Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., June 3, 2020)
Summary
Page S2678 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for June 3, 2020, headed Coronavirus, in interleaved columns. A Tennessee speaker describes a RESTART initiative giving employers flexibility to pay bills and implement social distancing measures such as Plexiglas dividers, and says nonprofits matter to struggling communities, which is that speaker's view. Another speaker says a paycheck program bill gives borrowers a more realistic timeline, with any unforgiven amount having at least a 5-year term. A roll call shows 42 nays and 5 not voting, and the nomination was confirmed.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., June 3, 2020).”
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S2678 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 3, 2020
done. Even though the COVID is still substantial revenue hit during this there to meet needs. In Tennessee, as
with us, we must continue working to- coronavirus pandemic. My RESTART in many States, struggling commu-
gether and following the guidelines so initiative would provide needed funds nities depend on these nonprofit
we can protect both our economy and with the flexibility for employers to groups. This is why we fought so hard
our health. pay bills and to implement social to include eligibility for nonprofits in
I yield the floor. distancing measures, like with those the rescue funding packages.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Plexiglas dividers I have seen at so I will tell you that this is making a
ator from Indiana. many businesses. Most importantly, it difference in Tennessee for some of our
RESTART ACT would bring employees back to work, nonprofit organizations, like the East
Mr. YOUNG. Mr. President, last which is exactly where they want to Tennessee-based Appalachia Service
week, I traveled around the great State be. Project. ASP teams travel throughout
of Indiana on my RESTART tour. Over the last several weeks, I have Central Appalachia. They repair homes
I visited small businesses up and spoken to more than 22,000 Hoosiers by for low-income families. Mayors in the
down the State—eight cities, in fact— using Zoom teleconferencing capabili- communities that ASP visit are run-
where we have seen so many Hoosiers ties, having conference calls, and other ning on tight budgets, and they depend
adversely impacted by this pandemic. means. I have to say I am truly in- on volunteers to fix up unsafe or un-
Like many other States, Indiana is spired by the way Hoosiers have come inhabitable homes. You can only imag-
starting to open up our economy, and I together to help one another during ine how it felt to the people at ASP to
know so many Hoosiers welcome that. this pandemic. Everyone has done his watch their funding evaporate, know-
Our Governor, Eric Holcomb, has been part. Hoosiers want to work, and busi- ing that the leaky roof that needed at-
implementing a five-stage plan for ness owners are eager to pay them. The tention over in Sneedville would end up
safely reopening Indiana’s economy. RESTART Act can help make sure this turning into a rotten floor and a moldy
The cities on my tour have busi- happens, and I hope my colleagues will wall and would be a safety hazard for
nesses that are in various stages of re- give it strong consideration in the the individuals who lived there. Fortu-
opening. Restaurants like Catablu coming days. nately, ASP was able to get an SBA
Grille in Fort Wayne, Arni’s in Lafay- I yield the floor. loan that gave it a little bit of breath-
ette, and Woody’s Library in Carmel The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ing room. Although it has had to can-
are open at 50-percent capacity right ator from Tennessee. cel its volunteer program, its essential
now. The nonprofit Terre Haute Chil- Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I staff and contractors will be able to
dren’s Museum remains closed, unfor- ask unanimous consent that Senator continue working all through the sum-
tunately, and is struggling to pay its BRAUN and I be allowed to complete mer.
employees. I visited Zimmer Biomet our remarks prior to the rollcall votes. The various rescue programs that
Hibbard, which is a medical device The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Congress agreed to implement were not
company in Valparaiso. I enjoyed the objection, it is so ordered. perfect by any means, but did they
tour and visiting with the employees, CORONAVIRUS have a positive effect? From what we
but I discovered that its sales had Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I are hearing in Tennessee, they did, and
dropped 95 percent in March. Fortu- have to say that Tennesseans are en- they have been put to good use.
nately, it received a Paycheck Protec- joying being out and about. They are I yield the floor.
tion Program loan, and that enabled it so thrilled to see the restart of our The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
to keep all 23 of its employees on the economy. Whether you are going to ator from Indiana.
payroll. hair salons, restaurants, shopping cen- Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I am a
It is clear that we need to continue ters, office parks, or manufacturing fa- Main Street entrepreneur. I have spent
evaluating additional relief measures cilities, what we are hearing from Ten- my career building a little business
for small businesses and Indiana’s non- nesseans is: Thank goodness we can get into a large one over many years in my
profits. My RESTART Act is a viable back to work. They are grateful that hometown. My wife, as well, has oper-
approach to help keep our hardest hit they have had the PPP to help them ated a home accessory and gift store on
businesses and nonprofits going. The bridge from the shutdown to the re- Main Street, literally. I am elated to
RESTART Act is a bipartisan measure start. There has been $8.8 billion that see the American economy starting to
I introduced with Senator BENNET. The has made its way into our State get off to a smart restart.
effort here is to build upon the success through the PPP program, and our I addressed, in a couple of floor
of the Paycheck Protection Program. Governor, our Tennessee General As- speeches before we left in March, the
We have seen that more than 74,000 sembly, and our mayors are really question of how to reopen our econ-
Hoosier businesses have benefited from working diligently to be certain that omy. I believe businesses are dis-
PPP, with loans totaling nearly $9.4 our economy opens up, that people are ciplined and ready to pay attention to
billion in the State of Indiana. Just for at work safely, and that we continue to the rules—the new normal—to make
context, that is an average loan of defeat this COVID–19. sure their employees and their cus-
about $130,000. These are for small busi- Over the past few months, we have tomers stay safe. Business owners will
nesses like those that we see up and seen Congress push forward, putting follow the rules. It is in their own best
down our State. about $3 trillion into the economy for a interests to do so. They have much to
The Paycheck Protection Program restart, and State and local govern- lose from a new spike in the
requires funds to be spent in just 8 ments have already put over $139 bil- coronavirus. Businesses are always
weeks, but most restaurants, gyms, lion worth of aid to good use by sup- more adept, more agile than govern-
boutiques, and so many other busi- porting local healthcare, helping to ment, and I am heartened to see the in-
nesses were not permitted to be open rescue businesses, and keeping compa- novative approaches many businesses
during part or all of that 8-week pe- nies working and local payrolls going— are taking across our country to ad-
riod. So the first part of the RESTART keeping people on the job. dress this challenge.
Act merely extends the timeframe to 16 Our Governor and general assembly The virus does not affect all popu-
weeks for our Nation’s hardest hit in Tennessee have just announced a lations, industries, and areas of our
businesses. new program that they are doing in country in the same way. So, natu-
Secondly, we know that the PPP was conjunction with local businesses. rally, the reopening in Indianapolis
meant to be a bridge to reopening the Now, imagine for a moment what it will be different from that on Main
economy, but many small businesses was like to watch the economy tumble Street in Jasper, IN.
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have much longer bridges to cross. from the perspective of a community We should remember that although
That is why our new RESTART Pro- that was already struggling and trying this presents challenges, a one-size-
gram would provide loans that would to make ends meet. The pandemic fits-all is rarely the best policy course
cover up to 6 months of payroll and caused catastrophic damage to the tra- of action, and decisions that affect citi-
fixed operating expenses. That is just ditional economy and also to many of zens are best made by the level of gov-
for those businesses that have taken a the service organizations that were ernment closest to them—mayors,
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June 3, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2679
town councils, and State governments. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Coons Kaine Rosen
Cortez Masto King Schumer
We cannot use the blanket approach the previous order, the motion to re- Duckworth Klobuchar Shaheen
the government took in shutting down consider is considered made and laid Durbin Leahy Sinema
the economy to reopen it. Instead, we upon the table, and the President will Feinstein Manchin Stabenow
need to provide the tools to empower be immediately notified of the Senate’s Gillibrand Menendez Udall
Harris Merkley Van Hollen
local leaders and businesses who know action. Hassan Murphy Warner
their communities best to reopen safe- f Heinrich Murray Warren
ly so that our country can function Hirono Peters Whitehouse
Jones Reed Wyden
again. CLOTURE MOTION
I believe that through the persever- NOT VOTING—5
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant
ance and innovation that American to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Markey Schatz Tester
business has always exhibited, we can Sanders Smith
Senate the pending cloture motion,
get our economy back on the path to which the clerk will state. The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this
recent heights without yielding back The senior assistant legislative clerk vote, the yeas are 53, the nays are 42.
any territory to the virus. read as follows: The motion is agreed to.
I yield the floor.
CLOTURE MOTION f
VOTE ON ANDERSON NOMINATION
We, the undersigned Senators, in ac- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
The PRESIDING OFFICER. All cordance with the provisions of rule
postcloture time has expired. XXII of the Standing Rules of the Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
The question is, Will the Senate ad- ate, do hereby move to bring to a close clerk will report the nomination.
vise and consent to the Anderson nomi- debate on the nomination of Drew B. The legislative clerk read the nomi-
nation? Tipton, of Texas, to be United States nation of Drew B. Tipton, of Texas, to
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I be United States District Judge for the
District Judge for the Southern Dis-
ask for the yeas and nays. Southern District of Texas.
trict of Texas.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Mitch McConnell, Deb Fischer, Steve Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to
sufficient second? Daines, Cory Gardner, Tim Scott, Ted consider the nomination.
There appears to be a sufficient sec- Cruz, David Perdue, James E. Risch, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
ond. Roger F. Wicker, Pat Roberts, Lindsey Democratic leader.
The clerk will call the roll. Graham, Mike Crapo, Michael B. Enzi,
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—H.R. 7010
The senior assistant legislative clerk John Barrasso, Marsha Blackburn,
John Thune, Richard C. Shelby. Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, in a
called the roll.
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the moment I will ask unanimous consent
The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan-
Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. MAR- to pass legislation that makes urgently
imous consent, the mandatory quorum
KEY), the Senator from Vermont (Mr.
needed reforms to the PPP to make the
call has been waived.
SANDERS), the Senator from Hawaii program much more functional for
The question is, Is it the sense of the
(Mr. SCHATZ), the Senator from Min- all—underline ‘‘all’’—small businesses.
Senate that debate on the nomination
nesota (Ms. SMITH), and the Senator Let me just name a few of the
of Drew B. Tipton, of Texas, to be
from Montana (Mr. TESTER) are nec- changes. First, it expands the loan pe-
United States District Judge for the
essarily absent. riod from 8 weeks to 24 weeks. Cur-
Southern District of Texas, shall be
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT- rently, workers may be brought back
brought to a close?
TON). Are there any other Senators in
for the 8 weeks, but what good is it if
The yeas and nays are mandatory
the Chamber desiring to vote? they are again laid off after that short
under the rule.
The result was announced—yeas 78, period? It is unrealistic, and small
The clerk will call the roll.
nays 17, as follows: businesses need assistance that can
The legislative clerk called the roll.
cover the full length of this crisis.
[Rollcall Vote No. 109 Ex.] Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
Second, the legislation removes the
YEAS—78 Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. MAR-
25-percent restriction imposed by the
Alexander Feinstein Paul KEY), the Senator from Vermont (Mr.
Trump administration on the use of
Barrasso Fischer Perdue SANDERS), the Senator from Hawaii
Bennet Gardner Peters loans for fixed costs, rents, mortgages,
(Mr. SCHATZ), the Senator from Min-
Blackburn Graham Portman utilities, and replaces it with new 60–40
Blunt Grassley Reed
nesota (Ms. SMITH), and the Senator
payroll-to-nonpayroll expenses. This
Boozman Hassan Risch from Montana (Mr. TESTER) are nec-
change will continue PPP’s support in
Braun Hawley Roberts essarily absent.
Brown Hirono Romney getting workers back on the payroll
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there
Burr Hoeven Rosen but giving small businesses more flexi-
Capito Hyde-Smith Rounds any other Senators in the Chamber de-
bility to survive in this crisis, which is
Carper Inhofe Rubio siring to vote?
Casey Johnson Sasse essential to the long-term employment
The result was announced—yeas 53,
Cassidy Jones Scott (FL) prospect of the workers.
Collins Kaine Scott (SC)
nays 42, as follows:
For my home State of New York, we
Coons Kennedy Shaheen [Rollcall Vote No. 110 Ex.]
Cornyn King Shelby
have high rents, high utility costs.
YEAS—53 Many businesses were frozen out when
Cortez Masto Lankford Sinema
Cotton Leahy Stabenow Alexander Fischer Perdue there was 25 percent, but 40 percent
Cramer Lee Sullivan Barrasso Gardner Portman
Blackburn Graham Risch
will get them in, and that applies to
Crapo Loeffler Thune
Cruz Manchin Tillis Blunt Grassley Roberts the more high-cost areas throughout
Daines McConnell Toomey Boozman Hawley Romney the country. Even though these are
Duckworth McSally Warner Braun Hoeven Rounds small businesses, they are struggling
Durbin Menendez Whitehouse Burr Hyde-Smith Rubio
Enzi Moran Wicker Capito Inhofe under those costs.
Sasse
Ernst Murkowski Young Cassidy Johnson
Scott (FL)
Third, the proposal extends the pro-
Collins Kennedy gram to the end of the year and makes
NAYS—17 Scott (SC)
Cornyn Lankford
Cotton Lee
Shelby December 31 the deadline to rehire
Baldwin Harris Schumer Sullivan
Blumenthal Heinrich Udall Cramer Loeffler workers in order to get full forgiveness
Thune
Booker Klobuchar Van Hollen Crapo McConnell on the loan. We have a long way to go
Cruz McSally Tillis
Cantwell Merkley Warren before the economy will come back in
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Daines Moran Toomey
Cardin Murphy Wyden real ways. This will give businesses a
Enzi Murkowski Wicker
Gillibrand Murray
Ernst Paul Young more realistic timeline to get the help
NOT VOTING—5 they need while bringing back employ-
NAYS—42
Markey Schatz Tester ees.
Sanders Smith Baldwin Booker Cardin
Bennet Brown Carper The bill ensures any amounts of the
The nomination was confirmed. Blumenthal Cantwell Casey loan not forgiven will have at least a 5-
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