Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Sept. 23, 2020)
Summary
Page S5803 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for September 23, 2020, headed Coronavirus, in interleaved columns. One speaker recalls getting 87 votes together for a farm bill and says negotiators ensured that Commodity Credit Corporation funds would not be diverted to oil companies, which is that speaker's view. Another speaker says the United States has 4.5 percent of the global population but 20 percent of COVID-19 deaths and that the administration's numbers do not back its claims. A further speaker honors Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and recalls her dissent in a case about Lilly Ledbetter, and a roll call list closes the page.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Sept. 23, 2020).”
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September 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5803
Earth we got 87 votes together for a no question that it will be adequately My heart goes out to the families af-
farm bill, with the tremendous help of funded. That is a positive thing. fected. I listened as spokespeople for
the ranking member, Senator STABE- I also am happy to report that the the administration talked about the
NOW, it was pretty easy. early press reports that we saw sug- wonderful job that they have done in
We were holding hearings, as both of gesting CCC funds were actually going defending America from the
the Senators know. And people asked to be diverted to oil companies—oil coronavirus. The numbers don’t back
me: How do you get something like companies—was expressly prohibited as them up at all.
this done? part of this negotiation. The United States of America has 4.5
It is just a huge undertaking. You Understand what is behind this. percent of the global population, and
have to listen to farmers. You have to These oil companies have benefited yet as of this morning, we have 20 per-
sit on the wagon tongue and listen. from a decision by the Trump adminis- cent of the COVID–19 deaths in the
Well, this time we didn’t have to sit tration to give small refineries waivers world—4.5 percent of the population, 20
on the wagon tongue and listen. when it came to the blending of eth- percent of the COVID–19 deaths. This
United, they said: What on Earth is anol with their product. The net result great and powerful Nation, with the
going on? How did this proposal get of that decision by the Trump adminis- best doctors and hospitals and re-
loose? In other words, keeping us out of tration was that a large number of searchers and pharmaceutical compa-
the continuing resolution, given the these small refineries were given waiv- nies in the world, has one of the worst
problems that we are having, what on ers for blending, and, as a result, the records in fighting this virus in the
Earth is going on? actual production of ethanol declined world. It is sad to think that you are
And so it wasn’t much of a surprise dramatically. It is one of the major
five times more likely to be infected by
to any of us when farmers—every one reasons that corn is grown and sold. It
COVID–19 in the United States than if
of them represented by the groups that is for that use, and it was diminished
you were living in Germany; twice as
the distinguished Senator has just list- dramatically.
It was one of major reasons why, as likely to be infected by COVID–19 in
ed—said: Whoa. Wait a minute. We are the United States than if you were liv-
the ethanol industry cratered, that
getting left out. ing in Canada. Canada, just across the
farm income in many States was cut in
I think the leader in a conference border, has an infection rate half of
half from what it normally has been.
said something about, well, other than In just the last few days, there has what the United States has. What is it
the fact that we are treating agri- been an attempt to rectify the situa- that they did that we didn’t do?
culture and farmers like bums—I mean, tion, which should have been changed Well, they came together as a nation
it was pretty clear what was going on, years ago, and rectifying it to say that, with a national policy, and it worked.
and it was terribly counterproductive. once again, there will be blending of We didn’t. This President basically said
I don’t know how people come up with ethanol with gasoline in the United to the Governors: You are on your own.
these things. It is what it is. States, which I support. And then As a consequence, there was a mad
But we listened to farmers. We got someone suggested, well, let’s give an scramble to get protective equipment.
the job done. We cooperated. It was bi- additional subsidy to the oil companies There was a mad scramble for ventila-
partisan. from the Commodity Credit Corpora- tors. It was a free-for-all when it
Some of the nutrition programs were tion—a terrible idea from the start. I should have been a coordinated na-
addressed. It was a good news story. We am glad it is not included in this final tional policy.
couldn’t have done it, however, with- product. Then, when the public health experts
out the 47 groups that sounded the Let me mention one other part of told us the obvious, that we ought to
alarm. And so we have been able to do this that is included that I think bears use these masks, and we should prac-
it over a period of about 3 or 4 or 5 notice, and that is the fact that there tice social distancing, washing our
days. is an extension of the school feeding hands, and avoiding crowds, the Presi-
I thank everybody concerned. I think program for the next school year. dent of the United States said just the
it is a good news story in the end re- We have an extraordinary situation opposite. One day he wore a mask—I
sult. with the COVID–19 pandemic where saw on television—when he visited a
Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. Chairman, I also many schools are not bringing kids veterans hospital. I don’t know if he
want to add Terry Van Doren to that into the classroom. Many of these kids has ever worn one before or since.
list, who is here this morning on the are being taught online across Amer- When the message from the public
floor. He worked tirelessly and stood ica. I know it because I know my health experts who insisted that it was
firm in the negotiations. So, Terry, grandkids are going through this. For the best way to break the back of this
thank you to you as well. those who are in lower income-quali- pandemic, this President mocked them
And, again, the final word, though, fying categories, we have now extended by holding rallies across the United
has to go—I think Senator BOOZMAN in this continuing resolution the acces- States with all of his loyal fans point-
would agree with me—to our Ag chair- sibility of these school feeding pro- edly not wearing masks to show they
man. Thanks so much. grams for the next school year. That is really didn’t care—didn’t care about
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. important. Kids, if they are going to any of the public health advice, and we
SASSE). The Senator from Illinois. learn, have to have nutrition. We don’t are paying the price for it.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, let me want them suffering from hunger in More people are infected in this
at the outset join in with my Repub- the process in any way, shape, or form country than Canada. We have double
lican colleagues. Coming from a farm in this great Nation. the rate here over Canada, five times
State, I am glad that we have a bipar- I want to salute not just the CCC, the rate over Germany. So many more
tisan continuing resolution until De- which has been lauded over and over have died in this country who should
cember 11. again in this last half hour, but this de- be living today. The President, at var-
I am saddened that we don’t have the cision that my side of the aisle was ious times, has said, when asked about
Appropriations Committee working pushing for to extend school lunch and the deaths: ‘‘It is what it is.’’ That is
through its normal process, nor the school feeding programs into the next an off-the-cuff dismissal of the issue,
Budget Committee. This is the world school year. I think it will give some which is beneath the dignity of any
we live in now—continuing resolutions. peace of mind to administrators who leader of either political party.
And this continuing resolution does in- are trying to cope with the current sit- Despite the urgent needs of families,
clude money for the Commodity Credit uation. businesses, workers, and unemployed
Corporation, which is the usual source CORONAVIRUS Americans across the country, we
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of payments for agriculture programs Mr. President, on a completely dif- haven’t followed through on the origi-
agreed to in the farm bill. ferent subject—but related—we have nal CARES Act, which passed in this
There was some question as to lost 200,000 Americans to coronavirus. Chamber on March 26. It was that date,
whether or not there was enough The predictions are that by election by a vote of 96 to 0, that Republicans
money in the CCC account to take care day there could be 300,000 deaths and by and Democrats said: We take this seri-
for the months to come. Now there is the first of next year, 400,000 deaths. ously, March 26, and we are going to
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S5804 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 23, 2020
dedicate $3 trillion to make sure that those programs? It raises a question as dred dollars a week sounds like a lot of
we fight this virus and that we do ev- to whether they are going to be hurt by money—times 4 weeks, $2,400. But if
erything in our power to cushion the this temporary measure. It is a very $1,700 a month is going just to main-
shock of the economic impact of this confusing proposal by the President, tain your health insurance from where
virus on America. but he has put it on the table, and we you worked, you can see there is vir-
I went home after that, and people are now trying to sort out the impact tually no benefit. It is estimated that
said: I can’t believe 96 to nothing. it is going to have. 23 million workers can lose health cov-
Democrats and Republicans agreed? We need to do more. We shouldn’t go erage during the course of this pan-
Well, we did. There were some pro- home for this election empty handed demic. That happens to just about mir-
posals in there that were brandnew, when it comes to helping the families ror the number who were given health
such as the Paycheck Protection Pro- and businesses across America, and we insurance under the Affordable Care
gram that Senators RUBIO and CARDIN need to start to help State and local Act. Now they stand to lose—at least
constructed. I think I have been told governments. the same number stand to lose their
they spent perhaps 2 weeks in writing My State of Illinois has problems— health insurance because of the pan-
this important program. Was it per- plenty of them. When it comes to pen- demic. Are we going to sit still for this
fect? By no means. We realized, after a sions, for example, just like Kentucky, or are we going to help these families?
few weeks, it needed to be changed, and we have problems funding our pensions My bill, which I will be introducing
we changed it several times, but the in Illinois. But we have a second set of with Senator CORTEZ MASTO and oth-
concept was sound to give money to problems created by the pandemic—the ers, will fully cover the cost of COBRA,
small businesses so they could keep downturn in revenue which is going to enabling newly unemployed Americans
people on the payroll, pay the mort- have a dramatic impact on State budg- to keep their healthcare coverage dur-
gage, pay the rent, pay the utilities. ets in Illinois and other States. If we ing this difficult time. The legislation
These are the fundamentals that a don’t help these State and local gov- mirrors what passed in the Heroes Act
business needed so that it might reopen ernments get through this problem, in the House in May—in May, 4 months
and put people back to work. It was a they have no choice but to layoff im- ago—and it is vital to help those whose
great program. It should be extended portant, vital employees—law enforce- jobs have been taken away by the pan-
even further. I think there should be a ment, firefighters, healthcare—just to demic. We have waited 4 months to do
second round. name a few. something here in the Senate, and we
I also think there should be a second When people talk about defunding have done nothing.
round when it comes to unemployment the police, I am afraid that if we don’t So MCCONNELL brought a bill up 2
benefits. The $600 a week, which we give a helping hand to State and local weeks ago that is so thin and so want-
provided—which is incidentally subject governments, we are actually going to ing that it really didn’t address the
to taxation, people should remember— see the defunding of some law enforce- problems that this Nation faces.
but the $600 a week which we provided ment across this country. That is why There is a new report from the Rob-
over and above State benefits made a ert Wood Johnson Foundation that half
those on this side of the aisle have been
dramatic difference in the lives of of Chicago households report having
pushing for State and local assistance
Americans. Critics from the outset lost their jobs. Some of those who lost
as part of any package of relief that we
said: It is going to make people lazy. their job are head of household, have
pass.
Folks will just sit at home watching The majority leader knows this needs been furloughed or are seeing reduc-
Netflix and eating bonbons. to be done. The playbook was right in tions in wages or hours since the start
I don’t believe that. In fact, when of the pandemic. Half—half—of Chi-
front of him for another relief bill. We
you look at the reality of the situa- cago’s households reported facing seri-
did it back in March with the CARES
tion, 70 percent of the people who have ous financial problems during the pan-
Act. To negotiate a real package with
gone back to work in America—70 per- demic and have trouble caring for their
real solutions for the American people,
cent of them—were earning less money children. Thirty-five percent reported
the majority leader needs to show up
at work then they did with unemploy- that they used up all or most of their
at the negotiating table. It is impos-
ment benefits, and yet they went back savings. This is a terrible situation—a
sible to explain why Senator MCCON-
to work. Why would they do that if it challenging situation. We owe it to this
NELL boycotted the negotiation ses-
country and the people we represent
were just about whether you are going sions between the White House and the
not to ignore it.
to be lazy or thrifty? It is because they Democratic leaders in Congress. There As we know, the pandemic has dis-
want to be back to work for the bene- was an empty chair waiting for him, proportionately affected our minority
fits, to do the work that they do and but he never filled it. communities, with nearly 70 percent of
enjoy doing, and they knew that unem- I am introducing legislation this Black families and 63 percent of Latinx
ployment was a temporary thing, as it week to help workers who have been families in Chicago reporting they are
should be, as people had an opportunity furloughed or laid off through the pan- having serious financial problems—70
to return. demic from losing their health insur- percent of Black families, 63 percent of
So that expired July 31. The Presi- ance. I can’t imagine a worse situation Latinx families.
dent has tried to extend it by Execu- than in the midst of a public health While those statistics reflect the re-
tive order. There is question as to crisis to lose your health insurance ality of many in Chicago, there is no
whether he has the authority to do coverage. doubt that this is also the story in
that. The President is also trying to do If you have been laid off, your op- many other cities across this Nation.
something which I still don’t under- tions are a few—but only a few. You That is why we need a Federal re-
stand how to explain to anyone when it may qualify for Medicaid. It is pos- sponse. We need to do what is nec-
comes to payroll tax. He is allowing sible. You might go to the Affordable essary to help these families, busi-
employers to decide whether to sus- Care Act and go on the exchange and nesses, cities, and States get back on
pend collection of the payroll tax to a find an insurance policy that works for their feet. But instead, the Senate Re-
later date. If that tax on your income you and your family. There is also an publicans proposed an inadequate, par-
of 6 percent or 7 percent is suspended, option called COBRA, where you would tisan bill, with no negotiations with
but yet you have to pay it all back at take the health insurance offered in the other side of the aisle. They failed
the beginning of the year, are Ameri- your workplace and decide to keep it to prioritize the needs of struggling
cans prepared to have a double tax- but pay the employer’s share as well as families.
ation from their payroll check after the employee’s share on premiums. The The bill has failed to provide another
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the first of the year? In the meantime, problem, of course, is that it is very ex- round of economic impact pay for fami-
that payroll tax is supposed to be used pensive. lies or hazard pay for essential work-
to fund Social Security and Medicare. On average, COBRA costs $600 a ers. They fail to provide relief to
If the President is not funding Social month to keep the health insurance States and local governments to help
Security and Medicare, what does that you had at work for an individual, teachers, EMTs, firefighters, and po-
do to the solvency and longevity of $1,700 a month for a family. Six hun- lice.
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September 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5805
A week from Thursday is October 1, Toomey Warner Wicker this vacancy on the Court and why
Udall Warren Wyden
which means another month’s rent will Van Hollen Whitehouse
whoever is elected President in Novem-
be due, and many families know they ber should be the one who decides to
will not be able to pay it. We need help NAYS—26 fill this seat.
on a bipartisan basis. I agree with Fed- Barrasso Gardner Rounds Justice Ginsburg was, simply put, a
Blackburn Hawley Sasse
eral Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, Blumenthal Heinrich Schumer
phenomenal lawyer and jurist. She was
if we don’t move and move quickly to Boozman Hirono Scott (FL) small, and she was mighty. As a civil
address this issue, the economy can Braun Hoeven Scott (SC) rights lawyer, she won key cases that
Cotton Kennedy established a woman’s constitutional
sink even deeper, and recovery would Cruz Lankford
Sullivan
be further in the distance. In the mean- Thune right to equal treatment and confirmed
Daines Lee Young
time, the death numbers in the United Enzi Moran the principle of equal rights for all. As
States would be even worse. NOT VOTING—3 a jurist, she further cemented these
I yield the floor. Capito Harris Johnson
key principles into law. She brought
CLOTURE MOTION them up, and she made them exist for-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this ever.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant vote, the yeas are 71, the nays are 26.
to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the As a person, she brought smiles to
The motion is agreed to. our faces, and now she really does
Senate the pending cloture motion, The Senator from Idaho.
which the clerk will state. bring tears.
NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK Although small in stature, Ruth
The legislative clerk read as follows: Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, fellow Bader Ginsburg was a formidable advo-
CLOTURE MOTION Senators, I rise today in honor of and cate, strategist, and champion. I be-
We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- to speak about the importance of small lieve she will continue to serve as a
ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the businesses—in particular, in relation to major role model for generations of
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby National Small Business Week. women, both young and old, for whom
move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Idaho’s small businesses are the en-
nation of John Charles Hinderaker, of Ari- she paved the way, and I am one of
gine that powers our State’s economy. those. We are in her debt today, and
zona, to be United States District Judge for
the District of Arizona. They provide us with not only goods generations to come will be in her debt
Mitch McConnell, Martha McSally, Tom and services, local jobs, and growth op- as well.
Cotton, Roger F. Wicker, John Cornyn, portunities, but also immeasurable Justice Ginsburg is also important to
Lamar Alexander, John Barrasso, Roy community value. me personally. Her confirmation hear-
Blunt, Marco Rubio, Richard Burr, With the onset and spread of COVID– ing was the first I participated in as a
Mike Crapo, Rob Portman, Kevin 19, this year has presented Idaho’s busi- newly elected Senator and as the first
Cramer, John Thune, Steve Daines, ness owners with challenges not seen in
John Boozman, James Lankford. woman to sit on the Judiciary Com-
our lifetime. Even under normal cir- mittee in 1993. It was a long time ago.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- cumstances, business ownership takes As I said before the committee in
imous consent, the mandatory quorum remarkable courage and commitment. 1993, it was not until I began preparing
call has been waived. With the pandemic, the challenges as- for Justice Ginsburg’s confirmation
The question is, Is it the sense of the sociated with entrepreneurship have that I learned how she built the foun-
Senate that debate on the nomination increased dramatically. Throughout dation for women’s rights. Simply put,
of John Charles Hinderaker, of Ari- 2020, Idaho’s small businesses have it was this: Before becoming a judge on
zona, to be United States District shown tremendous determination as the DC Circuit, Justice Ginsburg was
Judge for the District of Arizona, shall they have strived to serve their cus- the director of the ACLU’s Women’s
be brought to a close? tomers and keep their doors open to Rights Project, where she won five
The yeas and nays are mandatory people in their communities. cases before the Supreme Court. Amaz-
under the rule. During this year’s National Small ing—five cases before people believed
The clerk will call the roll. Business Week, I want to take this op- women had these rights. In one of these
The bill clerk called the roll. portunity to recognize the resilience cases, Craig v. Boren, the Supreme
Mr. THUNE. The following Senators and courage of small businesses Court held for the first time that the
are necessarily absent: the Senator throughout the Gem State and encour- equal protection clause of the 14th
from West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO), the age Idahoans to continue to support Amendment applied to women. Can you
Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. JOHNSON). the local shops, restaurants, and busi- believe it—actually applied to women.
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the nesses that make our communities vi- This is a very big addition because this
Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is brant. really canceled out inequality.
necessarily absent. I firmly believe that small business In other words, it is because of Jus-
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. relief is a shared, bipartisan priority. tice Ginsburg’s advocacy as a lawyer
LANKFORD). Are there any other Sen- Here in the Senate, we will continue to that the government cannot discrimi-
ators in the Chamber desiring to vote? work to deliver relief to Idaho’s small nate against women on the basis of sex.
The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 71, businesses so that we can get back on For the female side of this room, this
nays 26, as follows: the path to recapturing the unprece- was really a major person whose works
[Rollcall Vote No. 190 Ex.] dented prosperity our economy pro- enabled us to run for this esteemed
YEAS—71 vided before this crisis began. body and be part of it.
Idahoans are set apart by their grit, It is no surprise, then, that Justice
Alexander Feinstein Murphy
Baldwin Fischer Murray self-reliance, and their deep commit- Ginsburg remained a fierce defender of
Bennet Gillibrand Paul ment to community. I am constantly women from the bench.
Blunt Graham Perdue reminded of this and proud of it when She consistently reaffirmed a wom-
Booker Grassley Peters
Brown Hassan Portman
I see Idaho’s small businesses enduring an’s right to choose and upheld Roe v.
Burr Hyde-Smith Reed and supporting one another through Wade against dozens of attacks.
Cantwell Inhofe Risch these uncertain times. She invalidated the men’s-only pol-
Cardin Jones Roberts The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
Carper Kaine Romney
icy at the Virginia Military Institute.
Casey King Rosen
ator from California. Explaining that decision at a visit to
Cassidy Klobuchar Rubio SUPREME COURT NOMINATIONS VMI, Justice Ginsburg told cadets that
Collins Leahy Sanders Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I she knew it ‘‘would make V.M.I. a bet-
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Coons Loeffler Schatz
Cornyn Manchin Shaheen rise today in honor of Justice Ruth ter place.’’
Cortez Masto Markey Shelby Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was In 2007, she vehemently dissented in a
Cramer McConnell Sinema a role model for many and a champion case where the Court’s majority held
Crapo McSally Smith that a woman—namely, one Lilly
Duckworth Menendez Stabenow
for all, and I was one of those.
Durbin Merkley Tester I would like to speak about what is Ledbetter, with whom we have become
Ernst Murkowski Tillis at stake for the American public with familiar—was time-barred from suing
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