Congressional Record, Senate, March 23, 2020 — Motion to Reconsider Cloture on H.R. 748
Summary
Page S1921 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for March 23, 2020. Senators trade unanimous consent requests and objections over ending a quorum call and over how votes will be taken, with Schumer objecting to several requests. Under the heading Motion to Reconsider—Motion to Proceed, McConnell moves to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed, and the motion is agreed to. The Chair states the understanding that an hour of debate, equally divided, will come before the cloture vote. A speaker says the upcoming procedural votes are essentially irrelevant and that negotiations continue no more than 30 feet from the Senate floor.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, March 23, 2020 — Motion to Reconsider Cloture on H.R. 748.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-03-23-crec-2020-03-23-pt1-pgs1921-4744cb4188/
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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
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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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S1922 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Keep in mind that every single one of Mr. MANCHIN. We know about the 30
objection? these task forces have been bipartisan. more hours.
Without objection, it is so ordered. Do we agree on everything? Of course Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask the Senator
The vote will be 30 minutes in length. not, but surely, surely, in this time of from West Virginia, in what way would
It is so ordered. extreme crisis for our country—when your side be disadvantaged by that?
The Senator from Maine. people are getting sick, when people The American people are waiting for
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, we are are dying from the coronavirus, when us to act today.
in the midst of a crisis in our country— we are facing unemployment rates The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
a crisis caused by the coronavirus. I which could go as high as 20 percent, ator from West Virginia.
cannot believe that the answer to this according to the Treasury Secretary— Mr. MCCONNELL. Senator COLLINS
crisis from our friends on the other surely, we ought to be able to pull to- has laid it out. We don’t have time for
side of the aisle, as we move to address gether and work quickly to respond to this. We don’t have time for it.
the economic consequences that are so the needs of the American people. Mr. MANCHIN. Let me ask you a
severe for the people of this country, is I cannot believe the objections to question.
delay, delay, delay; no sense of ur- proceeding to this package. Is this Mr. MCCONNELL. I have a question.
gency; no hurry. package perfect? No. That is why nego- In what way would the Democratic mi-
I will tell you, I have had the honor tiations are still going on. nority be disadvantaged?
to serve in this body for many years. Don’t we want to act quickly to pro- Mr. DURBIN. Who has control of the
Never—never—have I seen Republicans vide relief to the American workers? floor?
and Democrats fail to come together This is disgraceful. We do not have The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
when confronted with a crisis. We did time. Time is not on our side. Let’s get ator from West Virginia has the floor.
so after 9/11. We did so with the finan- the job done for the American people. Mr. MANCHIN. Sir, anything I am
cial meltdown in 2008. Here, we are fac- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- saying—30 hours or 30 days—as long as
ing an enemy that is invisible but ator from West Virginia. you have the majority, 51 votes rule.
equally devastating to the health of Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise The final vote is going to be on pas-
our people and to the health of our because my dear friend, I can tell, is sage, whether you have to negotiate or
economy. Yet, unbelievably, the Demo- very upset. I am upset that we are at not with us.
cratic leader objected to my even being this point. I really am. I am working The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
able to speak this morning. Is that with you on so many things in a bipar- jority leader.
what we have come to? The Democratic tisan way. I always have and always Mr. MCCONNELL. By firming a deal,
leader objected to our convening at 9 will. we have to get cloture again once we
o’clock this morning so that we could With that being said, let me make
got on the bill. In other words, this is
begin working in earnest. Is that what sure of this. I haven’t been here as long
cloture on the motion to proceed to the
we have come to? as you have and haven’t the experience
The fact is, we have been working on bill.
that you have. The way I understand
a bipartisan effort through task force, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
it, voting for cloture takes a 60-vote
with both Republicans and Democrats, ator from West Virginia.
threshold, except for the judges, which,
making very good progress and putting Mr. MCCONNELL. Let me explain it
basically, the previous leader, Senator
together a comprehensive package— to my good friend from West Virginia.
Harry Reid from Nevada, changed. I
the third package we have dealt with. Mr. MANCHIN. I understand.
was opposed to that. We are in a situa-
This one is to address and prevent the Mr. MCCONNELL. Here is the way it
tion now where, if you vote yes on clo-
economic devastation that is being works, colleagues. We have been fid-
ture and then you are not in agreement
caused by this virus. with the bill, it only takes 51 votes. dling around, as the Senator from
We don’t have another day. We don’t That seems to be the reason everyone Maine pointed out, for 24 hours.
have another hour. We don’t have an- is saying: Wait a minute. Let’s get an Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I have
other minute to delay acting. I have agreement so we can move it through. the floor.
talked with businesses all over my That is what I always heard and that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
State—small mom-and-pop businesses, is what I understand. They are afraid, ator from West Virginia has the floor.
like a diner, a third-generation diner basically, that if you vote for cloture— Mr. MANCHIN. I know where you are
operated by the Simones family in even though it is not the things you coming from on this. We have a little
Lewiston, ME. For the first time ever, want or have been negotiated on—then difference of opinion about this.
they have had to close their doors. As the vote is 51, even with the 30 hours of Mr. MCCONNELL. I thank the Sen-
Linda Simones told me through tears curing. Then, it goes from there, and, ator from West Virginia.
yesterday: This is the first time ever then, we are back to where we have not The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
we have been unemployed. Our son is had any negotiations because the ma- jority leader.
unemployed. Our friends who have jority has the control with 51 votes. Mr. MCCONNELL. Colleagues, here is
worked with us at this diner for years That is what I think the fear is here. an understanding of where we are. We
are unemployed. The problem we have in West Vir- have been fiddling around for 2 days on
We have a very good plan that we ginia right now is that you can throw the motion to proceed.
worked on in a bipartisan way—Sen- all the money at Wall Street that you Mr. MANCHIN. If I could make my
ator MARCO RUBIO and I on the Repub- want to. You can continue to put tril- remarks.
lican side and Senators BEN CARDIN and lions upon trillions there. People are Mr. DURBIN. Who has the floor?
JEANNE SHAHEEN, in very good faith, on afraid to leave their home. They are Mr. MCCONNELL. My friend, if that
the Democratic side—that would help afraid because they are afraid of the were invoked, there are still 30 more
these small businesses and keep their healthcare. I have workers who don’t hours postcloture on the motion to
employees paid. It would keep their have masks. I have healthcare workers proceed.
employees getting paychecks. How can who don’t have gowns. I have hospitals Once you get on the bill, you have to
that possibly be controversial? that will not be open another 60 days go through it again. There is no way in
How can any of us want to see mil- because they don’t have cash flow. It which—
lions of Americans lose their pay- looks like we are worried more about Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President.
checks, their health insurance, their the economy than the healthcare and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
contributions to their retirement well-being of the people. ator from West Virginia.
plans? We have a package that is part Mr. MCCONNELL. Will the Senator Mr. MANCHIN. We should be able to
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of this broader legislation. yield for a question? get a bill that we can move forward on
As the majority leader pointed out Mr. MANCHIN. Yes, sir. with unanimous consent. We really
just yesterday, had we invoked cloture, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- should. That is what I am hoping for. I
that is not the end of the process. jority leader. think we can do it.
