Motion to Proceed to H.R. 748 and Coronavirus Package Debate — Congressional Record, Senate
Summary
Congressional Record — Senate for March 25, 2020, beginning at page S2022. The Senate resumes consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 748, a bill to repeal the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage. A senator describes a bipartisan process of working on a coronavirus relief package and says the Senate is going to pass it that day, naming people responding to the crisis, including Amy Jean Tyler, Pastor Grant Hasty and Peg Hays. Mr. DURBIN asks unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
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“Motion to Proceed to H.R. 748 and Coronavirus Package Debate — Congressional Record, Senate.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-03-25-crec-2020-03-25-pt1-pgs2022-4-85b527f205/
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S2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
building blocks of the proposal we will ing creative ways to stand united, even The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
pass today. if they have to stand 6 feet apart. clerk will call the roll.
But Republicans knew the Nation We will win this fight because of peo- The senior assistant legislative clerk
had no time—no time—for conven- ple like Amy Jean Tyler, a stay-at- proceeded to call the roll.
tional political gamesmanship, so the home mom in Oldham County, KY, who Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask
instant we released our first draft, I is leading a drive to sew cotton masks unanimous consent that the order for
created a series of bipartisan working for a local children’s hospital. the quorum call be rescinded.
groups. I asked Republicans and Demo- We will win this fight because of peo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
crats to work together around the ple like Pastor Grant Hasty in Stearns, objection, it is so ordered.
clock—literally, around the clock—to KY, who is gathering volunteers to dis- f
make the bill even better. tribute more than 550 home-cooked
By Sunday, we had an updated pro- meals. RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
posal that was even stronger and con- We will win this fight because of peo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
tained even more ideas, literally, from ple like Peg Hays, who runs a distillery the previous order, the leadership time
both sides—both sides. Republicans and in Christian County, KY, and is tempo- is reserved.
Democrats have worked together to rarily converting her bourbon-making
f
dramatically strengthen and rework facilities to churn out hand sanitizer.
unemployment insurance during this We will win this fight because na- CONCLUSION OF MORNING
crisis. We have worked together to tional companies are switching produc- BUSINESS
make sure lower income families could tion lines to make medical supplies be- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning
receive the full cash assistance, and on cause our largest high-tech companies business is closed.
and on. are partnering with the government to
I will leave it to others to compare throw supercomputing power right into f
the bipartisan Sunday bill to the final the race for vaccines. LEGISLATIVE SESSION
version we will pass today and deter- We will win this fight because of fam-
mine whether the last few changes ilies, neighbors, and church commu-
really required or merited 3 days of nities that cannot even worship to- MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS
delay—3 days of delay—in the face of gether in person and because of small TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019—Motion
this worsening crisis. But that Wash- businesses, big businesses, public to Proceed—Resumed
ington drama does not matter any- health Ph.D.s, and local entrepreneurs.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
more. The Senate is going to stand to- It has been 18 years since every
the previous order, the Senate will re-
gether, act together, and pass this his- American was united in amazement
sume consideration of the motion to
toric relief package today. and prayer as firefighters and first re-
proceed to H.R. 748, which the clerk
Struggling Americans are going to go sponders rushed into burning buildings
will report.
to their mailboxes and find four-figure on September 11, 2001.
The senior assistant legislative clerk
checks to help with their bills. Why? In the coming days and weeks, our
read as follows:
Because the Senate stepped up. Nation is going to meet new heroes.
Many American families who have Many may be police, firefighters, and A bill (H.R. 748) to amend the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on
poured everything into a restaurant or EMTs once again. Many others will be high cost employer-sponsored health cov-
a shop or a small manufacturer are truckdrivers, grocery store clerks, and erage.
going to keep making payroll and keep pharmacists, who literally keep our
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
their businesses alive because this Sen- supply chains running; utility workers
ator from Illinois.
ate stepped up. and delivery drivers, who leave their
Hundreds of thousands of workers in CORONAVIRUS
homes so everyone else can remain in
key sectors who might well have been theirs; teachers, who somehow manage Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, America
laid off through no fault of their own to keep educating their students over has never seen anything like this be-
will, instead, get to keep their job and the internet while looking after their fore. To think that half of the people
continue their career because this Sen- own kids at the very same time. And, who live in the United States are under
ate stepped up. most of all, we are going to meet a some order to either stay home or at
And, for the healthcare heroes who whole lot of American heroes who wear least avoid contact with others is un-
leave their own sleeping children and scrubs and masks and gloves—heroes heard of. This is an enemy—this
drive to the hospital for an all-night who rush toward the sick and wash virus—the likes of which we have never
shift, who spend hour after hour heal- their hands until they bleed and work faced.
ing the sick, comforting strangers, and around the clock to heal our friends As strong and determined as our Na-
literally battling this disease, there and our families. tion is when it comes to these chal-
will be more masks in their supply When our Nation comes through this lenges, this is unique, and it calls for
closet, more funding for their hos- and takes flight again on the other unique leadership. There are a lot of
pitals, and, soon, more new treatments side, it will be because American he- critics of the U.S. Congress—for good
to administer to their patients because roes won this fight. All the Senate can reason—but I think what we have dem-
this Senate stepped up. do is to give them the resources to do onstrated in the last several weeks
So, today, the Senate will act to help it, and that is exactly what we are since we have addressed this
the people of this country weather this going to do today. coronavirus is that there is a capacity
storm. Nobody thinks legislation can f for common sense, bipartisan work,
end this. We cannot outlaw the virus. and a timeliness that is essential.
No economic policy could fully end ORDER OF BUSINESS The first two measures were passed
the hardship so long as the public Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I in record time—one for $8 billion,
health requires that we put so much of ask unanimous consent that notwith- which opened the door for more med-
our Nation’s commerce on ice. This is standing the provision of rule XXII, the ical resources; the second, for $100 bil-
not even a stimulus package. It is cloture motion with respect to the mo- lion, which tried to guarantee to people
emergency relief—emergency relief. tion to proceed to H.R. 748 occur at a they would never have to pay to be
That is what this is. time to be determined by the majority tested for coronavirus, that there
No, this fight is not going to be won leader in consultation with the Demo- would be adequate food supplies during
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or lost in Washington. It is the Amer- cratic leader during today’s session. this calamitous time, that we would
ican people who will beat this virus. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there have resources sent to the States for
Americans will keep making sacrifices objection? Medicaid reimbursement at new levels,
to slow down the spread. Americans Without objection, it is so ordered. that we would also engage people with
will keep pitching in and looking after Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- family leave, as necessary, so that they
each other. Americans will keep find- sence of a quorum. could stay out of the workplace if they
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2023
felt badly, and that we would also have ease even further in the United States. have come forward and asked: Are you
an idea that we would come together as It says to those who are anxiously ex- going to help us? We are spending a lot
a nation to move unemployment insur- panding their resources, expanding the of money because of this COVID–19.
ance with dispatch. That passed, again, number of beds, bringing in retired This bill does it. It was not an easy
in a timely way with a bipartisan vote. medical personnel—as the Governor task. We had to convince the other side
And, then, we came to the third chal- from Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, is doing— that it was money well spent, and I am
lenge—a challenge the likes of which I that we hear them and are providing happy to report that, on a bipartisan
have never seen in my time in Con- them the resources to go to work to basis, we reached that agreement. As it
gress, and I don’t imagine anyone else fight this challenge we face at every should, some $150 million will be going
has. We decided in a span of about 7 corner of the United States. to these State and local governments.
days to come up with a package of au- The second thing that we set out to Those are things that I believe will
thorizations and appropriations, which do when the bill was presented on Sun- move us down the path toward resolv-
is larger than the annual Federal budg- day was to expand the opportunity for ing this challenge in America and
et for domestic discretionary spending unemployment insurance. Some have doing it in the proper way—always
in America. In 7 days we did what usu- criticized us on the floor and said: keeping in mind that the welfare of
ally takes 12 months or longer, but we Don’t get into structural changes. workers and their families is of para-
knew we had to because the need is Well, you couldn’t expand unemploy- mount concern.
that great and America was watching ment insurance without getting into a First is the investment on the med-
and wondering if we could rise to that structural change because the system, ical side to stop the onslaught. Second
challenge. which affects only a small percentage is the support for families and workers
There were some bumps in the road, of Americans, is not adequate in most across America.
and it is no surprise. An undertaking of cases to keep a family together. If you There are some items that are still
that magnitude with this kind of pres- lose your job and try to live on that being debated on the floor here. You
sure to get the job done quickly and unemployment check, it is hard to do. heard it in the early statements by the
properly is bound to create differences People lose their homes over that and majority leader, and they relate to the
of opinion, and it did. their cars. They can’t pay their utility benefits to be given to businesses in
There were moments of anxiety on bills. order to keep them moving forward.
So what we have done has been de- We all understand the aviation indus-
the floor of the Senate. Those who have
scribed as putting unemployment bene- try is at the heart of the American
followed C–SPAN have watched many
fits on steroids. The amount of money economy—an engine to move it, in one
speeches that reflected the emotional
that is going to be sent to families who respect, and a reflection of its activity
levels that were reached in this Cham-
were furloughed, laid off, or unem- in another respect. That aviation in-
ber, but the emotions in this Chamber
ployed is dramatically bigger than it dustry is flat on its back. Some 80 to 90
were not that different than the emo-
would have been if we hadn’t restruc- percent of the passenger load has dis-
tions in most homes across America as
tured unemployment compensation. At appeared. Hundreds of thousands of em-
people worry about whether this illness ployees in the airline industry have
the same time, the President and the
will touch their families and, if so, will come to us and asked for help. We are
White House suggested direct cash pay-
they be able to conquer it. prepared to do that, and it is part of
ments. We never argued against those
That emotion on the Senate floor led
but said it is just a down payment. It is the package that will come before us.
us to further negotiations in an effort The administration also asked for re-
just a single check. We believe unem-
to try to make a bill presented to us on sources to be loaned to other busi-
ployment insurance is going to be a
Sunday better 3 days later. nesses that need a helping hand. I am
guarantee of payments in months to
And that brings us to this moment. not opposed to that. Some are, but I
come.
History will judge, as the Senator from Since Sunday, we expanded the pe- am not. Yet I do believe that account-
Kentucky noted earlier, as to whether riod of additional unemployment com- ability and transparency are essential.
there is an improvement that has been pensation from 3 months to 4 months. Since Sunday, we have dramatically
made to this bill over the last 72 hours. There is a big price on that, of course, changed this package so that there will
I will stand up and tell you I would tes- but we think it is reasonable to give be transparency and accountability on
tify definitely—definitely. Just con- people peace of mind that for 4 months a timely basis as decisions are made by
sider the first priority. We have to they will be able to keep their families this administration to allocate these
make sure that hospitals and clinics together as we work our way through taxpayer funds to help these compa-
and healthcare providers at every level these medical challenges and, God will- nies. Some of us learned a bitter lesson
in America are prepared to rise to this ing, see our economy back on its feet. in the past when benefits were given to
challenge. And we know this is a chal- I hope that happens. I hope it is even corporations, and they were misused
lenge the likes of which we have never sooner, but we are prepared for 4 for stock buybacks and dividends and
seen. months. profiteering at a time of great national
When the Governor of New York sug- The third thing we set out to do is need. We don’t want to repeat that
gests that the hospitals of that great one that is near and dear to me in my story. We want to make certain that
State expand their capacity by 50 per- State and, I will bet, in most other the taxpayer dollars being invested in
cent as quickly as possible to take the States. We set out to compensate the these corporations are really designed
incoming patients from this COVID–19 States and some localities, counties, to get them back on their feet and the
virus—and be prepared, he said, to ex- and cities that are spending substan- economy moving forward for the ben-
pand it by 100 percent—we appreciate tial sums of money because of the efit of everyone who lives in this coun-
the magnitude of the challenge. COVID–19 threats they are facing. try. Accountability and transparency
On the Democratic side, our leader Let’s face it. For the most part, our are essential, and I believe this new
Senator SCHUMER has called it a Mar- Governors have been on the frontline of agreement—some 3 days after the
shall Plan for hospitals and healthcare. defense over the last several weeks original one was proposed—is an im-
I don’t think that is an exaggeration. when it has come to America’s provement.
The bill that was presented to us on healthcare. They have done excep- Credit should be given to both sides
Sunday envisioned some $75 billion for tional things, and they have been for many of the things that I just men-
that purpose, and many of us felt that called on to spend money in ways they tioned, because Democrats and Repub-
was not adequate, as large as that never dreamed of. For example, unem- licans have had to agree for this to
number may be. ployment benefits, which involve State make the final package. Yet we believe
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Today, we will bring a bill to the payments in many respects, have what we will vote on this afternoon—
floor that will increase that allocation mushroomed and skyrocketed—some- and I believe we will enjoy strong bi-
for healthcare from the $75 billion in times 10 times the number they were partisan support on the floor of the
the bill just 3 days ago to $130 billion. just last year at the same time. Senate—will be a dramatic improve-
Is it enough? Probably not, unless God My Governor and others—mayors and ment over the last 72 hours. I give cred-
spares us from the spread of this dis- the leaders of county government— it to both sides. We believe some of
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S2024 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
these ideas were essential, and that is the Senate, and her staff and want to save lives, to cure the sick, and to pre-
why we voted as we did on the floor. engage in a conversation. What we vent disease.
Yet to reach this agreement and bring know is that this is historic, and it For all of those men and women who
it forward, it took both sides. really is a dramatic change from what are working in this profession, I will
I salute my colleagues, starting, of we have done in the past, but I don’t tell you that this will be their finest
course, with the Democratic leader, think it is unrealistic. I think it re- hour. We are hearing about heroes all
Senator SCHUMER. He has put in some flects the reality of where we are today over the country, and that is going to
hours. I can’t tell you how many times with the public health crisis. It may re- continue as long as this crisis is in ef-
I stepped into his office, and Michelle, flect the reality of tomorrow, which fect because that is what we are asking
his assistant, told me he was in with could be some different national emer- them to do every day—to save lives,
Secretary Mnuchin. They spent days gency or, God forbid, some terrorist ac- heal the sick, and prevent disease.
together—going until 12 midnight and tivity that keeps us away from this We see that with our public health
starting fresh early in the morning—to Capitol Building when we still have officers who are out there, trying to
try to reach an agreement, which I be- work to do. prevent disease. We see it in commu-
lieve we finally have done—finally. I thank Senator PORTMAN; Senator nities. Day and night, we see people
There are just a few little items left, KLOBUCHAR, who has really been one of trying to heal the sick and to save
but I don’t think they will hold us up. the leaders in this effort; and Senator lives in the hospitals. What they are
So, to Senator SCHUMER and his staff, SCHATZ, who I know is a cosponsor. We asking from us are for resources, and
to all of my colleagues, and to the are now up to close to 20 cosponsors, on that is now going to be provided in the
ranking members who pitched in with a bipartisan basis, to move forward in bill that we are going to pass today
their committees of jurisdiction to try this change in the Senate rules. I hope that will hopefully soon be on the
to come up with good ideas and to sell we can have conference calls during the President’s desk.
them in a bipartisan agreement, that time that we are physically away from We are also surging dollars to indi-
was an exceptional amount of work. the Capitol and move this idea forward. viduals, to families, to businesses, and
I give special credit, too, to the to distressed parts of our economy—di-
The House is considering the same
staff—to my own and to those of the rect money: $1,200 per individual, $500
thing as well.
others—who have come to work in this per child—take a look at that—and $350
Now is the time to do it. It is time to
dangerous moment. We are being told billion in bridge loans and grants to
bring this great body—the U.S. Sen-
to stay home, to telework from home small and medium-sized businesses.
ate—into the 21st century when it
when you have to and when you can. In We are providing unemployment in-
comes to executing our constitutional
some cases, you can’t. Those who have surance to workers—people who were
responsibility without endangering
shown up at the Capitol, including the working and were ready to go to work
anyone, especially Members and their
staff who is here today on the floor, the next day but were not able to be-
staffs and families.
have come at risk, and we know that— cause of the medical crisis affecting us.
I yield the floor.
at risk to their own health and the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- So this will be to make sure that work-
health of their family members and ator from Wyoming. ers who are not able to work right now
others whom they love, as we do. So I Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, for are made whole.
thank them for this. families, for healthcare workers, for We held the line against so many of
I understand that we may be gone for
small businesses, and for people who the ideological issues that the Demo-
several weeks, and I think that it is ap-
are waking up today all across the crats and specifically the Speaker of
propriate. But for a national emer-
country who are asking ‘‘What is the House tried to put into this legisla-
gency that would call us back—and we
next?’’ I believe that today we can re- tion. We made it clear that lives were
will come back if that is necessary—I
think we should take some time away port there is good news. at stake. Those are debates for another
The resolve and determination of this day. The crisis is upon us, and the res-
from one another and away from the
Senate, working in a bipartisan way cue work needs to be done.
Capitol to really mind to our own
and working with the White House, has I believe time was wasted. We should
health and the well-being of our own
families and work back home as best delivered a rescue plan—a rescue plan have passed this last Sunday. Time was
we can, by teleconferencing and in for the American people and for Amer- wasted, and it was time the American
other ways, to let people know what we ican healthcare workers. people didn’t have, but we are working
We are going to pass new authorities, on this action plan today.
have done with this new legislation.
I hope that during this period of new resources, and new programs today Pass the Senate bill today to sta-
time, I can engage my colleagues in to deal with two crises that we as a na- bilize American jobs and to surge
thinking about another issue. I and tion are facing. One is the medical cri- healthcare resources to the frontlines.
Senator PORTMAN, the Republican from sis, the coronavirus, and the other is The House cannot delay. The House
Ohio, have introduced legislation that the economic crisis that is as a direct needs to get this passed today and sent
at this moment in history calls for at result of the medical crisis we are fac- to the President of the United States
least an inquiry into remote voting or ing. for his signature today. America
some different approach to voting that This Senate is providing an over- should not wake up tomorrow and have
doesn’t require our physical presence whelming and massive healthcare and to watch and wait and worry to see if
on the floor in times of national emer- economic response package. We are the House is going to pass this bill. The
gency. It just makes sense. doing both. We have to do both at the House needs to act today. The Amer-
The fact is, our meetings of the Sen- same time, as it is a rescue operation ican people need that reassurance
ate almost every single day have vio- for the resources that our healthcare today.
lated the CDC guidelines that tell us providers need and the resources that Everyone—families, young people—
not to gather in a group of 10 or more. our economy needs. The healthcare re- has committed to slowing the spread
Yet we come to the floor because we sources are going to be surging for for the remainder of the 15-day window.
have to—because this is life and death communities all around the country— There is about a week longer to go.
when it comes to this legislation we every one of the 50 States is affected— And people are doing it all around the
are considering—and because we know with there being over $100 billion for country. People are going to continue
what our jobs are. We can find a better our hospitals and the heroes who are to ramp up the manufacturing of med-
way to do this in the 21st century by taking care of coronavirus patients. ical equipment—masks, ventilators,
using the technology that is available As the Presiding Officer knows, I am respirators, tests—to save lives. People
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in so many different ways in order to a physician and have practiced medi- are going to keep cutting redtape and
have verifiable, accurate, honest vot- cine for a long time in Wyoming. Peo- pressing on scientific and medical
ing for those who cannot or should not ple go into medicine so they can do a breakthroughs for treatments and vac-
physically be present on the floor. number of things, but when people go cines.
I have spoken to Elizabeth into medicine, what we expect of our Going forward—and I see the minor-
MacDonough, the Parliamentarian of healthcare providers is for them to ity leader on the floor—we need to take
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2025
a long, hard look at our supply chain. sources to come to Washington, DC, While we think of the processes we
China has been exposed. We cannot and to lobby for aid and support, are have been through before on TARP and
allow ourselves ever again to be in any counting on us to create a program the processes we have been through be-
way dependent on China for medicines, that small businesses can get both fore on other lending, our colleagues
for materials, or for minerals. grants and loans. So the $360 billion in here on this side of the aisle made sure
My focus, along with what I know to this program I hope SBA will help dis- that there were better requirements for
be the President’s focus, is to bring patch with urgency to those businesses oversight, inspector generals’ account-
America back stronger than ever be- that have complied and have done their ing of the resources, and to make sure
fore. We are a strong and resilient na- best to keep their employees while also that we knew exactly where these dol-
tion. We will get through this. Our shutting down their business. lars were being spent.
country’s healthcare infrastructure We also know that the unemploy- I know Treasury will have its hands
and our economic resolve are today ment benefits in this package, which full, but because of Democrats, we will
being tested. We will defeat the virus, will be for an additional 4 months, will have more transparency in exactly how
and we will be back stronger than ever. be a boost for people who are unem- those dollars go out the door.
I yield the floor. ployed, and the expansion of that defi- So I want to thank Leader SCHUMER
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- nition to cover those who are part of a and his staff for working so diligently
ator from Washington. gig economy who may not have been on this package. It has been a very hec-
Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I covered in the past is important to give tic couple of days.
come to the floor to thank my col- people the safety net to make it And I would say a special thanks to
leagues for all of their hard work on through this process. the Commerce Committee staff, to
this legislation and to urge my col- I wish we would have come to terms David Strickland, Melissa Porter,
leagues to move forward today because on even allowing for COBRA enhance- David Martin, Ronce Almond, who lit-
the State of Washington desperately ments, particularly for the aerospace erally have been camped out for—prob-
needs this help. sector. I will be filing a bill today to ably since last Saturday, working and
When I think about this package that make sure that as we continue to move perfecting the language in these sec-
has been crafted literally since Satur- through this crisis, we think about tions related to aviation.
day starting at about 10 o’clock and those who are going to have a shift— As I said, there is more work to do,
when I think about the people who had are laid off, as we have seen in recent and we all know there is more work to
run to collaborate—yes, there were days in Everett, WA—so that they, too, do. I know I want to continue the fight
many challenges to that collabora- could have healthcare beyond just 1 for the aviation supply chain, to make
tion—I also think about the people who month of a COBRA health plan. It is so sure that when we come out of this cri-
are on the frontlines in the State of important in fighting this disease that sis after an economic downturn around
Washington who have paid such a we not only take care of unemploy- the globe, the United States is well po-
heavy price—from the factory worker ment benefits, but we also make sure sitioned to return the supply chain
we just lost in Everett, WA, to the people in unemployment have access to workforce to building one of America’s
COVID–19 disease; to the grocer at the healthcare. We can’t be in the midst of best products—airplanes. One of Amer-
Leschi Market, who was just trying to a pandemic and not give people afford- ica’s greatest—actually, America’s sin-
help deliver groceries to a needing pub- able access to healthcare. gle largest export is airplanes. But to
I also thank my colleagues for other do that, we are going to have to get
lic; to the pathologist at the Univer-
provisions of this package that are through this crisis and protect what we
sity of Washington who was a leader in
helping in giving individual taxpayers think needs to be continued healthcare
this field but who also lost his life.
relief in the sense of a rebate check.
Real sacrifice and real, crushing blows access for those laid-off workers.
Not only will individuals get a rebate So let’s get these dollars to the front-
have been dealt snce December.
check of $1,200, but families will get a line, to our hospitals, to our States, for
But today we are responding with
rebate check of $2,400 that should help better equipment, for more supplies.
more help for our States. We are giving
those who have been hit hardest by Let’s support them in doing what they
them more money for hospitals, more
this disease in these days in which we
money for the frontline with protective do best, helping to fight this disease
are sheltering in place in the State of
gear, more money for testing, and more and seeing this through to the other
Washington.
money to support them as they con- There are so many more things we side of America’s challenge.
tinue the effort to try to stop this dis- I yield the floor.
need to do, and while I support the ele-
ease. ments of supporting the aviation indus- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
It is so important that we give State try in this package, I wish we would The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
and local governments and Tribes the have gotten more requirements on the Democratic leader is recognized.
resources they need to be on the airline industries for the grant section Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I want
frontlines in fighting this disease, and of this bill. I personally believe that in to thank the Senator from Washington
I thank our Governor, Governor Inslee, the future in a healthier airline indus- for her hard and diligent work. No
for leading that charge every single try, they should pay money back to the one—no one—fought harder for the
day in trying to focus our response on Federal Government. State of Washington, which, like my
this disease. We certainly should be protecting the State of New York, is in such crisis,
Because we were the site of the first workforce during this time period, and than the two Senators from Wash-
COVID–19 case, we have been at this that is what is most important—to ington, and I thank Senator CANTWELL
since January 21, and the sadness we make sure that an airline doesn’t take for her great work up and down the
have all felt over the Kirkland nursing money from the Federal Government line. Whether it was the government,
home, where we lost so many patients, or go into bankruptcy and shortchange the companies, the people of Wash-
we hope will be a lesson for the rest of the workers and the workforce, as has ington State, she was there.
the Nation to pay attention to the seri- been done in previous packages for Now, I say to the American people:
ousness of this virus. them. Help is on the way—big help, quick
We are also here today, though—be- I fully support, though, the loan help. I say to the American people: Be-
sides giving that frontline support to guarantee program and the loan guar- cause Democrats insisted on making
States, to cities, to counties, and to antees that are so important and so this bill better, we can now call it a
our healthcare delivery system—to say qualified in this package to have very bill that puts workers first, not cor-
that we want to try to lessen the eco- specific requirements to them. porations; that has a Marshall plan for
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nomic impacts of a shelter-in-place or I also want to thank my colleagues hospitals; and that has accountability,
social distancing. from the Banking Committee who transparency, and watchdogs over
Our businesses, small businesses, worked hard on provisions in this legis- much of the lending that is in this bill.
have been hit hard. Our restaurants, lation to make sure there was more Now, in 6 days of shuttle diplomacy
our other businesses that have shut transparency in the process for who got and here, in these mostly now-empty
down, that don’t have the same re- access to the loans in this package. corridors, we have shaped a bipartisan
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S2026 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
agreement on the largest rescue pack- whatever it needs to fight back. The For the nearly 2 million airline em-
age in American history, which was grants in that fund will be available to ployees, Democrats have also secured
sealed last night a few minutes after 1 everyone who is fighting coronavirus— direct payroll payments to keep you on
in the morning, when Leader MCCON- hospitals, nursing homes, community the job. Your collective bargaining
NELL and I came to the floor to an- health centers, and all types of Med- rights will be protected, and airlines
nounce we had an agreement. icaid providers and safety net pro- will not be allowed to spend any grant
It was not a moment of celebration viders. money on stock buybacks or CEO
but, rather, one of necessity. Facing an It includes funding for personal pro- bonus pay for the life of the grant plus
unprecedented crisis, it was the duty of tective equipment, testing supplies, a 1 year.
the Senate to produce bipartisan legis- surge in our healthcare workforce, ad- Democrats also secured tough new
lation to send an immediate infusion of ditional Medicare funding, research requirements on Federal grants and
resources to our public health systems, into coronavirus treatments and more. loans to any industry: no stock
State and local governments, small The funding will literally act as a life- buybacks for the length of any loan
business and American workers. line as the number of COVID–19 cases provided by the Treasury, plus 1 addi-
As I said, from the start, Democrats continues to climb. tional year; restrictions on any in-
had two main goals: a Marshall Plan So as I said, a Marshall Plan for the creases to executive compensation; a
for public health workers and hospitals American medical system is now un- requirement to protect collective bar-
on the frontline and putting workers derway. gaining agreements; Democrats se-
first, not corporations. Second, workers first. Millions of cured a prohibition on any Trump Or-
Had we not asked for the Republican workers, through no fault of their own, ganization business or any business
Party to recognize us by not going for- are losing paychecks, with no way to controlled by any other government
ward on these first two votes, this bill cover their daily expenses and monthly leaders from receiving a loan from this
would have been much worse. Our ac- bills. Coming to their rescue is a pro- bill.
tions made it much better—not every- gram Democrats devised to boost un- We compelled the creation of Treas-
thing we wanted but much, much bet- employment insurance. We call it un- ury Department Special Inspector Gen-
ter, and we are proud as a caucus and employment insurance on steroids. eral to provide oversight of Treasury
united as a caucus at the job we have The agreement increases the max- loans and investments, an account-
done to improve this legislation be- imum unemployment benefit by $600 ability committee to protect taxpayer
per week and ensures that laid-off
cause, after all, this legislation will be dollars, and a congressional oversight
workers, on average, will receive their
with us not for days and not for weeks, Commission as well.
full pay for 4 months. There will be much needed trans-
not even for months, but probably for These benefits will be much easier to
years. To improve this legislation was parency in these requirements as well.
access and will be expanded to include
worth taking an extra day or two, im- The Treasury Secretary must, by law,
part-time, self-employed, freelancers,
proving it after the Republican leader make public quickly the names and
and gig economy workers.
just put it down without consulting us And the new program has a second— terms of loans or other assistance to
and tried to say take it or leave it. the first job of this program: Get corporate borrowers. I believe it was
Like all compromises, this bill is far money into the pockets of people who Justice Brandeis, who said: Sunlight is
from perfect, but we believe the legis- are losing their jobs through no fault the great disinfectant. If any of these
lation has improved sufficiently to of their own, and it will come quickly loans look untoward, if any of these
warrant its quick consideration and and generously. But it has a second loans don’t look right, or if any of
passage. Because many Democrats and purpose. It will also allow companies to these loans are going where they
Republicans were willing to do the seri- furlough workers so that they can stay shouldn’t be going, the Congress and
ous and hard work, the bill is much on as employees, so when, God willing, government will know quickly, and
better than when we started, and start- this crisis abates, they can quickly re- that will put pressure on the Treasury
ing yesterday morning, we all came to- sume work with their employer and Secretary not to do them and certainly
gether to get this bill done. We worked businesses can reassemble. not to repeat them.
in a bipartisan way, as this body should When this crisis is over, we don’t Fourth, resources for State, local,
have worked and should work, and here want every worker who is losing their and Tribal governments that are car-
we are. job to scatter to the winds, and so rying the weight of their overburdened
Once the language is ready, Demo- many good businesses, through no fault health networks on their budgets is
crats are ready to speed up the consid- of their own, will fall apart. By keeping there. This came down to the wire. My
eration of the bill as much as possible. them on furlough, paying them, the Republican friends didn’t want to do it,
We believe the legislation has been im- businesses can reassemble quickly. but I am glad they acceded to our wish-
proved sufficiently to warrant its quick This proposal, unemployment insur- es here because local governments are
consideration and passage. I expect the ance on steroids, will be the greatest hurting. They are spending more
Senate can get the job done in the new expansion of unemployed benefits in money than they have ever spent and
few hours. decades—a social safety net wide at the same time their tax revenues
Now, the American people watching enough to catch the millions of Amer- have declined. So we must help our
should know what is in this bill, which ican workers who became unemployed local governments, and we will in this
has undergone many revisions over the virtually overnight, woven with fiber legislation. It will be distributed be-
past 48 hours. strong enough to hold them through tween both the local governments,
Many of the programs and funding the worst of this crisis. county governments, and the State. In
authorities that are being finalized as As I said, we are going to pass unem- the end, State and local governments
we speak will go to them directly, the ployment insurance on steroids. will now get $150 billion, with $8 billion
American people, and could make the Third, oversight, transparency, and set aside for Tribal governments. The
difference in the next few months be- accountability of all loans made to cor- relief is desperately needed because
tween putting food on the table and porations. The Republican bill initially State revenues have dried up almost
going hungry, between surviving this put the focus on rescuing industry and overnight, leaving them with unten-
period of unemployment and financial did not do enough to protect the hun- able choices about how to allocate
ruin. dreds upon hundreds of thousands of their healthcare and other resources.
