Congressional Record, Vol. 166 — Proceedings and Debates, Washington, Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Summary
Page S3979 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for Tuesday, June 30, 2020, Volume 166, No. 120. The Senate met at 10 a.m., with a prayer from the Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, and Mr. Grassley presiding as President pro tempore. A speaker says provisions to improve the Pentagon's financial management systems will be supported, noting the Department of Defense remains the only executive agency that cannot get a clean audit 30 years after the Chief Financial Officers Act. Another speaker says the Paycheck Protection Program kept paychecks flowing, and the page also resumes the defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2021.
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, Vol. 166 — Proceedings and Debates, Washington, Tuesday, June 30, 2020.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-06-30-crec-2020-06-30-pt1-pgs3979-6-fc95a6d7c0/
, SHA-256 3b13dae0ca7224d16156ba37a8724c3072071b3a70b7022f67a3553134b59ac4.Full text
Congressional Record
E PL
UR M
IB NU
U U
S
116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 No. 120
Senate
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was to improve the Pentagon’s financial Doctors, nurses, and hospitals have
called to order by the President pro management systems and crack down received historic Federal funding to
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). on wasteful spending will be supported. supplement their efforts. Households
f Thirty years after Congress passed received direct checks. Tens of millions
the Chief Financial Officers Act, the of Americans have kept getting pay-
PRAYER Department of Defense remains the checks and not pink slips because of
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- only executive agency in our Federal our small-business-saving Paycheck
fered the following prayer: Government that cannot get a clean Protection Program. These are the his-
Let us pray. audit opinion. toric programs that the Senate has
Eternal God, give our lawmakers the Every dollar of defense spending spent weeks overseeing and adjusting
wisdom to remember and be grateful should be used to ensure our Nation’s where necessary.
for all the things You have already security and support for our men and A few weeks ago, House Democrats
done. women in uniform, which is why the jetted into town for a day or two—just
Lord, You have sustained our Nation Department of Defense needs to be held long enough to make another unserious
during seasons of war and peace. You accountable for waste, fraud, and contribution, to again use this crisis
have helped us to find creative ways to abuse. A clean audit has something to for partisan wish-listing. You don’t
strive for a more perfect union. You do with proof that they can do that. have to take my word for it. The media
have provided us with solutions to dif- I yield the floor. completely panned it. NPR called it ‘‘a
ficult problems just when we needed f long wish list for Democrats.’’ Another
You most. journalist wrote, ‘‘Neither this bill nor
Let this day be a time when Senators RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY anything resembling it will ever be-
find time to thank You for Your boun- LEADER come law.’’ And listen to this report-
tiful blessings and faithfulness. As our The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- ing: ‘‘Privately, several House Demo-
lawmakers strive to live one day at a jority leader is recognized. crats concede their latest bill feels like
time, may they keep their focus on f little more than an effort to appease
Your power and love. the most liberal members of the cau-
We pray in Your merciful Name. SENATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS cus.’’ This is the proposal that our Sen-
Amen. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, ate Democratic colleagues keep thun-
f yesterday I discussed how the Senate’s dering that we should take up and pass
serious, fact-based approach to the here—something so unserious that it
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE coronavirus crisis has cut a sharp con- had House Democrats themselves roll-
The President pro tempore led the trast with House Democrats’ political ing their eyes.
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: theater. Remember, among other things, this
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Back in March, as the economic fall- bill would give taxpayer-funded checks
United States of America, and to the Repub- out from this crisis was just beginning, to illegal immigrants, and it would
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, it fell to the Senate to write, nego- change tax law to provide massively
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. tiate, and pass the CARES Act. With expensive gifts to wealthy people in
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. the House absent from Washington, high-tax blue States. These are their
HYDE-SMITH). The Senator from Iowa. Senate Republicans turned a blank coronavirus priorities? This political
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I sheet of paper into an outline for the theater is the opposite of the serious
ask unanimous consent to speak for 30 largest rescue package in American Senate approach that built the CARES
seconds in morning business. history. We negotiated with our Demo- Act.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without cratic colleagues, and we made a law. Any further recovery effort should
objection, it is so ordered. House Democrats tried to insert un- focus intently on three things: kids,
f related wish-list items at the eleventh jobs, and healthcare—kids, jobs, and
hour—things like tax credits for solar healthcare.
NATIONAL DEFENSE panels—but the Republican Senate To step back toward normalcy, our
AUTHORIZATION ACT stood strong, and because we did, for 3 country will need K–12 and college stu-
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, months now, the unanimous bipartisan dents to resume their schooling, we
as the Congress considers the defense CARES Act has been the cornerstone of will need to reenergize hiring to get
authorization bill—called the NDAA— the Federal Government’s response to workers their jobs back, and we will
this week, I hope that my amendments this crisis. need continued progress on the
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
S3979
.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jul 01, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A30JN6.000 S30JNPT1
S3980 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 30, 2020
healthcare fight to get ready for the But already the bill will make major sume consideration of S. 4049, which
fall and winter and speed the search for steps forward. It supports servicemem- the clerk will report.
a vaccine. bers not only while they are at their The senior assistant legislative clerk
One helpful policy would be strong duty stations but also on the home- read as follows:
legal protection for schools, colleges, front. A bill (S. 4049) to authorize appropriations
nonprofits, and employers who are put- This year’s bill encourages expanded for fiscal year 2021 for military activities of
ting their necks on the line to reopen. telemedicine capabilities in the mili- the Department of Defense, for military con-
So long as institutions follow the best tary healthcare system, and it will struction, and for defense activities of the
Department of Energy, to prescribe military
available guidelines, they should not help retain highly trained providers. It personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and
have to live in fear of a second epi- implements new quality standards for for other purposes.
demic of frivolous lawsuits. Believe acquisitions of military family housing
Pending:
me, the virus is worry enough. and increases impact aid to school dis-
Inhofe amendment No. 2301, in the nature
These are the kinds of smart solu- tricts that support large numbers of of a substitute.
tions Washington must continue dis- military children. It revises sexual as- McConnell (for Portman) amendment No.
cussing as we evaluate what further sault-prevention policies to destroy 2080 (to amendment No. 2301), to require an
steps may be necessary. Partisan the- barriers to victims seeking justice. element in annual reports on cyber science
ater and politicized wish-lists are not It includes further steps to ensure all and technology activities on work with aca-
what the country needs. these efforts are supported by a more demic consortia on high priority cybersecu-
rity research activities in Department of De-
f efficient and transparent administra-
fense capabilities.
tive structure over at the Pentagon.
NATIONAL DEFENSE Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab-
That means changes to compensation
AUTHORIZATION ACT sence of a quorum.
to attract top talent, expanded access
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, to cutting-edge software, and new The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
now on another matter, as I have said checks on the Department’s planning clerk will call the roll.
for weeks, our domestic challenges process to increase accountability. The senior assistant legislative clerk
cannot take Congress’s eye off the ball The U.S. military is the greatest proceeded to call the roll.
of world affairs. So, as the Senate Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
fighting force the world has ever seen.
passed other major bills and the Senate ask unanimous consent that the order
Our work in the coming days is meant
Republicans tried to advance police re- for the quorum call be rescinded.
to ensure that this remains the case. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
form until Democrats blocked us, our Supporting servicemembers and their
colleagues on the Armed Services Com- objection, it is so ordered.
families is a critical piece of this year’s
mittee have worked hard to assemble RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
NDAA. Our men and women in uniform
the next National Defense Authoriza- The Democratic leader is recognized.
are simply the best, and they deserve
tion Act. the best. RUSSIA
Every year, the NDAA allows us to Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President,
f
speak clearly about the Senate’s prior- today there are thousands—thou-
ities on matters of national defense. As MEASURE PLACED ON THE sands—of American servicemembers in
China continues to treat maritime ar- CALENDAR—H.R. 7259 Afghanistan defending us from ter-
teries like its own backyard sandbox, Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, rorist organizations and their sponsors.
the men and women of the U.S. Sev- I understand there is a bill at the desk They are joined by servicemembers and
enth Fleet and the entire Indo-Pacific due for a second reading. support personnel from allied nations
Command remain on call to maintain The PRESIDING OFFICER. The and security partners. Each one of
order. As Russia doubles down on its clerk will read the bill by title for the these lives is precious to a nation and
support of brutal dictators and attacks second time. to a family somewhere. Each one of us
democratic regimes from dark corners The senior assistant legislative clerk in this Chamber recognizes the solemn
of the web, U.S. Cyber Command re- read as follows: duty we have to our servicemembers.
mains vigilant and our NATO relation- An act (H.R. 7259) to allow acceleration
We are all concerned about media re-
ships remain vital. As tyrants, from certificates awarded under the Patents for ports that the Russian Government or
Tehran to Pyongyang, pave over their Humanity Program to be transferable. its proxies has been offering bounties
citizens in pursuit of power, we need Mr. MCCONNELL. In order to place on the lives of American soldiers to
our sharpest minds and best tools the bill on the calendar under the pro- Taliban-linked fighters in Afghanistan.
watching their every move. visions of rule XIV, I would object to The Associated Press has reported that
Our Armed Forces stand watch over further proceedings. the United States is investigating
our homeland, and they stand watch The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- whether Americans died as a result of
over an entire international order that tion having been heard, the bill will be Russian bounties and is particularly fo-
shares our peaceful values and benefits placed on the calendar. cused on a 2019 attack that killed three
our Nation. U.S. marines, including one young man
f
Now our military has also risen to from Locust Valley, Long Island, NY,
the unique task of helping respond to RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME and another who worked as a fire-
the pandemic. Military medical facili- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under fighter in the FDNY—the great
ties have added critical capacity dur- the previous order, the leadership time FDNY—for 15 years. On behalf of my
ing the first surge of COVID–19, from is reserved. constituents and the American people,
Navy hospital ships to soldiers from I demand answers.
f
the 531st Hospital Center at Fort If, in fact, Putin and his cronies have
Campbell. National Guard personnel CONCLUSION OF MORNING been sponsoring the murder of Amer-
have established and manned tem- BUSINESS ican and coalition forces in Afghani-
porary testing facilities across the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning stan, there is no question there should
country. DOD research facilities have business is closed. be swift and severe consequences. But
joined the race to develop treatments. unlike every previous administration I
f
As our servicemembers confront have ever worked with, the Trump ad-
challenges new and familiar, our job is LEGISLATIVE SESSION ministration has been shockingly
to advance an NDAA that supports weak-kneed when it comes to authori-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
them and their families. Chairman tarian leaders like Putin. This admin-
INHOFE and Senator REED led a produc- NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- istration appears unwilling to even ac-
tive, bipartisan process in committee. I TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR knowledge the gravity of the situation,
hope we will see a bipartisan amend- 2021—Resumed unwilling to even express concern
ment process out here on the floor as The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under about these rumors and commit to in-
well. the previous order, the Senate will re- vestigating them.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jul 01, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G30JN6.002 S30JNPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-06-30_crec-2020-06-30-pt1-pgs3979-6.pdf
- Size
- 299,724 bytes
- SHA-256
- 3b13dae0ca7224d16156ba37a8724c3072071b3a70b7022f67a3553134b59ac4
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov