Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., April 21, 2020)
Summary
Page S2183 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for April 21, 2020, headed Coronavirus. Remarks that open the page warn about the national debt and say that most of the money loaned to small businesses is not a loan and will not be repaid. Sullivan says the Senate is about to vote on the next package, hopes for a vote on the nomination of Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee to be Director of Indian Health Service, and describes F-35s coming to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. McConnell asks unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 12, H.R. 266, under the heading on appropriations for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., April 21, 2020).”
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April 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2183
infectious disease. While the infectious tion that our Nation needed so des- age that we should be working on or
disease experts should be queried, so, perately and that we are trying to pro- even confirming key members of the
too, should economists. We should seek vide more resources because the re- executive branch. I am hopeful that,
counsel about balancing the harm to sources needed had already been spent. just in a couple of minutes, we are
health caused by disease with the harm After that vote, I came to the floor, going to be able to move forward with
to health caused by enforcing dysfunc- and I made a statement that, although Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee’s nom-
tion on the economy—not easy deci- I was proud to have voted for that and ination to be the Director of Indian
sions. proud to have been a part of the nego- Health Service at the Department of
Most importantly, leaders in each tiations for that because our Nation Health and Human Services. As our Na-
State must weigh in on the problem. was going to need it—did need it, des- tive communities are being threatened
New York City’s opening date will be perately—that we knew there would be by COVID–19, having this admiral, who
different from Fargo, ND. We need to mistakes. We knew there would be has got broad support throughout our
get past a one-size-fits-all approach to areas that weren’t covered that should Tribal governments, including in Alas-
infectious disease. have been. We knew elements of that ka, be able to be confirmed right now is
Realize that most of this money that bill would run out of money, as they just one example of the work that I am
is being loaned to small business is not have. hopeful we can be doing.
a loan. Most of this money will not be I made a plea that we should be here So this should be our duty station,
repaid. It will ultimately be considered working on behalf of the people we rep- working around the clock for people we
grants that will be added to our na- resent. Our Governors are back home represent, getting through these un-
tional debt. working hard, doing a good job; but as precedented times, being able to ad-
Let’s be honest about this. Applica- I mentioned, the evening that we dress challenges as they arise—and
tions for the program opened to over- passed the CARES Act, from the per- they are arising every hour, every
whelming initial demand. The current spective of Congress—House and Sen- minute.
data indicates that the money is gone, ate—this should be our duty station as I want to end on a positive note—
so now, here we are again, with leader- we address these unprecedented chal- speaking of duty station—a good news
ship from both parties saying, Let’s do lenges, and I still believe that. We have story that involves the people of inte-
another $300 billion, what is another heard about the difficulties that could rior Alaska and our wonderful U.S.
couple hundred billion dollars? But re- come with voting and having Members military. Right now, literally as we
alize the money desired is not money of Congress catch COVID–19, but we speak, there are two F–35s that have
we have saved for a rainy day. This can do this safely. We can vote safely. left Texas—brand new—coming to
money doesn’t exist anywhere. It will As Senator LEE mentioned earlier, Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. Fif-
be created or borrowed. Even more Americans all over the country are on teen years ago, Eielson Air Force Base
alarming than the money is the idea the frontlines—truck drivers, was on the verge of being shut down.
that one Senator can stand on the floor healthcare workers, grocery store at- The interior Alaska communities of
and pass legislation spending a half- tendants—helping their fellow Ameri- Fairbanks, North Pole, and so many
trillion dollars and have no recorded cans. If they can be doing that, I think leaders fought that. They said, No, this
vote and no debate. we should be here working on behalf of is a strategic location for our military,
Look, I understand the hardships of them. we shouldn’t shut this down.
Senators returning from around the There is so much more to do. We need Now, these communities today will
country, so I have not invoked the Sen- to be nimble. Let me give you an exam- be receiving the first of 54 F–35s, two
ate rules to demand a recorded vote. I ple. The energy sector right now— squadrons. I want to commend, not just
did return today, though, so that his- hugely important to my State—is my fellow Alaskans for their grit and
tory will record that not everyone gave being decimated because of what is determination to make this day hap-
in to the massive debt Congress is cre- happening globally with regard to en- pen—a huge day in my State—but the
ating. My hope is that, across the ergy prices. Great workers are being U.S. military. The U.S. military, a
country, there will remain a vibrant laid off. Small businesses in many sec- year and a half ago, said the F–35s will
voice for limited government for our tors in Alaska like tourism are at a start coming to Alaska in April 2020.
constitutional Republic. I don’t want huge risk. Had we been here—you Despite this pandemic, that is what is
to see this massive accumulation of know, there is a lot of talk right now happening today—remarkable grit and
debt destroy this great country. My ad- about the delay—the minority leader, determination of my fellow Alaskans
vice to the Senate and to the American Speaker PELOSI, wouldn’t have had an but also remarkable service to our Na-
people is let’s be aware of what we are excuse to delay the funding for the tion by the U.S. Air Force delivering
doing by creating all this new debt, and PPP for 12 days. How many small busi- these F–35s on time. That will make
let’s think before we jump to a terrible, nesses and jobs were lost because of my State have over 100 fifth generation
terrible conclusion. that delay? We will never know, but I fighters protecting our country. So
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- am sure it was in the thousands. this is an inspiring story, as we are
ator from Alaska. I am reading a book right now, hearing all kinds of inspiring stories
f ‘‘1776,’’ by David McCullough. It is throughout our Nation, throughout
about the incredible challenges that these challenging times.
CORONAVIRUS our Nation went through at the birth But in my view, we should be ready
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, we of our Nation. It is mostly about to help these great people that we lead
are going to vote here in a minute on George Washington and the tough bat- and that we serve to get them through
the next package that is going to try tles he led and fought. He lost a lot of these unprecedented times.
to help our Nation address these un- them in New York. I yield the floor.
precedented challenges. I want to One remarkable thing about that The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
thank the majority leader, the White book is, for almost the entire year in pore. The majority leader.
House, and the Democrats who have 1776, the Continental Congress was ac- f
come forward to do this. tually in session directing General
It is very important that we are Washington. They were in Philadelphia MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR
doing this. In my view, as the leader at enormous risk as the British were THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTE-
said, we should have done this 12 days closing in on them. But as the war was RIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RE-
ago. We are facing unprecedented chal- raging for most of that year—that re- LATED AGENCIES FOR THE FIS-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE
lenges. When we passed the CARES Act markable year of 1776—they were work- CAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER
4 weeks ago—and I think Leader ing. 30, 2019
MCCONNELL did an incredible job bring- We have so much more work to do for Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
ing the U.S. Senate together on a vote our Nation in these unprecedented ask unanimous consent that the Sen-
of 96–0, as Minority Leader SCHUMER times, whether it is confirming judges ate proceed to immediate consider-
mentioned with regard to this legisla- or phase four of an infrastructure pack- ation of Calendar No. 12, H.R. 266.
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