Coronavirus and S. 2657, March 9, 2020 — Congressional Record, Senate
Summary
Senate section of the Congressional Record for Monday, March 9, 2020, Volume 166, No. 45. The Senate met at 3 p.m. with Mr. Grassley presiding and the Chaplain's prayer is printed. Mr. Schumer speaks on the coronavirus, a heading under which the Democratic leader gives his view of the response. An amendment to modify the authorization of appropriations for cost-effective codes implementation for efficiency and resilience is printed, striking one year and inserting another. A tribute to Make-a-Wish Iowa is included, and the tail turns to imprisoned artists and attacks on a free press.
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“Coronavirus and S. 2657, March 9, 2020 — Congressional Record, Senate.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-03-09-crec-2020-03-09-pt1-pgs1615-7-9008cd560e/
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Congressional Record
E PL
UR M
IB NU
U U
S
116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 No. 45
Senate
The Senate met at 3 p.m. and was they grant make such an impact on the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
called to order by the President pro lives of these children. objection, it is so ordered.
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). I congratulate Make-a-Wish Iowa and
The amendment is as follows:
f their many volunteers for their accom-
plishments. I know they will continue (Purpose: To modify the authorization of ap-
PRAYER propriations for cost-effective codes imple-
to spread joy, kindness, and compas-
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- sion for years to come. mentation for efficiency and resilience)
fered the following prayer: I yield the floor. On page 28, line 19, strike ‘‘2021’’ and insert
Let us pray. f ‘‘2020’’.
Almighty God, You answer us when
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
we call. You extend to us Your mercies. RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
Great is Your faithfulness. Stay close The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
the previous order, the leadership time The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
to our lawmakers, guiding them in Democratic leader is recognized.
these challenging times. is reserved.
Lord, inspire them to put their total f CORONAVIRUS
trust in You as they find joy in Your CONCLUSION OF MORNING Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, the
abiding presence. Deliver them from BUSINESS coronavirus continues to spread, with
discouragement as they seek to exalt The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning more than 500 confirmed cases in the
You by the way they live. business is closed. United States in two-thirds of the 50
Lord, give them the wisdom to cul- f States. Given the inconsistency and
tivate reverence for You and Your pre-
LEGISLATIVE SESSION delay in testing, we don’t know if the
cepts.
We pray, in Your sacred Name. number of confirmed cases actually re-
Amen. ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL INNOVA- flects the number of actual cases in the
f TION LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2019— United States.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Resumed We now know that when the
The President pro tempore led the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The coronavirus first appeared on our soil,
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: clerk will report the pending business. the Centers for Disease Control pro-
The legislative clerk read as follows: duced kits that did not work properly
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
A bill (S. 2657) to support innovation in ad- and sent many of these tests to our
United States of America, and to the Repub-
vanced geothermal research and develop-
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, hospitals and medical labs. The admin-
ment, and for other purposes.
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. istration turned down tests from the
Pending:
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. World Health Organization, even
Murkowski Modified amendment No. 1407,
HAWLEY). The Senator from Iowa. in the nature of a substitute. though 60 countries accepted them, and
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask Portman/Shaheen amendment No. 1514 (to we have no answer as to why.
unanimous consent to speak in morn- amendment No. 1407), to establish greater
It took weeks to get an accurate test
ing business for 1 minute. energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness in
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without building codes. out, and then it took weeks for the
objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Federal Government to approve certain
f ator from New Hampshire. sites to run those tests, like the
AMENDMENT NO. 1525 TO AMENDMENT NO. 1514 Northwell facility on Long Island that
RECOGNIZING MAKE-A-WISH IOWA
Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I call I recently visited. It took weeks to
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, last up an amendment numbered 1525 to ramp up the number of Americans test-
Saturday marked an incredible mile- Amendment No. 1514, as proposed by ed, and we are still far behind other
stone for Make-a-Wish Iowa. At that Senator PORTMAN. countries like South Korea in the num-
event in Dubuque, this organization The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ber and percentage of the population
granted its 4,000th wish to Michael, age clerk will report. we are able to test for coronavirus.
15, from Oelwein, IA. He received a The legislative clerk read as follows:
livestock trailer for transporting his The Senator from New Hampshire [Mrs. The most powerful tool in responding
show cattle. SHAHEEN] proposes an amendment numbered to a virus is to know precisely where it
Now, 4,000 wishes is an amazing 1525 to amendment No. 1514. is and how it is spreading, but because
achievement for Make-a-Wish, which is Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I ask we don’t have a complete handle on
dedicated to bringing joy to critically unanimous consent that the reading of testing, many of our hospitals, doctors,
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ill young people in Iowa. The wishes the amendment be waived. researchers, and public health officials
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
S1615
.
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S1616 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 9, 2020
are flying blind, and we are still far be- who may lose their jobs from the eco- Now, we don’t have a caucus posi-
hind where we ought to be in under- nomic impacts of the epidemic; food se- tion. There are different views because
standing how far the virus has already curity to ensure vulnerable populations of the good work done by Senator SHA-
spread. do not lose access to food during this HEEN and Senator MANCHIN on other
Now, instead of taking responsibility epidemic; clear protections for front- parts of the bill, but I will be voting no
and working quickly to rectify the line workers, like our healthcare pro- on cloture this evening unless we can
early errors, the Trump administra- fessionals and workers who are respon- work out a compromise in the next few
tion—and, especially, the President sible for cleaning public facilities; hours to get a vote on this critical
himself—downplayed concerns about widespread and free coronavirus test- amendment.
the virus. The President falsely said a ing, as well as affordable treatment for The Energy bill is a rare opportunity
vaccine would be ready soon and im- any noncovered coronavirus-related to make tangible progress on climate
plied that it was OK for Americans to costs; protections against price change as well—an existential threat
go to work even if they had the virus. gouging; and increased capacity of our to our planet. I hope my Republican
The President falsely blamed the medical systems. colleagues and Leader MCCONNELL, in
Obama administration for a policy The administration must move particular, see the better side of reason
change that slowed testing. What he quickly and seriously to address the and allow us to vote on bipartisan
said was regarded as totally false. expanding threat to the health of the amendments.
Rather than spend the weekend in American people and the severe im- I yield the floor.
Washington to get a grip on the crisis, pacts of the coronavirus on the finan- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
the President was once again golfing at cial security of American families. BLUNT). The assistant Democratic lead-
Mar-a-Lago. I don’t want to guess at Again, the best way to deal with the er.
the number of times this President has problem here—health and economic—is CORONAVIRUS
to address the problem head-on and Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the
criticized other Presidents for doing
deal with the kinds of problems we coronavirus has now been confirmed in
the same thing. The Federal Govern-
have seen in the administration in its
ment’s initial response to the 104 countries. There are more than
slipshod and erratic response. That
coronavirus was slipshod at best. It has 110,000 cases worldwide, and nearly
must vanish.
greatly hurt the country, and it falls at 4,000 people have died. In the United
S. 2657
the feet of the President. The buck States, we have more than 500 cases—
Mr. President, now on the Energy
stops with him. including 7 in my home State of Illi-
Now, I know President Trump will bill, this week the Senate will continue
nois—and at least 20 deaths. With these
dismiss these criticisms and accuse to work on a bill that would update our
numbers expected to increase, we must
Democrats of playing politics. That is Nation’s energy policy. Since the bill
be prepared to handle the cases that in-
what he always does when there is le- has been taken up, Senators have filed
evitably will follow.
hundreds of amendments, and I hope As we consider the next step, it is im-
gitimate criticism, because in Presi-
we can have a fair process that will perative that we look at the impact
dent Trump’s world, there is no such
allow the Senate to consider amend-
thing as a legitimate criticism of his this public health emergency is having
ments from both sides of the aisle.
administration. But I would tell Presi- in all sectors of our economy, including
I voted yes on the motion to proceed
dent Trump: We don’t criticize your ad- to the Energy bill because I was hope- schools, hospitals, nursing homes, pub-
ministration for the sake of it. We ful we would have a fair and robust lic health departments, and small busi-
criticize because we want the adminis- amendment process. Unfortunately, nesses. Last Friday, I held a roundtable
tration’s response to get better, and we this has not happened. The majority discussion with officials from the Cen-
are afraid that if we don’t speak up, if leader is rushing to conclude the bill, ters for Disease Control and Prevention
we don’t point out the problems pub- even though there is no particular ur- and the Illinois and Chicago Depart-
licly and push the administration to gency to finish this week. I salute ments of Public Health, as well as
change its method of operation, it will Leader MANCHIN, who has worked very other local health officials. It was held
not change at all, and the crisis will hard on this bill, as well as Chair MUR- in the medical district in the city of
continue to worsen. KOWSKI. I have differences with the bill, Chicago. Experts updated us with the
Now more than ever, we need Presi- but they worked hard in a bipartisan latest information on the coronavirus
dent Trump to lead our government’s way. and what is being done at the State
response to the coronavirus com- But we also have an emergency that and local levels to prevent and address
petently and consistently. We are all warrants legislative action as soon as the outbreak. I am grateful for the
rooting for that. possible, and that is climate change. At work these officials are doing to keep
As the economic effects of the the moment, Leader MCCONNELL is Illinois safe and healthy in our homes,
coronavirus are beginning to worsen, blocking an important bipartisan schools, and communities.
there have been rumors that the amendment that would help clear it. I This is a serious public health chal-
Trump administration may pursue have urged Leader MCCONNELL to allow lenge, and we are working diligently to
policies to stimulate the economy. Let a vote on an amendment led by Sen- protect Americans from the virus. The
me be very clear. The best way to en- ator CARPER, a Democrat, and Senator seriousness of this situation was evi-
sure economic security for the Amer- KENNEDY, a Republican, that would re- dent by how quickly the House and
ican people right now is to deal with quire the EPA to phase out the use of Senate here in Washington came to-
the coronavirus itself competently and HFCs, or hydrofluorocarbons. HFCs are gether on a bipartisan basis to provide
full on—something we haven’t yet dangerous greenhouse chemicals found needed emergency funding to help com-
seen. Getting a handle on the crisis and in everyday appliances—air condi- bat the virus. Last week, Congress re-
containing the spread of the virus is by tioners, refrigerators, and the like. jected President Trump’s original fund-
far the best way to address any effects They are thousands of times more dam- ing request of $2.5 billion and, instead,
on the economy. If anything, the ad- aging to our atmosphere than carbon we secured $7.8 billion to address the
ministration must prioritize the health dioxide. Phasing out these HFCs is virus in the United States. This fund-
and safety of American workers and very important, and it will go a long ing will reimburse State and local gov-
families certainly before corporate in- way in fighting climate change and ernments for the millions of dollars
terests. In that respect, Speaker protecting the environment for future they have already spent in containing
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PELOSI and I have suggested several generations. the spread of this virus.
policies that the administration should I believe the Senate should be al- The bill also included important
pursue to help American workers and lowed to vote on the Carper-Kennedy measures for patient monitoring, lab
families: paid sick leave for workers amendment. A bipartisan group of Sen- testing, acquisition of test kits, protec-
impacted by quarantine orders or re- ators back it, and even the chamber of tive equipment, and research for vac-
sponsible for caring for children im- commerce backs this amendment. So cine and therapeutics. Democrats suc-
pacted by school closures; enhanced far, Leader MCCONNELL has not allowed cessfully fought to include a provision
unemployment insurance for workers a vote on it. in the bill that will hopefully ensure
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March 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1617
that any forthcoming coronavirus vac- same period, I believe the Centers for I yield the floor.
cine is accessible and affordable for all Disease Control and Prevention has in- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
Americans in need. creased by about 16 percent, which is a ator from Tennessee is recognized.
As we look forward to the next steps good number but not good enough. If TENNESSEE TORNADOES
to respond to this public health emer- anything, this pandemic that we face Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, on
gency, it is critical that Congress has reminded us of the absolutely es- Friday, I flew with President Trump to
prioritize the health and safety of sential role that is played by the Cen- Tennessee to visit with the Ten-
workers and their families. Our public ters for Disease Control and Prevention nesseans who were hurt by the torna-
health experts are rightfully telling in protecting American families from does last week.
people to stay home if they are sick. the threat of disease and the epidemic There were four tornadoes. They hit
Yet for many Americans, staying home that we now may face with the primarily Benton, Davidson, Wilson,
means losing a paycheck that helps coronavirus. We need to make this in- and Putnam Counties. They left 24
them pay their rent, pay for food, vestment every year, without fail, in dead, and about 150 injured. There were
medication, and childcare. For many our medical research and medical pre- more than 1,500 structures that were
American families, losing a paycheck— vention efforts in the United States. damaged. The winds were up to 175
even one—would be devastating. Nearly I commend the Senator from Mis- miles per hour in the tornado that
40 percent of American adults do not souri, who is presiding, for his leader- reached Putnam County.
have enough savings to cover a $400 ship on this issue, and I want to con- We visited western Putnam County
emergency expense. I am proud to have tinue to work with him on a bipartisan not far from Baxter. I talked to Matt
helped introduce legislation last week basis to make sure this is done. and Angela Struggs there. She told me
that would immediately provide 14 Discoveries like those at the Argonne that at about 2 a.m., I guess it was
days of paid sick leave to workers in National Laboratory are fighting to early Wednesday morning, she heard
light of coronavirus. It also is impor- give us a reason to increase the funding what sounded like a freight train and
tant that we ensure workers have ac- as well in our basic Laboratories across then a whistle. All the people I talked
cess to unemployment insurance bene- the board. The Office of Science in the with heard a freight train and a whis-
fits during this uncertain time. Department of Energy is a very critical tle.
We passed a robust funding bill last partner to our medical research efforts, She said—of course, they were all
week, but our work is far from done. and we are learning that today as we asleep, as it was 2 a.m. in the morning,
There will be far-reaching impacts of face the coronavirus threat. We have and they didn’t have any warning. So
this outbreak. It is imperative that we successfully increased this funding at she ran upstairs as the windows were
look forward to developing a com- the Laboratory since fiscal year 2016. I being blown out of the house, grabbed
prehensive response that benefits ev- am going to continue to work for more her youngest child, and came down-
eryone, including America’s working increases in the future, and I hope my stairs where her other two children and
families and small businesses, not just colleagues will join me on a bipartisan her husband were, and the sound was
large corporations. basis. gone. They opened the door and looked
It is also important that we recog- It is important that we all remember across the street, and her son said:
nize the good work being done around to follow everyday precautions and ‘‘It’s gone.’’ What was gone were all
the country to combat this virus. The educate ourselves with the CDC’s pre- the homes, all the neighbors. Eight
Argonne National Laboratory in my vention guidelines. I have probably died in that neighborhood alone.
State of Illinois is helping to address washed my hands more this last week- The first heroes of this tragedy were
the threat with the Advanced Photon end than during any weekend of my those neighbors and other neighbors in
Source. Researchers are using this life, but I believe now this has to be Nashville, and Benton County, and
high-powered x ray to study the virus. routine and normal for all of us to de- Mount Juliet in Wilson County. Matt
In fact, it was just announced last fault to washing our hands as fre- Struggs, the husband of the young
week that potential drug targets have quently as possible and to do it in a woman I was talking with, is a worship
been identified for this coronavirus by very serious and not haphazard way. leader in their church. This was obvi-
a team, including the University of Avoiding close contact with those who ously a very close-knit community. He
Chicago, Northwestern University, and are sick, staying home when you are said: We knew who was left by the
the University of California, Riverside. sick, covering your nose and mouth, sounds of their voices. So we set about
The scientists said their findings sug- and cleaning your hands often are the finding them and digging them out and
gest drugs previously in development basics that even the most accomplished getting them to the hospital.
to treat SARS could now be developed of physicians tell us must be followed This is certainly not what anyone
as an effective drug against this by everyone. would describe as an area of rich Amer-
coronavirus outbreak. This work by Now that we have secured funding to icans, but they would not want to be
Argonne highlights how we need to help address the coronavirus in an even described either as middle-income or
work with researchers from different more serious way in this country, we low-income Americans, either. They
subject areas and expertise to address must look to this outbreak and how it are what I would call ‘‘salt of the
this pandemic and the importance of will affect our daily lives and our econ- earth’’ people, really good people—a
supporting scientific research funding omy. We have to look at the issues of very close-knit community whose first
in places like the National Institutes of paid sick leave for American workers, reaction and whose reaction the day we
Health. enhanced unemployment insurance, were there, 3 days later, was how can
It is coincidental that the Presiding transportation, food security, edu- we help each other.
Officer, the Senator from Missouri, and cational plans, affordable treatment, After the neighbors, the next heroes
I have worked together with Senator and widespread and free coronavirus were the first responders. We met with
ALEXANDER of Tennessee and Senator testing. We know we are probably a many of them in Cookeville. Next were
MURRAY of Washington over the last year to a year and a half away from the the volunteers. They turned out by the
several years to consistently increase, development of a vaccine, but that hundreds. Rick Gilbert, who is disaster
year after year, the amount of money doesn’t mean we shouldn’t redouble our coordinator for the Church of Christ in
we invest in the National Institutes of efforts now to do it and to do it in the downtown Cookeville, talked with me
Health, our premier medical research right way. about what they had there, but he
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laboratory in the world. The health and safety of all Ameri- didn’t have to tell me. I could see it.
If I am not mistaken, over this period cans is the highest priority of our U.S. There were stockpiles of boxes with ev-
of time—a matter of only 4 years—we Congress and our government. I stand erything imaginable that someone
have increased the expenditures for the ready to work with my colleagues to would want. Whatever they need, is
National Institutes of Health from $30 provide the Federal resources that are what we try to give people who come
billion to more than $39 billion—a more necessary to support and assist us in here.
than 5-percent-added increase over in- our progress against this threatening These Tennesseans were grateful for
flation every single year. During the virus. the visit by President Trump. It was
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S1618 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 9, 2020
more than the fact that this was the York Times by Margaret Renkl from ations are available online at
first time any President of the United Nashville about the meaning of www.cdc.gov.
States had visited Cookeville, TN. This hashtag ‘‘NashvilleStrong,’’ in which Officials in my home State of Ken-
is an important town, but it is a town she talks about in her last sentence tucky are currently monitoring four
between Nashville and Knoxville about that ‘‘while we understand we have not confirmed cases. I spoke to the Gov-
nearly halfway, and Presidents come to been singled out by God for survival, ernor this morning and will continue
Nashville or Knoxville or Memphis or we also understand that we can be to stay in close touch to make sure
Chattanooga or our bigger cities when God’s hands here in the rubble, helping that Kentucky and all 50 States have
they come to Tennessee. But not only our neighbors dig out.’’ what they need and know Congress has
did the President go to Cookeville— That is what is happening in Ten- their back.
that was a 40-minute helicopter nessee, and the President, the Federal Last week, the Senate passed nearly
flight—he drove another 30 or 40 min- officials, and the others who went to $8 billion in supplemental funding,
utes to this neighborhood where the help, we greatly appreciate what they which President Trump signed into
Struggs and their neighbors live—the did, and I wanted to come to the floor law. It will deliver surge resources to
ones who opened the door and looked to say that. national public health experts, front-
across the street and saw that every- I yield the floor. line healthcare professionals, and State
thing was gone. The President stayed, I suggest the absence of a quorum. and local governments as they work to-
and he talked for a long time. He lis- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The gether to protect Americans. That leg-
tened, and they appreciated it very clerk will call the roll. islation ensured a funding floor of at
much. The senior assistant legislative clerk least $7 million will go to Kentucky to
He and the other Federal officials an- proceeded to call the roll. help fight the virus.
nounced a major disaster declaration Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I In addition, I want to recognize and
in, what I believe to be record time. So ask unanimous consent that the order thank our colleague, the junior Sen-
by the time we were there on Friday, for the quorum call be rescinded. ator from Texas. Ten days ago, he
there were 75 Federal Emergency Man- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. briefly interacted with an individual
agement Agency personnel on the BOOZMAN). Without objection, it is so who has since tested positive for the
ground in Tennessee, and there were ordered. virus. Even though he feels fine and it
three shelters already open. RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER has already been 10 days, after con-
I just talked with Congressman JIM The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- sulting with experts, Senator CRUZ
COOPER from Nashville who has been jority leader is recognized. elected to work from home this week
deeply involved with this since the be- CORONAVIRUS out of an abundance of caution. We will
ginning, and he talked about the shel- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, our certainly miss our colleague around
ters being opened and the devastation Nation is continuing to confront the the Capitol this week, but I want to
at the Tennessee State University’s public health challenge posed by the commend him for taking the initiative.
Agriculture Center there in Nashville. new coronavirus. Right now, as Dr. An- We had a chance to talk yesterday.
Governor Lee and his wife Maria
thony Fauci of the National Institutes So here is the bottom line: Our great
were there, and he did, as usual, a re-
of Health reminds us, the risk that any Nation is very strong. We have enor-
markably good job. He, like the Presi-
individual American will contract the mous expertise and tremendous capa-
dent, has an easy way of dealing with
disease remains low. This is not a time bilities, and Congress, on a bipartisan
people. Congressman JOHN ROSE was
for fear. It is a time to continue calmly basis, has made sure our health experts
there. His hometown is Cookeville, the
scaling up serious and smart prepara- and leaders have the funding they need.
community where we were visiting.
tions that have already been underway With calm and competence, all Amer-
Senator BLACKBURN was there. She had
so the United States can continue icans—all of them—should continue to
gone with Congressman ROSE on
working to blunt, slow, and mitigate listen to the experts, take their advice,
Wednesday and Thursday as soon as
the spread within our borders. and take commonsense steps to protect
she heard about it. So she went back
The most recent global health secu- ourselves, our families, and our com-
on Friday with us.
Of course, the mayors of all those rity index rated the United States the munities.
communities hadn’t gotten much sleep No. 1 overall most prepared country in S. 2657
since Tuesday night when the tragedy the world for an infectious disease out- Mr. President, now, on another mat-
occurred. They know—and the Presi- break—the No. 1 overall most prepared ter here on the Senate floor, we will
dent and the Governor and I and Sen- country in the world for an infectious pick up where we left off last week:
ator BLACKBURN, we all said to them: disease outbreak. Our resources, capa- considering a comprehensive set of up-
We know we can’t resolve this. We bilities, and expertise are the envy of dates to the way our Nation ap-
can’t make things like they used to be. the rest of the world. proaches energy efficiency, security,
We know we can’t give you all the help In this instance, the President’s and innovation.
you need, but we are here. That is real- early, bold actions to impose travel re- As Chairman MURKOWSKI pointed out
ly all they expected or all they wanted. strictions and quarantine measures last week, it has been about 12 years
This is not our first tornado in Ten- back in January bought our Nation since the last such package, and since
nessee. According to The Tennessean more time and more room to continue then, America’s energy sector has un-
newspaper, we have had 18 in the last 25 preparing. dergone some real changes. New tech-
years, and several of them have been With that said, there was never any nology has opened new doors for energy
strong tornadoes like this one. But the illusion that our country of more than production and also presented new
people of Tennessee would want me to 300 million people and nearly 4 million threats to our electrical grid and other
express our heartfelt appreciation to square miles could be entirely sealed critical infrastructure.
the President and to the Federal offi- off from the rest of the world. The Even at a time when a strong job
cials who, in the midst of everything question was never if we would have to market has continued to bring Ameri-
else they had to do, jumped on this combat the coronavirus here on U.S. cans off the sidelines, the domestic en-
tragedy immediately, got the declara- soil, but when and to what degree. ergy sector has outpaced the economy
tion out quickly, had the FEMA per- As Dr. Fauci noted yesterday, we are as a whole in job creation. Increased
sonnel on site, and had the shelters now seeing instances of community access to our abundant domestic re-
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opened in what seemed to me to be a spread here in the United States, and serves has unleashed American energy
record amount of time. They then the CDC has now confirmed nearly 500 on the international market. In fact,
joined with the Tennessee volunteers cases on U.S. soil. With respect to indi- the Department of Energy has pre-
and the neighbors and the first re- vidual best practices and precautions, dicted the United States will become a
sponders who set out to help the Ten- all Americans should follow the rec- net exporter of energy this year for the
nesseans who were hurt. ommendations of the CDC and their first time since 1953.
There was a beautiful article written State and local authorities. Detailed Over the past 12 years, we have seen
this morning that appeared in the New suggestions for different personal situ- plenty of attempts to intervene in this
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March 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1619
evolution of the American energy sec- ator from Alaska, Ms. MURKOWSKI, to The bill clerk read as follows:
tor. Under the last administration, we S. 2657, a bill to support innovation in CLOTURE MOTION
saw an anti-domestic energy mindset advanced geothermal research and de- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
that manifested in proposals like the velopment, and for other purposes, ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
so-called Clean Power Plan. That shall be brought to a close? Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
would have buried domestic energy in a The yeas and nays are mandatory move to bring to a close debate on Calendar
tangle of stifling redtape and would under the rule. No. 357, S. 2657, a bill to support innovation
have jeopardized more than 100,000 The clerk will call the roll. in advanced geothermal research and devel-
American jobs. The working families I The legislative clerk called the roll. opment, and for other purposes.
Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, John
represent in Kentucky faced that Barrasso, John Thune, Cindy Hyde-
threat head-on. are necessarily absent: the Senator
from West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO), the Smith, Mike Braun, Lindsey Graham,
Even more recently, we saw Demo- Shelley Moore Capito, Lamar Alex-
cratic Party standard bearers roll out a Senator from Louisiana (Mr. CASSIDY),
ander, Thom Tillis, Mike Crapo, James
far-left proposal that would ban afford- the Senator from Texas (Mr. CRUZ), and E. Risch, Lisa Murkowski, John
able forms of domestic power and let the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeven, John Boozman, Steve Daines,
Washington micromanage everything TOOMEY). Richard C. Shelby.
from American jobs to their cars to Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan-
their homes. We saw only a small num- Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER),
imous consent, the mandatory quorum
ber of our Senate Democratic col- the Senator from California (Ms. HAR-
call has been waived.
RIS), the Senator from Massachusetts
leagues able to vote against this rad- The question is, Is it the sense of the
ical proposal. That is the wrong way to (Mr. MARKEY), the Senator from
Senate that debate on S. 2657, a bill to
think about American energy domi- Vermont (Mr. SANDERS), and the Sen-
support innovation in advanced geo-
nance. ator from Massachusetts (Ms. WARREN)
thermal research and development, and
Fortunately, thanks to the dedicated are necessarily absent.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there for other purposes, shall be brought to
work of our colleagues on the Energy a close?
any other Senators in the Chamber de-
and Natural Resources Committee, the The yeas and nays are mandatory
siring to vote or change their vote?
bipartisan bill before us is the right The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 47, under the rule.
way to go about it. The legislation be- nays 44, as follows: The clerk will call the roll.
fore us includes provisions and input The bill clerk called the roll.
[Rollcall Vote No. 67 Leg.]
from nearly three-fourths of this body. Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
YEAS—47
From grid security and workforce are necessarily absent: the Senator
Alexander Grassley Risch
training to energy storage and carbon Barrasso Hassan from West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO), the
Roberts
capture, the Senate has a chance to Blunt Hawley Romney Senator from Louisiana (Mr. CASSIDY),
pass a number of important updates to Boozman Hoeven Rosen the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. COT-
energy policy on a wide bipartisan Burr Hyde-Smith Rubio
Casey Jones TON), the Senator from Texas (Mr.
basis. Scott (SC)
Collins Kaine Shaheen CRUZ), the Senator from Missouri (Mr.
I hope and anticipate the Senate will Cortez Masto King Sinema HAWLEY), the Senator from Alabama
be able to process amendments and Cotton Leahy
Sullivan (Mr. SHELBY), and the Senator from
Cramer Loeffler
then pass the American Energy Innova- Daines Manchin
Thune Pennsylvania (Mr. TOOMEY).
tion Act this week. Enzi McSally
Tillis
Further, if present and voting, the
I suggest the absence of a quorum. Ernst Murkowski Warner
Fischer Perdue Whitehouse Senator from Arkansas (Mr. COTTON)
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Wicker would have voted ‘‘yea.’’
Gardner Portman
clerk will call the roll. Graham Reed Young Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
The legislative clerk proceeded to
NAYS—44 Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER),
call the roll.
Baldwin Gillibrand Paul the Senator from California (Ms. HAR-
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask
Bennet Heinrich Peters RIS), the Senator from Massachusetts
unanimous consent that the order for Blackburn Hirono Rounds (Mr. MARKEY), the Senator from
the quorum call be rescinded. Blumenthal Inhofe Sasse Vermont (Mr. SANDERS), and the Sen-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Braun Johnson Schatz
Brown Kennedy ator from Massachusetts (Ms. WARREN)
objection, it is so ordered. Schumer
Cantwell Klobuchar Scott (FL) are necessarily absent.
CLOTURE MOTION Cardin Lankford Shelby The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. SUL-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Carper Lee
Smith LIVAN). Are there any other Senators in
to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Coons McConnell
Stabenow the Chamber desiring to vote?
Cornyn Menendez
Senate the pending cloture motion, Crapo Merkley
Tester
Udall The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 15,
which the clerk will state. Duckworth Moran
Durbin Murphy Van Hollen nays 73, as follows:
The legislative clerk read as follows: Wyden
Feinstein Murray [Rollcall Vote No. 68 Leg.]
CLOTURE MOTION
NOT VOTING—9 YEAS—15
We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Booker Cruz Sanders Alexander Loeffler Sullivan
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Capito Harris Toomey Blunt Murkowski Thune
Cassidy Markey Warren Burr Perdue Tillis
move to bring to a close debate on amend- Ernst Roberts Wicker
ment No. 1407, as modified, to Calendar No. The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this Graham Rubio Young
357, S. 2657, a bill to support innovation in vote, the yeas are 47, the nays are 44.
advanced geothermal research and develop- Three-fifths of the Senators having NAYS—73
ment, and for other purposes. been duly chosen and sworn not having Baldwin Daines Kennedy
Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, John Barrasso Duckworth King
voted in the affirmative, the motion is Bennet Durbin Klobuchar
Barrasso, John Thune, Cindy Hyde-
Smith, Mike Braun, Lindsey Graham, rejected. Blackburn Enzi Lankford
Shelley Moore Capito, Lamar Alex- The majority leader is recognized. Blumenthal Feinstein Leahy
MOTION TO RECONSIDER Boozman Fischer Lee
ander, Thom Tillis, Mike Crapo, James Braun Gardner Manchin
E. Risch, Lisa Murkowski, John Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Brown Gillibrand McConnell
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
Hoeven, John Boozman, Steve Daines, enter a motion to reconsider the bill. Cantwell Grassley McSally
Richard C. Shelby. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The mo- Cardin Hassan Menendez
Carper Heinrich Merkley
The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- tion is entered. Casey Hirono Moran
imous consent, the mandatory quorum CLOTURE MOTION Collins Hoeven Murphy
call has been waived. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Coons Hyde-Smith Murray
The question is, Is it the sense of the to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Cornyn Inhofe Paul
Cortez Masto Johnson Peters
Senate that debate on amendment No. Senate the pending cloture motion, Cramer Jones Portman
1407, as modified, offered by the Sen- which the clerk will state. Crapo Kaine Reed
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S1620 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 9, 2020
Risch Scott (FL) Udall tucky farmers through 4–H. An active LGBT-themed groups on social media
Romney Scott (SC) Van Hollen
Rosen Shaheen Warner
mentor and guide, he was elected State deemed’’ gay propaganda.’)
Rounds Sinema Whitehouse chairman of the Kentucky 4–H Leader- The Chinese Communist Party has
Sasse Smith Wyden ship Council. waged a powerful campaign to suppress
Schatz Stabenow John Robert seemed to be constantly
Schumer Tester
vibrant ethnic minority communities
thinking of how he could help others. and political dissent. The government
NOT VOTING—12 In addition to his farm and a small has brutally cracked down in Xinjiang,
Booker Cruz Sanders business he owned, he was elected to where it has extrajudicially interned
Capito Harris Shelby the Barren County Fiscal Court. With
Cassidy Hawley Toomey
and subjected more than 1 million
Cotton Markey Warren the strong support of those he served, Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities to
John Robert was twice reelected. As a forced labor, torture, and abuse. Rahile
The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this local election commissioner for more
vote, the yeas are 15, the nays are 73. Dawut, a Xinjiang University professor
than two decades, he also earned admi- who researched and documented tradi-
Three-fifths of the Senators duly cho- ration and the lasting gratitude of his
sen and sworn not having voted in the tional Uyghur culture, disappeared in
community. He received multiple December 2017. Sanubar Tursun, a re-
affirmative, the motion is rejected. awards in recognition of his life of
The majority leader. nowned Uyghur singer, disappeared in
service for others, including the Barren November 2018, shortly before she was
MOTION TO RECONSIDER County Patriot Award. scheduled to perform in France. We
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I I would like to share my heartfelt will not forget their names nor their
enter a motion to reconsider the vote. condolences with John Robert’s chil- work.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The mo- dren, Johnny, Lanny, and Donnie. The Chinese Communist party has
tion is entered. Their father, John Robert, contributed also targeted Tibetans for celebrating
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I to our Commonwealth’s bright future. their heritage. In late 2015, officials de-
suggest the absence of a quorum. Through his hard work, his faith, and tained at least eight Tibetans accused
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The his refusal to quit, he left behind a leg- of organizing observances of the Dalai
clerk will call the roll. acy to be proud of. I urge my Senate Lama’s 80th birthday. Those detained
The senior assistant legislative clerk colleagues to join me in honoring a included Bonkho Kyi, who had orga-
proceeded to call the roll. treasured Kentuckian, John Robert nized a public picnic to celebrate the
Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask Miller. occasion. Kyi was sentenced to 7 years’
unanimous consent that the order for f imprisonment, although details of the
the quorum call be rescinded.
WOMEN POLITICAL PRISONERS criminal charges remain unavailable.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
objection, it is so ordered. Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, on In Iran, human rights defenders have
International Women’s Day, we cele- been steadfast in their advocacy de-
f
brated women and girls around the spite repeated arrest and abuse by au-
MORNING BUSINESS globe for their tremendous contribu- thorities. Nasrin Sotoudeh has devoted
Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask tions to our communities, our coun- her life to advocating for human rights
unanimous consent that the Senate be tries, and the world. From Albania to in Iran, speaking out against the death
in a period of morning business with Zimbabwe, women face enormous risks penalty and laws forcing women to
Senators permitted to speak therein to pursue progress in defiance of atti- wear hijabs. Sotoudeh was rearrested
for up to 10 minutes each. tudes, policies, and actions that treat in June 2018 for defending women
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without them as second-class citizens. Too protestors against the forced hijab and
objection, it is so ordered. often, these women are punished for faces 38 years in prison and 148 lashes.
their courage. As this year marks the Atena Daemi, also a lifelong human
f
25th anniversary of the United Nations’ rights activist, is serving a 7-year pris-
REMEMBERING JOHN ROBERT on sentence for handing out anti-death
adoption of the Beijing Declaration on
MILLER penalty leaflets. She has been on hun-
the equal rights of women, we reaffirm
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, it is our commitment to achieving women’s ger strike twice and is in dire need of
my honor today to pay tribute to a empowerment and equal status medical attention due to dizziness and
brave Kentucky veteran who passed throughout the world. numbness. Narges Mohammadi, vice
away last month at the age of 96. John Today, I want to highlight 25 women president of the Centre for Human
Robert Miller, of Glasgow, KY, led a re- who have risked their lives, withstood Rights Defenders in Iran, has been im-
markable life of generous service and torture, and been unjustly detained for prisoned since May 2015 and is serving
lasting achievement. As a member of fighting for human rights, democracy, a 16-year sentence. Mohammadi is
the ‘‘greatest generation,’’ John Rob- a free and fair press, and the rights of critically ill with pulmonary embolism
ert defended our Nation and its ideals vulnerable LGBT populations, as well and a neurological disorder resulting in
before coming home to raise a family as safeguarding their culture and the seizures and temporary partial paral-
and lead his community. environment. The repressive responses ysis.
Like many brave Kentuckians, John of their respective governments speaks Iranian authorities have also re-
Robert volunteered to serve our coun- to the power these women command, cently arrested and imprisoned envi-
try during the Second World War. Over the implications of their cause, and the ronmentalists. Niloufar Bayani, a
the coming years in the Army Artil- movements they inspire. McGill University-graduate, worked
lery, he achieved the rank of technical In Russia, President Putin’s govern- for the United Nations Environment
sergeant and was stationed for 3 years ment utilizes politically motivated im- Programme and, most recently, the
in the South Pacific. For the rest of his prisonment to bolster its power by Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
life, his pride in our Nation and his cracking down on journalists, human She was arrested along with several co-
military service were well known to rights advocates, religious minorities, workers, including Sepideh Kashami,
all. Ukrainian citizens, and civil society on charges of espionage. Multiple gov-
John Robert returned to Barren advocates. Yulia Tsetkova is the latest ernment bodies have found no evidence
County after the war and married target of the authorities’ long-running suggesting the environmentalists de-
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
Christine McGuire, his inseparable campaign against LGBT activists. tained were spies. While detained,
partner for the next 67 years. Together Tsetkova has been placed on house ar- Bayani has reportedly suffered from
they built a proud life. He turned to ag- rest and faces years of imprisonment torture and threats of sexual assault.
riculture, owning a dairy farm while for her creative work at a youth ama- Governments around the world are
also growing several crops and raising teur theater which the state has la- also attacking the free press and tar-
angus cattle. His love for the land in- beled ‘‘homosexual propaganda,’’ for geting journalists, particularly those
spired John Robert to share his knowl- drawings described as criminal ‘‘por- who speak truth to power and expose
edge with the next generation of Ken- nography’’ and for administrating two the failures of those very governments.
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