Reopening Schools (Cong. Rec., Aug. 5, 2020)
Summary
This is page S4887 of the Congressional Record, Senate, August 5, 2020, with interleaved columns, headed Reopening Schools. Mr. Durbin says there are four unemployed Americans for every single job opening and calls for hazard pay for healthcare workers. He criticizes the threat to cut federal funding for schools that do not reopen and says he will push for the Coronavirus Childcare and Education Relief Act, led by Senator Patty Murray. He says that bill provides $175 billion for elementary and secondary schools, compared with $70 billion offered on the Republican side. He also says the CARES Act brought more than $200 million to the Chicago Public Schools and a total of $512 million across Illinois.
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“Reopening Schools (Cong. Rec., Aug. 5, 2020).”
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August 5, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4887
the floor today and tried to pit our employment is a temporary help. They suited to make without intimidation or
healthcare heroes against the unem- want to get back to work, a place threats from Washington, DC.
ployed, saying: They are going to work where they can prove their worth as in- But Washington does have a role to
every day. Why should we give any dividuals and feel some satisfaction play. The best thing we can do to help
money to those who don’t go to work that they are going to work and doing local school districts through this dif-
every day? their best. That is part of the reality. ficult fall and beyond is to provide the
Really? We have four unemployed f Federal assistance and support they
Americans—four unemployed Ameri- need to ensure the path they choose is
cans—for every single job opening. I REOPENING SCHOOLS one that keeps students and staff safe
don’t believe the doctors, nurses, and Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, let while allowing the learning and devel-
medical professionals who are fighting me also address for a moment this opment to continue effectively.
COVID every single day resent those issue of reopening of schools. There is a It is why, as we negotiate a fourth
who are unemployed. I think they un- debate raging across the country right coronavirus response package, I will be
derstand full well the devastation of now about what this autumn will look pushing for the inclusion of the
this pandemic, not only on the individ- like for our Nation’s schools, the Coronavirus Childcare and Education
uals they treat but on the economy at schoolchildren, teachers, and school Relief Act, being led in the Senate by
large. staff. You have heard the President, Senator PATTY MURRAY of Washington.
When it comes to these healthcare who has literally threatened those who In addition to supporting childcare,
heroes, the Democrats have stepped up don’t reopen their schools that they early education, and higher education,
and called for hazard pay. Will the Re- may lose Federal funding if they don’t the bill provides $175 billion to elemen-
publicans join us? We think these reopen schools. What is that funding tary and secondary schools to help
healthcare heroes deserve it—that and spent for? Special education, school meet technology, cleaning, staffing,
more, our gratitude and more, for all lunches, help for kids in poor schools. and other needs of schools. It provides
they have given to the United States. The message has been reiterated by funds to school districts based on their
Let me say a word about those who the loyal Education Secretary, Betsy share of low-income children. In that
are receiving unemployment benefits. I DeVos. She, too, has joined in the way, it is similar to the CARES Act,
met with five of them in Chicago last threats of schools that don’t reopen. which brought more than $200 million
week, heard their stories, asked them a Now the Republicans in the Senate to the Chicago Public Schools and a
few questions, and learned a little bit have taken that threat and turned it total of $512 million across our State of
about their lives. I wasn’t surprised at into legislation with their proposal in Illinois. Compare that $175 billion to
the hardship they face. Many of them the next relief package. the $70 billion being offered on the Re-
have been out of work for 4 or 5 months Let me be really clear. There is a publican side—another classic example.
already. It is no surprise that almost concern about empty classrooms. We believe this is a serious national
Those who study childhood behavior issue, when it comes to education. The
half of the people out of work have ex-
worry that lack of socialization takes Republicans do not. The amount of
hausted all of their savings at this
its toll on childhood development. money that they are proposing is a
point, even with unemployment bene-
fraction of what we offer, and much of
fits. Teachers are often sentinels for evi-
You ask those who are unemployed: it is conditioned on the schools actu-
dence of child abuse, which now may be
Well, what do you do with these checks ally reopening in person, regardless of
going unreported. Remote learning
that are sent to you each week? what is the safest thing for the schools,
works well for some but not for others.
It is pretty obvious to them what you the teachers, and the students in any
But that is not the concern of this
do with it. You pay the mortgage, if given area.
President. He wants schools back so he Congress shouldn’t put State and
you have one. You pay the rent, the car that can claim some kind of false vic- local officials in the position of choos-
payment, so it is not repossessed and tory over the coronavirus. ing between desperately needed Fed-
taken away from you. You try to keep Last week, I led 24 of my colleagues eral assistance and the safety of stu-
food on the table. You try to keep the in writing to the majority leader and dents and the school personnel. Con-
people issuing the credit cards at bay. the Democratic leader opposing put- gress should not incentivize schools to
These are the basics that people face ting children and teachers in any dan- reopen in person prematurely or penal-
every single day. But the Republicans ger by conditioning funding of schools ize those where the public health situa-
don’t seem to get that. They don’t un- reopening in person. tion makes it dangerous.
derstand it because they don’t get to Recently, I had the opportunity to The argument from the administra-
know these people or even ask them visit the Little Village Academy in tion seems to go: ‘‘Well, if schools
what life is like. They are not on any Chicago with the Chicago Public don’t reopen, they either don’t deserve
bed of roses with $600 a week when you Schools chief, Janice Jackson. Some or don’t need any help.’’ That is just
consider the debts they face, when you wonderful people are there each day not the case. Even schools that are not
consider the expenses they face, and passing out lunches to the kids in the able to reopen in person need assist-
you consider the fact that many of neighborhood who come around the ance ensuring their students, espe-
them are struggling to pay for their school. They haven’t reopened for cially those from low-income families,
own health insurance at this point. A classes. They hope they will, but that have the ability to participate in re-
family trying to pick up the cost of decision is still to be made. mote learning. They need help keeping
their health insurance, that their em- I can tell you that in Chicago and staff on payroll, preparing the build-
ployer once provided half of, finds around my home State of Illinois, ings so they can return in person in the
themselves spending $1,400 to $1,700 a school boards, administrators, teach- future, and addressing any number of
month on that alone. That is the re- ers, parents, and others are facing difficulties this pandemic has created.
ality. these decisions honestly. They have to For school buses, if there is going to be
For the record, of those who have re- provide a safe and effective learning social distancing of the kids on the
turned to work in America, we are environment for students and for buses, will there be a need for addi-
grateful that they are back to work. teachers, whether that be in person, in tional buses and busdrivers?
We are happy that they are back to school, or at home. In addition to funding, the Federal
work. Seventy percent of them were Unlike President Trump, who is nice- Government should also ensure that
making more money on unemployment ly insulated in the bubble of the White
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
schools have science-based guidance to
than they made returning to work. House with the multiple daily COVID– support safely opening, free from polit-
Well, why would they do that? Because 19 tests for everyone who just might ical influence and Presidential quack-
they are not lazy people. They are peo- come in contact with him, these edu- ery.
ple who take pride in work, believe cation professionals in my home State They also need the flexibility to con-
there is dignity with work, and are pre- of Illinois have to answer directly to tinue serving critical meals to our stu-
pared to return even if they made more the families in their communities. It is dents, regardless of what the school
on unemployment. They know that un- a decision that local officials are best year looks like this fall.
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S4888 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 5, 2020
Chicago Public Schools have done an those types of protections in the legis- with our Democratic colleagues just
incredible job providing 18 million lation, but I think it is really impor- like we did with the CARES Act, which
meals since March. We need to ensure tant to point out that those type of was our largest coronavirus relief bill,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture protections are critical if we are going back in March.
provides the range of alternative op- to get the economy reopened again. Back in March, the model that was
tions needed to make sure that no kid Businesses that are doing all the used was having committee chairmen
in America goes hungry. right things—following the CDC guide- and ranking members get together in
Schools in Chicago and around our lines, adhering to all the laws, all the compromise and work out differences
State don’t need any more tweets or guidelines and restrictions that are out and end up with a strong, bipartisan
self-congratulatory briefings, Mr. there—shouldn’t have to worry about bill. Was it a perfect bill? Well, no, of
President. They need Federal resources lawyering up and spending thousands course not. No bill is. Did everyone get
and guidance based on the best science and, in some cases, millions of dollars everything that he or she wanted? No,
our government has to offer. That is to try and defend themselves against but it was a strong, bipartisan bill that
why I am fighting for this relief pack- frivolous lawsuits, which are being was praised by Democrats and Repub-
age to be at a level to meet the chal- filed as we speak by the thousands. licans alike—in fact, reflected by the
lenge we face across America. The implication given by the Senator unanimous vote.
f from Illinois that somehow this is all I would like to say that we are en-
CORONAVIRUS about big corporations or big busi- gaging in those same types of negotia-
nesses is just not consistent with the tions right now, but unfortunately I
Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, let facts on the ground. In fact, I had a can’t say that. I can’t say, in fact,
me close by saying this. The majority conversation 2 days ago with the what is happening right now is even ne-
leader comes to the floor regularly and school administrators in my State of gotiations. Negotiations involve both
talks about special interests. Perhaps South Dakota, all of whom are very in- sides being willing to give something
he can explain to us why the Repub- terested in getting their schools opened up to compromise and to try and move
lican proposal for relief for the COVID– up and getting kids back in school, toward a solution. While Republicans
19 virus includes a $2 billion allocation which, again, is one of the priorities of are willing to make compromises to
for a new FBI building across the our legislation and should be, I think, ensure that we can deliver another
street from the Trump hotel. Perhaps one of the priorities of the country as coronavirus relief bill to the American
he can explain the $30 billion wish list we head into the fall. people, Democrats apparently aren’t
from the Department of Defense, try- One of their big issues was ensuring willing to make any.
ing to make up for cuts that were made that they had protections against li- Back in May, House Democrats pro-
when the President raided their ac- ability—a liability shield, if you will, posed and passed a massive $3.4 trillion
counts to build his almighty wall in not against gross negligence, not piece of legislation that they called a
the southern border. Perhaps the ma- against intentional misconduct—those coronavirus relief bill. Subsequently, it
jority leader can explain to us the li- types of things would not be covered— has been endorsed by Senate Demo-
ability immunity which is being pro- crats who have gone so far as to offer
but protections if, in fact, they are
posed by the Republican side as a ‘‘red- up unanimous consent requests here on
doing all the right things, consistent
line, take it or leave it, we will walk the Senate floor to adopt the House-
with the guidelines, following the rules
away if you don’t like it’’ approach.
that have been put in place, that they passed bill. In reality, that House-
It would be one thing if the Repub-
should have at least some protections. passed bill, $3.4 trillion bill, was a
lican leader were in the room, actually
That is going to be true not just of lengthy liberal wish list which even
negotiating, but he just makes a red-
schools and small businesses, but it is Members of the Democrats’ own party
line and walks away. That redline is a
also going to be true of healthcare pro- dismissed as dead on arrival. In fact,
subsidy to the largest corporations in
America, giving them liability immu- viders. We have people on the Democrats had some work to do to per-
nity when it comes to possible court frontlines who are sacrificing every suade Members of their own caucus in
suits. day to try and get people better, to the House to vote for the bill.
Wouldn’t we want a standard to heal those who have contracted the As POLITICO put it at the time: ‘‘As
make sure that all businesses and virus, and also protect those who are of late Thursday evening, the House
every individual or group or business is on the frontlines from getting it. They, Democratic leadership was engaged in
doing its best to keep America safe? too, are going to need those very types what a few senior aides and lawmakers
When we say, don’t worry about any li- of protections that are called for in our described as the most difficult arm-
ability in court if you ignore the public legislation. twisting of the entire Congress: con-
health reality, that is no guarantee So this is not something that was put vincing their rank and file to vote for
that it is going to be a safe environ- in there on a whim just because we a $3 trillion stimulus bill that will
ment for America when we reopen this knew that the Democrats wouldn’t like never become law.’’
economy. it. It was put in there because of feed- That is from POLITICO. The House
I yield the floor. back we received from States, local bill includes various ‘‘coronavirus pri-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- governments, school districts, orities’’ like funding for diversity and
ator from South Dakota. healthcare providers, hospitals, nurs- inclusion studies in the marijuana in-
f ing homes, and, yes, some small busi- dustry, tax cuts for blue-State million-
nesses, all of whom are going to be es- aires, federalizing elections. Those are
CORONAVIRUS sential if we are going to get the econ- just a few of the items that were in-
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, last omy up and going again and get people cluded in the House-passed bill that it
week Senate Republicans did introduce back to work, kids back to school, and is very hard to argue have anything to
a new coronavirus relief bill called the Americans back on their feet. do with defeating the coronavirus. In
Health, Economic Assistance, Liability So it is an essential part of the legis- fact, the House bill mentions the word
Protection, and Schools Act. This bill lation, one which, so far, the Demo- ‘‘cannabis’’ more often than it men-
is a $1 trillion piece of legislation fo- crats have demonstrated no interest in tions the word ‘‘job,’’ which tells you
cused on getting Americans back to including and, frankly, no interest in all you need to know about the serious-
work, getting kids and college students even having a conversation about, ness of that proposal.
which is unfortunate because it is a Despite all that, Democratic leaders
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
back to school, and providing
healthcare resources to help defeat the critical element, feature, of any bill have taken the House bill as their
virus. As the title says—the Health, that we should be working on right starting and, yes, their ending point
Economic Assistance, Liability Protec- now to provide coronavirus relief. for negotiations. They are insisting
tion, and Schools Act—it does have li- When we introduced this bill, we that Republicans sign off on pretty
ability protections in there. knew this version wouldn’t be the final much everything in their bill, from the
I just listened to the Senator from Il- draft. I think everybody conceded that. tax cuts for wealthy Americans to
linois attack the idea of including We knew we would need to negotiate major changes in election law. And
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