Congressional Record — Senate, December 8, 2020, Page S7262
Summary
Page S7262 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for December 8, 2020, in interleaved columns. A speaker on the Coast Guard authorization says it recognizes that the United States is an Arctic nation and for the first time authorizes a fleet of six icebreakers, thanking Chairman Wicker, Senator Sullivan and Senator Markey, which is that speaker's view. Another speaker congratulates the people at Operation Warp Speed for moving from identifying the virus to a vaccine in 11 months. A further statement says 15 to 16 million students lack internet connectivity, and a tribute marks a farewell speech by Cory Gardner.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, December 8, 2020, Page S7262.”
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S7262 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 8, 2020
but which is certainly being considered Guard families—and to make sure I do want to congratulate the folks in
in the House of Representatives today. there is zero tolerance in the approach the science community, the folks who
The reason this is so important to for any kind of sexual assault or sexual are at Operation Warp Speed in the
emphasize today is that in this legisla- harassment. White House, and so many other indi-
tion will be the Coast Guard bill and So with these improvements over all, viduals who worked so incredibly hard
recognition of the fact that we truly I would like to thank Chairman to take a vaccine from first identifica-
are an Arctic nation. WICKER, Senator SULLIVAN, and Sen- tion of the virus to a vaccine in 11
Well, some of you may have said: ator MARKEY for working on all of months. That is remarkable speed to
Well, I think we already got geography; these issues. I want to thank Senator get something done, though I have read
we knew we were an Arctic nation. But MURKOWSKI, as I said, for the Arctic recently that the New York Times is
this is the first time that we will be au- Shipping Federal Advisory Committee now putting out this quiet little accu-
thorizing a fleet of six icebreakers for and many people who are helping us sation that the Trump administration
the United States of America. get to this point, to say not only do we didn’t buy enough of the Pfizer vac-
Some people think: Well, why is that recognize geographically we are an cine, and the rest of the world is going
important? What is so important about Arctic nation, but we are going to do to get it. The Times just conveniently
icebreakers? Well, certainly to the something about it by making sure we leaves out that the administration ac-
Northwest Passage and the ability to have the capacity on this waterway to tually purchased 700 million doses of
move cargo and to move people and to be heard and seen and to help the com- the vaccine from multiple different
new transportation routes, it is very merce that is going to emerge from the manufacturers very early on, taking
important. new developments in the Arctic. the appropriate risk to say that we
When you look at where we are in the I yield the floor. don’t know which one is going to be
United States of America with an I suggest the absence of a quorum. successful, so let’s try to purchase
icebreaking fleet, we don’t compete The PRESIDING OFFICER. The from all of them, not knowing if six of
with other nations that have been able clerk will call the roll. them will be successful or if one of
to access and transverse those water- The legislative clerk proceeded to them will be successful. It was the
ways because they have somebody who call the roll. right strategy then. It remains the
can clean the waterway and make it Mr. LANKFORD. Madam President, I right strategy.
safe and secure. That is why we need, ask unanimous consent that the order In addition to the fact that the Pfizer
in the United States, to have an for the quorum call be rescinded. vaccine is coming out first—which we
icebreaking fleet beyond the capacity The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without are all very grateful for—it is 95 per-
we have today, which is two vessels but objection, it is so ordered. cent accurate as far as setting aside
basically not the full capacity of those CORONAVIRUS the virus. It is 100 percent effective
two vessels. Mr. LANKFORD. Madam President, against severe outbreaks of the virus.
This is why it is so important for us four different times in the last 4 It is a remarkable vaccine, but it has
to put the money and investment into months, we have had votes on this to be stored at negative 70 degrees.
a program to get us icebreakers so that floor to talk about COVID relief. There There are very few places in my State
we, too, can look at this northern wa- is a real need to be able to give relief and in many other States that have an
terway and passage and say to the to a lot of people in my State, and, ultracold freezer that maintains that.
United States of America and to the quite frankly, in States around the It is a great vaccine, but it is limited
world community: Yes, we will be in country. in the way that you can actually dis-
the Arctic as well. There are individual items that need tribute it quickly.
My colleagues on both sides of the to be done that are unfinished. I think There is a Moderna vaccine that is
aisle realize that this is a very bipar- we need to actually finish them. We coming a week later that we will actu-
tisan issue, that it is a national secu- have this week and next week to finish ally have twice as much of, but it
rity issue, and that it is an environ- the task at hand. We have 12 appropria- doesn’t require the same ultracold
mental issue. It is about us and making tions bills. We have a national defense storage.
sure that we communicate. authorization. But in my State, people So this first round of vaccines will be
I have also supported additional lan- want to know most what is going to coming to my State by this weekend,
guage about an Arctic shipping Federal happen with COVID relief. Where is another round of vaccines from another
advisory committee. A committee that going to go? manufacturer by next weekend, and by
made up of representatives from Fed- Well, apparently, now we can actu- the end of this year—in just the next
eral agencies, including the Coast ally have the debate. After the election few weeks—we will have 20 million peo-
Guard and the Department of Defense, was over, Speaker PELOSI announced ple who will get vaccinated.
the Secretary of Transportation, and that she was ready to actually nego- That is a great start, but, clearly,
others would be part of a process to en- tiate the bill now that the election was there are another 300 million people to
sure that our Arctic efforts are better finished. Well, great. Folks in my State go. By the time that we get to the end
coordinated and impactful. have actually been waiting because of February, we will have 100 million
So I hope that my colleagues will four times in the last 4 months we people who will have been vaccinated,
look favorably on this legislation. brought up bills that were serious bills and that doesn’t even count the addi-
We all know how important the to be able to actually debate this out tional vaccines that are coming online.
Coast Guard is to our Nation and an ex- and to get the aid that is needed to be The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a
ample of that icebreaking capacity, done, starting with additional money single-dose vaccine. It should be online
but there are other aspects of this for distribution for vaccines. in February. That is very significant to
Coast Guard bill that we are also proud The first vaccine will come on mar- us because that will also provide us
of—making sure that it works more ket by this Friday. It will be in arms tens of millions of additional individ-
robustly with fishermen on fishing by this weekend or at the latest, Mon- uals who can be vaccinated. We could
safety; doing more to examine the im- day, in my State, in Oklahoma. very well be completely vaccinated as
pacts of tar sands; making sure that As I visit with the people in my State a country by the time we get to this
our orca population is saved from noise who are in charge of the distribution, summer. We could be completely vac-
impact and further reducing that im- they have a terrific plan that they are cinated with the most vulnerable in
pact on our orca population; and insti- engaged in to work with healthcare our population—everyone in our
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
tuting new reforms within the Coast providers across the State to give them healthcare, every single nursing home,
Guard to really help empower women, first access. For these folks who have every single skilled nursing, every sin-
to make significant investment in the been living in PPE for months and gle assisted living, and all those with
40 percent of the workforce of the months and months, to now have the high-risk conditions like Parkinson’s
Coast Guard that are women and to opportunity to get a vaccine will be a and Alzheimer’s and individuals with
make sure they have what they need— tremendous gift to them. It is incred- diabetes and heart disease—those indi-
vital childcare opportunities for Coast ibly important that this happen. viduals could be completely vaccinated
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December 8, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7263
by the time we get to February. That year over year, and I hear the same Americans to take advantage of that.
is just 2 months away. We are finally from many of my counterparts. It is Nonprofits around the country des-
getting close. highly likely we will have to go perately need assistance right now.
But we do need some additional dol- through another round of furloughs in What we have written into a proposal
lars set aside for the distribution to ac- January. Honestly, it would probably is to double that for next year for indi-
tually get to that point. We need addi- make sense now, but we are not going viduals, $600, or for a couple filing
tional dollars for testing. We have done to do that to anyone through the holi- jointly, $1,200. You could write off your
200 million tests on COVID–19. I have days. We are hoping for some assist- taxes completely, even if you don’t
had several of those. Most everyone in ance to keep people on payroll and ben- itemize, if you would donate that
this Chamber has had several. Most ev- efits. At worst case, if there is no relief amount to a not-for-profit.
eryone across my State has had several for us, I hope there is additional unem- What would cause that? Philosophi-
to evaluate them. I always tested nega- ployment coming so people aren’t des- cally, for me, it is a couple of things. I
tive. I am grateful for that. There are titute. It may be April before we are believe in the power and strength and
many people who still continue to get able to support our business based on efficiencies of not-for-profits. In small
that testing. We need to continue that. our own revenue. towns around my State and around the
We have individuals across my State These comments are not uncommon country, there are local not-for-profits
and across all of our States who need from many others I have received. and churches and faith-based institu-
access to the Paycheck Protection Pro- They can make this and have a viable tions, and they are doing the work to
gram. This was a risk that we took in business but just not in this kind of en- help the hurting and hungry and home-
March to try an assistance for individ- vironment right now. less. We should support them. They are
uals in a completely different way, What are we going to do about that? in real need right now of our support.
knowing that the unemployment as- Well, I have recommended not only the There are groups all around our Na-
sistance in all of our States is anti- attestation for forgiveness for small tion that need people to step up and
quated and would be overrun by indi- businesses but also a second round to walk alongside them as they walk
viduals. There had to be another way allow those who have been through the alongside the neediest in our commu-
to sustain individuals who would be un- small business Paycheck Protection nities. The best way we can do that is
employed and to sustain small busi- Program to go through it again and get to incentivize that with taxes. We can
nesses to not go out of business as we a second bite of that apple short term either say we could have a larger tax
go through this. for the hardest hit businesses and also piece here or encourage people to actu-
What we created was something to allow some of those businesses that ally give locally. I think that is an effi-
called the Paycheck Protection Pro- are legitimate small businesses to ac- cient way to help people.
gram. I was honored to be a part of tually get a first shot. We need to step up, as my friend who
that small group who helped write this Many people don’t know that not-for- had emailed me yesterday reminded
and dream it out. It was for small busi- profits, including faith-based not-for- me. If we can’t get the paycheck pro-
nesses and not-for-profits, and for the profits and small businesses, all got ac- tection extension done—and I hope we
first time ever, included faith-based cess to the Paycheck Protection Pro- can—we need to make sure the unem-
not-for-profits, knowing many of them gram if you were supported by donors ployment extension is done because we
are key safety nets in our communities or by a bank or credit union. But if are going to have more people on un-
across the country. We could not lose your business was organized by private employment. We should really do both.
that safety net during the time of the equity, and that was your original cap- We can extend paycheck protections
pandemic. ital, you couldn’t get access to the to protect those individuals in those
I have had individuals who have Paycheck Protection Program. So businesses and secure them, but we
asked me over and over again for two thousands and thousands of small busi- also need to secure our unemployment
key things in the Paycheck Protection nesses were out simply based on where assistance program. We have many
Program: No. 1, please make it clear they got their original capital from to folks with diabetes and other
how to get final forgiveness to close open their business. That is not right. healthcare needs who can’t return to
this out. There are literally millions of When we have the second round of work right now. They are not in a posi-
small businesses that have a paycheck paycheck protection, we should at tion where they can telework, and they
protection loan. They want to get for- least allow some of those other small need the opportunity to be sustained.
given, but the process of going through businesses to get a first round through Literally, their benefits are running
forgiveness is so complicated they are this process. We need to continue what out in days.
struggling with closing that out. They we are doing for not-for-profits. This is a moment we should extend
want to get it done. Our safety nets are very clear in that out for multiple more months to
There is an easy way to do it that America. Our families are our first allow them the gap they need to get
KEVIN CRAMER has actually coordi- safety net; our second safety net is our through the pandemic to be able to get
nated and led in this body. Senator not-for-profits; and our third safety net a vaccine—which is coming soon—and
CRAMER’s work has been remarkable is government—State, local, and Fed- then to get back to work as they have
and tenacious to help guide us to a eral. That second safety net that is out been dying to do.
simple solution to get to individuals there that is so important in our com- We need to get liability protections.
and businesses that took out loans of munities, we need to do what we can to A lot of people have a lot of uncer-
$150,000 or less, to get forgiveness for support them. tainty, and they are worried about law-
that in a simple process, in a single- In the CARES Act, I helped put in a suits coming down on them. They don’t
page attestation to be able to do that. provision there that would give every know how to manage around them.
That needs to be included in whatever American a $300 deduction on their I have letters from small businesses,
we are doing. taxes above the line, even if they don’t large businesses, and university presi-
We need to have a second round for itemize their taxes. They can get a $300 dents in my State who are all saying
those businesses that are the hardest straight deduction from their taxes if the same thing: Help us just know what
hit. they will give to a nonprofit. They can the rules of the game are going to be
Let me tell you an example of that. I pick any nonprofit they want to give because there is litigation coming at
had a business leader of a small busi- to—the arts community, the homeless us, and we don’t know how to evaluate
ness in my State just yesterday, and community, those that are helping this because this has never been done
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
this is part of his email. He said: It with mental health, those that are before. Help us just know the rules of
sounds like there is a chance for an- helping with food programs, churches, the road on liability.
other relief bill. I hope that is true. We synagogues, mosques. They can choose That is not an unreasonable request
are expecting—our sales have fallen any nonprofit they want to. If they for every university, large and small
through the floor again. With the give to a nonprofit, every single Amer- businesses across our Nation. Schools
change in weather and rising case ican gets a deduction up to $300. That are going to need some additional help.
counts, we have lost over 50 percent counts for this year. I would encourage That is based on just that child, no
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S7264 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 8, 2020
matter where they attend—public, pri- CORY GARDNER and I came to the The FCC is the key to their partici-
vate, faith-based, charter, whatever it House of Representatives together in pating in schools, and it is the key to
may be—it is a child whose parent is a 2011. We became fast friends for his businesses being able to communicate
taxpayer. Education is important, and winning smile and his tenacious work with customers. The FCC is at the
they should all be treated the same. ethic. He is a solid guy for whom I have crossroads of making rights real. Na-
Childcare issues are at the top of the great respect. We came to the Senate than Simington is dangerous to those
list as well. Childcare facilities are out together at the same time as well. We rights and to the FCC at this moment
there in desperate need right now and served 4 years in the House together in history.
are open and functioning. They can’t and now have served 6 years in the Sen- Why is he the nominee? The answer
have the worker or job ratio they used ate together. He just lost his election is that the current FCC Commissioner,
to have, but the costs are still the in November, and he will be heading Michael O’Rielly, was originally nomi-
same. We need to get additional flexi- back to Colorado. I will miss my friend. nated for another term, and the Com-
bility to our States. In my State— CORY and I had a lot of great con- merce Committee even held a vote for
many entities within my State still versations about a lot of legislation. him in July. Yet, after Twitter and
have additional dollars left over from We had a lot of conversations about Facebook had the temerity to label
the CARES Act. So $1.5 billion came to our families. During the times that we Donald Trump’s misinformation about
the State of Oklahoma through the would occasionally sit side by side in voting and COVID–19, the President
CARES Act. That is an enormous Bible studies here, we had lots of time issued an Executive order that had the
amount of money. They are still work- to talk. I will not forget one key mo- simple purpose of retaliating against
ing through to be able to handle it effi- ment, though. It was our first day in these social media platforms. The
ciently, how they are going to manage the U.S. Senate, in this Chamber, when President, in effect, demanded that the
that. Thankfully, most towns in my one of the staff approached us and said: FCC revise section 230 of the Commu-
State have had sales tax revenue that The two of you have the same number nications Decency Act in order to pun-
has gone up this year. That is not true ish those companies for the mild incon-
of years in the House of Representa-
for all of it, but for many of them, it venience of a fact check. They didn’t
tives, and you are both coming in from
has been. Their expenses have also take down his posts; they said they
the same class to the Senate, which
gone up. needed to fact check them.
So the challenge at this point would means you are tied for seniority in the
Senate, and your seniority has to be re- Commissioner O’Rielly recognized
be, how can we get the States max- the dangers and the potential illegality
imum flexibility with the dollars they solved by a coin toss.
