Congressional Record, House, December 21, 2020, Page H7287
Summary
The Congressional Record, Volume 166, No. 218, for Monday, December 21, 2020, with House proceedings beginning at page H7287. The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick Conroy, offers a prayer, and Ms. Jackson Lee leads the Pledge of Allegiance. In one-minute speeches, Ms. Jackson Lee says the pandemic has killed over 300,000 Americans and calls the relief bill a good, bipartisan bill with food assistance, rental help and direct payments, while Ms. Pelosi speaks on relief for the American people. Ms. Lee of California speaks in support of the omnibus measure, and a Member discusses PPP funding and the flexibility of State and local aid.
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“Congressional Record, House, December 21, 2020, Page H7287.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-21-crec-2020-12-21-pt1-pgh7287-6-159eeb95fa/
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Congressional Record
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2020 No. 218
House of Representatives
The House met at 9 a.m. and was COVID VACCINE 300,000—and the number getting high-
called to order by the Speaker. (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was er—Americans who are dying from the
f given permission to address the House coronavirus.
for 1 minute.) We have hope because there is a vac-
PRAYER cine. We have hope because we have a
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker,
The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick I join in the prayer of the Chaplain this President who recognizes science and,
J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: morning. I believe it is important to again, the need for us to distribute the
Lord of all creation, thank You for vaccine in the most equitable, fair, and
open this day of lifesaving relief with a
giving us another day. free way. By that President, I mean
prayer to ask that our Congress comes
We come before You again, O Lord, to one who will take office 1 month from
together and stands in the face with
implore Your blessing upon a nation now, Joe Biden.
help on the way to dying Americans I do want to speak to the bill that
seeing continually high rates of infec-
from COVID–19, the families of those will be on the floor shortly. It is a
tion with COVID–19. Our hospitals are
who have died and those who are on the good, bipartisan bill. As different from
near breaking point in the availability
front lines fighting against this virus. bills that had been proposed on the
of beds for those who are stricken. It is important that we help our
Thank You again for those men and Senate side by the Republican leader,
schoolchildren with educational dollars it does things that his bill never did,
women of science who have developed
and, as well, make sure that the vac- and that is that it addresses the food
the vaccines now beginning to be dis-
cines are going as fast as they can to needs of the American people. Maybe 15
tributed. This is a great sign of hope in
the sites across America. million children are food insecure in
the midst of so much suffering and I spoke to hospitals in my district,
fear. Lord, have mercy. our country, and adults as well.
smaller hospitals and community hos- Millions of families are on the verge
Bless the Members of this House, and
pitals that are still waiting for their of eviction, and this legislation ad-
of the Senate, as the omnibus and the
vaccine. We know that they want their dresses the rental needs and the short-
coronavirus relief bills are presented
frontline medical professionals to keep term moratorium. We can accept a
and considered today. Give them wis-
saving and serving the public. short-term because we will have a new
dom and generosity; increase their So this is going to be a historic and
trust that Your people in this Nation President during the length of that
important day. We know it is not what moratorium to extend it further if nec-
will use the assistance coming their we want in complete, but we know we
way to fuel a struggling economy. essary.
will be working into the new year to be We also have in the legislation direct
May all that is done be for Your
able to respond to the needs of the payments, which were not in the Re-
greater honor and glory.
American people helping our local gov- publican bill, to America’s working
Amen.
ernments and, as well, making sure families. I would like them to have
f that those children who will be return- been bigger, but they are significant,
THE JOURNAL ing to school and those teachers, as and they will be going out soon.
The SPEAKER. Pursuant to section well, will be protected after they have The President may insist on having
4(a) of House Resolution 967, the Jour- the opportunity—the teachers, in par- his name on the check, but make no
nal of the last day’s proceedings is ap- ticular—to have the vaccine. This is a mistake, those checks are from the
proved. historic day. Let us work together. American people. The American peo-
f ple’s name should be on that check, no
f
individual, because that is the source
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE RELIEF FOR THE AMERICAN of the resources for those checks—tax-
PEOPLE paying Americans.
The SPEAKER. Will the gentle-
woman from Texas (Ms. JACKSON LEE) (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given In addition to that, the list goes on
come forward and lead the House in the permission to address the House for 1 of some of the very positive things that
Pledge of Allegiance. minute.) are on the bill—quite frankly, some of
Ms. JACKSON LEE led the Pledge of Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I asso- them did not come to agreement until
Allegiance as follows: ciate myself with your comments and yesterday—whether we are talking
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the those of our Chaplain, Father Conroy, about WRDA, the Water Resources De-
United States of America, and to the Repub- that it is appropriate to start today velopment Act; a big jobs bill had bi-
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, with a prayer, and every day, but espe- partisan support but some disagree-
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. cially a day when we are seeing over ment over language, but by the time
b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m.
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Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.
H7287
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H7288 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 21, 2020
that was resolved, it pushed the bill In this legislation, we have a provi- lives. Many more, of course, have lost
from coming to the floor later. sion for it to be developed, purchased, their jobs.
We didn’t have, at the start of the and distributed in a way, again, that is Madam Speaker, we have approach-
day, sick leave. That is in the bill, al- fair, equitable, and free. ing $1 trillion for the PPP; small busi-
most $2 billion for sick leave. What we couldn’t get ever—even with ness, which I support all the way; and
It didn’t have the EITC, the earned the previous legislation just on top, $150 billion or $160 billion for State and
income tax credit, for working poor testing, et cetera—was the adequate local government, which enables the
people to have that boost, as well as language to recognize that this private sector to function, which en-
the child tax credit. It did not have the coronavirus has taken a horrible toll ables us to crush the virus, which en-
employment retention tax credit—bi- on our whole country, more so among ables us to meet the needs of people.
partisan support on WRDA and on that. people of color. People of color have Madam Speaker, $150 billion to $160
Then we came to agreement not only died from the coronavirus. billion versus well over $800 billion al-
on the language, but where that initia- A child who was Hispanic had eight ready. How could that be right? Except
tive would be placed in that. So many times more of a chance of going to the the Republicans insist on saying: We
of these things need to be precisely hospital with the coronavirus than a don’t want to give money to blue
written and assembled in order for a White child. If you are African Amer- States where the coronavirus is.
bill to come to the floor, which we an- ican, there is five times more of a It is in red States, too. It knows no
ticipate will be pretty soon this morn- chance of going to the hospital because borders and it knows no party, this vi-
ing. of the coronavirus. So now we have a cious virus. But somehow, other Re-
One of the things, though, that is dis- publicans have said to our heroes, our
vaccine we hope will reach everyone as
appointing because, for a long time healthcare workers, our teachers, our
soon as possible.
now, House Democrats and the Senate transportation, our police and fire, and
One item that I am heartbroken
have been saying we want to crush the the rest—sanitation workers, so impor-
about in this bill, though, is that,
virus and put money in the pockets of tant; food, food, food—you are not wor-
while we make an attempt to crush the
the American people. The title of our
virus, we don’t do it adequately enough thy of support because perhaps you are
bill before was about honoring our he-
in terms of recognizing the toll on peo- in a blue State, predominantly, and,
roes, our State and local workers who
ple of color; but we will have to do that therefore, we undervalue your con-
are on the front line.
We talk about those on the front in the public sentiment of it, in the de- tribution to our society, to our econ-
lines who are our heroes. They are nec- mand that we make on Governors and omy, and especially now, as we try to
essary in meeting and crushing this others who are in charge of the dis- minister to the needs of people in this
virus. We are talking about healthcare tribution. coronavirus crisis.
workers in cities, counties, and States. We put money in the pockets of the How do you think these vaccines
We are talking about first responders, American people. We want to do more, come into a State? They go from a lab
police and fire, some who are the first but, nonetheless, we are meeting the to your arm magically? No. They have
on the scene to help someone with the deadline of December 26 for unemploy- to be received, distributed, adminis-
coronavirus. ment insurance, which was vital. tered, and done so fairly, equitably,
We are talking about our teachers, But the third thing, honoring our he- and free.
our teachers, our teachers, who are the roes, as I said earlier, healthcare work- Who do you think is going to do
custodians of our children for a large ers, our first responders, police and those jobs if you don’t respect the role
part of the day. We are talking about fire, sanitation, transportation, food of State and local government in all of
our transportation, sanitation, and workers, teachers, teachers, teachers, this? But don’t think of it as govern-
food workers and those who make our we just decided that, while they are on ment. Think of it as people. Think of it
lives possible. the front line, while they are risking as yourself needing all of that.
I think it would be interesting to their lives to save lives—many of the So I would hope that, as we see the
point out that, as enthusiastic as we healthcare workers, the police and fire, need for what we have done in this
are about the PPP provisions in this et cetera, many of them have lost their nearly $900 billion legislation that we
bill, and we all support them in a bi- jobs. Many of them have already lost will vote on today, that everyone un-
partisan way, it is important to note their lives. Many have lost their jobs. derstands it is a first step. It is the
that small businesses—I always say So why is it that this Congress and first step, as President-elect Biden has
there is nothing more optimistic than this White House refuses to recognize said. It is the first step. And we will
starting a small business, maybe get- the value, the contribution, and the need to do more to get more virus as-
ting married—but the optimism, the sacrifice of our, again, heroes, our peo- sistance to crush the virus, but also
hope, and the dream that people have ple on the front line? more money to buy more vaccines.
is completely, shall we say, darkened It is interesting, I think, to note We need to have the Defense Produc-
by the assault of this virus, and that is that, when we passed a number of bills tion Act in play to hasten the manu-
why we had to start by crushing the in a bipartisan way—and we will pass facture of these vaccines, and we need
virus. this one today—in the course of that, to be able, as I said, to get the job
We couldn’t pass legislation until with the CARES Act and the followup done, and that takes people.
now because the administration simply on the PPP bill and this bill now, we People need to be respected. Their
did not believe in testing, tracing, are approaching $1 trillion that we are worth needs to be valued, and the enti-
treatment, wearing masks, sanitation, putting out for PPP. ties under whose auspices they work,
separation, and the rest—the scientific public hospitals, all the rest, and edu-
b 0915 cation, so important.
approach. It has become clear to us
now that they believed in herd immu- If that is what is needed and is spent And yet, many of our teachers have
nity, a quackery springing right from effectively, that is a worthy expendi- lost their jobs. We need more teachers
the Oval Office and not denied suffi- ture. Almost $1 trillion—well over because we need more space to sepa-
ciently by some in the CDC and the $750,000. This bill alone, over $300 bil- rate, to, again, protect our children.
rest. lion. So we have PPP. We have always said, if we want the
Now we have a vaccine, and that Now, in order for the private sector economy to open up and we want our
gives us hope, a vaccine that springs to function, in order for us to live our schools to open up, you must crush the
from science. lives, we need to have the public sec- virus, at least take the precautions so
People say around here sometimes: I tor: public transportation, public that people are not in jeopardy if they
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am faith oriented, so I don’t believe in schools, public health, the list goes on. go to work or when they go to school.
science. So it is not about public/private. It is Schools should be the safest places in
I say: Well, you can do both. Science about people, people who are doing America for our children, and they can
is an answer to our prayers, and our their jobs, again, risking their lives to be if science is respected and the mask-
prayers have been answered with a vac- save lives and lose their life and may wearing, distancing, and the rest. But
cine. lose their jobs. Many have lost their you need more space; you need better
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December 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7289
ventilation, as BOBBY SCOTT tells us lican Governors wanted that flexi- We have a vaccine, and we have a
over and over; and we need more teach- bility, but they wouldn’t give it to us President coming into office who be-
ers. then, and they wouldn’t give it to us lieves in science and cares about people
This is a big mistake. The Repub- now for fear that some blue State Gov- and values the work that our first re-
licans said you can get a small amount, ernor or city or mayor or county exec- sponders and our healthcare workers,
not even approaching in any way, the utive might take advantage of that. et cetera, do for us.
PPP—again, no resentment there; we We have never done enough for local- Madam Chair, prayerfully, as you
support that. But the recognition that ities. That is a pitch we have made. and our chaplain began, prayerfully, I
that is important should also recognize That is what we have in the Heroes close my remarks, assuring, for what-
that the sector of our economy that Act. But there was no market for that ever it is worth, that many of us who
supports the private sector be recog- on the Republican side of the aisle. serve in this body and represent the
nized. So when we say it is a first step, that American people have had a death in
So, on that score, you come to a situ- is basic. Let us thank God CHUCK SCHU- the family, because so many people
ation where, how could it be that we MER was able to dismantle, in part, the have lost their loved ones, whom we
only have $160 billion for State and Toomey resolution that would tie the have all lost.
local, where we have approaching $1 hands of a President to meet the needs f
trillion dollars for PPP, not recog- of the American people and our econ-
omy by exercising section 13(3) of the CORONAVIRUS RELIEF AID
nizing that the private sector is con-
nected to the public sector? Federal Reserve Board. (Mr. SUOZZI asked and was given
Now, one more point on that. Madam Speaker, we got past that, permission to address the House for 1
They said: You can have some money which took a long time. I felt Wednes- minute.)
for State and local—we will decide how day night we were finished. This mon- Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise
it will be distributed—if you do sur- strosity reared his head the next morn- today in support of our bipartisan leg-
render the rights of workers. ing. Leader SCHUMER effectively was islation to both fund the government
In other words, just in case anybody able to fix it—it still should not even and for the COVID relief package. As
doesn’t know, there are essential work- have been initiated, but, nonetheless, Speaker PELOSI just noted, this bill is
ers who are required to go to work. If fix it—in a way that enabled us to go far from perfect, but we can’t let the
they don’t because they are concerned forward. And that is why it has taken perfect be the enemy of the good.
about danger to their health and the this long to get here in these last few Madam Speaker, today, is the dark-
health of their families because the days. est day of the year. It is a fitting sym-
Madam Speaker, again, I look for- bol of the misery and suffering that so
workplace is not safe, they cannot go
ward to NITA LOWEY bringing the legis- many people are facing in our country
on unemployment insurance. And if
lation to the floor. As the chair of the right now. The effects of this pandemic
they go to work and contract the virus,
Committee on Appropriations, this will have been cruelly uneven.
they have no recourse, because that is
be her last bill on the floor. In fact, it Some people have remained rel-
the way the Republicans want it.
is the last bill for many of us here, but atively unscathed. Some people can
That is the way the Republicans
hers as chair of the Committee on Ap- work remotely, still have their jobs, no
want it: antiworker.
propriations. She and her staff— one around them has gotten sick or
Madam Speaker, just for good meas-
Shalanda and Chris and so many oth- died within their immediate circle,
ure, they have thrown in certain as-
ers—and all of our chairs did such a re- while others are awash in misery: un-
pects of the Civil Rights Act, the
markable job, and their staffs deserve able to return to work, unable to pay
Americans with Disabilities Act, the
so much credit for all of this. their rent, to pay their utilities; people
Fair Labor Standards Act, OSHA—the Again, we will do some good with
list goes on—in section 42 of their hei- around them have gotten sick.
this legislation, but we must recognize
nous liability bill of all of the actions People have lost their lifesavings in
that more needs to be done to crush
that cannot be taken. their small business, and many hun-
the virus, to put more money in the
And I asked one of the Republican dreds of thousands have died, including
pockets of the American people—from
Senators: What does preventing the my 92-year-old father-in-law, who, in
the American people to the American
ADA, American with Disabilities Act, April, was diagnosed with the
people—and, again, to fill in the gap
to honor its responsibility? coronavirus and died within 48 hours.
that has been purposefully left to
They said: Why not have the Cham- Today’s relief package—and that is
honor our heroes with all that.
ber of Commerce call you and tell you. As we review policy and legislation what it is is relief—will provide much-
I said: Why don’t you not waste my and negotiation and all that, just al- needed help for millions of Americans.
time or the Chambers’ time about why So while today is the darkest day of
ways have in our hearts every single
the ADA should not be enforced be- one of the people who have died from the year, every day will get a little
cause of the virus? the coronavirus. It can be stopped. It brighter, and spring will surely follow
This is coronavirus-centric. We said can be crushed. But that is a decision, our dark winter. But we must remem-
that we can find a compromise on li- it is a decision, and a decision to recog- ber that, while spring is on its way,
ability for the time of the virus and in nize where it is hurting people the there is so much more that needs to be
a way that is fair to those employers most. done.
who want to protect their workers and Madam Speaker, I look forward to a Our State and local governments
to the workers. They decided they strong bipartisan vote today on this must have relief from their massive
would turn it into some massive, long- legislation, respecting it for what it loss of revenues. Without our help, po-
term, ever-encompassing liability—just does, not judging it for what it does lice officers, teachers, and other heroes
so wrong to work with. That is not not, but recognizing that more needs to on the front line will face layoffs.
what our system is about. be done. Madam Speaker, we need to continue
But, nonetheless, I still thought we Again, with high praise for all of our today’s spirit of bipartisanship.
could try to find a compromise. We chairs, and, again, special recognition f
couldn’t. They were absolute: Just call of Madam Chair NITA LOWEY for her b 0930
the Chamber of Commerce. They will last bill on the floor, again, I say con-
tell you why they can’t meet the needs gratulations to all the staff who IN SUPPORT OF COVID RELIEF
of their workers. worked so hard. MEASURE
Madam Speaker, heading back to the But it all comes back to families who (Ms. LEE of California asked and was
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money, nearly $1 trillion PPP. lost their loved ones, those millions given permission to address the House
$160 billion—and not even giving the and millions of people who were in- for 1 minute and to revise and extend
States and localities the flexibility to fected, some more seriously than oth- her remarks.)
use the funds for both addressing the ers. We don’t know the after-effects it Ms. LEE of California. Madam
COVID needs, the health needs, but may have, but we do know that we Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
also the revenue lost. Even the Repub- have hope. desperately needed omnibus measure.
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