Somers Nomination Vote and Coronavirus Relief, December 17, 2020 — Congressional Record, Senate
Summary
Page S7572 of the Congressional Record, Senate, for December 17, 2020, shows the vote on the Somers nomination, with yeas 52 and nays 43 in Rollcall Vote No. 274. Under the Coronavirus heading, Portman says negotiators are working in a nearby room on an emergency package for the COVID–19 crisis and that roadblocks are small compared with the mission of helping small businesses, hospitals, and families. Peters of Michigan urges the Senate to pass another round of help. Another Senator thanks staff, saying Members are only as good as the staffs.
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“Somers Nomination Vote and Coronavirus Relief, December 17, 2020 — Congressional Record, Senate.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-17-crec-2020-12-17-pt1-pgs7572-3-0fab927c3f/
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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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December 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7573
going out; they aren’t going shopping; they are. Again, in the trial that I am right now for mortgages, as an exam-
they aren’t going to the movie theater; in, the initial numbers are quite posi- ple, and other loans, so they didn’t
they aren’t going to the bowling alley; tive. need to step in. That money is being
they aren’t going to the restaurant; Also, it was done in a way that I repurposed. So, instead of $748 billion,
and they aren’t going to the hotels. think makes a lot of sense for the fu- it is more like $148 billion; instead of
Folks are losing their jobs. Again, not ture in terms of public-private partner- $908 billion, if you went for the whole
because of something they did or some- ship. The government basically said to thing, it is more like $300 billion—not
thing they could control. It is almost these companies that we will provide a that that is not a lot of money. It is.
like a natural disaster, and, therefore, market for you if you get busy pro- But compare that to what was being
they need some help and need it now. ducing this lifesaving vaccine. By the talked about only a couple of weeks
We really have kind of a K-shaped re- way, you can go ahead and start pro- ago and for the previous 9 months, by
covery here. People talk about a V- ducing the vaccine, even before it is ap- the way, which was a package in the
shaped recovery, where you have a re- proved so we don’t have to wait 4, 5 House of Representatives, called the
cession and you come right back out months after an approval to then get Heroes Act, which was trillions of dol-
the same way you went in. I wish that the production up and going. If you lars—$3.5 trillion, initially, and then
were the case here. Instead, it is kind don’t get the approval, we are going to they agreed, maybe, $2.4 trillion. I
of K-shaped. We do have some indus- throw away the vaccine. think the last offer that was on the
tries that are doing quite well, actu- It was worth doing. It was probably table that they didn’t take was $1.8
ally. In some areas of the country, they the best expenditure of Federal money trillion. We are not talking about those
are doing OK. That is the top of the K. we had here in the last package, the kind of numbers now. We are talking
But the bottom of the K is those who CARES package, because it ensured about a bridge, on an emergency basis.
are not. If you are in the hospitality that we not only would get these vac- It is targeted and focused. I will give
business, the travel business, if you are cines quickly, but we would get them you an example of that.
someone who has a job that is no distributed quickly. As an example, In this package—the bipartisan pack-
longer there because of this crisis, then even while the vaccines were being ap- age, which I hope is picked up, and I
you are in trouble. You are in trouble. proved recently—and these were the think it will be by the package that
I am told that I have now given 20 Pfizer vaccines—those vaccines were the final negotiators are working on.
floor speeches on the need for us to do already on their way to my home State That would be Secretary Mnuchin, who
something. I think it ought to be tar- of Ohio. They were pre-positioned has been very eager to get an agree-
geted. I think it ought to be focused. there. And when the approval came, we ment that helps the American people,
What I have said is that we have this could move quickly. People are being working for the President, but also the
wonderful new vaccine coming out. vaccinated today in my State and in leadership here—the Democratic lead-
Moderna is about to be approved, I be- your State—primarily, people who are er, the Republican leader, and in the
lieve. Pfizer was just approved. I am in on the frontlines as healthcare pro- House, the Democratic leader, the
a trial for the Janssen, J&J—Johnson viders. Speaker, and the Republican leader.
& Johnson—vaccine, actually. I think Next, we are helping with the nursing That is the group right now. What they
that is coming along well. We will homes, people who come in and out of are saying is, we want to get a package
probably have AstraZeneca coming the nursing homes, which is where, ob- done. I think, as an example, with the
soon. viously, most of this disease happens, PPP program, they will end up picking
This is something that is very posi- and then the people in the nursing up what this bipartisan group agreed
tive about this crisis. We actually fi- homes, then our EMS and other first to, which is to have a more narrow
nally have something that can help us responders, people who have health Paycheck Protection Program, PPP, to
turn the corner. I think it is important problems, preconditions that make help small businesses but to particu-
that we wear our masks. I think it is them more vulnerable to the virus, sen- larly focus on those businesses that are
important that we social distance. I iors. This is really exciting. This is the small businesses, instead of under 500
think it is important that we use the answer. This is what is going to help us as an example, maybe 300 people, and
hand sanitizer—all of that. We need to turn the tide, but that is going to be a those that are really hurting; in other
keep doing it. But the difference be- ways off until that is widely available. words, those that are losing money rel-
tween that and the vaccine is that the What I think, in terms of this pack- ative to where they were last year.
vaccine gives you the immunity we are age, again—I think of it as a bridge. It When you do a quarter-to-quarter com-
all seeking. People talk about herd im- is an emergency package to get us from parison—fourth quarter this year,
munity and that that could come— where we are now to this period prob- fourth quarter back in 2019—if you
early on people said—by so many peo- ably in the March, April, May time pe- have a loss, let’s say, of 25 percent or 30
ple getting infected. We can’t have that riod, when the vaccine will be widely percent, that is significant. With the
happen. Why? Because that will lead to available, and we will be able to have funding that we have, isn’t it better to
a lot of pain, a lot more deaths. Three that kind of herd immunity we talked target that funding toward those small
hundred thousand people have already about earlier. We don’t want commu- businesses that are really hurting?
died in this country from this crisis. nity spread. We want community im- That, I think, will be in the final pack-
We don’t want to bring herd immunity munity. And that is the idea. age.
in that way. We want to bring herd im- The package that the bipartisan Again, I commend my bipartisan col-
munity from the vaccine. group put together was $908 billion. Six leagues for coming up with some of
By the way, these vaccines are safe. of the ten of us voted for that. All of us these ideas and working out some of
They are effective. I mean, if you look voted for a smaller package, which was this stuff because there are some dif-
at the numbers, 95 percent efficacy— $748 billion. It is important to note ferences. By the way, no one of the 10
unbelievable. Do your own research that of that $908 billion, or $748 billion, of us involved in this thing, agreed
and look at it and make your own deci- we also repurposed a lot of money that with every part of this package, trust
sion, but this is not a situation where, has already been spent. So, roughly, me.
as with the flu, actually—when you $600 billion was pulled back from the I would have written a different
take the flu shot, I am told, only about PPP program that had not been spent package, as any of my colleagues would
one-third of the time does it work and yet and also from a Trump program have, but it was necessary to get to
about two-thirds of the time it doesn’t. that the Treasury and the Fed had to yes, to get to a result. We have done
That has happened to my family mem- provide loans that were not being used. that and, I think, again, it will inform
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bers, probably to you or your family That is the 13(3) Program you might where we end up in terms of the pack-
members, where you take a flu shot, have heard about. That program, fortu- age coming to the floor.
and it doesn’t really help. But here, 90, nately, was not tapped into because the The Paycheck Protection Program is
95 percent, 98 percent—the numbers are commercial bank stepped in and pro- a good example of that. We also pro-
amazing. Take a look at them—‘‘effi- vided a lot of that lending that was vided in that program loan forgiveness
cacy,’’ meaning that is how effective necessary. Rates are at historic lows for small loans—$150,000 or less—in a
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S7574 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 17, 2020
very simplified manner, so you this virus, you can get unemployment and heroin and fentanyl, the deadly
wouldn’t have to go through all the bu- insurance. That is not typical in my synthetic opioid—to the point that
reaucracy and the costs and the loops State, and it is not typical in most only 4 years ago, we had the highest
and the hoops, which small businesses States. rates of overdose deaths in the history
just can’t afford to do. So I am proud of But because of the Federal law we of our country. Seventy-two thousand
our work there as well. passed, the CARES Act—again, 9 people were dying a year. A lot of us fo-
We also provided help to some of the months ago—that is permitted, but it cused on that year.
hardest hit industries, including the ends the day after Christmas. I have For the past 4 or 5 years, this Con-
airline industry. We want to keep a people self-employed coming up to me gress spent money and changed policies
viable airline industry in this country. back home saying: I have to know. I to help people get treatment and get
We don’t want them to go bankrupt don’t know if I can pay the rent. I don’t into longer term recovery. More money
and planes to stop flying. We actually know if I can make a car payment. I went into prevention activities to keep
want, over this bridge period—between need to know. I don’t know if I can people from getting into the funnel of
now and, as I mentioned, March, April, make my mortgage. addiction, in the first place. This was
May—to be sure that the economy can We are going to tell them, I hope, in at epidemic levels.
get back on its feet as quickly as pos- this legislation that passes that, in- In 2018 and 2019, we started to see a
sible. That is why we don’t want these deed, they are going to get the cov- reversal of that for the first time in
small businesses to go out of business erage. And the 13 weeks of the Federal really 3 decades. Every year—for some-
and their employees to be put on the extension on the State unemployment thing like 30 years—in my home State
unemployment lines. That is why we will also be extended so that the day of Ohio, we would see more overdose
want to be sure our airlines can con- after Christmas, again, people aren’t deaths every year—every year. In 2018,
tinue. They are having a tough time. falling off the cliff. we had a 20-plus percent reduction in
But 90,000 jobs alone in this industry Again, the Federal supplement per overdose deaths. It was about a 22-per-
will be lost, we are told, unless we do week originally was $600 per week, as cent reduction in Ohio—a 22-percent re-
something along the lines we did in the you know. That $600 per week, I duction of deaths. That is because we
bipartisan package—90,000 additional thought, was relatively high, meaning all focused at the Federal level, State
jobs lost. We don’t want that. We want that many people were getting more on level, and local level, and we made a
to be sure we are positioned for growth. unemployment than they were in their difference.
By the way, in my view—for what- jobs. That was a problem for many em- We began to change this dynamic of
ever it is worth—I think this economy ployers, typically small employers that young people and middle-aged people
is incredibly resilient. I know it is not had a tough time getting people to and across the spectrum. Regardless of
going great right now. We still have 10 come back to work. As the economy the ZIP Code you lived in, you were
million people out of work who were started to improve after the March, being affected by this. We changed it so
working as of February of this year. April, May time period, when things that people were actually getting the
We have 10 million people who haven’t started to pick up a little bit, it was help they needed, getting out from
found their way back to work yet. We tough. under their addiction, getting back to
still have relatively high unemploy- This compromise, I think, will be work and back to their families. It was
ment compared to where we were. In $300. Maybe it will be $200. I don’t know good news. The heartbreaking part of
my State, it is about double where it what exactly they are working out. this for me is that, having made that
was. But we have been resilient, given Our proposal was $300, which is a bipar- progress, finally, we now see, during
what we have been hit with. I believe tisan compromise. Many Democrats this coronavirus pandemic, an epi-
that if we can get to this period of time would like to go back to the $600. Some demic underneath it. It is the epidemic
where we have the vaccine readily Republicans think it should be less of drug addiction.
