Congressional Record, Senate, July 30, 2020 — Coronavirus Relief Fair Unemployment Compensation Act
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated July 30, 2020, beginning at page S4617, in a long document, under the heading Coronavirus Relief Fair Unemployment Compensation Act. A speaker says Democrats will not let unemployed Americans get another cent unless they get tax cuts for millionaires, and the Democratic leader, Mr. Schumer, answers that a picture of Mr. Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, Secretary Mnuchin and Mr. Meadows negotiating while the Republican leader cannot show up equals all his words. Mr. Schumer says Republicans are divided and that people will not get unemployment for weeks. The page ends with remarks on compacts of free association with Pacific nations and a cloture motion that Mr. McConnell sends to the desk.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, July 30, 2020 — Coronavirus Relief Fair Unemployment Compensation Act.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-07-30-crec-2020-07-30-pt1-pgs4617-2-f99aa1eece/
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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
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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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S4618 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 30, 2020
Crapo Johnson Rounds ‘‘(3) AMOUNT OF FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEM- (i) in subsection (a)(4)(A)(ii), by inserting
Cruz Kennedy Rubio PLOYMENT COMPENSATION.— ‘‘with respect to the individual’’ after ‘‘sec-
Daines Lankford Sasse tion 2104’’; and
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The amount specified in
Enzi Lee Scott (FL)
Ernst Loeffler this paragraph is the following amount with (ii) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ‘‘with
Scott (SC)
Fischer McConnell respect to an individual: respect to the individual’’ after ‘‘section
Sullivan
Graham McSally Thune ‘‘(i) For weeks of unemployment beginning 2104’’.
Grassley Murkowski after the date on which an agreement is en- (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments
Tillis
Hawley Portman
Toomey tered into under this section and ending on made by this section shall take effect as if
Hoeven Risch included in the enactment of the Relief for
Hyde-Smith Roberts
Wicker or before July 31, 2020, $600.
Young ‘‘(ii) For weeks of unemployment begin- Workers Affected by Coronavirus Act (con-
Inhofe Romney
ning after the last week under clause (i) and tained in subtitle A of title II of division A
NAYS—42 ending before December 31, 2020, an amount of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136)).
Baldwin Gillibrand Peters
(d) EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.—
equal to one of the following, as determined
Bennet Hassan Reed (1) IN GENERAL.—The amounts provided by
by the State for all individuals:
Blumenthal Heinrich Rosen this section and the amendments made by
‘‘(I) $200.
Brown Hirono Sanders this section are designated as an emergency
Cantwell Jones Schatz ‘‘(II) An amount (not to exceed $500) equal requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the
Cardin Kaine Schumer to— Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2
Carper King Shaheen ‘‘(aa) two-thirds of the individual’s average U.S.C. 933(g)).
Casey Klobuchar Smith weekly wages; minus
Coons Leahy Stabenow
(2) DESIGNATION IN SENATE.—In the Senate,
‘‘(bb) the individual’s base amount (deter- this section and the amendments made by
Cortez Masto Manchin Udall mined prior to any reductions or offsets).
Duckworth Merkley Van Hollen this section are designated as an emergency
Durbin Murphy Warner ‘‘(B) BASE AMOUNT.—For purposes of this requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H.
Feinstein Murray Warren paragraph, the term ‘base amount’ means, Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent
Gardner Paul Wyden with respect to an individual, an amount resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.
equal to— The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
NOT VOTING—11
‘‘(i) for weeks of unemployment under the
Booker Menendez Sinema ator from Arizona.
pandemic unemployment assistance program
Burr Moran Tester UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST
under section 2102, the amount determined
Harris Perdue Whitehouse Ms. MCSALLY. Mr. President, I de-
Markey Shelby under subsection (d)(1)(A)(i) or (d)(2) of such
section 2102, as applicable; or ployed to Washington to be a prag-
The motion was agreed to. ‘‘(ii) for all other weeks of unemployment, matic problem-solver, and for the past
The senior assistant legislative clerk the amount determined under paragraph 51⁄2 years I have made it my mission in
read as follows: (1)(A) of this subsection. Congress to better the lives of hard-
Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. ‘‘(C) AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGES.— working Arizonans. In a time of toxic
178) entitled ‘‘An Act to condemn gross ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), for partisanship, this is no easy feat. It re-
human rights violations of ethnic Turkic purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘aver-
age weekly wages’ means, with respect to an
quires me to go across the aisle to find
Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end
to arbitrary detention, torture, and harass- individual, the following: where the Venn diagram overlaps.
ment of these communities inside and out- ‘‘(I) If the State computes the individual Well, today I am calling on my Sen-
side China.’’, do pass, with an amendment. weekly unemployment compensation benefit ate colleagues to be pragmatic, to meet
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- amount based on an individual’s average in the middle on what we should agree
jority leader. weekly wages in a base period, an amount on. I am asking Senators to simply ex-
equal to the individual’s average weekly tend expanded unemployment benefits
MOTION TO CONCUR WITH AMENDMENT NO. 2499
wages used in such computation. for 7 days while Congress comes up
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ‘‘(II) If the State computes the individual with a solution. Who could be against
move to concur in the House amend- weekly unemployment compensation benefit
that?
ment with a further amendment, No. amount based on high quarter wages or a for-
With the 1st of August approaching,
2499. mula using wages across some but not all
quarters in a base period, an amount equal Americans out of work are counting on
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The us for cash so they can pay their rent
clerk will report. to 1⁄13 of such high quarter wages or average
wages of the applicable quarters used in the and put food on the table for their fam-
The senior assistant legislative clerk
computation for the individual. ilies. While some States will get the
read as follows:
‘‘(III) If the State uses computations other expanded checks, we understand, for
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. MCCON- than the computations under subclause (I) or the next week or two, Arizonans have
NELL] moves to concur in the House amend- (II) for the individual weekly unemployment
ment to the bill, with an amendment num- gotten their last expanded check.
compensation benefit amount, or for com- These Arizonans are in my neighbor-
bered 2499. putations of the weekly benefit amount
The amendment is as follows: hood, live on my street, and worked
under the pandemic unemployment assist-
ance program under section 2102, as de- paycheck to paycheck before this once-
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)
scribed in subsection (d)(1)(A)(i) or (d)(2) of in-a-century pandemic hit.
In lieu of the matter proposed to be in- Well, I am here to tell them that
serted, insert the following: such section 2102, for which subclause (I) or
(II) do not apply, an amount equal to 1⁄52 of Washington, DC’s dysfunction and
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
the sum of all base period wages. bickering is alive and well. Congress,
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coronavirus
Relief Fair Unemployment Compensation ‘‘(ii) SPECIAL RULE.—If more than one of once again, is using hard-working
Act of 2020’’. the methods of computation under sub- Americans as pawns in their political
clauses (I), (II), and (III) of clause (i) are ap- games.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF THE FEDERAL PANDEMIC
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION plicable to a State, then such term shall For the many Arizonans out of work
PROGRAM. mean the amount determined under the ap- right now, this is not a game. Ameri-
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 2104(e)(2) of the plicable subclause of clause (i) that results
in the highest amount of average weekly
cans, Arizonans are calling out for
Relief for Workers Affected by Coronavirus help, and it is time we deliver it.
Act (contained in subtitle A of title II of di- wages.’’.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— What I am offering today is a simple
vision A of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–
136)) is amended by striking ‘‘July 31, 2020’’ (A) PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSIST- 7-day extension of the extra $600 a
and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2020’’. ANCE.—Section 2102(d) of the Relief for Work- week for unemployed Americans while
(b) IMPROVEMENTS TO ACCURACY OF PAY- ers Affected by Coronavirus Act (contained we work through our differences on
MENTS.— in subtitle A of title II of division A of the how to move forward and see Ameri-
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 2104(b) of the Re- CARES Act (Public Law 116–136)) is amended cans through this first-in-a-century
lief for Workers Affected by Coronavirus Act by inserting ‘‘with respect to the individual’’ crisis. This is a reasonable proposal.
(contained in subtitle A of title II of division after ‘‘section 2104’’ in each of paragraphs Who could possibly be against this?
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A of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136)) is (1)(A)(ii) and (2).
I understand, as we work to defeat
amended— (B) PANDEMIC EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION.—Section 2107 of the Relief for
this virus—which we will—and support
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘of
$600’’ and inserting ‘‘equal to the amount Workers Affected by Coronavirus Act (con- the economic recovery for our country,
specified in paragraph (3)’’; and tained in subtitle A of title II of division A we need to incentivize people to return
(B) by adding at the end the following new of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136)) is to work safely, when they are able.
paragraph: amended— And there are disagreements in this
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July 30, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4619
Chamber on what that looks like, what extension so they can get another for 68 percent of the people on unem-
the ultimate dollar figure or percent- check and pay their rent. ployment insurance, based on the Uni-
age will be, where we land and for how I asked the question: Who could pos- versity of Chicago study—they are
long. sibly be against this? making more on unemployment insur-
I know today Congress needs to do Well, we found out. It is the Senator ance than they can make at work.
their job and to prevent this des- from New York. So you can clip the I think all of us here in this Chamber
perately needed, extra lifeline from tape or put his picture on your refrig- want to be sure that folks are taken
fully expiring. In this uncertain time, erator when you open it up because it care of. In fact, we just voted on legis-
everyone is doing the best they can to is the minority leader who is against lation to provide the ability to be able
make ends meet, to help each other, to this, on his path to try and become the to debate this very issue and other
help our neighbors, to stay safe—every- majority leader. And that is unfortu- issues. But to say that people should be
one, that is, except Congress. nate. Arizonans deserve better. making substantially more for not
Americans who have lost their liveli- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The working rather than working is some-
hoods through no fault of their own due Democratic leader. thing I think even a lot of my Demo-
to this cruel virus should not be the UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—H.R. 6800 cratic colleagues do not find accept-
collateral damage of political maneu- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I am able.
vering. I am calling on the Senate: going to ask once again that our Re- Instead, the minority leader, once
Let’s do what we were sent here to do. publican colleagues support the Heroes again, is offering the Heroes Act, as he
Let’s do our job. Act. has done before. You will recall this is
In the face of the virus, we have This is a dramatic crisis affecting all the House-passed legislation that was
asked millions of Americans to go back of America in many different ways. We passed, actually, a while ago during
to work when they can safely, to make Democrats have come up with a bold, different times. But it is $3.5 trillion.
hard decisions, to do what they were strong plan supported by the vast ma- That is what the CBO says—$3.5 tril-
hired to do. It is time for the Senate to jority of people—average, middle-class lion.
do the same. people. Our proposal deals with the That makes it, of course, the most
This is a reasonable request. It is issue of unemployment all the way expensive piece of legislation ever
simply a 7-day extension of the ex- through January 31—not a 1-week passed by either body anytime in our
panded unemployment benefits while stunt which can’t even be adapted in history, by far. By the way, it has a
we continue to work out our dif- time. number of provisions that have nothing
ferences. Who could possibly be against Our proposal deals with schools and to do with COVID–19.
this? their ability to open. Our proposal So here we are in the middle of this
Therefore, I ask unanimous consent deals with small businesses. Our pro- crisis. In many places it is getting
that the Senate proceed to the imme- posal deals with so many of the issues worse, not better. We do need to act,
diate consideration of my bill at the facing America. but we need to be sure we are acting in
desk. I further ask that the bill be con- Our colleagues on the other side, we an effective, targeted way and not put-
sidered read a third time and passed know, are tied in a knot. Our col- ting things out there—a $3.5 trillion
and that the motion to reconsider be leagues on the other side can’t come to bill including many things that have
considered made and laid upon the an agreement on anything. They did an nothing to do with COVID–19.
table. empty shell bill because the only thing It has immigration policy changes
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there they could support was an empty shell there. We can debate those separately.
objection? bill with nothing inside of it. Immigration policy issues are very
Mr. SCHUMER. Reserving the right Well, that is not what the American contentious and are tough things for us
to object. people want. They want action. I would to resolve in any context, but certainly
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The urge the Republican leader to start ne- we shouldn’t put it in a COVID–19 bill.
Democratic leader. gotiating in good faith and in serious- It has unprecedented mandates on
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this ness. I would urge the President to do the States that say to the States: You
UC request is clearly a stunt. A 1-week things about testing and tracing, also have to do the elections the way Con-
fix can’t be implemented in time, and in the Heroes bill. gress wants to do them. You have to do
the Senator knows that. Plus, there are I would urge that we rise to the occa- mail-in ballots the way we are saying
many other problems Arizonans have sion of this enormous crisis. We Demo- you have to do them. You have to use
in addition to this one. crats are doing that in a bold and the kinds of ideas that we say you have
Arizonan parents are worried that strong way. We haven’t heard anything to use.
schools will not open safely. Arizona from our Republican colleagues. This has always been in the province
renters are worried they will be evicted I ask unanimous consent that the of the States. Again, a lot of my Demo-
from their apartments. Arizona parents Senate proceed to the immediate con- cratic colleagues agree it should con-
are worried that they can’t feed their sideration of calendar No. 455, H.R. tinue to be in the province of the
kids. Arizona small businesses are wor- 6800, the Heroes Act; that the bill be States to make those kinds of detailed
ried that they will not have the nec- considered read a third time and passed decisions on elections.
essary help. and the motion to reconsider be consid- It doubles the amount of money in
All of those things are in the Heroes ered made and laid upon the table with the Heroes Act that goes to States as
Act, plus not even a 1-week extension— no intervening action or debate. compared to even what the National
which can’t even be implemented—but The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Governors Association is asking for.
an extension until January 31. objection? Three and a half trillion dollars begins
So I would ask my colleague to tell The Senator from Ohio. to add up when you do things like that.
Arizonans whether she supports the He- Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, we You give twice as much to the States
roes Act or not, which goes much fur- have already had this debate once as the States are even asking for.
ther and is much stronger on unem- today when the Democratic leader Of course, one of my favorites—and I
ployment and many other issues. chose to offer this motion knowing know, again, the Senator from New
I object. that, of course, it is not serious. What York feels strongly about this from a
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- he is talking about here, just after hav- tax policy point of view—included in
tion is heard. ing rejected a very commonsense pro- the COVID–19 bill is a very expensive
The Senator from Arizona. posal, which is a 1-week extension for change in tax policy that actually is a
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Ms. MCSALLY. Mr. President, this is the unemployment insurance—by the huge tax break for wealthy individuals;
disappointing and a political stunt and way, at $600, which is exactly what the that is, repealing the SALT changes
a game. For all the normal people Democrats say they want. They want that were made. Over 50 percent of the
watching out there who don’t under- to keep it at $600 even though, as we benefit of this goes to the top 1 per-
stand why Washington is so dysfunc- know from numerous studies, that cent. That is based on the Tax Policy
tional, we are just looking for a 7-day means that, for many people—in fact, Center.
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S4620 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 30, 2020
Based on our own Joint Committee ideas and a great deal of sincerity— That means there are 70 million stu-
on Taxation, which is a nonpartisan made my point. The vast majority of dents who would like to go back to
group here in Congress, what they are Republicans oppose $600 for any time. school or college—100,000 public
trying to get through in their legisla- That is why they are not calling it up schools, 35,000 private schools, and 6,000
tion, the Heroes Act—40 percent of that for a vote—it shows what a stunt the colleges.
benefit or more, according to the Joint Senator from Arizona has done. What help do they need? They need
Committee on Taxation, goes to those Second, I think all the points my col- help reopening safely so that they can
with income over $1 million. What is league made about things that are ex- go back with students physically
that doing in the COVID–19 bill? traneous—they are not; they are re- present as consistent with safety as is
The Democratic leader talked about lated to COVID. But one thing not in possible.
the need for more money for testing. I our bill—$1.7 billion so the President’s I talked with the Governor of Ten-
couldn’t agree with him more. By the hotel doesn’t get competition. That is nessee, Bill Lee, yesterday. He said 93
way, the proposal that was presented an extraneous thing. It is not in our of the 95 counties in Tennessee had
by Senator MCCONNELL earlier this bill. schools that were going to reopen in
week has a lot more money for testing. I yield the floor. person. Maybe not every student,
It also has more money for antiviral The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- maybe not every class, but in 93 of the
medications, for vaccines, and for en- ator from Tennessee. 95 counties, the Governor said they
suring that workplaces can be safe. It Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I know that children need to be in school
has the same amount of money—maybe ask through the Chair, does the Sen- and their parents need for them to be
even a little bit more; the Senator ator from Ohio wish to speak further? in school. Two-thirds of married par-
from Tennessee can tell us—for our Mr. PORTMAN. No. ents work outside the home.
schools, to be able to reopen our Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I
This is a bill for the children, though.
schools safely. thought the Senator from Arizona
I mean, every teacher, every pediatri-
There is a lot of common ground made a very commonsense proposal.
cian, and almost every parent knows
here. I think we can find it. I really do. We are in a position here in the Con-
that, especially with young children, if
I know that today has not been an ex- gress that we often find ourselves in:
they are left out of school for such a
ample of that. We are even rejecting We have different opinions—dramati-
lengthy period of time, it damages
here—a moment ago—a 7-day simple cally different opinions in some cases.
them; it hurts them. There is a health
extension of 600 bucks per week. What she said was, while we are work-
risk in going back, yes—not very much
But when I look at it, I see the school ing those things out, let’s extend the
for young children—but there is a big-
money as being identical, and I see the $600 unemployment benefit for 7 days
ger emotional, intellectual, and phys-
tax provisions that we have to help en- so people aren’t hurt. That is a com-
ical risk if they stay out of school.
courage people to go back to work and monsense proposal. I regret that wasn’t
What have we proposed to do? We
encourage companies and nonprofits to adopted.
I like what the Senator from Ohio proposed to help pay for the schools to
put measures in place to make the open safely and to help pay for the col-
workplace safe, like plexiglass shields said. Instead of starting—when you
have a disagreement over several leges to open safely, which most are
or more hand sanitizers or PPE. These doing.
are all things we can agree on. items, my experience is that you don’t
Even on the issue of unemployment start with the things that you disagree The Chronicle of Higher Education
insurance—and I have talked to many on the most; you start with the things said yesterday that 50 percent of our
of my colleagues on both sides of the you agree on the most. colleges plan to open this fall with stu-
aisle about this—I think there is a way There are a number of things in the dents physically present. Thirty-five
we can get there. I think Democrats re- House-passed bill and in the Senate Re- percent have a mix, with students
alize that $600 per week does create publican bill that was introduced on physically present and online instruc-
this disincentive because it is, on aver- Monday, which the President sup- tion. That means only 13 percent will
age, 134 percent of what people were ports—let me repeat that. The House of be all virtual—at least that is their
making in the private sector. We can Representatives passed a bill. They plan.
come up with a way to deal with that. have a Democratic majority. The Sen- If we could agree on that, why
One is a return-to-work bonus, which is ate has a Republican majority, and we shouldn’t we help them? Well, we can
an idea that has a lot of bipartisan ap- have a Republican President. We have agree on it because the House of Rep-
peal. a Republican President and a Repub- resentatives bill and the Senate Repub-
Let’s put aside these games. Let’s lican bill, and we have a House-passed lican bill have almost exactly the same
put aside these extreme positions. bill, and it is time to see if we can put amount of money in them—about $1,250
Let’s figure out how we can come to- the two together. That is why we have for K–12 schools—that is a lot of money
gether. This evening was not a good ex- two bodies. But that requires Senators per student; $1,250 per student—and
ample of that, having rejected the 7- and Members of the House who are about $1,500 per student for colleges to
day extension of $600 per week of unem- willing to sit down and come to some help them open safely. We could agree
ployment insurance, but I think now compromise or some resolution of the on that.
we have this opportunity, with the leg- issues. I think we can agree on childcare. We
islation that was passed earlier today, There are some things about which ought to be talking about back to
to begin to have that debate. We can we have big differences. One is the dol- school, back to childcare, back to
have the debate on unemployment in- lar figure. As the Senator from Ohio work. It is hard to go back to work if
surance. We can have it on a whole said, we have already spent $3.5 tril- you don’t have childcare. There are
range of issues—how we deal with lion. That is a number so big, most of provisions in the House bill and the Re-
schools, how we deal with the us couldn’t even speak it before we got publican bill that aren’t so different.
healthcare crisis we have, the under- to this era of the sneaky, dangerous Testing. We all believe, I think, that
lying crisis. We can deal with all these COVID virus. we need maximum advance on testing,
issues in a way that enables us to find Let’s look at the other side. On what especially point-of-care testing—quick,
common ground, to create real solu- might we agree or many of us agree? reliable tests. There is money in the
tions for the people we represent as we We don’t have 100 percent on either Republican bill and in the Democratic
face this unprecedented pandemic. side who are going to agree on most bill to advance that effort.
With that, I object. anything. Then there are the small business
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The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- We might start with schools. Schools loans, called PPP. That probably was
tion is heard. are starting up in the southern part of the most successful part of the early
The Democratic leader. the United States, where the Presiding CARES bill, but a bipartisan group of
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, two Officer is from—Florida—and I am Senators has worked on getting rid of
quick points. One, my friend from from Tennessee. Schools are getting some of the problems with it and come
Ohio—and I know he has lots of good ready to go back, and so are colleges. up with a proposal to extend that.
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July 30, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4621
Those are several major points of all on the promise to reverse this trav- Because if you believe that Roe was
which we agree. And I think the Sen- esty of a decision, this moral and social rightly decided, then there just is no
ator from Arizona’s suggestion that we injustice that in 47 years has taken the two ways about it, you are a judicial
pass the unemployment benefit for an- lives of 61 million unborn—61 million. imperialist. If you believe Roe was
other week while we work together to Republicans have said: Vote for us. rightly decided, you believe that
get an agreement was a commonsense Vote for us, and we will undo this unelected judges should have the power
one. wrong. We will return this issue to the to enact their social views, to promote
(The remarks of Mr. ALEXANDER per- people. Yet all these years later—11 Re- their own social agenda, regardless of
taining to the introduction of S. 4375 publican-appointed Justices later— what the Constitution says or what we
are printed in today’s RECORD under here we are. The Nation is apparently the people have expressed preference
‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills and no closer to the day when the Supreme for, voted for, and enacted into law.
Joint Resolutions.’’) Court will renounce this outrage, re- I would just add that it seems to be
Mr. ALEXANDER. I yield the floor. nounce its imperial pretensions, and the case, inevitably, that when Jus-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- allow the good and decent people of tices enact their views, they enact the
ator from Missouri. this Nation to debate and decide this views of a certain social class. Oh, yes.
SUPREME COURT matter for ourselves. The highly educated, managerial front
Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, I came So I say to my Republican col- row of American society, the class of
to this floor 3 weeks ago to talk about leagues: How long must this go on? the faculty lounge and the C-suite,
the U.S. Supreme Court. I come today How many more elections must there that is what you get when judges gov-
to revise and extend my remarks. be? How many more promises must be ern America. That is not what the Con-
There are now five Republican-ap- made? How many more Justices must stitution calls for. That is not what the
pointed Justices on the Court. Actu- be appointed before we will expect of Constitution specifies. The Constitu-
ally, Republicans have appointed 11 out our nominees what the voters already tion says that sovereignty rests with
of the last 15 Justices to the bench, but expect of us? How long before we ask ‘‘We the People’’; that it should be the
is this the conservative Court we have our nominees to the Supreme Court of people who are in charge. It is what the
worked for? More to the point, is this a the United States to recognize Roe as American people want and have writ-
constitutionalist Court? the outrage that it is? ten in their fundamental law and in
The only thing I can say for certain Let’s just be frank. Roe is an illegit- their statutes that should carry the
when looking at the results of this last imate decision. It has no basis in the day.
term, that in the words of the late Jus- Constitution—none. It has no basis in The people have a right to run their
tice Scalia: ‘‘The Imperial Judiciary the law. None of the Constitution’s spe- own government. They have a right to
lives.’’ cific and enumerated guarantees of pri- expect their views to prevail, to have
This is a Court that freely rewrites vacy even begin to legitimize the tak- their Constitution be obeyed, and to
congressional statutes, that has pro- ing of innocent human life; none are re- expect that the Justices appointed to
tected the worst leftwing Presidents of motely on point. their Supreme Court will abide by the
earlier years, that in the final week of Even liberal scholars recognize this. Constitution’s terms as we the people
its term, gave away half of the State of Whole books are written about what wrote them.
Oklahoma. Roe v. Wade should have said. Roe That is why I say today: I will vote
For those who consider themselves marks the point at which the modern only for those Supreme Court nominees
constitutional conservatives, these de- Supreme Court decided that they who have explicitly acknowledged that
cisions are a clarion call to wake up would just impose their own views— Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided the
and to acknowledge what is staring us their own social and moral and legal day it was decided. I say again: I will
in the face: Judicial imperialism is views—on the Nation, despite what the vote for those nominees only and for
alive and well. It is marching on un- people want, despite what the Con- those nominees alone. When I say ‘‘ex-
daunted. stitution says, no matter how the laws plicitly acknowledge,’’ I mean on the
For religious conservatives, these de- are written. record before they are nominated. I do
cisions are a call to action. Now is the In the words of the late constitu- not want private assurances; I do not
time for us to be heard, and we can tional scholar, John Hart Ely—who seek them. I do not want forecasts
begin with what we expect of our nomi- was, I would point out, a political lib- about future votes or future behavior
nees to the High Court, what we expect eral—‘‘Roe is not constitutional law because, frankly, I wouldn’t believe
them to understand, what we expect and it gives almost no sense of an obli- them. I don’t want promises of any
them to affirm. gation to try to be.’’ sort. I want evidence that Supreme
That brings me to the case that pro- Roe is the very essence of judicial Court nominees will obey the Constitu-
pelled religious conservatives into ac- imperialism. It is a brazen power grab tion and the law. I want to see in the
tivism and politics in a new way over by unelected Justices imposing their record clear acknowledgement that
four decades ago—the case that, for re- moral and social views on the Nation, any nominee understands Roe to be the
ligious conservatives, made the Su- just like another group of Justices did travesty that it is. If that record is not
preme Court the great issue of the day: in a case called Plessy v. Ferguson, there, then I will not support the nomi-
Roe v. Wade. I know that when it just like another group of Justices did nation. I don’t care who does the nomi-
comes to the Supreme Court, we are before that in a case called Dred Scott. nating.
not supposed to talk about Roe. That is Yes, I do mean to compare Roe to Some will say that this is yesterday’s
the open secret on the right. It is cer- those earlier cases because Dred Scott battle; that we should just accept Roe
tainly what religious conservatives and Plessy and Roe belong together. and move on; that today’s Supreme
have been told for years: Don’t mess up They are the worst miscarriages of jus- Court is the best we could possibly
the Supreme Court nomination process tice in our history—the worst judicial hope for, to which I say that every sin-
by raising Roe. It is imprudent. It is in opinions of all time. Dred Scott and gle life is worth fighting for. I will not
poor taste. It will divide our coalition. Plessy and Roe are abusive, morally re- accept failure, and I will not accept de-
No, we are supposed to stick to talk- pugnant decisions that wounded the feat. I take this stand because I believe
ing about process, about methods, soul of this Nation. They dishonored it is what justice and fidelity to the
maybe throw in some talk about um- this Nation’s fundamental face in the law requires in our time of me and of
pires, but do not talk about Roe. dignity and worth of every person. those who would exercise the awesome
Well, the truth is, Roe is the reason For these reasons, Roe is no sec- power of judicial review entrusted to
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
we have a legal conservative movement ondary issue, something to be pushed Justices in article III of our Constitu-
to begin with. Roe is what propelled to the side in the nomination process. tion.
generations of religious conservatives Roe is central. Roe is a window into I also believe it is what the Repub-
to vote for Republican Presidents and the constitutional world view of a lican Party owes the millions of Ameri-
Republican Senators and Republican would-be Justice. It is a measure of cans who have made this cause the rea-
politicians of every rank and station— their sense of what a Justice should be. son for their vote for many years—
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S4622 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 30, 2020
these men and women of good will and change for security guarantees, eco- making up only about 1 percent of the
faith who labor still day in and day nomic and financial assistance, and the city’s population.
out, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribu- right of their citizens to travel, work, A number of factors drives these dis-
lation, working for that time when jus- and live in the United States without parities, but reduced access to
tice will be done. having visas. healthcare certainly isn’t helping. In
I yield the floor. It is difficult to overstate the impor- fact, it is hurting a lot. The Govern-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tance of the compacts to our strategic ment Accountability Office estimates
ator from Hawaii. interests in the Indo-Pacific region. In that 14 percent of COFA citizens in Ha-
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I would a Senate Armed Services Committee waii lack health insurance—nearly
say that the views expressed by the hearing last year, U.S. INDOPACOM three times the State’s average. Na-
good Senator from Missouri are not Commander ADM Philip Davidson suc- tionwide, 22 percent of COFA citizens
views widely shared by people in this cinctly noted how the compact nations are uninsured.
country. And to compare the decisions ‘‘contribute way out of proportion to In the absence of restored Medicaid
in Plessy v. Ferguson and the Dred their population in our defense.’’ This eligibility, which would certainly
Scott decisions with the Roe decision is particularly true with respect to lower the number of uninsured COFA
dishonors the memory of Congressman China, wherein our compacts with citizens, our community health centers
John Lewis, who only today was bur- these island nations enable us to lit- are, once again, stepping up. My con-
ied, put to rest in Georgia. erally hold the line against aggressive versations earlier this month with rep-
resentatives from Kokua Kalihi Valley
CORONAVIRUS Chinese economic and military expan-
Mr. President, the COVID–19 pan- Comprehensive Family Services and
sion throughout Oceania.
If we are to ensure a free and open West Hawaii Community Health Center
demic has laid bare the systemic racial
reinforced the crucial role these com-
inequities, inequalities in our Indo-Pacific, we must treat the com-
munity health centers play in building
healthcare system. pact nations with the respect they de-
reciprocal trust with the communities
While the virus has touched Ameri- serve. First and foremost, this means
they serve. Both community health
cans of every race and nationality, it keeping the promises we have made to
centers have been working closely with
disproportionately impacts people of these partners, especially on COFA citizens to combat stigma and
color. We all know that. People of color healthcare. Our initial compact agree- fear by reaching out directly to the
make up just 40 percent of our coun- ments stipulated that COFA citizens community to encourage them to seek
try’s population but account for over 60 were eligible for a range of Federal pro- care. This includes providing testing
percent of all coronavirus cases and 50 grams as ‘‘permanently residing under and outreach services in multiple lan-
percent of deaths from coronavirus. color of law,’’ including Medicaid cov- guages. They have also been coordi-
These inequities manifest themselves erage. The so-called welfare reform law nating food deliveries to families, in-
differently in each of our States. In Ha- of 1996, however, resulted in COFA citi- cluding to COFA citizens who are quar-
waii, for example, we are seeing pro- zens’ suddenly becoming ineligible for antining at home, and assisting some
nounced disparities among our Pacific Medicaid and other Federal programs families with alternate housing ar-
Islander community and particularly even as they may live in the United rangements so they can isolate away
among citizens of the Freely Associ- States legally and indefinitely. from healthy family members.
ated States of Micronesia, the Marshall I have done some research as to what Our health centers are doing excep-
Islands, and Palau. I am focusing my happened in the welfare reform law, tional work with COFA citizens, and I
remarks on this vibrant community and there is absolutely nothing in the strongly support providing them robust
today because our country has rarely legislative history of that law to indi- funding in the next COVID–19 relief
done right by them. Let me give you cate why, suddenly, COFA citizens bill.
some background. were not eligible for Medicaid cov- Most importantly, we need to uphold
After liberating their territory in erage. According to a report from the our commitment to the compact na-
World War II, the United States admin- University of Hawaii Economic Re- tions and restore Medicaid eligibility
istered the Trust Territory of the Pa- search Organization, the exclusion of for COFA citizens who are legally in
cific—which includes what are now the COFA citizens from Medicaid increased our country. We can do that by includ-
Freely Associated States—for nearly 40 the mortality rate of COFA citizens by ing my Covering our FAS Allies Act to
years. Even in the most generous char- 20 percent and contributed to signifi- restore Medicaid eligibility for COFA
acterization, the United States failed cant public health issues in my home citizens in the next COVID relief bill.
to live up to its trust obligations to State of Hawaii. In the Heroes Act, the House has al-
promote the political, social, and eco- I have led the fight to pass bipartisan ready restored eligibility to this popu-
nomic development of the region. legislation to restore Medicaid eligi- lation, and it is time for the Senate to
In addition to chronically under- bility for COFA citizens throughout join them in righting an historic
funding social programs like my time in the Senate, and we have wrong.
healthcare and education, the United come close to righting this wrong on I yield the floor.
States used the Marshall Islands as a several occasions, including in the bi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
base for dozens of nuclear tests over a partisan comprehensive immigration jority leader.
12-year period, from 1946 to 1958, in- bill that the Senate passed in 2013. f
cluding the 15-megaton Castle Bravo— The COVID–19 pandemic injects a EXECUTIVE SESSION
the largest thermonuclear device ever new urgency into this effort. All across
detonated by the United States. Dec- the country, COFA citizens work in es-
ades later, the citizens of Micronesia sential industries like meat processing, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
and the Marshall Islands continued to food service, and custodial services. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
suffer generational health con- These jobs put COFA citizens at an in- move to proceed to executive session to
sequences with substantially increased creased risk, and they are suffering dis- consider Calendar No. 711.
rates of cancer, birth defects, and mis- proportionately from COVID–19 as a re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
carriages. sult. question is on agreeing to the motion.
In 1986, the Federated States of Mi- In Hawaii, Pacific Islanders make up The motion was agreed to.
cronesia and the Republic of the Mar- about 4 percent of our population but The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
shall Islands achieved independence account for nearly a quarter of our clerk will report the nomination.
and formally entered into Compacts of COVID–19 cases. In northwest Arkan- The senior assistant legislative clerk
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Free Association, COFA, with the sas, the Marshallese make up no more read the nomination of Mark Wesley
United States. Palau followed in 1994. than 3 percent of the population but Menezes, of Virginia, to be Deputy Sec-
Under the terms of these compacts, have suffered half the deaths. In Du- retary of Energy.
these three countries provide the U.S. buque, IA, the Marshallese community CLOTURE MOTION
military with exclusive access to their accounts for more than a third of the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
strategically situated lands in ex- city’s COVID–19 deaths despite their send a cloture motion to the desk.
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