Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Aug. 6, 2020)
Summary
This is page S5230 of the Congressional Record, Senate, August 6, 2020, headed Coronavirus, with interleaved columns. Mr. McConnell accuses Democratic leaders of stonewalling talks on another relief package and says the Senate will not adjourn for August unless Democrats show they will let an agreement materialize. He says the Senate Republican blueprint would put $190 billion into a second draw of the Paycheck Protection Program and criticizes the House Democrats' $3 trillion proposal for leaving it out. He also says the program has sent emergency loans to more than 600,000 small businesses. The page also records the bill S. 4461, on continuing appropriations in the event of a lapse, being placed on the calendar under rule XIV.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Aug. 6, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-08-06-crec-2020-08-06-pt1-pgs5230-6-c2526f38cd/
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S5230 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 6, 2020
Democrats are allowed to have an opin- This is why the Senate Republicans’ Washington. The House has already
ion. blueprint for another major rescue skipped town, but the Senate will not
Day after day, they have stonewalled package would put $190 billion into a adjourn for August unless and until the
the President’s team. Day by day, they second draw of the PPP for the busi- Democrats demonstrate they will never
have tried to invent new euphemisms nesses that most need help. The House let an agreement materialize.
to create the illusion of progress. Yes- Democrats’ $3 trillion wish list totally A lot of Americans’ hopes—a lot of
terday’s contribution from the Speaker left that out. They ignored the PPP. American lives—are riding on the
was this: There is now a light at the We want to re-up it. Democrats’ endless talk. I hope they
end of the tunnel, but ‘‘how long that This is just one of the many ways our are not disappointed.
tunnel is remains to be seen.’’ Well, serious proposal beats the absurd far- f
there are a lot of struggling Americans left wish list the Democrats’ own mod-
who could tell Speaker PELOSI exactly erate Members laughed out of the MEASURE PLACED ON THE
how long this tunnel has been and that room. While they focus on unrelated CALENDAR—S. 4461
it will continue to be endless unless the liberal demands, like tax cuts for rich Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
Democrats let us provide more relief to people in blue States, we are focused on understand there is a bill at the desk
the country. serious solutions for the problems fac- due for a second reading.
Their second week of inaction has ing Americans right now. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
brought the country to a second cliff in Yet, instead of getting serious, the clerk will read the title of the bill for
coronavirus aid. Last week, it was the Democratic leaders have chosen, in- the second time.
extra Federal benefit for laid-off work- stead, to misrepresent and even lie The legislative clerk read as follows:
ers. This week, it is the enormously about what is at stake. The Demo- A bill (S. 4461) to provide for a period of
popular Paycheck Protection Program cratic leader’s repeated misstatements continuing appropriations in the event of a
that has kept millions more Americans about the legal protections that the lapse in appropriations under the normal ap-
off the unemployment rolls in the first propriations process, and establish proce-
Senate Republicans and the White
place. dures and consequences in the event of a fail-
House want for schools, doctors, ure to enact appropriations.
The PPP was written and designed in nurses, charities, and employers have
March by Chairman RUBIO and Chair- Mr. MCCONNELL. In order to place
earned him ‘‘three Pinocchios’’ from
man COLLINS as Main Street America the bill on the calendar under the pro-
the Washington Post and a ‘‘Mostly
was hurtling toward a cliff. Their inno- visions of rule XIV, I object to further
False’’ rating from another fact-check-
vative policy has saved small busi- proceedings.
er. Let me say that again. The Demo-
nesses on a massive scale. Hundreds of The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
cratic leader’s repeated misstatements
billions of dollars have gone out in tion having been heard, the bill will be
about the legal protections the Senate
emergency loans to more than 600,000 placed on the calendar.
Republicans and the White House want
small businesses.
for schools, doctors, nurses, charities, f
I hear constantly from Kentuckians
and employers have earned him ‘‘three RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
whose local businesses and whose jobs
would not have survived the last sev- Pinocchios’’ from the Washington Post The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
eral months without this program. and a ‘‘Mostly False’’ rating from an- the previous order, the leadership time
From distilleries to medical device other fact-checker. He doesn’t even is reserved.
seem to realize that we modeled our
suppliers to domestic violence advo- f
cates, the PPP has helped community medical malpractice reforms on the
COVID-related protections that his fel- CONCLUSION OF MORNING
institutions weather the storm and
low Democrats put in place in New BUSINESS
keep more Kentuckians on the payroll.
This emergency program hasn’t been York. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning
perfect, but it has been a huge, huge So this is where we are—another business is closed.
success. It has remained a success be- week that the Speaker of the House f
cause, back in April, we finally got the and the Democratic leader have spent
stonewalling the President’s team in EXECUTIVE SESSION
Democrats to let us provide another
wave of funding after a pointless delay talks and holding out for ideological
and pointless brinksmanship—you may pet projects with no relationship what-
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
detect a pattern here—but now many soever to the COVID crisis. Now, as a
result, struggling Americans are facing The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
of these businesses are reaching the
another cliff, with another important the previous order, the Senate will pro-
ends of their ropes. Their PPP money
form of relief on its last legs. ceed to executive session to resume
is dwindling, but since the virus re-
We face a second straight week of po- consideration of the following nomina-
mains with us, even where shutdown
litical theater from our Democratic tion, which the clerk will report.
orders have been lifted, commerce has
colleagues with no result—except more The legislative clerk read the nomi-
not roared all the way back.
One survey found that one in four pain for families, more uncertainty for nation of John Peter Cronan, of New
workers who were hired back and kept workers, and more evidence to suggest York, to be United States District
getting paid because of the PPP has that perhaps the Democratic leaders Judge for the Southern District of New
now been warned he might be let go were never serious about getting some- York.
again, and you can bet that number thing accomplished in the first place. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
will increase. All across America, small business suggest the absence of a quorum.
Here is how one business owner ex- owners are hurting and hoping the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
plained the looming danger to report- Democrats get reasonable and allow clerk will call the roll.
ers: ‘‘If there isn’t another round of another major package to move for- The legislative clerk proceeded to
stimulus, we’ll start cutting past the ward. Unemployed Americans need call the roll.
fat and to the bone, and that’s our peo- these endless talks to finally bear Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
ple, and our people are hard to re- fruit, and so do school principals and ask unanimous consent that the order
place.’’ working parents and senior citizens for the quorum call be rescinded.
Congress should be strengthening the and nurses and doctors and university The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs.
PPP. Instead, the Democrats have put presidents and students of all ages. HYDE-SMITH). Without objection, it is
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
it in jeopardy. This Saturday, August That is why I will not be adjourning so ordered.
8, is the official deadline for anyone the Senate for our August recess today RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
who hasn’t yet gotten a loan to apply. as had been previously scheduled. I The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
The door closes the day after tomor- have told Republican Senators they Democratic leader is recognized.
row, and many firms that did receive will have 24-hours’ notice before a vote, CORONAVIRUS
the assistance are getting nearer to the but the Senate will be convening on Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President,
bottom of the well. Monday, and I will be right here in over the past week and a half, Speaker
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August 6, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5231
PELOSI and I have been engaged in seri- Our Republican counterparts refuse can vote on something and go home, we
ous discussions and negotiations with to acknowledge that running an elec- are not going to agree to an inadequate
the White House over another round of tion in the middle of a pandemic is bill that doesn’t address the challenges
emergency relief for the American peo- going to be difficult; that State elec- in our country.
ple. Our motivation is simple: Ameri- tion systems are going to need more re- We are not going to give up. We are
cans are crying out for relief. sources; and our post office must be going to keep fighting until we achieve
Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths well-staffed and prepared to manage an the caliber of legislation the American
continue to climb. The snowball of eco- election that will see more voting by people, during this time of great crisis,
nomic impacts continue to roll down- mail than any before. need and deserve. We are going to keep
hill. This morning, we learned that an- Yesterday, the Republican leader working until we get it done.
other 1.2 million Americans filed for scoffed at the idea of extended en- I yield the floor.
unemployment—far more than at any hanced unemployment benefits because I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
time during the great recession that it would mean that some Americans
clerk will call the roll.
began in 2008. without work would be paid more than The senior assistant legislative clerk
Our two parties don’t agree on many our essential workers. Conveniently, proceeded to call the roll.
things. That is no secret. The Trump the Republican leader did not mention Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask
administration has bungled this crisis that Democrats have proposed for unanimous consent that the order for
from the very beginning and even now months that we give our essential the quorum call be rescinded.
is careening from one self-inflicted cri- workers additional hazard pay and that The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
sis to the next. Democrats believe that he and his party continue to block it. objection, it is so ordered.
Congress has a moral obligation to step If our friends on the other side are fi- CORONAVIRUS
into the breach to help Americans put nally worried about how little many of Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, the
food on the table and keep a roof over our essential workers are making as we news this morning about the actions
their heads, to save our economy from are, I would hope they will put their taken by Facebook and Twitter in rela-
a deeper recession and longer recovery, money where their mouth is and sup- tion to statements made by President
and to fight this disease with all the port our proposal to give them hazard Trump is incredible. We now have a de-
resources and wherewithal a great na- pay. cision by these two major sources of
tion can bring to bear. When it comes to elections and edu- social media to draw down and to re-
After the Senate Republican major- cation, food assistance for hungry chil- move statements made by the Presi-
ity failed in spectacular fashion to put dren, and, mind-bogglingly, when it dent of the United States on the issue
together a bill even its own Members comes to healthcare, testing, tracing, of the national health emergency
could support, Democrats have engaged and Medicaid, our Republican friends which we currently face.
in arduous negotiations with the White continue to pinch pennies during a na- They believe—and certainly, on its
House trying to impress upon them the tional emergency. face, it is clear—that these statements
gravity of the situation. We have made Again, this is the reason our negotia- by President Trump misrepresented
some progress this week but not tions with the White House have been medical fact in terms of the immunity
enough. The biggest reason is that so difficult. The President and his aides of children to COVID–19 and the state
Trump and his aides and his party in and his party in Congress are not even of play in America when it comes to
Congress are not truly awake to what awake to the crisis in our country. this pandemic.
is happening in this country. President Trump doesn’t have a plan, The numbers 5 and 25 tell a real
The Trump administration and Sen- doesn’t engage in negotiations, and story. America has roughly 5 percent of
ate Republicans have badly mauled the still manages to undercut the negotia- the world’s population and, sadly, 25
body politic, the American economy, tions at every turn. percent of the COVID infections in the
and American healthcare. We Demo- There is no leadership from the world. How could a great and strong
crats believe the patient needs a major White House at a time of great crisis. nation like ours have reached this
operation, while Republicans want to Historians will look back and say this point where this medical crisis has
apply a bandaid. And we will not let is one of the greatest crises America reached a point where many parts of
them just pass the bandaid, go home, has felt, and the White House is no- America are facing recordbreaking in-
and still leave America bleeding. That where to be found. It has never hap- fection levels?
is the difference right now on so many pened before. Part of it has to do with the lack of
issues. Way back in March, after we passed leadership: a President who has refused
Our Republican counterparts refuse the CARES Act, the Senate Republican to acknowledge experts like Dr. Fauci
to acknowledge that Americans who majority made a dangerous gamble. and others, who, when they say things
have lost their jobs through no fault of that disappoint him, are banished from
Leader MCCONNELL said he was putting
their own might need some assistance appearing on television with him or
the Senate on ‘‘pause’’ to see what
making public statements in con-
with rent. The Republican leader warns would happen. Senate Republicans
tradiction of his bizarre point of view.
of an epidemic of lawsuits that hasn’t swallowed the President’s ridiculous
We also know, as well, that the Presi-
materialized. What will materialize fantasy that the disease would just dis- dent has downplayed, from the start,
soon is an epidemic of evictions unless appear. Hoping they wouldn’t have to the threat of this COVID–19. One of the
we extend the moratorium and pass do anything, the Republican majority reasons Facebook and Twitter removed
rental assistance. Between 19 and 23 put the Senate on ice for 4 long his statements is that the President
million households—one in five rental months—4 months. Only yesterday, continues to diminish the severity of
households—will be at risk of eviction Leader MCCONNELL admitted that his this crisis.
by the end of September unless we do delay ‘‘allowed us to learn the We know, as well, that he has failed
something, unless our Republican col- coronavirus didn’t mysteriously dis- to tell us the truth and has speculated
leagues wake up. appear.’’ on medical theories that are just pure
Our Republican counterparts refuse Look, at this late stage, after months quackery. Who can forget the Presi-
to acknowledge that State, local, and of Republican delay, as the country got dent’s famous press conference talking
Tribal governments, which the Trump worse and worse, after Republicans in about ingesting disinfectants, his theo-
administration abandoned in the early the Senate failed to generate a pro- ries about ultraviolet lights, and this
days of this crisis, might need Federal posal that even their own caucus or
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
hydroxychloroquine fantasy that he
support to prevent teachers, fire- President could support, Democrats are continues to enjoy telling the Amer-
fighters, busdrivers from being laid off now in the room—we are the ones in ican people? We know, as well, that he
and public services from being slashed the room trying to negotiate a bill that has failed to take action when it was
at the worst possible time. Leader will meet the country’s needs. needed.
MCCONNELL just states that States While some of my friends on the Initially, Governors, including my
should go bankrupt. That is not accept- other side of the aisle are just looking own in the State of Illinois, were des-
able. for an outcome, any outcome, so they perate for the equipment that they
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