available, we are poised for a takeoff. than $300. But this is a compromise, There are new numbers out today
I think there is pent-up demand. and it is a way for us to ensure that that I saw that don’t surprise me as
Among my constituents, they are during this time period—and this is for much as they discourage me, which is
going to be happy to get out and shop 16 weeks only, so between now and the that, this year, instead of 72,000 people
again—to go to the restaurants and go end of March—on this bridge that we dying of overdose deaths in America
to the hotels, to travel, to go to the talked about, if people are unemployed from drug abuse—this is not just
movie theaters and go to the stages, through no fault of their own, they opioids but all drugs, including
the places where there is a performance should be able to get a little bit to be psychostimulants, like methamphet-
that has to be canceled now and where able to put food on the table, make the amine; crystal meth from Mexico that
people are struggling to keep these car payment, make the rent. That is in is cheap, powerful, deadly—this year, it
venues open. Those will not just be re- this package, too. is expected that our overdose death
opened. People, I think, will flock There is also funding in here for rent- rate will be the highest ever. We are
there. We have to get through to that al assistance. As you know, some peo- getting back to where we were. Plus-
period. ple have been hanging on wondering if 83,000 is the number I saw today. Re-
In my view, it is worth helping to en- they are going to be evicted or not. member, I mentioned 72,000 people
sure that in the interim period, we Evictions make no sense right now for dying only 4 years ago. Now we are
don’t have even more pain and more the tenants or the landlords or the back to 83,000. This is a crisis within a
loss in jobs and are prepared to move economy. We don’t want people out on pandemic, and we need to deal with it.
forward. the street. Landlords don’t want to go There are lots of different opinions
On unemployment insurance, again, through the pain of having to go out there as to why this is happening.
if you lost your job, not because of through an eviction and trying to find I believe strongly a lot of this is just
what you did but because of what I said somebody else. They can get some help from the isolation that comes from
earlier—almost like a natural disaster just to hold on during this period. this pandemic. People haven’t been
of the virus—we should provide addi- There is funding in rental assistance to able to go and meet with and talk to
tional help. We do that in the legisla- help keep people in their homes with a their recovery coaches, which is one of
tion. roof over their head as we go through the ways that we were changing this
The day after Christmas, the current this period. dynamic. People were able to meet
relief ends in terms of the Federal help The final one I want to talk about— with people who were recovering ad-
and unemployment insurance. That is and there are a lot of other provisions dicts themselves to help them get
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
not something that any of us should here that I don’t have time to go into. through it. It was working for a lot of
want to see. If you are self-employed, if What I want to talk about is one that people.
you are a so-called gig economy work- is a heartbreaker for me. For many Yet at some of these longer term re-
er, then, you are able to get unemploy- years now, we have been challenged covery places where people can be—say
ment insurance right now if you don’t with this drug addiction issue, particu- a home, a sober home—they had issues
have a job. If you can’t work because of larly opioids. It is prescription drugs with the pandemic and have not been
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December 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7575
able to have the group homes provide What we tried to put together was a It is also likely that it will include
that care. package that said: OK, if you are a bad some tax provisions which are so-called
Also, people have not been able just actor, if you didn’t follow the rules— tax extenders.
to go see their doctors or their treat- and the rules were pretty clear—you I would say one thing, that I hope it
ment providers. Telemedicine has aren’t protected. You are accountable. includes is the permanent extension of
helped. That is one reason in our pack- But if you followed the rules, and you tax relief for our craft beverage indus-
age that we put more funding into tele- were trying your best to deal with try. This would be craft breweries,
medicine, because that is a way you ever-changing standards—and, let’s craft vintners, craft distillers. We
can get to people. Both in regard to be- face it; they have been quite different. passed legislation a few years ago that
havioral health, mental health issues, Remember back in March and April, was very important to them, that al-
and with regard to addiction, it hasn’t people were saying: Don’t wear a mask. lowed them to have a reduction in the
filled the gap. Now, of course, we know that was a excise tax they pay on certain vol-
Also, a lot of people are feeling a mistake. At the time, we didn’t. The umes—relatively low volumes of their
great deal of stress and even despair notion is to protect people from frivo- product.
and joblessness. And, obviously, if you lous lawsuits who were doing their As a result, many of these businesses
go to the food banks in Ohio, you see best. have been able to expand, hire people,
people who are in their cars waiting for and now they have the possibility of
By the way, there was a survey done
3, 4, 5, 6 hours at times. There is some- this expiring at the end of the year and
of people saying: Do you think there
thing going on here, folks. These are having a big bill due that they cannot
should be protection for people who are
people who are feeling desperation. To afford.
doing their best, whereas people who We are proud in Ohio to be the home
wait in line for 6 hours to get a box of
are grossly negligent—that was the of an industry, the craft beer produc-
food means that you have a real prob-
lem in your family. word used, ‘‘gross negligence’’—would tion industry. It is now No. 6 in the
By the way, some of these people— not be protected; they would be ac- country. It supports 81,000 jobs. It is a
because I talked to people who have countable? And 79 percent of the Amer- business that has been hurt for two
gone to these food banks—have never ican people agreed with that. reasons: One, if you think about it, the
been in a food bank in their lives. They There has also been polling out there restaurants aren’t doing the business
found themselves in a tough situation. with regard to small businesses, from they used to do, so if you are providing
Again, it is not everybody. Remem- the NFIB, saying that 70 percent of your product to a restaurant, you are
ber the K-shaped recovery? For some small businesses are very concerned hurt. But also, a lot of these craft dis-
people, it has been fine. If you are a and worried about this. Again, think of tillers or craft brewers or craft vint-
white collar worker and you can the business. Revenue has crashed. ners have their own tasting rooms or
telework from home virtually—maybe Profits have crashed. They are hanging their own brew pubs, and those, in
you are in the finance industry or on. The PPP is going to help them be- some cases, have been shut down alto-
maybe you are in the tech industry— cause we are getting more PPP. The gether. In other cases, their revenues
you might be doing great. But your Paycheck Protection Program, which have crashed, so it would not be the
neighbor who has a job at that res- we talked about earlier, will help to time for them to be facing a big tax
taurant or perhaps in another business get them through this. bill, and that is what the excise tax
like the travel business or the motor- If they are facing a lawsuit—whether would be. Income tax you pay later in
coach business, they don’t have the op- they win it or not, whether they can the year; excise tax you would have to
portunities to get that job. They are prove that they were doing the right pay right away.
the ones in the food bank line. thing—just the cost of that lawsuit So my hope is that that will be ex-
By the way, putting more funding could well be the difference of that tended permanently. More than half
into the food banks, as well as into small business continuing operations the Members of this body joined me
helping people to be able to afford food, or not. and Senator WYDEN on a letter to our
is, obviously, a big issue right now. Nonprofits. The nonprofits in Ohio leadership about this, urging that this
The notion here is that, with this are very interested in the liability re- extender, which has worked so well to
legislation, we are going to provide forms, as are the education commu- increase jobs and opportunity in Amer-
more help for people who are suffering nity—the higher ed people, the school ica, can continue on a permanent basis
from addiction, with the thought of teachers—as are people in the going forward.
trying all we can to try to reverse this healthcare industry across the board— My hope is that that is part of the
trend. nursing homes and hospitals. My hope package as well. That will help in
Ultimately, again, the best way to terms of the economic stimulus part of
is that we can get back to work on
reverse it is to have this coronavirus this, which is also important.
that. Perhaps after this legislation has
pandemic behind us so that people can I thank you for what you are doing if
passed, as we look at what we do next,
socialize again and gather again and you are one of those people out there
let’s be sure that we are providing that
aren’t feeling the despair, aren’t iso- who is promoting the vaccines and
protection in combination with pro-
lated. And that is coming. talking about the importance of our
But the bridge to there is important viding that help to our State and local
getting the vaccines. If you are not, I
so we save as many lives as we can. governments that need it, where they
hope you will look at the research. I
There is $5 billion in our legislation— can demonstrate they need it. I don’t
hope you will look at the fact that we
the bipartisan bill—to do just that. My think it will be in this package, but it
should be encouraging everyone to get
hope is, again, that that will be in the should be in the next package.
vaccinated unless someone has a health
final package, and I believe it will be. I will say, this legislation on COVID
problem that makes it difficult for
I believe that what the negotiators are is needed and we ought to move it now.
them.
working on is very similar to what is We cannot go home for the holidays The polling data is not encouraging
in the legislation that we came to- without passing COVID–19 rescue legis- on this. The last Gallup poll shows that
gether with as a bipartisan group. lation. only 58 percent of Americans are com-
My only disappointment in the group Again, to me, it is a rescue package. fortable being vaccinated. That needs
is that we couldn’t end up with this It is not a stimulus package as much as to change.
combination of State and local fund- it is getting us through this period, I have heard some people say: Well,
ing—targeted toward need, by the way, providing that bridge between now and when you look at the polling, it shows
not the way it was done last time, per when the vaccine is readily available. that Democrats are concerned because
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
capita, but targeted for need—and li- This legislation is likely to be part of this happened in the Trump adminis-
ability protection for these small busi- a broader bill that will include a num- tration, this vaccine development.
nesses, for these private nursing ber of things, including spending for This is not political. Take the poli-
homes, for these EMS personnel, for the year so we don’t have a govern- tics out of it.
emergency medical people who are con- ment shutdown. It is a good thing not These are scientists. They have been
cerned. They are concerned about it. to have a government shutdown. working around the clock over the past
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S7576 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 17, 2020
9 months, 10 months, to get us to this have not had the opportunity to be as have outlined in this proposal—this bi-
point. These are scientists who are now engaged in every level of the debate partisan, bicameral proposal—is just
working around the clock to look care- and aspect as we were in these con- exactly that. It is that lifeline that can
fully at these vaccines to determine versations. get them from December to March, to
whether they are approved or not. The Senator from Ohio, while he April, when hope really starts to re-
These are the scientists who are mak- might not have been at that dinner, turn.
ing decisions, not the politicians. It is was with us every step of the way and So I know that there is a great deal
the people in the white coats. We need was truly leading on the negotiations that is being considered right now. As
to trust them, for the sake of our coun- when it came to the liability provisions I have shared with folks, I say: Well,
try, because we need to reverse this and the input in so many other areas. we were able to advance the ball sig-
terrible virus and the pandemic that is But what we were able to outline, nificantly with this effort that we have
causing all of the issues that we talked given a framework of how we can be re- made. But when we presented that
about earlier today, to our commu- sponsive to the pandemic and the eco- multihundred-page package to the pub-
nities, to our families. So the way to nomic crisis at hand, focusing on the lic, to the administration, to leader-
do that is to ensure that we do, in fact, most vulnerable—those who have lost ship, we basically said: Here is a gift.
not just have this vaccine available but their jobs, those who have a small busi- Take it.
that people take advantage of it and ness that is open but just barely open So we have kind of lost ball control,
are willing to be vaccinated. because there are no customers or be- if you will. That is good. That is fine.
I hope, if you are listening this cause the limitations on your res- That is what this process is all about.
evening, that you will pass that word taurant are so small you can barely But I am just urging that we commit
along and that you, again, will do your even afford to keep your doors open—to with every sense of expediency and ur-
own research. Look at it. But my hope be responsive to those who have lost gency to do our business quickly and
is that the conclusion will be to get to their jobs, to those who are looking at fairly, with the politics aside, because
the period we want to get, which is to the first of January and wondering if the last thing that folks back home
have people feel like they can reengage they are going to be able to stay in need, whether it is in Ohio or Alaska,
in the economy and feel like they can their home or in their apartment, to is to know that we might have wrapped
be back with their loved ones and con- those families who have children at up our business here, and we didn’t
gregate and feel like they can go back home who haven’t been in a classroom hear them. We didn’t respond to their
to church or their other place of wor- since March of this year, for those need. We left them hanging. That is
ship; they feel like they can send their rural healthcare providers that have not an option for us, and that will not
been struggling as they have tried to happen.
kids back to school; they feel like they
meet the crush of demand and need We are all pledging to make sure that
can get back to a more normal life.
within their small hospitals. we resolve this before Christmas or we
That will happen through the accessi- What we tried to do was build a pack-
bility and the ability to actually get are not going home. But we can do bet-
age that was responsive to the emer-
that vaccine. ter than that. We don’t need to draw
gency at hand. And as Senator
So my hope is that those listening this out. We have an opportunity,
PORTMAN has noted, this was not de-
tonight will do that and do their part working together, so I encourage those
signed to be a stimulus bill. This is not
in spreading that message instead of who are negotiating. We have provided
designed to be the end-all, be-all for
spreading the virus. not only a template and a framework,
how we move forward. It is targeted
I yield the floor. but we have really given you consider-
emergency relief.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- What we were able to present on able meat in terms of this legislation.
ator from Alaska. Monday, which I felt was so hopeful, My hope is that we are going to have
f were not only the debate and the con- good news very, very shortly that will
tours of the framework but then to ac- allow us to not only address the ur-
CORONAVIRUS
tually put that into legislative text—5 gency in response to this COVID pan-
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I demic but also be able to resolve our
or 6 inches of legislative language, a
had an opportunity to listen to my end-of-year appropriations and other
bill—a bill for this body to consider, a
friend and colleague from the State of matters that we have had working be-
path to move us forward at a time
Ohio outline in great detail the efforts fore this body.
when it is so incredibly critical.
that a bipartisan group has been work- Also on Monday, we were met with But as they say, we are running out
ing on for just a month now. hope because the vaccine—the long- of daylight, so let’s get moving with it.
It was just a month ago, I was re- promised vaccine—has come about in f
minded—November 17, apparently— extraordinarily short order, historic ef-
that I had an opportunity to invite TRIBUTE TO BRIAN HUGHES
forts by so many to get the develop-
some colleagues over to my house for ment to this point, to get the approval, Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President,
dinner and conversation. And while it the safe approval, and now moving for- speaking of moving, I wanted to take a
wasn’t pizza, it didn’t make any dif- ward to distribution. few minutes on the floor this afternoon
ference what we were eating. It was all The headline in our largest news- to recognize a couple of individuals
about the conversation and what we paper yesterday was ‘‘Morale gets a who are moving on.
could do to be responsive to the ur- boost’’ as vaccine arrives. And, boy, do We have heard some floor speeches in
gency of the need. we need a morale boost. these past several weeks from col-
As my friend from Ohio has said, peo- This is a dark time in Alaska right leagues who have been with us, some
ple in Ohio are suffering. People in now. The sun sets about, I don’t know, for decades, like Senator ALEXANDER,
Alaska are suffering. People around the maybe about 3:45 in the afternoon right Senator ENZI, and some who were with
country are suffering. And they are now, so it makes for a short day. But us for not quite as long, Senator JONES.
looking to us for answers and for hope. we are used to short days because we We have had an opportunity to hear
I felt on Monday that there was that know that in the darkest times of win- from them and to share our thanks, but
sense of hope that we could offer. It is ter, there is going to come that time I think we all know that as Members of
not the end-all and be-all in terms of a when things start to change and the Congress, Members here in the Senate,
legislative proposal, but it was a dozen days actually begin to get longer; the we are as good as our staffs—the staff
Members, bipartisan—Republicans and sunlight is with us more and more. who help guide us, who help give us the
Democrats from this body, as well as And as Alaskans are considering the information, who work with us as we
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Republicans and Democrats from the very deep, deep economic strife that we not only help to build policy but just
House—coming together over the are in right now, we know that there is kind of probe and develop and encour-
course of a month, hours on Zoom, light at the end because the vaccine is age us. The work that our teams do for
digging into the details and the issues arriving; that is coming. us is considerable, and it is appre-
in a way that, as someone who has been But in the meantime, they need to ciated, and we need to show that
part of this body now for 18 years, I get from here to there. So what we thanks and appreciation.
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