HEALS Act (Cong. Rec., July 28, 2020)
Summary
Senate section of the Congressional Record for Tuesday, July 28, 2020, No. 133. The House of Representatives was not in session, and the next meeting is on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at 9 a.m. Grassley speaks on the World Trade Organization, saying the United States must reaffirm its commitment to significant reform of the organization. McConnell speaks on the HEALS Act, saying Senate Republicans put forward a framework for another round of relief, with $1,200 per adult and $500 per dependent, or $3,400 in cash for a family of four. The Senate then proceeds to executive session to resume consideration of a nomination.
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“HEALS Act (Cong. Rec., July 28, 2020).”
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Congressional Record
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 No. 133
House of Representatives
The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at 9 a.m.
Senate
TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY
called to order by the President pro LEADER
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
want to talk about the World Trade Or-
f jority leader is recognized.
ganization. I have said what I am going
to say now before. So I want to say it f
PRAYER again: The United States must reaffirm HEALS ACT
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- its commitment to significant reform Mr. MCCONNELL. Yesterday, Senate
fered the following prayer: of the World Trade Organization. The Republicans put forward the HEALS
Let us pray. United States must move to revitalize Act, our framework for another round
Eternal God, our rock of safety, hear that organization because the World of historic relief for American workers
our prayers. Help us to live that the Trade Organization advances the cause and families.
generations to come will know of Your of free and fair global trade, and they Our Nation stands at a challenging
mighty acts. necessarily do it because of the modern crossroads. We have one foot in this
Today, give our lawmakers the economy we are in. pandemic and one foot in the recovery.
hearts to seek, find, and follow Your We can’t go back to April, and until we
will. Lord, guide them in the path You It is imperative that we continue to
have a vaccine, we can’t go back to
have created, inspiring them with the double down on the efforts that dem-
normal either. What the American peo-
potency of Your powerful presence. onstrate the United States’ leadership ple need is smart, safe, and sustainable
May they trust You in adversity and at Geneva, the headquarters of the middle ground, and they need
prosperity, knowing that they will reap World Trade Organization. That in- Congress’s help to construct it. That is
a productive harvest if they persevere. cludes our efforts to reform the World exactly what our major proposal would
Lord, we trust You to lead us with Trade Organization appellate body, to do.
Your loving providence. work on subsidies that too many coun- Everyone knows that another rescue
We pray in Your merciful Name. tries are using, and to continue ongo- package will need to be bipartisan to
Amen. ing negotiations to accomplish these pass the Senate. So the question before
goals. the country is now really quite simple:
f Are we going to see the versions of
The World Trade Organization can
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and should play an important role in House and Senate Democrats that
the global economic recovery from our helped us unanimously pass the CARES
The President pro tempore led the Act back in March, or are we, instead,
virus pandemic. I urge the administra-
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: going to see the same Democrats who
tion and my colleagues here in the Sen-
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
ate to advocate for our interests. I urge decided to block police reform in June
United States of America, and to the Repub- and lash out at Senator TIM SCOTT’s
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, the Trump administration to confront
trade distortions, and most impor- proposal instead of working with him
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. to make law? In other words, do the
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I tantly, this administration must en-
Speaker of the House and the Demo-
ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 courage all World Trade Organization
cratic leader believe that struggling
minute in morning business. members to unite in an effort to lift us
Americans deserve an outcome, or do
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. out of the nearly unprecedented global
they want to stay on the sidelines and
HYDE-SMITH). Without objection, it is downturn we have had in trade because
recite talking points?
so ordered. of the virus pandemic. Well, yesterday, even before the
The Senator from Iowa. I yield the floor. Democrats had seen our legislation,
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∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
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S4516 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 28, 2020
they began attacking it. All the tired, Republicans want to go even further the millions of Americans who have
old partisan tropes were trotted out. to backstop hospitals and healthcare been thrown into joblessness. As we
Before releasing a proposal that wants providers and fuel the sprint for vac- discussed, they would get hundreds of
to give schools even more reopening cines. If Democrats will not let us, dollars more every week in added un-
money than the House Democrats’ bill Americans will just have to cross our employment.
and which would continue additional fingers and hope the medical system But because we are doing it smarter,
unemployment benefits at eight times remains stable. if anyone on the street owns a coffee
the dollar amount Democrats estab- To be clear, Republicans are not pro- shop or a contracting business, they
lished during the last crisis, we were posing to ‘‘cut’’ any relief. Under cur- will not hear from workers that they
informed here on the floor that ‘‘those rent law, expanded UI expires and is re- are earning more by staying at home.
Republican hard-right money people placed with nothing. Under current Those unemployed workers will get
. . . don’t want the Federal Govern- law, there are no more direct payments back on the job faster when our bill
ment to help anybody.’’ and no second PPP. Every single thing supercharges incentives for rehiring
This is beyond parody. we put forward is a way to get more re- and helps pay for health and safety in
Republicans put forward a trillion- lief into people’s hands. the workplace.
dollar proposal for kids, jobs, and Our Democratic colleagues want to Maybe some other people on the
healthcare, including direct cash to pretend it is controversial, somehow, street have held onto their jobs be-
households, and even more cash to un- that taxpayers should not pay people cause of the historic Paycheck Protec-
employed people. And the Democrats more not to work than people who do tion Program. Their employer is con-
say it proves we don’t want to help go back to work. They want to pretend sidering closing down with that relief
people. They say it proves we don’t it is controversial that taxpayers nearly exhausted. Our targeted second
want to help people. These are not seri- should not pay people more not to round of PPP could keep their pay-
ous statements. It is politics as usual, work than people who do go back to check coming instead of a pink slip.
with talking points that went stale 20 work? The American people don’t call Maybe a retired couple lives on this
years ago. it a controversy. They call it common block. If our proposal for Medicare
But the week is young and the sense. They call it basic fairness. Part B premiums becomes law, this
HEALS Act is full of provisions I This is absolutely a time to be gen- couple will be protected from a spike in
would, frankly, dare my Democratic erous and provide additional Federal costs due to this pandemic, and need-
colleagues to actually say they oppose. relief to people who have been laid off, less to say, every single person on that
Republicans want to extend supple-
but we should not be redistributing street would benefit from even stronger
mental unemployment insurance at
money away from the essential work- Federal investments in the diagnostics,
hundreds of dollars per week. If Demo-
ers who have remained at their posts. treatments, and vaccines that will ulti-
crats block legislation, it will stop all We should not be taxing somebody mately win this healthcare battle for
together.
who has been stocking shelves for all of us.
Republicans want to send thousands
months so the government can pay So, look, it is very simple. Partisan
of dollars more to American families
their neighbor more than she makes to histrionics will not get any American
through direct payments. If Democrats
sit at home. That is what we are talk- family any of the relief I just de-
will not come to the table, they will
ing about—taxing essential workers to scribed. Calling names will not get
get nothing.
Republicans want to use tax incen- pay their neighbors a bonus to stay school districts one dime. Washington
tives to encourage the rehiring of laid- home. finger-pointing will not add 1 cent to
off workers and the creation of safer One study by university economists anyone’s unemployment check.
workplaces through things like testing, just found these benefits can exceed The Democrats face a simple choice.
remodeling, and PPE. If Democrats people’s previous incomes two-thirds of They can come to the table, work with
block action, workers will be on their the time. They found a medium recipi- the Republicans, and engage seriously
own. ent earns 134 percent of their prior sal- to make law for the American people
Republicans want to specifically pro- ary. That means half are making even or they can stay on the sidelines, point
tect Medicare seniors from a spike in more than that. That is just not fair. It fingers, and let another rescue package
premiums because of COVID. If Demo- is not compatible with a reopening go the same way as the police reform
crats treat the HEALS Act the way economy and more than 6 in 10 Ameri- bill they killed back in June. The Re-
they treated police reform, seniors will cans feel this creates a disincentive to publicans are ready to govern. We just
be on their own as well. work. need the Democrats to decide whether
Republicans want to pour money into Even the Democratic House majority they are serious about actually making
K–12 schools and give greater flexi- leader said just this morning that our law.
bility to childcare providers so Amer- perspective ‘‘has some validity to it f
ica’s kids can have a safe but more nor- and we have to deal with that . . . it’s
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
mal school year. If Democrats block not $600 or bust.’’ That was the major-
action, school districts will get none of ity leader in the House. The Demo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
us. cratic majority leader in the House the previous order, the leadership time
Republicans want to create a second said: ‘‘It’s not $600 or bust.’’ So let’s is reserved.
targeted round of PPE to keep small get past these partisan cheap shots and f
businesses above water. If Democrats have an adult conversation. CONCLUSION OF MORNING
will not negotiate, the ‘‘now open’’ Look at it this way. Think about one BUSINESS
signs will come down and the ‘‘going street, one block in one neighborhood,
anywhere in America. Think how they The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning
out of business’’ signs will replace
would benefit if this bill were signed business is closed.
them.
Republicans want to proactively ex- into law. Right now, several families f
pand our domestic manufacturing ca- on that block probably have no idea EXECUTIVE SESSION
pability for masks and PPE and med- whether their kids will be heading back
ical countermeasures. If Democrats to school in a few weeks. Our bill would ---
refuse to negotiate, we will be just as provide the money and legal certainty EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
dependent on adversaries as competi- for school districts to reopen safely. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
tors in the next crisis. Let’s talk about the families’ pocket- the previous order, the Senate will pro-
Dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Republicans want to protect doctors, books. Likely, every mailbox on that ceed to executive session to resume
nurses, school districts, and univer- street or each checking account would consideration of the following nomina-
sities from a second epidemic of frivo- get another $1,200 per adult and $500 per tion, which the clerk will report.
lous lawsuits. If Democrats don’t come dependent. For a family of four, we are The senior assistant legislative clerk
to the table, our Nation’s reopening talking about $3,400 in cash. Maybe read the nomination of David Cleve-
will be at the mercy of trial lawyers. some of these homeowners are among land Joseph, of Louisiana, to be United
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