Congressional Record — Senate, March 16, 2020
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated March 16, 2020, at page S1753. Mr. McConnell asks that the cloture motion on the motion to proceed to H.R. 6172 be withdrawn, and then asks for immediate consideration of H.R. 6172, a 77-day extension of certain authorities for foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations, with 10 hours of debate, Senators Leahy and Wyden controlling an hour each and three amendments by named Senators. Mr. Durbin and Mr. Risch take part in the exchange, and one Senator complains that the Senate waits for the President to weigh in on laws it enacted itself. The page ends with text on the security of next generation mobile telecommunications systems.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, March 16, 2020.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-03-16-crec-2020-03-16-pt1-pgs1753-65281402ce/
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March 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1753
shouldn’t have to wait until the mo- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I to be determined by the majority lead-
ment when we are on the eve of the ex- ask unanimous consent that the clo- er in consultation with the Democratic
piration of some important legislation ture motion with respect to the motion leader, the Senate proceed to the im-
and where we have to wait for the to proceed to H.R. 6172 be withdrawn. mediate consideration of H.R. 6172. I
President of the United States to weigh The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without further ask that there be 10 hours of
in and lean in and exercise as much objection, it is so ordered. debate, equally divided between the
leadership as he has to tell us that we The cloture motion was withdrawn. proponents and the opponents of the
ought to reconsider laws that we our- f bill, with an hour of debate under the
selves have enacted. From time to control of the sponsors of each amend-
PROVIDING A 77-DAY EXTENSION
time, laws require revision, review, and ment, or their designees, and with Sen-
OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES FOR
reform. That always, necessarily, re- ators LEAHY and WYDEN controlling 1
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE AND
quires amendments, and we ought to be hour each. I further ask that the only
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN-
ready, able, and willing to vote on amendments in order be three amend-
VESTIGATIONS
amendments as necessary. ments to be proposed by the following
Finally, this has become all too Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Senators or their designees: LEE, on
symptomatic of a Senate in which ask unanimous consent that the Sen- amicus reforms and exculpatory evi-
amendment votes, while once the ate proceed to the immediate consider- dence; PAUL, on rights of Americans;
norm, have now become the exception. ation of S. 3501, submitted earlier DAINES, on section 215 web browser/
This is unacceptable. It is not a par- today. search history data collection prohibi-
tisan issue. It is neither Republican The PRESIDING OFFICER. The tion; and three side-by-sides to be pro-
nor Democratic. It is neither liberal clerk will report the bill by title. posed by Senator MCCONNELL, or his
nor conservative. It is simply an Amer- The legislative clerk read as follows: designee, on the same topics, with all
ican issue. The American people, in- A bill (S. 3501) to provide a 77-day exten- amendments and the bill subject to a
sion of certain authorities for foreign intel- 60-affirmative vote threshold for pas-
cluding each of our constituents from
ligence and international terrorism inves-
each of the 50 States that we represent, sage; finally, that upon the use or
tigations, and for other purposes.
deserve and expect for us to be more yielding back of that time and upon
There being no objection, the Senate disposition of the amendments in the
than a rubberstamp.
We can’t justify our pattern of wait- proceeded to consider the bill. order listed, the bill, as amended, if
Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask that the bill
ing for legislation to come over from amended, be read a third time and the
be considered read a third time and the
the House of Representatives and then Senate vote on passage of the bill with
Senate vote on passage of the bill with
accepting the highly flawed propo- no intervening action or debate.
no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
sition that the House must have gotten
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
it right and we, therefore, must accept
objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
as a binary choice the entirety of what The bill was ordered to be engrossed
they have done, without considering or ator from Illinois.
for a third reading and was read the CORONAVIRUS
voting on amendments. This isn’t ac- third time.
ceptable. We can do better. I am en- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, we are
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill
couraged that in this instance we have at an extraordinary moment in our Na-
having been read the third time, the
chosen to do better. I hope and expect tion’s history. The President of the
question is, Shall the bill pass?
and will continue to demand that we United States has declared a national
The bill (S. 3501) was passed, as fol-
vote on more amendments and that emergency. One has to go back to the
lows:
this become the norm once again rath- early 1900s to the Spanish influenza to
S. 3501
er than the exception. find a similar public health threat to
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
Finally, I am grateful that Senate the United States of America. We are
resentatives of the United States of America in
leadership—Republican and Demo- Congress assembled, in the midst of not just a threat in our
cratic alike—has chosen to allow us to SECTION 1. SEVENTY-SEVEN-DAY EXTENSION OF own country but a global coronavirus
consider amendments here. We are AUTHORITY TO ACCESS CERTAIN pandemic. There are more than 173,000
doing the right thing, and I look for- BUSINESS RECORDS FOR FOREIGN cases nationwide, and more than 7,300
INTELLIGENCE AND INTER-
ward to more of precisely this kind of NATIONAL TERRORISM INVESTIGA-
people have died.
activity, not just voting on amend- TIONS AND FOR ROVING SURVEIL- What you see today on the floor of
ments pivotal to FISA but also broader LANCE. the Senate is exactly the opposite of
issues. This isn’t just about FISA. This Section 102(b)(1) of the USA PATRIOT Im- what we are being advised as a nation
is about everything we do. The minute provement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 we need to do. What you see today on
(Public Law 109–177; 50 U.S.C. 1805 note) is the floor of the Senate are staff peo-
any of us ever hears an argument sug-
amended by striking ‘‘March 15, 2020’’ and in- ple—thank you for being here—protec-
gesting that we have to accept what- serting ‘‘May 30, 2020’’.
ever a handful of Senators or a com- tive forces outside the Chamber, and
SEC. 2. SEVENTY-SEVEN-DAY EXTENSION OF AU-
mittee or the other House of Congress THORITY FOR INDIVIDUAL TERROR- others who are invisible to those com-
has proposed and we ought to accept it ISTS TO BE TREATED AS AGENTS OF ing and going who are part of the ordi-
FOREIGN POWERS UNDER THE FOR- nary business of the Senate. You see,
or deny it—lock, stock, and barrel— EIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE
without amendments, that is almost ACT OF 1978.
we did today what the President has
always an injurious and a dangerous Section 6001(b)(1) of the Intelligence Re- told America we should not do, what
argument, one that runs contrary to form and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 medical experts have told us we should
the very purpose for which this body (Public Law 108–458; 50 U.S.C. 1801 note) is not do. We have taken unnecessary air-
exists. amended by striking ‘‘March 15, 2020’’ and in- line flights to come here to Wash-
I am grateful for this opportunity we serting ‘‘May 30, 2020’’. ington, DC. I was on a plane this morn-
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. ing from Springfield, IL, to Chicago.
will have to vote on these amendments.
I yield the floor. This Act and the amendments made by There were six passengers on the plane.
this Act take effect on March 14, 2020. Most people are listening to the advice
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I of the medical experts and avoiding un-
clerk will call the roll. ask unanimous consent that the mo- necessary travel.
The legislative clerk proceeded to tion to reconsider be considered made Unfortunately, we were required to
call the roll. and laid upon the table with no inter- come back today from across the
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Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I vening action or debate. United States. Some Members stayed
ask unanimous consent that the order The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without over the weekend because their homes
for the quorum call be rescinded. objection, it is so ordered. are too far away. Some decided to drive
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ORDER OF BUSINESS this morning just to be extremely safe.
objection, it is so ordered. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I But the fact is, we were asked to take
The majority leader is recognized. ask unanimous consent that at a time unnecessary airline flights to come
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S1754 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 16, 2020
back here today and this week and, ject to it come to the floor if they wish The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
frankly, expose ourselves to the possi- and object and explain why. If they Chair is unaware that the bill has ar-
bility of some public health risk and have an amendment to offer, so be it. rived.
ask our staff to do the same. But if it is just to let the ordinary Mr. RISCH. It is probably tough for
In addition to that, we have been course of things work their way us to vote on a bill that hasn’t arrived
counseled by the leaders—both at the through and maybe we will get around yet.
State and the Federal levels—not to to this by Wednesday or Thursday, Mr. DURBIN. Let me defer to the
gather in groups of more than 10. It shame on us. This is a matter of na- Senator from Idaho.
looks like we are breaking that rule tional emergency and a public health I have just had this explained by my
right here on the floor of the Senate. crisis in this country. staff. There is an enrollment correction
The obvious question is why: Why What kind of example are we setting that was supposed to be taken up on
would we put ourselves at risk? Why by coming back to this Chamber at the floor of the House today and sent
would we put our staff at risk and their risk to our staff and the people and over with the bill.
families to come back here? ourselves and our families? We have Mr. RISCH. I don’t disagree with you
There are two issues. The first issue Members of the Senate going in and that we should take it up.
is the Foreign Intelligence Surveil- out of quarantine. They are self-quar- Mr. DURBIN. I understand a Repub-
lance Act, which was brought up on the antining themselves, and we are acting lican Member of the House is objecting
floor of the Senate last Thursday, and like it is business as usual. We will get to the enrollment correction at this
Senator LEE and Senator LEAHY offered around to it later this week. point, and it is being held up there be-
the extension of this act for a period of What are we waiting for? This is a cause of his objection.
time in return for a few amendments to healthcare emergency. It is time for Mr. RISCH. Thank you, Mr. Presi-
be debated on the floor. That was re- both political parties to come to the dent.
jected. floor—not this empty Chamber—and do The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
Just minutes ago, what was rejected our job tonight. There is no excuse for ator from Ohio.
last Thursday was accepted. We made it. If someone has a substantive objec- Mr. BROWN. I think you just
this trip back here, and it was not nec- tion to the bill, state it on the floor. watched what is wrong with this place.
essary. You have to ask yourselves: You have plenty of chance to do it. Senator DURBIN comes here and talks
Are we being respectful of ourselves, Offer an amendment, if you wish, or about the importance of doing some-
our family, our staff? Are we being re- just vote no, but for goodness’ sake, thing. Last Thursday, when Speaker
spectful of our responsibility as setting the American people expect us to do PELOSI and Secretary Mnuchin were
a model for the rest of America? I am our work. close to coming up with a deal about
afraid not. We are here at risk to ourselves and what we have to do to stop this virus—
Now there is this bill remaining that others. We should do our work, and do keep in mind, the President of the
just passed the House of Representa- it quickly. If this is going to end up in United States first mentioned this in
tives, the Families First Coronavirus some voice vote that is quietly reg- an answer to a question with all the
Response Act. The coronavirus act was istered tomorrow, a number of us are elites in Davos, Switzerland. He first
one that was negotiated by speaker going to be very upset because we made answered a question saying: Oh, this
NANCY PELOSI and the President of the this trip here because we had to rep- virus is nothing. It will mean nothing.
United States through Mr. Mnuchin. resent our people who elected us and I think it took him 8 weeks before he
That went on for a week, and the bill sent us here thinking we would have to declared an emergency. Then, last
was agreed to and supported by both. vote. Thursday, we were supposed to start
The President even tweeted his support If we can do this without a vote, so working on this. We should have. I
for it. That shows his level of commit- be it. But couldn’t this have been done asked Senator MCCONNELL on this
ment, I suppose. Speaker PELOSI sup- without exposing all of the staff people floor—I opened this door, and I pointed
ported it as well. It was a measure that and all of the protective forces and ev- down the hall. I said: Senator MCCON-
should have passed by a voice vote here eryone else to the obvious pandemic NELL should come back here, and let’s
in the Senate over the weekend. In- that we think is threatening our coun- work on this bill.
stead, we are still talking about it try in a massive way? Whether they were actually finished
I take this very seriously because I doing it in the House down the hall or
today.
love my family and friends. I wouldn’t not, we should be working on this.
There are measures included in it
want any of them to be hurt because of Now we have had 4 more days. Sen-
that are critical for public health. May
something I have picked up—some ator MCCONNELL had to go back to
I gave you one example? When the
virus I have picked up. I have increased Kentucky. I don’t know what he went
State of Illinois and the city of Chicago
my exposure today to be here on this back for. We asked him to stay and fin-
asked for protective masks for
floor, and, tonight, we are going to ish this, to negotiate and do it to take
healthcare workers so that they can
quietly sneak away and maybe come care of stopping this virus, to take care
avoid infection, they sent us an allot-
back tomorrow and actually do some of all the people in my State in Illinois
ment of 25,000 masks. A State of 12.5
work. We should do it tonight. and Senator MARKEY’s State and Sen-
million people was sent 25,000 masks.
This coronavirus emergency should ator COONS’ State and Senator BOOZ-
Those would protect the people work-
be taken seriously by both parties and MAN’s State, to take care of all these
ing at one major hospital in Chicago
taken seriously by the U.S. Senate. It people who are losing their jobs and
for a month. It is totally inadequate.
is time for us to act. That is what we don’t know what to do.
The last time we faced any kind of
were sent here to do. Let’s do it. Senator MCCONNELL went back to
epidemic threat like this, we received The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
1.5 million masks from the stockpile. Kentucky and wasted 3 days—make
ator from Idaho is recognized.
What is holding up the masks? What is Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, will the that 4 days since today is another day
holding up the test kits? Those are le- Senator from Illinois yield to an in- we are wasting. Again, I don’t know
gitimate questions. quiry? why he went back. It is 3 more days of
One of the provisions in this bill that Mr. DURBIN. I am happy to yield. people being worried. It is 3 more days
is still sitting here somewhere in Sen- Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I am told of people self-quarantining. It is 3 more
ate limbo would authorize new masks that Speaker PELOSI has not sent a bill days of businesses in Columbus and
to be released across the United States to the Senate yet. Is that your under- Dayton shutting down. It is the an-
to my State and others. So while we standing? guish you feel if you think one of your
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talk, the masks are not being deliv- Mr. DURBIN. I understand the bill loved ones is sick. All of this—empty
ered. has been sent. airplanes and all the things that are
Why, then, aren’t we taking up this Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I have a happening—and we are wasting another
bill tonight? The coronavirus bill parliamentary inquiry. day.
should be taken up at this moment by Has the bill bent sent by Speaker I always appreciate the Senator from
unanimous consent. Let those who ob- PELOSI to the Senate yet? Idaho bringing up a parliamentary
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March 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1755
technical question, but why aren’t we It means no sending of jobs overseas. It Who can say that this is anything
doing this? Why aren’t we listening to means no outsourcing of jobs to inde- but a national crisis? Are we going to
what Senator DURBIN said? pendent and usually low-paid contract make our unwillingness to do anything
It has been 3 days since the House workers—food service, custodial, secu- contingent on some parliamentary
passed the comprehensive package. It rity workers. It means no golden para- trick? No. We are paid to do this job.
is 3 days and counting for people wor- chutes for executives. It means no Just because Senator MCCONNELL has
ried about how they are going to take using of taxpayer dollars, with which taken 4 days and not done it doesn’t
time off from work if they get sick. we are bailing them out, to bust unions mean that we shouldn’t. We should
Think about this. The Presiding Offi- that are trying to organize in the work.
cer knows all kinds of service workers workplaces. If they want taxpayer Mr. DURBIN. I thank the Senator.
in Arkansas; Senator DURBIN knows money, you commit to using it to help Mr. BROWN. I yield the floor.
them in Illinois; Senator MARKEY, in people who make this country work. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
Massachusetts. I know all kinds of Fourth, we need to prevent evictions ator from Massachusetts.
workers who are feeling sick. They are and foreclosures and provide emer- Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I echo
making $12 an hour. They don’t have gency rental and mortgage assistance what the Senator from Illinois has said
any sick days. They think: Do I go to to make up for lost wages. Millions of and what the Senator from Ohio has
work and maybe I will get sick and Americans are one lost paycheck away said.
maybe infect my neighbor? Or do I stay from eviction or foreclosure. You all We have a national emergency. We
home and give up that $12 an hour— know the number. Forty percent of should have already finished this phase
that $100 I need to make my rent—and Americans don’t have $400 extra to fix of dealing with this crisis, for there are
then, tomorrow, face the same question their cars. Also, if they lose their pay- many more phases to deal with. As
and the day after? That is what we are checks, they can’t pay their rent. We part of this debate, we should ensure
forcing on people. Instead, we are just need to look at canceling some amount that there is sick leave for every single
playing games. We wasted 3 days, and of student loan debt. Through no fault worker in our country. That is not in
now we are wasting another day. of their own, we know millions of this package that is coming through
When a situation changes this quick- Americans aren’t going to be able to right now. We have to make sure ev-
ly, people are scared at home. People make student loan payments. Can- eryone is covered. We need unemploy-
are looking for leadership. Leader celing debt will allow people to get ment insurance, and we need to ensure
MCCONNELL and President Trump have back on their feet. that it extends to workers in the gig
failed the people they serve. We need to Since January 22, President Trump economy—tip workers, domestic work-
get help to people today. Let’s imme- has had chance, after chance, after ers, and contractors. We have to cover
diately get to work on the next round chance to get ahead of this public people so they stay home. We have to
of support. health crisis. In fact, 2 years ago, I sent let them know that unemployment in-
Let me tell you what that next round him a letter, writing: Why did you fire surance is going to extend to them dur-
of support is. We should pass the bill Admiral Ziemer? Why did you elimi- ing this crisis.
today to help people with unemploy- nate the office of 40 people in the White We cannot allow our inaction—our
ment insurance, to help people with House that was in charge of surveilling thinking through of what we have to
sick days, to help people with Med- the world to look for potential do—to shut down any potential for this
icaid. We should do all that. It means pandemics? Why did you fire them? crisis’ not growing to a level which we
putting our workers first. We shouldn’t Please reinstate them. are seeing in other countries. We can
be bailing out Wall Street. That will be He ignored the letter. He hasn’t ex- do it, but it is the Senate that has to
next. You can bet Senator MCCONNELL plained why he eliminated that office. be here. It is the Senate that has to de-
will hurry when the airlines come for He would have known way before Janu- liberate on these issues, find the solu-
their bailout package and hurry when ary about this potential pandemic, and tions, and deliver them to the Amer-
the banks come for their bailout pack- if it had still existed, he might have ican people. They are desperate for an-
age and hurry when the big hotel done something about it at the urging swers right now. They are being told to
chains come for their bailout package. of that office. The President has failed go home right now. Waiters, bar-
We have to put money in the pockets in this. Congress can’t make the same tenders, and contractors are being told
of individuals first. The IRS needs to mistakes. We need to get ahead of the to just go home.
send an initial check of at least $2,000 crisis facing family budgets before it is What is going to happen to them if
directly to every single working-class, too late. they don’t have sick time? What is
low-income, and middle-class family Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield going to happen to them if they don’t
who can use it so they won’t get evict- for a question? have unemployment insurance? What
ed or won’t get foreclosed on. We don’t Mr. BROWN. I yield to the Senator are they going to be doing in terms of
need a corporate middleman to do that. from Illinois. caring for their families?
We need to make sure every worker Mr. DURBIN. Through the Chair, I We should be here this week, taking
who needs unemployment insurance ask a question of the Senator from care of the package that has already
can get it. Ohio. been agreed to and beginning the de-
I have spoken to my Governor, who The Senator from Idaho, who is a bate immediately on everything else
has done a good job on this. He served friend, raised a parliamentary issue, we have to do. I will give you an exam-
here with Senator DURBIN. He is Mike and you have gotten to the heart of the ple.
DeWine, a Republican. I talked to him matter with the question of how fami- Let’s just take the hospitals of our
three times this week. He will help us lies are going to survive in the midst of country. For most of the major cities
speed up the unemployment checks so the pandemic and what we are going to in America, a high percentage of the
that they get to workers. We need to do about it. The Senator from Idaho revenue for those hospitals comes from
make sure that all workers are eligible raised a parliamentary issue, and we foreign patients who fly in from around
for unemployment insurance, including are guided by rules around here. the world and into our major cities.
independent contractors and people To the knowledge of the Senator That revenue stream is going to be cut
who are self-employed. from Ohio, in the past, has the Senate off for an indefinite period of time.
Second, we need a temporary expan- entered into agreement on bills posted Hospitals depend upon elective sur-
sion of the earned income tax credit in the House before the papers actually geries. That is going to be cut off for
and the child tax credit for the next arrived in the Senate? an indefinite period of time. That is
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several years. Mr. BROWN. I thank the Senator the revenue flow that goes into hos-
Third, we need to hold any company from Illinois. pitals that then allows them to take
accountable that is getting taxpayer Yes. Sure, we have. If we want to get care of the poorer people in each and
dollars. If we are going to help the air- something done, we get something every one of our communities. If they
lines—and I think we should—it means done. We find a way, through unani- don’t have that revenue stream, it is
the airlines can do no stock buybacks. mous consent, for all of us to agree. going to place enormous pressure on
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S1756 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 16, 2020
them to lay off doctors, to lay off terms of the revenue stream going in lutely, totally devastated by this virus
nurses, and to lay off other key per- while great expectations will be ex- if it hits, and we haven’t shown one
sonnel because the revenue stream will pected from them in terms of what case yet. Of the 1.8 million people I
not be there. they are going to do for their local have told you about and of the 1 mil-
We are the ones who are going to communities. lion who are in vulnerable situations,
have to provide the revenue stream. At So let’s stay. Let’s debate this. Let’s we have had only 84 tests in my State
this time, we cannot have a hospital make sure that the frontline workers as of 2:30. Now, 80 have come back neg-
system in crisis in our country. We have the protective gear they need, ative, and as of 2:30, 4 are unknown.
should be here, deciding whether we have the testing equipment they need, I am surrounded by five States in
are going to provide a fund of $100 bil- and have the guarantee that their sala- this wonderful, little State of mine,
lion or $200 billion or $300 billion to en- ries are going to be paid and that they West Virginia. These are the most
sure our healthcare system stays ro- are going to be taken care of, because beautiful people in the world, and they
bust at this time of all times in our we are going to need them to be put- have worked hard. A lot of them have
history. ting themselves in harm’s way in our respiratory illnesses, and they will be
We are heading into issue after issue country for, potentially, months. This the first to be attacked. If it hits my
that this Senate has to deal with. If we is the time for us to stand up and to State and if we are not prepared for it
are here—if we are back—we should stay here in order to get these issues because, basically, we won’t even have
deal with it. We should deal with it resolved this week. We shouldn’t do it the tests to identify who will be ill and
this week. We should deal with it on next week. We should do it this week. who will need these treatments and
the emergency basis that we are telling I yield the floor. will need the healthcare, the hospital
every family to with regard to this cri- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- care, what will we do? I don’t have the
sis, but every other family is dependent ator from West Virginia. ventilators, and I don’t have the res-
upon us to provide the answers for Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I agree pirators. I don’t have anything avail-
them and their families. with everything that has been said. I able to that many people who are that
So I agree with the Senators. This is agree that, basically, we should never vulnerable. What do we do?
something that requires our attention. have left here Thursday night. So I know of all of the financial aid we
We are here, and we are the answers for many of us could, maybe, drive home. I are talking about and of all of the help
them. If we don’t give them, then there was able to drive home and was able to that we are going to need. We had bet-
will be no answers. We know that the drive back. Yet so many people were ter concentrate on how we find a cure—
first bill—the $8 billion bill—was three put in harm’s way when they went on how we basically take care of the
times larger than the White House home on airplanes. As you might know, people who are the most vulnerable—
wanted, but we made sure that the we don’t have the youngest crowd—I and that would, first and foremost, pro-
extra funding was going into each and think our average age is about 62 tect the people of America. They are
every one of our States. We know that here—so it is putting them and their scared to death. I am scared. I am con-
this bill that was just negotiated with families and, basically, the people they cerned. I am afraid that my State of
the Speaker and the President last work with in danger also. West Virginia is falling into a lapse to
week is just being held up by a Repub- Let me tell you what we are talking where the people of West Virginia
lican with regard to a procedural ob- about here. If we are going to come to might think: Oh, we are protected. No
stacle. That is why. the aid of the economy of this country, cases have been reported, so we are in
We have to deal with this on a war I have no doubt that Democrats and good shape.
footing. We are at war with an invisible I pray to the good Lord that this is
Republicans will come together to take
enemy that is moving into every single the case, but my gut tells me that it is
care and help people. I hope they real-
city and town and into every single not. We just don’t know.
ize the people who really need help are Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield
part of our economy as we speak right the people who cannot make it from for a question through the Chair?
now. If we don’t provide the defense for one week to the next, let alone from Mr. MANCHIN. I yield to the Sen-
our families, then we are going to be one paycheck to the next. ator.
looked at as being those who failed the I was out last week just in DC, and I Mr. DURBIN. We have the Families
American people. talked to a young waiter—a very, very First Coronavirus Response Act that
We should already have robust test- nice, young man. passed the House of Representatives
ing, but we don’t. We should have the I asked: What happens if you have to early on Saturday morning, which we
protective gear in the hands of every go home for 2 weeks? could consider—and have in the past on
doctor and nurse all across our coun- He said: I am finished. I can’t make a parliamentary basis—and which I
try, but our doctors and nurses are it. I can’t make my payments. I can’t have called for, and others have joined
being told to reuse their masks—to make my house payment. I can’t make me. We should move on this and move
reuse them. The Senator from Illinois my rent payment. I can’t make my on it quickly. The Senator from Massa-
was already talking about how hard it grocery payment. chusetts has expanded it to other areas
is to get that extra protective gear for He was done. That is how worried he that we should be considering. While
his hospitals, and the same thing is was. He said no one had asked him that we are here, let’s get some work done.
true all across our country. question. These are the people we have Among the things included in this is
We know there is a crisis. We know to worry about. the testing. The Senator said there
there is a shortage. We know there is a I want to bring to your attention one have been 84 tests in the entire State?
huge gap that exists between what we more thing. As of 2:30 this afternoon, Mr. MANCHIN. This is out of 1.8 mil-
have and what we are going to need, my State didn’t have one reported lion people in the most vulnerable
but we don’t have any more time. We case. Now, that is great. That is won- State in America.
didn’t use the time in December. We derful. I pray to the good Lord that Mr. DURBIN. It is obvious that you
didn’t use it in January, and we didn’t this is the case that we have none, but cannot measure the actual rate of in-
use it for most of February. There were let me tell you the thing that scares fection until you have enough tests of
warnings that were coming, but we now me. I have the most at-risk population those who are suspicious—who have a
know it is real. We know it is in every base in the Nation. The Kaiser report fever or a cough.
community already and in every State that came out showed the State of Mr. MANCHIN. Senator, if you have
already in our Nation. West Virginia as being the most in dan- seen the map of the United States,
We should stay here, and we should ger of all of the States with its having West Virginia stands out and doesn’t
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do this work. We should make sure the most vulnerable people. show anything. I think, how could that
that our hospitals know for sure that I have over 720,000 elderly. I have happen?
they are going to have the help they over 220,000 who are critically ill under Mr. DURBIN. We have faced the same
need, especially the community hos- 60 years of age. If you put all of this to- thing with 12.5 million people. We have
pitals because they are going to be gether, of the over 1.8 million people, I tested 360 a day for the entire State. It
very fragile—very, very fragile—in have over 1 million who could be abso- is ridiculous.
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March 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1757
Mr. MANCHIN. We have tested 84 Mr. DURBIN. Medical leave. weekend to make sure that the Senate
total. Mr. MANCHIN. Exactly. We have to of the United States stepped forward
Mr. DURBIN. I know. do some things and do them quickly. and did our job and made our hard deci-
The Governor has told me that we And if this thing doesn’t come up, we sions.
really don’t know how many people are should sit here and protest until it does I take some encouragement from the
infected. We don’t know the rate— come up. There is no reason we can’t fact that the first round of support—
whether it is going up and at what do it tonight. $8.3 billion—got crafted, taken up,
rate—and whether it is in certain areas Mr. DURBIN. There is no reason. And passed, and signed into law in just a
of our State and not in others. So, if if the President was credible—and I be- matter of 2 weeks—long overdue, but
you don’t have testing, you don’t have lieve he was when he called this a na- $8.3 billion that went out for vaccine
knowledge, and you can’t fight a pan- tional healthcare emergency—we ought development, for test kits, for personal
demic. to act like it. protective equipment, to put a floor
I would just say to the Senator that Mr. MANCHIN. Well, today he recog- underneath this burgeoning public
this was the highest priority in this nized it and came forth and basically health crisis that is COVID–19 as it has
bill that passed the House of Rep- said today in that press release that I spread now to every State in our coun-
resentatives on Saturday. listened to—he basically acknowledged try.
Mr. MANCHIN. We should have been the threat of what we are dealing with The next package that has already
here on Saturday. and the enormity of what we are deal- been passed by the House—that should
Mr. DURBIN. We should have been ing with. It was the first time I have be considered by this body—we must
here on Saturday. We should take it up heard basically the concern that we take up and pass immediately, and it
today. What are we waiting for? For have that this thing is bigger than any directly speaks to those hard decisions
goodness’ sakes, we ought to do it. of us, but all of us together can fight
Mr. DURBIN. The other thing is food at homes all over our country. It
this. speaks to folks who are concerned that
assistance, and I know your State But I would ask the majority leader:
struggles. There are many people, as they don’t have health insurance. It
Mr. Majority Leader, we should have speaks to folks who are concerned that
you said. It is not paycheck to pay- stayed here. Yet we are here now. Let’s
check; it is week to week. Some of they don’t have unemployment insur-
do it.
them qualify for food stamps, the ance. It speaks to folks who don’t know
Mr. DURBIN. Let’s do it.
SNAP program. Mr. MANCHIN. Let’s do it. No blame. where their kids—who used to get
Mr. MANCHIN. I will tell you what No blame. Let’s just do it. school lunches—are going to get their
we were able to do on that. I sent a let- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- next good meal. It speaks to some of
ter last week immediately to Sonny ator from Delaware. the challenges of the most vulnerable
Perdue, and he answered immediately. Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I rise to in our country.
We were able to get all of the kids—be- speak briefly about hard decisions. I don’t know about my colleagues,
cause we have so many children in There are hard decisions that have but I took a lot of phone calls this
West Virginia who rely on their break- been made all over our country in re- weekend from constituents who are
fast and their lunch from the schools cent days and weeks—decisions by su- concerned, who are anxious, who are
for nutrition, we are going to be deliv- perintendents of school districts on angry, who want to know what we are
ering. The school is doing that. whether to shut down their schools and doing at the Federal level to provide
The State is taking some steps to send their children home; hard deci- backup; folks who run nonprofits that
shut things down. Schools have been sions made by mayors about how to are struggling to keep their services
shut down. They have said no more provide for first responders, for those available and to stay open under great
community gatherings whatsoever. who run the paramedic and ambulance pressure; folks who run faith services
They have done all of the things they and police services, and the 9/11 centers in our community who canceled their
were told to do. We just don’t know and the public hospitals; decisions by services, closed their buildings, but
where the virus may be, if it is there, Governors about where and when and now have half a dozen organizations
and how it is going to affect us. whether to declare states of emer- communities rely on, whether it is a
Mr. DURBIN. It starts with testing. gency. We have seen decisions made by food pantry, a clothes closet, or a job-
It is food assistance, and it is also addi- faith leaders, by sports leaders, by training service; folks who are anxious
tional Medicaid money coming back to school leaders—leaders of all types at about what will happen to their staff
the State. I am sure the State of West all levels. and their students at their schools; in
Virginia, like Illinois, desperately But the most important decisions particular, folks who are anxious about
needs it. that are being made tonight are around what will happen to the seniors in their
I was surprised to learn today that America’s kitchen tables, where folks skilled nursing facilities or in their
the capacity of hospitals in the United are looking at each other and saying: hospitals.
States is less than 1 million patients, How much longer will I have a job? As you have heard my colleagues
fewer than 1 million patients. In a na- How much longer will we be able to put speak to, our hospital system does not
tion of 350 million people, we have hos- food on the table? How will we care for have the capacity for thousands and
pital capacity of less than 1 million, our kids who are unexpectedly home thousands of newly diagnosed folks to
and when it comes to the intensive from school or college or overseas for present themselves at emergency
care units, it is a much, much smaller days or weeks? How much longer can rooms, seeking hospitalization around
number than that. So that is our fear. we stay in our home before we have to our country.
If this goes rampant, it could over- go see our mom, our grandmom, our We should act immediately to deliver
whelm our hospital system. uncle, our father, who is in a skilled the sorts of mobilized Federal re-
Certainly Medicaid money back to nursing facility, who is scared and sources that the Army Corps of Engi-
your State and mine in this bill that alone? neers, the Veterans’ Administration,
passed the House should be authorized Just this afternoon, seven counties in the Department of Defense, and State
tonight. We should vote on this to- California announced a shelter-in-place and local FEMA affiliates and agencies
night. order. We have seen counties, cities, can deliver to scale up our response in
Mr. MANCHIN. The economics of this and communities all over our country a prompt and appropriate way.
whole thing right now is, first of all, gradually move from a very relaxed We should not leave this building and
we should know who is infected, where and casual attitude, to a very con- session until we have taken up and put
the infection is going, and how ramp- cerned attitude, to being on high alert, together a package that will provide an
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ant this will be. We don’t know yet. to now, in half a dozen communities appropriate stimulus for working fami-
Next of all, who is the most vulner- around our country, looking more like lies all over our country, provide a
able economically? The people who Italy than they do like America of a floor for small businesses and for work-
work day to day, paycheck to pay- month ago. ing families who will be gravely con-
check, and week to week. That is It has been a slow-rolling response, cerned tonight about what will happen
where the relief—— and we should have been here this tomorrow.
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S1758 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 16, 2020
We have hard choices to make, but is home from school or they decided to It is just inexcusable that we got
that is why people hire us. Instead of stay home with the beginnings of caught this unready. It is inexcusable
being here in a largely empty Chamber symptoms that look like COVID–19, that many of us were sitting in a meet-
with nothing on our agenda tonight, we they would be protected financially. ing with the President’s representa-
should be taking up, debating, passing, That bill was ready for action here in tives in early February, begging for a
and sending to the President for signa- the Senate, and had we passed it on supplemental bill to be sent to the Sen-
ture bold strokes that will give con- Saturday or Sunday, there would have ate and House then so that we would be
fidence to the American people and ad- been thousands of parents, thousands ready when the disease ramped up and
dress the concerns that families all of workers, who would have stayed were told by the administration that
over our Nation are facing tonight, and home today. But they didn’t. They they didn’t need it, that they had
then, for our health and the health of didn’t. enough resources.
our staff and our families, we should go I know this to be true. I know this to It is unacceptable that to this day,
into recess. But we should not do so, as be true—that there were many, many this President doesn’t understand the
we just did for a long weekend, until workers who went to work today even urgency of this crisis. This is a crisis of
we take up and pass these pressing though they might not have been feel- a pandemic sweeping the country, but
measures of national interest. ing well, didn’t stay home with their it is also a crisis of leadership. It is
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- kids because they didn’t feel they could also a crisis of leadership. And at the
ator from Connecticut. go without that paycheck. So this is very least, we need to keep the heat on
Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, let me about real-life, minute-by-minute deci- this President to be accurate in his
associate myself with the remarks of sions that are being made by families portrayal of the scope and the danger
the Senator from Delaware and others in this country. of this national public health emer-
who spoke before him. I know sometimes it doesn’t feel that gency, and on a daily basis, he is fail-
We are here. We are all in town. We important if we wait a day. I know ing even to just be honest with the
came back for an expected vote tonight sometimes it feels like a bummer if we American people.
that did not occur. There is no excuse have to miss out on a weekend. But not I really hope that we get this done
for us not to be voting at this moment this weekend. Not today. These deci- tomorrow. It doesn’t look like we are
on an assistance package that is going sions that families are making are fun- coming in tonight. For my constitu-
to be dispositive on some of the tough- damentally different if we do it a day ents in Connecticut, they can’t wait
est decisions that many American fam- ahead of time. another 24 hours, they can’t wait an-
The epidemic has less of a chance at other 48 hours to know whether they
ilies will make over the course of this
winning if we pass this legislation to- are going to have at least some mod-
year or next.
Let me drill down on what those de- night rather than tomorrow or Wednes- icum of protection if they choose to do
cisions are. Right now, there are par- day or Thursday. And I worry about the right thing by their family, do the
ents in my State of Connecticut who that because I have listened to some of right thing by their health. We need to
my Republican colleagues suggest over provide them that assurance, and we
have to go to work tomorrow but have
the last 24 hours that we are not going need to do it immediately.
a child who is home from school, and
to pass this bill, that we are going to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
they have to make a decision as to
change the bill, that we are going to ator from Illinois.
whether they are going to forgo tomor-
amend it and we are going to send it Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I am
row’s paycheck and stay home from
back to the House. going to conclude for the sake of the
work, possibly face termination or dis- This bill is ready. It has bipartisan staff and yourself and others who are
cipline, or leave their child at home support. The President announced on here, who, as I mentioned earlier, are
alone or in an unsafe environment. Friday night that he was for it. No rea- at risk. We are all at risk with this
There are thousands and thousands of son to wait in order to give our con- pandemic.
families in my State who cannot afford stituents some assurances, in order to But just to summarize as quickly as
to miss a paycheck—a paycheck—that make sure they are making the right I can, we returned this week when we
is the difference between being able to decisions for their family and for their were supposed to be back in our States.
put food on the table or not, whether or health and for all of our health rather We returned this week because there
not their kids have diapers, whether than decisions necessary in order to was pressing legislative business. One
the lights stay on. That is the decision guarantee that next paycheck comes, of the items before us, raised by Sen-
many families are making tomorrow in which is essential—essential—for their ator MCCONNELL, the Republican lead-
Connecticut. family’s financial health. er, was the Foreign Intelligence Sur-
Here is another decision that many Lastly, I just don’t want to let the veillance Act reauthorization. There
individuals are making in my State: President of the United States off the are some Senators who have questions
Tonight there are a lot of moms and hook here. I watched yet another one and objections to the bill that passed
dads who have a cough, who are start- of these press conferences yesterday in the House. Those Senators on the Re-
ing to feel a little fever coming on, but which he once again sort of glossed publican side and on the Democratic
they have work tomorrow, and they over the gravity of the moment, in side came to the floor last Thursday
have a paycheck they need for their which he hinted that young people and said: We will agree to an extension
family, and they don’t have paid sick didn’t have as much to worry about as of this law if you will give us a chance
leave as part of their compensation older people, in which he once again to actually debate our concerns on the
package. That is not part of their con- savaged the press, attacking them floor of the Senate. That request was
tractual deal with their employer. So right at the moment when Americans rejected last week by Senator MCCON-
they are making that decision. Do I are relying on the media to give them NELL.
forgo a paycheck? Do I risk getting information that is going to keep them So tonight we were going to have the
fired or disciplined, or do I go to work safe. showdown vote to see whether or not
even though I am not feeling well, even I talked to several of my hospital we move forward on this, and, lo and
though I have symptoms that I know leaders today, and they talked about behold, moments before that vote, Sen-
are problematic? the fact that not only do they need per- ator MCCONNELL agreed to what he re-
They are facing those decisions to- sonal protective equipment—they are fused to agree to last Thursday. Yes,
night because we weren’t here this running out—not only do they need we will have a temporary extension,
weekend, because a bill passed the more ventilators, but some of my hos- and we will have debate and amend-
House that had in it an answer for pitals don’t even have the swabs nec- ments before that extension expires.
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many of those families—not all of essary to do the tests. That is not an So one of the reasons that we were
those families—had guaranteed paid issue today because they can’t get the drawn back to Washington, when we
sick leave for thousands and thousands tests processed, but once we get the were counseled by all the medical ex-
of workers all across this country who testing capacity ramped up, they are perts not to take unnecessary airline
were waiting for that assurance that if not sure they will have the swabs nec- flights, was for a matter that was re-
they stayed home with their child who essary to do the tests. solved without a vote tonight.
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March 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1759
I came to the floor after that and I don’t disagree with what the Sen- financial storm. They are receiving no
said: If that is the case, then, for good- ator from Massachusetts said. There is revenue, but they still have overhead
ness sakes, the only other remaining more to be done—a lot more to be done. expenses. If they are restaurants, they
matter pending before us is the Fami- We will discover it, and we should are now, in effect, closed. If they are
lies First Coronavirus Response Act, move on it quickly. But for the time retail establishments, most people are
passed by the House of Representatives being, pass this bill. Tell the American staying home. If they are small busi-
in the early hours of Saturday: free people we heard you and we know what nesses, the backbone of the economy in
testing for coronavirus, strengthening we are up against, and we are in it to- providing jobs, they are challenged and
food assistance, safeguarding Medicaid gether, on a bipartisan basis. they have to make real decisions in
benefits, enhancing unemployment as- Let’s not dream up some way in the real time, right now.
sistance, and establishing paid leave. Senate rules to drag this out day after The package that is available for us
My request then was and still is, Why weary day and expose one another to to vote on would provide relief to those
don’t we pass that by voice vote? Let’s the virus that has been rampantly families and those businesses, to people
do it. crossing this country and threatening who are anxious about the future of
This was a measure agreed to on a bi- us every single day. We need to do this their lives and livelihoods, who have to
partisan basis by Speaker NANCY work, get it done, and get it done make those hard decisions right now,
PELOSI and by the President of the quickly. tonight, about what they will do. It
United States, Donald Trump. If the I yield the floor. would provide paid sick leave and
two of them can come together and The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. SUL- emergency medical and family leave
agree on it, are you telling me we can’t LIVAN). The Senator from Connecticut. and strengthen unemployment com-
agree on it in the Senate? And if some- Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I pensation, as well as tax credits. For
one wants to vote no, so be it. Place came here today from Connecticut, our States, it would provide a kind of
your vote on the record. But for some where I have been to hospitals and expanded Medicaid support—$440 mil-
reason we are not going to do that. We local public health departments, small lion for Connecticut alone and hun-
are going to sit around tonight and and large businesses, places where dreds of millions for other States
come back tomorrow. healthcare is provided and where the around the country.
Will we do it tomorrow? I don’t backbone of our economy is done. And We need to embark on that program
know. But there is no sense of urgency I came here to vote. I came here to of massive support and sweeping inter-
in the Senate, as there should be—first, vote on a package passed by an over- national cooperation and unsparing
for the people in this country who are whelming bipartisan majority in the truth telling about the dimension of
facing this virus and the disruption in House of Representatives. this crisis—no more magical thinking
their own personal lives. Some of those That overwhelming bipartisan spirit or happy talk. We are about to see
people are losing jobs, and some are should be what animates us as we seek numbers soar, and, as Anthony Fauci
sick and should stay away from their to save lives and livelihoods. We are said, we are about to see Americans
jobs. They want to know what this bill literally on the cusp of an existential hunker down, as they must do, and, in
says that passed the House of Rep- crisis in this country that will trans- that period, what we have before us in
resentatives—that there is medical form the lives of almost every Amer- legislation will mean, potentially, life
leave for them if they are sick and ican of almost every age and back- and death decisions. Time matters.
can’t work, and then, if they lose their ground and religious creed. Yet, in the Hours and days are profoundly signifi-
jobs, if there is going to be some assist- face of that crisis, we will have no vote cant when families have to make these
ance for their families in this time of tonight. That is disgraceful. It is decisions. We can delay, but it is to the
trouble. Those are reasonable requests shameful. ultimate profound damage of those
by every family. That is the highest In the course of traveling around lives, and we can make a difference if
priority. Why would we wait to take Connecticut, I have visited hospitals in we act now.
that up? Why would we delay that deci- Milford, Hartford, and in other places We could have acted by unanimous
sion and leave more uncertainty among around the State and local health de- consent over the weekend. I am sorry
the people of Illinois and across Amer- partments and with local officials who that the Senate went home and that
ica? There is no reason or excuse for it. have said to me that there is still inad- there was no action. But we need to act
Let’s get that done. equate testing because the Federal now—if not tonight, tomorrow morn-
Secondly, this measure also says that Government has still failed to fulfill ing. It should have been this afternoon
we are going to continue to work on a its promise to provide that testing. because the loss of time is a loss of op-
bipartisan basis to solve this problem. There are fears that the surge of portunity that we cannot afford.
Let’s take this up tomorrow morning. health cases as a result of coronavirus The small business people who met
As was noted before, we raised, in the will deplete the resources of hospitals with me this morning, the health direc-
initial bill to deal with this pandemic, and other healthcare facilities because tors in New London and in other cities,
the President’s ask from $2 billion to $8 there are deficient numbers of ICUs such as Hartford, the hospital adminis-
billion and did it on a bipartisan basis and ventilators, and still the Federal trators in Hartford and Milford, the
to put the medical and healthcare re- Government has failed to provide local officials, the mayors around the
sources to work across America. We them. State of Connecticut, and the small
should and we did, and we did it with a There is fear and anxiety about the business community who were hosted
minimum of debate on a bipartisan future of our economy when parents today by the MetroHartford Alliance
basis. have to make decisions about whether said to me: We need action.
This bill, the second bill in the pack- to stay home now to take care of their We have an obligation to act. We can-
age, should have been treated exactly children because they are out of school not allow time to pass without action.
the same way. It should have moved or because their family has one person We owe it to the people of Connecticut
through the Senate without asking all who is ill from this virus, and they are and the American people that there be
the Senators to return, the staff to all quarantined. action to meet that surge and chal-
come here, the Capitol Hill Police and Will they be able to pay their mort- lenge for the hospitals, to provide that
others to protect us, and all the staff gages and put food on the table? They assistance in grants, not just loans, in
support that we have. We didn’t have are literally living from paycheck to this package and then in a next pack-
to go through this. We should have paycheck. They are trying to make it age.
done this. in real time, right now. There must be additional steps. I sup-
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If Senator MCCONNELL and the Re- Likewise, I met this morning with port the initiative that I understand
publican leadership would have reached small business owners and managers may be coming from Senator SCHUMER
out, he would have found there was a who are fearful they will literally be- and others and join in that initiative
lot of cooperation available on our side come insolvent, they will go bankrupt, for hundreds of billions of dollars in aid
of the aisle—again, on a bipartisan they will go under because they have to meet this crisis on the homefront as
basis. insufficient resources to weather this well as in the economic arena.
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S1760 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 16, 2020
Truth telling to the American people (The messages received today are systems and infrastructure in the United
means recognizing the extraordinary, printed at the end of the Senate pro- States and to assist allies and strategic part-
unprecedented, historic magnitude of ceedings.) ners in maximizing the security of next gen-
eration mobile telecommunications systems,
the challenge before us. The scope and f infrastructure, and software, and for other
scale of potential suffering can be re- purposes.
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
duced. We owe it to the American peo- S. 1678. An act to express United States
ple to act. There is no excuse for delay. support for Taiwan’s diplomatic alliances
The failure to act is unconscionable REPORT RELATIVE TO THE around the world.
and inconceivable, given the mag- H.R. 1365. An act to make technical correc-
ISSUANCE OF A PROCLAMATION tions to the Guam World War II Loyalty
nitude of the challenge but also given DECLARING A NATIONAL EMER- Recognition Act.
the resolute and resilient spirit that I GENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE H.R. 4334. An act to amend the Older Amer-
have seen across Connecticut. Whether OUTBREAK OF CORONAVIRUS icans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations
it is with Americans donating to people DISEASE (COVID–19) THAT IN- for fiscal years 2020 through 2024, and for
who need it—supplies and other kinds VOKES SECTION 1135 OF THE SO- other purposes.
of necessities—or the spirit of giving CIAL SECURITY ACT, TO ALLOW H.R. 4803. An act to facilitate the auto-
that I have seen among faith leaders matic acquisition of citizenship for lawful
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH permanent resident children of military and
and public officials, the courage of po- AND HUMAN SERVICES TO EXER-
lice and firefighters and emergency re- Federal Government personnel residing
CISE AUTHORITY UNDER THAT abroad, and for other purposes.
sponders, and the dedication of SECTION TO TEMPORARILY
healthcare providers, whether it is in The enrolled bills were subsequently
WAIVE OR MODIFY CERTAIN RE- signed by the President pro tempore
hospitals or clinics like Charter Oak in QUIREMENTS OF THE MEDICARE,
Hartford and across Connecticut, ev- (Mr. GRASSLEY).
MEDICAID, AND STATE CHIL- The message further announced that
erywhere that I have visited, I have DREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE
seen that American spirit coming for- the House has passed the following bill,
PROGRAMS AND OF THE HEALTH in which it requests the concurrence of
ward—the great, positive spirit of INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND
America and the ingenuity. That was the Senate:
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT PRIVACY H.R. 6160. An act to extend the chemical
the word that one of the small business RULE THROUGHOUT THE DURA-
people this morning used to myself and facility anti-terrorism standards program of
TION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH the Department of Homeland Security.
David Griggs at the MetroHartford Al- EMERGENCY, RECEIVED DURING
liance. The ingenuity of meeting this The message also announced that
ADJOURNMENT OF THE SENATE pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2761, and the
challenge, whether it is in research for ON MARCH 13, 2020—PM 53
new vaccines or devising new ways to order of the House of January 3, 2019,
deliver the tests or providing for more The PRESIDING OFFICER laid be- the Speaker appoints the following
ventilators and intensive care units— fore the Senate the following message Members on the part of the House of
that ingenuity is truly American. The from the President of the United Representatives to the British-Amer-
dedication of those healthcare givers, States, together with an accompanying ican Interparliamentary Group: Mr.
first responders, small business people, report; which was referred to the Com- MEEKS of New York, Ms. DELBENE of
local officials, and others around the mittee on Finance: Washington, Mr. KILMER of Wash-
State and around the country ought to To the Congress of the United States: ington, Mr. GOMEZ of California, and
inspire us to do better and to take this Pursuant to section 201 of the Na- Mr. CROW of Colorado.
vote and do our job. tional Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1621), The message further announced that
I yield the floor. I hereby report that I have exercised pursuant to Executive Order No. 12131,
I suggest the absence of a quorum. my authority to declare that the out- and the order of the House of January
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The break of coronavirus disease (COVID– 3, 2019, the Speaker appoints the fol-
clerk will call the roll. 19) in the United States constitutes a lowing Members on the part of the
The senior assistant legislative clerk national emergency. This declaration House of Representatives to the Presi-
proceeded to call the roll. invokes section 1135 of the Social Secu- dent’s Export Council: Mr. LARSON of
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I rity Act, 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5, to allow the Connecticut, Ms. DELBENE of Wash-
ask unanimous consent that the order Secretary of Health and Human Serv- ington, and Mr. GOMEZ of California.
for the quorum call be rescinded. ices to exercise the authority under The message also announced that
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without that section to temporarily waive or pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 276d, and the
objection, it is so ordered. modify certain requirements of the order of the House of January 3, 2019,
the Speaker appoints the following
f Medicare, Medicaid, and State Chil-
dren’s Health Insurance programs and Members on the part of the House of
MORNING BUSINESS Representatives to the Canada-United
of the Health Insurance Portability
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I and Accountability Act Privacy Rule States Interparliamentary Group: Mr.
ask unanimous consent that the Sen- throughout the duration of the public MEEKS of New York, Mr. PETERSON of
ate be in a period of morning business, health emergency declared in response Minnesota, Mr. DEFAZIO of Oregon, Mr.
with Senators permitted to speak to the COVID–19 outbreak. LARSEN of Washington, Ms. DELBENE of
therein for up to 10 minutes each. I am enclosing a copy of the procla- Washington, and Mr. MORELLE of New
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without mation I have issued. York.
objection, it is so ordered. DONALD J. TRUMP. f
f THE WHITE HOUSE, March 13, 2020. ENROLLED BILLS PRESENTED
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT f The Secretary of the Senate reported
Messages from the President of the MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE that on today, March 16, 2020, she had
United States were communicated to ENROLLED BILLS SIGNED
presented to the President of the
the Senate by Ms. Ridgway, one of his United States the following enrolled
At 3:04 p.m., a message from the
secretaries. bills:
House of Representatives, delivered by
f S. 760. An act to enable registered appren-
Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks,
ticeship programs to better serve veterans,
EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED announced that the Speaker has signed and for other purposes.
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
the following enrolled bills: S. 893. An act to require the President to
As in executive session the Presiding
S. 760. An act to enable registered appren- develop a strategy to ensure the security of
Officer laid before the Senate messages
ticeship programs to better serve veterans, next generation mobile telecommunications
from the President of the United and for other purposes. systems and infrastructure in the United
States submitting sundry nominations S. 893. An act to require the President to States and to assist allies and strategic part-
which were referred to the appropriate develop a strategy to ensure the security of ners in maximizing the security of next gen-
committees. next generation mobile telecommunications eration mobile telecommunications systems,
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