Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., July 30, 2020)
Summary
Senate section of the Congressional Record for July 30, 2020, beginning at page S4599. After the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, Grassley asks to speak for 1 minute in morning business and speaks on the motorcoach industry, saying it provides over 600 million passenger trips annually and that other modes of transportation received specific funding while the motorcoach industry has not. McConnell then describes a proposal for another pandemic rescue package that continues a Federal supplement to unemployment benefits, sends more cash to families and funds school reopening, and criticizes the Speaker of the House and the Democratic leader.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., July 30, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-07-30-crec-2020-07-30-pt1-pgs4599-6-2f07e5d8b9/
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Congressional Record
E PL
UR M
IB NU
U U
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 No. 135
Senate
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was ing they are quickly coming to the Program to prevent more layoffs; sub-
called to order by the President pro point of making a decision of whether sidize rehiring to get laid-off workers
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). they can even stay in business. their jobs back and create new incen-
f Motorcoaches provide passenger trans- tives for workplace safety; give K–12
portation services to all Americans, schools, colleges, and universities fund-
PRAYER
providing over 600 million passenger ing to reopen safely—more money than
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- trips annually across the country. By the House Democrats have proposed;
fered the following prayer: comparison, airlines provided service support healthcare providers in the lat-
Let us pray. for 925 million passenger trips in 2019. est hotspots and keep supporting the
O God, our refuge and strength, give While most other modes of transpor- race for vaccines; provide common-
us reverence for Your greatness. Guide tation received specific funding to help sense legal protection so that schools,
our Senators around the pitfalls of them through the pandemic, the mo- hospitals, and other employers can re-
their work, enabling them to have torcoach industry has not. What they open without being buried in lawsuits.
hearts sustained by Your peace. May are really referring to when they talk That is what we put forward—a tril-
they surrender their will to You as to me, they seem to feel that they have lion dollars for kids, jobs, and
they trust You to direct their steps. been left out when we have given sev- healthcare. It is a framework that is
Lord, remind them that leadership eral tens of millions of dollars to help more generous in key areas than House
can work miracles with cooperation the airline industry. Democrats’ totally unserious pro-
but rarely accomplishes much with I spoke with Secretary Mnuchin posal—a framework that could have
conflict. Inspire our lawmakers to be about this matter and have relayed the kept the additional Federal payments
quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow concerns from these Iowa companies to to unemployed workers flowing instead
to get angry. Help them to strive to relevant committees here in the Sen- of expiring this week.
live with such integrity that they give ate. The government relies on motor- There is a fact of life here in the Sen-
You the honor due Your Name. Amen. coach industries to help move troops ate. It takes 60 votes to legislate, so
f and also evacuate people to safety dur- the American people cannot get any of
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ing our natural disasters. However, the additional relief that Republicans
with passenger bookings being non- want to give them unless Democrats at
The President pro tempore led the
existent and few charters being sched- least come to the table. Either our
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows:
uled, this leaves little hope of rebound Democratic colleagues come to the
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America, and to the Repub- yet this year. The industry may not table or the American people will not
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, survive to provide this service in the get the help they need. That is why I
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. future if they don’t receive support. said this week we have come down to
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. I yield the floor. one key question: Will the country get
HYDE-SMITH). The Senator from Iowa. f the Democrats who showed up back in
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I March to pass the bipartisan CARES
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY Act or will the country get the Demo-
ask unanimous consent to speak 1 LEADER
minute in morning business. crats who showed up in June to block
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- police reform and keep that issue alive
objection, it is so ordered. jority leader is recognized. through November?
f f Unfortunately, 3 days in, it hasn’t
been a close call. The Speaker of the
MOTORCOACH INDUSTRY CORONAVIRUS House and the Democratic leader
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, refuse to let anyone else speak on their
the motorcoach industry has been par- on Monday, Senate Republicans re- side. I understand the Democratic lead-
ticularly hard hit by the COVID–19 leased a starting proposal for another er has actually forbidden—forbidden
pandemic and the economic turndown major pandemic rescue package. his own Democratic ranking members
as a result of it. Iowa has many motor- This is what we want to do: Continue from talking and negotiating with
coach operators, several of which are a Federal supplement to unemploy- their Republican counterparts who are
really family owned and some of them ment benefits that is otherwise about spearheading the different components.
for two or three generations. to expire; send thousands of dollars You see, bipartisan, Member-level dis-
I have been in frequent communica- more in cash to American families; cussions might actually generate some
tion with these Iowans, and I am learn- keep funding the Payroll Protection progress, and progress does not appear
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
S4599
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S4600 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 30, 2020
to be something the leaders on the This is silly stuff. None of it should Republicans have put forward a
other side want. be stopping negotiations and none of it framework that would do huge
On Monday, the Speaker of the House would be if our Democratic colleagues amounts of good for huge numbers of
claimed she could not wait to start ne- actually wanted to get an outcome. American families. If Democrats ever
gotiations, but then on Tuesday, she Let’s talk about unemployment in- come to the table, we will be able to
said her discussion with the adminis- surance. Both Republicans and Demo- bridge our differences and make a law.
tration ‘‘isn’t a negotiation.’’ And then crats agree in these extraordinary f
the Speaker said: ‘‘The appropriate times it makes sense for the Federal
thing for the Senate to do is pass a bill Government to provide the stark addi- RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
and then we can negotiate with them.’’ tional help on top of normal unemploy- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
Meanwhile, the Democratic leader is ment. Republicans don’t want this aid the previous order, the leadership time
over here making sure that cannot to expire. Our plan continues it, but is reserved.
happen. This is quite the partnership: the Speaker and the Democratic leader
f
the House Speaker moves the goalposts say they will not agree to anything un-
while the Democratic leader hides the less the program pays people more to CONCLUSION OF MORNING
football. They will not engage when stay home than to work. BUSINESS
the Trump administration tries to dis- Prominent Democrats have publicly The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning
cuss our comprehensive plan. They will said they agree with our position. The business is closed.
not engage when the Administration Democratic Governor of Connecticut
says he wants to continue the benefit f
floats a narrower proposal. They, basi-
cally, will not engage, period. at a more targeted level. Multiple EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Speaker and the Democratic Members of the Senate and Speaker
leader are playing rope-a-dope with the PELOSI’s own House Democratic Major-
health, welfare, and livelihoods of ity Leader have all said in the last few EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
American families. With benefits expir- days that they are open to negotiating The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
ing, with the Paycheck Protection Pro- this, but the Speaker and the Demo- the previous order, the Senate will pro-
gram winding down, and millions un- cratic leader have cut all their col- ceed to executive session to resume
employed, the Democrats are saying leagues out. They are standing alone, consideration of the following nomina-
‘‘my way or the highway’’ with a So- saying: ‘‘Our way or the highway.’’ And tion, which the clerk will report.
cialist wish list that was laughed off by so people are going to suffer. The senior assistant legislative clerk
everyone from journalists to econo- I understand the Democratic leader read the nomination of Derek Kan, of
mists the instant they introduced it. said he felt offended when I noted that California, to be Deputy Director of the
This is what reporters had to say some people are suggesting the Demo- Office of Management and Budget.
about Speaker PELOSI’s proposal in crats’ strange behavior is explained by Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
May: politics; that some people think Demo- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
‘‘The more than 1,800-page bill makes crats are behaving like national suf- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
a long wish list for Democrats.’’ fering would only hurt President clerk will call the roll.
‘‘Neither this bill nor anything re- Trump. Now, the Democratic leader, The senior assistant legislative clerk
assembling it will ever become law.’’ himself, pointed that exact accusation proceeded to call the roll.
Even the Speaker’s own Democratic at various Republicans during the Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
Members knew it was a joke. ‘‘Pri- Obama Presidency on multiple occa- ask unanimous consent that the order
vately, several House Democrats con- sions. I know memories can be short for the quorum call be rescinded.
cede the bill feels more like an effort around here when it is convenient. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
to appease the most liberal members of More broadly, actions speak louder
objection, it is so ordered.
the caucus.’’ than words. Democrats spent weeks
Yet this is what they are holding out RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
shouting that the Senate should act on
for. Let’s recall some of the specific police reform, but when Senator TIM The Democratic leader is recognized.
items. These are the things over which SCOTT gave them the chance, they MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE
Democrats are blowing up negotiations blocked action. They blocked the Sen- NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
and forcing a lapse in extra unemploy- ate from even taking up the subject. Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President,
ment benefits: tax increase on small And now, so far, this is the sequel. the Senate will soon acknowledge a
businesses; taxpayer-funded checks for Democrats talked a big game about moment of silence for the 150,000 Amer-
illegal immigrants; taxpayer-funded di- wanting to provide more assistance, icans who have now died from COVID–
versity studies of the legal pot indus- but now that it is ‘‘go time,’’ they show 19—more lives than our country lost in
try; and their ongoing obsession with zero appetite for any bipartisan out- World War I. This national tragedy is
something called the State and local come at all. more keenly felt because it has not and
tax, or SALT, which would be a mas- This is personal for me. Kentucky cannot be properly mourned. One of the
sive giveaway for high earners in blue has not finished fighting with the most devastating consequences of this
States. In other words, a tax cut for coronavirus, and the Federal Govern- disease is that it keeps us apart even in
high earners in blue States. Let me say ment must not be finished helping Ken- death. There is no final clutching of
that again. Democrats are holding up tucky. Laid-off Kentuckians need more the hand of a loved one, no funeral to
help for struggling people over special help. Kentucky schools need more help. remember one by. Grandchildren,
tax breaks for rich people in blue Under our proposal, Kentucky alone wrapped in protective gear, wave good-
States, an idea that has been criticized would receive $193 million for testing bye from across the hospital room.
by economists from all sides. and contact tracing to fight the spread There are 150,000 Americans who have
Republicans want to get more help to of the disease. This should be just as died, which is more than in any other
families right now, but Speaker PELOSI personal for every single Senator. nation on God’s green Earth—more
says: Let them eat SALT. None of our States deserve the Demo- than of our allies and more than of our
They also want to spend another tril- crats’ rope-a-dope. No American family adversaries, more than in the most
lion dollars bailing out State and local deserves it. Don’t my distinguished populous nations, more than in those
governments that only spent—listen to ranking member colleagues wish they with mere fractions of our wealth and
this—25 percent of the money we sent could be involved in robust bipartisan power, and more—so many more—than
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
them back in March. Some State and discussions with our chairman, like in the nation from which this virus
local governments have only spent 25 back in March, and not watching from originated.
percent of the money we sent them the sidelines as their leader shuts down We will debate the reasons for this
back in March, and the Speaker and talks on TV? Do they really think the ugly truth—we must—if we are to
Democratic leader want to send them Democratic leader’s tactics are serving avoid compounding our errors and
another trillion dollars. the common good of their States? heaping sorrow upon sorrow as the
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