Congressional Record, Senate — December 17, 2020, S7571
Summary
This is S7571 of the Congressional Record, Senate, December 17, 2020, with interleaved columns. The page opens with the end of a farewell tribute, by a Senator whose name is not printed in the text read, to a colleague called Cory, recalling their work together on the Asia Subcommittee and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act. Under the heading Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, Mr. Lankford says that he and Senator Hassan propose that the Senate stay in session until appropriations work is done, noting 12 appropriations committees, 12 months, and only 22 hearings total. Under the heading Coronavirus, Mr. Peters begins remarks saying 2020 has been a year of immense challenges, with the views attributed to the speakers.
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“Congressional Record, Senate — December 17, 2020, S7571.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-17-crec-2020-12-17-pt1-pgs7571-2-33d959ac01/
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December 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7571
foreign leaders. As the foreign policy I hope that this son of Yuma, CO, is 22. That is 12 appropriations commit-
gravitational pull rightly moved to the not finished with public service yet. I tees, 12 months, only 22 hearings total
Indo-Pacific in recent years, CORY am grateful for what we accomplished for all of them.
brought the top policymakers, human together on the Asia Subcommittee We have not completed the appro-
rights defenders, and government wit- and even more grateful for our friend- priations work on time, so now we are
nesses to the fourth floor of the Dirk- ship. struggling with the what-ifs. Senator
sen Senate Office Building—not ex- My best to Jaime and your wonderful HASSAN and I have a straightforward
actly the Diplomatic Room of the family and to you, my friend. idea. Let’s pass the end government
White House. I yield the floor. shutdowns bill. Let’s continue our ne-
In the 115th Congress, we held 11 I suggest the absence of a quorum. gotiations so we don’t have to be in the
hearings. It was a constant beat of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The shadow of a shutdown again next year.
meetings and hearings that CORY would clerk will call the roll. It is doable. It shouldn’t be con-
be leading. I was always honored to be The senior assistant legislative clerk troversial. It should be obvious. When
partnered with him in organizing those proceeded to call the roll. we get to a time period like this, if we
efforts. Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I ask are not complete, we keep working
CORY grew up on a farm, so it is no unanimous consent that the order for until it is done. In the meantime, we
wonder that he is a workhorse. Each the quorum call be rescinded. don’t leave. It is the exact statement I
time he gaveled in a hearing, he was The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without have heard from everybody in the
professional, prepared, good-humored. objection, it is so ordered. Chamber so far today. We need to stay
And he, on more than a few occasions, PREVENT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS ACT until it is done. I agree. That should be
allowed particularly verbose Senators Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, this the process every time we get to this
to blow past their allotted time. all feels strangely familiar. It is the moment. We stay until the work gets
Nowhere did I enjoy our work to- middle of December. We are facing a done. Our bill just mandates that, and
gether more than in the drafting and government shutdown, arguing behind it keeps us from ever having to say the
the ultimate passage of the landmark the scenes over the final details, dis- word ‘‘shutdown’’ again.
Asia Reassurance Initiative Act. Our cussing whether we are going to do a So I would encourage this body
bill, which is now the law of the land, short-term CR, wondering what is again, as I did all of last year, as I did
adopts a long-term U.S. strategy for going to happen. Everyone has this all of this year: Let’s end government
the most consequential region in the sense that if we don’t get the bill done shutdowns. Let’s keep debating the
world, the Indo-Pacific. It was a credit by tomorrow, then we are going to end policy. We have differences. We know
to our foreign policy staffs—led by Igor up in shutdown and all the problems that. But let’s end the thought of gov-
in CORY’S staff and Zack in mine—that that causes. ernment shutdowns.
we were able to get it past the finish Senator HASSAN and I stand in the I yield the floor.
line. back and hold up our hands and say: In The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
A fully resourced ARIA will ensure February of last year, we proposed a ator from Michigan.
that the United States will remain a solution to this that fits this exact sce- CORONAVIRUS
Pacific power. Investments through nario to keep us from holding Federal Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, 2020 has
ARIA offer a critical counterweight to workers and all of our agencies in been a year of immense challenges. We
China by helping our partners in the harm’s way. are in the middle of an unprecedented
region build defenses and defend de- The ending government shutdowns economic and public health crisis.
mocracy and the rule of law. bill is designed for this moment. For
But CORY understood passage of a law Small businesses have been forced to
whatever reason, we have not been able shutter or are barely staying afloat.
alone does not equate to the implemen-
to agree to pass it. It is a process docu- Workers are out of jobs through no
tation of policy. When ARIA was
ment. It doesn’t solve all of the policy fault of their own, and folks are
signed into law, he and I convened a se-
issues we have. We have real policy dif- stressed about feeding their families
ries of hearings to ensure the Depart-
ferences, but we should not have proc- and keeping a roof over their heads.
ments of Defense and State and the
USAID were putting resources to the ess differences at moments like this. It Healthcare workers are exhausted—
challenge. is not good for the American people. It pressed to their breaking points from
The Asia-Pacific is home to 60 per- is not good for the U.S. Senate or the treating patients with COVID.
cent of the world’s population. This U.S. Congress to stand at the precipice But, thankfully, there is light at the
fact and the wide geographic scope of of a shutdown and to say: Maybe we go end of the tunnel. With the recent FDA
the region means that we need to re- over; maybe we don’t. Maybe we have a vaccine emergency use authorization,
spond nimbly to the latest inter- short-term continuing resolution; Michiganians and Americans are fi-
national crisis of the day. maybe we pass the 12 appropriations nally starting to receive much needed
When North Korea policy vacillated bills. We shouldn’t ever get to that mo- reinforcements to combat and to con-
between ‘‘fire and fury’’ and detente, ment. trol this virus.
he used the subcommittee to provide Our simple idea is not a partisan Although there is light at the end of
critical oversight. idea. Senator HASSAN and I released a the tunnel, we know the next 2 or 3
When China and Hong Kong authori- simple, straightforward idea. You get months or more are going to be dif-
ties turned to batons and tear gas in a to the end of the fiscal year, whenever ficult. We cannot let our guard down.
futile attempt to end democratic pro- that may be, and if we have not fin- We must continue to wear a mask,
tests, he hosted one of the architects of ished all the appropriations work, we practice social distancing, and wash
the student-powered Umbrella Move- continue working until it gets done. An our hands. We all can—and we must—
ment, Nathan Law. automatic continuing resolution kicks play an important role in defeating
When just this past year, some in so that no Federal worker is worried this virus, and we can do that if we
wished to shake down our Japanese and that they are going to have furloughs work together.
South Korean allies, we partnered on right before Christmas; no agency is Working together is the key to get
two resolutions, which reaffirmed our panicked about what happens next and through this pandemic. We know what
ironclad relationships to both allies. who do I have to furlough and who do happens when we work together here in
In his farewell address, CORY said I have to keep and who is essential and this Chamber. Early on in this pan-
that the pillars of the Senate Chamber who is nonessential. None of that hap- demic, we worked together to pass the
are principles shared by all Americans. pens. None of that waste occurs. We CARES Act, which provided vital re-
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They are immutable. CORY, it was a continue debating until we resolve the sources and support to keep families
pleasure to work with you these past issue. That is all that it is. and workers afloat.
years to also strengthen the pillars of We have 12 appropriations bills that We worked together to pass addi-
U.S. foreign policy, standing up for are not done. Painfully, in this year of tional aid for small businesses, for test-
human rights, our allies, and the rule COVID, there have been only 22 total ing, for healthcare providers, and for
of law around the world. appropriations hearings in 12 months— hospitals. And, right now, we need to
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S7572 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 17, 2020
once again come together and work to- bill that makes a difference to every- a period of morning business, with Sen-
gether to pass another round of help. one suffering from this pandemic. ators permitted to speak therein for up
We have done it before, and we did it I yield the floor. to 10 minutes each.
when case counts were far lower than VOTE ON SOMERS NOMINATION The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
they are now. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection, it is so ordered.
We need to summon the same sense question is, Will the Senate advise and f
of urgency, and we must come together consent to the Somers nomination? CORONAVIRUS
at the end of this week and pass mean- Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask for
ingful bipartisan and comprehensive the yeas and nays. Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I am
COVID relief. We must prove to the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a here on the floor today to talk again
American people that bipartisan nego- sufficient second? about the need for us to pass a legisla-
tiation is not a relic of the past. There appears to be a sufficient sec- tive package, which I would call an
As I talk to Michiganians each and ond. emergency package, to deal with our
every day, the message is very clear. The clerk will call the roll. COVID–19 crisis we have in this coun-
They want us to put partisan politics The senior assistant legislative clerk try.
aside and solve the very real challenges As we talk today on the floor of the
called the roll.
confronting our country. Senate, there are negotiators working
Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
Finding common ground and bringing busily in a room nearby to try to come
are necessarily absent: the Senator
people together has always been my ap- up with that package, and that is a
from Wyoming (Mr. ENZI), the Senator
proach to serving Michigan and the good thing. I know they have run into
from Nebraska (Mrs. FISCHER), the Sen-
people of this Nation. This past year, I some roadblocks, at least so I have
ator from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER),
am proud to say, we worked together been told. We need to work through
and the Senator from Georgia (Mr.
to advance legislation on priorities those roadblocks. They are relatively
PERDUE).
that not only addressed the pandemic small compared to the importance of
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
but also tackled issues facing the overall mission of helping the peo-
Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is
Michiganians and people across this ple we represent, helping those small
necessarily absent.
country each and every day. businesses, helping those hospitals,
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
On a bipartisan basis, we have been helping those families who find them-
SCOTT of Florida). Are there any other
able to pass legislation out of Congress selves without a paycheck through no
Senators in the Chamber desiring to
on a number of topics, whether it has fault of their own. And my hope is that
vote?
been expanding apprenticeship oppor- we can get there.
The result was announced—yeas 52,
tunities for veterans, closing loopholes The legislation that is being looked
nays 43, as follows:
that pose a threat to our national secu- at today, which may be part of a larger
[Rollcall Vote No. 274 Ex.] package that we will vote on either to-
rity, saving taxpayer dollars, pro-
tecting the Great Lakes, which is one YEAS—52 morrow or the next day, is, as I under-
of our Nation’s most precious natural Alexander Graham Romney stand it, informed by work that a bi-
Barrasso Grassley Rounds
resources, hiring more agricultural in- Blackburn Hawley
partisan group of us did over the past
Rubio
spectors at our Nation’s ports of entry, Blunt Hoeven Sasse
several weeks. I appreciate my col-
or improving the Department of Vet- Boozman Hyde-Smith Scott (FL) leagues so much. I see Senator MUR-
erans Affairs caregiver program. Braun Inhofe Scott (SC) KOWSKI is here on the floor today. She
Burr Johnson Shelby
I want to take this opportunity to Capito Kelly was one of those people. Senator
Sinema
thank my colleagues on both sides of Cassidy Kennedy MANCHIN was one of the people to help
Sullivan
the aisle for their partnership with me Collins Lankford
Tester organize it. In fact, I think the first
Cornyn Lee
in advancing these priorities. I know Cotton McConnell
Thune meeting was because LISA MURKOWSKI
there is no shortage of differences Cramer Moran Tillis invited people to have pizza at her
among us, but when we put personal Crapo Murkowski Toomey place. And that resulted in a very posi-
Cruz Paul Whitehouse
politics aside and focus on addressing Wicker
tive interaction between Democrats
Daines Portman
the problem at hand, I know we can get Ernst Risch Young and Republicans on a lot of detail, a lot
results. Gardner Roberts of specific issues, to be able to put to-
As we enter this next session of Con- NAYS—43
gether a package that will help our
gress, I am hopeful that we can build country right now to work through
Baldwin Hassan Reed
on some of the progress we have made. Bennet Heinrich Rosen
this crisis.
Whether it is supporting small busi- Blumenthal Hirono Sanders I wish I could say that things are bet-
nesses, lowering prescription drug Booker Jones Schatz ter. But when I look at my own home
costs, ensuring our Nation remains a Brown Kaine Schumer State of Ohio, I see just the opposite.
Cantwell King Shaheen
global leader in innovation, or getting Cardin Klobuchar In fact, over the past few weeks, we
Smith
through this public health and eco- Carper Leahy Stabenow
have had weekly cases that have in-
nomic crisis, there is much more that Casey Manchin creased, not decreased. Our number of
Udall
Coons Markey
can be done in the next Congress when Cortez Masto Menendez
Van Hollen daily new cases is averaging around
we are all willing to reach across the Duckworth Warner 10,000 a day now every day. That is dou-
Merkley
Warren
aisle to find lasting solutions. Durbin Murphy ble what it was just a month ago. At
Feinstein Murray Wyden
Two years ago, I delivered George least in my State, the coronavirus cri-
Gillibrand Peters
Washington’s Farewell Address on the sis has increased, not decreased.
Senate floor. It is an annual tradition NOT VOTING—5 By the same token, the economic cri-
here in the Senate. In that address, Enzi Harris Perdue sis that is a result of the COVID–19 cri-
President Washington warned of the Fischer Loeffler sis has continued to grow. We have
dangers of tribalism and political po- The nomination was confirmed. seen people who have lost their jobs be-
larization in our country. We cannot The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cause their restaurant doesn’t have
forget President Washington’s mes- ator from Ohio. any business, not because there is a
sage, particularly during these uncer- f government edict; although, there are
tain and daunting times. We cannot let in some States. Some States have said
polarization prevent us from doing the LEGISLATIVE SESSION you have to shut down. Some States
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people’s work. Let us build on that have gone so far as to say you have to
spirit of bipartisanship. Let us work shut down outdoor dining, not just in-
together to get things done. Our con- MORNING BUSINESS door dining. Of course, those people
stituents demand it. Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask have lost their jobs.
This week, we can again work in a bi- unanimous consent that the Senate In many cases, it is just because the
partisan way to pass a COVID relief proceed to legislative session and be in virus is so prevalent, people aren’t
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