Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Nov. 16, 2020)

Summary

Congressional Record, Senate, November 16, 2020, page S6689 and following. The page opens with remarks opposing the nomination of Ms. Shelton to the Federal Reserve, citing her views on the gold standard and Federal deposit insurance. Under the heading CORONAVIRUS, Mr. SCHUMER says that cases have skyrocketed, that a second company announced a vaccine close to 95 percent effective, and that President-Elect Biden urged the Senate to pass the Heroes Act. Under 2020 ELECTIONS, Mr. SCHUMER says courts are dismissing the President's legal claims and that the Trump administration is denying national security briefings to President-Elect Biden.

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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Nov. 16, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-11-16-crec-2020-11-16-pt1-pgs6689-353a81265a/, SHA-256 ed56be3c31085e5b98f6afc093aff856c854453a72a84dc07383f42b5eb3ea8a.

Full text

November 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6689
the Great Depression. She has openly negotiate a bipartisan solution with a cent—7–0—in the United States of
advocated a return to the gold stand- bipartisan process, Democrats are America. How much longer will Senate
ard. She has long questioned the need ready and willing and able to do so, Republicans stand by while President
for Federal deposit insurance, and, in but, unfortunately, it has been 2 weeks Trump shreds Americans’ faith in our
March 2009, in the midst of our last since Leader MCCONNELL said he was in democracy.
economic crisis, she questioned: Why charge of negotiating the next COVID– So I have a very simple message for
do we need a central bank? 19 relief bill, and he still hasn’t spoken my colleagues. The election is over.
Imagine someone like Ms. Shelton, to Speaker PELOSI or myself. President Trump lost. Joe Biden will
with her retrograde views, sitting on We have 14 votes on the floor this be the next President of the United
the Federal Reserve during a time of week on nominations for a lameduck States. KAMALA HARRIS will be the
economic crisis? Imagine someone like President, but we have nothing—noth- next Vice President of the United
that making decisions about monetary ing—pertaining to COVID. There is, States. All over the country legal
policy back in April, when our econ- however, a bit of good news today. A claims by the President are being
omy was in free fall? We should not second U.S. company announced that it laughed out of court. Ironically, the
confirm to the Federal Reserve some- has discovered an effective vaccine in President’s legal challenges have ac-
one who would likely stymie efforts to phase 3 trials. Early figures suggest it complished one thing: They have re-
dig ourselves out of this economic cri- is close to 95 percent effective. As these vealed just how secure our elections
sis. two vaccines move through the final were. As courts from Pennsylvania to
I urge every one of my colleagues, approval process, we should prepare the Michigan, to Arizona dismiss these
Democratic and Republican, to reject country to produce and distribute them claims, they are confirming there is no
this terrible, terrible nomination. to everyone in a comprehensive bill credible evidence of fraud or irregular-
f that includes robust vaccine funding. ities. So far, not one vote has been
Finally, there is light at the end of tossed out. These are facts, and the
CORONAVIRUS longer Republicans refuse to acknowl-
the tunnel, but we are still in that tun-
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, nel and may be so for several months. edge them, the more damage is done.
COVID–19, as we know, unfortunately, So we must pull together, once again, In order to keep up this charade, the
has upended nearly every aspect of to do everything in our individual Trump administration is now actually
American life for the better part of a power to turn the tide of the virus. denying national security briefings to
year. But as impatient as we all are for President-Elect Biden. It is actively re-
f
our lives to return to normal, the harsh fusing to coordinate with the incoming
truth of the matter is that the coming 2020 ELECTIONS administration on the coronavirus.
months may be, by far, the worst of the Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, in- How unimaginably stupid is that? We
pandemic. stead of working to pull the country shouldn’t even be discussing for 1
Cases have skyrocketed to well over back together so we can fight our com- minute whether or not Republicans
150,000 Americans per day. We are now mon enemy, COVID–19, the Republican will accept the democratic results of
recording more than 1 million new majority is busy spreading conspiracy our Presidential election or whether
COVID cases a week. Hospital ICUs and theories denying reality and poisoning the next President should receive secu-
morgues in many parts of the country the well of our democracy. rity briefings. That should be a given.
are approaching or even beyond capac- It seems like Republicans all over But it appears, sadly, unfortunately,
ity. Washington are auditioning for ‘‘Pro- my Republican colleagues will follow
Americans must brace themselves for files in Cowardice,’’ nudging each other President Trump all the way down the
a long winter. We cannot tire of the aside to say who can say the most out- rabbit hole to the very bitter end of his
simple precautions that limit the landish thing in support of President very bitter Presidency. And every day
spread of the disease and save lives. Trump’s baseless claims of election that goes by, the more damage is done
Wear a mask, social distance, avoid fraud. Two Members of this Chamber to our country, to our national secu-
large indoor gatherings, and stay vigi- went so far as to accuse their State’s rity, to our ability to fight COVID, and
lant. We must all continue to do our election result of not being delivered to America’s faith in our democracy.
part to prevent this next surge from honestly because President Trump So I plead with my Republican col-
overwhelming our health systems and didn’t win. They demanded their own leagues: Stop denying reality. Stop
endangering our fellow citizens. Con- Secretary of State, a fellow Repub- recklessly sowing doubt about our
gress, as well, should be doing all that lican, resign. The two Senators pro- democratic process. Stop going down to
is necessary to support those efforts vided no evidence—not a shred—to sup- the lowest common denominator that
and prevent the worst from happening. port the claim that the election wasn’t President Trump seems to live with all
Too many Americans have lost conducted honestly. the time, and start focusing on COVID.
healthcare coverage as a result of los- A Republican Governor this weekend Let’s bring this country together and
ing their jobs this year. Medicaid has supported the idea of States sending al- get some things done.
seen a huge increase in new enrollees ternative slates of electors to the elec- I yield the floor.
and needs resources. As unemployment toral college. He encouraged Repub- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
remains in the tens of millions, extend- lican State legislators and States that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
ing unemployment insurance is para- voted for Joe Biden to literally ignore clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to
mount, and many more things besides. the will of the voters to send electors
Speaker PELOSI and I have been in call the roll.
who would vote for Donald Trump. Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask
regular communication with Presi- I understand my Republican col-
unanimous consent that the order for
dent-Elect Biden and his transition leagues dislike the results of the Presi-
the quorum call be rescinded.
team. Unlike the current administra- dential election, but this has gone be- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
tion, the incoming administration yond ridiculous. This is reckless. Presi- objection, it is so ordered.
wants to move rapidly to get a handle dent Trump is working to convince
f
on the virus and recover our economy. millions of Americans that the election
Today, President-Elect Biden urged the wasn’t fair and was stolen without a RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
Senate to pass the Heroes Act—com- scrap of evidence. Whatever fears my The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under

rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE
prehensive legislation that leaves no colleagues might have about President the previous order, the leadership time
one behind. That is just the right ap- Trump abandoning their party if they is reserved.
proach. Our country deserves a bill don’t show sufficient support, that is f
that meets the needs of the American no excuse for sanctioning his efforts to
people and that meets the needs of the discredit our democratic elections. CONCLUSION OF MORNING
moment. The percentage of Republicans who BUSINESS
If Leader MCCONNELL and our Repub- now believe that the election was not The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning
lican colleagues want to sit down and free and fair has doubled to 70 per- business is closed.

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