Congressional Record, Senate, July 28, 2020 — Coronavirus Relief Proposal
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated July 28, 2020, at page S4517, under the heading Coronavirus Relief Proposal. Mr. Schumer says the Senate Republicans finally revealed their proposal for the next phase of COVID relief after three months, criticizes a $30 billion wish list for defense contractors, nearly $2 billion for a new FBI building and a liability shield with no protection from evictions, and says the plan would lose even more jobs. He says enhanced unemployment benefits have kept 12 million Americans out of poverty and cites economists who say the proposal could cost over 1 million jobs this year and 3.4 million jobs next year. The page ends with defense remarks on the Pacific Deterrence Initiative.
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, Senate, July 28, 2020 — Coronavirus Relief Proposal.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-07-28-crec-2020-07-28-pt1-pgs4517-2-cdd809f5e8/
, SHA-256 35166e6bda776442596d158726a404046c959b204e632650081847f8956c7507.Full text
July 28, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4517
States District Judge for the Western tions for 5 years from liability for neg- your family’s future, the Republican
District of Louisiana. ligent treatment of workers and con- plan leaves you out in the cold.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, sumers, but there is no new, sweeping The consequences of the Republican
I suggest the absence of a quorum. provision to shield Americans from policy on unemployment alone would
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The evictions or foreclosures. be disastrous. Those enhanced benefits
clerk will call the roll. It includes a $30 billion wish list for have kept 12 million Americans out of
The senior assistant legislative clerk defense contractors but no funding to poverty. Those enhanced benefits are
proceeded to call the roll. make sure Americans can vote safely the one bright spot in this declining
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I in November. There are reports that economy—that consumer spending is
ask unanimous consent that the order the Republican proposal may include a going up now, in large part because of
for the quorum call be rescinded. provision to lower capital standards at pandemic unemployment insurance as
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the Wall Street big banks but nothing well as PPP.
objection, it is so ordered. to help State, local, and Tribal govern- One of the few things that has kept
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER ments keep teachers, firefighters, and our economy from deteriorating fur-
The Democratic leader is recognized. busdrivers on the job. ther is that these unemployment bene-
CORONAVIRUS The Senate Republicans managed to fits have boosted consumer spending.
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, sneak in nearly $2 billion in taxpayer That is why economists say the Repub-
yesterday, after putting the Senate on funds for a new FBI building, the loca- lican proposal could cost over 1 million
pause for 3 months and after months of tion of which will increase the value of jobs this year and 3.4 million jobs next
blocking nearly every Democratic at- the Trump hotel and enrich the Presi- year. The Republican proposal is caus-
tempt to pass legislation related to the dent and his family. Yes. In this pro- ing us to lose even more jobs.
coronavirus, the Senate Republicans fi- posal, the Senate Republicans reward States have warned us that the Re-
nally revealed their long overdue pro- the President and his family’s business publican plan on unemployment is un-
posal for the next phase of COVID re- interests but not our essential workers. workable, to boot. We called State un-
lief. Whom do my Republican friends need employment offices yesterday to ask
In my many years of serving in this to help more—President Trump, who them what would happen if the Repub-
Chamber, I have never seen a Repub- proudly claims he is a billionaire, or a licans passed this new scheme. One
lican majority—a Senate majority of worker who is about to lose his job, a State office simply said: Chaos. Chaos.
any type—respond to a national emer- small businessperson whose business is Office after office said it would take
gency in such a disorganized and dis- going under, or a family who can’t feed weeks, weeks, months to even imple-
oriented fashion. Weeks of infighting hungry children? Who needs the help ment the new plan. What are people
among Senate Republicans and the more—they or President Trump? going to do during those weeks and
White House caused unnecessary and Perhaps, worst of all, in the middle of months when they are not getting un-
harmful delays. the pandemic, the Senate Republicans employment insurance?
Instead of presenting a single, unified The idea on the Republican side that
and the White House want to give out-
bill, the Republicans released several we have to slash unemployment bene-
of-work Americans a 30-percent pay
separate drafts last night, and there fits because otherwise Americans won’t
cut. If you have lost your job through
might be more today. They can’t agree go back to work is exaggerated. Ameri-
no fault of your own and you can’t go
cans want to work, are ready to work,
on one bill. They can’t get 51 votes for back to work because the administra-
and are desperate to get back to work.
anything that is comprehensive and tion bungled this crisis, the Senate Re-
Such little faith in the American peo-
that deals with the very real problems publicans propose taking $1,600 out of
ple. Such a bad outlook on human na-
the American people face. Even before your pocket every single month.
ture. People want to work, Republican
the Republicans announced their bills, Well, let me show my colleagues
friends; they just don’t have jobs to do
senior Republican Senators admitted what New Yorkers think of the Repub-
it, and we are not going to let them
they lacked the full support of the Re- lican proposal: Let them eat cake. GOP
starve while that happens.
publicans. Two Republican chairmen plan slices $600 check and rejects aid to God forbid we provide tens of mil-
have said that probably half of the Re- states. Let them eat cake. That is what lions of unemployed Americans a life-
publican Senate will vote against their New Yorkers think. That is what New line until we defeat this disease and get
own proposals. Worst of all, the Repub- Yorkers think. That is what Americans our economy back on its feet seems to
lican plan falls dreadfully short. It is think. Let them eat cake. Shame. be the Republican attitude. The Repub-
ununified, unserious, and completely Shame on our Republican friends. licans seem to think the American peo-
unsatisfactory. The cover of the New York Daily ple are a bunch of loafers. Well, they
My Republican friends, this is the News sums it up. Let them eat cake. are not.
greatest crisis America has faced in ‘‘Let them eat cake’’ sums up the Re- Now, we Democrats want to get
generations—100 years since the last publican proposal in response to the something done. We are certainly frus-
health crisis of this magnitude, 75 greatest economic crisis in 75 years. trated with the dithering, the disunity,
years since the Great Depression—and Let them eat cake. and the lack of understanding of the
you are paying attention to your cor- People can’t feed their kids. People depth of the crisis coming from the Re-
porate friends and not answering the are losing their homes, getting kicked publican side, but that will not stop us.
needs of the people. out of their apartments. Small busi- We must press on with bipartisan nego-
We Democrats want a real bill that nesses are going under. The Republican tiations. Time is running out. We can-
answers people’s needs, that deals with response? Let them eat cake. not afford to fail. But the Republican
the serious problems we face. That is Who are the Republicans fighting for new proposal is not an adequate start-
what we are fighting for. We will keep in this proposal? Tax breaks for three- ing point.
fighting for it, and our Republican martini lunches but no food assistance History is repeating itself. Each time
friends are nowhere to be found. for the poor? Immunity for corpora- we came together in the past to pass
While the Republican proposal fails tions but no immunity for Americans COVID 2, COVID 3, and COVID 3.5, it
to provide crucial relief for families, facing eviction? Twenty, thirty million was because both parties sat down with
workers, and the unemployed, it is lit- unemployed Americans and Repub- each other and negotiated and did the
tered with corporate giveaways, K licans say take a 30-percent pay cut? hard work. But that was only after Re-
Street handouts, and Presidential pet Who are the Republicans fighting for in publicans dared us and put an inad-
projects. The Republican bill includes a this proposal? equate proposal on the floor and said:
Dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
$20 billion slush fund for large agri- If you are a big bank, a defense con- We will blame you. We held firm. They
business and tax breaks for three-mar- tractor, a member of the Trump fam- came back. We negotiated a much bet-
tini lunches, but it doesn’t provide a ily, the Republican proposal has some ter bill. My hope, my belief, is that
dime in food assistance for hungry good news for you, but if you can bare- they will have to do that again.
kids. It includes an unprecedented, ly afford the rent, can’t find work, Leader MCCONNELL is in his ‘‘Alice in
sweeping provision to shield corpora- can’t feed your kids, or are fighting for Wonderland’’ characterizations here on
VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Jul 28, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G28JY6.003 S28JYPT1
S4518 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 28, 2020
the floor. I can’t believe them. He economic crisis in 75 to 80 years, the help working families. But make no
keeps insisting that a bipartisan spirit message from the Republican side of mistake—a $1,200 check to a family
led to the CARES Act, but he skips the aisle is ‘‘Think small. Do as little who was receiving $600 a week, $2,400 a
over the fact that he dropped a par- as possible. Let’s see how this works month, is cold comfort, and it won’t
tisan bill on the floor, and Democrats out.’’ help them pay the bills they face every
had to insist on continuing negotiating At a time when we have unemploy- single month.
