Congressional Record, Senate Page S7682 — December 18, 2020

Summary

This is S7682 of the Congressional Record, Senate, December 18, 2020, with interleaved columns. The page opens with the end of bill text containing sections 820 to 823 on NASA matters such as domestic supplier preferences, commercial spaceports, orbital debris mitigation, and commercial communications services. Under the heading Executive Calendar, Mr. Hawley makes a unanimous consent request on S. 4999 on behalf of working people, calling for direct payments of $1,200 for every working individual, $2,400 for working couples, and 500 bucks for kids and dependents. A responding Senator, whose name is not printed in the text read, says the economic impact payments Mr. Hawley wants to duplicate sent checks to 166 million people, and warns the national debt would reach $28.4 trillion. The views are attributed to the speakers.

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“Congressional Record, Senate Page S7682 — December 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-pgs7683-2-364fabc1ec/, SHA-256 952dc3254db08f3810a721be326719c0e28b8f8ae1199d1c4e1beef9883a2fac.

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S7682 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2020
a NASA center of excellence for space weath- (2) support the development of orbital de- daughters to go fight our wars, who
er technology. bris mitigation technologies through contin- have given their time and their talents
(b) GEOGRAPHIC CONSIDERATIONS.—In the ued research and development of concepts. and their treasure at every opportunity
report required by subsection (a), the Admin- (c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than
istrator shall consider the benefits of estab- 90 days after the date of the enactment of
for this Nation.
lishing the center of excellence described in this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
And now they are in need. They are
that subsection in a geographic area— the appropriate committees of Congress a re- the backbone of this Nation, and they
(1) in close proximity to— port on the status of implementing sub- are in crisis. I am talking about the 8
(A) significant government-funded space section (b). million Americans who have fallen into
weather research activities; and SEC. 823. STUDY ON COMMERCIAL COMMUNICA- poverty since this summer; 12 million
(B) institutions of higher education; and TIONS SERVICES. families—working families—who are
(2) where NASA may have been previously (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of now behind on their rent; the 35 per-
underrepresented. Congress that— cent of working families in America
SEC. 820. REVIEW ON PREFERENCE FOR DOMES- (1) enhancing the ability of researchers to
TIC SUPPLIERS. who have had to go ask for food assist-
conduct and interact with experiments while
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the Sense of in flight would make huge advancements in ance in the last couple of months be-
Congress that the Administration should, to the overall profitability of conducting re- cause of this pandemic. Those are the
the maximum extent practicable and with search on suborbit and low-Earth orbit pay- people I am talking about.
due consideration of foreign policy goals and loads; and I am talking about people like Susan,
obligations under Federal law— (2) current NASA communications do not who is a single mother, a working
(1) use domestic suppliers of goods and allow for real-time data collection, observa- mother, from my State in Northeast
services; and tion, or transmission of information. Missouri, where she lives. She wrote to
(2) ensure compliance with the Federal ac- (b) STUDY.—The Administrator shall con-
quisition regulations, including subcontract me the other day, and she is trying to
duct a study on the feasibility, impact, and
flow-down provisions. cost of using commercial communications
home school her kids who are home be-
(b) REVIEW.— programs services for suborbital flight pro- cause of COVID. She doesn’t have
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days grams and low-Earth orbit research. internet because she is in a rural part
after the date of the enactment of this Act, (c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months of the State. She doesn’t have
the Administrator shall undertake a com- after the date of the enactment of this Act, broadband. She is trying to feed her
prehensive review of the domestic supplier the Administrator shall submit to Congress family. She is trying to stay up with
preferences of the Administration and the and make publicly available a report that
obligations of the Administration under the
her job, but she has to miss shifts at
describes the results of the study conducted work because she has got kids at home
Federal acquisition regulations to ensure under subsection (b).
compliance, particularly with respect to whom she is trying to home school and
Federal acquisition regulations provisions Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, I suggest supervise. Now she has fallen behind on
that apply to foreign-based subcontractors. the absence of a quorum. her rent. She told me, and these are
(2) ELEMENTS.—The review under para- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The her words:
graph (1) shall include— clerk will call the roll. I am not asking for handouts. I am just
(A) an assessment as to whether the Ad- The legislative clerk proceeded to asking for a chance to get back on my feet.
ministration has provided funding for infra- call the roll.
structure of a foreign-owned company or Earlier this week, a friend of mine
f down in Southeast Missouri, the boot
State-sponsored entity in recent years; and
(B) a review of any impact such funding EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued heel of Missouri, in a town called
has had on domestic service providers. Charleston, was helping to distribute
(c) REPORT.—The Administrator shall sub- Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, I ask
food to families in need. He said that
mit to the appropriate committees of Con- unanimous consent that the order for
there were 30 church groups—30—who
gress a report on the results of the review. the quorum call be rescinded.
lined up to come get food for their con-
SEC. 821. REPORT ON UTILIZATION OF COMMER- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
CIAL SPACEPORTS LICENSED BY gregations, and over 60 families—this is
objection, it is so ordered.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRA- a small town—there were over 60 fami-
TION.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
lies who stood in line, and as they were
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year ator from Missouri.
loading food into the trunks of people’s
after the date of the enactment of this Act, UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 4999
cars, many of them were crying.
the Administrator shall submit to the appro- Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, I am What these people ask for, what
priate committees of Congress a report on here on behalf of the millions of work-
the benefits of increased utilization of com-
these Americans ask for is not for gov-
ing people in this country who are out ernment to solve all their problems. It
mercial spaceports licensed by the Federal
Aviation Administration for NASA civil
of time, who are out of luck, and who is not for government to give them a
space missions and operations. are just about out of hope. I am here on handout. It is a chance to get back on
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required by sub- behalf of the millions of working peo- their feet, a chance to provide for
section (a) shall include the following: ple who have borne the worst of this themselves, a chance to recover when
(1) A description and assessment of current pandemic, the people who got sent they have been asked, again, to sac-
utilization of commercial spaceports li- home back in March and April and rifice so much.
censed by the Federal Aviation Administra- May, when other businesses got to stay
tion for NASA civil space missions and oper-
That is why the least this body can
ations.
open, and when companies like Amazon do is to provide direct relief to every
(2) A description and assessment of the and Facebook were making billions of working American who needs it. That
benefits of increased utilization of such dollars. These are the workers who lost is what we did back in March that
spaceports for such missions and operations. their jobs, the workers who lost their every Senator voted for: $1,200 for
(3) A description and assessment of the pay, the workers who were told: Too every working individual, $2,400 for
steps necessary to achieve increased utiliza- bad for you. working couples, 500 bucks for kids and
tion of such spaceports for such missions and These are people who right now are dependents. It is the least that we can
operations. missing shifts at work to try to care
SEC. 822. ACTIVE ORBITAL DEBRIS MITIGATION.
do. It should be the first thing that we
for kids who are distance learning be- could do.
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of
Congress that—
cause of COVID, who are trying to care As these negotiations drag on and on,
(1) orbital debris, particularly in low-Earth for a relative who may be sick. These fixated and focused and hung up on
orbit, poses a hazard to NASA missions, par- are the people who are always asked to who knows what issues, let’s start with
ticularly human spaceflight; and make it work, who are always asked to this. Let’s send a message to working
(2) progress has been made on the develop- hold it together and, you know what, families that they are first, not last;
ment of guidelines for long-term space sus- they do. that they are the most important con-

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
tainability through the United Nations Com- These are proud people, the working sideration, not some afterthought.
mittee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. people of our Nation. These are strong
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Administrator Let’s send that message today.
should— people. These are the people who have Surely, we can agree that the work-
(1) ensure the policies and standard prac- rallied to this Nation’s defense in every ing people of this country deserve re-
tices of NASA meet or exceed international hour of need, in every moment of dan- lief, and if we are going to spend hun-
guidelines for spaceflight safety; and ger, who have sent their sons and dreds of billions of dollars on bailing

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December 18, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7683
out this, that, and the other, surely, percent of last year’s GDP—if we do provide relief—we did provide economic
surely, we could start with reasonable, this bipartisan deal, another trillion impact payments, which Senator
modest relief to the working people in dollars, we will be $28.4 trillion in debt HAWLEY wants to just duplicate—no
need in this Nation. in the next 3 or 4 months. That is 132 changes, no modifications, no further
What I am proposing is what every percent of GDP. targeting. Those economic impact pay-
Senator has supported already this When I came to the Senate, we were ments were about $275 billion to 166
year. What I am proposing is modest a little over $14 trillion and our GDP million people. Remember, 25 million
compared to the scope of the need. was over $15 trillion, and we were actu- people lost their jobs, but we sent our
What I am proposing will give working ally below 100 percent of GDP. checks to 166 million people, averaging
folks in my State and across this coun- I know I am using a lot of numbers about $1,673 per person. What may be a
try a shot—a shot—here before Christ- right now, and I am going to use more more relevant figure is how many
mas at getting back up on their feet, because that is part of the problem. households we sent those checks to. We
getting back to work, and getting back One of the reasons we are $27.4 tril- sent them out to about 115 million
in a position to be able to provide for lion in debt is, we only speak about households at about $2,400 per house-
themselves, these folks who are the need; we only talk in terms of compas- hold.
backbone of this Nation. sion. We all have compassion. We all So, again, $275 billion to 115 million
I am here today to ask that this body want to fulfill those needs. We just households—that was about 4.5 more
take up and pass this relief measure: don’t talk in numbers very often. We households than the number of jobs
$1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for couples, don’t analyze the data. We don’t take a lost. Today, with only 9 million jobs
$500 for kids. look at what we did in the past and see, lost, not only—I mean, that is a big
Mr. President, as in legislative ses- did it work or didn’t it work? What was number, a big number. I am not mini-
sion, I now ask unanimous consent spent well? What was wasted? mizing that. With 9 million jobs lost, if
that the Senate proceed to the imme- So I didn’t have enough time to do we just repeat it—send out to another
diate consideration of my bill at the charts. It would be a little bit easier. 115 million households—that is 12.6
desk; I further ask that the bill be con- But let me go through numbers, and I times the number of jobs lost. And if
sidered read a third time and passed, will go through slowly so that people we double it, it goes from $275 billion
and that the motion to reconsider be can understand at least my perspective to $550 billion. That is half a trillion
considered made and laid upon the of why I am so concerned about our Na- dollars.
table. tion’s debt and the fact that we are I know a trillion doesn’t sound like
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there mortgaging our children’s future. I much anymore. It seems like hundreds
objection? think we need to be very careful about
The Senator from Wisconsin. of billions seem more, but now that we
Mr. JOHNSON. Reserving the right mortgaging it further when we aren’t are dealing in $1 trillion or $2 trillion,
to object, Mr. President. First of all, I doing it in a targeted fashion. it is pocket change apparently.
want to say to my colleague from Mis- So, again, before the COVID reces- I think it is important to ask: Well,
souri that I certainly share and I think sion hit, in December 2019, we hit a how was that money spent? Did it real-
every Senator in this Chamber shares record number of people employed in ly—was it really spent on essentials?
his concern for people who are hurting this country. There were 158.8 million Was this money really needed? Was
because of this COVID pandemic. Busi- people employed. That was a record. there any hope, actually, of that
nesses have closed. People are on un- Our economy was humming. Because of money being stimulative to our econ-
employment. People are in need President Trump’s administration, omy?
through no fault of their own. they put forward a reasonable level of Well, we have one study from the
This is an act of God, and that is one regulation and competitive taxes. That Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
of the reasons why I certainly sup- brought back the entrepreneurial spirit They issued it on October 13 of 2020.
ported the CARES Act. That was over that supercharged the economy. We What they did is, since 2013, they have
$2 trillion. In total, this body has were at 3.5 percent unemployment. been sending out in the internet a na-
passed well over $3 trillion, 15 percent When I took econ, 5 percent was con- tional survey to 1,300 households called
to 16 percent of last year’s GDP in sidered full employment. We were at 3.5 the Survey of Consumer Expectations,
terms of financial relief. percent unemployment. and with COVID, they decided to send
My comments here are really not di- Then, COVID hit and, by April, we out two special surveys—one in June
rected specifically at the proposal of had gone from almost 159 million peo- and one in August.
the Senator from Missouri because he ple employed in this country to just a Here is what those survey results
makes many good points. We do have little over 133 million people, so that said. Of the $2,400 per household in the
working men and women, we have was a reduction in employment of a lit- June survey, 18 percent of that $275 bil-
households that—again, through no tle more than 25 million people—again, lion was spent on essential items; 8
fault of their own—are struggling, and from 159 million to 133 million, 25 mil- percent was spent on nonessential; 3
we need to provide financial support. I lion fewer people employed in this Na- percent, on donations, for a total of 29
think my comments are, in some re- tion. percent spent. This is what they call
spect, more general from the stand- Now, the good news: Even though the the marginal propensity to consume, 29
point of how we have done that. pandemic is still not over and the vac- percent. Of the other 71 percent, equal-
As I have explained to my colleagues cine is being delivered, and it is being ly divided, 36 percent of that was saved,
in conference, by and large, the initial administrated—I think the end is in so our Nation’s savings rate increased,
need packages here were a shotgun ap- sight—we have already gained 16 mil- and 35 percent went to pay off debt—
proach. We had to move fast. We had to lion people employed, so now employ- credit card debt.
do something big. We had to make sure ment stands at 149.7 million people; 150 They also asked the same question
that markets wouldn’t seize, that fi- million people are employed—down about what happened to the unemploy-
nancial relief could be sent to people about 9 million jobs—9 million. ment payments. Very similar results:
very quickly, and so we passed over $3 I want you to keep those numbers in 24 percent of those unemployment pay-
trillion in financial relief. I knew it mind because they are important. Our ments—the plus-up to $600 per week to
would be far from perfect. It was far unemployment rate stands at 6.7 per- stay on unemployment benefits—24
from perfect. cent. By the way, the number of people percent was spent on essential con-
But now we have had a lot more unemployed, according to the Bureau sumption, 4 percent on nonessential, 1
time, and anything we consider for this of Labor Statistics, which has a little percent on donations for, again, the

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
additional package that we are consid- bit different calculation, is about 10.7. same percent: 29 percent was the mar-
ering now that is being debated, that is So, in this, somewhere between 9 mil- ginal propensity to consume from the
being discussed, that is being nego- lion and 11 million people are currently unemployment payments; 71 percent,
tiated, ought to be far more targeted. unemployed. for savings and for debt repayment.
One of the reasons we are currently Now, in the CARES Act—again, They also looked ahead, assuming
$27.4 trillion in debt, which is about 128 which I supported because we had to that we are going to do another round

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S7684 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2020
of stimulus checks. This time they even begun to think that we should try it. Try telling them why this body
asked their respondents: How would even spend $100 billion to stimulate an can bail out the banks. We bailed out
you spend $1,500 if you got a check? economy at 6.7 percent unemployment. the banks to such a tune that now they
This time respondents said that they But this is different. We have under- have money left over. Now we are
would spend about 14 percent on essen- employed; we have families in need. going to take money back because we
tial consumption, 7 percent on non- There is no doubt about it. I com- spent so much on Wall Street and the
essential, 3 percent on donations, for a pletely support some kind of program banks in the first part of this year.
total of 24 percent that would be the targeted for small businesses so they That is right.
marginal propensity to consume—24 can reemploy and so they can reopen to In fact, now I understand that my
percent—and 76 percent, again, on sav- restore capital. Their life savings have Democratic colleagues don’t want to
ings and debt repayment. been wiped out. I have proposals. They shut down all of the bank money. Who
So I don’t think you can take a look have been ignored. knows what we might be able to do
at these direct payments to individuals So what I fear we are going to do with that in the future? Oh, they are
as stimulative. Obviously, 18 to 24 per- with this bipartisan package and what fine. They are more than fine. They are
cent was spent on essential items. We the Senator from Missouri is talking doing great. Now Wall Street is doing
ought to figure out how to provide that about is the same thing—a shotgun ap- great. Big tech, they are doing great;
money so that people can spend it on proach. We will not have learned the the big multinational corporations,
essentials. Again, that is only 18 to 24 lessons from our very hurried, very fantastic. Working people—working
percent maximum. rushed, very massive earlier relief people are living in their cars. Working
I do want to talk a little bit about packages. We will just do more of the people can’t go to the doctor. Working
past stimuli. I personally don’t believe same—another trillion dollars. It takes people can’t pay their rent. Working
they do much to stimulate the econ- our debt from $27.4 trillion to $28.4 tril- people can’t feed their children. They
omy. I think the best way to stimulate lion in a couple of months with doing should be first, not last.
the economy is, again, what this ad- virtually no revisions, no improve- And it is no answer for this body to
ministration has done: Lower regula- ments and, similar to what the Senator tell them: Go get in an unemployment
tion to a reasonable level—nobody ar- from Missouri is talking about in line. Really? That is the response? Go
gues for no regulation; we need a rea- terms of these economic impact pay- get in an unemployment line.
sonable level—and have a competitive ments, no revisions at all—just spend No, the working people of this coun-
tax system. another $275 billion and send it out to try, frankly, deserve better. They de-
I fear, in the next administration, we 115 million households when we are serve to be the top priority just like
may just repeat the mistakes of the currently at about 9 million fewer jobs they have made this country the top
Obama-Biden administration, and here than we were in a record economy be- priority in their lives and their fami-
is the proof of their mistakes. Again, fore the COVID recession. lies.
remember those employment numbers: So, for all those reasons, I not only This is not the end of this fight. I am
a record of about 159 million, currently object to what Senator HAWLEY is pro- here right now on this floor. Senator
150 million people, being employed. posing here, but I am certainly lodging SANDERS will be back in a matter of
