Congressional Record — Senate, S7021 (November 17, 2020)
Summary
Page S7021 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for November 17, 2020, in interleaved columns. A speaker opposes the nomination of Ms. Shelton to the Federal Reserve, saying she lacks independence and that the Board must decide on objective economic analysis, which is that speaker's view. Mr. Thune discusses vaccine progress and the production of personal protective equipment, noting 3M received Defense Production Act contracts to expand N95 production at a plant he visited in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and urges colleagues not to play politics on a relief bill. A nomination is confirmed, with 4 Senators not voting.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, S7021 (November 17, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-11-17-crec-2020-11-17-pt1-pgs7021-7-600b6cce16/
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November 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7021
I have fought both Democrats and with a bipartisan process that address- therapeutics, meaning there may be
Republicans when they have tried to es all of the challenges we now face. more good news to come.
interfere with the independence of the I yield the floor. Meanwhile, we are also strengthening
Fed, but Ms. Shelton doesn’t seem to I suggest the absence of a quorum. domestic production of personal pro-
care about it at all. So that might be The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- tective equipment for medical per-
the most concerning thing about her pore. The clerk will call the roll. sonnel and other essential workers.
nomination: her stunning lack of inde- The bill clerk proceeded to call the And 3M, which manufactures N95
pendence. roll. masks, received two contracts under
The Federal Reserve Board must Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask the Defense Production Act to expand
make decisions based on objective eco- unanimous consent that the order for N95 production. I recently visited the
nomic analysis and judgment, not the quorum call be rescinded. 3M plant in Aberdeen, SD, to celebrate
whatever is best for one party or one The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- the opening of the plant’s new N95
occupant of the Oval Office. That is pore. Without objection, it is so or- manufacturing lines. These new lines
why terms on the Federal Reserve dered. will help 3M’s N95 production increase
board last 14 years. We are supposed to from 22 million to more than 95 million
f respirators per month. That is critical
trust Federal Reserve Governors to be
neutral arbiters, no matter which RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME progress on the PPE front, not to men-
party is in power in Washington. We tion the jobs that are being created.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
ECONOMIC GROWTH
are supposed to trust that everyone pore. Under the previous order, the
who serves on the Fed is first and fore- Madam President, on the economic
leadership time is reserved.
most well qualified and truly inde- front, the good news continues. The Oc-
f tober jobs report showed yet another
pendent.
But, unfortunately, Judy Shelton is CONCLUSION OF MORNING reduction in the unemployment rate
neither. Ms. Shelton has shown herself BUSINESS and revealed that the economy created
to be an economic weathervane, point- more than 600,000 jobs in October.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- While we definitely have a ways to go
ing whichever direction she thinks the pore. Morning business is closed. to get back to where we need to be, the
partisan winds are blowing.
Every single Democrat will oppose f speed and strength of our recovery are
her nomination today. I understand a encouraging. It is a testament to the
EXECUTIVE SESSION strength of our economy before the
few of our Republican colleagues will
virus hit. Thanks to Republican tax re-
oppose her nomination as well. The
lief and regulatory reform, our econ-
question is, Will enough of our col- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR omy was thriving before the
leagues on the other side stand up and
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- coronavirus descended, and that eco-
do the right thing today?
pore. Under the previous order, the nomic strength provided the ground-
Members of this Chamber have stood
Senate will proceed to executive ses- work for a strong recovery.
up before to prevent President Trump Republican-led coronavirus initia-
sion to resume consideration of the fol-
from putting unqualified partisan ad- tives like the Paycheck Protection
lowing nomination, which the clerk
vocates on the Federal Reserve. During Program have also helped keep the
will report.
these final few weeks of the Trump economy going during the virus. More
The bill clerk read the nomination of
Presidency, it is time to do it again. I than 5 million small businesses, includ-
Kristi Haskins Johnson, of Mississippi,
plead with my Republican colleagues, ing more than 23,000 in South Dakota,
to be United States District Judge for
for the sake of an economy that is have taken advantage of the Paycheck
the Southern District of Mississippi.
hurting from COVID, for the sake of Protection Program’s forgivable loans
CORONAVIRUS
our future economy and its growth, to to help keep their businesses operating
reject Ms. Shelton’s nomination. Mr. THUNE. Madam President, for
the second Monday now in a row, we and their employees on the payroll.
f CORONAVIRUS
have received tremendous news about
CORONAVIRUS the prospects for a COVID vaccine. Madam President, of course, while
Last week, Pfizer announced that the there is much to be hopeful about, the
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, on
initial results of its COVID vaccine virus is still very much with us, and
COVID, by all rights, the Senate should
showed a greater than 90-percent rate cases are surging. My home State of
not be spending its time this week on
of effectiveness. And yesterday, South Dakota has been hit hard, as
so many nominees, especially such un-
Moderna announced its COVID vaccine have many other areas of the country.
