Congressional Record, Senate, August 4, 2020 — SMART Act State and Local Relief
Summary
Page S4706 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for August 4, 2020, headed SMART Act State and Local Relief, in interleaved columns. A Louisiana speaker says the State is facing serious shortfalls, a second wave of COVID cases and a phase 2 lockdown, and says he and Senator Menendez offered a bipartisan proposal called the SMART Act, which are his claims. Another speaker says his State created a rainy day fund and fully amortized its pension fund, while income tax revenues fell and unemployment rose. A remark about a pitcher who struck out the first nine batters closes the page.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, August 4, 2020 — SMART Act State and Local Relief.”
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S4706 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 4, 2020
when the food chain in rural America clude additional relief for State and As I mentioned before, Louisiana, my
goes bust—because that is what we are local communities in this relief pack- State, is facing serious shortfalls. We
on the verge of—this whole country age. are still struggling with a second wave
will be diminished by that. Senator BOB MENENDEZ—and his staff of COVID cases. Yesterday, we had the
So it is important that my colleagues has been a wonderful team to work No. 1 per capita incidence of
here in the Senate work with Senator with—and I have offered a bipartisan coronavirus. The State is having to
GRASSLEY and me to fix this problem. proposal called the SMART Act to help continue in a phase 2 lockdown, which
It will not be fixed by not doing the communities through this pandemic. I strains not only my folks in Louisiana
things we need to do in this body. Sen- am privileged to be joined today by but also the revenue of the local com-
ator GRASSLEY and I have a bill, and Senator MENENDEZ and Senator COL- munities where they would otherwise
Senators ROUNDS and KING have a bill, LINS to speak on its behalf. spend their money.
and we need to get those two bills The SMART Act calls for $500 billion Folks back home know the con-
passed and move on to ensure fairness in funding for State and local govern- sequences if they don’t receive support.
in the marketplace. ments, and it would be dispersed in There were 22 parish presidents who
I yield the floor. thirds. One-third is based on a State’s signed a letter supporting the SMART
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- population. Clearly, California needs Act. They wrote:
ator from Louisiana. more than Alaska. One-third is based As elected leaders with parish populations
upon the COVID–19 impact. My State ranging from over 400,000 to 18,000, the
f COVID–19 pandemic has created unprece-
has had one of the highest per capita
CORONAVIRUS incidences of coronavirus infection. We dented challenges for all local governments
have been terribly impacted. One-third not only within Louisiana, but nationally.
Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, I The extreme loss of tax revenues, which pro-
rise to address the issues regarding the is based upon revenue lost, which, vide for essential services, coupled with un-
COVID crisis. Now, as we know, the again, my State, as well as the States foreseen costs brought onto us by the re-
COVID crisis is a public health crisis of my colleagues, has been very im- sponse to COVID–19 pandemic, has the poten-
which has led to an economic crisis pacted. It is a fair formula that tial to have an extremely detrimental effect
prioritizes funding to the hardest hit. on our role to provide for the citizens of our
and, in turn, an educational crisis. parishes.
Today, I am going to speak about an The need is great. S&P Global re-
aspect of the economic crisis—specifi- leased a report detailing the State sus- I received a letter from more than 80
cally State and local governments, ceptibility to fiscal distress in a mayors across my State giving ‘‘their
COVID–19 recession. There were 38 strong support and thanks’’ for efforts
which have had to shut down their
States that had a high or very high to pass the SMART Act because they
economy and, in turn, have lost all the
risk of economic exposure. S&P’s find- know I am working to deliver the sup-
tax revenue they otherwise would re-
ings echo a Moody’s report that also port they need for their communities
ceive and, because they have lost that
predicted dire effects to States and cit- or mutual constituents. And mayors
tax revenue, have put the jobs of fire- ranging from cities as large as Shreve-
ies if nothing is done. Moody’s found
fighters, police officers, teachers, sani- port to as small as Glenmora and Ath-
that 34 States will see tax revenue fall
tation workers, and other essential ens wrote:
by double-digit percentage points, the
frontline workers at risk. So let me
worst of which are Alaska falling 80 The SMART Act would provide funding for
proceed. municipal economic recovery that will sup-
percent, Louisiana at 46 percent, and
Senate Republicans have unveiled a port the reopening of businesses and allow
North Dakota at 44 percent.
proposal for a second line of support for According to the National Associa- Louisiana to move forward. We are grateful
American families and small busi- tion of Counties, local communities—
for Senator CASSIDY’s bipartisan efforts and
nesses as our Nation continues to com- for his longstanding partnership with Louisi-
not States; local communities—antici- ana’s governments.
bat the COVID–19 pandemic. The virus pate a $202 billion impact to budgets
is an unprecedented challenge, but we The same sentiments have been
through 2021. Their report shows that echoed by Louisiana’s Chamber of
shall overcome, and the HEALS Act at- 71 percent of counties have delayed
tempts to do that. Commerce.
capital investments, including infra- I understand concerns about spending
The introduction of this proposal sig- structure and economic development
nals Republicans’ commitment to see- money on State and local government.
projects; 68 percent have cut or delayed Some are worried the money will be
ing America through this challenging county services—or parish services in
time, as was with the CARES Act. The used to bail out poor management deci-
the case of Louisiana—human services, sions and overly generous and un-
ultimate safety of the people of Lou- public safety, and community develop-
isiana and the United States are my funded pension plans. I share those
ment support; and 25 percent have cut concerns, which is why the SMART Act
top priority, and the HEALS Act, as the county workforce. Moody’s esti- includes specific provisions prohibiting
with all major bills, is a starting point mates that 1.3 million have already spending in those areas. The SMART
of negotiations to build consensus been laid off, and an estimated 1.4 mil- Act money replaces lost revenue
among Members of both parties for the lion more State and parish county caused by COVID–19 and nothing more.
best path forward. workers and municipal workers will be A city or parish or county would have
The HEALS Act includes stimulus laid off in the coming fiscal year. to show their books and show that they
checks for Americans, support for Sixty-six percent of counties receiving have lost revenue relative to a year ago
small businesses, and billions to help CARES Act coronavirus relief indicate before they would be eligible to receive
schools reopen. While these are criti- that the funding will not cover the funding from this.
cally important to economic recovery, COVID–19 budget or they are uncertain I understand concerns about spend-
so, too, are the essential services pro- if the budgetary impacts will be cov- ing, but the cost of doing nothing is
vided by States and local communities. ered. This is the impact of what has worse. Federal Reserve Chairman Je-
I am talking about police officers, fire- happened. rome Powell spoke on the State and
fighters, teachers, sanitation workers, By the way, we spoke earlier of $202 local funding needs, saying that while
and other municipal workers. Because billion, and this is how the breakdown costly, it would be ‘‘worth it if it helps
of this economic lockdown, State and is in terms of lost revenue and lost avoid long-term damage and leaves us
local governments have seen their tax State funding, et cetera. The impact with a stronger economy.’’
base erode, which threatens their abil- upon State and county and municipal Congress should not allow police offi-
ity to keep these very people we need
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governments is huge. All told, the Na- cers, firefighters, first responders,
employed—these people who keep our tional Association of Counties predicts teachers, sanitation workers, and oth-
communities running. a loss of 4.9 million jobs and $344 billion ers to lose their jobs by the millions at
I don’t want to see, for example, a lost in GDP. It does not have to be that a time when our country needs them
situation where cities slash police way. We can save jobs for police offi- most. The United States cannot fully
budgets and force layoffs of those who cers, firefighters, teachers, and others recover economically if local commu-
put their lives on the line to keep us by including State and local support in nities cannot provide basic services, al-
safe. That is why Congress should in- the act we are considering. lowing commerce to flow.
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August 4, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4707
As I end, I commend my colleagues coast, flooding inundated communities running out of money to maintain the
on the work thus far on the HEALS along the Mississippi River, or services our residents and businesses
Act. More work is left to be done, and wildfires raged in the West, I have depend upon. They are running out of
I look forward to working with others never hesitated to act and cast my vote money to pay our first responders: po-
in this Chamber in the coming days to to help my fellow Americans. I have lice, firefighters, paramedics, and
strengthen this bill even further and never asked how many New Jerseyans emergency personnel. They are running
finding a common path forward with were affected or how this would impact out of money to make sure that there
our Democratic colleagues. We cannot my State. But some in this body have are teachers in the classrooms when
let Americans down in this time of tre- chosen to undermine that unity and to, our kids can safely head back to school
mendous need. By working together, instead, pit Americans in one State and nurses in our hospitals when a sick
we can deliver the support they need, versus their fellow citizens in another. patient is brought in. They are running
and we will be stronger as a nation for They have derided Senator CASSIDY’s out of money to make sure the trash
having done so. and my efforts to avoid millions of lay- gets picked up, the buses and trains
I yield the floor. offs of essential workers as a ‘‘Blue run on time, and the lights stay on at
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. State Bailout.’’ City Hall.
BLACKBURN). The Senator from New For example, the junior Senator from They have been squeezed on both
Jersey. Florida has said he refuses to support sides of the ledger, spending billions of
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I assistance because it will go to pro- dollars in unforeseen costs on emer-
rise today to join my Republican col- gressive States like New Jersey, New gency response while watching reve-
leagues from Louisiana and Maine to York, and California. He spreads false- nues dry up due to the slowing econ-
make a plea for us to break any par- hoods about States carrying over large omy and necessary orders to contain
tisan logjam and support bipartisan, annual budget deficits, even though he the virus.
commonsense solutions. I want to espe- must be well aware that States, unlike Without help from Washington, our
cially commend Senator CASSIDY, who the Federal Government, must balance States, counties, and municipalities
from the beginning has joined me in their budgets according to their State will have to swallow a toxic cocktail of
this effort and has been true to his Constitution. tax hikes, service cuts, and layoffs that
commitment to the issue and to his He has the gall to chide other States will only poison our economic recov-
work. We have engaged in a series of about taking from Florida, even as his ery.
conferences with major national orga- own State is the second largest It would be the height of irony—and
nizations in support of the legislation, ‘‘taker’’ State in the entire country. a horrible one at that—for the men and
and I appreciate his leadership in this Indeed, according to the latest esti- women we have needed the most to be
regard. I also appreciate Senator COL- mates, Florida receives about $45 bil- the ones fired as a result of the eco-
LINS, who joined us from the very be- lion more from the Federal Govern- nomic distress that the virus has cre-
ginning in this effort. ment than it pays each and every year. ated. We need our essential workers on
Exactly 76 days ago—yes, 2.5 months By comparison, New Jersey actually the job dealing with the pandemic, not
ago—Senator CASSIDY and I stood here pays about $21 billion more each year on the unemployment line.
on the floor of the Senate with our col- to the Federal Government than it re- Already, nearly 1.5 million State and
leagues Senator COLLINS and BOOKER to ceives. Let me say that again. Florida local workers have been furloughed or
talk about the challenges facing our takes $45 billion more per year out of laid off—and that is only since Feb-
State and local governments and the the Federal coffers than they put in. ruary—and double the total local pub-
need for Congress to deliver robust, New Jersey puts $21 billion back in. lic sector jobs we lost during the entire
flexible assistance to help them deal To my colleague from Florida: You
great recession of a decade ago.
with the pandemic and economic fall- are welcome.
out. Why is New Jersey a donor or If we fail to deliver the robust, flexi-
In 76 days, we have seen COVID–19 ‘‘maker’’ State while Florida is a ble funding our States and commu-
sweep across our land. The virus is ‘‘taker’’ State? Quite simply, it is be- nities need, we will effectively be send-
surging in States coast to coast. From cause we invest in our people and in ing pink slips to millions of Americans.
the Deep South to the Upper Midwest, our communities. New Jersey has the We will be saying to all of them: You
no community has been spared. best public schools in the country, are fired.
America is no stranger to tough ranking No. 1 in Education Week’s 2019 That will be millions more who
times. In just the past 100 years, we report. Florida, well, it ranked in the aren’t collecting a paycheck, millions
have fought two World Wars. We have bottom half of the States. who can’t afford to shop at our stores,
faced a Great Depression. We have con- A better education leads to a better eat at our restaurants, pay their rent,
fronted a nuclear-armed Soviet Union. economy with higher paying jobs, so it or their mortgage.
We have faced calamitous disasters, is no surprise that New Jersey also has Leading economists respected by
both natural and manmade, from Hur- the highest per capita income among both parties predict it would decimate
ricanes Katrina and Sandy to the ter- States at over $110,000 per year. By our economy and send us on the path
rorist attacks on 9/11. We have lived comparison, Florida’s per capita in- to another Great Depression. We can’t
through many dark days of our history, come is almost $35,000 less, which puts allow that to happen.
but no matter how steep the challenge, it, once again, in the bottom half of That is why Senator CASSIDY, Sen-
no matter how hopeless things ap- States. ator COLLINS, Senator HYDE-SMITH, and
peared at the moment, we always came So if you want your children to have I came together. We saw early on the
together as a country, and we saw our- a quality education, if you want to impact COVID–19 was having on our
selves as Americans above all else. work in a vibrant economy that cre- home States and constituents, so we
I am proud to be a New Jerseyan. I ates high-paying jobs, you should live came up with the State and Municipal
am proud to be from a State that in- in a State like New Jersey. But New Assistance for Recovery and Transi-
vests in its people, has a great edu- Jersey, like all States—and through no tion, or the SMART Act.
cational system, and has an innovative fault of our own—is facing a health and As Senator CASSIDY says, it delivers
economy. But when my parents fled fiscal crisis of historic magnitude. And $500 billion in flexible funding to front-
tyranny in Cuba, their dream wasn’t to because here in Washington we have line States, counties, and municipali-
move to any one State. No, they failed to implement a national re- ties. It targets areas with the greatest
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dreamed of moving to the United sponse to a national emergency, our need based on infection rate and lost
States of America to give me and my local towns, cities, counties, and revenues. Unfortunately, from when we
siblings the opportunity they never States have to deal with this crisis started this, that is a growing reality
had. alone rather than united as a nation, across the country. Every single town,
We are not a collection of 50 separate and they are running out of money. city, and county, regardless of its size,
States. No, we are one Nation, indivis- They are running out of money to would qualify for direct funding. No
ible. When hurricanes hit the gulf combat this deadly disease. They are one is left out.
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S4708 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 4, 2020
We immediately built a bipartisan I hear some of my colleagues speak ices are vitally needed. They are the
coalition with Senators COLLINS, BOOK- from this floor, calling not for unity people who make our communities op-
ER, HYDE-SMITH, MANCHIN, and but for division. They callously ignore erate, who make them livable. We need
SINEMA—Republicans and Democrats the pleas for help from the fellow them.
from all walks of life, cutting across Americans, comforted by the selfish We already know about the stresses
the political and geographic spectrum. but mistaken belief their communities our schools are undergoing. Do we real-
We knew the assistance Congress pro- are immune to the fiscal Armageddon ly want school budgets to be cut and
vided our State and local governments facing our communities. educators laid off at this important
in the CARES Act wasn’t enough to Let me be clear. It doesn’t really time?
deal with the growing need, and we matter how fiscally responsible or con- The CARES Act did provide $150 bil-
warned our colleagues—each and every servative your State budget has been lion to our States and to very large
one—that what was happening in New when your revenue drops 30 percent communities, but those funds came
Jersey, Louisiana, and elsewhere would overnight. It is not a random blue with restrictions, and they did not re-
eventually come to their State if we State issue; it is an American priority. quire direct distributions to munici-
didn’t get this pandemic under control. I believe that history will look kind- palities with populations under 500,000.
Well, we haven’t, and it is raging. Our ly upon those who stood up for some There is not a single county in Maine,
fellow Americans are suffering, and too unity and compromise over dema- much less a city or town, that has a
many of them are dying. goguery and obstinacy, those who put population of that level.
We have waited for 76 days. What is the well-being of the country over scor- The National Governors Association
now being offered is wholly inadequate ing partisan points, those who stuck has called for $500 billion in assistance
to address the needs of the American their necks out and took a political to aid our Nation’s recovery. Organiza-
people. In Colorado, for example, the risk for no reason other than it was the tions supporting our towns and our cit-
estimated State and local shortfall due right thing to do. That is what I be- ies and our counties have all endorsed
to the pandemic is $10 billion, and lieve we are doing on the floor right the SMART Act.
Moody’s Analytics warns that failing
counting, through 2022. In Alaska, it is now—the right thing.
to act could shave 3 percentage points
expected to exceed $4 billion. In Geor- With that, I am happy to turn to my
from real GDP, from our economic
gia, it will be $2.5 billion in 2021 alone. friend Senator COLLINS.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- growth, and result in the loss of 4 mil-
Kentucky could see nearly a 20-percent
ator from Louisiana. lion jobs. That is the worst thing to
drop in its revenues in 2021, at a time
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- happen at this time.
when the State’s fiscal house is already This week, the Maine Municipal As-
in disorder. But we are being offered ator from Maine.
sociation released projections antici-
not a dime—zero—to help our cities, Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I
pating a combined $146 million in lost
counties, and States confront this chal- have listened to the presentations of
revenue from Maine cities and towns
lenge—zero, nothing. That is not some- my two colleagues, Senator CASSIDY
by the end of this year alone. We know
thing that is acceptable. and Senator MENENDEZ, and I could not
that the revenues are going to take a
That is the problem when we ignore agree with them more. We have an op-
while to recover and are going to affect
regular order and let leadership hijack portunity to solve a problem that is af-
next year as well.
the legislative process: We lose our fecting each and every community in This builds on Maine’s Revenue Fore-
voice, and the needs of our constitu- our country. casting Committee, which expects a
ents are left out. With the COVID–19 pandemic con-
$1.4 billion State budget shortfall from
I, for one, didn’t come to Washington tinuing to devastate our public health
lost sales and income tax revenues over
to sit on the sidelines and wait for a and our economy, towns and cities
the next 3 years.
handful of people to reach a deal be- across our country are facing increas- As people are driving less, we are also
hind closed doors, forced to vote on a ingly significant new challenges and seeing our gas tax revenues plummet.
1,000-page bill within an hour of seeing plummeting revenues at the exact I have talked with town and city
it. But that is exactly what we have same time. I urge my colleagues to be managers, with mayors and members
been doing here for far too long. problem-solvers, to address this crisis of town councils, selectmen and
We need to end this high-stakes game as part of the relief package that is -women, all across the State of Maine
of closed-door posturing and restore now being negotiated. We cannot wait. about the difficult decisions they are
the Senate back to the foundation as I have joined with Senators MENEN- facing as they attempt to balance their
the greatest deliberative body in the DEZ and CASSIDY and others in this budgets.
world. Chamber in introducing the SMART These cuts are not theoretical. The
It would have been easier for me just Act. It would provide much needed fi- harm is not just possible; it is occur-
to embrace the $900 billion for fiscal re- nancial assistance to State and local ring today. Let’s look briefly at what
lief in the Heroes Act. It would have governments while providing safe- some Maine communities are already
been easier for Senators CASSIDY, COL- guards to prevent wasteful spending. having to do.
LINS, and HYDE-SMITH to just toe the It is a lifeline to our communities, The city of Westbrook has announced
party line, but we all knew that stick- just as the Paycheck Protection Pro- a hiring freeze affecting all city depart-
ing to our respective corners wasn’t gram has been a lifeline to our small ments, including the police depart-
going to help a single one of our con- businesses and their employees. ment. Well, that police department has
stituents. The consequences of local govern- five open positions that it needs to fill
It is not too late for the Senate to ment shortfalls are dire. Without our and cannot do so.
get back on track. Let’s do our jobs. providing them relief, communities Auburn, a city in Androscoggin
Let’s work together on a bipartisan so- face having to lay off essential employ- County, has had to freeze six vacant
lution that delivers the Federal sup- ees and reduced services at the worst positions because of expected revenue
port our States, counties, and cities on possible time for working families. losses—again, vital positions: two fire-
the frontlines of this pandemic need to What is their alternative? They can- fighters, a police officer, and three pub-
defeat COVID–19 and serve the Amer- not raise taxes. That would be the lic works employees. These cuts come
ican people. worst thing for them to do. Municipali- as the city of Auburn has spent more
Let’s bring the SMART Act up in ties are already scaling back their than $200,000 in new expenses to re-
committee, allow Members on both budgets, furloughing workers, and
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spond to the virus.
sides of the aisle to offer amendments postponing needed purchases and The town of Falmouth has elimi-
to make the legislation even better. projects. nated four open positions, including a
You all know what our State and local These cuts threaten the jobs of our police officer, and can no longer go
governments will get if we leave it up police officers, our firefighters, our ahead with the purchase of a much
to the present status—absolutely noth- EMS personnel, our dispatchers, our needed new firetruck.
ing. Good luck explaining that to the sanitation crews, and our public works The town of Windham has kept seven
people back at home. employees at the time when their serv- needed positions open. These are not
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August 4, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4709
large communities. This is a large So, as we gather here today to figure had no pension fund. We fully amor-
number of positions. Five of these are out how to get out of this mess, his job tized it within about 10 years. We did
public works positions, without which, that day was to try to figure out how all kinds of things, all kinds of budget
how is the plowing going to be done to get out of another mess, and my reforms in order to get us on the right
this winter to keep the roads safe and hope is that our efforts here in the Sen- track.
clear? ate, the House, and the White House Now, I have heard some of my col-
The town has also postponed $1.6 mil- will be as successful as were his. leagues say the States got themselves
lion in capital projects. That has a rip- I am happy to follow today our friend in a mess and they are going to have to
ple effect on the local economy. It from Maine; our colleague from New get out of it. They said they can file for
means the contractor is neither buying Jersey; and you, Mr. President, as the bankruptcy; they are badly managed.
supplies nor hiring employees at this Senator from Louisiana, in actually Let me just say, my State is a AAA
time. pointing to something we can agree on. State. We got a AAA rating when I was
In northern Maine, in the northern People are always saying to me and, I Governor, and we never lost it to this
Maine city of Madawaska, the town know, to my colleagues when we go day.
manager has shared with my office home: Can’t you guys and gals ever Most States are better run fiscally
that the town has had to scrap a $3 mil- agree on anything? than the Federal Government. You
lion road-paving project and will have Well, as it turns out, a number of us only have to look at the way we spend
to keep at least three positions vacant. agree that States and local govern- money around here—not just in the
This is what they are doing already. ments could use some help—some addi- middle of a pandemic. Look at the year
It is only going to get worse for these tional help beyond that which we have before the pandemic, at how much our
towns and cities as revenues continue already provided. That is a good thing. Nation’s deficit and debt increased. But
to plummet. We don’t have to pit blue States even fiscally responsible, well-managed
Senator MENENDEZ made a very im- against red States. We can actually States like Delaware and some other
portant point that I want to reiterate, work together, and in this case we are. States that are represented on this
and that is, the way our bill is struc- Very few of us actually come here floor right here are finding themselves
tured, every city, every town, regard- and start our first elected job being in in a situation that one could not have
less of size, will receive direct assist- the U.S. Senate—some, but not a lot. A imagined just a few months ago. That
ance. Every county will receive direct number of people are former mayors, is especially true when we have an ad-
assistance. They will not be dependent former Governors, former Representa- ministration that is simultaneously
on the largesse of the State. The tives. But every now and then, some- asking State and local governments to
money will go to them to meet these body slips through without ever having shoulder the burden of responding to
essential needs. run for elected office. the coronavirus.
It is common sense to provide the re- I am a former State treasurer. People Leader MCCONNELL and Secretary
lief needed to avoid these widespread call me a recovering Governor, but I Mnuchin say that States don’t need
layoffs and cuts to essential services at am really a recovering State treasurer. more money because they haven’t used
the local level, where they often are I was elected State treasurer when I the coronavirus relief funds that Con-
most often needed. These are the public was 29. When I was elected State treas- gress provided in the CARES Act. Well,
servants who keep our communities urer and took my oath, our State had unfortunately, that is just not true. A
and our citizens safe. They are the pub- the worst credit rating in the country. survey conducted by the National As-
lic servants who keep our communities I was elected in 1976—the same year sociation of State Budget Officers
and our citizens healthy. They are the that a Republican named Pete du Pont shows that States have already allo-
public servants who keep our commu- was elected Governor of our State. He cated nearly 75 percent of these funds
nities and our citizens educated. They turned out to be a terrific Governor at already to fight the pandemic and help
are the ones who are plowing our roads a time when we needed one. He was a struggling families and small busi-
and repairing our bridges. They are the good mentor for me and someone I al- nesses through this crisis.
ones who make our towns, our cities, ways looked up to, and I hope I was a If States across this country see a re-
our neighborhoods livable. good partner to him and Democrats surgence in infection rates, the cost of
Congress must act to provide assist- and Republicans in the legislature to addressing the health and economic
ance to every community. This is a pull our State out of a real mess. crisis is not going down; it is going up.
problem we can solve. Let’s enact the Not only did we have the worst credit At the same time that the cost of ad-
SMART Act as part of the next rating in the country that year—1977, dressing this pandemic has sky-
coronavirus package. actually—we had the worst credit rat- rocketed, businesses are shuttered, and
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. CAS- ing, we had no pension fund, we had no tourism and commerce have come, in
SIDY). The Senator from Delaware. rainy day fund, and we had the lowest many places, to a standstill. That
f start rate of new businesses of any means that hundreds of billions of dol-
State in America. lars in lost revenues for States and
CORONAVIRUS We couldn’t balance our budgets if we local governments have occurred.
Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I am had to. In order to actually have Delaware is certainly not alone. So
going to briefly remove my mask. money to spend, we issued revenue an- let me be very clear. This is not a red
We are about 1 week into baseball ticipation notes. State or a blue State problem; it is a
season. I will lighten this up a little When I got to the State treasurer’s United States problem. It is not a con-
bit. We are 1 week into baseball season. office, I said: What is a revenue antici- sequence of poor management either.
Some of us here are huge baseball fans. pation note? Over the past couple months, weeks,
This is the home of the Nationals— They said: That is the way the State I have had conversations, as my col-
home of the world championship Wash- borrows money until tax monies come leagues know, with dozens of them on
ington Nationals. The best two pitch- in the following April, so that we can both sides of the aisle about what
ers come from the Detroit Tigers, my actually pay payroll and pensions and States and local communities across
favorite team. stuff like that. our country are facing as a result of
For those who might not have been I said: You are kidding. COVID–19. In those conversations with
watching baseball over the weekend, They said: No, we are not. my Democratic and Republican col-
there is a young guy who is a relief That was then; this is now. When leagues, time and again I have heard a
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
pitcher for the Tigers. His name is Pete du Pont was our Governor and I familiar refrain: The pandemic has
Tyler Alexander. He was brought in in was treasurer, we had a bipartisan leg- caused State and local government rev-
relief in the second or third inning and islature. The house and senate were enues to plummet in a way that none
struck out nine straight bats. He split between Democrats and Repub- of us have ever experienced or would
struck out the first nine batters he licans. But we created a rainy day fund have or could have foreseen.
faced. I think one other person has and never invaded it. We created and Income tax revenues have fallen and
done that in Major League history. fully amortized our pension fund. We unemployment numbers have reached
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