Congressional Record, Senate — Page S4616, July 30, 2020
Summary
Page S4616 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for July 30, 2020. It opens with remarks urging that the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act be included in future COVID–19 relief legislation, so products passing State inspection can be sold across State lines. A roll call vote, Rollcall Vote No. 153, is printed with the result announced as yeas 47, nays 42. Alexander asks unanimous consent to speak for 10 minutes, McConnell moves to proceed to legislative session, and Schumer asks to be recognized to respond to the leader.
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“Congressional Record, Senate — Page S4616, 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-pgs4616-2-2050032396/
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S4616 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 30, 2020
State-approved facility, which, by Fed- These products are safe for consump- Klobuchar Portman Shaheen
Lankford Reed Shelby
eral law has standards that meet or ex- tion and should be allowed to be sold Leahy Risch Sinema
ceed Federal inspection standards. nationwide. This will help offset the Lee Roberts Smith
Our legislation would allow these pressure on federally inspected facili- Loeffler Romney Sullivan
products, which pass State inspection ties during the ongoing pandemic and Manchin Rosen Thune
McConnell Rounds Tillis
standards, to be sold across State lines, in the future as well. McSally Rubio Toomey
opening up new markets for producers This is a commonsense solution that Murkowski Sasse
Warner
and giving consumers greater choice at has bipartisan, bicameral support. It is Murphy Schatz
Wicker
Paul Scott (FL)
the grocery store. At a time when our time to end this arbitrary regulation Peters Scott (SC)
Young
food supply is in danger, this is a very restricting the sale of these products to
easy first step. NAYS—21
within State lines and allow facilities
Like so many sectors of our econ- inspected by State meat inspection Baldwin Durbin Sanders
Bennet Gillibrand Schumer
omy, the food production industry was programs to increase production and Blumenthal Heinrich Stabenow
ill-prepared for the unprecedented sell their product nationwide. Brown Hirono Udall
changes that needed to be made when Including the New Markets for State- Cantwell Menendez Van Hollen
the COVID–19 pandemic hit. Labor Cardin Merkley Warren
Inspected Meat and Poultry Act in fu- Duckworth Murray Wyden
shortages and worker protection meas- ture COVID–19 relief legislation is good
ures slowed down plants around the for producers and very good for con- NOT VOTING—8
country, and outbreaks even caused sumers. Booker Markey Tester
some of the facilities to shut down en- Burr Moran Whitehouse
I yield the floor. Harris Perdue
tirely. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
We saw this happen in my home The nomination was confirmed.
ator from Tennessee.
State of South Dakota, where our The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I
Sioux Falls Smithfield plant processes the previous order, the motion to re-
ask unanimous consent to speak for 10
20,000 hogs a day and employs approxi- consider is considered made and laid
minutes when the afternoon votes are
mately 35 hard-working individuals. At upon the table, and the President will
concluded.
the peak of the crisis, hog processing be immediately notified of the Senate’s
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
dropped approximately 40 percent in action.
objection, it is so ordered. The majority leader.
May, and beef production dropped ap- VOTE ON KAN NOMINATION
proximately 35 percent in May, when HEALS ACT
compared to 2019 production levels The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on
across the United States. At one point, the previous order, all postcloture time Monday, the Republicans introduced a
there was a backlog of nearly 1 million has expired. trillion-dollar proposal to give Amer-
cattle ready to be processed. The question is, Will the Senate ad- ican families more coronavirus relief.
Meanwhile, grocery stores across the vise and consent to the Kan nomina- Most urgently, the Republicans want
country began to see meat shortages tion? to continue a Federal supplement to
on their shelves because of the Mr. ALEXANDER. I ask for the yeas State unemployment insurance, which
chokepoint found in the concentration and nays. is set to expire, as we all know, tomor-
of beef processing at the big four pack- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a row.
ers, where processing capacity had sufficient second? If our Democratic colleagues had
been curtailed. Livestock producers There appears to be a sufficient sec- acted with the urgency that struggling
were faced with one of the worst sce- ond. people deserve, we could right now be
narios they could face—having to The clerk will call the roll. finishing up a major bipartisan pack-
euthanize their animals because they The legislative clerk called the roll. age for kids, jobs, and healthcare. If
weren’t able to get them into a proc- Mr. THUNE. The following Senators our Democratic colleagues had acted
essing facility. While we have been able are necessarily absent: the Senator with urgency, unemployed Americans
to recover some of the production ca- from North Carolina (Mr. BURR), the wouldn’t be facing a total elimination
pacity since that time, it is far from Senator from Kansas (Mr. MORAN), and of this extra help.
