Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 21, 2020, p. S7888)
Summary
Page S7888 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for December 21, 2020, in interleaved columns, under the heading Coronavirus. A speaker describes the relief bill as including more than $80 billion for K-12 schools to reopen safely, billions for childcare providers and new investments in rural broadband, which is that speaker's view. Mr. McConnell pays tribute to Secretary Mnuchin as a partner in tax reform and in developing the CARES Act. Another speaker contrasts a Democratic bill with $7 billion for broadband against a Republican leader's bill with zero, and asks that a chart be printed in the Record.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., Dec. 21, 2020, p. S7888).”
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S7888 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 21, 2020
The pandemic has fallen especially retary Mnuchin. Before the pandemic, RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
hard on children and parents. Our leg- Steven was already a crucial partner The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
islation includes major funding—more for the Republican majorities in Con- the previous order, the leadership time
than $80 billion—for K–12 schools to re- gress. We enacted the most consequen- is reserved.
open safely and get kids’ educations tial tax reform in a generation. We
helped create the conditions for explo- f
back on track. There are billions more
for childcare providers to reopen safely sive job growth, wage growth, and MORNING BUSINESS
as well, and new investments in rural record-low unemployment. Our country
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
broadband will improve both education had the strongest possible starting
ate will be in a period of morning busi-
and telehealth down the road. point to weather this storm.
This year, the Secretary has been ness, with Senators permitted to speak
Then there are Americans’ personal
even more essential. He helped Con- therein for up to 10 minutes each.
finances, the impossible kitchen table
gress develop and pass the historic Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab-
questions that millions of working
CARES Act in record time. It pre- sence of a quorum.
families have faced this year through
vented a complete economic collapse at The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
no fault of their own.
the hands of the virus. From drafting clerk will call the roll.
Back in March, thanks to Chairman
CARES to implementing it, to the in- The senior assistant legislative clerk
RUBIO, Senator COLLINS, and Senator
tervening months, to this latest pack- proceeded to call the roll.
CARDIN, we created a Paycheck Protec-
age, Secretary Mnuchin has been an ex- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask
tion Program. It saved small busi-
tremely capable and patient partner. unanimous consent that the order for
nesses and helped millions of American
He helped guide our Nation through the quorum call be rescinded.
workers keep receiving paychecks
this dark period toward the daybreak The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
rather than pink slips.
It would be insanity for us to have that lies ahead. objection, it is so ordered.
saved these jobs all this time only to On behalf of the Senate and the coun- f
drop the ball with the end in sight, so try, I thank the Secretary for his
countless hours of work and his incred- WINTER SOLSTICE
this bill will send more than $280 bil-
lion to reopen the PPP for a targeted ible effectiveness in extraordinary Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, before I
second round, and we made sure times. say anything else, I want to say happy
churches and faith-based organizations f winter solstice. And 2020 is almost
will continue to be eligible. gone. It is an announcement I made to
GOVERNMENT FUNDING my family this morning, and I hope
Of course, millions have already been
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on America shares it. We are turning a
laid off, so months after Republicans
a related matter, while this rescue corner as a nation and to a new year
tried to stop benefits from expiring in
package will dominate headlines, we and a new season, and, I hope, a much
the first place, this package will re-
are also set to fund the entire Federal better day for all of us across this
sume a temporary Federal supplement
Government on a bipartisan basis. country.
to unemployment insurance, and it ex- We must not overlook the tireless
tends other programs for the self-em- f
work from Chairman SHELBY, Senator
ployed and gig workers that would LEAHY, and our Appropriations Com- CORONAVIRUS
have expired. mittees in both Chambers. Their hard
Thanks to the particular leadership Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, 9
work goes beyond just avoiding shut- months ago, in March, we created the
and direction of President Trump and downs. Full-year funding bills give our
Secretary Mnuchin, households will re- relief known as the CARES Act, and it
Armed Forces the certainty to make passed the Senate by a vote of 96 to 0.
ceive a second round of direct relief plans and budgets so we can continue
checks—$600 per adult and per child. It was a measure intended to address
to modernize our capabilities and keep
This is just some of the aid that will be the pandemic and the resultant eco-
pace with competitors like Russia and
heading Americans’ way in a matter of nomic downturn in America. I have
China.
