Coronavirus Relief and Nursing Homes, August 12, 2020 — Congressional Record, Senate
Summary
This is page S5395 of the Congressional Record, Senate, August 12, 2020, titled Coronavirus Relief and Nursing Homes, with interleaved columns. Senators urge a bipartisan compromise on pandemic relief. One describes calls from a daughter whose father is in a VA nursing home in Boulder City, NV and who is not being tested, and from a certified nursing assistant who says many coworkers quit because they lack proper PPE. The other says the Republican proposal leaves too much unaddressed, calls President Trump's executive orders partly illegal and partly unworkable, and says he hears the same concerns from Virginians. The page also quotes FDR from the Depression years.
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“Coronavirus Relief and Nursing Homes, August 12, 2020 — Congressional Record, Senate.”
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August 12, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5395
times. We are having hard times, and it more. Now is the time, really, for us to necessary. Right now, I would love to
is our duty to try to address that hard- come together to do what the Senate talk to you about what I am seeing in
ship. traditionally does best, and that is my home State when it comes to our
Democrats are willing to com- working on the best interests of the seniors and those who are in need right
promise. When we say, ‘‘Hey, we have a people across this country who are now with funding to help nursing
plan but we will meet you halfway in struggling right now. homes.
your plan,’’ and the White House says, Compromise is not a bad word. It is Let me just start with letters be-
‘‘No,’’ you know, what are we supposed time for us to get in a room and really cause I think this is how it starts with
to do? What are we supposed to do? A do the job that the American public ex- all of us—calls into our offices and let-
skinny version isn’t sufficient for the pects us to do, and that is looking out ters coming from our constituents.
magnitude of the crisis. for their best interests at a time when There are two calls that I received. One
The Senate Republican proposal has we have a healthcare pandemic. Now, of them was from a daughter who
some elements that we support, but it keep in mind that this is a once-in-a- called in for her father, who is in a VA
leaves so many others unaddressed lifetime pandemic—once in a lifetime. nursing home in Boulder City, NV, and
that it is not adequate. The Republican So that requires us to come together because he isn’t showing symptoms, he
White House has rejected compromise. and really focus on how we help Ameri- isn’t getting tested. With so many
President Trump’s Executive orders cans across this country who are strug- cases there, how is this possible? Where
are partly illegal, partly unworkable, gling right now. They shouldn’t be pe- are the tests? This is a daughter who is
and completely insufficient. It doesn’t nalized. concerned for her father, knowing that
have to be this way because there are We have asked them to stay home if we just get people tested, there is
many areas on which we can find and shelter in place because we are try- that comfort in knowing whether or
agreement. ing to address how we do the research not you have this virus and whether
I know many in this body are hearing that is necessary for a vaccine. Hope- you should be quarantined or how we
from their home States’ Governors, fully, one day, we will have that vac- protect you, particularly those in nurs-
mayors, local governments, colleges cine. We need to ramp up the testing ing homes.
and universities, school boards and that is needed so everybody can feel Then, another call I received was
housing authorities, food banks, hos- safe and comfortable knowing whether from a mother. She is also a certified
pitals, and the chambers of commerce. they have this virus or not or the anti- nursing assistant at a nursing home,
You are hearing the same thing that I body, but we are not there yet because and she is telling me that many there
am hearing from Virginians. more work needs to be done, particu- quit because they don’t have the proper
So, as I conclude, it doesn’t have to larly by this Congress. PPE. They want to work, but they
be this way. We can put together a The American public has heard us, don’t want to expose themselves. So
good bipartisan deal, but it can’t be a and they are sheltering in place, they what are we doing right now to address
‘‘White House my way or the high- are staying home, and they have shut- all of these needs?
And, listen, there is so much. It is
way.’’ It has to be a willingness to tered their businesses. Now, more than
overwhelming. I know it. That is why
meet and find compromise between a ever, this country needs the Senate to
we were sent here for the hard deci-
Democratic proposal and a proposal act.
The House has done its job 2 months sions, not the easy ones, to make sure
that is acceptable to at least some on
ago. They worked a comprehensive we are all working in the best interests
the GOP side and the White House. of the people in our States. I know you
Any large compromise in a divided package, and I say ‘‘comprehensive’’
all feel the same way.
government is bound to be imperfect. I because we can’t just pick and choose
I have to tell you this. There are
am reminded of a quote from FDR dur- winners and losers here. This isn’t
thousands of Nevadans that know the
ing the Depression years. You never what this is about. This is about mak- anxiety that comes because there is a
really had to use quotes from the De- ing sure we are bringing relief and spouse, a parent, or a grandparent in a
pression because the magnitude of the helping those across this country. Ev- nursing home, and they are unable to
Depression was different than what I erybody is impacted. We have promised visit with them or hug their loved ones
have experienced during most of my them: If you do what we say and we for fear of giving COVID–19. You have
life, but now quotes from the Depres- help stem the spread of this virus, we seen it. You have heard it, and I have
sion, I think, bear some revisiting. are going to have your backs, and we heard it. Too many loved ones have
Here is what FDR said as the adminis- are going to take care of you. lost their loved ones because of this
tration and Congress, at the time, were I will say that we have failed at that. virus, and they were not able to be
doing everything they could to figure This administration has failed. We there.
out a way to help out needy Ameri- have failed at that promise. I know Do you know who was there with
cans: ‘‘Better the occasional faults of a when we all go to our offices or we go them in the nursing home? Those in-
government that lives in a spirit of home to our States, we are hearing credible heroes on the frontlines, who
charity than the consistent omissions from our constituents. We get emails, are sacrificing their own health to be
of a government frozen in the ice of its we get calls, and we get letters. I know with them, for those who passed away
own indifference.’’ you all feel the same as I do, and we because of COVID–19. There are so
By now, everybody knows somebody read them and we listen to them. I many factors that raise a coronavirus
who has gotten COVID–19 or somebody don’t know of one State in this country risk for nursing home residents. The
who has gotten sick or even died or right now where somebody is not suf- majority of the residents, as we all
somebody who has lost a job or some- fering from this pandemic who needs know, are seniors. Many have under-
body who is worried about rent or food. our help. lying conditions. They live in closed
We all know those people, and many of I know that is why I am here, be- quarters, and they share common
us have experienced this in our own cause we all took the oath. We said we spaces. And we also know this: Resi-
families. Are we going to help or are we are going to be here to work in the best dents and staff of these facilities
going to be frozen in the ice of our own interests of our States and this country shouldn’t be an afterthought. They are
indifference? Let’s surprise the Senate. and to make sure that those individ- a core part of our communities and our
Let’s work together and get this done. uals across this country who pay our healthcare system. They are the elders,
With that, I yield the floor. salaries—those taxpayers—expect us to and they are the keepers of our stories.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. do our jobs and work. And that is what We have to do more to protect them.
BOOZMAN). The Senator from Nevada. I am asking for right now. We need to protect the workers in
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f You know, I have been to the floor of these homes, too, many of whom be-
the Senate this week to talk about the long to communities of color and who
CORONAVIRUS struggles that I see in my State. We all are struggling to provide care to a pop-
Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, get letters, and I do want to focus ulation with unique needs.
you know, as I sit and listen to my col- today on one. There are so many, and The reason why I bring this up is be-
league from Virginia, I can’t agree that is why a comprehensive package is cause there is legislation out there to
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S5396 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 12, 2020
do just what I am talking about and basis than the Congress, and within the need to see kids back to school, wheth-
what we need in our communities. It is fairly narrow ability he has to act on er it is distance learning, which takes
not something new. It has already been this issue, he has tried his best to step some assets and planning that districts
introduced. My colleague BOB CASEY up where the Congress has failed to need to do more on, or in-person learn-
introduced the Nursing Home COVID– step up. ing where that is possible, where you
19 Protection and Prevention Act to My good friend from Virginia just have more expenses for probably more
get nursing and long-care facilities in said: Well, the House bill is $3 trillion, bus routes so you don’t put as many
Nevada and across this country more and the Senate bill is $1 trillion. We people on the same bus, more expenses
PPE, the testing that they need, and should figure out how to compromise for delayed starting times, and more
the staffing to help the staff and those at $2 trillion. Now, I believe in com- expenses for social distancing in class-
who are in those communities. promise. I think it is the essence of de- rooms. They need that money now.
These homes need support to slow mocracy, but compromise actually has In their bill, the Heroes Act, for ele-
the spread of the virus and to respond to be based on some principle of the mentary, secondary, and higher edu-
rapidly when it crops up, using all we issue you are dealing with. You know, cation, the House put in $100 billion.
have learned from combating this virus if the House bill had been $5 trillion, I We looked at that carefully. I chair the
so far. The bill funds teams of nurses guess the logic would be that we com- committee that does that appro-
and other critical staff to lend emer- promise at $3 trillion. If they had priating. I think we know as much in
gency help at nursing homes with out- known that, their bill would have prob- our committee as anybody in the Sen-
breaks and to bring the best practices ably been $5 trillion. ate about some of the needs that are
to bear in helping sick residents. When the bill was passed, it was de-
out there. We thought the number was
This bill ensures folks in my home scribed by more than one reporter as a
$105 billion. As soon as our bill came
State and across the country are being Democratic wish list or the ultimate
out, the House decided, no, we really
taken care of and that families have campaign platform having everything
need $400 billion. How do you meet
peace of mind that there is account- in it. It was described by a whole lot
somebody in the middle when they
ability for providers and protections in more than one reporter that about a
keep changing where the middle is?
place for workers. third of their bill had nothing to do
I am hearing from family members with COVID, and another third of their The Heroes Act, which Members on
and loved ones with those in nursing bill is about the big question of what the other side of the aisle have repeat-
homes in my State. I am hearing from we can do to help State and local gov- edly said we should pass and pass im-
caregivers and healthcare workers. I ernment. mediately, had $100 billion. We had $105
know all of you are as well, and one Let’s put that issue aside for a billion. You would think that would
thing that comes from all these people minute. It is an issue that clearly the have been good enough. We might have
is a feeling of being forgotten. No one— House feels strongly about. Clearly, argued some about the language, but
no one—in America should feel forgot- there are challenges to governments, there is not much difference on the lan-
ten right now. It is time for us to come particularly at the local level, I think, guage. The argument is that Repub-
together. and that has to be dealt with in some licans never spend enough, according
We need to make sure nursing homes way and maybe not at the $871 billion to Democrats, and the Democrats seem
follow guidelines and that, if they fail level or whatever they have suggested. to have no limit on what they are will-
to do so, they will be held accountable. But that is a different issue that I will, ing to spend, according to us.
We also must arm them with the tools first of all, concede is very much part For childcare, there is a critical need
they need to face a virus that has been of the discussion and should be. for people to get both back to school
relentless in attacking seniors. We But if you take out the third of the and back to work. The childcare sys-
should make sure that the next bill that has nothing to do with tem is intensely stressed as part of
coronavirus package that we should be COVID—let’s get that off the table. We what is going on—people who lose their
negotiating and working on right now could have a debate about whether peo- jobs and take their children out of
does everything it can to support the ple who are in the legal marijuana childcare; people who would prefer,
most fragile in our communities be- trade should get access to banking, but after they have figured out how to do
cause they are also some of our most I think you have to work really hard to this a different way, not to put their
precious. make that a COVID issue. We could kids back in childcare for a little
I yield the floor. have a debate about whether the Fed- while. I haven’t talked to anybody who
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sen- eral Government should require every thinks the childcare system would
ior Senator from Missouri. State in the country to allow ballot have more than 50 percent of the kids
Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I think harvesting, but I think that is very willing to come back who were there
the President of the United States has hard to make a COVID–19 issue. before. So how do you still make
done the things he can do within his A third of the bill, according to many childcare work? Do you double the
authority to try to address the issues people who analyzed the bill when it childcare cost to make up for the fact
before us, but the truth is, his author- came out, has nothing to do with that 50 percent of the kids aren’t
ity just doesn’t go far enough. COVID. So let’s set aside the other there? Of course not. That doesn’t work
Now, I have frequently questioned third of the bill that deals with State at all.
the President’s view of how broad the and local government, our giving State
Presidential authority is, but in these and local government what we don’t The House put in the Heroes Act $7.5
actions he took in the last few days, I have to replace money they don’t have. billion for childcare; we put $15 billion
looked at them carefully, and I think I am not going to say that some ele- for childcare. Then the House decides:
he had the authority to do what he did, ment of that will not be in a final bill, Well, no, we really need $40 billion or
but he would probably be the first to but let’s talk about the things we all $50 billion for childcare. It is pretty
admit that the authority he has know need to be in the first bill, which, hard to compromise in the middle if
doesn’t solve the problem the way it in the House bill, were about $1 tril- the middle was somewhere between $15
needs to be solved. lion. billion—and I think, hopefully, our
It is time that the Congress stepped How do you compromise with the number would have prevailed—and $7.5
up and did its job. You know, in this House when you agree with them on a billion, and then suddenly the middle is
debate with the President, there is the number and they change the number? somewhere between $50 billion and $15
article I view of the government. There Getting back to school is a critical billion.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
is a reason that the legislative branch part of what ought to be happening Let’s be serious here. Let’s get this
is article I. There is a reason it is our right now. By the way, back-to-school job done. Let’s get kids back to school.
job to pass laws, and there is a reason money the schools get in December Let’s get people back to work. Let’s
that it is the President’s job to execute will not be nearly as helpful as back- get childcare back for kids. Let’s do
those laws. Occasionally, the President to-school money the schools get in Au- what we can to restore the healthcare
has to act quicker on some emergency gust. They need the money now. We system that has been incredibly
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August 12, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5397
stressed during this, and let’s quit act- cant period of time to see how this We all agree, we owe the men and
ing like there is this vast disagree- works. women who fought and fight for this
ment, when the disagreement is way Broadband: We could deal with this. country a tremendous debt of gratitude
more apparent than real. If we are going to have telemedicine for the sacrifices they made to preserve
If you look at the third of the bill and telebehavioral health, that kind of our freedom. It is dangerous, and our
that dealt with COVID–19 that the medicine, as well as other kinds of servicemembers answer the call. Many
House passed, we are very close. We are medicines, you need to have access to carry scars from injuries sustained dur-
a little ahead of them on testing. Test- broadband. Kids who are learning re- ing that service.
ing absolutely is essential, in my view, motely have to have the same oppor- But there are scars that we cannot
to get kids back to school and to get tunity as other kids who are learning see. Service can take a physical toll
people back to work. Until we get well remotely and need to have access to but also a mental one. Too many vet-
into the vaccine period, having the vac- broadband. They need it as soon as erans struggle with mental health
cine and getting that vaccine to people, they can get it, whether that is assist- issues and suicidal thoughts. About 17
testing is going to continue to be crit- ance to get hooked up, which is a little veterans per day from all of our wars
ical. We have money for vaccines and easier than just access. We have been put together take their own lives. For
vaccine distribution that I think ex- working hard in this Senate and in our comparison, 22 servicemembers were
ceeds the House bill money. We could State legislature in my State to get killed in combat in Afghanistan
talk about what is really not a very big the Missourians who don’t have access throughout all of 2019. We are losing
difference in a $1 trillion bill or some- to high-speed broadband to get that ac- thousands more veterans at home than
thing a little more than that. cess. we are losing fighting men and women
We have said in our bill that, on test- There are areas here that are areas in the field. That is something to pon-
ing, on vaccines, and on other things, we need to be dealing with. Most of der.
we are going to set some priorities. We them, you have to really work hard to We must do a better job of leading
said the Federal Government priority pretend there is a disagreement. Sure, the mental health needs of veterans.
is to be sure that everybody gets that you can decide that your education Thankfully, this Chamber took a big
test in whatever way they can get it as category was really only 25 percent of step forward last week when we passed
quickly as they can get it. We said what you really needed, but I think our the Commander John Scott Hannon
nursing homes, childcare centers, ele- House friends know that is not right, Veterans Mental Health Care Improve-
mentary and secondary education, and and we know that is not right. ment Act.
colleges and universities would be Fed- This is probably not the last bill we The bill improves outreach to vet-
eral priorities. Employers are going to will pass, if it turns out we are incor- erans and offers new mental healthcare
have to help with some of the work- rect on our $100 billion or $105 billion, options in five major ways: First, the
place priorities, but we think those are but $100 billion right now to schools bill bolsters the VA’s mental health
trying to get started is worth more workforce to serve more veterans. It
the right Federal priorities, and we put
than what $200 billion will be in May. gives the VA direct hiring authority
it in our bill.
Back to work: You have to have Let’s give people the help they need for mental health professionals. The
childcare, again, to get back to work. when they need it. Let’s quit arguing VA can offer scholarships to mental
A second round of PPP: Again, some- about whether the President has inad- health professionals to work at vet
thing the Senator from Virginia agreed equate tools to do what everybody centers, and it provides for at least one
we need to do. knows needs to be done. Certainly, that suicide prevention coordinator at every
Healthcare provider assistance: We is true. That should be true; that under Veterans’ Administration Hospital.
the Constitution, the Congress has to It improves rural veterans’ access to
ask our healthcare providers to do the
do its job. mental healthcare by increasing the
two hardest things you could possibly
Compromise is more than some mid- number of locations where veterans
do at the same time; one was stop all of
dle number between an outrageous can access VA telehealth services. It
the income you can possibly stop—stop
number and a number that may turn also offers grants to non-VA organiza-
the so-called elective surgeries. By the
out to be not quite big enough. Let’s tions that provide mental health serv-
way, some elective surgeries get less
get serious. Let’s get back to work. ices or alternative treatments to vet-
elective the longer you wait until you
Let’s do our job. Let’s get back to erans.
have them, and we are seeing some re- The bill strengthens support and as-
sults of that right now. I think there school, the country back to work, the
country back to childcare, and do those sistance for servicemembers
was some logic to stop putting people transitioning out of the military by
into the hospital, if you didn’t have to, things we need to do to restore both
the healthcare system and, more im- automatically giving every service-
or having them in the surgeon’s facil- member a full year of VA healthcare
ity, if you didn’t have to, until we portantly, the health of every Amer-
ican we can possibly help. when they leave the military.
knew what was happening here—and By the way, this came to my mind: It
I yield the floor.
not only stop the income but stand turns out that most suicides occur
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
ready for the worst epidemic your com- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The within 6 weeks of one of our soldiers or
munity may have ever had to deal with clerk will call the roll. sailors or marines leaving the service;
or may ever have to deal with at any The bill clerk proceeded to call the within 6 months of that departure is
time in the future. So maintain your roll. when they tend to commit suicide. But
full readiness, stop your income. We Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I ask it is about 6 months before they first
need to come back now for the third unanimous consent that the order for access VA services. We have to have
time and provide money for providers. the quorum call be rescinded. this kind of transition point tightened
Again, money now is much more valu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without and one that makes sure they all know
able than money 90 days from now. objection, it is so ordered. they have VA benefits for that first
Telemedicine: We finally have woken f year.
up to what the Federal Government The Veterans Mental Healthcare Im-
should have been doing for a decade VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH CARE provement Act also studies and invests
and embrace telemedicine as part of IMPROVEMENT ACT in innovative and alternative science-
normal office visits that don’t have to Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I rise based treatment options. It invests in
happen in the office as part of behav- today to speak to a very important research on the impact of living at
ioral health. piece of legislation, which quietly high altitudes, on veterans’ suicide
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Our bill says that CMS, which deter- passed this Chamber last week. It in- risk, and on identifying and treating
mines how Medicare money is spent, cluded several provisions I authored other risk factors for mental health ill-
can’t go back on what they have al- and offered based upon my experience ness.
lowed in the last few months, ever. And as a physician that specifically pro- It holds the VA accountable for its
on some of the things they have al- vides mental health support to Amer- mental healthcare and suicide preven-
lowed, they can’t go back for a signifi- ica’s veterans. tion efforts. It does this by examining
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