Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., July 29, 2020)

Summary

Senate section of the Congressional Record for Wednesday, July 29, 2020, No. 134. After the Chaplain's prayer, a speaker on trade urges the administration to work with United Kingdom negotiators to achieve greater marketing access, particularly in agricultural trade, and criticizes European Union rules called sanitary and phytosanitary rules. A speaker on the coronavirus says the Nation needs to reopen smartly and safely and quotes the House Democrat majority leader as saying, "It's not $600 or bust." The remarks also mention Senator Coons and the Democratic Governor of Connecticut.

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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., July 29, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-07-29-crec-2020-07-29-pt1-pgs4553-6-45c05e5c67/, SHA-256 a6de81e30b715f497a693cb5f02b2b2b40327b492d6feea98909a2912af4f317.

Full text

Congressional Record
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE

Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 No. 134

Senate
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was Our two countries, as you know, have the institutions of American life can-
called to order by the President pro a centuries-old relationship. That rela- not stay totally shut down until our
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). tionship will be further strengthened race for a vaccine hits the finish line.
f by a comprehensive deal that presents Our Nation needs to smartly and
economic opportunities for our farm- safely reopen while keeping up the
PRAYER medical battle. We need to get kids
ers, our manufacturers, and our service
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- providers to the benefit of both sides of safely back to school and adults safely
fered the following prayer: the Atlantic. back to work without losing ground in
Eternal God, You have taken care of I will continue to insist that an the healthcare fight.
us in the years that have gone. We agreement reached between our two The coronavirus does not care that
honor You for Your glory and strength. countries will allow us to reach our full we are divided. The coronavirus will
May we place our hope in You and potential as trading partners, particu- not care if Washington Democrats de-
never forget that You can also sustain larly when it comes to agricultural cide it suits their partisan goals to let
us in the future. trade. relief run dry. The American people are
Today, give our Senators the wisdom The United Kingdom has been subject hurting, and Congress should have
to trust You in the small things, real- to very restrictive European Union their backs.
izing that faithfulness with the least rules that have no scientific basis. We On Monday, I laid down a marker to
prepares them for fidelity with the call those sanitary and phytosanitary shape the bipartisan conversations
much. As they seek to be stewards of rules. that need to happen now—not a loony,
Your justice, mercy, and grace, use I urge the administration to work ideological fantasy like the House
them to fulfill Your purposes. Lord, with the United Kingdom negotiators Democrats bill from a few months ago,
given them a love for Your wisdom and to achieve greater marketing access which would have cut taxes for rich
a passion to be guided by your pre- for U.S. farmers. In other words, I am people, raised taxes on small business,
cepts. tired of the EU restrictions that we and provided no additional round for
We pray in Your Holy Name. Amen. have had over the last couple of dec- the Paycheck Protection Program. No,
f ades on our GMO grains. serious talks actually require a serious
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I yield the floor. starting point.
f That is why we wrote a serious bill
The President pro tempore led the
containing largely bipartisan policies.
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY It has another round of cash for house-
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the LEADER
United States of America, and to the Repub-
holds—more than $3,000 for an eligible
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- family of four, with even more support
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. jority leader is recognized. for adult dependents; another round of
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. f additional Federal unemployment ben-
LOEFFLER). The Senator from Iowa. efits assistance, which would otherwise
CORONAVIRUS simply expire; and another targeted
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I
ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, round of the Paycheck Protection Pro-
minute in morning business. when the Senate passed the CARES gram to prevent even more layoffs and
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Act back in March, we were trying to keep paychecks coming to American
objection, it is so ordered. prepare the Nation for economic paral- workers. It has powerful new incen-
f ysis and the medical battle of the cen- tives to jump-start rehiring, bring
tury at the very same time. Hospitals, down unemployment, and create safe
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT healthcare providers, small businesses, workplaces for workers and customers.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, and working families needed help fast, It has more support for hospitals and
now that the United Kingdom has sepa- and the Senate stepped up in historic health providers; more support for test-
rated from the European Union, it is fashion. ing, PPE, and diagnostics; and more re-
our opportunity to sit down with the For months, our legislation has sources for the sprint toward a vaccine.
United Kingdom and do some business. helped cushion the pain of this crisis It has historic support for schools to
Therefore, I am pleased that the United from coast to coast, but our Nation is reopen—a higher dollar amount than
States and the United Kingdom are not finished with this fight. More House Democrats managed to propose
making strides in our negotiations to Americans are dying every day. Mil- in their bill, which costs three times as
complete a free trade agreement. lions and millions are unemployed. And much as ours.

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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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S4554 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 29, 2020
And—uniting all three pillars of kids, thought we would be ‘‘finding some legislate until the election and wish
jobs, and healthcare—we have legal path forward’’ with a different dollar the American families good luck in
protection for medical workers, figure. dealing with the pandemic.
schools, nonprofits, and businesses so The day before yesterday, our col- These are not the positions of people
that well-connected trial lawyers can’t league Senator CARDIN said: ‘‘What is who are putting the common good
get even richer off of stopping the re- the right number? Well, we certainly above politics. These are not the posi-
covery in its tracks. understand we don’t want someone to tions of people who actually want to
This is a more-than-fair, more-than- have higher benefits than what some- reach an agreement to save Federal un-
bipartisan framework for Democrats to one can make working.’’ employment insurance from com-
engage with. The only reason I can see At the State level, the Democratic pletely expiring.
that Speaker PELOSI and the Demo- Governor of Connecticut agrees. This is The American people deserve better
cratic leader would sabotage negotia- what he said: ‘‘I think sometimes it than this. The American people cannot
tions is if, as some concluded when discourages work. . . . I would put off afford for Democrats in Congress to
they killed police reform in June, they this extra $600 true-up they’re talking have decided in June that they are fin-
actually think bipartisan progress for about. . . . I don’t think we need that.’’ ished legislating until November—not
the country would hurt their own polit- That is the Democratic Governor of during a crisis like this. The country
ical chances. That is why I said a few Connecticut. needs help. The country needs action.
days ago that we would quickly learn Like I said, it is not controversial. If Democratic leaders decide they will
whether the American people would be The Congressional Budget Office says not negotiate, they will answer to the
getting the responsible Democratic that five out of six recipients of this American people.
Party from March or the cynical, ob- aid—83 percent—receive more to stay f
structionist Democratic Party from home than they made on the job.
June that blocked police reform. So Let me say that one more time. The RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
let’s review the early going. Congressional Budget Office says that The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
Almost the instant we put out this five out of six recipients of this aid—83 the previous order, the leadership time
proposal—which would send thousands percent—receive more to stay home is reserved.
of dollars in cash to families and even than they made on the job. We all
f
more cash to unemployed people—the know that is not fair, and it is not
Democratic leader proclaimed that workable in a reopening job market. CONCLUSION OF MORNING
‘‘those Republican, hard-right money We have already heard from small busi- BUSINESS
people . . . don’t want the Federal Gov- ness owners who had trouble reopening The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning
ernment to help anybody.’’ because it would be financially irra- business is closed.
A trillion dollar proposal for kids, tional for their employees to come
back. f
jobs, and healthcare just proves Repub-
licans don’t want to help anyone. This is why Republicans propose to EXECUTIVE SESSION
Yesterday, after meeting with the ad- continue providing Federal aid—con-
tinue providing hundreds of dollars per ---
ministration, the Speaker of the House
said this ‘‘isn’t a negotiation.’’ week—but do it in a more targeted way EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
So here we go again. It is the script while providing even more incentives The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
from police reform all over again. for rehiring. the previous order, the Senate will pro-
We have had weeks of talk from But now the Speaker of the House ap- ceed to executive session to resume
Democrats about the urgency of the parently signals she rejects this bipar- consideration of the following nomina-
issue, weeks of Democrats thundering tisan consensus and will not let a pack- tion, which the clerk will report.
that people will be hurt if we don’t act. age go forward unless we continue pay- The senior assistant legislative clerk
But then, when it is time to actually ing people more not to work. That is read the nomination of Derek Kan, of
make a law, Democrats would rather apparently the Speaker’s position— California, to be Deputy Director of the
keep political issues alive than find a that she will not let a package go for- Office of Management and Budget.
bipartisan way to resolve them. ward unless we continue paying people Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
Take the issue of additional Federal more not to work. That is what Speak- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
unemployment insurance. For weeks er PELOSI apparently signaled yester- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
now, it has been clear to a majority of day: No money for schools, no money clerk will call the roll.
Americans that we should not pay peo- for households, no second round of the The senior assistant legislative clerk
ple more to stay home than we pay PPP, no more money for hospitals or proceeded to call the roll.
people who continue working. testing, nothing at all unless we con- Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
Should we have generous unemploy- tinue to pay people more not to work. ask unanimous consent that the order
ment insurance in this crisis? Of If the Democrats don’t get to con-
for the quorum call be rescinded.
course. Republicans want to continue tinue taxing essential workers to pay
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
the Federal supplement at eight times other people more to stay home, then
objection, it is so ordered.
the level that Democrats themselves nobody gets a dime.
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
put in place during the last recession. To put it gently, that is a completely
But, obviously, we should not be tax- unhinged position. Sixty-two percent The Democratic leader is recognized.
ing the essential workers who have of Americans say that paying people CORONAVIRUS
kept working so the government can extra to remain unemployed creates Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President,
pay their neighbors a higher salary to the wrong incentive. A Democratic over the past 3 months, as Americans
stay home. Governor says he doesn’t want that stayed home and forfeited their rou-
Let me say that again. We should not continuing. Her own deputy, the House tines and their livelihoods to combat
be taxing the essential workers who Democratic majority leader, said yes- the spread of the virus, as essential
have kept working so the government terday that there should be room to ne- workers risked their safety and their
can pay their neighbors a higher salary gotiate. families’ safety, as 50 million Ameri-
to stay home. But Speaker PELOSI is literally mov- cans filed unemployment claims, as
Until about 5 minutes ago, this was ing the goalposts so fast that even small businesses folded, and as the dis-
not a controversial opinion. Democrats Democrats can’t keep up, and now she ease spread rapidly through the sum-

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
shared it with us. The House Democrat apparently feels that any rescue pack- mer, the Republican majority paused
majority leader said yesterday: ‘‘That’s age will have to be to the political left on addressing COVID–19 while it con-
an argument that . . . has some valid- of her own Democratic majority leader, firmed more rightwing judges. Ameri-
ity to it. . . . It’s not $600 or bust.’’ to the political left of the Democratic cans pitched in and sacrificed, and
A few days earlier, our Democratic Governor of Connecticut or she will not many suffered greatly while the Senate
colleague Senator COONS said he even consider it. She will just refuse to Republicans kept their assembly line

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