There still could have been 30 hours for Mr. MCCONNELL. Even if cloture Let me go back to where I am coming
us to refine this package. were invoked, there are 30 more hours. from. My whole thing is based on the
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1923
healthcare right now. You can’t throw These are little businesses. though we didn’t agree with many of
enough money to fix this if you can’t Well, why did we not vote last night their ideas. We worked for days with
fix the healthcare. If you can’t give my on this, because in this bill is the pro- our counterparts on the Democratic
people in West Virginia and across this posal by Senator COLLINS—Senator side and proposed a bill with their
country the feeling that we have a COLLINS, Republican; Senator CARDIN, ideas, such as unemployment com-
treatment and we are moving forward Democrat; Senator RUBIO, Republican; pensation, at $600 per person. That is
on a vaccine, they are not leaving their Senator SHAHEEN, Democrat—that twice as much as you get in unemploy-
homes. My restaurants aren’t going to would loan money to small businesses ment compensation without this bill in
open up. of less than 500 people so they can pay Tennessee.
The most important thing is, How do their employees in West Virginia and Finally, I would say this: Pass this
we take care of the workers who have Tennessee. And then, if they did that, bill and 1 day sooner a Tennessee work-
lost their jobs through no fault of their it would be forgiven. In other words, it er, instead of getting $326, would get
own because businesses have closed? It is a grant. They could keep working. nearly $1,000 if he or she has been laid
is the same in my State as in your That is for the employees. Every day off. There is no excuse for delaying get-
State—through no fault of their own. we wait, they don’t get paid. ting on this bill. It is outrageous that
That is the package we have to get out. Pass this bill and the laid-off employ- it will happen.
We have $160 billion moving right ees would be available for sick leave, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re-
now—moving right now. which they weren’t when the bill came publican whip.
I am saying this: It looks like things over from the House. Pass this bill Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I think
are weighted toward the Wall Street today and the employee who was laid we all know what is happening here.
corporations’ side. True or false? off last week could be available for 2 The leader pointed out in his opening
We are not in the frontlines. We are weeks of sick leave at today’s salary. remarks that everything was going
not one of the big four. Pass this bill and most Americans really quite well. There were a lot of
Many of us—100 of us—are not there would get $1,200 per person, $2,400 a working groups that were meeting.
negotiating at the table. Our staffs are couple, $500 more for a child. They There was great bipartisan coopera-
all having input, and we are working would get it one day sooner if you tion. Both sides were getting ideas in-
on that. But sitting there and making passed this bill last night. cluded in a plan. Then, yesterday, the
the final decisions comes down to this: These are not controversial pro- Speaker of the House showed up with
Can we give the confidence that we can posals. On the Collins-Rubio-Cardin- an agenda and, all of a sudden, it got
rise to the occasion to keep the people Shaheen proposal, I happened to be taken over at the leadership level.
healthy in our States? My hospitals watching Robert Reich, the former Now, instead of talking about helping
need to stay open. My healthcare work- Labor Secretary for President Clinton, workers, we are talking about the
ers need to be healthy. They need to be who is about as far to the left as any- Green New Deal and all kinds of other
protected. body goes, and someone asked him: things, including the demands unions
It seems like we are talking about What would be the single best thing and other special interest groups want
everything else about the economy Congress could do to help workers get to see in this deal.
versus the healthcare. That doesn’t their money and be paid? Yet the throwaway line in this is
make any sense to me whatsoever. He said it is exactly what the Collins- about bailouts for big corporations.
For the people who aren’t getting a Rubio-Cardin-Shaheen proposal would Really? Are we going to do that again?
check right now, we can get a check to do—loan money to those with 500 or Are we going to do this again? You
them. We should. less and let them keep working. guys are going to come over here and
It seems like we are more focused on As for this business about big cor- block votes and use the line that this is
the big corporations and the healthcare porations, Darden is a big corporation. a bailout for big corporations?
of Wall Street than we are on the It owns lots of restaurants. Gaylord is You heard what Senator ALEXANDER
healthcare of the people in rural Amer- a big corporation. It owns Opryland. If just said. This has money in here for
ica and Main Street. That is the prob- it has a credit problem and the Federal workers. This has money for families.
lem I have had on this. That is the Reserve Board can make sure that it This has money for small businesses. It
problem we have been talking about. has enough money to stay in business, has lots of money, and $300 billion is
We want to fix this. I am not talking all the people who work at the Grand going to go to checks: $1,200 per person,
about all the regulations you are talk- Ole Opry can continue to have jobs. If $2,400 per couple, and $500 per child, for
ing about. I don’t know anything about they don’t, they will be out of work. everybody. There is up to $75,000 for a
that. I will find out if it is buried in the What is wrong with that? single and $150,000 for a married couple
bill and it is not what I would approve I mean, that is the goal. Whether you who is filing jointly. There is $250 bil-
right now if we don’t need it. But if you work for a big company or a little com- lion in here for unemployment insur-
are giving all of the preferences to the pany, you are still an American cit- ance, as the Senator from Tennessee
large corporations, they can shill and izen—whether you work for FedEx or pointed out, in order to plus up and top
hide and do buybacks and everything the local diner. off those unemployment funds that the
else. Don’t you think the American And as far as solving the problem of States have, and we will add $600 per
worker ought to get something or be the disease—and then I will let others person, per week for the next 3 months.
protected in some way? That is what it speak—pass this bill and 1 day sooner That is going to help unemployed peo-
is like. we would have $10 billion to accelerate ple in this country.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- treatments. Treatments are what we The Small Business Loan Program,
ator from Tennessee. need. We could accelerate vaccines. which was just alluded to and which
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, as Vaccines are what we eventually need. Senators RUBIO, COLLINS, CARDIN, and
the majority leader said, all this vote Pass this bill and we would have $75 SHAHEEN have worked on, is a $350 bil-
is about is, Shall we get on the bill? billion for hospitals and $10 billion for lion program that allows small busi-
Can we debate the issue? Can we get to- those diagnostic treatments I just nesses to pay their employees, to keep
gether to decide what to do about what mentioned. We would have $1.7 billion them employed so they keep their jobs
is the most significant healthcare cri- to buy more masks. and so those jobs don’t go away. Right
sis in a century in this State? Can we All of that could happen 1 day sooner there, that is $900 billion that will go
get on the bill? We are saying yes; they if the other side wasn’t trying to at- to workers.
are saying no. tach its political agenda to a crisis bill. As Senator ALEXANDER pointed out,
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The distinguished Senator from West This is no time to be running a polit- there is over $242 billion in this bill
Virginia says: What about the people ical campaign. that is going to help out with
who need help? I have a friend who As the majority leader said, the healthcare, and we all know we have to
emailed me last night and said: It is House—dominated by Democrats—sent help our hospitals.
too late; I am closing five small busi- us their ideas. We passed it through Between the $75 billion in direct
nesses. without a single amendment, even spending in this particular provision
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S1924 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
and the $25 billion or more that is Do not come out here and say over and The assistant Democratic leader.
going to be part of the Medicare provi- over and over again that this is a bail- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I might
sions, that will be $100 billion for hos- out for big corporations. This bill is say to my friend from Idaho that it is
pitals; $20 billion for veterans’ about workers. It is about people. It is not unusual for us to move on a meas-
healthcare; $11 billion for vaccines, about families. It is about people who ure before the bill, the paper, has come
therapeutics, diagnostics, and other are hurting out there economically, across the rotunda. We do it by con-
preparedness needs; $4.5 billion for the and we need to do something about it. sent. Yes, it happens here, and we were
Centers for Disease Control and Pre- We are in a position to do something prepared to do it again.
vention; $1.7 billion for the Strategic about it, and it is high time that we Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I have a
National Stockpile; $12 billion for the did. parliamentary inquiry.
military; $10 billion for block grants to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The as- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The as-
sistant Democratic leader. sistant Democratic leader has the
States; $12 billion for K–12 education;
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would floor.
$6 billion for higher education; $5 bil- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, if time
lion for the FEMA Disaster Relief like to suggest to my friends on both
sides of the aisle that we first assume remains on the Republicans’ side, they
Fund; $10 billion for the airports; and can use it as they wish.
$20 billion for public transportation the appropriate distance and then, sec-
ondly, that we take a deep breath. The Mr. COTTON. Will the Senator yield?
emergency relief. Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I will
All told, there is $242 billion—$186 emotions we have seen on the floor on
not yield at this moment. I want to fin-
billion, I might add, which will go to both sides of the aisle are reflected in
ish my comment as I allowed the Sen-
the States. Everybody talks about homes across America, where families
ator from South Dakota to finish his. I
helping out the States. There is $186 are very emotional at this moment as
hope the Senator from Arkansas will
billion of the $242 billion in this part of we face this public health crisis. It is
show me that respect. Thank you.
the bill that will go to the States. no surprise that it is reflected on the Measures that have been raised this
So there is $900 billion and another floor of the Senate. We are going to morning are important measures, and
$250 billion. You are looking at $1.2 solve this problem, and we are going to for the most part, my colleagues are
trillion to $1.3 trillion, roughly, of this do it in a timely way, which the Amer- pushing an open door.
bill that will be going to healthcare ican people expect of us. The Rubio-Cardin plan is one that I
workers, hospitals, medical providers, We have had two measures now that support. It is supported on a bipartisan
families, employees, and unemployed have come before us—one for $8 billion basis. I think it is an excellent idea for
people. That is where it will go. and another for $100 billion—that were dealing with the challenges of res-
Yes, there is $500 billion in here to addressed on a bipartisan basis with an taurants and small businesses. I sup-
keep industries afloat that are failing, agreement. This will be as well. port it. There is no issue in terms of
and they are failing by the day and Now, as for this argument that we whether that will be included in the
shedding jobs by the day. These aren’t can’t spare 1 minute, that we can’t final package. I believe it will, and I
spare 1 day, I understand the sense of certainly hope it will.
grants—although, the Democrats did
urgency. As for the notion of cash payments
want some grants in here, I might add. The House of Representatives passed that was brought to us by the White
These are loans. These have to be paid the second bill, the $100 billion bill, in
back. Bailouts usually apply to those House, I don’t hear any objection what-
the early morning hours of Saturday. soever on the Democratic side of the
who did something dumb on their own, When did the Senate pass the bill? It
who made bad business decisions. aisle to it.
passed it on Wednesday—more than 4 With regard to the notion of extend-
These companies aren’t in trouble be- days later.
cause of something they did on their ing unemployment insurance and pro-
With regard to this $100 billion bill, viding additional benefits within un-
own. This is no fault of their own. They which included medical leave, acceler-
are in trouble because they have been employment insurance, I guess we are
ated access to unemployment com- going to argue as to who came up with
shut down, and they all hire millions of pensation, food, new Medicaid pay- the idea first, but both sides agree on
employees in this country. So, yes, we ments to States, a guarantee that you that basic idea.
probably need to do something to help would never have to pay for a test, the So these proposals that have been
businesses in this country so they can Republican leader waited 4 days to call brought before us are not in con-
keep working and keep their employees that bill. His argument was, Wait a troversy, as I understand it, in the ne-
working. minute; the paperwork is not here. gotiations that are underway. The
This was put together with a lot of Well, I checked on that because the thing that I was concerned about and
bipartisan input. The leader appointed Senator from Idaho raised it on the that Senator SCHUMER addressed—and
task forces, and the Democratic leader floor, and it turns out that, as we have Senator MANCHIN raised the same
assigned people to task forces. I ob- many, many times—and we were pre- issue—was really focusing on the
served those meetings and the discus- pared here—by consent, you can move threshold issue of the capacity of our
sions that went on. They were bipar- on a measure before the paper actually healthcare system to deal with this
tisan. I participated in some of those. comes across from the other body. public health crisis.
They were bipartisan, and we came to- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- When we heard the Governor of New
gether. All of these things that have ator from Idaho. York this morning suggest that the
been put together in this plan were de- Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, will the hospitals of that State will have to in-
veloped with an idea toward getting Senator from Illinois yield for an in- crease their capacity by 50 percent and
help to workers, employees, small busi- quiry? that it will still not be enough, it is a
nesses, healthcare professionals—the Mr. DURBIN. I will yield. suggestion to all of us that we need to
people who are fighting the crisis on Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, isn’t it a start with healthcare and hospitals. It
the frontline. Yet here we are, fact, when the Senator was up here was our feeling that the bill Senator
dillydallying around, and we can’t even talking and demanding that we pass MCCONNELL tried to move yesterday
get on the bill. that bill, that the bill wasn’t here? I was not adequate. It didn’t provide the
As the leader pointed out, there is have spent 40 years in the Senate, and necessary resources for that. When we
another 60-vote threshold that comes I have never been able to convince a return to this measure—it has been
later. If you want to block it then, you Parliamentarian that we should vote said by Senator SCHUMER and others
can block it then. We can’t even get on on a House bill that wasn’t here. It that it could be today, and I pray that
the bill. The country is burning. The wasn’t here. The Republicans aren’t in it will be—I think you will find addi-
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country is burning, and your side charge of the House; it is the Demo- tional resources for hospitals and
wants to play political games. crats. NANCY PELOSI is in charge of the healthcare. In my State, that is a crit-
It is time to get this done. The Amer- House. ical element.
