Motion to Proceed to H.R. 748 and COVID–19 Bill Debate — Congressional Record, Senate
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated March 23, 2020, at page S1929, opening with a roll call on a procedural vote that ended yeas 49, nays 46 (Rollcall Vote No. 78), with the names listed by vote. Senators then debate the pending coronavirus relief bill. Mr. McConnell explains that one objection could delay action until the end of the week, and Mr. Hoeven speaks for rural America and farmers. Speakers list what the bill contains, including $1,200 payments to every American, added unemployment insurance, about $250 billion for small businesses and loans for the largest businesses. The page ends with Navy officers named for promotion to rear admiral and a joint resolution introduced by Mr. Murphy.
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Cite this document
“Motion to Proceed to H.R. 748 and COVID–19 Bill Debate — Congressional Record, Senate.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-03-23-crec-2020-03-23-pt1-pgs1929-b3855532df/
, SHA-256 353bc1d0cfbc30ec79cfa687d9d1fba1596126072204d655ddbea2b5953a4b54.Full text
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
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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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S1930 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
into this, about $250 billion additional if they take out a loan in this program, tain their personnel. It also allows in-
that is put into that amount. Small they are able to tell them how to man- dividuals who want to donate to local
businesses—the goal is not to have peo- age the day-to-day operations of their nonprofits to write that off as an in-
ple on unemployment; the goal is to company. centive for folks to be more engaged in
have people employed. A very creative There was a requirement that every that. This is a reasonable proposal on
thing was built into this that I happen company had to do a $15 minimum how to help. It is a bipartisan solution
to be a part of in the design, and that wage for their company. There was a that Senator COONS and I have, but we
was small businesses—a business with requirement they couldn’t do stock can’t get to it and vote on it because
500 or fewer employees—could actually buybacks. By the way, I have no prob- we being held up by some bizarre new
apply for a rapid loan. That loan would lem with prohibiting the use of these thing that is thrown in every couple of
be given to them quickly. If they used loan dollars to use for stock buybacks, hours that is unrelated to COVID–19 or
it for payroll, it would be forgiven en- but that is not the concept. The con- the perpetual statement of: It is only
tirely. If they used it for their lease, it cept was for the next 10 years, you $2 trillion. It is not enough.
would be forgiven entirely. The goal can’t ever do stock buybacks on any- This government is not even set up
was to not have small business go out thing, regardless if it is with these loan to distribute $2 trillion. Let’s get this
of business and to keep employees cur- funds. out the door. Let’s get something
rently connected to their company, not It became this bizarre shift into—oh, started, and let’s keep the battle going
to put them out on unemployment but we have an opportunity to run every for the other things. But for the sake
to keep them employed so they have company in America and tell them how of our nonprofits, for the sake of our
the same system. So when we get to operate, and that became the goal. small businesses, for the sake of people
through this virus, which we hope we Then it became—we need to also add who want to stay employed, the people
do soon—they still have the same job, solar grants. The latest proposal that who are small business and restaurant
they are not on unemployment and just came out today was $600 million owners and coffee shop owners and re-
later looking for a job. They are able to for the National Endowment for the tailers—for the sake of them, why do
keep their same job. We thought that Arts and the National Endowment for we not just go ahead and get this vote
was very significant. It is a brandnew Humanity—$600 million. It is not con- on and stop delaying it, trying to add
strategy for how to do this. It is a nected to anything COVID; it was just one more special interest something
much better idea than just pushing that they need a plus-up of an addi- into it?
people on unemployment—although, tional $600 million for the National En- I move that we get going and get this
we do have great aid for unemploy- dowment for the Arts, National Endow- done. I encourage my colleagues on the
ment. That program is $350 billion. ment for the Humanities. other side to stop trying to renegotiate
As I have already laid out: The other one was that we need to everything we have already negotiated
healthcare, hospital, first responders— have a forgiveness of all debt for the and to stop adding one more thing.
that is the first piece of this—working post office, ever—all post office debt. Let’s make the one more thing a vote.
on testing, vaccines. The second piece That was just released today. With that, I yield the floor.
is direct payments to individuals, di- The list is going on and on. My frus- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
rect payments for unemployment in- tration is that I have people at home ator from North Dakota.
surance, and then assistance for small who are suffering, with small busi- Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, earlier,
businesses to stay in business and help nesses teetering on the edge, about to I was on the floor and talked about
their employees stay connected to go out of business, trying to figure out how important it is—along with my
their business, and then, on top of that, if there is going to be a proposal to fellow colleagues—that we move this
loans for the largest businesses in come out of the Senate while folks are bill and get it done now. I mean, it is
America. It is not a bailout—loans for discussing whether we need to do more very important that we get it done
the largest businesses in America. solar grants and if we are going to take now. We talked about a lot of different
My Democratic colleagues keep say- over corporate boards and require a $15 things, but one of the points I wanted
ing over and over again that this is a minimum wage at the end of this. to make—I work with it so much, as do
bailout for the biggest companies. It is Can we just deal with COVID–19? Can some of my colleagues who are going to
loans for the largest companies be- we just deal with one thing, with join me here—is making sure we are
cause—you know what—they employ a COVID–19, to say, Let’s help businesses also addressing rural America: our
lot of people, and we would like those and workers and families who are farmers, our ranchers, agriculture,
businesses to also stay in business. struggling? That is what I thought we rural America. That is the food supply
All of that seemed to be going well were trying to do with this bill, but everyone depends on every single day.
and negotiating well until the last 36 now suddenly it seems to be everything It is so critically important all the
hours when it suddenly blows up. Here but. Let’s just do that, and then there time but particularly at a time like
is what I heard first: It is not enough. is plenty of time to argue about the this when we are faced with a pandemic
It is $2 trillion. It is $2 trillion. It is other issues. We can do those in the fu- that we keep that food supply working
suddenly: Well, it is not enough. We ture. We will have the debate on solar and moving—the whole food chain—all
need to plus this up to be even bigger. panels, I promise, but let’s deal with the way from the farmer and rancher,
And then suddenly it has become this COVID–19 and the families and individ- all the way up to the consumer.
whole transition into the most random uals who are struggling and stop hold- As a result of what our farmers and
of things: Well, if a corporation gets a ing everything up, trying to add one ranchers do, every single American
loan from the Federal Government, more thing in to say: It is a really big benefits from the lowest cost, highest
then someone here in Washington, DC, bill. I am going to try to get my one quality food supply in the history of
should determine how that corporation piece. the world, and they can count on it.
is run. We should have a member on One thing we worked on in a bipar- They can count on it.
their board or a union representative tisan way—Senator COONS and I—was As we pass this phase 3 bill, which is
on their board. We should have some this one area of not-for-profits. The now, I think, about $1.8 trillion, we
kind of stake in their board to do that. not-for-profits are part of our social cannot leave the farmers and ranchers
This was my favorite one. We should be safety net. Our communities are put of America out of the bill. It is that
able to tell the board, if they are con- together by our families, and the peo- simple. Every single American depends
sidering layoffs, someone here in DC ple who walk alongside our families are on them every single day—and not just
should be able to go to the company, local nonprofits. When those can’t Americans but people around the globe.
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evaluate the rest of their portfolio and meet the needs, then government steps It is so important that we include agri-
tell them other ways they can do their in to meet the needs. Our nonprofits culture in this bill. That is what we
business besides laying people off. Are are teetering on the edge right now. have worked to do. We have worked to
you kidding me? We are now going to This bill allows the nonprofits to be a make sure there is a provision in there
create a whole new Federal bureauc- part of this whole focus on small busi- so whether it is our cattle producers or
racy that goes to every company, and nesses being able to get a loan and sus- whether it is our farmers raising crops
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1931
across this great Nation, they can con- recover from an economic challenge. healthcare. These are very small busi-
tinue to do what they do every day on Certainly, our cattlemen and our live- nesses. Many are sole practitioners,
behalf of all Americans. stock producers, our farmers and and they employ just a handful of peo-
I talked about that a little bit ear- ranchers, recognize that we have seen ple.
lier, but some of my colleagues want to instance after instance in which farm- This bill will help them. Yet it is sty-
join in, emphasizing how critically im- ers are going out of business. I would mied. I would say that even if you are
portant it is that our farmers and put on top of this that, since 2013, the not a healthcare provider, this bill is
ranchers and rural America are part of farm income in Kansas is down 50 per- important to every small business in
this legislation. You see on television cent. Kansas. It is important to the business,
the cities every day and what is going You add this crisis to the challenge, not for the business’s sake but for the
on in the cities. and many of my farmers and ranchers people who work for that business. We
In New York or San Francisco or may not—probably will not—survive want that sole proprietor. We want
wherever it may be, we get it. There this crisis. that business that employs 5, 10, 50 peo-
are a lot of people there, and they are We are asking the Secretary of Agri- ple.
close together. It is a huge challenge. culture to come to our aid. What we A lot of small manufacturers in Kan-
Yet the food, the sustenance—the discovered is that the Commodity sas produce agriculture equipment.
food, fuel, and fiber—they get every Credit Corporation, or the CCC, needed They are on the cusp of being put out
day comes from the heartland. It to be replenished. Money had been of business, and what is so dramatic in
comes from the rural areas. It doesn’t spent from the CCC. We proposed in rural America is, if we lose a business,
just come from the grocery store. It this bill that is being debated now that the chances of reviving it in the future
comes from rural America, and we have the CCC be replenished—that $20 bil- disappears.
to be there for them and keep them lion be restored to the Commodity Almost all of our businesses in small
going so that they can supply people Credit Corporation. towns across Kansas and around the
across this Nation in communities We were told by our Democrat col- Nation are hanging on already by a
large and small. leagues that they wanted to make cer- thread. This is the factor now that may
I would like to turn to my good tain the money couldn’t just be spent put them out of business—is likely to
friend, the Senator from the State of on the livestock side. So the provision put them out of business—and the
Kansas. Clearly, it is a State known as in this bill, which is a bipartisan agree- chances of them coming back into
part of the breadbasket of this Nation. ment, shows there is certainly agree- business when this is over are virtually
I would ask that the good Senator from ment on the side of all of us that we none.
Kansas be allowed to make some com- care about farmers as well as ranchers. Our businesses are run by small fami-
ments. We changed the language to make cer- lies. They are run by families, by indi-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tain the Secretary of Agriculture used viduals, by people who often run a busi-
ator from Kansas. CCC funds not only for livestock pro- ness for the sole purpose of making cer-
Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I appre- ducers but also for the cultivation side, tain their community has a business.
ciate the leadership of my colleagues or the crop side, of agriculture. We can linger no longer and expect
and, particularly today, Senator Incidentally, my colleagues on the that it will get better if we don’t take
HOEVEN, on his efforts. He chairs the Democrat side asked that their names action to help them preserve their
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agri- be removed from the letter. I don’t un- business and the people who work for
culture and Rural Development. derstand what happened in a manner of them. We need to do it now, not later.
We are joined here by the Senator just a day or two, in which they de- I yield to the Senator from North Da-
from Nebraska, Senator FISCHER, and cided they were not interested in agri- kota.
the chairman of the Agriculture Com- culture producers—livestock producers, Mr. HOEVEN. I would like to thank
mittee, my colleague from Kansas, to in particular. Then, within the last the Senator from Kansas for his re-
highlight something that is particu- couple of days, we now learned that the marks and his strong work on behalf
larly going to be absent from this legis- Democrats—I am not in the room. So I of, not just the livestock industry and,
lation. can’t verify this. But I am told by of course, Kansas, which, obviously,
Earlier this month, I asked Secretary those who presumably know that has a huge role in the cattle industry,
Perdue in a letter in which I was joined Democrats are opposed to this provi- but for all of agriculture. You are al-
by many of my colleagues—both Re- sion being included in the bill at all. ways there, and I deeply appreciate it.
publicans and Democrats—to look for a We cannot forget livestock producers Before I recognize our next colleague,
way to be helpful, particularly to live- and agriculture as we try to deal with I do want to make a little change in
stock producers. The men and women the economic consequences of COVID– the order here. If I could, I would like
who raise cattle and who feed cattle 19. It is a huge challenge. I would say to recognize our colleague from Michi-
are the backbone of the ag economy to my Democrat colleagues—those who gan who is the ranking member on the
and are certainly a huge and critical signed the letter and others who vis- Ag Committee. She had some thoughts
component of how we earn a living in ited with me and my colleagues about she wanted to interject. I would be
Kansas. trying to solve this problem—that I willing to defer to her.
Both Republicans and Democrats don’t know what is going on in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
signed the letter asking that Secretary room that I am not a part of, but we ator from Michigan.
Perdue take steps. The reason this is need to make certain that the end re- Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I
necessary, at least according to Kansas sult is where we started, which is tak- wanted to share some thoughts, and I
State University research, is that since ing care of those who produce the food appreciate this discussion, obviously.
the arrival of corona, since January, $8 and fiber of our Nation. As you know, Senator ROBERTS and I
to $9 billion in lost income has oc- While I have the floor, let me point have basically coauthored the last two
curred for livestock producers in this out the challenges of rural America farm bills, and we all care deeply about
country. That is a huge and significant and why it is so important to get this rural America. I grew up in rural
amount of money and one that is hard done today, now. America. We have to get things done
to recover from. Community hospitals. There are sig- that are going to help small towns in
The chairman of the Appropriations nificant resources in this bill to try to rural America. The distinguished Sen-
Subcommittee, Senator HOEVEN, indi- keep the doors of our hospitals open, to ator from North Dakota and I have
cated about the importance of rural keep our physicians practicing medi- been talking about what we need to be
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America. This is absolutely about feed- cine, and to keep the pharmacy on doing in a number of ways.
ing not only the rest of our country but Main Street. They are in this bill. I just wanted to indicate that, when
the globe in its entirety. The dentist is a pretty important we talk about the needs that have been
Before I return to this conversation person in a small town in Kansas—and addressed through the market facilita-
about agriculture, I would highlight the optometrist. They are all a huge tion with payments and so on, I think
how difficult it is in rural America to component in how we deliver we have a joint interest in making sure
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S1932 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
all of agriculture that has been hurt want to say that the cattle industry ily ranchers and family farmers, and
will be benefited by this. has lost between $7 and $9 billion over we asked them what is going on. The
I understand the concerns about live- the last 2 months. I know the cattle in- Senator from North Dakota talked
stock. About half the cash receipts of dustry is important in the Presiding about the losses—the extreme losses—
the country are what we broadly call Officer’s State. The cattle industry lost that we are looking at. When I talk
specialty crops. I can tell you that as between $7 and $9 billion the last 2 about farmers and ranchers, I am talk-
the No. 1 producer of tart cherries in months. That is why this is very ur- ing about family farmers and family
the country—maybe the world—we gent, and we need to act. ranchers and how people are looking at
have been hit so very hard by unfair I turn to the Senator from Nebraska their families, their neighbors, and
practices with Turkey that we could for her comments. their communities. The coronavirus is
lose the industry. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- adding another dimension to an al-
We have received no help so far from ator from Nebraska. ready battered agriculture economy.
the CCC. If we are going to move for- Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I wish This disease has been driving down
ward, I have supported and will con- to thank my colleague from North Da- crop and livestock prices. Therefore, I
tinue to support doing things we need kota for really being a leader and rec- am adamant that, in this bill, we have
to do for farmers, but we have to recog- ognizing the needs that we have across to provide relief to address that.
nize all of the needs. I am certainly rural America, the needs that we are As for my colleague from North Da-
willing to work with you on that be- facing in the heartland for farmers, kota, who has led on this and come up
cause that has to happen. ranchers, rural communities, and rural with a solution that will help families,
I would finally say this. On the one hospitals. neighborhoods, communities, and my
end, we have our farmers. On the other When we are looking at this pan- State, I thank him, for we have seen ag
end, we have all of us who eat. We have demic and the effects it has all across futures that have been dropping since
a lot of folks in between who think the this country, we need to be cognizant February. Prices that have been offered
food comes from the grocery store—a of the fact that we are a very diverse for ranchers’ cattle have been drop-
lot of kids. One of the reasons I support nation. We are a nation of condensed ping. Ethanol plants are starting to
urban areas, and we are a nation with idle, and they are starting to close
having school gardens is for children to
extreme vastness. down across the country. There is a lot
understand that there actually is a lot
I happen to live in a county that is in of unsold grain that is sitting out in
of hard work involved and food comes the middle of cattle country here in
from our farmers. the countryside or that is in farm stor-
the United States, where we have less age right now.
Part of all of this, when we look at
than one person per square mile and As for the cattle—and I can speak to
this large package, is that I know there
there are over 6,000 square miles in my this—we have seen large volumes of ne-
is concern about not leaving farmers county. We understand what being gotiated cattle being procured at lower
out, but we can’t leave out people who rural means. We understand the dif- prices. We have seen a sharply rising
are at this point struggling to eat, as ferences that exist, not just within the boxed beef market both in volume and
well. State of Nebraska but that exist here in price. As of last Thursday, cattle
We have done a SNAP increase in in this country. We believe that diver- volume at live auctions declined by 75
every other crisis. In every other crisis, sity needs to be recognized when we are percent, which is due to the folks who
we had a temporary increase in SNAP talking about providing relief to fami- are practicing social distancing. That,
funds. We desperately need to do that lies, relief to small businesses, and re- in turn, has caused a $10 to $15 drop in
as well. We know that one of the best covery. the market price.
economic stimuli is to provide people First, we have to get to the relief. We Feeder cattle sales have slowed down.
with food assistance, who immediately can’t get on this bill right now. What I If you drive around counties in my
have to spend that at the grocery hear from my constituents, and I know State, where we see a lot of fed cattle,
store. Our grocery store owners, large all of you do—it doesn’t matter if you you will see empty pens. Feeders are
and small, are challenged and are going are a Republican or a Democrat. I getting hit twice and, arguably, the
to be challenged. This all goes right know all of you are hearing from your hardest. Suppliers, which include eth-
back to the farmers. constituents about how ridiculous we anol plants, are telling feeders that
I thank you for yielding some time. I look because we can’t get on a bill for they have, maybe, 1 to 2 weeks max in
want to say that there are many of us political reasons. which they can provide feed to them,
on both sides of the aisle who certainly I hope that, as we move forward, we and then those family farms are going
care deeply about agriculture. We had are able to provide relief to families. to be in trouble because those ethanol
the largest vote, Mr. Chairman, and 87 People are in need. People are hurting. plants are going to idle or they are
of 100 Senators voted for the last farm People are scared. And we are here going to shut down, which is going to
bill. I think every Democrat did. We talking—which is a good thing, if we cause feeders to worry about supply.
want to make sure we are supporting come to a positive outcome—but we The panic buying that we are seeing
our farmers. don’t have much time. We have small in the news can be correlated back to
We want to make sure that families businesses across this country that are that high volume of beef that is being
are lifted up who are struggling. I am hurting. sold. We can see packers that are sell-
getting calls from churches and food I have heard from my dentist. I have ing large volumes of beef with out-
banks and those who are desperately heard from my neighbors who are very standing consumer demand. As a cattle
concerned about families right now. We concerned about what is going on and rancher, you want to see that con-
can’t leave our families behind either. whether they are going to be able to sumer demand but not in these times
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- provide for their employees, their fami- that are so uncertain. We have had
ator from North Dakota. lies and have a business to come back packers communicate that they are
Mr. HOEVEN. I would like to thank to. going to continue to ramp up produc-
the Senator from Michigan. There is no Yet, when you talk about livestock, I tion. We are grateful for that, and it is
question that she has been a strong ad- think Nebraskans have a good under- needed to meet that high demand.
vocate for agriculture. I appreciate standing of that because livestock is Beef sales are increasing, as are
that and her willingness to work on the economic engine in the State of Ne- boxed beef prices, and producers need
this. It is imperative that we include braska. It is the biggest revenue pro- to be able to share in the price gains of
our farmers and ranchers in this pack- vider in agriculture in the State of Ne- this unexpected surge in demand. In re-
age. I look forward to working with braska. It is a part of that ag economy ality, the opposite has been happening.
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you. We do need to get to something we that drives our State’s economy, which I have been working with my col-
can approve and include in the pack- is why working on provisions that are leagues on measures that are in the
age. going to help producers will help every CARES Act that will provide some re-
Thank you for your comments. single person in my State. lief to people in my State and across
I turn to my colleague from Ne- My office reached out to numbers of the heartland who are working to keep
braska. By way of turning to her, I my friends and neighbors who are fam- the world fed during this pandemic.
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1933
The provision that we have in this moves the needle a lot. The emergency I say that for this reason: The provi-
current version of the bill will help to supplemental appropriations portion— sion that we have put in here helps all
provide relief to cow-calf producers and division B of the phase 3 coronavirus of ag. It is designed for all of agri-
feeders through the Commodity Credit legislation—provides that critical sup- culture. Certainly, it is absolutely
Corporation, the CCC, which we have port for American farmers and ranch- vital for our cattle ranchers to help
talked about, so we can have that in- ers who are truly being impacted by them in their working with the USDA,
crease so that livestock—beef, pork, this virus. It is an important provision but it is for all of these other crops,
poultry—can be included, which can that the Democrats seem to oppose but too, across this great country, and
also assist other commodities. This that is just a no-brainer for me. there is incredible diversity in agri-
provision is needed. These dollars are Firstly, it reimburses the USDA’s culture. What we have tried to do here
the vehicle that we can use to help our CCC that we have referred to, which is is to make sure we have something
producers get the relief they need dur- the Commodity Credit Corporation, in that enables our Department of Agri-
ing these tough times. order to prevent any delays in program culture and this body to help all of our
There are so many times I hear from funding that is vital to U.S. agri- producers. Without this, we are not
my neighbors that we leave agriculture culture. able to do that, and that is why it is so
out all the time; that we don’t think The second thing it does is to tempo- vital that it is part of this package.
about rural America. We do. We always rarily raise the CCC’s borrowing au- With that, I turn to our committee
do. Yet to listen to colleagues on the thority to ensure that the USDA has chairman.
other side put off a vote is appalling. the resources it needs to assist pro- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
People are suffering, and people must ducers during this COVID–19 emer- ator from Kansas.
be helped. We need to be here to pro- gency. This is just basic economics. Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I
vide relief and to have a plan for recov- People come to the floor, and they thank the Senator for yielding to me.
talk about all of these programs that As has been aptly pointed out by
ery. We have that. We worked in a bi-
we need to be increasing right now. Senator HOEVEN, who, by the way, does
partisan way to have it. Agriculture
The Democrats want billions for do- an outstanding job as our protector on
must be a part of that.
mestic food programs, but what hap- the all-powerful Senate Appropriations
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
pens when those who are supplying our Committee, we are in a tough place. We
ator from North Dakota.
really are—rural, smalltown America—
Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I thank food go out of business? This is a $1
given the rural healthcare delivery sys-
the Senator from Nebraska for her very trillion-plus package, and as the dear
tem with regard to this virus.
powerful and heartfelt comments. I Senator from Nebraska stated, we can- I thank Senator FISCHER, who is in
have to say she knows of what she not leave our farmers and ranchers the business and always does a good job
speaks. In her coming from Nebraska out—the backbone of rural America. of telling the story of the beef producer
and being in agriculture, nobody sees it I look at the Democrats’ bill, and
and of always trying to tell me that
out there more directly or understands they are calling for the workers first.
Nebraska’s beef is more tender or deli-
more what our farmers and ranchers There is nobody working any harder cious than the beef in Kansas, but that
are going through than she does. I real- right now to feed this country or to is her right.
ly do appreciate her comments. I think feed those medical workers who are As Senator HYDE-SMITH has just
she brings home very clearly how we being pushed beyond restraints to pointed out and what we have been try-
need to make sure that our farmers which they should never have to be ing to point out—and Senator STABE-
and ranchers are part of this important pushed but who are willing to step up NOW, who just recently spoke on the
effort as we seek to battle this pan- because they are within the medical floor—we on the Ag Committee like to
demic. Again, I can’t thank her enough community that is willing to take care say we are the least partisan com-
for her heartfelt comments. of these patients. Every small business mittee in the Congress. I think that
I turn now to our colleague from the has employees, and they are going to was evident by the time we passed the
State of Mississippi for her comments. have to be fed. We have to ensure that farm bill. It took us a year to do it—a
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- we continue to have the safest food little over that—but we got 87 votes. It
ator from Mississippi. supply—and cheapest, I might add—of was truly bipartisan. I deeply regret
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, as anywhere in the entire world. that we have reached a point here in
we continue to navigate this unprece- I appreciate the work of Chairman the Senate where that is not the case
dented position we find ourselves in be- HOEVEN and others of the Appropria- with regard to the whole Senate.
cause of this extremely contagious tions Subcommittee on Agriculture for If you talk to any agriculture com-
virus, I want to bring one issue to the including this in this bill—this provi- modity group, any farm organization,
attention of all of my colleagues. sion that is very vital. It has to remain or just up and down Main Street
Anyone who has been on social media in there. throughout Kansas—as a matter of
has seen the empty shelves in the gro- I just want to stress the importance fact, I talked to the chamber of com-
cery stores throughout the country. of making sure the farmers and ranch- merce, Senator MORAN, who just gave
The last shortage we need right now is ers can continue to do what they were some very pertinent comments to our
with our American farmers. We are born to do, including those wonderful situation out in Kansas, about the sec-
going to be able to feed this country farmers and ranchers in the State of ond question in: Chairman PAT, what
but only if we keep the farmers in busi- Mississippi and throughout this coun- about our rural areas?
ness. With virtually every restaurant try, and that is to produce our ag prod- Well, at that time, we were having
in this country now being on shutdown, ucts in order to make sure this country trouble with regard to the testing, and
we have never found ourselves here. will continue to sustain itself. some rural hospitals were having to
They are not ordering the food they The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- drive a great deal of miles to Topeka.
normally order because they are on ator from North Dakota. That was the only source. That
shutdown. We are here, in the city of Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I thank stopped. In other words, it hasn’t
Washington, DC, and have every res- the Senator from Mississippi, who un- stopped, it has gotten a heck of a lot
taurant closed except for a few for derstands agriculture, is a strong advo- better, with Quest and LabCorp and
takeout, which is one market our farm- cate for agriculture, and recognizes other folks who are now making these
ers have just lost with our being in the how critically important it is. tests available.
position that we are in. We don’t need At this point, I turn to our chairman But I want to get back to agri-
to be. We have to make sure our food of the Ag Committee. He is somebody culture, and the Senator from North
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production continues. who has been around agriculture for a Dakota is exactly right—we have been
As the former agriculture commis- long, long time. He has worked on hit pretty hard. Two thousand thirteen
sioner of the wonderful State of Mis- many, many farm bills, and whether it was the last time we had our prices
sissippi, I can speak to this firsthand. is livestock or crops or specialty above the cost of production, and that
When this market slows down, it crops—across the board—he under- involves everybody involved in agri-
doesn’t move the needle a little bit; it stands. culture, along with Senator THUNE.
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S1934 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
I am going to try to wind this down ment increase for these folks who are we have to take a look at that, and on
here pretty quick so we can get to you, using telemedicine. the boards of these corporations, we
Coop, and I thank you for your help, So it is not like we haven’t put to- want to investigate whether they are
and I thank you for your overview of gether something we think will be ap- truly diverse, et cetera, et cetera, and
what is in this bill, what isn’t in this proved. We could do more. We could do something about the Green New Deal.
bill, and why on Earth we can’t get to more, and the Senator from West Vir- That is not pertinent to this particular
it. ginia has certainly indicated a strong situation, to say the least.
So I think probably the best thing to interest in doing that. My point is, we Then when you said an objection,
do for our beef industry is to continue could do that if we would just vote to here is what I am worried about: We
to work with our Secretary of Agri- get on the bill, and we would have 30 had the Democratic leader, whom I
culture, Sonny Perdue. If there is any- hours. I know that Senator MANCHIN have known from his House days—we
body who is more knowledgeable about and Senator ROBERTS, working to- used to play basketball together, for
what we are facing, I don’t know who it gether, could accomplish darn near ev- goodness’ sake, both of us very slow.
is. And I think possibly there could be erything. What I was doing on the court at my
a CCC payment that would help us out I see the Senator rising. I am not age, I have no idea. My job was to set
in the beef industry in particular be- quite through. blind-side picks on Democrats, which I
cause that is where we are really in Mr. MANCHIN. Would the gentleman enjoy, one of whom was CHUCK SCHU-
trouble. But you could go down every yield? MER.
commodity, and you would see the Mr. ROBERTS. Yes, if you have to. But here we have the Democratic
same thing. People from all of their or- You are my distinguished friend. leader—SUSAN COLLINS, sitting right
ganizations are coming forward to all Mr. MANCHIN. Well, truly, we are here, stood up to be recognized, and
of us on the Ag Committee and saying: friends, and there is not a person over there were three objections to her even
Why can’t you help? there I don’t consider my dear friend. A talking? That is going back to the days
I am going to leave that subject. I lot of times, that is used in a very col- we really don’t want to go back to.
think we can work on that. I think we loquial way, but I mean it. This is not the Senate I came to 24
can get some more help from CCC, and The Senator from Nebraska, let me— years ago or, for that matter, the
that would be a direct payment that from Kansas—let me just say this. Ex- House 16 years ago or as a staff direc-
would be immediate and that could be cuse me for pronouncing the wrong tor for 12 before that and 2 before that
of help to people who are really in State here. You don’t have a problem in the Senate. I mean, I have been
trouble. on this side with the 30-hour wait. That around here for quite a while. And
I want to say something else with re- has never been. We very seldom object these are not the worst of times. I
gard to Senator MANCHIN, who is sit- on anything. That is not where the mean, Washington was on fire when we
ting over here by his lonesome on the problem comes from. So everyone had the horrible assassination of MLK.
other side of the aisle. I really like this thinking that we are going to make ev- Then we went through Watergate, and
guy. We are good friends. We hit it off erybody stay here for 30 hours—that is then we went through the Vietnam
right from the first. Both of us want not going to happen from the Demo- war. Actually, it was the Vietnam war
the same thing. In particular, his com- crats objecting. We will not. There is before Watergate. And that tore the
ments this morning were about the not a person I have spoken to who is country apart. Here in this Senate, we
rural healthcare delivery system in going to stop it. What they want to do were able to come together to try to
West Virginia going through the same is, in good faith, get to the bill. Once reach bipartisan agreement.
tribulation that we are going through we get to that bill—and in the mean- I am telling you that this blanket of
nationwide with regard to our rural time, they said: Well, let’s get on the comity and respect is pretty thread-
areas. bill. Can’t we at least get on it and bare right now. We are right there—for
I want to point out that there is $75 work on it? Usually we don’t move to a lot of reasons. I could go back to the
billion in this bill for our rural hos- that unless there is good faith in the Kavanaugh hearings or the impeach-
pitals to pay doctors and nurses who beginning. Right now, there is very lit- ment hearings, where one of the House
are dealing with the virus. Well, we all tle good faith there from the top end of Members—I was sitting right here, he
are doing that. the food chain. That is the sad scenario was talking right here, looking right at
It lifts the 2-percent sequester that we are in. me, and said: You are on trial, and if
happens all the time. You have to go But I can assure you, as soon as there you do not vote for this, it is treach-
back to 2013, and under the Budget is an agreement, we are moving, unless ery. I said: What? Me? I mean, what
Control Act that was passed at that somebody on your side would object. was that all about?
particular time—not in force but at There are no objections on this side. So At that time, by the way, we could
least was—what is the word for it? Re- I would hope that you all you would have taken first steps with regard to
ferring to President Obama, he would not use that 30-hour obstruction be- this virus.
always be under the Budget Control cause it is not here. I know that the assistant or the dep-
Act, finding the necessity that—no I will have a chance to speak about uty leader there on your side said: Ev-
matter what we got from the CMS, the this more, but I just thank you because erybody take a deep breath. We don’t
Centers for Medicare Services, which is I know rural—your State is rural, my want to take a deep breath anywhere
lovingly called in our rural areas ‘‘It’s State is rural, and it is the same. These now. But I will tell you that I hope we
a Mess’’—not under Seema Verma, people are out there, and they are de- can come together on this and see if we
though. I think she is doing a good job. pending on us, and we have to get to- can’t reach some agreement. Let’s get
But every time we would convince CMS gether here as Americans. on the bill. We have got 30 hours to do
to raise the Medicare reimbursement Mr. ROBERTS. I appreciate your it.
to critical access hospitals, of which we comments. I guess it is OK to call you The Senator from West Virginia said
have over 80 in Kansas, there was, Joe. that if we could just come to an agree-
again, that 2-percent cut. So we waived Mr. MANCHIN. Please. ment—I suppose he is meaning beyond
that cut for the first time since 2013. Mr. ROBERTS. And I appreciate your those two doors. We have been meeting
In addition, let me say that there is friendship. along and along and along.
special funding called for by all of the You did mention something else I would ask the Senator, the distin-
community healthcare centers and about, there is no objection on your guished Senator who is sitting right
rural health centers—of which I know side. Well, about 2 hours ago, when we down here, who is about ready to do a
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there are a lot in West Virginia, as got this whirlwind or this dustup going speech, how many workshops have we
there well are in Kansas—for telemedi- again, when our distinguished leader had? I thought there were three. I
cine. That was something back in the pointed out that we have a good bill, guess there are five. But each one of
day that we couldn’t even have and it is a bipartisan bill, and now we them worked with our Democratic
thought would be feasible, but it is are talking about the footprint that counterparts, and they got—I mean,
now. There is a 15-percent reimburse- the airlines—the carbon footprint, that they produced a bipartisan agreement.
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1935
I really don’t understand why we Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I thank I spoke with the Secretary of Agri-
can’t get to at least vote for cloture, my colleague from North Dakota for culture a couple of days ago and con-
and then we have 30 hours to—and his great leadership on this issue and veyed to him the incredible amount of
maybe we could cut back that 30 hours. all over here. hardship and economic pain that is
I would hope that is the case if we fi- Senator ROBERTS—the longtime being created across the farm belt
nally come to an agreement. But with chairman of the Senate Ag Committee these days, particularly with our cattle
some of the things that I have heard and before that, the House Ag Com- ranchers, and the pain they are feeling
that you want put in this bill, A, they mittee—was very instrumental in our as a result of these declining prices and
don’t fit, and two, they are counter- getting a farm bill in late 2018—a farm what it might mean to their oper-
productive. bill which provides a safety net and ations.
Let me just say this. There is a say- provides a little bit of stability in agri- So I would simply say, in supporting
ing out in Dodge City, KS: There is a culture, which, as he pointed out, has all of my colleagues in what they said
lot of cactus in the world; you don’t been just in the tank literally since today, that we don’t know the full im-
have to sit on every one of them. And 2013. pact of this outbreak across the agri-
it appears to me that is what we are Our producers, farmers, and ranchers cultural industry, but we do know this:
doing. across the country and in South Da- Our producers are doing their part to
I have a nice square saying that is in kota have been operating with negative keep the grocery shelves stocked and
an 8-by-10 right next to my desk, and it cash flows, eating into their equity,
food on our tables, and we need to do
is a quote from Lyndon Baines John- and trying to keep their operations
our part in providing the resources nec-
viable, and that was before COVID–19.
son: ‘‘Sometimes you just have to hun- essary to support them, which is why it
Now we have COVID–19, and we saw the
ker down like a jackass in a hailstorm is so important for many of the reasons
bottom fall out of the cattle market in
and just take it.’’ Well, I am tired of we talked about earlier today to get on
this country.
just taking it. I am tired of the par- I don’t have to tell the Presiding Of- this legislation and get it moving.
tisanship. I am tired of all of this work ficer that agriculture is important. It The national economy is melting
that we have put together to address is the lifeblood of our economy in down, and, of course, as I said, in the
what everybody understands is a na- South Dakota. It is our No. 1 industry. economy out in farm country, it was
tional pandemic—a world pandemic— But that ripple effect is felt all across happening well before the national
and here we are, messing around, try- the country. It is our food supply. Sen- economy. But if we don’t do something
ing to say: Oh, no, we can’t vote for ator HOEVEN talked earlier today about to stop the bleeding and do it soon,
cloture and address some of these the importance of ensuring that we there is going to be a whole world of
things with the now five working maintain a safe, quality, predictable, hurt. Let’s get this bill across the fin-
groups who have worked together to and affordable food supply for people in ish line. We need help from our Demo-
produce a product. That is wrong. That this country, particularly when people cratic colleagues to do that.
is really wrong. are concerned in a time of crisis. We The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
So I plead with my colleagues. I don’t need to maintain that food supply. So ator from West Virginia.
do this. I don’t come down to the floor I want to thank him and all of our col- Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I want
and make partisan speeches. You do leagues here from farm country for to thank all of my colleagues, who
that to introduce an amendment; half working together to provide some as- truly are all my friends, who are here
of your folks won’t vote for it. The sistance in this particular bill, which expressing their concerns. I think we
same thing the other way around. would hopefully give some relief for are all on the same side. I think that
When they say ‘‘Senator Roberts,’’ I those who are out there, day in and day for every one of you and me and every-
hope they remember that I am chair- out, grinding it out to make sure we body within the House and Senate, we
man of the Ag Committee, and I work have the food and fiber to keep this have this disease in our States and we
very well with Senator STABENOW, and country going and, for that matter, to have it in our neighborhoods and back-
we produced a great farm bill. So I feed the world. yards. This COVID–19 doesn’t know
don’t like doing this. But I have to Unfortunately, again, Senate Demo- whether you are a Democrat, a Repub-
warn my colleagues, this so-called crats don’t seem willing to do that. I lican, or an Independent. People are
blanket of comity that we always have was encouraged to hear just a little bit scared right now.
here in the Senate is pretty thread- ago from my friend from West Virginia, We have States that are sheltering in
bare. I hope we can get past this, and I who is an advocate for agriculture. We place. My State just announced that at
hope we can vote to get to cloture and also had the ranking member of the Ag 12 or 1 p.m. today, they are going to
then get to a bill as soon as we can. Committee down here earlier, saying shelter in place, and I have a very vul-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- she is willing to work with us. But, un- nerable population I am concerned
ator from North Dakota. fortunately, we don’t have time to about. I have a very vulnerable
Mr. HOEVEN. I want to thank the waste. We don’t have time to waste. healthcare system I am very much con-
senior Senator from Kansas for his This isn’t something that can be put cerned about, because if they are not
comments and for his long service on off to another day. We have producers able to provide the services we are
behalf of agriculture, and I want to that, if we don’t do something, we are going to need and that we need now,
thank all of my colleagues who have going to leave them behind, and we then, Good Lord, help us all. We will be
spoken here. These are people who are need our Democratic colleagues to step in trouble then. We are going to pro-
working every day on behalf of our up and help get this bill passed. tect them, and that is what we are
farmers and ranchers and on ag and on As Senator HOEVEN mentioned, the fighting for.
the Agriculture Committee. bill would provide $30 billion to replen- I know they are talking about this:
We fashioned something here that ish the Commodity Credit Corporation, Why are the Democrats stalling just to
works for agriculture. Our message is and it has a temporary funding in- get on the bill? If we just got on the
very simple: We need to make sure our crease of an additional $20 billion in bill, everything would be fine.
farmers and ranchers are included in CCC funding to address the impact of How can we? For people to under-
this bill, and we need our colleagues the outbreak of COVID–19. This fund- stand how this process works, we usu-
across the aisle to work with us to ing would allow the Department of Ag- ally have an agreement before we get
make sure it is in the bill, and we need riculture to quickly get assistance to on a vote to pass something. If there is
to get this bill passed now. farmers and ranchers throughout not an agreement, then, there is polit-
With that, I would like to turn to our America who are facing market vola- ical posturing. That is what is hap-
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assistant majority leader—also from ag tility and declining pricing in the wake pening. The political posturing is going
country—for concluding remarks. I ap- of the COVID–19 pandemic. Farmers on because they know there is a dif-
preciate the patience of our colleague and ranchers, I might add, as I already ference. So where can the pressure be
from West Virginia. mentioned, were already dealing with a put?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- weak ag economy well before this I have been here for 10 years, and I
jority whip. emergency hit. have never seen the place work at all.
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S1936 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
So I appreciate those of you who give it. I know the Secretary of Treasury is cause they have very little opportunity
me some historical values on how it in there working on it. They are all sit- to do anything here. There is too much
used to work. I wish it did. I always ting there working on it. Why would power in the two basic leaderships.
thought that when there was good we have a vote when we knew we didn’t This much power should not be in so
faith, whether I agreed or not, you have an agreement? But we are getting few people. All of us should be in-
could have a chance to amend the bill close to one, and if we get an agree- volved.
or change the bill or do something to ment, I will state that every Democrat I believe—and I have said this—that
it. We don’t get that chance here. So if will vote to suspend the rules, and we we all have that better angel inside of
we start moving before we have an will move immediately, unless there is us. I hope you let her fly. I hope you let
agreement, then there is going to be no an objection from my friends on the her fly today. She needs to get out and
conciliatory movement toward some- Republican side. go a little bit. We need her. We need
thing to then make it happen. That is what we are talking about. the better angels in all of us to start
Where are we at right now? Let me Please, let’s quit blaming each other. looking out and taking care of each
state something with regard to the $500 People are depending in my State on other. There are a lot of people hurting
billion in that bill. I don’t know wheth- our taking care of healthcare workers, and a lot of people with uncertainty
er it is $1.3 trillion or $2 trillion, but I taking care of people laid off and who right now, and I want to make sure
know it is moving up rapidly. But in don’t have a paycheck through no fault that we fix it. I will stay here all day
$500 billion of it that we can basically of their own. Businesses have had to and all night to make sure it gets
identify, this is where I have had some close through no fault of their own. fixed—whatever it takes.
problems in what I understand. Those are the people on the frontlines. With that, I ask all of my good
First of all, there is no strong lan- I have people scared and sheltered in friends—and I mean that, all my good
guage that prohibits the stock place right now, an elderly population. friends—let’s work together for the
buybacks. I know they keep saying cor- So there are things we have agreed sake of this great country.
porate bailouts. OK, forget about the on. I heard Senator LANKFORD from I yield the floor.
bailouts, but you tell me if this is not Oklahoma, who was speaking on the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
pretty favorably slanted to one side. things that I agree on 1,000 percent ator from Wyoming.
There is no strong language to prohibit with him. Why can’t we be on that? If Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I just
stock buybacks. As written, the we can’t get anything else done, let’s heard my friend and colleague from
buyback limitation can be waived by vote today on the things we can agree West Virginia say there is no reason to
Secretary Mnuchin. Secretary Mnuchin on. Let’s move on the healthcare, take vote today. There are a lot of reasons
can direct funds to whom he sees as care of COVID–19, and take care of the to vote today. There is a country af-
necessary but with very, very little healthcare industry and the workers fected by disease. People are waking up
oversight. and take care of the people who lost anxious, scared, afraid of the disease
There is no restraint on taking the their jobs and businesses. and the economic consequences that
assistance and firing employees at a We are worried about a $500 billion are there. There are a lot of reasons to
later time, as employers only have to payout with very little oversight and vote today.
keep employees ‘‘to the extent pos- transparency. That is truly the prob- Every Member of this Senate needs
sible,’’ which is in the language. These lem in a nutshell, and all we are asking to stand up and be counted, and for the
are the concerns. for, basically, is, Shouldn’t the people Senator from West Virginia to say: I
The bill allows for a 6-month delay and the taxpayers of this country un- wouldn’t be for this, and I don’t know
on releasing the names of businesses. derstand where their money is going where that is coming from—well, just
Tell me why we would put a 6-month and the people who are going to be able read the papers that are coming out of
delay on releasing the names of busi- to use it? Add some transparency and the Democratic House. Just read the
nesses that take advantage and get oversight to it. That is all we ask for, papers of the demands by the Demo-
this economic opportunity. Why and that is all I ask for. crats to muck up the bill that is de-
shouldn’t we be transparent? About all those other things that signed as a rescue operation for the
There is only a 2-year prohibition on have been thrown in, I am not for that, American people. That is where the
increasing executive compensation. We and I think you all know that. I am not problem is. We need to vote today,
have seen what happens when it runs for the green deal, and I think you all again and again and again, until we
amuck. Those are the concerns we know that. I think there has to be an provide the relief, the rescue that the
have. Those are the concerns I have. all-in energy policy approach. I think American people need.
With that, let’s take the measures we we all have to have common sense, and That is why we have a dozen Repub-
agree on. We agree we should be pro- we have to produce affordable, depend- licans on this side ready to speak,
tecting the healthcare industry. We able energy and use everything we standing at podiums ready to speak,
have agreed on $100 billion. We were can—renewables and using fossil fuels and there hasn’t been a single Demo-
way off from that, but, finally, by not in the cleanest possible way. So who is crat on the floor to defend their posi-
agreeing to move on to the bill, it is throwing that stuff in? I have no idea, tion because it is indefensible. That is
now up to $75 billion. I think when we but I can guarantee I wouldn’t vote for where we are.
come out this afternoon, there will be it. But what I will vote for is exactly We have NANCY PELOSI flying back
$100 billion to take care of our hos- what we should agree on and what I from California because she sent the
pitals, our rural and other healthcare think we do agree on. House home a week ago—they are not
systems, so they can survive, making Let’s come together as Americans here—to defeat the work that we have
sure that all of our healthcare pro- and forget about Republicans and done in a bipartisan way, and to say:
viders are protected. These are the Democrats and get this place working Well, all of you have done nice work.
things that we are talking about and again. If we had the amendment proc- Now look at our laundry list of things
the things we have asked for. ess—I was totally opposed when Sen- we are demanding: tax credits for solar
So they start saying: Oh, just get on ator Reid basically kind of shut things panels, wind turbines, a bailout of the
the bill. Yes, just get on the bill. down and we weren’t able to have Postal Service. And when you go
And then what happens? Nothing else amendments. You all were, too. We through this list, there are portions of
happens, because then it is out of our were promised that no matter who the Green New Deal.
jurisdiction, if you will, because we takes over leadership, by golly, the I am a doctor. I have been on the
have little chance to intervene. The system is going to open up, and we are phone with doctors around the country,
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
rules are that, basically, the majority going to have amendments and debates with my colleagues at the Wyoming
has the rule. They can rule, and that is on the floor. And guess what. It got Medical Center. They are working dou-
exactly how it works. So, we are trying worse. It didn’t get better. It got worse. ble time, through the weekend, day and
to get a bill. If you want to know why people are night—the nurses, the doctors, the
There is no need for us to take a vote throwing everything but the kitchen healthcare providers—and they need
today because we are still working on sink into a piece of legislation, it is be- help. They are looking to us for help.
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1937
They need tests, they need masks, they about money in the pockets of people work of the Senate. It is time for ev-
need respirators, and they need hope— who, through no fault of their own, are eryone to stand up and be responsible.
hope that there will be a vaccine, hope finding themselves in a position they Let us get this done. Let us get this
that there will be a treatment. Those have never been in before—ever—where passed. The days for political games
are the things that are in this bill that they can’t go out and knock on the are now behind us.
the Democrats voted to block last door and say: Will you hire me? I am Everyone who is watching should un-
night and the Democrats voted to ready to go to work. derstand the House of Representatives
block again today, and that is only the Whether it is a farmer or a rancher— is not in town. They have been gone for
healthcare component of it. anyone—they can’t do that today be- a week. Only NANCY PELOSI just flew
Our economy cannot be unleashed cause the government says: You may back from California to throw a mon-
again until after we get the healthcare not. You stay home. You might have key wrench into the works, and we
component behind us. But our col- had a good job, a job you love, and you need to get this done.
leagues, our friends, our neighbors, can’t go to it today. Monday—we want We failed the cloture vote last night,
people we know in our home States everyone to work on a Monday but not blocked by the Democrats, and at that
woke up today not being able to go to in America on this Monday. time, we found that one of our col-
work, not being able to know if they So there is a role and responsibility leagues had tested positive for
are going to have a paycheck, not for us to step in and do what the role coronavirus. We failed a cloture vote
being able to pay their bills, not being of government ought to be in this case today, blocked by the Democrats
able to know if they are going to feed of crisis, a crisis caused by both a dis- again, when we learned that the spouse
their families, not being able to know ease and the economy, the govern- of one of our colleagues is hospitalized,
that they are going to get food, if it is ment’s action to shut down the econ- on oxygen, with this same disease that
available, if they could have the money omy. Yet Democrats, one after an- is hitting the entire country.
to pay for it. Yet we are not ready to other, continue to block it. We can litigate the Green New Deal
provide relief. They are not blocking it for things
another day. Americans’ lives and live-
They need it immediately. They that have to do with actually helping
lihoods are at stake. That is the situa-
don’t need it after the Democrats block the American people. It is a wish list—
tion we are in today for the Nation. We
it again and again and again. The Sen- a liberal wish list. It is astonishing
can litigate election reform another
ator from West Virginia said: I don’t that they are delaying direct assist-
day. We can debate diversity on cor-
know why we voted today. ance so they can play to their liberal
porate boards and airline fuel stand-
That is why we voted today, and that left—the extremists, the environ-
ards; we can do all of that another day.
is why we need to keep voting, because mental extremists, the labor special in-
the American people need relief and We can talk about cap and trade an-
terests. We are here trying to fight for
they need it now. the men and women in the street and other day.
This is our duty station, and I am America needs now to know how we,
our hometowns, yet they are fighting
prepared to stay here until we get this as a nation, will survive from the
for the Green New Deal. BERNIE SAND-
done—but to go through this. ERS may have lost to Joe Biden, but
standpoint of our health and our econ-
I talked to a small business owner the Green New Deal of BERNIE SANDERS omy. We need immediate relief. The
who has a restaurant and has been and ELIZABETH WARREN and that entire bill on the floor accomplishes that. We
there for 37 years. She doesn’t know crew is alive and well in the Demo- need to make sure that, when Ameri-
how she is going to make payroll. She cratic cloakroom and is controlling the cans wake up tomorrow, they don’t
never closed the doors except for snow- actions today on the floor of the U.S. have that same fear and trepidation
storms in Wyoming. It is a successful Senate. about the disease, as well as their fami-
restaurant. She doesn’t know how she They want to put up an entire cap- lies’ well-being. We need to take that
is going to pay for the food that was and-trade system for the airline indus- decisive action today. The time for pol-
delivered last week. She doesn’t know try. That is a worthy debate to have, itics is beyond us. We need to vote
how she is going to pay for healthcare. but not on this bill. They want to ex- today, and we need to pass this today.
This bill takes care of so much of that. pand tax credits for wind and for solar I know my colleagues are on the
It was blocked by the Democrats power. That is a debate that is worthy floor. I know Senator PORTMAN is here
today. of being held, but not on this bill after me and Senator COTTON after
We have a good program for small today. That is not going to help one him. We have a dozen who are ready to
businesses. It is really good. It was person who is having problems breath- speak, but I thank you for your indul-
worked on in a bipartisan way, but yet ing to get a respirator that they need. gence.
it is being blocked by the Democrats. That is what is holding this up. I yield the floor.
They blocked even the motion to pro- We know NANCY PELOSI has been The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
ceed to the bill. pushing this extreme environmental ator from Ohio.
Businesses all across the country em- agenda from the moment she cut the Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I
ploy people, regardless of the size. It is deal to remain as Speaker and said to thank my colleague from Wyoming,
the people who need the jobs, the peo- the liberals: I will do what you want if and I think he has made it very clear
ple. A job is part of somebody’s iden- you just allow me to be Speaker again. what is at stake here. We are in a cri-
tity. It is who they are. The people who And, now, through a letter that she has sis. Our economy is in a free fall. The
work realize how important it is to written to the Democrats, she is brag- people we represent and families are
who they are. They feel a sense of pro- ging that she is carrying the flag for suffering. The healthcare system is
ductivity. People I know aren’t looking the Democratic agenda. The Speaker is under tremendous stress.
for a check. They just want a job. They pushing for diversity on corporate I spent the morning on the phone,
want to work. They are ready to boards, for collective bargaining, and talking to Ohioans and small business
produce, and they can’t. Why? Because for election reform. There are pro- owners, people who are out of a job and
a disease has struck America, and the posals here in her proposal—she said: I worried and nervous. We all know
government—not the economy—the am going to go write the bill requiring somebody who has lost a job. We all
government has said ‘‘We are going to early voting and requiring same-day know somebody who has tested posi-
shut down this economy,’’ and the gov- voter registration. Where does that fit tive for this virus. Some of us, includ-
ernment has the responsibility to pro- into a bill to rescue the American peo- ing me, know somebody who has died
vide relief—to rescue those people and ple who, right now, find themselves in from the coronavirus.
to provide immediate relief. Every the throes of a disease that may kill We need to pull together as Repub-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
Democrat came to the floor and voted them and in an economy that has been licans and Democrats, as Americans,
against doing that last night and again shut down? That is why the Democrats and address this crisis. I got to listen
this morning. We need to continue to aren’t on this floor, because what they this afternoon to colleagues of mine on
vote. are doing cannot be defended. the other side of the aisle talk about
This bill is about our healthcare sys- So, I would just say and I would ap- the legislation that is before us, and I
tem. It is about our economy. It is peal to my colleagues: Let us do the have to tell you, it was like they were
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S1938 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
talking about another bill, not the one slow the spread of the coronavirus. All tem because we are going to bring in
that we actually are asking Democrats three of those things are precisely people who are self-employed, people
to allow us to vote on. what is in this legislation. who run the gig economy—something
The one we are asking them to allow Last night, I went through in detail that we should be doing as a matter of
us to vote on is the product of a bipar- and described every detail of how it ad- reform, perhaps, but in this case we
tisan process. The majority leader set dresses that and where the bipartisan have to do it. These people are hurting
up five different task forces. Each task ideas came from. I won’t do that now too. This is unprecedented to provide
force is represented by Republicans and because I see the majority leader on people who are low- and moderate-in-
Democrats. I was in one of them—two the floor, and I want him to have an come Americans the ability to have
Republicans and two Democrats. We opportunity to speak. But I will tell wage replacement through unemploy-
sat down, and we hammered out de- you, those three objectives are in this ment insurance. That has never been
tails. We took Democratic ideas, and legislation—specifically laid out in this done before. That is in this legislation.
they are represented in the legislation. legislation. This is a rescue package. It is to help
This process we have gone through— On the healthcare side, which is so people weather the storm. It is to en-
very different, by the way, from what important, we need more masks; we sure that we have the ability to say to
happened in the House with regard to need more gowns; we need more ven- the people who are calling us and say-
the first bill. We got an $8.3 billion tilators; we need more respirators; and ing ‘‘Please help us’’ that help is on the
healthcare bill. We also had a phase 2 we need to have more testing and a way.
bill, which is about $200 billion, that system to track that. That is in this Are we going to solve every problem
provided free testing and health insur- legislation. There is over $4 billion to in this one bill? No, although $1.8 tril-
ance and healthcare and paid leave. CDC to do exactly that. We need to lion goes a long way toward solving the
Now we have this bill that is $1.8 tril- have some data, some metrics, some problem. But we will be back here
lion—$1.8 trillion. That is about as big measurements to know how we are again. We will be back here to ensure
as our entire domestic discretionary doing and to be able to get out of this that we can fine-tune this legislation.
spending, which we approve here every crisis because, until we deal with the And if we need to react to other chal-
year. Yet Democrats are saying that it healthcare crisis, we will continue to lenges, we have to do that because our
is not enough money. have this failure of our economic sys- constituents need it. This is a crisis.
So the most charitable way to de- tem because we are letting people down But in the meantime, let’s pass this
scribe what the Democrats are asking right now. legislation. It does help small busi-
for now—although Senator BARRASSO Mr. MCCONNELL. Will the Senator nesses and keep people at work. It does
did a good job of laying out some of the yield for a question? protect those workers who lose their
outrageous demands that have come up Mr. PORTMAN. I will yield. job through no fault of their own. It
that have nothing to do with Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, be- does take our healthcare system, which
coronavirus—but the most charitable yond what the Senator is accurately is under such tremendous stress, and
way to say it is that they want more pointing out, they put us in the fol- improve it in every respect to deal with
money. They want more money for lowing procedural position. By refusing this coronavirus, to slow the spread
States. They want more money for hos- to jump over some of these procedural and ensure that we can tell the Amer-
pitals. They want more money for so steps along the way—it would not dis- ican people: Not only are you going to
many things. advantage their negotiating one bit— be safer and healthier if this legislation
Guess what. There is $1.8 trillion in they have put us in a position where passes, but guess what, you have a fair
this bill, including billions of dollars— one Senator 1 of 100—1—could keep us chance of keeping your job and being
hundreds of billions of dollars—for here until Friday or Saturday. able to take care of your family.
those purposes. If we find out in 3 Our constituents are saying to act With that, I yield to my colleague.
weeks, in 6 weeks, or in 2 months we now—as the Senator from Ohio was The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
need to do more, we will. But that is pointing out—minus procedural road- ator from Connecticut.
not an excuse for stopping the progress blocks in a time of national emer- Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, let me
of this legislation now when it is so gency. just make clear what happened over
badly needed. Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, re- the course of the last couple of days,
One of the calls I got this morning claiming my time, that is added to the because I heard many of my colleagues
was from a small business owner. Do absolutely inaccurate descriptions I come down to the floor today and
you know what he said to me? He said have heard from the other side as to claim that this is a bipartisan bill that
the same thing I am sure all of my col- what is in this legislation. is on the floor of the U.S. Senate
leagues are hearing, which is this: I am In other words, they are blocking us today, which would strike a lot of
watching; I am waiting; I don’t want to from moving forward, creating the pro- Americans as curious because the votes
pull the trigger and let my employees cedural hurdles that the majority lead- are not bipartisan, so how could that
go. I started this business. I started it er just talked about, but also doing so be? How could it be a bipartisan proc-
from scratch, and now I have to see the by telling the American people, for in- ess, as has been claimed by my Repub-
prospect of these people, whom I know stance, there is not enough in here for lican colleagues, yet there is not bipar-
and love, losing their jobs. I am wait- small businesses. My gosh, this is an tisan agreement?
ing. I am waiting to see what you do unprecedented program for small busi- Well, let’s start from the beginning.
today. nesses, something we have never done Instead of deciding to write this legis-
The country is waiting. The markets before. We are telling businesses: If you lation from the beginning, with Repub-
are waiting. People are hurting. They are paying your employees to stay licans and Democrats in the room, the
are suffering, but they are waiting to there, you not only get a loan, you get leader decided to write the bill ini-
see if we can get our act together and a grant. tially, bringing together a consensus of
actually come up with something that They say there was not enough in Republican Senators and then bringing
helps them. And do you know what? here to help people who are falling be- Democrats to the table. And there was
This legislation does exactly what all tween the cracks. It is an unprece- a period of time—for about 24 hours—in
of us, I thought, wanted to do. dented unemployment insurance sys- which Democrats were in the room,
There are three things it does. One, it tem that we are setting up here. and we were making progress, and that
helps keep people at work. We want By the way, if you look at the unem- was a great 24 hours. And then, on Sat-
people to stay with their employer, ployment insurance side, look at it this urday night, all of a sudden, Democrats
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
have a job, have their healthcare, and way. What we are saying is that we were let out of the room. And on Sun-
have their retirement. Two, it helps want to increase by eight times the day morning, lobbyists on K Street
workers who, through no fault of their cost of the national unemployment in- sent a draft of legislation to chiefs of
own, lose their jobs. This legislation surance system. That is how I look at staff here that Democrats had no part
does that. And, three, let’s get this it. It is an additional $600 per week, per in writing. So you can’t call it a bipar-
healthcare crisis under control. Let’s person. It is a broader employment sys- tisan piece of legislation if Democrats
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1939
weren’t involved in the beginning, and Now, I get it. We want to get the What I do know is that, whether or
then they were let out of the room at money out fast, and you are not going not that decision was about politics—
the end. to be able to account for every single the politics of reproductive
We appreciate having some input in dollar, but what we are talking about healthcare—it still is just not good pol-
the middle, but we clearly ended up here, which is applying very minimal icy to leave a whole bunch of
with a product that doesn’t have bipar- conditions for job retention to literally healthcare providers outside when it
tisan buy-in, and much of that is be- hundreds of billions of dollars of my comes to the additional Medicaid
cause of the process that led us here. taxpayer money, is not wise policy. money that is absolutely necessary to
The decision could have been made to If we don’t have assurances that the make sure we have what it takes to
include both parties at the table from billions of dollars that we are going to stand up defenses against this virus.
the very beginning because, guess hand to big companies is used to pre- That is a policy difference.
what. We do have differences of opin- serve jobs, then I am going to tell you I could sit here making accusations
ion. We do have different ways of look- that my constituents don’t want to that Republicans are bringing outside
ing at this crisis. spend that money unless they know political issues into this process, like
And our objections, our policy objec- that it is going to hold on to jobs, and Senator BARRASSO made accusations
tions—I mean, spare me the righteous we have policy disagreements about about Democrats, but aside from that
indignation about Democrats trying to that right now. question, it just still is not good policy
settle outside political scores in the I take my Republican friends at their to limit the number of healthcare pro-
context of this legislation. Let me tell word that they believe that the restric- viders who can get this additional Med-
you what I care about. tions in the bill are good enough. We icaid money when everybody is in this
What I care about is making sure don’t think they are. We don’t think together, when we know that every sin-
that if we are going to spend $2 trillion, they are. And so we think we should gle healthcare institution, by the end
we spend it wisely. And if you spend $2 work together throughout the day to of this week, is going to be dealing
trillion, and you don’t stop the virus, get this right, to make sure that every with patients who have positive tests
then you haven’t done anything mean- dollar is there that is necessary to stop for COVID–19.
ingful in the long run because this is, this virus, to stop looking at it as an These are policy differences but pol-
first, a public health crisis that is caus-
economic crisis first and a public icy differences that didn’t have to be
ing an economic crisis.
health crisis second, and that we outstanding today had the process, run
So, yes, one of the things that is an
open issue in negotiations right now is should make sure that there are real by the majority party, been different
whether we are putting in enough requirements on this $2 trillion to and been more inclusive.
money for healthcare providers, nurs- make sure that it doesn’t end up in the I agree that back home my constitu-
ing homes, hospitals, States, and mu- hands of people who don’t need it; that ents do not care about who takes credit
nicipalities to give them the resources it ends up protecting jobs—not just in for this and who drafts it. They want a
to stop this virus in its tracks. We the hope of protecting jobs but the ac- bill done. They want assurances that
don’t believe that this bill, today, has tual result is protecting jobs. money is on the way.
enough resources in it for States, mu- These are policy disagreements we I think we have agreement on big
nicipalities, hospitals, nursing homes, have, but they are disagreements that pieces of this. I may not love the small
and healthcare providers to stop the we are still fighting over today because business provision of this bill. I put a
virus. of the process—because of the process. different concept on the table that I
We don’t think that this Congress is So you are angry, and we are angry. think is better than the one my Demo-
serious enough about the crisis in the We are angry for being shut out at the cratic and Republican colleagues have
medical supply chain today, in which beginning, and we are angry for being come up with. But do you know what?
our States and our hospitals and our shut out at the end. Our Republican On that front, I will not let the perfect
healthcare providers are engaged in a colleagues knew they couldn’t pass be the enemy of the good.
‘‘Lord of the Flies’’ environment, anything without 60 votes. They knew, I think we have made tremendous
where they are trying to bid against as they were developing this legisla- progress on employment compensation
each other for scarce medical supplies. tion, that they needed to get bipartisan insurance. There are big titles of this
We think this bill shortchanges the buy-in. And yet there was a limited op- bill that I think are in good places. We
people who are actually going to stop portunity for us to have input here, should be working out the details of
this virus in its tracks. and now we are engaged in a series of those outstanding issues right now
So, yes, we don’t think it is wise to votes that are forgone conclusions rather than spending all of our time on
rush to spend $2 trillion if the bill until we get on the same page. the floor casting broadsides against
doesn’t stop the public health epi- And we can because, from what I un- each other.
demic. That is a policy disagreement derstand—and I admit, I am not one of I understand my Republican col-
we have. It is a policy disagreement we the negotiators in the room, but from leagues are complimenting themselves
have. And had Democrats been in the what I understand, these are not on how many of them are down here on
room with Republicans at the begin- unbridgeable differences. These are not the floor blaming Democrats. You are
ning, middle, and end, we wouldn’t be unbridgeable differences. We can figure right. There are not as many Demo-
here today. out a way to put tighter controls on crats here levying the same charges
As many Republicans who want can the funding that is going to companies against Republicans, but it would be
come down to the floor and say that it and corporations. Let’s just make sure better if we were all spending time try-
is one party who is responsible for this that if we are going to spend $2 trillion, ing to work out these final differences
impasse, but had Democrats not been we spend it right and make sure we because we can get there. We can get
ushered out of the negotiations on Sat- aren’t shortchanging our States and there.
urday night, had Democrats been there our hospitals. I think we can get there by the end of
from the beginning, we likely wouldn’t There are provisions in the first draft the day if Republicans are committed
be here. of this bill that would limit which kind to making sure that we attack the
Second, yes, we do have policy dis- of providers get Medicaid dollars and virus first, that we don’t shortchange
agreements over how we spend the which will not. Our belief is that that the public health response, and that we
enormous amount of money that is language actually leaves a whole bunch make sure our taxpayers don’t end up
going to end up in the hands of cor- of healthcare providers out in the cold. subsidizing the profits and pocketbooks
porations. And for those of us who were Now, some have said that was inten- of people who don’t need any more help
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
here in 2008, for those of us who voted tional. That was because Republicans from this government.
for that bailout bill, we have regrets didn’t want Medicaid dollars to go to Thank you.
and reservations about how that went abortion providers. That sounds like The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
down because much of that money politics to me, but that is just some- ator from Iowa.
ended up in the pockets of CEOs and thing I read in the paper. I don’t know Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, our coun-
shareholders. that that is true. try is facing a crisis. Maybe I don’t
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S1940 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
need to whisper that. Our country is and employers, the grandmas and the I guarantee you that our friends on
facing a crisis. grandpas, nurses and doctors, small the other side of the aisle would say:
I have served many times over— businessowners, farmers, and veterans; Oh, that is not enough. We need the
many times over—in crisis: floods, hur- you name it. They are all in crisis at Green New Deal. We need XYZ—which
ricanes, and war in a slightly different this very moment. I can’t tell you how has nothing to do with the COVID–19
suit. many of those Iowans were crying on crisis.
We are facing a crisis. We have three the phone with me. They keep saying: We are better than this. Let’s come
States that have had National Guards- We need it now. We need relief now. together in a bipartisan way, as we
men activated in support of the Maybe you don’t think, across the have done through much of this proc-
coronavirus pandemic. We are in a cri- aisle, that phase 3 is perfect, but—you ess. We took up phase 2. We supported
sis. And right now, right here in Con- know what—the longer we delay this, it. I was glad to support it because it
gress, we have the ability—the duty— the more Iowans I am going to hear was the right thing to do. Let’s deliver
to act and to provide additional, much crying on the other end of the phone. for the American people. It is our duty.
needed relief to the American people. Not one of them has told me: Don’t We do not have time to delay. We must
Last night, and, unfortunately, yet pass this bill. Not a single one of them. pass this additional relief now.
again today, have been very, very dis- What they have said is it needs to be Again, it is phase 3. There may be
appointing displays of putting partisan done today. many more phases to go. And if the
politics ahead of the immediate needs Again, I will remind you that there Democrats believe it is the right thing
of the American people. Now, some are States where we have mobilized Na- to do, they will get this package done
would call this righteous indignation. I tional Guard soldiers. The President today, and we will move on and have
say, no, it is fighting for the American and those Governors don’t just mobi- discussions for yet another phase.
people. lize National Guard soldiers because it I yield the floor.
My friends on the other side of the is a fun thing to do. They do it because The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
aisle delayed—no, let’s say it the way we are a nation in crisis. ator from Maryland.
it is. They blocked—they blocked—this Just overnight in Iowa, we had 15 Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President,
package to move to cloture to further more cases, and that is a total of 105 America is in crisis. Time is of the es-
debate this bill, this bipartisan relief cases of coronavirus in my home State. sence, and the Senate needs to work on
package. That is not a lot compared to other a bipartisan basis to get the job done
Let me make this clear. The votes we States, but—you know what—Iowa is and get it done today, without delay.
have been taking haven’t even been on not populated a lot like other States. We see our fellow Americans all
the final bill. It is simply a way for us In Iowa, 105 is a lot. across this country uniting at this
to continue negotiating and debating Just a couple hours ago, I was on a time of crisis—neighbors helping
on a path forward on a bipartisan relief call with Iowa’s State leaders who were neighbors, people helping throughout
package—a package that, again—I am at the State Emergency Operations their communities. We are watching
going to echo what my colleague from Center. Let me say that again—Emer- our healthcare workers on the
Ohio said—was written in a bipartisan gency Operations Center, an EOC. You frontlines of fighting this virus, true
way, two Republicans and two Demo- don’t just set those up for fun, folks. heroes who are putting themselves at
crats from those lead committees as- You set them up when your State is in risk every day in order to help patients
signed to these task forces. crisis. coming in the door.
Folks, Iowans deserve better than They gave us a picture of what is They are facing extreme shortages in
this. All Americans deserve better than going on with our workers and our personal protective equipment. We
this. This is no time for political games small businesses on the ground in Iowa. need to rush that out in much greater
and partisan wish lists—and, yes, there Within 3 hours, the State received over volumes to protect them. We still have
are partisan wish lists out there—of 11,000 calls for unemployment insur- a huge shortage of tests in this country
things that have nothing to do with the ance, and 2,000 of them are self-em- and got caught way behind the curve,
immediate needs of this pandemic. ployed. They will not qualify for unem- and we are having to catch up. We are
This is a time for action, folks, and it ployment insurance. You know what trying to manufacture ventilators to
is a time for leadership. would relieve their hurt? This package, help those who are sick and those who
Look, folks, the Senate took up a phase 3. may get sick.
House-led phase 2 package that many Meanwhile, my Democratic col- In doing that, Americans are coming
of us considered not perfect. Phase 2, leagues are holding this bill up that together. We have seen stories of no-
now, let’s keep that in mind. There are would actually deliver the relief that is tices going out to dentists’ offices and
many phases going on during this pan- necessary for these workers whom I others who have important personal
demic. Phase 2, we didn’t feel that was just mentioned for things that have protective equipment like masks but
perfect. Well, what happens when a nothing to do with a crisis. Senate aren’t needing them right now, to try
phase 2 is not perfect? You move to a Democrats are stalling funding for hos- to rush those to local hospitals.
phase 3 because we need relief. We put pitals and small businesses until they We have seen nurses and doctors and
our differences aside here in the Sen- get to jam through their Green New other healthcare workers on the front-
ate, and we supported—we supported Deal. You tell me: What does placing line coming together, and that is ex-
the phase 2 package and provided the emissions standards on airlines have to actly what this Senate and House need
second round of immediate relief for do with getting Iowa families and to do. We need to do what Americans
our workers, our families, our seniors, workers the relief they need right now? around the country are doing, uniting
and our businesses across the country. The Green New Deal was brought up to help one another and help our coun-
Why? Folks, gosh, darn it, it is the on this very floor last year. How many try.
right thing to do. Why can’t my Demo- of them voted for it? None. None. Big We did that on rounds 1 and 2. We
cratic colleagues do the same? zero. Big zero. They didn’t believe in it worked very quickly to put together an
We need to be working in the most then, so why are they trying to jam it $8.3 billion package for round 1. What
efficient and effective way possible to through now? did that include? More resources for
get immediate relief to the men, the Americans from every corner of this our public health infrastructure, more
women, and the children across this Nation are looking to the Senate for resources to try to accelerate the de-
country. We need to give them what more help. This is an extraordinary sit- velopment of a vaccine and thera-
they need. uation, folks, and it requires an ex- peutics. That was all good work.
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
I have spoken directly with Iowans traordinary response. This is, arguably, On round 2, what did we do? We said
by phone all week: the small the biggest bill ever—nearly $2 trillion we want to make sure that tests for the
businessowners, the members of our ag of funding. But is that enough? If we coronavirus are free because we don’t
community, many workers at our hos- were offering up $3 trillion, would it be want Americans not going to get tests
pitals and in our healthcare industry, enough? If it were $4 trillion, would it because they can’t afford them. We had
these moms and dads, the employees be enough? to fight for that on the Democratic
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1941
side, but it became bipartisan in the He could have waited 1 hour. He means no income. You still have to pay
end. We worked to provide more paid could have waited 2 hours. He could your rent, if you are a small business,
sick leave because we don’t think it is have waited 3 hours. He chose to hold or your mortgage. You have other fixed
a good idea for workers who are living that vote knowing it would fail. That costs.
paycheck to paycheck to feel like they is a self-inflicted wound on the U.S. So we have come together to work to
have got to go to work when they are Senate and on the American people at try to provide a small business plan
sick even if it means they are going to this moment. that would provide funds to those
potentially spread the virus. We want Because of that decision, we will small businesses so that they can keep
to make sure that they can pay the have the earliest opportunity to vote people on their payroll and, if they
bills at home and stay home and not again on Wednesday. That was the de- have already had to let them go, rehire
spread the virus. cision Leader MCCONNELL made when them and also meet their fixed costs.
The provision in round 2 regarding he decided to hold that vote today, And if they spend the money the way
paid sick leave was good. There are knowing he did not have 60 votes, it is directed—meaning for necessary,
still big gaps in it. So how did rounds knowing that the negotiations were fixed costs and for employees—then, at
1 and 2 come to pass? I hear talk over going on right now. the end of the day, that loan can be
here that this is all a House initiative. So he is right. If we want to have a forgiven because we don’t want small
Actually, it was a bipartisan initiative. vote between now and Wednesday, we businesses to have to go through 3
The White House sat down with Speak- have to do it by unanimous consent. I months with no money through the
er PELOSI, Secretary Mnuchin with hope we get to that point, but—make door and just have a huge pile of bills
Speaker PELOSI, and they hammered no mistake—the vote that was held they can’t repay at the end of the day.
out rounds 1 and 2 in a bipartisan fash- earlier could have waited until later We have also tried to expand that to
ion. They came to the U.S. Senate, and today. It could have waited until we include midsized businesses.
they were passed with big bipartisan got closer to an agreement. We are making progress on impor-
votes. And here is the tragedy of it. We are tant things. Those conversations are
We need that same bipartisan spirit getting pretty close on a lot of impor- going on as we speak, but there are
now. I have been listening in to some of tant issues. We are still far away on some areas where we need to reach
the conversation on the floor. First of some, but we are getting close on some final agreement. One of them is proper
all, I keep hearing there aren’t Demo- very important issues: unemployment oversight and safeguards on the $500
crats on the floor. Well, we are coming. insurance. As we speak, people are los- billion fund to help some of the biggest
The other thing I keep hearing is ing their jobs. We know that. Small businesses in the country.
let’s blame Speaker PELOSI. I mean, businesses are shutting their doors. We need to make sure we don’t allow
this is pretty amazing. This bill is in They started days ago having to shut this economy to go into free fall, but I
the U.S. Senate. We are having discus- their doors in the case of restaurants hope we would all agree that we don’t
and bars and many other establish- want a major corporation getting tax-
sions right now, Democrats and Repub-
ments. payer dollars and going and doing an-
licans. We are having discussions right
We need to attack that from two an- other stock buyback or for big em-
now, Democratic Senators and Repub-
gles. One is the unemployment insur- ployee compensation. There is some
lican Senators and the White House—
ance system, and we have made great language in there, but then there are
again, primarily with Secretary
progress in these discussions on that. waiver provisions.
Mnuchin—yet I am listening to people I hope we would at least put the safe-
on the floor blaming Speaker PELOSI. What do we have to do when it comes
guards in this provision that we did in
Well, guess how rounds 1 and 2 actu- to unemployment insurance? Well, we
TARP, which was the rescue package
ally happened? They happened because should work to make sure that some-
in 2008. That was much maligned. For
Speaker PELOSI sat down with the body who is losing their job through no
many good reasons, there were not ade-
Trump administration and they ham- fault of their own because of the
quate protections to make sure that
mered it out on a bipartisan basis and coronavirus—because they are working moneys were spent in an accountable
came over here. This time—this time— for an establishment like a restaurant way.
the majority leader, Senator MCCON- that has to shut its doors—has 100 per- Don’t we want to make sure the $500
NELL, wanted to start the process in cent wage replacement for the period billion is spent in an accountable way?
the Senate. So let’s get it done. Don’t of time of this emergency. We wanted 6 I don’t know why it is taking us so
go pointing fingers at Speaker PELOSI. months. Republicans wanted 3 months. long to come to an agreement on that.
She is not here. I think we have got right now, in the I don’t think our Republican colleagues
I keep hearing about the House want- draft, 4 months. OK. That is a com- would want to give any administration
ing a Green New Deal as part of this promise. a blank check to spend $500 billion
emergency package. That is a total red We also wanted to make sure UI however they want, without any clear
herring. I even looked at the list of could cover people who are not part of safeguards or some process for account-
ideas that the House put out, including the traditional UI system: part-time ability.
Speaker PELOSI’s. There is no Green workers, the self-employed, inde- That is what we are talking about
New Deal on this thing. pendent contractors, gig workers. So now. Maybe we could resolve that in 2
So let’s get real. So why can’t we we have worked together on a bipar- hours; maybe we could resolve it in 3.
vote today, again, except for by unani- tisan basis to make sure that we try to Then we could have had the vote. But
mous consent? It is not because of the get those people help through UI as the majority leader burned that vote.
Democrats’ vote. It is because the lead- well, even though they are not part of He burned that vote by having it when
er, the Republican leader, chose to the traditional system. We are trying he knew the votes weren’t there and
bring up that vote. That was a motion to streamline the process by which when he knew conversations were still
to proceed to the cloture vote. It was a they can demonstrate that they have going on.
cloture vote—a motion to proceed to been making an income so that they I was in my office listening to this
cloture on the motion to proceed. That can get help through UI in this emer- discussion on the floor of the Senate
is what it was. gency moment. with the majority leader all upset. He
So what did the leader know? He We are pretty close on that. We have brought that on this body by holding
knew that we are still engaged in nego- worked together on small and even that vote as negotiations were going
tiations. They are going on right now. midsized businesses because they are on.
Hopefully, when all of us on the floor getting hammered right now across the What else do we need to work on
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
leave here, we will continue to engage. country. We are all hearing from them, still? We all got a letter from the Na-
But the leader knew that the votes and they have had to let off their em- tional Governors Association, bipar-
were not there for that motion, that ployees, in many cases, under very tisan—Republicans and Democrats—
cloture motion. Yet he burned the one painful circumstances. They don’t saying: Hey, we are the States; we are
opportunity he would have today on want to let their employees go, but no on the frontlines of this; we need some
that vote, knowing it wouldn’t succeed. customers in the door means no sales, help.
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S1942 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
I don’t know if all my colleagues on the coronavirus. I am confident—I am good jobs. Now they are not just wor-
the floor know it, but just about 48 confident—if we put our minds to it, we ried about liquidity; they are worried
hours ago, the position of the Repub- can get the job done for the American about insolvency. These are ranchers.
lican Senate leadership was: No, we are people. These are restaurant owners.
not going to deal with those big issues Let’s go back to work. Let’s com- It provides $10.5 billion for drug de-
now. We will do it another day. plete these negotiations, and maybe we velopment to treat and prevent the
Those are issues pressing right now. can come back in a couple of hours virus. Listen, we will not stop the
We are hearing that from Republican with a proposal that gets the consent panic we see right now in our country
and Democratic Governors. We are and support of this entire body. until we stop the pandemic. We will
hearing it from mayors. We heard it I yield the floor. not stop this pandemic until we have
from the National League of Cities. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. drugs available for the American peo-
Don’t you think it is worth spending a ERNST). The Senator from Montana. ple that will provide immunity to
couple of hours so that we can hash all Mr. DAINES. Madam President, the them.
that out before you call a vote where health and livelihoods of the American There is great hope on the horizon.
you know the outcome in advance? people are at risk; they are in danger. There are amazing vaccines. There are
FMAP—these are Republican and We cannot afford to keep squabbling amazing monoclonal antibodies
Democratic Governors pointing out and arguing in the U.S. Senate. Time is through incredible ingenuity and inno-
they need more Federal help on the not on our side. Each day matters. In vation that we can provide to the
healthcare and medical front as more fact, every hour matters. American people before the second
and more people are coming in the As we look at the stats coming in wave hits this fall.
doors. Don’t you think we can work terms of those who have been infected You talk to the doctors, our best
that out in the next couple of hours? with COVID–19, it is literally hour by leaders at NIH, at the FDA, at the
Why hold a vote that you know is hour. This is a logarithmic kind of CDC; they are telling us there is prob-
going to fail and means you can’t hold scale. This is a doubling-every-day ably a second wave pandemic coming
the next one until Wednesday without kind of scale that is going on. Hours in the fall of 2020 if we don’t act now
unanimous consent? I hope my Repub- matter; minutes matter. because, as is true with most of the
lican colleagues will ask the majority Like many of my colleagues in the world, we don’t have the immune sys-
leader that question. U.S. Senate, I have been talking to tems here to combat this virus—this
We have made a lot of progress on Montanans around the clock to get coronavirus—that produces COVID–19.
some very important parts of this bill, their feedback—hospital leaders, ag You either get the immunity from
but we also have a fair distance to go. groups, Tribal leaders, small business catching the disease or getting a vac-
But a fair distance in terms of getting leaders, construction workers. cine or these other drugs that can pro-
to an agreement doesn’t mean it has to We are in a public health and an eco- vide the antibodies.
nomic crisis. I have not sensed fear like There is good news on the horizon.
take all day. We should be able to come
this from the American people anytime What did we do in this bill? We are
to an agreement on many of these
in my life. I remember 9/11. I remember going to allow the acceleration of man-
things.
the crisis of 2008. I remember the 1987 ufacturing so we can get this into a
The administration took an appro-
crash. Those pale in comparison to widespread distribution for the Amer-
priate action, saying that they don’t
what we are seeing today at this very ican people to protect them in the next
want landlords to be able to foreclosure
moment in our country. flu season when most scientists believe
on certain mortgages. I think we
This is a time that we need to come we will probably get hit with this
should all work together to make sure
together. This is a time we must get again.
that people don’t get thrown out of We just lost another day here in the
their homes through foreclosures—or this done for the good of our country.
U.S. Senate. Every day matters. We
evicted from their homes if they are Neither side is going to be happy with
have vaccine trials going on, as we
renters—during this period of time if it the final product. That is part of nego-
speak, in Seattle. They started on
turns out they don’t have the income tiations. It is give, and it is get. The
Monday. There are 45 individuals who
to pay those bills. I hope we can work Senate bill before us provides relief for
received a vaccine that we believe can
that out too. I hope there will be agree- workers, for families, for small busi- protect you from the coronavirus. Can
ment on that measure. nesses, and for healthcare profes- you imagine the good news for the
Instead of playing political games on sionals. American people if we found out we
the floor of the Senate and calling a I have heard some things said today have a vaccine that will protect us; we
vote where the outcome was predeter- on the U.S. Senate that are flatout not have a drug that will protect us; we
mined because we are still negotiating true. Let me set some of the facts have therapeutics that will help us if
on a bipartisan basis—instead of doing straight—what this bill before us does we contract the coronavirus. We just
that, let’s get this job done. do. It provides $250 billion of unemploy- lost another day that could be a day we
To listen to Members of the U.S. Sen- ment insurance for those who have lost could have been closer to getting that
ate who are negotiating this here try their jobs during the coronavirus out- into the hands of the American people.
to blame the House of Representatives break—$250 billion. What that means in We are in a race for time. We are now
and Speaker PELOSI—come on, that is Montana is $600 a week. That is twice into the end of March. We have to get
just political rhetoric. The House as big as what is currently paid per this available by September to the
passed rounds 1 and 2; they did it on a week. It is $4 billion for masks, for American people. This is literally an
bipartisan basis, speaking with the ad- gowns, for gloves, ventilators. It is the all-of-government, Manhattan Project
ministration and Secretary Mnuchin. PPE discussion I just had a couple of kind of approach. And we just lost an-
They did that. It is the Senate right hours ago with some of my hospital other day here because we couldn’t get
now that can’t get its job done. leaders and doctors and medical lead- this passed in the U.S. Senate.
Let’s stop playing games—procedural ers across Montana. They are scared. This also provides $75 billion for our
games. Let’s hammer this out, as we There is a shortage of PPE. This bill hospitals and our healthcare providers.
have been trying to do. We have made provides $4 billion to CDC to address Those are the men and women on the
progress. We can close the distance, that. I will tell you what: By dinking frontlines right now, saving lives. God
and then if we can get all that done, we around here over this today, we lost bless them—$75 billion for them.
could actually bring it up by unani- another day when we could be moving If you heard the Democrats talk
mous consent anytime. forward to get it in the hands of our about this bill, you would think there
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
Let’s do what the American people healthcare professionals. is nothing here for the average, hard-
are doing: Let’s unite at this time of It provides $350 billion to allow our working person in this country. That is
crisis; let’s unite for the good of the small businesses survive and rebound. absolutely false, and we can lay it all
country. We did it on rounds 1 and 2. We have had some very healthy, pros- out.
Let’s do it to help save our economy perous, good small businesses employ a There are parts of the bill that I
and fight the healthcare fight against lot of people in Montana. These are don’t like. There are parts of this bill
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1943
that I would change. But we have to be Montanan on the phone off the floor of businesses so they won’t have to lay off
satisfied now with a good 80 for 20 be- the Senate a few minutes ago. I was de- those Americans as they struggle to
cause speed matters. It matters to get scribing what is going on. He was de- pay the bills; that would help indus-
something done. The American people spondent, by the way, fearing both the tries that have been devastated, like
are looking here. The dysfunction in pandemic and also the economic panic the hotel industry. Thousands and
Washington they don’t understand. because he is losing his business. thousands of hard-working Americans
Frankly, I don’t either. I said: Do you realize the U.S. House clean the rooms, make the beds, cook
This bill before us was written by Re- is not even in town right now? the food—all of whom desperately need
publicans and Democrats. I will tell He said: I didn’t know that. help. The Democrats won’t even start
you why I know that—because I was They are not. They left town last debate on that legislation. That is
part of helping negotiate to get $10 bil- week. They are not here. At a moment what they have done twice. They have
lion for this acceleration of vaccines when the country needs us, the House not voted to defeat any legislation;
and drug program. I went in this week- left town. They are not here as we they have voted to not even start de-
end. We were sitting, looking at speak. I think that has been lost in the bate.
spreadsheets that said here is the Re- discussion. In fact, earlier today, SUSAN COL-
publican ask; here is the Democrat ask. We can debate some of their ideolog- LINS—probably the kindest, most de-
There are spreadsheets. We can show ical requests another time down the cent, most bipartisan Senator—took
them to you. We were going back and road. I mean, here is one from Pelosi’s the floor to speak, and CHUCK SCHUMER
forth in a bipartisan way to try to craft bill: the full offset of domestic airline blocked her. He refused to allow her to
a bill that we could pass in the Senate emissions by 2025 for airlines that need speak, probably because he was scared
last night. assistance. This is section 1 of the of what she had to say and probably,
In fact, the American people are Pelosi bill. It is right here. We can just like there are no Democrats here
watching, both sides, in this ping pong have a debate another time whether right now, because they know they
match where one side says one thing, they should have part of this New don’t have anything to say. They have
and the other side says the other. Green Deal to offset emissions. Now is no case to make.
Sometimes I look to people like not the time for that debate. Now is Earlier today, SHERROD BROWN was
SUSAN COLLINS and LAMAR ALEXANDER the time to save the American people accusing us of not acting quickly
at moments like this. I think few both economically and with their enough on NANCY PELOSI’s legislation
Americans, few Senators, would claim health. that the House passed, popped smoke,
that either LAMAR or SUSAN are We need to get our priorities and left town for more than a week. I
hyperpartisan Senators. They have a straight. That means putting the asked a simple question: When did the
pretty good temperature of the Senate. American people first. This is not a House bill arrived in the Senate? He re-
They have a good sense of finding ways stimulus package. That is the wrong fused to answer. I asked him again that
to make things work. When you hear name for it. This is not a recovery simple question. He refused to answer
Senator SUSAN COLLINS outraged at package. That is the wrong name for it. and rather engaged in ad hominem at-
what happened when Senator SCHUMER This is a rescue package. What we are tacks, which is his weak and sad way of
and Speaker PELOSI basically put the debating right now is a rescue package. saying he has no answer, which is so
brakes on the discussions, we lost an- We must come together on both sides. often the case with the Senator from
other day—maybe two—by demanding The coronavirus is not partisan. It Ohio.
that this bill include an ideological crosses party lines. It crosses country They come down here and they at-
wish list. SUSAN COLLINS is outraged. boundaries. This is a global challenge tack the Republicans for wanting cor-
LAMAR ALEXANDER was shocked. on the shores of our country. It was porate bailouts. They say we want to
Let me tell you something: When time for both sides to come together bail out corporations. Nothing could be
SUSAN COLLINS is outraged and LAMAR and vote this bill out of the Senate yes- further from the truth. Any large com-
ALEXANDER is shocked about what is terday, but that didn’t happen. The pany that borrows money from the
going on around here, that tells you next best time is today. Treasury or takes advantage of Federal
something. You can discount what I I urge my colleagues on both sides to Reserve programs will have onerous
am saying here—and many Republican set aside the perfect and move forward terms attached to it and will have lots
Senators and Democratic Senators— with this to restore the confidence of of strings as well. We insisted that only
but those two Senators are viewed as the American people for their health loans be available, not grants, not cash
some of the most bipartisan Senators and their economic well-being. handouts.
here, and when they are outraged and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Do you know what the Democrats are
shocked, that tells you what is going ator from Arkansas. advocating for behind closed doors? Be-
on in terms of one of the low levels of Mr. COTTON. Madam President, the hind closed doors, the Democrats are
partisanship we have achieved in the United States is in the middle of a demanding free cash handouts for the
U.S. Senate over the course of the last global pandemic, probably the worst airlines. Right through that door right
couple of days. This obstruction will public health crisis in over 100 years there is CHUCK SCHUMER’s office. They
create a devastating impact on Amer- this country has faced. Every minute are demanding free cash giveaways for
ican workers, on families, and small matters, every hour, every day. I have major corporations, and they have the
businesses. They are pushing for things been saying this for 2 months now. Yet nerve to come down here and accuse us
that have nothing to do with the public where are the Democrats? There is not of bailouts? Go right through that door
health and economic crisis we are fac- a single one of them down here right and ask CHUCK SCHUMER what he is de-
ing today. The issues they are pushing now. Where have they been all after- manding in secret behind closed doors.
have nothing to do with overcoming noon? There was maybe one, two, or Don’t forget about all of their cities
this pandemic. three. Probably every Republican over and all their States. DICK DURBIN rep-
In a global pandemic, some have here has spoken because twice in less resents one of the most bankrupt
tossed aside bipartisanship to push for than 24 hours, the Democrats have re- States in America and the most bank-
airline emissions standards. fused to even start debate on legisla- rupt city in America—Chicago. Behind
I was told there is no such thing as a tion that would help the American peo- those closed doors, they are demanding
House bill. That is false. Here is NANCY ple and our economy survive this cri- straight cash bailouts for States and
PELOSI’s House bill. She is part of the sis; that would provide over $3,000 to cities that have been fiscally irrespon-
discussions. Why? Because we need your average working family in just sible for years. Yet they come down
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
something that can pass the Senate the coming weeks; that would provide here and accuse us of bailouts. We are
quickly now and then go to the House extra unemployment benefits to the willing to help these cities and States.
even more quickly. millions of Americans who already lost They are overwhelmed by this pan-
Let me tell the American people their jobs and regrettably are going to demic. Yet we simply say they have to
something else. The House is not here lose their jobs; that would provide repay the money on the back end. That
this week. I was just speaking with a loans to our small- and medium-size is not what the Democrats are asking
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S1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
for behind those closed doors over plug into the wall and fly across the the terms of the debate for the U.S.
there. They want straight cash pay- continent. Democrats have a lot of Senate in the impeachment trial before
ments. faith in American ingenuity. I wonder she would send over the impeachment
You ask yourself, why would they if that will apply, by the way, to the articles. Do you remember that whole
not even start debate? Remember, that private planes that NANCY PELOSI and debacle? And as we were dealing with
is all we have been talking about here her family fly in or all their buddies in this impeachment garbage, China was
over these last 18 hours. Why would Hollywood. on fire. You will hear more about that
they risk your life and your loved ones’ What about this one: Every airline later in the year.
lives and your job and your lifetime of has to tell you on every single flight I guess what I would say is that we
retirement savings? Now we know. what the greenhouse gas emissions of need to get on with it. You are not
NANCY PELOSI is circulating a 1,400- that flight are. You get your departure going to be successful. We are not
page bill that she wants Congress to time and your seat number and your going to let this happen to the Amer-
pass that she claims will help save this gate number and, oh, by the way, how ican people.
Nation from this terrible crisis. It is many greenhouse gas emissions your Rahm Emanuel, whom I actually
1,400 pages. It is almost three times plane will have. What will that do to like, said: For every crisis is an oppor-
longer than our legislation, by the help a vitally important and dev- tunity. This is not your opportunity to
way. astated industry get back on its feet? impose same-day voting. In the House
To give you a sense of what might be Subsidizing retirement plans for bill, they are requiring every State in
in that bill, because, let me tell you, community newspaper employees. the Union, whether you like it or not,
she is not hiding the good stuff in her Look, this has been a longstanding de- to allow same-day registration and vot-
bill—I don’t have 1,400 pages here, but bate in Congress. It almost sank the re- ing. I personally would like to do that
I have a few pages. Let’s just go tirement reform bill last year, and here in South Carolina but not to combat
through what is a priority for NANCY it is again in a bill designed to stop a the coronavirus. That is a dream they
PELOSI and the Democrats as they dith- pandemic. Are you kidding me? have. This is not the time to enact that
er while Americans die. There is a $15-an-hour minimum dream.
Corporate board diversity. The wage. Unfortunately, millions of Amer- If you are on a ventilator or if you
Democrats want to impose quotas for icans are learning that the true min- are a nurse at a hospital and are wait-
race and sex on corporate boards. I imum wage is zero when you lose your ing on medical supplies, please tell
know they have wanted to do that for job because of a global pandemic that them you can’t get your stuff until the
a long time. Is that going to stop any- is killing your fellow citizens and our Republicans agree to same-day voting.
one from getting sick from the elected leaders won’t even have a de- They are literally holding hostage the
coronavirus? bate on the bill. relief for doctors and nurses, for towns
Here is another one: bailing out the Here is a beauty too: mandating that and cities, and for businesses that have
Postal Service, wiping all the debts Federal public employee unions get had to lay off their workers for same-
that the post office has towards the paid for the union work they do. That day voting, for corporate diversity, for
Treasury. That is another issue we means you, as a taxpayer, will pay Fed- $15-an-hour minimum wage. If you get
have been debating for a long time. The eral bureaucrats when they are doing a dime of money in your business under
Postal Service needs relief. I greatly work not for you, the taxpayer, but for the House bill, you will have to pay
respect and praise the hard work of the their unions. Again, is that going to your employees $15 an hour.
men and women who are still deliv- stop the pandemic? Literally, they are using this sad day
ering the mail, but is a survival pack- I could go on and on and on. The in America to enact policies that
age for the coronavirus the right time Democrats’ bill is 1,400 pages, after all. wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in
to be talking about Postal Service debt But the point is this: There is a good hell of getting through the U.S. Sen-
to the Treasury? bill that was negotiated in good faith ate. They see this as a moment for
Here is another one: a $10,000 min- over the weekend with many Demo- them. We see this as a moment for you.
imum of student loan forgiveness crats—no matter what they say—that They see this as an opportunity to do
across the board. That is another ideo- they are now blocking, that they will things they couldn’t do without the
logical wish-list item for the Demo- not even start debate on because of ide- country’s being on fire.
crats. What does it have to do with ological wish-list items like those. It is To my Democratic colleagues, I will
stopping a pandemic, especially when disgraceful and it is dangerous to the work with you to make sure that the
Donald Trump has already waived stu- lives of our people and to their eco- money going to American corporations
dent loan payments for Americans who nomic well-being. It is time for the goes to the right people. All of us don’t
are affected by this terrible pandemic? Democrats to get serious and to do want stock buybacks. All of us want to
Early voting mandated in every sin- their job. make sure that the money is lent and
gle State. That is the same kind of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- not given as a grant to the big compa-
early voting that almost doomed the ator from South Carolina. nies in this country. All of us are will-
Democrats’ favorite Presidential can- Mr. GRAHAM. Madam President, ing to do more to help the States. We
didate, Joe Biden, for whom NANCY may I just add to what Mr. COTTON are willing to work on the problem. We
PELOSI and CHUCK SCHUMER worked from Arkansas just said. It is dan- are willing to take your legislative
tirelessly to beat their colleague BER- gerous. I think it is disgraceful. It is ir- wish list and allow you to use this mo-
NIE SANDERS. responsible, and it is not going to ment of crisis to turn the country up-
Combine that with same-day reg- work. We are not going to do this. side down.
istration. Every single State has to I think people on our side are willing I don’t know why you want to do
register voters on the same day. Now to go big. For Republicans, it is not so this, but I know this: If we were doing
they want to pile election rules on a easy in 1 day to spend all we are going this, the media would be eating us
bill that is designed to stop a pan- to spend in a single year. We are going alive. If there were a House bill that
demic. Let me remind you, these elec- to spend in 1 day about $1.8 trillion— the Republicans were writing that did
tion rules were written by the same probably closer to $2 trillion when it is away with the right to unionization,
partisan geniuses who couldn’t even over with. That is as much as we would every major paper and TV station in
count their own votes in the Iowa spend in an entire year for discre- this country would be talking about
Democratic caucuses. tionary spending. That is big. I would how the Republican Party is going nuts
Here is a good one too: airline carbon like to go smart. If you are going to go in its trying to take an ideological
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
emission offsets. Every airline that big, you need to be smart, right? You agenda and attach it to a national cri-
benefits from these programs—which is don’t need to go crazy. sis that we haven’t seen since World
probably going to be all of them—has The only reason we are not voting on War II.
to go carbon neutral by 2025. Gee, it is this bill is because the House hijacked So two things are going to happen.
going to be a pretty amazing feat of en- this process. NANCY PELOSI tried to We are not going to give in, because it
gineering to get jet engines you can control impeachment. She tried to set is wrong. It corrupts everything about
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1945
why we are here. We worked with the also put money in the hands of people taurant. The government shut the res-
House-passed bill that we didn’t like who are wondering: How am I going to taurant down. I don’t have a paycheck.
because we needed to get something pay the rent? How am I going to buy How am I going to provide for my fam-
done that was relevant to the problem. groceries? How am I going to buy food ily?
To the Speaker of the House, you see for my children? It is our Democratic colleagues, by
this as an opportunity to do things you We have our Democratic colleagues, their complete and unequivocal devo-
couldn’t do otherwise. The Republicans who, on a party-line vote, blocked the tion to their ideological agenda, who
see this as an opportunity to do things very help for the people I am talking are basically turning their backs on
that have to be done now in order to about. They are not worried about them, our fellow citizens. This is not a
save lives. from where their next rent checks are time for us to engage in partisan divi-
I have never been more disgusted coming or how they are going to pay sion. This is a time for us to give help
since Kavanaugh. You tried to destroy their mortgages. They are getting paid. where help is needed as soon as we pos-
a good man’s life just to keep the seat They are not worried about ending up sibly can.
open. Close friends of mine in the like hourly workers or people who are As I said, I know the other Senators
House have publicly said that this is an working for tips, who are scared to wish to speak. So I yield the floor.
opportunity to reshape the country in death about how they are going to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
‘‘our image.’’ It is not going to happen. make ends meet. ator from Indiana.
We didn’t let you destroy Brett First of all, they are worried about Mr. BRAUN. Madam President, I
Kavanaugh’s life to keep the seat open, getting sick. Secondly, if you work for have been here a little over a year and
and we are not going to let you turn a restaurant or a hotel or are in some have dealt with several issues that tell
the country upside down to shape it in other service industry—heck, if you me how this place works. I never
your image. We will work with you, in work for an airline and have been fur- thought we would come to the point at
a very generous fashion, to help people loughed and are wondering how you are which we have actually choked down
who have lost their jobs and to help going to make ends meet—it should the real economy with the valid effort
doctors and nurses who have run out of make all of us angry that our Demo- of trying to get rid of a disease, and the
supplies. cratic colleagues are using this na- American public—caught in the cross-
Shame on you. Shame on you for tional emergency in order to leverage fire—is already suffering. The ones who
coming in at the eleventh hour and their ideological wish list. had to shutter their businesses early
taking good faith negotiations and You have heard it talked about here were hoping that, when they woke up
throwing them in an ideological ditch. many times, but let me just make a today, they were going to see some-
To the American people, they are couple of points. thing. You can see that it is not going
going to give in because what they are In addition to having the money go to happen.
wanting to do should make you as mad to individuals, there is enhanced unem- Many others here have kind of gone
as hell. If you have a family member ployment compensation because people after the other side, and I think that it
who is suffering, do you really think don’t know how long this is going to is a valid argument. Yet what I am
now is the time to impose same-day last, and they will need to be able to going to talk about here this evening
voting? sustain themselves. There is the assist- are two things. If we do not get some-
With regard to student loans, a ance to small businesses so they can thing done through unanimous consent
$10,000 loan forgiveness for every stu- maintain their payrolls, perhaps, and and have to wait until Wednesday, we
dent loan in the country is a debate we keep their businesses alive for the du- will all be held accountable, and we
will have but not on this bill. Let me ration of this crisis. People want to will have done what this place nor-
tell you what it would cost to forgive know how they are going to make ends mally does—it doesn’t work for the
$10,000 on every student loan in this meet today. They want to make sure people who sent us here to do the busi-
country—about $500 billion. Here is the there will be jobs waiting for them ness.
question: If you are going to spend $500 after we get on the other side of this A hotel owner in Indianapolis called
billion, wouldn’t you want to spend it coronavirus. That is what our help for me earlier in the week. Last week, he
on the virus? Wouldn’t you want to the small businesses is designed to do. had 2-percent occupancy. A number of
spend it on hospitals that are under The third part, which really makes small businesses across the country,
siege? Wouldn’t you want to spend it me angry, is to hear them talk about not only in Indiana, have had employ-
on businesses that are shut down and this bill as containing a slush fund for ees leave, and they have had to shutter
have no hope of opening up anytime Big Business. In my State and in Sen- their businesses by government edict.
soon? ator CRUZ’s State, some of these busi- The toll and the carnage is going to be
So we are going to hold our ground to nesses employ hundreds of thousands of great.
focus on the people who need the help people. I have never understood how I want to stress what we might get
the most. We are going to say no to an you can claim to love the workers but done. I had four or five Democratic
ideological agenda. I can’t believe that hate the very person or the business Senators tell me this, and I want to
we are having to do this. What the hell that provides them with jobs. You throw the gauntlet out and do it pub-
has happened? How could we get here can’t separate those two. You need to licly. Obviously, a list like this does
as a nation? We have come a long way have workers and those who have in- not make sense, and how you would
from ‘‘we are all in it together’’ to this. vested, who have created something, so even bring that up at a time like this
To my colleagues on the other side, I they provide jobs. boggles my mind. Four or five different
am more than willing to work with you This ideological division is designed Democratic Senators said that, if we
on unemployment insurance and on all for no other purpose than to mislead would come together on three areas,
of the things that are in this bill. I am people into thinking this is some sort they would have enough people to get
not going to give in to the hijacking of of bailout. This isn’t a bailout. What it across the finish line even through
the legislative process by the most par- we are talking about are businesses unanimous consent.
tisan people in the country at a time that, through no fault of their own, are No. 1—and I think most of the folks
when people are dying. going to have to lay off workers and on my side of the aisle would agree—is
I yield the floor. try to make sure that, when we get on shoring up what State and local gov-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- the other side of this virus—when we ernments need to effectively handle
ator from Texas. beat this virus—there will be jobs still this crisis. That is Main Street. That
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I know available so our economy can come sounds OK with me.
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
there are a number of Senators here roaring back, as it will do, unless we Next is helping the frontline industry
who wish to speak. So I will not be mishandle our work here. So I am that is responsible for fighting the dis-
long. angry, and I am frustrated. I am not ease—hospitals and providers. We are
It makes me angry that we are here, the only one. really close. We are not far away.
talking about a bill that will not only I think about the mom and dad who The one that we hear the most about
help to defeat this virus but that will are thinking: Hey, I work at a res- would be the transparency associated
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S1946 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
with what could be the most important gency relief legislation for the millions while the Democrats have been block-
part of the package. It is the Emer- of people being devastated by the eco- ing this bill, 1,073 additional people
gency Stabilization Fund, which would nomic disaster we are seeing as a result died.
help all of those businesses that need of the coronavirus epidemic, every sin- In the United States, as of this morn-
liquidity in order to keep employees on gle Democrat in this body voted to ing, there were 471 deaths reported due
their payrolls. I am going to be for full block consideration of this bill. to coronavirus. As of right now, it is
transparency. As for the airlines and Now, for those of you at home who 573. That means today 102 Americans
their practices and what they did at are not poring over a Senate proce- died while the Democrats were block-
the time that ate up all of their cash, dural matter, what does it mean to ing consideration of this bill.
I think there needs to be account- vote to block consideration? It doesn’t In Texas as of this morning, there
ability. mean they voted against the bill. It had been eight deaths. Now there are
Senator MANCHIN said earlier that it means they voted against even starting nine. One Texan died while half this
needs stronger language to prohibit to take it up. Chamber refused to show up and do
stock buybacks—check. Most of us The New York Times headline, mo- their job.
would be for that. Secretary Mnuchin ments afterward, said: Democrats Now, this morning when we voted
could not have full latitude on where block $1.7 trillion stimulus bill. Of again, we saw the first signs of cracks.
to direct the funds. I am a Main Street course, that headline had the fault of There was one Democrat, a Senator
guy. I would go for that too. being accurate, and so within minutes, from Alabama, who had voted no yes-
We don’t have enough restraints on the New York Times changed it to: terday, decided this morning, well,
the assistance in firing employees at a Democrats block $1.7 trillion stimulus maybe we should take up the bill. One.
later time, as employers might do. Any bill citing worker concerns. That was One Democrat. Where are the rest?
of us who care about our employees headline No. 2. There are a lot of Democrats who
would be for that as well. There are a But then apparently the partisan like to hold themselves out as mod-
couple other things. leanings of the New York Times were erate Democrats. Where are they?
So I throw the gauntlet out to the too strong for that, and so they revised Right now, what the Democratic
leadership, who I think trotted out a it a third time to say: Partisan division leadership is doing is they are playing
lot of this other stuff, confused the halts discussion of the bill. games. They are playing games in a
process, and now we are here to where No, it wasn’t partisan division. It was way that is irresponsible.
we have to do it with unanimous con- one party—the Democratic Party—say- Listen, this bill has a lot of impor-
sent. ing to this Chamber and the American tant elements for a lot of people who
I feel good that our side comes along are hurting. You have not only the peo-
people: Hell, no. We will not even take
on three key areas: helping State and
this up and discuss it. ple who are hospitalized, the people
local governments, helping the front-
At a time of crisis, at a time when who are suffering, but you also have
line of defense, hospitals, and holding
people are dying, that is wrong. That is economic devastation, as much of this
the big companies accountable that are
shameful. country has ground to a halt.
going to get the benefit of government
When we awakened this morning, fol- We have people who work in res-
assistance. And we need to keep in
lowing the Democrats’ obstruction, taurants, waiters, waitresses, bellboys
mind: This isn’t 2008, where you are
worldwide there were 372,563 reported who haven’t gone to work in over a
looking at bailing out and helping
cases of the coronavirus. In the hours week. We have people in hotels. I have
some of the people who caused the
since then, just today, there have been spoken to business owner after busi-
problem.
Even these larger businesses have an additional 23,352 cases reported ness owner after business owner for the
been impacted by government edict to today. While the Democrats are block- last week.
ing the bill, 23,000 new cases today. One hotel owner described how he
flatten the curve, and what we have to
In the United States, when we start- currently had 6 percent occupancy
make sure is that we get this out the
ed this morning, there were 35,224 rates. You can’t keep a hotel running
door so that, in the process of flat-
cases—this morning. Right now, as of with 6 percent occupancy rates.
tening the curve, we do not flatten the
the latest numbers, there are 41,708 I talked to one hotel owner who de-
economy. We owe it to every wage
cases in the United States today. That scribed how he had made 5,000 layoffs
earner, to every small business, and to
means we have had an additional 6,484 in the last week. Another hotel owner
Americans in general.
Let’s take those three areas that cases today while the Democrats are had made 6,000 layoffs in the past week.
many Democrats told me today if we blockading—and by the way, where are I talked to an oil and gas business
just get them freed up, we will get it the Democrats? owner who had laid off 5,000 workers in
across the finish line. That is the C–SPAN doesn’t show this whole the past week. I talked to another oil
gauntlet I throw at the leadership on Chamber often, but it would be nice if and gas business owner who had laid off
the other side. Let’s get it done. The they did because that entire side of the 5,000 workers in the last week.
Chamber is empty. They are not show- You know, today I am thinking about
American public expects us to.
I yield the floor. ing up for work. They are not doing people like my friends, the Republic
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. their job. Country Club. Now, Republic Country
BOOZMAN). The Senator from Texas. In Texas this morning, there had Club is a bit of a misnomer. It is a bar-
Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, this is a been 668 cases. As of right now, there becue joint outside of Houston. It is
time of extraordinary crisis for our Na- are 722—54 more cases today while the owned by my friend Michael Berry. It
tion. Democrats are blocking consideration is often the venue of country-western
In this time of crisis, I call upon each of this bill. concerts. The venue is sometimes for
of our colleagues on both sides of the How about deaths? Look, as we look comedy shows.
aisle to rise above—rise above paid par- at this crisis, there are people right I went and took my dad to Larry the
tisanship, rise above the bickering that now gasping for breath. You and I, we Cable Guy at Republic Country Club. I
so often consumes Washington, rise have friends who have been diagnosed have had multiple election night par-
above and put first the priorities of the with this disease. We have read stories. ties at Republic Country Club. It is a
millions of Americans who are hurt. We have talked to people who have big old honky-tonk. You have never
Look, there is a time for political struggled under it. seen so many confused national report-
disagreements. There is a time for pol- I heard from one individual who is ers as they walked in and looked
icy disagreements. I am no stranger to hospitalized right now that breathing around and didn’t know what to make
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
robust political and policy disagree- felt like a belt strapped across his of the place.
ments. But we are in this midst of a chest; that he could barely breathe. Father’s Day a year ago, I did a Fa-
global pandemic. People are dying. As of this morning, worldwide, there ther’s Day party at Republic Country
People are suffering. had been 16,381 deaths. I am sorry— Club. My dad—we roasted up two whole
Last night, when this Senate voted that is the number now. This morning pigs. The cook staff at the barbecue
on whether to move forward with emer- it was only 15,308. That means today, place, they made them up and had a big
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1947
party. We invited people there. It is a crisis, where you need people just to be she is pushing, I ask you, do these have
Cuban tradition to roast a whole pig. able to make it to tomorrow, putting anything to do with the coronavirus
Now, why am I telling you about Re- some resources in their hands makes a epidemic?
public Country Club? Because yester- big difference. A number of people have cited the
day, which happened to be my father’s Another element of this bill that is famed quote of Rahm Emanuel: ‘‘Never
81st birthday—yesterday Republic being blocked by Senate Democrats is let a good crisis go to waste.’’ Sadly,
Country Club announced they are clos- $350 billion in emergency loans to we are seeing the embodiment of that
ing their doors. small businesses—to small businesses cynical approach right now because all
Yesterday Michael Berry sent out a like Republic Country Club, to small of the people out of jobs, the Demo-
tweet telling first responders, telling businesses like restaurants and bars, crats are using to push—what are they
police officers and firefighters and ev- and small businesses like nail salons pushing for? Changing the emissions
eryone on the frontline, he said: Drive and barber shops and movie theaters standards for airplanes. What the hell
by Republic Country Club today— and dress shops and hardware stores, do the emissions standards for air-
March 23—drive by during the day, and small businesses that are right now planes have to do with millions of peo-
we will give you free barbecue. We are putting up the signs saying: ‘‘Closed ple out of work during the coronavirus
going to cook everything we have, and for coronavirus.’’ epidemic? Don’t treat this bill like a
we are just going to give it away and to Those emergency loans are designed partisan Christmas.
go. You can’t come in, but we are going to be given with the condition that Republicans have things we would
to give you to-go boxes. they keep their employees on payroll. like to advance, too, things I believe in
And he went on to say they are A lot of these small business owners deeply. You want to talk about what I
emptying out all of the liquor from the want to keep their employees on pay- would like to do? I would like to abol-
storeroom and from behind the bar, roll, but they don’t have the cash. ish the IRS. I campaigned all over the
and they are giving it to the employees Under the terms of this bill, those country for that. I will continue fight-
because the employees are all being loans are forgiven if—if—if they keep ing for that, but I am not standing here
laid off. And he said he doesn’t know if their employees on payroll. with an amendment, saying: As part of
he will open again. By the way, the Democratic talking this emergency relief, let’s abolish the
Now, I will tell you, those employ- point is, oh, this is just cash to busi- IRS. There is a place for that political
ees—the bartenders, the bouncers— nesses. Tell that to the owner of the and policy discussion.
many of them are veterans. Many of barber shop who takes an emergency The Democrats are pushing wind and
them are big guys, covered with tats. loan to not fire all of her employees. solar tax credits. What in the hell does
They are salt of the earth, and right That loan, under the terms, is forgiven a windmill have to do with this crisis,
now they don’t know where the rent if the employees stay on the payroll. other than some Democratic lobbyists
The Democrats are blocking that right getting fat and rich, and they are will-
check is coming from next week.
That is happening all across this now. ing to extort a crisis to try to advance
country. That is happening not just at What about unemployment insur- their political agenda?
ance? The job numbers coming out There are mandates on corporate
one barbecue place in Houston. That is
board diversity. So these are Demo-
happening at bars. That is happening shortly I expect to be massive in terms
crats who want to social-engineer. Lis-
at nail salons. It is happening at movie of the job losses. I think we will see
ten, I actually have a lot of problems
theaters. north of 2 or 3 million people who lost
with corporate boards. We have far too
You know, I love Sunday night to go their jobs, and the numbers are getting
many corporate boards that are docile
with a buddy of mine and go watch a worse. Every phone call I have is with
and do what management wants. That
movie. Movie theaters are shut down more people who are losing their jobs.
is a serious problem. There is a lot of
all over this country. It is bad. It will come back, but it is
discussion about stock buybacks. I tell
Retail stores—people laid off. Nobody bad right now. We need emergency sup-
you, what I am concerned about with
is going to the mall right now, and for port to get people through this dark
stock buybacks is when you have com-
the people who are hurting, they are time. pensation agreements in place that the
scared. They don’t know, No. 1, if they This bill has $250 billion for addi-
executives get rich if they get a short-
are going to get sick, but No. 2, they tional unemployment insurance. What
term boost in share price, and it ends
don’t know how they are going to does that mean? That is an additional
up hurting the shareholders. I would
make ends meet. $600 per week for an additional 13
love to see more vigorous boards of di-
This is a time of crisis, and we ought weeks. If you are one of the waitresses
rectors that make sure you are not cre-
to be coming together. right now who have just been told their ating incentives to gain a stock price.
Now, listen, this bill that we were jobs have gone away and you applied That is a reasonable question. But they
moving to, I don’t necessarily agree for unemployment insurance, if this want to mandate, effectively, quotas
with every word of it, but there are a bill passes, you get an extra $600 imme- on boards of directors. What in the hell
number of elements in this bill that are diately. But you know what—you don’t does that have to do with this crisis?
designed to provide real help to people right now because Senate Democrats The Pelosi wish list wants to restruc-
who are hurting. are blocking this. If they have reason- ture the debt of the post office. Last
One element of this bill is to give able concerns, they are welcome to time I checked, our postal workers go
cash—an immediate check for $1,200— raise them. through wind and rain and snow, but
to every person in this country, every By the way, this bill was drafted with they haven’t been laid off.
adult in this country earning under the participation of nearly a dozen I call upon both sides—don’t play
$75,000 a year, $2,400 for every couple Senate Democrats who were actively games with this. This crisis isn’t going
earning under $150,000 a year, plus $500 part of the task force’s submitting sug- to end tomorrow. It is not going to end
for every child they have. gestions. One of the suggestions the the next day. It is going to last for a
Now, you want to talk about real re- Democrats submitted during the draft- considerable time. It is going to re-
lief for people who are scared and they ing was to plus-up those unemploy- quire adults to step up and lead.
say: What do I do next? Those are ment insurance numbers, and they got On the pandemic, we need to follow
checks that are coming in the mail. agreement. This was drafted in a bipar- the science. We need to listen to the
And what have the Democrats said? tisan manner. doctors. We need to listen to the physi-
No. Halt the checks. What happened? I will tell you. Yes- cians. We need to take the steps we are
Right now, those checks aren’t com- terday, Sunday, most of us thought we taking to keep people safe.
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
ing, and they aren’t coming for one were going to move with this, but then On the economy, we need to give peo-
reason: because the Senate Democrats NANCY PELOSI decided it is time to play ple who are hurting immediate relief,
are blocking taking up that bill. politics, decided to throw a grenade and we need to make sure a liquidity
In many circumstances, that would into this whole process. She had a list crisis doesn’t become a solvency crisis.
not be the right policy outcome, to just of demands—an over 1,000-page bill she It is interesting—many Democrats
send checks to people, but at a time of drops out of nowhere—and the demands are saying they don’t want corporate
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S1948 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
bailouts. I agree. I am passionately op- This is a time of crisis, not a time to to work, but as we work, let’s think
posed to corporate bailouts. One of the play games. It is time to rise above. It about where the people we work for are
things I was gratefully relieved about is a time to stand for the American right now.
as far as how this bill was structured is men and women. It is a time to stand We may say that we are stuck on
that it is structured as loans and not for jobs. It is a time to help protect some matters. We have people who are
condition-free grants. It is structured people’s lives. stuck in places that they never could
primarily so that it is not picking fa- I yield the floor. have imagined on this Monday. We
vored companies that happen to have a The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- have about 19 Alaskans who are stuck
big lobbying presence in Washington. ator from Alaska. in Peru, trying to get out of a country
What does it mean to not have a li- Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, we that has literally gone on lockdown.
quidity crisis become a solvency crisis? have heard a lot of passion here on the We were in a long conversation yester-
Let’s take, for example, the airlines. I Senate floor this afternoon, a lot of day with the folks at the State Depart-
have spoken with every major airline anger, a lot of frustration. It stems ment, trying to figure out how to help
CEO in the past 2 weeks. The airlines from the anxiety, the anger, and the them and how to help their families
are losing billions of dollars every frustration that are being felt across who are back home in Alaska, who are
month. They didn’t cause this problem. the country right now as Americans calling my office every day—some-
Unlike the financial crisis in 2008, this from Alaska to Arkansas are faced times multiple times a day—saying:
crisis was not caused by misconduct of with the reality of this new day—a What are you doing to help? What are
one industry or another. It is not the Monday that they thought they could you doing to help not only those 19
airlines’ fault that the Federal Govern- just never imagine. Last week, they Alaskans get out of a place like Peru
ment has shut down flights to Asia and had a healthy business and going con- but the pregnant woman with several
to Europe. That is not their fault. It is cern, and now that business has been children, the minor exchange student,
not the fault of the owner of a res- ordered shut down. It is a Monday and the families who are over there.
taurant in downtown Houston that the where we thought the kids were going Many of my colleagues were part of
city of Houston has shut down the res- back to school after spring break, and that call who were not only interested
taurant. It is not the small business now it has been announced that not in those who were stuck in Peru but
owner’s fault. only are they not going back after a those who were in Guatemala and Hon-
What we don’t want is, when the bills longer spring break, but right now in duras and El Salvador and other parts.
come due for all of those businesses, for my State, it has been extended until We got a good group out of Morocco.
them to have to sell their assets in a May 1, the kids go back to school. I un- We are getting calls from Alaskans
fire sale. We don’t want the restaurant derstand today from my assistant that who were seeking to leave the State for
owner who has a pizzeria, who has in Virginia, schools are not going to be other services. They get on the Alcan
saved to buy this fantastic pizza oven, going back in. They will not go back in Highway, and they are dealing with the
to have to sell the pizza oven for pen- before the end of this school year. That reality of a Canadian border closure to
nies on the dollar because a liquidity is pretty shocking. Here we are on a all nonessential traffic. So we get the
crisis has become a solvency crisis. We Monday that nobody could have imag- calls: What happens if we are going
don’t want our U.S. airlines to put up ined. down to Seattle for medical? Is the vet-
a garage sale effectively to sell all About 4 hours ago, we were here on eran who is in the car, who is going
their airplanes because they are going this floor to conduct a vote on a mo- down for medical purposes—is this an
bankrupt in the midst of a crisis. We tion to proceed to cloture—a motion to essential trip for him? They are saying:
want to come out of this with a strong, get on to a bill that had been worked What about the spouse in the car?
through by good men and women on Maybe. We don’t know. The uncer-
robust commercial airlines sector. We
both sides for days now. It hit bumps. tainty then comes to those individuals
want to come out of this with small
We do that around here. That is the na- about being stuck.
businesses thriving. We want to come We are not stuck here. Those are the
out of this with a thriving energy sec- ture of legislating. But this is not a
people you think about. What are we
tor. We want to come out of this with time for the bumps to derail us. This is
doing to help them? This talk doesn’t
jobs. not time that we have that is unlim- help them. It is not giving them any
I will close this the way I started—by ited to extend debate, to extend a proc- degree of certainty or any degree of re-
calling on Democrats and calling on ess when we have folks back home lief or any belief that we can get any-
Republicans to rise above petty par- whom we answer to who are angry, thing done. They are looking to us to
tisan games. The Democratic leaders frustrated, and anxious. At the end of help them.
are playing these games to every one of that vote, you heard anger from col- Right now, my hometown, Anchor-
you Democrats. Listen to the men and leagues saying this was a type of polit- age, is under a hunker-down order. Our
women in your States. Don’t give in to ical gamesmanship, brinksmanship— mayor decided he didn’t want to call it
the games. Most of the Democratic call it whatever you will. This is not a stay-at-home order or just a stand-
Senators say they don’t even know what the American people deserve, and down order. It is a hunker-down order,
what their side wants. But it is just this is not what we should be doing as and that hunker-down order went in
their leadership that is willing to hold a Senate. place last night. It will go through the
the American people hostage for unre- Our leader asked us: So where are end of the month here.
lated, political, partisan objectives. we? Where are we right now? I think he Last week—last Monday—I got a call
By the way, one of the reasons I was speaking more of where are we in from the mayor, who said: I am going
think Senate Democrats are so willing the process. We can ask that question to be closing down all the bars, all the
to engage in this is they expect the in this body and say: Are we mere restaurants, and the entertainment fa-
media to be utterly complicit in their hours away from being able to reach cilities. We have to work on contain-
cynical gamesmanship. So we stand agreement here? Where we are in the ment because, here in Alaska, we are
here this afternoon—and it is not only views of so many who are watching kind of at the end of the supply chain,
the Democratic side of the Chamber this right now, where the Republicans and it is a pretty scary place to be
that is empty, but as I look up to the are saying ‘‘We must move on this now. right now. So what defense do we have?
press, nobody is there. There is not a We don’t have time to wait. Daylight is We are going to be really aggressive on
single reporter sitting in the Chamber. a-wasting’’ to a response that ‘‘We are this shelter in place.
I have seen the New York Times—actu- still working. We are still working. We My son is a small businessman who
ally, nobody is sitting in the Chamber, are going to try to get this done’’—no, provides to the restaurants in town, so
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
so they may have closed the Chamber, we can’t just try to get this done. when the order comes out that the res-
in which case that may have been an I was asked about what I thought taurants are shut down, what does a
unfair assault. But it is not an unfair about the failure to come together on a small businessman, like my 26-year-old
assault to say that the New York vote last evening, and I said failure is son—where does he go? How does he
Times is changing its headline to give not an option. Plain and simple, failure move forward from that Monday to
political cover to Senate Democrats. is not an option. So we are continuing this Monday? It is pretty scary.
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1949
We went from a situation on Monday operation, but he is in a position now of my colleagues here in the Senate
of last week, when it was just one mu- where he has told all 90 of his employ- know, former Senator Mark Begich.
nicipality that ordered the closure of ees: You can stay here; we are not Politically, you couldn’t have two
restaurants and bars, to the following open; we will feed you. more different guys who are at the
day—the entire State has a full-on clo- My hope is that Bernie is going to be head of this task force, but it sent a
sure. We are a State that is isolated able to keep those 90 employees and signal to Alaskans: Look, we are all in
from everybody else in the continental that he is going to be able to pay them this together. There are no Republican
United States. We fly to get home. It is through the proposal that we have solutions; there are no Democrat solu-
a fact of our lives. built into this legislation that we have tions. They are just solutions, and we
We had a letter signed by multiple an opportunity to move, if we can only better figure them out. The State of
emergency room doctors just last do so. Alaska is working really hard to do
week, urging the Governor to ban non- His ask to me in that text was not that.
essential air travel. Think about what ‘‘Make sure that it is a $150 billion’’ or I was just visiting with some of our
that means. It is pretty debilitating for ‘‘It has to be at $1.5 trillion.’’ Do you Alaska labor leaders, and in addition to
a State like mine. You might say: Well, know what he ended his text to me the issues we are talking about, they
that is not going to happen. with? He said: We need to make Amer- are telling me their members are out
Well, let me tell you what is hap- ica kind again. He wants to take care making personal protective equipment.
pening. Right now, nonessential travel of his family, his work family, and he They are getting the sewing machines
is—there is a strict advisory against wants to know we are going to be re- out; they are getting the fabrics at
nonessential travel to the State and sponsive to that and that we will show JOANN Fabric, and they are just mak-
within the State. We have villages in that kindness that we would all hope ing things. They are doing what needs
the interior part of the State, predomi- would come. to be done.
nantly, that are banning outsiders I am so discouraged as I listen to the We are reminded that so much good
from coming into the village by air- nature of the partisan words that are can come together if we just kind of
plane. So that might mean visitors on this floor today because that is the lay down our partisan arms and say:
coming in; this time of year, it is pret- last thing this body needs. That is the What do we need to do for this coun-
ty tough to have a big tourism indus- last thing this country needs. They try? What do you want for Arkansas?
try in the interior part of the Alaska, need assurance from us. They need to What do we need for Alaska? What do
but the reality is, that also means have confidence that we get the ur- we need for one another? Right now, we
those planes that would be bringing gency, that we hear their cries, and don’t need the words that just further
that we are not just sitting back here separate us as Americans.
your supplies—now, if there is a med-
I haven’t talked about the contents
ical emergency, they would ask for re- bickering because I haven’t got my No.
of the bill that we have in front of us
lief. 1 project or if we are going to make
because so many before me this after-
This is how extreme the actions are this even-steven—if there needs to be
noon have. I think we all share the de-
because, in Alaska, we fully felt the one Republican priority, then there
sire—I hope we all share the desire to
impact of the Spanish influenza that needs to be another Democratic pri-
get this done readily and to get it done
took out whole villages a century ago. ority over there.
quickly because right now—right
Our Native communities, as remote Do you know what? We all represent
now—Americans are losing hope.
and isolated as they are, are absolutely people of different political persua- I yield the floor.
fearful that we will see a repeat of that sions. My job as a Senator from the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
Spanish influenza. So if we have to State of Alaska is to represent all ator from Indiana.
shut off all economic activity, we are those Alaskans, and I would like to Mr. YOUNG. Mr. President, growing
doing that. think that all Alaskans think protec- up, my dad used to tell me on a regular
This weekend, a huge effort was tive equipment for our medical pro- basis: ‘‘You should never speak up un-
made to move our homeless popu- viders is a priority for all of us. I would less you can improve upon the silence.’’
lations out of the crowded shelters into like to think that it is a priority for all I tried to take that to heart in my per-
the shut-down sports arena and hockey of us, for all Alaskans, that we say it is sonal life and in my professional life.
arena so that we can put them in an best to keep those employees as part of Today I feel like I can improve upon
area and a place where there is, hope- your business, to keep that held in the silence. I have a deep conviction
fully, sufficient 6-foot distancing. place until we can get on the other side that the U.S. Senate is not living up to
The hotels around the State—I have of the immediacy of the health crisis the expectations of the American peo-
listened to our colleagues. We are all in so that we can work together to avoid ple. The American people deserve a
the same situation with the impact a further economic crisis. U.S. Senate as good as the American
that is happening to our businesses as But, instead, this Monday, the Amer- people. They deserve a U.S. Senate
we are shutting down, and these busi- ican public and Alaskans who are that is responsive when they need gov-
ness owners are making the difficult counting on me back home—instead of ernment most.
decisions that they are. being able to see this hope from their I suppose it is fashionable these days
This morning, the faxes that I got— elected leaders that we have it and to use so many of our institutions in
the Quality Inn in Kodiak, AK, is lay- that we understand the urgency, what society to elevate ourselves. Well,
ing off 13 jobs. This is from the Baranof they see are the partisan words. What folks, this institution—this institu-
hotel in Juneau—most of us who have they see is an empty Chamber. What tion—its credibility is at stake. The
ever spent any time talking to our leg- they hear is as much a measure of dys- American people need this institution
islators know this is our most signifi- function as everything they see in to function.
cant hotel in our capital city—laying their world around them right now. I was a U.S. marine after graduating
off 45 hotel positions. One of the things our Governor has from college, and I never saw a war. I
This is a reality that for them, as done—and, man, he has made some never saw a national emergency or a
they are watching what is happening hard choices in the past week to 10 major crisis. I am very straightforward
here in the Senate—or perhaps the in- days. He has made some decisions that about that, but I have to say, I was
action that is happening here before will have significant and serious eco- ready for a war. I was prepared for that
the cameras—they are saying: Do I nomic impact on a State that is al- big day when the United States of
have alternatives to these layoffs? Will ready on its knees. America really, really needed me, and I
there be the level of support for me to One of the things he did was put to- made sure all of my marines were pre-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
keep my employees retained and to gether what he is calling the Alaska pared. We were prepared to do our duty
keep our community moving forward? economic stabilization task force. This when it mattered most.
I received a text from a friend who conservative Republican Governor has As it relates to this pandemic, I have
owns Chena Hot Springs Resort. He has appointed two cochairs. One cochair is to say that the American people are
owned that resort now for 22 years. It a former Republican Governor, Sean ready. Look around. It makes you
has never closed since he has had it in Parnell, and the other one is one many proud.
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S1950 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
Are we not a unified people? Are we takes us to come together, the more $11 billion for vaccines, therapeutics,
a Tribal people? There is a lot of con- damage that is going to be done. This diagnostics, and other preparedness
versation about that among political is an emergency. needs, masks, gloves, and ventilators;
circles. Spend some time in my neigh- It is time, my colleagues on the other $75 billion for hospitals; $4.5 billion for
borhood. Spend some time back home side of the aisle, to take yes for an an- the Centers for Disease Control; $12 bil-
in Indiana right now. Maybe it took swer and not play games. lion for America’s military as it helps
some separation, some social So what does this bill do? It is noth- respond to this pandemic, and so on.
distancing. Maybe it took some time ing controversial. It provides addi- That is what the bill is all about. That
away from work, some time away from tional assistance for healthcare needs. is what we are fighting about.
social gatherings. Maybe it took can- This is a pandemic. We need more So what happened? How did things go
cellation, unfortunately, of March masks. We need more PPEs. Our hos- off track? Well, it may surprise some
Madness, the NCAA tournament, to re- pitals are swamped. They can’t conduct folks, but I have a very positive rela-
mind us all that we are deeply con- elective surgeries anymore. Their fi- tionship with the Democratic leader.
nected with one another. And we long nances are out of whack. We need to We just happen to have a lot of prin-
for those connections, regardless of po- help them out. cipled disagreements. And at the very
litical philosophy and regardless of the What else does it do? It helps indi- end of a bipartisan process, when he
fact that we have an election going on. vidual Americans. Folks are resource- and other Members of his caucus try
That is not what is real important to constrained right now. They can’t go and insert provisions pertaining to the
regular people. to work. So 1,200 bucks, at least for Green New Deal and other far-left pri-
Americans are coming together. starters, per American; $2,400 per mar- orities into this package, then, that, of
They are ready for this emergency, and ried couple; and an additional $500 if course, disrupts our emergency re-
this is, indeed, an emergency. Make no you have dependents—that is really sponse.
mistake, look across the country at all going to make a difference in Hoosiers’ So now we have Speaker PELOSI,
the National Guards who are being mo- lives. seemingly, hijacking the process. That
bilized. We need to make sure that people is right. She is over in the House of
This is an emergency that people in have lives to go back to once we get Representatives. She is not even part
my home State have been responding through this, as well, and that is why of this body, and her folks are all
to favorably. The Senate needs to as this legislation is designed to provide home. The House isn’t in session, but
well. Folks in my neighborhood are much needed liquidity for these busi- Speaker PELOSI wanted to remain rel-
putting bags of groceries on people’s nesses. They still have debts to pay. evant. She decided she wanted to get
doorsteps who are unable to go out and They still have debts. They want to some TV time, I suppose, and so her
get groceries themselves. I know this make payroll. proposal involves federalizing voting.
from my own family. They are calling I can’t tell you—I mean, I have We can have an honest debate about
senior citizens they know who they talked to so many small businessmen whether it is appropriate to federalize
think are probably lonely at this time. in tears. I have talked to leaders of our the voting system, to mandate early
They are coming together. largest corporations as well. I will tell voting, or same-day voter registration.
Back in Evansville, one of my you, I talked to a lady who didn’t That is something that should be de-
friends, J.P., who is a business owner think things looked real good. We bated in the U.S. Senate because I
and very active in the community, and didn’t really have a whole lot of time know it is a priority for so many of my
I were on the phone the other day. I to respond to this. Meeting payroll, colleagues.
think, like other Members, I have had paying for rent, paying your leases, Again, there are elements of the
countless phone calls in the last week paying for mortgages, these are the es- Green New Deal. We can debate wheth-
or so with businessowners, not-for-prof- sentials, folks. er or not there has to be a full offset of
it leaders, healthcare providers, and And this is not 2008. That was a hor- airline emissions by 2025 some other
rank-and-file citizens. This active cit- rible crisis. But we are coming off of time. We can debate whether or not
izen, this community leader, J.P. in the best economy, arguably, in five greenhouse gas statistics for individual
Evansville, says that he was on the decades. And because the economy was flights should be widely available.
phone with the mayor, local business so good, people were optimistic about Let’s work on that separately after we
leaders, local healthcare leaders, and a the future. And through no fault of help the American people. Let’s not
bunch of others from Southern Indiana, their own, businessmen did sort of the work on pet priorities. We can debate
and they were all on the same page. rational thing. They invested in the fu- permanent paid leave—permanent paid
They have figured out how to come to- ture, the property, the plant, and the leave granted by the Federal Govern-
gether, how to solve local problems to- equipment that is required to grow. ment some other time. This is a pan-
gether. They were all ready to tackle They were working on taking market demic. It is an economic emergency, a
this because they sensed what we share. All of those who believe in the public health emergency. The Amer-
should all sense: The sooner you can free enterprise system can associate ican people want a response. They
tackle these challenges, the sooner the ourselves with what they were trying don’t want us to focus on this right
pain will end, and the sooner we will to accomplish. now.
reduce anxiety among our neighbors. But 2008 was a little different. The I made a lot of phone calls in recent
They are all determined to work to- economy was lethargic. The bottom days back home. None of this is pos-
gether. In fact, he said he had not seen fell out of the economy. In sort of an sible without the wherewithal, without
such unity within the community of ironic twist, when the economy is the hard work of sturdy Americans,
Evansville, IN, since 9/11. It says a lot. down, people are paying down their and without great American innova-
Well, the Senate must be ready. This debts. They are bolstering that balance tion, none of the resources that are re-
package, the CARES Act, was nego- sheet. They are maintaining some liq- quired to actually sustain our govern-
tiated in a bipartisan way—two Demo- uid assets in anticipation of further ment, to feed our families. People need
crats, two Republicans, in consultation tough times. We don’t have that ben- places to work.
with each of the varying working efit right now. We can measure the Here is what is happening in Indiana,
groups. They put together a package. prospects of our employers in days. For a little snapshot. The RV industry, the
It all came together, and it was intro- many of them, it is too late. global headquarters of the recreational
duced. It was all bipartisan until it The U.S. Senate needs to treat this vehicle industry, is in Elkhart, IN. We
came time to vote on a procedural vote like an emergency because it is an are seeing RV companies temporarily
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
yesterday. emergency. shutting down in Indiana, and I know
You know, this virus may seem to So what else does this legislation do? we are seeing it across the country.
many small because it has impacted a Well, there is a category—let me just The hotel industry, today, the two
small percentage of our population di- group it together. Let me call it, incon- largest hotels in Indianapolis had to
rectly, but I have to say that its im- trovertibly, emergency funding. There shut their doors. I am not just talking
pact is growing rapidly. The longer it is $20 billion for veterans’ healthcare; about buildings shutting their doors;
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1951
this closure is going to mean the loss At this difficult moment, let’s come to- say March 20, which was last Friday—
of employment for about 780 full-time gether like we did in 9/11, like our we had, at that time, 210,000 cases that
workers. Think of all of the family country has so consistently when the were known. They have been infected.
members who depend on those workers. chips are really down. Two days later, it was 322,000.
This is an emergency. Let’s all take part in this effort. I en- Now look at the ones who have died.
The auto industry—Hoosiers proudly courage all of my constituents and On March 20, it was 8,800 people died.
manufacture the components for the anyone else around the country to en- But 2 days after that, it was 13,714.
auto industry. They assemble those courage your Senators—Republicans Now, that is globally.
components into finished automobiles. and Democrats alike. Stand up. Speak Look at here in the United States of
That industry has been brought to a out. Send emails. Tell your neighbors. America. On March 20, there were
halt on account of this unique crisis, It is time for this body to move. It is 10,500 people who contracted it, and
and the worst, we hear, is yet to come. time for us to deal with this crisis once then, just 2 days later, it was 31,000. It
Airlines, they are feeling the most and for all. We will make America tripled in 2 days. That is what we are
immediate impact. I flew the other day great again from the bottom up. It facing right now. On the deaths, they
from my home in the Indianapolis area. doesn’t have to take that long. We can tripled—the same thing: 150 deaths on
I flew out of the airport to Washington, bounce back, but the longer we wait, March 20, and 390 deaths on the 22nd, 2
DC. It wasn’t a chartered flight. I was the harder it will be. Let’s do our jobs. days later.
the only passenger. I was the only pas- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Now, that puts it in a different cat-
senger on the aircraft. We know that is ator from Oklahoma. egory. We have never had anything like
not a sustainable business model when Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, we are that to talk about. The reason I do
you are paying for the fuel, you have a getting a lot of redundancy around that, when I am talking to people in
pilot, a copilot, a flight attendant, and here, but it is worth it. I have been sit- Oklahoma, is that, like a lot of people,
me. This is an emergency. St. Elmo ting here for several hours now listen- I have been in this position before,
ing to my colleagues. I don’t recall, in when it looks like we are overreacting
Steak House is one restaurant of the
the 25 years I have been here, seeing and we look like we are creating a cri-
restaurants across Indiana that have
this happening, over and over. And ev- sis—something that hasn’t happened
had to close their doors. St. Elmo just
erything that is said is so significant. before. But, in this case, this is a crisis.
had to do it. It is the first time it has
The Senator from Alaska talked So it is important. There are a lot of
had to do it since 1902. They were even
about the fact that we are all in this people around who are thinking: Well,
able to keep their doors open in the
together. We are, and things were you know, this is kind of manufac-
midst of the 1918 flu pandemic.
going well for a while. I am actually tured. It is not that big of a deal.
This is bad. This is an emergency. In this case, it is. So, at the same
The Senate needs to act. going to, I think, end with a little bit
time, we have thousands of Americans
We have Sanjay Patel. He is the of optimism right now. I may be the
who are losing their jobs. We have been
president of an Indianapolis-based com- only one doing that, because I think
listening to this on the floor for a long
pany, and he and my team spoke re- something is going to happen tonight. I
period of time, and sometimes it is im-
cently. He said that he had to lay off at think it has to happen tonight. We
portant to be redundant, to talk about
least 100 workers just last week, with don’t have the luxury of waiting.
these things, about people who are
another 150 layoffs likely this week. Now, I have never seen a crisis like
being forced to shut down without any
These are families. These are individ- this. We are not used to dealing with
sense when they might reopen.
uals who take pride in their work. crises. Gosh, we have been through You are spared probably 15 minutes
They want to go back to work. wars. We have been through things or so of the examples that I had in my
Here is what Sanjay said: that we have considered to be crises. State of Oklahoma—bakeries and oth-
We’re thinking of closing a few of them This is a different dimension. We are ers. The Senator from Indiana did a
here—it’s just deteriorating every day. It talking about people who are dying. good job, and I think it would be un-
was worse last night than the night before, As for the coronavirus, we all know necessary to go over all of that. We all
and it was worse the night before than 2 days where it came from: Wuhan in China. It have those stories. There is not a Mem-
ago. It’s just deteriorating and I think it’s has caused global panic. By the way,
just a matter of time [until] we close down. ber—Democrat or Republican—in this
they call it a pandemic. There is a rea- body who has not had these experiences
It is an emergency. It is not time for son for that, because this isn’t just and who could talk about the experi-
NANCY PELOSI’s priorities. It is time for something happening in the United ences.
the American people’s priorities. States of America. This is happening So we started working. This is going
We have a baking shop with locations all over the world—everywhere. No one to sound pretty phony when I say this,
in Carmel and Indianapolis that had to is immune. This is something that we but I was so proud, and I talked about
lay some workers off. Their owner said: don’t have a cure for right now. how proud I was of the Democrats be-
My heart goes out to my Cake Bake fam- The Senator from Indiana kept using cause, until just yesterday, we were all
ily, whom I was forced to lay off during this the word ‘‘emergency.’’ This is an working together. We were having our
horrible virus. I am working with my banks, emergency. It is an emergency unlike meetings. I was with MITCH MCCON-
my insurance company, my accountant and any that we have seen so far. It is NELL, and he was showing the progress
the government to try and create some sort something that is highly contagious,
of relief support for my team. I am doing ev- we were having. The Democrats were
erything in my power to help all 170 of them.
something that we can’t do anything cooperating. We really thought really
All tips received at both of our bakery about. No one is immune. good things were going to happen. We
counters will be divided and shared with our As of Sunday, according to the World really believed that.
servers. Hoping to get through this difficult Health Organization, there were 292,000 So we have been working around the
time together, coming out on the other end cases globally and almost 13,000 deaths. clock in bipartisan negotiations, and
with the safety and health for our families. Let me put that in a different perspec- we believed that this weekend substan-
I heard from a small optometry prac- tive because I have had the honor, in tial progress was being made on a com-
tice in North Vernon. They have 12 em- the last several days—and I am talking prehensive phase 3.
ployees. The owner says: about including the weekend—of talk- Now, let’s keep in mind that this is
We simply don’t have the cash to fund ing to people in Oklahoma. phase 3 that we are talking about now.
their wages while they are off work. I am I think, this morning, we talked to This is the one that I anticipate to-
saving what cash I have to pay them, their every single radio, television, and night we will vote successfully on. We
vacation and personal day time. We are in newspaper in the State. I always start have to do that. If we don’t do it, peo-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
trouble and need help. my speeches, to make sure everyone ple are going to die. This is not like it
This isn’t somebody who is used to understands, with why this is not any- is going to cost so much money or
asking for help. This is the time to give thing we have done before, why it is so some people are going to be inconven-
them help. Let’s not allow this legisla- significant. I explain to people: Today ienced. People are dying.
tion to be hijacked. Let’s live up to the is the 23rd. Let’s take the 22nd and the So we had these bipartisan negotia-
high standards of the American people. 21st. If you go back to the 21st—or let’s tions, and I thought we were doing
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S1952 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
great work. While the Senate has been it. But they are going to change it. So, know where it is. Nonetheless, there
working here on solutions to this cri- in this thing that we are going to be are things like masks, gowns, ventila-
sis, the Democrat House has been on voting on, hopefully, tonight—and I tors, and that type of thing. It is a
recess. I am not really concerned. If think we are—it is going to change it smaller amount—only $2 billion—but
they feel they can do that, that is fine. so that they will be reimbursed when write it down, and put it in there.
But that didn’t stop the Speaker of that time comes. There is $500 billion for support of in-
the House, and this is where the prob- Now, those who are conservatives out dividuals. This is the one I hear mostly
lem came in. See, everything was great there, I want you to keep track of what about from conservatives. Conserv-
until last night, up until the vote time. we are talking about here. Get a pencil atives, listen carefully. There is going
We were going to vote at 6 last night, and paper out. Write these things to be a cash payment to individuals of
and we thought we were going to be down. I want you to know what we are $1,200—$1,200. Here is a check for $1,200.
successful in that vote at 6 last night. talking about. That would be for people in categories
What we didn’t know is that the The total amount of this phase 3 is where they—they are not wealthy peo-
Speaker came back, even though they going to be somewhere around $1.6 tril- ple. If they are married, it wouldn’t be
are on recess, and she threw a wrench lion. That is a ‘‘t’’ we are talking $1,200; it would be $2,400. That is per in-
into everything that we are doing, all about—not billion. This is a trillion. dividual. If they have kids, for each
the bipartisan talks. She came to town If you look at the things that are in kid, it would be $500 additional.
and decided to make this a partisan ex- there, like the major problems and the That is out there, and that is a part
ercise. House Democrats are now de- corrections that were made in phase 2, of this thing that a lot of people and
manding that the far-left wish of rad- that is a part of this that is going on. particularly conservatives look at and
ical policies be included in what is oth- For small businesses it is $350 billion. don’t like. This is different. This is dif-
erwise a bipartisan agreement. Write it down and add it up as we go ferent from anything else we have done
I think their feeling was this: We are along here—$350 billion. That is to take before. We are trying to survive right
going to spend all this money. We have care of some of the problems that came now. People are dying every day. I hope
to get everything in there. If it has out that weren’t addressed in phase 2. I don’t have to go out and repeat what
nothing to do with the crisis, if it has We are talking about loans up to $10 we started out with on how many peo-
nothing to do with the virus, then, this million to individuals through 2020. All ple are dying every day.
is the time to do it. So the idea was employers with up to 500 employees are Unemployment benefits. Think of the
that they wanted to spend more. eligible for this. The repayment of cost of that—39 weeks of unemploy-
I think the Senator from Indiana did that—these are loans, but that is going ment benefits for the coronavirus job
a good job of talking about some of the to be delayed for 1 year. They don’t losses. In addition to that, they have
provisions that we are talking about, have to pay back a portion of the loan, benefits that increase by $600 a week.
but I want to ask: Is there anybody out but most of that would have to be paid Usually, it is the States that pay for it.
there right now who is a conservative? back. That is $350 billion. The States can’t do it.
Is there anyone out there who has real- Healthcare provisions. We have $75 My State of Oklahoma—we have a
ly kept track of what kind of spending billion that goes to hospitals and great Governor in Oklahoma, Kevin
we are talking about here? healthcare providers throughout the Stitt. Yet he is not able to do that. We
We have never seen anything like it. country. These are mostly for the larg- never anticipated the expenses we are
Remember phase 1. That was the $8.3 er hospitals. You have a smaller going to have. We never anticipated
billion emergency supplemental. That amount—$275 million—that would ex- what has happened to our income—the
was for State and local response and pand services to rural hospitals. revenues that come into the State that
testing kits, and that is fine. People In the State of Oklahoma, we have a we have always expected since state-
understood that. That was $8.3 billion lot of rural hospitals. A lot of our rural hood in Oklahoma, which was not that
in phase 1. hospitals have gone under. long ago compared to other States.
Phase 2 came along. By the way, I I can remember one time, back when That is something we know the cost of,
have to admit that this was the one Bill Clinton was the President, we had and we have never had to have the loss
phase I voted against for this reason: this great thing, and all my conserv- of revenue in the State of Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a little different than a ative friends were voting to support like we are having today.
lot of other States. We have a larger this. This was a budget balance amend- Unemployment benefits. There is 39
number of small businesses in Okla- ment that would bring down the def- weeks of unemployment benefits for
homa than most other States have, and icit, but it was doing it on the backs of the job losses on coronavirus. We are
they are the ones we have been talking rural hospitals. At that time, I was talking about, on unemployment bene-
to. We have been talking to them be- ranked as the most conservative Mem- fits, $600 a week. As I said, normally
cause they are going to be recognizing ber in the U.S. Senate, and I voted that is paid for by the State but not in
that, after all the efforts they have against it. All of my conservative this case.
made in their careers and what they friends said: Wait a minute; how can Emergency loans for distressed in-
have done, they are going to go out of you do that? We can do that because in dustries in States: $500 billion in total.
business. the State of Oklahoma, we have to People are talking about it. The speak-
So one of the things they said that take care of our rural hospitals. er before me talked about coming here
had to be corrected was found in phase That is in there—$275 million. Add it in an empty airplane. I came in on
2. In phase 2, it says there that, when up. Write it down. Monday, a week ago today, and there
they mandate small business do things There is $3.5 billion for vaccine devel- were only 14 people on a 737 airplane.
like paid leave and other expenses, it is opment. That has to be done. We have Obviously, that is something that can’t
fine for them to go ahead and do that to find a cure for this. Every day, you continue. We also have to take care of
if the Federal Government is going to hear new ideas coming along. Is it the the cargo people. It is $50 billion for
refund the expenses for that. And they same thing that can be done for ma- passenger air and $8 billion for cargo
were going to do it, but not for several laria? Is it the same thing that can be air.
weeks. So our position was—those of us done for other problems? Again, the I say this because I want you to keep
who had a lot of small businesses—that cost is there. We are going to have to adding this stuff up.
we want to make sure that, when phase do that. That is $3.5 billion. Then you have another figure: $17 bil-
3 comes, we have a provision in there There is a $2 billion item for a na- lion for national security firms.
that will change that, in the event that tional security stockpile. How many That leaves about $425 billion for the
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
you end up having to pay for mandated people know that there is such a thing Treasury if they determine something
things—paid leave and other things for as a national security stockpile? They has been overlooked, so they can take
your employees. That is great. It is don’t know. I am a Member of the U.S. care of that.
great that you are doing it because Senate, and I can’t even tell you where I started out with saying that I want
there is no other way in this crisis we it is. The reason I can’t is because it is the conservatives in America to be lis-
are in the middle of that they can do classified. People are not supposed to tening because as of now, GovTrack
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1953
had me down as the most conservative those individuals who are the ‘‘hate we have all talked about today that we
Member of the U.S. Senate. So I want Trump’’ people have to realize that the are in the middle of right now, we are
people who have been adding this up to economy is the best economy we have going to go back, and we will be thank-
realize that even I, with that back- had. There are a couple of ways that he ing God we started this whole thing
ground, am saying we are dealing with did it. First of all, there was the big with one of the best economies we have
something we have never dealt with be- tax cut. There are two things that ever had.
fore. caused this. One was the tax cut. When we are looking at what is hap-
As we look and we see the tax credits I have a reason for bringing this up pening every day—and I am not going
for solar and some of these things that right now, at the conclusion of my re- to go back and repeat it, but we know
were a part of the liberal agenda, this marks; that is, when we had the tax it is happening—the number of people
is something that is going on, and that cut, it wasn’t a Republican idea, it was who are dying on a daily basis, every
is what we are dealing with right now. a Democratic idea. That was John Ken- day we put this off, people are dying.
Everything was great until last nedy. He was President in 1964. What For that reason, I really think that
night, and we were making great head- did he say? He said: You know, with right now, somewhere in the Capitol, in
way. I was complimenting the Demo- the Great Society coming on, we have a room, we have Democrats and Repub-
crats on the cooperation we had, and to get more revenue. We have to get licans who are going to come to some
we can get that back again. But this more revenue, and the best way to in- sort of an agreement. I don’t care when
temporary thing came in where all of a crease your revenue is to decrease the it is—it can be midnight; it can be any-
sudden you have the Speaker of the marginal tax rates. He did it, and it time—it has to happen. We are out of
House looking at her liberal agenda worked. Unfortunately, he died and time. This is a crisis. We don’t have the
and saying: Hey, there is a lot of could not reap the benefits of that suc- luxury of time. It is going to have to be
money out there. I have to get mine. cess. The revenues came in rapidly at done. It is going to have to be done to-
Let’s get in line and do that. that time. night.
They want money for emissions Other efforts for reducing taxes have With that, I yield the floor.
standards. What has that got to do been successful too. President Trump The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
with the virus? It means nothing. It coupled that with doing away with ator from Tennessee.
has nothing to do with it. It is not overregulation. I can remember mine. I Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, it
what Americans want, and these things was very happy that mine was the first is so interesting to sit here and listen
have nothing to do with the crisis. bill he signed. It was a regulation. It to our colleagues because the thing
I have to say that PELOSI is going to was put together back during the pre- that touches me the most is that we
have to wake up and take this seri- vious administration. It said: If you are are all talking to, talking with, and lis-
ously and stop playing political games. a domestic oil or gas company and you tening to our constituents, and cer-
It has to happen now. It has to happen are competing for business with China tainly Tennesseans are talking with us
tonight. Stop and calculate, every day or somebody else, you have to give and expressing some of their fears.
we take, how many people are dying them your whole playbook on how you Earlier today, I had a call from a
during that time. We have never been calculated your—well, that was giving small business owner who is in Ten-
faced with this before. It is time for the a distinct advantage. It was part of the nessee, and she said: I am going to
political games to quit. They want us war on fossil fuels that the President throw one of your lines back at you.
to work together on this package. I had at that time. When this new Presi- I said: Well, what is that?
think this is what we are going to be dent was elected, we went ahead and She said: I have heard you say before
doing. passed a bill to repeal that regulation. that sometimes so-and-so was on your
For the last few weeks, I have been So the overregulation—that is what last nerve.
complimenting the Senate Democrats made it very successful. I said: Yes, you have heard me say
for the efforts they are making, and all He has appointed, right now, 190 new that.
of that came to a halt last night. I conservative judges. People who are She said: Well, you people in Wash-
have been saying that this is a crisis not conservatives, people who don’t ington now are on my last nerve.
where Democrats and Republicans need really feel that strongly about the Con- I said: Really?
to put politics aside. That is what is stitution, are not excited about that— She said: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. You know,
going to have to happen. It has to hap- 190 new conservative judges. We I don’t want my children to know that
pen—not, if we are lucky, next week; it haven’t had that many judges in the I am afraid. I don’t want them to hear
has to happen tonight. It was until 6 first term of a President in the history me be fearful. But inside, I am scream-
o’clock last night that Senate Demo- of this country—including, of course, ing in silence because I need you all to
crats were fully cooperating. That two Justices to the U.S. Supreme get something done.
came across pretty quick. Court. See, this is a typical small business
Let me make one comment. I know Pro-Israel. A lot of people don’t like owner. She and her husband started a
there are a lot of ‘‘hate Trump’’ people Israel. They are sympathetic with oth- business. They struggled until the Tax
out there. I see them all the time. I ers. But how many Presidents have Cuts and Jobs Act came along. What
love the guy. He has done a great job. said: We want to move the capital of happened? They saw growth. This Main
When you stop and think about what Israel to Jerusalem. He is the one who Street business became their embodi-
he has done in this country—and a lot has done it. ment of the American dream. They
of people are trying to build a case to We have rebuilt the military. How were excited. Things were good. Today
some of the ‘‘hate Trump’’ people that many people know this? I chair the she is saying: I don’t know if we should
he didn’t move on this quickly enough. committee. It is called the Senate hang on to our employees. I don’t know
Well, he did. This thing happened in Armed Services Committee. I had the if we should close the doors. I don’t
January. The first thing he did was responsibility of trying to get it rebuilt know what we should do, and you all
stop the traffic coming into this coun- because we lost during the Obama can’t make a decision.
try from China. He didn’t sit around years. The last 5 years of Obama, he ac- I told her I fully understood where
and wait; he did it immediately. And tually reduced the amount of money she was because it makes me anxious
then he declared an emergency. All of for our defense by 25 percent. It had too. It disappoints me tremendously. I
these things he did immediately. He never happened before. think there is a lot to be said about ne-
had the daily press conferences. I hope I say this because we now have a gotiating in good faith and exercising
people are watching those. He is sitting great advantage. We are going to cor- good faith and honesty with the people
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
back and having the top medical people rect this. I think it is going to happen whom you want to work with. And cer-
in America talking about the problems tonight. I am really optimistic it will tainly, the majority leader and the
we are having. because if it doesn’t, people are going task forces felt that they were working
This is kind of good news because we to die. People are dying right now. in good faith. What they had struc-
started this thing with the best econ- When that happens, when we get this tured sounded really good to a lot of
omy we have had in my lifetime. Even rebuilt and get beyond the crisis that Tennesseans.
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S1954 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
You had a bill that basically was Deal. This is how we can realize our so- ernment for the privilege of working?
healthcare assistance, food assistance, cialist dreams. This is how we go for It is common sense.
and financial assistance—different government control. You got it, baby. I also would have liked to have seen
pockets. But most importantly, they This bill is moving. Let’s load this up. us use the employment security system
were components that would meet the Also, they have provisions in here to for getting money to employees. It is
needs. We discussed some of these. For force employers to give special treat- set up. It is coordinated with the
small businesses and independent con- ment to Big Labor. That has nothing to States.
tractors and sole proprietors and the do with solving this crisis that we face These are all things I would have
self-employed—and I do thank MARCO right now. It has nothing to do with liked to have seen. I knew I wasn’t
RUBIO and SUSAN COLLINS for working the small business owner figuring out going to get everything I wanted.
with me on making certain that we in- if they are going to lay people off or But I will tell you this. When I read
cluded those entities. You are talking they are going to be able to meet pay- that there is a letter, a ‘‘Dear Col-
about $250 billion that would be there roll. league’’ letter that has gone out in the
through unemployment insurance. Since I have been down here on this House from Speaker PELOSI, and she
These sole proprietors and small busi- floor, I have had two phone calls. One has boasted that the majority leader
nesses would be able to go into that was from somebody in the hotel busi- had to postpone the vote on the motion
and stand themselves up by drawing ness and another from somebody with a to proceed and thanks to the minority
that money down, keeping people em- real estate firm saying: Help me. Help leader, they didn’t get the 60 votes re-
ployed, and then having it serve as a me with this. Should we lay them off? quired—I look at that, and I think,
Are you all going to get something what kind of joy do you take in that?
grant.
Also for our rural communities, for done? Is this going to be something Here was a measure that had bipar-
telehealth and for our hospitals, there that will help us? tisan support in the Senate. It was a
is $75 billion. It was a good thing. Let’s Another of her dreams is early vot- measure that would bring relief to
take healthcare to the person instead ing. She wants to have early voting small businesses and to families and to
of the person having to move to the and day-of voting. Yes. Let’s pack the friends who are receiving a diagnosis—
healthcare. Great. That is the common ballot box. Here we go. a positive test for COVID–19—and peo-
And all these States, by the way— ple who are worried about how they are
sense in this bill that our friends
California, Illinois, New York—States going to be payrolled this week, work-
across the aisle walked away from.
that cannot manage their affairs; ers who are worried if they are going to
They walked away from it. They said
States that are running up their State have a job, small business owners who
no to the unemployment benefits, no to
income tax; States that have more debt are crying inside because they do not
small business, no to telehealth.
There were also additional funds that than revenue—come on, let’s bail them know what we are going to do. Yet our
would be there for employers to keep out. This is the vehicle. We can go colleagues across the aisle are absent
ahead and help these blue States. Send from the floor and the colleagues on
people working so that these jobs
them the money because they have the other side of the Dome have been
would be there.
I will tell you this. Most folks, like been reckless with the taxpayers’ dol- away for 10 days, and they are not of-
the small business owner whom I lar. Bail them out. fering a rational solution.
I yield the floor.
talked about today, are offended when New emission standards for the air-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
they hear about backroom negotiations lines. Let me tell you something. ator from North Dakota.
and private negotiations. What they Wanting to make the airline industry Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President: ‘‘This
want to see is action. They want to see carbon neutral by 2025 is a debate to is a tremendous opportunity to re-
us on this floor. They are probably a have another day. I want to tell you structure things to fit our vision.’’
little bit amused that there is not one something right now. You have heard This is an opportunity to fit our vi-
single Democrat coming down here to people talk about being the only person sion.
defend their vote—not one. They are on the plane or 1 of 14 on the plane, 1 That is a quote—not from some Com-
not down here. They are not speaking of 5 on the plane. Right now, keeping munist activist leader somewhere in
up as to why they do not want to help. the planes flying is the issue because the United States, not from some Third
What are they willing to do? The until we have answers for this health World general. No, that is from the
House is gone. They have been gone crisis, people are not going to go back third ranking Democrat in the House
now for 10 days. They are not here. to work and planes are not going to fly. of Representatives. Let that sink in for
They are not working. Speaker PELOSI Common sense would go a long way in a minute.
came back. NANCY came right back these discussions. Read it again: ‘‘This is a tremendous
into town and threw a grenade into the They also want to micromanage cor- opportunity to restructure things to fit
negotiations. She wants to write her porate boards. They want total and our vision.’’
own bill. complete student loan forgiveness. I thought a bogus impeachment was
That bill is something. I have to tell They wanted $20 billion to bail out the shameful enough but clearly not. Peo-
you, I looked through it before I came Postal Service. I could go on and on. ple in this country are dying. They are
down here because I thought, surely, It is the socialist progressive wish dying, literally. People are losing their
they are not as far off the reservation list. Throw it all out there and then jobs every day, literally. More and
as I was beginning to hear. Yes, they blame it on us when they don’t get it. more people are getting sick every day.
are. They want tax credits for solar en- Try to force some of it onto the bill. And that is why Senators rushed back
ergy and wind energy, which has no There were Democratic Senators that here. We rushed back here to pass the
place in negotiating a package to ad- helped to negotiate this bill. They got House bipartisan legislation that was
dress the issues from COVID–19. It has many provisions in this bill that they negotiated between the President and
zero connection to that. Tax credits for wanted. Speaker PELOSI.
solar energy is one of their big wishes I didn’t get everything I wanted. I Then we let both sides work on the
in the Green New Deal. They have been thought, my goodness, I prefer to see next steps. We passed that bill within
all about it. This is where they are that we would refund all of the income less than 24 hours of receiving it from
going to put their emphasis. tax you paid this year for individuals the House. As imperfect as it was, we
They had one of their Members of and businesses. The system is set up, passed it with 90 Senators voting for it.
leadership say the global coronavirus and money could be backed out. That is how bipartisanship works. We
pandemic is a ‘‘tremendous oppor- I like the payroll tax holiday. That is worked around the clock to craft a
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
tunity to restrict things to fit a pro- something that, as a conservative, I plan, and we succeeded.
gressive vision.’’ There they go. There have supported for quite a while. Why Here we sit, listening to our Demo-
they go again. Don’t let this crisis go should anybody have to pay the Fed- cratic colleagues pretend this is a par-
to waste. Let’s load this up. This is the eral Government for the privilege of tisan plan, as if they weren’t sitting in
vehicle that is moving. Here we go. hiring somebody and why should an the room as it was being negotiated,
This is a way we can get the Green New employee have to pay the Federal Gov- and many of their ideas are in this bill.
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1955
Why are they doing that? I will tell How about $350 billion for the small nority leader. While the Democrats
you why they are doing it. When we see businesses that employ all of those dither, Americans are dying. That is a
a rising body count, they see a political people who are now getting fired be- real fact. Let’s get back in here to-
opportunity. Shame on them. The cause they can’t keep their doors open? night, and let’s pass this legislation.
Trump derangement syndrome is accel- Yet that is not even worth a debate to Let’s get it done and get the money to
erating the coronavirus. They should our Democratic colleagues. Oh, no. the people who need it the most.
be ashamed of themselves. They see a Apparently, it is now all back open I yield the floor.
chance to impose their vision—their for debate. The reports today are that The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. SUL-
leftwing, radical vision on our country the minority leader is holding the $50 LIVAN). The Senator from Georgia.
because they think they can force it billion for farmers hostage so they can Mrs. LOEFFLER. Mr. President, once
past us during this crisis. Their ex- get more of the opportunity to restruc- again, I stood at this podium yesterday
treme partisan obstruction has blinded ture things to fit their vision. and called on the Senate to put politics
them. Apparently, the majority leader ei- aside and deliver critical relief to the
What has happened to this place? ther forgot or he never knew that food American people, many of whom are on
Why are they even here? doesn’t come from the deli. the frontlines of this war. Yet CHUCK
Attempts to work across the aisle— Mr. Minority Leader, food comes SCHUMER and the Senate Democrats
honest attempts, attempts by rank- from the farmer. There is no sandwich have turned their backs on them, hav-
and-file Republicans and rank-and-file in the New York deli without the farm- ing been encouraged by NANCY PELOSI.
Democrats—have resulted in our ers’ growing the grain. There is no People are getting sick. They are
Democratic colleagues having created meat in that sandwich without the worried about their families. They are
a revisionist view of what we have been ranchers’ raising the livestock. No, losing their jobs. Schools are closed.
doing, and it has resulted in blind, po- they don’t make that food in the deli, Small businesses are days away from
litical opportunism just to advance Mr. Minority Leader. shutting their doors, and hospitals are
their extreme leftwing agenda—an Who started all of this? It was not he. running out of equipment, cash, and
agenda that includes things like the He tried to be helpful for a while or at room. Doctors and nurses are working
Green New Deal, which is something least it appeared so. No, it was not he. around the clock, and they are our first
that actually had a vote on the floor of It was not even an uprising of the line of defense. People are suffering.
the U.S. Senate. Guess how many of rank-and-file Democrats who have been A hospital in Tifton, GA, faces such
them voted for it—none. It was that filing in, occasionally, into this Cham- severe equipment shortages that it is
nutty—none. Yet, now, that is the ber. It wasn’t even the breakdown in forced to wear trash bags as protection.
agenda. That is their vision. That is negotiations between the Republicans Many rural hospitals in Georgia only
the opportunity they see. and the Democrats. It was the House have days of operating cash left. Also,
How about socialism for the entire Speaker, NANCY PELOSI, who flew in in rural Georgia, children go to the bus
economy? It was not enough just for here on an airplane that was powered stops to pick up their local papers.
the energy sector. It was not enough by fossil fuels. Maybe those fossil fuels That is their education for the day
just for the healthcare sector. It was were even made by some oil from Alas- while their schools are closed.
not enough just for the manufacturing ka or North Dakota or Texas. She de- In Cartersville, GA, Table 20 was
sector. Let’s just have socialism. Let’s manded an expansion of—what?—the forced to lay off nearly all of its staff
debate which Democratic Presidential renewable energy tax credits and other just to remain open, like too many oth-
candidate is the best Socialist. How parts of her extreme leftwing, radical, ers.
about hurting our farmers, our ranch- partisan agenda. In Athens, GA, the virus has turned a
ers, our oil workers, our truckdrivers, What in the hell does that have to do college town into a ghost town, and the
our restaurant owners, our manufac- with the coronavirus? virus is devastating its economy, like
turers, or our welders—everybody? The absurdity of it speaks for itself. too many others.
We are not even asking them to vote That is what we have learned to expect All over the State, waiters, wait-
on this plan. The vote last night was from the majority of our colleagues on resses, car salesmen, mechanics, farm-
not on the bill, and the vote this after- the other side of the aisle and in the ers, and shopkeepers wonder: How will
noon was not on the bill. It was simply other Chamber of Congress—ever since I possibly care for my family?
a procedural vote to begin the debate, the freshman Democrat from New York For the last 2 weeks, I have been con-
to continue the negotiations on the became the de facto Speaker of the tinuously talking with the people of
bill. Not one moment would have been House. That is the House. We are not Georgia: with cancer patients whose
lost. Guess what. Now over a day has the House. We are the Senate. We are procedures have been canceled; with
been lost while we have dithered. We supposed to be the adults in the room. families whose entire livelihoods have
are asking—when we do finally agree Some of our colleagues are here, acting been wiped out; with people in busi-
to help the American people—that in- like petulant children when there are nesses who can’t pay the rent, the
stead of killing the economy and the people who are suffering and who don’t mortgage, the car payment, get gro-
jobs, as they have been doing, that we know what to do or where to turn for ceries, or get lifesaving tests and pro-
be ready to act on the bill. No, that is help. They are turning to us. We are it. cedures; and with families who have
not good enough for them. We are the help. We are driving the am- been forced to cancel weddings and fu-
Many of my colleagues have talked bulance. All the while, the Speaker of nerals.
about what is in the bill. There is $4 the House tries to steer us into the While the effects of this disease tear
billion for the Centers for Disease Con- ditch while the minority leader of the through our country, thousands of
trol and Prevention. Do you think it Senate hangs on for dear life in the Americans are infected, and millions
could use it? passenger’s seat. face layoffs. They are fighting with all
How about $9 billion for child nutri- Why would those people come to us they have. Yet what are SCHUMER and
tion? Do you care, Democrats, about for help anymore? The House Speaker PELOSI doing? Nothing. The Democrats
child nutrition? We have often heard doesn’t care about them. For crying continue to politicize this rescue. How
you talk about it. Where is it now? out loud, she cares about renewable many people must be hurt for them to
How about $20 billion for veterans? fuel tax credits. Where is rural Amer- leave their selfish partisanship behind
Do they not care about that? ica supposed to go? The Democratic and get relief to our fellow Americans?
How about $50 billion for our farm- leader sees them as, simply, political While the rest of America comes to-
ers? I spoke about it. How about $75 bil- pawns. Being held hostage is $50 billion gether, like the Savannah Salvation
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
lion for our healthcare providers? Do for farmers. Let’s hold that one up. Army that holds church services out-
you think your healthcare providers Maybe we could get more of what fits side or like Meals on Wheels that deliv-
could use a little more assistance, our vision, our radical agenda. ers meals to seniors, the Democrats are
Democrats? I think they could, and Apparently, helping these people playing games and holding hostage des-
they need it now. They needed it yes- doesn’t matter to them. Well, I have perately needed relief. America does
terday. news for him. I have news for the mi- not deserve this. NANCY PELOSI and
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S1956 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
CHUCK SCHUMER are putting solar pan- This sort of activity by the Demo- recession that we were going into at
els ahead of people. Meanwhile, Presi- cratic Senators is outrageous. They are that particular time.
dent Trump and his administration are blocking a bill that includes relief that This bill also responds to what Demo-
working around the clock to address we all agree is needed for the American crats asked us to do: Beef up the unem-
this crisis while the Democrats are people. They say this wasn’t a bipar- ployment insurance program, bene-
continuing the resistance. tisan effort. That is what we have fiting those people laid off.
I know the folks at home see it for heard all day. Really? Well, I have had Now, all 50 States have a different
what it is—politicians who will not very good working relationships, very figure for what unemployment pays un-
miss their own paychecks or their own good dialogue, and some disagreement employed people in that particular
benefits or who will not miss their but a coming together with several of State. But whatever that figure is, our
home payments or their car payments. my Democratic colleague on the Com- bill would add $600 per week for a pe-
They are safely tucked away behind mittee on Finance in meetings on Fri- riod of 3 months. And if somebody says
their coffee carts in their offices and day and Saturday to work out a bipar- ‘‘Well, that is not long enough,’’ well,
are taking advantage of the moment— tisan bill that we could be voting on if we don’t get this economy turned
pushing ideas that could never pass in now. So they say it was not a bipar- around in 3 months, we are going to be
Congress. tisan effort. Really? Then who were all here doing it all again anyway.
A bipartisan bill was ready to go this of those people who were sitting in the But it beefs up the unemployment by
weekend. This delay is entirely on same room I was, negotiating around $600 in each of those States on top of
their backs. It is the worst of Wash- the clock for multiple days? what those States are already paying
ington, and it is disgusting. The Amer- The fact is, we have worked with the out. The unemployment part of this
ican people must hold the Democrats Democrats on this bill, and we have bill makes unemployment benefits
to account. I will keep fighting for worked in good faith together—both available to more Americans than ever
Georgians and all Americans with my sides. We have included many provi- before.
Now, I am chairman of the Finance
colleagues, and I will not leave here sions the Democrats want because we
Committee. These are just the provi-
until our work is done. started with what the Republicans
I yield the floor. sions in the Finance Committee bill.
thought was a good bill in order to
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- There were three other bipartisan
solve these economic problems. We had
ator from Iowa. groups of people working on other
to change some Republican issues, and
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, 24 parts of the economy to get this bill
we had to add some Democratic issues.
hours ago, we thought we would have put together to help unemployed peo-
In fact, they don’t want to admit it of ple.
this legislation passed and that it the legislation, but many of my col- Our bill, though, in the Finance Com-
would be on its way to the House of leagues on the other side, on just this mittee also includes assistance for
Representatives and, soon this week, very day, have come to the Senate businesses of all sizes. It keeps them
on its way to the President for his sig- floor to brag about the areas on which afloat so that folks have a job to go
nature so we could respond to the crisis we agree. These are provisions in this back to when they come out of this
we are in. This legislation about which bill. But in the same breath, they call pandemic. So don’t try to say that this
you have heard several speeches to- this a partisan bill. That makes no bill doesn’t help workers.
night is the answer to the crisis—the sense. Why would they want to say The bill also includes about $100 bil-
economic crisis—just like two other that a bill that we worked on for sev- lion for healthcare workers and helps
pieces of legislation we passed in the eral days, working out differences be- to speed up delivery of treatments and
last 2 weeks that were signed by the tween Democrats and Republicans, is a helps to get potential vaccines devel-
President and that responded to the partisan bill? oped a lot faster. This bill also helps
public health crisis. They also claim that this bill con- health professionals.
America is suffering. I don’t have to tains so-called corporate bailouts and But it helps nobody—nobody gets any
tell you the stories of personal hard- not enough funding for workers and help—as long as the Congress sits on
ship and the loss—particularly eco- healthcare providers. its thumb, and that is what we have
nomic but now real life loss—because Well, let me say that loaning money been doing all day, when this bill could
of this virus. This serious health crisis to small business and big business that have been passed and sent to the
is quickly becoming a serious economic has to be paid back—in the case of House.
crisis. Through no fault of their own, small business under this bill, I have to My colleagues complain that this un-
Americans have been sidelined to fight admit that if they have fewer than 500 precedented aid package is not suffi-
the virus, and the economy is unravel- employees and they get benefit from it cient. I don’t know what the exact fig-
ing as a result of the public health cri- and they don’t lay anybody off, it will ure is at this point because there are
sis. Every hour, more people are being be a forgiven loan. But for really large still some negotiations going on, but
laid off. Every hour, more businesses corporations—let’s say like getting the the last I heard it was fast approaching
are closing their doors. Every hour, airlines flying again because the public $2 trillion. Somehow, that is not
families are being forced to figure out depends on them and because there are enough.
how they are going to pay their bills. millions of jobs connected with the air- They are saying it is not enough
Without a doubt, this is a crisis. Hun- lines—giving them loans is a bailout? help. So while they are saying it is not
dreds of thousands of people this week No, it is not. It is a jobs bill so those enough help, nobody is getting any
are going to the unemployment office, millions of people working for the air- help. I don’t understand it.
but you wouldn’t know it by watching lines can continue to work and the fly- As I have already alluded to, we
the Senate Democrats as they drag ing public can fly when they want to passed phase 1 legislation to help 2
their feet on much needed relief for fly. weeks ago; we passed phase 2 last week;
Americans. It is not just for Ameri- That is my response to the fact that we are working on phase 3. So if we
cans; it is to get the entire economy this is not a corporate bailout like need more help down the road, we will
moving. they want you to believe. have that opportunity when we know
So how has this evolved to the point And no help for individuals? Let’s for sure what the situation is. We don’t
that it has now? look at the facts for helping individ- have to address the next 10 years in
No. 1, last night and not once today uals. what they are trying to negotiate now.
but twice today—so three times—we This bill would send $1,200 to almost We can address these problems if we
tried to get this bill up on the U.S. every American immediately; couples, don’t get the pandemic under control
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
Senate floor just for debate. We have $2,400; and families would get $500 for by then.
been filibustered on procedural votes each child. It is meant that this money So there is no excuse for not deliv-
just to allow us to debate this relief would be out to these families who ering what we can do this very day. In-
package. It is a package that we have need this help just as fast as the IRS stead, the Democrats are playing poli-
been working on in a bipartisan way can get it out. And it is no different tics while the rest of the country suf-
for several days now. from what we did in 2008 with the great fers, while there is great anxiety out
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1957
there, while they are looking to their I wanted to read this because I think The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
leaders for help and not getting it. we owe it to our constituents to know jority leader.
If you don’t think this is political, what is in bills before people pass Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
just look at the political wish list that them. And I want to say, in full disclo- say to my friend from Nebraska that I
PELOSI has put out. The scholar of the sure, the wish list keeps growing so will be very brief.
U.S. Senate, Senator SASSE, is going to rapidly and radically that this thing CLOTURE MOTION
speak about that, I think, coming up could be like 50 percent obsolete since Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
here, and you will see a picture of this 3 or 4 hours ago when I started digging send a cloture motion to the desk.
great big bill that she put forward. But into it. There may be another bill that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo-
just let me name two or three things is another 1,200 pages thick. ture motion having been presented
that I know about because I haven’t But this is the one that I have been under rule XXII, the Chair directs the
read an 1,100-page bill like he probably reading today, and the Speaker has ob- clerk to read the motion.
has. viously decided that she doesn’t want The legislative clerk read as follows:
They want to erase the Postal Serv- to waste any crisis. CLOTURE MOTION
ice debt. What does that have to do The American people face two un- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
with hundreds of thousands of people precedented emergencies. We face a ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
public health emergency that is genu- Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
going to the unemployment office
inely disastrous, and we face a con- move to bring to a close debate on the mo-
today? tion to proceed to Calendar No. 157, H.R. 748,
They want to require same-day voter sequent resultant economic emergency
a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
registration. What does voter registra- that puts at risk lots and lots of fami- 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost em-
tion have to do with the crisis of unem- lies’ livelihoods, lots of dinner tables ployer-sponsored health coverage.
ployment and the pandemic that we around the country. Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, Pat
are facing today? There are 5,997,000 firms in the Roberts, Ben Sasse, Deb Fischer, Cindy
They want to saddle the airlines with United States—so just a hair shy of 6 Hyde-Smith, John Hoeven, Tom Cot-
crippling new emission standards. million firms in the United States. And ton, James E. Risch, Lamar Alexander,
lots and lots and lots of those—the Bill Cassidy, David Perdue, Marco
What does that have to do with the un- Rubio, John Cornyn, Thom Tillis,
employed today, the people who are overwhelming majority of firms—and
47 percent of all employment are small Steve Daines, Michael B. Enzi.
suffering, the anxiety that is out there Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous
that people have because they don’t businesses in America. These are firms
of 500 or fewer employees. These are consent that the mandatory quorum
know how bad this situation is and call for the cloture motion be waived.
they know they are losing their job? family businesses. These are corner
stores. Lots and lots and lots of these The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
This legislation also wants to resur- objection, it is so ordered.
rect the Green New Deal at the same people live on an average—their busi-
nesses live on an average—of 16 days of Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, just
time families are losing their income. one further observation, we will not be
My colleagues, now is just not the cash.
So when the country is shut down in having any votes tonight.
time for this sort of horseplay. There The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
the midst of something like the
will be plenty of opportunities to de- ator from Nebraska.
coronavirus crisis, there are lots of
bate these policies later, not when we Mr. SASSE. Mr. President, I want to
businesses that have only about 2
have a crisis on our hands—in other be clear. This negotiation has been
weeks before they may cease to exist
words, not now. messy. There is lots and lots in this
and just go poof or go down some other
Just a few days ago, our bipartisan bill that I don’t like. There is lots in
pathway that leads them to become de-
talks were going very well. We made this bill that is also critically impor-
pendencies of the State.
incredible progress over the course of So we have two massive crises in this tant and urgent for the American peo-
the few days that we put this together, country—one public health and one ple.
so we have a bipartisan bill. economic. And this place often lies and There are a bunch of things in here
So to my Democratic colleagues, pretends that there is some piece of that I think stink. I don’t like firm-
please put your swords away. Please legislation that can solve every prob- specific money in legislation. So I
focus on the task at hand. Please stop lem on Earth. That isn’t true, but in don’t like much of the airlines section
the delaying tactics and the poli- this case, both of these emergencies of this bill. The airlines didn’t do any-
ticking. America needs us to deliver. need lots and lots of help and bandaids thing wrong at this moment when all
Now is not the time for more foot-drag- and salve and lifelines, life preservers their travelers fall off because of the
ging and procedural delays. from this institution, and that is why pandemic before them, but there are
I yield the floor. so many people around here have been pieces of the way any legislation like
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- working all night overnight 3 or 4 days this is written, when it has specific
ator from Nebraska. in a row. firms in it, that I dislike and I think
Mr. SASSE. Mr. President, my chair- A number of us have been in this should be done more effectively over
man on the Finance Committee, Chair- Chamber until midnight or 1 a.m. mul- time. But this is following a model of
man GRASSLEY, who just left the floor, tiple nights. I am a 4 a.m. wake-up guy, how these portions of legislation have
called me a scholar, and I think he so I am usually in bed by 9 p.m. When been written around here in the past.
meant it as a compliment, but it I am here at midnight or 1 a.m., it is I don’t like the direct payments that
doesn’t feel like that today. well past a period of coherence. So Washington is going to try to renew
It actually feels like the fact that I when we are working around the clock, long after the American people have
have been reading this this afternoon is it is because there is an emergency. defeated the coronavirus. There is a lot
a sign of the fact that this institution Lots and lots and lots of stuff in this in this legislation that I don’t like.
is broken in significant ways, and there 1,119-page additional bid from NANCY But there are things we should all be
are not a lot of productive things hap- PELOSI have nothing to do with the applauding. This legislation tries to
pening outside a group of four people coronavirus emergency. turbocharge vaccine development. We
who are renegotiating a car deal again So I want to take us through some of need what our friend, the Senator from
and again and again and again. what is in this piece of legislation, but Montana, called the Manhattan Project
I did spend a good chunk of my after- I am going to pull up for a minute as I for the vaccine accelerator. We need to
noon reading these 1,119 pages. You recognize that the majority leader, go lots faster figuring out how to re-
might wonder what this is. This is who is at the center of this negotia- move barriers to enable companies at
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NANCY PELOSI’s last-minute additional tion, has entered the Chamber. So I am this time that seek to be effective over
Christmas wish list of progressive going to yield to him and let him make efficient in ways that pluralize lots and
items that she wants added to the whatever updates he wants to give us lots of pharmaceutical firms competing
coronavirus relief bill that has been in this Chamber, and then I will return all at once and taking three or four
being negotiated here over the course to this piece of legislation after the steps of the vaccine development proc-
of the last 96 or so hours. majority leader. ess and trying to run them in parallel
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S1958 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
instead of in sequence, because the piece of legislation or the economic re- education of loans of such qualified bor-
American people and the world need lief pieces of legislation unless she gets rower, shall receive in accordance with para-
this vaccine. There are things to be hostages that are entirely unrelated to graph (3) an amount equal to the lesser of
the following:
proud of in that part of the legislation. this moment. (A) The total amount of each covered loan
I like the fact that this legislation— We are better than that. Democrats and each private education loan of the bor-
not the Pelosi legislation, but the com- in the Senate are better than that. rower; or
posite compromise bill that the Senate Many of them are privately embar- (B) $10,000.
has been working on over the last four rassed about this. I don’t understand So what this says is you can feel the
days—tries to help small businesses how they voted today to filibuster this Bern with a $10,000 public and private
stay alive during this period of zero bill for a second time when in private loan cancellation project a year in the
revenue with well-structured loans. I many of them tell us: Well, this is just future, or depending on how long this
think that Senators RUBIO and COLLINS part of the negotiation and our leaders emergency goes, this emergency could
and their two Democratic colleagues want us to vote this way, but I am real- be with us through a trough in the late
on the other side of the aisle have done ly uncomfortable with it because I summer and another peak in the fall
a really good job. It is a crazy, eye-pop- don’t think we should be dealing with and winter. We may be in the emer-
ping pricetag at about $350 billion, this unrelated issues. gency for more than a year. So Speaker
small business loan program, but it is a I had multiple Democrats today tell PELOSI says: Well, the Cabinet officials
necessity at this moment, and it is leg- me they don’t think they should be in the executive branch shouldn’t prob-
islation that people should be proud of. dealing with unrelated issues, things ably be burdened with this now because
I like the fact that this bill works in that are not about the health and eco- it obviously has nothing to do with the
the appropriations section—not the nomic emergencies before the Nation. coronavirus, but in the future we want
whole bill, not the whole draft text, as Here is why we stopped. Here is why to bake into law a $10,000 loan forgive-
I wish it would. But in the appropria- the bill that is before us, again, is not ness program that has nothing to do
tions section, it works hard to get my favorite piece of legislation—not with coronavirus.
more than 51 percent of the appropria- Republicans, not Democrats—but a bi- That is wrong. This institution has
tions section of the money to Gov- partisan, good-faith piece of legisla- been bleeding public trust for a long
ernors to allow them to make differen- tion. The reason we are not voting on time. When we pass a $2 trillion piece
tiated spending decisions, which they it is because 1,119 pages of new NANCY of legislation in the middle of an emer-
can make more effectively than we can PELOSI demands that we should con- gency, there are going to be lots of
make in Washington, DC, where we sider. things wrong with it. There are going
look out across 325 million people in an I promise you that every Wash- to be lots of reasons why the public
undifferentiated way. Our Governors ington, DC, lobbyist right now has been looks back and says: Why aren’t you
are better at building public-private combing over these 1,200 pages this all more competent? Why couldn’t you
partnerships than the Congress is. afternoon because they wonder what have done this better? Why wouldn’t
In my State, Omaha and Lincoln goodies they can claim credit for or you have done that better? Boy, this
have different economics than the what goodies that are against their feels clunky. Why would these people
rural parts of the State, but Omaha sector they should go against. be included in the direct payments, but
and Lincoln are different than Nash- We shouldn’t be debating anything in those people wouldn’t? You have to
ville and Memphis. And National and an emergency moment like this with earn $2,500, but we are using the 2018
Memphis are different than L.A. and another 1,119 pages being dropped in at tax returns to be able to determine
Seattle. So this bill works hard to try the last minute with other demands. whether or not you earned your $2,500
to take a big chunk—a majority of the So I decided to start digging through to be able to qualify for the $1,200 per
appropriations section of the legisla- it. family, and it phases out from 75 to
tion—and drive it back to Governors. Let me give you a few highlights—or $95,000? There are a lot of hard-policy,
There are things that are good in this low lights. Here is page 421, line 22: mechanical, technical issues that need
bill. There are things that I think are (1) MINIMUM STUDENT LOAN RELIEF to be navigated, and some of them will
weak and clunky in this bill, but it was AS A RESULT OF THE COVID–19 NA- be imperfect.
negotiated in a bipartisan way in good TIONAL EMERGENCY.—Not later than 270 And later, the public will say: Why
faith on topics and issues that were re- days after the last day of the COVID–19 did you do it this way instead of this
lated to the coronavirus emergency. It emergency period. . . . way? And those will be fair questions.
wasn’t a Republican bill. It wasn’t a Think about what this means. Not We will have to defend the members of
Democratic bill. It certainly isn’t my later than 270 days—that is 9 months the task forces who wrote that part of
favorite bill or piece of legislation after the emergency is over. Then the the legislation—a bipartisan task force
around here, but it was a good-faith, Secretary of Education has to do all that worked on that piece of legisla-
bipartisan attempt that people were this new stuff. tion all weekend.
negotiating on all weekend. Nobody who wants student debt loan But what will be completely impos-
But, instead of taking that legisla- forgiveness should pretend this is sible is to tell the public: Well, the rea-
tion—urgent, necessary legislation— about getting emergency cash into the son we did the loan forgiveness pro-
and passing it quickly, Democrats have economy for liquidity or solvency, be- gram, which had nothing to do with
now decided to allow Speaker PELOSI cause the NANCY PELOSI demand about coronavirus, this way rather than that
to block it through proxies here in the loan forgiveness says here that this is way was because—why?—because it
Senate so she can rewrite the bill with for something 9 months after the emer- was a northbound train and people
a ton of crap that has absolutely noth- gency. could load it with a whole bunch of
ing to do with the public health emer- This is something that many Demo- swampy stuff.
gency that we face at this moment. crats want. As a former college presi- You may believe in loan forgiveness.
So I have been reading the legislation dent, I actually think this is a bad Make the case and win an argument for
this afternoon. We have families suf- idea, but there are intellectually defen- loan forgiveness. Don’t do it on the
fering and small businesses that are sible reasons to argue for it. There are backs of a national emergency, when in
closing literally by the hour. We have reasonable cases to be made, but they Nebraska I have families calling me
doctors fighting to prevent their hos- have tried to make them in the past from Omaha where spouses have just
pitals from being oversurged and over- and not been able to pass the legisla- been put in new institutions in the last
whelmed, and what is Speaker PELOSI 2 or 3 weeks because of declining de-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
tion, and it has nothing to do with the
trying to do? She is trying to take hos- coronavirus. mentia, because of Alzheimer’s. And as
tages about her dream legislation—all soon as they got put in an institution,
Not later than 270 days after the last day
sorts of dream legislative provisions of the COVID–19 emergency period, the Sec- that institution got put on a quar-
that have nothing to do with this mo- retaries concerned shall jointly carry out a antine lockdown, and a husband is only
ment—and say: The American public program under which a qualified borrower, in his late sixties, but he is losing his
can’t get access to the public health with respect to the covered loans and private entire mind and memory. He doesn’t
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1959
understand why he is there, and his Page 681, line 16: I have got to count all these num-
wife and kids can’t visit him anymore, ‘‘SEC. 325. SAME DAY REGISTRATION. bers—
and he doesn’t know what the heck is ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— $15,000,000,000 to carry out the duties and
going on. ‘‘(1) REGISTRATION.—Each State shall responsibilities of the Postal Service, includ-
permit any eligible individual on the day of ing those under title 39, United States Code,
That is a genuine tragedy. That is
a Federal election and on any day when vot- and the Secretary of the Treasury shall lend
not an occasion for NANCY PELOSI to ing, including early voting, is permitted for up to such amount at the request of the
try to get a loan forgiveness program a Federal election . . . to register to vote in Postal Service.
done that she couldn’t get done by reg- such election at the polling place using a (b) REPEAL OF FISCAL YEAR BOR-
ular legislation. It is wrong, and the form that meets the requirements under sec- ROWING LIMIT.—Section 2005(a)(1) of title
Democrats in this body, most of them, tion 9(b) of the National Voter Registration 39, United States Code, is amended by strik-
know it is wrong. None of them are Act of 1993 (or, if the individual is already ing ‘‘In any one fiscal year,’’ and all that fol-
going to come down here and make an registered to vote, to revise any of the indi- lows through the period.
vidual’s registration information); and Please, Senate Democrats, you don’t
argument. None of the 47 Democrats in ‘‘(B) to cast a vote in such election.
the Senate are going to come to the ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The requirements believe that this is good governance.
floor of the Senate and say: You know under paragraph (1) shall not apply to a Somebody please come to the floor and
what we ought to do during this na- State in which, under a State law in effect defend why we are doing a Postal Serv-
tional emergency? We ought to do a continuously on or after the date of the en- ice bailout in the middle of an emer-
student loan forgiveness program right actment of this section. . . . gency.
now. You see, what this is about is same- I know that BERNIE SANDERS believes
Someone might mention it in a long day voter registration, because Novem- in Postal Service reform. I don’t agree
list, implying that the program may ber 3 is just 225 days away, and if there with Senator SANDERS on this, but he
have to do with liquidity. But if you is anything the American people are is actually pretty thoughtful about it.
actually read what happens in the leg- worried right now about, it is that they He spent a lot of time thinking about
islation, there is no loan forgiveness would like Washington, DC, to take how you might bail out the Postal
until 270 days after the coronavirus na- away the authority of 50 secretaries of Service. So if BERNIE SANDERS wants to
tional emergency is over. State and determine how you conduct argue for a Postal Service bailout, he
Page 570. Not even a coronavirus can local elections in America. should make that case. I haven’t been
put a pause on our culture wars. Line This has absolutely nothing to do here all day, but I have presided a cou-
14: with coronavirus—absolutely nothing ple of hours. I haven’t heard a single
The Congressional COVID–19 Aid Oversight to do with coronavirus. This isn’t a Re- Democrat come to the floor and argue
Panel in conjunction with SIGTARP— publican v. Democratic scream. This is for a Postal Service bailout.
I don’t know what that acronym nonsense. This is where 99 percent of Somebody please come back to the
means— the American public, if they were in floor and at least stand in the light of
shall collect diversity data from any cor- this Gallery, would be shaking their day before the American people and
poration that receives Federal aid related to head and rolling their eyes and saying: say the stuff NANCY PELOSI is voting
COVID–19, and issue a report that will be What? You guys are trying to decide for you think is a good idea to do in
made publicly available no later than one that the Federal Government should, the middle of this national health
year after the disbursement of funds. In addi- emergency.
for the first time in U.S. history,
tion to any other data, the report shall in- Page 768, line 7:
clude the following: change the way local elections are con-
ducted by Secretaries of State in (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any
(1) EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS.—The other provision of law, subject to the re-
gender, race, and ethnic identity (and to the America? By the way, there is no one quirements of this subsection, the wage rate
extent possible, results disaggregated by eth- in the Gallery for a reason—because in effect under section (a)(1) with respect to
nic group) of [all] the corporation’s employ- the Gallery is shut down because we an employee of an employer described in
ees, as otherwise known or provided volun- are in the middle of a pandemic. paragraph (2), or any individual who provides
tarily for the total number of employees So this probably isn’t the time to be labor or services for remuneration for such
(full- and part-time). . . . employer, regardless of whether the indi-
having a debate about whether the
I am just going to skip ahead a cou- Federal Government should micro- vidual is classified as an independent con-
ple of paragraphs. manage the way our 50 States conduct tractor or otherwise by such employer, shall
(3) PAY EQUITY.—A comparison of pay be not less than $15.00 per hour.
their elections. I think this is a bad
amongst racial and ethnic minorities (and to idea. But if you want to argue for this So while businesses are struggling to
the extent possible, results disaggregated by make ends meet—and we are seeing
ethnic group) as compared to their white
idea, let’s do it as soon as the pandemic
is over. Come and actually make an ar- lots and lots of small businesses go
counterparts and a comparison of pay be- bankrupt in all 50 States in America
tween men and women for similar roles and gument. Quit trying to exploit the cri-
sis. today. Businesses are going bankrupt
assignments.
(4) CORPORATE BOARD DIVERSITY.— Page 725—there is almost no section in America today in all 50 of the States
Corporate board demographic data, including of American life for government that that we represent. Speaker PELOSI
total number of board members, gender, race can’t be touched in an emergency if wants to raise the minimum wage to
and ethnic identity of board members. . . . you want to play exploited politics. $15 an hour.
Et cetera, et cetera—I am skipping Line 12: I used to be a professor. I am a busi-
ahead here. DIVISION N—U.S. POSTAL SERVICE ness guy by background, but I was a
Page 572, the next page: PROVISIONS history professor for a long time, and
(e) DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OF- Because, of course, in the middle of a when I would teach, I taught the So-
FICES.—Any corporation that receives Fed- pandemic, do you know what the cratic method when I taught a sem-
eral aid related to COVID–19 must maintain
American people want? They want to inar. In a lecture class, it is different,
officials and budget dedicated to diversity but in a seminar, if I had 12 students or
and inclusion initiatives for no less than 5 have a labor fight about the Postal
I had 15 students in a class, I would
years after. . . . Service.
regularly try to frame up a given week-
Blah, blah, blah—none of this has SEC. 140001. ELIMINATION OF USPS
DEBT; ADDITIONAL BORROWING AU-
ly seminar, and I would try to figure
anything to do with the coronavirus. out how to map a debate where you
THORITY.
There are all sorts of real racial issues (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any could get about half the people in the
in America that need to be addressed, other provision of law— class on each side of a debate.
but none of this has anything to do (1) any outstanding debt of the United If it ended up that the debate was off-
with the coronavirus. If you want to States Postal Service owed to the Treasury weighted and there was a minority
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
argue for this legislation, argue for pursuant to sections 2005 and 2011 of title 5, group and a majority group, I would
this legislation once people in nursing United States Code, on the date of the enact-
tend to join the minority group, re-
ment of this Act is hereby canceled; and
homes in Nebraska aren’t being locked (2) after the date of the enactment of this gardless of what was the issue, and I
out of being able to visit their family Act, the United States Postal Service is au- would try to fight for the minority po-
members with Alzheimer’s and demen- thorized to borrow money from the Treasury sition just to help spice up the debate
tia. in an amount not to exceed— and make it more interesting.
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S1960 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
I think a $15 minimum wage is really So it would be better to have a 15- one-tenth of 1 percent across the whole
bad economics, but I have argued for it dollar-an-hour job than an 11-dollar-an- population. That would be a stunningly
many, many times in class because hour job, but it would be better to have high case death rate among the 45- to
there are intellectually coherent rea- an 11-dollar-an-hour job than no job. So 54-year-olds.
sons to argue for it. I don’t think it if you are going to debate a $15 min- Do you know what none of those peo-
works. And if we weren’t dealing with imum wage, please do it in the light of ple care about right now? They care
the pandemic in King County, WA, one day. What Speaker PELOSI is doing about it, but they don’t think that we
of the things we might talk about in here is wrong. should be legislating on it without any
this body is how the $15 minimum wage Page 803. This one goes on for a long debate. None of them are talking
has worked out in Seattle. Their public bunch of pages, so I will jump across. about airline emissions between the
was overwhelmingly in favor of it a Line 10: years 2035 and 2050. NANCY PELOSI
couple of years ago, and now there is a SEC. 704. AIRLINE CARBON EMISSIONS shouldn’t be talking about it either.
huge move against it because people OFFSETS AND GOALS. Page 911. I will stop soon. I see one of
realized what a $15 minimum wage ac- (a) CARBON OFFSETTING PROGRAM— my colleagues waiting to talk. Page
tually does. It accelerates the (1) IN GENERAL—Not later than 90 days 911, line 3:
marginalization and the capitalization after the enactment of this Act, the Admin-
SEC. 404. MODIFICATION OF SPECIAL
istrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
and the layoffs of people making be- tion shall require each air carrier receiving
RULES FOR MINIMUM FUNDING STAND-
tween $9 and $14 an hour. That is what ARDS FOR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
assistance under section 101, to fully offset
it actually does. It speeds automation. PLANS.
the annual carbon emissions of such air car-
So I would love it if anybody who was riers for domestic flights beginning in 2025 Do you want to know what is going
a primary breadwinner in the house . . . to stop the public health crisis? We
was earning way more than $15 an (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of should talk about the business model
hour. I would love that to be reality in the Federal Aviation Administration shall of local newspapers right now rather
American life. But here are two facts require each air carrier receiving assistance than get the American people the relief
under section 101 to— they need.
you need to know. (A) make and achieve a binding commit-
Fact No. 1, last time I checked the ment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions (a) AMENDMENT TO THE INTERNAL
data, 89 percent of everybody who made attributable to the domestic flights of such REVENUE CODE OF 1986.—Subsection (m) of
the minimum wage in America wasn’t air carrier in every calendar year, beginning section 430 of the Internal Revenue Code of
a primary wage earner. They were a with 2021, on a path consistent with a 25 per- 1986, as added by the Setting Every Commu-
high school kid; they were a college cent reduction in the aviation sector’s emis- nity Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of
sions from 2005 levels by 2035, and a 50 per- 2019, is amended to read as follows:
student getting their first job; they (m) SPECIAL RULES FOR COMMUNITY
were working part time while they cent reduction in the sector’s emissions from
2005 level to apply by the year 2050. NEWSPAPER PLANS.—
were in school; or they just graduated (1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible newspaper
high school, and they hadn’t figured This is like something out of the plan sponsor of a plan under which no partic-
out their long-term path. Maybe they Green New Deal for the age of COVID– ipant has had the participant’s accrued ben-
were in trade school, but they were 19, but it is just the technocratic piece efit increased (whether because of service or
working a minimum-wage job and still for airline emissions—and here we are compensation) after April 2, 2019, may elect
dealing with the part about airline to have the alternative standards described
lived at mom and dad’s house or maybe in paragraph (4) apply to such plan.
they were a 65-year-old aunt who lived emissions from the year 2035 to the (2) ELIGIBLE NEWSPAPER PLAN SPON-
with a family that the rest of the house year 2050. SOR.—The term ‘eligible newspaper plan
was self-sufficient, but her wages aug- If you have been looking at the data sponsor’ here means—
mented the family’s income. Eighty- this afternoon, one of things that Scott And then there are like four or five
nine percent of the people who make Gottlieb has been talking a lot about different definitions of what an eligible
the minimum wage in America are not today is we see that the hospitalization newspaper plan sponsor would mean.
the primary wage earner or bread- rates and the case fatality rate for the If the American people wonder why
winner in their family, but of the 11 45- to 54-year-old hospital admissions, Congress hasn’t passed a coronavirus
percent who are, the idea that you can COVID–19 patients in the United emergency health and emergency eco-
just raise the minimum wage to any States, look a lot worse than we nomics relief plan, I think it would be
amount—I mean, if you just think good thought they were a week ago. There great if Speaker PELOSI went out and
intentions are sufficient, then why $15? are some things on the Italy curve that stood before a gaggle of reporters be-
For heaven’s sake, $15 an hour on a are scary and ugly. There are some fore the cameras and started talking
2,000-hour work year, 40 hours a week pieces of it where we might think there about the newspaper sponsor alter-
times 50 weeks, that makes $30,000 are a little bits of hopeful signs that as native plan definition provisions of her
year. It is really hard to get by on we have a lot more positive tests—but bid in this negotiation on page 911, sub-
$30,000 a year. If you think good inten- we know we simultaneously have com- section (b).
tions are enough, $15 isn’t enough. Why munity transmission problems but we One more for now. On page 931:
not have a minimum wage of $25? Why also have a lot more testing. If you get TITLE V—REHABILITATION FOR MUL-
not $30 an hour? The reason is because more positive tests, some of that is be- TIEMPLOYER PENSIONS
it doesn’t actually work. If you just cause you have more positive con-
Line 16:
raise the minimum wage to a different firmation of the disease, but some is
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is estab-
level than the marginal contribution because you are doing more testing. lished in the Department of Treasury an
value of that job, what happens is the There are some things that might be agency to be known as the ‘‘Pension Reha-
firms either cease to exist or people mildly good news, but Gottlieb, who bilitation Administration’’.
automate more rapidly. has been talking today—former FDA By the way, there is no such thing.
There are reasonable arguments to be Commissioner—has been talking about This doesn’t exist. It is being created of
made—certainly there are emotional some really bad news, which as we whole cloth here. So in the middle of a
and humanitarian arguments to be talked about, this disease is particu- national health pandemic emergency,
made—for wanting a $15 minimum larly bad for people over 60, but there we are creating now bureaucracies to
wage. But wanting a $15 minimum have been a lot of hopeful signs, besides deal with insolvent pensions.
wage is an argument you should make. our love of neighbor obligations not to (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION.—
It is not something you do in the midst be transmitting the disease to our There shall be a head of the Pension Reha-
of a public health emergency, and it is grandmas and to our parents and to the
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
bilitation Administration a Director, who
certainly not something you do in the elderly, among others, but it looks like shall be appointed by the President.
midst of a public health emergency among 45- to 54-year-olds, the death (2) TERM.—In General, the term of Direc-
where lots and lots of small businesses rate does look to be—we don’t know, tor shall last 5 years.
are ceasing to exist because the $15 but on some preliminary data, it looks I am going to stop. This is wrong.
minimum wage will just drive more to be between five-tenths and seven- This ought not to be happening. It is
people out of business. tenths of 1 percent compared to flu at not being done in good faith. Basically,
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1961
none of this stuff is really going to be that there are some Americans, a lot of ple of examples. Our Alaskan Native
considered in any negotiation. It is a Alaskans—thousands, millions—who communities have been thriving for
guise and a rouse to try to move the can’t telework. Our healthcare profes- thousands of years in some of the
goalpost. sionals who are on the frontlines, our harshest conditions anywhere on the
When people play nine innings of a first responders, our truckdrivers, port planet. We are a State full of the ances-
baseball game in a negotiation and workers, Alaskans who are stocking tors of rugged pioneers who came to
somebody decided to use a whole bunch the grocery store shelves, picking up Alaska looking for promise and stayed
of their pitchers, then the decision was our refuse, parents who are teaching to build a great State.
made, hey, let’s add five more innings their children at home, local res- Throughout our history in my State,
to the baseball game—the American taurants who are working day and we have had extreme challenges before.
people are waiting for this relief act, night to continue to provide takeout Earthquakes have flattened our build-
and it has gone on for another 36 hours food—so many people are doing such ings. Tsunamis have wiped out cities.
here for no reason that is honorable good work. Floods have swept away our homes and
and sincere. There are a whole bunch of There is an incredible outpouring of entire communities. Wildfires have
big and real debates that could be had generosity from all of our citizens, all singed our cities. Volcanic eruptions
inside the four corners of the four, kind Americans, and we are hearing about have dimmed the Sun. The price of oil
of five task forces that helped write it, from our small businesses donating and the market have dropped before, as
this piece of legislation. There are lots their time and services to help people we are seeing now. And now we have
of reasonable debates to be had inside in their communities, to volunteers, another unprecedented challenge, a
that. Throwing in a laundry list of and to our nonprofits. That is what pandemic facing my beloved State and
Christmas list lighting is why this Alaskans are doing, and that is what my beloved country.
place bleeds public trust. As I mentioned, we have a lot in com-
Americans are doing around the coun-
The Democratic whip in the House mon here, and I think a lot of us—all of
try at this very moment, despite this
said it explicitly: ‘‘A tremendous op- us—take pride in what our constitu-
enormous adversity and the challenges
portunity exists [in this crisis] to re- ents, our fellow Americans, are doing
we are facing—one of the most unprec-
structure things here to fit our vision.’’ to come together to fight this. And we
edented challenges in our history.
None of these things—none of these These are extraordinary and precar- will fight it. We will emerge stronger
1,119 pages are about solving the crisis, and more resilient, and those Wash-
ious times right now. People are obvi-
none of the nine paragraphs that I de- ington Post reporters who doubted the
ously concerned about their health.
cided to read, beat the virus, none of will of Americans, maybe in a couple of
People are obviously concerned about
these things keeps small business alive. years, will be writing a story about
their economic health, their jobs, los-
I get it. Expenses. Speaker PELOSI is how wrong they were.
ing jobs, retirement accounts, life sav- Until about a day ago, I was actually
a liberal progressive from San Fran- ings. People are being told to stay at
cisco. I am a conservative from Ne- proud of the work of this body in re-
home. They are hard-working Ameri- sponding to this crisis. For the past 3
braska. We have a different political
cans, Alaskans who have worked their weeks, we have come together, putting
philosophy. That is fine. It is com-
whole lives, who don’t even know how together bold, bipartisan pieces of leg-
pletely reasonable for us to debate pol-
they are going to pay for their gro- islation to address this pandemic in a
itics and policy and ideology when we
ceries or rent. And they are taking quick amount of time. There is what
are not in the middle of a crisis.
Speaker PELOSI could bring her lib- these actions at a difficult time be- we are calling phase 1 just 2 weeks ago,
eral wish list to the House floor for a cause local and State governments all where Congress passed an $8.3-billion
vote any time she wants. Unlike most across the country are making tough package—I will not go into all of the
of us, she controls an agenda, but she decisions, working with their commu- details—to address the healthcare
ought to have the decency to vote on nities to help make sure that the col- needs that we are starting to see with
her ideologically driven wish list after lective whole of our societies, whether the spread of this pandemic. That was
this emergency legislation has been in Anchorage or Fairbanks or other phase 1.
passed. places in America, are going to get Phase 2—just last week, again, Mem-
We are better than this. This is not through this health crisis. The bottom bers of this body came together. It
the way to restore the public trust. We line is that they are coming together wasn’t a perfect bill, that is for sure,
should do better. in a shared sacrifice. that came over from the House that
Thank you. I am so proud of the people I rep- provided Federal funds so that individ-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- resent, and I know my colleagues on uals exposed to the virus could get
ator from Alaska. both sides of the aisle are as well. It is healthy and so that our hospitals have
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I something we have in common. more resources to combat this health
know we are talking about the unprec- There was an article in the Wash- crisis. The President passed it the day
edented times that we are facing in our ington Post just the other day, like 2 we passed it here in the Senate. That
Nation, but I want to talk about some- days ago. It said something like, you was just last week.
thing that we have in common, some- know, America has gotten through a It was bold, bipartisan work. For ex-
thing that is pretty remarkable and lot of challenges before: World War II, ample, this legislation expanded emer-
that I think we all need to remember the Civil War. But this article went on gency food assistance, including for
that we have in common. We represent to say: But perhaps the American peo- children who rely on free and reduced
incredible people, the American people, ple don’t really have the mettle or the lunch, lunches from school cafeterias
who are doing so much right now—in resiliency to get through this one. where they could no longer access
Alaska, in Colorado, in Nebraska, in That was kind of the gist of this arti- those meals because schools are clos-
Montana, and in Connecticut—to help cle—classic, clueless, inside-the-belt- ing, new paid sick leave—100-percent
each other so much. way reporting—that we are not the dollar for dollar—that would be paid
I frequently tell my constituents, as same America that got through other and reimbursed by the Federal Govern-
we are talking about getting through challenges; that we don’t have the met- ment. So we acted. We acted.
this crisis, that everyone has a role to tle. Well, I would suggest that these These weren’t perfect pieces of legis-
play—young, old, business leaders, Washington Post reporters need to get lation. I didn’t like every provision in
elected leaders, union members—and out of DC. Maybe they should go to them, but we got together—Democrats
everybody is playing a role. So I am Alaska. Maybe they should go some- and Republicans—and we acted quickly
very proud of my constituents in Alas- where else in America. Come to my and boldly. And that is what our con-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
ka, and I know that everybody in this State. I guarantee you, we have the stituents want us to do.
body is proud of what their constitu- mettle—Alaskans and other great But we knew we had to do much,
ents are doing right now, the best of Americans—to get through this crisis. much more—much, much more—be-
our Nation is doing right now. I always say that my constituents cause every day, there is a new devel-
We talk a lot about how we are tele- are some of the most resilient people in opment we are seeing, not just on the
working. I would like to remind folks the world. Let me just give you a cou- health side but on the economic side.
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S1962 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
So what did we do? Last week, every- Another thing is we had a massive in- when he said something along the lines
body here rolled up their sleeves and crease to the unemployment insurance of this partisan bill—and, by the way,
worked around the clock. Again, I was program, a quarter of $1 trillion—$250 it is not partisan, OK; this was written
proud of the work that we started on. billion. Why? Because we are seeing by Republicans and Democrats, and a
By the way, this was bipartisan work. massive layoffs. lot of these ideas are from both sides—
I was talking to Democratic Senators Now, I am going to give credit to my doesn’t do anything to help hospitals.
all weekend. When you listen to the colleagues. A couple of Democratic col- We need a Marshall Plan to help them.
chairman of the Finance Committee, leagues, friends of mine, are on the Well, I think $100 billion is a pretty
he talked about the task force that we floor right now. This was a big idea good start. That is in the bill.
had—Democrats and Republicans—put- that they wanted to push. It is big So, as I mentioned, I have been proud
ting together legislation—big, bold leg- number. It is a big number—a quarter of the work of this body. I have been
islation—coming together like we had of a trillion dollars. This is going to proud of my colleagues on both sides of
on phase 1 and phase 2 to really focus significantly expand the number of in- the aisle. No one has wisdom on how to
in on four key areas: putting cash di- dividuals who are eligible to receive fix all this. No one knows what is com-
rectly in the hands of hurting families benefits. This is really important for ing in the future. But I think all of us
in Alaska and throughout the country, my State, particularly the self-em- know that we need to act, and we need
delivering rapid relief to the small ployed—the fishermen, who have never to act boldly, and we need to act in a
businesses that are being crushed by been covered under the UI programs in bipartisan way. And we did it. We did
this pandemic and laying off their the past. it, again, in less than a week.
workers, stabilizing key industries to And, once more, the bill provides a It is not a perfect bill—that is for
avoid massive layoffs that are now flat increase in benefits, $600 per week sure—but it is going to provide help to
very quickly coming on the horizon to all State programs in the next few my fellow Alaskans, to Americans. It is
and starting to happen in America, and months. So workers who are forced to massive. It is bold. It is bipartisan. It
sending new resources to medical pro- file unemployment—unfortunately, we is timely. And, as of yesterday, I
fessionals who are on the frontlines. are seeing hundreds of thousands thought we were going to get another
across the country—have the financial bill out to the American people quick-
Those were our goals, and we needed to
security to pay their bills and stay ly. Hope—that is what they need. Yes,
do it in a big way.
We completed this, the Senate—Re- afloat. So this is another big element the Senate is working.
Then, for whatever reason—and I am
publicans and Democrats—in less than of this bill.
not going to point fingers—the wheels
a week. Why? Because all of us knew Let me provide one more that I think
started to come off on this one, the one
the people we represent were hurting is one of the most important. And I
that we really need. And the bill has
and are hurting. They need hope, and think there is really strong bipartisan
been filibustered. That means we can’t
they are looking to us for that hope. agreement on this one. I know it be-
even get on the floor to debate it. We
Again, it wasn’t perfect. This bill cause I talk to my friends who are
can’t start debating it.
isn’t perfect, but it is pretty remark- Democrats. It is a small business res- Now, look, I have been listening to
able work to do in less than a week. cue package and relief package of my colleagues on both sides of the
This bill represents a huge and massive about $350 billion to enable small busi- aisle. There has been a lot of anger on
effort to help the people we represent. nesses to access credit and have the li- this floor, a lot of back-and-forth. My
Now, a lot of my colleagues have quidity to stay afloat and weather this good friend from Nebraska just talked
been coming down on the floor talking storm, not creating a new bureaucracy about this idea that somehow my col-
about what this bill will do for the peo- but an expansion of the Small Business leagues on the other side filibustered
ple we represent. I am not going to go Administration’s 7(a) loan program so this bill that the Senate has been
into all of the details, but let me just you can do it through local banks in working on to make room for Speaker
name a few because some of them were your State. The idea here is to make PELOSI’s bill. I really, really, really
ideas from our Democratic colleagues. sure the worker and the employers of hope that is not true. I really hope that
Where we had certain amounts in the our small businesses stay connected. is not true. I don’t think there is one
bill, they came and said: No, we want Small businesses can take out a loan Member of this body, Republican or
more. of up to $10 million under this program, Democratic, who could defend now
We said: OK, all right, we will work and if they use that loan to pay for what Senator SASSE just read on the
with you, just like we did on phase 1 payroll and rent and other fixed costs, floor.
and phase 2. this loan is going to be completely for- Then there started to be talk about,
I will just mention a few. I have been given. well, the bill that we had, that we are
talking to a lot of the elected leaders Whenever I describe this to my fellow focused on, is all about bailouts. That
throughout my State, making a lot of Alaskans, they say: This is exactly the is a charged term. But you could talk
calls and asking: What do you need? kind of thing we need, Senator, right about the 2008–2009 Tart bill—I wasn’t a
What is happening? How can we help? I now, as businesses are closing. Member of the Senate then, during the
had a phone conversation just a few So that is in. That is in the bill—cash financial crisis—as a bailout. I think
days ago with the mayor of Anchorage. in the hands of small businesses so that is a good description.
That is my hometown. Everybody is they can keep workers employed and Why was that a bailout? Because you
working hard. The mayor is. The Gov- be ready to get back up and grow and had people on Wall Street taking risky
ernor is doing a good job, a really good prosper again when we get through this actions that eventually cratered the fi-
job, and his team. We are all working pandemic. That is in the bill. Every- nancial system—by the way, they made
together. The mayor is a Democrat. body agrees with that. a ton of money doing it—and cratered
The Governor is a Republican. I am Finally, another element—and I am the economy. Then they had to be
reaching out to everybody. It doesn’t just describing some of the elements, bailed out because the banks were
matter the party at this moment, that but I wanted to highlight some of these going to go under, and it was going to
is for darn sure. things—is getting more resources to ruin the U.S. economy. That is a bail-
What did the mayor say to me? He the men and women on the frontlines out. That is a classic bailout.
said: The priority has to be that people of this pandemic who are, every day, What we are seeing right now is
need cash, Senator, to pay the rent, to out there in the healthcare industry much more like a natural disaster,
buy food, and to make their car pay- trying to keep Americans and Alaskans much more like a war. There is no one
ment. There is so much uncertainty. healthy and alive. to be blamed right now. The airlines
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
Can we do that? Yes, we can do that. How much? There is a lot in it, but shouldn’t be blamed for what is hap-
We did it. It is in the bill. There is the number is $100 billion for hospitals, pening right now. This is a pandemic.
$2,400 per couple and $500 per additional for healthcare providers. Let me say So this term being thrown around of,
child. That is going to help. That is that again: $100 billion. oh, it is a bailout—what we are trying
going to help families who need cash. The minority leader was on the floor to do is help the American worker, help
That is one thing. the other day. I was kind of stunned the American family.
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1963
It is not a perfect bill, but we are resilient, and the way we are going to meetings of small businesses from the
dealing with a natural disaster. Some- do it is if we are all working together, Hartford area, the Federally Qualified
thing came over from overseas onto which we had been until about 24 hours Health Centers of Connecticut, hospital
our shores, and we are now all trying ago. executives, doctors, and professionals
to deal with it. So I think the provisions outlined in who are dealing with this crisis now on
I am going to conclude by saying: I this bill, while not perfect, are what the frontlines, and, of course, local of-
am on this side of the aisle. I am a Re- the American people are looking for. ficials.
publican with principled views on cer- They can help minimize the damage Just today, I spoke with the South
tain issues. I certainly have strong done by this pandemic. And I certainly Central Council of Governments, with
views about protecting my State. But I hope we come together the way we mayors and local officials from up and
have also tried to work, throughout my have been for the last 3 weeks, in a bi- down the coast of Connecticut, great
time in the Senate, with my colleagues partisan way, to get this voted on and nonprofits like Americare and food
on both sides. Some of my closest passed as quickly as possible because banks like Food Share.
friends are my Democratic friends. I every hour of delay imperils the in- What they are telling me is do it ur-
am proud of that work. That is how credible American people whom we rep- gently, do it big, but do it right. We
you get things done in this body. Some resent. need to do it quickly, but we need to
I have been working with all weekend. I yield the floor. get it right. That is why this addi-
This issue should not be about par- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tional time is absolutely the right
tisan politics, so my point was not to ator from Connecticut. thing when we are talking about al-
come down here on the floor and make Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I most $2 trillion in taxpayer money and
this a partisan speech. We are facing am pleased to follow my friend and col- a crisis that demands careful and delib-
one of the most unprecedented chal- league and fellow Marine from Alaska. erate thought.
lenges in the history of the United We are separated by about as far a geo- I was a critic of the last bailout be-
States of America. We certainly need graphical distance as there can be in cause it insufficiently protected work-
to move beyond politics. If you looked this Nation: Alaska and Connecticut. I ers and consumers. We know that we
at what was going on in the Senate am also pleased to be followed by a col- can do better than they did then, and
until yesterday, that is exactly what league from Colorado who is almost we will because we are putting workers
we have been doing for the past 3 smack in the middle. And we are first.
weeks. united despite our geographic dif- What I have heard, in listening to the
Are there areas of compromise in this ferences and despite our political dif- people of Connecticut, talking to small
bill that hopefully can unlock things? ferences. businesses who are fearful about clos-
Sure. Two that I have been working on I want to assure the American people ing their doors and going broke, work-
and supporting, again, with my Demo- that the contention they have seen on ers who are scared about losing their
cratic colleagues, pressing my col- this floor in no way reflects the reality jobs, and nonprofits who are frightened
leagues on: Could we have more trans- of our hope and desire to move quickly about failing in their missions for lack
parency on this Federal facility pro- and to move big to address this unprec- of resources—they are hurting and are
gram? Sure. Absolutely, I would be edented, historic crisis—a healthcare fearful about being crushed by this
very supportive of this. Are there ways emergency and an economic emergency healthcare and economic crisis.
to help shore up distressed pensions for in this country. That is why we need to work to-
the great working men and women who The reality is that right now, less gether to protect the men and women
build things in America? Yes. But we than 25 yards from us, the minority who own those small and medium-sized
are running out of time. We are run- leader, the Democratic leader, CHUCK businesses with a generous loan and
ning out of time. We need to pass this SCHUMER; and perhaps the Secretary of grant program. We should take care of
bill now. Why do we need to pass this the Treasury or his representatives; their workers with an expanded unem-
bill now? Because it is going to help and also representatives of the White ployment compensation program and
the people we represent. It is going to House are literally working on a better guarantee that those small businesses
help people in Connecticut and Vir- bill, a bill that better protects workers. will, in fact, maintain their payrolls.
ginia and Colorado and Montana and Workers and families should come If we are going to provide money to
Alaska. And they need hope. They need first, not corporate interests. Small big industries like the airlines, we
hope right now. businesses should be a priority. They must include conditions, strings at-
Again, this bill isn’t perfect. It has are the economic backbone and major tached, that put workers first—no lay-
got a lot of hope. Once we pass it, then employer in our country. offs, no salary cuts for workers or sal-
all of us are going to need to do the It will be a better and a bigger bill in ary increases to the corporate execu-
hard work of making sure that the im- addressing the medical surge that this tives and no stock buybacks, and treat
plementation of this bill goes as effec- country must confront: the imminent consumers fairly. That should be the
tively and as smoothly as possible. soaring of numbers of cases; the poten- set of principles.
Then, when we see mistakes in it, tially fatal infections that are about to Right now, all across America and in
which there will be, we need to come deluge our hospitals and healthcare fa- Connecticut, working families are wor-
back here and act to correct this. That cilities; and the need for ventilators, ried about whether they are going to
is what we need to do. masks, tests, gowns, all kinds of equip- see another paycheck. They are wor-
These are exceptional times for our ment that will help to save lives. ried about how they are going to pay
country. We had an influenza outbreak I think all of us could do well by lis- their rent and utility bills, put food on
in 1918 that ravaged the world, and it tening to the American people about the table, clothe their children. Small
particularly ravaged my State. As Sen- the need for a bigger, better, bolder businesses are watching years of hard
ator MURKOWSKI said earlier today, one bill. work—years of risk-taking and entre-
of the things that has got a lot of us I have been inspired by how resolute preneurial energy—potentially teeter
troubled in Alaska is, 100 years ago and resilient the people of Connecticut on the brink of absolute collapse. We
when the influenza came through, it have been. Over the last 2 or 3 weeks, I face calamity and catastrophe—not the
did finally get to some of our Alaska have talked to them around the State fault of any of them or workers or
Native villages. I have over 200 commu- of Connecticut before we were re- large or small executives, but we must
nities, not connected by roads, with stricted in our meetings, and then by respond to the magnitude of this mo-
very limited healthcare facilities. Dur- talks on the telephone, by telecon- ment.
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
ing the Spanish influenza, many of ferences, and conversations. I spoke on a radio program this
these communities were completely I have spoken within the last few morning, Chaz and AJ on WPLR, and I
wiped out. days to the Greater Danbury Chamber was asked: Will it be bipartisan? Can
It is a scary time—a scary time—but of Commerce and small businesses that you be bipartisan? The answer is, clear-
we are going to get through it. We are they assembled and large ones, the ly, yes. We have been on two relief
going to get through it stronger, more Northwestern Chamber of Commerce, packages, and we will be on this one, as
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S1964 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
early as tomorrow or the next day be- I rise tonight not to get into this If this continues, she said they are
cause no partisan plan will pass as a back-and-forth about this because I going to have to put two patients on a
creation of one party or another. think we are going to address it, and I single ventilator. That is not how it is
Storefronts and inventory lists aren’t think we are going to address it in a supposed to work.
the backbone of our economy; it is the way that is meaningful and in a way In Colorado, our nurses are sewing
millions of men and women who go to that is bipartisan and in a way that masks because they don’t have masks.
work every day and, even tomorrow, can help give the American people a My wife was sewing a mask at our
will do their job, even in the face of the measure of confidence that we are home in Denver yesterday—in the
uncertainty and the fear that they con- doing our job. For those of you who United States, in the 21st century.
front. Doing right by our economy have heard me over the years on this We have doctors who are getting just
means doing right by them—the work- floor, I don’t always come here with a a single mask and being told to use it
ing families of America. report that optimistic. But tonight, indefinitely. I was on the phone this
There is much the President could do given everything I have heard over the evening with doctors and administra-
if he uses, for example, the Defense course of the day, I want to say that tors from our hospitals who are telling
Production Act or similar kinds of this is a serious problem. It is an un- me that they are having to ration
power that, so far, he has resisted in- precedented challenge. We have to rise swabs for tests. It is a two-swab test,
voking. He could provide the medical to this challenge together, and I be- but they are only using one swab be-
tools we will need to confront the com- lieve that when the votes are counted cause they don’t have enough swabs to
ing crisis by taking advantage of the on this bill, it will have been a better do it properly. There are doctors who
offers he has received from GM and bill for the work that has been done, are having to use the same mask pa-
other major companies to produce the and the vote will be a big bipartisan tient after patient when the mask is
ventilators or the private protective vote, which will be a shot in the arm designed for it to be only one patient;
gear that will help to save lives. for the country and for the American that is the way it is supposed to work.
There is much that we all must do in people. They are violating protocols of the
continuing to observe the restrictions I want to talk not about this back- Food and Drug Administration and the
that will help save lives—not only re- and-forth, but I want to talk about Centers for Disease Control because
strictions physically in our homes but something that is confronting us; that they are rationing equipment. There is
also the perspective we must have that is, the worst pandemic in a century. no excuse in this country—the richest
we are in for a long fight against this Just a month ago, just 30 days ago, no- country—that they should be rationing
invisible foe. And it will be much body here would have imagined—30 in this public healthcare crisis. Gowns,
longer than 15 days. It will be a matter days ago we had 30 confirmed cases in masks, shields, clothes—America’s
of months, not weeks, and we must the United States. Today, there are healthcare workers don’t have any of
have the resilience and resoluteness over 41,000 cases, the most anywhere it. And do you know what they spent
that I have heard from the people of outside of China and Italy. today doing? They spent today
Connecticut in their voices as I have The President is right. He goes out scrolling through ads—not all of them,
spoken to them. and says that there are 140-some coun- not the ones with patients, but the
We live in no ordinary time, as Elea- tries that have this. That is true. We ones who have to equip our medical
nor Roosevelt said about her era. We are in the top three of those countries. professionals. They were scrolling
must muster the same kind of deter- There are 379 Americans who have died through ad after ad after ad—from
mination, grit, and courage to face it. as we are here tonight. In the middle of where? China—saying that their masks
I know there is that transcendent the worst public health crisis in a cen- are for sale in China. They have no idea
sense of urgency to do it quickly and to tury, our medical community doesn’t whether these are fly-by-night organi-
do it right and a shared sense of pur- have the basic supplies and equipment zations.
pose that ultimately will get us to the they need to respond. These companies are requiring Den-
other side of this crisis. We will be bet- This matters because if we don’t get ver Health and other hospitals to put
ter and stronger and a bigger nation, our doctors and nurses protective gear, the money upfront and say: You will
not only in our economy; we will be a they are going to get sick. If they get get the masks 3 or 4 weeks from now.
bigger nation because we have come to- sick, they can’t help everyone else who They don’t even know whether those
gether in meeting this crisis. is sick. That is a huge problem, and our masks will come. They don’t know
Shared sacrifice must mean truly medical professionals in Colorado, as in what the quality of those masks will
sharing the benefits with workers, with the Commonwealth of Virginia and all be. We were told yesterday by the
families, and with small businesses across this great country, have been President that China was sending us
that will ultimately help us to save our begging for us to pay attention to this masks, and now all of those seem to be
Nation and our economy. My hope is for months—for months. being sent to Italy.
that we will do it quickly, but we will The chief medical officer at Denver I saw a quote from a doctor in Cali-
do it right. Health—which is our fabulous public fornia who said it is like ‘‘We are at
I yield the floor. hospital in Denver, one of the leading war with no ammo.’’ That is not their
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- hospitals in this country—says that fault. That is not their fault. They are
ator from Colorado. they do not have enough tests or swabs on the frontlines of this war. We should
Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I would to keep pace, and the turnaround time be ashamed. We should be ashamed. I
like to thank my colleague from Con- for tests is taking much too long. ‘‘Our am.
necticut for his remarks tonight and ICU right now is full of patients await- The question is, How are we going to
for the hopefulness that he has ex- ing test results,’’ she said. ‘‘We need make sure our medical community has
pressed. I have been here now for 11 faster testing.’’ Hopefully that is com- the supplies and equipment they need?
years, and I can’t predict success here, ing, but it has been a long time getting Perhaps it would be useful to be honest
and I can’t say it is assured, but I here. And every single healthcare about where we are, to start with.
think it is very likely that we are worker who is tested in this country The Department of Health and
going to come together in a deal. I but does not get a result for 5 or 6 or 7 Human Services estimates that we are
hope we come together in that deal or 8 days—even if they don’t have the going to need 3.5 billion masks to fight
today, and I think the American people coronavirus—can’t go back to work. this pandemic this year. When you
are going to be able to assess the As a result of that, we face a severe hear me tonight use the word ‘‘mask,’’
progress that has been made for work- shortage of healthcare workers in this in your own mind add the word
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
ers as a result of taking a little bit of country. At Denver Health, they say: ‘‘gown,’’ add the word ‘‘glove,’’ add the
extra time, for hospitals as a result of ‘‘We are burning through our personal word ‘‘shield’’ because they need all of
a little extra time, for State and local protective equipment to the point that that—3.5 billion masks to fight this
governments that are going to benefit we are on short supply, as is every pandemic this year. The administra-
mightily because of the work we have other health care institution in Denver tion came with their first supplemental
done. and likely in Colorado.’’ requesting $1.8 billion; today we are at
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1965
$2 trillion in just the last month. They wrong—and I am sure he doesn’t—but ability to mobilize private industry so
came and said 1.8 billion. We said we he does have a very profound responsi- we can ramp up production in a coordi-
need 350 million masks. We need 3.5 bil- bility now that only Presidents of the nated and coherent way, so we can
lion masks—billion masks—this year. United States have. have a national approach to fixing this
Today in America, we have exactly 35 When Governors from across the broken supply chain, to fixing the
million masks. That is 1 percent of country raised the supply shortages empty storerooms, and to putting
what we need—not 80 percent but 1 per- with him last week, he told them to these critical supplies and equipment
cent of what we need. ‘‘get it yourself.’’ He told them that on the frontline.
Nationwide tonight, our hospitals the Federal Government is not ‘‘a ship- I was so pleased that he invoked
have 160,000 ventilators among all the ping clerk.’’ those authorities 5 days ago, but in-
hospitals we have in the greatest coun- He said: stead of using them, he has equivo-
try in the world. Johns Hopkins esti- The governors, locally, are going to be in cated. He said things like we have the
mates that we are going to need an- command. We will be following them, and we act to use ‘‘just in case we need it. But
other 40,000 ventilators by the time hope they can do the job. . . . We are there we have so many things being made.
this is done. to back you up should you fail. . . .’’ He didn’t finish the sentence, but
In Colorado tonight, I heard—this We are failing, Mr. President. We are he meant this voluntary effort—which
might be of interest to the other Sen- failing to address the seriousness of the I deeply appreciate, by the way. Don’t
ators who are here tonight because public health crisis this country is fac- get me wrong. Every single mask and
New York represents half of the cases ing. And we are going to rue the day every single gown and every single
in this country right now. The concern that we said it was the hospitals’ prob- shield that can be manufactured and
from Colorado, and I am sure from lem to solve, that it was the Gov- every single respirator that can be
your States as well, is that all those ernors’ problem to solve, that it was manufactured and lent to the people on
ventilators are going to go to New the States’ problem to solve. the lines—that is important, but it is
York, as they should right now because I want to say this to the American not going to solve this crisis. It is not
that is where the greatest need is. people tonight because it is really im- going to keep us in a position where we
What is going to be left for the rest of portant that you know what the facts can actually flatten the curve.
us? What is going to be left for the rest are. It is important for you to know He said yesterday: ‘‘We’re a country
of us in 7 days or 10 days or 20 days? that we don’t need tens of thousands of not based on nationalizing our busi-
How can we be this foolish? How can masks or millions of masks. We need nesses. Call a person over in Venezuela,
we be this blind? The administration billions of masks and all the other ask them how did nationalization for
hasn’t taken this crisis seriously equipment that I talked about earlier— their businesses work out?’’
enough from the beginning. gowns, shields, swabs, the elements of As every Senator here knows, the De-
When it comes to the equipment that tests, the reagents that are necessary fense Production Act doesn’t nation-
people on the frontline need—the ‘‘am- to take those tests. When I say ‘‘we,’’ I alize businesses. It is our tool. It is a
munition,’’ to use their word, that the am talking about the healthcare pro- mechanism to create a coherent strat-
people on the frontline need—they are fessionals we are relying on to be the egy for our public sector and our pri-
being ignored or dismissed with a vate sector to produce goods based on
frontline in this effort.
bunch of happy talk about how we are What is the President’s response to an urgent national need. The govern-
going to solve this problem—if we can this? He has touted about the ship- ment pays market value for those
even admit that there is a problem. goods and has a strategy for how those
ments coming out of our national
The result is something I never goods will be distributed around the
stockpile. I am coming to think this
thought I would see in the United country as the epidemic moves from
national stockpile must be more like a
States of America, the country I grew place to place.
really small national warehouse. It is unacceptable that we are in a
up in. States like New York and New Colorado received that shipment yes-
situation where States are having to
Jersey are literally being forced to out- terday. We are grateful for it. We are bid against each other, where the hos-
bid—States like New York are being grateful for the shipment we got from pitals in Colorado are having to bid
forced to outbid New Jersey and Cali- the national stockpile. I want my col- against each other. They said to me to-
fornia to secure critical supplies while leagues to hear me. The Department of night: Michael, if you could just get us
they are fighting through the worst Public Health in Colorado estimates 5 million masks and send them to Colo-
public health crisis in a century. that those supplies will last for a single rado, we can distribute them. But it
Yesterday, during his press con- day of statewide operation—1 day. makes no sense for us to be looking up
ference in the White House, the Presi- Then the President comes out and the yellow pages in China to buy
dent said: We want them to be on that talks about the tens of thousands of masks.
open market because we might lose masks that are going to New York or I said to them: I wish that were
money if we are not on that open mar- California, as if that can make the dif- enough. I wish that would be enough.
ket. ference. It won’t make a difference But as long as Colorado is going to
Exactly the opposite of what he when you need millions of masks. have to compete with New York, which
thinks is happening, is happening. Gov- Then, at the press conference yester- is going to have to compete with New
ernors like Andrew Cuomo are being day, he suggested that the new com- Jersey or compete with Florida or com-
forced to pay $7 for surgical masks that mitments by private businesses will pete with Texas, it won’t work.
just a week ago cost 85 cents. My doc- somehow be enough. He said: The num- It is not just the price, although that
tors in Colorado told me tonight that bers are quite large, and we have tre- is shocking. The fact that there are
stuff yesterday that was five times the mendous numbers of companies mak- people gouging at a moment like this is
cost of what it ordinarily is, today is ing equipment. We have respirators. We appalling. It is not just the price; it is
seven times the cost of what it ordi- have ventilators. We have a lot of the availability. The nurses and doc-
narily is. In Colorado, our children’s things happening right now. We have tors in Denver, CO, or in any city in
hospital is paying 70 cents a mask. millions of masks that are coming. this country tonight should not be
That is 10 times what they were spend- Millions of masks, not billions. using one swab for a test. It takes two.
ing a month ago. Ventilators that used They will be here soon, he said. They They should not be wearing one mask
to cost a few thousand dollars now cost will be shipped directly to the States. all day long—a mask that is designed
up to $40,000 because the President He failed to mention that soon actu- to be worn with just one patient.
won’t act. He will not provide the na- ally means 18 months from now. That The President said yesterday that he
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
tional leadership that we need. is not going to help us. We don’t have looked into this as a businessman. He
Ten days ago, when talking about the 18 months. It is literally life and death. was shocked at all the masks being
test, he said: ‘‘I don’t take any respon- It is for all of these reasons that we thrown away. We ought to be able to
sibility at all.’’ That is what he said. ask the President to invoke his au- sterilize the masks.
He may think that he doesn’t have the thorities under the Defense Production There are important reasons why we
blame for everything that has gone Act, which gives him and him alone the have those rules—to protect our
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S1966 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
healthcare workers and so we don’t being handled or that we have it to- only the President of the United States
spread disease. gether. has that authority. He won that elec-
By the way, I asked: Does it solve We are one nation under God for a tion. He has that authority. We can’t
your problem that the President has reason, and that is to respond to a do it without him. Lives are literally
said we can use construction masks challenge just like this one. It cannot at stake in Colorado and across the
now in our healthcare facilities? be one hospital at a time, one State at country.
They said: We are grateful for the ad- a time, or one business at a time. That We need him to lead, and I beg of all
ditional masks that we are getting, but will not work. It is not a strategy. In the Members of this Chamber to do
it is not remotely helping fix the scale fact, it is making matters worse be- whatever they can, if they have influ-
of the problem, and a lot of these cause not only are we not fixing the ence on him, to get him to understand
masks actually aren’t appropriate in a supply chain, but the pricing is getting the gravity of the situation we are fac-
healthcare setting. completely distorted, and people are ing, the scale of the situation we are
They will do anything. They are not competing with an incredibly scarce facing—the scope that we are facing—
looking down their noses at it. I had number of goods. and the lack of preparedness that needs
somebody say to me today—one of the This is not a substitute for a coher- to be addressed by his invoking his au-
people on the call said that they had ent national strategy to figure out how thority under that statute.
gotten masks from a finger nail salon we are going to meet these critical sup- I thank my colleagues for their pa-
and that they had no idea what quality ply and equipment shortages across the tience and their indulgence.
the masks were. There was Asian writ- country, and every single day, it gets I yield the floor.
ing on the outside of the package. They worse. You can hear the panic in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
don’t know what it is, but those masks Governors and in the people who are Democratic leader.
will be there when they run out of all working in our hospitals and in the Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I
the other masks. That is what they are thank my colleague for his impas-
people who are working with people
going to use. That is what we are using sioned words that were right on the
who are having to go into unsafe condi-
money.
in the United States of America to- tions, who are willing to do it. They The Senate is going to adjourn short-
night? That is what we are telling the are on the frontline of this war with no ly, but that doesn’t mean negotiations
people we are asking to save our lives, ammunition. are slowing down one bit. Secretary
to save our parents’ lives? That is what As much as the President may not
Mnuchin just left my office. We have
we are saying? want to make these hard decisions, for
had some very good discussions, and, in
I am sure the other Senators have whatever reason—because he hopes for
fact, the list of outstanding issues has
had the same experience that I have the best; because maybe the medical
narrowed significantly. We are going to
had, which is I have been in touch with thing will work itself out; because
work on into the night.
companies all over my State that stand maybe, instead of 18 months, it will be I yield the floor.
ready to help produce supplies and shorter for a vaccine; because maybe The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
equipment. the hot weather will make things bet- ator from Virginia.
The President said yesterday that ter—he is literally the only one with Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I had not
one of the problems he had or one of the authority to call America to this intended to speak today. Yet, in my of-
the challenges he had was, you challenge. The President is portraying fice, as I was alternately talking to
wouldn’t have any idea where to begin. himself as a wartime President, but he Virginians and colleagues about our
I don’t know who makes ventilators. is leaving it up to Hanes to plan D-day. goal to find an economic package that
Maybe they made them a long time ago It will not work. He needs to give the will backstop workers and the Amer-
and they have forgotten how to do it. frontline of this war the ammunition it ican economy, I had the TV on. I was
Surely he doesn’t believe that we needs, and he is the only one who can watching what was happening on the
couldn’t figure that out in a split sec- do it. No one else can do it. This Sen- floor, and I decided I would come and
ond, where the manufacturing capacity ate can’t do it. just speak for a few minutes.
is in this country to do what needs to There has been a lot of back-and- Frankly, I think that what has been
be done. Yet these companies have said forth today about a brief delay in pass- happening on the floor today has sort
to me that nobody in the administra- ing this economic package. As I said, I of been artificial and hasn’t really
tion has been in touch to tell them hope very much it will pass. I hope shown the American public what is
what to make, how much to make, or very much we will have a deal soon. I truly going on. There were a lot of
where it should go. hope very much it will be bipartisan. speeches that were taking place where-
I say thank you to my colleagues for We should do our work, and we should in it was sort of a blame game, and I
their indulgence, but the truth is—and get that done. Yet I beg of you—I beg don’t think that is what Americans
the truth needs to be understood—that of you, my colleagues in the U.S. Sen- wanted to see today. Just as there was
I think this is a moment in time when ate—for every Member of this body to yesterday, there was another vote
we have to get this done, but we are call on the White House and ask why, today that failed, a vote that was des-
getting it so wrong. The truth is, as after weeks, there is still no plan to tined to fail. I don’t think that is what
much as we welcome all of the citizens make sure our doctors and nurses have Americans deserved to see today. What
and businesses that are stepping up on the gear to protect themselves; why Americans didn’t see yesterday and
their own, it will not be enough. our hospitals still don’t have the ven- today is the intense dialogue and de-
Hanes can’t produce 3.5 billion tilators they need to treat people; why bate and discussion around the third
masks. It is a great company. As the it is not obvious where those ventila- coronavirus response bill—by far, the
President said yesterday, it is involved tors are going to come from; and why largest.
in cotton products, but it can’t make we still don’t have a clear strategy It is important to get the details
3.5 billion masks, and it can’t do it in from this administration to arm the right. We spent time getting the de-
the time we need it done. GM and Tesla frontline that is waging this war while tails right, in a bipartisan way, to pass
can’t manufacture 40,000 ventilators. we are here tonight. an $8 billion supplemental appropria-
As for the 2 million masks the Vice This is, perhaps, the greatest chal- tion just 2 weeks ago. We spent time
President trumpeted yesterday from lenge our country has faced since the getting the details right to pass an ex-
Apple, we appreciate it, but it is an in- Second World War. It probably is, and tension of paid childcare and unem-
finitesimal amount. It sounds like a it is scary. We have risen to challenges ployment insurance that had a cost of
big number. That is why the President before, and I think we can rise to this about $100 billion. We are now talking
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
actually said yesterday that the reason one. I may not have voted for the about an economic stimulus package
he came out and read those big num- President, and I may not agree with that could be as high as $2 trillion. The
bers was so that you would know they much of what he does, but I urge him American public wants us to get the
were sending out lots of stuff. He said to act. I urge him to use the authority details right.
that, and I think that gives a complete that is granted to him uniquely in As I look at the stimulus discussions,
misimpression that, somehow, this is America. Out of 330 million Americans, there are sort of five pillars, and this is
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1967
the way I describe it to Virginians. It As for States and local governments, former Governor of Virginia, the Sen-
is the workers and their families; it is we are all on the phone with our Gov- ator from Virginia now. As a former
small business; it is the large business ernors and with our mayors and with Governor, we have a real interest in
and industry sectors; it is State and county health officials. We have all making sure that there is a good, coop-
local governments; and it is our watched them close down school sys- erative spirit between the Federal Gov-
healthcare network. tems, close down universities, deal ernment and State governments.
As for the workers, we are all hearing with extra healthcare challenges, and But this evening, as we have gone
from people in our States who are so deal with skyrocketing unemployment through an entire day—which is rather
significantly affected. They are with- insurance applications in every juris- unusual in the Senate to have one Sen-
out salaries and wages. How are they diction in the country. We should pro- ator speaking after another with oth-
going to pay their rents or their mort- vide them with the resources to deal ers here—at a time in which we should
gages? They are in danger of eviction with those challenges. be exercising separation, as they say,
and foreclosure. How are they going to My hope as a former Governor—and to have had so many colleagues on the
pay childcare and other expenses? This we have other former Governors in the floor shows just how seriously the U.S.
has to be the heart of this bill. I think Chamber—is that, when we provide as- Senate is taking this issue.
the White House accepts that and that sistance to State and local govern- Perhaps the frustration laid out by
we should too. ments, we will do it in a way with max- Members of my conference is that we
This package has to be right for really want this to move forward as
imum flexibility so they can use those
working people, and the details matter. quickly as possible, and we understand
funds in ways they see fit to meet the
Only about 26 percent of American
local needs they have experienced. that it is very difficult to put together
workers are covered by the unemploy-
The last pillar is the key, important the resources in order to buy those ad-
ment insurance system. We can’t just
one—I will close here, and this is to ditional pieces of equipment that our
rely on that old system if we really
continue my colleague from Colorado’s friend from Colorado laid out unless we
want to backstop all of the people who
passion and plea on behalf of our have a long-term plan here in which to
have lost income and be able to protect
healthcare industry—which is the ap- also pay for it.
them and their families.
propriate level of resources to our So what I would like to do is to share
I saw, over the week, that the Gov-
ernment of the United Kingdom de- healthcare infrastructure. There won’t a little bit of what is in this just in
cided to just make a guarantee to all be any amount of economic stimulus terms of a summary of what is in the
working people that they will backstop that will work if we don’t handle the proposal right now and that we believe
you for 80 percent of your lost earnings public health crisis in a very smart is an appropriate, major step in taking
during the time period of this national way going forward. We could make it $3 care of funding to respond not just to
emergency. We should hold ourselves trillion, or we could make it $4 trillion, the medical emergency but also to the
to that standard and try to provide a but we would be pouring the money economic emergency that we have in
package that backstops workers and away if we were not to get the public front of us right now for men and
their families, those who are of low and health crisis right. If we get it right, women who are worried about where
middle income. That is pillar 1. that will be the single most important they are going to get the next pay-
Pillar 2 is small businesses, and I thing toward restarting the economy. check.
think there is huge agreement on this. So the last pillar of the five pillars First of all, under the appropriations
Small businesses are the engine of the that we are spending time on is in the section, we have $75 billion for hos-
American economy, the employer of support for hospitals, community pitals that is included in the proposal;
first resort for Americans. Yet those health centers, other health clinics, $20 billion additional for veterans’
small businesses—including nonprofits, healthcare professionals, and sup- health that is included; $11 billion
cultural, and service organizations— porting childcare for them. We have to more for vaccines, therapeutics,
have significant challenges, and we keep our frontline healthcare workers diagnostics and other preparedness
need to get them through this tough at work, but many of them have chil- needs.
time. If we get them through the tough dren in schools that have now been There is an additional $4.5 billion for
time, primarily with loans and then if closed. We don’t want them having to the CDC—the Centers for Disease Con-
we come out of this public health chal- stay home with their kids because trol, or CDC. The reason we have put
lenge into a challenged economy and there is no childcare when we want that in there is we want to be ahead of
they just have more debt on their them at hospitals and clinics. So part the game when it comes to making
books, we are not really going to help of that fifth pillar has to be to protect sure they have the resources to take
them. So the small business pillar of these healthcare workers, not only care of the emergency needs that we
this is very important in order to get their physical health but their ability know are showing up right now.
them through this challenging time to go to work every day. There is also an additional $1.7 bil-
and to do it in a way that does not just I believe we are close on the negotia- lion to add new medical equipment to
saddle these small businesses with tion. I don’t like watching stem-wind- the strategic national stockpile. As my
more debt. ing speeches from the floor, blaming colleague from Colorado was sug-
The third is the large business and who one thinks is responsible for not gesting, this is an area where we need
industry sectors. Of course, we need to being able to pass a vote, when I know, to beef it up, and we need to be able to
provide protection for them. That is 20 yards away, the White House is sit- provide that additional equipment.
not the issue. Frankly, the issue is not ting down with the Democrats, and we That is included in this bill that, right
even, really, the amount of the protec- are getting closer and closer and closer now, has been here for 2 days.
tion that must be provided. It must be to coming up with a package that can Also, we understand that at the State
significant. However, we learned gain bipartisan acceptance as it should. level there are other needs as well.
through the stimulus package in 2009 The American public needs action. There is $20 billion in here for public
and through the tax bill in 2017 that The American public needs big action. transportation emergency relief. There
dollars given without conditions to But if we are going to spend $2 tril- is $10 billion built into the bill right
many of the large businesses can be lion and we spend it the wrong way, we now for block grants to the States.
spent in very economically unproduc- will regret it for years. If we spend it That is the broadest type of resources
tive ways, so it is important to get the right way, we could get through that we provide to the States today.
those details right. There are limits on this crisis in a way that will do min- There is an additional $5 billion to be
using these Federal funds for executive imum damage to our economy. added to FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
compensation. There are limits on I yield the floor. Remember that FEMA is now at a level
using the funds for stock buybacks. We The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. 1, which is basically their highest level.
can get the details right so that the SCOTT of South Carolina). The Senator They are coordinating now on a 24-hour
dollars that are provided to our large from South Dakota. basis with every single State in the Na-
industry sectors and businesses are Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, first let tion directly, back and forth, to pro-
used to protect their employees. me say thank you to my colleague, the vide an avenue of communication and
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S1968 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2020
logistics so that when parts are found work because we have told those busi- We are going to ask for some condi-
or equipment is found in one area, it nesses that they have to shut down. tions on that, yes, but the idea here is
can be coordinated to get to an area Another piece of this product right to allow them to survive and to be
where it is needed—not so much be- now I think is an excellent piece, one ready to go back into business.
cause we always have all the supplies that not only offers emotional support This seems to be the place where we
that we need available right now but for men and women who are struggling, have the most dissension and disagree-
because we want the supplies that we but it also shares through small busi- ment between the two parties because,
do have to get to where they are need- nesses an amount—about $350 billion— while we are proposing that they can’t
ed as quickly as possible. That is in op- that goes to small businesses, busi- use this to buy stock back, I think
eration today. nesses that are under—that are under— some of our Democratic colleagues
Now, there are other pieces to this 500 employees in size. When we define thought we had to strengthen it. Fine.
that are also really important. One of an employee, we are talking about an That shouldn’t take 2 days to work
the reasons you have seen the frustra- FTE or full-time equivalent of 40 out. They think we should have some
tion on the Republican side of this dis- hours. So if you have two half-times, more guidelines. Fine. But that
cussion is that there are men and you have one FTE. shouldn’t take 2 days to work out.
women right now who don’t have a pay- But what we have offered to small The goal here is to keep as many peo-
check coming in; they have been laid businesses in this is a very simple loan ple employed and to keep those busi-
off through no fault of their own. They and loan forgiveness program for which nesses operational so that as we move
are being laid off because of COVID–19 they can go down to their local lender through this health emergency, those
and because their businesses have been and apply. The local lender is the per- businesses continue to do business in
asked—or in some cases, directed—to son who puts the papers together and the future.
close. And when that happens, we feel so forth, but what it allows them to do There is a larger portion in this that
an obligation to try to at least allow is to go down and say: Look, I have just we also talk about, which is for the air-
them the opportunity to make it been told that my business is shut lines and so forth. We have a frustra-
through the next few months, to get down. I don’t want to lose my employ- tion, as well, with our Democratic col-
ready for the recovery that we are con- ees. What they can do is borrow the leagues because of some of the sugges-
money to continue to pay the payroll tions that have been made. We don’t
vinced can happen if we properly man-
and benefits for those individuals they think they should have to remake their
age the emergency before us.
I would like to just go through them would be laying off otherwise. And if board of directors if they are going to
briefly so that after an entire day of they keep them on for a period of up to get a loan.
We think the airlines are critical—
discussion, there is at least an under- 8 weeks, we forgive the loan. It be-
not just to save the airlines but be-
standing of what is in the bill today comes a grant. But the reason for that
cause business relies on airlines and
just for men and women who are hurt- is if we don’t do that, those same indi-
people rely on airlines now to get from
ing today. viduals are going to be on the unem-
one place to another throughout the
On a per-person basis, we are offering ployment rolls, so why make them go
United States.
about $250 billion in additional re- through that emotional distress and We have also included about $17 bil-
sources. For a child, there is $500 for why have them in such a position that lion to take care of those separate in-
every child in a family, but that is on they may not get the benefits back dustries on which we have national de-
top of $1,200 for a mother and a father. that the small business is offering fense-specific issues. We think this has
What we are suggesting with that is, it today. been well thought out.
doesn’t mean that you have to have We have done something else as well. It doesn’t mean that there isn’t room
made that much. This is a refundable We have said for that small business for more negotiations, but time is of
tax credit, and it is available to indi- owner: We know many of you have the essence. As we sit here this
viduals regardless of if they even made mortgages; you have ongoing pay- evening, more people will die; more
that much or paid taxes on that in the ments. So we will also let you include people will get sick; more men and
last couple of years. your mortgage payments, as well, and women will find themselves wondering
This is really important because this your ongoing rent, lights, and so forth. where they are going to get their next
is an immediate, upfront payment from And if you keep open, you can also paycheck. Every single day matters.
the Internal Revenue Service, the IRS, apply to have that part forgiven, as So our request to the Members on the
back to individuals. And the sooner we well, up to a grand total of $10 million other side of the aisle, who have twice
pass this legislation, the sooner those per business. Why? Because we want now said ‘‘No, we don’t want to take
dollars can get out to people who, right stability in the marketplace, and we the first procedural step to get onto
now, are hurting, and they need this think that is what a lot of employees the bill,’’ what we say is: Look, you
additional assistance at this time, not want. have to push hard on your leadership to
a month and a half or 2 months from We would like to have that out this come to a consensus. And, please, this
now, but as soon as we can get it to week. That is one of the reasons you is emergency legislation. This should
them. see the frustrations and the irritation not be a Christmas tree. It should not
Additionally, we have an unemploy- on the Republican side of the aisle be a piece of legislation that, since it
ment proposal that increases the here—because we really thought we needs to pass, we can now put a wish
amount of money that goes into the were negotiating on these items in list of other things that one party or
unemployment funds in the amount of good faith with Members of the other the other has been trying to get into
about $250 billion as well. side in working groups that had both law but does not have consensus on.
How does that break out and what included in such a fashion that we This is where the areas of contention
does that mean to an individual? If an could move through this fairly quickly. are this evening.
individual is on unemployment today, In fact, I think you have heard Mem- So to the men and women who are
what we are offering, besides what they bers on the other side of the aisle talk out there and are concerned, I can
are getting from the State is, first of about the fact that they are not dis- share with you that I think we have a
all, first dollar coverage with no 1- agreeing with those things. very good plan, one that will come
week wait period. Second of all, we are There is another part too. There are close to $1.9 trillion dollars in terms of
adding an additional $600 per week—per the larger businesses, over 500 in size. what we are offering. But at the same
week—for the first 9 weeks that they When we have businesses that are big- time, it needs to get out as quickly as
are eligible for. ger than 500 in size, what we have said possible, and it has to be as simple as
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
Now, that doesn’t mean that unem- is: Look, we are not going to give you possible for those men and women to be
ployment stops at that point, but there a grant program. We are not going to able to apply for in an unemployment
is $600 additional during that 9-week be in the position of bailing you out. line or the businesses to apply through
period of time. This is very important But what we do want to do is to make a local bank so that they can keep peo-
for individuals who have no place else liquidity and loans available to you— ple employed or for that larger busi-
to go and have already been laid off of loans that you can afford. ness to understand that liquidity is
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March 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1969
available to get them through a very Capt. Darryl L. Walker BARRASSO, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. YOUNG,
difficult time, but it is not going to be Capt. Robert D. Westendorff Ms. ROSEN, and Mr. PETERS):
a grant; it is going to be a loan. Capt. Thomas R. Williams, II S. 3569. A bill to help small business
broadband providers keep customers con-
Finally, there is an area which is im- f
nected; to the Committee on Commerce,
portant that perhaps can have some ad- Science, and Transportation.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
ditional thought put into it, and that is By Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr.
that not just the hospitals at the local Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BENNET, Mr. BOOK-
level need our support and our assist- unanimous consent that the Senate ER, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mrs. SHAHEEN,
ance right now because they can’t do proceed to the en bloc consideration of Ms. HIRONO, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. VAN
this by themselves, but we are going to the following nominations: Executive HOLLEN, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. CASEY, Ms.
find that State after State is going to Calendar Nos. 238, 451, 453, 571, and 630. WARREN, Mr. KAINE, Mr. SCHUMER,
There being no objection, the Senate Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr.
be knocking on our door, saying: You
proceeded to consider the nominations CARPER, Mr. TESTER, and Mr.
shut down businesses in our State. You MANCHIN):
have told us that we need to in order to en bloc.
S. 3570. A bill to provide for the expedited
quell this emergency, but in doing so, Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask procurement of equipment needed to combat
the revenues that were generated be- unanimous consent that the Senate COVID–19 under the Defense Production Act
cause of those business activities we vote on the nominations en bloc with of 1950; to the Committee on Banking, Hous-
don’t have. no intervening action or debate; that, ing, and Urban Affairs.
So you are going to find State reve- if confirmed, the motions to reconsider By Mr. BROWN:
be considered made and laid upon the S. 3571. A bill to require member banks to
nues that are down significantly, and
table en bloc and the President be im- maintain pass-through digital dollar wallets
they are going to be coming in, and for certain persons, and for other purposes;
they are going to be visiting. I am con- mediately notified of the Senate’s ac-
to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
vinced that between this package and tions. Urban Affairs.
perhaps the next package we have to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
objection, it is so ordered. f
also recognize the impact to State gov-
ernments that provide so many of the The question is, Will the Senate ad- SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND
services that men and women rely on vise and consent to the nominations of SENATE RESOLUTIONS
on a daily basis. Mindy Brashears, of Texas, to be Under The following concurrent resolutions
So I would like to thank you for your Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safe- and Senate resolutions were read, and
time, Mr. President. I think this is im- ty; Katherine Andrea Lemos, of Cali- referred (or acted upon), as indicated:
portant, and I think the message that fornia, to be a Member of the Chemical
By Mr. PERDUE:
we have to have as responsible individ- Safety and Hazard Investigation Board S. Res. 550. A resolution commending the
uals, Members of this body in which for a term of five years; Katherine An- people in the United States who are carrying
today we truly did have debate and dis- drea Lemos, of California, to be Chair- out essential tasks during the unprecedented
cussion on the floor—we have to finish person of the Chemical Safety and Haz- time of crisis created by the Coronavirus
this, and we have to do it in such a ard Investigation Board for a term of Disease 2019 (COVID–19); to the Committee
fashion that it reaches men and women five years; James E. McPherson, of Vir- on the Judiciary.
who are counting on us as soon as pos- ginia, to be Under Secretary of the f
sible. Army; and Matthew P. Donovan, of
Virginia, to be Under Secretary of De- ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- fense for Personnel and Readiness? S. 948
ator from South Dakota. The nominations were agreed to, en At the request of Ms. KLOBUCHAR, the
f bloc. names of the Senator from Delaware
f (Mr. CARPER) and the Senator from
EXECUTIVE SESSION Kentucky (Mr. PAUL) were added as co-
LEGISLATIVE SESSION sponsors of S. 948, a bill to provide in-
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR centives to physicians to practice in
rural and medically underserved com-
Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask MORNING BUSINESS
munities, and for other purposes.
unanimous consent that the Senate Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask S. 3509
proceed to executive session for the unanimous consent that that the Sen- At the request of Mr. BROWN, the
consideration of Executive Calendar ate proceed to legislative session for a names of the Senator from Alabama
No. 632; that the nominations be con- period of morning business, with Sen- (Mr. JONES), the Senator from New Jer-
firmed; that the motions to reconsider ators permitted to speak therein for up sey (Mr. BOOKER) and the Senator from
be considered made and laid upon the to 10 minutes each. Massachusetts (Ms. WARREN) were
table with no intervening action or de- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without added as cosponsors of S. 3509, a bill to
bate; and that the President be imme- objection, it is so ordered. provide borrowers the right to request
diately notified of the Senate’s action.
f forbearance on mortgage loan pay-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
ments due to a declared disaster, and
objection, it is so ordered. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND
for other purposes.
The nominations considered and JOINT RESOLUTIONS
S. 3551
agreed to are as follows: The following bills and joint resolu-
IN THE NAVY
At the request of Mr. PETERS, the
tions were introduced, read the first name of the Senator from Delaware
The following named officers for appoint- and second times by unanimous con-
ment in the United States Navy to the grade (Mr. COONS) was added as a cosponsor
sent, and referred as indicated: of S. 3551, a bill to help small busi-
indicated under title 10, U.S.C., section 624:
By Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. nesses access capital and create jobs by
To be rear admiral (Lower Half) SCHATZ, Mr. BENNET, Mr. HEINRICH,
reauthorizing the successful State
Capt. Bradley J. Andros Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr.
Capt. Mark D. Behning BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. VAN HOLLEN): Small Business Credit Initiative.
Capt. Putnam H. Browne S. 3568. A bill to require the President to S. 3559
Capt. Matthew J. Burns use authorities under the Defense Produc- At the request of Mr. BENNET, the
Capt. Joseph F. Cahill, III tion Act of 1950 to require emergency produc- names of the Senator from Montana
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
Capt. Brian L. Davies tion of medical equipment to address the (Mr. TESTER), the Senator from Min-
Capt. Lawrence F. Legree COVID–19 outbreak; to the Committee on
nesota (Ms. KLOBUCHAR), the Senator
Capt. Marc J. Miguez Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Capt. Carlos A. Sardiello By Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. from Georgia (Mr. PERDUE), the Sen-
Capt. Richard E. Seif, Jr. CRAMER, Ms. SMITH, Mr. SULLIVAN, ator from Montana (Mr. DAINES), the
Capt. Derek A. Trinque Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. DAINES, Mr. JONES, Senator from Wisconsin (Ms. BALDWIN),
Capt. Dennis Velez Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. TESTER, Mr. the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr.
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