Well, back during the great recession, my objection to what is barreling hours to ask again for the same meas-
prior to that, we did have employment through—the train has left the sta- ure. Again, I have been proud to part-
of about 146 million people in January tion—on the package being negotiated ner with him on this effort, and I will
2008. By December 2009, that had right now that is way too big, that au- keep working with whomever it takes
dropped to 138 million people em- thorizes more money, even though we for however long it takes until we get
ployed. But when President Obama have $600 billion there just for the working people of this country re-
took office, he had total control of repurposing, no new authorization re- lief.
Congress—a filibuster-proof majority quired. There are 52 Republicans who I yield the floor.
here in the Senate—and, within a supported it, but that is not good I suggest the absence of a quorum.
month, they enacted the American Re- enough. We have to throw another $300 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
covery and Reinvestment Act—$787 bil- to $400 billion on top, which is $300 to clerk will call the roll.
lion of proposed spending. In February $400 billion more that we are mort- The bill clerk proceeded to call the
of 2009, there were 141.6 million Ameri- gaging our children’s future without roll.
cans working—141.6—and the unem- reforms and without targeting. So I ob- Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I ask
ployment rate was 8.3 percent. Again, ject. unanimous consent that the order for
it continued to dip to December 2009 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- the quorum call be rescinded.
when it got down to 138 million. It took tion is heard. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. KEN-
us 3 years from February 2009 to get The Senator from Missouri. NEDY). Without objection, it is so or-
back to 141.6 million Americans work- Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, I thank dered.
ing, and that is with an $800 billion— the Senator from Wisconsin for his per- UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 4605
roughly, $800 billion—stimulus package spective, which I always appreciate, Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, 3 days
that did not work, but it further mort- and, of course, I appreciate working ago, I came to the floor and spoke in
gaged our children’s future by another with Senator JOHNSON on some of the honor of the life of Tyler Herndon, a
$800 billion. issues. Mount Holly, NC, police officer who
I wish these things worked. A quick On this issue, I am afraid we are just lost his life just days before his 26th
aside: Part of that American Recovery going to have to differ, and I just want birthday last week. He was laid to rest
and Reinvestment Act—again, Demo- to say this: Nothing could be more tar- this week.
crats had total control, with a fili- geted and no relief could be more im- Now 5 days after his murder and 3
buster-proof majority in the Senate. portant than relief for working people. days after my remarks, I am dev-
Do you know how much they plussed- The Senator is right; this body has astated to report that another officer
up State unemployment benefits to spent trillions of dollars this year in North Carolina has lost his life in
help the unemployed, those 8.3 percent alone on COVID relief. We are getting the line of duty. Wednesday night, the
of Americans? They plussed it up by a ready to spend, apparently, another Concord Police Department received a
whopping $25 per week, and now they trillion dollars more. Yet working peo- call about a crashed, abandoned car on
are arguing that $300 per week, which I ple are told they may be last—if they I–85 just outside of Charlotte. Respond-
believe is the current proposal, isn’t get relief at all. ing officers were alerted that the sus-

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
enough. It kind of makes you wonder, I don’t think the American people pect had attempted to steal a woman’s
doesn’t it? understand that. I know people in Mis- car while she was still in it.
So, in summary, kind of reviewing souri don’t understand it, and I would Officers Jason Shuping and Kaleb
these numbers, we currently are at 6.7 just urge Members of this body: Go Robinson tracked and identified the
percent unemployment. I don’t recall home and try explaining that to the suspect on foot. As they approached
ever, in U.S. history, when we have people of your State. Go ahead. Just the suspect, he pulled out a handgun,

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