So CORY and I stood there, side by of the President’s Executive order.
have to make sure they don’t have to Again, he had the temerity to speak up
side, while we flipped a coin. I won, and
squander those funds quickly just to be and tell the American public on C–
I rubbed it in to him for 6 years that I
able to get it done because the deadline SPAN that he had ‘‘deep reservations’’
to use them is December 31? More flexi- had seniority over him in the U.S. Sen-
ate. if they, meaning Congress, ‘‘provided
bility would be a good gift both to do any additional authority for the FCC
As I sat and listened to him speak for
wise spending and to be able to give
the last time today and talk about pa- in this matter.’’ In a later speech, he
them greater flexibility in the days
triotism and his incredible love for his appeared to challenge the order on
ahead. That would be for States, coun-
State and his country, all I could think First Amendment grounds, which it
ties, cities, and Tribes.
We should allow for the reprogram- of was, this is the guy I have seniority well-deserved, in fact, because it poten-
ming of funds. Interestingly enough, over, my friend, whom I will miss here. tially violated the First Amendment.
CORY, thank you for being a great Despite years of a pristine record of
the Paycheck Protection Program had
servant of the people of Colorado and a Republican positions, this objection
about $130 billion left over in it when it
fantastic workaholic, happy warrior now was disqualifying to Commissioner
expired. We all gave it a lot of money
Senator. O’Rielly in the view of the White
not knowing how much would be need-
ed for small businesses, but the vast With that, I yield the floor. House. The President pulled his nomi-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- nation and substituted Mr. Simington,
majority of small businesses that could
ator from Connecticut. who was well qualified, for he had
take it were able to take it. There are
many, as I mentioned before, that are NOMINATION OF NATHAN A. SIMINGTON auditioned for the role of doing the
wanting to do a second round with it. Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam Presi- President’s bidding. We know Mr.
The best way to do that is to repro- dent, in just a few moments, we will Simington tried to pressure the FCC to
gram the unused funds that are there. vote on the nomination of Nathan cave in to the White House and to
That would be more efficient. The Fed- Simington to be a member of the Fed- rightwing media outlets on this very
eral Reserve has unused funds in the eral Communications Commission. We issue, section 230. It is an unprece-
hundreds of billions of dollars. We will do so in the middle of a pandemic dented assault on the integrity and
should cancel out those programs and when this agency is of more impor- independence of the FCC, and he was
reuse those funds. That is a wise use of tance than ever to students, busi- clearly the White House’s wingman on
funds to make sure we are not squan- nesses, and families who are vitally de- this issue.
dering American tax dollars. pendent on broadband, on the con- Very simply, Nathan Simington is
Every single dollar that is spent on sumer protection that this agency pro- the wrong person and is clearly the
COVID–19 right now is debt money. So vides, and to net neutrality, which is a wrong person at the wrong time for the
we should pay attention to all of those vital issue for them and for our coun- FCC. He is unprepared and unqualified.
issues of debt money, knowing that we try. Last month, before the Senate Com-
need to be careful with other people’s ‘‘Nathan Simington’’ is not exactly a merce Committee, he was asked about
money. household word, but his name and his his plan for the FCC. He couldn’t pro-
There are things that we need to do presence on the FCC will have impor- vide one single measure for which he
in the next 10 days here as well as to tant meaning to households around the would advocate. He couldn’t answer
have conversations in private and in Nation; nor is the ‘‘FCC’’ a household even basic questions from Democrats
public, like this, to say: Let’s get it word, but it, too, affects literally hun- and Republicans. His answers were in-
done. Let’s finish the tasks that we dreds of millions of households. The adequate, incomplete, and evasive. I
need to get done. FCC will have an increasingly impor- asked him again, in the questions for
tant role in this Nation as we conquer the record, to say three steps that he
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
TRIBUTE TO CORY GARDNER
Madam President, I would like to the pandemic and deal with the eco- would take to provide and prepare for
take one moment of personal privilege. nomic crisis that faces this Nation. those millions of students who are out
About an hour ago, while sitting in There are 15 to 16 million students of the classroom and lack connectivity
this chair behind me, I had the oppor- who are locked out of the internet be- to the internet, which now is like lack-
tunity to listen to a friend speak on cause of the unavailability of ing connection to the classroom. A stu-
the Senate floor for the last time, my broadband connectivity or devices that dent without that connectivity is, in
friend CORY GARDNER. make the internet real in their lives. effect, barred from the classroom. He
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