being back to normal, and we are still the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Instead, jobless Americans are star-
unprepared to deal with the continuing PERDUE). ing down this cliff because Speaker
pandemic. Further, if present and voting, the PELOSI and the Democratic leader have
While we work to get meat and pork Senator from Kansas (Mr. MORAN) refused to negotiate. They have refused
processing facilities back up and run- would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ to move 1 inch from the Speaker’s far-
ning at capacity, we should also be uti- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the left proposal that is so absurd and so
lizing State-based solutions to help off- Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER), unserious that their own moderate
set the backlog and help provide addi- the Senator from California (Ms. HAR- Democratic Members began trashing it
tional capacity. Specifically, we should RIS), the Senator from Massachusetts the instant it came out. This is the
include the New Markets for State-In- (Mr. MARKEY), the Senator from Mon- multitrillion-dollar boondoggle that
spected Meat and Poultry Act in the tana (Mr. TESTER), and the Senator would tax and borrow in order to pro-
next relief package. from Rhode Island (Mr. WHITEHOUSE) vide a massive tax cut to the rich peo-
Currently, 27 States operate State are necessarily absent. ple in blue States—the SALT give-
meat inspection programs. Meat and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there away; that would fund diversity studies
poultry inspected at these facilities are any other Senators in the Chamber de- of the legal pot industry; and that
already sold for public consumption in siring to vote? would do 1,000 other things with no re-
the States where they are licensed. The result was announced—yeas 71, lationship whatsoever to the crisis.
Today, if you have meat or poultry nays 21, as follows: Just a few minutes ago, our colleague
processed at a South Dakota inspection [Rollcall Vote No. 152 Ex.] from Wisconsin tried to get consent to
facility in Hudson, SD, you wouldn’t be YEAS—71 continue the unemployment assistance
able to sell it across the border just a Alexander Cornyn Graham
to prevent it from expiring tomorrow,
few miles away in Iowa, but you could Barrasso Cortez Masto Grassley and the Democratic leader objected un-
sell it a couple hundred miles away in Blackburn Cotton Hassan less he got to pass the entirety of the
Lemmon, SD. Blunt Cramer Hawley massive wish list. The Republicans
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Boozman Crapo Hoeven
It really doesn’t make much sense, Braun Cruz Hyde-Smith want to continue this aid before it ex-
especially since State meat and poul- Capito Daines Inhofe pires, but the Democratic leader says:
try inspection facilities are required by Carper Enzi Johnson Let them eat SALT.
law to be at least equal to federally in- Casey Ernst Jones This is what was written about their
Cassidy Feinstein Kaine
spected processing facilities with re- Collins Fischer Kennedy proposal: ‘‘Privately, several House
gard to their food safety standards. Coons Gardner King Democrats concede [the bill] feels like
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July 30, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4617
little more than an effort to appease The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Our proposal—the one to which the
the most liberal members of the cau- Democratic leader is recognized. Republicans objected—deals with these
cus.’’ Mr. SCHUMER. Well, we have had a problems in a serious, significant, and,
Yet, now, Speaker PELOSI and the lot of words from the leader—none of yes, expensive way. But we know what
Democratic leader have declared that them talk about reality. One picture is going on on the other side of the
unemployed Americans will not get an- equals all his words: SCHUMER, PELOSI, aisle. It was said by my friend from In-
other cent—not another cent—unless Mnuchin, Meadows in a room negoti- diana: Let the private sector do it.
the Senate agrees to pass the entire ating, where the Republican leader Well, my friends, this is a moment
bill that even the Democrats say is ri- can’t even show up because his caucus where the private sector can’t solve the
diculous. This is their position: Unem- is so divided. In his own words, 20 of his problem. This is a moment when we do
ployed people, schools, hospitals, and Members don’t want to vote for any- need strong, active, and bold relief—
American families will not see another thing. something that this caucus has been
dime unless they get to cut taxes for Now, faced with a crisis they cre- running away from, ignoring, for far
millionaires in Brooklyn and San Fran- ated—for 10 weeks we have asked the too long.
cisco. That is what this is about. leader to negotiate, and now, finally, My fellow Americans, we are in an
Sure, they will call the Republicans they have woken up to the fact that we enormous crisis. We are stepping up to
names for wanting to make sure the are at a cliff. But it is too late—too the plate on this side of the aisle.
system doesn’t pay people more not to late because even if we were to pass Please let your Senators know on the
work, but the Democratic leader gave this measure, all the States—almost
away the game this morning. He said Republican side of the aisle how deep
every State says people would not get this crisis is, how painful it is for peo-
on the floor that he now opposes even
their unemployment for weeks and ple, and to step up to the plate, get in
continuing the aid at the $600 level.
months, all because of the disunity, the room, and negotiate a real deal and
They want jobless aid to expire tomor-
dysfunction of this Republican caucus stop doing stunts that simply are polit-
row—period. Lest we forget, just a few
days ago, multiple Democratic Sen- and of the leader, afraid to negotiate ical—get it off my back—that you
ators and the Democratic House major- because he doesn’t have his people be- know cannot pass.
ity leader were all saying they were hind him. I yield the floor.
prepared to negotiate and land some- The bottom line is very simple: This The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
where south of $600. Multiple Demo- new proposal moves things even back- question is on agreeing to the motion.
crats said they were open to continuing ward. Instead of a 30-percent cut from The motion was agreed to.
the aid at a level that didn’t pay people what people are getting, it is a 33-per-
f
more to stay home. cent cut. And we all know that the pro-
Now the Democratic leader hasn’t posal that is in existence now has kept UIGHUR INTERVENTION AND
just contradicted his colleagues and re- millions out of poverty. GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN UNI-
fused to talk, he has gone even further Now we hear talk from the other side FIED RESPONSE ACT OF 2019—
and declared he will not even let the that this creates the deficit—this in- MOTION TO PROCEED
aid continue at $600. The Democratic creases the deficit. We can’t spend Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
leader has tried to rule out every op- money. Well, I would remind them of ask that the Chair lay before the Sen-
tion except that of leaving the Capitol the $1.5 trillion tax cut for the rich— ate the message to accompany S. 178,
today and beginning his weekend with tax cut for the rich. No one even and I ask for the yeas and nays.
this unemployment benefit set to ex- thought about the deficit then. But The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a
pire. when it comes to average folks, work- sufficient second?
These aren’t the actions, my friends, ing people, we don’t hear a thing. There is a sufficient second.
that would lead to any agreement. Unemployment is a crisis. There are
The clerk will call the roll.
They aren’t the actions that will actu- many crises. All your constituents, the
The senior assistant legislative clerk
ally make a law. parents, are saying: Why can’t we open
I am not sure whether my Demo- called the roll.
our schools safely? They need dollars.
cratic colleagues really agree that Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
We can’t negotiate that proposal.
hurting unemployed people is their are necessarily absent: the Senator
People are being thrown out of their
side’s best political strategy, but if from North Carolina (Mr. BURR), the
homes. That is a cliff that happened
that is their position, they will have to Senator from Kansas (Mr. MORAN), the
Thursday. Nothing for that.
vote on it with the entire country to The bottom line is very simple: This Senator from Georgia (Mr. PERDUE),
see. is the worst health crisis in 100 years. and the Senator from Alabama (Mr.
In just a moment, I am going to This is the worst economic crisis in 75 SHELBY).
make the Senate vote on a privileged years. Unfortunately, at this great mo- Further, if present and voting, the
motion that will be a motion to pro- ment of terrible trouble in our country, Senator from Kansas (Mr. MORAN)
ceed to legislation which would be used our Republican friends are paralyzed, would have voted ‘‘yea.’’
to prevent the unemployment aid from and when they want to do something, Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
expiring. it is a stunt, not a real negotiation, Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER),
We have a number of views on both that they know won’t pass, because the Senator from California (Ms. HAR-
sides of the best way to accomplish their backs are against the wall and RIS), the Senator from Massachusetts
that. The bill would be amendable. No- the American people—just look at the (Mr. MARKEY), the Senator from New
body who actually wants to negotiate, Jersey (Mr. MENENDEZ), the Senator
data—know who is to blame and know
nobody who actually wants a bipar- from Arizona (Ms. SINEMA), the Sen-
who doesn’t want to help people.
tisan outcome would be disadvantaged ator from Montana (Mr. TESTER), and
So the bottom line is very simple: We
by merely proceeding to the debate. the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr.
We have had enough rope-a-dope. We Democrats know what the problem is,
and we are unified. We have a very WHITEHOUSE) are necessarily absent.
have had enough empty talk. It is time The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
to go on the record. We will see who strong proposal. And to look at the
things in that proposal with the cal- SCOTT of Florida). Are there any other
really wants a bipartisan outcome for Senators in the Chamber desiring to
the country and who is trying their lousness that my friend the Republican
leader has done; to say that this is all vote?
hardest to block one. The result was announced—yeas 47,
politics when people are being thrown
f nays 42, as follows:
out of their homes and we want to give
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION them shelter; when people are not able [Rollcall Vote No. 153 Leg.]
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I to feed their children and we want to YEAS—47
move to proceed to legislative session. give them food; when small busi- Alexander Boozman Collins
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask nesses—men and women who have Barrasso Braun Cornyn
Blackburn Capito Cotton
to be recognized to respond to the lead- struggled—can’t keep their businesses Blunt Cassidy Cramer
er. going, we hear nothing.
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