Congressional Record, December 11, 2020 — Senate
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated December 11, 2020, beginning at page S7437, in a long document. The Senate resumes consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 6395 and holds the cloture vote, which results in 84 yeas and 13 nays, with three-fifths of the Senators voting in the affirmative, and the motion is agreed to. Mr. Inhofe describes the defense bill as the most significant bill, says it was written with Mr. Reed, and speaks about the President's military priorities and China's military funding. The page also records a unanimous consent request by Mr. McConnell that a bill be considered read a third time, with Mr. Hawley reserving the right to object over hundreds of billions of dollars for other spending.
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“Congressional Record, December 11, 2020 — Senate.”
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December 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7437
I am not saying this critically of the LEGISLATIVE SESSION The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs.
Obama administration. I am saying he FISCHER). Are there any other Senators
didn’t have the same priorities that in the Chamber desiring to vote?
many of us have. His top priority was NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 84,
not defending America, in spite of what TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR nays 13, as follows:
the Constitution tells us what should 2021—CONFERENCE REPORT—Re- [Rollcall Vote No. 263 Leg.]
be the top priority. And so we went sumed YEAS—84
through that time with—as I men- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Alexander Fischer Portman
tioned, between the years of 2010 and the previous order, the Senate will re- Baldwin Gardner Reed
Barrasso Gillibrand Risch
2015, 5 years, reduced the funding for sume consideration of the conference Bennet Grassley Roberts
the military by 25 percent. At the same report to accompany H.R. 6395, which Blackburn Harris Romney
time, China was increasing their fund- the clerk will report. Blumenthal Hassan Rosen
ing for their military by 83 percent. The senior assistant legislative clerk Blunt Heinrich Rubio
Boozman Hirono Sasse
This is what we looked at, and that is read as follows: Brown Hoeven Schatz
what our President was faced with. And A conference report to accompany Burr Hyde-Smith Schumer
that is why—I don’t know who is ill-ad- H.R. 6395, an Act to authorize appro- Cantwell Inhofe Scott (FL)
Capito Johnson Scott (SC)
vising the President to be concerned priations for fiscal year 2021 for mili- Cardin Jones Shaheen
about an issue that has nothing to do tary activities of the Department of Carper Kaine Shelby
with the military. And I know that the Defense, for military construction, and Casey Kelly Sinema
President has been the strongest—I for defensive activities of the Depart- Cassidy King Smith
Collins Klobuchar Stabenow
don’t know if there has ever been a ment of Energy, to prescribe military Coons Lankford Sullivan
President who has been a stronger sup- personnel strengths for such fiscal Cornyn Leahy Tester
porter of our military and our kids in year, and for other purposes. Cortez Masto Manchin Thune
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask Cramer McConnell Tillis
harm’s way than President Trump. I Crapo Menendez Toomey
am just looking at this now, and I am unanimous consent to waive the man- Daines Moran Udall
thinking, we are now 1 minute away datory quorum call. Duckworth Murkowski Van Hollen
from passing a bill that is the most sig- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Durbin Murphy Warner
Enzi Murray Whitehouse
nificant bill. objection, it is so ordered. Ernst Perdue Wicker
At this time, I ask if the minority CLOTURE MOTION Feinstein Peters Young
would like to make any comments at The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant NAYS—13
all because I will tell you right now, I to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Booker Kennedy Sanders
mentioned the names of all the people Senate the pending cloture motion, Braun Lee Warren
who worked on this bill for the last which the clerk will state. Cotton Markey Wyden
year, and side by side have been Sen- The senior assistant legislative clerk Cruz Merkley
Hawley Paul
ator JACK REED and I in the leadership read as follows:
of this bill. CLOTURE MOTION NOT VOTING—3
It is going to be a reality. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Graham Loeffler Rounds
I want to thank you and give you an ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this
opportunity to get a last word in here Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby vote, the yeas are 84, the nays are 13.
because we are going to vote on this in move to bring to a close debate on the con- Three-fifths of the Senators duly cho-
less than a minute. ference report to accompany H.R. 6395, an sen and sworn having voted in the af-
Mr. REED. The last word will be very Act to authorize appropriations for fiscal firmative, the motion is agreed to.
brief if I am recognized, Mr. President. year 2021 for military activities of the De-
The Senator from Oklahoma.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- partment of Defense and for military con-
UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT
ator from Rhode Island. struction, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I ask
f unanimous consent that the
purposes.
NATIONAL DEFENSE Mitch McConnell, John Thune, Shelley postcloture time on the conference re-
AUTHORIZATION ACT Moore Capito, Thom Tillis, Roy Blunt, port to accompany H.R. 6395 expire at
Cory Gardner, Roger F. Wicker, Mar- 12:30 today.
Mr. REED. Let me commend the sha Blackburn, John Cornyn, Mike
chairman. I don’t think we would be The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
Crapo, Pat Roberts, Cindy Hyde-Smith,
here without Chairman INHOFE’s lead- objection?
Kevin Cramer, Richard Burr, James M.
Without objection, it is so ordered.
ership. I have never seen anyone work Inhofe, Steve Daines, Deb Fischer.
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I
so diligently and so constructively. The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- suggest the absence of a quorum.
We want to thank the staff. They do imous consent, the mandatory quorum The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
a remarkable amount of work. call has been waived. clerk will call the roll.
Also, we have to recognize our col- The question is, Is it the sense of the The senior assistant legislative clerk
leagues in the House—Chairman ADAM Senate that debate on the conference proceeded to call the roll.
SMITH, who did a good job, and Rank- report to accompany H.R. 6395, an Act Mr. MURPHY. Madam President, I
ing Member MAC THORNBERRY, whose to authorize appropriations for fiscal ask unanimous consent that the order
name is on this bill. year 2021 for military activities of the for the quorum call be rescinded.
I urge passage, and I commend the Department of Defense, for military The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
chairman. construction, and for defense activities objection, it is so ordered.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. INHOFE. Thank you, Senator of the Department of Energy, to pre- 2020 ELECTIONS
REED. scribe military personnel strengths for Mr. MURPHY. Madam President, col-
I yield the floor. such fiscal year, and for other pur- leagues, we are in the middle of a
poses, shall be brought to a close? whole bunch of really important de-
f
The yeas and nays are mandatory bates right now about the National De-
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME under the rule. fense Authorization Act, trying to
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under The clerk will call the roll. avoid a shutdown by the end of the day,
the previous order, the leadership time The senior assistant legislative clerk and, of course, trying to find a path
is reserved. called the roll. forward to authorize funding to con-
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f Mr. THUNE. The following Senators tinue to combat this pandemic.
are necessarily absent: the Senator But it is worth noting today that an
CONCLUSION OF MORNING from South Carolina (Mr. GRAHAM), the effort to overturn the 2020 election con-
BUSINESS Senator from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER), tinues and, in many ways, is picking up
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning and the Senator from South Dakota steam, and we need to talk about the
business is closed. (Mr. ROUNDS). consequences for the Nation.
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S7438 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 11, 2020
Democracies are really fragile tors instead. Now, there are a bunch of But no matter the lack of evidence
things. Ours only continues because we vague, unsourced claims about voter about voter fraud, Republicans, includ-
make choices so that it can remain. fraud in this lawsuit, but there is not a ing the President, have just come to
Our government really isn’t a piece of shred of evidence for these claims. All the conclusion that Democrats must
paper upon which the Constitution is of the individual lawsuits trying to al- have cheated because Democrats are
written. Our government—where vot- lege voter fraud, trying to create con- evil, and lots of people show up to Don-
ers, citizens, not kings or monarchs or tests about how laws were modified re- ald Trump rallies. You know, there is
oligarchs, decide who governs—is made garding voting in these States, have all just no way that all of these people
possible by a series of decisions that we lost. could have voted for Joe Biden because
make every single day to put the rule Importantly, the lawsuit doesn’t ask FOX News and Newsmax and RT—they
of law ahead of our own political power for another canvass or another count; tell us that Trump is just so popular.
or the position of our political party. it just asks for the votes in these This mindset won’t win out this
That is the history of America—our de- States to be disregarded and for Repub- time. Joe Biden is going to be Presi-
cision that democracy comes first, not lican politicians in these States to dent. But what about next time? What
the perpetuation of our own political make the choice instead. if the next Presidential election is clos-
power. Already in Pennsylvania, the State er? What if 2024 comes down to just one
Right now, the most serious attempt legislature’s Republican leadership has State? It is a lot easier to steal one
to overthrow our democracy in the his- expressed support for appointing elec- State. What if these radical anti-Demo-
tory of this country is underway. Those tors who would choose Donald Trump. crats get control of more secretary of
who are pushing to make Donald Let me say that again. This lawsuit state offices or election boards and
Trump President for a second term, no says that in Pennsylvania, the State there is a close race for Governor in
matter the outcome of the election, are legislature should choose the electors, 2022 or the U.S. Senate, and these same
engaged in a treachery against their not the people. And in Pennsylvania, people who support the Texas lawsuit
the leadership of the Republican Party decide again that there is no way a
Nation.
You cannot, at the same time, love in the legislature has expressed support Democrat could have won our State,
America and hate democracy. But as for appointing electors who will choose and so by definition it has to be fraudu-
we speak, a whole lot of flag-waving Donald Trump instead of Joe Biden de- lent, despite the lack of evidence, so
Republicans are nakedly trying to in- spite the fact that Joe Biden won the let’s just throw out the result and
validate millions of legal votes because State of Pennsylvania by 80,000 votes— choose a Republican?
I know this kind of sounds far-
that is the only way they can make 80,000 votes. This isn’t 500 votes, like
fetched, but this is exactly what this
Donald Trump President again. Florida in 2000—80,000 votes.
lawsuit is asking for. It is asking for
It is the only way they can make The request of this lawsuit is clear:
the vote to be thrown out in four
Donald Trump President again because Throw out the votes in these four
States and Donald Trump to be named
he didn’t win. Our democracy, the citi- States that Joe Biden won and just
President regardless of the fact that he
zens of this country, chose Joe Biden give the election to Donald Trump in-
lost, with no evidence of any voter
to be President of the United States. stead.
Some of my Republican Senate col- fraud or illegal behavior.
He won the popular vote in a landslide, There is a majority of the U.S. House
and he won the electoral college by a leagues sent out pretty mealy-mouthed
of Representatives Republican caucus
substantial margin. statements supporting the general
who supports this, so it stands to rea-
But now, Republicans have decided— right to count every legal vote and to son that this won’t all of a sudden stop
not all Republicans—but far too many contest illegal votes, but that is not being their position 2 years from now
have decided that if democracy can’t what this lawsuit is about. It just asks and 4 years from now. If that happens
keep Trump in power, then democracy for the whole vote to be thrown out. It and the voters’ will is thrown out—not
ceases to have any real purpose be- asks for every vote in these States to just in a Presidential election but in a
cause, to Republicans who are sup- be disregarded. Governor’s race or a U.S. Senate race
porting these continued efforts to in- Other Republicans who haven’t or a congressional race—then our coun-
validate the election, their loyalty is signed on to this suit suggest that it try will no longer be a democracy. If
to Donald Trump, not to the Nation or won’t succeed in the Supreme Court; it that happens, the American experi-
our system of government. Their No. 1 is a sideshow, so why really care? Well, ment will be done. It will be over.
goal is to keep Trump in power, and if we have to care. The majority of Re- That is why this moment is so fright-
that means throwing out the election publican Members of Congress believe ening, no matter the fact that it is not
and turning America into something that Donald Trump should be named going to be successful in an attempt to
other than a democracy in which the President again despite the fact that keep Donald Trump barricaded in the
voters get to choose their leaders, then he lost and lost by a lot. It wasn’t close White House. That is why more Repub-
so be it. in the popular vote or in the electoral licans than just a handful in this coun-
Here is the latest. This lawsuit is college. We should care because this at- try need to be standing up to this law-
supported by 106 House Republicans. tempt to overthrow democracy won’t suit and this claim that the vote
That is more than half of the Repub- be successful this time—Joe Biden is should be thrown out, because you
licans who serve in the House of Rep- going to be President—but it plainly have a majority of Republicans in this
resentatives. It is supported, appar- shows us the direction that the Repub- country who believe that Joe Biden
ently, by many Senate Republicans as lican Party is heading, and they con- won the election fraudulently when
well. This lawsuit is an attempt to trol governments in a lot of really im- there is no evidence that that hap-
overthrow democracy. portant States and jurisdictions. pened. That belief, as it festers and it
Now, you can laugh at it; you can The majority of Republicans in the grows—this idea that if Democrats win,
scoff at it; you can suggest that it has House of Representatives apparently it has to be because of fraud—it does
no chance to prevail if it reaches the believe that if a Democrat wins an eventually lead to the voters’ will
nine Supreme Court Justices. But let’s election, it is illegitimate by defini- being overturned, and that will be the
be clear about what it argues, and let’s tion. There is no evidence of fraud or end of American democracy.
be clear about the consequences for so stolen votes or vote-rigging in the 2020 Don’t just assume that this system is
many elected officials at the highest election. You can be mad about the going to be around for another 240
level of American Government sup- fact that States allow for mail-in vot- years. It is a miracle that we have held
porting this lawsuit. ing; but Republican and Democratic this together thus far. It is just a series
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What it argues is that the votes in States allow for it. You can be angry of choices that we make. The Constitu-
four States—Pennsylvania, Georgia, that the majority of those votes this tion itself is not strong enough, is not
Wisconsin, and Michigan—should be year were cast in favor of Joe Biden in durable enough without all of us mak-
thrown out because Trump didn’t win. many of these States, but in previous ing a decision that even if we lose an
It asks for the State legislatures, con- years, the majority of mail-in votes election, even if that means that tem-
trolled by Republicans, to appoint elec- had been favoring Republicans. porarily our political power is lessened,
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December 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7439
that we accept the result because what and we knew we had to act in a big And I am not here to disparage mem-
matters most in this country is what way. I am proud of the fact that, in the bers of the legal profession. I happen to
the voters choose, not how it affects face of this pandemic, Congress came be one. But I do know that we ought to
us. together, setting aside partisan agen- be focused on what is the greatest good
It is not enough to just punt here and das, and we passed four pieces of legis- for the greatest number, and we
say ‘‘Ah, the President has a right to lation to address, first of all, the public shouldn’t let the tail wag the dog when
go to court; let’s just see what hap- health crisis but, secondly, the eco- it comes to providing commonsense li-
pens’’ because when the overthrow of nomic fallout associated with mitiga- ability protection, which is what
democracy is beginning and you are tion efforts. In other words, we did brings me to the floor this afternoon.
sitting on the sidelines, you are a col- what Americans always do in a time of I heard the Senator from New York
laborator. And there are way too many crisis: We pulled together. give a fevered speech about what he
high-profile Republicans who march I am proud of what we were able to called corporate immunity, as if our
around the world giving speeches about accomplish. But at the end of March of desire to provide some predictability
the importance of protecting democ- this year, when we passed the last and some fairness in the context of
racy who are awfully silent when the CARES Act legislation, we didn’t have civil liability was somehow a desire to
attempted overthrow is happening in any idea how long this was going to protect nameless, faceless corpora-
their own country. Nobody can stay si- last. We had no idea that we would be tions. That is wrong, and that is why I
lent right now. here now in December of 2020 and still came to the floor—to say it is wrong
There are a lot of other important grappling with how to contain this and to explain why it is wrong.
things happening in the Senate today. virus and dealing with the economic
I am engaged in those as well. It is The minority leader tries to frame
fallout associated with it.
true, this effort to overthrow the 2020 Thank goodness we made a priority this as a green light for big, bad busi-
election is not going to bear fruit, and of providing resources to our medical nesses to ignore public health guide-
so it is tempting to just work on the scientists and the pharmaceutical in- lines and to put every person who
other things and to ignore this lawsuit dustry that have now come up with walks through their door in danger of
and these attempts because this time, therapies and treatments which are contracting COVID–19. That is a false
it won’t be successful. But all of this saving more lives. Fewer people who narrative. That is not true.
effort, supported by so many main- get the virus are actually dying, For starters, what we have proposed
stream Republicans, is setting a prece- thanks to the expertise of our is not blanket immunity. No one wants
dent and is creating conditions that healthcare providers and the thera- to give—let’s say somebody is running
could easily overthrow the next elec- peutics that they are able to admin- a meatpacking plant and one of the
tion. If the Republican Party just al- ister—saving many, many lives. workers shows up and says: Boss, I
lows for this assault on the 2020 elec- But the golden bullet in all of this is don’t feel very good today; I think I
tion to continue, no matter whether it the vaccine. I am hopeful that we in may have something. And he says: You
ultimately is successful, then by 2022 America—that the Food and Drug Ad- shut up; go to work. And they end up
or 2024, I am telling you, it might be ministration will promptly, and I ex- having the virus and infect all their
too late to save our democracy. pect they will, approve the use of some peers and fellow employees.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. of the vaccines that have been devel- That is reckless and intentional mis-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The oped, once it is determined they are conduct, and we do not limit lawsuits
clerk will call the roll. safe and effective. based on reckless and intentional mis-
The bill clerk proceeded to call the So I think this is like the cavalry ar- conduct at all. So this is not a ‘‘get out
roll. riving, and the cavalry is nearby and of jail free’’ card or whatever you want
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask will soon be here. Then we will to call it. This will not protect the peo-
unanimous consent that the order for prioritize the people in the country ple who recklessly put other people in
the quorum call be rescinded. who will get the vaccine, as we should. danger of this virus.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without I think the folks who have been on the In cases of gross negligence or willful
objection, it is so ordered. frontlines, the so-called essential misconduct, where the applicable pub-
CORONAVIRUS workers—I tend to think of all work as lic health guidance is not followed, the
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, since being essential, but certainly the person who suffered a harm has every
last fall, right after the new year, our healthcare providers, the people who right to sue and be made whole, and no
country, like the rest of the planet, be- had to show up. They couldn’t hunker one—no one—wants to change that.
came embroiled in a pandemic, sending down at home. They had to show up for
fear, shock, illness, and fatalities. As work because we needed them to do But what we do need to acknowledge
we tried to respond, we were forced to that in order to protect the rest of us. is that we are all living through what
make hard decisions—I am talking But then we ought to go through the I hope is a once-in-a-lifetime catas-
about a collective ‘‘we’’—in terms of elderly, people with underlying health trophe for everybody involved, so I
economic activity, children going to diseases, schoolteachers, and others to don’t think we should be creating an
school, businesses staying open. help us get our children back to school. opportunity for people who want to
And many businesses simply could The list goes on and on. profit off of this pandemic to do so,
not, and many of the workers who But what I am not proud of is the em- particularly when a handful of people
worked at those locations simply were barrassing insensitivity of our Demo- will presumably benefit from what the
out of luck. You can imagine the anx- cratic colleagues, starting with the Democratic leader is proposing—no li-
iety and the fear of many Americans Senator from New York, the Demo- ability shield—and hundreds of mil-
who, through no fault of their own, cratic leader, when it comes to people’s lions of Americans will benefit from it.
found themselves fearful of the virus fear about the consequences associated These are unprecedented times, to be
and the consequences associated with with the pandemic that relate to the li- sure, much like we owe the American
it, fearful for the possibility that their ability that may ultimately be im- people more support, and that is part
loved ones—let’s say, a parent or posed upon them because they didn’t of what is being blocked by the de-
grandparent who is especially vulner- guess it right the first time. mands of the Democratic leader to
able because of their age or somebody I am talking about lawsuits by peo- eliminate any sort of liability shield.
because of their underlying chronic ple who will sue, claiming—I am sure We need to put some safeguards in
health conditions—were more likely to many with some merit—that they have place to ensure that those who are op-
be a fatality, to lose their life, if they suffered as a result of this virus and at- erating in good faith and following all
were infected with the virus. tempt to pin the responsibility on some the relevant public health guidelines
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This is something we haven’t experi- business, some school, some church, cannot be sued out of existence. Imag-
enced perhaps in the last 100 years, some synagogue, some mosque, any- ine if you are a small business, hanging
since the great flu pandemic at the where where they might have gotten on by a thread. Somehow you have ap-
turn of the last century. the virus. Anybody with a liability in- plied for your PPP loan, your paycheck
Congress responded the best we surance policy, I am sure, will be fair protection loan, and you have been
could. We knew we had to act quickly, game by the trial lawyers. able to hang on to your business and
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S7440 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 11, 2020
keep your employees on the payroll— did. His State acted to provide medical people who attend our colleges and uni-
somehow, some way. liability protection for healthcare versities an opportunity to continue
Well, if you face the prospect of lim- workers in his State. We need to make their education safely, to the best of
itless liability, opportunistic litigation sure that the kinds of things that his their ability.
is going to cost you a lot of money and State did for healthcare workers in A number of national groups rep-
all of your energy just to defend, even New York are expanded to include oth- resenting education leaders, including
if the claim is meritless. You might ers around the country. We need to en- superintendents, school boards, and
think twice—probably more than sure that our healthcare workers other leaders, sent a letter to Senator
twice—about whether you want to stay aren’t taken to the cleaners for doing SCHUMER and other congressional lead-
in business, whether you want to keep everything in their power in good faith ers about the urgent need for these pro-
those jobs, whether you want to con- to respond to the crisis. tections. They said: ‘‘We believe any
tribute to our economy. Again, the protections his State has protections should be limited in scope
We need those people. We need those provided set a willful misconduct or and preserve recourse for those harmed
businesses and those jobs. And I am not gross negligence standard for by truly bad actors who engage in egre-
talking about the trial lawyers. They coronavirus medical liability suits to gious misconduct.’’ And I agree with
will be fine. They are not disadvan- ensure that only legitimate cases are that. That is exactly the type of pro-
taged by having to hunker down, won- brought against healthcare workers in tection we have proposed.
dering where the next paycheck will New York. If that is good enough for I am looking at a letter—it is dated
come from. They will be fine. New Yorkers, for his constituents, why May 28, 2020—from the American Coun-
But there are a lot of people who are deny the same protection to my con- cil on Education which I think does a
hurting, and it causes me great distress stituents or the Presiding Officer’s con- pretty good job of summing of what I
to see us—at least some of us—obliv- stituents or everybody else who is on just described, the challenges that our
ious to the pain, the anguish, and the the frontlines of fighting this battle educators and our students and our ad-
desperation of so many Americans. during these unprecedented times? ministrators are facing trying to get
The number of suicides is up dra- I know the minority leader got a let- back to some semblance of normalcy,
matically. The number of reports of ter this summer from a long list of na- because we all understand the impor-
child sexual abuse is down because kids tional medical associations, which rep- tance of providing our next generation
aren’t going to school where their resent hundreds of thousands of of leaders with a good education.
teachers, hopefully, will be trained to healthcare workers, calling for these In this letter from ACE, the Amer-
help identify those people. very same types of protections. That ican Council on Education, Ted Mitch-
People are self-medicating with letter detailed the challenges these ell, its president, writes:
drugs and alcohol. People are suffering workers were up against and, you can Unfortunately, all colleges and univer-
mental health crises. And some folks imagine, scarce personal protective sities, two- and four-year, public and private
nonprofit, are facing unprecedented chal-
here in Congress act like, that doesn’t equipment. lenges as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic.
affect me; it is not my problem. It is It would be the easiest thing in the The impact on the operations and revenues
shocking to me that there are some world to blame those healthcare work- of many institutions has been catastrophic,
who seem to have that approach. ers for not adequately providing per- for some even existential, which has had a
The minority leader knows the facts. sonal protective equipment and some- terrible ripple effect in communities large
When he talks about corporate immu- how contributing to the spread of the and small. The pandemic is also causing
nity, he wants to frame it in the most disease when we know that due to Chi- massive disruption to students and families.
negative light possible, which, of na’s actions—hoarding a lot of the PPE Many are grappling with sudden changes to
course, is why he said that. their financial circumstances.
that they themselves manufactured— In the wake of prior crises, Congress came
What we are proposing will help peo- when they didn’t tell the rest of the together to pass timely and targeted liabil-
ple. It will help medical workers, doc- world that the virus was running ramp- ity protections with strong bipartisan sup-
tors, nurses, aides at hospitals—those ant in China, they were hoarding that port because lawmakers understood the
who have been on the frontlines trying PPE, making it less available to local acute economic threat of lawsuits at mo-
to save lives. They didn’t have any hospitals and doctors for the benefit of ments of maximum economic vulnerability.
choice but to show up. They didn’t ask their patients. While Congress has acted to provide some
‘‘Well, are your liability insurance pre- So it would be easy to see, now look- limited COVID-related liability protections
for volunteer healthcare providers and some
miums paid up at the hospital?’’ or ing back with the benefit of hindsight,
manufacturers of PPE in the CARES Act,
‘‘Maybe I need to up my limits because that somebody said: Well, you knew or much more needs to be done. While some
I know I am going to get sued after should have known you didn’t have governors and state legislatures have en-
this.’’ They didn’t ask those kinds of adequate PPE to take care of your pa- acted COVID–19 liability limitations, this is
questions; they went and did the job we tients. As my dad always liked to say— a national problem requiring a national solu-
wanted them to do, and God bless them he said: Hindsight is 20/20. tion.
for it. That is just one example. These Mr. President, I ask unanimous con-
What we are proposing will help a lot groups who wrote to the Democratic sent to have printed in the RECORD this
more people, a lot more organizations. leader said that these physicians and letter following my remarks.
And by that, I mean not just busi- other healthcare professionals are now The president and executive director
nesses; it will help nonprofits, and it facing the threat of years of costly liti- of the American Dental Association
will help restaurants that have tried to gation due to the extraordinary cir- wrote a letter thanking the Judiciary
follow the guidelines and opened at cumstances. And these are the same in- Committee for reviewing liability pro-
limited capacity, as they have gotten stitutions, the doctors and the hos- tections and asking Congress to pass
guidance from the local and State and pitals, that we have sent hundreds of these reforms. Similar to the other
national officials. This will help every- billions of dollars to, and now we want comments that have been made by
body. to throw them to the wolves? We can’t other organizations, they said: ‘‘While
First, it will help, as I said, our allow our healthcare heroes to wake up safeguarding their patients, their staff,
healthcare heroes, the brave men and in this pandemic only to find them- and themselves from the spread of
women who have led in this battle for selves facing a legal nightmare. COVID–19, dental practices must also
months. They have made tremendous But as I have said, it is not just safeguard their businesses from bad-
physical and mental sacrifices to save healthcare workers who need our help. faith actors pursuing frivolous finan-
lives, but without some liability pro- The list of organizations and institu- cial gain for coronavirus injuries.’’
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
tection from Congress, they could soon tions that rely on this legislation is a We have heard from a long list of
find themselves staring down the bar- long one. There are, for example, our groups, and it is not the Fortune 500,
rel of a wave of medical malpractice public schools, our colleges, our univer- like the Democratic leader has pro-
lawsuits. sities, which have tried to adapt in try- posed. This isn’t corporate protection.
I hope the minority leader will see ing circumstances and are trying to This is common sense. This is what we
why this can’t happen. New York State allow our K–12 students and our young have done before—in connection with
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December 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7441
Y2K, in connection with 9/11, in connec- it included such unrelated matters as their power to keep students, employees, and
tion with providing some limited li- tax cuts for millionaires and billion- visitors safe. To blunt the chilling effect this
ability protection to pharmaceutical aires in places like New York and Cali- will have on otherwise reasonable decision-
making leading to our nation’s campuses re-
companies that we depend upon to fornia and included diversity studies on
suming operations in a safe and sensible
produce vaccines that will save lives. the marijuana industry. What in the manner, we ask that Congress quickly enact
Those are all examples where Congress heck does that have to do with COVID– temporary COVID–19-related liability protec-
has come together with a national re- 19? They claimed that anything less tions for higher education institutions and
sponse to a national crisis. than that $3-trillion white elephant systems, affiliated entities, as well as their
We have heard concerns from every- was unworkable, so they gave our ef- faculty, staff and volunteers. These protec-
thing from the U.S. Youth Soccer wor- forts the Heisman and allowed the dis- tions should be conditioned on following ap-
ried about their volunteers being sued, tress from the pandemic to go on for plicable public health standards, and they
the American Heart Association wor- months and months and months while should preserve recourse for those harmed by
truly bad actors who engage in egregious
ried about their fundraisers, churches they blocked every attempt to deliver
misconduct.
worried about their ability to serve relief to the American people. Colleges and universities, including their
their communities with this cloud Liability protections—commonsense health care facilities and research enter-
hanging over their heads. So who is liability protections for a limited pe- prises, are engaged in every sector of critical
acting in bad faith here? Not the riod of time, which are not designed to infrastructure necessary to support Amer-
schools. Not the charities. Not the take over State tort law on a perma- ican communities. In addition to educating
healthcare providers who are calling nent basis—we can agree on what the and training our country’s future workforce,
for the limited protections this legisla- timeframe should be, but liability pro- they provide health services, cultural re-
tections will allow our most important sources, spectator sports venues, and rec-
tion would provide. No, it is the trial reational amenities to their communities.
bar. It is the trial lawyers who are try- and vulnerable institutions and people
Our medical schools, teaching hospitals, and
ing to use this pandemic to make to recover from this crisis, and I be- research labs are working around the clock
money. lieve the Democratic leader would be to find the best treatments and vaccines for
I am not here, again, to disparage wise to acknowledge that and work COV1D–19. Moreover, our higher education
members of the legal profession. I am with us and get a result. institutions maintain full service utilities,
just saying, who are we here going to There being no objection, the mate- telecommunications, and computing net-
bat for? Are we going to bat for a small rial was ordered to be printed in the works; they provide housing and food serv-
RECORD, as follows: ices; and they operate transportation net-
group of wealthy lawyers, or are we
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION, works, hotels, retail shops, daycares, gyms,
going to bat for 330 million Americans? and museums. To support this broad array of
That is the choice, it seems to me. And May 28, 2020.
Re COVID–19 Limited Liability Protections. activities, they directly employ tens of thou-
the Democratic leader is carrying sands of skilled workers in various trades,
water for that wealthy elite minority, Representative NANCY PELOSI, from electricians and linemen to plumbers
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
the members of the trial bar, by and HVAC technicians; from landscapers and
Washington, DC. painters to carpenters and fabricators.
mischaracterizing this effort and Senator MITCH MCCONNELL,
blocking relief for his own constitu- Unfortunately, all colleges and univer-
Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, sities, two- and four-year, public and private
ents. Washington, DC. nonprofit, are facing unprecedented chal-
Again, Governor Cuomo apparently Representative KEVIN MCCARTHY, lenges as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic.
was able to do this by some form of ex- Minority Leader, House of Representatives, The impact on the operations and revenues
ecutive action, was able to provide Washington, DC. of many institutions has been catastrophic,
some liability protections for medical Senator CHUCK SCHUMER, for some even existential, which has had a
malpractice lawsuits in New York. I Minority Leader, U.S. Senate, terrible ripple effect in communities large
Washington, DC. and small. The pandemic is also causing
wonder if the Democratic leader would DEAR SPEAKER PELOSI, MINORITY LEADER
come to the floor and call that cor- massive disruption to students and their
MCCARTHY, LEADER MCCONNELL, AND MINOR-
porate protection. No. It made sense. families. Many are grappling with sudden
ITY LEADER SCHUMER: On behalf of the Amer-
changes to their financial circumstances.
Good for Governor Cuomo, and shame ican Council on Education and the under-
In the wake of prior crises, Congress came
on us if we don’t do something similar. signed higher education associations, I am
together to pass timely and targeted liabil-
I want to close on another ironic writing today to urge you to quickly enact
ity protections with strong bipartisan sup-
statement by the Democratic leader temporary and targeted liability protections
port because lawmakers understood the
related to the COVID–19 pandemic. While
this morning. He said: The American acute economic threat of lawsuits at mo-
these crucial protections are likely nec-
people deserve an outcome. I agree essary for many sectors of the American
ments of maximum economic vulnerability.
with that. But he said: It is not going While Congress has acted to provide some
economy, this letter focuses on the need to
to happen if the Republican majority limited COVID–19-related liability protec-
safeguard higher education institutions and
insists on getting 100 percent of its par- tions for volunteer healthcare providers and
systems, affiliated nonprofits, and
some manufacturers of PPE in the CARES
tisan demands. healthcare providers and facilities from ex-
Act, much more must be done. While some
Well, we are not insisting on 100 per- cessive and speculative lawsuits arising out
governors and state legislatures have en-
cent, but how about the 80 percent we of the pandemic.
Encouraging, enabling, and supporting the acted COVID–19 liability limitations, this is
can agree on? That just makes sense to a national problem requiring a national solu-
safe reopening of college and university cam-
me. They are the ones who are killing puses for in-person learning is essential to tion.
the COVID–19 relief bill by their insist- educating our nation’s future workforce, pre- Higher education’s need for temporary and
ence that no liability protections be in- serving employment for millions, and help- targeted liability protections and relief is
cluded in this bill. It is the Wild Wild ing restart America’s economy. As colleges clear. Now is the time for Congress to act.
and universities contemplate whether and Sincerely,
West, and they want to keep it just
how to safely reopen this fall, their over- TED MITCHELL,
like that. President.
The Democratic leader has been the riding concern is keeping students, faculty,
staff, and local communities safe. These de- On behalf of:
one who has held up negotiations over
cisions are not premised on making a trade- Achieving the Dream, American Associa-
the last several months. By my count, off between safety and the economy. Nor are tion of Colleges of Nursing, American Asso-
our Democratic leaders have blocked institutions of higher education seeking a ciation of Colleges for Teacher Education,
at least three, maybe four pieces of free pass to avoid responsibility, much less American Association of Collegiate Reg-
COVID–19 relief. That was at a time immunize themselves for their own or oth- istrars and Admissions Officers, American
when they could have worked with us ers’ bad acts. Association of Community Colleges, Amer-
to make the bills better and to provide But as colleges and universities assess how ican Association of State Colleges and Uni-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
timely relief to our constituents, but quickly and completely campuses can re- versities, American College Health Associa-
sume full operations, they are facing enor- tion, American Council on Education, Amer-
no—they refused to accept anything
mous uncertainty about COV1D–19-related ican Dental Education Association, Amer-
short of a partisan, multitrillion-dollar standards of care and corresponding fears of ican Indian Higher Education Consortium,
bill that passed the House earlier this huge transactional costs associated with de- APPA, ‘‘Leadership in Educational Facili-
year, that NANCY PELOSI knew would fending against COVID–19 spread lawsuits, ties’’, Associated Colleges of the Midwest,
never have a prayer of passing because even when they have done everything within Association for Biblical Higher Education,
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S7442 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 11, 2020
Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Tal- oppose the Senate bill. Specifically, tice, and it must not happen again. I
mudic Schools, Association of American Col- the conference report is void of the au- want to put everyone on notice: I will
leges and Universities, Association of Amer- thority for funds to support testing of insist that the Judiciary Committee
ican Medical Colleges, Association of Amer-
a new nuclear device, which was in- and those of us who worked for many
ican Universities, Association of Catholic
Colleges and Universities, Association of cluded in the Senate bill. This sends an years on these matters are consulted
Community College Trustees. important message to the world about on provisions that fall within the pur-
Association of Governing Boards of Univer- Congress’s support for U.S. leadership view of our committee before they are
sities and Colleges, Association of Inde- in armed control. included in the NDAA. That consulta-
pendent California Colleges and Universities, Further, the conference report ad- tion process has produced good out-
Association of Independent Colleges & Uni- vances the progress we have made with comes for the American people for
versities of Rhode Island, Association of regard to Vietnam. This NDAA sends a years. Let’s not change it now.
Independent Colleges and Universities in clear message that Congress believes in
Massachusetts, Association of Independent With these concerns in mind, on bal-
Colleges and Universities of Ohio, Associa-
the importance of cooperation with ance, this is a defense authorization
tion of Independent Colleges and Univer- Vietnam, both to advance our shared bill that I will support. It advances our
sities of Pennsylvania (AICUP), Association security interests and to address some efforts to reconcile with our history
of Independent Colleges of Art & Design, As- of the worst consequences of that war. and address the naming of our military
sociation of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, The conference report will extend the bases after Confederate generals, some-
Association of Public and Land-grant Uni- authorization for the Department of thing over which the President
versities, Association of Research Libraries, Defense to help decontaminate the inexplicably threatened to veto the
Association of Vermont Independent Col- Bien Hoa Airbase from the lingering
leges, College and University Professional bill. It rejects the President’s demands
Association for Human Resource, Commis-
poison of dioxin, and it includes new to repeal section 230 of the Commu-
sion on Independent Colleges and Univer- authorization to help the Government nications Decency Act, something that
sities-NYS, Conference for Mercy Higher of Vietnam locate and identify some of advances his personal war, but which
Education, Connecticut Conference of Inde- its hundreds of thousands of MIAs, as demands careful consideration and
pendent Colleges, Council for Advancement they have helped us locate our own should not be used as hostage bait.
and Support of Education, Council for Chris- MIAs over so many years. This conference report authorizes
tian Colleges & Universities, Council of The bill will also help the veterans of
Graduate Schools, Council for Higher Edu-
over $740 billion in spending. The de-
that war who were exposed to dioxin. fense of our Nation and our inter-
cation Accreditation, Council of Independent The expansion of presumption of expo-
Colleges, Council of Independent Colleges in national role in providing security and
Virginia, Council of Independent Nebraska
sure included in this bill will mean promoting stability demand significant
Colleges, EDUCAUSE, Great Lakes Colleges that Americans suffering from a num- investments. I hope, however, that in
Association. ber of linked ailments can spend their future years, Congress will thought-
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Uni- time seeking treatment, rather than fully consider the skewed balance of
versities, Independent Colleges and Univer- jumping through bureaucratic and our defense investments against other
sities of Florida, Independent Colleges and legal hoops. For many veterans ex-
Universities of Missouri, Independent Col- critical domestic needs. These are dif-
posed to airborne toxic substances ficult questions, but ones that demand
leges of Indiana, Independent Colleges of
through burn pits, this bill also in- debate and honest review.
Washington, Kansas Independent College As-
sociation, Louisiana Association of Inde- cludes a number of provisions to make VOTE ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
pendent Colleges and Universities, Maryland it easier to identify their exposure and ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021—CONFERENCE RE-
Independent College and University Associa- for them to make connections needed PORT
tion, Midwestern Higher Education Compact, while seeking medical care. It con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
Missouri Colleges Fund, Inc., NASPA—Stu- tinues the march towards rectifying
dent Affairs Administrators in Higher Edu-
the previous order, all postcloture time
the Department of Defense’s PFOS/ has expired.
cation, National Association of College and PFOA usage. While there is much to be
University Business Officers, National Asso- The question is on agreeing to the
done in both these areas, this is a posi- adoption of the conference report.
ciation of Independent Colleges and Univer-
sities, National Association of Schools and tive step forward. Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I ask for the yeas
Colleges of the United Methodist Church, Na- This bill is imperfect, but of par-
and nays.
tional Collegiate Athletic Association, Net- ticular concern to me is the addition in
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a
work of Colleges and Universities, Evan- conference, without proper vetting or
sufficient second?
gelical Lutheran Church in America. evaluation, of several provisions that
New England Board of Higher Education, There appears to be a sufficient sec-
undermine the Freedom of Information
North Carolina Independent Colleges and ond.
Act, our Nation’s premier transparency
Universities, Northwest Commission on Col- The clerk will call the roll.
law. Many of these provisions were in
leges and Universities, Ohio Foundation of The senior assistant legislative clerk
Independent Colleges, Online Learning Con- neither the Senate nor the House bill.
called the roll.
sortium, Oregon Community College Asso- For a number of years, I have worked
Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
ciation, South Carolina Independent Colleges in a bipartisan manner with other
are necessarily absent: the Senator
and Universities, Southern Association of members of the Judiciary Committee
from South Carolina (Mr. GRAHAM) and
Colleges and Schools Commission on Col- to consult with the Senate Armed
leges, Southern Regional Education Board, the Senator from South Dakota (Mr.
Services Committee to provide the
State Higher Education Executive Officers ROUNDS).
feedback and expertise in FOIA mat-
Association, Tennessee Independent Colleges Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
ters, as it relates to proposals within
and Universities Assoc., UNCF (United Negro Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is
College Fund, Inc.), UPCEA, Virginia Foun- the NDAA. That inclusive process,
necessarily absent.
dation for Independent Colleges, West Vir- where committees of jurisdiction are
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there
ginia Independent Colleges & Universities, consulted on their areas of expertise,
any other Senators in the Chamber de-
Western Interstate Commission for Higher has ensured that the NDAA does not
siring to vote?
Education, Wisconsin Association of Inde- become a vehicle for unwise or harmful
pendent Colleges and Universities. The result was announced—yeas 84,
policies.
H.R. 6395 This time, however, a number of pro- nays 13, as follows:
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the Sen- visions needlessly piercing holes in [Rollcall Vote No. 264 Leg.]
ate has before it today the result of a FOIA were inserted during conference YEAS—84
compromise. The conference report negotiations without any consultation Alexander Cantwell Cramer
that will result in the adoption of the with the Judiciary Committee. Baldwin Capito Crapo
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
Barrasso Cardin Daines
National Defense Authorization Act— Unsurprisingly, a process that took Bennet Carper Duckworth
NDAA—for fiscal year 2021 is neither place behind closed doors resulted in Blackburn Casey Durbin
the bill the Senate approved, nor the policies undermining the American Blumenthal Cassidy Enzi
one the House passed. I am pleased people’s ability to know what their Blunt Collins Ernst
Boozman Coons Feinstein
that this conference report cures many government is doing. Unfortunately, Brown Cornyn Fischer
of the problems that led to my vote to this is slowly becoming a routine prac- Burr Cortez Masto Gardner
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December 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7443
Gillibrand McConnell Scott (FL) tive, and economists tell us that work- to give to big government and big busi-
Grassley Menendez Scott (SC)
Hassan Moran Shaheen
ing families today are in worse shape ness, surely it can find some relief for
Heinrich Murkowski Shelby right now than at any time since the working families and working individ-
Hirono Murphy Sinema Great Depression. uals. And I would just submit to you
Hoeven Murray Smith And it is not just the children in that it is working families and working
Hyde-Smith Perdue Stabenow
Inhofe Peters Sullivan
America—the richest country on people who should be first in line for
Johnson Portman Tester Earth—who are going hungry. You COVID relief, not last.
Jones Reed Thune have millions and millions of families That is why the amendment that
Kaine Risch Tillis who are scared to death that they are
Kelly Roberts Toomey
Senator SANDERS and I have proposed
King Romney Udall going to be evicted from their homes is so common sense—$1,200 for individ-
Klobuchar Rosen Van Hollen and join the half a million people in uals, $2,400 for families, $500 for every
Lankford Rubio Warner America who are already homeless. child—and as Senator SANDERS rightly
Leahy Sasse Whitehouse We have half of our population work-
Loeffler Schatz Wicker said, every Member of this body has
Manchin Schumer Young ing day to day, living paycheck to pay- voted yes, in favor of this relief before.
check, trying to survive. This Congress What is more, I can’t figure who ex-
NAYS—13 must address the economic emergency actly is opposed to it. The President of
Booker Kennedy Sanders facing the American people. We cannot
Braun Lee Warren the United States has said that he is in
Cotton Markey Wyden
go back to our families during the favor of direct assistance. I thank the
Cruz Merkley Christmas holidays while tens of mil- majority leader for his own support of
Hawley Paul lions of families are suffering. They are direct assistance. The Speaker of the
NOT VOTING—3 looking toward us and their govern- House says she is in favor of direct as-
Graham Harris Rounds
ment—their government—to provide sistance. And that is why there is no
the emergency assistance that they reason why this body should leave next
The conference report is agreed to. need.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- week before we vote on and approve di-
Yesterday, Senator HAWLEY and I in-
jority leader. rect assistance to working families.
troduced a very simple amendment—
Now, let me just say one other thing.
f not a radical idea. In fact, we are way,
Let me tell you about a phone call I
way behind what other countries
FURTHER CONTINUING APPRO- had with a friend of mine at home
around the world are doing to protect
PRIATIONS ACT, 2021, AND OTHER when this Congress approved direct as-
their workers. All that we want to do is
EXTENSIONS ACT sistance back in March. He texted me,
to once again provide the same benefits
and then he called me and he said: I am
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I that were provided in the CARES bill
seeing this news about relief that we
ask unanimous consent that the Sen- that unanimously—unanimously,
are going to maybe get a check. Is that
ate proceed to the immediate consider- Democrats, Republicans—President
real?
ation of H.R. 8900. Trump signed it, supported it. We all
I said: Yeah, that is real.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The came together in March to say that
He said: Well, I don’t know. I am wor-
clerk will report the bill by title. every working-class adult in this coun-
ried about taking it. I mean, what if we
The legislative clerk read as follows: try would get $1,200 and their kids
spend the money? I mean, we could use
A bill (H.R. 8900) making further con- would get $500.
So if you have a husband and wife the money, but what if we spend it, and
tinuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021,
and two kids, that is 3,400 bucks. I can’t pay it back? You know, it
and for other purposes.
Maybe they can use that money to pay comes back and now I have got to pay
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there it back?
objection to proceeding to the meas- a couple of months’ rent, buy some
food, go to the doctor. We are looking I said: You don’t have to pay it back.
ure? It is relief, because you need it, be-
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, reserv- at a horrible pandemic now. You have
90 million people who are uninsured or cause you are working. This is a guy
ing the right to object. who works in concrete. That is his
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- underinsured. That is all we are ask-
ing—to do what we unanimously did in business.
ator from Vermont. And he said: Are you serious, now?
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, it is March, to make sure that our unem-
ployed workers get the benefits they You are serious that we can keep this
no great secret that the American peo- money? I can use this for my family.
ple understand how far removed the need to make sure that working fami-
lies get that $1,200 check per person. I said: That is exactly what it is for.
U.S. Congress and both political par- And his comment to me was—his
Now, I have been here for a while. I
ties are from their needs. They do polls words were: Man, this is a godsend.
am not one of the Members of the Sen-
out there, depending on the month, and There are families like that not just
ate who shuts down, does this and does
Congress gets a 10-percent approval all over Missouri, not just all over
that, and keeps people here for weeks.
rating, and, on a good day, maybe a 20- I don’t do that. But this I want to say Vermont, but all over this Nation, and
percent approval rating. right now: I am prepared to withdraw they are in need today like they were
People understand that, to a shame- my objection at this moment, but I in need in March. It is incumbent upon
ful degree, what Congress does is worry will not be prepared to withdraw an ob- this body to act, and we should not
about the needs of wealthy campaign jection next week. We will deal with leave until we do that.
contributors—both political parties— the financial crisis facing tens of mil- So having reserved the right to ob-
and turns their backs on the needs of lions of Americans. And if I have any- ject, today, I do not object.
working people. thing to say about it—and I guess I I yield the floor.
A few months ago, in Burlington, VT, do—we are not going to go home for Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I with-
not far from where I live, they shut the Christmas holidays unless we make draw my objection.
down the road so that people could line sure that we provide for the millions of The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
up in their cars to get emergency food families in this country who are suf- objection to proceeding to the meas-
distributed by the Vermont National fering. ure?
Guard—hundreds and hundreds of peo- With that, I would yield to Senator Without objection, it is so ordered.
ple in Burlington and all over the State HAWLEY. The majority leader.
of Vermont. And, by the way, Vermont The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
probably is in better shape than most ator from Missouri. ask unanimous consent that the bill be
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
States in this country. We have more Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, reserv- considered read a third time.
hunger in America today than at any ing the right to object, this is a very The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
time in the modern history of this simple thing that we are talking about, objection?
country. This pandemic has been a dis- and I can boil it down real easily. Without objection, it is so ordered.
aster not only from a public health per- If the Senate of the United States The bill was ordered to a third read-
spective but from an economic perspec- can find hundreds of billions of dollars ing and was read the third time.
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