Congressional Record, August 6, 2020 — Senate
Summary
This is the Congressional Record, Senate, for August 6, 2020, pages S5245 and S5246 and following, with interleaved columns. Mr. Portman says negotiations on the next COVID package are deadlocked over the $600 federal unemployment supplement, cites a Congressional Budget Office estimate that roughly five of every six recipients would receive more than they could earn from work, and offers a request to keep the $600 supplement for one more week. Another Senator criticizes the Democratic leaders for refusing, proposes a return-to-work bonus, and mentions a plan from Timothy Geithner and Jason Furman. Mr. Sullivan then gives an Alaskan of the Week tribute to a woman who recently moved to Homer.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record, August 6, 2020 — Senate.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-08-06-crec-2020-08-06-pt1-pgs5245-32a28e4741/
, SHA-256 418778cbfb5d3ef9462940ee53f95c3c17b0c558b707cb2c907ab7d23f6826a4.Full text
August 6, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5245
rank—who have passed through the employment insurance than they can package at a time when we had unem-
Senate Foreign Relations Committee make at work. ployment that was such a shock and so
overwhelmingly with bipartisan sup- In fact, the Congressional Budget Of- high, and people were in such need of
port. fice, which is a nonpartisan group here immediate cash. But also I have heard,
Every year, we get the State Depart- in the U.S. Congress that analyzes again, from so many of my colleagues
ment’s budget. Every year, we have a some of these economic issues, has said on both sides of the aisle, that the $600
budget that is decimated, including for that if someone is on unemployment is something they are hearing about
the issues that my colleague cares insurance today, they are likely to be more and more back home from the
about. It is because those of us on the making substantially more than some- employers who say: We can’t get people
committee who believe in the power of one who is not on unemployment insur- back to work.
diplomacy in the State Department ance. In other words, people are mak- So the $600 is something that there
work feverishly to restore and enhance ing more not to work than to work. needs to be some flexibility on to come
the budget of the State Department CBO says: ‘‘Roughly five of every six up with a smarter way to ensure that
that it has been able to carry out its recipients would receive benefits that people can continue to get a Federal
mission. But the budget that the Sec- exceeded the weekly amounts they supplement because we do continue to
retary of State comes before the com- could expect to earn from work during have relatively high unemployment in
mittee to defend and advocate for is a those months’’ if you were to extend this country. In my own State of Ohio,
huge, huge consequence. this until the end of the year. there is almost 11 percent unemploy-
Look, we are constantly doing things In other words, they are saying that ment. But let’s not have it be so much
to protect the lives of American citi- 80 percent of UI recipients would make that people are incentivized not to
zens in the committee. I could enu- more on unemployment insurance than work. That doesn’t help anybody.
merate a number both of resolutions as they would have at their old jobs— There are ‘‘Help Wanted’’ signs all
well as legislative language that would meaning that if you followed where the over my State. I was at a Ford plant
have far-reaching—I mean, I am in Democratic negotiators are in keeping recently, where they have 25 percent
favor of resolutions. They are an ex- $600 in place until the end of the year, absenteeism, which they attribute to
pression of sentiment. But legislation there would be an unprecedented dis- this issue. I have been at a lot of small
that puts into action within our laws incentive to go to work in this coun- businesses, which is where probably
the ability of countries that conduct try. most of my colleagues are hearing a lot
blasphemy and other types of crimes I think that is widely acknowledged. of concerns about the fact that they
against people who simply want to pur- The University of Chicago has a study can’t get people who used to work for
sue their religious views—that would that isn’t quite 80 percent; it says 68 them to come back, and they certainly
be far more consequential. percent, though. I don’t think anybody can’t hire the new people they need,
So there is a lot that goes on in the disputes the fact that most people on even though they are reopening safely
committee, and a lot of it has actually unemployment insurance are making and doing everything they are supposed
been bipartisan. By the same token, if more than they would if they were at to do in terms of the guidelines. They
our colleague is chagrined that not work. are having a tough time getting back
enough is moving through the com- When I talk to my Democratic col- to work.
mittee, talk to the chairman because leagues about that, they are hearing There is an auto plant in Ohio where
you can’t move anything through the the same thing I am hearing from the white-collar workers are now work-
committee if you don’t have com- small business owners—by the way, ing on the assembly line because they
mittee business markups, and we from nonprofits, from employers of all can’t get enough workers who would
haven’t had one—I think except for sizes and all stripes—saying that it is normally have those jobs to work on
one—and we are in August. tough to get people to come back to the assembly line.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. work when they can make more on un- So this is a problem right now, and I
BRAUN). The Senator from Ohio. employment insurance by not working. think everybody acknowledges it ex-
f I think a lot of my Democratic col- cept the Democratic negotiators in this
leagues agree. It is good to get people negotiation.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST back to work—get back to work safely, Now, I don’t think we are actually as
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I yes, and we ought to be sure that the far apart as the media accounts would
think we are all a little frustrated employers are following the guidelines suggest because there are lots of ideas
right now because the negotiations on of the Centers for Disease Control and out there. One idea, by the way, makes
the next COVID–19 package seem to be others. But it is good to get people a lot of sense to me, and I am going to
at a standstill. If you talk to the nego- back to work because then they are re- offer this in a moment as a resolution
tiators and you even read the press ac- connected with their healthcare, if for the Senate to take up. I think this
counts, which are pretty open, what they have it, with their retirement sav- is the ultimate common sense—let’s
they say is that they are deadlocked. ings, and with training. That connec- keep $600 in place for now while we ne-
One of the main reasons they are dead- tion to work is a positive thing, pro- gotiate something. Let’s have an ex-
locked is over this issue of unemploy- viding people with dignity and self-re- tension for another week on the unem-
ment insurance. spect. It comes with work, so we should ployment insurance at 600 bucks just
Now, recall, back in the CARES Act, all be for that. so we can negotiate something. What
there was an extension of a Federal Yet when you see what is happening you don’t want is people to fall off the
supplement to unemployment insur- in this negotiation, this is being stalled cliff, and that is starting to happen
ance. So we put in place a $600 Federal because Democrats are being intran- now.
benefit on top of the State benefits. sigent. They are saying stubbornly: We The $600 expired last Friday. So 6
At the time, there were concerns are going to stick to $600. days ago it expired, and 6 days ago, 7
about whether that would lead to peo- Today, there was a press conference days ago, MARTHA MCSALLY, a Senator
ple on unemployment insurance get- with Speaker PELOSI and Democratic from Arizona, came to this floor and
ting more money than they would at Leader SCHUMER, and that is exactly offered this same unanimous consent
work, and there was actually an what they said. Here is the quote: ‘‘We request, saying: Let’s just have 600 for
amendment here on the Senate floor have said that we are going to have another week. CHUCK SCHUMER, the
regarding that. Although it did not $600.’’ This is necessary. Democratic leader, objected—instead,
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
pass, I think pretty much every Repub- I know that that is not where the offering the $3.5 trillion package from
lican supported it with that concern. rank and file are here in this Chamber the House. But he didn’t respond to
In fact, that is what has happened. If because I have talked to a number of why we wouldn’t at least give the nego-
you look at what has happened over my Democratic colleagues about this. tiators a week to come up with some-
the past couple of months, as the $600 They realize that the $600—even those thing.
has been put in place, it clearly has who thought it might have been nec- So I am going to offer that same
often led to people making more on un- essary at the time, and I voted for the thing today because I do think it is not
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:14 Aug 07, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G06AU6.068 S06AUPT1
S5246 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 6, 2020
fair to have a cliff. I don’t think there and again to this notion of: We want it the definition of not negotiating in
should be a cliff. I think people should all or nothing. I will state to my col- good faith, and every Senator knows it.
be able to have some level—but not at league from Oregon who is here on the All 100 of us know it. That was not a
$600 because that is now understood by floor, and I am glad he is—he did a very good faith maneuver.
everybody to mean that you are good job for Democrats negotiating What I predicted was the minority
disincentivizing work. this proposal. I told him about it at the leader of the U.S. Senate, despite that
Americans are a generous people. time. I know he took pride on it, and maneuver which is going to hurt mil-
Back in 2008 and 2009, when we had the he should have. lions of Americans, did it because he
great recession, we also did this. By But we also need now to figure out thinks the national media will give
the way, we did $25 a week then. So for where we go, going forward. None of us him a pass, that no one in the national
Democrats who say this is unprece- should want people to be media will say: Boy, oh boy, the minor-
dented, well, we had 10 percent unem- disincentivized from going to work. We ity leader just blocked a reasonable re-
ployment back then—very high unem- should not have a situation like we quest for an extension to help people.
ployment—and we did $25. I think we have now where, again, you have the But he thinks, and I think with good
should do a lot more than that now but leaders on the Democratic side, Speak- reason, that the national media won’t
not so much that people are making er PELOSI and Democratic Leader blame him for what he just did, so he
more by not working than by working. SCHUMER, saying, ‘‘Today, we have said did it with no explanation. That is not
There are a lot of ideas out there. that we are going to have $600. This is good faith. By definition, coming down
Again, my ideas—ideas of individual necessary.’’ saying, Take my $4 trillion package or
Members—may not be what this body We have to be able to show some you won’t get a 1-week extension of un-
chooses to use, and that is fine. We are flexibility here to be able to break this employment, that is not good faith.
not all going to get our way, but we impasse, to be able to provide for peo- Let me mention one other point
should be able to come up with a com- ple who lost their jobs through no fault which Senator PORTMAN mentioned.
promise here. of their own and need some help, but Now, on this tough issue of unemploy-
My idea is to have a return-to-work not continue to have this policy in ment insurance—and Senator PORTMAN
bonus, so that you are getting the 600 place that doesn’t work for our econ- has been a leader on this—I was talk-
bucks, but you can take some of that ing to some of my Democratic col-
omy, for small businesses, and for
money back with you when you go leagues about them today.
workers themselves. Let’s get the poli-
back to work. That would create an in- By the way, most of them don’t be-
tics out of this. Let’s do something
centive to get people back to work and lieve that $600 until January is a good
that makes sense to be able to move
connect people to those businesses as idea for the reasons Senator PORTMAN
forward on this broader crisis, and I
we talked about and the importance of mentioned.
think if we can fix the unemployment Again, to have the minority leader of
doing that.
But there are other ideas as well. insurance issue, we are likely to get the U.S. Senate and Speaker PELOSI
There is a plan that was put out re- there. just say: 600 bucks, take it or leave it?
cently by two Obama administration Mr. SULLIVAN. Will my colleague Colleagues, you all know—we all
veterans, former Treasury Secretary from Ohio yield? know—that is not good faith. That is
Mr. PORTMAN. I would be happy to not good faith.
Timothy Geithner and economic ad-
yield. It is starting to feel like the minor-
viser Jason Furman. They joined with
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ity leader and the Speaker are not ne-
a former H.W. Bush economist Glenn
ator from Alaska. gotiating in good faith right now. I
Hubbard to put out a proposal from of
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I hope they are—I know a lot of my
the Aspen Institute, hardly a conserv-
want to thank the Senator from Ohio Democratic colleagues are—but people
ative group, that proposes that the un-
for his great leadership on this and so have to remember, regardless of what
employment system—not at $600 but to
many other issues. I see my colleague party you are in, Americans are hurt-
continue at a cap of $400 and have it be
from Oregon is on the floor as well. ing. They need help. We have one foot
determined based unemployment level
I want to talk about an issue that in the recovery, one foot still in the
for the State.
The way unemployment works in the Senator PORTMAN just touched on, but pandemic. But what we need as we ne-
States is the States have a benefit, and it is really the key to what is going on gotiate this package is good faith.
this Federal benefit is on top of it. here, and that it is good faith. Are ne- So I want to thank my colleague
Most States provide on average about gotiations happening in good faith? Or from Ohio again for his strong leader-
50 percent of benefits; $600 is over 100 are they not? ship on this and so many other issues.
percent. It is over 130 percent, in fact. Sometimes, it is hard to tell. Some- I am certainly going to be supportive
So this solution—again, from two times, there is posturing, but, last of unanimous consent requests which
Obama administration economists—is week at this time, Senator PORTMAN, we made at this time just last week to
that you have $400 as a cap, when un- Senator MCSALLY, and myself were on help people—not controversial, a week
employment in those States is above 15 the floor with regard to discussing Sen- extension as we negotiate. It happens
percent and zero Federal supplement ator MCSALLY’s very simple unanimous all the time here in the Senate.
when the State is at 7 percent or less. consent resolution which said as we ne- I certainly hope my colleagues on the
It phases out entirely. That is one bi- gotiate—hopefully, in good faith—the other side of the aisle are not going to
partisan solution that is out there. In- difference between what we have put say, No, take my whatever, or we are
stead of insisting on $600, I would hope forward—the HEALS Act—and the not going to do it, because it doesn’t
at least there is a discussion of those Speaker Pelosi bill from early May—a look or feel like good faith. Do you
kinds of proposals. bit of a stale $4 trillion bill, one-third know who is hurting by that? Do you
Senator ROMNEY has a proposal out of which has nothing to do with the know who is being hurt by that? The
there that takes the amount from $500 pandemic—but as we are trying to ne- American people, who are suffering.
per week in August to $400 to an 80-per- gotiate in good faith, let’s move for- Mr. PORTMAN. I thank my colleague
cent wage replacement phasing out al- ward with an extension of unemploy- from Alaska.
together by year-end. Senator MCCON- ment so people who are hurting can Reclaiming my time, I think he has
NELL put his proposal out for a $200 continue to rely on it. That happens all made a good point. We are not talking
amount over a 2-month period as a the time in the Senate. about a negotiation here. We are talk-
So what happened? The minority
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
transition and then goes to a percent of ing about a weeklong extension of the
wages. His percent of wages is 70 per- leader came down to the Senate floor existing $600 per week, so we could en-
cent of wages. Again, there is no State and blocked it. He blocked it, and his able people to have some certainty and
that is that high. The States are 40 per- response was: I am going to block this predictability on lives.
cent, 50 percent, 60 percent, in that 1-week extension unless the Repub- I have heard from folks back home on
range. licans take the entire $4-trillion Heroes unemployment asking: What are you
So there are ideas out there, and yet Act. That is what he said. If you are doing? Why can’t you come to an
the Democrats keep coming back again watching or paying attention, that is agreement?
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:14 Aug 07, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G06AU6.069 S06AUPT1
August 6, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5247
We talked about why. The Democrats problem of the national media. Well, I kind of lazy, that they don’t want to
don’t seem interested about moving off would say, colleagues, the national work and the like.
their proposal, and they said it again media has been repeating what I just I will tell you, on the Finance Com-
today. Maybe they think this is good said, which are the exact views of peo- mittee, I hear continually from my
politics—maybe they think this is ple who aren’t Democrats or Repub- friend from Ohio who talks about the
something worth hurting these people licans, they are the administrators of superior work ethic of Ohioans. Now he
who are looking, to see if I am going to this crucial program. is out here talking about how every-
get my unemployment or not. A short-term extension isn’t enough body is not willing to work and unem-
I had a tele-townhall last night with for the hard-working Americans rely- ployment benefits are causing folks to
a woman whose husband works in the ing on this lifeline who don’t have jobs stay home rather than work because
hospitality business, and he has lost to go back to. What about next week they are too generous. I think that is
his job, and everybody else in that and the week after? There is going to just a bunch of hogwash. I believe
business has told him: Sorry, we are be promises for week after week that Americans believe deeply in the dig-
not open for business. He does need the also can’t get the money to people so nity of work.
help. She didn’t insist on $600, but she they can make rent and buy groceries. We just had a nationwide townhall
said: Give us some certainty that The only responsible route is to agree meeting about the unemployment
something will go forward. to the extension that really looks to issue, and people were saying: I can’t
So that is what this is about. This is economic conditions, ties these bene- believe they are calling us lazy and
just to say give us a week at $600, the fits to economic conditions and then saying we don’t want to work. I get a
full amount, in order to negotiate lower the payments only when it is ap- job offer on Monday night, and I will be
something that makes more sense for propriate to do so, and that means up there at the crack of dawn on Tues-
the economy, for small businesses, and when the economy is in recovery, not day.
for workers. This MARTHA MCSALLY when it is facing the kind of dramatic That is what workers are saying. So
motion which was offered earlier this contraction that we all were so con- this idea that they are staying home
week and last week, we are going to cerned about last week. because they don’t want to work—be-
offer today. It is a unanimous consent. To me, this is all part of an effort to sides, it is a violation of the rules of
I ask unanimous consent that the deflect the fact that when I—and I am the program as well—I think is just
Senate proceed to the immediate con- just going to talk about myself specifi- hogwash.
sideration of the bill at the desk; I fur- cally—but Senator SCHUMER, the I would also like to put into the
ther ask that the bill be considered Speaker sent letter after letter calling RECORD right now the latest assess-
read a third time and passed and that for negotiations because everybody ment from the Bureau of Labor Statis-
the motion to reconsider be considered knew there was a cliff. I said it repeat- tics about what is really going on out
made and laid upon the table. edly. I said: Don’t go home, Leader here, because the issue is not workers
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there MCCONNELL. Stay here. This cliff is being lazy; the issue is scarcity of jobs.
objection? coming, end of July, last weekend, The Bureau of Labor Statistics—again,
The Senator from Oregon. when people got the checks. not a political operation—has reported
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, reserving So there was a comment about unem- that there are four unemployed Ameri-
the right to object, the Senate Repub- ployed folks being pushed off the cliff. cans for every job out there. Let me re-
licans have spent much of this week of- Well, I am here to tell you, it was Sen- peat that. Not politicians. Not anec-
fering this idea of a 1-week extension of ate Republicans by their inaction who dotes. Not somebody who said some-
the $600 unemployment insurance sup- pushed those workers off the cliff. thing to somebody else. Those are the
plement. They have done this as an al- Now, what is needed is a long-term facts, colleagues. The Bureau of Labor
ternative to spending the week doing solution that ensures the extra $600 re- Statistics reported that there are four
real negotiating, which is what I and mains available for as long as this dev- unemployed Americans for every job
many Senate Democrats have been astating crisis continues. out there.
calling for, for not just days but weeks I heard my colleagues talk about I ask unanimous consent to have
and weeks—literally, months—as we workers. A lot of workers who were printed in the RECORD the Bureau of
called for an advanced proposal. laid off once and then brought back Labor Statistics analysis showing the
In my view, the only thing worse have been laid off again. That is really paucity of jobs.
than what the Republicans have done, representative of the challenge. There being no objection, the mate-
cutting off desperately needed unem- I also want to mention, as we talk rial was ordered to be printed in the
ployment insurance to millions of fam- about ideas—I heard my colleagues RECORD, as follows:
ilies and communities, would be to talk about it—another big snake oil
allow a bill to pass that promises idea coming out of the White House NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS PER JOB OPENING,
money without actually delivering it. that somehow an Executive order is SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
That is snake oil, and I am going to be going to accomplish all of this. We hear
Number of unem-
very specific in describing why that is the words ‘‘Executive order.’’ That Month ployed persons per
the case. sounds like it is going to be fast. Man, job opening
Even if this short-term extension that sounds good. Executive order; let’s May 2005 ......................................................................... 2.0
were to pass, experts and State agen- move fast. In actuality, it would throw June 2005 ........................................................................ 1.8
July 2005 .......................................................................... 1.7
cies have said in very clear terms that the States in chaos. It would be tied up Aug 2005 ......................................................................... 1.8
States don’t have enough time to re- in the courts. It would slow everything Sept 2005 ........................................................................ 1.7
Oct 2005 .......................................................................... 1.8
program their systems and avoid a down, just like each of the Senate Re- Nov 2005 .......................................................................... 1.8
lapse in benefits. A lot of them just publican legislative proposals so far. Dec 2005 .......................................................................... 1.8
Jan 2006 .......................................................................... 1.6
have, as my colleague from Ohio For example, they all still try to drive Feb 2006 .......................................................................... 1.7
knows—I was talking about it for days the idea of wage replacement. We have Mar 2006 ......................................................................... 1.5
Apr 2006 .......................................................................... 1.4
in the Finance Committee room—that seen problems with getting the amount May 2006 ......................................................................... 1.5
these State unemployment systems are out initially, the $600. Wait until you June 2006 ........................................................................ 1.5
July 2006 .......................................................................... 1.6
not equipped to switch the benefits on see what happens with the Republican Aug 2006 ......................................................................... 1.5
and off. These short-term extensions wage proposals. Sept 2006 ........................................................................ 1.4
Oct 2006 .......................................................................... 1.4
There is a path here, and that is to
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
won’t work and don’t work administra- Nov 2006 .......................................................................... 1.5
tively. negotiate in good faith. My Republican Dec 2006 .......................................................................... 1.5
Jan 2007 .......................................................................... 1.5
Nobody following this debate has to colleagues have been stalling on nego- Feb 2007 .......................................................................... 1.5
take my word for it. That is what the tiating in good faith because they Mar 2007 ......................................................................... 1.4
Apr 2007 .......................................................................... 1.4
National Association of State Work- thought somehow—and I find this a May 2007 ......................................................................... 1.4
force Agencies have said. real head-scratcher—they could win a June 2007 ........................................................................ 1.4
July 2007 .......................................................................... 1.5
I think there was a comment about, war of words by insulting the American Aug 2007 ......................................................................... 1.5
well, this is an image problem. It is a worker and claiming that they are Sept 2007 ........................................................................ 1.5
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:14 Aug 07, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G06AU6.072 S06AUPT1
S5248 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 6, 2020
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS PER JOB OPENING, NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS PER JOB OPENING, to actually pass a bill that, as I devel-
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED—Continued SEASONALLY ADJUSTED—Continued oped it and brought it to our leadership
and showed it to colleagues, was really
Number of unem- Number of unem-
Month ployed persons per Month ployed persons per to a great extent sparked by what our
job opening job opening friend from South Dakota, a Member of
Oct 2007 .......................................................................... 1.5 Oct 2016 .......................................................................... 1.4
the Republican leadership, said: Well,
Nov 2007 .......................................................................... 1.6 Nov 2016 .......................................................................... 1.3 let’s kind of recognize that when the
Dec 2007 .......................................................................... 1.7 Dec 2016 .......................................................................... 1.3
Jan 2008 .......................................................................... 1.7 Jan 2017 .......................................................................... 1.3
economy gets better, the benefit tapers
Feb 2008 .......................................................................... 1.8 Feb 2017 .......................................................................... 1.3 off.
Mar 2008 ......................................................................... 1.9 Mar 2017 ......................................................................... 1.2 Republicans knew the cliff was com-
Apr 2008 .......................................................................... 1.9 Apr 2017 .......................................................................... 1.2
May 2008 ......................................................................... 2.0 May 2017 ......................................................................... 1.2 ing in July when again Leader SCHU-
June 2008 ........................................................................ 2.2 June 2017 ........................................................................ 1.1 MER and I tried to provide certainty for
July 2008 .......................................................................... 2.4 July 2017 .......................................................................... 1.1
Aug 2008 ......................................................................... 2.5 Aug 2017 ......................................................................... 1.1 American families and communities by
Sept 2008 ........................................................................ 2.9 Sept 2017 ........................................................................ 1.1 passing our bill. Did they come to the
Oct 2008 .......................................................................... 3.0 Oct 2017 .......................................................................... 1.0
Nov 2008 .......................................................................... 3.3 Nov 2017 .......................................................................... 1.1 table with earnest proposals?
Dec 2008 .......................................................................... 3.7 Dec 2017 .......................................................................... 1.1 Senate Republicans have spent the
Jan 2009 .......................................................................... 4.4 Jan 2018 .......................................................................... 1.0
Feb 2009 .......................................................................... 4.5 Feb 2018 .......................................................................... 1,0 week on this idea of a 1-week exten-
Mar 2009 ......................................................................... 5.3 Mar 2018 ......................................................................... 0.9 sion, which the people who run the pro-
Apr 2009 .......................................................................... 5.9 Apr 2018 .......................................................................... 0.9
May 2009 ......................................................................... 5.6 May 2018 ......................................................................... 0.9 grams—the people who are the most
June 2009 ........................................................................ 5.8 June 2018 ........................................................................ 0.9 knowledgeable, who don’t have elec-
July 2009 .......................................................................... 6.4 July 2018 .......................................................................... 0.8
Aug 2009 ......................................................................... 6.3 Aug 2018 ......................................................................... 0.9
tion certificates, who are experts in the
Sept 2009 ........................................................................ 6.0 Sept 2018 ........................................................................ 0.8 field—are saying would not deliver to
Oct 2009 .......................................................................... 6.3 Oct 2018 .......................................................................... 0.8
Nov 2009 .......................................................................... 6.3 Nov 2018 .......................................................................... 0.8
the people who are desperate to buy
Dec 2009 .......................................................................... 6.1 Dec 2018 .......................................................................... 0.9 groceries and pay rent. It would not de-
Jan 2010 .......................................................................... 5.3 Jan 2019 .......................................................................... 0.9
Feb 2010 .......................................................................... 5.7 Feb 2019 .......................................................................... 0.9
liver the funds they so desperately
Mar 2010 ......................................................................... 5.7 Mar 2019 ......................................................................... 0.8 need for quite some time.
Apr 2010 .......................................................................... 4.8 Apr 2019 .......................................................................... 0.8 These proposals are not serious. They
May 2010 ......................................................................... 4.9 May 2019 ......................................................................... 0.8
June 2010 ........................................................................ 5.1 June 2019 ........................................................................ 0.8 are political theater.
July 2010 .......................................................................... 4.6 July 2019 .......................................................................... 0.8 The cliff is here. As Americans fami-
Aug 2010 ......................................................................... 4.8 Aug 2019 ......................................................................... 0.8
Sept 2010 ........................................................................ 5.0 Sept 2019 ........................................................................ 0.8 lies fall over it, I am just stunned that
Oct 2010 .......................................................................... 4.5 Oct 2019 .......................................................................... 0.8 we are hearing Republicans say: You
Nov 2010 .......................................................................... 4.8 Nov 2019 .......................................................................... 0.9
Dec 2010 .......................................................................... 4.8 Dec 2019 .......................................................................... 0.9 know, it is OK to offer these proposals.
Jan 2011 .......................................................................... 4.5 Jan 2020 .......................................................................... 0.8 I have seen a number in elevators,
Feb 2011 .......................................................................... 4.3 Feb 2020 .......................................................................... 0.8
Mar 2011 ......................................................................... 4.2 Mar 2020 ......................................................................... 1.2
leaving town. I am going to be here. I
Apr 2011 .......................................................................... 4.2 Apr 2020 .......................................................................... 4.6 am going to be here because I think
May 2011 ......................................................................... 4.3 May 2020 ......................................................................... 3.9
June 2011 ........................................................................ 4.0 when workers are hurting and they
July 2011 .......................................................................... 3.7 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. can’t make rent and they can’t pay
Aug 2011 ......................................................................... 4.1
Sept 2011 ........................................................................ 3.7 Mr. WYDEN. I will just say that I am groceries, you stay at it.
Oct 2011 .......................................................................... 3.7 The Senator from Ohio knows that is
Nov 2011 .......................................................................... 3.8 stunned that colleagues are saying
how we got to $600, because when Sec-
Dec 2011 .......................................................................... 3.6 that American workers are out trying
Jan 2012 .......................................................................... 3.3 retary Scalia folded his arms and said
Feb 2012 .......................................................................... 3.6 to scam the system and really don’t
he couldn’t really do anything that
Mar 2012 ......................................................................... 3.2 want to work and all of these things
Apr 2012 .......................................................................... 3.3 would present a real benefit, we spent 3
May 2012 ......................................................................... 2.2 that I think suggest a very different
days—3 long days—and we said on our
June 2012 ........................................................................ 3.2 picture than what I hear from workers
July 2012 .......................................................................... 3.3 side: You are not going to stiff the
Aug 2012 ......................................................................... 3.2 and, by the way, what I hear from my
workers, and we will just average the
Sept 2012 ........................................................................ 3.1 friend from Ohio when he is in the Fi-
Oct 2012 .......................................................................... 3.2 benefit. Some would get more, some
Nov 2012 .......................................................................... 3.2 nance Committee.
would get less, but we would give ev-
Dec 2012 .......................................................................... 3.2 I have a final point. The Republicans
Jan 2013 .......................................................................... 3.2 erybody in America who, through no
Feb 2013 .......................................................................... 3.0 knew the cliff was coming in May when
fault of their own, has been laid off a
Mar 2013 ......................................................................... 2.9 the House passed the Heroes Act. They
Apr 2013 .......................................................................... 2.9 chance to pay the rent, buy groceries,
May 2013 ......................................................................... 2.8 knew the cliff was coming in June. I
and at the same time keep the econ-
June 2013 ........................................................................ 2.8 am just going to walk this through be-
July 2013 .......................................................................... 2.9 omy afloat.
Aug 2013 ......................................................................... 2.7 cause I heard: Oh my goodness, all of For all of those reasons, and espe-
Sept 2013 ........................................................................ 2.7 the Democrats are involved in pushing cially reflecting my disappointment
Oct 2013 .......................................................................... 2.6
Nov 2013 .......................................................................... 2.7 workers off the cliff. that after—and I just walked every-
Dec 2013 .......................................................................... 2.6 The Republicans knew the cliff was body through it—one effort to go and
Jan 2014 .......................................................................... 2.5
Feb 2014 .......................................................................... 2.4 coming in May. That is when the House negotiate; a couple of weeks later, an-
Mar 2014 ......................................................................... 2.4 passed their bill. They knew the cliff other effort; then in July, another ef-
Apr 2014 .......................................................................... 2.1
May 2014 ......................................................................... 2.1 was coming a few weeks after that fort. But nothing happened. In fact, I
June 2014 ........................................................................ 1.9 when Senator SCHUMER and I intro- stood right where I am, as benefits
July 2014 .......................................................................... 2.0
Aug 2014 ......................................................................... 1.8 duced and tried to get passed a piece of were about to expire, and I said: How
Sept 2014 ........................................................................ 1.9 legislation that was really based, I say can the Republican leader basically say
Oct 2014 .......................................................................... 1.8
Nov 2014 .......................................................................... 1.9 to my friend from Ohio—and something we are going home? When they asked
Dec 2014 .......................................................................... 1.8 I heard our friend from South Dakota, him about moving anything to really
Jan 2015 .......................................................................... 1.7
Feb 2015 .......................................................................... 1.6 Senator THUNE, talk about—Senator meet the needs of the workers, the
Mar 2015 ......................................................................... 1.6 THUNE said: You know, I get it. When press reported—everybody was quoting
Apr 2015 .......................................................................... 1.5
May 2015 ......................................................................... 1.6 folks are hurting, the benefits have to the press—that the Republican leader
June 2015 ........................................................................ 1.6 be used to pay the rent and buy gro- laughed.
July 2015 .......................................................................... 1.3
Aug 2015 ......................................................................... 1.5 ceries. But when unemployment goes I yield the floor.
Sept 2015 ........................................................................ 1.5 down, the benefit should taper down. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
Oct 2015 .......................................................................... 1.4
That is essentially what the Demo-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Nov 2015 .......................................................................... 1.4 objection?
Dec 2015 .......................................................................... 1.4 cratic leader, Senator SCHUMER, and I Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, excuse
Jan 2016 .......................................................................... 1.3
Feb 2016 .......................................................................... 1.3 offered—to tie unemployment insur- me. I object.
Mar 2016 ......................................................................... 1.3 ance to the realities of what is on the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
Apr 2016 .......................................................................... 1.4
May 2016 ......................................................................... 1.3 ground in the American economy. tion is heard.
June 2016 ........................................................................ 1.3 Republicans knew the cliff was com- Mr. PORTMAN. I was hoping after all
July 2016 .......................................................................... 1.3
Aug 2016 ......................................................................... 1.4 ing in May. They knew a few weeks that there wouldn’t be an objection be-
Sept 2016 ........................................................................ 1.4 later that Senator SCHUMER and I tried cause I can’t believe that my friend
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:14 Aug 07, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06AU6.004 S06AUPT1
August 6, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5249
from Oregon believes that it is not a My deep concern is that the nego- people who are suffering as leverage in
good idea to do an extension. All we tiators are so intransigent on the negotiations. That is not what we
are talking about is an extension for a Democratic side that we will end up should be doing. We should be working
week of the $600, the full amount, even hurting the very people Democrats are in good faith to try to get to an agree-
though, again, all the data out there talking about helping. ment, and we should be making state-
shows that amount is not practical for Let’s come up with a sensible solu- ments on the Senate floor that are ac-
our economy, for workers, or for busi- tion. I think there is a path here, and tually factual.
nesses. it is to negotiate in good faith. I think What just happened here was that
He made a valiant effort trying to ex- an Executive order isn’t necessary if the Senator from Oregon objected to
plain why he is not for that, but I know we do our work. I think inaction by not American citizens getting their unem-
that people who are watching just negotiating in good faith is the worst ployment benefits restored. That is a
think it is common sense. Let’s con- possible outcome. fact.
tinue to discuss, but let’s be sure we I yield to my colleague from Alaska. I yield the floor.
have, as my colleague from Alaska Mr. SULLIVAN. Thank you, Senator Mr. PORTMAN. I yield back.
said, good-faith negotiations. That is PORTMAN. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
I have a lot of respect for my col- ator from Texas.
not good faith, to say $600 or nothing.
league from Oregon, who unfortunately CORONAVIRUS
And that is exactly what the nego-
tiators have said. just left the Senate floor, but there Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, before
To my colleague from Oregon, I wish they go again. On the Senate floor, the they leave the floor, I just want to
they would authorize you to negotiate. Senator from Oregon just said ‘‘Repub- compliment my colleagues from Alas-
I think you and I could actually work licans cut off unemployment insurance ka and Ohio on making a very impor-
out something, and I think you prob- for millions of families’’ when, in re- tant point. You would think, from the
ably do too. But they have not author- ality, what we have just witnessed—if press, that there are negotiations tak-
ized us, and the Democratic nego- you are watching—on the Senate floor ing place, but the truth is that Speaker
tiators have said $600 or nothing. is that the Senator from Oregon ob- PELOSI and the minority leader in the
This notion that the 1-week exten- jected to restoring unemployment ben- Senate, Senator SCHUMER, have shown
sion just doesn’t work—absolutely it efits for millions of Americans. That is zero interest in resolving the dif-
works. Are you telling me that the a fact. That is just what happened. ferences on this next COVID–19 pack-
State unemployment offices would not So he says one thing—and again, I age. I think it is just very important
provide the $600? Of course they would. think they get a little bit careless be- for my colleagues to lay out the facts
There would be a lapse, of course. cause they think the national media because there is a tendency to ignore
will just report what he says. But he the facts in favor of a mythical or a
There would be a week or two, they
said, ‘‘I object.’’ When he said ‘‘I ob- fantasy construct, so I appreciate their
say. But that $600 would be in people’s
ject,’’ here is what he meant: I object statements.
pockets. Hopefully, sometime soon, now that
By the way, there is a lapse right to restoring unemployment benefits for
the enhanced unemployment benefits
now, so people who lost their unem- millions of Americans. That is what
have been allowed to expire as a result
ployment last Friday in some States, the Senator from Oregon just did.
of Democratic objections and where the
including Ohio, continue to get it be- There is no denying that. And right be-
Paycheck Protection Program, which
cause there is a lapse in the payment. fore he did it, he said that Republicans
was the single most successful part of
So, yes, people would get the money. Of cut off unemployment for millions of
the CARES Act legislation that we
course they would get it. And they Americans. That is just not true—not
passed, is likewise scheduled to termi-
would be able to plan on it and have true.
nate here soon, I hope Democratic ne-
some certainty. He just objected to restoring unem-
gotiators will get serious about pro-
Frankly, if it hadn’t been blocked ployment benefits for a week—$600 for
viding a fifth coronavirus relief pack-
last week when Senator MCSALLY millions of Americans—just like the
age to support our country through
stood right over here and offered it, it Democratic leader from New York did
this unprecedented crisis.
would be even sooner that people would last week. Then he said: ‘‘Short-term We are doing pretty well. During the
get it. I say it is 1 to 2 weeks, so for extensions are not enough.’’ That is an- previous legislation, we virtually
some people, they would be getting it other quote from the Senator from Or- passed these trillion-plus-dollar bills,
right now. egon, but he didn’t finish the sentence multitrillion-dollar bills, essentially
It is absolutely essential for us to fig- by saying: And because I objected, they by unanimous vote because we knew
ure out how to find a way forward here. are going to get zero. we were in the middle of an emergency.
It is not, to me, an option for us to do So think about that one. Short-term We knew that it was not a time for pol-
nothing. We can’t allow this cliff to extensions are not enough—sounds itics; it was a time to try to help peo-
continue. But in the meantime, all we good—so he objects so there are no ex- ple who were out of work or needed
are saying is, let’s just have a little tensions. Again, that is just what hap- help from our beleaguered healthcare
time to work it out, and hopefully the pened on the floor. providers.
Democrats will get off of their $600 and He didn’t say one thing about this So we rose to the occasion, pre-
realize that is not a path forward be- issue that Senator PORTMAN and I have viously, by bolstering our healthcare
cause it doesn’t work. been discussing, which is good-faith ne- response, making testing free of
You are right. When we put the $600 gotiations. There is not one Senator in charge, providing vital funding for our
in place, our thought was that would be this body who believes that when the hospitals, and arming our medical
about average. In other words, it would Democratic leader comes to the floor workers with the personal protective
be the average wage replacement, so of the Senate and says ‘‘take the $4 equipment and other medical equip-
that you would have half the people trillion Speaker PELOSI bill passed in ment they needed in order to sustain
making a little more and half the peo- early May or nothing,’’ that that is the fight. We have poured funding into
ple making a little less. That is not good faith. It is almost, by definition, the research and development of a vac-
how it worked out. bad faith. cine, therapeutics, and treatments,
Again, the Congressional Budget Of- So I think our colleagues, who are which are coming along, and we are all
fice—nonpartisan CBO—says that more trying to negotiate in good faith but hopeful an American company will win
than 80 percent of the UI recipients are are getting locked down by their lead-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
the global race for a vaccine in addi-
going to make more on unemployment ership, are having a bit of a problem tion to these therapeutics.
than they would at their old jobs, if because they know this isn’t good The legislation we passed so far has
you follow the Democratic proposal. In faith, and they know people are suf- buoyed the workers and families in
Chicago, 68 percent, but that is not fering. That is why we have got to need of financial assistance with direct
what we intended. Certainly, we should work together to get to an agreement, payments, bolstered unemployment
be able to adjust here, and we should be but what we cannot do and what I fear benefits, as well as conferred the abil-
able to get to yes. the other side is starting to do is use ity to defer student loan payments
VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:20 Aug 07, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G06AU6.074 S06AUPT1
S5250 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 6, 2020
with no penalty, and we have supported What is the Speaker’s priority when insurance than they were previously
our wobbly economy with assistance it comes to COVID–19? Well, it is a soil employed—80 percent.
for Main Street businesses through the health program, environmental justice That brings us to a point far beyond
Paycheck Protection Program that I grants, permanent changes in election giving workers the financial support
mentioned a moment ago and other law, and not one but two diversity they need to stay afloat. Instead, the
loans for industries that our State and studies in the marijuana industry. Federal Government is paying people
counties rely upon, as well as countless POLITICO called this bill, at the not to work. That is the wrong incen-
jobs. time, a Democratic wish list filled with tive and, certainly, completely unnec-
While Republicans and Democrats all the party’s favorite policies. NPR, essary. Payroll, wage substitution—
were negotiating these bills in good hardly a bastion of conservative com- yes. Paying people not to work—no.
faith, it was clear we had some dif- munication, said it is a long wish list A recent poll found that two-thirds of
ferent ideas about the best way to sup- for Democrats. The New York Times— Americans believe that these enhanced
port our country through the crisis, the New York Times—basically, a benefits discourage people from going
but what mattered most was that we party organ for the Democrats, said back to work, and they are right.
shared the same goal. At least we did the bill was more a messaging docu- Among unemployed Americans, nearly
then. I am beginning to doubt whether ment than a viable piece of legislation. half say they would avoid returning to
we share the same goal now. The goal The reason they said that is because work if these benefits were extended.
then was to help people in distress, eco- one-third of that bill is unrelated to The businesses in my State which
nomically and from a public health the coronavirus. closed their doors earlier this year
standpoint. Now, it seems like Speaker It paid people more to stay home have now had trouble hiring employees
PELOSI and the minority leader in the than to work. It sent checks to illegal back because some 80 percent of those
Senate are more interested in trying to immigrants. It bailed out poorly run former employees are making more not
score political points and use people States. It facilitated ballot harvesting, working than they were working. If we
who are in distress and anxious and marijuana banking, and, as I said, tax were to extend that benefit through
fearful as hostages. breaks for coastal elites. January, as the Heroes Act would, our
Well, it is really, really unaccept- That stands in stark contrast to economy would not recover, as we all
able. We should be strengthening our what we have proposed and what Lead- need it to do.
fight against the virus and supporting So there is a delicate balance—but an
er MCCONNELL aptly summed up as
those harmed by economic impact and important balance—between sup-
kids, jobs, and healthcare. Those ought
laying the foundation for a rebound of porting those who need help until they
to be our priorities. As we discover our
our economy, which was one of the can return to the workforce and giving
new normal that exists somewhere be-
strongest in my lifetime right before them an incentive to avoid returning
tween the virus arriving in the United
this pandemic hit. to work. This is not an all-or-nothing
Those remain my priorities today, as States and a vaccine being distributed,
approach. It is not 600 bucks or bust,
we navigate these uncharted waters that is where we need to target our at-
even though that is the way Speaker
and prepare to strengthen our fight at tention and our support.
That includes funding for educators PELOSI and Minority Leader SCHUMER
this crucial time, but the hangup in ne- like to put it.
gotiations between Democrats and the who are in the process of planning the
We can and we should begin and con-
administration seems to indicate that safest way to teach students in the fall
tinue to supplement State unemploy-
our Democratic colleagues have shifted and childcare for working parents who ment benefits and give workers the in-
course—or at least that Speaker are heading back to the office. It in- come they need to support their fami-
PELOSI and Minority Leader SCHUMER cludes helping the workers who had the lies without paying people more to
have. rug pulled out from under them when stay home than to work. It is not rock-
The majority of information we are our Democratic colleagues refused to et science.
learning about these negotiations is continue bolstered unemployment ben- We are all anxiously waiting for the
not coming from rank-and-file Mem- efits until these workers can get back Speaker and the minority leader to
bers but from leaks and press con- to a steady paycheck. wake up and start focusing on the task
ferences to the media about private Our bill included continued support at hand, which is on commonsense poli-
meetings in Speaker PELOSI’s office. for our war against the virus itself, cies that support our country through
From what I understand, it sounds like both in hospitals and in research labs. this crisis. Texans don’t have time to
the Speaker and the minority leader These have been the main concerns in wait for the posturing or the poli-
have simply stiff-armed any offers that my recent conversations with my con- ticking and the grandstanding, not to
fall short of their ridiculous Heroes Act stituents in Texas, especially now that mention the heel-dragging. They don’t
legislation that the Speaker and the the bolstered unemployment benefits have an interest in knowing how di-
House passed on a partisan basis a few provided by the CARES Act have ex- verse the marijuana business is, and
weeks ago—that they knew at the time pired. they don’t want to provide a massive
had no chance of becoming law. Since March, more than 3 million tax break to the richest Americans on
This legislation was heralded by Texans have filed for unemployment the east coast at the expense of every-
Speaker PELOSI and Minority Leader benefits, and recipients have taken ad- one else.
SCHUMER as the solution our country vantage of the additional $600 a week. My constituents want to be able to
needs to defeat this virus, so let’s talk This additional income has helped fam- feed their families; they want to be
about what is in it. For starters, the ilies cover the rent, groceries, and able to work; they want to be able to
so-called Heroes Act is a massive tax other critical expenses until they are pay their rent; and they want to know
cut for millionaires and billionaires. If able to return to work, and for many their kids will be healthy as the school
the Heroes Act became law, the workers there is still a great deal of year begins.
wealthiest people in New York and San uncertainty about when that might I implore our colleagues, Speaker
Francisco would receive an average happen. PELOSI, and Minority Leader SCHUMER
benefit of nearly $60,000—$60,000—high- Well, it is clear, though, that that to drop the games, quit hurting people
er than the household income for many $600 additional benefit had some unin- you claim to champion, and pay atten-
Texans. tended consequences. Frankly, we tion to what America really needs.
Well, this has nothing to do with should have capped the amount that I yield the floor.
somebody could receive for unemploy-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
COVID–19 or supporting those who are The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
struggling to make ends meet. It is a ment benefits at their previous earning ator from Alaska.
handout to the people who need it level, but, according to the Texas Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I
least, at everyone else’s expense. But Workforce Commission, with the $600 want to thank my good friend and col-
that is only one line in the long list of weekly benefit on top of the State ben- league from Texas for laying out the
absurdities in this legislation, the He- efit, 80 percent of the people receiving choice before us and highlighting,
roes Act, that have absolutely nothing the unemployment insurance benefit again, this issue of good-faith negotia-
to do with the crisis at hand. were making more on unemployment tions, which hopefully we are starting
VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:20 Aug 07, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G06AU6.050 S06AUPT1
August 6, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5251
to see, but last week we didn’t see; and haven’t, you have to get out to Homer. ‘‘He did an amazing thing,’’ Julia
he talked about the so-called Heroes It is the halibut capital of the world said. He arranged for the Canadians to
Act passed in May—so quite stale. but a magnificently beautiful place. send a military radar plane that could
I will say one other element of that Just the drive from Anchorage to detect metal above sea ice—anything
that was shocking and has been shock- Homer is breathtaking. There is no bigger than a 4-foot square. The plane
ing to me is, there is a whole section other place in the world like it. could cover an area the size of Mani-
on clawing back CARES Act money It is from Homer that Julia keeps toba in 1 night. So they did it.
that went to Alaska Natives. The He- going the now world-renowned founda- It was that search that finally gave
roes Act, the Pelosi $4 trillion bill, has tion, the international Bear Conserva- Julia peace of mind. She said: After the
a section that targets expressly about tion Fund, which is part of the Inter- military plane came and left, I felt like
20 percent of the population of my national Association of Bear Research we had done everything we could have
State—and my State only. By the way, and Management, or IBA, that she and possibly done to find my husband. I
they are amazing, patriotic people who her late husband, wildlife biologist knew my husband was gone, and there
have been through pandemics before John Bevins, founded. was a peace of mind going forward.
and have suffered horrendously during Why the foundation and why the Senator Ted Stevens gave me a life,
these pandemics. The Heroes Act tar- bears? Let me tell you about a tragic she said. He gave me a life free from
gets them and says any money that Na- and beautiful story relating to Julia self-recrimination and free of doubt.
tive Alaskan organizations have re- and her late husband John. She also credits Senator Stevens for
ceived—by the way, organizations, re- Julia was born in New Mexico and giving her enough peace to work to
gional and village corporations set up raised in Australia. She has a degree in honor her husband’s memory in a way
by Congress—any money they have re- veterinary science from the University that was unique to him. She took the
ceived will be clawed back in the He- of Queensland in Australia. She came proceeds she received from the insur-
roes Act. Of course, I am never going to to Alaska in 1984 to get a Ph.D. in wild- ance, and she began the bear founda-
let that bill pass—ever—on this floor. life biology at the University of Alaska tion. It started off small in 1993. The
It is an outrage. Fairbanks. Her focus was on reindeer first year it was up and running, the
They need to get more serious about herd health and disease control. foundation gave away $5,000 in grant
these negotiations, and the ‘‘take it or She met John in 1985, and the two money. That money, which was in-
leave it’’ on the $4 trillion Pelosi bill were married in Fairbanks in July, vested well, began to grow and so did
that specifically targets some of the 1990. They were both in love with Alas- the amount of the grants awarded.
most patriotic Americans in the coun- ka and with each other. It was the love One year, the foundation was able to
try, who happen to be my constitu- of a lifetime, Julia said. give out $50,000 in grant money. The
ents—Alaska Natives—is never going Indeed, it was a great match. She was average size of individual grants is now
to fly. Never. a veterinarian focusing on reindeer. He $8,000. All told, they are able to give
f was a wildlife biologist for the U.S. about $100,000 a year, including dona-
Fish and Wildlife Service, working on tions that they get from individuals
TRIBUTE TO JULIA BEVINS polar bear research—the best wildlife and organizations.
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, it is biologist job you could ever have, polar It is not just about the money that
Thursday, and it is a time that I get to bear research in Alaska. has grown, so has the prestige of this
come to the Senate floor and recognize Then, unfortunately, tragedy struck. foundation. The IBA now has 550 mem-
an Alaskan who has made a difference Three months after they were married, bers from over 60 countries. Because of
in my State and, in this case, someone on October 11, John and his colleague Julia Bevins, in Homer, AK, all across
who has made a difference literally George Menkens, and their pilot, the globe, researchers are working with
around the globe. This is someone I Clifford Minch, got into a twin engine other biologists. They are tracking
refer to as the ‘‘Alaskan of the Week.’’ aero commander at Deadhorse. They bears. They are assisting in manage-
I love to do it. I know some of our re- were headed north to do a low-altitude ment of these great animals. They are
porters listening enjoy this. aerial survey of female polar bears writing papers and sharing informa-
Kristin, I know you love bears, so with cubs who prowl the ice hunting tion. They are doing what they love for
this week you will be particularly in- for food. the ecosystem. Julia said:
terested. They were believed to have traveled When people love bears, they love them
Before I get into the bears and the as far as 250 miles northwest of Barrow, with their whole heart and soul. It’s a very
story and the individual we are going now known as Utqiaqvik—the north- profound thing.
to honor today, let me tell you a little ernmost point of North America. That Julia talked about how the IBA fund-
bit about what is happening in Alaska. is where people believe the plane they ed a researcher to search for a rumored
Like other places in our great Nation, were traveling on vanished. No one small brown bear—the Gobi bear—in
our State is certainly facing chal- really knows where. Mongolia, the only bear to exist in this
lenges—like the rest of America, one The search, at least initially, was ex- extreme desert habitat. There had been
foot in our economic recovery, one foot tensive. In the first few days, members sightings throughout the year, but no
still in this pandemic. It is a chal- of the U.S. Coast Guard flew C–130s, as scientist had ever been able to prove
lenging time, but Alaskans are tough— well as civilians in their aircraft, and its existence.
certainly some of the toughest people spanned the area, flying hundreds of The IBA funded a scientist, Harry
in America. As I say, tough times don’t thousands of square miles looking for Reynolds—an Alaska from Fairbanks—
last, but tough people do. We will get any signs of the aircraft. After a week, to travel through Mongolia and find
through this as a State, as a nation, they decided the search was over. Julia the Gobi bear. And he found them. Now
and I think that certainly applies to was desperate. She knew that her late the Mongolian Government is com-
Alaska. husband and the two others had 2 mitted to its protection.
It is summer. The Sun is high. The weeks of provisions and adequate sur- Scientists funded by the IBA worked
salmon are running thick. The bears vival gear. What if they had survived? with other scientists in Iran to docu-
are digging them out of the streams. What if they were on an icefloe? What ment not only bears, but they were
By the way, a word to the wise: When if they were still out there and the able to find 16 new wildlife species.
you have salmon, you almost always searchers happened to miss them in From the dangerous border between
have bears, so be careful. that huge expanse? India and Pakistan to the equally dan-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
In Alaska, we love our bears and so This idea was overwhelming to her. gerous forests of Colombia, bear re-
does our Alaskan of the Week, Julia She called everyone she knew to help searchers, helped with IBA money, are
Bevins, who recently moved from An- in keeping the search going. And even- working with local citizens and govern-
chorage to the gorgeous town of tually, like so many Alaskans did, she ments and other scientists, forming
Homer—Homer, AK. For those of you called the late great Senator Ted Ste- true alliances to help save bears.
who have been there, you know what I vens, who—as he was known to do—got Science ties the world together, Julia
am talking about. For those who to work for his fellow Alaskan. said. When you have a collective of
VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:20 Aug 07, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G06AU6.052 S06AUPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-08-06_crec-2020-08-06-pt1-pgs5245.pdf
- Size
- 256,310 bytes
- SHA-256
- 418778cbfb5d3ef9462940ee53f95c3c17b0c558b707cb2c907ab7d23f6826a4
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov