Unanimous Consent Request on Paycheck Protection Program Transparency — Congressional Record, May 5, 2020

Summary

Congressional Record, Senate pages S2232 and S2233, May 5, 2020. The pages open with a senator's remarks about mental health and substance abuse treatment during the coronavirus pandemic, followed by a recess announced by Mr. Cornyn. Under the heading Unanimous Consent Request, Mr. Schumer states that the Paycheck Protection Program received $349 billion under the CARES Act and another $310 billion in supplemental legislation, and that at least 200 publicly traded companies have managed to secure PPP loans. Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Shaheen and Mr. Blumenthal speak about transparency and oversight of the program.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Cite this document

“Unanimous Consent Request on Paycheck Protection Program Transparency — Congressional Record, May 5, 2020.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-05-05-crec-2020-05-05-pt1-pgs2232-3-8ba698cb4c/, SHA-256 cc48d448fbb3f0b7dbca3afba6e24861c5ae22703f339e5982b3410ae4b3edc5.

Full text

S2232 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 5, 2020
health. Last weekend, the family of a but the current circumstances have it are taking a tremendous toll on the
New York City emergency room doctor made those daily battles much more American people. It is not just the
released some devastating news. Dr. difficult. They are isolated from their virus and the threat of catching the
Lorna Breen had been in the trenches friends and loved ones, and they are virus that are taking the toll. We need
battling this virus for weeks. She was dealing with the anxiety caused by the to look at this holistically and realize,
working long hours, as many of our virus and possibly—probably—facing fi- if you are a victim of domestic violence
healthcare providers are, and told her nancial struggles. and you are forced to be confined with
family about the devastation that she The new stressors brought on by this your abuser and have nowhere else to
was seeing every day. virus are compounded by reduced ca- go and maybe have no money coming
She contracted COVID–19 and took a pacity for treatment. In-person support in the front door, only to have your
week and a half off to recover, but then meetings are canceled, treatment clin- abuser abusing alcohol and perhaps be-
she went back to work, eager to help ics and counselors are curtailing ap- coming even more violent—there are a
where she could. Shortly after, Dr. pointments, and the barriers to over- whole catalog of problems associated
Breen’s family intervened and brought coming addiction loom even larger. For with this virus and the virus itself, the
her home to Charlottesville, VA, to those individuals, treatment cannot risk of infection being just one, and we
rest and to spend a little time with her simply be delayed. need to look at this holistically.
family and for R&R. Our country has made serious in- As our discussions continue this
Sadly, tragically, the struggles Dr. roads in our battle against the opioid week on how to support the American
Breen was facing felt untenable. After epidemic. In 2018, overdose deaths were people during this unprecedented time,
overcoming COVID–19, she ultimately down 4 percent from the previous year, resources for mental health and sub-
took her own life by suicide. the first decrease in nearly three dec- stance abuse treatment providers can-
Dr. Breen was a hero who devoted her ades. We can’t let the coronavirus de- not fall by the wayside.
entire life to caring for others, to put- rail the progress we have fought so (Mr. CRUZ assumed the Chair.)
ting others before herself. While her hard to make. f
tragic death cannot be reversed, it The CARES Act—I am glad to say—
should serve as a warning signal about does expand access to telehealth. I RECESS
the broader impact of this virus. think many Americans are experi- Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask
In a recent poll by the Kaiser Family encing the benefits of telehealth, and I unanimous consent that the Senate
Foundation, nearly half of Americans predict at some point this will change stand in recess until 2:15 p.m. today.
reported that coronavirus is having a a lot of the ways that we receive con- Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:18 p.m.,
negative impact on their mental sultation by healthcare providers: not recessed until 2:17 p.m. and reassem-
health—one-half. That is up from one- having to drive our car and make ap- bled when called to order by the Pre-
third in March. The number of texts to pointments, pay for parking, spend a siding Officer (Mrs. CAPITO).
the Federal Disaster Distress Helpline lot of time out of our day. We can sim-
skyrocketed in April—more than a ply do it through video conference, f
1,000-percent increase. conveniently and effectively. But more EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued
As we continue to discuss what fu- must be done to support those battling
ture coronavirus legislation could look The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
addiction and mental health chal-
like, we cannot ignore the mental Democratic leader.
lenges.
health impact. Nationwide, we rely on For those who are transitioning from UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST

the community mental health centers the criminal justice system, the need Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President,
and community behavioral health or- for additional resources and support is over the past few months, both parties
ganizations to support those battling especially dire. Earlier this year, Sen- have worked together to provide his-
mental health and substance abuse dis- ator BLUMENTHAL and I introduced the toric levels of funding to help small
orders. As the need for these services Crisis Stabilization and Community businesses retain employees, meet pay-
has increased, resources have actually Reentry Act to support those who have roll, and stay afloat during the COVID–
decreased. More than 90 percent of the been a part of the criminal justice sys- 19 pandemic. The Paycheck Protection
community behavioral health organi- tem and to provide stable treatment Program—the main instrument to help
zations nationwide have been forced to for those with mental illness. small businesses—received $349 billion
reduce their operations—reduce their Most prisoners who are receiving under the CARES Act and another $310
operations at a time of increased need treatment for a mental health or a sub- billion in supplemental legislation.
and demand—and more than 60 percent stance use disorder are released with- The public has a right to know how
of behavioral health organizations out a plan to keep them on their regi- this money is being spent. Oversight,
project they can’t survive financially men. This often leads to higher recidi- transparency, and accountability are
for more than 3 months under the cur- vism rates, unsurprisingly, which could crucial because from the moment the
rent COVID–19 conditions. be avoided. It also means that law en- administration began implementing
Congress tried to do something to forcement is, all too often, left to be these funds, it became clear that much
help. We provided $175 billion for the the first responders for those suffering of it wasn’t going to those who needed
Public Health and Social Services a mental health crisis, which can esca- it most.
Emergency Fund to support healthcare late those confrontations and put both Today, we are not taking any other
providers on the frontlines of this cri- the officer and the individual in that action on the floor dealing with
sis. As this funding is being distrib- crisis at risk. COVID. We thought we would take this
uted, mental health providers cannot This bill creates grants to connect opportunity to ask unanimous consent
be forgotten. law enforcement, State and local, and to get something real done that should
Along with 24 of our colleagues, Sen- community resources to help individ- have bipartisan support on both sides
ator STABENOW and I have sent a letter uals who are either engaged in the of the aisle. Who can be against trans-
to Secretary Azar and Administrator criminal justice system or have been parency? Who can be against account-
Verma, urging them to quickly allo- released from prison and makes it pos- ability? Who cannot want to know
cate this funding and ensure that these sible for them to access the resources where close to $700 billion of the tax-
mental health organizations are in- they need to have a successful reentry payers’ money is going? Is it going to
cluded. Not only do they provide vital into civilized society. These grants the right places?
care and support for individuals strug- connect those services to make sure Unfortunately, today at least 200
gling with mental health issues; they that people suffering from an acute epi- publicly traded companies have man-
also are key to fighting addiction and sode can access treatment without the aged to secure PPP loans, and most of
substance abuse. risk of being reincarcerated. those are not very small, including
Those struggling to overcome addic- We are facing a battle unlike any we some companies whose owners are
tion are often living in a fragile state, have seen in my lifetime, and the large contributors to President Trump.
fighting each day to stay the course, stress and the anxiety that come with Truly small businesses, however—the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:00 May 06, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G05MY6.011 S05MYPT1
May 5, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2233
hundreds of thousands of mom-and-pop The same thing should happen today. We have been asking for this infor-
shops with less than 20 employees, the We should pass this. We should UC it mation over and over again. We
proverbial restaurant owner or the and get the oversight this program so haven’t been able to get it. It is our re-
butcher, the baker, and the candlestick desperately needs. sponsibility to oversight these pro-
maker—have been mostly shut out be- I yield the floor to Senator CARDIN. grams.
cause they didn’t have a standing rela- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Now I am quoting from my chairman.
tionship with a big bank. ator from Maryland. He said—and I agree with him—it is
There have been great disparities Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, let our responsibility to oversight. But if
when it comes to minority-owned busi- me thank Leader SCHUMER for initi- we don’t have the information, how can
nesses. According to the Center for Re- ating this discussion. I am very pleased we oversight? I am concerned about
sponsible Lending, over 90 percent of Senator SHAHEEN is also on the floor. underbanked and underserved commu-
African-American-owned and Latino- The two of us worked on the Demo- nities getting their fair share of this
owned businesses were likely shut out cratic side, with Senator RUBIO and help, and yet we don’t have the spe-
of PPP funding. Women-owned busi- Senator COLLINS on the Republican cifics on the number of minority small
nesses have also been neglected. We side. We are very proud of the tools we businesses, the number of women-
have tried to fix some of these prob- made available to small business. owned small businesses, the number of
lems in COVID 3.5, working closely These are important tools to keep veteran-owned small businesses. We
with the Senators from Maryland and small businesses alive during COVID– don’t know about rural small busi-
New Hampshire and the Senator from 19. nesses and how well they have done.
Florida, but much more needs to be The Paycheck Protection Program We need to have that information in
done. We need data to help further in- got money out quickly and helped order to make the next judgments in
form who is being left out so we can small businesses stay afloat. We have this Congress. And yes, we do need
continue to make the necessary fixes provided $660 billion under the Pay- transparency because we have even
to see that all small businesses are check Protection Program. The eco- heard from this administration that
helped. nomic disaster loan program, the loan there may very well have been small
My friends Senators CARDIN and SHA- and grant program—we have now pro- businesses that didn’t qualify for this
HEEN have a bill they worked on to do loan that have gotten help or had their
vided $70 billion for that program. But
just that. I want to thank them. They here is the issue. We had to adjust both own ability to handle this crisis but
will talk more about this bill in a mo- of those programs without even know- yet still asked the government for
ment, but I want to make one point these funds or may have violated the
ing all the specifics on how the first
here. This is a very simple piece of leg- size standards that are in this legisla-
amount of money was distributed. We
islation. It requires the kind of trans- tion.
are hearing that we are going to be
parency expected from any Federal We need to have that transparency
running out of money again soon and
program of this size and importance: for oversight. It is our responsibility.
that Congress is going to be asked to
regular public reporting of how and That is why we do need to act as a Sen-
make additional changes in these pro-
where taxpayer dollars are spent. ate. The legislation that we are going
This is something my Republican col- grams, and we still don’t know the spe-
cifics on how this money was distrib- to bring forward is very common sense.
leagues have always believed in. I hope It just tells the Small Business Admin-
that my Republican colleagues will not uted.
We are all frustrated here. I really istration to make available the infor-
object to this legislation when I ask mation on the PPP loans, on the EIDL
unanimous consent in a few minutes, appreciate the leadership. I know my
chairman is on the floor. He has been loans and grants, so that we can ana-
after Senators CARDIN and SHAHEEN lyze this, know how these loans have
have spoken. I hope they will not ob- demanding this information and has
been unable to get it. We are going to been made and make the proper over-
ject just because it comes from this sight and adjustment that we may need
side of the aisle. It is a good idea. be asked to act again without having
to make in these programs in order to
There is no reason to object to this the specific information.
Senator SCHUMER is absolutely right. make sure small businesses get
very unobjectionable idea and get this through COVID–19.
body focused on COVID, not on extra- We know in the first round that those
I urge my colleagues, let’s get this
neous matters, which we seem to be who had preferred relationships with
done and continue to work in a bipar-
doing now, when COVID is the most banking institutions got priority. That
tisan way to make sure small busi-
important issue we face. we know. But we don’t know how nesses in this country are protected.
We are doing quite literally nothing much. We don’t know how many loans I see Senator SHAHEEN is on the floor.
else on the floor of the Senate today. the big banks have issued and what size I will yield the floor so Senator SHA-
There is no other business before us, no they have issued, what their compensa- HEEN can be recognized.
votes whatsoever. We are here to force tion has been, and how those loan deci- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
some action, force some progress, and sions were made. We need to know that ator from New Hampshire.
force some focus on COVID-related leg- because we are relying on the private Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, I
islation. I prefer to do this in a com- banking institutions to make the 7(a) am pleased to be able to join my col-
pletely bipartisan way. But from the loans in all communities. league Senator CARDIN, who is the
get-go, Democrats have had to force We expanded this program to non- ranking member on the Small Business
the issue on many COVID response pro- profits. That was a good thing. But we and Entrepreneurship Committee, as
grams. The leader lays down a bill, it don’t know how many of the nonprofits well as Minority Leader SCHUMER. I am
has no Democratic input, and then, of have received help under this pro- pleased that the chairman of the Small
course, we have to work toward that gram—the specific dollar amounts, the Business and Entrepreneurship Com-
goal, and we have. The fact that the specific loans, the specific locations. mittee, Senator RUBIO, is also here be-
first bill passed 96 to 0 is a tribute to Here is the challenge. I got a call yes- cause Senator CARDIN, Senator RUBIO,
this body that we can come together terday where they wanted to expand Senator COLLINS, and I all worked on
when there is real need. eligibility under this program. We the Paycheck Protection Program and
We should be doing it the same way know there are some difficulties in the the small business provisions that are
today. We should be working together programs themselves that need atten- in the CARES package that we passed
in support of our healthcare system, tion. There is now a desire to expand over 5 weeks ago. I am proud of our ef-
for testing so desperately needed, un- eligibility. They are also being asked forts to negotiate in a bipartisan way
employment insurance, and crucial im- what comes next. to help small businesses get through
provements to small business lending, Restaurants are still ordered to be this crisis.
all of which Democrats said we need- closed in my State. They are going to Not only did we pass, in that first
ed—our Republican friends first re- need additional help. How do we go CARES package, $350 billion to help
sisted and then came along, led by the about crafting what we need to do if we small business, but just a couple of
Republican leader—and all of which don’t know what has been done al- weeks ago, Congress also came to-
passed with unanimous support. ready? gether to pass an additional $370 billion

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 May 06, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G05MY6.013 S05MYPT1
S2234 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 5, 2020
for the Paycheck Protection Program tem for the SBA and for Congress so we supply, even potentially right now
and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan can figure out how to respond to things after the second round.
Program. that aren’t working and when we are We have heard the reports about pub-
Our intent in passing that legislation expecting an additional funding short- licly traded companies. We all know
was to deliver relief to small busi- fall. how we feel about that, and I am glad
nesses that are truly hurting. Small These proposals shouldn’t be con- that is being addressed now. I also
businesses are the lifeblood of this troversial. These are all things that I want to put it in perspective. They
economy nationally, really, and cer- have heard people on both sides of the have taken 0.35 percent of the funds
tainly in New Hampshire, where 99 per- aisle talking about supporting. What that were approved—not 35 percent,
cent of our businesses are considered they will do is allow Congress to per- not 3.5 percent, 0.35 percent of the
small businesses. They employ over 50 form our basic oversight responsibil- money that has been lent.
percent of the New Hampshire work- ities and foster public confidence in the It is not like they took half the
force. integrity of these programs. And per- money, which is what the perception is
In New Hampshire, 20,000 small busi- haps, most important, these improve- that has been created in the coverage.
nesses and nonprofits have received ments will help make sure that the Meanwhile, that means the rest of it
over $2.5 billion in low-interest, forgiv- limited resources that are available are went to somebody who is not publicly
able loans under the Paycheck Protec- getting to the small businesses that traded. That is an extraordinary
tion Program. There have been chal- need them the most. achievement, nonetheless, and I am
lenges. We have heard some of those I yield the floor. glad that is being looked at.
stories from small businesses that Mr. SCHUMER. I want to thank my On transparency, they are all valid
weren’t able to access this assistance colleagues not only for their eloquent points. Myself—Friday, Saturday—I
because some larger businesses got into remarks but their hard work. We know was really upset that we weren’t get-
the queue ahead of them—some of that Senator RUBIO has a 2:30 appoint- ting those numbers. The reason why I
those large, publicly traded companies ment so Senator BLUMENTHAL has gra- want the numbers is, A, we want to
that had a relationship with their lend- ciously agreed to speak after we ask make sure this program that we put
er, and so they were able to get in our unanimous consent request. our names on and worked hard on—all
early. We need information if we are As if in legislative session, I ask of us have—is reaching its intended au-
going to correct the things that unanimous consent the Senate proceed dience and, B, the points that were
haven’t been working about this pro- to the immediate consideration of a made here as well, to the extent that
gram. That is why the legislation that bill that is at the desk that would re- changes have to be in any future fund-
Senator CARDIN, Senator SCHUMER, and quire the Administrator of the Small ing, we want to make sure that future
I are introducing, I think, would be so Business Administration to report on funding is targeted in the right way.
helpful. COVID–19 recovery small business pro- The problem is—I was as upset as any-
The Trump administration and Con- grams; I further ask that the bill be body.
gress need to be held accountable for considered read three times and passed I hope that the agencies are watching
implementation of these programs. In and the motion to reconsider be consid- these proceedings now and under-
order to do that, we have to have over- ered made and laid upon the table, with standing why it is so important that
sight, as Senator CARDIN said. Trans- no intervening action or debate. our Members have accurate details and
parency is fundamental. We need to en- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there regular information about how this
sure that assistance is going to the objection? program is rolling out.
small businesses and nonprofits that The Senator from Florida. What we do know, when they finally
need it most. Mr. RUBIO. Reserving the right to released numbers on Saturday, is that
Senator CARDIN listed off a number of object, let me first begin by saying in round 2, the average loan went from
those companies: the women-owned that this is the first time I had a $206,000 in round 1 to $76,000 or so in
companies, minority-owned companies. chance to speak on the floor about the round 2. That is a stunning drop. It
We also need to think about those busi- Paycheck Protection Program since it tells you it is reaching smaller busi-
nesses that have fewer than 10 employ- passed. I want to say this unequivo- ness.
ees—those mom-and-pop shops that cally. Despite everything you read out We know that 72 percent of loans
really need help, that may not have as there, in my mind, I don’t think there made in round 2 were under $50,000, and
long a relationship with their lender or is any question that by far this has 85 percent were under $100,000. We do
may not have any relationship with a been the most successful part of the know that 4,400 of the 5,200 lenders in
lender. CARES Act. the program—or 5,400 lenders in the
All we are asking for today is a meas- To put it in perspective, this was program have less than $1 billion in as-
ure that would provide the bare min- something we worked on in a bipar- sets. We know it is reaching the re-
imum that this administration should tisan way. In less than a week, it was gional banks, the smaller banks, the
provide to ensure that these programs crafted, and then the agencies had less credit unions.
are functioning as Congress intended. than 6 days to put together the rules. The reason why doing what is being
This is commonsense legislation. All Until Friday, April 4, no bank in proposed now will be problematic is
it would do is require the Small Busi- America had ever made a PPP loan; no twofold. The first is, some of the demo-
ness Administration to provide daily one had ever applied for one; and the graphic data that is being asked is not
reporting on PPP and EIDL loans, to SBA had never approved one. It was a on the application. It is not even clear
provide more detailed weekly reports massive program. We looked at the re- that they would be able to produce
on these programs, and to make this sults. They are stunning—the results that for us unless they stopped the
information publicly available, while that we have seen. process, created a new application, and
at the same time protecting borrower Does the program have problems? then began the process as well.
and participant privacy. Sure. I think any time that you create We will know the answer to that
We have heard the horror stories something that spends $500 billion, $600 question in the forgiveness phase. I do
about problems with this program. billion that reaches over 50 percent of believe in the forgiveness phase it is
There have also been a lot of success the U.S. economy and put it together very valid to ask that information on
stories. But the public isn’t going to so quickly, there are going to be unin- demographics be included in the for-
know both sides of that unless there is tended consequences. I will come back giveness application that people are
reporting and transparency so that to that point in a moment. I think the going to have to file.
people know what is working and what biggest problem this program has had I think the best path forward is, in
is not working. from the very beginning, which created my view, not to pass something like
The bill would also ensure that PPP some of these tensions that we read this today, although something like
and EIDL funds are reaching under- about in the press, is that it was under- this may be necessary if we can’t get
served and underbanked borrowers. It funded from the very beginning. I these numbers. But let’s find out, first
would establish an early warning sys- mean, the demand was greater than the and foremost, what data points do they

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 May 06, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G05MY6.015 S05MYPT1
May 5, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2235
have. What data points does the SBA payer dollars. I also join Senator SCHU- a hammer, which will be essential to
have at their disposal and see if we can MER in the sentiment that our col- deter wrongdoing, preserve resources,
get them to do what they should be league from Florida has been both sin- and conserve credibility.
doing already, which is producing it on cere and bipartisan in his efforts on Strong scrutiny is required to make
a regular—maybe not on a daily basis. this program. sure that aid reaches the right hands. I
What I don’t want to see is an already The fact is that this program, the know that all of us believe, for exam-
overburdened agency that is small to Paycheck Protection Program, cries ple, that conflicts of interest should be
begin with and struggling to get all out for stronger oversight as does the barred; that retaliation against whis-
these programs running having to pull entire CARES package. We will now be tleblowers should be prevented; and
people off getting people money to fill spending an authorized $3 trillion—the that the firing of the inspector general
out this information. Federal budget and then half again— without just cause should be stopped,
We have to understand that in the with little or no oversight. Yet we which means keeping an eye on these
end, it is not the Administrator or the know that this program meets a need programs—not just a wandering eye
Treasury Secretary who will have to among small businesses that is abso- but one of focused, strict scrutiny that
write these things up and collect it. It lutely critical. I have traveled my will assure transparency and make
is going to be people who, in many State via video conference and have sure this program serves the needs it
cases, are working from home, living in had telephone calls and communica- was intended to.
this region under all the restrictions tions of all kinds with small businesses The only people who feel threatened
that are there. around Connecticut, and I have seen by that kind of oversight are the ones
I think this agency is already strug- and heard firsthand how they are hang- who are trying to game the system or
gling to manage this massive program, ing by a thread—struggling to keep hide something. The rest of us, which
and to add an additional requirement their doors open and stay alive. This means the workers, their families, and
without thinking it through would program gives them a lifeline. small businesses, demand oversight.
have an unintended consequence of po- It has, in fact, provided many power- This bill is a good way to begin. It is a
tentially slowing the program down. ful success stories, as my colleague start, not a finish, to the task of the
It is my view that we are going to Senator SHAHEEN said, but it has also oversight ahead of us.
find out all of this information, and we produced some horror stories about big I yield the floor.
are going to know it in a timely fash- customers of big banks who have re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
ion so we can do something about it. I ceived favored treatment to the det- ator from Iowa.
do not believe that passing this today riment of the smaller businesses that CORONAVIRUS
is the right approach, given the fact were supposed to have been the bene- Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President,
that we first need to know what data ficiaries of this program. We need to when it comes to the virus pandemic
they have at their disposal before we make sure that these funds go to the that faces the world, the World Health
can ask them to produce it. Otherwise, small businesses, which really need it, Organization is not serving its member
I fear they are going to stop or they and we should make sure that this pro- nations the way it should. The World
are going to slow down, and real busi- gram is adequately and effectively ad- Health Organization’s mission is to
nesses, small businesses, and not-for- ministered. We need to make sure promote worldwide health, to reduce
profits will be delayed. I will object to there is transparency and disclosure the burdens of disease and poverty, and
this request. about who is receiving these loans that to provide access to healthcare, espe-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ob- can be converted and forgiven so that cially for the world’s most vulnerable
jection is heard. they can become grants and so that the populations. The World Health Organi-
The Democratic leader. real needs of those businesses can be zation states as its guiding principle
Mr. SCHUMER. I want to thank my met and their employees can continue that all people should enjoy the high-
colleague from Florida. I believe he is to be employed. Those kinds of impera- est standard of health regardless of
sincere and has the best of intentions tives we must assure. race, religion, economics, social condi-
to want to make this program work. We know that the ripple effect of the tion, or political belief. It serves pri-
I want to make two quick points. The closures of these businesses is tragic marily as a coordinating body to share
first point is, the more data we have and traumatic. That is why we need to information and best practices by con-
and the sooner we have it, the better continue this program, but we need to necting experts in different countries.
we can make the program. It will not do so with the oversight that assures The virus that emerged in Wuhan,
slow it down. It will improve it and that its purposes are met. For the busi- China, which has caused the disease
make it better—the sooner the better. nesses that have told me, for example, now known as COVID–19, has had a dev-
Second, about demographic informa- that they need more flexibility, those astating impact on the health of people
tion, I understand the problem, but needs need to be met. Numbers of them worldwide as well as the global econ-
there are a lot of ways to skin that cat. have indicated they would like to ex- omy. Nations, including the United
If we looked at ZIP Codes, we might tend the time provided to them to hire States, have been scrambling to deal
very easily be able to tell demographic back their employees past the time in with the impact of the virus since the
information. which the State is likely to allow them beginning of the year. Without a doubt,
I thank my colleague. I regret that to open. They also need more funding worldwide efforts to combat COVID–19
we cannot move this legislation—the for fixed costs. Basically, they need would have been greatly benefited from
only COVID legislation that will be some flexibility because every business independent, unbiased, and informative
talked about on the floor thus far, even is different, and the oversight in this data from the world’s leader in health,
though we were asked by the majority bill will help to alert the SBA and Con- the World Health Organization. Unfor-
leader to come back during the crisis, gress to those needs. tunately, information coming from
and I hope we can move forward quick- Finally, the oversight needed here is this organization since the beginning
ly in the future to get the kind of in- simply one example of the account- of the year has left much to be desired
formation we need. ability that should be imposed on the in its often providing information that
With that I yield the floor. I yield to entire CARES Act. Real accountability we know now to be inaccurate or at
the Senator from Connecticut. demands a watchdog, not a lap dog, in least incomplete. The American people
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- order to stop the waste, fraud, and fa- and the citizens of every country—all
ator from Connecticut. voritism that seems all too common in of whom rely on direct and truthful in-
Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam Presi- this administration. That is why I have formation—deserve better from Dr.
dent, I thank my colleagues Senator been working with my colleagues— Tedros and his team who lead the
CARDIN, Senator SHAHEEN, and Senator most prominently, Senator WARREN— World Health Organization.
SCHUMER for their leadership on this in the strengthening of the oversight of China, which is where the current
issue of seeking better transparency programs created by the CARES Act crisis began, has not done its part ei-
and oversight with regard to a program during this pandemic. We need to make ther in its seeking of or in providing
that involves now almost a trillion tax- sure there is effective enforcement and that very crucial information that, had

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 May 06, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G05MY6.016 S05MYPT1

File and source

File: CREC_crec-2020-05-05_crec-2020-05-05-pt1-pgs2232-3.pdf
Size: 232,986 bytes
SHA-256: cc48d448fbb3f0b7dbca3afba6e24861c5ae22703f339e5982b3410ae4b3edc5
Our copy: CREC_crec-2020-05-05_crec-2020-05-05-pt1-pgs2232-3.pdf
Original: www.govinfo.gov