Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Sept. 17, 2020)
Summary
Page S5682 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for September 17, 2020, headed Coronavirus, in interleaved columns. A speaker criticizes remarks by the President about whether lives lost in States with Democratic Governors should count, saying families cannot hold funerals for fear of spreading COVID, and lists promises such as a healthcare plan in 2 weeks that were not delivered, calling that a diminished view of leadership, which is that speaker's view. Another speaker describes efforts to get Hot Springs veterans a hearing with the VA, and a further passage condemns accusations that elections are stolen.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Sept. 17, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-09-17-crec-2020-09-17-pt1-pgs5682-2-23106f1c3d/
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S5682 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2020
funeral services to properly mourn just around the corner. He said you government and leadership that is
their loved ones for fear of spreading will see it in 2 weeks, just like he told completely antithetical to everything
COVID to another member of their FOX News in July when he said he the word ‘‘leadership’’ means.
family. That is why these remarks by would sign a healthcare plan in 2 Promise big, deliver zero, deliver
the President are so horrific. weeks, a full and complete healthcare small. That is President Trump’s view
What does the outcome of an election plan, and again in August, just 2 weeks of government. Boast when you don’t
determine if these lives should be away—just like his infrastructure bill, have any responsibility; shrink from it
counted? Isn’t that awful? Why does a new middle-class tax cut, lower pre- when you do. That is President
the outcome of an election determine if scription drug costs, a new stimulus Trump’s view of public service.
these lives should be counted? Does he package, a report on COVID–19’s im- It has diminished our institutions
mean that the loss of Americans who pact on minorities, and new COVID and our democracy. He has cost our
lived in States with Democratic Gov- tests, all of which the President said country its moral standing in the
ernors shouldn’t count? If that is the would be ‘‘2 weeks’’ away but, in fact, world; he has threatened the future of
case, President Trump is saying that never materialized, not in 2 weeks, not our planet; and he has cost Americans
the deaths of David Pickman of Som- ever. their healthcare, their jobs, and their
erset, CT; and Patrick McNamee of Yp- He must think the American people lives. But it is not so bad if you don’t
silanti, MI; and Virgil Sutton of Dallas, are chumps that he can say anything count the numbers.
NC, don’t count—don’t count. How he wants with no accountability, not I yield the floor.
about Ralph Davis, the high school bas- do it, and then do it again and again I suggest the absence of a quorum.
ketball coach in Milwaukee, WI? Did and again. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
his life not count because he lived in a For centuries, American Presidents clerk will call the roll.
State with a Democratic Governor? have faced challenges with honor and The senior assistant legislative clerk
What kind of demented person would with courage. They have stepped up to proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
say that those American lives don’t the podium and used their bully pulpit
I ask unanimous consent that the order
count? to give honor to American lives. But
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The President also said: ‘‘But some of when this President, President Trump, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
those states, they were blue States and stands at that great podium, he reveals objection, it is so ordered.
blue-state managed.’’ his cowardice, his callousness, his self-
I suppose that means that the life of f
ishness, his ignorance, and, most of all,
Dennis Wilson shouldn’t count because his insistence on dividing us. His in- RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY
he was an educator in Lenexa, KS. If ability and unwillingness to unite a LEADER
only Mr. Wilson had lived 17 miles east grieving nation will be his legacy. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
in the Hickman Hills neighborhood of When Donald Trump took the stage jority leader is recognized.
Kansas City, MO, maybe the President at the 2016 National Republican Con- f
would think his life should have count- vention, he painted a false portrait of a
ed. country in crisis, and declared, ‘‘I CORONAVIRUS
How about Captain Doug Hickok? If alone can fix it.’’ Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
he lived—I don’t know—in Cheyenne, Four years later, the country faces our Democratic colleagues have sought
WY, I suppose the President might actual crises—the greatest economic to spend this week discussing election
have valued his life. Unfortunately for crisis in 75 years, the greatest public security. Well, they really have sought
Captain Hickok, he lived 1,700 miles health crisis in a century—and Presi- to discuss absolutely anything besides
east in Bangor, PA, so President dent Trump now says: ‘‘It is what it pandemic relief since their leaders are
Trump says his life isn’t worth count- is.’’ still blocking bipartisan negotiations
ing. ‘‘Could you have done more to stop that could actually get a result.
Maybe I am giving the President too it?’’ So our friends across the aisle have
much credit. You never really know ‘‘I don’t think so,’’ he says. tried to change the subject to election
what the heck he means when he talks. ‘‘If you take the blue States out. . . . security or immigration from Ven-
So it is possible that his definition of We’re really at a very low level.’’ ezuela or anything besides the hun-
blue States isn’t limited to States with ‘‘I don’t take any responsibility at dreds of billions of dollars in relief
Democratic Governors. Maybe his defi- all.’’ they have been filibustering.
nition of blue States includes States ‘‘It’s going to disappear.’’ But the integrity of our democracy is
with more Democrats than Republicans ‘‘A lot of people think the masks are a crucial issue. We are fewer than 50
in their congressional delegations. no good.’’ days from November 3. Every voter de-
That would mean Valentina ‘‘[W]hen it gets a little warmer, it serves to know their State and local
Blackhorse’s life didn’t count because miraculously goes away.’’ authorities are as well equipped as pos-
she lived in Kayenta, AZ, nor would ‘‘I see the disinfectant, [where it] sible to oversee fair, safe, and secure
the life of a Des Moines toddler who knocks it out in a minute . . . and is elections.
died from COVID in June. there a way [we] can do something like So let’s discuss the progress made
What kind of demented person would that, by injection?’’ since back in 2016, the threats still be-
make that calculation? President ‘‘I’m not a doctor, but I’m, like, a fore us, and how it is when this non-
Trump, that is who. person that has a good, you know partisan issue gets hijacked—literally
Of course, there is no bottom with what.’’ hijacked—for partisan point-scoring.
President Trump. He is so contemp- This man, who said all these ridicu- Here is how the Democratic vice
tuous of every virtue, so dishonorable, lous, harmful things, is leading the chair of the Intelligence Committee de-
so dishonest that the vices parade country through the worst public scribed our vulnerability to foreign in-
themselves forward one after another. health crisis in a century. fluence in 2016 during the Obama-Biden
At the press conference after his dis- Americans don’t have to ask them- administration. This is the Democratic
gusting comments about ignoring selves, as Reagan once asked, if they vice chairman of the Intelligence Com-
American lives from blue States, Presi- are better off now than 4 years ago. mittee about 2016. He said: ‘‘We were
dent Trump lied, once again, about his President Trump has told everyone ex- caught flat-footed.’’ ‘‘We were caught
support for Americans with preexisting actly what the score is.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
flat-footed.’’
conditions, a lie he has told and retold When Donald Trump said he was run- That administration’s relationships
while his administration is in court ning for office, he said: ‘‘I alone can fix with State governments were dysfunc-
suing to eliminate those very protec- it.’’ When Donald Trump is running the tional; information sharing was weak;
tions. country during the worst pandemic in cross-sector partnerships hardly ex-
Don’t worry, though. President this century, he says: ‘‘It is what it is.’’ isted; and 8 years of weak foreign pol-
Trump promised that a brandnew, fan- Five words. Both times, five words. icy had emboldened Putin to push the
tastic Republican healthcare plan is Five words that sum up an approach to envelope.
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September 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5683
Now, for the last 4 years, thanks to On a monthly basis, we have heard RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
the actions of this Senate and the lead- new, hysterical pronouncements that The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
ership of the current administration, a our democracy was on death’s door. the previous order, the leadership time
huge number of dedicated experts have Even sensitive intelligence became is reserved.
worked hard to improve our defenses grist for the partisan mill. f
and regain America’s trust. This has not been universal. There
In 2016, the Department of Homeland CONCLUSION OF MORNING
has been good bipartisan work in some BUSINESS
Security was on an island, but under committees, but the Democratic lead-
this administration, DHS officials have ership appeared to make a conscious The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning
built partnerships with State and local choice: Instead of treating election se- business is closed.
officials who run our elections and curity like the unifying, bipartisan f
stood up massive intelligence-sharing issue it ought to be, they would use it
efforts that connect them with Federal EXECUTIVE SESSION
as a partisan cudgel to hit the other
authorities, the intelligence commu- side, playing right into our adversaries’
nity, as well as the private sector. hands. EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
In 2016, the outgoing administration
This week, the Democratic leader at- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
hid their limited grasp of the threat
tacked Republicans and basically ques- the previous order, the Senate will pro-
from Congress and the American peo-
tioned our patriotism because we did ceed to executive session to resume
ple. The Trump administration and in-
not rush to meet his latest demands for consideration of the following nomina-
telligence experts have been far, far
empty theatrics. He proposes to crowd tion, which the clerk will report.
more transparent. The senior assistant legislative clerk
In 2016, only 14 State or local au- out 4 years of bipartisan work from ac-
tual committees by inventing a read the nomination of Franklin
thorities had high-tech sensors to de- Ulyses Valderrama, of Illinois, to be
tect cyberattacks. Now all 50 States— brandnew Senate committee and pull
experts off the frontlines during the United States District Judge for the
all of them—have them. The Trump ad- Northern District of Illinois.
ministration has imposed real pain on home stretch for theatrical hearings
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
Russia: closing consulates, expelling here on Capitol Hill.
jority whip.
spies, sanctioning oligarchs and agents He says we must allocate more HOT SPRINGS VA FACILITY
of influence, and equipping neighbors money. Never mind that the millions Mr. THUNE. Madam President,
that are threatened by Moscow to deter and millions of dollars we have already South Dakota’s veterans and the Hot
further aggression. set aside remain unspent. He proposes Springs community are currently cele-
Here in the Senate, multiple commit- that the administration pull experts off brating the VA’s announcement that it
tees have become major players in this the frontlines to continue briefing him. has begun the process of rescinding its
effort. Our colleagues on the Intel- Never mind that ODNI alone has sup- order to close the Hot Springs VA facil-
ligence Committee spent, literally, ported 53 election security briefings to ity. This was a hard-fought victory in a
years producing their 5-part, 1,300-plus- Congress since 2018—53 election secu- battle that we weren’t always sure we
page report on what happened back in rity briefings to Congress since 2018. I would win. It started almost a decade
2016. Some of their bipartisan rec- am sure 54 will be the magic number ago, in 2011, when the Obama adminis-
ommendations are already taking ef- that finally makes our colleague a rea- tration announced its plans to re-
fect. sonable voice on this issue. align—when I say ‘‘realign,’’ reclose—
And then there is funding. The Sen- the Hot Springs VA facility.
ate has led the efforts to set aside more The truth is, briefings are ongoing;
the Intelligence and Armed Services I was well aware of what the Hot
than $1 billion in extra election assist- Springs facility means to South Da-
ance, from foreign interference to Committees will be briefed this week;
and all Senators will have access to kota veterans and to the entire Hot
COVID–19. Through the end of the pri- Springs community, and I determined
maries, more than 70 percent of the written intelligence analysis by career
professionals if new developments arise that there wasn’t going to be a closure
huge sum we provided in the CARES if I could help it. I knew that closing
Act is still unspent. As recently as a since last month’s all-Senate briefings.
the Hot Springs facility would put ac-
few months ago, more than 60 percent The Democratic leader’s demands cessible care out of the reach of a lot of
of the first tranche we provided all the aren’t solutions. These aren’t what the rural and Tribal veterans—not only
way back in fiscal 2018 was still experts say we need; they are just rural and Tribal South Dakota vet-
unspent. So we have made sure money empty gestures concocted so the Demo- erans but rural and Tribal veterans
is not an obstacle. cratic leader can complain that Repub- from neighboring Wyoming and Ne-
So these threats are still with us, and licans hate democracy and apple pie braska who depend on the Hot Springs
they have evolved. Not only Russia but when we don’t go along with them. facility for care.
also China, Iran, and other adversaries So remember, fear and division, re- Traveling to Rapid City and Fort
are looking constantly for ways to duced confidence in our democracy, Meade for care, as the VA proposed,
interfere in our politics, divide Ameri- Americans divided against ourselves: would be a real hardship, if not an im-
cans, and erode confidence in our insti- that is exactly what Russia wants—ex- possibility, for many of these veterans.
tutions. That is a fact. actly. That is what China wants too. I also strongly disagreed with moving
The work goes on, but we certainly That is just what our adversaries want not only medical care but the vital
aren’t flat-footed any longer. This to achieve, and it is exactly what the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pro-
progress should be cause for bipartisan Democratic leader helps them achieve gram from Hot Springs. Not only would
celebration, but one side of the aisle when he turns a bipartisan national this put the program out of reach of
seems to prefer pretending—pre- issue that should unite us into one some veterans, I believed it was also a
tending—there hasn’t been any more pretext for partisan finger-point- mistake to remove a tremendously ef-
progress at all. ing. fective program from the place where
Frankly, while nonpartisan experts it has been so successful and try to re-
worked around the clock to fight our Our colleague from New York said re-
constitute it elsewhere.
adversaries’ destabilizing efforts, too cently that ‘‘Republicans are the I got to work in Congress, along with
many Democrats have been under- enemy of the good.’’ No, Republicans
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
other Members of the South Dakota
mining America’s confidence in our de- and Democrats are not enemies. No fel- delegation. My first priority was sim-
mocracy to the degree that those ad- low Americans are enemies. ply trying to get Hot Springs’ veterans
versaries could only dream of: baseless Our people, our democracy, have real a hearing with the VA.
accusations that the last election was enemies in some corners of the world. I In 2016, after years of trying, we per-
stolen; casual assertions that this one, expect they are absolutely thrilled to suaded then-VA Secretary Bob McDon-
too, must be illegitimate if they don’t hear our own politicians talking that ald to visit Hot Springs. Unfortu-
win. way. nately, the visit didn’t work, and soon
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