Congressional Record, Senate, S5900 (September 30, 2020)
Summary
This Senate page of the Congressional Record for September 30, 2020 carries floor remarks. A Senator says Democrats are making baseless attacks over healthcare against Judge Barrett and says Speaker Pelosi’s latest offering does not include a single cent of new money toward the Paycheck Protection Program. Another speaker says the Proud Boys were celebrating President Trump’s debate performance. The page ends with a reservation of leader time.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, S5900 (September 30, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-09-29-crec-2020-09-29-pt2-pgs5900-79223df9db/
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S5900 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 30, 2020
judges are there to dictate policy out- answer is. That is exactly what they face by introducing yet another multi-
comes rather than following the facts are up to. That is exactly what they in- trillion-dollar far-left wish list with
and text wherever they lead. tend to do. virtually all the same non-COVID-re-
That is why we have had the same Last year, our colleague Senator lated poison pills as their last
scare tactics for almost half a century. HARRIS said explicitly that she was unserious bill.
John Paul Stevens was going to end open to it. That is another way of say- Speaker PELOSI’s latest offering still
women’s rights. David Souter was ing that is what they intend to do. Nu- does not include a single cent of new
going to send vulnerable people into merous of our colleagues have refused money toward the Paycheck Protec-
the Dark Ages. John Roberts was going to rule out this radical institution- tion Program to help small businesses
to declare war on health insurance. shattering step. that are going under. It does nothing to
And now our Democratic colleagues Now Senate Democrats are trying to help schools, universities, doctors,
want Americans to believe Judge Bar- make Judge Barrett precommit to han- nurses, or employers avoid frivolous
rett is on a one-woman crusade to hurt dle hypothetical issues the way they lawsuits. But the House did find room
Americans with preexisting conditions. want—more disrespect for judicial to provide special treatment to the
One Senator has literally claimed the independence. marijuana industry. Their bill men-
nominee would—listen to this—‘‘create Judge Barrett understands a judge’s tions the word ‘‘cannabis’’ more times
a humanitarian catastrophe.’’ only loyalty must be to our laws and than the words ‘‘job’’ or ‘‘jobs.’’
They are the same old scare tactics, our Constitution. She understands our They still want to send taxpayer-
totally predictable and totally dis- system would collapse if judges do not funded stimulus checks to people in
honest. leave politics aside. If the Democratic our country illegally. They still want
These baseless attacks over Party feels differently, if Democrats to hand a massively expensive tax cut
healthcare are supposedly founded on a have decided that judicial independ- to millionaires and billionaires in
technical argument in a 4-year-old ence is simply an inconvenience to places like New York City and San
scholarly article. Then-Professor Bar- their radical agenda, it shows how lit- Francisco, a pet priority of the Speak-
rett analyzed the Supreme Court’s rul- tle weight we should afford their criti- er and the Democratic leader that
ing on one piece of ObamaCare—the un- cisms of this outstanding nominee. would do nothing to help working fami-
fair, unpopular individual mandate lies through this pandemic.
f
penalty, which we have since zeroed All of these far-left poison pills are
out. The constitutional arguments over CORONAVIRUS still in their recycled bill. They have
whether that terrible idea was a ‘‘pen- Mr. MCCONNELL. If Senate Demo- no intention of making bipartisan law
alty’’ or a ‘‘tax’’ are now moot because, crats were half as concerned as they for American families, but there are a
whatever you want to call it, Repub- say about America’s family healthcare, few changes from the last bill.
they would not have filibustered a So get this. Now that supporting law
licans in Congress zeroed it out 3 years
multihundred-billion-dollar proposal enforcement has become less than fash-
ago. Working Americans are no longer
for more coronavirus relief just a few ionable on the far left, the Democrats
penalized by that Democrat policy.
weeks ago. have actually taken out hundreds of
Americans with preexisting conditions
A Senate minority that was focused millions of dollars for hiring and as-
are still protected and that specific
on America’s health would have let us sisting police officers. Let me say that
legal question is moot.
fund more tests, treatments, and vac- again. In this latest version, there were
Our Democratic colleagues are grasp-
cine development, like Republicans at least some changes. Now that sup-
ing at straws. Now they want Judge
tried to do just a few weeks ago. A Sen- porting law enforcement has become
Barrett to promise to recuse herself
ate minority that was prioritizing less than fashionable on the far left,
from whole categories of cases. Of
wellness would have let us spend more the Democrats have actually taken out
course, that is ridiculous. It is hard to
than $100 billion to make schools safe hundreds of millions of dollars for hir-
think of anyone in the country over
for students, like Republicans tried to ing and assisting police officers. Their
whom a President has less leverage
so-called sequel to the Heroes Act has
than a judge with a lifetime appoint- do just a few weeks ago. A Senate mi-
decided that cops are not heroes after
ment. Nobody suggested Justice nority that sought to protect citizens
all. Apparently, cops are not heroes
Sotomayor or Justice Kagan needed to with preexisting conditions would have
after all. The House Democrats
categorically sit on the sidelines until let us reaffirm legal protections for
couldn’t miss a chance to defund the
President Obama left office. This is those Americans, like Republicans had
police.
just a backdoor attempt to impugn in our bill just a few weeks ago. A Sen- This latest bill from the Speaker is
Judge Barrett’s integrity. ate minority that was serious about no more serious than any of their other
If Senators believe this nominee is economic recovery would have let us political stunts going back months. If
committed to impartial justice in fund a second round of the Paycheck they continue to refuse to get serious,
every case, if they believe she will Protection Program and continued the then American families will continue
mean her oath when she takes it, they expanded unemployment checks, like to hurt. Less than a month ago, every
should vote to confirm her. If they Republicans tried to do just a few single Senator voted on providing hun-
don’t, they should vote no. weeks ago. dreds of billions of dollars for kids,
But only one of these arguments has The Senate voted on all of this 3 jobs, healthcare, and reaffirming pro-
any basis in Judge Barrett’s resume, weeks ago. Three weeks ago, every sin- tections for preexisting conditions.
her reputation, and the praise that has gle Senator cast a vote on preexisting There were 52 Republicans who voted
been showered on her jurisprudence conditions, money for testing, money to advance all of these things, but
even by famous liberal lawyers. for vaccines, money for safe schools, every single Democrat who showed up
Judge Barrett has already stated in money for small businesses, and money voted to block them.
writing to the Senate that she has for unemployed workers—just 3 weeks The American people are still hurt-
given nobody in the White House any ago. Fifty-two Republicans voted to ing. The layoffs are still mounting.
hints or any assurances about any kind pass all of these policies and every sin- Families still need more help, and the
of cases, real or hypothetical. It is only gle Democrat who showed up voted to healthcare fight needs more resources.
Senate Democrats who are trying to filibuster it dead. One side voted to supply all of that
extract promises and precommitments. The Democratic leader and the help. The other side decided to block it.
It is only Democrats who are trying to Speaker of the House were determined
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
undermine judicial independence. that American families should not see The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
Last night on national television, another dime before the election. This clerk will call the roll.
former Vice President Biden refused to week, Speaker PELOSI is finally caving The senior assistant legislative clerk
rule out the radical notion of packing to months of pressure from fellow proceeded to call the roll.
the Supreme Court. He ducked the Democrats who argue that her Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask
question. In Washington, when you stonewalling is hurting our country. unanimous consent that the order for
duck the question, you know what the House Democrats are trying to save the quorum call be rescinded.
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September 30, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5901
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without joicing at the tacit endorsement of I will tell you what: This is not a
objection, it is so ordered. their violent tactics by the President joke to the American people. This is
f himself. They made logos out of the not a joke to the 20 million Americans
President’s remarks: ‘‘Stand back and who could lose their health insurance if
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY stand by.’’ the ACA is struck down—not a joke to
LEADER I just want to ask my Republican col- the parents of a child who has cancer
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The leagues: How are you not embarrassed and who would have to watch help-
Democratic leader is recognized. that President Trump represents your lessly as their child suffers if the pro-
f party? How can you possibly—pos- tections for preexisting conditions are
sibly—support anyone who behaves struck down; not a joke to the millions
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE this way? Are you watching the same of Americans on Medicare, whose drug
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, last person we are? Are you listening? Are prices would soar; not a joke to women
night, President Trump delivered one you not embarrassed that millions of across the country who could, once
of the most disgraceful performances Americans watched President Trump again, be charged more for health in-
at a Presidential debate that anyone and thought: ‘‘That is what the Repub- surance than men, denied maternity
has ever seen, and I do not mean that lican Party stands for now’’? care, and free access to birth control.
from a political perspective; I mean it He can’t express sympathy for the The only joke here is the Republican
from a human perspective. families of 200,000 Americans who have leader’s desperate attempt to pretend
One can become inured to the Presi- died from COVID; can’t go 30 seconds that his President, his party, and their
dent’s tendency to melt down when without interrupting someone when he Supreme Court nominee pose no threat
confronted with his facts, his brazen is not speaking; can’t refrain from at- to our Nation’s healthcare law—the
lack of self-awareness, his stunning tacking someone’s family and pre- same Senate leader who did everything
lack of regard for others, but it was tending not to know a person’s de- he could on the floor of this Senate to
maddening to watch the President last ceased son; can’t honor the military, repeal the ACA.
night—angry and small—unable to defend democracy, respect elections, or President Trump said he will pick
show a scintilla of respect, unable to tell the truth; can’t even make it Supreme Court nominees who will
follow even the most basic rules of through a debate without emboldening
‘‘terminate the Affordable Care Act.’’
human civility or decorum, unwilling White supremacists.
His administration is in court right
to constrain a stream of obvious false- How are you, my Senate colleagues,
not deeply, utterly, personally embar- now, suing to eliminate it. Senate Re-
hoods and rightwing bile. publicans tried to repeal the law and
Shakespeare summed up in ‘‘Mac- rassed that Donald Trump is a Repub-
lican? How are we not all embarrassed replace it with nothing. The Repub-
beth’’ Trump’s performance last licans’ lawsuit against the Affordable
night—‘‘a tale told by an idiot, full of that someone who behaved the way
President Trump did last night is our Care Act will be heard by the Supreme
sound and fury, signifying nothing.’’ Court during the week after the elec-
Yes, President Trump’s debate per- President? I know I am. How about
you? tion. There is a reason the Republicans
formance was, in the words of ‘‘Mac- are scrambling to fill this seat so
beth,’’ a tale told by an idiot, full of Again, this President is just amazing,
and his speech last night—‘‘a tale told quickly, and Judge Barrett, when the
sound and fury, signifying nothing. ACA was challenged in major litiga-
In an hour and a half that felt like a by an idiot, full of sound and fury, sig-
nifying nothing.’’ tion, twice before—twice—sided
lifetime, the President managed to in- against the law.
sult Vice President Biden’s deceased f
So, if the Republican leader believes
son and smear his living one, please a SUPREME COURT NOMINATIONS that the Democrats are raising un-
fringe White supremacist group, and Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on founded fears about healthcare, will he
cap the night off by, yet again, casting SCOTUS, it is for this President that urge the plaintiffs to drop their lawsuit
doubt on our own elections—tarnishing Senate Republicans are now rushing against the ACA? Will Leader MCCON-
our own democracy. Those were just through a Supreme Court nominee NELL urge the Justice Department not
his worst moments. The rest of the de- nearly days before a national election. to spend taxpayer dollars in trying to
bate saw the President heap lies upon A Republican majority that once ar- eliminate the taxpayers’ healthcare?
lies—lies big and small and every size gued the American people should be Normally these questions would be
in between. This President and truth given a voice in the selection of their rhetorical, but yesterday I filed a pro-
don’t intersect at all. next Supreme Court Justice is plan- cedural motion that will set up a vote
Still, one moment stands out. When ning to confirm a nominee in the mid- on a bill that would protect the
asked to condemn White supremacist dle of an election that is already under- healthcare of hundreds of millions of
groups like the Proud Boys—classified way. You could not design a scenario Americans and prevent efforts by the
as a hate group by the Southern Pov- that would more fully expose the Re- Department of Justice—Donald
erty Law Center and called ‘‘hard-core publicans’ double standard than this Trump’s Department of Justice—to ad-
white supremacists’’ by the Anti-Defa- one. Of greater concern to the Amer- vocate that courts strike down the Af-
mation League—President Trump de- ican people is how the rush by Senate fordable Care Act. Leader MCCONNELL
murred and then said: ‘‘Proud Boys, Republicans to confirm this nominee and all of my Republican colleagues
stand back and stand by.’’ will put their healthcare at risk. will have to vote on that shortly. Let
‘‘Stand back and stand by.’’ Now, yesterday, the Republican lead- me repeat. Leader MCCONNELL and all
President Obama once wondered rhe- er actually mocked the idea that a far- of my Republican colleagues will have
torically: ‘‘How hard is it to say Nazis right Supreme Court majority might to vote very soon on whether the Sen-
are bad?’’ strike down the ACA and that Judge ate should consider a bill to protect
Apparently, for President Trump, it Barrett’s judicial philosophy might Americans with preexisting conditions.
is beyond his capacity. In a national play a part in that. ‘‘What a joke,’’ With that vote, we will see just how
debate, he not only refused to condemn Senator MCCONNELL said, that Justice much of a joke it is that Senate Repub-
a far-right group of violent White su- Barrett might pose any risk to Ameri- licans and their Supreme Court nomi-
premacists, but he told them to stand cans’ healthcare. nees want to eliminate Americans’
by. I guess Judge Barrett must have been healthcare.
As much of the country was in de- joking when she publicly criticized
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
I yield the floor.
spair last night at the President’s juve- Justice Roberts for upholding the Af-
nile behavior, one group was cele- fordable Care Act. It must have been f
brating—the Proud Boys. They are who with a sarcastic flick of the pen when
were celebrating President Trump’s de- she wrote that the Supreme Court RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
bate performance—White supremacists. would ‘‘have had to invalidate’’ the law The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
Within minutes of the President’s com- if it had read the statute the way she the previous order, the leadership time
ments, the Proud Boys were online, re- does. is reserved.
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