Congressional Record — Senate, S2470 (May 18, 2020)
Summary
Senate pages of the Congressional Record for May 18, 2020, beginning at page S2470. Under the executive calendar, the Senate proceeds to executive session to resume consideration of the nomination of Scott H. Rash, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona. Mr. Schumer, the Democratic leader, speaks on the coronavirus, saying more than 35 million Americans are out of work, and says President Trump fired the inspector general of the State Department, Mr. Steve Linick. Mr. Barrasso then discusses the House Democrats' $3 trillion spending spree, which he ties to the Heroes Act.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, S2470 (May 18, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-05-18-crec-2020-05-18-pt1-pgs2470-5-99451ef729/
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S2470 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 18, 2020
the disturbing details of which are con- evolving threats from Russia to China, fault of their own. Almost 1.5 million
tinuing to come to light every day. Our to terrorist groups, and for ensuring Americans are sick, and nearly 90,000
action on that subject is not finished. the intelligence community’s impor- have died. Yet Senate Republicans
Thanks to leadership from Senator tant work is not tainted by partisan have decided to take the month off
RUBIO, we passed legislation to con- bias or political weaponization. from the coronavirus.
tinue ratcheting up the pressure on the We have a busy week ahead of us. The American people may be won-
Chinese Communist Party. In this case, This pandemic is not going to defeat dering: What is the Republican-led
our bill will shed new light and impose itself; a careful reopening will not plan Senate doing instead of addressing this
new consequences for the egregious itself; and our Nation’s other chal- urgent national crisis? What could be
abuses against the Uyghur people and lenges are not about to politely step more pressing? What is the Republican
other Muslim minorities. We also con- aside in the meantime. All kinds of Senate doing in the midst of the crisis?
firmed well-qualified nominees to im- American heroes across the country Well, Leader MCCONNELL has sched-
portant roles at the National Counter- are tackling the coronavirus head on. uled five rightwing judges for the floor
intelligence and Security Center, the We are going to do all we can to keep of the Senate, and the Republican
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the them safe and supported while they do. chairman of the Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security, and Committee will be holding a hearing
f
the Department of Housing and Urban designed to slander the family of the
Development. RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME President’s political opponent. Is the
In other words, we have done more The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under chairman of Homeland Security calling
for the American people in 2 weeks on the previous order, the leadership time in FEMA to find out if our hospitals
this side of the Capitol than the House have enough PPE? No. He wants to
is reserved.
of Representatives has done in the last echo Kremlin-backed conspiracy theo-
f ries in order to go on a fishing expedi-
2 months. In the two months that the
House Democrats have spent away CONCLUSION OF MORNING tion to smear Joe Biden’s son.
from their duty stations, they have BUSINESS We all know this is what the Presi-
seemingly given themselves just one dent focuses on instead of the COVID
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning crisis, but must our Republican col-
assignment—to draft an enormous po- business is closed.
litical messaging bill and brand it as leagues gamely follow such an absurd,
f diversionary, and untruthful agenda? I
coronavirus relief.
Yet, even on this basis, they have guess so. It is a shame.
EXECUTIVE SESSION Even more shameful, the company
failed. The 1,800-page doorstop that
Speaker PELOSI dropped last week was --- that the Senator from Wisconsin wants
appropriately greeted as the legislative EXECUTIVE CALENDAR to issue a subpoena for is voluntarily
equivalent of a standup comedy. There cooperating and providing relevant
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under documents to the committee. Did you
were tax hikes on small businesses in the previous order, the Senate will pro-
the midst of a small business crisis, hear that? They want to make a big
ceed to executive session to resume show of subpoenaing, but the company
and there were targeted tax cuts for consideration of the following nomina-
the wealthiest people in the bluest says it will cooperate. It is a show. It is
tion, which the clerk will report. a sham. It has nothing to do with
States. There were two separate tax- The legislative clerk read the nomi-
payer-funded studies on diversity and COVID and everything to do with
nation of Scott H. Rash, of Arizona, to Kremlin-backed rumors that they want
inclusion in the market for marijuana. be United States District Judge for the
In sum, it was a $3 trillion wish list to use to divert attention from the
District of Arizona. President’s poor showing on COVID.
slapped together in a clumsy effort to Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
never let a good crisis go to waste—se- The subpoena is just for show. It is not
suggest the absence of a quorum. necessary because the company will co-
rious work here in the Senate and par- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
tisanship pointlessness over in the operate. It is a way to kick up dirt for
clerk will call the roll. exclusively partisan purposes.
House. The legislative clerk proceeded to
The Senate will stay on course and It would be bad enough if they were
call the roll. doing this when COVID–19 wasn’t rag-
continue our serious work at this seri-
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask ing, but with COVID–19 raging, to
ous time. Tomorrow morning, our col-
unanimous consent that the order for spend time doing this instead of focus-
leagues on the Committee on Banking,
the quorum call be rescinded. ing on the way to get relief to people—
Housing, and Urban Affairs will hear
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without unbelievable. It is a low point for that
from Secretary Mnuchin and Fed
objection, it is so ordered. committee, a low point for the Senate.
Chairman Powell on the latest status
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER This is what is on the Senate Repub-
of the CARES Act implementation ef-
The Democratic leader is recognized. licans’ agenda in the midst of historic
forts. The Homeland Security and Gov-
CORONAVIRUS unemployment and a national crisis:
ernmental Affairs Committee will meet
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, five rightwing judges and the exploi-
this week to consider the nomination
for the third week in a row, the Repub- tation—a show, mock hearing for par-
of Brian Miller to serve as Special In-
lican majority in the Senate has no tisan mudslinging. America is in crisis,
spector General for the pandemic re-
COVID-related business on the agenda. and Senate Republicans are rear-
covery programs. The Special Com-
For the third week in a row, Leader ranging the Nation’s deck chairs and
mittee on Aging will be examining the
MCCONNELL has scheduled zero votes on trying to put them in a political as-
challenges facing American seniors
legislation having to do with the crisis. sembly.
during this pandemic as both the virus The Chairman of the Federal Re-
itself and the social distancing meas- Senate Democrats have had to re-
serve, Jay Powell, appointed by Presi-
ures take a heavy toll on older Ameri- lentlessly pressure our Republican col-
dent Trump, said last week that we are
cans. Of course, we will continue to up- leagues to secure even the most rou-
looking at the worst recession since
hold our responsibilities beyond the tine oversight hearings on the pan-
World War II. Yesterday, Mr. Powell
scope of COVID–19. We will consider demic. If we had not pressured them, I
warned that layoffs would continue for
more nominations to the Federal Elec- doubt there would be any hearings at
several months and that unemploy-
all, and they are few and far between.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
tion Commission and to the Federal ment could reach 20 or even 25 percent.
bench. The hearings will be the only work we
He said:
Tomorrow, our colleagues on the In- will have done in the Senate on
If we let people be out of work for long pe-
telligence Committee will vote on re- COVID–19 in the entire month of May,
riods of time, if we let businesses fail unnec-
porting the nomination of JOHN and the Republican majority has had essarily, waves of them, there’ll be longer
RATCLIFFE to serve as Director of Na- to be pressured into doing even those. term damage to the economy. The recovery
tional Intelligence. This role is essen- There are now more than 35 million will be slower. The good news is we can avoid
tial for monitoring and countering Americans out of work through no that by providing more support now.
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May 18, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2471
Mr. Powell went on to encourage pol- Instead, Leader MCCONNELL has said sure our government is working for the
icymakers to provide greater assist- that Republicans have yet to feel ‘‘the people. That is what they are there to
ance to families and implement meas- urgency of acting immediately’’—Her- do: Hold government accountable for
ures to keep workers in their homes. bert Hoover redux. Instead, his party is waste and fraud and abuse. But if they
He also pointed out if State and local slowly preparing legislation to give actually do their jobs and say that the
governments don’t receive additional legal immunity to big corporations President is doing something wrong, he
aid, they will be forced to lay off public that put workers in dangerous situa- fires them.
employees and cut back on public serv- tions. Is that the No. 1 problem on The President can’t handle the truth
ices at the worst possible time. every American’s mind? Is that the No. and will not tolerate oversight of his
Mr. Powell is spot-on, and tomorrow, 1 problem of people who are losing administration when truth speakers
in the Senate Banking Committee, my their jobs, people who have small busi- speak out. No other administration has
Republican colleagues will have a nesses that are going bankrupt, people come close to doing this. This Presi-
chance to hear this critical message who can’t feed their kids—protecting dent is so different, running almost a
straight from the horse’s mouth, with corporations from liability? rogue administration that defies truth,
Mr. Mnuchin and Mr. Powell set to tes- This Republican Party is so, so out of that defies facts. Now five inspectors
tify only after Senate Democrats had touch with America. It is so off-kilter, general have been fired all because
to push and push and push for such a so in obeisance to the hard right that they were doing their job, telling the
hearing. We asked for it 3 weeks ago. It they can’t even focus on a crisis when truth, and trying to clean up the mess
should have happened 2 weeks ago be- it is right before their eyes. in Washington.
cause the country is calling out for ac- We are confronted with a period of We know this about President
tion. Trump appointees are calling out prolonged economic misery for mil- Trump, but where the heck are my Re-
for action. Governors across the coun- lions of American workers and fami- publican colleagues in the Senate? My
try—Democratic and Republican Gov- lies—Americans who, for the first time, friends on the other side, especially the
ernors—are calling out for action. are waiting in staggering lines at food senior Senator from Iowa, have long
When will my Republican colleagues banks, Americans who, for the first defended and even sought to pass legis-
hear the message? After all, there is no time, don’t know if they will be able to lation to further empower inspectors
shortage of action the Senate could keep a roof over their heads, put food general. Well, the President has just
take. on the table or pay the rent. How long fired a parade of independent watch-
Millions of Americans are having dif- will it take—how long? How much eco- dogs and given no legitimate expla-
ficulty receiving the expanded unem- nomic hardship—how much before Re- nation for their dismissals.
ployment insurance benefits that Con- publicans feel the urgency to act? Is a mild rebuke the most my Repub-
gress recently passed. Why aren’t Sen- STATE DEPARTMENT IG
lican colleagues can muster—a tweet?
ate Republicans holding a hearing on Mr. President, on another matter, Some concerned statements?
why millions of our citizens aren’t get- last Friday night, in the dark of night, This is not the first time the Presi-
ting the aid we intended to provide in- President Trump fired the inspector dent has fired an IG and failed to pro-
stead of these sham political show trial general of the State Department, Mr. vide a sufficient explanation. So what
‘‘gotcha’’ hearings? Steve Linick. Mr. Linick, according to
Testing continues to be a major prob- are our Republican colleagues going to
reports, had been investigating the do about it? Nothing, it seems. Noth-
lem. A blockbuster report in the Wash- misuse of public resources by Secretary
ington Post last night says we are ‘‘far ing. They are so afraid of President
Pompeo and the Trump administra- Trump. They so cling—almost to his
short of the [testing] number that most tion’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
independent analysts say will be need- ankles—that when they know he is
Mr. Linick is now the fifth—yes, the
ed to avoid another wave of death and doing wrong, when they know he is hid-
fifth—inspector general to be fired by
illness.’’ The report described a con- ing the truth, they are afraid to say it.
President Trump from his or her post
cerning shortage of PPE, nasal swabs, They shudder.
in the last few months. They all shared I have never seen anything like it: a
and reagents in nursing homes and one thing in common. They had the au-
other frontline settings. The report President who is so out of control with
dacity to do their jobs and speak the
outlined another problem: There is a his party so in line behind him, march-
truth. They had the audacity to try
startling lack of awareness in many ing in lockstep. But when history looks
and drain the swamp.
communities about the need to get What is Donald Trump’s reaction back on this chapter, on President
tested. when he hears the truth? He fires the Trump’s purge of independent watch-
Why aren’t Senate Republicans fo- people who have spoken it. What kind dogs during a time of national crisis, it
cusing on these issues? These are life- of President is that? will not give credit to Senate Repub-
and-death issues. They relate to peo- During normal times it is bad licans who let the President off the
ple’s health and people’s lives, and they enough, but during a crisis, it is more hook with at most and only, at times,
relate to our economy getting well. awful. The Inspector General of the In- a polite slap on the wrist.
Why isn’t President Trump leading a telligence Committee delivered a whis- I yield the floor.
nationwide push to increase testing ca- tleblower report to Congress as re- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
pacity and frequency and awareness? quired by law. For this, it seems, he The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
President Trump is so desperate to was fired. clerk will call the roll.
reopen the country as quickly as pos- It was through the work of the HHS The legislative clerk proceeded to
sible, but he refuses to roll up his inspector general the public learned call the roll.
sleeves and do the work that would the extent of the Trump administra- Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask
allow us to do it safely. There is an tion’s failure to provide hospitals and unanimous consent that the order for
anomaly here. He demands that people medical workers with testing, PPE, the quorum call be rescinded.
get back to work but doesn’t do his and necessary personnel in the early The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
work to make sure we have testing, to days of the pandemic. She has been objection, it is so ordered.
make sure there are guidelines, to fired too. HEROES ACT
make sure this works correctly so that The inspector general for the Defense Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I
we don’t have a crisis a few months Department and the Transportation come to the floor today to discuss the
from now. Department have been fired, as well, House Democrats’ $3 trillion spending
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
House Democrats have put together a just as they were about to oversee spree.
major bill that would provide urgent parts of the administration’s response The American people are at a point
and necessary relief to the American to COVID. where they need a life preserver. In-
people. My colleagues on the Repub- Now it is Mr. Linick who was looking stead, Speaker PELOSI has just thrown
lican side don’t have to like everything into potential wrongdoing at the State them an anvil.
in it. They could easily say: Let’s sit Department. It is absurd. Her COVID–19 proposal
down and negotiate. Let’s find some The inspectors general are the watch- is pricey, partisan, and it is a pipe
common ground. dogs for our Federal agencies, making dream. It is a bloated bonanza of all of
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