to make the bill significantly better. ment figures breaking all records, I only wish that the Republicans who
There is a lot of revisionist history when we have 10 times the unemploy- are calling for these dramatic cuts in
going on on the other side of the aisle. ment claims in Illinois that we did a unemployment compensation for mil-
This morning, MCCONNELL continued year ago—I might add, 10 times the un- lions of Americans—30 million Ameri-
with his ‘‘Alice in Wonderland’’ logic, employment claims in the Common- cans—I only wish they would go home
suggesting that Democrats are going to wealth of Kentucky that they did a to Kentucky and other States and sit
be the ones standing in the way of year ago—we, instead, are hearing from down for a meal with an unemployed
more relief. Let’s not forget that Re- the Republican side of the aisle that family and let them tell these Repub-
publicans dithered for 3 months while the problem with our economy is not licans what they are facing each and
Democrats pleaded for action on unemployment; it is the fact that the every month, trying to get by, even
COVID. Speaker PELOSI and I wrote to people who are unemployed are being with this unemployment check.
Leader MCCONNELL 3 weeks ago and given too much money. You see, there is an assumption that
said: Let’s sit down and talk. We didn’t Right now we have a Federal benefit these people have a lot of money in
hear a peep out of him. package worth $600 a week that was en- savings. It is not reality. In the real
When Republicans finally woke up to acted in the CARES Act on March 26. world, half of American families have
the calamity in our country, they bick- That expires in 3 days. It is a $600-a- little or no savings to turn to—even be-
ered among themselves for a week, as week Federal supplement over the fore this current economic downturn.
the country approached several cliffs— State payment. What the Republicans Imagine what they are going through
unemployment, eviction, State and have suggested is to cut that $600 Fed- now and the sacrifices they have to
local government, and more. Now that eral supplement to $200, and then they make.
the Republicans finally have a pro- turn and say: Well, what we really Surely the Republican leaders have
posal, it is corporate-focused, doesn’t want to do is to compensate the work- heard the stories or seen firsthand, as I
meet the needs of the American people, ers with 70 percent of what they were have, the families showing up at food
and half of their own caucus probably earning when they were laid off. banks and pantries, looking for a help-
There is a real serious problem here ing hand to put something on the table
won’t support it anyway.
that they are not disclosing to the to feed their families, some of them
Leader MCCONNELL, a few minutes
American people. Back in March, when with their eyes down to the ground,
ago, said: If Democrats don’t want to
we proposed a similar approach or one tears in those eyes because they never
negotiate a bill—I will remind the lead-
that took into consideration the pre- dreamed they would be in this position
er that last night, Chief of Staff Mead-
vious wages of an unemployed worker, in life. And what is the alternative sug-
ows, Secretary Mnuchin, Speaker
who told us to stop that consideration? gested from the Republican side? Cut
PELOSI, and I were in the Speaker’s of-
President Trump’s Secretary of Labor. the unemployment compensation for
fice negotiating. Why didn’t Mnuchin
Secretary Scalia came to us, and I was millions of Americans at this moment
and Meadows bring MCCONNELL along?
at the meeting when he said: You don’t in history. Think small, Republicans
Because the Senate Republicans can’t
understand. You cannot make this
get their act together and produce a say. We can get through this by doing
kind of change in the States because
unified position. as little as possible.
there are 50 different computer systems That is not true. We have been told
So, Leader MCCONNELL, I have a sug-
in the employment security offices over and over again that if we take our
gestion: Instead of blaming Democrats,
across each and every State in the foot off the accelerator to try to move
how about Senate Republicans and
Union. They cannot make this adjust- this economy out of the ditch, it will
Leader MCCONNELL get their act to- ment. They cannot make this change.
gether, roll up their sleeves, and actu- crash even further, and we don’t want
The only way, they told us—Sec-
ally get to do real work and solve these that to happen. We want people to get
retary Scalia told us in March—is a
problems. back to work and businesses to reopen
flat dollar amount to each unemployed
Every time—every time we have worker, which is exactly what we did. and schools to reopen, but we have to
come to pass critical relief, Democrats Now the Republicans come to us and do the right thing in terms of providing
have forced our Republican colleagues ignore that advice, ignore that guid- compensation to individuals.
and the White House to come to the ance that led to $600 a week, and say: I reject the premise that many Re-
table and negotiate in a serious way. We will come up with an elaborate for- publicans bring to this conversation
That is what we have to do again. We mula of 70 percent of what you were that if you are not rich, you must be
need bipartisan, bicameral negotia- paid before. lazy in America. I don’t think unem-
tions to produce a bill that meets the As Senator SCHUMER from New York ployed people in this country are lazy
needs of the American people. We said earlier, we surveyed a dozen people. I think they are hard-working
Democrats will continue to do that. States, and they all told us: Impossible people who have been dealt a tough
Speaker PELOSI and I will be meeting to 5 or 6 months before we are ready to hand of cards. They are trying to keep
with Mnuchin and Meadows again to- do something in that manner. And that their families together until they can
night in an effort to try to get a bill means, for millions of Americans cur- get back to work and to a decent job.
because the needs of the American peo- rently unemployed, the possibility of Cutting unemployment compensation
ple, the American economy, and the only receiving $200 a week until some- at this moment in history is cruel, in-
American health are so great. Let’s day in the future when the State unem- humane, and insensitive to the reali-
come together and get something done. ployment systems can possibly change. ties these families are facing every sin-
America desperately needs our help. That is the Republican approach. gle day.
I yield the floor. They have made a big point, as Sen- There is one provision that came out
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ator MCCONNELL did this morning on yesterday that I want to speak to for a
ator from Illinois. the floor, of a $1,200 check, a cash pay- moment. For months, literally for
Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ment such as we had back in March. I months, Senator MCCONNELL has come
want to thank my colleague and leader am not opposed to that. The President to the floor and criticized Speaker
Dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
on the Democratic side, Senator SCHU- is desperate for it because he gets to PELOSI for her efforts to pass the He-
MER, for his specific, articulate, and di- sign the checks. He wants his signature roes Act almost 10 weeks ago. Ten
rect analysis of where we stand today on the checks that are going out to weeks ago, the House of Representa-
in the Senate. these individuals. tives, under Speaker PELOSI, passed
Faced with the worst public health Well, Mr. President, if that is what legislation to provide COVID–19 relief
crisis in 100 years, faced with the worst you want, be my guest if it is going to that we knew was coming because we
VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Jul 28, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G28JY6.005 S28JYPT1
July 28, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4519
knew the unemployment benefits were heightened burden of proof, heightened lawsuits? Seventy-one. In the entire 50
going to expire in just a few days. She pleading requirements, limits on dis- States of America, there are 71 law-
saw that coming and 10 weeks ago did covery, damage caps, restrictions on suits.
what was the right thing to do. She joint and several liability, and so much There is no flood of worker or victim
mustered her troops and provided a more. The Republican bill also creates lawsuits. It is a figment of the imagi-
majority to vote for a package that sweeping Federal preemption of med- nation of Senator MCCONNELL, Senator
moves us forward, helps State and local ical malpractice cases, including CORNYN, and K Street. But we certainly
governments face the reality of this claims under medical malpractice not shouldn’t, at this moment in time, ig-
economy, helps hospitals, and helps in- even related to COVID–19. It would nore the obvious. Over 20 States have
dividuals pay for their health insur- upend the medical liability laws of all stepped forward and established their
ance—a good package and one that I 50 States for 5 years. own standards for lawsuits when it
could readily support. Instead of sending a strong, clear, comes to the pandemic they face. This
Senator MCCONNELL came to the and enforceable Federal safety stand- effort by the Republicans would pre-
floor frequently, regularly, several ard like an OSHA emergency tem- empt that State action. There have
times a week, saying how bad that porary standard, the Republican bill been hundreds and hundreds of COVID
package was, how terrible it was, while would actually shield businesses from lawsuits that have been filed, business
he did nothing, while the Republicans regulatory enforcement proceedings to business, on questions like insur-
proposed no alternative. It is just like under OSHA, the Fair Labor Standards ance liability. You don’t hear the Re-
the Affordable Care Act. They have Act, the Americans with Disabilities publicans wanting to stop businesses
done everything they can 150 times to Act, and more. from filing lawsuits—no, just workers
try to repeal it and never once pro- The liability immunity under this and the people who get sick.
posed an alternative. The same thing is bill would last for 5 years, from Decem- There is no need for the Federal Gov-
true when it comes to this COVID–19 ber 2019 to 2024. The fact that Repub- ernment to step in and override 50
relief. In this circumstance we received licans are proposing 5 years of liability States’ liability laws, especially after
finally, yesterday, this proposal that immunity for corporations while prom- the Federal Government has been de-
was brought by Senator CORNYN on be- ising just a few months of assistance ferring to the States on every other as-
half of himself and Senator MCCONNELL for workers tells the whole story about pect of this pandemic: testing, PPE,
to address the issue of the immunity of priorities and values. masks, stay-at-home orders. Time and
corporations from lawsuits that have Let’s be clear. Republicans have not again, this President has said to leave
any relation to COVID–19—immunity made the case for why we would even it to the Governors and leave it to the
for these corporations so that they will consider Federal liability immunity for mayors, except when it comes to pro-
not be held liable if, in fact, they are corporations. Remember, under current tecting big corporations. If States need
not performing up to the standards State tort law, if a business has taken to adjust their liability laws, they can
necessary to protect employees and reasonable precautions, it will not be do so, and 28 States have already done
customers. held liable for negligence. State laws it.
It is 65 pages long. It is a big give- give incentives for businesses to act So here is the bottom line. The Re-
away to the biggest corporations in reasonably, and most businesses do. publican immunity bill would upend
America. The Republican corporate im- Also, time and again, I have heard Sen- State laws, give businesses incentives
munity bill does nothing to protect ator MCCONNELL and Senator CORNYN to cut corners, jeopardize the safety of
workers, improve safety standards, or come to the floor and talk about the workers and families, and risk further
give business incentives to take proper tsunami of lawsuits. This morning Sen- spread of this virus. It is a big business
precautions to reduce the spread of the ator MCCONNELL said ‘‘an epidemic’’ of giveaway, and that is not what Amer-
coronavirus. frivolous lawsuits. ica needs.
In fact, this bill does the opposite. It It so happens we keep track of law- This is not a small challenge; it is a
views workers and victims as the prob- suits filed in the United States of historic challenge. We shouldn’t take
lem, and it sets high hurdles that pre- America, and we can look to the plead- the Republican lead and play small
vent meritorious COVID-related crimes ings in those lawsuits to see how many ball. We ought to address this head-on.
from having their day in court. What times they mention coronavirus or First, we need leadership from the
the bill would do is impose sweeping COVID–19. We know how many lawsuits top, which we have not had from the
Federal preemption on the rights of have been filed since the first of the President. He has deferred time and
workers and victims to bring cases in year related to this pandemic. We again to Governors and mayors and
State courts for COVID-related harm. know that despite the fact that 4 mil- other officials at the local levels, tell-
It would supplant State laws that re- lion—at least 4 million—COVID–19 in- ing them: Find your own masks. Estab-
quire businesses to act with reasonable fections have been established in the lish your own testing regimes. Find
care. Then it would say that businesses United States—4 million—do you know your own way out of this crisis.
are shielded from liability in Federal how many medical malpractice cases When we needed Federal leadership
court if they merely make an effort to have been filed by any of those 4 mil- from the President, we did not receive
comply with the weakest available lion Americans or anyone else against it. America knows that. Why is it that
mandatory safety standard that applies doctors, nurses, hospitals, and pro- this Nation, with 5 percent of the
to them so long as they are not grossly viders? What is the epidemic number? world’s population, has 25 percent of
negligent. We have it. Here is the exact number of the COVID infection cases in the
So what are the kinds of safety medical malpractice cases filed in the world? Why? What happened here? Why
standards that the bill would urge busi- United States in the last 6 months: didn’t we follow the lead of other coun-
nesses to follow? Well, it certainly six—six. An epidemic? A tsunami? tries that stepped up with Presidential
wouldn’t be the guidelines of the Cen- How about personal injury lawsuits, leadership—countries that have found
ters for Disease Control because those Senator? How many have been filed dramatically less infection, dramati-
aren’t mandatory. So, amazingly, a listing COVID–19 or coronavirus as one cally fewer deaths. That is the reality
business can get shielded from liability of the reasons for these lawsuits? Fif- of where we are today with this pan-
under this Republican approach even if teen. With 4 million infected Ameri- demic.
they make no effort to comply with the cans, there are 15 lawsuits, and the Re- The reality of our economy—we
Centers for Disease Control guidelines. publicans have come to us and want to stepped in on March 26 and passed the
How does that make us any safer? turn upside down the immunity and li- CARES Act. We have managed to keep
Dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Not only that, but if workers or sick ability questions before the States and some businesses going. We have man-
Americans want to try to bring a meri- the Nation. aged to keep millions of unemployed
torious COVID-related case in this bill, How about unsafe workplace law- Americans together with their families
this bill puts them through a gauntlet suits? Now, that has to be a big cat- through the most difficult period in
of tort reform obstacles that will make egory. With 4 million infected Ameri- their lives. Now, at this moment, the
it nearly impossible to prevail: a cans, how many workers have brought Republican leadership says: Think
VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Jul 28, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G28JY6.006 S28JYPT1
S4520 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 28, 2020
small. This is all going to pass quickly. ment to placing national defense above quiry into the origins of the coronavirus and
Don’t worry about these families who partisan bickering. We have seen how by remaining open to trade while refusing to
don’t have enough to provide food and even in the most rancorous political trade away fundamental values, Australia
has set a proud example for all the world. As
shelter and the basics for their fami- times Republicans and Democrats can Beijing lashes out across the region from the
lies. They will get by with a lot less— come together through the Defense Au- Himalayan Mountains to the South China
from $600 a week to $200 a week. They thorization Act to renew the country’s Sea, Australia’s actions serve as a reminder
will do just fine, according to Repub- commitment to a free and open Indo- for our other allies that in a free and open
licans. Pacific region, such as when the Asia Indo-Pacific, right makes might—and not
I disagree. Our first obligation should Reassurance Initiative Act became law the other way around.
be to these working families who are Australia should not be alone in this ef-
in December 2018. fort. The United States stands with our al-
going through the toughest period they As was stated in the U.S. Department lies, and we are prepared to make our own
could ever imagine. Stick with them. of Defense ‘‘Indo-Pacific Strategy Re- tough choices.
Stand with them. Be prepared to put port,’’ which was released in July of In the United States, we have seen how
the money on the table, which we know last year, ‘‘This legislation [ARIA] en- even in the most rancorous political times,
they will spend right back into the shrines a generational whole-of-govern- Republicans and Democrats have joined to-
economy. ment policy framework that dem- gether to renew the country’s commitment
We will see more unemployment if to the Indo-Pacific region, like when the
onstrates U.S. commitment to a free Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) be-
we follow the Republican approach. It and open Indo-Pacific region and in- came law in December 2018. As was stated in
is estimated that some 3 million jobs cludes initiatives that promote sov- the U.S. Department of Defense Indo-Pacific
will be killed by the Republican ap- ereignty, rule of law, democracy, eco- Strategy Report, released in July 2019: ‘‘This
proach of cutting unemployment and nomic engagement, and regional secu- legislation enshrines a generational whole-
the consequent downturn in spending rity.’’ of-government policy framework that dem-
by these same families. Now the U.S. Senate has taken the onstrates U.S. commitment to a free and
Let’s stick with those families now. next step toward renewing the coun- open Indo-Pacific region and includes initia-
tives that promote sovereignty, rule of law,
They need us. try’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific democracy, economic engagement, and re-
I yield the floor. region by passing this NDAA bill, en- gional security.’’
I suggest the absence of a quorum. shrining and establishing a new Pacific In the coming days, the U.S. Senate will
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Deterrence Initiative, PDI, that will take the next step toward renewing the
clerk will call the roll. complement ARIA and implement its country’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific
The senior assistant legislative clerk vision of a more robust U.S. military region by passing the National Defense Au-
proceeded to call the roll. thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which
presence in the Indo-Pacific. This ini- establishes a new Pacific Deterrence Initia-
Mr. GARDNER. Madam President, I tiative will enhance the security com-
ask unanimous consent that the order tive that will complement ARIA and imple-
mitment set forth in ARIA and help ment its vision of a more robust U.S. mili-
for the quorum call be rescinded. guide the Congress and the Pentagon in tary presence in the Indo-Pacific. This ini-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without making the tough choices necessary to tiative will enhance the security commit-
objection, it is so ordered. prioritize the Indo-Pacific and to ex- ments set forth in ARIA, and help guide Con-
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT tend critical deterrence initiatives to gress and the Pentagon in making the tough
Mr. GARDNER. Madam President, choices necessary to prioritize the Indo-Pa-
check our adversaries.
Congress has no greater responsibility cific and extend critical deterrence initia-
Earlier this summer, Chairman tives to check our adversaries.
than providing for a strong national INHOFE and I authored an op-ed entitled Last year, a seminal report from the
defense and keeping Americans safe. ‘‘Renewing America’s Commitment to United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the
The National Defense Authorization the Indo-Pacific.’’ It described the Pa- University of Sydney provided one of the
Act is one of the most important pieces cific Deterrence Initiative, which will clearest explanations of why the need for the
of legislation that is considered each complement the Asia Reassurance Ini- Pacific Deterrence Initiative is both real and
year by the U.S. Senate. It authorizes urgent. The report shows how China is at-
tiative Act and implement its vision of
the weapons systems, programs, and tempting to ‘‘undercut America’s military
a more robust U.S. military presence in primacy’’ and ‘‘sowing doubt about Washing-
resources that support the men and the Indo-Pacific. ton’s security guarantees in the process.’’ In
women who serve our country in the Madam President, I ask unanimous the face of this development, the report de-
Armed Forces as well as their families. consent to have the op-ed in the Dip- scribes an ‘‘increasingly worrying mismatch
Last week, the Senate completed its lomat of July 2, 2020, be printed in the between America’s strategy and resources,’’
work on the fiscal year 2021 National RECORD. especially in the Indo-Pacific. Even as
Defense Authorization Act for the 60th There being no objection, the mate- ‘‘America’s military services have started to
consecutive year. The bill received, as implement much needed changes,’’ the re-
rial was ordered to be printed in the port warns, it’s not clear that America will
it should, wide bipartisan support in an RECORD, as follows: have the ‘‘budgetary capacity or strategic
86-to-14 vote. I was proud to support [From the Diplomat, July 2, 2020] focus to deliver these in a robust and timely
the NDAA. RENEWING AMERICA’S COMMITMENT TO THE way.’’ We share these concerns, and the Pa-
In my home State of Colorado, our INDO-PACIFIC—A NEW PACIFIC DETERRENCE cific Deterrence Initiative is designed explic-
military installations, including Fort INITIATIVE WILL COMPLEMENT ARIA AND itly to address them.
Carson, the Air Force Academy, Buck- IMPLEMENT ITS VISION OF A MORE ROBUST First, the Pacific Deterrence Initiative
ley, Peterson, and Schriever Air Force U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE INDO-PA- will enhance budgetary transparency and
CIFIC congressional oversight by organizing our
Bases, along with Cheyenne Mountain defense budget around critical Indo-Pacific
Air Force Station, are on the cutting (By Jim Inhofe and Cory Gardner)
priorities. The initiative will make it easier
edge of space operations, military As China brashly tries to impose its own to translate regional priorities into budget
training and readiness, and protecting system of rules and order in the Pacific, the priorities, and ensure that security require-
our national security. United States and our allies in the Indo-Pa- ments are being matched with the necessary
cific confront a time for choosing. We must resources.
I want to thank Chairman INHOFE
choose to advance our vision for a free and Second, the Pacific Deterrence Initiative
and the ranking member for their bi- open Indo-Pacific. We must choose to ensure will focus resources on key capability gaps
partisanship at the Senate Armed the success of the principles of regional and to give U.S. forces everything they need to
Services Committee and for doing such global order that remain essential to our compete, fight, and win in the Indo-Pacific.
a great job in fulfilling their tremen- shared security and prosperity. These are The initiative would focus new resources in
dous responsibility in providing for na- difficult choices that will come at increas- many of the areas recommended by the
tional defense. It cannot be overstated ingly greater cost. Beijing will do its best to USSC report, including a more distributed
Dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
enough how grateful we all are, and I make sure that the right choice and the easy regional defense posture, resilient logistics
choice are never the same, but we believe networks, fuel and munitions storage, mis-
appreciate the time and work they
Americans and our allies are up to the task. sile defenses for U.S. bases, and more experi-
dedicated to this effort. The security of For instance, U.S. allies like Australia are mentation to test and prove new operational
the United States should always be already making the tough choices, while concepts.
more important than any partisan poli- braving Beijing’s bluster and bullying. By Third, consistent with ARIA provisions,
tics, and I appreciate their commit- standing by its calls for an independent in- the Pacific Deterrence Initiative will
VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Jul 28, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G28JY6.007 S28JYPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-07-28_crec-2020-07-28-pt1-pgs4517-2.pdf
- Size
- 241,704 bytes
- SHA-256
- 35166e6bda776442596d158726a404046c959b204e632650081847f8956c7507
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov