Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 11, 2020)
Summary
This is S7433 of the Congressional Record, the opening of the proceedings for Friday, December 11, 2020, Vol. 166, No. 210, with interleaved columns. The House was not in session, with its next meeting on Monday, December 14, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. In the Senate, after the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Grassley pays tribute to Raja Chari of Cedar Falls, IA, selected for a team of astronauts for the Artemis mission to the Moon. Mr. McConnell says the Senate needs to pass a stopgap funding measure and advance the 60th annual Defense authorization bill. Under the heading Coronavirus, he calls for a significant, targeted COVID-relief bill, including a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program, with the views attributed to the speakers.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 11, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-11-crec-2020-12-11-pt1-pgs7433-9-057cdfdaac/
, SHA-256 d5e71859a0a80b2423662657049eb4a0fd71d2a4320c4eed57d427dcdc2126a7.Full text
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, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2020 No. 210
House of Representatives
The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Monday, December 14, 2020, at 1:30 p.m.
Senate
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2020
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was TRIBUTE TO RAJA CHARI This year’s NDAA will cement the
called to order by the President pro Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I historic steps that Congress and the
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). speak about Iowans who are well noted Trump administration have taken over
f for things wherever they live in Iowa, the past 4 years to rebuild and reequip
but I am particularly proud to speak a 21st century fighting force. It directs
PRAYER investments in technologies to main-
about a person from Cedar Falls, IA, a
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- tain our strategic edge. It makes crit-
town I know well because I have lived
fered the following prayer: ical supply chains more secure and the
my entire 87 years on a farm 8 miles
Let us pray. Pentagon more accountable. And in the
Eternal God, our hope for the years from Cedar Falls.
This week, NASA announced that face of threats ranging from adver-
to come, we come to You with a tan- saries to this pandemic, it expands ef-
gled mass of motives, seeking, through Raja Chari from Cedar Falls, IA, has
forts to keep our men and women in
prayer, to make sense of life. been selected for a team of astronauts
uniform safe.
Guide our lawmakers as they seek to that will go to the Moon as part of the I remain hopeful that essential
unravel the good from the bad, the Artemis mission. progress on these items will continue.
sweet from the bitter, and the harmony The Artemis mission will land astro- We ought to pass a full-year funding
from the discord. Teach them how to nauts on the Moon in the year 2024, measure, and I hope our committees in
seek and find You during this chal- with the goal of establishing a long- the Senate and the House can complete
lenging season of our national life. term presence. Raja Chari will be a their work and deliver legislation next
Lord, give them calm strength and part of this effort that will ensure week.
patient wisdom to do what is best for America’s continued leadership and
f
our Nation and world. Vanquish the preeminence in space.
I congratulate Raja on his accom- CORONAVIRUS
darkness through the power of Your ce-
lestial brightness. Turn Your face to- plishments and wish him and all the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President,
ward us, and show us Your glory. astronauts who are part of this mission that said, we know the American peo-
We pray in Your sovereign Name. great success. ple’s eyes are trained on the Capitol for
Amen. I yield the floor. another reason as well. Struggling fam-
f f ilies, exhausted health workers, and
anxious small business owners are
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY waiting—waiting—for the Senate to do
LEADER what I have tried to accomplish over
The President pro tempore led the
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- and over for months: Pass a signifi-
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the jority leader is recognized. cant, targeted COVID-relief bill built
United States of America, and to the Repub- f on all the areas where bipartisan con-
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, sensus already exists.
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE We know what that common ground
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ROM- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, the looks like: a new second round of the
NEY). The Senator from Iowa. Senate needs to pass a stopgap funding Paycheck Protection Program so hard-
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask measure today to prevent a lapse while hit small businesses can keep paying
unanimous consent to speak for 1 the bipartisan, bicameral efforts close their people, the necessary investments
minute in morning business. in on a full-year funding bill, and we in distribution to get lifesaving vac-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without need to advance what will be the 60th cines out to our people, and an exten-
objection, it is so ordered. annual Defense authorization bill. sion of some unemployment programs
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
S7433
.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:16 Dec 12, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11DE6.000 S11DEPT1
S7434 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 11, 2020
that will otherwise expire in just a of legal protections to aid the reopen- EXECUTIVE SESSION
matter of days. ing. Targeted, temporary liability re-
Republicans have been crystal clear forms are a common feature of na-
about the sort of urgent and tional emergencies or strange events, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
unobjectionable relief we are ready to such as the Y2K mess and September Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
deliver. I even offered to temporarily 11. This is not some new concoction; it move to proceed to executive session to
set aside one of our side’s major re- is what Congress has done in the past. consider Calendar No. 931.
quests, commonsense legal protec- But this time, Democrats say the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
tions—by the way, 6,500 lawsuits have trial lawyers’ interests must come question is on agreeing to the motion.
already been filed—to set aside com- first. They are threatening to kill any The motion was agreed to.
monsense legal protections to aid the compromise whatsoever unless Con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
reopening if Democrats drop their own gress leaves small businesses, univer- clerk will report the nomination.
controversial outstanding demands. sities, and healthcare workers as sit- The legislative clerk read the nomi-
But day after day, the Democratic ting ducks—sitting ducks—for frivo- nation of Thomas L. Kirsch II, of Indi-
leader finds new reasons not to com- lous lawsuits. ana, to be United States Circuit Judge
promise, new ways to avoid taking yes My colleagues across the aisle want for the Seventh Circuit.
for an answer. to present this stance as some bold cru-
CLOTURE MOTION
In what universe should emergency sade against evil corporations? Well,
aid for small businesses be contin- for one thing, it is the big corporations Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
gent—contingent—on massive bailouts who can afford the massive legal de- send a cloture motion to the desk.
for State governments with no linkage partments. Lawsuits are not exactly The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo-
to actual needs? Democrats are acting alien from the perspective of the For- ture motion having been presented
like it is more important to supply the tune 100. under rule XXII, the Chair directs the
Governor of California with a special No, it is small business advocates clerk to read the motion.
slush fund than to help restaurant who have been pleading with Congress The legislative clerk read as follows:
workers in California keep their jobs. to pass legal protection since last May. CLOTURE MOTION
Oh, and, by the way, these demands for It has been college presidents and high- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
State and local government giveaways er education experts who have sounded ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
are blocking urgent aid for struggling this alarm the whole time. About 7 in Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
families at a time when many States’ move to bring to a close debate on the nomi-
10 small business owners said a second nation of Thomas L. Kirsch II, of Indiana, to
tax revenues have largely gone up—up. pandemic of lawsuits was a major con-
In November, California admitted be United States Circuit Judge for the Sev-
cern. University administrators told us enth Circuit.
their tax revenue for this fiscal year liability is ‘‘a national problem requir- Mitch McConnell, James E. Risch, Mike
was running about 19 percent ahead of ing a national solution’’ that could Crapo, Roy Blunt, Shelley Moore Cap-
what they had predicted. The Governor produce ‘‘a chilling effect’’ on Amer- ito, Tom Cotton, John Cornyn, Chuck
said earlier this week that he foresees ican education if not addressed. But Grassley, Thom Tillis, Richard Burr,
a tax windfall—windfall—not a horrible Democrats are threatening to walk Pat Roberts, Cory Gardner, Lindsey
budget crunch, but a windfall of nearly Graham, Todd Young, Marco Rubio,
away altogether if Republicans try to John Boozman, John Barrasso.
$16 billion.
give these institutions what they need.
State lawmakers are preparing to f
So look, a legislator’s true position
argue over where to put all this unex-
lies in what they do, not what they LEGISLATIVE SESSION
pected tax money. According to the
say. What Republicans have done since
L.A. Times, they are considering top- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
July is make one attempt after an-
ping up the State’s cash reserves. They move to proceed to legislative session.
other to generate a consensus package
aren’t just getting by; they are putting The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
that can actually be signed into law.
more money away. question is on agreeing to the motion.
Here is another headline from a few What Senate Democrats have done is
recite an endless—endless—chain of The motion was agreed to.
days back—a State the occupant of the
changing stories about why nothing f
Chair is familiar with—‘‘Massachusetts
tax revenue[s] eclipsed total for last that anyone proposes is any good. If EXECUTIVE SESSION
November despite COVID-driven reces- my friends actually oppose PPP fund-
sion.’’ This is another State where rev- ing, vaccine distribution money, or ex-
enues are actually up over last year. tending some expiring unemployment EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Whatever future problems Democrats aid, let’s hear why. But if they do not
oppose these things, let’s get them out Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
may think they see around the corner, move to proceed to executive session to
it is preposterous to claim that these the door.
I have proposed setting aside both li- consider Calendar No. 932.
blue States that are bragging about The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
their tax windfalls must receive an- ability protections and State and local
bailouts and making law where we can question is on agreeing to the motion.
other Federal handout right this in- The motion was agreed to.
stant, before working families can get agree. Democrats have thus far de-
clined, but at the same time, they are The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
a penny more.
blocking an agreement on these issues. clerk will report the nomination.
Small businesses need saving right
now. Unemployed people need relief ex- So unless something changes, they will The legislative clerk read the nomi-
tended right now. Vaccine distribution get to explain to a restaurant owner nation of Katherine A. Crytzer, of Ten-
networks need funding right now. None that Democrats didn’t let her get a sec- nessee, to be United States District
of that should be held hostage over ond PPP loan to save her business be- Judge for the Eastern District of Ten-
intergovernmental bailouts for States cause her Governor needed a special nessee.
that are currently raking in revenue slush fund or explain to a laid-off work- CLOTURE MOTION
faster than they can spend it. er that his relief program may expire Mr. MCCONNELL. I send a cloture
Yet the Speaker and the Democratic completely because Democrats didn’t motion to the desk.
leader have persuaded their entire con- feel it was urgent or explain to an older The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo-
ference that nothing should pass unless couple, who have hunkered down and ture motion having been presented
the Governors of California and New survived this long year, that their vac- under rule XXII, the Chair directs the
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
York get to cut the line and jump in cines will arrive later than necessary clerk to read the motion.
front of millions of Americans who are because Democrats wouldn’t let us The legislative clerk read as follows:
trying to figure out how to pay their fund distribution. CLOTURE MOTION
bills each and every month. If my Democratic friends don’t want We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
Then there is Democrats’ apparently to explain these inexplicable things, ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
strong opposition to enacting any kind then they need to let us act now. Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:16 Dec 12, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11DE6.001 S11DEPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-12-11_crec-2020-12-11-pt1-pgs7433-9.pdf
- Size
- 293,703 bytes
- SHA-256
- d5e71859a0a80b2423662657049eb4a0fd71d2a4320c4eed57d427dcdc2126a7
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov