Congressional Record — Senate, December 20, 2020, Page S7856
Summary
Page S7856 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for December 20, 2020, in interleaved columns, with remarks on the emergency relief package. One speaker says the Senate and House could vote on final legislation as early as that night and that senators have called for months for a targeted package for the Paycheck Protection Program, unemployment benefits, schools and vaccines, which is that speaker's view. Mr. Schumer says negotiators spent 4 to 5 days in intense bipartisan talks and that the bill is necessary but not sufficient, adding that Democrats wanted more relief for State and local governments. A cloture motion is read on the nomination of Brian Noland to the Tennessee Valley Authority board.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, December 20, 2020, Page S7856.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-20-crec-2020-12-20-pt1-pgs7856-5-713f95ff5d/
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S7856 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 20, 2020
and tenuous until the vaccines that gency relief package. There are a few to meet the urgent and growing needs
will end this fight have been distrib- issues outstanding, but I am quite that so many people are facing imme-
uted all across the Nation. hopeful that we are closing in on an diately going into the winter, this bill
For months—literally months—Sen- outcome. It appears that, barring a is not sufficient. It is necessary. It is
ate Republicans have been calling for major mishap, the Senate and House not sufficient.
another targeted package to reopen the will be able to vote on final legislation Democrats would have liked to pro-
job-saving Paycheck Protection Pro- as early as tonight—tonight. vide more relief, especially to State
gram, extend Federal unemployment Many of the provisions in this bill and local governments and especially
benefits, fund K–12 schools, fund vac- are already public. They are all items to American families on the brink of fi-
cine distribution, and get a lot more that the country desperately needs and nancial collapse. The survival checks
help onto the frontlines as fast as pos- upon which there is no disagreement. in this bill are a good start, but there
sible. I am relieved that we appear to We all are ready to deliver a des- was bipartisan support for $1,200
be just hours away from legislation perately needed extension of enhanced checks.
that will finally do that. unemployment benefits; direct survival So let me be clear about one thing:
When we get this done, Congress will checks to millions of American fami- This bill will not be the final word on
not deserve any special praise, not with lies; crucial relief to our schools, our congressional COVID relief.
this relief having waited until late De- small businesses, our healthcare sys- When this Chamber gavels back in
cember and not with some of our tem; and funding to support the pro- 2021, we must pick up immediately
Democratic colleagues openly saying duction and distribution of a vaccine. where we left off. We must protect peo-
the reason they finally changed their As of yesterday, we have been stead- ple’s jobs, whether they work for a
tuned was that they finally got a Presi- ily working through all of the other company or a local government; wheth-
dent-elect of their own party. When we outstanding issues, but one issue er they live in blue States or red
finalize this measure and pass it, Con- threatened to derail the bill. The Sen- States; whether they are office employ-
gress will only have done our job. We ator from Pennsylvania made an elev- ees or teachers, bus drivers and fire-
will have finally done our duty in get- enth-hour demand to curtail the au- fighters.
ting more relief to those who need it thority of the Fed to respond to eco- Still, the significance of this package
nomic crises, potentially leaving the should not be underestimated. We will
most.
Fed with less authority than it had deliver the second largest Federal
Let’s make today the day we join to-
even prior to the pandemic. stimulus in our Nation’s history. Only
gether, put differences aside, and fi- The language in his provision was so
nally get it done. the CARES Act will have been bigger.
broad, the intent seemed to be to sabo- This package will give the new Presi-
f tage the incoming administration’s dent a head start as he prepares to
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME ability to stabilize the economy and right our ailing economy. And it won’t
save jobs. That was completely unac- include any provision to limit the legal
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under ceptable to Democrats.
the previous order, the leadership time rights of workers who are put in harm’s
But late last night the logjam was way. It won’t include any provision to
is reserved. broken. Senator TOOMEY accepted my gratuitously limit the authority of the
f compromise to remove the dangerous Fed.
‘‘similar to’’ language in his bill that On many issues, where Republicans
CONCLUSION OF MORNING was overly broad. We sent the Senator
BUSINESS once refused to grant an inch, we were
far more limited language around 8 also able to make meaningful steps for-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning p.m. last night, and it was accepted a ward. Republicans, in their initial pro-
business is closed. few hours later with a few technical posal, wanted zero direct payments.
f changes. As a result, the Federal Re- They wanted zero unemployment in-
serve will retain its tools and author- surance. They wanted zero rent relief.
EXECUTIVE SESSION ity in the event of a true emergency. Only a few months ago, the Republican
Now, this compromise should not
leader admitted that 20 Members of his
have taken as long as it did, and,
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR caucus didn’t want to approve another
frankly, it was irresponsible to threat-
dime in spending. Now we are on the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under en the entire package with this ideo-
verge of passing more than $900 billion.
the previous order, the Senate will pro- logical attempt to limit the Fed and
Once an agreement is finalized, I will
ceed to executive session to resume Treasury’s powers in an emergency.
But I am very glad that our Repub- have a lot more to say about the con-
consideration of the following nomina- tents of the bill and the process it took
tion, which the clerk will report. lican colleagues relented and accepted
our offer. The Toomey legislation was to achieve it. But for now, I am happy
The bill clerk read the nomination of to report we have surmounted the final
Brian Noland, of Tennessee, to be a the last significant stumbling block to
a bipartisan agreement moving for- largest hurdle, and an ending is in
Member of the Board of Directors of sight. Let’s get the job done together
the Tennessee Valley Authority for a ward.
Solving our disagreement over the for the sake of the American people.
term expiring May 18, 2024. I yield the floor.
Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- Fed’s authority was a key to unlocking
CLOTURE MOTION
sence of a quorum. the rest of the bill and putting us on a
path to final legislation. Now that we Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I ask
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The unanimous consent that the manda-
clerk will call the roll. have solved that disagreement, we can
close in on a final agreement, finish tory call be waived.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
roll. drafting legislation, and move it
through both Chambers of Congress— objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays
unanimous consent that the order for hopefully, as soon as tonight. As we
speak, the legislative text is being fi- before the Senate the pending cloture
the quorum call be rescinded. motion, which the clerk will state.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without nalized.
The time has come to move forward The legislative clerk read the fol-
objection, it is so ordered. lowing:
and reach a conclusion. The legislation
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
that is coming together will put money CLOTURE MOTION
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The in the pockets of everyday people and We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Democratic leader is recognized. ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
extend many of the benefits that we in-
CORONAVIRUS
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby
cluded in the CARES Act, a bill I was move to bring to a close debate on the nomi-
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, proud to negotiate with Secretary nation of Brian Noland, of Tennessee, to be a
we have spent the past 4 to 5 days Mnuchin. Member of the Board of Directors of the Ten-
locked in intense bipartisan negotia- I will be the first to admit that, nessee Valley Authority for a term expiring
tions over the final details of an emer- while this short-term deal is necessary May 18, 2024.
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