Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 10, 2020)
Summary
Senate proceedings of Thursday, December 10, 2020, open with the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Remarks under the Coronavirus heading say Democrats are holding the Paycheck Protection Program hostage over State government bailouts, citing 6,500 lawsuits filed and counting, and call for another dose of support. A Senator describes an investigation of the Biden family's financial dealings with Senator Johnson, including Hunter Biden's dealings in China. McConnell closes with a tribute to Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado, recounting his service in the Great American Outdoors Act and the Neil Gorsuch confirmation.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 10, 2020).”
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Congressional Record
E PL
UR M
IB NU
U U
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020 No. 209
Senate
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was For over a year, Senator JOHNSON which had plateaued for months but at
called to order by the President pro and I investigated the Biden financial least not increased, just ticked back up
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). family dealings. We found that they en- as well.
f gaged in potential criminal financial Our economic recovery thus far has
deals across the globe, including China, been faster than expected. Americans
PRAYER which created counterintelligence con- are tough and resilient, but our people
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- cerns. need another dose of support as we
fered the following prayer: We showed our work, and we made hope to close out our battle with this
Let us pray. our findings very public, but the liberal virus. We should be doing everything
Have compassion upon us, Mighty media and members of the other polit- we can to prevent layoffs, create jobs
God, for we are weak. We strive to do ical party chose to dismiss our work. where possible, and race toward the
good but too often miss the mark. They even falsely claimed that our vaccines that will end this nightmare.
Without Your strength, we would sure- work was Russian disinformation. I
ly stumble and fall. While Democrats hold the Paycheck
think they did this in order to protect
Rescue our lawmakers from those Protection Program hostage over con-
leaders of the other party. Those same
things that aren’t contributing to Your troversial State government bailouts,
liberal outlets that disparaged our in-
glory. Give them the good sense to lis- family businesses are closing their
vestigation now report that Hunter
ten to Your guidance and obey Your doors. While Democrats resist the
Biden’s financial deals in China raised
precepts. kinds of commonsense legal protec-
counterintelligence concerns.
Lord, use our Senators to plant and tions that we put in place during past
Yesterday, the Biden transition team
water seeds that will bring a harvest of emergencies, our reopening and recov-
confirmed that Hunter Biden is under
healing, hope, and humility to our Na- ery is threatened by, according to one
criminal investigation for his taxes and
tion and world. estimate—now, listen to this: So far,
financial dealings.
Thank You for hearing and answer- 6,500 lawsuits have been filed and
So you can understand why I think it
ing our prayers, for You are always our counting—6,500 lawsuits filed and
is very outrageous that the Fourth Es-
refuge and strength. counting.
tate would choose to ignore facts when
We pray in Your great Name. Amen. they are uncovered by Republicans. Here is what one litigator told one
f Senator JOHNSON and I don’t do over- reporter a couple of days ago. These
sight work just for the fun of it. Over- lawsuits are ‘‘pretty common these
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE sight work is serious business. It days. I have seen 10 like this over the
The President pro tempore led the shouldn’t take subpoenas and con- last 30 days.’’
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: firmation from Hunter Biden himself The American Council on Education
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the to get the rest of the press to pay at- told Congress in May—in May—that
United States of America, and to the Repub- tention. colleges and universities need tem-
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, I yield the floor. porary but strong legal protections.
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
f Now, our Democratic colleagues want
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs.
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY to pretend they are bravely fighting
HYDE-SMITH). The Senator from Iowa.
LEADER big corporations, but they are really
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I bullying small business owners and col-
ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- lege presidents who have been pleading
minute in morning business. jority leader is recognized. for these protections for months.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without f
objection, it is so ordered. Our Democratic colleagues have not
CORONAVIRUS even let us pass noncontroversial
f
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, money to invest in vaccine distribu-
BIDEN INVESTIGATION we learned a few minutes ago that new tion—not unless the two parties settle
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I unemployment claims just hit their a whole list of issues that are con-
want to remind people of how Senator highest weekly total since mid-Sep- troversial the way that they want to
JOHNSON and I have been attacked over tember. It is the largest 1-week jump settle.
the months of 2020 for some investiga- since back in March, and the number of So I hope our colleagues let Congress
tion we have been doing, and I want to continuing claims—people struggling deliver more help soon. A lot of Ameri-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
speak to that now. with joblessness on an ongoing basis— cans simply cannot afford to wait.
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
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S7380 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 10, 2020
NATIONAL DEFENSE edy this. CORY’s dad happened to be a CORY and his staff are famous for mas-
AUTHORITIZATION ACT town councilman. So a little govern- tering.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, ment relations took place right around This not-so-junior Senator has used
the dinner table. Colorado values to improve Wash-
now, in the meantime, yesterday, we
Well, no Senator who CORY ever ington and Washington influence to ad-
began moving the conference report on
pressed for a vote will be surprised to vance his home State.
the National Defense Authorization
hear that the lighting infrastructure He dived head first into his leader-
Act toward the floor. ship role on the East Asia Sub-
For the information of all Senators, was soon adjusted, and the kids could
take their pickup games into prime committee on Foreign Relations. His
we should expect the potential for a work with regional allies helped drive
late night tonight and the possibility time.
So young CORY was no stranger to the Senate to approve meaningful sanc-
of votes tomorrow. tions against North Korea, and the im-
persistence or public service, but it was
Back in July, the Senate passed our pact of the Asia Reassurance Initiative
in high school that he scored an oppor-
version of this crucial annual bill. Now should echo long after all of us here
tunity to taste a level beyond Yuma’s
our colleagues on the conference com- today have left this scene.
local government. He won admission to
mittee have done their tough job and The litany of CORY’s work just sim-
the U.S. Senate Youth Program. It is a
reconciled two different approaches so ply does not end. There is the new, na-
scholarship that brings promising stu-
we do not leave our military in the tionwide three-digit suicide prevention
dents from around the country to these
lurch. hotline. There is the fact that this
halls for a quick immersion experience.
On Tuesday, the House passed the freshman not only scrapped over a na-
Teenaged CORY GARDNER liked the
conference report with overwhelming tional defense issue with our late col-
looks of this place. He made a mental
bipartisan support. Now it is the Sen- league Chairman John McCain—talk
note. By the way, to this day, CORY,
ate’s turn to make it an unbroken 60- about fearlessness—but that he some-
along with his fellow alumna, Senator
year streak of passing this legislation how emerged mostly unscathed and
COLLINS, continue to make sure that
to keep our military strong and our with a win on space launch vehicles to
special experience is paid forward.
homeland safe. It didn’t take CORY long to come show for it.
This NDAA will unlock more than back and begin strolling these hallways But, like I said, one of the best as-
$740 billion for the training, tools, and for real. After earning honors at Colo- pects of CORY’s operation is his almost
cutting-edge equipment that our serv- rado State and a law degree from CU obsessive focus on looking out for his
icemembers and civilian employees Boulder, he wound up working for our people—one family and one story at a
need to defend American lives and former colleague Senator Wayne time.
American interests. It will give our That is why it is impossible to give a
Allard—and rising quickly through the
troops the 3 percent pay raise they speech on Senator GARDNER without
ranks.
richly deserve. It will keep our forces working your way to another name,
In short order, he developed a reputa-
ready to deter China and stand strong Don Stratton.
tion as a highly effective advocate for When Don was first met with our col-
in the Indo-Pacific, and it will secure Coloradans. In fact, he was so well
President Trump’s major progress at league, the 95-year-old Navy veteran
liked, so effective, and so thoroughly was living with his wife in Colorado
modernizing our capabilities, our tech- the proud son of Yuma that folks start-
nologies, and our strategic nuclear de- Springs. But the story began 76 years
ed to wonder if it wasn’t time for CORY earlier, when he was among the fortu-
terrent. to put his own name on a door some-
This legislation will secure wins on nate few sailors to survive the bombing
where. So it wasn’t long before the men of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.
priorities that all of us share. It does and women of Colorado’s State House
not contain every policy that either At 19, Don had survived severe burns
District 63 found out firsthand what but insisted on returning to combat
side would like to pass, but a huge happens when you hire CORY GARDNER
number of crucial policies are included, with the fleet. After the war, he raised
to fight on your behalf. You get results a family and wrote a book about his ex-
and a lot of bad ideas were kept out. So big time.
I would encourage all our colleagues to periences. But Don’s request to Sen-
Not much later, his neighbors then ator GARDNER wasn’t anything for him-
vote to advance this must-pass bill. gave CORY a new assignment here in self. It concerned a comrade who had
f Congress. Again, Congressman GARD- saved his life that day 79 years ago this
NER didn’t just meet the bar as one out very week.
TRIBUTE TO CORY GARDNER
of 435. He excelled as a powerful, ener- At risk to himself, a sailor named
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, getic voice on the most consequential Joe George had literally thrown the
now, on one final matter, it is my issues. He brought home one win after lifeline that brought Don and five ship-
honor today to pay tribute to a truly another when it really mattered. mates to safety. But Joe’s lifesaving ef-
exceptional U.S. Senator, someone who It didn’t take long before another forts had gone unrecognized before his
arrived in this body with a full head of promotion came calling, and so, appro- death.
steam and a determination to cram as priately enough, the Senate’s freshman For years, Don didn’t even know who
much service as possible into every day class of 2014 included a new member had saved him. So once he found out,
he got to wake up and serve his neigh- from the land of ‘‘14ers’’—what Colo- Don Stratton made it his mission to
bors who sent him here. radans call their peaks higher than ensure our Nation formalized our grati-
Our good friend, CORY GARDNER, the 14,000 feet. CORY was already accus- tude for his guardian angel.
junior Senator from Colorado, has been tomed to altitude. Let’s just say that the Strattons
a man on a mission from the day he ar- So here in this upper Chamber, Sen- picked the right State to retire in.
rived. He already knew the institution. ator GARDNER hit the ground sprinting. Colorado’s junior Senator was on the
He was already one of the highest en- I believe he has authored 11 standalone case. CORY and his staff waded through
ergy high-achievers that anybody who bills that have been signed into law in tangles of bureaucracy. They appealed
knew him had ever met. So he got to just 6 years. Without CORY’s tireless decisions all the way to the Secretary
work, and he spent 6 years delivering a work and his travels to the four cor- of Defense. And you better believe they
dizzying list of accomplishments. ners of Colorado and beyond, the big- secured that Bronze Star for PO1 Joe
If you have heard about CORY GARD- gest conservation bill in a generation— George, with the ‘‘V’’ device for valor
NER’s early days, you know that his the Great American Outdoors Act—
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
to boot.
high-speed, can-do attitude is nothing would not have become law. Don passed away earlier this year. By
new. Case in point, one evening, when There has been his key role in the all accounts, he and his family had
CORY was a boy, he and his friends got Supreme Court confirmation of fellow come to regard Senator GARDNER not
tired of their hoop sessions ending at Coloradan Neil Gorsuch, his mission to just as an incredible advocate but as a
sundown because the public basketball move the Bureau of Land Management true friend.
court lacked sufficient lighting. The to Grand Junction, and, of course, the Now, in fairness, this same eagerness
group of friends considered how to rem- nuts-and-bolts constituent work that and almost maniacal problem-solving
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