Government Funding (Cong. Rec., Dec. 17, 2020)

Summary

A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated December 17, 2020, at page S7566. A Senator pays tribute to a scheduler named Johanna who is moving back to South Dakota. Remarks under the heading Government Funding say the Appropriations Committee and its House counterparts have full-year government funding legislation on the 1-yard line, describe a fork in the road between politics as usual and bipartisanship, and say the plan would repurpose more than $400 billion in unspent CARES Act funds and discuss direct payments for individuals. Mr. Schumer then speaks under the heading Coronavirus that the sides continue to move closer to a final agreement.

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“Government Funding (Cong. Rec., Dec. 17, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-17-crec-2020-12-17-pt1-pgs7566-2-a03ef341bf/, SHA-256 145af45719a6b6b71cd2ffc38f26cd2c3d1a12cf464edc56f9525226f26e4c59.

Full text

S7566 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 17, 2020
for her here in DC. About 3 years ago, ments, and key investments for our fu- These are just some of the major pil-
she met her husband Anthony at a Boy ture. lars. And equally important, we are
Scouts fish fry at St. Peter’s Church Fortunately, our colleagues on the agreeing to be smart about financing
right here on Capitol Hill. I know Jo- Appropriations Committee and their these extraordinary policies.
hanna regards that as a blessing for House counterparts have been on the Now listen to this. We intend to re-
her, but it was a blessing for our office, case. Bipartisan, bicameral committee purpose more than $400 billion in
too, because we got to keep her around work has full-year government funding unspent funds which we have already
a little longer than she had originally legislation on the 1-yard line. allocated in the CARES Act. It turned
anticipated. But now, in a couple of I am optimistic that if we can close out these funds did not need to be
weeks, Johanna will move back to out our other parallel business, we tapped to restore basic stability to our
South Dakota. We are all very excited should be able to fund the government economy. It is time we put that money
for her, but she will be sorely missed. and move forward together. to urgent use.
Madam President, I know I don’t But that brings me to the way in Like I said at the time yesterday, I
have to tell you or any other Senator which this year is unlike anything we am heartened by our discussions and
here just how important the role of a have seen before. It has been more than our progress. I believe all sides are
scheduler is in any office. The days 9 months since our Nation began to feel working in good faith for our shared
here on Capitol Hill are busy. Our the full force of the COVID–19 pan- goal of getting an outcome.
schedulers are the ones who bring some demic. The American people have done But I will say this. In my judgment,
semblance of organization to an other- what Americans do when crises come we are very close to a point that arises
wise chaotic day, making sure we get knocking. in every major negotiation. It is the
Essential workers have kept our Na- point where each side faces a fork in
to connect with our constituents in
tion running. Healthcare professionals the road.
town, make it to committee hearings
have worked day and night to care for Do we want to lapse into politics as
and votes on time, get the briefings we
strangers. Heroic American businesses usual and let negotiations lose steam?
need on legislation, and much more.
Johanna is not only a good scheduler, have adapted, reinvented, and obeyed Do we want to haggle and spar like this
the advice of medical experts. were an ordinary political exercise, get
she is a great one. I will miss her pa-
Now we can see the light at the end
tience, her professionalism, and her un- wrapped around the axle of language or
of the tunnel. Operation Warp Speed
paralleled ability to keep trains run- policy riders that we know are con-
has given us safe and effective vaccines
ning on time. But what I and I think troversial, or, on the other hand, after
in record time, but the American peo-
the rest of my staff will miss the most months of inaction, do we want to
ple need another bridge to those better
about Johanna is her kindness. Jo- move swiftly and with unusual biparti-
days that are not so far off. The coun-
hanna has had a positive impact on sanship to close out our issues, seal the
try needs Congress to come through
pretty much every staffer who has deal, and write text that can quickly
with another targeted rescue package.
worked with me during her time here, pass into law?
They have waited months. They have
taking the time to get to know each of In short, we are near the point in this
waited and suffered, and some have
them on a personal level. Whether she process where we decide if we are going
died while needless political games
is interacting with an agency head, to stay on the fast track or drift back
have played out. The American peo-
constituent, or a fellow staffer, she is toward business as usual.
ple’s wait for more emergency assist-
always the same—unfailingly gracious, I say the answer should be obvious.
ance ought to be over.
patient, and kind. For months, I have called for a tar- After all these months, struggling
No matter how busy or chaotic the geted, bipartisan package that would Americans don’t just need action; they
day, Johanna can be counted on to put hundreds of billions of dollars into need action fast—fast.
bring a steady hand and a positive atti- payroll support, testing, vaccine dis- So I continue to appreciate our pro-
tude. She is a woman of deep faith, and tribution, extended unemployment aid, ductive discussions, but I hope we also
it shows. I am sad to see her go, but I safe schools, and other essential prior- remember just how urgent the situa-
want to wish her the very best of ev- ities. tion is for millions and millions of our
erything as she embarks on this new So I am encouraged that our Demo- fellow citizens.
chapter in life. cratic colleagues have now embraced So for the information of all Sen-
Johanna, thank you for all your hard this framework that has been the right ators, we are going to stay right here—
work on behalf of South Dakota. You solution for our country all this time. right here—until we are finished, even
will be missed. And a bipartisan, bicameral agreement if that means working through the
I yield the floor. appears to be close at hand. weekend, which is highly likely.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. The outline that I have been dis- And if we need to further extend the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cussing with the Democratic leader, Friday funding deadline before final
clerk will call the roll. Speaker PELOSI, and Leader MCCARTHY legislation can pass in both Chambers,
The senior assistant legislative clerk would get another huge dose of bipar- I hope we will extend it for a very, very
proceeded to call the roll. tisan support out the door as fast as short—short—window of time.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I possible. Our citizens can’t afford for us to get
ask unanimous consent that the order We have yet to nail down every de- bogged down in the back-and-forth.
for the quorum call be rescinded. tail, but in broad strokes, we have been Let’s finish up our bipartisan frame-
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. discussing the targeted second round of work. Let’s make law as soon as pos-
SCOTT of Florida). Without objection, the job-saving Paycheck Protection sible. That is what our people deserve.
it is so ordered. Program that Republicans have sought I suggest the absence of a quorum.
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER since last summer. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- We are discussing many tens of bil- clerk will call the roll.
jority leader is recognized. lions of dollars for distributing vac- The legislative clerk proceeded to
GOVERNMENT FUNDING cines, COVID testing, and equipping call the roll.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, safe schools to get our kids’ educations Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask
well, we in Congress are no strangers back on track. We are discussing ex- unanimous consent that the order for
to December funding deadlines or the tending important unemployment pro- the quorum call be rescinded.
occasional pre-Christmas cliffhanger. grams. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
In that respect, the situation we face At the particular urging of President objection, it is so ordered.

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
now is familiar. Funding for the Fed- Trump and Secretary Mnuchin, who RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
eral Government is hanging in the bal- continue to be the champions of cash The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
ance. In the next few days, Congress relief for American families, we are Democratic leader is recognized.
will either succeed or fail at providing discussing more direct impact pay- CORONAVIRUS
secure and stable funding for our mili- ments for individuals, plus the bonus Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, we
tary commanders, our Federal Depart- for families with children. continue to move closer to a final

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