Congressional Record — Senate, S2063 (March 25, 2020)

Summary

Page S2063 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for March 25, 2020, in interleaved columns. The text prints a bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act of 2019, with a study of website accessibility for individuals with disabilities due within 180 days. A resolution with whereas clauses honors the doctors, nurses and other health workers working to create tests and find a cure for COVID-19. Section text on pandemic emergency unemployment compensation caps weekly benefit amounts at average weekly wages, and a waiver of the 7-day waiting period under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act is listed.

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“Congressional Record — Senate, S2063 (March 25, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-03-25-crec-2020-03-25-pt1-pgs2063-4-622fb1e41d/, SHA-256 e4d69bff6c06f10e3fe40c5ecb733b49fa72fe2548a53a6a18f4147f5d4c28e9.

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March 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2063
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Whereas public health officials have (c) PANDEMIC EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department worked to educate their communities and COMPENSATION.—Notwithstanding section
of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act implement policies that will curb the com- 2107, in no case may an individual’s average
of 2019’’. munal spread of COVID–19; and weekly benefit amount described in 2107(b)(3)
SEC. 2.STUDY ON THE ACCESSIBILITY OF Whereas every individual in the health (including the increase under section 2104)
WEBSITES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF care community, which includes doctors, exceed the amount of the average weekly
VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INDIVID- nurses, custodial staff, administrative staff, wages for which the individuals’s average
UALS WITH DISABILITIES. registered nurses, patient care assistants, weekly benefit amount (determined without
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after public health officials, mental health profes- regard to such increase) is based.
the date of the enactment of this Act, the sionals, researchers, lab technicians, and
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a many others, has acted with excellence and SA 1578. Mr. MCCONNELL proposed
study of all websites of the Department of professionalism to ensure that the citizens of an amendment to the bill H.R. 748, to
Veterans Affairs to determine whether such the United States receive the care they need amend the Internal Revenue Code of
websites are accessible to individuals with to get the United States through the COVID–
disabilities in accordance with section 508 of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high
19 crisis: Now, therefore, be it cost employer-sponsored health cov-
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Resolved, That the Senate—
794d). (1) observes that the spirit of the United erage; as follows:
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after States remains resilient in the face of the Strike all after the enacting clause and in-
completing the study under subsection (a), crisis caused by Coronavirus disease 2019 (re- sert the following:
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee ferred to in this resolution as ‘‘COVID–19’’); SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the (2) expresses gratitude to the people of the This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coronavirus
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House United States for doing their part to stop the Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’’ or
of Representatives a report on such study. spread of COVID–19; and the ‘‘CARES Act’’.
(c) ELEMENTS.—The report required by sub- (3) salutes health care professionals across SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
section (b) shall include the following: the United States.
(1) A list of each website described in sub- The table of contents for this Act is as fol-
section (a) that is not accessible to individ- f lows:
uals with disabilities in accordance with sec- AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND Sec. 1. Short title.
tion 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 Sec. 2. Table of contents.
PROPOSED Sec. 3. References.
U.S.C. 794d).
(2) For each website identified in the list SA 1577. Mr. SASSE (for himself, Mr. GRA- DIVISION A—KEEPING WORKERS PAID
HAM, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mr. SCOTT AND EMPLOYED, HEALTH CARE SYS-
under paragraph (1)—
(A) the plan of the Secretary to bring the of Florida, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. JOHNSON, Mrs. TEM ENHANCEMENTS, AND ECONOMIC
website into compliance with the require- BLACKBURN, and Mr. LEE) proposed an STABILIZATION
ments of section 508 of the Rehabilitation amendment to amendment SA 1578 proposed
TITLE I—KEEPING AMERICAN WORKERS
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d); and by Mr. MCCONNELL to the bill H.R. 748, to
PAID AND EMPLOYED ACT
(B) a description of the barriers to bringing amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
repeal the excise tax on high cost employer- Sec. 1101. Definitions.
the website into compliance with the re- Sec. 1102. Paycheck protection program.
quirements of such section, including any sponsored health coverage.
SA 1578. Mr. MCCONNELL proposed an Sec. 1103. Entrepreneurial development.
barriers relating to vacant positions at the Sec. 1104. State trade expansion program.
amendment to the bill H.R. 748, supra.
Department of Veterans Affairs. SA 1579. Mr. MCCONNELL (for Mr. MORAN) Sec. 1105. Waiver of matching funds require-
(d) WEBSITE DEFINED.—In this section, the ment under the women’s busi-
proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 3504,
term ‘‘website’’ includes the following: ness center program.
to amend title 38, United States Code, to pro-
(1) A file attached to a website. Sec. 1106. Loan forgiveness.
vide for improvements to the specially
(2) A web-based application. Sec. 1107. Direct appropriations.
adapted housing program of the Department
(3) A kiosk at a medical facility of the De- Sec. 1108. Minority business development
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
partment of Veterans Affairs, the use of agency.
which is required to check in for scheduled f Sec. 1109. United States Treasury Program
appointments. TEXT OF AMENDMENTS Management Authority.
Sec. 1110. Emergency EIDL grants.
f SA 1577. Mr. SASSE (for himself, Mr. Sec. 1111. Resources and services in lan-
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS GRAHAM, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, guages other than English.
Mr. SCOTT of Florida, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. Sec. 1112. Subsidy for certain loan pay-
JOHNSON, Mrs. BLACKBURN, and Mr. ments.
SENATE RESOLUTION 554—RECOG- Sec. 1113. Bankruptcy.
LEE) proposed an amendment to Sec. 1114. Emergency rulemaking authority.
NIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF amendment SA 1578 proposed by Mr.
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TITLE II—ASSISTANCE FOR AMERICAN
MCCONNELL to the bill H.R. 748, to WORKERS, FAMILIES, AND BUSINESSES
DURING THE 2020 CORONAVIRUS amend the Internal Revenue Code of
PANDEMIC Subtitle A—Unemployment Insurance
1986 to repeal the excise tax on high Provisions
Mr. CRAMER submitted the fol- cost employer-sponsored health cov- Sec. 2101. Short title.
lowing resolution; which was referred erage; as follows: Sec. 2102. Pandemic Unemployment Assist-
to the Committee on Health, Edu- At the end of subtitle A of title II of divi- ance.
cation, Labor, and Pensions: sion A, insert the following: Sec. 2103. Emergency unemployment relief
S. RES. 554 SEC. 2117. UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS MAY NOT for governmental entities and
EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF WAGES nonprofit organizations.
Whereas, on March 11, 2020, the World THE INDIVIDUAL WAS EARNING Sec. 2104. Emergency increase in unemploy-
Health Organization declared the outbreak PRIOR TO BECOMING UNEMPLOYED. ment compensation benefits.
of Coronavirus disease 2019 (referred to in (a) PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSIST- Sec. 2105. Temporary full Federal funding of
this preamble as ‘‘COVID–19’’) a pandemic; ANCE.—Notwithstanding section 2101, in no the first week of compensable
Whereas, on March 13, 2020, President Don- case may the total amount of the weekly as- regular unemployment for
ald Trump declared a national emergency, sistance applicable to an individual under States with no waiting week.
mobilizing the entire United States in the paragraph (1) or (2) of section 2102 (including Sec. 2106. Emergency State staffing flexi-
fight against COVID–19; the increase under section 2104) exceed the bility.
Whereas doctors and nurses across the amount of the individual’s average weekly Sec. 2107. Pandemic emergency unemploy-
United States have worked tirelessly to com- wages for an appropriate period prior to the ment compensation.
bat COVID–19, setting up testing facilities receipt of assistance under such section, as Sec. 2108. Temporary financing of short-
and providing constant top-notch care to in- determined by the Secretary of Labor. time compensation payments in
dividuals who have been infected; (b) FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT States with programs in law.
Whereas mental health professionals have COMPENSATION.—Notwithstanding section Sec. 2109. Temporary financing of short-
continued to provide excellent therapy and 2104, in no case may the sum of the weekly time compensation agreements.

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counseling services, even in the face of the amount described in subparagraphs (A) (reg- Sec. 2110. Grants for short-time compensa-
unique challenges presented by social ular compensation) and (B) (Federal pan- tion programs.
distancing across the United States; demic unemployment compensation) of sec- Sec. 2111. Assistance and guidance in imple-
Whereas researchers and lab technicians tion 2104(b)(1) for an individual exceed the menting programs.
have been working around the clock to cre- amount of the individual’s average weekly Sec. 2112. Waiver of the 7-day waiting period
ate tests, find a treatment, and, ultimately, wages for which the amount described in for benefits under the Railroad
find a cure for COVID–19; such subparagraph (A) is based. Unemployment Insurance Act.

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