Biden administration wants to control Americans through fear and mandates so the Federal Government is touching every single part of your life. I won't stand for it. Americans won't stand for it. They know that such an order is an overreach of power. Americans should be free to make choices they feel are in the best interests of their own health and the health of their loved ones, and the Federal Government has no business requiring travelers to turn over their personal medical information in order to make a delivery or to catch a flight. I believe Floridians and Americans across this country know what decisions are best for them. They don't need the Biden administration controlling their lives. The Supreme Court has already ruled that the Federal Government can't force people to purchase health insurance under the Commerce Clause. Why would President Biden think he could do so with a vaccine mandate? In December, President Biden promised--promised--he would not require Americans to be vaccinated or require that they carry vaccine passports--promise by President Biden. The new OSHA order breaks that promise. It has been one lie after another with this President. Today, I am introducing legislation which will prevent unconstitutional vaccine mandates for interstate commerce. I am thankful for Senators Johnson, Lummis, Marshall, and Lee cosponsoring this legislation and for Congressman Dan Crenshaw, who is introducing the companion bill in the House of Representatives. We are working to make sure that families across our country can travel freely and businesses can conduct interstate commerce without the ridiculous government bureaucracy created by vaccine passports. This bill would prohibit the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, and other Federal Agencies from requiring proof of vaccination or the use of a vaccine passport to engage in interstate commerce or travel. It protects people like my dad, who used to drive a truck and would carry goods across State lines. It protects the rights of American citizens, as laid out in our Constitution. President Biden is trying to upend our way of life and impose his view of health on every American--and I am here to say that I won't stand for it. Now, I would like to yield to my friends Senator Johnson and Senator Lee, as they will talk about this same bill.