Congressional Record, July 23, 2020 — Senate

Summary

Page S4471 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for July 23, 2020, in interleaved columns, with bills introduced and a floor speech. S. 4294, from Mr. Menendez and a long list of Senators, would provide supplemental appropriations to the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. S. 4306, from Ms. Duckworth, would invest in workers and jobs in coal country, and a bill from Mrs. Murray would amend section 402 of an Act. A speaker cites economist Mark Zandi of Moody's Analytics that unemployment benefits are the most effective dollar, and says ending them in a surging pandemic could hurt, which is the speaker's view.

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Cite this document

“Congressional Record, July 23, 2020 — Senate.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-07-23-crec-2020-07-23-pt1-pgs4471-2-7cedc11316/, SHA-256 47ca4b3cb184a4770ec032745b9fade8e4034d57312335c62be98b30ccfebe66.

Full text

July 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4471
emergency; to the Committee on Commerce, tions for medically distressed debtors, and SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND
Science, and Transportation. for other purposes; to the Committee on the SENATE RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Judiciary.
DURBIN, Mr. MANCHIN, Ms. WARREN, By Ms. DUCKWORTH: The following concurrent resolutions
Mr. WYDEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. S. 4306. A bill to invest in workers and jobs, and Senate resolutions were read, and
HIRONO, Mr. SCHATZ, Mrs. GILLI- address important legacy costs in coal coun- referred (or acted upon), as indicated:
BRAND, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. VAN HOL- try, and drive development of advanced man- By Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself,
LEN, and Mr. BLUMENTHAL): ufacturing and technologies; to the Com- Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. BOOKER, Ms. HAR-
S. 4294. A bill to provide supplemental ap- mittee on Finance. RIS, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr.
propriations to the Community Development By Mrs. MURRAY: CARDIN, Ms. STABENOW, Ms. ROSEN,
Financial Institutions Fund, and for other S. 4307. A bill to amend section 402 of the Ms. SMITH, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. KLO-
purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor- BUCHAR, Mr. CASEY, and Ms. WAR-
Housing, and Urban Affairs. tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to extend REN):
By Mr. PAUL: the eligibility period for supplemental secu- S. Res. 657. A resolution supporting the
S. 4295. A bill to amend title XVIII of the rity income benefits for refugees, asylees, goals and ideals of Black, indigenous, and
Social Security Act to ensure access to cer- and certain other humanitarian immigrants, people of color (‘‘BIPOC’’ ) Mental Health
tain drugs and devices under the Medicare and for other purposes; to the Committee on Awareness Month in July 2020; to the Com-
program; to the Committee on Finance. Finance. mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and
By Mr. PORTMAN: By Ms. SINEMA (for herself, Mr. COR-
S. 4296. A bill to provide the Administrator Pensions.
NYN, and Ms. HARRIS):
of the Drug-Free Communities Support Pro- By Ms. BALDWIN (for herself and Mr.
S. 4308. A bill to amend the Social Security
gram the authority to waive the Federal JOHNSON):
Act to include special districts in the
fund limitation for the Drug-Free Commu- S. Con. Res. 41. A concurrent resolution ex-
coronavirus relief fund, to direct the Sec-
nities Support Program; to the Committee pressing the sense of Congress that the Sec-
retary to include special districts as an eligi-
on the Judiciary. retary of the Navy should name the next Vir-
ble issuer under the Municipal Liquidity Fa-
By Mr. CRUZ (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, ginia-class submarine of the United States
cility, and for other purposes; to the Com-
Mr. PERDUE, and Mrs. LOEFFLER): Navy the ‘‘USS Wisconsin’’; to the Com-
mittee on Finance.
S. 4297. A bill to allow participants in cer- mittee on Armed Services.
By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Ms.
tain retirement plans to delay their 2020 con- MURKOWSKI, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. BAR- f
tributions to such plans to 2021 or 2022, and RASSO, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. CRAMER, Ms.
for other purposes; to the Committee on Fi- CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. SULLIVAN, Ms. ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS
nance. HASSAN, Ms. ROSEN, and Mr. HOEVEN): S. 651
By Mr. MORAN (for himself, Ms. KLO- S. 4309. A bill to amend the Community
BUCHAR, Mr. LANKFORD, and Ms. At the request of Mr. CASEY, the
Services Block Grant Act to clarify that the
SMITH): maximum allotment provision does not
name of the Senator from Delaware
S. 4298. A bill to amend the Agricultural apply to supplemental appropriations for fis- (Mr. CARPER) was added as a cosponsor
Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary cal year 2020; to the Committee on Health, of S. 651, a bill to amend the Internal
of Agriculture to make grants for improve- Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
ments to meat and poultry facilities to allow
for interstate shipment, and for other pur-
By Mr. WARNER: age requirement with respect to eligi-
S. 4310. A bill to prohibit in-person instruc- bility for qualified ABLE programs.
poses; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nu- tional requirements during the COVID–19
trition, and Forestry. S. 802
emergency; to the Committee on Health,
By Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself, Education, Labor, and Pensions. At the request of Mr. DAINES, the
Mr. BLUNT, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Mr. By Mr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. BAR- name of the Senator from Georgia
CRAMER): RASSO, and Mr. CRAMER): (Mrs. LOEFFLER) was added as a cospon-
S. 4299. A bill to provide grants for tourism
S. 4311. A bill to amend the Mineral Leas- sor of S. 802, a bill to amend part A of
and events support and promotion in areas
ing Act to eliminate an administrative fee, title IV of the Social Security Act, and
affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019
and for other purposes; to the Committee on for other purposes.
(COVID–19), and for other purposes; to the
Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Environment and Public S. 1720
By Mr. LEE:
Works.
S. 4312. A bill to amend the National Envi- At the request of Mr. ROUNDS, the
By Mr. GARDNER:
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 to provide for name of the Senator from South Caro-
S. 4300. A bill to amend the Asia Reassur-
project delivery programs, and for other pur- lina (Mr. SCOTT) was added as a cospon-
ance Initiative Act of 2018 to require the Sec-
retary of Defense to carry out the Pacific poses; to the Committee on Environment and sor of S. 1720, a bill to amend the Fed-
Public Works.
Deterrence Initiative; to the Committee on eral Meat Inspection Act and the Poul-
Foreign Relations. By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr.
ROUNDS): try Products Inspection Act to allow
By Mr. HAWLEY: the interstate sale of State-inspected
S. 4301. A bill to encourage States to per- S. 4313. A bill to establish a grant program
mit members of the Armed Forces who are for purposes of providing training to physi- meat and poultry, and for other pur-
outside of the State under orders to renew a cians on the health effects of exposure to poses.
permit to carry a concealed firearm through perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl sub- S. 2499
the mail, and for other purposes; to the Com- stances; to the Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions.
At the request of Mr. MERKLEY, the
mittee on the Judiciary. names of the Senator from Minnesota
By Mr. YOUNG (for himself and Mr. By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Ms. BALD-
CASSIDY): WIN, and Ms. SMITH): (Ms. SMITH) and the Senator from Ne-
S. 4302. A bill to utilize national service S. 4314. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- vada (Ms. ROSEN) were added as cospon-
programs to directly respond to the novel enue Code of 1986 to address the teacher and sors of S. 2499, a bill to effectively staff
coronavirus disease (COVID–19) outbreak; to school leader shortage in early childhood, el- the public elementary schools and sec-
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, ementary, and secondary education, and for ondary schools of the United States
and Pensions. other purposes; to the Committee on Fi-
with school-based mental health serv-
By Mr. REED: nance.
S. 4303. A bill to improve State short-term By Mr. KING (for himself and Ms. MUR- ices providers.
compensation programs, and for other pur- KOWSKI): S. 3062
poses; to the Committee on Finance. S. 4315. A bill to authorize the Secretary of At the request of Mr. CASEY, the
By Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for Mr. MAR- Health and Human Services to award grants name of the Senator from Maryland
KEY (for himself and Mr. VAN HOL- to eligible entities to conduct testing and (Mr. VAN HOLLEN) was added as a co-
LEN)): contact tracing for COVID–19, and related
S. 4304. A bill to prohibit actions to termi- activities such as supported isolation,
sponsor of S. 3062, a bill to amend the
nate or withdraw the United States from cer- through mobile health units and, as nec- Safe Drinking Water Act to repeal a
tain international agreements without a essary, at individuals’ residences, and for certain exemption for hydraulic frac-

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joint resolution of approval, and for other other purposes; to the Committee on Health, turing, and for other purposes.
purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Rela- Education, Labor, and Pensions. S. 3103
tions. By Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. At the request of Mr. LANKFORD, the
By Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. REED, and Mrs. GILLIBRAND):
DURBIN, Mr. BROWN, Ms. BALDWIN, S. 4316. A bill to provide Federal reim- name of the Senator from Mississippi
and Ms. WARREN): bursement of qualified State paid leave pro- (Mr. WICKER) was added as a cosponsor
S. 4305. A bill to amend title 11, United grams, and for other purposes; to the Com- of S. 3103, a bill to amend title XVIII of
States Code, to provide bankruptcy protec- mittee on Finance. the Social Security Act to restore

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S4472 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 23, 2020
State authority to waive for certain fa- and to extend the loan forgiveness pe- (Mr. CASSIDY) was added as a cosponsor
cilities the 35-mile rule for designating riod for paycheck protection program of S. 4071, a bill to amend the Internal
critical access hospitals under the loans made to the hardest hit busi- Revenue Code of 1986 to adjust identi-
Medicare program. nesses, and for other purposes. fication number requirements for tax-
S. 3419 S. 3815 payers filing joint returns to receive
At the request of Mr. INHOFE, the At the request of Mrs. FEINSTEIN, the Economic Impact Payments.
name of the Senator from Arkansas name of the Senator from New Jersey S. 4081

(Mr. BOOZMAN) was added as a cospon- (Mr. MENENDEZ) was added as a cospon- At the request of Ms. STABENOW, the
sor of S. 3419, a bill to amend the Pack- sor of S. 3815, a bill to permit the name of the Senator from Colorado
ers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to pro- search and retention of certain records (Mr. GARDNER) was added as a cospon-
vide for the establishment of a trust with respect to conducting criminal sor of S. 4081, a bill to provide a grant
for the benefit of all unpaid cash sell- background checks, and for other pur- program for elementary schools, sec-
ers of livestock, and for other purposes. poses. ondary schools, and institutions of
S. 3872
higher education to help offset costs
S. 3455
associated with complying with guide-
At the request of Mr. HAWLEY, the At the request of Mr. BRAUN, the
lines, recommendations, and other pub-
name of the Senator from Louisiana names of the Senator from Maine (Ms.
lic health communications issued by
(Mr. KENNEDY) was added as a cospon- COLLINS), the Senator from North Da-
the Centers for Disease Control and
sor of S. 3455, a bill to prohibit certain kota (Mr. CRAMER) and the Senator
Prevention, or a State, Indian Tribe,
individuals from downloading or using from Arkansas (Mr. BOOZMAN) were Tribal organization, or locality related
TikTok on any device issued by the added as cosponsors of S. 3872, a bill to to mitigating the hazards presented by
United States or a government cor- amend the Federal Food, Drug, and COVID–19.
poration. Cosmetic Act to establish a time-lim- S. 4106
S. 3612 ited provisional approval pathway, sub-
At the request of Mr. BRAUN, the
At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the ject to specific obligations, for certain
names of the Senator from Georgia
names of the Senator from Missouri drugs and biological products, and for (Mr. PERDUE) and the Senator from
(Mr. BLUNT) and the Senator from Wyo- other purposes. North Carolina (Mr. TILLIS) were added
ming (Mr. ENZI) were added as cospon- S. 3881
as cosponsors of S. 4106, a bill to amend
sors of S. 3612, a bill to clarify for pur- At the request of Mr. CASEY, the the Public Health Service Act to pro-
poses of the Internal Revenue Code of names of the Senator from Maryland vide for hospital and insurer price
1986 that receipt of coronavirus assist- (Mr. VAN HOLLEN) and the Senator transparency.
ance does not affect the tax treatment from Alabama (Mr. JONES) were added S. 4117
of ordinary business expenses. as cosponsors of S. 3881, a bill to in- At the request of Mr. CRAMER, the
S. 3705 crease support for State Children’s names of the Senator from North Caro-
At the request of Mr. MORAN, the Health Insurance programs during the lina (Mr. BURR), the Senator from Lou-
names of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. COVID–19 emergency, and for other isiana (Mr. CASSIDY), the Senator from
ROBERTS) and the Senator from North purposes. Colorado (Mr. GARDNER) and the Sen-
Carolina (Mr. TILLIS) were added as co- S. 3893 ator from Mississippi (Mr. WICKER)
sponsors of S. 3705, a bill to establish a At the request of Mr. THUNE, the were added as cosponsors of S. 4117, a
private-public partnership to preserve name of the Senator from Colorado bill to provide automatic forgiveness
jobs in the aviation manufacturing in- (Mr. GARDNER) was added as a cospon- for paycheck protection program loans
dustry, and for other purposes. sor of S. 3893, a bill to amend the Food under $150,000, and for other purposes.
S. 3768 Security Act of 1985 to allow for emer- S. 4143

At the request of Mr. GARDNER, his gency use of certain land during a pan- At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the
name was added as a cosponsor of S. demic, and for other purposes. names of the Senator from Hawaii (Ms.
3768, a bill to protect older adults and S. 3998 HIRONO) and the Senator from Con-
people with disabilities living in nurs- At the request of Mr. KING, the name necticut (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) were added
ing homes, intermediate care facilities, of the Senator from New Hampshire as cosponsors of S. 4143, a bill to extend
and psychiatric hospitals from COVID– (Mrs. SHAHEEN) was added as a cospon- the unemployment insurance provi-
sor of S. 3998, a bill to amend title sions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
19.
XVIII of the Social Security Act to and Economic Security (CARES) Act
S. 3812
simplify payments for telehealth serv- for the duration of the economic recov-
At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the ery, and for other purposes.
name of the Senator from Maine (Ms. ices furnished by Federally qualified
health centers or rural health clinics S. 4150
COLLINS) was added as a cosponsor of S. At the request of Mr. REED, the name
3812, a bill to amend title 38, United under the Medicare program, and for
other purposes. of the Senator from Alabama (Mr.
States Code, to expand eligibility for JONES) was added as a cosponsor of S.
hospital care, medical services, and S. 3999
4150, a bill to require the Secretary of
nursing home care from the Depart- At the request of Mr. KING, the name
the Treasury to provide assistance to
ment of Veterans Affairs to include of the Senator from New Hampshire
certain providers of transportation
veterans of World War II. (Mrs. SHAHEEN) was added as a cospon-
services affected by the novel
S. 3814 sor of S. 3999, a bill to amend title coronavirus.
At the request of Mr. BENNET, the XVIII of the Social Security Act to en-
S. 4152
names of the Senator from Mississippi sure access to mental health and be-
At the request of Mr. HOEVEN, the
(Mrs. HYDE-SMITH), the Senator from havioral health services furnished
names of the Senator from North Da-
Texas (Mr. CORNYN), the Senator from through telehealth under the Medicare
kota (Mr. CRAMER) and the Senator
Nevada (Ms. CORTEZ MASTO), the Sen- program.
from Alabama (Mr. JONES) were added
ator from Hawaii (Mr. SCHATZ), the S. 4035
as cosponsors of S. 4152, a bill to pro-
Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. WHITE- At the request of Mr. DAINES, the vide for the adjustment or modifica-
HOUSE), the Senator from Arkansas name of the Senator from Idaho (Mr. tion by the Secretary of Agriculture of
(Mr. COTTON), the Senator from New CRAPO) was added as a cosponsor of S. loans for critical rural utility service

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Mexico (Mr. HEINRICH), the Senator 4035, a bill to establish and provide for providers, and for other purposes.
from New York (Mrs. GILLIBRAND), the the use of amounts in a Trail Steward- S. 4156
Senator from Alaska (Ms. MURKOWSKI) ship for Economic Recovery Fund, and At the request of Mr. INHOFE, the
and the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. for other purposes. name of the Senator from Nebraska
BOOKER) were added as cosponsors of S. S. 4071 (Mrs. FISCHER) was added as a cospon-
3814, a bill to establish a loan program At the request of Mr. RUBIO, the sor of S. 4156, a bill to require the Sec-
for businesses affected by COVID–19 name of the Senator from Louisiana retary of Agriculture to provide relief

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July 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4473
from hardship due to the COVID–19 under the CARES Act, and for other (Ms. HARRIS), the Senator from
pandemic to agricultural producers, purposes. Vermont (Mr. SANDERS) and the Sen-
and for other purposes. S. 4232 ator from Massachusetts (Mr. MARKEY)
S. 4160 At the request of Mr. HEINRICH, the were added as cosponsors of amend-
At the request of Mr. THUNE, the names of the Senator from New Mexico ment No. 1943 intended to be proposed
names of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. (Mr. UDALL) and the Senator from to S. 4049, an original bill to authorize
BROWN) and the Senator from Maine Alaska (Ms. MURKOWSKI) were added as appropriations for fiscal year 2021 for
(Ms. COLLINS) were added as cosponsors cosponsors of S. 4232, a bill to amend military activities of the Department
of S. 4160, a bill to enable certain hos- title VI of the Social Security Act to of Defense, for military construction,
pitals that were participating in or ap- extend the coverage of Coronavirus Re- and for defense activities of the De-
plied for the drug discount program lief Fund payments to Tribal Govern- partment of Energy, to prescribe mili-
under section 340B of the Public Health ments. tary personnel strengths for such fiscal
Service Act prior to the COVID–19 pub- S. 4252 year, and for other purposes.
lic health emergency to temporarily At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the AMENDMENT NO. 2334
maintain eligibility for such program, name of the Senator from California At the request of Mr. COTTON, the
and for other purposes. (Mrs. FEINSTEIN) was added as a co- name of the Senator from Georgia
sponsor of S. 4252, a bill to provide (Mrs. LOEFFLER) was added as a cospon-
S. 4162
funding for States to improve their un- sor of amendment No. 2334 intended to
At the request of Mrs. FISCHER, the employment compensation programs,
names of the Senator from Georgia be proposed to S. 4049, an original bill
and for other purposes. to authorize appropriations for fiscal
(Mr. PERDUE) and the Senator from S. 4262
North Dakota (Mr. CRAMER) were added year 2021 for military activities of the
At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the Department of Defense, for military
as cosponsors of S. 4162, a bill to pro- name of the Senator from Michigan
vide certainty for airport funding. construction, and for defense activities
(Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cospon- of the Department of Energy, to pre-
S. 4174 sor of S. 4262, a bill to direct the Sec-
At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the scribe military personnel strengths for
retary of Health and Human Services such fiscal year, and for other pur-
names of the Senator from Missouri to develop an action plan, make tar-
(Mr. BLUNT), the Senator from Con- poses.
geted grants, and develop public aware-
AMENDMENT NO. 2399
necticut (Mr. MURPHY) and the Senator ness campaigns with respect to COVID–
from Alaska (Mr. SULLIVAN) were added 19 and the disproportionate impact of At the request of Mr. GRASSLEY, the
as cosponsors of S. 4174, a bill to pro- the COVID–19 pandemic on racial and name of the Senator from Indiana (Mr.
vide emergency appropriations to the ethnic minorities and other vulnerable BRAUN) was added as a cosponsor of
United States Postal Service to cover populations. amendment No. 2399 intended to be pro-
losses related to the COVID–19 crisis S. 4283
posed to S. 4049, an original bill to au-
and to direct the Board of Governors of At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the thorize appropriations for fiscal year
the United States Postal Service to de- name of the Senator from California 2021 for military activities of the De-
velop a plan for ensuring the long term (Mrs. FEINSTEIN) was added as a co- partment of Defense, for military con-
solvency of the Postal Service. sponsor of S. 4283, a bill to provide struction, and for defense activities of
S. 4181 funding for States to improve their un- the Department of Energy, to prescribe
employment insurance technology sys- military personnel strengths for such
At the request of Mr. REED, the name
tems, and for other purposes. fiscal year, and for other purposes.
of the Senator from Minnesota (Ms.
AMENDMENT NO. 2417
SMITH) was added as a cosponsor of S. S. 4287
4181, a bill to establish a Library Sta- At the request of Mr. DAINES, his At the request of Ms. CANTWELL, the
bilization Fund to respond to and ac- name was added as a cosponsor of S. name of the Senator from Texas (Mr.
celerate the recovery from 4287, a bill to amend title 38, United CRUZ) was added as a cosponsor of
coronavirus. States Code, to establish presumptions amendment No. 2417 proposed to S.
of service-connection for members of 4049, an original bill to authorize ap-
S. 4214
the Armed Forces who contract propriations for fiscal year 2021 for
At the request of Mr. PORTMAN, the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 under certain military activities of the Department
name of the Senator from Tennessee
circumstances, and for other purposes. of Defense, for military construction,
(Mrs. BLACKBURN) was added as a co-
S. RES. 458 and for defense activities of the De-
sponsor of S. 4214, a bill to provide a
At the request of Mr. LANKFORD, the partment of Energy, to prescribe mili-
payroll tax credit for certain expenses
name of the Senator from Colorado tary personnel strengths for such fiscal
associated with protecting employees
(Mr. GARDNER) was added as a cospon- year, and for other purposes.
from COVID–19.
sor of S. Res. 458, a resolution calling AMENDMENT NO. 2437
S. 4220
for the global repeal of blasphemy, her- At the request of Ms. KLOBUCHAR, the
At the request of Mr. MERKLEY, the esy, and apostasy laws. names of the Senator from New Mexico
name of the Senator from Michigan (Mr. UDALL), the Senator from Maine
S. RES. 509
(Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cospon- (Ms. COLLINS), the Senator from Cali-
At the request of Mr. TOOMEY, the
sor of S. 4220, a bill to limit the use of fornia (Mrs. FEINSTEIN), the Senator
name of the Senator from Alaska (Mr.
Federal law enforcement officers for from Virginia (Mr. WARNER), the Sen-
SULLIVAN) was added as a cosponsor of
crowd control, and for other purposes. S. Res. 509, a resolution calling upon ator from Vermont (Mr. SANDERS), the
S. 4221 Senator from New Hampshire (Ms. HAS-
the United Nations Security Council to
At the request of Ms. ERNST, the adopt a resolution on Iran that extends SAN), the Senator from Vermont (Mr.
name of the Senator from North Caro- the dates by which Annex B restric- LEAHY), the Senator from New Jersey
lina (Mr. BURR) was added as a cospon- tions under Resolution 2231 are cur- (Mr. MENENDEZ), the Senator from
sor of S. 4221, a bill to provide for rently set to expire. Massachusetts (Ms. WARREN), the Sen-
grants to support the provision of child S. RES. 655 ator from Tennessee (Mrs. BLACKBURN),
care by reopening and maintaining the At the request of Mr. BROWN, the the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs.
operation of child care programs. names of the Senator from Virginia SHAHEEN), the Senator from New York
S. 4227 (Mr. WARNER) and the Senator from (Mrs. GILLIBRAND), the Senator from

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At the request of Ms. ROSEN, the New York (Mrs. GILLIBRAND) were Delaware (Mr. COONS), the Senator
names of the Senator from Massachu- added as cosponsors of S. Res. 655, a from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER), the
setts (Mr. MARKEY) and the Senator resolution declaring racism a public Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS)
from Maryland (Mr. VAN HOLLEN) were health crisis. and the Senator from Massachusetts
added as cosponsors of S. 4227, a bill to AMENDMENT NO. 1943 (Mr. MARKEY) were added as cosponsors
improve access to economic injury dis- At the request of Ms. KLOBUCHAR, the of amendment No. 2437 intended to be
aster loans and emergency advances names of the Senator from California proposed to S. 4049, an original bill to

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S4474 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 23, 2020
authorize appropriations for fiscal year for-dollar stimulus to the economy, provided temporary federal financing
2021 for military activities of the De- with each dollar of UI translating into for 100% of work sharing benefits paid
partment of Defense, for military con- $1.61 of economic activity. Cutting off to workers. According to the Depart-
struction, and for defense activities of $600 would slash the weekly income of ment of Labor, work sharing saved ap-
the Department of Energy, to prescribe 20 million households in half or more proximately 570,000 jobs in the wake of
military personnel strengths for such overnight. In a recent study, Ernie the Great Recession. Multiple studies
fiscal year, and for other purposes. Tedeschi, a former economist at the have found that communities that
f Department of Treasury, projects that adopted more robust work-sharing pro-
what will follow is a two percent de- grams weathered the recession with
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED lower unemployment rates.
crease in the nation’s gross domestic
BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION Mark Zandi estimates that tem-
product and 1.7 million fewer jobs by
By Mr. REED: the end of this year. porary financing of work share offers a
S. 4303. A bill to improve State short- This is not surprising. If Senate Re- very high ‘‘bang for the buck’’ of $1.69
term compensation programs, and for publicans let the enhanced pandemic . . . making it a critical companion to
other purposes; to the Committee on unemployment assistance expire, it traditional UI benefits. It’s another
Finance. could tank consumer spending while win-win policy that has been field-test-
Mr. REED. Mr. President, with the increasing business closings that will ed and demonstrated to work well in
U.S. economy reeling, millions of fami- lead to even more unemployment. It more than 20 states across the country.
lies struggling, and COVID–19 cases could also further exacerbate this pub- Simply put, work sharing helps more
soaring in states around the country, lic health crisis by forcing more Amer- workers, businesses, and communities
this is exactly the wrong time to cut icans into desperate situations. stay afloat, and positions them for a
off or massively cut back unemploy- That is why I, along with Senator MI- stronger economic recovery.
ment insurance as Republicans are pro- CHAEL BENNET and Congressman DON The Workforce Retention Act that I
posing. BEYER, have proposed the Worker Re- am introducing today along with Sen-
Unemployment insurance is a finan- lief and Security Act. This legislation ators WHITEHOUSE, MERKLEY, and VAN
cial lifeline to tens of millions of would take politics out of the equation HOLLEN, enhances the program and en-
Americans. And it also provides a big and use ‘‘automatic stabilizers’’ based courages states with existing work
boost for small businesses . . . and on actual unemployment rates to en- share laws to utilize them more fre-
communities. Because in addition to sure the help goes where it is needed, quently. It incentivizes states without
helping those who’ve lost their jobs, it when it is needed, and expires when it work sharing laws to stop denying
effectively injects needed spending into is no longer needed—rather than leav- their businesses an easy and effective
local economies. Cars don’t run with- ing it up to Congress and an arbitrary way to retain employees. This legisla-
out fuel, and the economy won’t run date. tion is supported by the National Em-
without consumers. And look, it’s not just individuals ployment Law Center and the Eco-
The President failed to listen to pub- who are struggling. Businesses need nomic Policy Institute.
lic health experts and that hurt public help too. That is why I have backed the It builds off the $100 million initia-
health and the economy. He bipartisan RESTART Act and today I tive included in the CARES Act, stem-
downplayed the pandemic, derided the ming from my Layoff Prevention Act
am introducing the Workforce Reten-
science, and tried to force states to of 2020, by extending federal financing
tion Act, which would strengthen and
rush their re-openings. for states with permanent and tem-
expand work sharing programs that
Now he is failing to listen to eco- porary work sharing programs by two
many businesses are effectively using
nomic experts across the spectrum who years. It would incentivize states to
to keep their workers. This program is
widely agree that four months into this structure their work sharing laws to
a win-win that offers businesses in-
crisis, the jobs picture is worsening. reduce barriers to entry for companies
creased flexibility and payroll support,
. . . particularly for small businesses
Experts are once again warning the while keeping more Americans at-
that have been hard hit by this pan-
President and Republicans now is NOT tached to their jobs.
demic. Our bill also provides much-
the time to cut off unemployment in- Right now, business owners who want
needed federal grants to state unem-
surance. to keep their doors open are facing the
ployment agencies to improve imple-
Today, more than 31 million Ameri- prospect of having to let go some per-
mentation and administration.
cans—roughly one out of five workers— centage of their workforce because of States would also qualify under a
are collecting unemployment and thou- circumstances far beyond their control. new grant program for meeting certain
sands of businesses are shutting their Businesses that are particularly de- enrollment incentive benchmarks and
doors. More than 1.4 million workers pendent on foot traffic, such as the increasing the number of work share
filed for unemployment for the first hospitality and tourism industries, are claims as a percentage of their overall
time just last week. Those who pre- only looking at re-opening later this unemployment insurance weekly
dicted a quick V shaped recovery . . . year or early next year. In many cases, claims.
who misled Americans that the virus businesses are also set to lose out on This is a cost-effective job preserva-
would just disappear on its own were the considerable expense and time they tion program and we need to invest in
wrong. There will be no economic re- have put in to hire and train these ensuring it is accessible to help more
covery until we get the virus under workers. businesses, preserve more jobs, and
control. With work sharing, struggling com- save taxpayers billions of dollars in the
Congress needs to end the short- panies can reduce hours instead of long run.
sighted approach and start taking the their workforce and it helps employers Our economy can’t afford more of the
long view. We need a smarter, coordi- save money on rehiring costs, while same mistakes that have deepened this
nated, evidence-based approach that employees who participate in work crisis and steepened the economic
recognizes reality: things are bad. Cut- sharing keep their jobs and receive a climb back out. America controls its
ting off UI would make them exponen- portion of unemployment insurance own destiny, and we have the tools and
tially worse. benefits to make up for lost wages. Es- know-how to succeed. Other nations
But look: Hope is not lost. We have pecially in this pandemic, work sharing have fared much better during this cri-
the tools, the assets, the advantages to programs would allow businesses to re- sis because their elected leadership
turn things around. There are proven, tain their employees, easily putting

SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
took COVID more seriously. They en-
effective measures that we can take, them back on full-time status once couraged people to wear masks. Other
both on the public health front and the business picks up, and avoid having to heads of state didn’t taunt regions into
economic front. Let’s focus on the eco- lay them off in the first place. reopening before it was safe to do so.
nomic front: As part of the Middle Class Tax Re- And they invested in unemployment
Economist Mark Zandi of Moody’s lief and Job Creation Act, Congress en- insurance and economic stimulus.
Analytics notes that unemployment acted legislation that I authored, the Ending unemployment insurance in
benefits are the most effective dollar- Layoff Prevention Act of 2012, which the midst of a surging pandemic could

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