Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 18, 2020)
Summary
The Congressional Record, Volume 166, No. 215, for Friday, December 18, 2020, with Senate proceedings beginning at page S7647. Under the heading 2020 Election, Mr. Grassley describes the certified six-vote result in Iowa's Second Congressional District and says Democratic leaders have been quiet about a looming challenge to it in the House. Under the heading Coronavirus, Mr. McConnell says bipartisan and bicameral talks continue and a framework for a major rescue package is very close, citing the need for a targeted second round of PPP, expiring programs, school funding and vaccine distribution, and saying more than 300,000 Americans have been lost. He then pays tribute to Phil Maxson.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 18, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-18-crec-2020-12-18-pt1-pgs7648-6-c126be0e99/
, SHA-256 6d5208cf534e4a98fc5b6cd6372920952025eada5c78c3a38e983dc0267b794f.Full text
Congressional Record
E PL
UR M
IB NU
U U
S
116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 No. 215
Senate
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was Representative-Elect Miller-Meeks and I have been working around the
called to order by the President pro won by six votes, and that was after clock for several days now. The talks
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). careful recounts conducted and cer- remain productive. In fact, I am even
f tified on a bipartisan basis according more optimistic now than I was last
to Iowa law. On election night, the night that a bipartisan, bicameral
PRAYER framework for a major rescue package
Democratic candidate lost. A few days
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- later, two counties were recounted, and is very close at hand.
fered the following prayer: the Democratic candidate still lost. Well, let’s face it, though, it doesn’t
Let us pray. Then the Democratic candidate asked help struggling Americans keep their
O God, our shield and fortress, we for a recount of all 24 counties, and jobs or endure unemployment or pay
thank You for Your unfailing love. after that recount, the Democratic their rent or get vaccines any faster to
Look with favor upon our Senators. candidate lost. A day later, the sec- keep hearing that we are having good
Guide them around the obstacles that retary of state of Iowa certified the discussions. What families across the
hinder their progress, uniting them for election, just like the secretaries of country deserve—what they have need-
the common good of this great land. state of our 50 States certified their ed and deserved for months now—is an
Lord, enable them to go from strength elections in the Presidential election. outcome, another targeted relief pack-
to strength as they fulfill Your pur- Now the Democratic opponent chose age to get more assistance into their
poses for their lives in this generation. not to make a case under Iowa law to hands as fast as possible.
Striving to please You, help them to a judicial panel headed by the chief Struggling small business owners
stand for right and leave the con- justice of Iowa, presumably because have already waited too long for a tar-
sequences to You. Lord, give them a there was no legal case. geted second round of PPP. Laid-off
sense of partnership with You in seek- Now what happens? The next step is workers have already waited too long
ing Your best for all phases of our na- that candidate, under a 1969 Federal to have expiring programs extended.
tional life. Kids, teachers, and families have al-
law, can ask the House of Representa-
We pray in Your mighty Name. ready waited too long for funding to
tives to set aside Iowa’s election law
Amen. help schools reopen safely. We have al-
and overturn Iowa’s certified election
f ready waited too long to fully fund vac-
results through a purely political proc-
cine distributions so our scientists’ his-
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ess, which could presumably have a
toric sprint toward a safe and effective
The President pro tempore led the Democratic majority of 222 in the U.S.
vaccine is followed up by an equally
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: House overturn the votes of 400,000
important logistical effort.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Iowans. This has been an unbelievably hard
United States of America, and to the Repub- Now, getting back to what seems to year for our country. We have seen nor-
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, be a double standard, if Democratic mal daily life grind to a halt and take
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. leaders do not nip this in the bud now, a record-setting economy right down
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ROM- they have no room to point fingers at with it. And even as we have watched
NEY). The Senator from Iowa. any other Member of Congress. doctors, nurses, and researchers make
f I yield the floor. lifesaving history, we have lost more
f than 300,000 Americans entirely too
2020 ELECTION
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY soon.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, there Like I have said, the Senate will be
has been a lot of finger wagging across LEADER
right here until an agreement is
the aisle by both Senate and House The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- passed, whenever that may be. We will
Democrats about accepting election re- jority leader is recognized. just continue voting. There are some
sults. Most of that has been related to f more well-qualified nominees for im-
whether or not Trump would concede portant posts that we can confirm in
the results of the election to Biden. CORONAVIRUS
the meantime. So let’s finish our busi-
But, obviously, there is somewhat of a Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, our ness for the American people.
double standard because these same bipartisan discussions are continuing f
Democrats are mum about a looming to make significant headway toward
challenge to the certified results of the another relief package for the Amer- TRIBUTE TO PHIL MAXSON
election of Iowa’s Second Congres- ican people. The Democratic leader, Mr. MCCONNELL. Now, on a com-
sional District. Speaker PELOSI, Leader MCCARTHY, pletely different matter, Mr. President,
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
S7647
.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:18 Dec 19, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE6.000 S18DEPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-12-18_crec-2020-12-18-pt1-pgs7648-6.pdf
- Size
- 254,174 bytes
- SHA-256
- 6d5208cf534e4a98fc5b6cd6372920952025eada5c78c3a38e983dc0267b794f
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov