Congressional Record — Senate, S2267 (May 6, 2020)

Summary

Page S2267 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for May 6, 2020, in interleaved columns, from remarks on the DACA program. A speaker says that if the Court rules in favor of President Trump on DACA, 200,000 essential American workers will be sidelined and deported during the pandemic, which is that speaker's view. The speaker describes sending a letter to the President, joined by 37 colleagues, urging an extension of work authorization. A DACA recipient brought to the United States at age 2 recalls wanting to be a doctor, and another passage refers to NIH-funded researchers.

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

“Congressional Record — Senate, S2267 (May 6, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-05-06-crec-2020-05-06-pt1-pgs2267-2-b2438db1ab/, SHA-256 879fb295cc02d46565f01bb2d982ce8673ba1494a573373793292518e599efbb.

Full text

May 6, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2267
they have to work. If the Court rules in Manuel was brought to the United who simply want a chance to prove
favor of President Trump on DACA, States when he was 2 years old. He themselves to earn their way into
200,000 essential American workers will grew up in Memphis, TN. He always America’s future. It would be an Amer-
be sidelined and deported, even as we wanted to become a doctor. He wrote ican tragedy at this moment when we
fight this pandemic. me a letter, and he said: face this national emergency to lose
Last month, I sent a letter to the Early on, I developed an appreciation for these brave and talented young people.
President—37 of my colleagues joined the medical profession when I witnessed the They are saving lives every day, and
me—urging him to extend the work au- compassionate care received by a loved one they are risking their own to do it. Can
thorization for DACA recipients, not to at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. we ask anything more of anyone else in
make their future depend on what hap- Manuel graduated in the top 10 per- this country? We must ensure that
pens in the Court. The President has cent of his hospital class. He was a Manuel and hundreds of thousands of
the authority to say that, at least until leader of several high school honor so- others in our essential workforce are
the end of the calendar year—or be- cieties. In his spare time, he was a not forced to stop working when their
yond, I hope—we are not going to de- swimmer, a football player, and volun- services are needed now more than
port these young people, and we are teered at the St. Jude Club and the Key ever.
not going to take their jobs away, par- Club. Ultimately, we need to pass legisla-
ticularly those in the healthcare indus- He continued his education at the tion that is just common sense, that
try. University of Tennessee at Chat- says these young people who came here
But if you consider President tanooga. He graduated summa cum as kids and have worked doubly hard
Trump’s attitude toward immigrants, laude in biology with a minor in chem- under the greatest of pressures and
you know he is likely to forge ahead istry. In college, he worked as a med- have made a success of their lives, like
with his decision to deport the Dream- ical scribe for doctors in the emer- this young man, can stay in America
ers. That means we have to do our part. gency room at a small community hos- and be part of our future. He is truly a
I worked with Republican Senator pital in Chattanooga. After this experi- healthcare hero, and he is an immi-
LINDSEY GRAHAM, chairman of the Sen- ence, he decided he wanted to go all the grant. He is an immigrant healthcare
ate Judiciary Committee, to include a way. He wanted to become an emer- hero, and there are thousands just like
provision to automatically extend gency room physician. He continued him across America. We need them now
work authorizations for DACA recipi- his education at Loyola University more than ever.
ents in the CARES Act that Congress Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. I see that Senator CORTEZ MASTO is
just passed a few weeks ago. We pre- Allow me a few seconds to praise this here. I know she wants to speak on this
sented it to the leaders on a bipartisan wonderful school. He was one of dozens subject.
basis. We had the approval of Senate of DACA recipients at Stritch, which I yield the floor to her.
Democratic leader CHUCK SCHUMER and was the first medical school to admit The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT-
Speaker of the House NANCY PELOSI, DACA students. They do not receive TON). The Senator from Nevada.
but not the Republican leader in the any special treatment in the selection f
Senate. He stopped us from extending process, and they are not eligible for a
this protection. I don’t know what his penny in Federal financial assistance. LEGISLATIVE SESSION
situation is in Kentucky, but I can tell Many of them borrowed money from
you that in Illinois, we need every one the State of Illinois to complete their MORNING BUSINESS
of these healthcare workers we have medical education in the hopes that
today. We can’t afford to lose them. To once they are licensed, they can come Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President,
think that 41,000 DACA recipients and back and practice in our State, which I ask unanimous consent that the Sen-
another 11,000 TPS critical healthcare they promise to do. ate proceed to legislative session for a
workers would be deported would mean Here is what Manuel says DACA period of morning business, with Sen-
that many Americans who count on means to him: ators permitted to speak therein for up
these great professionals are going to DACA has undoubtedly opened up many to 10 minutes each.
get less care and perhaps terrible re- doors for me. It meant allowing me to obtain The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
sults. my dream of serving others through emer- objection, it is so ordered.
As Congress debates the next legisla- gency medicine. If DACA ended, I would be f
tion to address the COVID–19 pan- forced to stop doing not only what I love
doing but what I trained so hard to do. DACA
demic, I will continue pushing for this
provision. It is not too much to ask Today, Dr. Manuel Bernal is an emer- Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President,
that if these people simply want to be gency room resident at Advocate I rise, along with my good friend and
working in ERs and hospitals, risking Christ Medical Center in Chicago, one colleague, the senior Senator from Illi-
their lives for all of us, that they at of the busiest trauma hospitals in our nois, to stress the importance of what
least have the peace of mind to know city. His supervisor told him he did not is happening in this country right now
that they can stay until the end of the have to treat COVID–19 patients be- and who is on the frontline during this
calendar year. That is all I am asking cause he is only a resident, but he healthcare crisis and why we need to
for. Is it too much to ask? Some of stepped forward and volunteered to do support them. There is no doubt.
them are suffering, and their families it anyway. I just came from Nevada. There are
are suffering too. All they want is the Manuel’s DACA is set to expire in Oc- so many essential workers who are
authority to stay here. tober, 5 months from now. Will Amer- risking their lives, as well as their
Last year, the House of Representa- ica be stronger if this doctor leaves? loved ones, to provide essential care
tives passed the Dream and Promise Will they be better at Advocate Christ and help for individuals, not just in Ne-
Act, based on the Dream Act, with a Medical Center, the trauma hospital, if vada but across the country. We are
strong vote. Senator MCCONNELL has Manuel was forced to leave this coun- talking about healthcare workers. We
refused to call it in the Senate. It could try? I can’t imagine anyone would an- are talking about transit drivers, sani-
help us. I wish he would consider it. swer yes. tation workers, first responders. We
I have come to the floor over 100 Manuel and hundreds of thousands of are talking about those who are work-
times and told the stories of Dreamers. other Dreamers are counting on the ing with the grocery stores, showing up
I don’t think there is any better way to Supreme Court to reject President every day to make sure that individ-
make the case—meet them, know Trump’s abolition of DACA and count- uals in need can have the groceries
them, realize what they brought to ing on us who serve in the Senate to they so require during this healthcare
America and what they bring each day. solve this crisis President Trump alone crisis.
Today, I want to tell you the story of created. As long as I am a U.S. Sen- So much is at stake right now. I do
this man. His name is Manuel Bernal. ator, I will continue to come to the not want to forget all of those State
He works in the emergency department floor of the Senate to advocate for and local government workers. Right
at the Advocate Christ Medical Center. Manuel and for thousands of others now in my State, there are so many

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:59 May 07, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G06MY6.025 S06MYPT1
S2268 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 6, 2020
State workers who are showing up to they should be focused on keeping their one would question whether we want
ensure that individuals get the essen- patients alive and limiting their own that kind of person in America’s future
tial paycheck or the expanded unem- exposure, the 27,000 DACA recipients in is beyond me.
ployment insurance that we fought to healthcare have to worry about their Thank you for telling that story. It is
make sure they can receive, and they own legal status. an important part of the RECORD.
are showing up, as well. Anna says that the health crisis her f
I, too, stand with my colleague be- hospital is facing has almost managed
CORONAVIRUS
cause I think it is important that we to push out the fear that is always in
recognize not only our healthcare the back of her mind about attacks on Mr. DURBIN. This week, amid the
workers but some of those who need DACA and attacks on her future—al- devastating coronavirus pandemic, we
extra help from this legislature. We most, because it never really goes saw what world powers are supposed to
have spent, unfortunately, the last 3 away. A few weeks ago, Anna was do—join forces to raise funds to re-
years of this administration attacking transferred to other parts of the hos- search, manufacture, and distribute a
them. These are our immigrants in Ne- pital to help adult patients with vaccine and treatments. This makes
vada and across this country who are COVID–19. She told me about the utter obvious strategic and lifesaving sense,
actually going out every day and risk- isolation of these patients who are being both the moral and strategic
ing their lives to help others in need, fighting for their lives far from their thing to do. All of us joining forces and
and they are working in our loved ones. She told me about former working together will help speed up ef-
healthcare. University Medical Center friends and forts and the eventual discovery and
One of them I rise to talk about colleagues, now in New York and in Se- distribution of a coronavirus vaccine
today is Anna Ledesma. She is a DACA attle, who are witnessing the same that we all desperately seek. Many of
recipient in Nevada, and she works in a us believe that until that day comes
scenes.
pediatric ICU in Nevada as a nurse, in Lately, the number of children suf- when that vaccine proves to be effec-
Las Vegas. Anna has been in the United fering from COVID–19 has increased in tive and safe and is widely distributed,
States since she was 7 years old. She Nevada. Anna is back in the pediatric we are going to still see what we call
got interested in medicine because an ICU, where patients are mostly asymp- our normal lives compromised. So
aunt who was a nurse thought it would there is no greater priority. This effort
tomatic. With these healthier patients,
be the perfect career for her. Her aunt will save lives around America and
it is easier to do what she does best,
around the world.
was right. Anna loves biology and she which is to teach kids the things they Who knows where that vaccine is
loves learning how disease process need to know about a procedure or an going to be discovered, produced, or
works. But, most of all, Anna loves her operation they are facing, distracting distributed? I want America in on this
patients. She said: ‘‘I love connecting them and making them laugh. conversation from the start and end on
with them over Disney stuff.’’ Anna We need to let Anna do her job. We
the collective efforts. Clearly, other
will tell you: ‘‘I think I’m a good pedi- need to let the thousands of immi- world leaders understand this. So when
atric nurse because at heart, I’m still a grants who are on the frontline right there was an effort to raise $8 billion
kid too.’’ now continue to do their jobs. We must for the discovery of this new vaccine,
All across Nevada, immigrants like allow her to keep serving the only com- they had a virtual global telephone
Anna are working on the frontlines to munity she has ever known. We need to conference. Our allies in the European
help others in need during this create a pathway for citizenship for so Union and Norway offered to give $1
healthcare crisis. They are working as many like Anna. We need to give them billion each toward this goal. Who was
teachers for children learning from all the tools they need to keep them- absent from this critical effort to save
home. They are staffing retirement selves and the rest of us healthy. lives around the world, to discover this
homes, taking care of at-risk seniors in Anna’s story is an American story— vaccine, including the distribution of it
the middle of a pandemic that targets one of struggle, courage, and sacrifice to those who need it in every corner of
our elders. They are harvesting, they for your community in order to build a the world? Which country did not par-
are shelving, and they are cooking food brighter future for those who come ticipate in this global virtual tele-
for all of us. after. phone conference? The United States of
More than 200,000 DACA recipients in I am going to continue to fight for America.
the United States are on the frontlines DACA recipients and immigrants like In yet another shortsighted, missed
of healthcare, education, agriculture, Anna and everyone else who has con- opportunity to address the
and other essential jobs. There are al- tributed, not just in my State but in coronavirus, this administration re-
most 5,000 of them in Nevada alone this country, to not only enrich all of fused to participate. America was miss-
among the 12,000 Nevada DACA recipi- our lives but to continue to contribute ing in action when leaders around the
ents. These are our friends, and they to our economy and to make our lives world came together with the deter-
are our neighbors. better. The least we can do is to give mination to find and distribute a vac-
Yet this administration continues to them peace of mind and let them know cine against coronavirus. The Presi-
demonize them with anti-immigrant that the only country they have ever dent’s supporters in Congress said
rhetoric and has turned their lives up- known is one they can stay in forever. nothing, focusing instead on judicial
side down by trying to end DACA. That is my fight. I hope that is the appointments and other things on their
These are the young professionals at Presiding Officer’s fight and of many of mind.
risk if the Supreme Court upholds my colleagues. This is something that Given this President’s penchant for
President Trump’s decision to termi- must be done. We have to pass legisla- blaming others but not himself for any
nate DACA. tion to make sure Dreamers in this mishandling of this viral contagion,
These young men and women have country and their parents have every maybe his dereliction of duty in this
grown up in our communities, and they opportunity to stay and find that path- global conference should come as no
are giving back. Even in the face of way to citizenship. They are already surprise, but it does because of the dev-
their uncertain futures, they are still contributing. astating consequences that could re-
showing up to work each shift and still I yield the floor. sult. What does this mean for America
demonstrating by their everyday her- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- if the United States sits on the side-
oism that they belong here. ator from Illinois. lines while other countries set out to
Now, more than ever, we need to un- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want discover this lifesaving vaccine?
derstand that those who come to Amer- to thank my colleague from Nevada. Well, we still continue to have some
ica in search of a better life don’t di- Anna’s story is so touching. This young of the best researchers in the world at
minish us. They enrich us. You can see girl, concerned about her own future, the National Institutes of Health, the
how cruel and twisted the immigration worried about deportation, gets into a Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
debate in this country has become if giving, caring profession and risks her vention, and the many university and
you just think about this: In the mid- life in caring for those who may be suf- private researchers around this coun-
dle of a worldwide health crisis, when fering from COVID–19. To think some- try. Many NIH-funded researchers have

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:59 May 07, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G06MY6.027 S06MYPT1

File and source

File: CREC_crec-2020-05-06_crec-2020-05-06-pt1-pgs2267-2.pdf
Size: 222,216 bytes
SHA-256: 879fb295cc02d46565f01bb2d982ce8673ba1494a573373793292518e599efbb
Our copy: CREC_crec-2020-05-06_crec-2020-05-06-pt1-pgs2267-2.pdf
Original: www.govinfo.gov