hours. No sprawling leftwing wish list, This year’s bills also tackle impor- heard various estimates of the total
no unconstrained bailouts for State tant domestic priorities. Everything cost, but it is somewhere in the range
and local government with no connec- from agricultural research to the fight of $2 trillion to $3 trillion. It was the
tion to COVID needs—just smart, tar- against opioid abuse, to border security largest single investment in our Nation
geted, bipartisan policies, what Senate and law enforcement are provided for. in our history. It was a massive na-
Republicans have been recommending We aren’t defunding the police or abol- tional response to a massive national
since the summer. ishing ICE around here—not on our health crisis, and it worked, at least on
I cited a figure of $900 billion, but lis- watch. the economic front. I believe that it
ten to this. The net new cost—new Federal law enforcement from the created demand in our economy that
cost—is less than roughly $350 billion. U.S. Marshals to the Border Patrol will otherwise would not have been there,
We are recovering more than half a get the resources they need to protect and it gave some businesses a chance
trillion dollars in unspent money that innocent Americans and uphold the to survive. Sadly, all did not, and many
Congress had already set aside and rule of law. are still suffering. But it was nec-
channeling it to these urgent needs. And I want to especially thank essary. It was done on a bipartisan
Thanks to our colleague Senator Chairman SHELBY and Congresswoman basis. It was massive, and I believe it
TOOMEY, this legislation winds down GRANGER for beating back a number of achieved its goal.
some of the temporary emergency pow- far-left poison pills. These bills main- It started us on the course of dealing
ers we lent the Federal Reserve to tain pro-life guardrails on funding, se- with the COVID–19 coronavirus, and
make sure our financial system sur- cure President Trump’s approach to one has to look back and say it only
vived last spring. title X, and respect our citizens’ Sec- had limited success in that regard. As
A lot of talented leaders helped make ond Amendment rights. of today, we have lost more than 317,000
this happen. Leader MCCARTHY has The Senate is about to cast some in- American lives, and millions have been
been an invaluable partner. White credibly impactful votes. None of us infected. Our hospitals are still overrun
House Chief of Staff MARK MEADOWS think any of this legislation is perfect, with patients. But we did the right
has been central. Colleagues such as but a big bipartisan majority of us rec- thing, and we quickly realized what we
Senators COLLINS, MURKOWSKI, ROM- ognize the incredible amount of good it did could make a difference.
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NEY, CASSIDY, and PORTMAN helped will do when we send it to the Presi- The unemployment compensation,
prod the Senate toward consensus with dent’s desk. which we provided for millions of
their bipartisan work. And I just men- The American people have waited Americans, was not only the humane
tioned Senator TOOMEY. long enough. I am glad for our country thing to do but, as economists would
I want to give particular thanks to that we are now moving ahead to- tell you, it was the best single thing
the Secretary of the Treasury, Sec- gether. you could do to fight a recession. A
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December 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7889
person who is unemployed, without a MCCONNELL mentioned the participants COVID–19 is an amazing achievement,
paycheck, will spend virtually every earlier, he only mentioned Repub- and I am glad that it received the high
penny they are given into the econ- licans. I want to let you know who was priority it deserved under this adminis-
omy, not bank it away for another day. in on it on both sides, Democrats and tration and particularly glad that the
That spending created consumer de- Republicans. Yes, it was Senator COL- researchers and scientists who spent
mand and gave some businesses a fight- LINS, Senator MURKOWSKI, Senator countless hours exploring opportuni-
ing chance. CASSIDY, and Senator ROMNEY at the ties for this vaccine were ultimately
The Paycheck Protection Program, initial meeting; on the Democratic successful. America owes them a great,
through the Small Business Adminis- side, Senator MANCHIN, Senator WAR- great debt of gratitude.
tration, was the work product of many, NER, myself, and Senator SHAHEEN. Our What is going to happen next? There
but I want to single out Senators BEN ranks changed over the several weeks are some parts of this measure which,
CARDIN and MARCO RUBIO for their bi- when we were debating to include as we study it, we will realize are inad-
partisan effort. I later saw Senator MAGGIE HASSAN of New Hampshire, equate. Merely extending unemploy-
COLLINS and Senator SHAHEEN working ANGUS KING of Maine, and ROB ment benefits for 10 or 11 weeks may
to give it another day. But here was a PORTMAN of Ohio. not be long enough. We may have to re-
program which extended a lifeline to For 3 or 4 weeks, we tried to write a turn to take a look at it. Whether we
American businesses—forgivable loans relief bill. We did it by phone, by Zoom, have enough money for logistical sup-
if the money were spent on the neces- and through staff work that was end- port for vaccines remains to be seen.
sities: utilities and rent and mortgage less. Finally, Tuesday of last week, we Whether the businesses of Americans
and payroll. were able to announce it. Let me get need another helping hand, we also
I will quickly add that we have a re- this number right, a $748 billion con- have to consider that as well.
sponsibility to taxpayers to make an sensus bill for relief. We were unable to Let us hope that in the new year and
honest assessment of how that program reach a final agreement when it came the new President’s administration,
was implemented. I am sorry to say to State and local funding, as well as that we will have a more positive, bi-
that I have already heard anecdotal the question of liability. We set those partisan approach. This experience this
evidence that some of the loans were aside, but we produced this $748 billion year was disappointing in some re-
not carefully made. That is to be ex- bill, much of which is included in this spects, but it ended well with the bill
pected in something of this magnitude. relief package we are going to consider we are going to consider this after-
But, by and large, this program was es- today. noon.
sential. Money that we put into I want to thank my colleagues, I want to thank all the colleagues,
healthcare made a difference. The Democrats and Republicans, for their Senators, who joined me in this bipar-
CARES Act also protected those who patience and determination to reach tisan effort, who started the conversa-
were renting from eviction, delayed the that point. I really believe that we tion on Capitol Hill last week. We have
payment of student loans, and a litany ended up opening the conversation. The more work to be done. We are not out
of other measures that made a dif- leaders, thank goodness, moved in to of the woods. We have to consider
ference. follow on and make it a reality. measures that will address the reality
That bill—the CARES Act of March Today, we are going to seriously con- of the economy in the future. We want
of 2020—was really written with a no- sider a measure to keep America’s to make sure that Americans have a
tion that this was a short- to medium- economy moving and give us a fighting chance to get back to work and busi-
term challenge. Many thought that, by chance against the coronavirus. I think nesses have a chance to survive in this
the middle of this year, we would be this bipartisan effort, this grassroots time of COVID–19.
turning the corner. Sadly, that was not bipartisan effort by the 8 of us—soon to By the middle of next year, it has
the case. As of July, it was apparent be 10 or 11 before it was all over—will been estimated—this is not for certain,
that the worst was yet to come. make a significant difference in this but I hope it is right—by the middle of
Speaker PELOSI, of the U.S. House of Nation. We are going to come through next year, all Americans who are seek-
Representatives, introduced a measure with dramatic offers of relief across ing a vaccination will be able to re-
known as the Heroes Act in an attempt the board. It is in the range of $900 bil- ceive one, and that will be a day when
to have a follow-on relief bill after the lion, is the total. I don’t know the we can finally hope that we will have
CARES Act. It was passed but was not exact amount. reached that magic number of herd im-
considered in this Chamber. It is going to provide several more munity and turn the corner on this ter-
The Republican leader, who spoke weeks of unemployment compensation. rible pandemic.
earlier today, said at the time that The final agreement, I am told, re- I want to thank Senator SCHUMER for
there were two things he wanted to duced the number of weeks that we coming to the floor and asking me to
make clear. First, he wanted to meas- proposed, and I am sorry for that, but say a word or two more. I want to say
ure whether it was a needed follow-on it did include a cash payment, which, this about the Members of the Senate,
bill. Second, he was drawing a redline under the right circumstances—I don’t both Democrats and Republicans.
that said unless we provided immunity know all the details—could be a god- There has been more activity on the
from liability for corporations and send for many families across the floor of the Senate in the last several
businesses, he wouldn’t consider an- United States who are desperately try- days than I have ever seen. And it isn’t
other relief act. And the matter ing to survive in troubling and difficult just rollcalls; it is Members standing
stalled. times. on the floor to discuss the details of
The Speaker went on to pass another It also extends the PPP program I this agreement. There were parts we
bill, a smaller one in size, but nothing mentioned earlier for small businesses were never going to agree on, that is
happened. She went into conversations to give them a chance for the kinds of for sure, but so many times, I would
with Mr. Mnuchin and Senator SCHU- loans and forgivable loans that might step into a conversation on the floor
MER on the Democratic side here, but give them an opportunity to see an- where they would be hammering out
little was produced from that ex- other day. the final details of an agreement. It
change. We were stuck, stalled. As of Money is there especially for was heartening. There has been so lit-
the election day of November 3, it coronavirus vaccine distribution and tle of that activity on the floor in the
wasn’t clear that there would ever be logistics—testing, tracing, and the vac- past year or two. It is perilously close
another relief bill this year. cine. to legislating to have Members of the
I want to say a word about what hap- I would say this. In fairness, I agree Senate of both political parties work-
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pened next because I know more detail with the Republican leader, who gave ing toward agreeable language that can
about that than some. It was about 4 credit to the Trump administration for solve America’s problems. Let’s hope
weeks ago when a Republican Senator the Warp Speed program. That has we have more of that.
and a Democratic Senator invited six been a dramatic success. To think that Unfortunately, the Senate has drifted
of their colleagues for dinner. It was a we have come up with not just one but away from its traditional role of delib-
bipartisan group. When Senator two vaccines that work against this eration and legislation. This year, for
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S7890 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 21, 2020
example, we have only considered 29 BIPARTISAN EMERGENCY COVID RELIEF LEGISLATION SIG- delay, said for several months that the
amendments in the entire year in the NIFICANTLY IMPROVES ON McCONNELL’S INADEQUATE Senate should be on pause. As Demo-
Senate, absent the impeachment pro- PROPOSAL crats were demanding more action, the
ceeding. Twenty-nine amendments. Republican leader was unmoved. The
New Bipartisan Relief December 1 GOP
The year before, 2019, there were 22 Item Agreement Proposal Republican leader’s answer was that 20
amendments. That is a waste of talent. Republican Senators wanted to do
Unemployment Insurance .. $300 per week $0 enhanced UI and
The men and women of the Senate enhanced UI and program extensions nothing more at all. When he finally
should come together, hopefully on a other program end on January 31, proposed legislation, it was completely
extensions through 2021
bipartisan basis, but regardless, should March 14, 2021 partisan, insufficient, and littered with
come together to debate the issues and Direct Payments ................ Additional round of $0 poison pills.
payments—$600 I forgot to add one thing that was in
offer their best ideas and, having of- individual, $1,200/
fered them, be given the chance to vote married couple, and the leader’s bill but not in this bill—
$600/child dependent the broad corporate liability immunity
up or down. I think that appetite is Corporate Immunity .......... Excluded McConnell/Cornyn
strong on both sides of the aisle. Corporate Immunity provision, which the Senator from Illi-
‘‘Red Line’’ nois tried to straighten out. Another
On the Democratic side, Senator SNAP .................................. $13 billion $0
MERKLEY of Oregon has been a leader Rental Assistance ............. $25 billion $0 huge difference—a poison pill.
Transportation ................... $45 billion $0 So when the leader finally proposed
in discussing changes in the Senate Support for Small Busi-
rules, and we reached out to Repub- nesses (PPP) ................. $284.5 billion $257.7 billion legislation because of public pressure
Support for Community to do something, it was partisan—no
licans as well to engage in that con- Development Financial
versation. I think we are a better Sen- Institutions and Minority Democratic input, zero—insufficient,
Depository Institutions .. $12 billion $0 much too little in so many areas, as I
ate for it if we do it and a better Na- SBA Grants ........................ $20 billion $0
tion for it if the debate becomes rel- Debt Relief Payments and mentioned, and littered with poison
Enhancements for SBA pills designed to ensure the bill would
evant to the issues of the day from peo- Lending Programs ........ $5.5 billion $0
ple across America who are watching SAMHSA Funding for Men- fail. Most notably was a provision to
tal Health and Sub- give corporations, no matter how egre-
closely to see if we understand what stance Use Disorder ..... $4.25 billion $0
they are struggling with economically NIH COVID Research ......... $1.25 billion $0 gious their behavior, sweeping immu-
Broadband ......................... $7 billion $0 nity from legal accountability. Leader
and politically.
I yield the floor. MCCONNELL said on the floor that for
Mr. SCHUMER. I am just going to
Republicans, corporate immunity was
f read from it, comparing the new, bipar-
a red line.
tisan relief agreement to the December And he blames the Democrats, as he
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY
1 GOP proposal of Leader MCCONNELL. did again today, for why this bill is
LEADER How about direct payments? This bill
being debated now? It is just turning
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The has $600 per individual, $1,200 per mar-
truth on its head. It is like ‘‘Alice in
Democratic leader is recognized. ried couple, $600 child dependent. Many
Wonderland.’’
f of us didn’t think that was enough, but Even in the recent negotiations, the
it is in the bill. Do you know how much Republican majority made an eleventh
CORONAVIRUS was in the Republican leader’s pro- hour demand that had nothing to do
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, first, I posal? Zero. with helping people during this pan-
heard the remarks of the Senator from Unemployment insurance. This bill
demic but, rather, sabotaged the in-
Illinois. It is a hope that we can change that we are voting on has $300 per week
coming Biden administration’s recov-
the way the Senate operates and do of enhanced UI and other program ex-
ery effort and restricted the Federal
more amendments and do more debat- tensions through March 14. What does
Reserve’s ability to save jobs and right
ing on the floor. We haven’t seen much the Republican leader’s bill have? Zero
the economy in a time of crisis.
give from some of our colleagues on the enhanced UI. Program extensions end
Thankfully, the agreement we
other side of the aisle, but hopefully January 31.
reached contains neither the leader’s
that could and will happen. This bill has $13 billion in SNAP; the
corporate immunity provision nor Sen-
Now, about remarks here, every day, Republican leader’s bill, zero.
This bill has $25 billion in rental as- ator TOOMEY’s last-minute provision to
it seems, for the past week or so, I have handicap the Fed’s authority to sta-
sistance; the Republican leader’s bill,
come to the floor ready to talk about bilize the economy in a crisis. And it
zero.
the merits of bipartisan legislation we will do a whole lot of good, besides,
This bill has $45 billion in transpor-
have been drafting, not wanting to be some of the programs I mentioned.
tation for airlines and mass transit and
critical at all. Then I listen to the Re- Look, after months of tense and dif-
buses and airports and highways. What
publican leader. The leader’s remarks ficult negotiations, we have this agree-
does the Republican leader’s bill have?
just about every day this week as he ment. It is not as large as Democrats
Zero.
has opened the Senate have been so This bill has, very importantly, want. It is certainly larger than what
nastily partisan and in so many ways money for community development fi- many Republicans want. That is the
false that I have no choice but to cor- nancial institutions and minority in- nature of compromise. It does us no
rect the record as the Democratic lead- stitutions, $12 billion. What does the good to end the year with the kind of
er. Republican leader’s bill have? Zero. bitter, partisan fighting that has de-
The Republican leader’s accusation SBA grants, $20 billion this year; Re- fined too much of the year. In a new
that the blame for this bill’s delay lies publican leader’s bill, zero. session and under a new administra-
totally on one side is just ridiculous. It Debt payments and enhancements for tion, we can and should do better be-
is ‘‘Alice in Wonderland’’ thinking. It SBA. This bill, $5.5 billion; Republican cause our job is far from over.
defies all the facts as to what we have bill, zero. The bill today is a good bill. Today is
seen. Then his comparison—that the SAMHSA funding for mental health a good day, but it is certainly not the
agreement we are voting on today and and substance use disorder. This bill, end of the story. It cannot be the end
the most recent Republican offer are so $4.25 billion; Republican leader’s bill, of the story. Anyone who thinks this
similar—is absurd. The two bills are zero. bill is enough doesn’t know what is
nothing alike, and I had to point that NIH COVID research, $1.25 billion; going on in America. Anyone who
out several times. Republican bill, zero. thinks this bill is enough hasn’t heard
I have a chart here. Broadband so homes can get the desperation in the voices of their
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Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- broadband. This bill, $7 billion; Repub- constituents, has not looked into the
sent to have this chart printed in the lican leader’s bill, zero. eyes of a small business owner on the
RECORD. The list could go on. There is a com- brink of ruin.
There being no objection, the mate- plete difference between the two bills. By all rights, there should be direct
rial was ordered to be printed in the We all know as well that the Repub- assistance in this bill for State and
RECORD, as follows: lican leader, who blames Democrats for local governments. The checks should
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