Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., June 29, 2020)

Summary

The opening Senate proceedings in the Congressional Record, Volume 166, No. 119, for Monday, June 29, 2020, in the 116th Congress, Second Session. The Senate met at 3 p.m., with a prayer offered by the Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black. In his remarks Mr. McConnell thanks healthcare professionals he met in Kentucky hospitals and says that, according to the FBI, China has targeted COVID research. He also says Russian reconnaissance planes entered the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone and lingered for 8 hours.

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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., June 29, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-06-29-crec-2020-06-29-pt1-pgs3627-7-4a9fa34b14/, SHA-256 b0bc5653d906ff6ac4bb712521ad8c4bcd81885c2d866d9213fb7a446dc24d86.

Full text

Congressional Record
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE

Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2020 No. 119

Senate
The Senate met at 3 p.m. and was is doing its job to detect and deter safe streets, safe communities, and
called to order by the President pro these threats. peace.
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). Since COVID, America’s greatest f
f minds have been working hard to de-
velop a vaccine. Their research will im- CORONAVIRUS
PRAYER pact the health of Americans and the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- world. another matter, each time I have re-
fered the following prayer: According to the FBI, China has tar- turned home over the last several
Let us pray. geted our COVID research to poten- weeks, I have had the opportunity to
God of grace and mercy, in these di- tially steal our work product. Our gov- travel to different Kentucky hospitals
visive and polarized times, remind us ernment and private sector must guard to safely meet with healthcare profes-
that words have consequences. Help us and fight back against these malicious sionals and thank them for their in-
to remember that we are accountable attacks by the Chinese Communist credible work, as well as to listen to
to You for every idle and careless word Government. The health of our people what is on their minds.
we speak. and the world depend on it. For more than 3 months now, our Na-
Lord, teach our Senators to be obe- I yield the floor. tion’s doctors, nurses, and health pro-
dient to Your commands, doing Your f fessionals have been fighting day and
will as Your presence fills them with night to heal strangers and protect our
joy. RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY Nation. I said in mid-March that our
Today, surround our lawmakers with LEADER country was about to meet a lot of new
the shield of Your favor as they labor The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- heroes and that among them would be
to keep our Nation strong. May they be jority leader is recognized. many people who wear scrubs, who
quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow f rush toward the sick, and who wash
to anger. Manifest Your power through their hands until they bleed.
their labors so that this Nation will be REMEMBERING TYLER GERTH Well, Americans and families from
exalted by righteousness. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, coast to coast have met just such he-
We pray in Your mighty Name. first, my hometown of Louisville, KY, roes. The frontline professionals I am
Amen. is mourning a young man who was shot meeting are proud to do their work,
f and killed on Saturday at a protest in and you had better believe they are ap-
Jefferson Square Park. preciative that the sacrifices and smart
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Tyler Gerth was just 27 years old. He precautions taken by the American
The President pro tempore led the was a graduate of Trinity High School people stopped health systems from
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: and the University of Kentucky. He being overrun in the springtime, al-
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the was an up-and-coming photojournalist lowed them to continue giving each pa-
United States of America, and to the Repub- with a lot of talent. tient the care they deserved, and
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, He had been attending demonstra- bought our country time to plan a
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. tions, both to speak up for Breonna smart, safe, and gradual reopening.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. CAS- Taylor as well as to document history. So until we have a safe and effective
SIDY). The Senator from Iowa. Instead, he lost his life. vaccine, it will remain all of our jobs
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask The investigation is still proceeding, as American citizens to help our Na-
unanimous consent to speak for 1 but it appears the suspect in custody tion settle into a middle ground be-
minute in morning business. had been a frequent participant in tween unsustainable emergency
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without these protests. He had already been ar- lockdowns and our ordinary life from
objection, it is so ordered. rested once. It seems he had gotten before all this. In short, we cannot go
f into some dispute and fired indiscrimi- back to April, and we cannot go right
nately—the definition of ‘‘senseless vi- back to normal. We need new routines,
CORONAVIRUS olence.’’ new rhythms, and new strategies for
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, in My sympathies and the sympathies this new middle ground in between.
June of last year, I held an Oversight of all Kentuckians go out to the Gerth It is the task of each family, each
Committee hearing about foreign family. small business, each employer, and all
threats to taxpayer-funded research. We are 30 days into these protests. levels of government to apply common
My goal is to ensure that government Kentuckians and all Americans deserve sense and make this happen. To name

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∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

S3627

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S3628 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 29, 2020
just one example, we must have no ously, this is just the latest in a series There being no objection, the Senate
stigma—none—about wearing a mask of escalations from Putin’s regime. proceeded to consider the bill.
when we leave our homes and come Meanwhile, China has resumed its Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous
near other people. Wearing simple face submarine intrusions into Japanese consent that the bill be considered read
coverings is not about protecting our- contiguous zones and picked deadly a third time.
selves; it is about protecting everyone fights with India at high altitude. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
we encounter. North Korea State media has stepped objection, it is so ordered.
In fact, the more we hate the pain up its unhinged, anti-American rhet- The bill was ordered to be engrossed
and suffering that accompanied the oric, reportedly declaring over the for a third reading and was read the
strict stay-home guidelines a few weekend that nuclear war was ‘‘the third time.
months ago, the happier we should be only option left.’’ Mr. MCCONNELL. I know of no fur-
to take responsible, small steps every And Iran has issued a warrant for the ther debate on the bill.
day to ensure our country can stay on arrest of the President of the United The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there
offense against the virus. States because we took the mullahs’ is no further debate on the bill, the bill
Now, the Senate should take pride in top terrorist off the battlefield back in having been read the third time, the
the degree to which our historic re- January. question is, Shall the bill pass?
sponse has helped the country get Our adversaries are as intent as ever The bill (S. 4091) was passed, as fol-
where we are. All of the health leaders on undermining peace; disrupting com- lows:
and professionals I meet continue to be S. 4091
merce; and threatening American citi-
glad for the CARES Act, the historic zens, our interests, and our allies wher- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatives of the United States of America in
bipartisan legislation that Senate Re- ever and whenever possible. Congress assembled,
publicans wrote and then negotiated So this year’s National Defense Au- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
across the aisle. thorization Act is as urgent and impor- This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Emergency
We sent historic resources to hos- tant as it has been for 60 consecutive Aid for Returning Americans Affected by
pitals and health providers to help years. Thanks to Chairman INHOFE and Coronavirus Act’’.
them do their healing work and to Ranking Member REED, the legislation SEC. 2. INCREASE IN AGGREGATE PAYMENTS
fight this new invader. That was in ad- we will consider is already the product FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020.
dition to the historic relief we provided of exhaustive bipartisan effort. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1113(d) of the So-
to households and small businesses, cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1313(d)) is amend-
It includes 229 bipartisan amend-
ed by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2017 and 2018’’
which economists across the political ments adopted by our colleagues on the and all that follows through the period and
spectrum say saved millions of jobs and Armed Services Committee. It may in- inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2020, the total amount
prevented an economic freefall. clude more amendments before we fin- of such assistance provided during such fis-
In May and June, while the Demo- ish with it here on the floor. cal year shall not exceed $10,000,000.’’.
crat-led House has been mostly absent, But the primary missions of the leg- (b) EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.—
the Senate has kept right on leading. islation are already clear. On the (1) IN GENERAL.—The amounts provided by
In addition to legislating on other im- homefront, it will increase pay for the amendment made by this section are des-
portant subjects, we have continued to ignated as an emergency requirement pursu-
servicemembers; reform the military ant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-
work all angles of the pandemic. housing and healthcare systems; and You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
By the end of this week, I believe our increase transparency in Pentagon (2) DESIGNATION IN SENATE.—In the Senate,
committees will have held more than budgeting, hiring, and acquisition. this section and the amendment made by
40 hearings on key aspects of the crisis Around the world, it will make clear this section are designated as an emergency
so this institution can continue to our commitments to our allies in Eu- requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H.
learn and inform any future work. rope and the Pacific, invest in key Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent
As I have been saying for weeks, a technologies from biotechnology to resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.
number of us are putting together SEC. 3. LIMIT ON DIRECT CONTACT WITH REPA-
hypersonics, and make sure that our TRIATED INDIVIDUALS DURING
strong legal protections for healthcare men and women in uniform have the COVID–19 EMERGENCY PERIOD.
professionals, K–12 schools, colleges tools to remain the greatest fighting During the emergency period described in
and universities, and employers so that force in world history. section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security
our recovery is not promptly swamped I am grateful to our committee col- Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)), in providing
by a second epidemic of frivolous law- leagues for giving the Senate the op- temporary assistance under section 1113 of
suits. portunity to set strong priorities for such Act (42 U.S.C. 1313), no employee of the
While the Democratic House slapped Administration for Children and Families of
our national defense. Our job now is to the Department of Health and Human Serv-
together an absurd multitrillion-dollar follow their example, work together in ices shall have direct, in-person contact with
wish list that even the mainstream a bipartisan way, and pass the NDAA an individual specified in section 1113(a)(1) of
media panned immediately, the Senate on behalf of our men and women in uni- such Act (42 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1)), except in the
has continued with our substantive, se- form and the Nation they protect. case of a uniformed member of the Regular
rious, facts-first approach. That is the f Corps or the Ready Reserve Corps of the
winning formula that built the histori- Commissioned Corps of the Public Health
cally successful CARES Act, and that EMERGENCY AID FOR RETURNING Service (as described in section 203 of the
is the formula we will replicate in any AMERICANS AFFECTED BY Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 204)) in
CORONAVIRUS ACT an active duty status who, as determined by
future recovery legislation down the
the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
road. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I has—
f ask unanimous consent that the Sen- (1) received appropriate training on infec-
ate proceed to the immediate consider- tion prevention and control; and
NATIONAL DEFENSE
ation of S. 4091. (2) access to appropriate personal protec-
AUTHORIZATION ACT tive equipment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on objection, it is so ordered. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
a completely different matter, on The clerk will report the bill by title. ask unanimous consent that the mo-
Thursday I noted that in recent weeks The legislative clerk read as follows: tion to reconsider be considered made
the Air Force has scrambled jets to A bill (S. 4091) to amend section 1113 of the and laid upon the table.
intercept intrusions by Russian mili- Social Security Act to provide authority for The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
tary aircraft near U.S. airspace in fiscal year 2020 for increased payments for objection, it is so ordered.

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Alaska. temporary assistance to United States citi- f
Well, on Saturday it happened again. zens returned from foreign countries, and for
According to the Defense Department, other purposes. RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
Russian reconnaissance planes entered The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
the Alaska Air Defense Identification objection to proceeding to the meas- the previous order, the leadership time
Zone and lingered for 8 hours. Obvi- ure? is reserved.

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