Congressional Record — Senate, September 16, 2020
Summary
Page S5642 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for September 16, 2020, in interleaved columns. A Senator asks unanimous consent to pass a resolution on law enforcement, and a colleague objects because the resolution does not go far enough in denouncing violence and its causes. Mr. Barrasso, under Coronavirus, says Democrats are creating unprecedented obstruction for American families, which is his view. Ms. Stabenow states she missed the cloture vote on Brett H. Ludwig, and statements celebrate the golden anniversary of VU in Jasper and recognize a Jesuit university and the Loyola Ramblers.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, September 16, 2020.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-09-16-crec-2020-09-16-pt1-pgs5642-d64a370d34/
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S5642 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020
speak with a united voice and set a brating acts of violence against law en- We are lucky to have VU in Jasper,
good example for our Nation at a time forcement. I stand firmly behind my and I am happy to be here on the floor
like this. resolution and behind our Nation’s law of the U.S. Senate to celebrate with
As if in legislative session, I ask enforcement. them on their golden anniversary.
unanimous consent that the Senate If my colleague would be willing to I yield the floor.
proceed to the immediate consider- work with me, we may be able to find The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
ation of my resolution at the desk; fur- common ground to ensure any resolu- ator from Wyoming.
ther, that the resolution be agreed to; tion includes language that firmly de- CORONAVIRUS
that the preamble be agreed to; and nounces the violence and the causes of Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I
that the motions to reconsider be made that violence in our communities, but come to the floor today to discuss this
and laid upon the table with no inter- my colleague’s resolution does not go unprecedented obstruction that Amer-
vening action or debate. far enough, so I therefore respectfully ican families are facing from the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there object. Democrats. In a time when Congress
objection? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- really should be working toward bipar-
The Senator from Florida. tion is heard. tisan solutions on coronavirus, Demo-
Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Is there objection to the original re- crats keep obstructing—over and over
reserving the right to object, I appre- quest? and over again.
ciate my colleague’s interest in ex- Mr. UDALL. Yes, there is. I object. It does seem to be their singular
pressing support for the brave men and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- focus. It seems to me that they are
women of law enforcement. That is ex- tion is heard. going to continue to obstruct all the
actly what my resolution does. Why, Mr. UDALL. I suggest the absence of way until November 3, election day,
then, would my colleague object to my a quorum. putting politics first and American
resolution and propose his own to ac- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
families last.
complish the same thing? clerk will call the roll.
The obstruction has reached levels
The bill clerk proceeded to call the
At first, his resolution appears to re- that has even made Members of their
roll.
semble my own. I note, however, that own caucus ‘‘uncomfortable,’’
Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask
my resolution condemns not only the ‘‘alarmed,’’ and ‘‘frustrated.’’ Now,
unanimous consent that the order for
cowardly attacks of this past week on those are not my words; they are the
the quorum call be rescinded.
the Los Angeles County sheriff’s depu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without words of Democrats sitting in Con-
ties but also condemns the rhetoric and objection, it is so ordered. gress, in the United States, in this very
policies that have incited this recent The Senator from Indiana. building. Democrats are telling their
spike in targeted violence against law 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE VINCENNES leaders that the leaders are failing
enforcement. My colleague’s resolution UNIVERSITY JASPER CAMPUS them by failing to compromise and
makes no such condemnation. Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I rise this work together toward solutions that
My resolution calls out the radical evening to recognize the 50-year anni- would benefit the American people.
politicians, reckless media figures, and versary of Vincennes University Jasper So the bad news for American fami-
organized protest movements that have Campus. lies is that, last week, Democrats in
sought to vilify law enforcement offi- Vincennes University was founded in this body, in the U.S. Senate, blocked,
cers as a whole and incite, encourage, 1801 as part of the Northwest Territory obstructed a targeted coronavirus aid
or celebrate widespread criminal activ- back then that would later become the package with policies, amazingly, that
ity and violence against law enforce- State of Indiana. For over 200 years, the Democrats had at one time sup-
ment officers. My colleague’s resolu- Vincennes University has been a pre- ported. But they came here to the floor
tion is silent about this. mier institution of higher learning for of the Senate and voted, in lockstep,
My resolution calls out the radical those seeking knowledge in manufac- no—no to children, no to jobs, no to
politicians for pursuing a dangerous turing, logistics, aviation, and other paychecks, no to fighting the disease.
campaign to defund the police and important fields of study. They actually blocked relief that
starving law enforcement agencies of In 1970, when I was a mere junior in would, one, have gotten kids back to
much needed resources to combat the high school, this university expanded school so kids wouldn’t fall further be-
crime wave sweeping through our com- and established a new campus in my hind from the school they have already
munities. My colleague’s resolution hometown. missed, and it would have let parents
makes no such condemnation. With open enrollment and concen- get back to work. They voted no. They
We have to be honest about what is trating on jobs with fields where there blocked people getting back to work
happening here and across our great were employee shortages, Vincennes safely. They blocked paycheck protec-
country. We have rioters chanting ‘‘Let University Jasper Campus is providing tion money so that paychecks could
them die’’ outside a hospital caring for opportunities for all Hoosiers to add continue to go and businesses—small
two police officers who were violently new skills to their resume that will ul- businesses—could remain open.
attacked. ‘‘Let them die’’? timately lead to good-paying jobs, They blocked money for vaccines and
Americans have the right to peace- mostly right there in Indiana. treatment, for testing, so we could put
fully protest, and I support that right. Notably, with their partnership with the disease in the rearview mirror.
But that is not what we are talking Purdue University, this campus pro- Now, the good news is that the ma-
about here. We are talking about acts vides low-income students or those in jority of the Senate did support the
of violence against law enforcement, need of remedial coursework with a legislation to help children and their
families, and businesses. My col- stepping stone to one of the Nation’s parents and workers and the small
league’s proposal takes out all ref- top engineering schools. businesses and the medical personnel
erences to this bad behavior. I have to admit, VU Jasper Campus fighting against the disease. But all
Expressing support for law enforce- holds a special place in my heart. At those votes came from the Republican
ment without condemning the people the company I founded in the early side of the aisle. Republicans are
and groups who are perpetrating, insti- eighties, we use this as an excellent united. The Republican bill received 52
gating, and celebrating the violent acts source of recruiting people into our ‘‘yes’’ votes. All 52 were Republican.
committed against law enforcement of- own company who generally come Not one single Democrat voted yes,
ficers is not enough. We can’t be afraid even though the majority of that body
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
there fully skilled, ready to go, and
to condemn violence against law en- generally end up sticking with the job, had backed the relief efforts.
forcement and the defund police move- which is great. When you talked to them, they said,
ment. I have no such fear. As a Jasper native, I have seen first- oh, yes, they are for this and this and
Those radical politicians, reckless hand what an asset this campus has this, but they voted on the U.S. Senate
media figures, and organized protest been to our community and the eco- floor to block it. It is interesting. They
movements deserve to be condemned nomic benefit it has added to Dubois even blocked allowing the Senate to
for inciting, committing, and cele- and surrounding counties. discuss these issues. All we did was
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September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5643
come to the floor and say: We have ing, keeping people on the payroll, over in the House, working with the
some proposals. Let’s discuss them. If looking forward to the days that they White House, to pass five coronavirus
you don’t like them, offer amendments. could return to business as usual. bills—five. Legislation addressed both
We can discuss those, debate those. What was the NPR, National Public the healthcare crisis and the economic
They even blocked a motion to move Radio, point on this on April 9? It was free-fall that were caused by the virus
to get that bill to the floor of the Sen- this: ‘‘Senate Democrats Block GOP and also by the government-imposed
ate—step 1 of legislating. They said no. Efforts to Boost Small Business Aid’’— shutdowns. The biggest of these bills
So they may say they want to help the Senate Democrats blocking aid for was the one you hear most about; that
American people, but that is not what small businesses all across the country. is, the roughly $2 trillion in the CARES
happened on the floor of the U.S. Sen- Then, in August, as unemployment Act that was passed by a vote in this
ate. insurance was set to expire, Repub- Chamber of 96 to 0—totally bipartisan.
The New York Times had a headline licans asked for consent on this floor Unfortunately, since May, when the
that said: ‘‘Hopes Dim for More Stim- to extend the program. Democrats last of these bipartisan bills was en-
ulus as Democrats Block Narrow GOP came to this very floor and, once again, acted, partisanship has prevailed over
Plan.’’ Well, they are right; it is a nar- objected. policy, and Washington has been para-
row plan because it is targeted. It is So, today, with an opportunity to fin- lyzed, unable to repeat the coming to-
targeted to kids and schools, to work- ish the fight against coronavirus, the gether for the public good.
ers, jobs, and the disease. Democrats have a full roadblock in Democrats in this Chamber have con-
It doesn’t include all of the extra- place against any further relief. The sistently insisted that the only way
neous things that NANCY PELOSI and cold, hard truth that we face is that forward is a bill called the Heroes Act.
the House put in: money for environ- they have delayed aid, and they have This is a $3.5 trillion piece of legisla-
mental justice; money for the National divided this country all year long. tion that passed the House of Rep-
Endowment; money for this, that, and I would go so far as to say this has resentatives 4 months ago along par-
the next thing; money for—you name hurt the country; it has hurt families; tisan lines.
it—direct paychecks to illegal immi- it has hurt our students; it has hurt By the way, $3.5 trillion would be the
grants. That is just the tip of the ice- our schools; it has hurt our healthcare most expensive legislation ever to be
berg when you take a look at their en- providers; and it has certainly hurt enacted.
tire list. To me, it was NANCY PELOSI people trying to recover from the dis- When this bill passed the House 4
living on ‘‘Fantasy Island.’’ ease. months ago, POLITICO and others in
POLITICO said of the vote: ‘‘Senate Remember that the year started with the media accurately called it a mes-
Democrats block Republican COVID re- the Democrats’ completely partisan saging bill that had no chance of be-
lief proposal’’—Senate Democrats impeachment farce. We sat here, day coming law.
block—once again, blocking the things after day, listening as the Democrats It is disappointing that Democrats
that the American families all across brought forth charge after charge have continued to push this ‘‘my way
this country are asking when they look against the President. That is how we or the highway’’ approach because this
to Congress for help and relief. started the year, and now we are end- bill is a nonstarter for a lot of reasons,
USA TODAY had the headline: ‘‘Sen- ing with their blocking of coronavirus including the price tag and the fact
ate Democrats block $300 billion relief. that it includes non-COVID-related
coronavirus stimulus package, leaving Let me assure the country, Repub- provisions. To name one example, it re-
little hope for relief before Novem- licans will not let you down. Repub- peals the State and local tax deduction
ber’’—$300 billion. That is a huge licans will continue working to put the cap. That is a $135 billion Tax Code
amount of money that could do so virus in the rearview mirror and de- change, and most of the benefit is
much to help our schools, to help our liver what we are seeing right now, and going to go to the top 1 percent of wage
students, to help small businesses, to it is the great American comeback. It earners. What does it have to do with
help our workers, and to help fight the is people getting back to work—over 10 COVID–19?
disease. million Americans back to work over Now is not the time to give tax
Unfortunately, this has been the the last 4 months. It is an unemploy- breaks to the wealthy, to make
record that we have seen coming from ment rate down below 9 percent. It was changes to our immigration policy, or
the Democrats ever since the pandemic over 9 percent for 4 months. impose unprecedented mandates on
began. While the virus was raging in It is businesses reopening, kids going State election procedures that are nor-
March, Democrats delayed help for back to school, a vaccine on the way— mally in the province of the States, not
Americans by blocking the CARES great, optimistic ideas and thoughts us—all of which are part of the Heroes
Act. regarding the vaccine. I met with the Act. Instead, this should be a time
The New York Times headline at Secretary of Health and Human Serv- where we focus on what the American
that time, on March 22, said: ‘‘Emer- ices earlier today. I am very encour- people need right now and help them to
gency Economic Rescue Plan in Limbo aged and optimistic about a vaccine handle this healthcare and economic
as Democrats Block Action.’’ So they being available to many at the end of challenge they are facing, but that
were blocking it back in March, and the year. hasn’t happened.
they were blocking it last Thursday. So there is a lot to be optimistic Last week I spoke on this floor about
In April, as small businesses were about as the country comes back from all the things in the targeted bill that
forcibly shut down by the government, the coronavirus because this is the was voted on last Thursday in this
they were fighting to, one day, reopen great American comeback. Chamber, where there is bipartisan-
their doors—that is all they wanted to I yield the floor. ship, where Democrats and Republican
do, get back to business; they wanted (Mr. BARRASSO assumed the Chair.) actually agree.
to keep employees on the payroll— The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. I talked about the need to extend the
Democrats, once again, blocked fund- CRAMER). The Senator from Ohio. PPP program—Paycheck Protection
ing for the Paycheck Protection Pro- Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I am Program—which is helping small busi-
gram. here on the floor this evening to talk nesses keep their doors open, but it ex-
This is a wonderful program, Mr. about what Congress needs to do right pired on August 8. A lot of small busi-
President. Thirteen thousand of these now to help the American people with nesses are saying to me back home in
loans were taken in the State of Wyo- regard to this coronavirus pandemic.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Ohio: I am barely holding on. When is
ming by small businesses. I am sure, in We are not out of the woods yet. People this coming? I need an extension to
your home State of South Dakota, are still struggling, with the economy this program.
similar small businesses took advan- being weak, and we still have a real Yet we can’t seem to get our act to-
tage of this opportunity. Our average healthcare crisis to deal with. gether here even though it is totally
loan was about $78,000. These are small Since this crisis began, Congress has nonpartisan, as far as I can tell.
businesses that just needed help mak- come together as Republicans and The bill we voted on last Thursday
ing the payroll, keeping people work- Democrats both here in the Senate and also has more funding for something
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S5644 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020
desperately needed in my home State struggle to make ends meet because plement, which expired at the end of
of Ohio and other States around the some people can’t go back to work still July, and see whether there was a new
country, which is more money for test- because their movie theater or their supplement that we could continue to
ing. It also has more money, by the bowling alley or their motor coach help those in need while better reflect-
way, for developing a vaccine more company can’t hire them. Either they ing this improved economy and the
quickly and effectively and for getting are shut down or they simply can’t hire need for workers rather than a situa-
these anti-viral therapies up and going. them back. There are people who are tion where the government was actu-
All of this is stuff we should be able to unemployed who still need our help. ally imposing shutdowns of much of
agree on, right? No, we haven’t been Early on in this pandemic, both Re- our economy.
able to. publicans and Democrats recognized That is where things broke down. At
Another thing that was in that bill this. We recognized the need to bolster the end of July, the $600 supplement
last Thursday was providing funding the State-run unemployment insurance ended. Everybody knew it was going to
for the schools so they can reopen—K– programs to help offset the massive job end then. But Republicans and Demo-
12 but also for our colleges and univer- losses we saw in March and April. That crats couldn’t agree on how to best
sities. These schools are starting to re- is why the CARES Act we talked about structure an additional UI supplement.
open, and they need the help badly. Ac- earlier—this bipartisan bill—contained By the way, having differences isn’t
tually, it had enough funding in there an unprecedented $600-per-week addi- unusual around here. We have debates
that it was slightly more than the tional Federal supplement on top of all the time. That debate was a big
funding that was in the Heroes Act, the the State supplement for 4 months. part of the negotiations in July and
Democrats’ proposal, for the same pur- By the way, the State benefit in Ohio August. What is disappointing to me
pose—$105 billion. Why couldn’t we get on average is $360. The $600 was on top and to many of my colleagues on both
together? of $360, coming up to $960 per week. We sides of the aisle and to so many people
What else did it have? It had some- did that for a period of 4 months. That we represent is that instead of taking
thing very important for a lot of people provided an important income source us up on our offer that we offered—to
who lost their jobs through no fault of for a lot of people. It made a huge dif- extend the $600 per week to be able the
their own. It had an extension of the ference in the lives of a lot of people negotiate something, for 2 weeks,
current Federal supplement for unem- who early on couldn’t work because the which would have put a lot of pressure
ployment insurance in the States. It government was actually closing down on the negotiations—think about it—
had a $300-per-week, Federal-taxpayer- businesses, saying: You can’t open. the Democrats said no. I don’t know
paid additional supplement on top of Some say that was too much. We will why they said no, but Democrats would
the roughly $350 that States already talk about why they say that. But it not even allow us to extend the $600 to
provide on average for unemployment. was a big help, and it was appropriate put pressure on negotiations. Delib-
Yet that was rejected. in a sense at the time to do something erately, they allowed these benefits to
We couldn’t even have a good vote to that big because the government itself expire. It went from a $600 benefit on
proceed on the bill, to have a debate on was saying: You are going to lose your top of the State benefit to zero Federal
the bill so we could have an honest de- job through no fault of your own. We benefit.
bate and say, oh, $300 is too much, or it the government are saying you have to Let me repeat that. Rather than
is not enough, or maybe the PPP pro- shut down, so we are going to provide work to agree on a weeklong extension
you an unemployment benefit. of a lifeline for so many people to buy
gram needs to be slightly changed this
It was also used for other things—to time to work something out, Demo-
way or that way, or maybe there is less
pay rent, to pay that car payment, to crats instead chose to let these benefits
money for schools needed or more
just get by. expire and allowed millions of Ameri-
money for schools.
We couldn’t even get on the bill be- As the year has gone on, we have cans to go without benefits.
made progress now on slowing the When we hit this impasse on the UI
cause you need 60 votes to do that, and
spread of the coronavirus, adding test- issue that Congress just couldn’t
we only had 52, which is a majority of
ing, adding more personal protective break, the Trump administration
this Chamber, but it is not the 60-vote stepped in, and President Trump quick-
supermajority. Fifty-two Republicans gear, and so on. Many parts of our
ly signed an Executive order on August
supported it. Unfortunately, no Demo- economy have been able to reopen in a
8—so a week after the benefit expired—
crats were able to support it. I don’t safe and sustainable manner. And that
which authorized FEMA, the Federal
get that because all we were saying is good. Without the help we provided
Emergency Management Agency, to
was, let’s get on this bill and have a de- in the legislation—the five bills we
begin distributing an emergency lost
bate, and if later on in the process you passed—we wouldn’t be so far along.
wage assistance unemployment check.
don’t like where we ended up, there is They helped. They helped keep the So the government stepped in at the
another 60-vote margin, and you can doors open at a lot of small businesses. executive branch and said: You guys in
filibuster it again. They helped provide the money for our Congress can’t figure this out. The $600
We couldn’t even get on the bill to healthcare system, for testing. has gone to zero, so you just have the
have a debate. To me, that is really sad With that reopening around the State benefit now, and you have a lot
because the American people weren’t country, hiring picked back up, and of people still unemployed through no
given the opportunity to get some help, now we have far fewer people on unem- fault of their own. It is tough to get by
but also they weren’t given the oppor- ployment than we did at the beginning on 360 bucks a week.
tunity to see what the differences are of this pandemic. So there are fewer So President Trump and his adminis-
and have this out in the open. people who need unemployment insur- tration stepped in and said: We will
That is legislation that 52 Repub- ance. Unemployment is at about 8.4 provide it temporarily—temporarily,
licans supported. We are ready to go. percent. That is what it was last because that is all the money they had
Let’s have the discussion. Let’s have month. That is down from over 15 per- through what is called the Wage As-
the debate. cent in the spring. Now, 8.4 percent is sistance Program. Under this program,
The Federal funds to help the unem- still too high, particularly compared to $44 billion from the Disaster Relief
ployed get by was a particular concern the record lows we saw just before this Fund was made available to States to
of mine, and I want to focus on that to- pandemic. It is more than twice what use as a supplement to their unemploy-
night. That unemployment benefit is a it was then. But it is undoubtedly a ment insurance programs—still leaving
classic example of where Senate Demo- step in the right direction. Unemploy-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
$25 billion, by the way, in that fund for
crats have blocked what I think is a ment claims are either holding steady natural disasters.
reasonable compromise—I will explain or dropping now in most States. That I spoke to Labor Secretary Scalia on
why I think that—and instead have de- is good. Friday. I asked him: Is there any
cided to provide nothing. Nothing. With this positive progress we were money left in that fund?
What we should do instead is we seeing, I think it was fair for Congress Remember, this was done on August
should embrace a compromise together to want to take another look at the 8, and they had a limited amount of
for these families who continue to original unemployment insurance sup- money.
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September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5645
He said: No, ROB. Actually, it was a cause people weren’t coming back to The $300-a-week amount offered last
temporary program, meant to be a work because of the benefit that they Thursday is generous compared to reg-
bridge so Congress would get its act to- had been getting of $600. So it was felt ular unemployment insurance. In Ohio,
gether between August 8 and now. in small businesses, yes, but also with the supplement, you go from $360
So basically, in a month and a week, midsize and larger businesses and also a week State benefit to $660 per week.
surely Congress would do something a lot of nonprofits. It is a big change. It makes a big dif-
here, but we haven’t. Now, that money I heard it from hospitals. I heard it ference in people’s lives. It would cover
has run out. Now, people who were get- from people who provide addiction 90 percent of the lost wages for the me-
ting the $600 benefit, down to zero, and services, recovery services, treatment dian worker nationwide. The $300 per
then back up to $300, which most are programs. Nonprofits are having a hard week covers 90 percent of the lost
getting in a lump sum because it takes time getting people to come back be- wages, helping particularly low- and
a while to process this money—that cause, again, the $600 on top of the middle-income wage earners get by
$300 is now ending. No more $300-per- State benefit average of the, say, $350— without creating, again, this $600 dis-
week Federal supplement. $950 a week was more than they were incentive to work.
By the way, almost every State and able to pay them. People were making Even if $300 wasn’t the perfect solu-
territory except for two has applied for more on unemployment insurance than tion, it was certainly a starting point.
and received some of this funding from they were at work. This was as the It was a policy point that could have
the Feds. Ohio was able to receive economy was starting to pick up. We been debated and amended on the floor
enough funding to cover 6 weeks of lost needed jobs. had we gone to the legislation. Again,
benefits, so basically from August 1 We said: How about $300? Why did we we were blocked even to go to the bill
until now. Ohio got $1.4 billion from pick $300? Well, again, $600 is so gen- to talk about it. Democrats blocked us
the fund. It is sending out its unem- erous that it is paying people more. By from debating it, and so people got
ployment insurance benefits this week. the way, the Congressional Budget Of- nothing. They don’t get the $300,
Next week it ends because they have fice, a nonpartisan group here in Con- which, again, 90 percent of lost wages
run out of money. They have used the gress, analyzes these things. They ana- for the median-wage worker would
Federal money. lyzed it and said, if you continue the have been replaced by that. But they
The $300 supplement has now ended. $600 until next year, which is what the get zero. All people are left with is the
It is surely time for us to act. It would Democratic proposal is in their legisla- State benefit now.
be timely this week and next week to tion, the Heroes Act—if you continue Again, unfortunately, in this place,
now do something to provide for a sup- the $600 until next year, that would re- politics was put ahead of the interest
plement for people who lost their job sult in 8 out of 10 people on unemploy- of struggling families who need extra
through no fault of their own. ment insurance getting paid more on help. It is stunning to me that this is
We could have solved this last Thurs- unemployment insurance than they the point we have reached in
day with the targeted relief bill that would at work, 80 percent. That is from Congress’s work to address this
came to the floor for a vote that I the CBO. coronavirus pandemic.
talked about. The timing was perfect. What is the right number instead of Early on, there were so many bipar-
We could have done that because part having 80 percent paid more by not tisan victories we achieved because Re-
of the negotiations that we had among working? Well, I think $300 is about the publicans and Democrats alike said:
ourselves, Republicans, over this and right number. Some could say that is This is a crisis. We have to address this
with some Democrats, I suppose, was, too high, too, but the $300 on top of the not as our party might want to do but
what is the right level? What we came State benefit was what was rejected as Americans—recognizing the severity
up with was $300. That was part of the last Thursday by my colleagues on the of the challenge we were facing. It was
bill that got 52 votes last Thursday but other side of the aisle. encouraging to see us come together to
needed the 60 votes, and Democrats By the way, when 80 percent of peo- craft the CARES Act, which passed 96
blocked it. Even though it got the ma- ple are making more money by not to 0 and made a big difference.
jority of the Senate, it didn’t get the working, it hurts everybody. It hurts I had hoped we would be able to rec-
supermajority of 60 that it needed. these businesses. Small businesses and ognize from that victory the impor-
Again, we couldn’t even get on the leg- these nonprofits are not able to get tance of hashing out our disagreements
islation to talk about it. That $600 sup- people to come to work. Look at the and coming up with a solution, finding
plement in this bill was changed to ‘‘Help Wanted’’ signs you may see in common ground to be able to help
$300, which was consistent with where your own community. It hurts the those we represent. Unfortunately, the
the administration has been over the economy when you don’t have this opposite has happened. Politics seem to
last 5 or 6 weeks. That helps the vast workforce and you don’t have these have taken over. On the other side of
majority of unemployed individuals jobs coming back. the aisle, the Speaker of the House and
make ends meet without driving our It also hurts the workers. I think all others may think this is good politics
deficit even higher. of us should want to reconnect people for them not to move forward with
The $600-a-week supplement was not to work. That is where people get their something. Maybe they are right.
sustainable over time, in part, because healthcare. If they have it, they are Maybe it is good politics somehow, but
people were actually making more likely to get it at work. That is where it is not what is best for the American
money on unemployment insurance about 80 percent of us get it. It is where people.
than they were with their jobs. You people get their retirement, if they By opposing a reasonable com-
were being paid more not to work than have it. We want more people to have promise on unemployment insurance,
to work at $600 on top of the State ben- that, but a 401(K) is going to be as an example, what this Congress is
efit. In fact, under that supplement of through work. This is where people get doing is leaving the American people
$600, the median wage earner in Amer- the training they need to keep up with high and dry at the exact time that
ica received 134 percent more of his or what is happening with their job. It is funding for these benefits has run out.
her previous wages, making it harder, where people connect with other peo- Again, the short-term bridge that the
therefore, to jump back into the work- ple. It is where people get self-respect administration provided, $300 a week,
place and get our economy moving and self-esteem by working. We should is running out. It doesn’t need to hap-
again. be encouraging work. pen. Let’s come to the negotiating
By the way, I heard this all over Again, I think somewhere there is a table this week and next week. We are
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Ohio, and I know every single one of number there where you are helping going to be here next week. We are sup-
my colleagues has. They heard it from people who need the funds to be able to posed to vote on a continuing resolu-
businesses, particularly small busi- get by because they are unemployed tion, the funding program. We will be
nesses but also larger businesses. The through no fault of their own, yet you here. We know what the differences
Ford Motor Company told me they had are not offering such a high benefit are. We know what the similarities are.
a 25-percent absenteeism rate when I that it is more advantageous not to We know how to put together a pack-
visited them over the August break be- work. age. We know what it has to be and
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S5646 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020
what the compromise is. For Repub- tration and records from a Democratic Loyola University Chicago was
licans and Democrats alike, it is now lobby shop, Blue Star Strategies. If founded under the name of St. Ignatius
on us to come up with that bipartisan those records are Russian College by Arnold Damen, S.J., to
solution on unemployment insurance disinformation, then that says more serve Chicago’s Catholic immigrants.
and the other pressing issues we face as about the Obama administration than In 1909, the school was granted a new
the American people. the purpose of this investigation. charter by the State of Illinois and re-
I yield the floor. I have also addressed the claim that named ‘‘Loyola University Chicago’’.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- this investigation is somehow con- That same year, the newly-named Loy-
ator from Ohio. nected to Andriy Derkach. I have said ola Chicago granted its first profes-
ORDER OF PROCEDURE publicly on many occasions that I have sional graduate degrees and organized
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask never received information or material its first football, basketball, and indoor
unanimous consent that notwith- fom him. I have never solicited infor- baseball teams. Today, Loyola Chicago
standing the provisions of rule XXII, at mation from him. The same is true for is the only Jesuit Catholic university
11:30 a.m. tomorrow, the Senate vote my staff. In fact, the only two times in Illinois.
on the motion to invoke cloture on the that I am aware of that my staff have Throughout its history, Loyola Chi-
Valderrama nomination; that if cloture come in contact with his information cago has upheld its Jesuit values—
is invoked on the Valderrama nomina- are, No. 1, when the Democrats intro- being an institution of rigorous liberal
tion, the postcloture time be expired duced his records into a transcribed arts education and academic excel-
and the Senate vote on confirmation of interview, and No. 2, when Minority lence, while also being a place of inclu-
the nomination; I further ask that fol- Leader SCHUMER, Speaker PELOSI, Sen- sion and acceptance for marginalized
lowing the disposition of the ator WARNER, and Representative communities, including immigrants.
Valderrama nomination, the Senate re- SCHIFF used it in their July 13, 2020, Loyola Chicago’s Stritch School of
sume consideration of the Johnston letter. Medicine led the country as the first
nomination; finally, I ask that the They also attempted to link Andriy medical school to accept DACA recipi-
postcloture time on the Johnston nom- Telizhenko to Andriy Derkach, appar- ents, many of whom have committed to
ination expire at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow ently to cast him as a nefarious foreign working in a medically-underserved
and the Senate vote on confirmation of agent, but they neglected to mention community in Illinois after graduation.
the nomination; that if any of the his many connections to the Obama- In addition, under its previous presi-
nominations are confirmed, the mo- Biden administration, including White dent, Father Michael Garanzini, Loy-
tions to reconsider be considered made House meetings and outings with ola Chicago created Arrupe College.
and laid upon the table and the Presi- White House staff. They also omitted Arrupe is a 2-year degree program that
dent be immediately notified of the his work for Blue Star Strategies, brings Loyola Chicago’s academic qual-
Senate’s action. which was working on behalf of the ity together with a focus on afford-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there corrupt Ukrainian firm that hired Hun- ability and care for the whole person.
objection? ter Biden while his father was the face Arrupe’s low-cost and wrap-around
Without objection, it is so ordered. of U.S. policy toward Ukraine. Demo- services—including meals, chilcare,
cratic connections to Mr. Telizhenko and transportation—bring a high-qual-
f are many and well documented. If they ity Loyola Chicago education to low-
LEGISLATIVE SESSION are so concerned that he is a conduit income and students of color in the
for disinformation, why did they work Chicagoland area who otherwise may
with him for so long? not have a chance to succeed in col-
MORNING BUSINESS Maybe the Democrats should take a lege.
pause and realize that they are the Loyola Chicago’s focus on service is
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask only ones pushing Russian part of the fabric of the institution and
unanimous consent that the Senate disinformation. Let’s not forget about its community. Loyola Chicago sup-
proceed to legislative session for a pe- the Steele Dossier. Thanks to now-de- ports more than 300 community part-
riod of morning business, with Sen- classified information, we know the ner organizations in Chicago and the
ators permitted to speak therein for up dossier was filled with Russian Chicagoland suburbs through student,
to 10 minutes each. disinformation. The Democrats bought- staff, and faculty service and volunteer
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without and-paid-for crown jewel ironically was work. Loyola Chicago’s impact can be
objection, it is so ordered. an example of the very disinformation found almost anywhere in the
f and collusion that it falsely accused Chicagoland area.
the Trump campaign of. The Demo- Illinois has been served well and en-
RUSSIA
crats pushed it for years. Now that it is riched by the many contributions of
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, ear- a failed document, they have tried to Loyola University Chicago. I look for-
lier today, my colleagues, Senator run the same baseless smear tactic on ward to the school’s many contribu-
SCHUMER and Senator WYDEN violated this investigation. The facts simply tions in the years ahead and several
the Senate rules by attempting to offer aren’t on their side. If my colleagues more successful runs at the NCAA bas-
a resolution disparaging oversight on the other side are as concerned ketball tournament being led by their
work being done by me and Senator about foreign disinformation as they team chaplain, the now world famous
JOHNSON. My colleague, Ranking Mem- claim to be, they would stop relying on Jean Dolores Schmidt, known to all as
ber WYDEN, said that the investigation it to falsely attack us. Let’s stop play- simply Sister Jean.
Senator JOHNSON and I are engaged in ing these games and get back to busi- I thank Loyola for its many con-
is advancing a Russian disinformation ness for the American people. tributions to our State and country. It
campaign. To be clear, that investiga- f is my distinct honor to congratulate
tion is focused on potential conflicts of President Jo Anne Rooney—the
interest and other wrongdoing regard- CONGRATULATING LOYOLA UNI- school’s first female president—and the
ing the time Vice President Biden was VERSITY CHICAGO ON 150 YEARS entire Loyola community of staff, fac-
lead on the Obama administration’s Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this ulty, students, and alumni on your
Ukraine policy. At that same time, his year, Loyola University Chicago cele- 150th anniversary.
son, Hunter Biden, was on the board of brates the 150th anniversary of its
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f
a corrupt Ukrainian gas firm called founding, which occurred on September
Burisma. This investigation is a good- 5, 1870. Loyola Chicago is a world-class VOTE EXPLANATION
government investigation to better un- institution with a storied history as a Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I
derstand the effect these potential con- Roman Catholic Jesuit university, a was unable to attend the rollcall vote
flicts had on policy execution. This in- strong track record of academic excel- on the motion to invoke cloture on the
vestigation is based on Federal Govern- lence, and the proud home of the Loy- nomination of Brett H. Ludwig, of Wis-
ment records from the Obama adminis- ola Ramblers. consin, to be U.S. district judge for the
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