ican people expect us to act. They need The PRESIDING OFFICER. The as- Let me also talk about the fact that
action. We need to work together to sistant Democratic leader has the we are dealing with a bill of great im-
get this done for the American people. floor. portance and great magnitude. Reflect
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1925
for a moment that the amount of from Kentucky. We will do our own, he thing done, you had to compromise.
money we are talking about in this bill says. We will get back to you when we The problem we have today is that I
is roughly equivalent to the entire Fed- have a Republican plan. It was not bi- can’t find any partners with whom to
eral Government’s domestic discre- partisan from the start, and it should compromise.
tionary budget in 1 year. We are deal- be all the way. It is the only way it This bill has been characterized as
ing with this bill, as we should, on an will work. another bailout for large corporations.
urgent basis. We should take care to Let me say for a moment that if and Really? That is the most amazing char-
make sure we do the best we can but to when we have reached an agreement— acterization I could hear today.
not wait for the perfect. Let’s make and I pray that it will be done under When I look at this, what this bill is
sure we have something that is good the circumstances—and if and when we focused on is the American worker,
and responsive to the needs we have. vote for cloture on the motion to pro- who, in the time we have been debating
I also think that the measure yester- ceed, at that point, the Senator from this morning here, thousands have had
day that was pushed by Senator Kentucky can offer any amendment he phone calls given to them today by
MCCONNELL did not provide adequate wishes. At that point, I hope that we their employer to say: We are sorry,
resources to State and local govern- will have an agreement and that we but because of the liquidity situation
ments. When I talk to my Governor in will all agree to do it in a quick fash- we have, there is no demand for our
Illinois, Governor Pritzker, they are ion. Yet this idea that it is going to be products or services. We need you to go
spending money in ways they never instantaneous as soon as we vote for home.
dreamed of in order to deal with this the motion on cloture on the motion to That has been going on now for
public health crisis. They are also see- proceed is not a fact, and it hasn’t been weeks, while we sit up here and talk
ing more unemployment insurance for a long time. and blame each other for things.
benefits being claimed than we ever Let me just conclude by making an The time for action is right now.
have in our history. We need to help observation on something related to This bill gives us an opportunity to
the State and local governments, and our meeting here today and what is bring over almost $2 trillion of liquid-
that was one of the objections we had going on in the United States of Amer- ity to the American people who are in
to the bill yesterday. We didn’t feel ica. Five of our Members did not vote need. This is not about Big Business.
that it was adequate. yesterday on the Republican side of the As a matter of fact, I don’t see any
When it comes to corporations and aisle. One has been diagnosed as having grants in here. What I see are liquidity
providing help to businesses, large and COVID–19, and the other four are self- opportunities so employers can keep
small, count me in. I am one of those quarantining because of the concern their relationship with the employees.
Democrats who stood for the stimulus about their own health, which is nat- We have already heard the details
package that President Obama brought ural. It is naive for us to believe this today: direct payments of $300 billion
before us because I thought it was nec- will be the end of this challenge to our directly to individuals, $250 billion for 3
essary. I still believe we did the right membership. months of unemployment insurance—
thing in passing that stimulus package I implore Senators to consider the bi- unprecedented—$350 billion going di-
when many on the other side of the partisan measure that Senator rectly to small businesses. Why? So
aisle did not. Part of that package PORTMAN and I have offered for remote that they can keep their employees
helped larger corporations, and so be voting. We should not be physically employed, even if they are furloughed.
it, for I thought that was necessary. present on this floor at this moment. There are $500 billion being made
Yet we learned a bitter lesson. Many We know better, and our staff is sub- available for loans through our bank-
times, the benefits being given to those jected to whatever we bring on the ing community. This is federally guar-
corporations and the tax breaks being floor in terms of viral load. Let’s think anteed loans. These are not grants.
given to them translated into stock about this in human terms. Too many These are not moneys that are going to
buybacks, whereby they took the of our colleagues and their families are go to the boards and the executives and
money and ran. We don’t want that to falling prey to this disease. We should all that. This is money that is going
happen again. change the rules of the Senate to re- for the purpose of getting directly to
Arguing for transparency and ac- flect humanity and reality. It is the payroll.
countability on the money that goes to 21st century. Voting in a remote fash- There are $517 billion of tax deferrals
any business, large or small, is not un- ion, as I have suggested with Senator on withholding taxes on the corporate
reasonable, and it used to be bipar- PORTMAN, is the best way, I think, to side. That is a 1-year deferral. That is
tisan. We are arguing over that, debat- protect us and our families from fur- not a guarantee; it is not a grant.
ing over that, and negotiating over ther problems from a health viewpoint. There are $250 billion of other mon-
that at this minute. Let me close by saying a final word eys, 180 of which is going to cities and
Let me also say that I continue to be on this. Senator SCHUMER came to the municipalities and States.
amazed at the references to the Speak- floor and didn’t say, with arms crossed, And I agree with the assistant leader
er of the House, NANCY PELOSI. She we are stonewalling. He said he had to of the Democratic Party that we might
really unnerves a lot of people on that leave the floor to go back and nego- need to do more for our States, and
side of the aisle. She is the Speaker of tiate. With whom? He left the floor to let’s get to it, if that is the biggest
the House, you know, and the meas- negotiate with the Republican leaders issue here, but that is not the biggest
ure—whatever we do here—will be from the White House and, perhaps, issue. There are so many of these other
headed over there for consideration. from other places. That is the way it things that are being thrown in this
The fact that she would want to be should be. bill because it is a big bill; it is unprec-
party to that negotiation is not an out- We are going to get this done today. edented.
rageous idea. It happens to be con- Take a deep breath. Everybody is emo- But let me just say this: What we
sistent with the bicameral system of tional at this moment on both sides of have done is try to make this a situa-
government that we have. the aisle, but we have a job to do, and tion where we can avoid a liquidity cri-
The Senator from Kentucky got up we are going to get it done. sis causing an insolvency crisis, and
and talked about how she came into I yield the floor. that is the most damaging thing we
the meeting and ruined the whole The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. can do to the American worker.
meeting by asserting herself as the TILLIS). For the information of the At the end of the day, the American
Speaker of the House. It is reasonable Members, the majority has approxi- worker has something that they all
for her to do that. In fact, the sugges- mately 14 minutes, and the minority have in common. They have an em-
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tion by Senator SCHUMER at the outset has 15 minutes. ployer. That employer is made up of in-
was that we have the four corners—the Which Member seeks recognition? vestors, just like you and I, who invest
four leaders, the Democrats and Repub- The Senator from Georgia. in those companies who employ these
licans—and a representative of the Mr. PERDUE. Mr. President, I have people.
White House for this negotiation. That been here for 5 years. I came from an- This is not a government employing
approach was rejected by the Senator other world, one in which, to get any- 150 million people in our workforce.
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S1926 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
This is about getting the American time comes out of your time, I would nesses, especially small businesses. We
economy a bridge—and that is all this be glad to. want to help the airlines, but we need
is, is a bridge to weather this medical Mr. ALEXANDER. My question will to make sure that this money passes
crisis that we have. be short. through to employees. That means no
I yield the floor. Is it not true that the bill to which corporate bailouts without investing in
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- the Senator refers was still being writ- the dignity of work; it means if you are
ator from Ohio. ten over the weekend, and it would taking taxpayer money, no stock
Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I appre- have been impossible for the U.S. Sen- buybacks, no sending jobs overseas, no
ciate the comments from the Senator ate to vote on it before Monday? outsourcing your jobs to independent
from Georgia. There are plenty of nego- Mr. BROWN. No. The answer to that contractors, no golden parachutes for
tiations going on. I don’t know what he question is no. It would have been pos- executives, no using taxpayer dollars
means when he says he doesn’t have sible. We can always suspend the rules to bust unions, no wage cuts for these
anybody to negotiate with. I just spent and move if it is in the national inter- employees, no healthcare or pension
2 hours with Secretary Mnuchin talk- est. cuts.
ing about provisions of this bill. But we didn’t vote—you know this, If we put money into these busi-
We spent hours on Friday and Satur- Senator ALEXANDER—we didn’t vote nesses, this money is there not for the
day talking within our committees. I until Wednesday. executives; it is there for the workers,
applaud Senator RUBIO, what he and But let me back up. This weekend and it is there for the community. It
Senator CARDIN did. There has been bi- Senator CRAPO and I and Banking Com- means actually helping people stay in
partisanship but not from the majority mittee Members were making progress their homes.
leader, and that has really fundamen- on Friday and Saturday. Then Satur- If you love this country, you fight for
tally been the problem—the Republican day night, Senator MCCONNELL decided the people who make it work. We have
leader. that he would take everything back to show the people we serve that we
Let’s back up. Let’s back up 10 days. and write a partisan bill. So don’t tell have learned from Congress’s mistake
I stood on this floor—Senator DURBIN us that this has been a bipartisan ef- 10 years ago when the banks did very
was here, a bunch of us—when Senator fort. well, thank you. And Wall Street again
MCCONNELL on a Thursday night, we Again, Senator RUBIO and Senator will do very well, thank you, under the
were this close to agreement with the CARDIN had some bipartisan efforts. We McConnell plan.
House on the second package, the one attempted that, but the fact is, we We have to come together to put
that had sick leave policy. We were need to learn from 10 years ago. The money in people’s pockets. We need to
that close. same people came to us and said: We help people stay in their homes. We
Senator MCCONNELL decided he had need this bailout. They promised that need to invest in healthcare workers
to go back to Kentucky to go to a po- it would help people stay in their who are on the frontlines. We need to
litical event with a Justice of the Su- homes. They promised it would be mobilize American manufacturers.
preme Court—a political event with a money in the pockets of workers. The partisan McConnell plan doesn’t
Justice of the Supreme Court. The banks have done well, the execu- do this. The bipartisan work we are
Mr. COTTON. Will the Senator yield? tives have done well, but since then, trying to do could do this. We know we
Mr. BROWN. Of course. wages have basically remained flat. can get through this together, put this
Mr. COTTON. When did the Senate The American people don’t want an- partisanship aside, and come together
receive that bill from the House? other corporate bailout. They don’t for the people whom we serve.
Mr. BROWN. That is not the point. want a bailout for Wall Street. They I yield the floor.
The point is that— don’t want a bailout for the airlines. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
Mr. COTTON. Will the Senator yield? They want money—if we are going to ator from North Dakota.
Mr. BROWN. Certainly. do a relief package, the money needs to Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I would
Mr. COTTON. Will you answer my go in the pockets of workers. defer to the Senator from Tennessee.
question? When did we receive that We know that hundreds of people, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
bill? thousands of people in each of our ator from Tennessee.
Mr. BROWN. I don’t know the day, States are faced every day with this Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I
but I know it was a day or two later. situation: Do I go to work? I am sick thank the Senator from North Dakota.
I have a parliamentary inquiry.
Mr. COTTON. Where has the House today. Do I go to work and possibly in- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
been for the last week? fect somebody else in the workplace or ator will state the inquiry.
Mr. BROWN. I am not yielding now, do I stay home and lose the pay I need Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, the
Senator COTTON. I know you always in order to pay my mortgage or in discussion we just heard was about
want to do Trump’s—the President’s order to pay my rent? when the Senate could have voted on
bidding. I have the floor, and I will This plan is all about a corporate H.R. 6201, which was the bill that came
keep the floor. bailout. The money—$425 billion that over from the House.
The fact is, we were in negotiations the Secretary of Treasury can decide is When did that bill from the House of
with Speaker PELOSI, I assume with a slush fund or where to direct that Representatives arrive in the U.S. Sen-
Leader MCCARTHY. In the Senate, we money instead of money going to work- ate?
were this close to legislation. ers, to food banks, to unemployment The PRESIDING OFFICER. It came
Senator MCCONNELL went home. Sen- insurance, to sick days policy, to all of to the Senate on Tuesday, the 17th.
ator COTTON is not disputing the fact the things that we need to do to keep Mr. ALEXANDER. On Tuesday, the
he went home for a political event with businesses going and people in their 17th.
a Justice of the Supreme Court, for homes. And my second question is, Could the
gosh sakes—went home. We have a prohibition that so far U.S. Senate have voted on that bill be-
We didn’t vote Friday. We didn’t vote Senator MCCONNELL has objected to on fore it arrived from the House of Rep-
Saturday. We didn’t vote Sunday. We foreclosures and evictions. You all resentatives?
didn’t vote Monday. We didn’t vote know the statistics—40 percent of The PRESIDING OFFICER. It would
Tuesday. We didn’t vote until Wednes- Americans don’t have $400 discre- take consent. The Senate has done it
day. So we have tried to be bipartisan. tionary money in their pockets that on several occasions. In one case, H.R.
Senator MCCONNELL then dispatched they can use in an emergency to fix 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief & Job
all of us just a few days ago to do nego- their car or whatever. Creation Act; another case, H.R. 2194,
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tiations within our committees. I sat If they go several weeks without pay, Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Ac-
with— they will be evicted; they will be fore- countability, and Investment Act. It
Mr. ALEXANDER. Will the Senator closed on. We need Senator MCCONNELL would take consent.
yield for a question? to actually agree to that. Mr. ALEXANDER. Did anyone ask
Mr. BROWN. Well, I would like to And when it comes to the $425 billion consent that it be voted on before
sort of explain the details, but if the slush fund, we want to help these busi- Wednesday?
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1927
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The We also included an important provi- $75 billion to help some of our indus-
Chair does not have any record of a re- sion that enables USDA to provide crit- tries hardest hit in a collateralized
quest for consent. ical support to ranchers during this loan, not a bailout, and then provides
Mr. ALEXANDER. I thank the Sen- market downturn—to ranchers. How- another $425 billion to the Federal Re-
ator from North Dakota. ever, the Senate Democrats are object- serve under section 13(3) of the Federal
Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I be- ing to that provision. Congressional Reserve Act, which the Federal Re-
lieve I have the floor. Democratic leadership has objected to serve will make available to all busi-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- helping our farmers and ranchers in nesses, including those that don’t qual-
ator from North Dakota. this relief package. ify as a small business. It is not a gift.
Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I want The bill also includes an additional We can negotiate warrants; we can ne-
to talk about the bill that we want to $15.5 billion for the SNAP program—for gotiate stock options; we can take a
vote on right now and why it is so im- the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance piece of their company in stock.
portant that we pass it. Program, for food stamps—to provide I don’t understand it. I get politics; I
For my part, what I work on is sup- nutrition assistance for those affected have been around it my whole life. But
port for our farmers and our ranchers, by this economic downturn. there comes a time when we have to
and that is exactly what we have put in I urge my colleagues to get on board stop thinking about the next election
this bill is help and support for our and support our farmers, our ranchers, and start thinking about the next gen-
farmers and ranchers, for rural Amer- and our food supply. Support rural eration.
ica. America. Quit objecting to rural Amer- What are we going to leave to our
And yet, my understanding is that
ica. Quit objecting to our farmers and children if we allow this economy to
Democrats are objecting to the help
ranchers. We can’t let that happen. We crash? And it is happening as we speak.
and support that we have put in this
have talked about the importance of I mean no ill will toward my Demo-
bill for our farmers and ranchers.
the bill. It is important for our entire cratic friends. I like and respect every
Last week, the Department of Home-
country, and it is certainly important one of them. But let’s pass this bill.
land Security recognized that agri-
for our farmers and for our ranchers I suggest the absence of a quorum.
culture—our supply of food, fiber, and
and for the food supply—the lowest The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
feed—is one of our Nation’s critical in-
cost, highest quality food supply that objection?
dustries. Our country has been blessed Mr. MURPHY. Objection.
with an abundant, affordable, and safe they provide every single American
every single day. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
food supply that we rarely stop to no- tion by the Senator from Connecticut
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President.
tice but that we depend on every single is heard.
Mr. TILLIS. The majority has 5 min-
day and we certainly depend on at this There is less than 10 minutes remain-
utes. The Senator from Louisiana.
time with this pandemic. Mr. KENNEDY. Thank you, Mr. ing.
The good news is, our farmers and The Senator from Connecticut.
President.
ranchers, our ag sector, are out there Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, you
Do you know what the American peo-
working every day, carrying on this can’t keep on saying it is a bipartisan
ple are thinking right now? They are
critical work of ensuring that we have bill when it clearly is not. If it were a
thinking that the brain is an amazing
the food on our grocery shelves bipartisan bill, you wouldn’t have this
organ. It starts working in a mother’s
throughout this pandemic. level of angst from the Democrats who
The bad news is, the farm economy, womb, and it doesn’t stop working
until you get elected to Congress. were shut out of the process.
already facing a number of years of de- Let’s be clear about what we are
Do you know what the American peo-
clining income, has taken a further talking about here. We don’t think
ple are thinking right now? They are
nosedive on account of the coronavirus. your bill works. We don’t think the bill
thinking that this country was founded
So we have put forward assistance to that has been drafted by the majority
by geniuses, but it is being run by a
make sure we address that. party is going to fix the problem. This
Let me just give you one example, bunch of idiots.
Do you know what the American peo- is a policy disagreement, and I have an
though, of the difficulty faced in farm
ple are thinking right now? They are obligation as a representative of my
country, in rural America.
The cattle industry has lost between thinking, Why do the Members of the State to stand up and say when I don’t
$7 billion and $9 billion over the last 2 U.S. Senate continue to double down think a $2 trillion bill is going to fix
months—over the last 2 months—and on stupid? This is not a Republican the problem. It may make a lot of peo-
that is just one sector of our ag econ- bill, Mr. Chairman; this is a bipartisan ple rich, but it doesn’t have the re-
omy. bill. We have spent hours and hours sources in it today to take care of the
Congress needs to act, and we need to and hours negotiating these provisions most vulnerable in this country, and it
act now, to ensure that farmers, ranch- with our Democratic friends. is not going to do the primary job at
ers, and rural America—farmers, This is not a slush fund. This a bill to hand, which is to stop the virus.
ranchers, and rural America—receive help people and businesses in America. Remember, there is no amount of
the relief they desperately need. This bill is going to increase unem- economic stimulus we can pass—$1 tril-
Why would Democrats object to that? ployment insurance. This bill is going lion, $2 trillion, $3 trillion—that will
Why would they object to that? to send $1,200 to every man and woman solve this problem if we don’t get seri-
We included two important provi- in America—taxpayers who make less ous about the public health crisis that
sions to ensure that rural America and than $75,000 a year—and $500 for each of exists today. When you shortchange
our farm and ranch families receive as- their children. States, when you don’t provide enough
sistance. This bill is going to help every small money to help my State and my mu-
First, we replenish the Commodity business in this country. It is not a nicipalities manage testing, move con-
Credit Corporation, making sure that bailout. It provides up to $350 billion gregate populations apart from each
the CCC has the funding necessary to for small businesses for the next 8 other, and try to manage the crisis,
carry out the farm bill, including the weeks to keep them going, and if they then you aren’t serious about stopping
farm safety net, conservation pro- don’t lay anybody off, the bill provides the virus. Yes, one of the outstanding
grams, trade programs, as well as that the loans are forgiven. issues in this bill is that we think we
emergency and ad hoc programs like We have some businesses in this need more funding for the States and
the Market Facilitation Program. country that are bigger than 500 em- municipalities that are on the
Second, we increase CCC authority to ployees. This bill has a provision to frontlines of fighting the virus. Yes, we
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ensure that we can meet the help them, too, as well. In the America don’t think this bill will work—will
coronavirus impact on agriculture I was raised in, growing your business work—at job No. 1, which is stopping
head-on. That makes sense. That is in and becoming as large as possible was the public health crisis, unless we pro-
the bill. They are objecting to it. They something we aspired to. vide ample funding. And, yes, we are
are objecting. This is our food supply. This bill does not create a slush fund worried about the lack of condition-
This is our food chain. for the Treasury Secretary. It provides ality on funding to big businesses, to
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S1928 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
Wall Street. Yes, we are worried about These companies can take advantage have been waiting, begging, and plead-
the fact that this is going to make rich of hundreds of billions of dollars of this ing with the administration in the
people much richer and, at the same money and continue to lay off some of White House to give national leader-
time, not actually stop the public those same taxpayers who are sup- ship. Absent that, they have taken on
health crisis. porting them through their taxes. the responsibility themselves. They are
These are policy differences. Instead Montanans know we can do better, asking us to stand behind them as they
of coming down here and having show- and they expect better. Working to- make these difficult decisions, State
boat after showboat, we should be sit- gether, I am going to tell you, we can by State by State, because the White
ting together trying to resolve dif- get this done. There isn’t a person in House refuses to make these same deci-
ferences that, frankly, I don’t think this body who hasn’t filled a leadership sions. We need to provide the resources
are so large that they can’t be solved position outside of their service to the to do that. State and local govern-
within the next several hours. U.S. Senate. You know that you need ments need that help, and I believe the
I just hope we understand that we are to negotiate and you need to com- McConnell bill could be improved by
down here very frustrated because we promise. If that is done and it is done providing more resources in that re-
worry that we are about to vote on a in good faith, we will have a bill before gard.
bill that is not going to solve the prob- the day is done. There are so many bipartisan things
lem. That is a policy disagreement but I yield the floor. that we do agree upon in this bill. Let’s
a policy disagreement that can be re- Mr. DAINES. Mr. President. get these things right. As Senator
solved. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- MURPHY of Connecticut said, if we
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, how ator from Montana. don’t get it right in terms of dealing
much time is remaining on our side? Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I can with the coronavirus, we can’t put
The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is give you a very long list to describe ev- enough money on the table for eco-
51⁄2 minutes. erything we are doing here to help nomic recovery. Let’s do it.
Mr. DURBIN. I yield to the Senator small business people in this country, I am sorry we are going to this roll
from Montana. our hospitals, personal protective call. It is not an indication of the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- equipment. progress that I believe has been made
ator from Montana. Let me say this. This bill was written since yesterday in negotiating a bipar-
Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, during by both Democrats and Republicans in tisan approach to improving the
the past couple of weeks, I have been good faith. It is time to get over our McConnell bill.
talking to Montanans about their differences and put our country before The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time
needs as we deal with this coronavirus. ourselves. Let’s come together and has expired.
Healthcare officials tell me that folks vote this bill out of the Senate now. Mr. DURBIN. I think it is time to
on the frontlines need more masks, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- recognize that.
more protective equipment, and, quite ator from Illinois. Thank you.
frankly, this bill does not get that Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, how CLOTURE MOTION
done. It helps, but it doesn’t get it much time remains on our side? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant
done. Small businesses and their em- The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the
ployees are telling me that they need 2 minutes 40 seconds. Senate the pending cloture motion,
immediate access to relief. This bill Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, let me which the clerk will state.
doesn’t do that because, quite frankly, just say, strike a responsible distance The legislative clerk read as follows:
we need more on the front end on and take a deep breath. We are going to CLOTURE MOTION
bridge loans. Tax credits are great, but pass this bill—not the one that Senator We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
MCCONNELL brought before us yester- ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
you have to be in business to be able to
day but a version of that, which I think Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
take advantage of those. Mayors and move to bring to a close debate on the mo-
local city officials are worried that if is a dramatic improvement.
tion to proceed to Calendar No. 157, H.R. 748,
they can’t keep up with the mounting My prayer is that bill is going to in-
a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
needs their communities are facing, clude even more money than the 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost em-
this bill fails them. Tribal leaders McConnell bill when it comes to deal- ployer-sponsored health coverage.
across Montana have made it clear to ing with the healthcare crisis we face Mitch McConnell, David Perdue, Mike
me and to other folks in this body that and the challenge we face—more Rounds, Mitt Romney, James E. Risch,
money for hospitals, more money for Lamar Alexander, Steve Daines, Kevin
they are largely and unfortunately ig- Cramer, Tim Scott, Martha McSally,
nored in the bill before us. providers, and more money for equip-
ment, and we are going to have to Deb Fischer, Marco Rubio, John Booz-
This bill is nearly $2 trillion. One of man, James Lankford, Rob Portman,
the things it does do, and I know there come back again, I am sorry to say, if Tom Cotton.
are folks on the floor right now who this continues, to make sure we put
The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan-
disagree, but the fact is, massive cor- even greater investment in the men
imous consent, the mandatory quorum
porations through that $500 billion and women who will save our lives
call has been waived.
slush fund, which, I might add, has across this country. The question is, Is it the sense of the
very little, if any, transparency or ac- Secondly, we want to make certain
Senate that debate on the motion to
countability—it goes to those folks. that this McConnell bill is improved
proceed to H.R. 748, a bill to amend the
Look, I think all of us agree that $2 when it comes to accountability for the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal
trillion is a lot of money. It is all bor- taxpayer dollars given to the largest
the excise tax on high cost employer-
rowed money, and if there is ever a corporations in America. Some of us
sponsored health coverage, shall be
time to borrow money, it is in eco- feel burned by what has happened with
brought to a close upon reconsider-
nomic times like these, but this needs some of those corporations in the past
ation?
to be a targeted, temporary support to when we trusted their leadership to The yeas and nays are mandatory
keep our economy going. build their companies and help their under the order.
As the Senator from Connecticut employees, but, instead, they built up The clerk will call the roll.
said, the fact is that this bill, particu- their own bank accounts at the expense The legislative clerk called the roll.
larly this slush fund, is not a good use of their employees. We don’t want to Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
of taxpayer money. It would allow an return to those days. I am sure the Re- are necessarily absent: the Senator
unelected official with no account- publicans don’t either. We want lan- from Colorado (Mr. GARDNER), the Sen-
ability to the American people to dole guage in this bill that moves this in ator from Utah (Mr. LEE), the Senator
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
out $500 billion while hiding the re- the direction of accountability and from Kentucky (Mr. PAUL), the Senator
ceipts for months, if not longer. transparency when it comes to spend- from Utah (Mr. ROMNEY), and the Sen-
I know there are Senators who say: ing taxpayers’ dollars by major cor- ator from Florida (Mr. SCOTT).
Well, they can get warrants for these porations. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
loans. They must get warrants for Third, never overlook the need of HAWLEY). Are there any other Senators
these loans. State and local governments. They in the Chamber desiring to vote?
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1929
The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 49, act, while people are losing their jobs, we came together, and there weren’t
nays 46, as follows: losing their income, and shutting down extra things added to it. We focused in
[Rollcall Vote No. 78 Leg.] the economy, which we have had to do on the problem, which is the virus.
YEAS—49 to deal with this public health crisis, This body has a lot of things we dis-
they are fiddling around with Senate agree on, there is no question. There
Alexander Ernst Perdue
Barrasso Fischer Portman procedure that could, if 1 Senator ob- are lots of moments to debate the
Blackburn Graham Risch jected, take us all the way to the end things we disagree on, but this is a
Blunt Grassley Roberts of the week to solve this problem. time we need to focus in on what is the
Boozman Hawley Rounds
Braun Hoeven I am beginning to think our Demo- problem, and the problem is dealing
Rubio
Burr Hyde-Smith cratic colleagues don’t understand the with COVID–19. There was a bipartisan
Sasse
Capito Inhofe Scott (SC) procedure in the Senate. I am not sure bill that was put together in the Sen-
Cassidy Johnson ate.
Collins Jones
Shelby you understand the position your lead-
Cornyn Kennedy
Sullivan er has put you in. He loses nothing— A week ago today, Senator SCHUMER
Cotton Lankford
Thune
nothing—in terms of negotiating lever- released a 10-page list of—here are the
Cramer Loeffler Tillis things the Democrats would like from
Toomey age by letting us get through these
Crapo McConnell the Senate. It was a 10-page, very de-
Cruz McSally Wicker procedural hoops sooner rather than
Daines Moran Young later—sooner rather than later. tailed list. Twenty-eight of those items
Enzi Murkowski The American people have had on that list are included in this bipar-
enough of this nonsense. They wonder tisan bill—28 items from it, of that 10-
NAYS—46
where we are. They are looking to us to page list of items. So much of that list
Baldwin Hassan Sanders
Bennet Heinrich solve this problem. that was released a week ago is in-
Schatz
Blumenthal Hirono Schumer The Secretary of the Treasury keeps cluded in this bipartisan bill.
Booker Kaine Shaheen going into the Democratic leader’s of- Republican chairmen and Democratic
Brown King Sinema
fice, and the list keeps getting longer ranking members of the committees of
Cantwell Klobuchar
Cardin Leahy
Smith
and longer and longer. The bazaar is jurisdiction met and talked about this.
Stabenow The chairman and the ranking member
Carper Manchin Tester apparently open on the other side.
Casey Markey
Udall Never let a crisis go to waste, one of Appropriations worked together on
Coons Menendez an appropriations package for a quar-
Van Hollen former President’s Chief of Staff fa-
Cortez Masto Merkley
Warner ter of a trillion dollars on just that one
Duckworth Murphy mously said.
Durbin Murray Warren
So, look, I hope my colleagues will section that they worked on together
Feinstein Peters Whitehouse to get resolution. Put all of those
Gillibrand Reed Wyden come out here and express themselves
in the course of the afternoon. The items together, and let me tell you
Harris Rosen
what I mean by that: $250 billion deal-
NOT VOTING—5
American people would like to hear
ing with things as distant to believe as
from us. They would like to know what
Gardner Paul Scott of Florida things like getting Peace Corps volun-
Lee Romney is going on here. So let’s tell them.
teers back home, away from where
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this Mr. SASSE. I suggest the absence of they are now. We have to get them
vote, the yeas are 49, the nays are 46. a quorum. back home and away from harm’s way.
Three-fifths of the Senators duly cho- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The There is funding in there for that as
sen and sworn not having voted in the clerk will call the roll. well as $88 billion for hospitals, trying
affirmative upon reconsideration, the The legislative clerk proceeded to to help them through this; help for
motion is rejected. call the roll. nursing homes; help for individual fire-
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I ask fighters and their departments; $10 bil-
f
unanimous consent that the order for lion for community development block
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS the quorum call be rescinded. grants to help cities as they are rapidly
TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019—Motion The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without trying to work through this process—
to Proceed objection, it is so ordered. $250 billion allocated just to things like
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, we that to help people get testing, per-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
are at an odd spot right now not just as sonal equipment, travel and additional
the previous order, the Senate will re-
a Senate but as a nation. We have mil- expenses, teleworking capabilities that
sume consideration of the motion to
lions of people who are gathered in have to be done for cities and commu-
proceed to H.R. 748, which the clerk
their own homes, trying to figure out nities and Federal entities. All of those
will report.
what is going to happen next, waiting things were put together and agreed
The bill clerk read as follows:
upon.
Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 157, for a virus to die down. We have people
There is a lot of work on the medical
H.R. 748, a bill to amend the Internal Rev- in a hospital who are afraid because
side, rightfully so. Testing makes a
enue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on there is no tested treatment yet. We world of difference on this. Getting ac-
high cost employer-sponsored health cov- have firefighters; we have law enforce-
erage. cess to a vaccine—there are billions of
ment; we have hospital workers all dollars in that particular area. All of
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- with not enough personal protection that is included in this proposal.
jority leader. equipment because they do not know In addition to that, there are direct
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, for who is a citizen without the virus and payments that we had agreed upon to
the information of our colleagues on who is a citizen with the virus. send out, literally, to every American.
both sides, as a result of this proce- The most basic elements of decision We had set up $1,200 for every Amer-
dural obstruction, let me explain where making of how you take care of your ican to receive. That is a stopgap
we are. neighbor have become a distraction method to help folks who are having
By refusal to allow us to take this across the country as Americans have trouble with their utilities or whatever
first step, which would have still given become afraid of a stranger and of a it may be, or extra expenses so they
them plenty of time to negotiate, we friend. This is a huge shift in where we will have something.
have put the Senate in the following are as a country. What this demands is It was not just that for the individ-
position: If any 1 of the 100 of us choos- immediate action. Three weeks ago, uals. It was also unemployment insur-
es to object, we can’t deal with this the Senate and the House passed $8.3 ance. This is something the Repub-
until Friday or Saturday at the ear- billion, and we did it with an over- licans and Democrats had worked on
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
liest. If any 1 of the 100 of us objects to whelming bipartisan support, to add together, to do a plus-up of unemploy-
some of the procedural hurdles we have additional funding for diagnostics, for ment insurance because we have mil-
to overcome as a result of this mind- testing, and for rapid work on a vac- lions of people suddenly unemployed
less obstruction—absolutely mindless cine. All of that work is advancing with no advanced warning at all.
obstruction going on on the other side, quickly. We have human trials on a There is a significant increase of un-
while the public is waiting for us to vaccine happening right now because employment insurance that is built
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