Congressional Record, Senate, December 14, 2020, Page S7462
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated December 14, 2020, at page S7462, with the heading Coronavirus. A Senator says the weekend's announcements of the first COVID-19 vaccine shipments are welcome news and credits scientists, Operation Warp Speed and shipping workers, but says small business owners and workers still wait for another targeted relief bill with PPP, unemployment insurance, and money for vaccines, testing and schools. A cloture motion is filed on the nomination of Thomas Kirsch of Indiana to be Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, and the roll call follows. The page also includes a tribute to a staff member who served on the Veterans' Affairs Committee staff and is returning to the VA after more than 18 years of service.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, December 14, 2020, Page S7462.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-14-crec-2020-12-14-pt1-pgs7462-1be2fcaa22/
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S7462 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 14, 2020
CORONAVIRUS has helped countless veterans receive The legislative clerk read as follows:
Mr. President, I would be remiss if I the care and support that they have CLOTURE MOTION
did not remind my colleagues that we earned. He has surely been an asset to We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
still have a lot to do before we adjourn. my team as we work to serve Kansans, ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
This weekend’s announcements about servicemembers, and veterans. Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
the first round of COVID–19 vaccines Before joining our office, Thomas move to bring to a close debate on the nomi-
heading out for delivery were a very served as the legislative director to nation of Thomas L. Kirsch II, of Indiana, to
welcome addition to the news cycle. Congressman Harold Baker, a member be United States Circuit Judge for the Sev-
We owe a great deal of credit to the of the House Veterans’ Affairs Com- enth Circuit.
doctors and scientists who developed mittee. He served on the Bush transi- Mitch McConnell, James E. Risch, Mike
tion team after leaving congressional Crapo, Roy Blunt, Shelley Moore Cap-
the vaccines; to those working behind
ito, Tom Cotton, John Cornyn, Chuck
the scenes through Operation Warp service and then went on to serve in
Grassley, Thom Tillis, Richard Burr,
Speed to get those safe, effective vac- numerous roles at the VA. These in- Pat Roberts, Cory Gardner, Lindsey
cines approved; and to the truck- cluded roles as a congressional liaison Graham, Todd Young, Marco Rubio,
drivers, the shipping professionals, cold for the VA and, most recently, in the John Boozman, John Barrasso.
storage developers, and other essential Veterans Experience Office.
He is a graduate of the National De- The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan-
workers pushing through a whole lot of imous consent, the mandatory quorum
overtime to get these vaccines in the fense University and has used his expe-
rience to benefit those who serve our call has been waived.
hands of healthcare providers. The question, Is it the sense of the
This morning, I was fortunate Nation in uniform.
Thomas is fortunate to have his lov- Senate that debate on nomination of
enough to stop by the grand opening of
ing wife Ashley and son Chase by his Thomas L. Kirsch II, of Indiana, to be
Cold Chain Technologies’ Wilson Coun-
side. They undoubtedly contribute to United States Circuit Judge for the
ty, TN, facility. The technology they
Thomas’s altruistic nature, and he is Seventh Circuit, shall be brought to a
have developed to preserve and trans-
blessed to have their support. close?
port these vaccines in a thermal con-
Thomas joined my office in January The yeas and nays are mandatory
tainer is truly impressive.
But don’t forget that all across this 2019, just as I was assuming the gavel under the rule.
of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Com- The clerk will call the roll.
country, millions of small business
mittee. His experience navigating the The legislative clerk called the roll.
men and women and struggling work-
VA proved immensely helpful to my Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
ers are still waiting for us to agree on
personal and committee staffs as we are necessarily absent: the Senator
and pass another targeted—and I will
set off to advocate for veterans from from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER), the
say targeted—COVID relief legislation.
all walks of life. Senator from Georgia (Mr. PERDUE),
When I talked to Tennesseans this
He was especially helpful in advo- the Senator from Florida (Mr. RUBIO),
weekend, they aren’t worried about
cating for women veterans. Thomas led and the Senator from Nebraska (Mr.
politics or optics or unassociated wish the effort to study the employment
list items. They want to see another SASSE).
rates of post-9/11 female veterans, a co-
round of PPP. They want to see a plus- Further, if present and voting, the
hort of veterans that experiences high-
up in unemployment insurance. They er unemployment rates, more than any Senator from Florida (Mr. RUBIO)
want to see money for vaccines, for other demographic. would have voted ‘‘yea.’’
testing, and for schools so that people His efforts will lead to policies to Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
can get back to work and children can support female veterans and to make Senator from Maryland (Mr. CARDIN),
get back to school. That is the relief certain that they have the tools nec- the Senator from California (Ms. HAR-
Americans are looking for. And, I will essary to succeed after their service to RIS), and the Senator from New Mexico
add, the hesitancy from some across our Nation. (Mr. HEINRICH) are necessarily absent.
the aisle and over in the House Cham- It is sad to see Thomas leave the of- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there
ber, where they have admitted to play- fice, but I know that his return to the any other Senators in the Chamber de-
ing politics with people’s lives, has not Veterans Experience Office next month siring to vote?
set well with Tennesseans as we enter will produce lasting results for the The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 51,
this Christmas season. many veterans who regularly interact nays 42, as follows:
I yield the floor. with the Department of Veterans Af- [Rollcall Vote No. 265 Leg.]
I suggest the absence of a quorum. fairs.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The YEAS—51
Thomas is an impressive public serv-
clerk will call the roll. ant, and it has been a privilege to work Alexander Ernst Murkowski
The legislative clerk proceeded to Barrasso Fischer Paul
with him. I hold him in the highest re- Blackburn Gardner Portman
call the roll. gard. He is a significant asset to our Blunt Graham Risch
Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask veterans and represents some of the Boozman Grassley Roberts
unanimous consent that the order for best that our Federal Government has Braun Hawley Romney
Burr Hoeven Rounds
the quorum call be rescinded. to offer. Capito Hyde-Smith Scott (FL)
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Once again, thank you, Thomas, for Cassidy Inhofe Scott (SC)
objection, it is so ordered. all you have done for Kansans and for Collins Johnson Shelby
Cornyn Kelly Sinema
TRIBUTE TO THOMAS WILSON American veterans this year in associa- Cotton Kennedy Sullivan
Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, this tion with us and our work. You have Cramer Lankford Thune
evening I want to take just a moment, been a model of selfless service and Crapo Lee Tillis
in front of my colleagues, to recognize leadership, and I know you will con- Cruz Manchin Toomey
Daines McConnell Wicker
the contributions of a member of my tinue to do great things throughout Enzi Moran Young
staff: Thomas Wilson. Mr. Wilson has your career and your life of service,
spent the last year working in our per- wherever that path may lead. NAYS—42
sonal office as part of the Department WAIVING QUORUM CALL Baldwin Hassan Rosen
Bennet Hirono Sanders
of Veterans Affairs Congressional Fel- Mr. President, I also ask unanimous Blumenthal Jones Schatz
lowship Program. consent that the mandatory quorum Booker Kaine Schumer
As Thomas departs my office and re- call be waived. Brown King Shaheen
turns to the Department of Veterans The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Cantwell Klobuchar Smith
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Carper Leahy Stabenow
Affairs, I want to express my apprecia- objection, it is so ordered. Casey Markey Tester
tion to him for his hard work and the CLOTURE MOTION Coons Menendez Udall
dedication to serve veterans in Kansas The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Cortez Masto Merkley Van Hollen
and across the Nation. Thomas has to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Duckworth Murphy Warner
Durbin Murray Warren
served at the VA for more than 18 Senate the pending cloture motion, Feinstein Peters Whitehouse
years. His selfless approach to service which the clerk will state. Gillibrand Reed Wyden
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