Congressional Record, Senate - August 6, 2020, S5256
Summary
This is page S5256 of the Congressional Record, Senate, August 6, 2020, with interleaved columns. A Senator closes remarks about Delaware, citing a food bank working with the Delaware National Guard and saying 50,000 Delawareans have turned to food banks this year. The speaker criticizes Mr. McConnell for acting as if it were just another Thursday, notes that House Democrats passed the Heroes Act in May, and says the country is approaching 160,000 deaths. Mr. Wyden then begins remarks under the heading Coronavirus, saying the cost of inaction grows every day.
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“Congressional Record, Senate - August 6, 2020, S5256.”
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S5256 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 6, 2020
weighs heavy on the Cape Gazette and our Unfortunately, the Trump adminis- fears. They share incredibly personal
industry as a whole. The loss of local news tration and Washington Republicans details about the challenges that they
would be devastating to communities, big have not met the challenges facing the face and then are also so willing to
and small, across the country.
American people today with any sense share with us their successes too. We
I can see that I have colleagues eager of urgency, and the cost of that inac- get to witness our constituents and
to join me in these remarks on the tion has been seen all across the coun- work with them in difficult times and
floor, so let me bring this to a close. try. But, today, Senate majority Lead- in good times, and they are willing to
One of the moments this became er MCCONNELL decided to act as if this share that with us. They demonstrate
most real for me was when the Dela- were just any other Thursday—just any to us day in and day out what it means
ware Food Bank partnered with the other Thursday for the Republicans in to be a member of a community, what
Delaware National Guard to provide the Senate. it means to come together and solve a
supplemental food for Delawareans. Well, it is not just any other Thurs- problem. They do it in their businesses.
I was out at the Christiana Mall, just day for our constituents. Back in May, They do it on school boards. They do it
off I–95—huge parking lot. The mall, of House Democrats passed a substantial without regard to political party or
course, closed. This was early on in the relief bill called the Heroes Act, but for walk of life.
pandemic. months, Republicans refused to even
We thought we would see dozens, The least we could do in the U.S.
acknowledge the necessity of providing Senate on this Thursday, over this
maybe 100 households lined up in their
more relief. In the 3 months since the weekend, over the next week, is follow
cars to get some extra food, much of it
House acted, the pain that our citizens their example, represent them at their
from Federal sources.
The line went all the way around the are experiencing has only grown. Cases best, display that American ingenuity,
mall. Hundreds and hundreds of Dela- have skyrocketed. The United States of innovation, pragmatism, compromise,
wareans—people who later commented America is approaching 160,000 Ameri- can-do spirit. In the process we could
either on radio or letters to the editor cans killed by this virus. Small busi- save lives; we could begin to rebuild
that they never thought they would be nesses have shuttered, and millions of our economy; and we could dem-
in a food line. people have lost their jobs. onstrate to the rest of the world that
Not since the Great Depression have Meanwhile, President Trump con- we know how to come together and
the food banks of this Nation seen lines tinues to downplay the significant toll work for what is best for all of us.
as long and made up of as diverse a that this virus has taken. Earlier this We must help our constituents. We
background and groups asking for, week he said this of the COVID–19 must act. Our country cannot wait any
eager for, willing to accept, hoping for death toll: ‘‘It is what it is.’’ longer.
support for them and their families. Just yesterday, he again claimed I yield the floor.
This year alone, 50,000 Delawareans that the virus would simply go away. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
have turned to our food banks so that Not recognizing the gravity of this ator from Oregon.
they can put food on the table for their threat has significantly harmed Ameri-
families. cans and America. While Congress f
I don’t know what my colleagues are can’t undo the damage that has been
reading, what emails they are getting, done, I am urging my colleagues to CORONAVIRUS
what calls they are answering, what come together on a response that will
lead us forward. Throughout this week, Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, Senator
texts or posts on social media are mov-
I have joined with my colleagues to STABENOW said some time ago that this
ing them, but I know that the Dela-
come to the floor and to lay out some is not just another Thursday. She and
wareans that have reached out to me
of the priorities that we are focused on my eloquent colleagues, Senator COONS
have shared with me the pain of 150,000
and to share what we are hearing from and Senator HASSAN, who has just left
Americans who died, have shared with
people all across our States. the floor, have shown how painfully
me the anxiety and concern about how
The cost of inaction grows every sin- true Senator STABENOW’s statement is
schools and businesses will reopen, and
gle day. Millions of Americans lost en- about letting this not be just another
have asked: When will we do our job?
hanced unemployment benefits and Thursday here in the Senate.
Work across the aisle, find responsible
with it the ability to feed their fami- With Republican colleagues headed
compromise, and support our Nation in
lies and pay their rent. People will lose home for the weekend, perhaps for
this moment of crisis.
their homes now to evictions. By the weeks, I want to take stock for a mo-
With that, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- way, their landlords will feel the ripple ment of all of the very crises the coun-
ator from New Hampshire. effect when they can’t pay their rent. try faces while American families and
Their grocers will feel the ripple effect communities don’t have the luxury of a
f
when they can’t buy groceries. The weekend. There is the COVID crisis,
CORONAVIRUS economic pain will spread and spread which Senator STABENOW and Senator
Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, since and spread. COONS just talked about, with more
the early days of the COVID–19 pan- Lack of supplies and testing capac- than 50,000 newly confirmed cases and
demic, it has been clear that we would ity—a national disgrace months into 1,000 or more deaths a day with a total
need a sustained response to mitigate this pandemic—is hindering the ability of 41⁄2 million cases in our country to
the damaging health and economic im- to slow the spread of the virus and, of date.
pact facing the American people. course, hindering the ability of people There is the joblessness crisis. En-
When Republicans and Democrats to get back to work and school safely. hanced unemployment benefits have
came together to pass the CARES Act Schools are struggling to open with- expired. Tens of millions of Americans
in March, I, along with my Democratic out the adequate guidance that the are out of work, with millions walking
colleagues, made clear that we would Federal Government could provide and on economic tightropes.
need to stand ready to provide addi- without resources that they need to My colleagues are reading the let-
tional, robust support as the situation keep teachers, staff, students, and fam- ters. This is not based on some kinds of
demanded. ilies safe. media reports. They are reading di-
This afternoon we have been hearing States and local communities are ac- rectly from what their constituents are
from our colleagues. I thank Senator celerating cuts and, with it, adding to saying, and I want to make sure every-
STABENOW for gathering us here. I body knows this, having listened now
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
job losses and lost economic activity.
thank Senator COONS for the way he Americans are hurting. They are for days to our colleagues saying that
just illustrated in such personal, direct hurting in red States, and they are the big problem is that somehow the
terms the way this pandemic and all of hurting in blue States. They are crying American worker doesn’t actually
its ripple effects are impacting his con- out for help. want to work. Senator STABENOW and I
stituents, as they are impacting my One of the great privileges of this job have heard that repeatedly in the Fi-
constituents and constituents of every is that people come forward with their nance Committee room. I think it is in-
single Member of the U.S. Senate. ideas, with their hopes, with their sulting to the American worker.
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