So let me briefly run through the workers those industries employ. But Fifth, urgent help for small busi-
major components of the bill. First, as as a result of our negotiations, Demo- nesses. My dad was a small business-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
I mentioned, a Marshall Plan for the crats have secured crucial worker pro- man, an exterminator. He used to pace
American medical system is now un- tections throughout the bill as condi- the floor Sunday nights at 2 a.m. be-
derway. This agreement will inject $150 tions to rescuing large companies, in- cause he didn’t want to go to work. I
billion into our hospitals and health cluding incentives for businesses to know small businesspeople suffer under
system, headlined by a new $100 billion keep workers on the payroll during the normal times, let alone these difficult
fund to provide our health system with crisis. times. This bill offers $350 billion in
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2027
loan forgiveness grants to small busi- ter because of your long hours and hard community, and our family. That time
nesses to keep their existing workforce work. The floor staff who kept this has now expired as of this morning.
and to help pay for things like rent, Chamber open and running at all I certainly regret the fact that I
mortgages, and utilities. It provides $10 hours, we thank you. missed a vote that passed 90 to 8 to
billion in emergency grants to provide Secretary Mnuchin, Eric Ueland, complete phase 2 of our help to address
immediate relief for small business op- MARK MEADOWS, and their staffs, who COVID–19. I wish I had been here be-
erating costs. have spent more time in my office than cause the vote would have been 91 to 8.
Of course, there are many things be- they care to admit, thank you. Throughout that time I was in quar-
sides in this bill. Those were the five To my staff, I am blessed with the antine, I had an opportunity to visit
things we pushed for. Small business greatest staff a Senator could have. with thousands and thousands of Colo-
was much in the bill that Leader They are so dedicated to the public radans through telephone townhalls in
MCCONNELL put forward. All the rest, good. They are so dedicated to this every congressional district to hear
we as Democrats have pushed hard for country. You should have seen them from individuals who have lost their
and gotten in the bill. working. Gerry Petrella and Meghan jobs, to hear from business owners who
Now there are other things too: sup- Taira have a little baby at home. Both were terrified about what happens
port for American families, including of them have important roles in my next, to hear from parents who are at
childcare, education, senior care, hous- staff. They met here. They got mar- home with their kids who are out of
ing and more. One thing of particular ried. They are still here. They worked school, not knowing if they go back at
importance to my State is public tran- day in and day out—but so was every- all to school; how to figure out how
sit. The MTA is drowning after such a body else—so was everybody else. I Zoom works, how to figure out how
steep and sudden loss of ridership. want to thank my staff. If the Amer- Skype works, how to figure out how
Democrats asked for and now have se- ican people saw the work you did, they technology works to teach their kids
cured a $25 billion life preserver to would be so proud. So thank you from at home.
keep those public transit systems the bottom of my heart. Throughout this process I adopted a
afloat as well. It is not just big cities. Our colleagues and our staffs have three-pronged approach to what we
The bus systems in rural areas will de- committed themselves in this way be- must do as a country to get through
pend on this as well. cause they understand the sacrifices the crisis at hand. No. 1, we have to ad-
The bottom line is this. This bipar- being made by the American people in dress the immediate health epidemic:
tisan agreement will provide more re- homes and hospitals across this great what we are doing to, as the experts
sources to our public health system Nation: the working families who are say, ‘‘flatten the curve’’ to stop the
and protect American workers of all at home missing paychecks, playing spread; to provide the resources, the
stripes. teacher and provider and caregiver all tests, the protective equipment that we
Now, as I have said before, this bill is at once; the thousands of Americans need through our States to make sure
far from perfect. Many flaws remain, who are volunteering to help under- that they can fight this invisible virus;
some serious; but by no stretch of the staffed medical facilities; the small what we can be doing to give them the
imagination is this the bill Democrats business owners who are watching the tools and the skills they need for the
would have written had we been in the labor of their lives evaporating in an heroic efforts of our frontline
majority. If Democrats held the pen, instant but are still paying their work- healthcare providers—the doctors,
we would have designed the assistance ers as much as they can manage; the nurses, clerical staff, janitors, classi-
to troubled industries in a completely nurses and doctors and healthcare fied workers—all of the people who
different way. We would have added workers who know better than anyone have been so heroic to provide
even more support for Medicaid, hos- the risk of contracting this disease by healthcare to our people. That is phase
pitals, community health centers, treating infected patients, who go to 1, making sure we stop this epidemic
nursing homes, and new patient protec- work every day working longer shifts and address the needs of the American
tions to ensure that everyone with to do God’s work anyway. To them and people.
coronavirus can access and afford to all Americans, I say this: Help is on
treatment. We would have increased Prong 2 of this three-pronged ap-
the way. Big help, quick help.
food assistance. We would have in- We are going to take up this bill and proach is about making sure that we
cluded more relief for student bor- pass it to care for those who are now provide individuals with immediate as-
rowers and prohibitions on evictions caring for us and help carry millions of sistance: people who are terrified about
and foreclosures on Americans for the Americans through these dark times. what happens to their job, how they
duration of the crisis. We have gotten This is certainly not the end of our are going to make ends meet, what
many of those but not all on evictions work here in Congress but rather the they are going to do to put food on the
and foreclosures. We would have put end of the beginning. The crisis con- table, how they are going to pay their
workers first in every single part of the tinues to deepen. There will be difficult rent, how they are going to pay their
bill. days ahead and the worst may be yet to mortgage, will they have a restaurant
That is what we tried to do here as come and we certainly may have to to go back to. That is prong 2 of this
much as possible, but Senate Demo- come back and do further legislation, approach.
crats are not in the majority. We knew but we know right now help is on the Prong 3, of course, is to get our busi-
this bill had to pass muster with the way, and we will not stop working nesses up and running again to make
Republican administration, and a fail- until we see our Nation through this sure that when this health epidemic is
ure to reach an agreement in this time time of extraordinary challenge. over—this health emergency is over,
of deepening, serious, painful national I yield the floor. we can make sure we have an economy
crisis was simply not an option. We The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- that snaps back and runs strong. We
have before us an imperfect bill but a ator from Colorado. will do that because we as a country
necessary one. Despite its flaws, it is Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, it is will rise together. We will do it united.
far better than where we started, and it great to be back on the floor of the We will do it because we in this coun-
is time to pass it. U.S. Senate. It is a heavy obligation try know how to overcome great chal-
Now, before I yield the floor. There that we have before us. lenges.
are some people I have to recognize: On March 17, I was contacted by the We are taking these measures to
the Republican chairs and the Demo- Tri-County Health Department to no- quarantine and self-isolate not because
cratic ranking members and their tify me that on March 11 I had been in we are fearful of the virus, not because
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
staffs who have worked diligently on a meeting with a Coloradan who later we are afraid of what will happen if we
this legislation; Senators Leahy, tested positive for COVID–19, and at don’t, but we are doing it out of love
Cardin, Shaheen, Warren, Reed, Peters, the advice of the Tri-County Health for each other. We are doing it out of
and Wyden, and so many more I could Department and the attending physi- love for our neighbors, community, our
name—the whole caucus and their en- cian in the Capitol, I entered self-quar- parents, our grandparents, and our
tire staffs—thank you. This bill is bet- antine to protect my colleagues, our children.
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S2028 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
We take the guidance of health ex- Phase 3 addresses all three prongs of them the ability to know it is going to
perts and public policy experts seri- my approach and addresses the health be OK, to know that the small business
ously because we want to share that emergency. It addresses assistance to loans that are being made available
love with people to stop the spread so individuals, and it addresses the ability will help that restaurant stay in busi-
that we can avoid the surge that can of our economy and businesses to snap ness.
overwhelm our healthcare systems be- back when we address this health You know, I talked to Eve in Aurora,
cause we know, under the best case sce- emergency. It needs to pass now. It and she didn’t know how she was going
narios—the best case scenarios—we are should have passed days ago. to survive because, yes, she converted
looking at a situation that can utilize I don’t think the American people her whole business to takeout, but she
95 percent of every hospital bed in this give a hoot whether this idea was a Re- didn’t know how successful that would
country for the next year. We do this publican idea or a Democratic idea. I be.
out of love for each other and for our can tell you that on my tele-townhalls To Roberta in Pueblo, who had the
community and to protect one another. I did and in my conversations I have same questions about how her res-
In Colorado right now, we have had with American people around the taurant was going to survive, this
roughly 1,000-plus confirmed COVID–19 State of Colorado, they haven’t once small business loan will be able to help
patients. We have lost 12, perhaps more said to me ‘‘Well, we hope the Repub- people pay payroll, to bring those back
by the time I am giving this speech lican-only version passes’’ or ‘‘We hope onto payroll whom they may have let
today, in Colorado. These lives, those the Democratic-only version passes.’’ go because they didn’t know how they
who have tested positive, their loved That is not what they are saying. They were going to make ends meet, to pay
ones are all in my prayers today. are saying ‘‘Do your doggone job be- them, to pay their utilities, to pay
The Governor of Colorado obviously cause we are scared about what hap- their rent, to pay their mortgages, and
is issuing the emergency declarations. pens next.’’ to have that loan forgiven to keep this
I spoke with the Governor a few min- So pass the relief that we need to get economy in a place where it will be vi-
utes ago to talk about how we can con- them back on their feet, to make sure brant again because that is what we do
tinue to provide the resources that Col- they know they are going to be able to in this country. We don’t look back; we
orado needs. Over 2 million people have food on the table and to pay rent. look forward. And in Colorado, we look
across the Denver metro area are now I can’t imagine what somebody who for up at that great Rocky Mountain hori-
in some kind of a shelter-in-place 50 years built a small business must be zon, and we don’t look down. We look
order, ordered to stay at home. going through every hour we delay, up, and we see the next horizon, and we
Our Nation is uneasy, our future is wondering if that 50-year dream is strive for that optimistic next day.
uncertain, and the level of anxiety that going to stand and survive. That is what we do in Colorado, and I
our country faces is the highest I have Shame on the people around here know this country does the same.
ever seen it, but we don’t need to have who said ‘‘You know what, let’s have 1 You know, I talked to a 70-year-old
uneasiness about our future because we more day of delay, 1 more hour of Coloradan in Weld County, CO, who, on
will rise together; we will come to- delay’’ because a Republican could get a tele-townhall—you could hear it in
gether as a nation to overcome this. their way or a Democrat could get her voice. She didn’t know what she
We know that our future, the future their way. When I was at home, not was supposed to do because she was
of this Nation, will be prosperous once did I hear anybody say ‘‘Could older than the experts say should be
again; that our economy will be thriv- you stall a little bit more for partisan out and not following guidance, but,
ing again; that our communities will purposes?’’ she said: I can’t find the disinfectants
be able to celebrate what we have over- The American people are rising above and the cleaners that I need. How do I
come because that is what we do in the fray. They are meeting this chal- find that? So we were able to find her
this great Nation. We rise. We rise to- lenge in the spirit that I hear in every relief.
gether. We stand together. conversation I have. They are donating The grocery stores have stepped up,
Coloradans have stepped up in every blood. They are sharing that love I and they have provided special hours
way possible. In a uniquely Colorado talked about with their neighbors and for people. They are delivering to peo-
way, you have hemp businesses that their communities. They are figuring ple like the woman I spoke to. They
are now producing cotton swabs for out new ways to be together even when are providing information to their
medical needs; you have whiskey dis- we are supposed to stand apart. That is communities. They have clerks, they
tilleries that are producing hand sani- what the American people are doing. have cashiers, and they have people
tizers for hospitals and for home And we are bickering about phase 3. stocking the shelves who are on the
healthcare; we have protective equip- We will have phase 4 and phase 5, but frontlines of this fight as well, keeping
ment that is being donated by the Den- do you know what we have done? In- our communities safe. So to all of
ver Broncos and by the marijuana in- stead of patting ourselves on the back, them, I say thank you for the work you
dustry and by so many other businesses do you know what we have done? We are doing each and every day.
across the State of Colorado which are have managed to get back, I hope, to It is important to recognize in this
stepping up in ways that make all of us the starting line. We didn’t run country that we have seen great chal-
proud. They are checking on their through the tape. We haven’t finished lenges. I remember my grandmother,
neighbors. They are checking on their the job. We have made it, I hope, to a who passed away this past year, talk-
friends. They are making sure that el- place where we can now know we are ing about her experiences in the Great
derly people in their church whom they back at the line and we can run to- Depression. This country has been
have met are OK, making sure that we gether to fix what will be tremendous through the Great Depression. We have
check in with our loved ones and those needs and to address the tremendous been through the great recession. We
around us. needs of this country and to answer the will make it through the great infec-
We have been able to get successful anxiety every single one of our con- tion. That is what we do as a country.
tests up and running in different places stituents has. That is what Congress That is who we are as a people.
across Colorado, helping different orga- should do. That is what Congress must The Senate will approve this bill
nizations and different healthcare fa- do. I am glad and I will be proud to today, and the House must approve it
cilities find new ways to process this vote for this bill today because we have without delay—no excuses; no delay;
overwhelming burden. to get this job done, and there is more pass the doggone bill now. The Amer-
As this place has passed phase 1, work to do. ican people have expected this for a
which gave millions of dollars to the We have to make sure people under- long time. It shouldn’t have taken this
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State of Colorado and so many States stand that the recovery benefits they long. Do your job. Do our job. Get this
around the country, and as we passed are going to be receiving will help an- done.
phase 2, which prepared additional swer that anxiety, to hopefully give We will act out of love for our com-
testing and nutrition programs and them hope, and that the new categories munities. We will act out of compas-
other ways to meet this challenge, we of unemployment insurance that have sion, and we will rise to the spirit that
now turn to phase 3. been created under this will also give has made this country great.
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2029
I have heard so many of my col- priority—our very first priority—is to healthcare workers have the protective
leagues come together and talk about deal with the public health challenge. gear that they need and our patients
wartime footing, or they have talked This is including what is happening in have the medical facilities and the res-
about how we have mobilized in a way my State of Maryland and what is hap- pirators that they need.
that maybe the people have never seen pening in every State in our Nation. We have also plussed up the work
in their lifetimes. It has reminded me, I am pleased that in our State it is being done to deal with the develop-
though, of what Thomas Paine wrote in ‘‘Team Maryland.’’ Our congressional ment of a vaccine. I am pleased that
‘‘The Crisis’’ during our Revolution, delegation is working very closely with NIH is getting the monies they need in
which, actually, George Washington Governor Hogan and his cabinet, and order to do the work. We know that we
read to his troops. Here is what Thom- we are working closely with our county are not going to have a vaccine in time
as Paine said: executives and our mayors and our pri- this year, but we want to make sure
I call not upon a few but upon all; not on vate sector to do everything we can to that we get it as soon as possible and
this state or that state, but on every state; protect the public health of the people that it is on a fast track. These funds
up and help us; lay your shoulders to the of our State. will help us develop that vaccine for
wheel; better have too much force than too We have done what we can locally to the future needs of controlling this
little, when so great an object is at stake. make sure that testing is available so type of a virus.
Let it be told to the future world, that in
we understand the dimensions of this But, in the meantime, we are also
the depth of winter, when nothing but hope
and virtue could survive, that the city and problem, and the Governor has taken putting resources into therapeutic
the country, alarmed at one common danger, extraordinary steps in order to in- drugs—drugs that could help people
came forth to meet and repulse it. crease our medical capacity in the who are sick today. Those drugs are
We were taught in Sunday school likelihood that we are going to see a not yet available, but we want to make
that our struggles lead to persever- significantly increased number of those sure we do everything we can to make
ance, that perseverance leads to char- people who have the coronavirus. them available as soon as possible.
acter, and that character gives us hope. Yes, we need to stay at home unless FEMA, or the Federal Emergency
We will get through this, America. We there is an urgent reason for us to be Management Agency, has been bumped
will start with this bill. We have a lot outside. I am frequently asked by my up substantially in this bill and for
more work to do, but to my colleagues: friends why don’t we do as much as we good reason. That brings me to the
Do our jobs. Get it done. No excuses. can in the U.S. Senate remotely. I point that is a major improvement
I yield the floor. think we should, including voting. So that has been brought to this legisla-
I suggest the absence of a quorum. we need to distance ourselves and mini- tion to help our State and local govern-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The mize social contact in order to prevent ments. They are the frontlines of pro-
clerk will call the roll. the spike of this disease, which would viding these public health needs, and
The legislative clerk proceeded to test our medical capacity to handle it. we need to provide them the resources
call the roll. So I was pleased that the third sup- they need. So FEMA needs to be prop-
Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I ask plemental—the agreement that has erly appropriated. We have the money
unanimous consent that the order for been reached that we will vote on, in here to help FEMA, but we also need
the quorum call be rescinded. hopefully, today—does have a surge in direct help for our local governments
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. our medical capacity, a Marshall Plan, to deal with this problem. We see that
LOEFFLER). Without objection, it is so to deal with our healthcare needs. our State and local public health offi-
ordered. I could go through a lot of the spe- cers are getting extra money for better
Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, the cifics. I think some have already been reporting, so that we know exactly
people in this Nation are hurting. We gone through, but I particularly appre- what the status is in each of our com-
know that. They are very concerned ciate the fact that we have $100 billion munities. All of that is important for
about their own health. They are wor- for our hospitals and healthcare facili- our Marshall Plan to control this dis-
ried that they may be carrying the ties, including clinics, in this bill. I am ease and to get it under control.
virus and may take it home to their el- pleased that there is a 20-percent in- But I wanted to take this time to
derly parent, who could come down crease in hospital reimbursement talk about a matter that I was working
with the virus. They are worried about rates. on for small business, and I mention
how long this social distancing and I thank Senator GRASSLEY and Sen- that, recognizing that we have to get
commuting from home and staying at ator WYDEN for including in that provi- our economy back on track. The best
home are going to be required in order sion a unique clause for the Maryland way to get our economy back on track
to control the spread of the virus. They hospitals so that they can be qualified is to get this virus controlled, enable
are worried about their economic cir- for this. As I think some of you know, people to be able to get out, to work, to
cumstances, whether they are going to Maryland has an all-payer rate struc- buy, and to participate in our econ-
get a paycheck. ture, and we had to make sure that omy. That is the best thing we can do.
I am pleased that, today, we have an these provisions would apply in Mary- But this package also recognizes that
agreement with our leaders to move land. I thank them for their attention unless we help businesses and workers
forward on the third stimulus package to that detail. today, we are not going to be prepared
to deal with this crisis of COVID–19. There is also money in here for our for our economy when we are able to
I, first, want to express my apprecia- hospitals to be ready for preparedness, rebound.
tion to our leadership. I have been in which I think is extremely important. So my role as the senior Democrat on
daily, almost hourly communication And there is a separate line appropria- the Small Business Committee, work-
with Senator SCHUMER, and I know how tion for our community health centers ing with Senator RUBIO, the chairman
hard he has worked to make sure that and our federally qualified health clin- of that committee, was to make sure
this package really deals with the med- ics. That is critically important there. that we had a robust provision to pre-
ical emergency we have and deals with They are being stressed as the needs serve the growth engine and innovation
the workers, to make sure they are are increasing and as the cost of treat- engine of our economy, and that is
protected and they are protected in ment is increasing. small businesses. There is more job
whatever we do; that it provides the We need to replenish the national growth for small companies, and there
help for State and local governments; stockpile. We know the concerns for is more innovation for small compa-
that it provides the much needed at- protective gear. We know that. We nies. We need to preserve the ability of
tention to these particular issues; and know that ventilators and respirators small companies to get through this
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that we have accountability for any of are in short supply. We have to make time.
the monies that are going particularly sure that we have adequate replace- Quite frankly, they don’t have the
to our largest companies in this coun- ment of what has been taken out of our same deep pockets that large compa-
try. national stockpile and available now to nies have. They don’t have the same
So I want to express my apprecia- deal with the surge that is coming availability of credit that large compa-
tion. I am very pleased that our first under any scenario, so that our nies have. They don’t have the same
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S2030 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
banking arrangements that large com- we do. We want to get the message out It works very well with the other
panies have. They don’t have the flexi- that this is going to be immediate help provisions that are in other parts of
bility that large companies have. So we to help America’s small businesses. this bill, such as the unemployment in-
have to provide special attention to One program provides $350 billion of surance benefits. Yes, if you furlough
small businesses, and this package does relief to small companies under 500 em- workers, you can collect unemploy-
that in a very, very robust way. ployees—$350 billion. It is triggered by ment benefits at basically full salary
I already mentioned Senator RUBIO. I going to your financial institution and for the next 4 months, so that is also
thank him for his leadership. The two getting what is known as a 7(a) loan. available to small businesses. But we
of us were working together well before But let me caution you, it is going to want you to also know that you can
this week, and that is why we were be forgiven if you follow the rules here. keep your employees employed—there,
probably further along in helping small You go to a bank or a financial insti- ready for the business to rebound—as
businesses than the other parts of this tution; you do a 7(a) loan; it is 100 per- we hope it will shortly.
package dealing with the various eco- cent guaranteed by the Federal Gov- So that is just one program. We have
nomic areas. ernment, so the bank has no risk factor other programs available. We have a
Senator SHAHEEN was a valuable here. There are no payments due for a new program which is labeled as a
Member of our team. I have worked year. So, even getting into this loan, grant, a $10 billion grant program for
with Senator SHAHEEN on small busi- there is no obligation for cash outlays emergency cash availability for small
ness issues for a long time. She was a on behalf of the borrower. The fees businesses.
key player in putting together the have been waived, so this is a cost-free There are many small businesses
package that we have to present to our opportunity to get the cash you need that have a hard time going to a bank
colleagues here in the U.S. Senate. to keep your small business open. That and getting a commercial loan. There
I also want to acknowledge Senator is the purpose of this new program are many small businesses that need
COLLINS. under the Small Business Administra- cash today; they can’t wait for that
It was the four of us who were meet- tion. process to work its way through to get
ing regularly and communicating regu- The amount of the loan: You take that check from the Small Business
larly and who recommended this pack- your average payroll before the Administration through one of their fi-
age that we will shortly be voting on as coronavirus was here—you take your nancial institutions. It is going to take
it relates to small business. monthly average payroll and multiply a little bit longer for them to be able
Also, if I could, I would like to ac- it by 2.5. Basically, what you are get- to get that done.
knowledge members of my own staff ting is 2 months of payroll for your So we have emergency disaster relief
who have worked literally 24/7. I have workers plus an extra—it comes out to loans in the first supplemental. We
talked to them at various times during an extra 25 percent of your payroll be- made it clear that small businesses
the night and day. It has been very cause it is 2 months of that. qualify for emergency disaster relief
Now, what are the eligible expenses?
stressful for all of us, but our staffs get loans if they have been adversely im-
What can you use this for? Well, you
no rest whatsoever. pacted by the coronavirus. These are
So to Sean Moore and the entire staff can use the 2 months of payroll for
direct loans coming out of the Small
on the Democratic side of the Small payroll. Pay your workers. Keep them
employed. It saves you the cost of re- Business Administration. These are not
Business Committee, thank you on be- loans that are from financial institu-
hiring if you had to furlough or lay off
half of America’s small businesses and tions.
workers. You can keep them employed.
workers and on behalf of our country. We have included that in the first
And to Ron Storhaug on my staff, You can use the extra funds to cover
supplemental. We now allow you to
the expenses that you have on their
who has been working on a lot of these make that application, and with that
healthcare or related expenses.
provisions in regard to the tax issues application, if you need to get cash im-
You can use the extra 25 percent for
and in regard to a lot of these issues, I rents or mortgage payments or utility mediately, the SBA can write you a
thank him for all of his work. bills. So it gives you cash to conduct check for up to $10,000. And we want
And to Lauren Jee, who is our health that done within 3 days. We want that
your business for the next 2 months. It
person, who has not only helped us put money out in days, not weeks. We hear
gives you the ability to keep afloat so
together this small business package, that you are ready to rebound when the that all the time from small busi-
but she has been available to help economy rebounds. nesses: We need help now.
Maryland health providers and patients Who is eligible? As I said, companies I was pleased to work on this pro-
to try to get through where we are under 500, but we went beyond the tra- gram. I filed legislation on it. This is a
today. All of that is reflected in the ditional 7(a) eligibilities. For the first need that is out there today and will be
bill we will be voting on later. time under 7(a)s, we are also allowing available to small business owners.
I know on the Republican side, there nonprofits to be able to get into this Now, we have a third program. Those
has been dedicated staff who have done program so that they will also be able are two programs where you can get
equal work to ensure that we have a to stay afloat because we know the im- this, basically, 2-month help from the
bill that we can present today. portant work that nonprofits do for our Federal Government to pay your pay-
Let me go over, if I might, some of community. They are also eligible. roll and related expenses. You can get
the provisions we have in here for And we gave some relaxation to the a $10,000 immediate cash advancement
small businesses. We have three new 500 rule for locations—for restaurants on that through applying for a disaster
programs—three new programs—to or hotels that have multiple locations. relief loan and showing a need at this
help small businesses in our commu- This is a program that is aimed at stage.
nity. They will have different titles, keeping businesses open and ready— Then, there is a third program. There
but every one of them provides grant small businesses—for when we get are many small businesses today that
help to small businesses. I want to re- through this coronavirus. Then this have existing loans under the Small
peat that. You might hear this is a amount of money that you borrowed is Business Administration. These are
loan. No, these are going to be funds totally forgiven—totally forgiven—if 7(a) loans or 504 loans. The 7(a) is the
that go to small businesses that do not you maintain your workforce to the traditional loan. The 504 are the larger
have to be repaid. These are grant precoronavirus level or bring back your loans.
monies. Why? Because a small business workforce to the precoronavirus level What this bill does is provide $17 bil-
owner can’t incur more debt today during the stated period of time of this lion of relief so that those who have
when they have no idea how they are bill. these existing loans do not need to
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going to be able to survive in the fu- So, if you keep your workforce or make any payments on those loans.
ture. We have to provide immediate bring back your workforce, the govern- They are forgiven for the next 6
help—immediate help. It has to be sub- ment is going to help you maintain months.
stantial, and it has to be in a way that your ability and make sure your work- I particularly want to acknowledge
they know that they are not encum- ers get paid and their benefits are Senator COONS’ work on this. This is a
bering their future. And that is what maintained. bill that we have been working on, and
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2031
it is only reasonable—we are asking businesses operating—paying their It was a dignified transfer in Tulsa,
others to relieve debt. Let us do it for workers—so that they don’t have to re- OK, early this morning. There were a
our small businesses under the 7(a) and invent their employees after this crisis lot of people who wanted to be there
504 programs. is over, so that they can keep qualified but, because of COVID–19, could not. A
So there are a lot of provisions here people employed, they get the pay- lot of other folks were.
that help our small businesses. I want checks, and our economy is ready to Technical Sergeant Marshal Roberts
to tell you that, in addition to those get back into shape. was killed in Iraq Wednesday, March
three I just mentioned, I am pleased Now, there are many other provisions 11, when his unit was engaged by direct
that we do have contract protection in in this bill, including the cash pay- enemy fire while they were sleeping.
this bill. Let me explain what that ments under the IRS—$1,200 per tax- He was 17 miles north of Baghdad.
means. If you are a business and have a payer—that will help in this regard. He was deployed by the 219th Engi-
contract with the Federal Govern- When you put this all together, this is neering Installation Squadron, the sub-
ment—this applies to all businesses, a robust package to hold our economy ordinate unit of the 138th, out of Tulsa,
not just small businesses, but small so that it can perform at a level that it OK. He was in the process of building
businesses are particularly impacted is ready to take off again without the communications infrastructure as part
by it—but you can’t perform that gov- dire consequences of people not having of the fight against ISIS. The operation
ernment contract because you can’t income in order to pay their bills. that Roberts served in, Operation In-
get access to the facility because it is Through these small business provi- herent Resolve, has been a vital part of
shuttered as a result of the sions, small business owners can keep protecting our Nation and bringing sta-
coronavirus, this bill allows the Fed- their businesses intact. Through unem- bility to the region.
eral Government to make sure you ployment insurance, those who are laid Roberts enlisted in the Oklahoma Air
have adequate funds available to pay off or furloughed can get their salaries. National Guard in May of 2014. He was
your workers so that those individuals Through the IRS checks, people will killed in action as the first Oklahoma
who should have been working at the have some cash. Through some of these Air National Guardsman who has died
other programs, we are providing re- but the 20th Oklahoma National
Federal facility will get paid during
lief, like delaying the time of paying Guardsman who has died since Sep-
this period of time.
We have also provided money for the the employer share of the FICA taxes. tember 11, 2001.
You put that all together, there is a The perpetual comment that I heard
Women’s Business Centers and the Mi-
lot of help out here to keep our econ- from the folks to whom I spoke about
nority Business Development Agencies
omy going during this crisis, with par- Tech Sergeant Roberts was that he was
that are there in our community. Why?
one of the good guys; he was always
Because we have got to get the mes- ticular focus on the workers and on
known for having a smile on his face;
sage out to small businesses about small business.
The last point I should point out, the he was selfless; and he served others all
these new tools, how they can access the way to the end.
banks to get these 7(a) loans that are self-employed, the gig economy, are
The night of the attack, there was a
forgiven—that are actually grants, how fully covered under the small business
truck launcher that fired off 30
they can apply to the Small Business provisions. They are fully covered
Katyusha rockets at their camp as
Administration for disaster relief loans under the UI provisions. We are trying
folks were sleeping. Eighteen of those
and get a cash advancement and how to make sure that we preserve our
rockets landed inside the camp facil-
they can get relief from their current economy; that we preserve workers and ity.
7(a) and 504 loans. their families and their abilities to pay As the noise happened around them,
So we give money to these entre- their bills. Sergeant Roberts told his fellow air-
preneur service groups so that they can I think, when you take a look at this men to get up, get going, and get their
help women businesses and minority whole package, the challenge will be to body armor on. As he stepped away to
businesses get access. get the information out to our con- go warn other people to do the same,
We have also put a clear intent that stituents, to these businesses, to these the rocket came. But he saved the lives
we expect the financial institutions to workers, so they know what is in this of some of the people standing right
make loans to all size small businesses package so that they can act now be- there whom he had told to get their
in all communities so that all commu- cause, quite frankly, people are des- body armor on.
nities can benefit from this legislation. perate, companies are desperate. He was posthumously promoted to
We have increased the size of Express When malls are closed, as they are in technical sergeant.
loans under this. And I just want to Maryland, and you are operating a He was born January 29, 1992, in
compliment the work of other working small business in that mall and have Tulsa, OK. Marshal’s parents, Sally
groups, particularly on the tax provi- no business at all, you don’t know how and Randy, raised him in Owasso, OK,
sions. I was very pleased to work with you are going to make your next pay- where he graduated from Owasso High
Senator WYDEN. The two of us worked roll, you have to make decisions today. School.
on what is known as a retention credit, That is why it is important that we He has a beautiful daughter, Paityn,
which allows companies that have fur- vote on this bill today, we get it to the who has been the love of his life. On
loughed workers to bring those work- President as soon as possible, get the November 15, 2018, Marshall was mar-
ers back and get a credit up to 50 per- information out to the small busi- ried to Krissy Harris. She was also in
cent of that wage, up to $10,000, as a nesses and to the workers and to all the 138th. They met and started dating,
tax credit in order to bring back those businesses that we are here to help both being part of the Air National
workers. keep them open, to keep the paychecks Guard.
Well, for some small businesses, that flowing, to keep our economy moving; Their deep love for God, their deep
may be a better option than what I that we are in this together. We are love for their country, and their obvi-
have outlined before in regard to the going to get through this period of ous love for each other was a signifi-
21⁄2 months of aid based upon payroll. time. Our economy is going to come cant part of the 138th. Everyone who
You have a choice. If you can do bet- back. knew them, knew what they were like
ter under the retention credit—it is a We want you to know to take advan- and were glad to be called their friends.
new credit—use that credit; if not, use tage of these tools so we can minimize He was a brother, he was a son, he
the other. Small businesses are given the adverse impact of the coronavirus. was a father, and he was a husband.
more flexibility. With that, I yield the floor. Our State and our Nation grieves him
Thank you, Senator WYDEN, for help- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- today coming home.
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ing us. I also want to acknowledge Sen- ator from Oklahoma is recognized. A fun story about him and Krissy,
ator WARNER, who was very instru- HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES though, is that they met and started
mental in getting that provision adopt- TECHNICAL SERGEANT MARSHAL ROBERTS dating, as I mentioned, while they were
ed. Mr. LANKFORD. Madam President, both serving in the 138th. She had been
So you see that there are a whole this morning, Technical Sergeant Mar- in the 138th for 15 years. So she had ac-
range of tools in here to keep small shal Roberts of Oklahoma came home. tually been there longer. They dated
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S2032 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
for 4 years before they got married in It has a grant program for larger What has been interesting, though, is
2018. They had been married just less businesses that is designed to say: If in the speeches that I have heard on
than 2 years. you are a very large company, you are the floor today from my colleagues and
They were both avid football fans, not going to get a grant; you are going from many individuals in releases I
but there was a major problem. Krissy to get a loan in this process. At the have seen, folks have mentioned their
is a Kansas City Chiefs fan, and Mar- moment you get a loan and, if you prayer. They have mentioned: With
shal was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. don’t have capital and you don’t have God’s help, we are going to get through
That is a problem—definitely. But he access to it right now because of all this. They have mentioned the struggle
fixed that by proposing to Krissy at the that is going on, you could get that. we are going through as a nation and
Steelers-Chiefs game. This also has a feature built in where how we are praying for each other.
I have to tell you that for the family, individuals will receive a check for It keeps reminding me of something.
for the folks who stood there today in $1,200. Every adult does. That is built It is a very old psalm of ascent, Psalm
Tulsa as he came home, they found a in to get immediate economic support 121. When the Jews would come into
way to love each other and found a way to all those folks across the country. Jerusalem for the different feasts, they
to serve each other. And to the very All of those features were already in would sing these psalms of ascent as
end, they are still sacrificing for the the bill through Sunday night. There they came off the eastern hills and
country. Because of the COVID–19 that have been some tweaks that some folks
would start rising up toward Jeru-
is happening right now, they have cho- have brought up that some of our
salem. The song they would sing, I
sen not to have a public memorial serv- Democratic colleagues wanted to en-
think, is pertinent for our time right
ice—in a close time for the family—and gage in. Many of those changes have
now. Psalm 121 reads:
they are delaying that time until it is been heard and been added, and to
some we have said: Absolutely not, it is I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
safer for all of the family and for all of Where does my help come from?
the community to be able to partici- not connected to COVID–19 at all.
There are things that some of our Remember that the mountains here
pate. Literally, their family continues are the capital city Jerusalem. It is the
the grief and the weight—one more sac- Democratic colleagues wanted to make
sure got in. Through all the negotia- seat of government for them and the
rifice for their country and for their center of worship. But it is the seat of
tions, some of these things were
community. government for them.
Today, all of Oklahoma is using a changed. For instance, they wanted to
make sure that energy companies They would sing:
hashtag to share messages with the
couldn’t get any support. So they I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
family—a simple hashtag: ‘‘#TSGT Where does my help come from?
Marshal Roberts’’; that is, hashtag fought hard to make sure there is no
additional money for the President My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of
Technical Sergeant Marshal Roberts, if Heaven and Earth.
you want all of the abbreviations on buying additional oil to put in the stra-
He will not let your foot slip.
tegic petroleum reserve at this lowest He who watches over you will not slumber.
it—to share a message of support and
price now. So it will actually cost us Indeed, he who watches over Israel will nei-
love for the family.
Our Nation is grateful, and we grieve more money in the future. But it was ther slumber nor sleep.
with you for the loss today. Thank you their intention to say that we don’t The Lord watches over you.
to him and to his family for wearing want oil companies to get any support The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
in this downturn. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the
the cloth of our country and for doing moon by night.
They also wanted to make sure there
everything our Nation asked of him to The Lord will keep you from harm.
was great transparency because they
the very end. Our Nation lives in free- He will watch over your life.
didn’t trust the Trump administration.
dom because of folks like Marshal Rob- The Lord will watch over your coming and
So they built in an inspector general going both now and forevermore.
erts, and we will continue to stand
and additional people to watch the
with Krissy and Paityn and with their Treasury through the process. They It is interesting to me that the peo-
family. put in a neat little feature they de- ple would come in marching into Jeru-
With that, I yield. salem, the seat of government, singing
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. manded, which was that no son or
daughter or family member or any in- the song:
PERDUE). The Senator from Oklahoma. I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
dividual that works with the Presi-
CORONAVIRUS [But] where does my help come from?
dency, Vice Presidency, or the Con-
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, we My help comes from the Lord.
gress could get any of—not the grant
are in the process of passing a very Of all the things that are going on in
programs—the loan programs. In fact,
large economic package to help sta- Washington, DC, right now, you will
the language they demanded was inter-
bilize our economy through the middle esting: No son-in-law could get that. I hear people repeating over and over:
of all that is happening with COVID–19 wonder: Who could that be targeted to- Our hope is not in government; our
globally and in the United States. The ward? A particular son-in-law that hope is not in how much money we can
heart of the package we are passing might be there. spend.
today is almost identical to what we Literally, a lot of this fight we have We understand full well, when we lift
brought Sunday night, which was a bi- had over the last 3 days is because they up our eyes to the mountain—to this
partisan proposal, which ranking mem- were demanding that there was no way hill. We understand full well where our
bers and chairmen of all the major the President or any of his family help comes from, and it is not from all
committees had worked together to get could get any kind of loan or benefit the folks in this room. Our help comes
done. The key elements of it are still from this program at all. We spent 3 from the Lord, and we are grateful that
there. It has unemployment insurance days—3 days of delay—because they He neither slumbers nor sleeps.
for Americans, including a $600 plus-up had some additional demands for some With that, I yield the floor.
to go through the process. There is sup- things they wanted to do, significantly The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
port for small businesses that will pay targeted to a lot of the President and ator from Arkansas.
the payroll. We don’t want individuals his family. I understand they don’t like Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, the
to end up on unemployment insurance. the President. I get that. We want to deadly coronavirus that emerged from
It is better if they stay connected to do everything we can to protect the China late last year has now spread
their same company. It has a unique workers. That is why we had all of across the globe. The Chinese Com-
new proposal that is built in to say a these programs in place already and munist Party deceived the world, even
small business can go to any bank rap- why we had done a lot of bipartisan their own people, and unleashed the
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idly to get a loan there, which will con- work to get it done. It is done now. worst pandemic in a century on us all.
vert into a grant if they maintain their Let’s get it going. Now it falls to us to defeat it.
current employee numbers. That keeps Our encouragement is to have the Here at home, a strange and unset-
people connected to their business and House finish this up as quickly as pos- tling hush has fallen over much of the
keeps people assured of a job at the end sible and to get the support to the country, as businesses close and mil-
of all this when it finishes out. American people. lions of Americans brace for what is to
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2033
come. In New York, Seattle, New Orle- dren, live alone, or work outside the gradually get back to work. For that
ans, and elsewhere, preparation for the home. They can’t wall themselves off to happen, we will need to scale up our
virus has ended. The virus has arrived from the world nor should we wall ability to rapidly test for the virus, as
in force. The urgent battle to suppress them in. they have in South Korea, so that we
it has begun. Moreover, tens of millions of younger have a sense of where the virus is and
In emergency rooms and ICUs, coura- Americans have preexisting conditions where we must keep it contained.
geous doctors and nurses are already that put them at an elevated risk for Already, America’s public labora-
locked in a battle to save the lives of this virus. Are we to quarantine all of tories and companies are rising to the
their patients. Protective gear is in them too? Even younger and healthier challenge by processing tens of thou-
short supply, but their regard for safe- Americans are not safe from this pan- sands of tests, but our ability to test
ty and even family come second to demic. The China virus attacks the must grow even faster, and it is. We
their duty. The days ahead will be a lungs of the young and the old alike. Of will need masks, too—billions of them.
close-run thing in those cities, as they the cases we know, the virus appears to We will also need local personnel who
struggle to keep their hospitals open send about one in seven younger people are trained and prepared to do wide-
and functioning. But make no mistake. to the hospital. It is true that survival spread contact tracing for those who
The China virus will spare none of us— rates for younger patients are better, test positive. We will have to develop
from the high-rises of the big cities to but even their recoveries depend on procedures for the strict quarantines of
the hills of the Ozarks. there being a functioning healthcare those who test positive or for those
Soon, the Senate will finally pass system. who have been exposed to the virus—
desperately needed emergency legisla- If we give up on our efforts to control with zero tolerance for breaking quar-
tion for our Nation, including a mas- this virus now, our medical system will antine and endangering our fellow citi-
sive infusion of funds to our healthcare be overwhelmed—hospitals will col- zens.
system. But this legislation isn’t about lapse; care will be rationed; doctors Once these elements are in place and
stimulus. It is about survival. will face the terrible choice of whom to the first wave of this virus has passed,
With this legislation behind us, save and whom to let perish—and not then we will be prepared to reopen our
Americans are beginning to ask: What just for patients of this virus but for cities and communities while remain-
is next? Yes, the virus is testing us al- every American who needs intensive ing vigilant about new outbreaks.
ready, and it has already touched most care, whether it be from a heart attack These preparations will ensure we are
of us by closing our churches, shut- or a stroke or a car wreck or anything ready to sustain our way of life until
tering our businesses, and threatening else. our scientists can create what we so
the jobs and retirement savings of mil- Besides, if left unchecked, this dead- desperately need—therapeutic drugs
lions of Americans and, of course, ly virus will continue to wreck our and, ultimately, a vaccine. A vaccine
threatening our lives. It is only natural economy as surely as it has already. It may take a year or more before it is
that so many are wondering anxiously was not President Trump who shut available, but these other intermediate
when and how this unprecedented crisis down businesses, after all, and it really precautions must go into effect much,
wasn’t even the Governors and mayors, much faster.
will end. And when it ends, will their
America must, indeed, reopen. When
jobs still there be? How will they put though they issued the orders. Govern-
we do, these decisions must be based on
food on their table? How will they pay ment-enforced closures were largely
local conditions, not an arbitrary na-
the bills? rearguard actions by communities that
tionwide timeline. Our Governors and
Americans want to know the plans so had already ground to a halt due to the mayors understand their local condi-
they can do their part. More fundamen- virus or that would have soon come to tions. They can make gradual, rolling,
tally, they want to know that there is a wrenching stop in the teeth of the calibrated decisions in a way that is re-
a plan. Upended routines combined pandemic. sponsible when the tools to effectively
with worry about the future naturally Who among us would take our kids to
fight this virus are ready and available.
breed frustration. We are citizens, after a restaurant tomorrow if we opened What I have outlined may seem like
all, not passive carriers of a deadly back up? Our economy isn’t seized up a daunting and even impossible chal-
pathogen. because of government dictates but, lenge, but our Nation has overcome far
This frustration has given rise to a rather, because our people are under- greater challenges before. Already,
new and growing argument that Ameri- standably fearful of the dangerous America is rising to take on the China
cans can’t wait any longer, that we virus. So an immediate reopening with- virus. The giant of American industry
ought to open back up and take our out having the resources in place to is awakening and retooling our fac-
chances with this virus. After all, we fight the virus isn’t an option. Our hos- tories to join this fight just as we did
can’t stay inside forever. We can’t, as pitals would be overwhelmed, and our during World War II. Never bet against
the saying goes, let the cure be worse brave doctors and nurses would suc- America’s workers and American inge-
than the disease. The urgency to stave cumb to the illness. Our businesses nuity. All across this country, Ameri-
off economic collapse is, of course, un- would keep their doors closed or would cans are springing into action. We
derstandable. It is also tempting to quickly close their doors again as know the vital role our doctors and
think that we face a simple choice be- workers and customers would stay nurses will play in the coming months
tween shutting down to fight the virus away. alongside our first responders, our fac-
and opening up to save the economy, The supposed choice between saving tory workers, our farmers, our grocers,
but the choice is not so simple. the economy and fighting the virus and on down the list.
Some thoughtful observers note that turns out not to be much of a choice at Ask yourself now how you can help.
the seasonal flu and automobile acci- all. We can’t yet stop the strong meas- Can you keep your distance from those
dents kill more Americans annually ures that are in place because we have who are most at risk, realizing that the
than has this virus. That is true as far no better option in the short run, but China virus preys on our most earnest
as it goes, but we are just at the begin- neither can we continue them forever, desires for society and companionship?
ning of this pandemic. I have to add for the American people can only hold Can you offer your charity to a friend
that the Javits Center in New York out for so long. So we must come up in need? Can you pick up groceries for
City has never been converted into a with a better plan and fast. That plan your elderly neighbor? Can you keep
field hospital for the flu or car wrecks. starts with this big pause as we protect your workers on payroll and benefits
Granting that, some say, perhaps we ourselves and each other. We simply for just a little longer until our legisla-
can reopen in a few days since our el- don’t have the resources today to fight tion kicks in? Can you postpone your
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
derly are most at risk from this virus. any other way, but it will not end with tenant’s rent for a month? Can you
Quarantine them. Keep them safe, the this approach. pray for the deliverance of our Nation
argument goes, while the rest of us get We must use the precious days and and the world?
back to work. Yet there are 72 million weeks ahead to lay the groundwork for These are just a few of the things we
Americans who are over the age of 60 in a new strategy to fight the virus—a must do as a country to make reopen-
this country. Many of them raise chil- strategy that will allow all of us to ing possible and life bearable in the
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S2034 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
months ahead. We are all in this to- They can pick up the phone, place their crisis, we in the Senate would pass it
gether, so we will need to have each orders, and have everything they need expeditiously. As the saying goes, you
other’s best interests at heart. delivered to their front doors within a can’t let the perfect be the enemy of
Many years of comfort and ease have, few hours—all without having to leave the good.
perhaps, conditioned us to ask only home. We acted quickly to get both bills to
what we are free to do, not what we are We have also seen other organiza- the President’s desk because the cir-
called to do. Yet the old disciplines of tions working to adapt to these chal- cumstances demanded it. Sadly, over
peril and privation threaten to return, lenging circumstances. The Boys & the last few days, our colleagues on the
and we will need old notions of duty to Girls Club of Greater Houston has other side of the aisle have been obliv-
maintain order in the face of them. The partnered with the Houston Food Bank ious to the sense of urgency that every
darkest days of this coronavirus are, in to open a drive-through pantry. Fami- other American seems to understand.
all likelihood, still ahead of us. Let us lies can get a whole week’s worth of After the original, intense, bipartisan
face up to them bravely. Let us ac- healthy meals without ever having to negotiations, we were finalizing a third
knowledge the troubles ahead, and let step out of their cars. relief bill, which included, by defini-
us devote our whole energy to winning Of course, it is not just the busi- tion, ideas from both Republicans and
this battle quickly so that the normal nesses and organizations that are help- Democrats. We were optimistic that we
life of our Nation can resume. ing out. People are helping other peo- would be able to take up and pass the
I yield the floor. ple. People are donating blood to al- bill on Sunday or at least get it started
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- leviate the critical shortages that hos- and pass the bill on Monday, but, clear-
ator from Texas. pitals are facing. All of us, if we can, ly, that didn’t happen.
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, during should consider donating blood. People Our Democratic colleagues blocked
times of disaster, crisis, or hardship, I are leaving notes in neighbors’ mail- us from even debating the bill, not
never fail to be inspired by the gen- boxes, offering to run errands and pick once but twice. The minority leader
erosity of Americans, including the up supplies. On social media, school- said the bill, which his Members had
folks in my home State of Texas. I teachers who are at home are offering helped write, wasn’t good enough. He
think about how we came together in to help parents with their children’s spent the next 3 days trying to change
the wake of Hurricane Harvey to lead math, science, or other subjects they the bill to include provisions that he
search and rescue operations, clear de- may be struggling to teach their kids thought were more important prior-
bris, and rebuild communities and while the kids are at home and not at ities during a national emergency—
lives. We saw strangers forming human school. things like tax credits for solar panels
chains to rescue a driver who was There are neighbors helping neigh- and tighter emission standards for air-
trapped in a car; restaurants offering bors, friends helping strangers, and lines, proposals that have absolutely
free meals to first responders; and a Texans helping Texans. That is one nothing to do with this crisis.
Houston legend, known affectionately thing I love about this great country. After a few incredulous days, Amer-
as Mattress Mack, opening his fur- Our communities always jump into ac- ica woke up to the news today that our
niture stores for those who needed tion to help in any way they can. They Democratic colleagues are finally
shelter. do what it takes to survive a crisis and ready to stop this posturing and this
One volunteer said: I have met more to keep one another safe and healthy obstruction and get this job done.
of my neighbors in the last 24 hours until we emerge on the other side. After blocking this bill twice and
than I have in the last 20 years. It is time for the Senate to do its holding up this emergency lifeline,
While these heartwarming stories of part. There has been no event in my here is what the minority leader claims
Texans’ lending a hand to one another lifetime that has had this big of an im- as a victory: He says that Democrats
are a source of comfort even during the pact on the physical and economic expanded unemployment insurance to
toughest of times, right now, when ex- health of our country. Every day, we help laid-off workers and those who are
tending a physical hand is one of the learn about more new cases, rising un- self-employed. But as we all know, that
worst things you can do because it vio- employment, and unprecedented mar- was already part of the bill that had
lates social distancing rules, there are ket volatility. We have a responsibility been negotiated between Democrats
still plenty of neighbors who are help- to act and to act quickly in response to and Republicans.
ing their neighbors. Folks in Texas, these dueling crises. Then the minority leader said that
like around the country, are staying Already we were able to work and Americans will get direct aid, but we
home to keep themselves and their send two bills to the President’s desk have been talking about that for
neighbors safe, and we are seeing new for signature. The first sent vital sup- weeks. That was part of the bill that
and creative means of supporting one port to healthcare professionals and Democrats blocked twice.
another. first responders, who are doing every- Let’s be clear about this. Here we
For example, a number of distilleries thing they can to treat patients and are, Members of the U.S. Congress, get-
across the State have switched their prepare for more cases. ting a paycheck, and they have the te-
productions from making vodka or We also provided initial funding for merity to block, two times, emergency
whiskey to making hand sanitizer. development of a vaccine, clinical aid to people who have no income at all
With demand surging and hand sani- trials, and more diagnostic tests. through no fault of their own? It is out-
tizer in short supply, more and more The second bill we passed focused rageous.
hospitals are struggling to keep it in more on the small businesses and the Then the minority leader said that
stock, and these distilleries are step- individual workers who are impacted he secured unprecedented aid for Amer-
ping up to fill the void. economically. It included changes in ica’s hospitals, but as it turns out, that
Jonathan Likarish is the head dis- unemployment insurance so that those was part of the bill Democrats blocked
tiller and cofounder of the Ironroot Re- who find themselves out of a job can twice. It was the subject of bipartisan
public Distillery in Denison, TX. He promptly take advantage of these bene- negotiations and, we thought, con-
said they received a call from the fits, and it made paid sick and family sensus.
Texoma Medical Center and was asked leave available for workers impacted Well, the bill that Democrats blocked
if he could help. Of course, he said yes. by the virus. That is what we did in twice was a bipartisan bill to begin
Businesses like his aren’t alone. these first two bills. with. Democrats and Republicans
Beloved Texas grocery chain H-E-B Were they perfect? Well, no. The sec- worked together and agreed to each of
has taken steps to make shopping easi- ond bill, in particular, fell short in a these points before the first votes were
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
er for seniors who are the most at risk number of areas. It was largely nego- cast. The minority leader’s Members
if they contract the coronavirus. H-E-B tiated by Secretary of the Treasury had spent countless hours negotiating
has partnered with Favor Delivery to Mnuchin and Speaker PELOSI, but we with Republicans—that is how you get
take grocery delivery—a service many decided that, in the interest of the things done—but then he singlehand-
Americans already utilize—and has greater good and the country and the edly tries to take credit for the work
made it more accessible to seniors. people who were hurting during this that they have done.
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2035
For days Democrats needlessly cause of a lack of demand and the cost China. From there, it spread rapidly,
blocked a bill that would have bol- cutting that airlines are going through and it has had devastating con-
stered our fight to defeat this virus and with the concerns about people shel- sequences. The economy is crumbling.
protected our economy in the process. I tering in place, maintaining social dis- We are working desperately to shore it
am absolutely angry that they chose to tance and good hygiene to stop the up. Innocent people have been in the
waste so much valuable time when spread of this virus, Speaker PELOSI hospital or sick.
there are so many different people in has created a terrible problem for her- I talked to one Tennessean this
need. But I am also relieved that they self. But, more importantly, she has morning who said: I am happy to re-
finally agreed to quit playing their par- created even more of a problem for the port my husband is coming back
tisan games so that we could vote on rest of the country because we need to around. He has been suffering for the
this legislation today. get this passed out of the Senate today last many days with COVID–19.
This bill sends desperately needed and out of the House and to the Presi- We have the world’s healthcare pro-
funding to hospitals that are strug- dent as soon as possible. fessionals, and what are they doing?
gling to manage an influx of patients The American people are depending They are working to the point of ex-
and helps fight the shortage of masks on us to respond responsibly in a bipar- haustion.
and other personal protective equip- tisan way during an emergency like What we have is Beijing’s reckless
ment—one of the priorities my Gov- this, and we cannot let them down. Communist dogma, and they are trying
ernor had mentioned to me. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- to blame everybody else.
It provides the direct financial assist- ator from Tennessee. Today we are going to move forward
ance that was already in the two bills Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, with the rescue package. This is the
that our Democratic colleagues you know, I have to say that last night phase 3 package. It is the fourth
blocked. A family of four will receive was an unusually late night here in tranche of money. I am including in
up to $3,400 under this legislation, Washington, and we were all impatient that the President’s emergency dec-
which will go a long way in throwing and our staffs were impatient. The laration, which put about $50 billion
that lifeline to them and cover their press was impatient. toward fighting this. As we do this and
rent, groceries, electric bills, and other As we talked to people across the as we find our way forward on address-
expenses until they can make other ar- State, what we realized was they long ing this, what we have to do is realize
rangements, like apply for unemploy- have been running out of patience, and that our relationship with China is
ment insurance under our beefed-up I talked about that some on this floor. going to need to change and change for
provisions. But for every factory worker and hour- the better. There is no denying that
This legislation will also provide re- ly worker and small business owner the way they have conducted them-
lief for small businesses that are strug- and songwriter and gig worker—they selves has put that relationship on dan-
gling to stay afloat. Many of these have all been telling me that they are gerous ground.
businesses have had to shut down be- running out of time, and they have Today, I invite my colleagues to sup-
cause they have been ordered by the really just been very anxious about port the bicameral S. Res. 553 and ac-
government to do so, and now they what was going to come out of this knowledge that Beijing intentionally
need some help to make sure that the Chamber. spread misinformation to downplay the
jobs they currently provide will still be I know that in the days and weeks severity of COVID–19 and baselessly de-
available when we get to the other side ahead, as we work through getting re- nied the risk of person-to-person trans-
of this crisis, and particularly we need lief to communities and individuals mission of the disease. They refused to
to make sure that the employees they and small business owners and large cooperate with international health
depend on and will depend on in the fu- companies, there is going to be a lot of authorities, including the CDC. During
ture will still be there when they re- blame that is going to be thrown the early days of the outbreak, they
open their doors. around. There is going to be some who censored doctors and journalists. We
With both the physical and economic are going to blame politicians. There all remember what happened with the
health of our country in crisis, this are others who are going to blame the late Dr. Li when he tried to give us the
bold legislation is our best path for- way the economy is structured. There warnings. On top of everything else,
ward. I appreciate the work that has are others still who are going to blame they maliciously ignored the health
been done by so many around the clock the healthcare system. But I will tell and safety of ethnic minorities.
for the better part of the past week to you, I think there is a necessity to This is the easy part. The facts are
get this bill finally to the floor, and I have a discussion about why we do there. All we have to do is acknowledge
look forward to supporting it so that have this current crisis, and it is be- the facts that are there and use this as
my constituents—the 29 million people cause of the leadership of the Chinese a beginning, because this resolution is,
who call Texas home—will get help as Government, the People’s Republic of as I said, bicameral and bipartisan in
soon as possible. China, that leadership in Beijing. the House. We have no reason to not
As we prepare to pass this legislation We have gone around and around push it forward and send the message
and send it to the House, I urge them with activists and media on the point, that we realize what happened to cause
to act quickly. But you may recall it and I shouldn’t have to point out that a global pandemic.
was Speaker PELOSI who flew back into when I say China is to blame for the After we acknowledge Beijing’s gross
town after a weeklong recess, dropped spread of the novel coronavirus that we malfeasance, we are going to adjust the
an 1,100-page bill, and made all these call COVID–19, we do not mean the Chi- way we think about China in the con-
outrageous new demands, clearing out nese people as a whole. Yet we have text of the economy, our national de-
their partisan or ideological out-box or some who do not want to say that is fense, technology, human rights, and
wish list. where it came from. I think we should pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Well, incredibly, now that there has stop that, and we should move forward When you think about it—the fact
been an agreement here in the Senate with decisions based on fact and with that Beijing intentionally downplayed
with the administration, Speaker decisions that are based on data. the deadly nature of COVID–19—it
PELOSI hasn’t even called the House We need to begin to collect those should come as no surprise. For dec-
back into session. As a matter of fact, facts and data as they pertain to this ades, China has made it a business. It
they gaveled in session and out of ses- disease. That is how we get to the has been their business to search out
sion today, and they won’t be back in antivirals. That is how we get to hav- our vulnerabilities, exploit those vul-
session until tomorrow. ing a vaccine. That is how we look at nerabilities, and then what do they try
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
Speaker PELOSI has a huge challenge. lessons learned so that we don’t go to do? They try to use that as leverage
Unless she can get unanimous consent through this again, so we plan to tack- against us. It is time for us to say: No
to pass a $2 trillion bill through the le some of the unexpected occurrences more.
House, she may well have to call back that will come our way. Another component I have talked
into session the entire House of Rep- As we talk about facts, we do know about this week on the floor is our
resentatives. With restricted flights be- that COVID–19 originated in Wuhan, pharmaceutical supply chain.
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S2036 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
On February 27, 2020, the FDA an- This may seem like something that owner I talked to had 2 percent occu-
nounced the shortage of a drug used to is too large or too risky an under- pancy in the week before.
treat victims of COVID–19. Imagine taking, but we have already paid dear- So, we have come together. This past
that. There was a drug shortage. They ly for our reliance on Chinese drug weekend, we worked through it. I think
attributed the shortage to difficulties manufacturers, and it is not going to that is the first time since I have been
obtaining the active ingredient in this stop, because that vulnerability is le- here that on a legislative matter we
pharmaceutical. The active ingredients veraged in the hands of madmen in Bei- have done that. We had Democrats and
are called APIs. They couldn’t get it jing who seek nothing but power and Republicans at the grassroots level
from the site in China that manufac- will go to any lengths to acquire that working to deliver what I think is a
tured it because that site had been af- power. They don’t care whom they good package. It focuses on, No. 1, who
fected by COVID–19. So here we are. We hurt. That is clear with this global needs it the most—workers who have
need this component to go into a phar- pandemic. They don’t care if it is inno- been displaced and small business own-
maceutical, and we cannot get it be- cent people who are sick or maybe even ers. It also has stuff in it for the broad-
cause the factory that produces it has lose their lives. And they defy us—they er part of the economy. Urgency is the
been affected by COVID–19. defy us—when we try to stop them. It key. We are working through, right
This is not the first time this has is time that we rise to the challenge now, some short-term corrections, and
happened. In 2016, we saw a shortage of and that we return the supply chain. I hope that doesn’t thwart the process.
an important antibiotic when the sole I yield the floor. We should have had this across the
source of its production—the only I suggest the absence of a quorum. finish line Sunday evening to where it
place on the globe that produced this The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT- could have been delivered on Monday
antibiotic—was in China. That factory TON). The clerk will call the roll. morning, and we wouldn’t still have
was shut down. We couldn’t get it. The senior assistant legislative clerk the Nation on high alert about what we
Our vulnerability is not limited to proceeded to call the roll. are going to do here. And it can only
one drug or even just a handful of Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask come from here in this case.
drugs. In 2007 and 2008, 246 people died unanimous consent that the order for I am going to segue into—we need to
after taking a contaminated blood the quorum call be rescinded. get that done today, and I am going to
thinner that came directly from a fac- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without be for it. Each State, each Senator, and
tory in China. They died—246 people— objection, it is so ordered. each Representative is going to have to
just like that. Routine inspections Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I have deliver to the small business owners,
didn’t catch the contaminant, and the been here a little over a year. I keep the individuals who have been dis-
drugs flowed right into our medicine mentioning that often because what a placed by this. I have a team back in
cabinets. year it has been. In that stretch, there Indiana that is taking on a big spec-
In 2010, regulators have also found se- has not been a period of time when I trum of casework. I invite you, when
rious problems with batches of thyroid think there has been so much urgency this legislation gets across the finish
medication, muscle relaxers, and anti- for us as a Senate and for the other line, to make sure you reach out to our
biotics. This week I got an email from Chamber to do our job to deliver for office.
a Tennesseean, and he said: I saw what the American people. Many of our cases, regrettably, have
you said on the floor, and I want to let We are in the midst of a crisis. In been along the lines of helping folks
you know, I take a heart medication, building a business over 37, 38 years, interface with the VA. Sadly, I wish
and it was just recalled because it con- you constantly have hurdles to jump. there were fewer of them, but we have
tained a carcinogen, and it was made in You never really know the clear out- had really good luck. We interfaced
China. come. You try to have a great strategy when a cruise ship had Hoosiers strand-
Think about this. These are the phar- with good implementation and good ed, and we were able to follow up on
maceuticals we take to return our- tactics that will be your salvation the process to make sure they came
selves to health and wellness and to through thick or thin. back. We are currently dealing with
manage chronic conditions. Here we When it comes to the coronavirus, it cases where people are stranded over-
have example after example of things is not as though we haven’t had other seas. Whatever it is, come to our Sen-
that are contaminated and are not recent issues but nothing quite like ate office. We have a great team, and
what they are intended to be. These are this. It started in another country. It they have helped out a lot of Hoosiers
basic, common medications. has gone across the world, and it now already.
In 2018, the FDA recalled several looks like that vector in our country— I want to end on a positive note. I
blood pressure medications made in we may be dealing with it on a broader think this has the country down be-
China that were contaminated with scale. cause everything you see is in the con-
cancer-causing toxins. Now, I would I am a guy who believes in free enter- text of negativity. I like the fact that,
imagine there are a few people who prise. I don’t like it when government aspirationally, many are already talk-
come to work every day in this build- has to step in, but I don’t know what ing about what we are going to do when
ing, who take a blood pressure medica- we would have done otherwise in this we come out of it, and through prayers
tion. What if you had been taking one case. Until we tamp the disease down, and through all the stuff Americans
for a period of time, and it contained until we get that curve flattened, no and Hoosiers have done, I think we are
the cancer-causing toxins? one is going to be at ease. We have in- going to see that curve start to flatten.
Americans deserve better than this vested 3, 4 weeks of actual guidelines. I like the approach we have taken to
from their pharmaceutical supply We knew it was coming way before put the emphasis on the disease, be-
chain. If we allow this to continue, we that. I am hopeful that we have been cause, until those numbers go down, no
are going to do so at our own peril. I doing a lot of the right things even be- one is going to be at ease. So, as we
encourage my colleagues to support fore we were required to do them. We look to the future—Monday was that
the bipartisan Securing America’s can’t relent on that course. first threshold, 15 days—we need to re-
Medicine Cabinet, or SAM-C Act. Sen- On the other hand, never in my cess, take all the information we have
ator MENENDEZ has worked on this leg- wildest dreams would I have imagined gained and gathered, and make the
islation with me, and I am grateful to an economy could be affected as it has. right decisions going forward. I trust
him for his support. I get stories from my home State of In- our Governors and our local govern-
The Presiding Officer is working on diana all the time, and not only from ments across the country to do the
legislation that would address some of the places like hotels, restaurants, same thing.
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
these issues. Bring this pharmaceutical bars, and airlines. I think our senior We will come out ahead. We are going
manufacturing back into the United Senator, who actually either went to flatten the curve and make sure
States of America. We need to end Chi- home or came out here, might have that we are taking care of the most im-
nese control over our health and been the only person on the plane. portant thing first, and I think that is
wellness in this pharmaceutical supply That is a graphic example of how this going to be here, hopefully, sooner
chain. is impacting commerce. The hotel rather than later. And then we also
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2037
need to be aspirational about what is here in the last hour, but I think we That recovery will take some time,
going to really get this country back will get those done and hopefully get but at the same time, as America al-
to business as usual, and that is when this vote going tonight. ways responds to these sorts of things,
we can have Main Street going back to As we deal with these two crises, it is I believe we can respond very quickly if
the way it was a month or two ago so my suggestion that we look at how we we get the transition phase correct,
that we can recapture the best econ- address dealing with this crisis in three and that is what I want to talk about
omy we have probably ever had in his- phases. One is we are in the middle of today.
tory. the first phase right now, and I would As we look at the medical crisis,
I know Hoosiers will do their job. characterize it as mobilization, where though, we understand now, through a
They will be aspirational, and Ameri- we are identifying the severity of the lot of data outside of the United
cans across the country will do the disease; we are identifying who is the States—and I will caveat this by say-
same. most vulnerable; we are identifying ing that each country’s experience is
I yield the floor. what we need to do to deal with it; and just a little bit different. I would also
I suggest the absence of a quorum. we are mobilizing behind it. comment that there is a lot of noise in
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The We have seen a dramatic increase in the data that I see around the world
clerk will call the roll. the number of tests, thanks to Vice right now. The medical community is
The legislative clerk proceeded to President PENCE. We still have short- doing a great job of trying to aggregate
call the roll. ages of testing kits, swabs, and re- this data to see how it applies to our
Mr. PERDUE. Mr. President, I ask agents, and even testing machines. But needs here at home.
unanimous consent that the order for we have things, like in my State, I give our doctors and nurses and
the quorum call be rescinded. where one of our major hospitals, caregivers the highest thank-you I can
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Emory University Hospital, has their for what they are doing here and all
objection, it is so ordered. own testing. They can do it in a num- over the world, for that matter. But
Mr. PERDUE. Mr. President, we are ber of hours versus days, and they are the experience in Italy might not be
on the cusp of a historic bill today—a making that available to other hos- the same as it is here. The experience
bipartisan bill—that we took a dif- pitals in the State. This is all hands on in South Korea might not be the same
ferent approach on, thanks to Repub- deck. And they will probably lose as it is here. So we have to look at
lican leadership. We asked the leaders money doing that, but they are willing those and be very careful that we don’t
of each of the committees, both Demo- to do that. try to extrapolate either the severity
crats and Republicans, to focus on We have an apparel company in Geor-
or lack of severity as being applicable
their portion of the needs behind this gia that has now shut down their busi-
here.
COVID–19 crisis. ness in apparel. They have good orders,
Before I get to the bill, what we do
Before I get into my remarks today, profitable orders. They are putting
know, though, is that just this week,
though, I want to remind my col- those aside to make masks to try to
the World Health Organization pub-
leagues here today that we have spon- help fill the need there and those short-
lished an update to their numbers.
sored a resolution recognizing and ages.
But the mobilization phase is where They are characterizing this disease
thanking all the people in America who this way—and every country has a lit-
we are today. Based on the experiences
are stepping up and, as others have tle bit different infection rate and a
of other countries, we are identifying
said, putting their own health and little different mortality rate. I believe
what we might expect here. We have
their families’ health at risk to make hot spots in our country, just like in the United States, because we
sure that their neighbors and friends other countries have had. We saw what haven’t tested as broadly as some of
and patients and business partners are happened in Wuhan and Hubei Province the other countries have—like South
taken care of. I am talking about sup- in China. I have been there. It is a very Korea—we don’t know what the denom-
ply chain people, healthcare workers, old population—older population. They inator is yet, so we really don’t know
transportation workers, ag industry— were late getting to the identification, what the mortality rate is, or the in-
all the people in the country who are treatment, and isolation, and we see fection rate, for that matter.
keeping the essential needs of our pop- the repercussions of that. But what we But just to put this into perspective,
ulation going. can learn from them is that they are this is from the World Health Organiza-
While restaurants are closed, they ahead of us in the cycle. However they tion: About 80 percent of the people in-
have takeout services, even here in dealt with that in the early days, we fected with this COVID–19 virus will
Washington, DC. That is not an easy see now how they have dealt with that probably have a mild—that is the way
thing to do for those folks. It is a loss. crisis and what is happening with the they characterize it—experience with
They are losing money right now. numbers, and we can learn from that. I this disease. Fifteen percent will be se-
I want to make sure that we recog- will talk about that in a second. rious enough to go to a hospital, and
nize, in the midst of this crisis, how The second phase, though, is transi- then of that, 5 percent will be critical
Americans are responding. Americans tion. This is one that I am not sure we patients, typically generally toward
always respond to crisis in a better are in it yet, but we are about to go the more vulnerable patients—the el-
way than anybody else in the history of into it partly because of this package; derly, people with respiratory pre-
the world, in my opinion. Sometimes that is, to make sure that we protect existing diseases or who have poten-
we are not always the quickest to rec- the parts of the economy that we can tially immune deficiencies.
ognize that we are in a crisis, but, so that when we do start to come out of As we deal with that medical crisis—
right now, we are responding to this this, just like every other country and we poured a lot of resources toward
one right here before us. ahead of us in the cycle has done and is that in the first two phases of help, in
As a matter of fact, I believe we have doing right now, we will have our busi- addition to what the President did with
two crises today. One is obviously the nesses in a position to reconnect with his $50 billion allocation earlier—in
medical crisis—the healthcare crisis the employees they have worked so this bill, almost $2 trillion of aid, as we
that we now are characterizing as the hard to develop. see it, goes toward businesses and com-
COVID–19 virus. We know how it origi- Of course, the third phase is full-on munities and States to make sure that
nated, and we know now what other recovery; that is, to do the things to we can weather this storm.
countries that were ahead of us in the get the economy back on its strong Let’s be very clear about this. This is
cycle are learning from that. But be- footing and to make sure we address not about companies. This is about em-
cause of that, we have a connecting the shortages that we found in our cur- ployees. This is about the people who
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
economic crisis that we are trying to rent preparation for this. For example, work for employers, either in their own
deal with in this piece of legislation we didn’t have a strategic stockpile of business or in somebody else’s busi-
today. some of the essential medical supplies ness. This is all about employees. It is
I hope we can get this done tonight. we needed for the identification, test- merely a financial bridge to get
I don’t see any reason why we can’t. We ing, and treatment of this particular through this period of time, to get into
have a deal. There are some questions virus. that recovery phase that I was trying
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S2038 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
to describe here a little earlier. It is There may be some growing pains in this is the big thing. We have limited
about the employer-employee relation- the early days, but the liquidity is data in the United States. Other coun-
ship and to make sure we keep that re- going to be there to weather this tries have a lot of data. I believe that
lationship intact. storm, to bridge this crisis. if we aggregate that data and create a
In the last 3 years, we created 7.5 I want to look at what is next. I will Manhattan Project-type effort to go to-
million new jobs. Prior to this talk about this transition phase and ward vaccines and treatments, we can
coronavirus crisis, we had an economy maybe even the recovery phase for a absolutely be ready for flu season next
that was just booming. It created 7.5 second. year if, in fact, this particular COVID–
million new jobs. We had 7.5 million The first thing we have to do is we 19 virus has a seasonality. We don’t
job openings, as a matter of fact, and have to really learn from other coun- know that yet.
only 5 million people looking for work. tries that are ahead of us in the cycle. In conclusion, there is no question
So we had a situation where we had the For example, it took about 6 to 8 weeks that this is a moment of challenge in
economy moving in the right direction, for China, even with their mistakes, to America. I will say this: President
and then this hits. We want to make go from zero to their maximum num- Trump, for all his distractors, early on
sure we don’t lose any of those jobs, ber. We know the disease has a life stepped up and was a strong leader. I
and for that reason, we focused on the cycle. If somebody is infected with it, said this several years ago—he re-
employer-employee relationship. if they survive, they come on the back minded me of Winston Churchill: iras-
Yes, we plussed up unemployment side. So far, there are over 70,000 people cible but effective in getting results.
benefits for the States so that they are who have had the disease in China and That is what we had early on.
not overwhelmed, but we made sure the are healthy now. Right now, we need a steady hand to
employer had the liquidity to keep We know from anecdotal evidence on make sure we don’t kill the economy
these people employed. In that vein, we the ground that about 80 percent of the while we kill this disease. And my only
did not want to have a liquidity crisis, employed workers in China are begin- point is that in this transition period—
which we could very well have right ning to go back to work in almost 90 and nobody has all the answers yet—we
now because of shutting down these percent of the factories. This is outside need to start asking the question of
businesses. We didn’t want that liquid- of Wuhan and Hubei Province. They are what we can do in this transition pe-
ity crisis to turn into an insolvency going back to work. riod to find a balance between pro-
crisis. We can deal with a liquidity In South Korea, the learning there is tecting life and protecting the econ-
issue. It is very difficult to come back testing, testing, testing, but more than omy long term so that when people get
and deal with companies that have that, they also track contacts. There well, they will have a job to go back to
gone insolvent and are now in bank- are 50 million people in South Korea. and will have an economy that can
ruptcy proceedings. That is a very long We have 330 million. It is a little dif- help the world prepare for the next
and difficult process. It is difficult to ferent here. But in certain cities and pandemic that we are talking about
come back from. We do not want to do States, they can certainly look at here.
doing that. The American people have the best
that. And that was the primary pur-
So we have to learn from countries spirit, I believe, in the history of the
pose of most of the facets of this bill—
like South Korea, Japan, Singapore, world when it comes to dealing with
some $2 trillion.
I will say this about that. There are Hong Kong, Australia, and even China this crisis. I have talked about a couple
two major components to do that. One because they are ahead of us in this of examples in my State.
The airlines right now are another
is a small business contingency. A lit- cycle.
one. I know that Delta is one of the
tle over 50 percent of the people who In the first few weeks of this cycle,
primary airline carriers we have in the
work in America work for companies we should be going from zero to what-
country. They are keeping some flights
that have 500 employees or fewer. That ever our maximum number is. But it is
on. I know I have a reservation on a
is a new learning for me. That has the number of active cases that is the
commercial flight later this week, and
changed dramatically. But it is the en- most important, not the number of
I asked my assistant: Are you sure I
gine—this is not new news—this is the total cases.
can get a seat on that plane?
engine of new job growth in the last 3 The mortality rate is yet to be deter- She said: Yes. There are only five
years. We know that. mined because we don’t really know people who have booked seats on that
Well, we have $350 billion directly the denominator. But I believe, if we plane.
targeted toward those small busi- can test more—and according to Vice So it shows that people are trying to
nesses, which could then, by the way, President PENCE, the acceleration do their part here—neighbors, people
go to their existing local banker and curve for that is underway right now, going to their grocery stores for their
get this contingency, a government- and we will have the ability to do that. neighbors, taking care of picking up
backed loan guarantee. Contact tracking is another, and the mail, doing anything they can to
In addition to that, there is $454 bil- then isolation is another one we have protect the people who are at risk. In
lion directed at other businesses, plus to think about, unfortunately. We have small communities, we know how to do
another $58 billion toward strategically hot spots. With the Ebola crisis in Afri- that. In major cities, it is difficult, but
important industries, like our airline ca, what we learned from the medical it is even possible there.
industry and so forth. Again, most of community was that if they could put I will conclude with this: There is a
this money is in the form of loan guar- a full court press on the areas of flar- day coming—and it is not that far off—
antees to provide liquidity to keep the ing, where they had the disease flare that we will be behind the top end of
employees employed with their em- up, and isolate it so they didn’t have this curve in America. We will have
ployers. It is no more difficult than people traveling outside of those lost some lives. That is unfortunate.
that. areas—isolation by geography and de- We all regret that. But what we have
But there is one other thing that is mography are unfortunately called for to do now is to make sure we prepare
not being discussed, and I want to if we are going to do everything we ourselves for this transition phase,
highlight this, and that is, $454 billion have to do to control this disease in that while we are still dealing with
is historic. That is a lot of money. But the timeframe that we should. people who are getting the disease, the
it has the ability—through the Treas- The third thing I will highlight brief- disease is on the wane, and the econ-
ury, they can actually lever that up in ly is that I believe right now this omy needs to be brought back so that
terms of the way the money goes out shows that we were behind in terms of we can make sure that we can prepare
to banks. It can be levered up to $3 or our preparation for a pandemic like this country for the next round that we
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
$4 trillion. So what we are talking this—there is no question about it—in may or may not see in the future.
about here is the potential of up to $5 the country and the world. We can With that, I yield the floor.
trillion of liquidity into our economy. point fingers and blame. That is not The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
This is historic, and it should be my purpose today. What I want to say ator from Florida.
enough to shock the system to say: OK, about this is that in America, if we can Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, I received
there is going to be liquidity here. bring the world’s resources of data— a call a few hours ago from someone I
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2039
have known for a long time, a gen- has to make a promise—we are not overnight. Think about it. One minute
tleman who I would say is in his early- going to war—all the while under- you are a student demanding that we
to mid-nineties. He wanted me to stop standing that what is happening in Eu- stay out of war, and the next you are
saying that what we are facing is an rope would eventually reach us, and he volunteering for service. One minute
unprecedented challenge. I was taken was preparing for war. you are a housewife, you are a retiree,
aback. I mean, none of us have ever Why he made that promise was pret- and the next minute you are back at
lived through anything like this or ty fundamental. Going to war was not work or at work for the first time in
confronted a situation that is as pain- popular in this country. Millions of your life at a factory making muni-
ful or so traumatic. He challenged me Americans, particularly those—at the tions or something else needed for the
to do something that I had actually time, you couldn’t really travel war effort.
done a few years ago, but as it shows, abroad—who had no connections to Eu- Schoolkids, children were put to
even a few years erodes memory about rope, looked at World War I as a Euro- work on farms because so many people
things that happened long in the past. pean war and looked at the Second had left farming to move and fulfill the
He challenged me to say: You know, World War as just another trick to get industrial jobs because the men who
everybody is comparing this to—the America sucked back into a war that would have otherwise filled those jobs
last time we had something like this, it had to do with Europeans and not with were now wearing a uniform and dying
required the Nation to react like we them. by the hundreds every day and then by
did in World War II. So it caused me to Prominent voices—chief among the thousands, all over the world.
go back and look a little bit at the them, Charles Lindbergh—traveled the We rationed food. There was food ra-
years before that great and bloody con- country blasting the President as a tioning. You could only eat so much. A
flict. warmonger in the strongest possible family only got so much. Gasoline was
It is interesting. In the years leading terms. There was actually a student rationed. I think it was 3 gallons a
up to 1941, President Roosevelt had an antiwar movement. Now, not as many week, if I am not mistaken. Clothes
effort to pack the Supreme Court. It people went to college at that time as were rationed.
was incredibly controversial and ended did in the 1960s, but it was really a pre- The government stepped in and said:
up falling apart in 1937. It ended up cursor to that very movement. Why? You can’t build kitchen appliances—no
falling apart actually because members Because these young people in college refrigerators, no ovens, no vacuum
of his own party turned against him, were the ones who were going to be cleaners—none of it. We need all of our
and it actually weakened him in the sent to war if there was one, and they industrial capacity to fight and win a
tail end of the second deal. wanted no part of it. war.
President Roosevelt was so upset Then, in the blink of an eye, at 7:48 People on the coasts—and you still
about what members of his own party a.m., on the December 7, 1941, the Japa- see old pictures of this to this day—off
had done to him that in 1938, he did nese attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Miami Beach, off New York, had to
something unprecedented at the time. Pearl Harbor. They sunk four of our turn their lights off at night and close
battleships. We lost almost 200 air- the shades of their windows because
He got involved in Democratic pri-
planes, and 2,300 Americans perished on there were German U-boats just off our
maries and tried to defeat—take out—
that very day. Even to the end of the east coast.
members of his own party who had op-
war, it remained the third bloodiest People were asked to make tremen-
posed him. Not only did he lose badly
day of that very bloody conflict. dous sacrifices—not for 3 months, not
in that effort—I think he won only 1 of America was not ready for war. They
those seats that he went after—as a re- for 6 weeks, but for over 3 years and
had started a draft by a one-vote mar-
sult of what he did, his party lost 6 longer. The sacrifice that was ulti-
gin. They were able to vote it into
seats in the Senate and 71 seats in the mately, perhaps, the greatest of all was
place. They had begun some basic rear-
House. Ultimately, in this very Cham- that they sent their sons and fathers
mament, but we had lost a significant
ber, a Republican, Robert Taft, was off to die in defense of this country and
percentage of our Pacific fleet.
able to put together a coalition with Frankly, to this day, there are legiti- of our freedoms.
conservative Democrats and basically mate questions not about whether the I do not mean to diminish the chal-
block President Roosevelt’s agenda Roosevelt administration knew in ad- lenges that are being asked of us now.
leading in to 1940. vance that this was happening and al- There aren’t 5 minutes that go by that
Then, in 1940, Roosevelt did some- lowed the attack to happen—no, those I don’t get a call, a text, or an email
thing else that was unprecedented and are conspiracy theories—but that they from a small business that, just 2
highly controversial. He announced, al- should have known. This was a massive weeks ago, was having its best year
though it was legal, that he was run- intelligence failure. In fact, up to 30 ever, talking about hiring new people,
ning for a third term. He was, at that minutes before that attack, the Am- and now they are bankrupt. They are
point, defying a long precedent that bassador to Japan was here negotiating done. They are finished, and they may
had been set by the Nation’s first with the United States over an oil em- never reopen again.
President. bargo. From a young couple I talked about
Then, to make matters even more in- America, by the way, was not a soci- earlier today in the video that I made,
teresting, his own Vice President, who ety of peace. This was a nation deeply 2 weeks ago, they were recently mar-
had turned on him on the Court issue, divided, a segregated nation that dis- ried and planning to start a family.
he had to kick off the ballot. In fact, he criminated against citizens of color. Both had good careers. The next
told them: If you nominate him as Vice There were very serious labor disputes minute, they were both out of a job,
President, I will refuse the nomination. going on throughout the country. not sure if the place they were working
Ultimately, he was reelected on a Many still wore the scars of a deep and will ever exist again, not knowing
promise. Ultimately, he was reelected painful economic depression. where to go.
by a pretty big margin, but he had to Yet, in the blink of an eye, this Na- One minute you are the father in a
make a promise: I will keep this coun- tion was confronted with an enemy and family or the mother in a family who
try out of war. had no choice but to put aside all that has never had a day in your life where
This sets the stage going into No- had happened to that point—every- you were not employed by someone,
vember and December 1940. The Presi- thing, all the problems it had with the and the next you are being told: Go to
dent had spent the last 3 years battling President, all the problems they had a website. Call this number. You need
his own party. He had seen his own with each other. Even those Americans to go get unemployment. They don’t
agenda slowed and stifled and then had who had been discriminated against know how to do it. They have never
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
to kick off his own Vice President. were willing to do that, which is a tre- done it.
After getting involved in primaries mendous testament to the contribution So I do not mean to diminish the sac-
against his own party, he loses a large they made to the effort to win that rifices that our people are already
number of seats in the House and in conflict. making. I simply mean to put it in per-
the Senate and has a coalition form In the blink of an eye, literally every spective and also to give a little bit of
against him to block him. And then aspect of American life was changed clarity as to what will be required of us
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S2040 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
to win this war because, in the end, our But it takes me back to the point I Or there is the reverse. If he would
enemy is not a nation-state. It doesn’t made originally: What is our job in have said: Boy, this is a good oppor-
wear a uniform. But it has invaded our this? tunity to use the war powers the Presi-
Nation in a way that has required us to Well, let me say that we—when I say dent has to steamroll my political op-
do things we have not been asked to do, ‘‘we,’’ those of us in government at ponents and put in place whatever I
or anything close to it, since late 1941. every level—are asking of our people to want and run them over.
So what are the lessons to be taken do some very difficult things. We are Imagine if we were saying that we
by that era in our history, by the call asking high school seniors, including need to build a lot of ships, but I am
I got today saying: Stop saying this is one who lives in my home, to be the not going to vote to build it unless you
unprecedented. first in I don’t know how many genera- are building it in my State.
The lesson to be taken is, No. 1, in tions that will not have a prom, will I don’t want to go any deeper into
moments like this, government action not have a senior trip, will not have a that because I don’t mean to say that
matters. It is important that we have a graduation. Now, I know all those some of the issues that people raise
functioning government that can ad- things may seem trivial and may pale around here are not legitimate issues.
dress problems in the space in which in comparison to World War II, but for They are, but sometimes the legit-
government must act. That is what is a 17-year-old, these are rites of passage, imacy of the issue—the importance of
being asked of us here today. and there are many high school seniors the issue—has to be weighed on a scale
What is being asked of us is not to in this country who will not get that against the gravity of the moment.
pass a perfect bill or to pass legislation this year. I would say to you: If we were dealing
that will cure the virus or to pass a law We are going to ask small businesses with permanent policy in the normal
that has everything we have ever want- and have asked them already: You need course of business or even in a moment
ed. What is being asked of us is this: to close your doors. You can’t open. of a cyclical economic downturn, we
Can you function as a government? Can You can’t work. You can’t make would have some weeks to make some
you do the most basic things that a so- money. You can’t allow customers to of these decisions. We have already
ciety needs from its elected leaders at come in. taken too long.
a moment of true crisis? Can you do We have asked people not to go to People got laid off today. People will
that? work. In fact, we have told them not to be laid off tonight—and tomorrow and
So far, for 3 days, the answer, sadly, leave their homes. Over half this coun- the day after and for days to come—
has been no. I hope the answer at the try is on an order: Don’t leave your even if we pass this bill. Imagine if we
end of this day will be different. house unless you are going to the doc- don’t.
The second thing it teaches us is that tor, the pharmacy, the gas station, or What we are facing is the toughest
you cannot confront a challenge such the grocery store. thing this generation has ever faced.
as this with just government. That war We are asking nurses and doctors to There is no doubt about it. There is no
was not just won because of political confront a virus that can infect them doubt about it. Perhaps with the excep-
leaders or our Armed Forces. It was a and their families and kill them and tion of the gentleman that called me
whole-of-society effort. Every day, their families, just like anybody else— this morning, it will be the toughest
Americans were being asked to do to do so, on double shifts, oftentimes thing we ever face in our lives. World
things they had never done before, in without the gear and the equipment to War II was worse. This virus is terrible,
places they had never been—not just to protect them. but it will not last as long or kill as
make sacrifices from what they We are asking truckdrivers to drive
many people as that war did, but it will
couldn’t have but sacrifices in what all night—also vulnerable to the virus,
kill far too many people and last far
they were asked to do affirmatively. also worried about all the other things
It will require the same of us now. I too long. It will last longer and kill
all of us are worried about—to drive all
want to tell you, there are people al- more if we don’t take action now. That
night because tomorrow those shelves
ready doing that, as we speak. The ex- requires everyone to finally wake up
need to be stocked with all the things
amples are too long to mention, but all and realize this virus does not care
that people are buying because they
over this country there are people who are afraid it is going to run out. whom you voted for in the last elec-
are doing extraordinary things—step- How can we ask that of our society if, tion. It doesn’t care what you write on
ping up, doing more than they have for 31⁄2 days, we can’t even vote on a Twitter or what snarky remarks you
ever done—because they have to. They law, we can’t even walk to the front of come up with in your commentator
know they must. this place and lift our finger up or moment on cable news. It doesn’t care
I have no doubt that if our govern- down and say yes or no? We can’t even about any of that stuff. It doesn’t care
ment leaders do their job and are will- do that—spending the taxpayers’ whom you plan to vote for in the next
ing to do their part and provide people money, on behalf of the taxpayers, in a election. It will infect you. It will kill
transparent, clear, truthful guidelines moment of critical crisis? you. It will kill people you love. It will
about what we face and what lies ahead I don’t mean to be negative, because, kill members of your family. It will
and what is expected of them, they frankly, I hope that today is the day disrupt your community and your
may not be happy and people may not we will get this solved, but there are economy. It doesn’t care about any of
be excited about it, but they will do it. still other people who have to weigh in this other stuff.
I know they will do it. They are al- here—in the House, outside commenta- It really is important for us to real-
ready doing it. tors, people still emailing and texting: ize—not just for this bill but moving
The third lesson is the awesome Can we change this? Can we change forward—that there is no such thing as
power of our country when a diverse that? an outcome here that is good for half of
population of go-getters—the most cre- I just don’t know how we can ask us and bad for the other half. There is
ative people to have ever walked the people to do all these things we need to no possible political victory here—
Earth—put aside their differences to ask them to do and, in return, tell none. There is no outcome here in
confront a threat they face in common. them, by the way, we are going to take which half of us are going to be able to
Again, that is not possible, you can’t our sweet time to do our part. And our go back and say: Boy, we really looked
ask that of a society, you can’t ask part is the easiest one. good, and we made those guys look
people to put aside their differences, to You can just imagine this. Extrapo- really bad, and people are going to re-
put aside the trivial, to put aside the late what we are facing now and take it ward us for it. They are not.
things they don’t agree on and to focus back to 1941. Imagine if, back then, I promise you, when someone has lost
on the one thing that threatens us all— people would have been saying: Boy, their job and does not know where they
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you can’t ask them to do that if you this is a great chance. This is a good are going to go, is stuck in their home
are not willing to do it yourself. And it opportunity to get back at FDR. This and their life has been turned upside
appears—at least, up to this moment— is a great opportunity now. He is in down, and a member of their family is
that we have failed to do it. I hope war. Let’s roll back the New Deal. in intensive care, and they wind up at
today is a difference in that regard. We Let’s really stick it to him for what he a hospital that has been overwhelmed
shall see. did 6 years ago with our Court thing. and can’t care for them, the last thing
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2041
on their mind is going to be partisan hours and risking their own health to negotiating table, we worked toward
politics or preexisting differences. save lives. They are performing a na- that goal. As a result, American work-
If you don’t believe it, we are about tional service. ers will receive 4 months more of un-
to find that out, unfortunately. There The numbers of infected individuals employment insurance instead of just
is no outcome here which half of us are and the rapidly rising death toll are 3.
happy and the other half are upset. staggering. If we do not follow public Because so many Americans are now
It is a cliche. We use it all the time. health experts’ advice, the tolls could out of work, we need an expanded un-
I can’t think of a better example than be truly horrifying. employment insurance plan. This plan
this one: We are truly all in this to- In New Mexico, we have over 100 di- extends unemployment to the self-em-
gether. The carnage, the damage that agnosed cases, and today the first ployed for the first time. It increases
this will do to our country is extraor- death in our State was reported. A sen- the maximum benefit by $600 per week.
dinary. It will know no geographic ior citizen from Eddy County in the Many workers will receive their full
bounds, no political affiliation, no de- southeastern part of our State passed pay under this expansion.
mographic differences. This is a virus away on Sunday. Just to give an idea of the magnitude
that can infect the heir to the Crown in All New Mexicans are facing new of this problem in my home State of
Britain just as easily as it can a 92- challenges—a threat to our health, a New Mexico, during the week of March
year-old retiree in a Florida nursing threat to our economy. My top priority 9, we had fewer than 800 claims for un-
home. is easing this hardship and making employment. This last week we had
I hope the gravity of the moment fi- sure New Mexicans have what they 11,000, and now we are receiving 7,000
nally sinks in and that we take the need to stay healthy and to stay eco- every day.
necessary actions quickly. If there is nomically afloat. Also, because Democrats stood firm,
something in this bill you really don’t With that in mind, I rise today to tell our healthcare system will see an infu-
like—I don’t mean to diminish it—if we New Mexicans: Relief is on the way: re- sion of $55 billion more into the Mar-
can fix it, we should. But at this point, lief to American workers who have shall Plan for healthcare. The total
I am going to tell you that there is been put out of work and to small busi- public healthcare investment in this
nothing wrong in this bill. There is nesses that are making impossible de- bill is now $150 billion dollars. We will
nothing in this bill that will damage cisions because of the coronavirus pan- establish a $150 billion relief fund for
our country more than our inability to demic; relief to our hospitals and front- State, local, and Tribal governments to
act. No matter how bad you think line healthcare workers facing an over- help cover costs of fighting this virus.
some provision in this bill may be—and whelmed healthcare system in the New Mexico is eligible for up to $1.25
I say this to both sides—there is noth- coming weeks and months; and relief billion from this fund.
ing in this bill that will damage us to State and local governments that And we will bring accountability and
more than doing nothing. By far, the are doing their best to take care of transparency to the relief for industry
most damaging thing that can happen their residents and maintain essential and large corporations. This relief bill
is not any provision of this legislation. services—State and local governments puts in transparency and independent
It is our inability to act and to send a are desperately in need of assistance oversight and also makes sure that
message to the American people that only the Federal Government can pro- elected politicians, including the Presi-
their leaders can’t function, that their vide; and Tribal governments to whom dent, are not the beneficiaries of this
government doesn’t work—not just on we owe trust and treaty obligations to fund.
a day-to-day basis but in a moment of provide healthcare, education, and We face a national crisis of monu-
crisis. community assistance, particularly in mental proportions, and I am heart-
I hope that whatever differences may times of need. ened that Republicans and Democrats
still exist at this moment—and I am After days of furious negotiations, I in this body joined together over the
trying to be fair because I know a lot am pleased and relieved that Demo- last several days to face this crisis to-
of people have finally seen the full text crats and Republicans were able to gether as a nation. This is what we do
of it in the last few hours—and if you reach agreement on what will be the as Americans, and I have hoped that as
have caught something that can be largest Federal relief effort in our his- we continue to face down this crisis in
fixed, it should be fixed. But I plead— tory. The times demand a response of the coming weeks and months, we will
I don’t know what other word to use— this magnitude. continue to do so in a united fashion.
that we don’t leave here tonight with- The stay-at-home orders—which, As vice chair of the Senate Indian Af-
out having passed this bill because I make no mistake, are necessary to stop fairs Committee, I have been particu-
honestly don’t know how this Nation the virus—threaten the livelihoods of larly focused on making sure that In-
and our people can afford one more day millions of working families who live dian Country is not left out and ensur-
of this. paycheck to paycheck. ing that Tribes, which are on the
I yield the floor. Millions of small businesses are in frontlines of this public health and eco-
I suggest the absence of a quorum. dire need of help. They power our econ- nomic crisis, have the resources they
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The omy but simply can’t survive during need and deserve.
clerk will call the roll. the kind of economic downturn we now Together, with my Democratic col-
The bill clerk proceeded to call the face. leagues, I fought for and secured an $8
roll. The Federal Government has the billion set-aside for Tribal govern-
Mr. UDALL. Madam President, I ask power to make sure that people can ments and their enterprises. This Trib-
unanimous consent that the order for take the public health measures that al Relief Fund will provide the 574 fed-
the quorum call be rescinded. are necessary, while also staying afloat erally recognized Indian Tribes with
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. financially. flexible resources—resources they need
BLACKBURN). Without objection, it is so We here in the Senate need to make during the COVID–19 response, and I
ordered. absolutely sure that everyone—not just am glad we found bipartisan agreement
Mr. UDALL. Madam President, today those at the top—that everyone is on this.
New Mexico and the Nation face a pan- taken care of and can weather this cri- We also secured over $2 billion in
demic, the likes of which we have not sis. emergency funding for Tribal needs,
seen in over 100 years, and today the I am strongly supportive of the small and this includes over $1 billion for the
Senate must act to pass the largest re- business relief in this bill, which in- Indian Health Service that will be used
lief package for the American people in cludes loans of up to $10 million that for everything from expanding medical
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our history. can be forgiven and turned into grants services to purchasing equipment, to
First, I would like to extend my if employees are kept on the payroll. promoting public health education, to
thoughts and prayers to everyone who This relief will go through the Small expanding telehealth services, and in-
is personally affected by this Business Administration and be avail- creasing disease surveillance, over $700
coronavirus pandemic. I thank the able to any business or nonprofit under million that will go to the Bureau of
healthcare workers for working long 500 employees. With Democrats at the Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian
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S2042 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
Education, and the HUD Office of Na- Because of the frontline healthcare know that none of us got every single
tive American Programs. These funds workers—the doctors, nurses, and tech- thing we want, just as I am sure my
will assist Tribal governments as they nicians and all those who support that Republican friends did not get every
make their way through this crisis and work, hospital janitors, cafeteria work- single thing they want. And is any bill
support their members—support BIE ers, and so many others—this public perfect, especially something of this
schools and Tribal colleges and univer- health crisis will see an end. Thank unprecedented magnitude? Of course
sities so that students continue with you to everyone who is risking their not. But we are at a point where re-
their education and provide housing for own safety to help others. Thanks to ality has to overcome rhetoric. We
those most in need who are impacted all the Senate staff who are here on the have to stand up and be the conscience
by this terrible virus. floor and the people who work here. of the Nation, as we have been in the
These are key victories, but we are In the days, weeks, and months past and we can be today. It is time for
not done. We must uphold our trust ahead, we must continue to closely Senators to come together and vote. I
and treaty responsibilities to all Amer- monitor all aspects of the impact of know that on our side, under the lead-
ican Indians and Alaska Natives. coronavirus on our Nation’s health and ership of Senator SCHUMER and others,
So Congress must do more to respond economy and continue to decisively we are ready to do that.
to the unique COVID–19-related public and aggressively respond to the needs I am the dean of the Senate. I have
health and economic crises in Indian of the American people. I am confident been here the longest. I am not going
Country. Tribes are some of the most that, in working together as one Na- to get everything I want, neither is the
vulnerable populations with the least tion and one people, we will meet and Presiding Officer, and neither is any-
robust healthcare systems. We have a beat this crisis and come out on the one here. But America will get a lot
very scary outbreak on the Navajo Na- more than it has now.
other end stronger.
tion, and I am sure that we need to To conclude, we must pass this bill Let’s do this for America. Vote on it.
weigh in and help there. without delay. This is a good com- As Americans, we should say that it is
For our next response package—and, reality time, not rhetoric time. Reality
promise, and we must act now.
believe me, we are going to have to trumps rhetoric any day. Let’s go
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
monitor this closely and in all likeli- ahead and vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
hood will be back here again—we must I commend those Senators in the Re-
clerk will call the roll.
make sure Indian Country has equal The senior assistant legislative clerk publican Party and those Senators in
access to Federal coronavirus re- the Democratic Party who have
proceeded to call the roll.
sources. Senator HEINRICH and I fought Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I ask worked so closely with each other. I
hard for New Mexico priorities. We are unanimous consent that the order for know we have in Appropriations. It is
working hard on issues that have to do time to say: OK. Let’s vote.
the quorum call be rescinded.
with our National Labs, one of our The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without With that, I suggest the absence of a
very, very top employers—in fact, objection, it is so ordered. quorum.
probably the biggest. Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
New Mexico’s creative economy can’t CRAMER). The clerk will call the roll.
Senators have been working very hard
be left behind. Sitting as the lead Dem- The senior assistant legislative clerk
to respond to the crisis that is facing
ocrat on the Appropriations Sub- proceeded to call the roll.
our whole Nation. Each one of our Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask
committee that funds the national en-
States is unique, but we also are here unanimous consent that the order for
dowments, I pushed for an additional
$75 million for both the National En- for all of America. All of America is the quorum call be rescinded.
dowment for the Arts and the National suffering. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
I know my staff in Vermont, my staff objection, it is so ordered.
Endowment for the Humanities. These
funds will support local artists and art down here, the appropriators, and the TRIBUTE TO NORMAN BORLAUG
programs through this tough economic Appropriations staff have been working Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I
time. When arts and cultural venues every day and every night till midnight know we have a very important piece
are shuttered and artists and all others or later. Nobody has had any time off. of legislation before us to turn this
are out of work, there is no doubt that I am proud to work with them, even economy around and help in our battle
these are exceedingly difficult times, though we have set up the capability to against the virus. While we are waiting
but together we can get through this. telework, as I would hope all would do, to vote on that, I have come to the
I would like to remind everyone to so we can work remotely. floor for a couple of points that I would
follow the public health measures rec- Earlier this week, we were faced with like to make.
ommended by the experts. Staying at the prospect of a bill that was very The first one is to honor a famous
home is the best thing we can do to one-sided. Republicans and Democrats Iowan. This month is Iowa History
slow the spread of this virus and ensure had not done what we do best, sitting Month, so I have come to the floor to
our healthcare systems are not over- down and reaching a bipartisan agree- speak about one of Iowa’s favorite
run. These measures are a firebreak ment. We were given almost a take-it- sons, Dr. Norman Borlaug, whose birth-
that cuts off the fuel for this virus and or-leave-it bill. I applaud Senator day is today.
prevents a catastrophe that overruns SCHUMER who said we should come He is considered the father of the
our hospitals. Social distance, washing back together. Let’s not pass a bill Green Revolution. Raised on a farm
your hands for 20 seconds—we all have that leaves out so much of America near Cresco, IA, Borlaug is credited
an important part to play in con- and so many of the people we rep- with saving more lives than anyone in
taining COVID–19, keeping ourselves resent. Let us come together, Repub- history with his breakthroughs in
and our neighbors and our commu- licans and Democrats, and find a way. agronomy. It took him several years to
nities safe. Now, late last night—actually it was accomplish what a lot of scientists do
The State of New Mexico is under a close to this morning—agreement was now in a laboratory in regard to fight-
stay-at-home order. I commend Gov- reached, in principle, on such a bill. ing diseases in plants. He did this in
ernor Lujan Grisham for the quick and The appropriators do only part of it, Mexico and India.
decisive action that she has taken. She but Senator SHELBY and I tried to work His work helped to overcome mal-
is focusing on this like a laser beam. I together to have something the vast nutrition and famine across the world,
know these measures are difficult and majority of the Appropriations Com- saving over 1 billion lives in the proc-
a hardship for many, but we will only mittee, Republicans and Democrats, ess.
be able to revive our economy once this would agree on, and we did that, and His achievements won him the Nobel
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public health crisis is abated. If we just that is what we have before us. Peace Prize—not only that famous
let the virus run its course, we could Both parties have worked so hard to prize but also the Presidential Medal of
lose over 1 million people. Some esti- put together something we can all Freedom and the Congressional Gold
mates are 2 million—1 to 2 million peo- agree on. We should be able to vote. I Medal. I think there are only five or six
ple. That would be totally unaccept- agree with the discussions that Sen- people who fall into the category of
able and devastating. ator SCHUMER had this morning. We all winning all three of those prizes.
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2043
His achievements also prompted the taken phone calls for whatever reason have heard from nurses and doctors, I
State of Iowa to honor him with one of from the folks from Delaware, they know the level of alarm and concern
Iowa’s two statues in Statuary Hall have all asked: When will the Senate has steadily risen in recent days.
here in the U.S. Capitol. act? So, folks, tonight, as I stand here on
CORONAVIRUS We have faced a challenge over the the floor of the Senate, I am mindful
Mr. President, on another subject, last couple of days between our moving that our Nation is suffering; that there
some pundits, and even Members of swiftly and our moving wisely in put- are people all over the world but par-
this body, have suggested that it is in- ting together a package of this size. ticularly here in the United States, in
appropriate to criticize the Chinese With no hearings, no committee pro- the States that we represent, who are
Communist Party for its mishandling ceedings, and no detailed legislative anxious, who are unemployed, who are
of the coronavirus that originated in process, it means that there will be uncertain, in some cases now, too
Wuhan, China, because it distracts rough edges, and it means there will be many who are infected, who are hos-
from bashing the President. We went mistakes in this bill. Is it perfect? No. pitalized.
from mainstream media outlets rou- In fact, some of its pieces, as we will It has come home to this Chamber, as
tinely referring to the virus by its ori- discover as it unfolds, are far from it. one of our colleagues has tested posi-
But across the country, just as in tive and one of our dear colleague’s
gin to this being totally politically in-
this Chamber, there is that sense of husband, her spouse, is hospitalized.
correct.
anxiousness, of anxiety, of when will it We know Members of the House and
There is an excellent timetable pub-
happen. the Senate, of our staff, and our imme-
lished by Axios that lays out the Chi-
Just a few weeks ago, the vast major- diate community have been touched by
nese coverup that prevented early ac-
ity of our country was reading about this dread disease.
tion to contain the virus. The Chinese And we are now at a critical moment
pro-democracy activist, Wei Jingsheng, coronavirus—about COVID–19—as
something happening in distant coun- in our modern history—simultaneously
warned that General Secretary Xi is a public health crisis and an economic
ordering people back to work pre- tries on far shores. They read about
sort of concerns about its alarming and crisis.
maturely, risking another massive out- I have heard too many people say it
break of what he called Wuhan pneu- rapid growth in Asia and then Europe.
is unprecedented. It is not unprece-
monia. Things started changing as the sto-
dented. The United States and our Na-
Telling the truth about the Com- ries got more dire and more grave, as
tion have made it through tougher
munist Party’s misdeeds does not pre- public health officials began to predict
times than this. To say that the Great
clude talking about how we can im- a global pandemic, as the World Health
Depression and the Second World War,
prove our own response. We can learn Organization announced it is a global
the Civil War, and the Revolution, the
from free countries like South Korea, pandemic, as scientific leaders began
hard work of labor organizing, and the
which has been able to contain a wide- to say that the United States would in-
desperate work of throwing off the
spread outbreak, and Taiwan and evitably be touched by it, as our col-
shackles of segregation and of Jim
Japan, which appear to have been able leagues from the Pacific Northwest
Crow—to say that those weren’t tough
to prevent widespread outbreaks. told us about how their communities and difficult struggles misses the sig-
So this is not the time for political were being affected, as extended con- nificance of our history and the things
correctness or political point-scoring tacts and friends and acquaintances on we have overcome.
to get in the way of telling the truth or social media and then on the press But for most of us, for most of our
working together in a clear-eyed way shared how they are or members of families, for most of our communities,
to address the challenges at hand. their community had become infected. this wave, this pandemic, this virus,
I yield the floor. As it began to move across our coun- and the combined health and economic
I suggest the absence of a quorum. try, it began to impact a remarkable disaster that is upon us may be the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The range of institutions, from baseball to greatest test we have faced.
clerk will call the roll. Broadway, the closures of all sorts of So how have we answered thousands
The senior assistant legislative clerk treasured American institutions— of businesses already closed, millions
proceeded to call the roll. every major sports league, every major of people already unemployed, and a
Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I ask public gathering. nation fearful of a pandemic swamping
unanimous consent that the order for And as now State after State has the resources of our hospitals and our
the quorum call be rescinded. issued edicts, as city and county alike health system?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without all over our country have asked people Let me just speak briefly in broad
objection, it is so ordered. to close their restaurants and their strokes to what is in this bill, which we
Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I came to bars, their small businesses, as hotels have, finally, ultimately, hammered
this building, this Capitol, about 12 have no occupants, as airplanes fly out after days of disagreement and in
hours ago today and, first thing this with no passengers, it has become advance of our getting the final official
morning, recorded a video to share on haunting, eerie—the sense of an immi- text.
social media with the folks back home, nent disaster. In the broadest strokes, the help that
who have been eagerly asking: What is Just before coming over here I read will be delivered to the American peo-
up? What is happening? What is next? an article in the New York Times ple by this bill starts with individual
My message has been simple. about how in my region, in the mid-At- assistance—something the President
After days of disagreement—of tus- lantic, it has hit. In the borough of has championed and the Democrats
sling and of fighting and of crafting— Queens, in the city of New York, in a have supported. We have had different
we have a deal, and I am ready to vote. public hospital known as Elmhurst, versions of it, but we have roughly
Let’s move forward. Twelve hours yesterday, 13 patients died, and in a agreed on $1,200 to every adult citizen
later, I stand in a largely empty Cham- riveting account, the nurses and the making below $75,000, and it phases out
ber and have an odd sense of fore- doctors describe a catastrophic situa- to those making below $100,000. With
boding, as I have all day and as have tion. $500 per child, your average family
many of my colleagues, wondering: Public health officials, trained might well see $3,000 to $4,000. These
What is taking so long? What is the health aids stretched to their limits, checks will come out in weeks, deliv-
delay? What are the remaining issues? tested as they hadn’t been before, ered directly, for those with direct de-
I am hopeful, prayerfully, that we will struggling to get personal protective posit through the IRS, or by check to
resolve what is left, move to this equipment, to have enough ventilators, those harder to find who haven’t filed
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Chamber, take up the text, vote it out, to have enough ICU units—and I will recently but are eligible.
send it to the House, send it to the tell you, as, over the last couple of This is a remarkable, direct support
President, and send $2 trillion in sup- days, I have talked with the heads of to help millions of Americans have
port to our Nation. each of our major hospitals, folks who cash in their family checkbook to get
Let me tell you, as I have waited run skilled nursing facilities, non- through the unexpected hardship of
today and yesterday and as I have profits, community health centers, as I these next few months.
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S2044 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
There is more than $100 billion in As I have heard from restaurant own- back to insist on this provision in the
this bill to support our health workers ers, from hotel owners, from those who next bill.
on the frontline and the hospitals that work in bars and restaurants and ho- But as I have said to many colleagues
make our public health possible—pos- tels in my community, those are the in the last few days, we cannot all get
sible. folks who have been hit the first and everything we hope for and want and
You heard that story about Elmhurst the hardest by the closures. This provi- believe to be important in this bill. We
Hospital. In my own home State, there sion will allow those small businesses must put down the tools of partisan-
are hospitals rural and urban, large to reopen quickly and robustly when ship and personal interest and sec-
and small, that without this support we get on the other side of this pan- tional concerns; we must put down
will struggle to make it through this demic. some of the things we most hope for;
period. And I look forward to working with we must put down the tools with which
The heroes of this period are the my colleagues, with the SBA Adminis- we so often fight each other; and we
folks who are working—the folks who trator, with the SBA lenders in my must come together and take up the
are cleaning offices, trains, hospital State and around the country to make implements of national purpose, of
rooms, often without enough protec- sure it is done well and that it is done compromise, of consensus, and deliver
tive equipment, often without quickly. these resources to a nation anxious,
healthcare themselves, often without I wrote the bill that added $17 billion concerned, and at times even angry at
adequate pay; the folks who labor at more so that 320,000 current small busi- all of us in the Senate for what they
night here in this Capitol in our offices nesses, which are current SBA see as too long a delay.
to make sure they are clean and safe loanholders, get 6 months of relief, So with that, let me just say to my
from this virus we can’t see; the folks moves them off the agenda of the SBA colleagues, it is time for us to take up
who work in public hospitals, work staff and the SBA lenders to clear the this bill, rough-hewn as it is, pass it
long hours. They are orderlies, they are decks for them to administer this $350 through this Chamber, send it to the
nurses. They are the paramedics and billion. House. I urge my colleagues in the
the ambulance drivers who deliver the And I supported Senator CARDIN in House to pass it promptly, send to it
sick, and they are the surgeons and the his initiative to add $10 billion for the President’s desk for signature, and
doctors who direct their care. small, rapid grants to the most se- then let us all get to the hard work of
And one of the things I am proudest verely impacted businesses and non- making sure we do the best we can for
of that is in this now that was not in profits. the people we represent with this his-
this several days ago is $150 billion to This section of the overall bill, where toric stimulus package, this remark-
States and counties and cities. Senators RUBIO and COLLINS, CARDIN able coronavirus relief package that is
In the 10 years I spent in county gov- going to deliver $2 trillion of assistance
and SHAHEEN negotiated most of it,
ernment, I came to deeply respect the and support to communities all over
struck me as the most bipartisan and
men and women who help keep our our country.
most productive.
county government afloat and our I yield the floor.
There is so much more in this bill I
communities stronger, safer, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
could speak to—the ways in which the
healthy. This direct support to the ator from Nevada.
resources of the Federal Reserve are Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President,
States and the counties on the
going to be deployed to help medium I rise today to let all Nevadans know
frontlines of this pandemic will help
businesses and small businesses; the the important steps Congress is taking
them get through.
There is a $500 billion fund—the sub- ways in which the private sector in my to respond to the pandemic we are fac-
ject of much discussion and debate— home State has stepped up to partner ing right now.
that, as initially written and proposed, and to deliver critically needed re- The novel coronavirus represents a
would help sustain some of our iconic sources, whether it is refurbishing ven- global challenge to the health and eco-
industries like the airlines, but with tilators or donating surplus PPE from nomic security of Nevada and the
almost no transparency, in terms of the construction sector that they don’t United States.
the terms of the loans or the grants need today, or it is the university that My thoughts today are with those in
that would be given, and almost no re- has closed its research labs but makes Nevada who are ill or suffering with
strictions on how the companies to re- its resources available to our hospital. the virus, and with the families of the
ceive them might use them, for what There are some remarkable efforts in six Nevadans who have died because of
purposes. partnership going on in my community this disease.
Broadly speaking, after days of fight- and around the country. But at the end I also want to thank the brave men
ing, we have come to agreements that of the day, we have a critical question: and women on the frontlines of this
I support and embrace—restrictions on Is this bill perfect? No. crisis—the first responders and
buybacks and dividends and executive Could we improve it by more time healthcare workers who are battling to
compensation, guarantees against lay- here arguing with each other, offering save lives, putting their own health
offs and against the destruction of col- more minutes, debating further? Yes. and the health of their families at risk.
lective bargaining agreements, and, Is there something I badly wanted I know there is a lot of fear and con-
broadly speaking, transparency and ac- that did not get in this final bill? Abso- fusion in our communities right now.
countability. lutely. Please know this, though: I am work-
One of the things I am most proud of We have had nine major States delay ing closely with Governor Sisolak and
is that there will be now an account- their elections, delay their Presi- the Nevada delegation to ensure that
ability board, a pandemic response ac- dential primaries because of this pan- our State gets the resources it needs to
countability committee—both an in- demic, and I urged that a bill written stem the spread of the coronavirus, to
spector general, a special inspector by my colleagues Senator KLOBUCHAR treat those who need medical atten-
general, and $80 million in this bill for and Senator WYDEN, that I joined, be tion, and address the needs of strug-
the operation of that accountability added in text to require every State to gling families and businesses.
committee. have a plan to vote by mail during this I also know that we are Nevada
Let me move, since I see I have a pandemic. If our troops could vote from strong. I have seen over and over again
number of colleagues who have joined the frontlines in the Civil War and Sec- that when things get difficult, Nevad-
me on the floor, to just a few other ond World War, by gosh, we should ans come together. When a gunman at-
points, if I could. have a plan to vote even if this pan- tacked the Route 91 Harvest Festival
There is $350 billion in this bill for demic continues. in Las Vegas, I saw how Nevadans from
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
the Small Business Administration to I was disappointed that text is ulti- all over the State worked heroically to
disburse to small businesses and to mately not going to be in this bill. help victims and support families.
nonprofits all over our country, with Four hundred million dollars will be in Nevadans are uniting now too. I am
an incentive structure to change it to help those States that want to vote proud to say that across the Silver
from a loan to a grant to those who by mail, to expand and strengthen vote State, people are doing their part to re-
would retain or rehire their workforce. by mail, and I will be back. I will be duce the impact of COVID–19.
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2045
Our Governor, Steve Sisolak, has 450,000 jobs across the State. So I have and understanding of what we are all
shown tremendous leadership in work- been focused on standing up for our going through. But let’s not lose sight
ing to slow the spread of the gaming, tourism, and hospitality work- of the beauty of our everyday lives,
coronavirus. As Governor Sisolak has ers. I also wanted to make sure that that familiar rhythm we are all eager
pointed out, if ‘‘Home Means Nevada,’’ when we offered relief to big compa- to restore. In Nevada and across the
we need everyone who can to ‘‘stay nies, there was oversight, trans- country, we will be back at our work-
home for Nevada.’’ parency, accountability, and worker places again, solving our everyday
Our nurses, doctors, and other health protections in place. This bill does problems. Our children will be back at
officials are working tirelessly to care that. school learning for themselves how to
for the sick and to increase our capac- I am grateful to the many small busi- make the world a better place. Yes, we
ity to deal with the cases in the future. nesses in my State that have taken the will begin the long task of grieving
First responders, local health authori- hard but necessary action and closed those we have lost, but we will also be
ties, sanitation workers, and retail their doors or reduced their services at celebrating marriages again and mark-
workers are on the job around the this critical time. This bill supports ing births with a newfound joy.
clock to make sure essential services them as well by providing forgivable We will get through this together,
are available to Nevadans. Our gaming, loans and grants so they can open their and I promise everyone in the Silver
entertainment, and hospitality indus- doors again as soon as it is safe for State that I will be fighting in the Sen-
try leaders took unprecedented steps to them to do so. ate to make sure we rebound from this
stop the spread of infection, including Most of all, I wanted to make sure we stronger than before so that Nevadans
by closing their doors. supported Nevada’s workers and their can get back to work.
So many Nevadans are contributing families, the hard-working people our I yield the floor.
by working from home when they can, industries employ. That is why I The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
caring for school-aged children, volun- worked with my colleagues to ensure ator from South Carolina.
key protections for Nevadans and all Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I want
teering to help make masks or buy gro-
Americans were included in this relief to compliment my colleagues Senators
ceries for elderly neighbors, and avoid-
package. We fought to expand unem- RICK SCOTT, TIM SCOTT, and Senator
ing social interactions that could
ployment assistance so it includes SASSE.
spread the virus. Today, when we were getting briefed
Everyone—every single Nevadan and part-time, self-employed, and seasonal
and gig economy workers, who make about the bill, something hit me like a
each and every American—has a role to
up a key part of our workforce in the ton of bricks. And there are a lot of
play in this crisis. We need everyone to good things in here. There is money for
do their part by following the advice of Silver State.
Whether you are a dishwasher at a healthcare providers, nurses, doctors,
the experts and taking practical, com- and hospitals. There are so many good
monsense steps such as washing hands hotel on the Strip or a hair stylist in
Carson City, you will be eligible for up things.
and practicing social distancing. The country is under siege. I was one
My colleagues and I in Congress have to 4 months of unemployment benefits.
Yes, we locked down direct payments of the first Republicans to join my
done our part as well. The Senate has Democratic colleagues. I think I talked
come together in a remarkable and bi- of $1,200 for each adult and $500 for
each child, up to a certain income to Senator DURBIN.
partisan fashion to act on three bills to We need to do something more on un-
address key healthcare priorities and level, so our hard-working families
would have money in their pockets to employment insurance because the
to protect workers and industry from Collins-Rubio construct, I think, will
recover from this pandemic. We suc-
the economic impacts of the public help, but some people are going to fall
cessfully pushed to shore up our hos-
health crisis. through the cracks.
Earlier in March, we set aside $8.3 pitals and our healthcare infrastruc-
ture, to get them more money for pro- Never in my wildest dreams, Senator
billion to support hospitals, commu- DURBIN, did I believe that what we have
tective gear, supplies, and tests so they
nity health centers, public health of- done is to pay people more not to work
can provide patients the best possible
fices, medical suppliers, and research- than to work. Under this bill, the $600
care, while at the same time protecting
ers across the country. payment on top of State benefits actu-
themselves.
Next, we passed the bipartisan Fami- ally allows people to have their income
We made sure that we also included
lies First Coronavirus Response Act to almost doubled in certain cir-
our local, State, and Tribal commu-
provide free coronavirus testing, ex- nities. We set aside $150 billion for our cumstances. I want to help people. I
pand food assistance, and mandate paid governments that are bearing the want to make sure that if you lose
sick and family leave for workers. brunt of the costs for their local your job, we cover your wages. But
I am proud to have fought alongside under this bill, you get $23.15 an hour
healthcare systems.
my colleagues in the Nevada congres- That is why I support this legisla- based on a 40-hour workweek not to
sional delegation, including my friend tion, and that is why we have to pass work.
and colleague Senator JACKY ROSEN, to this tonight. If you are trying to hire somebody in
pass today’s third relief bill. We must I would be remiss if I did not say South Carolina the next 4 months, you
pass this today. It is quite simply the thank you to the incredible staff who have got to compete with that wage. If
greatest single investment in our econ- worked so hard these past few days, 24/ you are working in a restaurant—prob-
omy and healthcare system in modern 7, to put this relief package together in ably not now—but if you are working
American history, and we need it. a bipartisan way—Leader SCHUMER’s anywhere for $15 an hour, somebody is
In 2007, our State was hit hard by the staff and Leader SCHUMER, the negoti- making $23 an hour, and you are work-
recession. Through tremendous effort, ating team, the Senators whom I get to ing. It is just not fair. It is going to
we came through it, but our economic work with every single day, their hard- hurt the Rubio-Collins construct.
recovery was slow. This time, we want working staffs, and my staff as well, For restaurants that are out of busi-
to make sure that our economy springs who worked late nights to make sure ness, we want them to be able to bor-
back quickly after this crisis has that we were fighting on behalf of Ne- row money to pay the payroll to keep
passed and that workers have good jobs vadans. people connected to their employer.
to return to when it does. That is why I know this is a difficult time for ev- Now, what do you do when you make
we need to pass these far-reaching eryone, but we are going to get through $23 an hour being on unemployment?
measures to provide immediate relief this just as we persevered before. We How do you keep that waitress or bar-
to individuals, families, and businesses will do it by rallying around one an- tender at $15 or $17? You made it a
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
suffering from the economic impact of other, as Nevadans always do. There nightmare for small businesses. They
this pandemic. will be moments of challenge ahead, are being pitted against their own em-
Nevada has an economy that is and each of us has a responsibility to ployees.
unique in the Nation. Our hospitality answer these questions. So to Senator DURBIN and everybody
industry generates nearly $68 billion Let’s listen to the experts, let’s take else, the reason we are doing this is be-
annually and supports more than care of one another, and let’s be kind cause they tell me it takes 6 to 8
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S2046 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
months for unemployment commis- trum, I have run businesses, small and simultaneously, affirming the ongoing
sions at the State level to figure this large, and had great success. That is dignity of work and the necessity of
out. exactly how I know these things. This work as our country battles through
What are we asking you to do? To get is not conjecture; these are facts. this virus and ultimately rebuilds our
unemployment, you have to tell us There are many good things in this economy.
where you work and how much you bill, and there are many provisions Nobody here is arguing about wheth-
make. And what we want to do is fill in that I wholeheartedly disagree with, er we should help workers. Everybody
the difference between the State unem- but the worst thing we can do right on both sides of the aisle tonight wants
ployment benefit and your actual now is to create a disincentive to work. to help workers. This is a debate about
wages and stop there. We don’t do that We can get our economy up and run- whether we are going to let a poorly
under this bill. There are people get- ning again, we can recover from this, drafted bill knock this Nation still
ting paid more not to work than they but it will take a lot longer if we don’t harder in the coming months by unin-
were in the workforce. It is going to be amend this bill to eliminate these per- tentionally increasing unemployment.
hard to not incentivize people to leave verse incentives. That is what this debate is about.
their jobs. You can be unemployed at The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Right now, as the coronavirus is
$23 an hour in South Carolina. That is ator from South Carolina. threatening our economy, we know
a lot more than people make. Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. who the real heroes are. The real he-
So I am urging my colleagues, we President, let me be abundantly clear. roes are not politicians. There are a lot
need to fix this now. No matter how I plan to support this legislation to- of people who have been working all
well-intentioned, you are going to night, but I do want to fix it first. night, five or six nights in a row, but
make the next 4 months impossible for Our amendment is a very simple the heroes who are going to beat this
small businesses to hire. I can promise amendment. First, it is our responsi- virus and rebuild America are not poli-
you this: If you pay somebody $23 an bility to every extent possible to take ticians.
hour not to work, they are probably care of the American people. I want to The heroes are the men and women
going to find a way to get there rather provide 100 percent of the salary while who are stocking shelves, the men and
than staying in the workforce, where I an American is laid off because of women who are picking up trash, the
am sure they would rather be. We have COVID–19—100 percent of the salary of men and women who are driving trucks
created a perverse incentive not to help someone laid off because of COVID–19. and delivering takeout, many of them
the unemployed person but to destroy My goal is to do it the right way. The converting restaurants, which used to
the ability to stay employed. right way is that you get your income be sit-down, into takeout restaurants
With that, I would just say to my as if you are still working because you and putting food on the table for a lot
colleagues, thank you for trying to have been laid off because of COVID–19. of their neighbors. The Americans who
bring common sense back to this body. It is not a raise for not working. It is are keeping the pharmacies open—they
I am very much for this bill that does not 200 percent of your income while on are the heroes. The daycare workers
help a lot of people. But we have cre- unemployment. The goal is simply to who are doing stuff to watch other ER
ated a Pandora’s box for our economy, keep you whole while you are unem- doctors’ kids—those are the heroes.
and I wish we could fix it tonight, and ployed because of COVID–19. The heroes are the Americans across
if we don’t, we need to keep trying and I cannot stress enough, as a former all 50 States, across every town and vil-
trying and trying. employer, and, frankly, as a former lage and suburb and city, who are
With that, I will yield to my col- employee, the relationship between the doing the work, the ordinary jobs but,
leagues. employer and the employee is critical. now, under extraordinarily painful and
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Our Nation is built on the dignity of difficult circumstances. They are the
GARDNER). The Senator from Florida. work. heroes, the scrappers, and the doers.
Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, What this bill does, without fixing it, We should be celebrating them, affirm-
under this bill as it is written now, the is simply say: You can earn more ing them, and helping them, once we
government will pay many Americans money by being on unemployment than get through this crisis, to get back to
more to be on government assistance you can while working. That isn’t an work.
than they would make if they were incentive. That is perverse. We cannot This bill has lots and lots of good
working at their regular jobs. have intended to encourage people not stuff in it. I intend to support it, as
I support expanding the unemploy- to work and make more money than to well, but there are pieces of this bill
ment insurance program. It is the best go back to work and receive their nor- that are broken and that we can fix to-
and quickest way to get money to peo- mal pay. night. If we don’t fix them tonight, it
ple who need it most. But we should With that, I yield the floor. is going to exacerbate our problems,
not create a system where unemploy- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- and we will be coming back here in a
ment insurance benefits are higher ator from Nebraska. month or 2 months, trying to fix these
than their salary. We cannot pay peo- Mr. SASSE. Mr. President, as Sen- problems.
ple more to not work than to work. ator TIM SCOTT just said and as RICK These are the Americans who are
This is common sense. Most people will SCOTT and LINDSEY GRAHAM just said, going to get us through. They are the
choose the bigger check, and I don’t this amendment is really, really sim- people who are going to keep our sup-
blame them at all. ple. All we are trying to say is that we ply chains alive, and those supply
No person who understands anything should help everyone who needs to be chains are the lifeline for lots of Amer-
about business, economics, or human helped without accidentally creating a icans right now.
nature would create such a perverse disincentive to work. That is not good Here is what is wrong with the bill.
and ridiculous system. This bill creates for anybody in the country or the As it is currently drafted, it threatens
an incentive for people to be unem- country as a whole. to cripple the supply chain for many
ployed for the next 4 months—fact. We are in the middle of two unprece- different categories of workers—some
Without workers, our economy cannot dented crises right now. We have a pub- in health sectors and some in food prep
reopen—fact. If our economy remains lic health crisis, and we have an eco- and food delivery. This bill, as cur-
essentially closed for 4 more months, nomic crisis into which we are just en- rently drafted, creates a perverse in-
we will be in a very deep recession— tering. We don’t know how long the centive for men and women who are
fact. valley of this recession is going to be, sidelined to then not leave the side-
You may ask, how do I know all this? but I want to be sure that every Amer- lines to come back to work. This bill
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I grew up poor, in public housing. My ican who is watching tonight under- creates a perverse incentive for many
mom worked three jobs. My parents stands exactly what this debate has employers who should be wanting to
were constantly struggling to find been about this afternoon. try to maintain the employer-em-
work. I know what it is like to skip This debate is how you can be both ployee relationship—it creates a per-
Christmas and see the family car repos- pro-worker and pro-recovery, to be verse incentive for them to sever that
sessed. On the other end of the spec- kind and charitable, and actually also, employer-employee relationship.
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2047
Many other pieces of this bill tried to ber of people who have lost their jobs— and say that I feel bad about that. I
tackle this problem in a really con- laid off, furloughed, fired—is growing don’t feel bad about that at all. When
structive way. The $350 billion for the in a fashion we have never seen before. less than half of the people in America
Small Business Administration—it is I have seen it reported in my State. I have $400 in their savings, the notion
trying to build bridge loan programs am sure each of you have seen the that we might end up giving people an-
that help employers and employees be same. other $1,000 or $2,000 at the end of 4
connected and remain connected But let’s get down to the bottom months, to me, is not something we
through this downturn. The unemploy- line. I ask my colleagues just to bear ought to be ashamed of or run away
ment insurance piece of this should not with me for a minute. What you were from. That is a real possibility, and it
work at cross purposes to what the bill describing is what we initially set out may happen.
is about in the overall argument. to do. And then we met with the rep- I will support that just as I supported
Nobody has a problem with the gen- resentatives of the U.S. Department of the Trump administration’s cash pay-
erous unemployment benefits that are Labor. I was on one of the task forces ment to that same family. They are
in this bill. Nobody has a problem with for the Senate Finance Committee, and going through some tough times, and
the generous unemployment insurance I sat there as a representative from the they have for a long, long time. How
benefits that are in this bill. They U.S. Department of Labor came in and many of us have given speeches on this
should be generous amid the national said: Senators, you don’t understand 50 floor about income inequality in Amer-
crisis we are in. But we don’t want this different States’ computer systems ica, and some of the hardest working
piece of the bill to create an incentive when it comes to unemployment bene- people are still unable to make it, pay-
for folks to stop working and to have fits. We can tell you point-blank that check to paycheck, week to week?
their employers push them away when only 6 or 8 States out of the 50 could So let’s give them a helping hand and
the employer and employee should be possibly do what you want to achieve. not apologize for it for a minute. We
trying to rally around and together to They tell us it will take them are standing with these workers and
help us build through this crisis. months to reprogram their computers their families, and I think you want to
So we want to do something really to make the simple calculation—what as well. But the way you want to cal-
simple. We want to fix what is broken appears to be a simple calculation— culate it, we are told, cannot be done.
here by saying that unemployment in- that says that you never get paid more It cannot be done in a fashion that
surance benefits should be capped at in unemployment than you were mak- brings relief to these families when
100 percent of the pay you had before ing on the job. That was the reality. they need it right now.
you were unemployed. This isn’t just We didn’t make that up. This wasn’t a Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Will
about people who have already been Democratic, dreamed-up idea. This was the Senator yield?
made unemployed. This is about people the Trump administration’s Depart- Mr. DURBIN. I will in just a minute.
who are going to be made unemployed ment of Labor telling us that when I am happy to yield as soon as I finish.
in the coming weeks. they looked at the State departments I want to make this point as clearly
All this amendment says—which we of labor, they couldn’t achieve what as I can. I believe that this is not a
are voting on in a few minutes—is that you want to achieve with your amend- windfall. Let’s assume that instead of
we should cap the unemployment bene- ment. $600 a week, your calculation makes it
fits at 100 percent of the wages you In other words, if you go forward and $450 a week. So $150 times 16 weeks—
were just receiving while working. It you are successful—I don’t believe you that is 4 months. How much is that
should not be something the U.S. Con- will be—but if you were successful, going to come out to? $2,400? Is that
gress does to create an incentive where what we would end up with is, frankly, going to mean that someone now be-
you will get paid more by not working a deadlock: no increases in unemploy- comes lazy and won’t go back to work?
than you get by working. That is pro- ment insurance benefits. I don’t think so. I think a lot of people
recovery legislation that tries to keep Now, let me tell you, beyond this ad- will use that money and need that
our supply chains humming and tries ministrative problem, which was not money and are given a helping hand
to help us—325 million Americans— our creation—it was identified by the and will put it right back in the econ-
come together to beat this thing. Trump administration—there are two omy. That is what this is about—that
We should vote for workers. We or three things I want to say as a bot- these families can keep their homes,
should vote for recovery, and we should tom line. pay their utility bills, put food on the
vote to beat this thing and come out First, we are determined to make table, and put the money back into the
stronger on the other side. sure that the workers come out at economy. That is part of what we are
I yield the floor. least whole, if not better, through this trying to achieve here.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- terrible experience they are going If we err on the side of giving a hard-
ator from Illinois. through. Now, this notion that the working family an extra $1,000 or $2,000
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would workers would come out better is not because of our approach, so be it. No
like to address this issue because I unique to the Democratic side of the apologies. We didn’t design this sys-
think it is important that we explain aisle. The cash payment proposed by tem. We were told we had to work
where we are today and why we the Trump administration—$1,200 per within the design of the system. We
reached this point. adult, $500 per child—for some, will be tried to do it. We think the $600 a week
I can recall when Senator GRAHAM a benefit, may even be a small but im- is a reasonable way to do it, and I will
crossed the aisle a week or so ago, per- portant windfall that comes their way. yield for a question.
haps, and started talking about unem- So be it. That working families across Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I
ployment insurance and his goals for America would end up with this cash thank the Senator. The $600 a week, I
unemployment insurance. It sounded payment from the Trump administra- think, if I do the math quickly, times
consistent with the language and con- tion—I don’t object to it at all. 16, is about $9,600. Add on top of that
versation I heard on our own side of But the Democrats have said that is the additional $1,200 per person, or
the aisle, our own caucus, to use the one and done. That is an airdrop of $2,400 per family, and $500 per kid is an
unemployment insurance system as a cash to people. What about the next important number that we should—I
way to make sure that people were able week and the next month? That is why think you have hit on the point that
to really weather the storm when it we brought up the unemployment in- we should all be willing to agree upon
came to the public health crisis we surance. Now, the $600 figure we came that the systems of unemployment
face. up with was an attempt to make sure throughout our country, perhaps, are
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The number of people who are filing that everyone is whole at the end of working on antiquated equipment that
for unemployment has gone up dra- the day. I will concede your point that may need to be updated so that we can,
matically. There were 2 million new some workers—some—may end up com- in fact, keep people whole during their
unemployment claims filed last week, ing out ahead because of this calcula- unemployment. I would love for us to
compared to 218,000 nationwide in pre- tion of $600 a week. They may come out work in a bipartisan fashion to try to
vious weeks. So we know that the num- ahead. I am not going to stand here figure out, through the Department of
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S2048 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
Labor, how to fix the problem so that come down here and have a disagree- nois explaining his position. It seems
those folks who deserve the benefits ment, as much as it is to illuminate a to me that from where he started, he
get all that they deserve but that we very important part of the process should actually be supporting the
actually have a system that is nimble that, if we can get it fixed throughout amendment, and then we should figure
enough to actually meet the needs, our country as we tackle these issues out what we need to do to push on the
State by State, without exceeding the in the future, more folks on both sides Department of Labor to actually mod-
need so that when we are in a position of the aisle will have greater con- ernize their systems.
again, if we are looking at phase 4 or fidence in giving these resources to the But I just want to say in public
phase 5, we are not again having a con- States so that our people can be whole. something that has been negotiated for
versation about systems that are so an- That is all I wanted to say. the last 8 or 9 hours—and we haven’t
tiquated or perhaps even obsolete that Mr. DURBIN. There is no disagree- been able to get conversation partners,
we are doing something that was not ment. I say to my friend from South really, on that side of the aisle—which
intended. Carolina, there is no disagreement, but is that you are absolutely right that
I am not suggesting we can get that the U.S. Department of Labor says we the Department of Labor says that
done tonight. I am not even suggesting cannot do that at this moment. And at there are massive system problems in
we can get that done over the next few this moment, when people are hurting the States. So given that we are enter-
months. I am, however, concluding so badly, when they have lost their ing a recession at this moment, we are
that we should work to get it done. jobs, been furloughed, laid off, and they going to have lots and lots of needy
Mr. DURBIN. I don’t disagree with are worried about paying their bills, Americans, and the calls on the State
my friend from South Carolina at all. I departments for unemployment insur-
the Trump administration says we are
agree with you completely. We are in ance benefits are substantial right
going to send them a cash payment.
now. So I would just say, taking you in
the midst of a national emergency. We say—and I hope it is a bipartisan
good faith that you would like to up-
Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Abso- statement: We are with you too. It
grade these systems so that we could
lutely. isn’t going to end with that one cash
do this thing, which doesn’t acciden-
Mr. DURBIN. That is not my an- payment. We are going to stick with
tally stimulate unemployment by
nouncement. That is the announce- you and make sure your unemploy- disincentivizing work, I have been try-
ment of President Trump. I believe it. ment insurance benefits are going to ing all afternoon to get people on that
When you look at all the people now keep you and your family together. side of the aisle to say: Hey, maybe we
filing for unemployment, when you And if, by chance, you come out a little can’t get this solved by day one of the
look at the hardships they are facing, bit ahead in this process with the cash new unemployment insurance benefits,
the lifestyles they have had to live to payment or with the calculation of this but by week 8 or 9, maybe we should
try to comply with shelter-in-place and formula, so be it. So be it. have been able to get to a place where
all the rules that are going on out At this moment in history, facing the Department of Labor had the re-
there, the number of people filing these this national emergency, we would sources to help these departments of
unemployment insurance claims, they rather err on the side of your being unemployment insurance deal with
tell us the reality of the situation. able to pay your bills and keep your this.
The notion, as you said, $9,600 times family together. Future needs, we can So I will follow up with you offline
three—three times 4 months basically discuss and we can debate. We can see because I would like to work with you
comes out to about $30,000 a year, what we can do with the State systems. on trying to upgrade these systems.
roughly. That is what the $600 is cal- But for the time being, there are no I have one more thing to say, but if
culated to mean on an annual basis. apologies. you want to get in a word, please, go
So, on a 4-month basis, if we end up From where I am standing, $600 a ahead.
giving people an extra $1,000 or $2,000, week is exactly what Democrats are Mr. DURBIN. I would, in the nature
it is not inconsistent with what the committed to—I hope Republicans are of a question through the Chair, which
Trump administration says they want as well—because our belief is that this I believe is the appropriate procedure.
to do with their cash payment. In the is the moment when we need to stand Mr. SASSE. The Presiding Officer is
meantime, if we are going to move for- with these workers. very liberal on these things. He is very
ward—and I hope this crisis comes to I might say that I support RUBIO and easy.
an end quickly—if we are going to CARDIN in their efforts to help small Mr. DURBIN. Well, this is actually
move forward into a new phase—phase businesses. I think that is the right turning out to be a debate on the floor
4, phase 5, whatever it is—let’s work thing to do. It was bipartisan from the of the Senate. It is almost historic.
together to try to upgrade these sys- start and really without much con- But I would just say this. We dis-
tems, to make them work the way we troversy. Have we asked any of those agree on one basic premise. I don’t be-
businesses to produce net worth state- lieve giving people $1,200 for each
want them to work.
adult, as the President suggested, or
But in the meantime, wouldn’t we ments before they receive those bene-
out of our approach, if they ended up
want to err on the side of standing with fits? No, we are not doing that. We un-
with a net gain of $2,000, that we have
working families and their employees? derstand this is an extraordinary mo-
now turned them into lazy people who
Wouldn’t we want to do that in this ment. And we may do something dif-
will not go back to work, and that they
first effort? I think it is the reasonable ferent if we are thinking about a long- will just wait for the next government
and thoughtful way to do it. term policy, but for the immediate check.
Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I am term, let us do the right thing. Let us These aren’t the people I know, and
happy to answer that question, if the err on the side of helping working fam- they aren’t the people you know. By
gentleman will yield. ilies who are out of work. and large, these are hard-working peo-
Mr. DURBIN. I would be happy to That is why I would oppose this ple who, with an additional $1,000, may
yield for a question from my friend amendment if it is going to be offered finally be able to buy that refrigerator,
from South Carolina. by the Senator from Nebraska. I came may finally be able to get that car
Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Thank to the floor to explain how we reached fixed, and may finally be able to get
you, sir. this point, and I hope that others will some dental work done.
I would say that, on both sides of the consider my point of view. Mr. SASSE. I would reclaim my time
aisle, would you not agree that we are Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Thank pretty soon.
both trying to get to the place where you. Mr. DURBIN. So I don’t think paying
we are, in fact, keeping the average Mr. DURBIN. Thank you. them a little extra here is going to
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person, especially the working-class I yield the floor. change their lifestyle and attitude to-
people, whole as we ponder and discuss The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ward hard work.
this amendment? Would you agree? ator from Nebraska. Mr. SASSE. We were agreeing for a
Mr. DURBIN. Of course. Mr. SASSE. Mr. President, I would while, but I think it is pretty impor-
Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. My say very briefly that I appreciate the tant here to underscore that your math
final thought is that my goal isn’t to comments from the Senator from Illi- isn’t real.
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2049
The reality is that in lots and lots bill right now is that we are going to they will never go back to work, those
and lots of States in the country, substantially disincentivize work, and people. I don’t believe that.
where people are earning $12 or $13 or it is going to hurt workers. It is going In this world of social media and
$14 or $15 an hour right now, the unem- to hurt small businesses. such, we have been contacted by nurses
ployment option they are going to be Let me give you a concrete example. who say: So you think we are going to
offered is going to be more like $24 or In Texas right now, the maximum un- quit our jobs so that we can take ad-
$25 an hour. employment insurance is $521 a week. vantage of the unemployment benefits?
We are not talking about $1,000 over After this bill passes, that will rise No, we go to our jobs, and we do what
the course of these months. We are from $521 a week to $1,121 a week. That we have to do, and the amount of
talking about cases where people might is nearly just over $58,000 a year. That money is secondary.
have an annualized wage right now of means that, in the State of Texas, we Mr. CRUZ. If I could reclaim my
$30,000 and be looking at an unemploy- are going to be paying people, offering time?
ment benefit of $1,000 a week, which is them, basically, 28 bucks an hour not Mr. DURBIN. I will be happy to, and
$50,000 annualized. So your math isn’t to work. I thank the Senator from Texas. But I
real. Now, listen, every one of us recog- would just say this: Yes, in this re-
The reality is, it isn’t $600 total. It is nizes that people are hurting. The spect, I agree with you.
$600 on top of what the unemployment problem is the incentive. We are cre- Take a look at the State systems of
benefits already were in that State. So ating an incentive that will hurt small paying unemployment benefits. We are
there are lots of people who are strug- businesses. told by the U.S. Department of Labor
gling to work hard and to love their If you have a waiter or a waitress that many of them are way behind the
neighbor. We have a lot of health aides who has lost their job for a few weeks, modern technology and cannot meet
they are on unemployment, and they what you have stated as your goal
in Nebraska who make 16 bucks an
are making $25, $26, $28 an hour, sud- here.
hour. That is a $32,000-a-year job. Their
If we want to work toward that goal
work is important. That is a vocation. denly, the prospect of going back to
of improving those State systems, as
People need them. that job and seeing the money they are
Senator SCOTT said earlier, I will join
There are sick people from COVID–19 making going down substantially
you in that effort. But let’s not apolo-
and other diseases right now in Ne- doesn’t seem too attractive. And, sud- gize for, perhaps, sending them an
braska who need the benefit of those denly, the restaurant owner who is try- extra $1,000.
health aides, and you just told them in ing to make the small business work One last point, we are asking these
this bill—we just told them in this can’t attract those workers back. That people to stay home. We were asking
bill—yeah, your work is a little bit im- is bad for everyone. Incentives matter. them to help us defeat this virus by not
portant, but look at this. You could We want people to work. working and to stay with their fami-
make substantially more money if you So I would ask the Senator from Illi- lies. So one of the incentives here, if
didn’t do the hard thing of trying to nois: You said the problem with imple- there is a good unemployment benefit
figure out what do we do with our kids menting this principle—that we coming in, is that they can keep their
today when school is closing, and I shouldn’t pay people more not to work families together while they obey this
don’t know how to do daycare, and my than they make working—was adminis- directive, at least, from government,
sister agreed to help take care of my trative, that the Department of Labor State and Federal.
kids, but do I really put the burden on and the States couldn’t do it. Would Mr. CRUZ. These quarantines are
her when I don’t actually have to go to the Senator agree with this amend- going to end. The period of staying at
work to get this same money? In fact, ment, and would the Democratic Party home is going to end. But under the
I can get substantially more money by agree with this amendment if it simply policy favored by the Democratic Sen-
going on the unemployment insurance had language inserted ‘‘to the best ex- ators, there is going to be an incentive
program. tent practicable’’? that is going to end up with more peo-
That is a disincentive to work that I So acknowledging that it may not be ple being unemployed.
don’t think you believe in, I know I practicable, would you agree with the Let’s say you are a restaurant. And if
don’t believe in, and I know nobody in principle that in implementing this, you keep your employees on, maybe
my State believes in. the States and the Department of through a small business loan, you can
It is not a Republican versus a Demo- Labor should try to make sure we are pay them, say, 10 bucks or 11 bucks or
cratic issue. This is an American issue. not paying people more not to work 15 bucks an hour, whatever you are
We believe in workers, and we believe than they would make if they were paying. But if you let them go, they
in work, and we don’t believe govern- working? can go on unemployment and make a
ment should come in and say: It is Mr. DURBIN. Is that a question di- whole lot more money. You don’t think
much better off to be a nonworker than rected to me through the Chair? there are going to be a lot of small
a worker. You can make a lot more Mr. CRUZ. I will yield to the Senator business owners who have their em-
money being a nonworker than a work- from Illinois. ployees saying: Wait a second, I can
er. Mr. DURBIN. All right. Let me just make more money?
We are not talking about people who say at the outset that we are talking That is a bad incentive. We want to
suffered layoffs last week. We are talk- about people who did not voluntarily create incentives. I agree that people
ing about creating a system here which leave their jobs. These people did not want to work, but government can
will incentivize more unemployment voluntarily leave their jobs. They were mess that up if we make it more profit-
next week. That is a mistake by this terminated. They were laid off. They able.
Congress, and we could and we should were furloughed. These are not people Look, the checks we are sending, the
be doing better than that tonight. who were gaming a system. These are $1,200 a person, don’t create an incen-
I know the Senator from Texas has people who are victims of the system tive. It is not $1,200 if you do x conduct.
been trying to get in. that is hurt by this national emer- We want incentives that bring people
I yield the floor. gency. back to work so that these small busi-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Secondly, if we are erring on the side nesses that are closing their doors
ator from Texas. of giving struggling, hard-working fam- every day don’t stay closed—so that
Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, this bill is ilies an additional $1,000 a month— they open up again, and that they have
going to pass overwhelmingly. It may $1,000 a month—for goodness’ sake, I opportunity again.
pass unanimously tonight, but I think am not going to apologize for a mo- It is a perverse incentive to pay peo-
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this amendment would make it sub- ment. ple more not to work than to work.
stantially better. I expect we will see a These people are living paycheck to Yes, we should help them, but we
party-line vote on this amendment, paycheck, in many respects, if they are shouldn’t trap them. That is what this
and I think that is unfortunate because making $15 an hour. That is $30,000 a policy does.
the consequence of the system—the un- year. And for us to say: Well, they are Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield
employment insurance system—in this going to end up with 1,000 bucks; now for a question?
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S2050 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
Mr. CRUZ. Of course. workers—to pay them more not to Over time, we straightened out our
Mr. DURBIN. Senator, I am sure you work than they would make if they finances, elected a guy named Pete du
are acutely aware that this is a 4- were working. Pont as our Governor. I was treasurer
month program. We are not offering Mr. DURBIN. If I may just comment for a while, and we had a Democratic
people this benefit indefinitely. I hope and say this. I don’t think President and a Republican legislature—split. We
we don’t have to renew it, but to say Trump’s cash payment or an additional learned how to work together. It is
that I am going to change my lifestyle $1,000 a month, or whatever it is, under something we call ‘‘the Delaware way.’’
and give up returning to the place the unemployment benefit is going to Later on, I got to be Governor, suc-
where I have worked forever, where I make a worker lazy and government ceeded not Pete du Pont but Mike Cas-
was just laid off because they closed dependent. These are not the people I tle, who was his successor. I was very
the restaurant because of a 4-month know. These are people who get up and active in the National Governors Asso-
program, I don’t think so. work hard every darn day, and if they ciation. They even let me be chairman
I think people are more loyal to the get an extra helping hand out of this, for a while. I was the lead Democratic
workplace if they are treated fairly. so be it. Governor on welfare reform when I was
And if we end up giving them an addi- We are trying to deal with a health a member of the National Governors
tional $1,000 a month, at the end of the crisis and help these families get Association.
day, I think it is the right thing to do. through it. That is where we started on I was raised in a coal mining town in
Mr. CRUZ. The incentives matter. We this side of the aisle. West Virginia. Parents—not much
don’t want to delay a recovery from We may talk about something in the money, deep faith, hard work. My dad
this crisis by 4 months. Hopefully, we future and approach it a little dif- used to say to my sister and me: I don’t
stop this global pandemic, and we stop ferently, but I don’t think it makes care if you have to work three jobs to
it soon. You don’t know how soon that them lazy to receive the President’s pay your bills, work three jobs.
will be. I don’t know. cash payment or to receive an extra That is really the way I was raised,
One of the benefits of this bill is that payment from this unemployment ben- and I suspect that most of us here were
we are flooding more resources—and we efit. raised that way—a strong work ethic.
should be—into testing, into preventive Mr. CRUZ. So, with respect, the Sen-
When I was involved as the lead
gear, and into ventilators. There is a ator from Illinois is suggesting this is
Democratic Governor on welfare re-
lot we need to do to stop this pan- somehow some negative moral judg-
form, I used to say people ought to be
demic, but when it ends—and it will ment that it makes them lazy. It is ex-
better off working than they are on
actly the contrary. I am saying people
end, and we will get through this—we welfare. Bill Clinton said that often. I
behave according to rational incen-
want people to go back to work—not 4 really believe that.
tives.
months from now. We want them to go Look, our girls are 11 and 8 at home. The thing that was wrong with wel-
back to work as soon as they are able We have incentives all the time: posi- fare—our welfare system—was that
to go back to work, and that is what tive incentives and negative incen- people were actually better off staying
our economy needs to be strong. tives. Incentives work. home than they were working. So kind
I would note, again, that I posed a We don’t want to create a system of the same principle we are talking
question to the Senator from Illinois: where someone, being perfectly ration- about here.
Would he take a modification that ac- al and reasonable, says: Well, gosh, I Every State has its own unemploy-
knowledges the administrative prob- can make a lot more money for my ment insurance fund. We have one in
lems but said that this is the principle family staying home than I can going Delaware. They have one in Nebraska,
we should follow—that you shouldn’t to work. If I go to work, my family one in Texas, one in Illinois. They are
be paid more not to work than you are makes less money. That is not a ques- different, and different benefits are cal-
paid to work. And the Senator from Il- tion of being lazy. That is a question of culated in different States.
linois didn’t answer that. the government is putting me in a posi- I just got off the phone, colleagues,
Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield tion where, if I want to care for my with a fellow named Cerron Cade, who
for a question? kids, I can do a better job of that by used to be a member of my team when
Mr. CRUZ. Absolutely. staying home. That is really foolish, I was early in my time in the Senate.
Mr. DURBIN. Does the Senator sup- and that, unfortunately, is the position He is now secretary of labor.
port the Trump administration’s cash right now of what I expect to be the I said, Cerron—Mr. Secretary—what
payment to these families, which Democratic Senators who will vote no do we pay people in Delaware on unem-
comes to them whether they work or on this. ployment insurance? What is the re-
not? That is a bad policy for workers. It is placement rate? He said it is some-
Mr. CRUZ. I do. I am going to vote a bad policy for small businesses. It is where between 25 and 50 percent of
for it, but it doesn’t create an incen- a bad policy for the economy. We what people were earning. But he said
tive. This is where too many in the should support jobs, not paying people there is a $400 cap per month—excuse
Democratic Party don’t understand the not to work. Give them a safety net, me—per week. There is a $400 cap per
incentives of trapping people out of yes. Give them relief, yes. But don’t week on the benefits that we will pay
work. create incentives that make the prob- anybody, regardless of what they were
Incentives are future looking. In lem worse, and that is what this Demo- making—$400 a week.
sending these checks right now, if you cratic policy will do. If you think about it, $400 a week for
make $75,000 or less, you are going to I yield the floor. 4 weeks is like $1,600 a month. Add to
get a check in the mail in the next cou- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- that the $600 benefit, and we are talk-
ple of weeks. That is helping relief, but ator from Delaware spoke first and is ing about $2,200 per month.
it doesn’t create an incentive for con- recognized. If somebody is working full time—
duct tomorrow. What I don’t want is Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, replying Mr. SASSE. Six hundred per week.
for people to be sitting there making a to my colleagues, I think the Senators Mr. CARPER. Excuse me. There you
choice—making a very rational choice. from Nebraska and South Carolina go. But if you add the numbers, I am
Look, if you are sitting there and know that I have great affection and not sure we end up with $24 per hour in
saying, Well, gosh, I can make a lot respect for them—and I have from the Delaware.
more money staying at home with my day they got here. Mr. SASSE. Twenty-six.
kids and not working than if I go back I used to be a State treasurer. I was Mr. CARPER. It might be the case,
to the job, that is not an irrational de- elected at the tender age of 29. Dela- but I would have to see those numbers.
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cision if you are making 28 bucks an ware had the worst credit rating in the My secretary of labor said he thought
hour to stay home. We are causing that country. We were dead last and that the number that we were looking
problem if we are incentivizing people couldn’t balance our budgets to save at here was something like $13 an hour
not to work, and that is not, ulti- our souls, and we had pretty much no in Delaware, when you add it all in, as
mately, in their interest or in the money in the unemployment insurance opposed to 24. So we will go back to do
economy’s interest. This is hurting fund. our math.
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2051
Mr. SASSE. Will the Senator yield? What I was doing was going to have a the health and the safety of
Mr. CARPER. Happy to yield. cup of coffee with the Senators I didn’t Michiganders and people all across this
Mr. SASSE. I don’t think that any of know well, and I asked if I could maybe Nation. There is no doubt we are facing
us think that a math debate is the have a cup of coffee with him. He said: an unprecedented public health emer-
most productive way to spend our time We will do better than that. Come to gency and an economic crisis at the
in the Senate, but just so we are all my hideaway, and we will have lunch same time.
talking on the same song sheet: $400 a together. I said: That is great. Families in my State of Michigan—
week, add $600, is $1,000 a week. Divided I didn’t think we ever would, but it and Americans all across this coun-
by a 40-hour week, that is $25 an hour. was a nice offer, a nice idea. Two weeks try—are worried about their health and
I don’t know how you explain that to later, we had lunch together in his their safety and whether they are
people who are making 15, 16 bucks an hideaway. It was like a Kennedy mu- going to be able to make ends meet
hour in Delaware, that you are now seum. Some of you have been there be- during this emergency. We must act
going to pay them $25 if they become fore. It is an amazing place. quickly to provide relief for struggling
unemployed. I remember I asked him: How is it families and small businesses and
The Senator from Illinois said this is that so many Republicans here want healthcare providers. And even as we
the program only for people who are in- you, Ted Kennedy—the most liberal move with the urgency that this dif-
voluntarily separated. If that is the Democrat, maybe, we had at the time— ficult time demands, we must ensure
way the program worked, it would be to be their lead cosponsor on their that this bill is done right and that we
great, but anybody who has ever spent bills? Why is that? are getting the right help to the people
any time with unemployment insur- And he said: I am always willing to who need it the most. We must act ag-
ance programs in your States knows compromise on policy, never willing to gressively, and now we must do every-
that is not how it works. compromise on principle. thing to provide relief to workers and
How it actually works is, once you I think that the policy here is that, families in Michigan and across the
create a disincentive to work, employ- when people are unemployed and they country.
ers regularly work with employees to need help, we want to help them, and Americans are facing an unprece-
say: I kind of would like to drive you we help them in a timely way. dented personal, health, and financial
off the system, and I think you should Mr. CRUZ. Will the Senator yield for challenge. Workers in my home State
recognize this would be better for you, a question? of Michigan who are forced to stay
too, if you can casualize it. That is ac- Mr. CARPER. I will just finish my home from work due to the coronavirus
tually what happens. thought, and then I would be happy to. shouldn’t need to worry about whether
I will yield the floor back to the Sen- But in a timely way. And I am just they can pay their bills or put food on
ator. concerned—my second concern, along their table.
Mr. CARPER. I thank the Senator with my first concern: I am just con- That is why I authored legislation
very much. I will go back and will re- cerned that the idea to deal with this that is included in this package before
engage with our secretary and make in a timely way is going to be dimin- the Senate to expand unemployment
sure we have the math right. ished, maybe significantly. We just, assistance. We have never had unem-
The other point that he made—I honestly, don’t know. ployment benefits in response to a pub-
asked him: How hard would it be to ad- I am happy to yield. lic health crisis, but we have never
Mr. CRUZ. A question to the Senator. seen an emergency on the scale of what
minister? Is it something we could
The Senator said that you were con- we are seeing right now. We must sup-
stand up in a couple of weeks or are we
cerned about implementation and that port workers who are not receiving a
talking about months or what? He said
it may not be timely at the State level paycheck or have been laid off due to
this would not be an easy thing, admin-
to implement this. coronavirus.
istratively, to do. And at a time where I think, just prior to when you came That is why I fought to create an un-
we are anxious to get the benefit out to the floor, I suggested a possible employment compensation program to
the door in a hurry, this would not be amendment to the Senator from Ne- provide federally funded benefits to
easy. I would just ask us to keep that braska’s amendment that would add a people who are unable to work during
in mind. qualifier, something like, ‘‘to the best this pandemic. It would expand unem-
One of the people I talked to last
extent practical.’’ So it doesn’t slow ployment benefits to workers who have
week when I was trying to figure out,
the program down, but it acknowledges exhausted their State unemployment
really, what kind of big package legis- benefits, and it would make unemploy-
that both the Department of Labor and
lative package No. 3 should be—Leon ment benefits available to people who
the States should endeavor to imple-
Panetta is one of the people I talked don’t usually qualify—including small
ment this in a way that ensures people
to. He told me about the three t’s: business owners, freelance writers and
don’t get paid more not to work than
timely, targeted, and temporary. Those workers, independent contractors, sea-
to work.
are the three that he talked about. So it adds a qualifier. You just sug- sonal workers, and people who have re-
Timely means making sure we figure gested there might be bipartisan agree- cently started or were about to start a
or calculate the right benefit but that ment. Would the Senator from Dela- new job.
we are able to turn around and pay it ware be amenable to such a change? And it provides workers with ex-
in a timely way. Mr. CARPER. I would be happy to tended unemployment insurance so
What I gathered from my secretary discuss that with you and better under- that hard-working families can have
of labor is we are not going to be able stand what you offer. I wasn’t here some certainty that they can stay
to incorporate what they are doing at when you spoke. Thank you. afloat financially during this crisis
the State level, feed into that the I yield the floor. that is likely to last awhile.
State and the Federal benefit, and do it The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Our small businesses have been hit
in a timely way. I think, if we could do ator from Michigan. especially hard, and some are at risk of
that, you would have, probably, a fair Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, for over having to close their doors or lay off
amount of bipartisan support. But it is 200 years, the American people have their employees. Our small businesses
that delay, and we just don’t know how shown resilience in the face of great are the backbone of our economy, and
long that delay would be. challenges. From civil wars, inter- they need support now more than ever.
Ted Kennedy used to sit behind me national conflicts, and—yes— That is why I worked with my col-
when I first came to the Senate. And I pandemics, we have faced these chal- leagues on the Small Business Com-
noticed that I knew some Senators. lenges united and with resolve. mittee to craft legislation to expand
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DICK DURBIN and I served in the House Like the challenges of the past, the funding available for small business
together, and other people, we had been novel coronavirus pandemic is a crisis loans.
Governors together. I didn’t know Ted that, together, we can and we will As a result of those efforts, this
Kennedy. One day I said to him: I am overcome. package now increases the funding for
new here in the Senate, and I don’t As the cases of COVID–19 increase the popular and successful 7(a) small
really know you very well. each day, my top priority is protecting business loans to $350 billion.
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S2052 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
I also pressed for additional fund- leaders, public health experts, and na- are estimating that by June, the end of
ing—$240 million—for small business tional security officials. next quarter, unemployment could be
development centers and women’s busi- It will continue to take each and 20 percent or 30 percent—and what this
ness centers and an increase in funding every one of us doing our part and bill does say is that whether or not you
for minority business centers as well. working together to prevent the spread are eligible for unemployment today,
These funds will go a long way toward of this pandemic, protect public health, you are going to get unemployment
helping small businesses pay their rent and continue to address this economic compensation. And that means many
and keep their lights on. crisis. But together, I know that we of the gig workers—people who drive
This legislation also includes signifi- will get through this, and we will come Uber cars—many of the waitresses and
cantly more funding that will go to our out stronger on the other side. waiters who make starvation minimum
hospitals and healthcare system. This I yield the floor. wages, many so-called independent
funding will ensure that our over- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. contractors will be eligible for the ex-
stretched hospitals can make up for SCOTT of South Carolina). The Senator tended unemployment benefits. And
lost revenue, keep their doors open, from Vermont. that is exactly the right thing.
and make payroll for the dedicated Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, let me
The other thing this bill does, which
nurses, doctors, and healthcare profes- be very honest and tell you that there
is right, is say: OK, we are in the midst
sionals who are on the frontlines fight- is much in this bill—and we have not
of a horrific crisis, unprecedented in
ing day in and day out to stop this pan- yet seen the printout yet—that I am
modern American history. Not only are
demic. concerned about. I am especially con-
you going to get your regular unem-
I have been working closely with the cerned that the administration will be
ployment benefits, we are going to add
hospitals and healthcare providers in able to spend $500 billion in virtually
another $600 a week to it.
Michigan, and they cannot stress how any way they want—any corporation
critical this funding is to their ability they want—with virtually no strings And now I find that some of my Re-
to continue providing care and comfort attached. publican colleagues are very distressed.
during this pandemic. I will keep fight- The American people, at a time of They are very upset that somebody
ing to ensure that they have the re- massive income and wealth and in- who is making 10, 12 bucks an hour
sources—the supplies, the gloves, the equality, do not want more corporate might end up with a paycheck for 4
masks—and the medical equipment welfare, and they do not want policies months that is more than they re-
they need to protect themselves and that will allow corporations in some ceived last week. Oh, my God, the uni-
their patients from coronavirus. cases to receive loans or grants and verse is collapsing. Imagine that.
Finally, as the ranking member of then do stock buybacks to enrich their Somebody who is making 12 bucks an
the Homeland Security and Govern- stockholders, provide dividends, or hour now faces, like the rest of us, an
mental Affairs committee, I worked maybe raise the compensation benefits unprecedented economic crisis and,
closely with Chairman RON JOHNSON to of their already wealthy CEOs. with the 600 bucks on top of their reg-
ensure that this legislation has strong What the American people want right ular unemployment check, might be
oversight provisions in place. We must now is for us to use our taxpayer dol- making a few bucks more for 4 months.
ensure that the funds we are author- lars in every way we can to protect the Oh, my word, will the universe survive?
izing are going to the people, the small working families of this country, to How absurd and wrong is that? What
businesses, and the healthcare pro- protect the middle class, to protect the kind of value system is that?
viders who need them the most. 50 percent of our people who are living Meanwhile, these very same folks
Our oversight provision creates a paycheck to paycheck. had no problem a couple of years ago
Pandemic Response Accountability As we speak tonight, half of our peo- voting for $1 trillion in tax breaks for
Committee—a Board that is made up of ple in this country—in the richest billionaires and large, profitable cor-
agency watchdogs who will be charged country in the history of the world— porations—not a problem. But when it
with auditing and investigating the ad- are living paycheck to paycheck. They comes to low-income workers in the
ministration’s coronavirus response ef- wake up in the morning, and they are midst of a terrible crisis, maybe some
forts and how your hard-earned tax saying: Do you know what? I can bare- of them earning or having more money
dollars are being used to address this ly make it on the paycheck I got be- than they previously made—oh, my
serious crisis. cause I am making 12, 13, 14 bucks an word, we have to strip that out.
We are also requiring the Govern- hour, and now that paycheck has By the way, when the MCCONNELL
ment Accountability Office to audit stopped. How am I going to pay my bill first came up, unbelievably—and I
where these funds are going and keep rent? How am I going to put food on know many Republicans objected to
Congress and the American people up the table for my kids? How am I going this—they were saying that we want to
to date through real-time, publicly to make sure the lights remain on? give—whatever it was—1,000 or 1,200
available reports. This model was used How am I going to pay my student bucks, but poor people should get less.
to successfully track spending from the debt? How am I going to pay my credit You said: Because poor people are down
2009 Recovery Act during the great re- card debt? If somebody in the family here, they don’t deserve—they don’t
cession, and I was proud to work with gets sick, how am I going to pay for eat; they don’t pay rent; they don’t go
my Republican chairman to get this that? to the doctor; they are somehow infe-
important accountability measure in- This bill has been worked on exten-
rior. Because they are poor, we are
cluded in this bill. sively in the last few days. There are
going to give them less. That was ad-
This bill is an important step forward elements in it that, in my view, are
dressed. Now everybody is going to get
to address this crisis head-on and en- positive—don’t go far enough by any
the $1,200.
sure our Nation can get back on track means—but one of the things this bill
once we have addressed the serious does do is provide the largest expansion Some of my Republican friends have
public health threat and the resulting of unemployment benefits in history, not given up the need to punish the
economic crisis as well. It is an impor- expending about $250 billion of Federal poor and working people. You haven’t
tant step, but it is not the last action funds. What it does, importantly, is the raised the minimum wage in 10 years.
we will need to take before this pan- bill understands that for all kinds of Minimum wage should be at least 15
demic is over. absurd reasons having to do with the bucks an hour. You haven’t done that.
I am going to do everything possible Republican attacks on workers for You have cut program after program
to continue working with my col- many years, fewer than 50 percent of after program, and now—horror of hor-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
leagues in a bipartisan manner to en- American workers today are eligible rors—for 4 months, workers might be
sure Michigan communities and fami- for unemployment benefits. earning a few bucks more than they
lies have the resources and the support What this bill does, rightly so, is say otherwise would.
they desperately need. I will also con- that in the midst of this terrible eco- Needless to say, this is an amend-
tinue working closely with Michigan nomic crisis where some people—no- ment that is coming up, but I don’t
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, local body knows—where some economists think it is going to go very far. If it
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2053
does go far, I will introduce an amend- multifaceted bill, and it is going to Mr. SANDERS. No, not permanently
ment to deal with the corporate wel- take an enormous amount of work to but during the crisis, yes.
fare—the $500 billion in corporate wel- make sure that the money goes where Mr. SASSE. OK. That is a helpful
fare—which is, to me, a very serious it should go in a cost-effective way. clarification.
problem. But I do not think they are This bill does a lot of other things, as The Senator was saying a lot of dif-
going to get the 60 votes, and that will well, that I think will help the Amer- ferent things, and I thought he was ar-
be the end of it. ican economy. guing for a UPI of 14 grand. I just want-
This bill also includes some $250 bil- To conclude, this is not the bill I ed to clarify that point.
lion in one-time checks of $1,200 for would have written. Frankly, I don’t The Senator believes a lot of things
adults and $500 for kids. I have a couple think it is the bill most Americans very differently than I do, but I appre-
of concerns there. No. 1, I believe that would have written. I think most ciate the fact that he argues forcefully
in the midst of this unprecedented cri- Americans are very apprehensive that for his positions. I think this body
sis we should make this a monthly ben- one-quarter of this bill is going to go to would benefit from having more people
efit, not a one-time benefit. Depending large corporations with very little ac- who spoke as bluntly and directly as
on what happens—and I expect very countability. the Senator from Vermont. I hope his
much that this Congress will be recon- In a political season, let me make the positions will be voted down again and
vening because I think this coronavirus radical suggestion that we have a again and again and again, but I appre-
3—the bill we are on right now—is President of the United States who ciate the way in which he argues for
going to be superseded by coronavirus may end up targeting some of this his positions.
4. My strong guess is this does not go money to States that he needs to win. I thank the Presiding Officer.
This bill has some good things. It has The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
far enough. But the bill does include a
some issues of real concern. One thing ator from Oregon.
$1,200 check for adults, $500 for kids.
we must not do is to punish low-income Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, several
That will in the short term. We have to
workers who might get a few bucks Senators on the other side have been
do a lot better than that.
As many of you know, in countries more than they had previously earned. arguing against the provision in this
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- bill to supercharge unemployment in-
around the world—UK, Denmark, other
ator from Nebraska. surance right now, which is something
countries—the approach they are tak- Mr. SASSE. Mr. President, I just lis-
ing, which makes sense to me, is to ba- on which Senate Democrats have nego-
tened to the speech by the Senator
sically say to employers: If you keep tiated with the Trump administration,
from Vermont. There is obviously a lot
your workers on the job, even if they Secretary Mnuchin, and Chairman
we don’t agree on in life and policy,
are not working right now, we will pay. GRASSLEY. Based on what I am hearing
politics, and economics. He caricatured
The UK pays 80 percent of their salary; from the Senators on the other side,
the entire purpose of this amendment
other countries are a bit higher. I tonight. The purpose of this amend- you would think that this provision
think that is the direction we should ment is to affirm work. was pretty much going to end Western
have gone. This is a little bit more con- Under his vision, I don’t know ex- civilization.
voluted. What we do here is give $367 actly where he thinks the workers who Now, supercharging unemployment
billion in loans to small businesses, stock shelves and drive trucks right benefits has long been a priority for
and those loans could be forgiven if now would come from because he made Senate Democrats, and we have been
those small businesses don’t lay off an argument about government sub- fighting for those improvements in un-
workers. I think, for a variety of rea- sidies that would be, on a permanent employment since the process began.
sons, that is exactly the right thing to basis, higher than the wages of all In our view, it is the key to getting
do. those jobs. I don’t understand how his help to where it is needed the most.
The goal right now is to stabilize the economic system would ever actually Believe me, colleagues, when you see
economy by telling workers that they work. the unemployment claim numbers to-
will have their jobs when they come But I would like to praise him here. morrow, if the numbers are accurate,
back, when this thing is over, and in Two things: One, he said something this Chamber is going to see that the
the meantime, they will have all or that politicians usually don’t say. Usu- unemployment crisis will be exploding
most of their income. That is my pre- ally when people say they will vote for in America.
ferred approach. something, they say the bill is salvific I don’t believe anybody in our great
This bill provides $150 billion to and utopian and going to do everything country should fall into destitution as
States and cities. I can tell you that in right, and if they are going to vote a result of this pandemic, so I, obvi-
Vermont—and I am sure in every other against something, they say it is the ously, disagree with my colleagues who
State in this country, States and cities worst thing that has ever been written. oppose so strongly our amendment to
are hurting because we all know there Senator SANDERS just said that this improve unemployment benefits. I just
has been a major decline in tax rev- bill has a lot in it. It is big. It is want to make a few key points in re-
enue. That is an important thing do. clunky. We are in the middle of a na- sponse to their argument.
By the way, in the midst of this cri- tional emergency. There is some good First, I start with an argument that
sis, a lot of the responsibility is going in it; there is some bad in it; and he is just about knocked the wind out of me
to fall on local and State government. going to vote for it. when I heard it earlier. It is the idea
One of the concerns, of many, that I I also believe this bill is big and that nurses are going to quit their jobs
have about this bill is that in the best clunky and stinky. There is a lot that as a result of this legislation.
of times, this bill requires an enormous is broken in it. There is some that is Nurses are not going to be quitting
amount of work by the Federal, State, good and necessary and important. their jobs to get unemployment bene-
and local governments. How do you get There is a lot that is bad and poorly fits because that is not how nurses
all these unemployment checks out? thought out and not going to be imple- think when they get up in the morning.
How do you deal with all of these small mented very effectively. On that, I am By now, everyone has seen the Hercu-
businesses that may apply for these also inclined to vote for it. So I appre- lean efforts of our nurses who have
loans? This is hard stuff. It becomes ciate his candor in his admitting that been fighting the pandemic. Nurses in
even more difficult when so many this is kind of a big ‘‘crap sandwich.’’ America are brave, and they care. They
workers who work for local and State In addition, I praise the Senator from are true professionals. From Portland,
governments are not coming into work Vermont for his candor in saying some- OR, to Portland, ME, they are on the
because of the coronavirus. thing that I totally oppose, but I appre- frontlines of this fight and are putting
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
One of the issues we are going to ciate his integrity and honesty in ad- themselves in harm’s way to save the
have to focus on big time is the imple- mitting it. He said, I believe—correct lives of our neighbors whether they be
mentation. If anyone thinks, just pass- me if I am wrong, sir—he wishes the in South Carolina, Oregon, or any-
ing this bill, that tomorrow everything $1,200 emergency payment would be where else. They don’t cut and run.
is going to flow smoothly, you are made monthly and permanently; is Also, contrary to the suggestion of my
sadly mistaken. This is a complicated, that right? colleague from Nebraska, retired
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S2054 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
nurses have been coming out of retire- the least we can do as lawmakers is to months, but I think we have developed
ment in droves to help treat patients have their backs when it comes to some ideas that can be part of reform-
who are suffering because of the their surviving this economic crisis. ing the unemployment compensation
coronavirus. All of my colleagues know we are on system after those 4 months.
Second, it is a head-scratcher to me the third bill in the fight against the Now I want to turn to why this
that my colleague from Nebraska is virus. MITCH MCCONNELL’s first version agreement raises benefits specifically
raising this objection now. I am the of this bill did virtually nothing for by $600 per week. I have heard my col-
ranking Democrat on the Committee those who lost their jobs. I read it care- leagues and their strenuous objections
on Finance. I learned about his objec- fully. Out of 247 pages in the Repub- to that amount. The reason it is $600 is
tion when I watched his press con- lican leader’s first bill, only 8 lines of because Labor Secretary Scalia, after
ference, and then I called him about it. text—not 8 pages but 8 lines—dealt meeting with the Senate negotiators—
The proposal has been out there for with filing for unemployment online. myself, Senator GRASSLEY, Secretary
days, and Senators have known about That bill had an awful lot of corporate Mnuchin, Senator MENENDEZ, Senator
it the whole time. It is not a drafting goodies and lots of slush funds for big PORTMAN; a big group of us—Secretary
error, and it is not a last-minute sur- corporations but just a few measly Scalia, after meeting with Senate ne-
prise. What the Senator from Nebraska lines for people who were hurting—for gotiators, left us with no other way to
wants to drop now, in effect, was part workers who were hurting, for workers get benefits to workers quickly. Sec-
of the bill. who were losing their jobs. retary Scalia said that the States had
The Presiding Officer is a member of The Senate Democrats fought for and no other way to get the benefits to
our committee, and I enjoy working won the changes that make up this ro- workers in time.
with him. What the Senator from Ne- bust, expanding, supercharged program We needed a simple solution. And I
braska wants to drop now was, in fact, of unemployment insurance. It is based know my colleague, the distinguished
part of the bill that Republican Leader on a bill that I and our colleague Sen- President of the Senate, and others
MCCONNELL introduced on Saturday. ator PETERS introduced not long ago. who are sponsoring this proposal to un-
He introduced it on Saturday because First, in these punishing economic ravel what Senate Democrats did with
the Senate Democrats insisted on its times, Americans are going to need Secretary Mnuchin, the Trump admin-
being part of the package, and as Sec- more weeks of coverage than they istration, and Chairman GRASSLEY may
retary Mnuchin said this afternoon on would otherwise get from unemploy- not believe me, but I want to share the
national television—we all heard it— ment insurance. The existing length of words of Secretary Mnuchin himself,
the Republicans agreed. I will have a unemployment benefits will not cover and specifically on this question of why
little more to say about Secretary the time this crisis will last. we were focused on making sure that
Mnuchin’s remarks in a minute. Second, the Senate needs to mod- workers could get that extra $600 a
Third, I want to talk about why this ernize the unemployment insurance week.
is so needed—why my Democratic col- program because it really hasn’t Just today, Secretary Mnuchin said:
leagues and I have worked so hard to changed much since it was developed in Most of these state systems have tech-
help the millions get through these Wisconsin in 1932, and, in 1932, nobody nology that is 30 years old or older. If we had
horrendous times who have been hit by was talking about gig workers. The un- the ability to customize this with much
more specifics, we would have. This was the
this economic wrecking ball. employment program that was in-
only way we could ensure states could get
For most Americans, the old unem- vented then has not changed all that the money out quickly and in a fair way so
ployment rules would cover only a much. It certainly wasn’t built to take we used 600 dollars across the board. I don’t
third to a half of their lost wages. That on the kind of challenge our country think it will create incentives, most Ameri-
was it. It is pretty hard to pay the rent faces right now. cans want what they want: they want to
and put food on the table with that. The Democratic Senators and I keep their jobs.
Even before this crisis, the Federal Re- looked at that system and said this old That is what Secretary Mnuchin said
serve found that nearly half of Ameri- system wouldn’t be good enough for today in defending the language that is
cans wouldn’t have been able to have independent contractors, the self-em- in the bill as, in effect, the fastest, sim-
come up with $400 cash to cover costs ployed, gig workers, part-time workers, plest way for workers to get their bene-
in an emergency. Let’s face it. Millions and freelancers who are a big part of fits and why we disagree so strongly
of Americans were walking on an eco- the face of the modern economy. They with the amendment from the Senator
nomic tightrope of balancing their rent are not the kind of workers anybody from Nebraska to unravel that ap-
against the food and the food against was thinking about in 1932, when the proach.
the fuel, and that was before the pan- program was invented. The Senate The math shows that standard pay-
demic. Democrats led the effort to get those ment of $600 is the simplest way to get
That is why we on our side feel so people coverage. I am glad that, at one to full wage replacement without caus-
strongly and are so appreciative of the point in the negotiations, we could get ing, as of now, an administrative train
work of Senator PETERS and Senator bipartisan support for it. wreck.
MENENDEZ, who helped in the negotia- For the people who still have their So I am going to close on this. I am
tions, and, of course, of the leader’s jobs but who have had their hours sure that everybody here read that un-
work. We all said we need an improved, slashed, we are going to bat for them. employment claims are expected to go
supercharged unemployment benefit to For the people in the service economy, up by 2.5 million in 1 week when the
replace people’s lost wages. These are who are those in the restaurants, sa- statistics are released tomorrow. Let
people who shouldn’t face a choice be- lons, gyms—you name it—all of those me say that again—2.5 million. That is
tween homelessness and hunger or people who are suffering because their almost as many jobs that were lost in
bankruptcy because a virus has shut jobs and their businesses have been put the entire year of 2008 when the great
down our economy and cost them their on pause—we are going to bat for them. recession hit our country so hard. It is
jobs. This isn’t the fault of any work- We are talking about millions and mil- the single largest rise in unemploy-
ers in South Carolina or in Oregon or lions of Americans—people who are ment since that figure began to be
anywhere else. looking at hard times ahead and who tracked. Twelve entire months’ worth
While the consumer economy is shut- need our help now. of great recession job losses—that is
tered, Congress has a responsibility to The old unemployment insurance how many unemployment claims
make sure that Americans can bounce system wasn’t working, so the Senate economists expect to see in a single
back in a matter of weeks or months. Democrats said: We are going to come week.
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Otherwise, millions will struggle and together, and we are going to go to bat This country has never faced any-
be slow to recover from the economic for all of those independent contrac- thing like it. It is not a normal reces-
crisis, and many might not make it if tors, those who are self-employed, the sion. This isn’t a normal bill to try to
the Senate doesn’t move to help them freelancers, and the gig workers. stimulate the economy in which the
now, now, now. The panic people feel Now I think that not only are we government tries to give the economy
over the virus is already too much, and going to help them over the next 4 a shot of fiscal adrenaline. This is a
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2055
time when we face a shutdown of entire who are being hit hard in this crisis— care workers and first responders; $4.6
sectors of our economy. What the Con- to access benefits. Importantly, for million for housing assistance grants;
gress needs to do is keep our economy Americans living paycheck to pay- $9.6 million to support the State’s air-
alive and act now. We are not going to check, this bill will deliver these bene- ports; $4 million in LIHEAP assistance;
do that by shortchanging workers who fits to workers sooner. To help the $5 million in Community Services
are losing jobs, losing hours, or losing small businesses struggling to keep Block Grant funding; $2 million in
gigs. their doors open, to find a path to re- Byrne-JAG assistance to law enforce-
I feel so strongly that Americans open on the other end of this pandemic, ment; and $3 million in election secu-
want to work. Businesses want to keep this bill supports loan forgiveness to rity assistance grants.
their employees on the job. Americans small businesses and some nonprofits, Finally, this bill includes important
want the economy to spring back to and provides critical funding to sup- oversight and accountability measures
life once the pandemic is under con- port payments of existing loans to that will require this administration to
trol, and that is what supercharging small businesses through the Small report publicly to the American people.
unemployment benefits is all about. Business Administration. This is a taxpayer-funded relief bill.
So here is the bottom line on the pro- The bill provides $340 billion in emer- The Executive Branch must be ac-
vision that Senate Democrats agreed gency appropriations to give new re- countable to those taxpayers. Finan-
with the Trump administration, Sec- sources to help strained State, local, cial relief to address the coronavirus
retary Mnuchin, and Chairman GRASS- and tribal governments as they combat pandemic should not be turned into a
LEY on—our proposal was not a draft- this pandemic. These resources support slush fund for a president seeking re-
ing error. It didn’t pop out at the last hospitals and health care workers on election, with little accountability to
minute. It is not going to bring about the front lines of this public health cri- the people whose money he is spending.
the end of Western civilization. sis. They fund the purchase of personal I urge the Senate to pass this bill
I hope my colleagues on the other protective equipment and much needed today, and I hope the House will swift-
side of the aisle will review what Sec- medical equipment. The bill supports ly follow. This is an emergency relief
retary Mnuchin had to say this after- our law enforcement and first respond- bill. Congress will need to take further
noon on national television, supporting ers; funding for scientists researching action to provide needed stimulus to
what Senate Democrats negotiated treatments and vaccines; support for our State and local economies, to sup-
with him and the administration, and small businesses; support for local port our schools, including institutions
join us in making sure millions and schools and universities; and funding of higher education, and to support dis-
millions of Americans don’t fall into for affordable housing and homeless- placed workers who are the fabric of
destitution. ness assistance programs. The bill will our national workforce.
I yield the floor. provide immediate relief to farmers in But with this bill, we provide support
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Vermont and across the country who to the victims of this terrible virus: the
ator from Vermont. continue to feed our communities dur- healthcare providers and first respond-
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, America ing this emergency, with an emphasis ers on the frontlines, the essential
is at an inflection point. We are facing on those farmers serving our local food workers who are keeping our store
a public health crisis unlike any we systems. Importantly, the bill will not shelves stocked and the necessities
have seen in generations. Governments permit the transfer of emergency fund- available, and the families hit by the
at every level are racing to respond, ing to battle COVID–19 to the Presi- fallout from this pandemic.
react, and mitigate the crisis. dent’s misguided projects including the I have been fortunate. I have been
Communities and counties are fearful border wall. married now for almost 58 years to one
their hospital systems will be overrun, On top of all this, the bill includes a of the best medical surgical nurses I
and needed supplies are unavailable. $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund have ever known. I hear her tell it like
States are struggling to support local that will provide State local, and Trib- what it is. Marcelle tells me what the
and state-wide economies that are in- al government with additional re- doctors and nurses face in a situation
creasingly hit with store closures and sources to address this pandemic, all like this. I pray that neither you nor I,
business suspensions. Unfortunately, with an important small State min- nor any other Member of this body will
the Federal Government—starting with imum to help states like Vermont. have to face what they face on the
the President—has failed to offer clear I think of our own Governor, Repub- frontlines of a crisis like this one. We
leadership to navigate this crisis. lican Governor, who has worked so should go forward and pass this bill and
But today marks a turning point, hard to help our State. This will give do that today.
thanks to the leadership the Senate him some tools, as it will to our Speak- We must all heed the call of the med-
will show by acting on this bipartisan er of the House and our President pro ical professionals and experts calling
emergency relief package—today, with- tempore of our legislature. for dramatic but essential action to
out delay, and without hesitation. In Vermont, Governor Scott has stop the spread of this virus. That re-
The package before us includes three made the difficult but prudent decision quires leadership—from this Chamber
important pillars. First, it directs eco- to restrict statewide activities only to and from the President of the United
nomic assistance for businesses and essential services, we, too, are feeling States. The eyes of the Nation will
workers. Second, it provides emergency the impact of the coronavirus. With watch how we further manage this cri-
funding to support our over taxed med- over 120 confirmed cases, our small sis. Now is not the time to waiver in
ical system, which is bracing for a State is already reeling from the eco- our resolve to do what is in the best in-
surge in patients as the coronavirus nomic effects. I am pleased that the terest of the citizens whose interests
continues to spread. And finally, it pro- Coronavirus Relief Fund will support we are sworn to protect.
vides critical oversight to ensure that States and that it includes an impor- I yield the floor.
the funding Congress provides goes to tant small State minimum that will I suggest the absence of a quorum.
the people who need it—not to line the have significant impact in Vermont. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
pockets of corporations and executives Through formula grant funding, clerk will call the roll.
who continue to benefit from the most States will benefit from this package. The legislative clerk proceeded to
generous tax cut in history. In Vermont, that will mean $5.4 million call the roll.
We will provide a massive investment through the CDC’s Public Health Emer- Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask
in the unemployment insurance pro- gency Preparedness program; $4.2 mil- unanimous consent that the order for
gram, ensuring that unemployed work- lion for assistance through the Com- the quorum call be rescinded.
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ers can receive a maximum benefit in munity Development Block Grant pro- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
this time of economic crisis. These re- gram; nearly $20 million for public objection, it is so ordered.
forms will also extend unemployment transportation emergency relief; $4.3 Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I see
insurance eligibility for an additional million to provide child care assistance that the Senator from Maryland is on
13 weeks and will allow part-time, self- to those on the frontline of the the floor, and I think he arrived a
employed, and gig economy workers— coronavirus response, including health minute or two before me, so if he would
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S2056 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
like to go first, I would want to give ministration-certified lenders, includ- I want to make clear that these large
him that opportunity. ing certain banks, credit unions, and businesses would be barred from stock
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I other financial institutions, and a buybacks and increasing executive pay
am grateful. I thank the Senator from streamlined process would be created for the duration of the loan, and I fully
Maine, but I am happy to have her go to bring other additional lenders into support those restrictions.
first. the program. Of course, many of those small busi-
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, all The size of the loans would be tied to nesses don’t have shareholders, so the
across the country, Americans are a formula based on the small business’s idea of a stock buyback doesn’t exist.
stepping up in response to the average monthly payroll, and that Some of them that are subchapter S
coronavirus pandemic sweeping our Na- would go back to February 15 since may, but many of them do not.
tion. Doctors and nurses are working that is when the coronavirus really I am also pleased to say that we
endless hours and putting themselves started to come to our country and would cover the sole proprietor, the
at risk to care for the surge in pa- have an impact. independent contractor—those many
tients. Manufacturers, including many The maximum loan amount would be individuals whom we rely upon to
companies in my State, are working $10 million. As long as these small make our economy work.
overtime and retooling their product businesses retain their employees and Following my advocacy, along with
lines to produce medical testing swabs, issue those paychecks—which, keep in Members from other coastal States, I
ventilators, and personal protective mind, also means in many cases that am also pleased that the bill includes
equipment, all of which are vitally those employees will get their health $300 million to assist workers and busi-
needed. Truckers are going above and insurance as well—the portion of the nesses in our Nation’s fisheries, which
beyond, missing time with their fami- loan used to cover payroll and mort- support thousands of jobs in the great
lies so that they can deliver goods gage interest, rent, and utility pay- State of Maine. With this legislation,
needed to restock depleted grocery ments would also be forgiven. harvesters, fishing communities, agri-
shelves. People are looking out for Furthermore—and this is important culture operations, and other fishery-
their neighbors in a safe way. They are to States like those of the Presiding related businesses would be eligible for
checking on them. They are making Officer’s and mine that have large this $300 million in assistance, which
personal sacrifices to help prevent the numbers of tourists coming each year— may include some direct relief pay-
virus from spreading to the most vul- employers with tipped employees ments. This helps protect our food sup-
nerable members of our society. would receive forgiveness for the addi- ply chain. This targeted relief will help
Help is on the horizon for small busi- tional wages paid to such employees. ensure that the families in coastal
nesses and their employees who are In addition, I want to point out that communities who depend on our fish-
facing economic devastation through workers who already lost their jobs due eries can emerge from this crisis. Simi-
no fault of their own. to this crisis can be rehired and paid lar assistance is provided to our farm-
I have talked to small business own- under our program, and that should be ers as well.
ers all across our State, including our goal. This bill also provides more than $30
small mom-and-pop operations like a Mr. President, this vital assistance billion for States, school districts, col-
third-generation diner operated and cannot come a moment too soon. There leges, and universities to help them
owned by the Simones family in Lewis- are so many small businesses that have meet the unexpected expenses that
ton, ME. For the first time ever in already shut down or are on the verge have flowed from the coronavirus cri-
three generations, they have had to of doing so. They are trying to hang on sis. Our K–12 schools will have access
close their doors. They had no choice. just a little longer to avoid laying off to $13.5 billion, which will help them
As Linda Simones told me in tears ear- their employees, who are like members support remote learning and meeting
lier this week: We have never been un- of their own family. In fact, in many the needs of their students.
employed. Our son is unemployed. Our cases, they were members of their own I want to take a moment to recognize
friends who have worked with us at family. the dedication of those teachers, ad-
this diner for years are unemployed. Without this package, we face an un- ministrators, school food-service work-
The agreement finally reached today employment tsunami that could reach ers, and bus drivers who are not only
includes a $377 billion small business as high as 20 percent, according to the making sure that students have access
economic relief plan that Senators Secretary of the Treasury. Not only to remote learning but are making sure
RUBIO, CARDIN, SHAHEEN, and I au- would this cause tremendous harm to that students have access to meals off-
thored as members of the Small Busi- millions of families, but it would also site. This bill provides funding to help
ness Task Force. It is intended to help take a massive toll on the Federal them provide those meals in creative
workers and small businesses just like budget, far exceeding the $377 billion but, unfortunately, more costly ways,
the one owned by the Simones family that we are using for this small busi- such as delivering prepackaged meals
in Lewiston. Our group worked day and ness assistance program to keep work- along bus routes or directly to students
night to get this bipartisan package in- ers paid and employed. in their homes so that they won’t be
cluded in the broader legislation. What we want is to make sure that hungry. We all know how important
I want to do a shout-out to our staff those small businesses survive, that the School Breakfast and School Lunch
because I don’t think they have been to they are here when we transcend this Programs are to our low-income fami-
bed before 4 a.m. in the morning on any crisis, and that their employees are lies.
day in the last week. That is how hard still able to go back to work for them. When colleges and universities made
they have worked too. We don’t want to break that link, that the very tough decision to send stu-
Under our bipartisan approach, small connection. We don’t want those small dents home for the semester, I spoke
businesses would be eligible for a 100- businesses to give up and shutter their with several presidents in Maine, and
percent federally guaranteed emer- doors forever, decimating our down- they told me about the steps they were
gency loan to cover 8 weeks of payroll, towns and causing permanent job loss taking to make sure that their stu-
as well as certain expenses like rent, for the workers who are so much a part dents could still receive a quality edu-
mortgage payments, and utilities. If of their business. cation, albeit online or remotely. They
these businesses keep their employees Larger businesses that are facing were also taking steps—as well they
on the payroll—in other words, they cash flow issues would be eligible for should—to reimburse students and
keep issuing those paychecks—their certain loans so they can avoid laying their families for room and board and
loans would be completely forgiven. off their workers. However, unlike the for shortened travel study programs.
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
Here is how it would work. Small em- small business assistance program, They are investing in the software and
ployers with 500 employees or fewer where they would have their loans for- hardware infrastructures to bring
would be eligible to apply for these fed- given as long as they keep their work- classes online quickly. They are doing
erally guaranteed loans. The loans ers employed, the larger businesses even more than that. The University of
would be available immediately would be required to repay these loans Maine, for example, has partnered with
through existing Small Business Ad- in full. the State to prepare its dorms and its
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2057
facilities for emergency uses, if nec- tients the home healthcare that they cause we don’t want any American to
essary. need. That is a critical improvement at say: I am not going to get tested even
So the direct aid to colleges and uni- a time when our healthcare system is though I feel like I might have the
versities is needed to help these insti- being put to the test and when people symptoms. I am not going to get tested
tutions offset these sudden revenue are being told they need to stay in because I can’t afford it.
losses and unexpected costs. There is their own homes to avoid spreading the It is putting both themselves and
also temporary flexibility applied to virus. others in the community at risk. So we
student aid and to student loans that The list of benefits that will be felt said we have to make sure these tests
also will be very helpful. in communities across the country are free.
This agreement is not only a lifeline goes on and on. We also provided sick leave because
for workers, small businesses, and It is imperative that we pass this bill we don’t want anybody going to work
schools, it builds on the previous two tonight. Every day, more small busi- when they feel sick and they have the
packages that Congress has passed to nesses are forced to close their doors. virus if going to work is the only way
promote the health and safety of Amer- Every day, Americans are losing their they can put food on the table, by get-
icans. jobs and their income. Every day, med- ting a paycheck. So we said: Look, stay
It makes substantial investment in ical professionals are increasingly at home, and we will provide for paid
our Nation’s health system, biomedical overwhelmed by the exponential rise in leave.
research, and education, including a cases. There was a gap—a big gap—in that
$130 billion infusion for our hospitals (Mrs. LOEFFLER assumes the chair.) that still needs to be addressed.
and healthcare providers who are The package we are voting to ad- We took some important measures in
struggling to cope with this influx of vance tonight will bolster our phase 1 and phase 2, and now here we
patients. healthcare system, infuse funds into are this evening on phase 3, where we
It provides $20 billion for additional biomedical research that will ulti- are not only providing additional dol-
resources for veterans’ healthcare. mately produce a vaccine and effective lars to fight the coronavirus and the
It authorizes an $11 billion catalyst treatments, shore up our economy and health emergency but also dealing with
toward the development of an effective our businesses, support those who are the economic fallout, which is growing
vaccine and therapeutics. unemployed, strengthen the link be- by the day. I am not going to go
It provides $1 billion for community tween employers and their employees, through all the provisions that do that.
services block grants to support crit- save millions of jobs of those employed I will say that this bill is far from
ical social service programs for mil- by small businesses, and help prevent a perfect. This is not a bill I would have
lions of low-income individuals. devastating recession, perhaps even a written. I dare say it is probably not
It gives the Centers for Disease Con- depression, in this country. the bill that any one Senator would
trol additional funding to enhance its Let us not squander this momentum have written. But with all its flaws, it
vital work. when we are so close to getting this does some very important things that
It assists communities responding to done for the American people. I urge are absolutely necessary during this
greater demands for services with an my colleagues to join me in passing national emergency.
increase of $5 billion for community this critical legislation. There has been a lot of talk tonight
development block grants. That comes I yield the floor. about the unemployment compensation
from the subcommittee that I chair. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- provision. Those are absolutely essen-
It helps with transit systems. ator from Maryland is recognized. tial as a lifeline to workers who each
There is widespread help for those Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Presi- day are losing their jobs around the
who are homeless or who are among dent, as other Senators have men- country in many industries. It is abso-
the most vulnerable in our population. tioned, we see our fellow Americans lutely essential that in that process,
It strengthens the low-income home uniting around the country to fight the people who are out of work through no
heating assistance program. That is coronavirus and to help those in need. fault of their own are still able to pay
something Senator JACK REED and I Most of all, we are grateful to the men their bills, their rent or their mort-
have long worked together on. We and women in healthcare, the gage, keep the lights on, get food, and
don’t want families and seniors making healthcare workers on the frontlines of that is why we are working to make
impossible choices between heating this fight—the nurses, the doctors, all sure they have real replacement in-
their homes and buying food or medi- the other staff in hospitals and commu- come during this 4-month emergency
cine. nity health centers and in clinics who period.
This package also contains two addi- are putting themselves and their own The provisions regarding small busi-
tional pieces of legislation that I have health at risk to help their fellow nesses and middle-size businesses are
introduced and championed. Americans. very important too. I am sure we are
First, it contains provisions from the We in the Senate, like our fellow all hearing from folks who already had
Mitigating Emergency Drug Shortages, Americans, must come together to do to close their doors because when there
or MEDS, Act—legislation I authored the right thing for the country at this are no customers coming in the door,
that would help prevent a shortage of moment in time—to provide a surge of there are no sales, no income, and so if
vital medication. I was shocked to help to those on the frontlines of the you are a small business, you can’t
learn that 72 percent of the facilities coronavirus fight and to help those make your debt payments and you
that make vital active pharmaceutical who are suffering from the economic can’t make payroll. So this bill does
ingredients for our market here in fallout, workers and small businesses have a lot of very important provisions
America are located overseas. Thirteen and midsize businesses and others who in it with respect to small businesses.
percent of these facilities are in China. are absolutely getting clobbered as we I am really glad that we moved, with
We just can’t have that. We need far all try to fight this virus together. respect to small businesses, to loans
greater visibility into that supply sys- Congress must unite this evening, as only—to loans that would be forgiven
tem. we have on two prior occasions during so long as the small businesses spent
It also contains a bill I have long ad- this emergency when we came together those monies to, one, maintain payroll
vocated for—the Home Health Care to pass phase 1 to provide emergency, or rehire people if they have already
Planning Improvement Act. It will immediate healthcare support to pub- had to let them go, and, two, to pay es-
allow nurse practitioners, physician as- lic health entities and to provide more sential bills. Just adding more loans
sistants, and others to certify patients funds to do research on a vaccine for and debt onto small businesses would
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as needing home health services. Now the coronavirus and more funds for re- only be like an anchor around their
it is just a physician who can do it search on antivirals to address the necks at the end of a 4-month or what-
even though the physician might not coronavirus. ever period it may be. They wouldn’t
be the primary care provider, particu- Then we passed phase 2, the Families be able to dig themselves out of that
larly in rural areas. That will remove First Coronavirus Response Act, where hole. It was very important to have
needless delays in getting Medicare pa- we made sure that testing was free be- loans that will be forgiven so long as
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S2058 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2020
the loans are used for the intended pur- States. There are more residents in the But, overall, we need this bill for the
poses. District of Columbia, the Nation’s Cap- country. We need it because we have a
We also made important provisions ital, than the State of Wyoming and national emergency, both on the
for nonprofits that hire millions of the State of Vermont. They were left healthcare front and the economic
Americans and as well for midsize busi- out of that category they are usually front.
nesses. put in, and instead they were put into So I hope, going away from here, as
With respect to some of the largest a formula with Puerto Rico, the Virgin we come together and I hope do the
industries in the country that have Islands, American Samoa, and some of right thing with a large vote, that
been hard hit, it is appropriate to also the territories. there will be some Senators, whoever
give them help, but it is also important The net effect of that—the net effect were part of negotiating that deal and
that as we do that, we safeguard the of putting the people in the Nation’s who said, no, we are going to short-
American taxpayer and the public in- Capital in that formula versus the for- change the people in our Nation’s Cap-
terest. mula with the States—will cost the ital, will feel a little bit ashamed. And
When the proposal first arrived here District of Columbia about $700 mil- I think all those people who didn’t
in the Senate from the White House, lion. That is because that other for- want to change this provision, which is
we were looking at about a $500 billion mula is based entirely on population, easy to change just like that, should
slush fund with no strings attached, no and Puerto Rico has about 3 million feel ashamed.
real accountability, and no real trans- people in it. So when you put the Dis- This is our Nation’s Capital. The peo-
parency. So we tried to tie that down trict of Columbia into that funding ple who live and work here deserve to
so that we will have an inspector gen- kettle, into that funding pot, they get be treated with respect. There is no
eral with subpoena power that will en- shortchanged $700 million. U.S. Senator who represents the people
sure that there will be no stock That is the case even though the peo- of the District of Columbia. Some of us
buybacks with these emergency funds. ple of the District of Columbia send the who live in the surrounding areas work
Now, we are going to still look at the Federal Treasury more tax dollars than hard to do so. I just wish Senators from
fine print, but we have come a long the people of 22 other States. Let me the rest of the country, and especially,
way from the proposed blank check to say that again. The people of the Dis- in this case, apparently, our Repub-
the Secretary of the Treasury, which trict of Columbia send the IRS more lican colleagues, would show a little
was in the bill as it arrived here as pro- tax revenues than the people of 22 respect for the people who live in the
posed by the administration. other States. Yet, when it came time Capitol of this great country.
There is another thing that is in the to write the formula for distributing I yield the floor.
bill that is before us tonight that was emergency funds under the Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I am
not in the bill proposed by the adminis- coronavirus, they weren’t part of the pleased that the final bill includes a
tration, and that is badly needed help kind of funding formulas they nor- stabilization fund for States that the
for States and cities and towns that mally are. pandemic has hit hard. Given the grow-
are on the frontlines of this battle I asked about this because I thought ing dire fiscal emergency States are
across the country. We heard about 5, 6 maybe this would be a simple fix. I facing as a result of the coronavirus, I
days ago from the majority leader: Oh, mean, surely in a bill of $2 trillion in think it is very likely we will need to
well, let’s just wait. Maybe we can do emergency relief, we can do right by come back and do more. States not
that sometime down the road. the people of the District of Columbia only are fighting a growing pandemic,
Well, we heard from a bipartisan and not shortchange them $700 million. but also a bottoming out of State reve-
group of Governors through the Na- The answer I got back was no. No, no, nues from a lack of sales taxes, as a re-
tional Governors Association that they this was not a mistake. This was not sult of responsible social distancing en-
need that help now. I am sure you have an oversight. Republican negotiators couraged by the Federal Government,
all been fielding calls from your elect- insisted on shortchanging the people of and income taxes, as a result of the De-
ed officials, your Governors and others, the District of Columbia. If I am wrong partment of Treasury delaying the tax
about how they desperately need addi- about that, it would be a very easy fix filing deadline by 3 months. We all are
tional help to fight this virus. I am in an amendment that could be offered monitoring the situation closely and
glad this bill contains $150 billion to by the majority leader and, I am sure, will provide further aid if needed.
help those States. accepted unanimously—accepted For most States, maybe all of them,
I want to raise tonight something unanimously—except for the fact that what they need to do with this money
that I discovered about this bill just a this actually was a point that was ne- will be completely obvious, and we
few hours ago that gives me real heart- gotiated. defer to the sound judgment of the
burn and actually, I believe, reflects I am not going to hold up a $2 trillion States. Out of an abundance of caution,
badly on this Senate. emergency rescue package that is ur- we included language requiring that
Here is how we distributed the funds gently needed by the country for this, expenditures be related to the
to the States. Each State, regardless of but I think it is shameful. I think it is coronavirus pandemic. This is intended
population, gets $1.2 billion, and then shameful that, in a $2 trillion emer- to avoid a situation in which a State
the remainder of the money—up to $150 gency rescue package, we would short- was to divert these funds to some new,
billion—is distributed to States based change the people right here in the Na- unrelated project that had been re-
on population. You can question tion’s Capital, people whom we see jected as part of the State’s regular
whether that is the best and most ef- coming into work every day, many of budgeting process. We do not want to
fective way to essentially allocate re- the Federal employees who work day in be paying for roads to nowhere or other
sources when you are fighting a and day out for the Federal Govern- trivial expenses.
coronavirus like this, which is more in- ment. Again, for most States, this will not
tense in some places than others, but Many of them live here. Many of be an issue. The coronavirus has ex-
that is not my overall point right now. them live in surrounding States. Many ploded their demand for services and
Here is what we discovered: The peo- of them live all over the country. But strangled their revenue streams so this
ple of the District of Columbia, the for the people who live here, to short- money will just be plugging those
people of the Nation’s Capital, were change them and to do it intentionally holes. No responsible Governor or legis-
left out of that formula. They are is really outrageous. lature is even thinking about new
fighting the coronavirus just like So here we are, coming together, and projects at this time. We understand
Americans in every other State and that is the right thing to do. As I said, that, at this point, all the impacts of
city. They are part of other Federal this bill has many, many flaws and the coronavirus pandemic are merging
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
formulas. For example, title I for edu- many, many problems. I certainly together. We do not intend to subject
cation, highway funds, and other Fed- wouldn’t have written it this way, and States to additional paperwork or arbi-
eral formula dollars go to the people of I would never have done wrong by the trary rules. If a State has needs that it
the District of Columbia. people of the District of Columbia the would not have had without the
The District of Columbia has a popu- way this was intentionally done, appar- coronavirus pandemic, that is more
lation that is higher than 2 of the 50 ently, in this bill. than good enough.
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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2059
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- unprecedented in living memory. Let’s staffs. The past few days have been
jority leader is recognized. stay connected and continue to col- filled with drama. The past few hours
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, laborate on the best ways to keep help- were no exception. I know a few of my
I ask unanimous consent that the clo- ing our States and our country through Republican friends still harbor reserva-
ture motion with respect to the motion this pandemic. Let’s continue to pray tions about voting for this legislation,
to proceed to H.R. 748 be withdrawn. for one another, for all of our families, but when there is a crisis of this mag-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there and for our country. nitude, the private sector cannot solve
objection? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The mi- it. Individuals, even with bravery and
Without objection, it is so ordered. nority leader is recognized. valor, are not powerful enough to beat
The cloture motion was withdrawn. Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I it back. Government is the only force
f will speak for a little bit, briefly. large enough to staunch the bleeding
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS The legislation now before us is his- and begin the healing.
TAX REPEAL ACT OF 2019 toric because it is meant to match a This is a time when the American
historic crisis. Our healthcare system people need their government. This is
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, what we were elected for. The oath we
is not prepared to care for the sick. Our
I ask unanimous consent that the Sen- swear to the Constitution means we
workers are without work. Our busi-
ate proceed to the immediate consider- must protect the general welfare of the
nesses cannot do business. Our fac-
ation of H.R. 748; further, that the only people. So let us marshal this govern-
tories lie idle. The gears of the Amer-
amendments in order be amendments ment into action.
ican economy have ground to a halt.
to be offered by Senator MCCONNELL, There are millions of Americans
Our country has faced immense chal-
No. 1578, and Senator SASSE, No. 1577, watching us right now at home on their
lenges before but rarely so many at the
or their designees; further, that the televisions, separated from friends and
same time.
Senate vote on the Sasse amendment Over the past few days, the Senate family, fearful for their children and
with a 60-affirmative-vote threshold for has stepped into the breach. We packed their livelihoods, unsure of when the
adoption; further, that following dis- weeks or perhaps months of legislative time will come when all of our lives
position of the Sasse amendment, the process into 5 days. Representatives may return to normal. Let us tell them
McConnell amendment, as amended, if from both sides of the aisle and both tonight that help is on the way; that
amended, be agreed to, the bill, as ends of Pennsylvania Avenue have they are not truly alone; that this
amended, be read a third time, and the forged the bipartisan agreement in country, that this Senate, that this
Senate vote on passage of the bill, as highly partisan times with very little government is here for them in a time
amended, with a 60-affirmative-vote time to spare. It has been a long, hard of dire need. This is a strange and evil
threshold for passage; finally, if passed, road with a remarkable number of disease. There is much we still don’t
that the motion to reconsider be con- twists and turns, but for the sake of know about it, and it is keeping us
sidered made and laid upon the table millions of Americans, it will be worth apart. When we pass this bill, instead
and that all rollcall votes in this series it. of hugging each other, we will wave
be 30 minutes in length. It will be worth it to save millions of from a distance.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there None of us can know when this
small businesses and tens of millions of
objection? plague will pass. The only thing we
Without objection, it is so ordered. jobs.
know for sure is that we must summon
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The It will be worth it to see that Ameri-
the same spirit that saw previous gen-
clerk will report the bill. cans who have lost their jobs through
erations through America’s darkest
The senior assistant legislative clerk no fault of their own will be able to pay
hours. Fellowship, sacrifice, fortitude,
read as follows: their rent and mortgages and put food
resilience—that is what it means to be
A bill (H.R. 748) to amend the Internal Rev- on the table because we passed the
an American. With that spirit, this Na-
enue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on greatest expansion of insurance to the
tion faced down war and depression and
high cost employer-sponsored health cov- unemployed in decades.
fear itself. I have no doubt that once
erage. It will be worth it to send gloves and
again America will ultimately prevail.
There being no objection, the Senate masks to our nurses and to our doctors. I yield the floor.
proceeded to consider the bill. It will be worth it to send ventilators The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, and beds to our hospitals and begin re- jority leader is recognized.
I ask unanimous consent that I proceed building the public health infrastruc- AMENDMENT NO. 1578
under my leader time. ture in America—a Marshall Plan in (Purpose: Providing emergency assistance
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without this new century for our medical sys- and health care response for individuals,
objection, it is so ordered. tem. families and businesses affected by the 2020
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, It will be worth it to save industries coronavirus pandemic.)
so here we are, colleagues. For the in- from the brink of collapse in order to Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
formation of all of our Senators, we save the jobs of hundreds of thousands I call up the substitute amendment No.
will first vote on the adoption of the of Americans in those industries. 1578 and ask that it be reported by
Sasse amendment at a 60-vote thresh- It will be worth it to put workers number.
old, and then our second and final vote first. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
will be on passage of the CARES Act, It was a long, hard road. Neither side objection, the clerk will report the
also at a 60-vote threshold. We are can be completely happy with the final amendment by number.
going to pass this bipartisan relief product, but it will be worth it. The senior assistant legislative clerk
package and send it over to the House I am damn proud of the work we did read as follows:
so they can put it on the President’s over the past few days because we put The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. MCCON-
desk. in the work. Because we tested the lim- NELL] proposes an amendment numbered
When the Senate adjourns this its of exhaustion, because we didn’t im- 1578.
evening, our next scheduled vote will mediately accept the bill drafted by (The amendment is printed in today’s
be the afternoon of Monday, April 20. only one party, the legislation before RECORD under ‘‘Text of Amendments.’’)
Of course, during this unprecedented us tonight is better—better for our The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
time for our country, the Senate is healthcare system and 65,000 Ameri- ator from Nebraska is recognized.
going to stay nimble. As always, we cans now afflicted with COVID–19, bet- AMENDMENT NO. 1577
will convene regular pro forma ses- ter for our workers, better for our Mr. SASSE. Madam President, I call
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
sions, and if circumstances require the small businesses, better for our Indian up amendment No. 1577 and ask unani-
Senate to return for a vote sooner than Tribes, better for our economy, and mous consent that it be reported by
April 20, we will provide at least 24 better for the American people. number.
hours’ notice. So I must thank my colleagues on The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
Our Nation obviously is going both sides of the aisle—especially the objection, the amendment will be re-
through a kind of crisis that is totally chairs and ranking members and their ported by number.
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