TRANSCRIPT: Schumer Remarks At Enrollment Ceremony For The American Rescue Plan

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other Members of Congress held a bill enrollment ceremony for the American Rescue Plan Act, which implements President Biden’s urgently-needed plan to crush the virus, return children safely to the classroom, get vaccines to the people, put dollars into families’ pockets and put people back to work. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks as delivered, which you can also view here:

Nancy, let me thank you for your beautiful exuberance as well.

And the thanks goes to the Senators who are standing here. Our great Committee Chairs, and all of our Senators who pulled together as one unit, beating back killer amendments, making sure the bill was as strong as possible. And I want to salute them, all of those who are here and some who couldn't be here. And I want to salute the House as well. We were a seamless web.

And we worked together – Democrats on the House side, Democrats on the on the Senate side, all together because we knew how important this was to America.

So what do we say to America?

We say to America: Help is on the way.

Help is on the way.

You will receive $1,400 checks by the end of March. Help is on the way.

Vaccines will be available far more quickly to far more people in a shorter time. Help is on the way.

Our schools will open safely and more quickly than we thought. Help is on the way.

Half of America's children who are in poverty will not be in poverty because of this bill. Help is on the way.

We Democrats made promises, particularly we did in the Senate. We said if we won those two seats in Georgia, we would get things done. Mitch McConnell blocked bills four times in a row.

And Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock told the citizens of Georgia if they were elected, they would make sure that the actual promises made would be promises kept and they have been.

So this is a wonderful day for America.

This is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation we have passed in decades.

And you know what we can show America? That we can get things done to make their lives better.

And we will continue to do that through the rest of this session.

Help is on the way.

###