Congressional Record, Senate, December 7, 2020, Page S7227

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A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated December 7, 2020, at page S7227. A Senator says the Senate should pass annual appropriations bills and a conference report on the annual defense bill before Congress adjourns, and anticipates a 1-week extension this week so the government does not close on December 11. The remarks describe a small, targeted Republican framework that extends unemployment insurance, creates a second round of PPP for the hardest hit small businesses and lays groundwork for vaccine distribution, and urge Democrats to resist brinksmanship and poison-pill riders. Another speaker warns of a recession if Congress does not pass another round of emergency federal relief, and a cloture motion is read.

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“Congressional Record, Senate, December 7, 2020, Page S7227.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-07-crec-2020-12-07-pt1-pgs7227-2-634be52efc/, SHA-256 54da69df041359d780422d5740d9557a33ec09438cfbf9dad94c3b9fa99446ee.

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December 7, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7227
have been done months ago: annual ap- ment funding, as I have said for weeks, In fact, the framework for a small,
propriations bills to keep our govern- it is my hope that our committees’ targeted relief package that I put for-
ment running. We were ready on this work will bear fruit and a full-year ward last week—something Democrats
side of the aisle to vote on those back funding package will come to the floor quickly attacked—would have resolved
in June and have a couple of amend- in both Chambers. all three of those subjects. The tar-
ments up or down. Republicans, in the I anticipate that the Senate will take geted Republican framework extends
majority, if they didn’t like a Demo- up a 1-week extension this week so the unemployment insurance programs
cratic amendment, they could vote it government does not close on Decem- that will otherwise expire; it creates an
down. We could have done it back then. ber 11 and work can continue through entire second round of the Paycheck
Now the deadline is this week, months the end of next week. Protection Program for the hardest hit
later. We have to pass these bills before The Nation needs our Democratic small businesses; and it lays ground-
Congress adjourns this year so there is colleagues to resist the temptation to work to distribute the vaccines that
no disruption in our government, in play brinksmanship with long-settled appear to be on the horizon. Check,
our services during this difficult time policy issues or push poison-pill riders check, and check.
in our country. It will only exacerbate that they know would tank the proc- The Democratic whip is right to rec-
the growing problems facing many ess. ognize these three subjects as espe-
Americans today. But our annual ap- We also expect to receive and pass a cially urgent because they are espe-
propriations bills are no substitute for conference report on the annual De- cially urgent. That is why Republicans
the significant investment we need to fense authorization. And we need to have been trying over and over to get
continue confirming nominees to va- them passed. That is why Republicans
confront this national and inter-
cancies in the judiciary and the execu- have been saying for months that
national emergency. We need a com-
tive branch. Speaker PELOSI and the Democratic
prehensive COVID relief bill. We Senators are no strangers to the
It is time to get serious. Instead of leader should let Congress get out-
end-of-year drama, but this time the
flying off every weekend back home, comes in all of the places where we al-
stakes are far higher. We are up
stay here. Vote these things up or ready agree rather than holding every-
against another, even steeper surge in
down. Bring up amendments on both thing hostage over their most con-
COVID–19 than we saw back in the
sides of the aisle. Have an agreement troversial, partisan demands.
spring. Workers and small businesses
on the amendments and vote them up But month after month after month,
are once again struggling to make ends
or down, because time is wasted. it has been the Democratic leaders who
meet as States and localities step up
How many hours have we spent rac- have said that no relief whatsoever can
precautions.
ing to confirm nomination after nomi- And while the latest news on the vac- pass, no consensus items can become
nation at the expense of everything cine trials suggest that victory over law unless multiple controversial areas
else, including dealing with the emer- the virus may soon be within reach, where we don’t agree are resolved to
gency of this pandemic, while COVID our work in that area is far from com- the Democrats’ liking.
cases soar and more and more people plete. As one recent article put it, That is why the Democratic leader
succumb to this virus? How much more ‘‘State [and] local officials plead for had every single Senate Democratic
time will the Senate waste while Amer- vaccine distribution funds.’’ vote to filibuster a targeted COVID–19
ican families and communities suffer? Our Nation’s historic sprint to vic- relief package back in September and
It is time for us to do our job. We are tory through vaccines seems poised to again in October. That bill would have
elected for 6-year terms. Let’s stay succeed in record time, but the critical taken care of small businesses, unem-
here for 6 days during the week, if need last step—hundreds of millions of doses ployment insurance, and vaccine dis-
be. Let’s get it done. The American out to the American people—is still in tribution months ago. Senate Demo-
people are suffering enough. We front of us. Congress cannot stay on crats blocked it.
shouldn’t be adding to that strain by the sidelines. I think, if the Senate Democratic
playing politics with these essential Yesterday, our colleague from Illi- leader would allow it, the three things
priorities. nois, the Democratic whip, gave an that the Democratic whip mentioned
I am hearing from Vermonters every interview in which he named three ex- just yesterday—small business aid, re-
day, worried about unemployment ben- amples of highly urgent matters that upping unemployment aid, and setting
efits, their children’s education, their need to be addressed for our Nation up vaccine distribution—would pass
health or for that of their loved ones, right now. This is the Democratic whip the Senate in a landslide.
about food security, about keeping of the U.S. Senate. A targeted compromise on the most
their homes and paying their bills. Here are the three things Senator urgent items would pass by a massive
The Senate, when it has been at its DURBIN mentioned as flashing red, ur- bipartisan margin. We could easily put
best, has been the conscience of the Na- gent priorities: ‘‘The millions of people together a whole slew of commonsense
tion. It is long past time that we start- who are going to . . . lose their unem- policies—including those three and
ed acting like the conscience of the Na- ployment insurance the day after other things, like legal protections
tion. It has been 256 days since the Sen- Christmas’’; ‘‘the businesses that are that universities and the American
ate took meaningful action on this trying to decide . . . whether or not Council on Education have been plead-
COVID epidemic. We shouldn’t wait a they can continue’’; and ‘‘the [vaccine] ing for—bring it to the floor, and pass
day longer. Let’s set everything else logistics . . . to make sure that this it.
aside. Let’s have votes on these pro- vaccine is on the road and vaccinating Everyone knows why this hasn’t hap-
grams. Let’s vote up or down. This people across America as quickly as pened. There is one reason the Speaker
Senator is ready to do that. possible.’’ of the House and the Democratic leader
I see the distinguished leader on the Those are the three things he men- have spent months tying the most bi-
floor. tioned. Those are the three urgent partisan, most commonsense policies
I yield the floor. issues he named as examples: extending to their most controversial requests
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER unemployment insurance, helping and saying that the country can’t get
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. small businesses, and funding vaccine the former unless they get the latter.
ERNST). The majority leader is recog- distribution. Their strategy has been all or nothing,
nized. Well, I do not question the sincerity so struggling Americans have, of
CORONAVIRUS of our colleague, who I believe is en- course, gotten nothing.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, gaged in these discussions in good Well, we are down to the wire. The

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we have reached the time of year when faith. But these comments illustrate light at the end of the tunnel is in
the Senate has more important out- perfectly a point that Republicans have sight. Operation Warp Speed seems
standing business than we have days to been making for weeks. These three ur- poised to deliver vaccines on a historic,
complete it. Delivering for the Amer- gent issues are issues where there is al- almost miraculous timetable. We have
ican people will take focus, dexterity, most total bipartisan consensus, no seen some hopeful signs of engagement
and genuine bipartisanship. On govern- real disagreement whatsoever. from our Democratic colleagues, but

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S7228 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 7, 2020
we have no reason to think the under- EXECUTIVE SESSION Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
lying disagreements about policy are move to bring to a close debate on the nomi-
going to evaporate overnight. nation of Sean J. Cooksey, of Missouri, to be
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR a Member of the Federal Election Commis-
Republicans and Democrats do not
sion for a term expiring April 30, 2021.
need to resolve every one of our dif- Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Cory
ferences to get badly needed relief out I move to proceed to executive session Gardner, Richard Burr, John Thune,
the door. We just need both sides to fi- to consider Calendar No. 913. Michael B. Enzi, Steve Daines, Cindy
nally do what Members of Congress do The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Hyde-Smith, John Boozman, Thom
when they are serious about wanting question is on agreeing to the motion. Tillis, John Cornyn, Roger F. Wicker,
an outcome: Drop the all-or-nothing The motion was agreed to. Marco Rubio, Josh Hawley, Joni Ernst,
tactics; drop the hostage-taking; and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mike Braun, Mike Crapo.
make law in the many places where we clerk will report the nomination. f
have common ground. That is what the The bill clerk read the nomination of
Shana M. Broussard, of Louisiana, to EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued
country is counting on. That is how we
can do right by the American people be a Member of the Federal Election Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous
before Christmas. Let’s get it done. Commission for a term expiring April consent that the Senate resume consid-
30, 2023. eration of the Schwartz nomination.
f
CLOTURE MOTION The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
LEGISLATIVE SESSION Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, objection, it is so ordered.
I send a cloture motion to the desk. Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab-
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, sence of a quorum.
I move to proceed to legislative ses- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo-
ture motion having been presented The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
sion. clerk will call the roll.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The under rule XXII, the Chair directs the
clerk to read the motion. The bill clerk proceeded to call the
question is on agreeing to the motion. roll.
The motion was agreed to. The bill clerk read as follows:
CLOTURE MOTION Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
f ask unanimous consent that the order
We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the for the quorum call be rescinded.
EXECUTIVE SESSION Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
nation of Shana M. Broussard, of Louisiana, Democratic leader is recognized.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR to be a Member of the Federal Election Com-
REMEMBERING PAUL SARBANES
mission for a term expiring April 30, 2023.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Cory Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President,
I move to proceed to executive session Gardner, Richard Burr, John Thune, last night we received the sad news
to consider Calendar No. 912. Michael B. Enzi, Steve Daines, John that a former colleague of ours, one of
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Boozman, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Thom our finest, Paul Sarbanes, had passed
question is on agreeing to the motion. Tillis, John Cornyn, Roger F. Wicker, away.
The motion was agreed to. Marco Rubio, Roy Blunt, Joni Ernst, While our time in the Senate only
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mike Braun, Mike Crapo.
overlapped for one term, Senator Sar-
clerk will report the nomination. f banes made a deep impression. Known
The bill clerk read the nomination of LEGISLATIVE SESSION as the ‘‘stealth Senator,’’ he was low-
Allen Dickerson, of the District of Co- key but extremely effective. He was a
lumbia, to be a Member of the Federal Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
I move to proceed to legislative ses- leader on a wide-ranging group of
Election Commission for a term expir- issues, from environmental steward-
ing April 30, 2025. sion.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ship, to consumer privacy, to anything
CLOTURE MOTION
question is on agreeing to the motion. having to do with his home State of
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, The motion was agreed to. Maryland. He was very soft-spoken, but
I send a cloture motion to the desk. he had determination like iron and
f
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- worked and worked and worked on
ture motion having been presented EXECUTIVE SESSION issue after issue until he achieved his
under rule XXII, the Chair directs the goals.
clerk to read the motion. We mourn the passing of this beloved
The bill clerk read as follows: EXECUTIVE CALENDAR former colleague and this consummate
CLOTURE MOTION Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Senator.
We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- I move to proceed to executive session CORONAVIRUS
ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the to consider Calendar No. 914. Madam President, now on COVID, ev-
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby The PRESIDING OFFICER. The eryone knows we are entering the
move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- question is on agreeing to the motion. worst stretch of the COVID–19 pan-
nation of Allen Dickerson, of the District of The motion was agreed to. demic. As winter months force more
Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
Election Commission for a term expiring Americans indoors, infections are up,
clerk will report the nomination. hospitalizations are up, and the num-
April 30, 2025.
Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Cory
The bill clerk read the nomination of ber of Americans dying from COVID is
Gardner, Richard Burr, John Thune, Sean J. Cooksey, of Missouri, to be a steadily and tragically increasing.
Michael B. Enzi, Steve Daines, John Member of the Federal Election Com- The economic fallout from the latest
Boozman, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Thom mission for a term expiring April 30, wave of the virus will also be a huge
Tillis, John Cornyn, Roger F. Wicker, 2021. challenge. According to one study,
Marco Rubio, Roy Blunt, Joni Ernst, CLOTURE MOTION nearly 12 million renters will owe an
Mike Braun, Mike Crapo.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, average of nearly $6,000 in back rents
f I send a cloture motion to the desk. and utilities in January. Even the con-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- servative U.S. Chamber of Commerce is
LEGISLATIVE SESSION ture motion having been presented sounding the alarm about a double-dip

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Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, under rule XXII, the Chair directs the recession if Congress does not pass an-
I move to proceed to legislative ses- clerk to read the motion. other round of emergency Federal re-
sion. The bill clerk read as follows: lief before the end of the year.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The CLOTURE MOTION Unfortunately, our efforts to pass an-
question is on agreeing to the motion. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- other emergency relief bill through the
The motion was agreed to. ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Senate have been stalled until now for

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