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S1920 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
colleagues: ‘‘How many times are we own States deserve it. Their own In the past 24 hours, we got word that
going to get a shot at a trillion-dollar- States’ emergency room doctors de- a Member of this Chamber, Senator
plus program?’’ Right here on the floor serve it. Their own constituents who PAUL, has tested positive for
last night: ‘‘I don’t know how many have lost their jobs deserve it. coronavirus, and the husband of an-
trillion-plus packages we are going to In my home State of Kentucky, the other Member, Senator KLOBUCHAR,
have.’’ In other words, let’s don’t waste Governor has effectively paused com- also tested positive. He is in the hos-
this opportunity to take full advantage merce across the State, and our unem- pital. I want to let them know—both of
and get our whole wish list done. ployment system crashed due to de- them—that the Senate is thinking of
They ought to be embarrassed. In mand. Kentuckians need help now, and them and praying for their speedy re-
fact, I have heard from some of them we aren’t alone. I have heard the pleas covery, as we are for tens of thousands
who are embarrassed, talking like this from healthcare workers in New York of American families who are con-
is some juicy political opportunity. and Seattle. I have listened to the fronting the same situation right now.
This is not a juicy political oppor- small business owners crying out in Whether you are afraid for a sick
tunity. This is a national emergency. Brooklyn and Chicago. family member, an older relative in the
We had days of productive, bipartisan Why does only one side understand hospital, or struggling without work,
talks to get to this point. Senate that this is urgent? Why are these income, or the knowledge of when your
Democrats sat down with Senate Re- hard-hit cities’ own Senators happy to isolation might end, our thoughts are
publicans and negotiated furiously to keep this slow-walking going on indefi- with you right now. These are trying
get to this point. The bill now contains times for all of us, but the scourge of
nitely? Is that really something these
a huge number of changes that our this disease will pass. The American
folks on the other side are comfortable
Democratic colleagues requested, in- people, as always, will prevail.
with—indefinitely slow-walking all of As the number of confirmed COVID–
cluding major changes. We were this this? How can half the Senate not rise 19 cases in the United States eclipses
close—this close. to the occasion? At a time when every-
Then, yesterday morning, the Speak- 35,000, the Senate continues to nego-
body else in the country is pulling to- tiate what will likely be the largest
er of the House flew back from San gether, they are pulling us apart. emergency funding bill in American
Francisco, and suddenly the Senate’s The examples are all over the coun- history. As I have mentioned, we have
serious bipartisan process turned into try that we ought to look to: had almost continuous discussions
this leftwing episode of ‘‘Supermarket healthcare heroes, to neighborhood vol- with Secretary Mnuchin. He left my of-
Sweep’’—unrelated issues, left and unteers, to national industries. Every- fice at about 12:15 last night and was
right. body is unifying and pitching in. What there at about 9 o’clock this morning.
I will tell you what would really about here in the Senate? The White House congressional liaison,
lower our carbon footprint. If the en- It is time to get with the program. It Eric Ueland, has been in and out of the
tire economy continues to crumble, is time to pass historic relief that we office as well. We are very close to
with hundreds of thousands more have built together. The country reaching a deal—very close. Our goal is
Americans laid off because Senate doesn’t have time for these political to reach a deal today, and we are hope-
Democrats will not let us act, that will games. They need progress. ful, even confident, that we will meet
lower our carbon footprint all right. So we are going to vote in just a few that goal.
Every single American outside of minutes, and I assure you the Amer- We have been working on a few out-
Washington knows this is no time for ican people will be watching. standing issues that are no surprise to
this nonsense. Mr. DURBIN. I suggest the absence of everyone. From the very beginning,
A surgeon in Fresno, CA, says: ‘‘We a quorum. Democrats have insisted on a Marshall
are at war with no ammo.’’ ‘‘We are at The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Plan for our medical system, more
war with no ammo.’’ That is a surgeon clerk will call the roll. money for hospitals, community health
in Fresno. An intensive care nurse in The senior assistant legislative clerk centers, nursing homes, and urgent
New York City says: ‘‘If we don’t get proceeded to call the roll. medical supplies, such as gloves and
the proper equipment soon, we’re going Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I masks, ICU beds, testing kits, ventila-
to get sick.’’ ask unanimous consent that the order tors, and PPE. Since our negotiations,
Democrats are filibustering more for the quorum call be rescinded. the numbers have gone up dramatically
masks and aid for hospitals. Every day, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there because the hospitals and our
more Americans wake up to the news objection? healthcare workers need the help.
that their jobs are gone—their jobs are Mr. DURBIN. Yes, I object. We are fighting hard and making
gone. Democrats are filibustering pro- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The as- progress on funding for State and local
grams to keep people on the payroll, sistant Democratic leader objects. Ob- governments. They are propping up
and they are filibustering a huge ex- jection is heard. local healthcare networks virtually on
pansion of unemployment insurance, Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous con- their own. Their revenues are dramati-
which they themselves negotiated and sent that the order for the quorum call cally declining. Many towns and vil-
put into the bill. Hundreds of dollars be rescinded. lages across America—the smaller ones
extra per week for laid-off workers on The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there in particular—might go broke pretty
top of existing unemployment benefits, objection? soon if we do nothing. If we can help
and Democrats are blocking it? Without objection, it is so ordered. the big corporations, we can help our
This has to stop, and today is the day f local towns and villages and the tax-
it has to stop. The country is out of payers they represent.
time—out of time. When the Demo- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY On unemployment insurance, the bill
cratic House passed their phase 2 bill, LEADER has moved in the direction we have
even though Senate Republicans would The PRESIDING OFFICER. The outlined. The original bill has the
have written it very differently, we Democratic leader is recognized. unexpanded employment benefits last
sped it through the Senate and passed f only 3 months. We need to make it
it quickly without even amending it. I longer because the dislocation caused
literally told my colleagues to ‘‘gag CORONAVIRUS by this crisis will not be over in 90
and vote for it,’’ for the sake of build- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, every days, and people who lose their jobs
ing bipartisan momentum, because Re- time we hear the majority leader come need help. It says to every American
publicans understand that a national out, it is a partisan screed. I am in my who loses his or her job—the Demo-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
crisis calls for urgency and it calls for office with the President’s Secretary of cratic plan that is now in the bill: You
bipartisanship. Treasury, the President’s congressional will get your full pay from the Federal
It is time for that good faith to be re- liaison, getting things done. We Demo- Government. You can be furloughed by
ciprocated. It is time for Democrats to crats are trying to get things done, not your employer. That means you will
stop playing politics and step up to the making partisan speech after partisan keep your benefits, health and other-
plate. The small businesses in their speech. wise. And it means that you will be
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1921
able to come back, and the business The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, it is
you had to leave can reassemble itself objection? my understanding that they are going
quickly after, God willing, this crisis Mr. SCHUMER. I object. I object. to let us voice vote this.
ends. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. SCHUMER. We have no objection
The bill still includes something that Democratic leader’s objection is heard. to voice voting the first two and then
most Americans don’t want to see: Ms. COLLINS. This is unbelievable. would like to vote, if the leader wants,
large corporate bailouts with almost The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- now on the third, and then we can have
no strings attached. Maybe the major- jority leader. the speeches.
ity leader thinks it is unfair to have Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous Mr. MCCONNELL. What you are pro-
protections for workers and labor to consent that the Senator from Maine posing is that we voice vote two, and
companies that are getting hundreds of be allowed to speak for a few minutes. then the cloture vote occurs automati-
billions of dollars. We think it is very The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cally?
fair to ask for those. Those are not ex- ate is in a quorum call. The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is
traneous issues. That is a wish list for Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous correct.
workers—nobody else. consent that the order for the quorum Mr. MCCONNELL. Parliamentary in-
We are looking for protection. We are call be rescinded. quiry: Does the cloture vote occur—
looking for oversight. If this Federal The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes. The
Government is making a big loan to objection? cloture vote pops and occurs third
someone—to a big company, we ought Mr. SCHUMER. I object. automatically.
to know it and know the details imme- Mr. MCCONNELL. I propose we voice
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
diately. The bill that was put on the vote the first two and then pause so
Democratic leader’s objection is heard.
floor by the Republican leader said no that there are some speeches allowed
Mr. COTTON. I ask unanimous con-
one would know a thing about those by Members—up to an hour of speeches
sent that the order for the quorum call
loans for 6 months at least. In those so- allowed by Members before the cloture
be rescinded.
called bailouts, we need to protect vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
workers—the workers those industries objection?
employ. Democratic leader.
Mr. SCHUMER. I object. Mr. SCHUMER. I have no objection
We have been guided by one plan: The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
workers first. That is the name of our to that. As long as we have a schedule,
Democratic leader’s objection is heard. I have no objection to that.
proposal. The bill needs to reflect that The Senator from Louisiana.
priority. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The un-
Mr. CASSIDY. I ask unanimous con- derstanding of the Chair is that there
We are working on all of these items
sent that the order for the quorum call will be voice votes on the first two mo-
in good faith as we speak, and we hope
be dispensed with. tions, and then there will be an hour of
and expect to conclude negotiations
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there debate equally divided. There will be
today. This vote the Senate—it is no
objection? an hour of debate prior to a vote on the
surprise—is about to take is merely a
The Democratic leader. cloture motion upon reconsideration.
repeat of the vote that failed last
Mr. SCHUMER. I would simply like Mr. MANCHIN. Equally divided? An
night. Leader MCCONNELL continues to
to know for the sake of the Members— hour on both sides?
set arbitrary vote deadlines when the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
matter of real importance is the status
ate is in a quorum call. jority leader.
of the bipartisan negotiations.
Let me be clear. The upcoming proce- Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous con- Mr. MCCONNELL. That is fine.
dural votes are essentially irrelevant. sent to speak for 30 seconds. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The un-
The negotiations continue no more The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there derstanding of the Chair is that the re-
than 30 feet away from the floor of the objection? quest is that the hour of debate would
Senate in our offices, where the real Mr. RISCH. I object. be equally divided prior to the cloture
progress is taking place. Once we have The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- vote on the motion to proceed.
an agreement that everyone can get be- ate is in a quorum call. The majority leader.
hind, we are prepared to speed up the Is there an objection to removing the f
consideration of that agreement on the quorum call?
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
floor. So I am going to get back to ne- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President—
gotiations. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
We all know time is of the essence. an objection to removing the quorum MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS
The country is facing twin crises in our call? TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019—Motion
healthcare system and in our economy. Mr. SCHUMER. Reserving the right to Proceed—Resumed
We have an obligation to get the de- to object— MOTION TO RECONSIDER—MOTION TO PROCEED
tails right and get them done quickly. The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
That doesn’t mean blindly accepting a no right to reserve the right to object.
move to proceed to the motion to re-
Republican-only bill. That was the bill Mr. SCHUMER. I have the floor. I
consider the vote by which cloture was
we were given. There were lots of would ask—
not invoked on the motion to proceed
things we didn’t even know about on The PRESIDING OFFICER. No, you
to H.R. 748.
Saturday. That means working to do not. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
make this bill better—better for our The Senate is in a quorum call. You question is on agreeing to the motion.
small businesses, better for our work- have to ask that the quorum call— The motion was agreed to.
ing families, better for our healthcare Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous con- MOTION TO RECONSIDER
system. sent that the order for the quorum call Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
Democrats—Democrats—will not be rescinded. move to reconsider the vote by which
stop working with our Republican The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there the cloture was not invoked on the mo-
counterparts until we get the job done. objection? tion to proceed to H.R. 748.
I will continue to update the Senate on Without objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
the progress of our negotiations. Mr. SCHUMER. I would simply like question is on agreeing to the motion.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. to ask the leader—before we have these The motion was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The speeches, because we were supposed to The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
clerk will call the roll. vote for the next time after he and I now an hour of debate equally divided
The senior assistant legislative clerk spoke—what is the schedule for the under the previous order.
proceeded to call the roll. rest of the day? The majority leader.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask Will he respond? Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
unanimous consent that the quorum The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- also ask that the vote be 30 minutes in
call be dispensed with. jority leader. length.
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