Congressional Record — Senate, S7566 (December 17, 2020)
Summary
Page S7566 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for December 17, 2020, in interleaved columns. A speaker says bipartisan, bicameral committee work has full-year government funding legislation on the 1-yard line and that more than $400 billion in unspent CARES Act funds should be repurposed for the relief package, which is that speaker's view. A tribute bids farewell to a staffer named Johanna who is moving back to South Dakota. The page ends with a cloture motion on the nomination of Zachary N. Somers to be a Judge, and Mr. Schumer asks for the yeas and nays.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, S7566 (December 17, 2020).”
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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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December 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7567
agreement on an omnibus appropria- The clerk will call the roll. States Court of Federal Claims for a term of
tions bill and a package of emergency The legislative clerk called the roll. fifteen years.
Federal aid to provide the country re- Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Mitch McConnell, James E. Risch, Mike
Crapo, Roy Blunt, Shelley Moore Cap-
lief from the continuing impact from are necessarily absent: the Senator
ito, Tom Cotton, John Cornyn, Chuck
the COVID–19 pandemic. from Wyoming (Mr. ENZI), the Senator Grassley, Thom Tillis, Richard Burr,
Yesterday, House and Senate leader- from Nebraska (Mrs. FISCHER), the Sen- Pat Roberts, Cory Gardner, Lindsey
ship worked well into the night. We re- ator from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER), Graham, Todd Young, Marco Rubio,
sumed first thing this morning. While and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. John Boozman, John Barrasso.
many, if not all, of the difficult topics PERDUE). The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan-
are behind us, a few final issues must Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the imous consent, the mandatory quorum
be hammered out. We are very close to Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is call has been waived.
an agreement, but the details really necessarily absent. The question is, Is it the sense of the
matter. When it comes to unemploy- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Senate that debate on the nomination
ment benefits, stimulus checks, aid to GARDNER). Are there any other Sen- of Zachary N. Somers, of the District
small businesses, and so much else, we ators in the Chamber desiring to vote? of Columbia, to be a Judge of the
have a responsibility to get this right. The result was announced—yeas 54, United States Court of Federal Claims
People’s lives depend upon it. nays 41, as follows: for a term of fifteen years, shall be
I would note that had the Republican brought to a close?
[Rollcall Vote No. 272 Ex.]
majority joined in negotiations any- The yeas and nays are mandatory
YEAS—54
time in the last 6 months, as we had re- under the rule.
quested, we would not be in the unfor- Alexander Graham Risch
Barrasso Grassley Roberts The clerk will call the roll.
tunate position of negotiating against Blackburn Hawley Romney The legislative clerk called the roll.
the government funding deadline. Blunt Hoeven Rounds Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
Leader MCCONNELL kept calling for a Boozman Hyde-Smith Rubio are necessarily absent: the Senator
Braun Inhofe Sasse
pause, and here we are. I also note that Burr Johnson Scott (FL) from Wyoming (Mr. ENZI), the Senator
we would have a much larger bill that Capito Jones Scott (SC) from Nebraska (Mrs. FISCHER), the Sen-
met crucial needs of so many Ameri- Cassidy Kelly Shelby ator from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER),
cans if Republicans had not been so in- Collins Kennedy Sinema
Cornyn Lankford Sullivan
and the Senator from Georgia (Mr.
transigent. Cotton Lee Tester PERDUE).
But we are all eager to conclude our Cramer Manchin Thune Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
work and deliver the relief that the Crapo McConnell Tillis Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS)
American people have been waiting for. Cruz Moran Toomey
Daines Murkowski Whitehouse and the Senator from Alabama (Mr.
Everyone wants to see this get done, Ernst Paul Wicker JONES) are necessarily absent.
and soon. It is not an easy feat or proc- Gardner Portman Young The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there
ess. We are talking about providing re- any other Senators in the Chamber de-
NAYS—41
lief to a country that is hurting from siring to vote or change their vote?
Baldwin Gillibrand Reed
coast to coast; a country with tens of Bennet Hassan The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 52,
Rosen
millions of unemployed workers and Blumenthal Heinrich Sanders nays 42, as follows:
more slipping into poverty every day; a Booker Hirono Schatz [Rollcall Vote No. 273 Ex.]
country with businesses of all sizes and Brown Kaine Schumer
Cantwell King YEAS—52
varieties struggling in different ways Shaheen
Cardin Klobuchar Smith Alexander Graham Romney
and more in danger of closing for good Carper Leahy Barrasso Grassley Rounds
Stabenow
every week; a country that just yester- Casey Markey
Udall Blackburn Hawley Rubio
day suffered the worst day of the entire Coons Menendez Blunt Hoeven Sasse
Van Hollen
Cortez Masto Merkley Boozman Hyde-Smith Scott (FL)
pandemic—the most cases, the most Duckworth Murphy
Warner
Braun Inhofe
Warren Scott (SC)
hospitalizations, the most deaths, more Durbin Murray Burr Johnson Shelby
Wyden
than 3,600 American lives. Feinstein Peters Capito Kelly Sinema
Already, we know that the size of Cassidy Kennedy
NOT VOTING—5 Sullivan
Collins Lankford
this emergency relief bill would be the Enzi Harris Perdue Cornyn Lee
Tester
largest stimulus in the history of our Cotton Thune
Fischer Loeffler McConnell
Tillis
country if not for the other COVID re- Cramer Moran
The nomination was confirmed. Crapo Murkowski Toomey
lief bill, the CARES bill, which I nego- Whitehouse
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Cruz Paul
tiated with Secretary Mnuchin and we Daines Portman Wicker
the previous order, the motion to re-
passed earlier this year. Ernst Risch Young
Let me say that again. We are put- consider is considered made and laid Gardner Roberts
ting the final touches on what would be upon the table, and the President will
NAYS—42
the largest stimulus in the history of be immediately notified of the Senate’s
Baldwin Gillibrand Peters
the country with the exception of the action. Bennet Hassan Reed
CARES Act—larger even than ARRA, The Senator from North Dakota. Blumenthal Heinrich Rosen
the stimulus bill Congress passed in Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I ask Booker Hirono Sanders
unanimous consent that the manda- Brown Kaine Schatz
the wake of the financial crisis in 2009. Cantwell King Schumer
None of the remaining hurdles can- tory quorum call be waived. Cardin Klobuchar Shaheen
not be overcome. Everyone is com- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Carper Leahy Smith
mitted to achieving a result, and we objection, it is so ordered. Casey Manchin Stabenow
Coons Markey Udall
will not leave until we get the job f Cortez Masto Menendez Van Hollen
done. Duckworth Merkley Warner
I yield the floor. CLOTURE MOTION Durbin Murphy Warren
Feinstein Murray Wyden
VOTE ON ATCHLEY NOMINATION The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant
The PRESIDING OFFICER. All to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the NOT VOTING—6
postcloture time has expired. Senate the pending cloture motion, Enzi Harris Loeffler
The question is, Will the Senate ad- which the clerk will state. Fischer Jones Perdue
vise and consent to the Atchley nomi- The legislative clerk read as follows: The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this
nation? vote, the yeas are 52, the nays are 42.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
CLOTURE MOTION
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- The motion is agreed to.
for the yeas and nays. ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the f
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
sufficient second? EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
move to bring to a close debate on the nomi-
There appears to be a sufficient sec- nation of Zachary N. Somers, of the District The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
ond. of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United clerk will report the nomination.
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