Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 2, 2020)
Summary
This is page S7143 of the Congressional Record, Vol. 166, No. 203, Senate, Wednesday, December 2, 2020, continuing onto S7144. The Senate met at 10 a.m., the Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the prayer, and the President pro tempore led the Pledge of Allegiance. Under USDA Rulemaking Revisions, Mr. Grassley states his disappointment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recent revisions of a proposed rule on the term "actively engaged in farming." Under Coronavirus, Mr. McConnell states that he put forward a proposal that would create a second draw on the Paycheck Protection Program and extend two emergency unemployment benefit programs created by the CARES Act that will expire in December without action. Mr. McConnell then delivers a Tribute to Lamar Alexander.
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Cite this document
“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 2, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-02-crec-2020-12-02-pt1-pgs7143-6-90cf674a87/
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Congressional Record
E PL
UR M
IB NU
U U
S
116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020 No. 203
Senate
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was that Iowa family farmers and other RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY
called to order by the President pro farmers are protected from natural dis- LEADER
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). asters or other unforeseen events that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
f they have no control over, like flooding jority leader is recognized.
or wind storms. f
PRAYER
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Family farmers work hard to make CORONAVIRUS
fered the following prayer: sure that Americans have food on the
table. These same family farmers oper- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President,
Let us pray. when I opened the Senate on Monday, I
Righteous God, refresh our law- ate on very thin margins. These farm-
ers ought to qualify for help during repeated something Republicans have
makers as a river in the desert and as stated for months now. We need to put
the cool shadows of large trees in a hot tough times since losing these oper-
partisanship aside and get more bipar-
and weary land. May our Senators find ations would risk our Nation’s food
tisan, targeted coronavirus relief out
in You a hope that illuminates the supply.
to the American people.
paths they travel as You guide them However, taxpayers and nonfarm Dating back to the summer, and all
with Your great love. State lawmakers may stop supporting fall, Senate Republicans tried repeat-
Lord, fill them with such wisdom a Federal farm safety net if spending edly to advance hundreds of billions of
that they will solve our Nation’s most programs aren’t held accountable or dollars to prevent layoffs, protect
challenging problems, making the left unchecked. Losing urban support small businesses, fund vaccine distribu-
rough places smooth and the crooked tion, and continue assisting workers
for this farm safety net is why I am
places straight. Deal favorably with who have already lost their jobs due to
deeply concerned about the USDA’s re-
them because of Your great love and the crisis. Every time, the Speaker of
cent proposal to roll back rules that
mercy. Inspire them to live lives that the House and the Democratic leader
put teeth in the definition of a legal
will permit You to bless our Nation blocked our efforts. It had to be the en-
term called ‘‘actively engaged in farm-
and world. tirety of their leftwing wish list or
We pray in Your mighty Name. ing.’’
nothing at all.
Amen. Long-lost relatives, by changing
Finally, this week, we are seeing
f these rules, who have probably never cracks starting to form in the Demo-
lifted a finger on the farm should not cratic leaders’ stone wall, and thank
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
get away with collecting farm pay- goodness for the country that that is
The President pro tempore led the ments. Farm payments should only go
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: finally happening. In the last several
to operators that—and I have a defini- days, the Democratic leaders have sig-
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the tion that is a little facetious but some-
United States of America, and to the Repub- naled a new willingness to engage in
what realistic—unless they have dirt good faith and, yesterday, a number of
lic for which it stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
under their fingernails. Senate Democrats proposed a different
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ROM- A few weeks ago, I recently com- compromise.
NEY). The Senator from Iowa. plimented Secretary Perdue on what I But at the risk of repeating some-
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask thought were very strong rules that thing we all know, making law will not
unanimous consent to speak for 1 were being proposed at that time. Now just require the Senate’s approval but
minute in morning business. the USDA’s decision to backtrack on also the signature of the President of
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without their rules means more megafarmers the United States.
objection, it is so ordered. will take advantage of this loophole So, after several conversations with
f and people who aren’t actively engaged the Secretary of the Treasury and the
in farming will benefit from farm pay- White House Chief of Staff, I put for-
USDA RULEMAKING REVISIONS ward yesterday another proposal re-
ments. I am disappointed with this
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I turnaround. flecting what the President is ready to
want to tell my colleagues about a dis- sign into law. What we have proposed
Once again, Congress must do what it would give universities and nonprofits
appointment I have in some U.S. De-
partment of Agriculture recent revi- can to oppose these loopholes so that the legal certainty they need. It would
sions of a proposed rule. we have only family farmers benefiting create a second draw on the job-saving
Here is the background: I have long from the farm program. Paycheck Protection Program to pre-
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE
fought to strengthen the safety net so I yield the floor. vent more layoffs, and it would extend
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
S7143
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S7144 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 2, 2020
two important emergency unemploy- library card and music lessons. In her indeed of American history—govern-
ment benefit programs that were cre- words, ‘‘everything you needed that ment that is limited but effective and
ated by the CARES Act and which will was important.’’ smart; a system where power stays
expire in December without action. And I would certainly add loving par- close to the people and working fami-
These programs have been championed ents to that list. lies can thrive and prosper. These prin-
by our Democratic colleagues, particu- This son of two educators grew up ciples made our colleague a nationally
larly the senior Senator from Virginia, steeped in the importance of schooling. known leader long before he was sworn
and we made sure they were included He would later reference his mother’s in as a Senator. But I would say they
in the framework. work in early childhood education by have reached full flourishing with
I hope our Democratic colleagues saying he is probably the only Sec- Chairman ALEXANDER’s astonishingly
will finally let Congress pass a bipar- retary of Education in history—in his- effective leadership right here in this
tisan bill that the President will likely tory—who spent 5 years in kinder- body.
sign into law and do so soon. garten. Students, families, and teachers ben-
That passion would remain through- efit every day from the Every Student
f
out LAMAR’s career. His cutting-edge Succeeds Act, Chairman ALEXANDER’s
TRIBUTE TO LAMAR ALEXANDER focus on improving opportunities and historic, bipartisan makeover fol-
Mr. MCCONNELL. Now, Mr. Presi- reforming education benefited Ten- lowing No Child Left Behind. One re-
dent, on a completely different matter, nessee hugely in the 1980s, and our port called it ‘‘the largest devolution of
the Senate revolves around people. whole Nation during his time in Presi- federal control to the states in a quar-
The body consists of 100 individuals. dent Bush 41’s Cabinet. ter century.’’
One of our key duties concerns the per- But that isn’t the only way LAMAR Millions of medically vulnerable
sonnel whom we examine and confirm, has honored his roots. You couldn’t Americans also have their champion in
and there are all these dedicated staff walk across the entire State of Ten- our friend from Tennessee. The over-
professionals who make this place go. nessee in a plaid shirt, get elected Gov- whelmingly bipartisan 21st Century
Today, it is both my great honor and ernor before the age of 40, and serve Cures Act was the single most impor-
regrettable task to honor someone who more combined years as Governor and tant law of the entire 114th Congress. It
secured all three parts of that senato- Senator than anyone else in the his- is paving the way for more innovation
rial triple crown: the senior Senator tory of the Volunteer State without be- and faster innovation to benefit pa-
from Tennessee, the chairman of the coming entirely intertwined with the tients who have no time to waste—an-
Committee on Health, Education, place. Every corner of the State is bet- other LAMAR ALEXANDER production.
Labor, and Pensions, LAMAR ALEX- ter for his service. His groundbreaking His leadership was instrumental in
ANDER.
work to bring home good-paying auto the landmark legislation we passed 2
LAMAR first set foot here as a tal- jobs has paid dividends, so has his years ago to combat the opioid epi-
ented young staffer. Decades later, he major focus on infrastructure and bet- demic.
appeared before us as a supersuccessful ter roads. Just this year, he was the driving
But alas, even building a statewide force behind the Great American Out-
former Governor and university presi-
and then national reputation does not doors Act, the Senate’s historic project
dent with a nomination to the Cabinet.
always, always, translate into honest- to secure our parks and public lands for
And for the past 18 years, the other 99
to-goodness celebrity status. generations to come.
of us have gotten to serve alongside I understand that following LAMAR’s The list doesn’t end there. There
one of the most impactful Senators in Governorship, a stretch of highway in have been other education wins, like
modern American history. Maryville was fittingly named the permanent funding for historically
I have known LAMAR for more than 50 Lamar Alexander Parkway to honor Black colleges and universities and
years. We first met in 1969, when I was him. I further understand that some- simplifying the student loan process.
working for a freshman Senator named time later, LAMAR was driving on that There have been laws like the Music
Marlow Cook and he worked down in very road and stopped for breakfast. Modernization Act, which LAMAR ham-
the executive branch. We met at the When it was time to pay for his food, mered out with our former colleague,
suggestion of his previous boss and he handed over his credit card. The Senator Hatch—a legislative duet from
mentor, Senator Howard Baker. Either woman on the other side of the counter two musical virtuosos in their own
he suspected our paths might cross glanced at the name on the card, and rights.
again later or he just saw two serious then back at LAMAR. ‘‘Hey,’’ she said, Senator ALEXANDER knows about 50
young guys in need of some livelier so- ‘‘were you named after this road?’’ different issues as well as most Sen-
cial lives. Now, this may shock the Now, as a man of faith, I am certain ators know 3 or 4. He is hands down one
Presiding Officer, but I am afraid LAMAR knows Luke, chapter 4: ‘‘No of the most brilliant, most thoughtful,
young LAMAR ALEXANDER and young prophet is accepted in his hometown.’’ and most effective legislators any of us
MITCH MCCONNELL did not exactly go Apparently, neither are statesmen to have ever seen.
crazy and paint the town red. But I will be recognized on their own highway. He likes to say this about the Senate:
take a five-decade friendship any day. Here in the Senate, too, LAMAR’s im- ‘‘It’s hard to get here; it’s hard to stay
Both of us headed back home to con- pact has been massive, and the convic- here; so while you’re here, you might
tinue our careers. It was already clear tions that fueled it have been straight- as well try to accomplish something.’’
that a bright future in elected office forward. He starts with a very firm Well, mission accomplished—and then
likely lay in store for him. framework: the right-of-center prin- some.
LAMAR’s reverence for public service ciples that Ronald Reagan used to re- If you reviewed Senator ALEXANDER’s
started early. I believe he was about 10 build a confident, prosperous America resume and results without knowing
years old when his father, himself a and beat communism. The Federal the man, you might suspect he arrived
longtime local official, took him to Government isn’t meant to take over as an established hotshot and threw his
meet his hometown Congressman, How- our States, neighborhoods, or our lives. weight around. But even as LAMAR has
ard Baker, Sr. The father of his future But LAMAR’s career has also confirmed mastered the levers of power here, his
boss shook the boy’s hand and handed that conservative governance is not a character has never been captured by
him a dime. I think LAMAR was hooked, contradiction in terms. There are gen- Washington. LAMAR has remained clear
then and there. uine public goods it is the govern- that he has just been on loan from Ten-
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE
Decades later, when LAMAR an- ment’s job to secure: public roads, pub- nessee the whole time.
nounced his 1996 Presidential run, he lic lands, public education, certain as- So we have had more than just a
was in his hometown of Maryville. His pects of public health. He has dedicated master legislator to call upon; we have
speech began with a story about his himself to making those things better been blessed with a sober, honest, and
mother. She had read where he had lov- and stronger, especially for those who deliberate statesman—someone who
ingly described his upbringing as lower need opportunity the most. cares as much about preserving this in-
middle class, and she had taken um- This vision aligns with the greatest stitution as the near-term results he
brage to that. After all, LAMAR had a traditions of the Republican Party and can wring out of it.
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