Congressional Record, Senate, October 20, 2020, Page S6306
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated October 20, 2020, at page S6306, under the heading Coronavirus. Mr. Durbin, the Democratic whip, criticizes the President's comments calling public health experts idiots and downplaying the pandemic, citing 220,000 dead and more than 70,450 new cases reported in a day. He says Mr. McConnell's first priority in the new COVID proposal is liability immunity for businesses and compares $16 billion for testing with the $75 billion proposed by Speaker Pelosi. Near the end, Mr. Thune speaks on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, saying the Judiciary Committee heard no negative word about her character.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, October 20, 2020, Page S6306.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-10-19-crec-2020-10-19-pt2-pgs6306-90827e26d2/
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S6306 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 20, 2020
rip away healthcare from millions of First, he denied it was deadly. He ar- of the Republicans in the House, to join
Americans. gued it was going to go away. When it in this bipartisan negotiation. MCCON-
God save us. gets warm outside, it will go away. It NELL and MCCARTHY declined. They
I yield the floor. is a hoax. You remember those state- would not even sit in the chairs during
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ments. And do you remember that in- negotiations. In Senator MCCONNELL’s
Democratic whip. credible press conference where the case, he simply came to the floor on a
CORONAVIRUS President went off on some tangent daily basis to mock every effort to re-
Mr. DURBIN. ‘‘Idiots.’’ ‘‘Idiots.’’ about disinfectant and Lysol? It was spond to this COVID–19.
That is what the President called Dr. sickening to think that the leader of Well, this is not a news bulletin, but
Anthony Fauci and the public health the free world would do that. we are 2 weeks away from the election,
experts in the Federal Government. How about the example set by the and guess what we are going to do on
The President said: President. To this day, to get this the floor of the Senate today. We are
People are tired of COVID. I have the big- President to wear a mask is a rare oc- going to entertain a new idea by Sen-
gest rallies I’ve ever had. And we have currence. And there he was, just days ator MCCONNELL of how to cope with
COVID. People are saying: ‘‘Whatever. Just after being helicoptered out to Walter the COVID–19 pandemic. It turns out
leave us alone.’’ They’re tired of it. Reed Hospital, returning to the White that it is a scant list of his priorities.
Then he added: House, making his triumphant balcony Not surprisingly, the first priority is
People are tired of hearing Fauci and these scene, standing before the American an issue he has called his redline on the
idiots, all these idiots who got it wrong. people and ripping off his mask just to floor over and over again—to give im-
Those are the words of the President tell them how tough he was, how lucky munity from liability to businesses
of the United States, Donald Trump, in he was. He was really telling the Amer- that fail to take the necessary steps to
the midst of the worst pandemic Amer- ican people: Don’t take this mask busi- protect their employees and their cus-
ica has seen in over a century—220,000 ness seriously. He can say the words, tomers from the spread of this deadly
dead and counting. but he just mouths them. The fact that virus. That is his first priority. He has
What lies ahead with this COVID epi- you can see his mouth is an indication said that. Even before the first issue
demic, which the President is so tired that he doesn’t believe it. And here we was raised as to what would be in-
of hearing about? What have the so- are. cluded in this, the first thing that Sen-
called ‘‘idiots’’ told us about the future Fortunately, in the early stages of ator MCCONNELL insisted on was pro-
of COVID–19? Here is what they have this pandemic, this Congress rose to tecting these businesses.
told us: More than 70,450 new the occasion. It was March 26. We How do the American people feel
coronavirus cases were reported in the called it the CARES Act. It was indeed about that? Well, they are pretty clear.
United States on Friday, the highest a comprehensive effort to deal with the They believe if you put that immunity
figure since July 24, according to the coronavirus, a comprehensive ap- in place, that many businesses won’t
New York Times database. More than proach. We imagined all the possibili- do what they need to do to protect
900 new deaths were recorded, and over ties, we saw the economy sinking their employees and customers. They
the past week, there have been an aver- under our feet, and we came together worry that this gets them off the hook
age of 56,615 cases per day—an increase with a vote of 96 to nothing here in the instead of putting the responsibility
of 30 percent from the average 2 weeks U.S. Senate—a bipartisan vote of 96 to clearly on their shoulders.
earlier. nothing—for a bill that we wrote to- The good news is the overwhelming
Is this a political commentary, these gether, Democrats and Republicans sit- majority of businesses that I know are
facts? No. These are the numbers and ting together. really trying to do the right thing. The
statistics of reality—a reality which It was an amazing day, and I am glad bad news is they are not sure what that
President Trump refuses to acknowl- we did it, but there was one clear is. They hear about CDC guidelines
edge. shortcoming. We assumed when we that are ignored and mocked by the
How are we doing when it comes to passed the CARES Act that, come the President, and they hear about the pos-
the COVID–19 pandemic compared to end of July and first part of August, sibility of other standards that will be
the world? Well, we have five times the this crisis would be behind us. It isn’t. used.
infection rate of the nation of Ger- At the end of July, for example, the We have had hearings before the Sen-
many. What is going on here? The Federal supplement of unemployment ate Judiciary Committee when a Texas
great United States of America has five insurance ran out for millions of Amer- businessman with a string of conven-
times the infection rate of Germany? icans. In the first part of August, the ience stores, I think, came to us and in
Well, let’s get across the ocean. Let’s loans to small businesses dried up as good faith said: I don’t know where to
bring it to this side of the Atlantic. well. turn for a standard of care. What am I
How are we doing in comparison to the What has happened since? Well, on supposed to do if I want to protect ev-
nations here? Well, let’s compare the the other side of the Rotunda, in the eryone coming into my store—employ-
United States to Canada. The COVID House of Representatives, Speaker ees and customers alike?
death rate in the United States is 21⁄2 NANCY PELOSI, 5 months ago—5 months I thought his statement was genuine.
times the death rate in Canada. ago—passed her Heroes Act. It was $3 I really believed him, and I still do. But
What does Justin Trudeau know trillion—comparable to the first effort. it is no excuse for what we have failed
about this epidemic that Donald She sent it to the Republican leader of to do here. We have failed to come up
Trump did not? He knew that it took the Senate, Senator MITCH MCCONNELL with a national standard to protect
leadership to deal with it. He knew of Kentucky, for him to do his part. It people from the spread of this virus.
that we had to step up as a nation and is a bicameral legislature. His part Instead, Senator MCCONNELL comes
gather together all the people of this would require coming up with an alter- to the floor and says: If you can find
country in common purpose to beat native and taking that to conference. any standard by any level of govern-
back this virus, and he failed to do it— Did he do that? No. He refused to ac- ment, it is good enough. You are off
President Trump failed to do that. He knowledge it and mocked day after day the hook. That is no way to lead in the
said to the Governors ‘‘You are on your after day the efforts of Speaker PELOSI, midst of a deadly pandemic.
own. Go out and find protective equip- questioning whether they were enough It is not the only issue. There are
ment. Find ventilators. See what you or sincere or too political, on and on many others. Take a look at what is
can do on the open market’’ instead of and on. Did he pass his own measure? missing in Senator MCCONNELL’s pro-
using the power of the Presidency and No. posal. There is no new funding when it
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
the leadership of the Presidency to Then negotiations started between comes to State and local governments.
help make certain that every American the President, his White House rep- Remember the phrase ‘‘defund the po-
had access to what they needed to stay resentatives, Speaker PELOSI, and lice’’? You heard it from the rightwing
safe. Leader SCHUMER. They invited Senator about the leftwing of American politics
How did he do in setting standards MCCONNELL, head of the Republicans in wanting to defund the police. Well,
for dealing with this deadly virus? the Senate, and KEVIN MCCARTHY, head Senator MCCONNELL’s action will
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October 20, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6307
defund police at State and local levels McConnell bill provides no funding for its hearing on Judge Amy Coney
because these units of government hospitals or healthcare clinics and no Barrett’s nomination, and it was easy
won’t have the resources to hire the dedicated funding for nursing homes, to see why Judge Barrett is held in
policemen they need, the law enforce- where we know the populations are so such high regard by her colleagues,
ment officials they need, nor the fire- vulnerable. When it comes to the re- students, and peers and why the Amer-
fighters, nor the teachers, nor the ality of what we are facing in this ican Bar Association gave her its high-
healthcare workers. But that is pri- COVID–19 pandemic, the McConnell est rating of ‘‘well qualified.’’
ority one for Senator MCCONNELL: no bill, which is coming before us this We knew long before the hearing that
help—no help for State and local gov- afternoon, is deficient in testing at a Judge Barrett possesses an extraor-
ernments for fear that you might actu- time when we are facing so many infec- dinary intelligence and a comprehen-
ally send money to a Democratic tions. sive command of the law. But over 3
mayor or a Democratic Governor. On nutrition, the McConnell bill says days of testimony, Americans got to
Spare me. That fire is not looking for that there will be no SNAP benefit in- see her qualifications for themselves,
party registration; it is looking for creases or funding for food banks and, and they saw why she has been de-
kindling to light the fire of infection. on education, provides $105 billion for scribed as ‘‘a jurist of formidable intel-
Now, on housing, well, how does the education stabilization funds. Two- lect,’’ a ‘‘brilliant and conscientious
McConnell proposal deal with housing? thirds of the K–12 funds will be held lawyer,’’ and ‘‘a staggering academic
No funding—no funding for housing or until schools provide a reopening plan mind.’’ Even the Democratic ranking
rental assistance. and, of course, the voucher program. member on the committee, the senior
Now, on the stimulus checks—$1,200 On postal assistance, the McConnell Senator from California, couldn’t hide
stimulus checks. I listened to talk proposal alters the language in the the fact that she was impressed.
original legislation to change the bor- Most importantly, however, Ameri-
radio back in Chicago, and people are
rowing authority. The Postal Service is cans saw that Judge Barrett under-
wondering: Is it possible we are going
doing its best, and I thank the men and stands the proper role of a judge in our
to see a $1,200 check? Well, you won’t
women who are engaged in it. We system of government. As Judge Bar-
see it in Senator MCCONNELL’s pro-
should do more than thank them. We rett made clear, she understands that
posal. There are no direct stimulus ought to fund them and give them a
payments. the job of a judge is to interpret the
helping hand. law, not to make the law; to call balls
How about unemployment benefits? So what it boils down to is this: If
The Federal unemployment benefits and strikes, not to rewrite the rules of
this is a real pandemic, if we want to the game; or, as Judge Barrett said to
that expired on July 31 were $600 a believe the public health experts—
week over the State amount, whatever the Democrat whip at the hearing last
whom the President has called ‘‘id-
it might be. Some people may have week: ‘‘I apply the law. I follow the
iots,’’ like Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has
made more in the process than they did law. You make policy.’’
been my friend for 20 years—if we want Judge Barrett has made it clear that
at work, but most were struggling to to believe the public health experts, we
get by. If Members of the Senate had when cases come before her on the Su-
need to address this in a serious man-
not been in touch with real America in preme Court, she will consider the
ner as we did last March in passing the
a while, they may think that folks facts, the law, and the Constitution,
CARES Act. This is not a time for peo-
with these checks were binging on and nothing else—not her personal be-
ple to cover their backsides politically.
Netflix and eating chocolate-covered liefs, not her political opinions, just
It is a time to remember that the
cherries night and day. That is not the American people need our help more the law and the Constitution. That is
case that I saw back in Illinois. People than ever. A halfhearted and half-in- the kind of Justice that all of us—Dem-
who had lost their jobs, even at the spired effort to do this will not answer ocrat or Republican, liberal or conserv-
time they received these unemploy- the call. ative—should want.
ment checks, were still struggling to We need to stand as a nation on a bi- I could spend hours highlighting all
pay for the mortgage, pay for the rent, partisan basis. How does it start? It the extraordinary tributes to Judge
pay for the car, keep up with the credit starts when Democrats and Repub- Barrett that have poured in since her
card bills, and put food on the table. licans sit at the same table, which has nomination, from lawyers and scholars
So what does Senator MCCONNELL not happened. It starts when we of every background and political per-
propose that we do? He proposes we cut agree—both parties agree—on what the suasion, but I don’t want to tie up the
in half that amount—to $300 a week. I priorities must be, and it starts when Senate floor. So I will just mention one
guess back in Kentucky it is a little bit we stop the speeches and start with piece of testimony that struck me in
different world, at least the way he real action to pass legislation like the particular.
sees it, but where I live, that means a CARES Act, which passed 96 to nothing As I mentioned, the American Bar
pretty dramatic cut in survival pay— on this floor. It is time to take this Association released its rating of Judge
survival pay—for people who have lost deadly virus and epidemic seriously. Barrett last week, a rating that the
their jobs. I yield the floor. Democratic leader, by the way, has
On the healthcare side, this is the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- called the ‘‘gold standard’’—the ‘‘gold
one that troubles me the most. jority leader. standard’’—by which judicial can-
Couldn’t we all agree that we don’t test f didates are judged. Well, the ABA gave
enough for the COVID–19 virus in Judge Barrett its highest possible rat-
RECESS
America? There are about 1 million ing—‘‘well qualified.’’ And the chair-
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I man of the American Bar Association’s
people tested a day. Public health offi- ask unanimous consent that the Sen-
cials say: Well, you need at least 4 mil- Standing Committee on the Federal
ate recess until 2:15 p.m. today. Judiciary, the ABA committee that
lion. Others say: But if you truly want The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
to reopen the economy and reopen the issues these ratings, testified before
objection? the Judiciary Committee during Judge
schools, you need 14 million a day. So There being no objection, the Senate,
you would guess that anything we pass Barrett’s hearing. I would like to read
at 12:07 p.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m.
would really zero in on testing to find from the testimony that he submitted
and reassembled when called to order
out those who are positive, to do the to the committee.
by the Presiding Officer (Mrs. CAP-
contact tracing to warn those who may Lawyers and judges uniformly praised the
ITO).
nominee’s integrity. Most remarkably, in
have been exposed, and to try to con- f interviews with individuals in the legal pro-
tain the virus.
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued fession and the community who know Judge
So let’s take a look at what Senator Barrett, whether for a few years or decades,
MCCONNELL thinks about the priority The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- not one person uttered a negative word
of testing. There is $16 billion for test- ator from South Dakota. about her character. Accordingly, the Stand-
ing. How much did the Democrats— NOMINATION OF AMY CONEY BARRETT ing Committee was not required to consider
NANCY PELOSI—propose? She proposed Mr. THUNE. Madam President, last any negative criticisms of Judge Barrett.
$75 billion. And let me add that the week, the Judiciary Committee held His testimony went on:
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