Congressional Record, House, April 23, 2020 — Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Rule
Summary
Pages H1907 to H1909 of the House section of the Congressional Record for April 23, 2020, which opens with the House called to order by the Speaker pro tempore. McGovern reports from the Committee on Rules on House Resolution 938, which provides for adoption of House Resolution 935 establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as a select investigative subcommittee. In debate McGovern cites more than $2 trillion in emergency relief and raises SNAP benefits and a proposal for operating remotely. The previous question is ordered, and Cole demands the yeas and nays.
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“Congressional Record, House, April 23, 2020 — Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Rule.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-04-23-crec-2020-04-23-pt1-pgh1907-7-59c125dc22/
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Congressional Record
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020 No. 77
House of Representatives
The House met at 10 a.m. and was PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE distinguished ranking member of the
called to order by the Speaker pro tem- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Rules Committee, pending which I
pore (Ms. CASTOR of Florida). Chair will lead the House in the Pledge yield myself such time as I may con-
f of Allegiance. sume. During consideration of this res-
The SPEAKER pro tempore led the olution, all time yielded is for the pur-
DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER
Pledge of Allegiance as follows: pose of debate only.
PRO TEMPORE
GENERAL LEAVE
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I
United States of America, and to the Repub-
fore the House the following commu- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, ask unanimous consent that all Mem-
nication from the Speaker: indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. bers be given 5 legislative days to re-
WASHINGTON, DC,
f vise and extend their remarks.
April 23, 2020.
I hereby appoint the Honorable KATHY CAS-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- objection to the request of the gen-
TOR to act as Speaker pro tempore on this
day. VIDING FOR ADOPTION OF H. tleman from Massachusetts?
NANCY PELOSI, RES. 935, ESTABLISHING A SE- There was no objection.
Speaker of the House of Representatives. LECT SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker,
f CORONAVIRUS CRISIS before we get into the resolution before
Mr. MCGOVERN, from the Com- us, I want to speak to my colleagues
PRAYER about an important issue.
mittee on Rules, submitted a privi-
The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick leged report (Rept. No. 116–419) on the Over the last several weeks, I have
J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: resolution (H. Res. 938) providing for heard from Democrats and Repub-
Merciful God, thank You for giving the adoption of the resolution (H. Res. licans, who have expressed concern
us another day. Send Your spirit of 935) establishing a Select Sub- that we, as a House, are not adequately
peace and comity among the Members committee on the Coronavirus Crisis as prepared to do our business during a
of the people’s House. These are days of a select investigative subcommittee of pandemic. They are right.
great political, social, and economic the Committee on Oversight and Re- Over a month ago, I prepared a report
stress in our Nation, and those whose form, which was referred to the House that I sent to everyone in the House—
work is to legislate through this pan- Calendar and ordered to be printed. Democrats and Republicans—about
demic are naturally under considerable possible ways that we could operate re-
pressure. Give us all patience, espe- f motely. I received constructive feed-
cially with one another. PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF H. back from both sides of the aisle, and
May all our citizens, in the midst of RES. 935, ESTABLISHING A SE- this week I released text of a proposal
great turmoil, be filled with gratitude LECT SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE that I hoped could have been voted on
for those in our Nation whose work CORONAVIRUS CRISIS today.
must go on when it would be so easy The Republican leader had some ob-
Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, by jections to that proposal, and our
not to assume their responsibility to
direction of the Committee on Rules, I Speaker has agreed to continue the
do so. Continue to bless those whose
call up House Resolution 938 and ask conversation for 2 more weeks. I have
life’s work is in service to public safe-
for its immediate consideration. always believed that, whenever pos-
ty, be it police, medical professionals,
The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- sible, any changes to our rules should
or those producing and delivering our
lows: be bipartisan, and I still believe that.
daily necessities.
May everything done this day be for H. RES. 938 However, the status quo, in my opin-
Your greater honor and glory. Resolved, That House Resolution 935 is ion, is unacceptable and dangerous. I
Amen. hereby adopted. am not talking about to Members of
f The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Congress; more importantly, it is dan-
tleman from Massachusetts is recog- gerous to everyone we come in contact
THE JOURNAL nized for 1 hour. with.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, for The year is 2020. Technology has ad-
ant to section 7(a) of House Resolution the purpose of debate only, I yield the vanced and improved considerably over
891, the Journal of the last day’s pro- customary 30 minutes to the gen- the last 231 years. And, yes, there are
ceedings is approved. tleman from Oklahoma (Mr. COLE), the problems with some of the technology
b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m.
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Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.
H1907
.
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H1908 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 2020
that exists out there, but there are help hospitals and healthcare workers You know, the President and so
low-tech approaches to dealing with re- on the front lines, to expand testing, to many of his allies in the Senate con-
mote participation by our Members, provide every American access to an tinue to block efforts to increase SNAP
and there are higher-tech ways to deal affordable vaccine when it is developed. benefits for hungry people trying to
with it. And we can work that out. And I could go on and on and on. put food on the table for their families.
There are smart people in this Con- We need to make sure these resources The demand for food banks right now
gress who can figure all of this out. But are going where Congress intended, wraps around city blocks in some
I believe both sides of the aisle need to that they are helping struggling Amer- places. We have seen it on TV. The
have some urgency in addressing this icans and small businesses without any lines go for miles. This is a crisis of
issue, especially in light of the state- rampant fraud or abuse, and that com- food insecurity that we haven’t seen in
ments by the head of the CDC and panies aren’t taking part in price- this country since the Great Depres-
other medical experts, that things gouging or profiteering. sion.
could be very problematic come the That is what this Select Sub- Madam Speaker, whatever happened
fall. I hope and I pray that that is not committee on the Coronavirus is all to taking care of the neediest among
the case. But we need to be prepared so about. This proactive approach is what us? Maybe the President doesn’t have
that we can do the people’s business. then-Senator Harry Truman spear- to worry about where his next meal is
I also want to publicly acknowledge headed at the dawn of World War II to going to come from, but millions and
my ranking member, the gentleman ensure Federal dollars spent then saved millions and millions of Americans do.
from Oklahoma (Mr. COLE). We don’t lives on the battlefield. They are terrified.
see eye-to-eye on this issue yet, but Well, today the battle is much dif- We should be suspending this admin-
over our years-long working relation- ferent. It is against a worldwide pan- istration’s SNAP cuts. We should be
ship and friendship, we have found demic currently without a vaccine or strengthening nutrition assistance for
common ground many, many times. A preventative treatment. But our ag- those impacted by this pandemic. And
task force is going to be convened gressive oversight should be the same. we should be showing the American
Democratic governors and Republican
today that includes myself, Mr. COLE, people that ending hunger is not a par-
governors all over the country are
the chair and ranking member of the tisan issue. But some on the other side
pleading for more tests, despite the bil-
House Administration Committee, Ms. of Pennsylvania Avenue have chosen
lions we have allocated to provide
LOFGREN, and Mr. DAVIS, as well as instead to take meals away from fami-
them.
Democratic Leader HOYER and Repub- The Republican governor of Mary- lies.
lican Leader MCCARTHY to discuss land has said the lack of available test- Just yesterday the Secretary of Agri-
these matters. ing is the number one stumbling block culture tried to paper over their dis-
I have been saying this for a month, in America. He is absolutely right. graceful record by taking credit for the
and I am going to say it again here The President talks about reopening bill that we passed in a bipartisan way
today: If you are a Member of Congress America, but Madam Speaker, how in Congress. The USDA didn’t increase
and you care about this issue, call me. about first testing America? Without SNAP benefits by 40 percent; the House
I want to hear from Members what that, we can’t fully track and contain Democrats led that charge and, thank-
they think about this critically impor- this virus. We need to make sure that fully, many of my Republican col-
tant matter. the money we provided for testing is leagues supported that in the Families
Now, back to the measure before us. actually going to testing. We need to First bill.
Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, the make sure that our hospitals have all And by the way, while we are at it,
Rules Committee met and reported a the PPE equipment that they need. USDA was in court trying to kick mil-
rule, House Resolution 938, providing In my home city of Worcester in Mas- lions of people off of SNAP through
that upon passage of the rule, H. Res. sachusetts, we recently opened up a their disastrous regulatory scheme.
935, which establishes a Select Sub- field hospital in our convention center. The only thing this administration
committee on the Coronavirus Crisis as The day before we opened, there was has done is to try to push people off of
a select investigative subcommittee of considerable anxiety because they had nutrition assistance. I think it is cold-
the Committee on Oversight and Re- enough PPE maybe to last for a couple hearted and I think it is cruel for the
form is hereby adopted. of days. Now working together with Senate majority leader and others to
Madam Speaker, we are here today as the governor and others, we were able turn their backs on struggling families.
Congress continues responding to the to remedy that situation, but for so That needs to be fixed, and it has to be
biggest public health and economic many of our healthcare institutions, fixed in our next bill. And I hope in
emergency this Nation has seen in 100 for our first responders, trying to find this Chamber, we can come together—
years: The coronavirus pandemic. PPE is like something out of the movie Democrats and Republicans—and deal
What started just weeks ago half a The Hunger Games. States competing with it.
world away is having a devastating im- with States, competing with the Fed- I know that it is unrelated to the un-
pact across our country. No commu- eral Government, people receiving derlying measure here, but hungry
nity has been spared: calls—I know somebody who knows families are being ignored in this coun-
More than 855,000 cases have been somebody in China who might have try. Sadly, even in the best of times,
confirmed; lifesaving masks. Can you maybe fol- poor people oftentimes get ignored by
Nearly 48,000 lives lost as of the time low up that lead? That is not the way this Chamber. I worry that in the worst
we are meeting right now; this is supposed to work. of times, what we are going through
And more than 22 million initial un- In the United States of America, the right now, that these people, these in-
employment claims filed in the past wealthiest Nation on the face of the dividuals, these families become invis-
month. Earth, officials are making cold calls ible. We cannot let that happen. I want
Some regions of our country have to try to get enough equipment to sur- them to know that this House is listen-
now lost as many jobs over the last vive the next surge of patients. Relying ing to them, and we will continue to
month as they did during the worst on the goodwill of people and busi- fight to strengthen the programs they
year of the Great Recession. nesses when they should be able to rely on.
These statistics are not just numbers count on Federal agencies. Congress Now, I don’t know what is radical
on a page, Madam Speaker. These are provided money for this equipment. We about that. Just as I don’t understand
our neighbors. They are our family. need to make sure it is going where it why some on the other side are against
They are our friends. Their health is at is badly needed. a subcommittee that is designed to
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risk, and their economic reality has Madam Speaker, as we talk today make sure that Federal dollars are
changed overnight. Since the start of about what Congress has done, I want spent well.
this pandemic, Congress has provided to take a moment to talk about what
more than $2 trillion in emergency re- it has not done, and that is provide b 1015
lief to get small businesses the finan- enough for hungry families during this I mean, that is what this is about.
cial help that they need to survive, to pandemic. That is it.
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April 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1909
This is an extraordinary time. We and was radio silent since her an- I urge opposition to the rule, and I
have sent trillions of dollars into our nouncement, except for the occasional reserve the balance of my time.
communities. They should be going to media mention. In fact, we did not even Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I
small businesses and not to big cor- know we were meeting on this item include in the RECORD an article, enti-
porations—our workers, not the until the afternoon of the hearing. tled, ‘‘Democrats Pushed for Robust
wealthy and those already well-off. Our That is hardly the way to operate on Oversight of the $2.2 Trillion
workers are the ones who should be our something the Speaker purportedly Coronavirus Aid Package. It Hasn’t
priority. We need to make sure that wants to do in a bipartisan fashion. Happened Yet,’’ detailing the need for
that is what is happening here. Perhaps even more problematic, oversight. The article explains that
If you believe this administration has Madam Speaker, is that I am not sure rapidly approved funds are being spent
done things perfectly, then you have what the end goal of such committee quickly with little monitoring or over-
nothing to fear. But the American peo- will be. Speaker PELOSI claims that the sight.
ple have a lot of questions and they de- proposed select committee will exam- [From TIME, April 17, 2020]
serve answers, and they expect us to ine all aspects of the Federal response DEMOCRATS PUSHED FOR ROBUST OVERSIGHT
live up to our constitutional respon- to the coronavirus pandemic and will OF THE $2.2 TRILLION CORONAVIRUS AID
sibilities with regard to oversight, and provide oversight for Federal dollars PACKAGE. IT HASN’T HAPPENED YET
they deserve to know that their tax being spent in response. (By Alana Abramson)
dollars are being well spent. But Congress already has significant Some of the most heated negotiations be-
Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- oversight tools at our disposal. The tween Democrats and Republicans over last
ance of my time. CARES Act itself established a five- month’s $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief pack-
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield member Congressional Oversight Com- age were over who should watch how that
myself such time as I may consume. mission specifically for that problem. money gets spent. It is the largest emer-
I want to thank my good friend, Mr. That Commission is in addition to Con- gency relief fund the U.S. government has
MCGOVERN, the distinguished chairman ever approved, and concerns over fraud and
gress’ other oversight tools, which in-
abuse were rife. In particular, Democrats
of the House Rules Committee, for clude the House Committee on Over- were outraged that Republicans and the
yielding me the customary 30 minutes. sight and Reform and the oversight White House wanted to let the Treasury De-
Madam Speaker, let me quickly re- subcommittees that exist on most partment distribute $500 billion to industry
spond to my friend’s mention about the other permanent House committees. and states without anyone overseeing the
group that will work on reopening Con- If we already have a separate Over- process, and vowed to block any bill without
gress. I look forward to working with sight Commission specifically for the that safeguard in place.
my friend and our colleagues on that CARES Act and we already have a sep- ‘‘There was this idea that they put forth
particular issue. that there would be a $500 billion slush fund
arate Oversight and Reform Committee
for the Secretary of the Treasury with no ac-
I do want to point out, it is impor- and each committee already has sepa- countability whatsoever. Are you kidding?’’
tant to note, last night we actually did rate oversight committees, what, then, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last month
function as a committee under the is the actual purpose of the proposed after the bill passed the Senate. ‘‘For all re-
chairman’s leadership, and we got our select committee? spect in the world for the Treasury Sec-
work done. We are on the floor right It is entirely plausible for one to con- retary, that was a complete nonstarter.’’
now getting our work done. The execu- clude that this new select committee Ultimately, the bill signed into law by
tive branch is in Washington, D.C., will simply turn into yet another par- President Donald Trump mandates the mas-
right now getting its work done. tisan witch hunt aimed at damaging sive tranche of aid will be overseen through
three key mechanisms: an inspector general
The President and the Vice President the President. at the Treasury Department to oversee that
aren’t hunkered down in Cheyenne There may be a time in the future $500 billion Treasury fund, and Congress and
Mountain. They are in the West Wing when it makes sense to establish a executive branch panels, which will also
working every day. The Joint Chiefs of commission, like the 9/11 Commission, monitor the Treasury fund and broadly over-
Staff are in the Pentagon, working to review the COVID–19 pandemic and see the law’s implementation, respectively.
every day. Every Cabinet member is the government response. I actually But more than two weeks later, after hun-
working every day. support doing that at an appropriate dreds of billions of dollars have already
I just say that to note that other peo- time. But such a commission needs to flown out the door through the Paycheck
Protection Program, the Treasury’s Inspec-
ple are able to get their jobs done with be truly bipartisan and devoted to tor General post has not yet been confirmed
appropriate changes and appropriate what happened and what we can learn by the Senate and the two panels are not
precautions, so I rule nothing in or out. from it to improve government re- fully staffed. Congress is preoccupied with
I look forward to listening to my col- sponses for the future. This select com- the unprecedented task of managing dueling
league, but I do think we are capable of mittee doesn’t meet that test. public health and economic crises remotely,
working in the House of Representa- Before I reserve my time, later and Trump, whose administration has
tives, and I will be extraordinarily cau- today, the House will be voting on the blocked Congressional oversight for years,
tious about giving up procedures and Paycheck Protection Program and has already threatened to scuttle the proc-
precedents that are 230-plus years old. ess. When he signed the bill into law in
Health Care Enhancement Act. This bi-
March, he said he would not allow the In-
Madam Speaker, we are here today to partisan bill is the next step and fol- spector General overseeing the executive
consider a rule that creates Speaker low-up to the CARES Act, which Con- branch’s committee to submit reports to
PELOSI’s proposed select committee on gress passed a few weeks ago. Congress without his supervision, arguing it
the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this Today’s bill includes $310 billion for was unconstitutional.
month, Speaker PELOSI announced that the Paycheck Protection Program, a ‘‘It’s incredibly problematic . . . those
she would create this select com- critical program for protecting small oversight mechanisms don’t do us much good
mittee, conveniently ignoring that any businesses and their employees. It also if they aren’t functioning,’’ Liz Hempowicz,
such select committee must be estab- includes $75 billion for hospitals on the Director of Public Policy at the Project on
Government Oversight, wrote in an e-mail to
lished through the Rules Committee front line of the coronavirus pandemic TIME. ‘‘This money is being spent incredibly
and, ultimately, through a vote on the and a further $25 billion for quickly. The (Small Business Administra-
House floor. coronavirus testing. tion) has already spent the $349 billion dol-
Yesterday, the Rules Committee met Refilling the Paycheck Protection lars allocated to the Paycheck Protection
on extremely short notice to, essen- Program account will help countless Program. It’s imperative that these over-
tially, rubberstamp the Speaker’s ac- small businesses and their employees sight mechanisms are fully functional so we
tion. This was particularly egregious across the country, including hundreds can have confidence that this money won’t
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considering that, up until right before in my district. Frankly, refilling this be lost to waste, fraud, or abuse.’’
The group with the broadest oversight ju-
we met, we had absolutely no details important account could not come
risdiction in the $2.2 trillion CARES Act is
on the proposal. soon enough. It should have happened a the executive branch panel, called the Pan-
In the last month, the Speaker gave week ago. But I am fully supportive of demic Response Accountability Committee.
the minority no notice of her plans, no this important bill, and I look forward Glenn Fine, who was acting Inspector Gen-
indication of her rationale or vision, to voting in favor of it later today. eral at the Pentagon, was quickly appointed
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H1910 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 2020
to lead the committee at the end of last ‘‘Our watching eyes can help ensure that the garding the House Ways and Means Commit-
month but was removed by Trump just a money broadly benefits American families,’’ tee’s efforts to obtain President Trump’s tax
week later. The President did not provide a he wrote. ‘‘There isn’t time to waste.’’ returns. The administration has also with-
specific reason, but Fine’s ouster was part of Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I held information related to White House se-
a broader re-shuffling of watchdogs. curity clearances, natural disaster relief ef-
Although the committee is composed of include for the RECORD an article, enti- forts, and other areas of potential mis-
nearly two dozen inspectors general who tled, ‘‘Congressional Oversight of the conduct.
have been appointed, the top spot remains CARES Act Could Prove Trouble- Second, both the House and Senate are on
vacant. The law mandates that Michael some,’’ detailing the need for over- recess and it remains unclear when they will
Horowitz, the Inspector General for the De- sight. The article says oversight will return. Once members come back to Wash-
partment of Justice who heads the Council of help limit fraud and accelerate effec- ington, the number of committee hearings
the Inspectors General on Integrity and Effi- they hold will likely be lower than normal
tive use of appropriated funds.
ciency, appoint a new head, but he has not with social distancing recommendations re-
yet announced Fine’s replacement. A spokes- [From Brookings, April 15, 2020] maining in effect.
person for Horowitz did not respond to a CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF THE CARES Hearings are an essential part of
query about when a new replacement would ACT COULD PROVE TROUBLESOME Congress’s oversight mandate as they pro-
be named. vide lawmakers with a public platform to
(By Jackson Gode) question administration officials that many
On April 4, Trump announced that he had
appointed Brian Miller to serve as the In- On March 27th, President Trump signed rank-and-file members do not receive on a
spector General for the Treasury depart- the CARES Act providing for more than $2 day-to-day basis. In place of hearings, mem-
ment. Miller has over 15 years of federal ex- Trillion in federal spending in response to bers will have to rely more heavily on writ-
perience; he spent nine years as the Inspec- the COVID–19 crisis. Overseeing the outlay of ten correspondence. While letters have the
tor General for the General Services Admin- relief funding from the bill will be no easy potential to be more effective than hearings
istration, working under former Presidents task, given its size, complexity and the back- at obtaining detailed information, recipients
George W. Bush and Barack Obama. But drop of the 2020 election. are only legally required to respond to in-
since 2018, he has worked as a Special Assist- However, this is not the first time that a quiries from committee chairs.
ant to the President and Senior Associate major government rescue package has in- The current administration has made a
Counsel in the White House counsel’s office. cluded oversight measures. The 2008 Emer- habit of ignoring written information re-
His tenure there coincided with some of the gency Economic Stabilization Act created quests and it remains too soon to tell wheth-
White House counsel’s most high profile the office of the Special Inspector General er COVID–19 oversight will be met with simi-
feuds with House Democrats in their over- for the Targeted Asset Relief Program the lar resistance. Documents released by the
sight probes, including Trump’s impeach- powers of which were strengthened by the House Oversight and Reform Committee on
SIGTARP Act of 2009. In just over a decade, the availability of medical supplies from the
ment last December.
Democrats lambasted Miller’s appoint- SIGTARP has recovered $11 Billion in federal government’s stockpile suggest that
ment, arguing that a Trump staffer would be misspent funds and successfully convicted the administration is responding to at least
unable to exercise the kind of independence 380 fraudulent actors, leading many to con- some inquiries. Partial or private responses
the job requires. ‘‘To nominate a member of sider it a success. however, can make it difficult for commit-
the President’s own staff is exactly the Members of Congress sought to mimic this tees to signal a lack of cooperation to the
wrong type of person to choose for this posi- success by including three major mecha- public.
nisms to oversee spending within the CARES Third, as their efforts to oversee the
tion,’’ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schu-
Act. The Pandemic Response Accountability Trump administration response ramp up,
mer said in a statement after Trump’s an-
Committee will be made up of Inspectors House Democrats may find themselves con-
nouncement. Since confirmations of presi-
General from, at minimum, nine federal fronting intra-party cooperation challenges.
dential appointees now only require a simple Due to the political visibility of the pan-
majority in the Senate, it’s likely that Mil- agencies, and be responsible for oversight of
outlays for the entire bill. A new office with- demic, committee chairs will likely compete
ler will be confirmed despite Democrats’ ob- to demonstrate their willingness to hold the
jections. But since he cannot be confirmed in the Department of the Treasury, the Spe-
cial Inspector General for Pandemic Recov- administration accountable. Coordination
by unanimous consent, lawmakers have to among Democrats will be necessary to en-
physically be in Washington for that to hap- ery, will oversee the $500 billion Treasury
fund for targeted loans to large businesses. sure that panels’ efforts are complementary,
pen—and they are not expected to return rather than competitive.
until May 4th at the earliest. Brian Miller, a White House lawyer and
former GSA Inspector General, has already Conflict between the parties will also cre-
The final component of the oversight ate challenges. The creation of a Select Com-
framework, the Congressional commission, been selected for this role. Finally, a Con-
mittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic already
is also incomplete. The bill mandates that gressional Oversight Commission will in-
seems to be increasing tensions between
the top four leaders in Congress—Schumer, clude four members appointed by party lead-
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D–Calif.) and Minor-
Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch ership in each chamber and a chairperson
ity Leader Kevin McCarthy (R–Calif.) who
McConnell, and House Minority Leader agreed to by the speaker of the House and
indicated that Republicans will object to a
Kevin McCarthy—each select a member for the Senate majority leader. The Commission
unanimous consent request creating the
the panel. The fifth member will chair the will oversee economic stability efforts by the
panel. Speaker Pelosi has signaled the pro-
committee and be jointly selected by Pelosi Treasury Department and the Federal Re-
file she expects the committee’s work to
and McConnell. serve Board.
have by naming Majority Whip Jim Clyburn
Schumer has appointed Bharat The CARES Act also includes funding in-
(D–S.C.) as chair. The committee will have
Ramamurti, who previously worked for Eliz- creases for several preexisting oversight bod-
subpoena power, but the House’s experience
abeth Warren as an economic adviser, on the ies providing more than $140 million for In-
so far this Congress with having to go to
panel. On Friday, McCarthy announced he spectors General offices to investigate var- court to try to enforce subpoenas illustrates
had selected Rep. French Hill, McConnell an- ious aspects of the bill and $20 million in the limits of that tool.
nounced he had chosen Pennsylvania Sen. funds for the Government Accountability Of- Finally, the Trump administration has be-
Pat Toomey, and Pelosi selected Florida fice. come famous for vacancies and ‘‘acting’’ offi-
Rep. Donna Shalala. But as of Friday Even with these mechanisms and funding cials in the highest positions of government.
evening, the chair has not been selected, so increases, Congress will face several unique By tolerating a large number of acting posi-
the panel can’t fully function. Pelosi told re- challenges while conducting substantive tions, the Senate has given up one of its
porters in her weekly press conference on oversight of pandemic relief. most important tools for influencing execu-
Thursday that she and McConnell had agreed First, the Trump Administration has indi- tive branch conduct. On April 3rd, the Presi-
to submit names to each other for their joint cated reluctance to cooperate with oversight dent nominated five individuals to Inspector
pick. inquiries. Immediately after President General positions. However, while the Senate
There are signs that additional oversight Trump signed the CARES Act, the White remains on recess, those roles will continue
of the massive relief package not set up ex- House released a statement outlining his to be served by officials in an acting capac-
pressly in the law is also moving forward. constitutional concerns with the newly cre- ity.
Pelosi has appointed House Majority Whip ated Pandemic Response Accountability Four of the IG offices receiving funding in-
Jim Clyburn to lead the House Select Com- Committee and Special Inspector General for creases from the CARES Act are currently
mittee on the coronavirus crisis, which she Pandemic Recovery. headed by acting officials. Notably, Glenn
says will be a bipartisan committee dedi- This is not the first time that Trump has Fine, the Department of Defense Inspector
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with HOUSE
cated to oversight of all of the funds. And questioned the legitimacy of oversight ef- General who was originally appointed as the
McConnell announced Friday that Idaho forts. The administration is currently tied Chairman of PRAC, only served in an acting
Senator Mike Crapo will lead the Senate’s up in several court battles regarding the ex- capacity. On April 7th, President Trump re-
efforts. ecutive branch’s ability to withhold informa- moved him from the DOD IG role and ap-
In a New York Times op-ed earlier this tion from Congress. On March 16th, nearly a pointed EPA Inspector General Sean
week, Ramamurti urged Congress to act year after the original request, the Supreme O’Donnell, making Fine ineligible to be
swiftly so his specific panel can get to work. Court postponed oral arguments in a case re- PRAC Chairman.
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April 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1911
Congress will face many challenges pro- small number of institutions but to reach as Mnuchin on Thursday said he didn’t think
tecting against fraud and helping an econ- far and wide as possible,’’ he said. the panel was necessary.
omy stalled by the pandemic, which may re- The small business loan initiative, known ‘‘Both parties wanted us to have oversight,
quire members to find unique solutions for as the Paycheck Protection Program, will be wanted us to have transparency. We have
ensuring effective implementation of the ‘‘an extraordinarily easy program to defraud, full transparency,’’ he said at the daily
CARES Act. With $2 trillion of taxpayer and it will be defrauded in massive ways,’’ he White House coronavirus briefing.
money on the line, nothing is more impor- added. ‘‘It’s witch hunt after witch hunt after
tant than effective oversight. The $2.2 trillion, 880–page CARES ACT ap- witch hunt,’’ Trump said of the select com-
proved by Congress last week included over- mittee at the same briefing.
Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I Senate Finance Committee Ranking Mem-
sight provisions, modeled after some of the
include for the RECORD an April 4 ABC safeguards implemented to track the finan- ber Ron Wyden, D–Ore., on Saturday, issued
News article, entitled, ‘‘Experts Warn cial system bailout and stimulus money the following statement on the nomination
About Big Dollar Fraud in $2.2 Trillion after the Great Recession. of Brian Miller to be special inspector gen-
Coronavirus Relief Package.’’ It formed three major groups to lead over- eral for pandemic recovery:
sight efforts: A new special inspector gen- ‘‘The special inspector general needs to be
[From ABC News, April 4, 2020] independent above all. Someone who cur-
eral, who will be nominated by Trump and
EXPERTS WARN ABOUT BIG DOLLAR FRAUD IN confirmed by the Senate, will be responsible rently works in the White House counsel’s
$2.2 TRILLION CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE for oversight of the $500 billion fund adminis- office, serving a president who has tried to
(By Benjamin Siegel) tered by the Treasury Department and Sec- silence other inspector generals and an-
The U.S. government’s historic $2.2 trillion retary Steven Mnuchin. nounced his intention to silence this one, is
coronavirus aid relief package recently ap- Trump plans to nominate Brian Miller, a not independent. It’s no wonder President
proved by Congress is highly vulnerable to special assistant to the president and senior Trump announced this nomination late on a
fraud and abuse, oversight experts and vet- associate counsel in the Office of White Friday evening.’’
‘‘While Mr. Miller has requisite experience
eran watchdogs who investigated abuse of House Counsel, to serve as inspector general,
for this position, he must clear a high bar to
the government’s financial system bailout the White House announced Friday night.
A five-member panel appointed by a bipar- show the Senate he would protect the inter-
more than a decade ago told ABC News. ests of the American people over the polit-
The size of the unprecedented relief pack- tisan group of lawmakers will monitor the
ical interests of this administration.’’
age—in the scale of spending and the number Treasury Department program and Federal
While it’s not uncommon for both parties
of businesses eligible for funds—will make it Reserve’s implementation of the stimulus to snipe over the use—and potential abuse—
difficult to verify the information from each package. of stimulus funds, the level of partisanship
applicant, and how they plan to use their The third group, the Pandemic Response
in Washington and the immediate need for
money. Accountability Committee, have the broad-
the funds to be delivered to businesses and
With roughly 10 million Americans filing est mandate, aimed at rooting out waste and
Americans make this situation much more
jobless claims over the last two weeks, and fraud throughout programs in the entire $2.2 difficult than the oversight efforts following
millions of small businesses seeking govern- trillion relief package. the last recession, Devaney told ABC News.
ment aid to stay afloat, the need for the gov- Led by Glenn Fine, the acting inspector ‘‘The atmosphere on the Hill, I thought it
ernment to immediately push out money to general of the Department of Defense who was acrimonious when I was there. It’s a lot
Americans and into the staggering economy was part of the panel’s precursor following worse today and I suspect that whoever
could hinder efforts to filter out efforts from the financial crisis, the group will be able to takes this job is going to be testifying once
potential fraudsters to seek relief funds. conduct audits, subpoena individuals and in- a week,’’ he said of the eventual special in-
Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News formation, and refer matters to the Justice spector general.
Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special Department for investigation. Former Rep. Tom Davis, R–Virginia, who
coverage of the novel coronavirus with the ‘‘Every time there’s kind of an emergency served as chair of the House Oversight Com-
full ABC News team, including the latest surge in spending like this it’s even more im- mittee, defended the stimulus package, given
news, context and analysis. portant that there’s additional layers of the time constraints put on lawmakers and
‘‘Everybody’s acceptance of some or a lot oversight to make sure that everything is on the Trump administration.
of fraud is going to have to be high, because the up and up,’’ Liz Hempowicz, the director ‘‘It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen in the
it’s going to happen,’’ said Earl Devaney, of public policy at the Project on Govern- last 50 years,’’ he told ABC News. ‘‘Emer-
who served as the top watchdog of the Re- ment Oversight, told ABC News. gency situations call for emergency meas-
covery Accountability and Transparency House and Senate Democrats, who were ures. You can’t sit and write layers and lay-
Board, which tracked the stimulus spending particularly worried about how the $500 bil- ers of oversight.’’
following the Great Recession in the late lion supervised by Mnuchin will be awarded, ‘‘There’s always going to be money going
2000s. also pushed Republicans to add additional to people who shouldn’t have gotten it,’’
Though the legislation mandates multiple language into the legislation preventing Davis said. ‘‘The question is, what were the
oversight bodies, if even a small percentage President Trump, his family, top govern- alternatives?
of the funds are misused, it could mean fraud ment officials and lawmakers from receiving Lawmakers and coronavirus stimulus
on the scale of potentially millions, if not loans or investments from the Treasury pro- watchdogs won’t just have this historic $2.2
billions, before there are any efforts to re- grams. trillion coronavirus package to police. Con-
coup losses, according to experts. Already, there are signs that President versations have already started on Capitol
They see the $350 billion in funding ear- Trump and Democrats could tangle over Hill around a fourth phase of relief funding,
marked for small businesses in the form of oversight of the massive stimulus programs including more money for small businesses.
forgivable loans as particularly susceptible as money begins to flow from the federal Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker,
to abuse. Millions of small business owners government to workers and businesses. this emergency surge in spending to
began applying to banks for the loans on Fri- Trump’s plans to nominate Miller, a
former inspector general for the General confront the coronavirus is unprece-
day, though many applicants and lenders ex-
perienced problems with the program’s roll- Services Administration, will likely be met dented, but the idea of what we are es-
out. with criticism by Democrats. Inspectors tablishing is not. As I said, then-Sen-
While the Treasury Department has said General are typically independent and apo- ator Truman proposed it at the dawn of
money will begin flowing immediately, some litical appointees; Miller played a role in re- World War II. It worked then, and it
institutions, including JP Morgan Chase, buffing investigations into the withheld will work now as well.
said Thursday they would not be ready to re- military aid to Ukraine that led to Trump’s So if you believe that this adminis-
ceive applications by Friday. impeachment. tration has nothing to hide, then no-
Other veteran investigators are concerned In a signing statement last week, Trump
said he wouldn’t allow the inspector general
body should oppose this and let the
that the review process, which leaves it up to
banks to vet potential borrowers and appli- to share information with Congress without American people see how their money
cants to attest to their eligibility, doesn’t ‘‘presidential supervision,’’ objecting to the is being spent.
give authorities enough time to effectively provisions of the law that require the watch- Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to
weed out potential fraud. dog to notify Congress when they are ‘‘un- the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
‘‘If you have fewer entities that has a lot reasonably’’ denied information about the PELOSI), the distinguished Speaker of
of implications for oversight. It’s fewer enti- stimulus program. the House, who has been an incredible
ties to worry about. But it also means that Democrats criticized the comments, and on leader during this pandemic.
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with HOUSE
the processes for application can be a little Thursday House Speaker Nancy Pelosi an- Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I
more thoughtful,’’ Neil Barofsky, the former nounced the formation of a special select
thank the gentleman for yielding, and
special inspector general of the $700 billion committee to provide additional oversight of
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), told the recovery funds and the administration’s I thank him for his leadership as chair
ABC News. management of the coronavirus crisis, a of the Rules Committee for bringing
‘‘In contrast here, the very purpose of move Republicans and the White House this important legislation to the floor
these programs is not to impact a relatively quickly condemned as redundant. today.
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H1912 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 2020
I also acknowledge the bipartisan co- cussion if he or she were not in agree- Senate said: This is it, 250. We are not
operation of the Republicans in this ment. So I have been a victim of that, doing anything else.
House and pay tribute to Mr. COLE, and I don’t want there to be any doubt That failed to get unanimous con-
who is highly respected on both sides of in mind that it is a complete, accurate, sent. At the same time, that other pro-
the aisle. I am sorry that he doesn’t see guardrailed reflection of the wish of posal was put forth. But I will talk
a pattern in this, as the Republicans the person granting the proxy. about that later.
have had these kinds of committees Having said that, I want to salute our Again, why we are here for this par-
time and again. I never heard him distinguished chairman for his cham- ticular initiative is we need to ensure
question them then, but I do hear him pionship. He has gone on starvation, that the historic advancement of dol-
questioning them today. this, that, and the other on behalf of lars in these bills and in future pack-
But I am very pleased that the two of solving the hunger crisis, the food inse- ages are spent carefully and effectively
them will be working together with the curity crisis in our country, and his en- to save lives and rebuild our economy.
distinguished majority leader, Mr. thusiasm on SNAP and what we are b 1030
HOYER, and the distinguished Repub- doing as we go forward, the recognition As the distinguished chairman men-
lican leader, Mr. MCCARTHY, as well as that people are hungry in our country tioned, at the dawn of World War II,
with the leadership of Chairwoman and that we have to do something then-Senator Harry Truman spear-
LOFGREN and Ranking Member DAVIS about it. headed the creation of a special com-
in the days ahead to consider the pro- But hearing him as chair of the Rules mittee to ensure that the dollars spent
posal that we have for how we can act Committee talk about that, recog- on the war effort had oversight and ac-
as a Congress when everybody cannot nizing his history, chair of the task countability.
be present. force on hunger, so many times going Now, there was a democratic Presi-
I see in the paper that I pulled it. No, on starvation diets and I would say, dent in the White House, President
I didn’t pull it. I said all along I wanted ‘‘Why are you doing that? I am not Roosevelt, so this was not partisan in
this to be bipartisan. As Speaker of the sure the other side even cares if you any way, nor should this be considered
whole House, as we changed how we are on a starvation diet,’’ but, nonethe- partisan. The purpose was to prevent
participate, I wanted it to be bipar- less, I salute the gentleman again and waste, fraud, and abuse, profiteering,
tisan. When we saw that that oppor- again for his leadership on that. price-gouging, and the rest.
tunity existed, in my conversation So, Madam Speaker, here we are, and As Truman said later, when he was
with the distinguished Republican I thank Mr. MCGOVERN, our distin- President, he was interviewed about
leader, Mr. MCCARTHY, I then said we guished chairman, for bringing this this and he said: I knew that after
have to give this a chance. resolution to the floor, again for his World War I there had been 116 com-
I do think that there are many op- great leadership trying to move us for- mittees set up to investigate the
tions that may be available. We want ward in a bipartisan way to continue money spent in World War I. 116 com-
to give all the options to our Members, the operations of Congress during this mittees, after the fact. He said: First of
but consistent with the Constitution of extraordinary time. I again acknowl- all, there had been 116 investigating
the United States, the rules of the edge Mr. COLE’s interest in doing that committees after the fact, and I felt
House of Representatives, the security as well. one committee before the fact would
of this body’s information, as well as, Our Nation faces a deadly virus, a prevent a lot of waste and maybe even
again, the technology to make sure it battered economy with tens of thou- save some lives. And that, he said, is
works when we are depending on it. sands of sick, some died, millions out the way it worked out.
So I yield to the wisdom that they of work. This is really a very, very, The Truman committee turned into a
will bring to all of this to give Mem- very sad day. tremendous investment for taxpayers.
bers as many options as possible and to We come to the floor with nearly The total cost at the time was less
do so in a way that, again, is respectful 50,000 deaths, a huge number of people than $1 million, and it saved lives and
of this being the coronavirus—and not impacted, and the uncertainty of it all. nearly $15 billion by preventing waste,
just for how we do business generally, We have to be very prayerful, and we fraud, and abuse. That is the equiva-
but in this specific time—as, also, a have to be as bipartisan as we can pos- lent of like $750 billion today.
What made sense then makes even
template for any other kind of emer- sibly be, as united, working together.
more sense now. That is why the House
gency that might arise. The bill we will vote on later today,
is forming a special bipartisan over-
So I thank the chairman and I thank which I will speak about later today, is
sight panel, the House Select Com-
Ranking Member COLE for their com- the fourth bipartisan bill that we will
mittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.
ments about willingness to discuss be passing in the Congress of the And by the way, Mr. COLE, I did in-
that, and hopefully by the time we re- United States. Starting March 4, we form the distinguished leader of my in-
turn, if that is May 4, we will have an had our first bill: testing, testing, test- tention to announce such a thing be-
opportunity to vote in a bipartisan way ing; shortly thereafter, the 14th: fore I did.
on how we can do that. masks, masks, masks, in terms of the The committee won’t root out waste,
By the way, when we are talking personal protective equipment that fraud, and abuse. We keep saying it. It
about proxy voting, we have to be sure people needed; and, again, our big will be laser focused on ensuring that
that it is consistent with the wishes of CARES Act, which was bipartisan, as is taxpayer money goes to workers’ pay-
the Member of Congress who is yielding this bill today. That is why I hope, as checks and benefits, and it will ensure
a proxy, consistent with his or her rep- we continue to talk about how Con- that the Federal response is based on
resentation of their district. It is not gress conducts itself, we can do so in a the best possible science and guided by
just a license to the proxy holder to bipartisan way. health experts and that the money in-
work his or her well or the leadership Congress, again, has taken important vested is not being exploited by profit-
to have a handful of proxies. It is about steps in addressing this crisis, as I eers and price-gougers.
the actual representation of that per- mentioned, by passing three bills, over We already have been hearing of fam-
son whose district, his or her district, $2 trillion in desperately needed emer- ilies facing scams. There are people out
wishes to vote on a matter, with not gency relief. We started: emergency, there creating scams to steal the direct
that much latitude except as spelled emergency, mitigation for the impact payment checks. The Secretary of HHS
out by the granter of the proxy. on the health and the economy of our told me of a scam, one entity was sell-
As a new Member of Congress—some country. We hope to soon get to a re- ing masks they didn’t even have. That
of you may have identified with this— covery phase. But right now, we are is why this is so important, and that
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with HOUSE
I would go into a committee room and still in mitigation. timing is important, so people know we
think I had the best argument in the Again, later today, as we pass this, will be watching how these tax dollars
world for my new, fresh idea as a Mem- the fourth bill and urgently needed in- are spent.
ber of Congress, and the chairman terim bill, I am very pleased that it I agree with Mr. COLE. There is plen-
would have a pocketful of proxies and was transformed from a bill 2 weeks ty of time later for an after-action re-
there was no need to even have a dis- ago on the floor where the leader in the view of what went before. What we are
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April 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1913
talking about is how this money is Mrs. LESKO. Madam Speaker, first, I [From The New York Times, April 7, 2020]
spent as we go forward, to make sure, want to say that I am praying for com- TRUMP OUSTS PANDEMIC SPENDING WATCHDOG
as President Truman—Senator Truman fort for all of the families that have KNOWN FOR INDEPENDENCE
at the time—did, to put a spotlight on lost someone to COVID–19. I also want (By Ben Protess, Steve Eder, and David
the factories that were doing the work to pray for the families and those peo- Enrich)
that they were supposed to be doing. ple that are in the hospitals now sick WASHINGTON—President Trump moved on
We have a tall order in terms of vac- from COVID–19, that they have total Tuesday to oust the leader of a new watch-
cines and therapies and the rest, and and complete healing. dog panel charged with overseeing how his
we want to be sure that if there is, God And I want to thank the healthcare administration spends trillions of taxpayer
willing, a vaccine soon or a cure, even dollars in coronavirus pandemic relief, the
workers, the grocery store workers, the
latest step in an abruptly unfolding White
sooner than that, that we will be able truckers, everybody that every day is House power play against semi-independent
to have the resources available in putting their health at risk and their inspectors general across the government.
places where they need to be in real family’s health at risk to keep the The official, Glenn A. Fine, has been the
time, to be able to advance that. economy going and to help Americans. acting inspector general for the Defense De-
Led by Majority Whip CLYBURN—and And it is really good to be back here partment since before Mr. Trump took office
I am very proud of him, Mr. CLYBURN. today in Congress working and con- and was set to become the chairman of a new
I had the privilege of naming him then tinuing to do our job during this crisis. Pandemic Response Accountability Com-
to oversee what was happening in re- You know, two weeks ago, in the mittee to police how the government carries
sponse to Katrina, and he just was Senate—it was two weeks ago now—the out the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill.
magnificent in his precision of thought But Mr. Trump replaced Mr. Fine in his Pen-
Senate Republicans put up a bill to
and objectivity. tagon job, disqualifying him from serving on
help continue funding for small busi- the new oversight panel.
And again, this isn’t about assigning nesses so they could pay their workers. The move came at a time when the presi-
blame. This is about taking responsi- Two weeks—two weeks—we have been dent has been reasserting authority over the
bility and to be able to answer for what waiting around while Democrats have executive branch and signaling impatience
we have put forth, that it really did been delaying it. And why? I don’t un- with independent voices within the govern-
work. derstand why. ment that he considers disloyal. In recent
And so, the committee will exercise I have had businesses, just like all of days, he fired an inspector general who re-
oversight to ensure that the historic my fellow Members of Congress, that viewed the whistle-blower complaint that led
investment of taxpayers’ dollars, which have called me and said: I need the to his impeachment, nominated a White
is enormous, are being used wisely and House aide to another key inspector general
money; I need the money from this pro- post, declared that he would ignore certain
efficiently and that nobody is ripping gram, or my business is going to go
us off. Because where there is big oversight provisions in the new relief law
under. and attacked another inspector general who
money—we know this—people will Two weeks ago this could have hap- criticized virus testing shortages.
come up with a scam of some kind. pened. But, no, in those two weeks, Mr. Trump even cheered the firing of the
Mr. CLYBURN’s leadership, again, is millions and millions more people filed captain of an aircraft carrier for sending a
essential to the work. His review of the for unemployment insurance. And letter to fellow Navy officers pleading for
response to Hurricane Katrina, which I why? We could have done this funding help for his virus-stricken crew, castigating
mentioned, and so many issues critical for small businesses so they could pay the officer for airing unfavorable informa-
to working families, I am proud that he tion. Only after a loud backlash over the fir-
their workers two weeks ago. I am ing and the acting Navy secretary’s speech
has accepted the opportunity to serve thankful that we are finally—finally—
our country in this role now. calling the captain ‘‘stupid’’ did the presi-
getting it done. dent partly reverse himself and say he would
We urge our Republican colleagues Now, the rule talks about Speaker
and the administration to join us in re- look into it. The acting Navy secretary, who
PELOSI’s oversight committee. Maybe said he had ordered the firing because he as-
specting this oversight, that we can that is the reason that Democrats de- sumed Mr. Trump might have done it himself
save lives, deliver relief, and protect layed funding for small businesses and otherwise, took the hint and resigned on
our economy. And I say this with all their workers for two weeks. Tuesday.
the hope that I can muster, that we can Why do we need another oversight The questions of accountability and loy-
do this in a very bipartisan way. committee? Speaker PELOSI said, oh, it alty within the government have been per-
So anyone who is thinking of a scam sistent themes in the past three years as Mr.
is going to be all bipartisan. I am Trump has repeatedly waged war with what
or a delay in terms of how the product
sorry; I don’t believe it. And the reason he calls ‘‘the deep state.’’ He has rejected the
we are looking out for is produced and
I don’t believe it is because since the conventional views that figures like the di-
how available it is to everyone in our
beginning of 2019, I have served on rector of the F.B.I., the attorney general, in-
country, they will know that we, again,
are watching from both sides of the three committees, including Judiciary telligence directors, uniformed military
Committee, and in every single com- commanders, ethics officers and now inspec-
aisle how taxpayers’ dollars are being tors general should have a degree of auton-
spent. mittee, the entire goal has been non-
stop to criticize President Trump and omy.
With that, I once again thank the At his daily coronavirus briefing, Mr.
distinguished chairman for bringing try to influence the 2020 election. Trump offered no particular explanation for
this important legislation to the floor. And now you are going to tell me sidelining Mr. Fine but characterized it as
I hope that we may—on a different side that you are going to have another part of a larger shuffle of inspectors general,
of this vote, when the committee is oversight committee, even though some of them left over from past administra-
formed—have much in common in how every standing committee has over- tions, and cited unspecified ‘‘reports of
we put a very bright light on how the sight on this, and we have inspector bias.’’
generals and the CARES Act has over- Critics said on Tuesday that it sent a mes-
money is spent to make people sage to government watchdogs to tread soft-
healthier, to make our economy sight. Now we need a ninth committee
ly. ‘‘I cannot see how any inspector general
stronger, and to do so in a way that to do oversight, and it is supposedly
will feel in any way safe to do a good job,’’
brings us all together. going to be bipartisan? I am sorry. I said Danielle Brian, the executive director of
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I want to call BS. the Project on Government Oversight, a non-
thank the Speaker for her kind and And the reason I know this is because profit group. ‘‘They are all at the mercy at
thoughtful remarks. of past history. While Democrats were what the president feels.’’
I also want to acknowledge—I am focusing on impeachment, the Presi- But Mr. Trump’s allies said he felt burned
going to follow her example. I think we dent was working on coronavirus. by the investigations of his campaign and as-
should keep our mask on when we are Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, sociates and therefore distrusts figures he
doing our normal business but take the reason why we are doing this is be- perceives to be partisan foes within govern-
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with HOUSE
cause the President is undercutting ment, particularly former F.B.I. officials
them off when we are speaking. And
who obtained warrants under the Foreign In-
thank you for setting that example, oversight. telligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, to in-
Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I want to insert in vestigate a campaign aide’s ties to Russia.
With that, I would like to yield 3 the RECORD ‘‘Trump Ousts Pandemic ‘‘I’ve never heard the president express
minutes to the gentlewoman from Ari- Spending Watchdog Known for Inde- frustrations about independent oversight,’’
zona (Mrs. LESKO). pendence.’’ said Cliff Sims, a former White House aide.
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H1914 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 2020
‘‘But he doesn’t think he should be subjected Before being appointed as the E.P.A. cut oversight. So we need to do our job
to his political enemies in supposedly apo- watchdog, Mr. O’Donnell clerked for two fed- here.
litical oversight roles. This has been deeply eral judges and worked since 2005 as a career
ingrained in his psyche since the moment he lawyer at the Justice Department, most re- STATEMENTS & RELEASES
learned that FISA had been abused to spy on cently in the criminal division working on STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
his campaign.’’ cases involving fraud, corruption and na- (Issued on: March 27, 2020)
In removing Mr. Fine from his role over- tional security. HEALTHCARE
seeing pandemic spending, Mr. Trump tar- At the Pentagon, Mr. O’Donnell will serve Today, I have signed into law H.R. 748, the
geted a former Justice Department inspector in an acting capacity pending Senate action ‘‘Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Se-
general who earned a reputation for aggres- on Jason Abend, a Customs and Border Pro- curity Act’’ or the ‘‘CARES’’ Act (the
sive independence in scrutinizing the F.B.I.’s tection official, who was nominated by Mr. ‘‘Act’’). The Act makes emergency supple-
use of surveillance and other law enforce- Trump last week to take on the post perma- mental appropriations and other changes to
ment powers in the years after the Sept. 11, nently. Mr. Fine remains the No. 2 official at law to help the Nation respond to the
2001, attacks. the Pentagon’s watchdog office. coronavirus outbreak. I note, however, that
Replacing Mr. Fine as the Pentagon’s act- Late last month, several hours after Mr. the Act includes several provisions that raise
ing inspector general will be Sean O’Donnell, Trump signed the $2 trillion coronavirus re- constitutional concerns.
who serves as the inspector general at the lief and stimulus bill with fanfare on tele- Section 15010(c)(3)(B) of Division B of the
Environmental Protection Agency and will vision, he issued a signing statement chal- Act purports to require the Chairperson of
do double duty for the time being. A group of lenging a key safeguard congressional Demo- the Council of the Inspectors General on In-
inspectors general led by Michael E. Horo- crats insisted upon as a condition of approv- tegrity and Efficiency to consult with mem-
witz, the Justice Department inspector gen- ing $500 billion in corporate bailout funds: bers of the Congress regarding the selection
eral, will determine who will replace Mr. that a special inspector general be empow- of the Executive Director and Deputy Execu-
Fine as chairman of the new pandemic over- ered to demand information about how the tive Director for the newly formed Pandemic
sight committee. Treasury Department spends the money and Response Accountability Committee. The
Created as part of the coronavirus relief who would be required to tell Congress if ex- Committee is an executive branch entity
bill, the committee consists of nine inspec- ecutive branch officials unreasonably balk. charged with conducting and coordinating
tors general from across the executive In his signing statement, Mr. Trump effec- oversight of the Federal Government’s re-
branch and will have an $80 million budget to tively declared that he could control what sponse to the coronavirus outbreak. I antici-
hunt for waste, fraud, abuse and illegality in information goes to Congress about any dis- pate that the Chairperson will be able to
the disbursement of the $2.2 trillion approved putes over access to information about how consult with members of the Congress with
by Congress to provide relief to Americans and why the money is spent. On Friday, he respect to these hiring decisions and will
affected by the pandemic. nominated Brian D. Miller, a White House welcome their input. But a requirement to
In announcing Mr. Fine’s short-lived role aide, to serve as the special inspector general consult with the Congress regarding execu-
last week, Mr. Horowitz had praised him as overseeing the corporate relief. tive decision-making, including with respect
‘‘uniquely qualified’’ to run oversight of Then late that night, Mr. Trump fired the to the President’s Article II authority to
‘‘large organizations,’’ citing his 11 years as inspector general for the intelligence com- oversee executive branch operations, vio-
the top Justice Department watchdog and munity, Michael K. Atkinson, whose insist- lates the separation of powers by intruding
his four years serving as the top Pentagon ence on telling Congress about the whistle- upon the President’s power and duty to su-
one. blower complaint about Mr. Trump’s deal- pervise the staffing of the executive branch
‘‘The inspector general community recog- ings with Ukraine prompted impeachment under Article II, section 1 (vesting the Presi-
nizes the need for transparency surrounding, proceedings last fall. dent with the ‘‘executive Power’’) and Arti-
and strong and effective independent over- At the same time, Mr. Trump also an- cle II, section 3 (instructing the President to
sight of, the federal government’s spending nounced a slew of other inspector general ‘‘take Care’’ that the laws are faithfully exe-
in response to this public health crisis,’’ Mr. nominees, including Mr. Abend as the new cuted). Accordingly, my Administration will
Horowitz said at the time. Defense Department inspector general, and treat this provision as hortatory but not
Democrats immediately condemned Mr. three current and former Justice Depart- mandatory.
Fine’s sudden ouster as ‘‘corrupt,’’ in the ment officials to be the new inspectors gen- Section 4018 of Division A of the Act estab-
words of Senator Chuck Schumer of New eral at the C.I.A., the Education Department lishes a new Special Inspector General for
York, the minority leader. ‘‘President and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) within the De-
Trump is abusing the coronavirus pandemic Mr. Trump redoubled his attacks on the partment of the Treasury to manage audits
to eliminate honest and independent public acting inspector general for the Department and investigations of loans and investments
servants because they are willing to speak of Health and Human Services, Christi A. made by the Secretary of the Treasury under
truth to power and because he is so clearly Grimm, in a statement on Twitter on Tues- the Act. Section 4018(e)(4)(B) of the Act au-
afraid of strong oversight,’’ Mr. Schumer day, a day after she released a report about thorizes the SIGPR to request information
said. hospitals facing severe shortages in tests as from other government agencies and requires
Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, Demo- they battle the pandemic: the SIGPR to report to the Congress ‘‘with-
crat of New York and the chairwoman of the Why didn’t the I.G., who spent 8 years with out delay’’ any refusal of such a request that
House Oversight and Government Reform the Obama Administration (Did she Report ‘‘in the judgment of the Special Inspector
Committee, called Mr. Trump’s actions ‘‘a on the failed H1N1 Swine Flu debacle where General’’ is unreasonable. I do not under-
direct insult to the American taxpayers—of 17,000 people died?), want to talk to the Ad- stand, and my Administration will not treat,
all political stripes—who want to make sure mirals, Generals, V.P. & others in charge, be- this provision as permitting the SIGPR to
that their tax dollars are not squandered on fore doing her report. Another Fake Dos- issue reports to the Congress without the
wasteful boondoggles, incompetence or polit- sier!—Trump Tweet presidential supervision required by the
ical favors.’’ On Monday, Mr. Trump had suggested that Take Care Clause, Article II, section 3.
Still, it is not a given that Mr. O’Donnell Ms. Grimm’s report was politically biased Certain other provisions (such as sections
will toe the line at the Pentagon. At the against him. Ms. Grimm is a career official 20001, 21007, and 21010 of Division B of the
E.P.A., he has issued reports that are critical who began work at the inspector general of- Act) purport to condition the authority of
of Mr. Trump’s appointed administrator, An- fice late in the Clinton administration and officers to spend or reallocate funds upon
drew R. Wheeler, who has sought to limit stayed there throughout the Bush and consultation with, or the approval of, one or
Mr. O’Donnell’s authority and oversight. Obama administrations, taking over the role more congressional committees. These provi-
Only last week, after Mr. O’Donnell’s office of acting inspector general in an interim ca- sions are impermissible forms of congres-
released a report concluding that the E.P.A. pacity this year. sional aggrandizement with respect to the
failed to adequately warn communities liv- Mr. Trump’s interest in inspectors general execution of the laws. The Congress may af-
ing in proximity to certain carcinogenic has grown more intense lately. Until his fect the execution of the laws only by enact-
chemicals of their health risks, Mr. Wheeler most recent nominations, he had failed to ing a new statute in accordance with the re-
publicly rebuked the inspector general’s re- pick anyone for about one-third of the 37 in- quirements of bicameralism and present-
port for its ‘‘tone and substance’’ and de- spector general positions that are presi- ment prescribed in Article I, section 7. My
manded that he rescind it. Mr. O’Donnell re- dentially appointed, according to the Project Administration will make appropriate ef-
fused. on Government Oversight. Those roles were forts to notify the relevant committees be-
Privately, some people within the govern- temporarily assumed by other officials fore taking the specified actions and will ac-
ment’s inspector general community sug- whose lack of job security and status typi- cord the recommendations of such commit-
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gested that the appointment of Mr. cally makes them more cautious than a per- tees all appropriate and serious consider-
O’Donnell to the Pentagon post would divert manent appointee, government experts say. ation, but it will not treat spending deci-
his oversight from the E.P.A., which has con- sions as dependent on prior consultation
tinued to move forward with Mr. Trump’s Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I with or the approval of congressional com-
agenda of reducing or eliminating public also insert into the RECORD the Presi- mittees.
health and environmental regulations, even dent’s signing statement, which is Finally, several provisions (such as sec-
as the coronavirus rages. crystal clear that he is trying to under- tions 3511(d)(4) and 3862 (creating section
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April 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1915
744N(d)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and (Mr. BURGESS), my good friend and dis- It is a testament to the private sector
Cosmetic Act) of Division A of the Act) pur- tinguished member of both the Rules in this country that responded so well.
port to require recommendations regarding Committee and the Energy and Com- And it certainly puts to shame the
legislation to the Congress. Because Article Democratic majority’s response during
merce Committee.
II, section 3 gives the President the author-
ity to recommend only ‘‘such Measures as he Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, of January and February.
shall judge necessary and expedient,’’ my course, we are all observing the At- We are in the middle of working to
Administration will continue the practice of tending Physician’s request that we ensure patient survival and keeping
treating provisions like these as advisory stay at least 6 feet apart. And I appre- our economy afloat. Now is not the
and non-binding. ciate the Democratic Speaker’s ac- time to authorize yet another partisan
DONALD J. TRUMP. knowledgment that it is perhaps better committee to conduct oversight in a
THE WHITE HOUSE, March 27, 2020. to address the American people with- manner that we know will only be good
Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I out a mask. for the next new cycle.
yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman Mr. COLE, I also want to extend my Early in this crisis, we forewent an
from New York (Mrs. CAROLYN B. sympathies to you. I know your dis- opportunity to prepare. Let us not
MALONEY), the distinguished chair of trict suffered greatly last night in the make the same mistake again. Let us
the Committee on Oversight and Re- storm, and certainly our hearts are not continue to waste time. Let us do
form. the work of the American people and
with our near neighbors in Oklahoma.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New get to business as usual. If we had been
So our actions today represent a lost
York. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong better authorizers, less oversight would
opportunity. I am grateful that we are
be necessary.
support of this resolution which estab- going to finally pass legislation that Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I
lishes a new select subcommittee on will provide more funding for our small yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman
the coronavirus within the Committee businesses and for our healthcare pro- from Georgia (Mrs. MCBATH).
on Oversight and Reform. viders. Mrs. MCBATH. Madam Speaker, I
I look forward to working closely We should have been preparing for thank the gentleman for yielding.
with the distinguished majority whip the needs of the American people since I rise to support the rule and under-
from South Carolina, Mr. CLYBURN, on the first of this year. Instead, the lying legislation to establish the select
this very important effort. House considered 15 pieces of non-cru- committee, and I also support this bill
As the Speaker has explained, this cial legislation and five resolutions that we will be voting on later today.
new subcommittee is modeled directly that do not now, nor ever will, have the Small businesses are the heart of a
after the Truman committee which force of law. thriving community and vital to the
saved billions of taxpayer dollars dur- Six months before this crisis started American economy, and there isn’t one
ing World War II and helped mobilize in January, President Trump signed in Georgia or across the country that
our Nation, our industries, and our en- into law the Pandemic and All-Hazards has not been impacted by the pan-
tire population for war. Preparedness Act, the product of our demic.
Harry Truman explained at the time health subcommittee, last Congress This crisis demands we all continue
that it was critical during this effort to and this Congress. our work together to ensure that our
conduct oversight, to prevent the But after this fire broke out across American families are kept safe, Amer-
waste of taxpayer funds, rather than the globe, did we do any real-time over- ican small businesses are supported,
waiting until after they were spent. sight as to whether or not the bill that and American workers receive the re-
Catching problems early and cor- we had passed, the bill that we had la- lief that they need. This funding is one
recting them immediately saved not bored over, was, in fact, performing as more step on the long journey toward
only money but lives. Today our Na- indicated? recovery.
tion, our economy, and our people, face The Speaker talked about real-time I want to take this time to offer my
a similar mobilization effort as we en- oversight. We had an opportunity, but condolences to the victims who have
gage in this war against the we didn’t take it. lost their lives to this awful disease.
coronavirus. Microbes are killing more The Energy and Commerce Com- My prayers are with those mourning in
people than missiles. mittee held hearings on flavored to- Georgia, across America, and around
And let me be clear. Right now, we bacco, we looked into horse racing, we the globe.
are only in the first battle. This week looked into ticket scalping. And these To our doctors, nurses, and first re-
the director of the Centers for Disease issues have a place in our legislative sponders: Americans everywhere are
Control and Prevention warned that we agenda, but not in the middle of a pan- looking up to your love, your sacrifice,
could face a second, more deadly wave demic when we should have been doing and your uncommon courage.
of coronavirus this fall. He warned that I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on the rule and
real-time oversight of a bill we had
it could, ‘‘Actually be even more dif- the underlying bill.
signed into law a mere 6 months before. Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3
ficult than the one we just went So as the leader of the Health Sub-
through.’’ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio
committee on Energy and Commerce, I (Mr. JORDAN), my good friend and a dis-
But our national stockpile is nearly began calling for action in January. It
depleted. We need protective equip- tinguished Member.
was not until February 26, as an add-on Mr. JORDAN. Madam Speaker, I
ment, we need critical medical sup- to a budget hearing for Health and thank the gentleman for yielding.
plies, we need tests, and we need new Human Services where there was a Madam Speaker, eight different over-
vaccines and treatments. We need all brief panel assembled, and only 10 sight processes are in place as we
the supplies and materials necessary Members were allowed to ask questions speak:
not only to safeguard our current med- of this expert panel on the emerging We have got the Oversight Com-
ical workers but to restore our stock- novel coronavirus. mittee itself, which has the broadest
piles and to build them up, so we are jurisdiction of any committee in Con-
ready for the next battle and the one b 1045
gress to do oversight.
after that and whatever comes next. It was a full 2 weeks later before Con- We have the committees of jurisdic-
This is something we all should be gress considered its first comprehen- tion, which each have a subcommittee
able to agree on. This should be a bi- sive bill. During consideration in the that does oversight: Ways and Means,
partisan effort, and I encourage all of Rules Committee, I requested, because Energy and Commerce, Small Business,
my colleagues to come together, to one hadn’t been done, a survey of ven- and, of course, Financial Services.
protect the interests of the American tilators. We didn’t know how many we We have the CARES Act itself, which
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taxpayers, and to promote the most ef- had available. created the Oversight Commission in
ficient, effective, equitable, and trans- Now, thanks to vital steps taken by the bill itself.
parent mobilization in history in re- the Trump administration, to this We have the CARES Act, which also
sponse to this deadly crisis. date, no patient has been denied a ven- created the Pandemic Response Ac-
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 tilator that needed one. This is a testa- countability Committee in the bill
minutes to the gentleman from Texas ment to the administration’s response. itself. That is the fourth one.
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H1916 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 2020
The fifth one, we have the IGs, the tion with the Office of the Attending Physi- Do we really need an oversight com-
inspectors general from each of the re- cian (OAP), the Office of the Sergeant at mittee? Look what has happened al-
spective agencies: Health and Human Arms (SAA), and the Committee on House ready.
Administration. The OAP continues to rec-
Services, Treasury. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
ommend teleworking for all Congressional
Sixth, we have a special inspector offices and that Members and staff maintain time of the gentlewoman has expired.
general created in the CARES Act. 6-foot social distance spacing as much as Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I
Seventh, we have $20 million in fund- practicable when in the offices or the Cap- yield an additional 15 seconds to the
ing appropriated in the CARES Act, itol. gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. SCHA-
which created a process for auditors The OAP, in conjunction with guidance KOWSKY).
and experts at GAO to do further over- from the Centers for Disease Control and Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Headlines such
sight. Prevention, recommends that all Members as a $55 million contract to a bankrupt
And finally, eighth, we have the FTC and attendees should:
1. Avoid congregating in groups upon ar-
company, who is a baker, in order to
and DOJ, the agencies doing oversight rival to the room; make N95 masks.
and holding people accountable for the 2. Use provided hand sanitizer; ‘‘Hedge Fund Managers Claiming
fraud that may be committed. 3. Apply a face cover if a face covering is Bailouts As Small Businesses.’’
Eight different entities doing over- not already worn (a face cover will be avail- ‘‘Over 43,000 U.S. Millionaires Will
sight, but the Democrats want a ninth. able for those who need them); Get ‘stimulus’ Averaging $1.6 Million
Why? Eight different committees doing 4. Proceed directly to their seat, maintain- Each.’’
ing proper distancing; and Yes, we need an oversight committee,
the work making sure that the hard-
5. Remain seated until the conclusion of
earned tax dollars of the American peo- the meeting, to the extent possible. and we need it now.
ple have the proper oversight. But we Use of a face covering, while voluntary, is Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2
need a ninth for what reason? The recommended for this specific proceeding minutes to the gentleman from Ken-
ninth is political. Eight committees due to occasions when the six-foot separa- tucky (Mr. COMER), my good friend and
looking out for the taxpayer, the ninth tion distance may be not be possible (Mem- a distinguished gentleman.
looking out for Joe Biden; the ninth to ber private communications with staff, docu- Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I
go after President Trump. ment distribution if needed, witness or staff thank the gentleman for yielding.
movements, etc.).
This is just a continuation of the at- Americans are suffering right now.
The OAP has advised that a face cover will
tack that the Democrats have had on produce a minimal reduction in sound when Hospitals, families, and businesses are
the President for the past 4 years. It using a microphone. The face covering is figuring out what their next step will
started before he was President when likely to be most useful in preventing viral be.
they opened the Trump Russia inves- spread while a person is speaking. But, instead of helping American
tigation, spied on two American citi- Members are encouraged to attend without families, Speaker PELOSI wants to set
zens associated with the Trump cam- staff or to limit themselves to a maximum of up a new, costly, unnecessary select
one staff person per Member if necessary. committee. This is an outrageous at-
paign. It continued with the Mueller
Staff who do accompany their bosses are re-
investigation. And then, of course, we quested to sit in the audience and only ap-
tempt to yet again use Congress to
had the ridiculous impeachment proc- proach the dais if/when needed. smear President Trump in an election
ess based on a phone call between the Members and attendees should not engage year, just like the impeachment cha-
President of Ukraine and President in personal greetings such as handshakes or rade a few months ago.
Trump. embraces. I am all about oversight. We already
And now this. Now this, a select com- Members and attendees are asked to re- have an Oversight Committee that is
mittee in the summer of an election spect markings present on chairs to prevent tasked with carrying out these very
their use, in accordance with social
year to attack the President when we duties, and it is a very good com-
distancing guidelines.
already have eight different entities Access restrictions to the Capitol Complex mittee, a quality committee made up
doing the oversight we are all supposed remain in place. Per guidance from the SAA, of outstanding members from both
to do to look out for the taxpayer in- House Office Buildings remain open to Mem- sides of the aisle.
terests. bers, Congressional staff, and credentialed This is yet another political game
The Democrats want a ninth because press. from Speaker PELOSI using tax dollars
the ninth is political, and the ninth When the meeting is adjourned, departure for political gain. Creating a new select
from the room should continue to respect so- committee is completely redundant.
will be chaired by our colleague, the
cial distancing by avoiding congregating in
biggest supporter of the Democrats’ groups near the exit doors, hallways, or ele-
We must stop these games and, instead,
nominee for President. vators. Members and attendees should use focus on the real problems facing the
Madam Speaker, I urge a ‘‘no’’ vote. waterless hand cleansing upon exit after re- American people.
Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I moving and disposing of their face covering. Creating an entirely new select com-
include in the RECORD the Guidance for Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I mittee is an irresponsible waste of time
Members and Attendees provided to us yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman and resources that could be used else-
by the Office of the Attending Physi- from Illinois (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY). where. Let’s refocus on getting this
cian. Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, country back on track and moving for-
While face coverings are not manda- I thank the gentleman for yielding. ward for the American people.
tory, they are certainly recommended. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker,
The Office of Attending Physician has this resolution. It is sad to say, but when it comes to $2 trillion, I don’t
also advised that ‘‘a face cover will this coronavirus pandemic has caused think there can be enough oversight. I
produce a minimal reduction in sound some of the greatest suffering in our think our constituents expect us to
when using a microphone. The face time for individuals and for our coun- make sure that that money is being
covering is likely to be most useful in try at large. And yet there are those spent where it should be spent, where
preventing viral spread while a person few who would see this as an oppor- Congress intended it.
is speaking.’’ tunity to benefit for themselves and Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to
So people can do whatever they want their companies by price gouging or, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
to do, but I would say, while we are all one might say, pandemic profiteering. JACKSON LEE).
trying to show how fearless we are, we We have good reason to be skeptical Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker,
should be mindful of the people sur- about many of these companies, includ- I thank the gentleman for yielding.
rounding us. So until I am advised oth- ing the pharmaceutical industry. For Madam Speaker, I rise to support the
erwise, I am going to keep my mask example, even during this crisis, we underlying bill, which was made much
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on. saw Gilead seek and receive from the safer to save lives and to provide eco-
GUIDANCE FOR MEMBERS AND ATTENDEES FDA 7 years of orphan drug exclusivity nomic opportunity. But, as well, I rise
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RULES for a possible treatment for the virus. to support the bipartisan, as it should
In order to accommodate this meeting of Only after organizations stepped in and be, oversight bill created by the vision
the House Committee on Rules, the following protested did Gilead go back to the of our Speaker, and I ask my col-
guidelines have been developed in consulta- FDA to withdraw their request. leagues to understand what oversight
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April 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1917
is in COVID–19. It is to save lives and partisan hack job; and if it is not, I will Commerce Committee and others. It
to make sure that we focus on the be the first one to apologize and happy will erode the trust and effectiveness in
needs of those like the elderly in nurs- to buy the Speaker a pint of her favor- our work that is underway during the
ing homes who need to be tested or es- ite ice cream. greatest healthcare and economic cri-
sential workers. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- sis we have seen in our lifetime.
Or we find out the underlying incom- bers are reminded to address their re- We shouldn’t create a new committee
petence, if you will, of large companies marks to the Chair. that will divide us, make this response
getting money from the mom-and-pop Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I partisan, create more bureaucracy in
businesses. That needs oversight. want to remind my colleagues, one of Congress, and undermine the hard, bi-
Or we promote more testing, like the our constitutional responsibilities is partisan work of my colleagues and
$25 billion that is in the underlying oversight. We just appropriated over $2 staff who are doing their jobs on their
bill, and contact tracing. That is what trillion, and I applaud the Speaker of committees already.
oversight is. the House for making sure that this Madam Speaker, I urge my col-
Oversight is to maintain the idea Congress does its job and does proper leagues on both sides of the aisle to let
that we have responsibility for the oversight. our committees continue to do their
budget of this Nation, but we have the I don’t know about their constitu- jobs and reject this resolution.
responsibility for the lives of this Na- ents, but my constituents are puzzled Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, we
tion. why some of the money that was de- are waiting for a couple of other speak-
I served as a staffer for the Select signed to go to small businesses ended ers. I reserve the balance of my time.
Committee on Assassinations when Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2
up going to these megabusinesses like
people were in dismay about the assas- minutes to the gentleman from Geor-
Shake Shack or Ruth’s Chris Steak
sinations of Dr. King and John F. Ken- gia (Mr. HICE), my good friend.
House, so they want accountability. Mr. HICE of Georgia. Madam Speak-
nedy. I will tell you that even that Two trillion dollars, I mean, is that er, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
small committee in the House gave too much to ask? So I applaud the Madam Speaker, in a very short pe-
some comfort that Congress was caring Speaker of the House for focusing us on riod of time, this body has moved an
about lives and about our budget. making sure that we do our job, but we unprecedented amount of money at an
I support enthusiastically the rule do oversight. This select committee is unprecedented speed, and rather than
and, as well, the bipartisan Oversight warranted, it is important, and I think taking a step back now and looking at
Committee. Wise people will know that Democrats and Republicans should the effectiveness of what we have im-
Congress must continue to do its work overwhelmingly support it. plemented so far, here we are today
in a way that saves lives and strength- Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- rushing forward, not only with addi-
ens our economy. ance of my time. tional funds, but also to rig up an un-
I ask support for this bill and the Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 necessary and duplicative select sub-
rule. minutes to the gentlewoman from committee for the purpose of inves-
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 Washington (Mrs. RODGERS), my good tigating the President of the United
minutes to the gentleman from Geor- friend and a distinguished member of States. Make no mistake. That is the
gia (Mr. FERGUSON), my good friend the Energy and Commerce Committee. purpose of this subcommittee.
and the distinguished chief deputy Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. It is entirely political in nature, de-
whip of the Republican Conference. Madam Speaker, I thank the gen- signed to influence the 2020 elections.
Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I tleman for yielding. I appreciate his From the moment it is gaveled into
thank the gentleman for yielding. leadership. life, there is no question that the mis-
Madam Speaker, here we go again. I rise in opposition to this select sion will be to prevent the reelection of
Once again you are about to do what committee. Energy and Commerce has President Donald Trump.
America doesn’t want. a long tradition of bipartisan oversight There are already eight real over-
We just came from our districts in its broad jurisdiction and has the sight and watchdog processes in this
where we have been solving problems tools to prevent any fraud, waste, or body. Eight.
with our constituents, helping them abuse. The Oversight and Reform Com-
through a very, very difficult time, In the Consumer Protection and mittee, of which I am a member, has
working to make sure that they had Commerce Subcommittee, we are the broadest jurisdiction in this body,
funding through the PPP loan pro- working right now, Republicans and and we have the power and the experi-
gram, working to make sure that our Democrats, to make sure the FTC is ence needed to oversee any Federal
hospitals had the supplies that they protecting Americans from bad actors coronavirus response.
needed. who are using the coronavirus to com- So why does the Speaker want a
I hoped there would be a sense of co- mit fraud. Our Oversight and Investiga- ninth? Why are we here looking at a
operation and shared stories of good tion team is working around the clock ninth oversight subcommittee, espe-
things that were going on back in our to stop bad actors and to track the cially when the Democrats are already
district, despite the hard times. I had spread of the virus itself, as well as the in charge of the eight that we already
hoped that those commonalities from stockpiles of PPE, ventilators, and test have? Why would the appointment of
all congressional districts could be the kits sent to the States. this new select subcommittee be a
shared stories that we built a new Our Health Subcommittee is working member of her own leadership team
sense of cooperation on. But, no. You with HHS, FDA, CDC, and NIH to en- who has already publicly stated that
all seem to be like a bird dog pointing sure resources reach hospitals and this virus creates for the Democrats a
at a quail. You just can’t help your- frontline healthcare workers who need tremendous opportunity to restructure
selves. it most. things to fit their vision?
First of all, you had Russia, then im- The same can be said for the Small That makes it clear what the purpose
peachment, and now the coronavirus. Business and Financial Services Com- of this is all about: it is because this is
You just can’t do it. And you will say— mittees’ efforts to ensure that PPP an election year, it is because they
I have heard it already—that this will loans are implemented effectively. hate the President of the United
not be partisan, that this is needed There is also the Ways and Means States, and because of that, I strongly
work. Needed more than eight commit- Committee oversight of the economic encourage my colleagues to reject this
tees that are already out there? Well, I impact payments or any of a number of resolution, which is intended to create
can tell you this will be partisan, being other committees involved in Congress’ an un-needed and duplicative com-
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led by an individual who is the Demo- unprecedented bipartisan response to mittee.
cratic nominee’s number one sup- this crisis. Madam Chair, I again thank the gen-
porter. tleman for yielding.
And I will tell you this: I am willing b 1100 Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I
to bet just about everything I have got This select committee duplicates the yield myself such time as I may con-
that this will be nothing more than a existing jurisdiction of the Energy and sume.
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H1918 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 2020
We are still waiting for a couple of mands that wasted time and added There are suicides, like in Knox
additional speakers but let me just say costs. County, Tennessee: they have lost
one thing here again. It is hard to be- I supported the CARES Act only be- more people to suicide than the
lieve what we are hearing here. cause I believed a better bill could not coronavirus.
My friends on one hand are telling be produced given the current major- We have got to be careful about
the American people that we all care ity. spreading fear. We can be concerned,
deeply about oversight, we all want to For the same reason, I support the but we shouldn’t be afraid.
make sure that the money is being bill to be taken up later today, but But another committee? For heav-
spent properly, but yet they are op- with this grave warning: unprecedented en’s sake, that is not what we need.
posed to this. and unconstitutional government It is interesting that the answer the
It is $2 trillion that we have re- edicts have deliberately destroyed the Democrats have to potential waste,
sponded with to try to deal with the livelihoods of millions of Americans fraud, and abuse is to create another
crisis that we are faced with. That is a and have set in motion both an eco- wasteful committee.
lot of money. To object to a select nomic depression and government in- Just make the committees we have
committee to basically make sure that solvencies that threaten the very sur- do their job of oversight, and then we
it is being spent properly as this thing vival of our Nation. They must end will be all right. There needs to be
is unfolding, my colleagues have such a now. oversight.
difficult time dealing with that. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I We apparently need a committee to
Madam Speaker, again, I applaud the yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman give oversight to the oversight com-
Speaker of the House for her leadership from Illinois (Mrs. BUSTOS). mittees, because they are not doing
during this pandemic, not only on this, Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, 4 their job, and that is why we need a
but on a whole range of other issues. weeks ago we passed the largest eco- new one.
She has taken what my Republican nomic rescue in American history. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I
friends in the Senate and what the Today we replenish some of its most am absolutely stunned over the out-
White House has proposed and made it important programs. rage to sunshine and oversight. Give
better and made it more responsive to Behind each program are real people me a break.
average working people. in desperate need of our help: Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to
That is what this is about: making healthcare workers and hospitals in the gentleman from California (Mr.
sure the money gets to the people who dire need of support, supplies, and test- THOMPSON).
need it, not to the people who don’t ing; Mr. THOMPSON of California.
need it, not to the big corporations, Small business owners agonizing Madam Speaker, I thank the gen-
not to the well-off or the well con- amid uncertainty and boxed out of tleman for yielding.
nected. loans by big banks serving well-con- Madam Speaker, this isn’t the bill I
So I don’t understand all of the hand- nected clients; and would have written. I am incredibly
wringing over this select committee. Our family farmers who continue to frustrated that Senate Republicans
This is an important select committee, feed the world under unprecedented stalled negotiations without offering
just like the one that then-Senator hardship, unable to qualify for the dis- any fixes to help get money into the
Truman did to make sure that the aster loans afforded to others. hands of the small businesses that are
moneys that were appropriated went to Today’s legislation rights these
hardest hit.
help win the war. wrongs. It also harnesses the help of
Funding needs to get to legitimate
We want to win this war too. our community banks and our credit
small businesses quickly and effi-
Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- unions, but it does not go far enough.
ciently, not to big corporations.
ance of my time. Our cities, our States need assistance
Senate Republicans also rejected
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield now. They soon may have to lay off po-
funding to help support State and local
myself such time as I may consume for lice and first responders, the very peo-
governments that are on the tip of the
a quick response to my friend. ple we need on the front lines in this
I recall that we requested oversight spear in fighting this pandemic.
crisis.
committees for TARP. That was not al- Our corn growers and ethanol pro- With your help, Madam Speaker, we
lowed by then-Speaker PELOSI. We re- ducers deserve the same help afforded did get some improvements in this bill,
quested oversight committees for the Big Oil. We must take care of them in such as additional funding for hospitals
stimulus package in 2009. That, too, this next relief package. and testing to help respond to this cri-
was not agreed to by Speaker PELOSI. Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 sis so we can eventually reopen our
So we find this new need for oversight minutes to the gentleman from Texas country, and improvements to the PPP
refreshing, but somewhat questionable. (Mr. GOHMERT), my very good friend. and the EIDL program, which were cru-
Madam Speaker, I also remind my Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I cial.
friend, there are eight existing com- thank my friend, the gentleman from Times are uncertain and people in
mittees, all of which, by the way, the Oklahoma (Mr. COLE), for yielding, and my district are hurting. They need re-
Democrats control, all of which they I am greatly sorry for the losses yes- lief now.
chair. terday, as well as down in BRIAN I will support this bill, but I look for-
We have confidence in the eight ex- BABIN’s district. ward to future packages to get the
isting committees to do their job. We I heard the Speaker say we need to needed relief to our communities that
don’t see the need for a ninth. move in a bipartisan manner, and I be- need it the most.
Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to lieve she meant that. But then I can’t Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I reserve
the gentleman from California (Mr. forget that she said the same thing the balance of my time.
MCCLINTOCK), my great friend. about impeachment a year ago: we Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I
Mr. MCCLINTOCK. Madam Speaker, can’t move forward with impeachment yield 11⁄2 minutes to the gentlewoman
when we passed the Paycheck Protec- unless it is bipartisan. from California (Ms. BASS).
tion Program, I warned that serious So what are we doing first? We are Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, a few
flaws would deliver a windfall to busi- going to have a vote to create another days after the last bill became law, sto-
nesses that did not need it at the ex- oversight committee. So apparently ries began to surface of an extreme dis-
pense of those that do. That is exactly the answer the Democrats have is if proportionate death rate among Afri-
what happened, exhausting the fund you have got eight committees that can Americans in several cities, with a
within days. aren’t doing their job, we have the an- 70 percent death rate, while African
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Now it is imperative to replenish this swer: another committee. Americans are only 20 to 30 percent of
program to assure that small busi- For heaven’s sake, we have got peo- the population.
nesses that desperately need these ple losing their businesses, they are Some cite underlying health condi-
funds receive them. isolated. tions as the reason for the extreme dis-
Now, this could have been done 2 Humans are social animals; we like proportionate death rate, as though
weeks ago but for the Democrats’ de- to be around other people. this is a reason that nothing can be
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April 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1919
done, as though we have to just accept b 1115 Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I
this for now. Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I con- yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman
This bill begins the process of ad- tinue to reserve the balance of my from California (Ms. LEE).
dressing the disproportionate death time. Ms. LEE of California. Madam
rate, but oversight and advocacy from Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I Speaker, first of all, let me just say I
Congress and the public will still be am happy to yield 1 minute to the gen- rise in support of this package. I want
needed. tlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. to thank the Speaker; our leadership
The bill calls for a report to be issued CLARK), my good friend. committee chair; members of the Con-
in 21 days, where we should have a bet- Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. gressional Black Caucus, including
ter picture of what is happening and, Madam Speaker, with the Second Chairwoman BASS; Chairwoman KELLY,
hopefully, provide a roadmap. World War raging, Eleanor Roosevelt chair of the Health Braintrust; and all
The bill calls for reporting data on noted that: ‘‘When all is said and done, of the Members and staff who are work-
demographics including race, on the and the statesmen discuss the future of ing together on the health provisions
number and rates of cases, hospitaliza- the world, the fact remains that people of this bill.
tion, and deaths from COVID. fight these wars.’’ Also, let me just take this moment
When the report is made public, it The war on the pandemic is being to thank our essential workers for
will be clear that communities with waged in our crowded hospitals, our their sacrifices during this horrific
large African American populations empty classrooms, and our closed busi- pandemic.
will require focused and concentrated nesses. Today’s bill will bring Ameri- Evidence has piled up that Black and
testing with rapid results, that contact cans desperately needed relief, and I Brown people are bearing some of the
tracing and early and aggressive treat- am deeply grateful for the victories worst burdens of COVID. This bill re-
ment will be required, and that hos- that Democrats secured. quires, as Chairwoman BASS said, the
pitals should reevaluate how they But the pandemic has exposed the CDC to get us the data on which com-
make decisions regarding who has ac- deep income, racial, and health dispari- munities are bearing the worst brunt
cess to ventilators. ties as it cuts a lethal path through our and then to make sure that testing is
Using formulas that decide based on communities. And it has exposed the focused on these communities.
who they believe has a better chance of callous and deadly indifference of the But let me just say, we have much
survival will undoubtedly hurt African protectors of the wealthy and the con- more work to do. Too many people
Americans and contribute to the dis- nected all too willing to sacrifice our were trapped in poverty before this cri-
proportionate death rate. neighbors for the bottom line. sis, and now more people have been
When we gather again to pass an- But in this House, the people’s pushed into the ranks of the poor be-
other bill, we must include targeted re- House, we know that our strength and cause of COVID. People are lining up in
sources that support aggressive inter- our recovery as a nation rests in the front of food banks.
ventions. health and prosperity of all Americans, We need to increase SNAP funding,
It is just not acceptable for the rich- and we will fight with everything we support the State and local govern-
est country in the history of the world have for the people. ment workers who are on the front
to allow different populations to suffer Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I con- lines of this crisis, protect our elec-
like they don’t even live in the United tinue to reserve the balance of my tions, and help people who are falling
States but live in countries without time. through the cracks and living on the
the resources to protect its population. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I edge. We have a moral and we have a
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I reserve yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman patriotic duty to do this.
the balance of my time. from Ohio (Ms. FUDGE). Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield
Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I Ms. FUDGE. Madam Speaker, I myself the balance of my time.
yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I want to begin by
Madam Speaker, I wonder when this thanking my friend and the Rules Com-
from the Virgin Islands (Ms.
administration will treat all of its citi- mittee as a committee and the staff.
PLASKETT).
zens with the same concern. Yes, our We met last night. Obviously, we are
Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Speaker, I
small businesses need additional sup- all meeting now at an extraordinary
thank the gentleman for yielding the
port and our hospitals, too, but big time, a very difficult time.
time.
Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues banks should not have access to any I was very proud of our committee
more money because they have really last night, particularly our chairman
in support of this rule. It will continue
already taken care of all of their and our staff for reopening and func-
urgent support for our small busi-
friends. tioning and producing a contentious
nesses, hospitals, and healthcare pro- I am happy our farmers are being
viders on the front line. item, but a worthy item, to discuss
helped, but what about hungry people? here today. So thank you to Mr. Chair-
Madam Speaker, I want to commend
The USDA has decided to buy meat and
the House leadership for ensuring that man for his leadership, and I thank our
produce, put it in a box, and send it to
this agreement, which includes the staff and thank our fellow members of
the unemployed through food banks.
agreement that we will pass later on the committee.
Why not just increase SNAP benefits And I want to thank the body, in-
today, includes $120 million more in as we have requested?
small business relief that the Senate cluding the Speaker. We are here today
When is the right time to fight for
initially wanted to provide. functioning. Obviously, we are taking
teachers and sanitation workers, po-
I am pleased to see that we will in- precautions. Obviously, we are doing
lice, fire, and EMS?
clude SBA disaster loan programs and When do we ensure prisoners are safe things differently. We are a little bit
other provisions for extra support for and are afforded appropriate care? out of our comfort zone as a body. This
small businesses. When do we provide nursing homes isn’t the way we normally work. But
The dynamic work of the members of with adequate resources? the point is we are here in Washington,
the House leadership have been hard When do we guarantee every child D.C., and we are working.
fought for those forgotten, and I have a has access to distance learning? While we disagree very strongly over
great concern that without the select When is it the right time to fight for this particular piece of legislation,
committee, the implementation of the those who can’t afford to pay 2 or 3 later today we will vote in over-
incredible work will not be done. months’ rent at once? whelming bipartisan numbers for an-
Reporting requirements holding this Most Americans don’t have the lux- other relief package, Madam Speaker,
administration to task are important ury of waiting for us to pick and for the American people.
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for those that have been forgotten, for choose who gets help. We keep saying That is the fourth time in a row that
people like those in the Virgin Islands it will be in the next bill. Our people we have done it, and we have done it
and for those who have been dispropor- need it now. without partisanship. That doesn’t
tionately affected by this law. Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I con- mean there wasn’t hard bargaining. It
Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of tinue to reserve the balance of my doesn’t mean that everybody got ev-
the rule. time. erything they wanted in the package.
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H1920 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 2020
Quite the opposite. Everybody gave up Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- The yeas and nays were ordered.
some things that they wanted. But at ance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-
the end of the day, we did come to- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro-
gether. yield myself the balance of my time. ceedings on this question will be post-
Now, personally, I wish we would Madam Speaker, I want to thank my poned.
have put money earlier in the Pay- friend, Mr. COLE—and he is my friend.
check Protection Program, but I cer- f
I appreciate all of his counsel and ad-
tainly don’t begrudge the additional vice in the Rules Committee, and I ap- b 1130
money for hospitals and testing. So, preciate his respect for this institu-
hopefully, we can avoid that and keep tion. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER
programs that are working going, fine- I want to thank the distinguished PRO TEMPORE
tune them where we must. Speaker of this House for her leader-
There are certainly some changes The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-
ship. This is a moment in history that ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair
that could be made. But I think, on demands strong leadership, and she has
balance, we ought to look back and will postpone further proceedings
risen to the occasion, and I applaud her today on motions to suspend the rules
say, at a time of great crisis, Congress and I appreciate that.
has continued to function and has on which a recorded vote or the yeas
I also want to thank all of those who
come together in a bipartisan manner and nays are ordered, or votes objected
work on the Hill here: the Capitol Po-
and has done important work on behalf to under clause 6 of rule XX.
lice, the Sergeant at Arms, the attend-
of the American people. The House will resume proceedings
ing physician, the chief administrative
We have a lot more important work on postponed questions at a later time.
officer, and all of the people who main-
to do. There are many, many chal- tain this incredible building. I want to f
lenges that are going to confront us. thank them. They protect us and they
Secretary Mnuchin sometimes calls do an unbelievable job. PERMISSION TO EXTEND DEBATE
the response to coronavirus a baseball Madam Speaker, I want to remind TIME ON H.R. 266
game with nine innings. And I suspect people that more than 855,000 cases of Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I ask
that we are completing the fourth in- coronavirus have been confirmed. unanimous consent that debate under
ning today, Madam Speaker, with the Nearly 48,000 lives have been lost as of clause 1(c) of rule XV on a motion to
ultimate passage of the additional re- today, more than 22 million initial un- suspend the rules relating to the Sen-
sources for the CARES Act. employment claims filed in the past ate amendment to H.R. 266 be extended
Again, while we disagree on this month. Families will be changed for- to 2 hours.
one—I want to talk about that in a sec-
ever. We are in a crisis, and we should The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
ond—we agree on the most important
be proud that we have come together objection to the request of the gen-
act of the day, which is getting relief
repeatedly in a bipartisan way to move tleman from Massachusetts?
out the door to the American people
legislation forward to respond to that There was no objection.
and sustaining our economy under a
crisis.
time of great stress, helping our f
Now, over $2 trillion we have ap-
healthcare workers who are on the
proved to try to help our constituents, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
front line, trying to make sure we have
protect them, and help protect small ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED
the robust testing that is necessary so
businesses, but that is just part of our AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
our Governors can make good decisions
job. Our job is not just to appropriate ACT, 2019
when they grapple with the tough issue
the money and just hope it goes to
of how they are to reopen their respec- Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I move
tive States. wherever it is supposed to go. We need
to do the oversight. We need to make to suspend the rules and concur in the
We think, Madam Speaker, the par- Senate amendment to the bill (H.R.
ticular item we are considering this sure that every single penny that we
have appropriated goes to where it 266) making appropriations for the De-
morning is simply unnecessary. We partment of the Interior, environment,
have eight oversight committees, all of needs to go.
I don’t want to be here a year from and related agencies for the fiscal year
which, I remind my friends, they con- ending September 30, 2019, and for
trol. They are the majority in this now looking back and saying: Oh, look
at all of the waste and all of the abuse. other purposes.
body. That is appropriate. They are The Clerk read the title of the bill.
their oversight committees. Look at all of the well-connected peo-
ple who benefited, but look at all the The text of the Senate amendment is
Creating another one we just think
people who needed the funds who as follows:
is, at a minimum, superfluous; and,
didn’t. Senate amendment:
frankly, history has taught us it is
We need to get this right. That is Strike all after the enacting clause
more apt to be a weapon, in our view,
what this select committee is about. and insert the following:
used to attack the President of the
This should not be controversial. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
United States relentlessly during an
Again, I am stunned by the resist- This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Paycheck Pro-
election year. I would love to be wrong tection Program and Health Care Enhancement
about that. As my friend Mr. FERGUSON ance to sunshine and transparency.
Act’’.
said he would be the first to apologize, That is what this is about, and I hope
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
I will be happy to apologize, too, if I and pray that everything goes per-
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
am wrong. fectly. But we cannot take that
chance. We have to make sure we live Sec. 1. Short title.
But, even if that were not the case, I Sec. 2. Table of contents.
would question the need for an addi- up to our constitutional responsibility. Sec. 3. References.
tional committee. I simply don’t see So I urge my colleagues to vote for
DIVISION A—SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS
any need for that. We have committees this rule so that we can establish this
select committee. Sec. 101. Amendments to the Paycheck Protec-
that do this. We have committees that
tion Program, economic injury
have a lot of experience in doing this. Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal-
disaster loans, and emergency
And, frankly, we have committees that ance of my time, and I move the pre- grants.
have done it in a pretty bipartisan way vious question on the resolution. Sec. 102. Emergency designation.
in the past. So I would hope we would The previous question was ordered. DIVISION B—ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY
rely on those committees. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The APPROPRIATIONS FOR CORONAVIRUS
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With that, Madam Speaker, I again question is on the resolution. RESPONSE
thank my friend for the debate and The question was taken; and the SEC. 3. REFERENCES.
thank his side for the spirited partici- Speaker pro tempore announced that Except as expressly provided otherwise, any
pation, but I urge rejection of this par- the ayes appeared to have it. reference to ‘‘this Act’’ contained in any divi-
ticular measure, and I urge my col- Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, on that I sion of this Act shall be treated as referring only
leagues to vote ‘‘no’’ on the rule. demand the yeas and nays. to the provisions of that division.
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