Senate Proceedings on the H.R. 6395 Veto Message, December 29, 2020 — Congressional Record

Summary

Opening pages of the Congressional Record daily edition for Tuesday, December 29, 2020, Volume 166, No. 221. The House was not in session, with its next meeting set for Thursday, December 31 at 10 a.m. The Senate met at 12 noon with Ms. Fischer in the Chair, and the Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the prayer. Mr. McConnell asks unanimous consent concerning the veto message on H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and a speaker, Mr. Markey, says 21,000 new people in his State applied for unemployment benefits the week before Christmas and urges a vote on $2,000 checks, which is his view.

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“Senate Proceedings on the H.R. 6395 Veto Message, December 29, 2020 — Congressional Record.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-29-crec-2020-12-29-pt1-pgs7955-9-58261a33d0/, SHA-256 edce1f03c960d6789d312b0f126dc0f73f61598c30dd4cd4a412f34f89cf1da4.

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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, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020 No. 221

House of Representatives
The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 31, 2020, at 10 a.m.

Senate
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020

The Senate met at 12 noon and was The assistant legislative clerk read LEGISLATIVE SESSION
called to order by the Honorable DEB the following letter:
FISCHER, a Senator from the State of U.S. SENATE,
Nebraska. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE,
Washington, DC, December 29, 2020. WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY
f
To the Senate: NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA-
PRAYER Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR
of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby 2021—VETO
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- appoint the Honorable DEB FISCHER, a Sen-
fered the following prayer: ator from the State of Nebraska, to perform Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
Let us pray. the duties of the Chair. I ask unanimous consent that the veto
Prince of Peace, give us today Your CHUCK GRASSLEY, message on H.R. 6395 received from the
pardon and peace. Pardon the sins of President pro tempore. House be considered as having been
our lips, the untrue and unkind words Mrs. FISCHER thereupon assumed read, spread in full upon the Journal,
we have spoken. Pardon the sins of our the Chair as Acting President pro tem- and be printed in the RECORD.
minds, the ignoring of truth and the re- pore. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
fusal to face the facts. Pardon the sins pore. Without objection, it is so or-
of our hearts, the pride that makes us f
dered.
esteem ourselves as better than others The veto message was ordered to be
and unwilling to forgive. RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
printed in the RECORD as follows:
Lord, place Your peace within us, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
that we may no longer be torn by the pore. Under the previous order, the To the House of Representatives:
cares of this life. As the Members of leadership time is reserved. I am returning, without my approval,
this body receive Your peace, help H.R. 6395, the National Defense Author-
them to live in unity with each other. f ization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (the
We pray in Your great Name. Amen. ‘‘Act’’). My Administration recognizes
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY the importance of the Act to our na-
f
LEADER tional security. Unfortunately, the Act
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- fails to include critical national secu-
The Presiding Officer led the Pledge pore. The majority leader is recog- rity measures, includes provisions that
of Allegiance, as follows: nized. fail to respect our veterans and our
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, military’s history, and contradicts ef-
United States of America, and to the Repub- I suggest the absence of a quorum. forts by my Administration to put
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- America first in our national security
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. pore. The clerk will call the roll. and foreign policy actions. It is a
f The senior assistant legislative clerk ‘‘gift’’ to China and Russia.
proceeded to call the roll. No one has worked harder, or ap-
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, proved more money for the military,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE I ask unanimous consent that the order than I have—over $2 trillion. During
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The for the quorum call be rescinded. my 4 years, with the support of many
clerk will please read a communication The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- others, we have almost entirely rebuilt
to the Senate from the President pro pore. Without objection, it is so or- the United States military, which was
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). dered. totally depleted when I took office.

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∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

S7955

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S7956 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 29, 2020
Your failure to terminate the very dan- Washington, D.C. establishment over Trump’s senior team had all worked to-
gerous national security risk of Sec- those of the American people. It is my gether to pass hundreds of billions
tion 230 will make our intelligence vir- duty to return H.R. 6395 to the House of more dollars of urgent assistance to
tually impossible to conduct without Representatives without my approval. the people who need it most.
everyone knowing what we are doing at DONALD J. TRUMP. This new law will set up a targeted
every step. THE WHITE HOUSE, December 23, 2020. second round of the Paycheck Protec-
The Act fails even to make any Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- tion Program to save jobs. It will
meaningful changes to Section 230 of sence of a quorum. renew and continue Federal programs
the Communications Decency Act, de- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- that helped laid-off workers endure
spite bipartisan calls for repealing that pore. The clerk will call the roll. this crisis. It will send more cash to
provision. Section 230 facilitates the The senior assistant legislative clerk households. It will invest billions in
spread of foreign disinformation on- proceeded to call the roll. vaccine distribution so the success of
line, which is a serious threat to our Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Operation Warp Speed kills this pan-
national security and election integ- I ask unanimous consent that the order demic as fast as possible, and much
rity. It must be repealed. for the quorum call be rescinded. more.
Additionally, the Act includes lan- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- This bipartisan compromise was our
guage that would require the renaming pore. Without objection, it is so or- shot at getting help to working fami-
of certain military installations. Over dered. lies on the urgent timeline that they
the course of United States history, Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, need.
these locations have taken on signifi- Congress has returned to work this Once again, I want to applaud Presi-
cance to the American story and those week to enact the 60th annual National dent Trump for signing the bill and
who have helped write it that far tran- Defense Authorization Act into law. getting this much needed assistance
scends their namesakes. My Adminis- Yesterday, a bipartisan supermajority into the pipeline.
tration respects the legacy of the mil- in the House voted to reapprove the During this process, the President
lions of American servicemen and conference report of this must-pass leg- highlighted three additional issues of
women who have served with honor at islation. Today, the Senate will set up national significance, which he would
a final vote for tomorrow, Wednesday, like to see Congress tackle together.
these military bases, and who, from
for this Chamber to follow suit. Soon, First, as he explained, the President
these locations, have fought, bled, and
this important legislation will be would like further direct financial sup-
died for their country. From these fa-
passed into law. port for American households. Second
cilities, we have won two World Wars. President Trump has rightly noted is the growing willingness on both
I have been clear in my opposition to this year’s Defense bill does not con- sides of the aisle to at least reexamine
politically motivated attempts like tain every provision we Republicans the special legal protections afforded
this to wash away history and to dis- would have wanted. I am confident our to technology companies under section
honor the immense progress our coun- Democrat colleagues feel the same 230 of the Communications Decency
try has fought for in realizing our way, but that is the case every year. Act, including the ways that benefit
founding principles. Yet for 59 consecutive years and
The Act also restricts the President’s some of the most prosperous, most
counting, Washington has put our dif- powerful ‘‘Big Tech’’ firms. And the
ability to preserve our Nation’s secu- ferences aside, found common ground, third subject—since every American,
rity by arbitrarily limiting the amount and passed the annual Defense bill. Not regardless of their politics, should feel
of military construction funds that can once in six decades has a Congress let the integrity of our democracy beyond
be used to respond to a national emer- its differences prevent it from com- reproach—is exploring further ways to
gency. In a time when adversaries have pleting this work for our national secu- protect the sanctity of America’s bal-
the means to directly attack the home- rity and our men and women who wear lots, while continuing to respect the
land, the President must be able to the uniform. Federal Government’s limited role in
safeguard the American people without This year’s NDAA will continue our standing behind State and local elec-
having to wait for congressional au- momentum in rebuilding and modern- tions authorities who actually run
thorization. The Act also contains an izing our Armed Forces. It will author- elections.
amendment that would slow down the ize the personnel, equipment, tools, Those are the three important sub-
rollout of nationwide 5G, especially in and training we need to reinforce the jects the President has linked together.
rural areas. national defense strategy and to deter This week, the Senate will begin a
Numerous provisions of the Act di- great-power rivals like China and Rus- process to bring these three priorities
rectly contradict my Administration’s sia. It will cement our advantage on into focus.
foreign policy, particularly my efforts the seas, on land, in the air, in cyber UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 3985
to bring our troops home. I oppose end- space, and in space. The bill will help Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President,
less wars, as does the American public. us continue to recruit, retain, and sup- I move to proceed to Calendar No. 480,
Over bipartisan objections, however, port the men and women who keep us S. 3985.
this Act purports to restrict the Presi- safe. It provides a pay raise for the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
dent’s ability to withdraw troops from troops, improvements for military pore. The clerk will report the bill by
Afghanistan, Germany, and South housing, childcare, and more. title.
Korea. Not only is this bad policy, but For the brave men and women of the The senior assistant legislative clerk
it is unconstitutional. Article II of the United States and our Armed Forces, read as follows:
Constitution makes the President the failure is simply not an option. So A bill (S. 3985) to improve and reform polic-
Commander in Chief of the Army and when it is our turn in Congress to have ing practices, accountability and trans-
Navy of the United States and vests in their backs, failure is not an option ei- parency.
him the executive power. Therefore, ther. ORDER OF BUSINESS
the decision regarding how many I would urge my colleagues to sup- Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous
troops to deploy and where, including port this legislation one more time consent that following leader remarks
in Afghanistan, Germany, and South when we vote tomorrow. on Wednesday, December 30, the time
Korea, rests with him. The Congress CORONAVIRUS until 1:15 be equally divided between
may not arrogate this authority to Mr. MCCONNELL. On Sunday, Presi- proponents and opponents of the bill,
itself directly or indirectly as pur- dent Trump signed into law another bi- with opponent time being controlled by
ported spending restrictions. partisan rescue package that will pro- Senator PAUL or his designee; further,

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For all of these reasons, I cannot sup- vide major support to American fami- that upon the use or yielding back of
port this bill. My Administration has lies through what we hope will be the that time, the Senate vote on passage
taken strong actions to help keep our home stretch of our fight with the of the bill, the objections of the Presi-
Nation safe and support our service coronavirus. dent to the contrary notwithstanding;
members. I will not approve this bill, Congressional Republicans and con- finally, if passed, the motion to recon-
which would put the interests of the gressional Democrats and President sider be considered made and laid upon

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December 29, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7957
the table with no intervening action or to ask that we double at least the size and the motion to reconsider be consid-
debate. of those checks. A Republican Senator ered made and laid upon the table with
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- objected. Six hundred dollars was the no intervening action or debate?
pore. Is there objection? most Republicans would support. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER Well, my colleagues and my fellow pore. Is there objection to the modi-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Americans, $600 is not enough. It is not fication?
pore. The Democratic leader is recog- enough for the mother in Nashville Mr. MCCONNELL. I object
nized. $4,000 behind on the rent whose water The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
Mr. SCHUMER. Reserving the right was shut off earlier this month; not for pore. Objection is heard.
to object, the Senate is here this week the medical receptionist in Macomb Is there objection to the original re-
for a rare holiday session to address $2,100 behind on the rent, whole elec- quest?
The Senator from Vermont.
two major issues: the President’s veto tricity shut off in September on her
Mr. SANDERS. Madam President, re-
of the annual Defense bill and the ef- son’s third day of virtual kindergarten;
serving the right to object, we should
fort to send $2,000 survival checks to not for the 12 million Americans who all be very, very clear. The working
millions and millions of American fam- have fallen on average nearly $6,000 be- class of this country today faces more
ilies, something Senate Democrats hind on their rent and their utilities or economic desperation than at any time
strongly support. the 26 million Americans who have had since the Great Depression of the 1930s,
The Senate should be in session to trouble putting food on the table in the and working families need help now—
address both issues. There are only a past 5 days. Six hundred dollars? Nope. not next year but right now.
few days left in this session. We should It is not enough. Last night, the House of Representa-
not adjourn until the Senate holds a So in a moment, I will move to have tives, with a two-thirds majority—275
vote on both measures—the NDAA veto the Senate take up the House bill to in- to 134, a two-thirds bipartisan vote—
override and the House bill to provide crease that number to $2,000, which, I moved to increase the direct payment
$2,000 checks for the American people. might add, had broad bipartisan sup- going to working families from $600 per
As we all know, the majority leader port. I don’t want to hear that we can’t adult to $2,000 per adult. The House did
controls the schedule on the floor. So afford it. I don’t want to hear that it the right thing; I congratulate them.
Leader MCCONNELL holds the key to would add too much to the deficit. Sen- Now it is time for the Senate to step up
unlocking this dilemma. The solution ate Republicans added nearly $2 tril- to the plate and do what the working
is a simple one: Put both bills up for a lion to the deficit to give corporations families of this country overwhelm-
simple up-or-down vote and then let a massive tax cut. Republicans just ingly want us to do.
the chips fall where they may. I believe fought to include a tax break for three- Madam President, as a result of the
both measures will pass, as they martini lunches in the COVID relief pandemic, tens of millions of Ameri-
should. But Leader MCCONNELL must bill. So I don’t want to hear that it cans have lost their jobs and their in-
allow the Senate to vote on both pieces costs too much to help working fami- comes. These families, in the middle of
of legislation, the Defense bill and the lies get a check when they are strug- the winter, now face the threat of evic-
$2,000 checks, before we go home. We gling to keep their jobs, pay their rent, tion and the possibility of being
will start the process on overriding the feed their families, and live a halfway thrown out in the streets. Hunger in
President’s veto of the Defense bill to- normal and decent life. America is at the highest level that it
morrow. Even in our deeply divided times, has been for decades, with moms and
Today, at the end of my remarks, I this issue has united Americans from dads struggling to feed their kids and
will ask the Senate’s consent to take coast to coast and bridged the massive working families lining up mile after
up the House-passed bill to provide the political divide here in Washington. A mile to get emergency food packages.
American people immediate survival vast majority of the public, Republican We are even seeing an increase in gro-
checks of $2,000 a person. and Democrat, strongly supports $2,000 cery store shoplifting as desperate
Throughout this pandemic, working checks. An overwhelming bipartisan Americans try to keep their families
Americans have taken it on the chin. majority in the House supports $2,000 from going hungry. All of this is taking
Right now, they are facing their hard- checks. Senate Democrats strongly place in the wealthiest country in the
est and their darkest days. Tens of mil- support $2,000 checks. Even President history of the world.
lions have lost their jobs. Tens of mil- Trump supports $2,000 checks. Over the last number of years, as I
lions are struggling to put food on the There is one question left today: Do think everybody in America knows,
table, to keep a roof over their heads. Senate Republicans join with the rest Congress has provided massive tax
In the wealthiest Nation on Earth, of America in supporting $2,000 checks? breaks for the very wealthiest people
modern-day breadlines stretch for Now, some of my Republican col- in our country, which is one of the rea-
miles down American highways. leagues have said they support the sons why today we have more income
The fastest way to get money into checks, but there is a major difference and wealth inequality than any time
Americans’ pockets is to send some of in saying you support $2,000 checks and since the 1920s. In fact, in the midst of
their tax dollars right back from where fighting to put them into law. The this pandemic, this terrible pandemic,
they came. And $2,000 stimulus checks House bill is the only way—the only inequality has grown worse, with many
could mean the difference between way—to deliver these stimulus checks in the billionaire class seeing their
American families having groceries for before the end of session. wealth increase by hundreds of billions
a few extra weeks or going hungry, the Will Senate Republicans fight for a of dollars while average Americans
difference between paying the rent or vote on the House-passed CASH Act, or struggle to put food on the table.
being kicked out of your home that will they look some other way? Will Congress has given huge tax breaks
you have lived in for years. It would Senate Republicans stand against the to large corporations so that some of
buy precious time for tens of millions House of Representatives, the Demo- the most profitable and largest cor-
of people as the vaccine thankfully cratic majority in the Senate, and the porations in America today pay zero in
makes its way across the country. Of President of their own party to prevent Federal income taxes.
course, we could have taken up this these $2,000 checks from going out the We have just passed the largest mili-
issue weeks ago. door? We are about to get the answers tary budget in the history of our coun-
In the COVID bill Congress just to these questions. try—$740 billion, more than the next 10
passed, Democrats wanted generous di- So now, Madam President, would the nations combined. By the way, there
rect payments to the American people. Senator modify his request to include a was almost no debate about the size of

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Speaker PELOSI and I repeatedly asked unanimous consent that the Senate that huge budget. Trump’s veto dealt
our Republican counterparts how much proceed to the immediate consider- with other issues.
they could support. Their answer: $600. ation of H.R. 9051, a bill received from Meanwhile, over half a million Amer-
It was a compromise many of us were the House to increase recovery rebate icans are homeless, half of our working
not happy about. I came to the floor amounts to $2,000 per individual; that families are struggling to survive pay-
myself with the Senator from Vermont the bill be read a third time and passed check to paycheck, and in the midst of

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S7958 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 29, 2020
this terrible, unprecedented pandemic, suffering across our country. We can cans lost their benefits, and that is a
over 90 million Americans are unin- see how desperate people are. We can tragedy.
sured or underinsured. In the midst of see how during this holiday season, the A $2,000 check is the most direct and
a pandemic, they are not sure whether people are looking at the prospect, in effective mechanism for delivering eco-
they can afford to go to a doctor. the words of Tony Fauci, where the nomic relief right now to those who are
We are coming to the close of one of worst may be ahead of us for these barely holding on throughout this cri-
the most terrible and painful years in families. The worst may yet to have sis, particularly low-income Ameri-
American history. That is a tragic fact. been actually inflicted upon families cans, immigrant communities, and our
Over 330,000 of our people have died of and our country. Yet the Republicans gig and service workers—our essential
COVID–19, and, as we speak, we are see- are refusing to allow for a vote on giv- workers. They need help. They have
ing recordbreaking numbers of new ing each individual $2,000 in order to been helping our families, and we need
cases, and hospitals around the coun- make it through the rest of this pan- to help their families. Right now, these
try are being overwhelmed with new demic. checks would help 158 million people
admissions. Senator SANDERS today speaks for across our country pay for housing, put
During the last year, the education the millions of Americans who are suf- food on the table, and make sure that
and well-being of tens of millions of fering through a devastating health grandma and grandpa have their diabe-
our young people, from childcare to crisis, an unemployment crisis, an tes or heart medication.
eviction crisis, a hunger crisis, and a That is why Senator SANDERS, Sen-
graduate school, has been disrupted.
ator KAMALA HARRIS, and I introduced
The terrible emotional isolation this crisis of faith—faith that their leaders
legislation to provide every person in
pandemic has caused, where people are in this country will stand up and pro-
our country, regardless of immigration
unable to spend time with their fami- vide for Americans in their hour of
status, with $2,000 monthly recurring
lies and friends, has resulted in a huge need.
Meanwhile, we here in Washington payments in order to help weather this
increase in mental illness, drug addic- storm. We knew then, 7 months ago,
tion, and even suicide. must confront a moral crisis: Why
that a single $1,200 relief check was not
As I mentioned, the House has done can’t we keep working families from
going to be enough to help families get
the right thing. By an overwhelming starving even as we stand ready to ap-
by, and the $600 payment in the latest
vote, Democrats and Republicans voted prove a massive defense bill?
That is why I am here with my col- coronavirus package is a crumb to the
to increase that $600 direct payment to working people who have faced eco-
$2,000. A recent poll came out, and 78 league BERNIE SANDERS to call for a
simple vote to provide $2,000 in direct nomic hardship through no fault of
percent of the American people think their own. It won’t even cover a month
that was the right decision. They are cash payments to Americans across our
of rent, let alone heating bills, food
hurting. They want help. The leaders of country. It is this simple. Just like
bills, Wi-Fi bills for students who are
our country—President Trump, Presi- they did in the House of Representa-
learning from home, and all of the
dent-Elect Biden, Minority Leader tives, the Senate should have a vote—
other expenses that are piling up for
CHUCK SCHUMER, the Speaker of the up or down, yes or no—on providing
these families.
House, NANCY PELOSI—are all in agree- these increased cash payments to des- Now, some of my Republican col-
ment: We have to raise that direct pay- perate Americans. We can get this done leagues have said that providing $2,000
ment to $2,000. quickly and before the holiday if Lead- would be too expensive. Well, here are
So that is where we are right now in er MCCONNELL will simply agree to do some other costs they seem to have
this historic moment. Do we turn our it. They already had this vote in the forgotten. If our proposal to increase
backs on struggling working families, House, and 44 Republicans voted for it. stimulus checks to $2,000 is soaring,
or do we respond to their pain? Give the Republicans in the Senate the the overall cost of the stimulus bill
So, Madam President, would the Sen- same opportunity to vote. We already would go from $900 billion to $1.36 tril-
ator modify his request that imme- know that many of them have already lion. Yes, that is a $464 billion increase
diately following the vote on the veto said they will vote for the $2,000 if they over what we were currently projecting
override, the Senate proceed to the get a chance to vote. It is this simple. for this bill, but it is only a fraction of
consideration of H.R. 9051; that the bill We can do this because a simple vote the $740 billion Defense bill that this
be considered read a third time and the will just say that you want to provide Chamber stands ready to approve again
Senate vote on passage of the bill with a grand total of $2,000 to Americans this week.
no intervening action or debate; fur- who need it to pay the rent, to keep I hate to say this, but my Republican
ther, that, if passed, the motion to re- the electricity on, to buy diapers, to colleagues seem to be more interested
consider be considered made and laid pay for lifesaving medication—just to in funding defense than in funding the
upon the table? survive this devastating pandemic. defenseless, and that is what this de-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- There are 44 House Republicans who bate is all about. What do we do to help
pore. Is there objection to the request voted for the $2,000 checks. I believe these defenseless families? In this mo-
for modification? that the Republicans in this Chamber ment of national crisis, we were able to
Mr. MCCONNELL. I object. will do so as well, and President Trump afford spending three-quarters of a tril-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- has already made it very clear that he lion dollars on a bloated defense budg-
pore. Objection is heard. will sign the bill. So we can see where et—spending that was supposed to pro-
Is there objection to the original? the opposition is. It is with the leader- tect our country yet did nothing to in-
Mr. SANDERS. I object. ship of the Republicans in the U.S. oculate against the most profound pub-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Senate. lic health emergency in a century—but
pore. Objection is heard. People across our country are falling we can’t give hungry and suffering
f ill and falling behind on their bills, and Americans $2,000? That is a moral fail-
for the families of the hundreds of ure for our country. Give Americans
MORNING BUSINESS thousands who have died from this money.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- coronavirus, the medical and funeral Most of my colleagues support this
pore. Under the previous order, the expenses are compounding their grief. defense budget. They got to vote on it
Senate will be in a period of morning They need money in their pockets. a few weeks ago, and I know they stand
business, with Senators permitted to In Massachusetts, this past Sunday, ready to override President Trump’s
speak therein for up to 10 minutes we hit 100 deaths in a single day—the racist, belligerent veto. We are here
each. highest death toll our State has seen in today, asking the same thing for $2,000

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The Senator from Massachusetts. a 24-hour period since the very begin- payments—a simple up-or-down vote.
f ning of this pandemic. In the week be- Let’s bring the House bill up for a vote.
fore Christmas, 21,000 new people in our Leader SCHUMER is committed to bring-
CORONAVIRUS State applied for unemployment bene- ing it forward. We can get this done be-
Mr. MARKEY. Madam President, this fits just as Donald Trump let these pro- fore the holiday. We can do this for
is our historic moment. We can see the tections lapse before millions of Ameri- Americans before the year is out.

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