Congressional Record, Senate, December 1, 2020 — Coronavirus Legislation and Nominations
Summary
Page S7128 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for December 1, 2020, in interleaved columns, headed Coronavirus Legislation. A speaker asks the Democratic leader to stop blocking a bipartisan bill that passed unanimously out of the Judiciary Committee. The Majority Leader pays tribute to Senator Martha McSally as she leaves the Senate and praises her service to Arizonans and servicemembers. Another speaker describes a friend hospitalized with COVID-19 in Ohio and says Congress must act quickly, with funding for healthcare providers and flexibility for State and local governments, which are the speakers' views. An arms sale notification letter from Heidi H. Grant is also printed.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, December 1, 2020 — Coronavirus Legislation and Nominations.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-01-crec-2020-12-01-pt1-pgs7128-3-00d85c62b0/
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S7128 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 1, 2020
the Democratic leader would stop Senator MCSALLY has continuously people in the ICU units. It is more peo-
blocking this bipartisan bill that Sen- fought for change, both big and small, ple, tragically, who are counted among
ator BLUMENTHAL and I have intro- to improve the lives of her constituents the fatalities.
duced and that passed unanimously out in Arizona and to strengthen our na- This morning, I tried to call a friend
of the Judiciary Committee. tional security. We will miss this dedi- of mine who is in the hospital in Co-
TRIBUTE TO MARTHA MCSALLY cated friend and colleague, but I know lumbus, OH. He is there because of
Mr. President, on one final matter, her work is far from finished. I have no COVID. And I am just thinking prob-
every other December we have the dif- doubt that Senator MCSALLY will re- ably of the people watching tonight,
ficult task of saying farewell to some main a strong voice for Arizonans and most either have had COVID them-
of our colleagues. Today, I want to say an unshakable advocate for our serv- selves or have a friend or a family
a few words about our friend from Ari- icemembers and veterans. We are member who have had COVID.
zona, Senator MCSALLY, whose suc- grateful for her lifelong service to our This friend was unable to talk to me
cessor, I believe, will be sworn into of- country, and I am eager to see the because he had taken a turn for the
fice tomorrow. ways that Senator MCSALLY will con- worse. His organs were starting to mal-
Before she was Senator MCSALLY or tinue to make her home State proud function. He had slipped into uncon-
Congresswoman MCSALLY, she was and make the American people’s lives sciousness. I was able to speak to his
known as Colonel MCSALLY—a dedi- just a little bit better each day. wife. I told her, of course, that he is in
cated, courageous, and extremely tal- I yield the floor. our prayers. But I also told her that he
ented Air Force pilot. I suggest the absence of a quorum. is in my thoughts as we look at wheth-
During her 26-year career in the Air The PRESIDING OFFICER. The er we should do something more here
Force, she made a habit out of break- clerk will call the roll. at the Federal level to help with the
The senior assistant legislative clerk coronavirus pandemic.
ing barriers and became the first
proceeded to call the roll. Of course, we should. It has been a
woman in U.S. history to fly a fighter Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask
jet in combat. long time since we took action. You
unanimous consent that the order for
But those of us who know Senator really have to go back several months.
the quorum call be rescinded.
MCSALLY can say—and certainly her The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The last big package was passed in
incredible staff can attest to this—that objection, it is so ordered. March, about 9 months ago. It is time
she is not one to rest on her laurels. ORDER OF PROCEDURE
for us to act again.
She was always pushing herself and And there is some good news out
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask
those around her to aim higher, to do there. With all of the negative news
unanimous consent that notwith-
better, to work harder. So it is no sur- about the cases and hospitalizations,
standing the provisions of rule XXII,
prise she became the first woman ever ICUs, and, tragically, the fatalities in-
the postcloture time on the Hauptman
to command a fighter squadron in the creasing, the good news is that there is
nomination expire at 11:45 a.m. tomor-
Air Force. row and the Senate vote on confirma- hope on the horizon, and that is the
Her arrival in the Senate brought vaccines.
tion of the nomination; further, that if
with it a wealth of knowledge and ex- I have been a big supporter of pro-
cloture is invoked on the Davis nomi-
perience on many issues that are im- viding the Federal funding for the vac-
nation, the Senate then vote on the
portant to our work here, particularly cines. And I applaud the administra-
motion to invoke cloture on the Waller
those surrounding the military and nomination. I further ask that the tion for the work they have done on
veterans, and Senator MCSALLY has postcloture time with respect to the this Operation Warp Speed because I
been a fierce and unyielding advocate Davis nomination expire at 2:05 p.m. believe that while masks are critical—
for all of our servicemembers and vet- tomorrow and the Senate vote on con- and I wear mine, and I hope you are
erans and their families. firmation of the nomination and that wearing yours—the social distancing is
As a member of the Armed Services the confirmation vote with respect to very helpful; the work that people are
Committee, she has played a critical the Waller nomination occur at a time doing on the therapies is really impor-
role in developing major legislation to to be determined by the majority lead- tant; and we need more testing, and
support them, such as the National De- er in consultation with the Democratic that is good to know where we stand,
fense Authorization Act, which I men- leader on Thursday, December 3; fi- but nothing can take the place of these
tioned earlier. nally, that if any of the nominations vaccines.
But she has also been a champion to are confirmed, the motions to recon- Think about the other diseases we
our servicemembers through lesser sider be considered made and laid upon have tackled with vaccines—measles
known but still very important legisla- the table and the President be imme- and small pox and polio. My dad had
tion. Last month, President Trump diately notified of the Senate’s action. polio as a kid. It was fairly common.
signed a bill she introduced to improve The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Today, we don’t even think about it.
mental health delivery for veterans objection, it is so ordered. These vaccinations, if they work
and to help those who are suffering CORONAVIRUS
well, can be amazing. And guess what
from post-traumatic stress disorder to Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I am we learned over the past several weeks.
receive the treatment they need. here on the floor today to, once again, We learned that the early results from
Over the last 2 years, I have enjoyed talk about the need for this Senate and some of these vaccines, including the
working with Senator MCSALLY on a this Congress to pass legislation to early data we have from the Moderna
number of shared priorities. Both of deal with the COVID–19 crisis. I think and the Pfizer candidates are incred-
our home States were devastated by we have to do this now before the end ibly effective. We are talking over 90
mass shootings, and we introduced leg- of the year—certainly, before we leave percent efficacy or effectiveness.
islation to reduce that sort of horrific the Congress to go back home for the I am participating in one of the
violence and to prevent more commu- holiday recess. trials. It is the Janssen-Johnson &
nities from experiencing these trage- We just got back from a weeklong re- Johnson trial. That vaccine shows
dies. Of course, we are both Senators cess for Thanksgiving, and all the promise also. I joined the trial, by the
from border States, so you can imagine Members of this body—all of them— way, for a few reasons: One, because I
that we have worked together to im- had to have seen what I saw, which is really want to understand better how
prove border security along our south- an up-close look at the crisis that is this system is working, and I had re-
ern border and ensure that trade and upon us. ceived a briefing from a company that
the good parts of having a common In Ohio, our daily new cases are four manages trials around the world, and
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border with our southern neighbor re- times what they were just 1 month they indicated to me that they were
main effective and efficient. Once ago—four times. I see the numbers having trouble getting people to sign
COVID–19 hit, we teamed up on legisla- every single day, and they are discour- up. So another reason I entered was be-
tion to protect the healthcare workers aging. cause I asked them: If I sign up, will
who lost their jobs during the pan- And it is not just new cases. It is that help? They said: If you are willing
demic. more people hospitalized. It is more to go public, yes. So I did, and I am.
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December 1, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7129
But I also joined the trial because I the majority leader. He said that we know about your State, but I believe
am concerned about the numbers I see need a new COVID–19 bill to continue the same thing is probably true.
about people’s concerns about the safe- investing in the distribution system for So there is a valley here between now
ty and effectiveness of these vaccines— these vaccines so we can get them in and the March-April timeframe. During
because, I know, through Operation circulation as soon as possible. those 4 months, we have to have a
Warp Speed, that the science is calling I couldn’t agree with him more. That bridge, in my view. It is not forever. It
the shots; that these scientists, the is part of why we need another COVID– is a bridge between now and March and
best in the world here in America, are 19 bill. We actually need more money April, when the vaccinations are broad-
working around the clock to get these for ensuring that we are going to have ly available, and we can have the kind
vaccines out as quickly as possible, and these vaccines broadly available with a of community immunity we talked
we have to be sure people actually use distribution system that makes sense, about earlier.
them, that people are willing to get that is fair but also gets this out as That bridge is going to be extremely
vaccinated. quickly as possible. important to the people I represent and
When I joined the trial only a few You know, this Operation Warp the people whom every Member on this
weeks ago—several weeks ago, maybe 4 Speed did something extraordinary. It floor represents.
or 5 weeks ago. This is before the elec- is a public-private partnership. I think We had some earlier successes com-
tion—Gallup had recently come out it is very innovative. They said: The ing together to pass legislation around
with a survey which said that only 50 government is going to subsidize your here. When the coronavirus first hit,
percent of Americans were willing to production of these vaccines, and while we were all together. In fact, the
be vaccinated. That is not good. you are going through the approval CARES Act that passed in March, 9
Again, this is a vaccine that is very process, which takes several months, months ago, passed unanimously—not
effective. The flu vaccine is probably you can go ahead and start producing a single negative vote. We got to-
about 30 percent effective, and I have what you think is the right vaccine gether, actually, for four or five dif-
friends who say: I am not going to take that you are testing, and then, if you ferent bills that were bipartisan, and
the flu vaccine. I took one last year, get the approval—boom—the vaccine is we were all together. Then something
and I got the flu anyway. Well, that is ready to go; as compared to getting the happened. We started to sort of split
because it is about 30 percent effective, approval and then waiting several more apart.
on average. months for the vaccine to be produced. But when we were together, we did
That is not true with these vaccines. That means we are going to probably some great things. Was every penny
From the early indications, again, 90, end up discarding some vaccines that spent exactly right? Probably not be-
95 percent, 94 percent effectiveness or don’t work, that don’t get the ap- cause it was a lot of money, but we
efficacy. proval. That is OK because the benefit saved so many small businesses. I know
So I urge people to do their own re- of them because they are all over Ohio,
is that much sooner we are going to
search, to look at what the scientists and I talk to them.
have a vaccine out there now in record
are saying, look at what Dr. Fauci is The PPP program was a great suc-
time. Unprecedented. This has never
saying, look at what those who are the cess. Again, did some get it who
happened in the history of the world
professionals are saying. They are say- shouldn’t have? Of course, but, overall,
that one has been created so quickly
ing that corners are not being cut here. it was extremely successful in keeping
and will be distributed so quickly.
In fact, it is going quickly, but they the doors open in these small busi-
I expect we are going to have vac-
are being more careful than ever to get nesses that otherwise would have
cines circulating in our communities
this emergency use authorization, closed and keeping these employees
within a few weeks, and I suspect that
which is what the Pfizer and the working and connected to work rather
they will go first to, as the CDC will
Moderna vaccine candidates are trying than on the unemployment lines. That
determine—and they are meeting next
to get right now. They actually have to was very important.
week to talk about this, as I under- CARES Act funds also were critical
go through more hoops than normal.
stand it—but it will probably go first to those who lost their jobs through no
So my hope is that this willingness to
to our healthcare providers, to the fault of their own. You remember, we
be vaccinated changes.
By the way, there was another Gallup healthcare workers who are on the had a lot of shutdowns in the March
poll 2 weeks ago, and it didn’t show 50 frontlines. It will probably go first to and April timeframe. People were just
percent, it showed 58 percent are will- people who work in nursing homes be- out of work for the first time in their
ing to be vaccinated. That is good. cause so much of that problem in our lives. I have friends who lost their jobs
That is progress. I think that is be- long-term care facilities comes from for the first times in their lives, and
cause we are beyond the election, and people going in and out of the facility. they had to go to unemployment insur-
the irresponsible people who were say- Those people should be vaccinated, the ance. They had never done that before,
ing publicly: Gosh. I don’t know if I residents of those long-term care facili- but it saved them. They could make
trust this because it was during the ties. And I believe our first responders their car payments. They could make
Trump administration, if they were need help as quickly as possible be- their rent or pay their mortgage.
Democrats, perhaps, have stopped say- cause we are putting them in impos- There were other important steps
ing it. I hope they have because this is sible situations. And then the most that were taken at that time to be sure
not something that is political. We vulnerable among us—those who are that we didn’t have a more devastating
should never politicize this. This is immunocompromised or have other impact. I am proud of the way we came
about saving lives. It is about getting healthcare problems that are pre- together, but, again, that was 8 or 9
our economy back on track. It is about existing, those who are older and out in months ago.
dealing with a virus that has caused so concentric circles from that to the And I have been frustrated that that
much devastation and dislocation in point that, by March and April, we sense of urgency and that willingness
our families, in our communities, in would hope that everybody would have to sort of set aside the partisanship or
our businesses. the opportunity to step up and become whatever our specific concerns were to
So my hope is that everyone will be vaccinated. come together for the good of the coun-
encouraged to, again, look at it your- That is something all of us want to try seems to have dissipated. It, par-
self, do your own research but get see—Republicans and Democrats alike. ticularly, seemed to disappear as we
yourself and your families vaccinated A COVID–19 bill passed now will help got closer and closer to the election.
because it is going to help you protect make that happen. It will also help us There seemed to be more and more pol-
you and also protect the community. It to get over the valley. The valley, to itics finding its way into the discus-
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is the only way we are going to get to me, is between now, where we have this sion.
the kind of community immunity rath- surge in the virus that has not abated— Well, the election is over. Repub-
er than community spread that all of in Ohio, I am told by the experts, in- licans here in the Senate have offered a
us hope for. cluding talking to our public health of- responsible, targeted bill focused on
Leader MCCONNELL spoke on the floor ficials and our Governor, we do not be- funding our healthcare response, sup-
here yesterday, the Republican leader, lieve that we have peaked. I don’t porting our small businesses, making
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S7130 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 1, 2020
our schools safe for students to return have lost their jobs during this down- taurants say it is unlikely they will be
to class, helping those unemployed turn in the economy, in addition to a in business 6 months from now in the
through no fault of their own. We have lot of other important provisions for absence of more help. So without a new
actually twice had a majority of this our schools and for our healthcare pro- PPP and other help, half of them said
Senate, in the last month and a half, viders. It doesn’t do everything Repub- they are going to close their doors. I
stand up and vote for such a bill—a tar- licans want; it doesn’t do everything am in the restaurant business. It is a
geted, focused bill on COVID–19 re- Democrats want; but it does what the tough business. People are hanging on.
sponse—52 Senators. American people need. We have to do something to help the
(Thereupon, Mr. SCOTT of Florida I hope this starting point will result economically disadvantaged also. At
assumed the Chair.) in our getting the same kind of broad the start of 2020, thanks to consecutive
Unfortunately, here in the Senate, bipartisan support that we have had for years of strong growth in the pre-
that wasn’t enough because you need previous bills that have been offered COVID economy, under the Trump ad-
60—a supermajority—in order to pass here on the Senate floor. ministration’s Republican proposals—
it. So although we had 52 out of 100, we Again, I would like to add some tax cuts, tax reform, regulatory relief,
didn’t get to 60. Democrats opposed it things to it that I think make a lot of allowing our energy resources to be
but didn’t offer an alternative here in sense. Specifically, there are some tax used in this country—things were
the Senate and didn’t even allow us to incentives to boost our economic re- going pretty darn well.
get on the bill to debate it to come up covery, like the healthy workplaces The national poverty rate over the
with alternatives. Instead, they sup- tax credit to help businesses reopen last few years—before COVID started
ported the House-passed bill, which is and stay open with the current safety in February of this year, the national
called the Heroes Act, which not only and social distancing guidelines. I poverty rate had fallen to the lowest
is a lot more expensive—the original would like to expand and repurpose the rate since the government started
version was probably $3.5 trillion, ac- employee retention tax credit and the tracking this statistic 60 years ago. Let
cording to the Congressional Budget work opportunity tax credit from the me repeat that. The poverty rate had
Office, the most expensive legislation CARES Act into something that is fallen to its lowest level since it was
ever passed by any body of Congress— more encompassing for companies that recorded—10.5 percent.
but also it included a number of provi- don’t qualify for PPP but that are will- The economy was good—not just low
sions that had nothing to do with the ing to retain their employees, again, unemployment but also higher wages.
coronavirus. That was not something keeping them connected to work, We actually had in February the 19th
that a lot of us could support. There which I think is so important. straight month of wage increases of 3
are immigration law changes, tax Again, we need to act soon because I percent or more. That was com-
breaks for wealthy individuals, and am concerned about some of the new pounded. People were saying: My gosh,
other provisions unrelated to COVID– reports coming out on the economic if I work hard and play by the rules, I
19. impact this pandemic is having, espe- can get ahead. Things were good par-
My hope is that now, the election be- cially on certain sectors of the econ- ticularly because that wage increase
hind us, the crisis upon us, the year- omy and particularly on middle and was primarily focused on lower and
end looming, the vaccines coming on- lower income Americans. After the ini- moderate-income Americans. But that
line, now we can provide that bridge on tial economic shutdown that created all changed as we hit COVID.
a bipartisan basis. And I am not just the record unemployment numbers we The early economic stimulus actu-
hopeful; I am encouraged. We have saw in the early weeks of this pan- ally helped drive that poverty rate
made some recent progress towards demic, unemployment claims began to lower that I talked about in the March-
what I think could be a good COVID–19 fall. The Paycheck Protection Program April timeframe. But since then, a lack
relief package. helped small businesses stay open and of Federal action and this sluggish eco-
This morning, a bipartisan frame- keep employees on payroll, which was nomic recovery we have seen have re-
work was put forward by what is called good. As more businesses found ways to versed that process, with nearly 7 mil-
the Problem Solvers Caucus, with four reopen and reopen safely, hiring picked lion Americans falling into poverty
Members on the Democratic side and up, and as of October, national unem- since May. That means the poverty
four Members on the Republican side. ployment was moving in the right di- rate has now risen 2 percentage points
Their proposal—we have all had a rection—not near where it was to 11.4 percent. That represents 7 more
chance to look at it now, during the prepandemic but still in the right di- million Americans who have fallen into
day, and I think it is the basis for get- rection. poverty.
ting something done before the end of But then we have seen more trou- So people say: What has the
the year. I have been in discussion with bling signs as the pandemic—the coronavirus done to the economy?
those eight Members as recently as healthcare crisis aspect of the pan- There it is. Among other things, it has
this afternoon. I have been in discus- demic—has increased. One problem is driven the poverty rate back up after
sion over the past several weeks with that the partial economic recovery we we had so much success. What is worse,
many colleagues on both sides of the were seeing was not evenly distributed the longer these individuals stay in
aisle about, how do you come together across different sectors of our econ- poverty, the harder it will be for them
on this? And I think what was proposed omy. That is pretty obvious to people. to get out of poverty. That is one of my
today by this Problem Solvers Caucus If you are a manufacturer in Ohio that concerns—long-term unemployed, long-
is a good start. It is not exactly what closed your factory floor this spring, term problems with regard to the pov-
I would write. I have some ideas that I you were able to figure it out—recon- erty rate.
think are really good that aren’t in figure the workspace, perhaps, allow A big part of the problem is that
there, and there are some things in for social distancing—and demand those who are most vulnerable to slid-
there that I wouldn’t support. It prob- started to go back up, and it looks like ing into poverty—these low-income
ably is not what any individual Sen- our manufacturers are in pretty good Americans we are concerned about—
ator would write. In fact, I am con- shape now. But if you are in the hospi- have been the hardest hit by the waves
fident in that. But, again, it is a good tality business, travel business, per- of layoffs that started in the spring.
starting point. sonal care business, you have been hit Nearly half of all lower income adults
It has about $300 billion to help bol- really hard. Our restaurants, bowling now report that either they or someone
ster the PPP program, to keep it going alleys, music venues, coach companies, else in their household lost a job or
and to help struggling small busi- and many more have had a much took a pay cut as a result of the eco-
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nesses. A lot of them are on the edge tougher path to reopening their doors nomic slowdown—half. In comparison,
right now; I can tell you that. There is in a safe way. only about one-third of higher income
$16 billion for the vaccine distribution I had a very sobering call with mem- Americans report being affected in this
we talked about and also for more test- bers of the Ohio Restaurant Associa- way. Maybe that is obvious to you, but
ing and more money for therapy. There tion last week. It is troubling to me the woman who works in the kitchen
is $180 billion to help Americans who that more than half of all Ohio res- for that restaurant who lost her job,
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December 1, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7131
maybe making $15, $16 an hour, com- in some States in order to counter the ground we gained on the coronavirus as
pared to maybe somebody who works coronavirus, more jobs will vanish. We this third wave threatens my home
in a factory making $25 or $30 an are seeing that already. Look at the State of Ohio and the States of so
hour—those restaurant workers have States that are doing shutdowns—high- many of my colleagues in this Cham-
been more affected. That has been er unemployment, more people without ber.
played out through so many different a job. Losing that unemployment in- Let’s not wait any longer. Let’s come
industries around the economy where surance lifeline will be devastating for together and get something done that
lower income individuals, often who lots of those Americans. Let’s not let is good for the American people before
cannot work mobile—they can’t vir- that happen. the end of the year. And let’s stay here.
tually work, unlike someone, say, who The end of 2020 also means the end of I am committed to staying here. Let’s
is in the financial services industry. other important COVID–19 response stay here until we do that.
They have been some of the hardest programs. Many individuals who had I yield the floor.
hit. their incomes affected by this pan- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
Another economic slowdown caused demic are also renters. The current na- jority leader.
by our failure to act here in Congress tional moratorium on evictions has al-
would only exacerbate those real hard- lowed these individuals to keep a roof f
ships being felt by those who can least over their head while they look for
afford it. Do we have a magic wand work and try to hold their lives to- LEGISLATIVE SESSION
here? No. We can’t solve all the prob- gether, but this moratorium expires at
lems, but we can help. the end of the year. So you will see a
With so many challenges to contend lot more people losing their apartment,
with, it is concerning to me that the MORNING BUSINESS
losing their home, and ending up with-
Senate will be in session for only 11 out anyplace to go. We need to act here Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
more days before we adjourn for the in Congress to make sure that doesn’t ask unanimous consent that the Sen-
holidays. We have to act, and we have happen. ate proceed to legislative session for a
a very short window to do so. Same goes for the millions of individ- period of morning business, with Sen-
By the way, we should not leave uals who are currently relying on stu- ators permitted to speak for up to 10
Washington without acting. We should dent loan deferrals to free up money to minutes each.
not leave Washington for the holidays cover expenses during the pandemic. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
without passing a COVID–19 response Come the start of next year, these stu- objection, it is so ordered.
bill. If we do, we will be risking even dent loan payments will be due if we
more devastation from the virus and don’t act. A lot of people relied on this. f
even more economic impacts, where It is not that they won’t have to pay,
millions of Americans could lose their but it has been deferred. That ends at ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
jobs, their homes, their cars, and more. year-end. Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, section
We can help avoid this if we provide My hope is that laying out every- 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act
the necessary resources to continue to thing we stand to lose in just a few requires that Congress receive prior no-
combat the ongoing pandemic as well weeks at year-end will encourage Con- tification of certain proposed arms
as addressing a lot of the important gress to act on targeted coronavirus sales as defined by that statute. Upon
provisions created under the CARES legislation to serve as that bridge—just such notification, the Congress has 30
Act way back 9 months ago that were as a temporary bridge between now and calendar days during which the sale
set to expire at the end of this year. when we have widespread vaccine
Of these provisions, one of the most may be reviewed. The provision stipu-
availability next spring. Failure to act lates that, in the Senate, the notifica-
concerning to me is the cliff that we could mean further economic suffering
face with regard to unemployment ben- tion of proposed sales shall be sent to
that puts millions more Americans in a the chairman of the Senate Foreign
efits for those who have lost their jobs tough spot.
due to COVID–19. Both the Pandemic Relations Committee.
In the face of a virus that seems to be
Unemployment Assistance Program In keeping with the committee’s in-
getting more and more out of hand
and the Pandemic Emergency Unem- tention to see that relevant informa-
every day, it just seems like common
ployment Compensation Program will tion is available to the full Senate, I
sense to me that we should act. We
expire at the end of this month. These should come together to expand and ex- ask unanimous consent to have printed
are supplementary Federal programs tend these important programs. in the RECORD the notifications which
designed to help the self-employed, gig Again, I agree with Leader MCCON- have been received. If the cover letter
economy workers, and those who need NELL, who spoke on the floor yester- references a classified annex, then such
extra support while on unemployment day, talking about the importance of annex is available to all Senators in
during the pandemic. I know some of providing support for, as an example, the office of the Foreign Relations
these people. I have talked to them. our hardest hit small businesses by Committee, room SD—423.
They are nervous. They are looking at having a second round of Paycheck There being no objection, the mate-
this year-end and thinking: My gosh, I Protection Program targeted at those rial was ordered to be printed in the
am on unemployment now. Even companies that are actually losing RECORD, as follows:
though I am self-employed and I money, year-to-year showing this DEFENSE SECURITY
wouldn’t have been on it under the month as compared to a year ago or COOPERATION AGENCY,
State system, now the Feds are going this quarter as compared to a year ago Arlington, VA.
Hon. JAMES E. RISCH,
to pull out, and I am left with nothing. that they are seeing a significant drop
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
Even with the economic rebound we in the revenue. These are the ones that U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
have had since the spring, we are still need the help the most. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Pursuant to the re-
down 10 million jobs in this country In addition, we should consider other porting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of
since February. Think about it. Again, important provisions, again, to provide the Arms Export Control Act, as amended,
the economy was going great, the poli- funding to keep our kids safe in we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No.
cies we put in place were working, and school—we want them in school; it is a 20–52 concerning the Navy’s proposed Let-
we are still down 10 million jobs. A fur- good thing for them, but we have to be ter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Govern-
ther slowdown of the economy is going sure they can be safe—facilitate vac- ment of Brazil for defense articles and serv-
to be tough for those long-term unem- cine distribution, support our ices estimated to cost $70 million. After this
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
letter is delivered to your office, we plan to
ployed, and my concern is that some of healthcare providers, and funding and issue a news release to notify the public of
them may never reenter the workforce. flexibility for State and local govern- this proposed sale.
So we need to act and act quickly to ments that truly need it. They have to Sincerely,
get them back in the mix. show the need. HEIDI H. GRANT,
With the latest round of stricter so- American lives are at stake, and we Director.
cial distancing measures and closures are in danger of losing whatever Enclosures.
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