Congressional Record — Senate, S4253 (July 20, 2020)
Summary
Page S4253 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for July 20, 2020, in interleaved columns. The legislative clerk reads the nomination of Russell Vought, of Virginia, to be a Director, and Mr. McConnell suggests the absence of a quorum, which is later rescinded by unanimous consent. A tribute to John Lewis quotes his words that there is still work left to be done and to get out there and push and pull. Another speaker mentions the SERVE and CARRY Act and criticizes the Communist Party for retaliating against those who speak out.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, S4253 (July 20, 2020).”
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July 20, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4253
The legislative clerk read the nomi- is one of constant renewal, but that re- of JOHN LEWIS feels even more dev-
nation of Russell Vought, of Virginia, newal has never been preordained. It is astating and leaves many searching for
to be Director of the Office of Manage- because Americans have pushed and answers. But JOHN LEWIS has already
ment and Budget. prodded, used their voices and their pointed the way. ‘‘There is still work
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I votes to force our country to change left to be done,’’ he said. ‘‘Finish the
suggest the absence of a quorum. over time to move ever closer to our work. Get out there and push and pull
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The highest ideals. until we redeem the soul of America.’’
clerk will call the roll. In the story of America, there are May he forever rest in peace.
The legislative clerk proceeded to certain heroes whose moral clarity has CORONAVIRUS
call the roll. shone out like a beacon for others to On another matter, it is rare we
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask follow—North Stars who have inspired gather at the start of a work session
unanimous consent that the order for their fellow Americans to join them in with so much to do in so little time. As
the quorum call be rescinded. the glorious work of bending the moral we speak, our country faces the great-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without arc of the universe toward justice. est public health crisis since 1918 and
objection, it is so ordered. JOHN LEWIS was one of those special the greatest economic challenge since
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER heroes. He paved the road, lit the path, the Great Depression.
The Democratic leader is recognized. and pointed the way toward other Earlier this year, COVID exploded
REMEMBERING JOHN LEWIS bridges for us to cross. It was not by al- through the Northeast and the Pacific
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on ways being the loudest voice or the Northwest before finally subsiding. The
Friday, July 17, after six decades as most intemperate; he led by the moral economic pain of those first few
one of our Nation’s most preeminent force of his example. Whether he would months—over 40 million newly unem-
civil rights leaders, Congressman JOHN admit it or not, he inspired millions. ployed—was incomprehensible. Now,
LEWIS—the conscience of the Con- At President Obama’s inauguration, States throughout the South and West
gress—passed away at the age of 80. His JOHN asked the new President to sign a are experiencing a similar surge in
trials and tribulations and, ultimately, commemorative photo of the event. cases, hospitalizations, and, sadly,
his triumphs are well known to all of President Obama simply wrote: ‘‘Be- deaths, as the economic pain deepens.
us. cause of you, JOHN.’’ While all of us have watched in hor-
At the ripe old age of 25, he led thou- I don’t know how many people must ror as this crisis unfolds, Senate Demo-
sands of marchers across a bridge in have said that over the years—‘‘be- crats have repeatedly called for action
Alabama. They risked their lives for cause of you, JOHN’’—and I could never on crucial issues like aid for State and
their constitutionally guaranteed right guess at the number who didn’t even local and Tribal governments, hazard
to vote and, in doing so, shook the con- know to say it but whose lives were pay for essential workers, funding for
science of a nation and hastened the forever altered, whose dignity and free- coronavirus testing and tracing, rental
demise of Jim Crow. On that fateful dom was made whole because of you, assistance, and support for our Na-
Sunday, battered and bruised, his head JOHN. tion’s childcare and education systems.
dizzy and bleeding from the police- As a new generation of young people Each time we sought to pass legisla-
man’s rod, JOHN LEWIS found the cour- lift up their voices to proclaim ‘‘Black tion on these issues, Senate Repub-
age and the strength to reach the other lives matter’’ and to fight for the Jus- licans blocked our attempts. Senate
side of that bridge, and he never tice in Policing Act, the memory and Republicans said that we should, in the
stopped marching. legacy of JOHN LEWIS lives on in each words of Leader MCCONNELL, ‘‘hit the
From the Freedom Rides to Selma, and every one of them. pause button.’’ Our Republican friends
from his leadership of the SNCC, to his There are very few people who have said they wanted to ‘‘assess the condi-
four decades in Congress, JOHN LEWIS changed the world for the better. JOHN tions in the country’’ before providing
never stopped marching. His actions as LEWIS is one of them. His life is a re- any more relief.
a young man helped change the trajec- minder of all that is the best in us and Our House colleagues passed the He-
tory of a nation and brought about the that we are all capable of doing that roes Act over 60 days ago. It has been
Voting Rights Act, and then JOHN best. well over 3 months—3 long months—
LEWIS went to Congress and renewed As we mourn his loss, I would ask my since we passed the CARES Act. And
that law again and again. He sat in fellow Americans, including my col- what has happened in those 3 months?
against segregation at lunch counters leagues in this body, to take up his Three months ago, on April 20, the
in the Jim Crow South and, over 40 mission. Many of the old enemies JOHN United States reported 775,000 total
years later, led another sit-in on the faced down have not been vanquished. cases of COVID–19, with 42,000 deaths.
House floor against gun violence. He Racial disparities persist and gnaw at Today, we have nearly 3.8 million con-
spoke out for marriage equality long the fabric of our society, and so does firmed cases and 140,000 deaths.
before it was popular. He challenged the police violence that met a young Just over 3 months ago, 30 million
those who walked the corridors of JOHN LEWIS and thousands of law-abid- Americans had filed for unemployment
power and then trod those corridors ing Americans on that bridge over 50 claims. Today, that figure is nearly 50
himself to bring quality healthcare, years ago. The bridge he crossed is still million. More unemployment claims
fair wages, and social justice to Geor- named for the Confederate officer, not were filed in the last 17 weeks than in
gians and Americans everywhere. for the man who led a righteous move- the entire 18-month stretch of the
It is one thing, inflamed with the ment for equality. The law he nearly great recession.
passion of youth, to join in brave en- died for has been gutted by the Su- Today, the State of Florida has more
deavors and challenge the status quo. preme Court. Congress has the power infections per week than China, Japan,
It is a good thing. Yet it is even beyond to restore it, but only one political Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia,
that to sustain that activism and vi- party seems interested in doing so. Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia,
sion and efforts and, yes, that ‘‘good At the 50th anniversary of the march and the European Union combined.
trouble’’ he talked about getting into on Selma, Congressman LEWIS ac- That is what has happened while Sen-
over the steady and persistent dedica- knowledged that his mission was not ate Republicans have been ‘‘assessing
tion of a lifetime. That is who JOHN yet complete. ‘‘There is still work left the conditions in the country.’’ That is
LEWIS was deep in his soul—a man on a to be done,’’ he said. ‘‘We must use this what has been happening while Senate
mission, who forcefully but gently led moment to recommit ourselves to fin- Republicans have hit the ‘‘pause’’ but-
us all to do more and to do better, who ish the work.’’ He told us to ‘‘get out ton. And now we know the real reason
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
loved his country so much that he there and push and pull until we re- for Republican inaction, why they have
risked his life and then spent his life deem the soul of America.’’ hit the ‘‘pause’’ button: They can’t
trying to change it. As we confront our turbulent come to agreement among themselves.
We are an imperfect nation, for sure, present—a pernicious disease, vast eco- The Nation is raging in crisis, and the
but we have a tremendous ability to re- nomic hardship and inequality, the an- Republican Party has been paralyzed—
invent ourselves. The story of America cient evil of racial injustice—the loss stopping and blocking action that
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S4254 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 20, 2020
Democrats have sought to deal with local and Tribal governments, and in- Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, dur-
the problem. vestments in communities of color rav- ing these last couple of weeks, like the
We may never know the true cost of aged by the virus. rest of my colleagues, I was glad to get
Republican inaction over these past 3 If the reports are accurate, the Re- back home and spend some time talk-
months, but we know the time for publican bill will not come close—not ing to the men and women who are
waiting is over. We must consider an- even come close—to meeting the mo- continuing to deal with the hurdles
other major COVID relief package this ment of this great crisis. brought on by this pandemic.
work period. Enhanced unemployment The truth is, we have a good product As our battle against COVID–19 has
benefits expire at the end of the month, to start with—the Heroes Act. It has waged on, I have looked to folks across
protections against evictions expire already passed the House. different industries in Texas to provide
this week, and schools are preparing By the way, Leader MCCONNELL, we us an honest readout about the chal-
for the fall without the necessary guid- need the House to make a law. lenges they are facing and whether
ance and resources to open safely. The Unlike the bill Leader MCCONNELL is what we have done for them is work-
country is crying out for relief. The preparing, it actually matches the ing. Over these last 3 months, again,
needless delays, the partisan politics, scale of the crisis and will put workers like all of us, I have heard from med-
and the infighting between the Presi- and small businesses and our health ical professionals on the frontlines of
dent and Senate and House Repub- needs before special interests. this fight, researchers and scientists
Just to give an example of where Re-
licans have to stop. who are racing to find treatments and
publican priorities are right now, late
But it seems that Leader MCCONNELL vaccines, small business owners just
last week, it was reported that the
has still not received that message. hanging on by the skin of their teeth
Trump administration wants to block
The Republican leader has said he is trying to keep their businesses afloat
tens of billions of dollars in the next
writing the next bill behind the closed and their employees’ jobs intact, as
COVID bill for States to conduct test-
doors of his office and he will present it well as countless other men and women
ing and contact tracing. Let me repeat
to his party first before dropping it on who are doing everything in their
that. When every expert says our lack
the Senate’s lap. power to support their neighbors and
This one-party approach is the same of testing and contact tracing has led
to protect their communities. Their
approach that delayed the passage of to the crisis being much greater in the
feedback has been invaluable, as al-
the CARES Act, delayed the passage of United States than in most other coun-
ways, to the work of the Senate as we
subsequent emergency relief legisla- tries, Trump wants to block that
have worked to pass four coronavirus
tion, and utterly failed on policing re- money for testing, for contact tracing.
bills to support them during this chal-
form, where the Republican bill was op- If past is prologue, our Republican col-
lenging period.
posed by 136 civil rights organizations. leagues—so afraid of offending Donald As we prepare to work on the next re-
For Leader MCCONNELL to then get up Trump even when they know he is sponse package, I was glad to hear
and talk about that bill, when the peo- wrong—will let him win the day or at from them about what they would like
ple were marching for a much stronger least greatly whittle down the needs us to include in that. I have spoken
bill—the Justice in Policing Act—when we have on tracing and testing. with faculty and staff from community
This report came days after we heard
civil rights organizations were urging colleges across the State who are work-
that the administration ordered hos-
that we not move forward on that bill, ing to keep their students healthy
pitals to stop reporting COVID data to
is twisting history in a way that no one while continuing to provide them with
the CDC and instead report them to
is going to believe and history will quality education. Like school leaders
State health departments or other por-
never accept. at all levels—from K–12 to other col-
tals more easily controlled by the
Each time Congress passed COVID re- leges and universities—they are con-
White House. If there was ever positive
lief—all four times—we did it by com- stantly reevaluating the situation and
proof that the President is more wor-
ing together in a bipartisan fashion be- preparing to make decisions about re-
ried about his image and political in-
tween our two parties, between our two turning to onsite working and learn-
terests than the health and safety of
Chambers. Leader MCCONNELL three ing. I know these are difficult con-
the American people, this is it—hiding
times tried to force a partisan bill versations that are happening across
data from the Centers for Disease Con-
down the Senate’s throat, and it back- the country, and I am grateful for the
trol. It is hard to believe.
fired every time. hard work and dedication of incredible
This man is not a leader. You can’t
Leader MCCONNELL, it won’t work educators who are figuring out how to
hide from the truth. The coronavirus
this time either. keep our children safe while continuing
will continue to ravage us whether or
Leader MCCONNELL called for biparti- to give them the education they de-
not the reports are public. But if the
sanship this morning. That is great. serve and they need.
But, Leader MCCONNELL, sitting in reports are public, we will all know
Last week, I spent some time hearing
your own office, writing a bill, and de- more what to do.
from mental health advocates who are
Has not President Trump learned?
manding the other side support it, is fighting to ensure that Texans have
Have not the Republican Senators
not anyone’s idea of bipartisanship. the support and resources they need
learned that hiding from the truth just
Even worse, it appears that the Re- amid so much stress and uncertainty.
makes things worse? That is why so
publican proposal is unlikely to meet Over the last several months, everyone
much of the blame, according to the
the moment. From what we understand in our country has experienced some
American people, for what has hap-
from press reports, McConnell’s bill substantial shift in their daily routine.
pened falls on the shoulders of the
will prioritize corporate special inter- No matter how major or minor these
President and the Republican Senators
ests over workers and Main Street changes, combined with the stress that
who follow him blindly and obeisantly.
businesses. It will fail to adequately This, unfortunately, is hardly the comes from living through a pandemic,
address the worsening spread of the only example of the President’s abject this is all taking a toll on America’s
virus. failure to lead our Nation through this mental health.
There are currently between 20 and 30 I was glad to hear from more leaders
awful crisis.
million unemployed Americans, and I yield the floor. with the Meadows Mental Health Pol-
from all accounts, the Republican bill I suggest the absence of a quorum. icy Institute about how funding from
will not do nearly enough for them. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. the CARES Act has strengthened ac-
As Americans struggle to keep up ERNST). The clerk will call the roll. cess to mental healthcare and how we
with the rent, we are facing an ava- The bill clerk proceeded to call the can continue to support mental health
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
lanche of evictions. From all accounts, roll. services in Texas and across the coun-
the Republican bill will not address Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I try.
that. ask unanimous consent that the order I also valued my time with Texas
According to reports, the Republican for the quorum call be rescinded. veterans and talked to them about how
bill will come up short on hazard pay The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the CARES Act can help them and
for essential workers, aid to State and objection, it is so ordered. their families and their businesses. We
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July 20, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4255
discussed the VA-specific funding that help low-income and unemployed Tex- prising, given China’s repeated human
is strengthening access to healthcare ans access food during the pandemic. It rights violations.
for many veterans, and I appreciated would establish three new programs to The Chinese Communist Party con-
the opportunity to hear more about not only help put food on the table of tinues its disturbing ethnic cleansing
some of the challenges they are facing Texans in need but also support the campaign against the Uighur people.
and how we can do more in the Senate farmers, restaurants, and their workers The so-called political reeducation
to support them. who are suffering as a result of the eco- camps are nothing more than detention
Over the last few weeks, I have en- nomic impact of this pandemic. camps where the Uighurs are tortured.
joyed connecting with these Texans This legislation has been endorsed by Recent reporting found that the treat-
virtually, but I was also glad to join the National and Texas Restaurant As- ment in these camps often includes
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue sociations, the California and Texas forced abortions, birth control, and
for in-person visits with some of the Food Banks, and a number of other sterilizations. I have spoken and will
men and women keeping America fed anti-hunger organizations. It is time continue to speak out against the
and clothed during this time of in- we put our restaurants and their em- methods and motivations of the Chi-
creased need. This pandemic has dealt ployees back to work in feeding people, nese Government, operating through
a serious blow to Texas agriculture, and let our men and women in uniform the Communist Party, to disrupt the
and I would dare say to the Presiding volunteering at the food banks go world order.
Officer; I am sure it is true in her State home to be with their families. The China does not stand alone as one of
as well. From livestock to row crops, SERVE and CARRY Act will do just the great threats facing our country
to dairy, producers have seen their that, and I urge my colleagues to look today. Russia has become increasingly
markets shrink and nearly disappear. at it and hopefully support it. aggressive with its efforts to wreak
Last Thursday, Secretary Perdue, As we dive into discussions on the chaos and sow discord. Since their at-
Congressman JOHN CARTER, and I par- next coronavirus response package, the tempts to interfere with the 2016 elec-
ticipated in a roundtable in Coupland, feedback and ideas provided by these tion, we have witnessed aggression
TX, to discuss the impact of the pan- Texans during this last 2 weeks could after aggression by Russia. From Rus-
demic on Texas agriculture. The not have been more timely. I want to sia-backed mercenaries fighting in the
CARES Act provided $16 billion in agri- thank each of them for taking the time Middle East to state-launched cyber at-
cultural assistance, and so far Texans to share their ideas and feedback with tacks targeting banks and energy
have received more than $300 million to me. I come back to Washington with firms, to its hybrid warfare and assas-
support our producers. I was glad to fresh ideas, and I am eager to get to sination campaigns in Europe, Russia
learn more about how this funding is work so we can provide additional sup- continues to undermine the United
helping them through these difficult port for the Texans who have been im- States and our allies.
times and learning more about what pacted so dramatically by this virus. Just last week, we learned that Rus-
sian hackers have attempted to steal
should be included in the next bill. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Secretary Perdue and I also had the Madam President, on another mat- coronavirus vaccine research. It is be-
chance to see how two incredible orga- ter, before the Senate begins consider- coming increasingly clear that China
nizations in Texas are keeping families and Russia adhere to no rules and no
ation of the next coronavirus response
fed. First, we visited the Houston Food principles but their own. As the na-
package, we will finish our work on the
Bank, which is the largest food bank in tional defense strategy outlined, the
National Defense Authorization Act. If
the Nation. Under normal cir- threats posed by China and Russia are
we are able to get this bill to the Presi-
cumstances, the Houston Food Bank only growing more important by the
dent’s desk, which I hope we will, it
and its volunteers provide food to fami- day, and countering these threats re-
will mark the 60th consecutive year in
lies across 18 counties in Southeast quires a clear and concerted effort
which Congress has passed bipartisan
Texas. As the impact of COVID–19 has from Congress and the U.S. Govern-
legislation to fund and support our Na-
grown, so has the need for assistance, ment.
tion’s military.
That is precisely why passing a
so much so that our National Guard Each year, this is how we maintain
strong Defense authorization bill is so
troops have been lending a hand for our military bases, modernize our
important. This legislation prioritizes
months, but this week that will come equipment, and invest in the next gen-
strategic competition with China and
to an end. eration of weaponry. It is how we
Compared to the same time last year, Russia and takes a strong approach to
strengthen our relationships with old
the Houston Food Bank has seen up to counter the threats posed by adver-
allies and forge new partnerships with
a 171-percent increase in the need for saries around the world. It will build
new ones. It is how we take stock of
food assistance. In June alone, the on the progress we have made in recent
the global threat landscape and ensure
Houston Food Bank delivered more years to strengthen our military and
our troops have the training, equip-
than 27 million pounds of food. It was a achieve peace through strength.
ment, and resources to counter even
As we work to counter increasingly
pleasure to join Secretary Perdue in our most aggressive adversaries.
sophisticated adversaries around the
volunteering for this incredible organi- In recent years, China and Russia
world, I am glad Congress has taken
zation and being able to thank the men have emerged as two of the greatest
the opportunity to deliver on one of
and women who are keeping our fami- threats to the world order. China, in
our most critical responsibilities and
lies fed in person. We were also able to particular, has been increasingly bel-
pass the NDAA, which we will this
visit one of the homes of the USDA ligerent and well resourced and con-
week.
Meals-to-You Program, which provides tinues to demonstrate a lack of respect
I thank Chairman INHOFE and Rank-
nutritious meals for low-income stu- not only for the United States and our ing Member REED for working to get
dents in rural areas across the Nation. closest allies but for basic human this bill passed with broad bipartisan
These are two incredible examples of rights. support, and the provisions will pre-
how organizations throughout the A few weeks ago, China moved quick-
pare our military for the threats both
State are supporting those who have ly and under a veil of secrecy to pass a
of today and of tomorrow.
been hardest hit by the pandemic. Sup- law taking aim at the freedoms and au- I yield the floor.
port for our farmers, our ranchers, pro- tonomy of Hong Kong. What they are I suggest the absence of a quorum.
ducers, food banks, and other organiza- calling a national security law is noth- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
tions keeping Texas fed was a big part ing more than an effort to extinguish clerk will call the roll.
of the CARES Act, and I hope we will opposition to the Chinese Communist The bill clerk proceeded to call the
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
continue to strengthen that support Party in Hong Kong. They are using roll.
with the next coronavirus response this law to silence protesters and pre- Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Presi-
package. scribe harsh penalties for those who dent, I ask unanimous consent that the
Senator MURPHY and I introduced the have the temerity to speak out against order for the quorum call be rescinded.
SERVE and CARRY Act, which will the Communist Party. While dev- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
provide additional opportunities to astating, this is certainly not sur- objection, it is so ordered.
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