qualified nominees, while COVID–19 is While we wait for final approval of
surging throughout the country. is showing a similarly high effective-
vaccines, it is essential that we keep
The urgent need for another relief ness rate, raising the possibility that
following best practices and do what
bill has been confronting the Senate not one but two COVID vaccines may
we can to slow the virus’s spread, like
since March of this year. The Repub- be available in the very near future.
social distancing, wearing masks,
lican leader put the Senate on ‘‘pause,’’ This success is a tribute to the inno-
washing hands frequently, avoiding
as he said, all summer, while the virus vative power of the private sector and large gatherings, and more.
got worse and worse. And when he fi- the efforts of Congress and the Trump While the money Congress has al-
nally decided it was time to do another administration to expedite develop- ready invested in COVID relief has
bill, he crafted a partisan, emaciated ment of COVID vaccines. Operation gone a long way toward meeting the
proposal that fell drastically short of Warp Speed has helped fund develop- country’s needs, we should pass addi-
what was needed to address a bur- ment of Moderna’s vaccine and will tional targeted relief to help Ameri-
geoning health and economic crisis. help fund distribution of both cans weather the rest of the pandemic.
Now, President-Elect Biden has urged Moderna’s and Pfizer’s products. Senate Republicans have introduced
the Senate to pass a comprehensive bill While vaccine trials and development additional COVID relief legislation
that actually meets the needs of the continue, so does research into new that would provide the hardest hit
American people. He pointed to the COVID treatments. Drugmaker Eli businesses with a second round of Pay-
HEROES Act, and that is the right Lilly just received emergency use au- check Protection Program loans, help
focus. We need a comprehensive bill thorization for an antibody drug that schools and colleges operate safely, and
that meets the needs of the American will be used to treat COVID in patients provide additional healthcare resources
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people, but, of course, we would want with mild or moderate illness. Another to fight the virus.
to sit down and negotiate with our Re- company, Regeneron, has also filed for Our legislation would also provide for
publican colleagues. emergency use authorization for a po- an additional $300 per week over and
The Republican leader should come tential antibody treatment. And there above regular unemployment benefits
to the table and negotiate with Demo- are a lot of other clinical trials going for those who have lost their jobs as a
crats on a bipartisan COVID relief bill on right now for COVID vaccines and result of the pandemic.
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S7022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 17, 2020
I am very pleased that our legislation I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
includes an additional $20 billion in The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- the previous order, the motion to re-
funding to allow the Department of Ag- pore. The clerk will call the roll. consider is considered made and laid
riculture to continue to assist ag pro- The bill clerk proceeded to call the upon the table, and the President will
ducers and processors. roll. be immediately notified of the Senate’s
We have also made sure to include li- Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask action.
ability protections for schools and unanimous consent that the order for f
businesses that are doing their best to the quorum call be rescinded.
protect others from the virus. Preda- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. CLOTURE MOTION
tory trial lawyers are already lining up LOEFFLER). Without objection, it is so The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant
to exploit the COVID crisis for finan- ordered. to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the
cial gain. We need to protect our eco- VOTE ON JOHNSON NOMINATION Senate the pending cloture motion,
nomic recovery by ensuring that Under the previous order, all which the clerk will state.
schools, businesses, and medical profes- postcloture time on the nomination The senior assistant legislative clerk
sionals aren’t subjected to frivolous has expired. read as follows:
lawsuits for coronavirus infections The question is, Will the Senate ad- CLOTURE MOTION
that were beyond their control. vise and consent to the Johnson nomi- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
I would love to be able to say that nation? ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
Republicans will pass our coronavirus Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I re- Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
bill in the next couple of weeks, but, quest the yeas and nays. move to bring to a close debate on the nomi-
unfortunately, that depends on my The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a nation of Benjamin Joel Beaton, of Ken-
Democratic colleagues. The Demo- sufficient second? tucky, to be United States District Judge for
cratic leadership hasn’t shown much There appears to be a sufficient sec- the Western District of Kentucky.
inclination to work with Republicans. Mitch McConnell, Mike Crapo, Tom Cot-
ond.
In fact, it has shown the opposite. ton, David Perdue, Mike Rounds, Pat
The clerk will call the roll. Roberts, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Kevin
Speaker PELOSI spent more than 3 The legislative clerk called the roll. Cramer, Lindsey Graham, Thom Tillis,
months—3 months—supposedly negoti- Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Tim Scott, James E. Risch, Michael B.
ating a coronavirus relief package that are necessarily absent: the Senator Enzi, John Cornyn, Roger F. Wicker,
never arrived. Why? Because Demo- from Tennessee (Mr. ALEXANDER), the John Thune, John Boozman.
crats refused to put a reasonable offer Senator from Iowa (Mr. GRASSLEY), and The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan-
on the table. the Senator from Florida (Mr. SCOTT). imous consent, the mandatory quorum
Members of the Speaker’s own party Further, if present and voting, the call has been waived.
pleaded with her to arrive at an agree- Senator from Tennessee (Mr. ALEX- The question is, Is it the sense of the
ment, but the Speaker wouldn’t listen, ANDER) would have voted ‘‘yea,’’ the Senate that debate on Benjamin Joel
and she is still not listening. Senator from Iowa (Mr. GRASSLEY) Beaton, of Kentucky, to be United
Despite the fact that her party lost a would have voted ‘‘yea,’’ and the Sen- States District Judge for the Western
number of seats in the House in the ator from Florida (Mr. SCOTT) would District of Kentucky, shall be brought
election, the Speaker and the Demo- have voted ‘‘yea.’’ to a close?
cratic leader in the Senate are still re- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the The yeas and nays are mandatory
fusing to come to the table to work Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is under the rule.
with Republicans. In fact, the Speaker necessarily absent. The clerk will call the roll.
and the leader have doubled down— The result was announced—yeas 53, The senior assistant legislative clerk
doubled down—on their unreasonable nays 43, as follows: called the roll.
demands. Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
[Rollcall Vote No. 230 Ex.]
I get that Democratic leaders would
YEAS—53 are necessarily absent: the Senator
like to able to design their own
Barrasso Gardner Perdue from Tennessee (Mr. ALEXANDER), the
coronavirus bill with no input from
Blackburn Graham Portman Senator from Iowa (Mr. GRASSLEY), and
anyone else, but that is not what hap- Blunt Hawley Risch the Senator from Florida (Mr. SCOTT).
pens in a divided government. Boozman Hoeven Roberts Further, if present and voting, the
In a divided government, both sides Braun Hyde-Smith Romney
Burr Inhofe Senator from Tennessee (Mr. ALEX-
have to compromise in order to pass Rounds
Capito Johnson Rubio ANDER) would have voted ‘‘yea,’’ the
legislation. Republicans know that, Cassidy Jones Sasse Senator from Iowa (Mr. GRASSLEY)
and we are willing to compromise to Collins Kennedy
Scott (SC)
Cornyn Lankford would have voted ‘‘yea,’’ and the Sen-
get relief into the hands of the Amer- Shelby
Cotton Lee ator from Florida (Mr. SCOTT) would
ican people, but Democrats are not. Cramer Loeffler
Sinema
Sullivan have voted ‘‘yea.’’
Even as the coronavirus surges around Crapo Manchin
Thune Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
the country, Democrats continue to in- Cruz McConnell
Daines McSally Tillis Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is
sist on their way or the highway. Toomey
It is hard not to think that the
Enzi Moran necessarily absent.
Ernst Murkowski Wicker
Democratic leadership is more inter- Young
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there
Fischer Paul
ested in exploiting this crisis for polit- any other Senators in the Chamber de-
NAYS—43 siring to vote?
ical gain than in actually getting relief
to Americans.
Baldwin Hassan Sanders The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 52,
Bennet Heinrich Schatz nays 44, as follows:
We could have another COVID relief Blumenthal Hirono Schumer
bill ready for passage tomorrow if Booker Kaine Shaheen [Rollcall Vote No. 231 Ex.]
Brown King Smith YEAS—52
Democrats would just come to the Cantwell Klobuchar Stabenow
table. It is inexcusable that they Cardin Leahy Tester
Barrasso Enzi McConnell
haven’t. But Republicans aren’t giving Carper Markey Blackburn Ernst McSally
Udall Blunt Fischer Moran
up. We will continue to invite our Casey Menendez
Van Hollen Boozman Gardner Murkowski
Coons Merkley
Democratic colleagues to work with us Cortez Masto Murphy
Warner Braun Graham Paul
to develop compromise legislation. Duckworth Warren Burr Hawley Perdue
Murray
Whitehouse Capito Hoeven Portman
I hope that at least some of my col- Durbin Peters
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Feinstein Reed Wyden Cassidy Hyde-Smith Risch
leagues from the other side of the aisle Gillibrand Rosen Collins Inhofe Roberts
will decide that a pandemic is not the Cornyn Johnson Romney
time to play politics and will work NOT VOTING—4 Cotton Kennedy Rounds
Cramer Lankford Rubio
with us to deliver a bill to the Amer- Alexander Harris
Crapo Lee Sasse
Grassley Scott (FL)
ican people. Cruz Loeffler Scott (SC)
I yield the floor. The nomination was confirmed. Daines Manchin Shelby
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