Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Sept. 9, 2020)
Summary
Congressional Record for Wednesday, September 9, 2020 (Vol. 166, No. 155). The House of Representatives was not in session, and its next meeting is on Friday, September 11, 2020, at 1 p.m. The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was called to order by Grassley as President pro tempore. Under Iowa Farmers, Grassley describes drought and a record windstorm, 99 county meetings, and Iowa fields destroyed over an area 150 miles long and 40 miles wide. Under Coronavirus, a speaker says Republicans put forward a framework in July, that talks stalled over a $3.4 trillion list, and that in August Republicans proposed narrow agreements on unemployment benefits and the Paycheck Protection Program.
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Cite this document
“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Sept. 9, 2020).”
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Congressional Record
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 No. 155
House of Representatives
The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Friday, September 11, 2020, at 1 p.m.
Senate
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was IOWA FARMERS money in the pipeline for kids, jobs,
called to order by the President pro Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, and schools, and Democrats just point
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). this year has been one of the most fingers, call names, and keep blocking
f challenging years for Iowa farmers dur- American families from getting any
ing my 40 years in the Senate. Farmers more help before the November elec-
PRAYER have had to confront coronavirus sup- tion.
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- ply chain disruptions, widespread In July, Republicans put forward a
fered the following prayer: drought, and a record windstorm that serious framework, but Speaker PELOSI
Let us pray. moved across our State. and the Democratic leader refused to
Faithful Father, our refuge and During my 99 county meetings, I saw talk unless the starting point was their
strength, give us such lawmakers that Iowa fields that were completely de- literally absurd $3.4 trillion far-left
their lives will enable You to be glori- stroyed—150 miles long and 40 miles wish list that even House Democrats
fied by bringing healing to our land. wide. The images of mature crops lying called a stunt.
flat on the ground were heartbreaking. In August, with those talks stalled,
Lord, provide our Nation with physical,
Iowans are a very resilient people, but Republicans proposed narrow agree-
mental, social, and spiritual healing by
the hurt the farmers have endured this ments on specific urgent policies to
the power of Your grace. Sustained by
year will be felt in our State for a few help families, unemployment benefits,
this grace, may our Senators seek to
years to come. the Paycheck Protection Program.
please You in all they do. Inspire them
Senator ERNST and I will keep fight- Democrats refused again. This time
to give You cheerfully their highest al-
ing to strengthen Iowa’s farm economy their invented excuse was that any as-
legiance.
despite this year’s very challenging sit- sistance short of their entire wish list
Be gracious, mighty God, to our Na-
uations. was too ‘‘piecemeal’’—too ‘‘piece-
tion and world. Empower us all until
I yield the floor. meal’’—and not worth doing.
the words of our mouths and the medi- If Democrats didn’t get their diver-
tation of our hearts are acceptable to f
sity studies for the cannabis industry,
You. RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY stimulus checks for illegal immigrants,
We pray in Your sacred Name. Amen. LEADER and tax cuts for blue State million-
f The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- aires, they would make sure millions of
jority leader is recognized. Americans would lose their unemploy-
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
f ment benefits and PPP would close.
The President pro tempore led the That is what they threatened, and that
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: CORONAVIRUS is what they did.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, So here we are in September. Schools
United States of America, and to the Repub- anyone watching the Senate yesterday and colleges have gone without the $105
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, saw another installment in an ongoing billion that Republicans wanted to give
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. series that has become somewhat fa- them back in July. That is more
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. miliar. Republicans roll out yet an- money than Speaker PELOSI put in her
LOEFFLER). The Senator from Iowa. other effort to forge a bipartisan com- bill.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I promise around coronavirus relief, and American workers have gone without
ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 Democrats reply with partisan cheap the second round of the PPP that Re-
minute in morning business. shots and threats to block everything. publicans proposed weeks and weeks
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Republicans develop a serious plan to ago. Speaker PELOSI had no money for
objection, it is so ordered. get historic amounts of additional PPP in her $3.4 trillion bill.
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∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
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S5480 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 9, 2020
The race for treatments and vaccines fore the election that some Democrats EXECUTIVE SESSION
has gone without the additional fund- are now attacking things they pre-
ing that Republicans wanted to deliver. viously supported. At this point it is
Families have gone without the eco- just silly season on the Democratic EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
nomic relief that Republicans wanted side. They have run out of excuses not The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
to put in their pockets. And Wash- to legislate, and even their cheap shots the previous order, the Senate will pro-
ington Democrats have just kept try- just backfire in embarrassing ways. ceed to executive session to resume
ing to run out the clock—run out the So tomorrow—tomorrow—the Senate consideration of the following nomina-
clock—until November. will cut through all the noise with one tion, which the clerk will report.
But here is one thing: The Senate vote. Every Senator will either say The senior assistant legislative clerk
majority works for the American peo- they want to move forward, agree read the nomination of Brett H. Lud-
ple. We fight for American families. We where we can, make a law to help peo- wig, of Wisconsin, to be United States
are not going to let Speaker PELOSI ple, and keep arguing over our dif- District Judge for the Eastern District
and the Democratic leader kill and ferences later or say they prefer to do of Wisconsin.
bury coronavirus relief behind closed absolutely nothing. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
doors without putting every Senator Every Senator will vote on this sig- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
on the record. So we have put together nificant package, which secures Fed- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
eral unemployment benefits, reopens clerk will call the roll.
a new, targeted proposal containing
the PPP for a second draw, sends more The senior assistant legislative clerk
several of the most urgent and most
than $100 billion to keep kids safe in proceeded to call the roll.
popular policies that would help Amer- Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
school, helps parents with childcare,
icans right now. Tomorrow, the whole ask unanimous consent that the order
helps families afford expenses or
Senate will vote on it. homeschooling, and rebuilds our stra- for the quorum call be rescinded.
It will be a procedural vote. It is not The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
tegic medical stockpile.
a vote to pass our bill tomorrow, pre- This is not a simplistic argument objection, it is so ordered.
cisely as written. It is a vote for Sen- over big versus small. Republicans RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
ators to say whether they want to want more money for K–12 and college The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
move forward toward huge amounts of than was in the Democratic bill. We Democratic leader is recognized.
relief for kids, for jobs, for healthcare, want more money for PPP, which their CORONAVIRUS
or whether they are happier doing ab- bill forgot to fund. These are bipartisan Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President,
solutely nothing. priorities that Democrats left behind the amount of 1984-like doublespeak
That is what every single Senator and Republicans want to take care of. that comes out of the other side never
will decide tomorrow. Do you want to So tomorrow—tomorrow—American ceases to amaze, and I guess it is be-
do something—something—or do you families will learn who wants to make coming more and more extreme. The
want to do nothing? a law for them and who is happiest if Republican leader calls his bill bipar-
Democratic leaders know this simple they get nothing. tisan? I would remind the leader that
choice will put the spotlight on their f ‘‘bipartisan’’ means two parties, Demo-
partisan antics. They know this vote crats and Republicans. His bill is only
will expose their obstruction. 146TH KENTUCKY DERBY
a product of the Republican side.
Speaker PELOSI and Leader SCHUMER Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, The Republican leader said Demo-
were attacking our new proposal yes- on a completely different matter, on crats are delaying things. Was it Demo-
terday before they even read it, before Saturday, the world of sports once crats who called for a pause? Was it
it had even come out. I would normally again revolved around my hometown of Democrats who, when COVID was rag-
make fun of that, but in this case it Louisville for the 146th Kentucky ing, said we had to assess the situa-
makes perfect sense because their posi- Derby. Like so many other events, the tion? Oh, no, it was the Republican
tion clearly is that they do not want coronavirus made this year’s derby
leader who said those things. Mean-
any bipartisan relief whatsoever. They look a little different.
while, Democrats in the House, sup-
do not want any bipartisan relief what- The race had already been postponed
ported by Democrats in the Senate,
soever to reach American families for only the second time in history,
have passed a strong comprehensive
prior to the election. and none of the 150,000 spectators who
bill. We have just been waiting and
They didn’t even need to see what we normally fill Churchill Downs were
waiting for our Republican friends to
were proposing. If it helped working there to sing ‘‘My Old Kentucky
get their act together so they might
families in any way—in any way—be- Home,’’ but the most exciting 2 min-
come close—even near to the moment
tween now and November 3, Speaker utes in sports refused to be defeated.
The derby remains the longest con- that we need.
PELOSI and Leader SCHUMER knew for So, after taking a pause on COVID
sure they opposed it. tinuously held sporting event, and this
relief for 4 months, finally, finally, fi-
Their red herrings and cherry-picked year’s Labor Day derby proved worth
nally, Senate Republicans are realizing
arguments have now given way to total the wait. The winning thoroughbred,
the damage that their delay has done
dishonesty. Yesterday, our colleague Authentic, outlasted a ferocious chal-
to our economy and the Nation’s
from New York railed against a provi- lenge from the favorite. So I would like
health.
sion pertaining to critical supply to extend the Senate’s congratulations
Yesterday, Leader MCCONNELL an-
chains, calling it some sinister give- to the entire Hall of Fame team.
nounced that by the end of the week,
(The remarks of Mr. MCCONNELL per-
away to big business. A provision per- the Senate would vote on a new
taining to the introduction of S. 4547
taining to critical supply chains he slimmed-down version of an already
are printed in today’s RECORD under
called a sinister giveaway to big busi- skinny Republican bill. We know what
‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills and
ness? That provision is cosponsored by happened here. The leader did nothing
Joint Resolutions.’’)
his own Democratic ranking member Mr. MCCONNELL. I yield the floor. for months, but the American people
on the committee. So either the Demo- are demanding action. Republican Gov-
f
cratic leader is impugning his own ernors, local officials, hospitals, small
ranking member right along with Re- RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME businesses—everyone is demanding ac-
publicans or else he simply doesn’t The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under tion. Restaurants, performance stages,
know what he is talking about. the previous order, the leadership time and places are demanding action not
Likewise, the junior Senator from is reserved. just of Democrats but of both sides of
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
Vermont attacked this provision as f the aisle.
‘‘corporate welfare,’’ but he himself did So the leader had to do something.
not vote against this very provision in CONCLUSION OF MORNING At first, he tried to cobble together a
committee on two occasions. BUSINESS legislative response, but it failed spec-
They are so desperate to keep work- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning tacularly. Leader MCCONNELL was un-
ing families from getting any help be- business is closed. able to bring it even forward for a vote.
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