Legislative Session (Cong. Rec., Dec. 30, 2020)
Summary
Page S7972 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for December 30, 2020, with a correction notice, headed Legislative Session. Mr. McConnell says the Senate committed to a process combining the President's priorities of larger direct checks, a repeal of section 230 and a review of election integrity, and criticizes sending more cash to people making $300,000, which is his view. Mr. Schumer and others ask for a simple vote on the House bill for $2,000 checks, and the clerk reports a motion to proceed to Calendar No. 480, a bill on policing practices. S. 5085 and H.R. 9051 are placed on the calendar.
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“Legislative Session (Cong. Rec., Dec. 30, 2020).”
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CORRECTION
S7972 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 30, 2020
expanding nontargeted direct pay- their special tax cuts for rich people in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
ments. So to ensure the President was rich States. Now they say it is a mat- clerk will report the motion.
comfortable signing the bill into law, ter of survival to send another boat- The legislative clerk read as follows:
the Senate committed to beginning one load of cash to people making $300,000, Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 480, S.
process that would combine three of regardless of whether they have experi- 3985, a bill to improve and reform policing
the President’s priorities: larger direct enced any disruption at all this past practices, accountability and transparency.
checks, a repeal of section 230 of the year. MEASURES PLACED ON THE CALENDAR—S. 5085
Even the liberal Washington Post AND H.R. 9051
Communications Decency Act, and fur-
ther efforts to review the integrity of today is laughing at the political left Mr. MCCONNELL. I understand there
our democracy—three of the Presi- for demanding more huge giveaways are two bills at the desk due a second
dent’s priorities in one Senate process. with no relationship to actual need. reading en bloc.
That was the commitment, and that is Here is what the Washington Post The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
what happened yesterday when I intro- wrote: ‘‘Especially wrongheaded . . . is clerk will read the bills by title for the
duced text reflecting just what the the progressive left, spearheaded by second time.
President had, in fact, requested. Sen. BERNIE SANDERS . . . who depicts The legislative clerk read as follows:
Now House and Senate Democrats the $2,000 as aid to ‘desperate’ Ameri- A bill (S. 5085) to amend the Internal Rev-
want something very different. As they cans despite the huge amounts destined enue Code of 1986 to increase the additional
tried to do countless times in the past for perfectly comfortable families.’’ 2020 recovery rebates, to repeal section 230 of
That is from the editors of the Wash- the Communications Act of 1934, and for
4 years, Speaker PELOSI and Leader other purposes;
ington Post.
SCHUMER are trying to pull a fast one The Wall Street Journal, usually A bill (H.R. 9051), to amend the Internal
on the President and the American their opposite number, actually agrees. Revenue Code of 1986 to increase recovery re-
people. bate amounts to $2,000 for individuals, and
These nontargeted ‘‘checks are unnec- for other purposes.
First of all, they are hoping everyone essary,’’ and struggling households can
just forgets about election integrity access targeted support like ‘‘expanded Mr. MCCONNELL. In order to place
and Big Tech. They are desperate to ig- jobless benefits, food stamps, child- the bills on the calendar under provi-
nore those two parts of President care subsidies and much more.’’ sion of rule XIV, I object to further
Trump’s requests, and you can draw The liberal economist Larry Sum- proceedings en bloc.
your own conclusions. Even on the mers, President Clinton’s Treasury The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
question of larger checks, the Demo- Secretary and President Obama’s NEC tion having been heard, the bills will be
crats have tried to warp what Presi- Director, says: ‘‘There is no good eco- placed on the calendar.
dent Trump actually laid out. nomic argument’’ for universal $2,000 RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
Look, it is no secret that Repub- checks at this moment. He points out The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
licans have a diversity of views about the CARES Act and the brandnew law Democratic leader is recognized.
the wisdom of borrowing hundreds of will already have boosted overall ELECTORAL COLLEGE
billions more to send out more nontar- household income, relative to the econ- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I was
geted money, including to many house- omy, back to its prepandemic levels, if prepared this afternoon to speak about
holds that have suffered no loss of in- not higher. the business the Senate must address,
come during the crisis. COVID–19 has If specific struggling households need and I will do that, but, first, I must re-
not affected all households equally— still more help after the huge, historic spond to the recent announcement by
not even close. package that was just signed into law 4 the junior Senator of Missouri that he
It is hardly clear that the Federal days ago has taken effect, then what intends to contest the certified votes of
Government’s top priority should be they will need is smart, targeted aid, the electrical college when Congress
sending thousands of dollars to, for ex- not another firehose of borrowed meets to count those votes next week.
ample, a childless couple making well money that encompasses other people The process for electing American
into six figures who have been com- who are doing just fine. Presidents is provided in our Constitu-
fortably teleworking all year. Our duty So, in my view, colleagues like Sen- tion and laws.
is to help get help to the people who ator CORNYN and Senator TOOMEY have The process has been followed fully,
actually need help, like we did, to a pointed this out persuasively. But, fairly. The results have been duly cer-
historic degree, just 4 days ago. more broadly, here is the deal. The tified by the Governors of the States,
But above and beyond that discus- Senate is not going to split apart the and they have been reviewed and con-
sion, the Democratic leaders have bro- three issues that President Trump firmed by the courts many times over.
ken from what President Trump pro- linked together just because Demo- The result is that Joe Biden and
posed. They quietly changed this pro- crats are afraid to address two of them. KAMALA HARRIS won the election by
posal in an attempt to let wealthy The Senate is not going to be bullied overwhelming margins in both the pop-
households suck up even more money. into rushing out more borrowed money ular vote and the electoral vote.
Speaker PELOSI structured her bill so into the hands of the Democrats’ rich The Biden-Harris ticket received
that a family of four would have to friends who don’t need the help. more than 81 million votes, more than
earn more than $300,000 in order not— We just approved almost a trillion any ticket in American history. That
not to qualify for more cash. A family dollars in aid a few days ago. It struck was over 7 million more votes than
of three could pull in $250,000 per year— a balance between broad support for all Trump-Pence. The Biden-Harris ticket
a quarter of a million dollars—and still kinds of households and a lot more tar- won the electoral college 306 to 232, the
qualify for some money. geted relief for those who need help the
very same total that President Trump
Democratic leaders want to call this most.
called a landslide for himself then just
We are going to stay smart; we are
scheme ‘‘survival checks.’’ Only my 4 years ago.
going to stay focused; and we are going
friends Speaker PELOSI and the Demo- Since the election process, President
to continue delivering on the needs for
cratic leader could look at households Trump and his acolytes have lost more
our Nation.
in New York and California who make than 50 lawsuits, falsely claiming fraud
$300,000, in households where nobody f or other irregularities in the conduct
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has been laid off, where earnings have LEGISLATIVE SESSION of the 2020 election, including the
not even dropped during the past year, unanimous decision by the Supreme
and conclude these rich constituents of Court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by
theirs need ‘‘survival checks’’ financed JUST AND UNIFYING SOLUTIONS the attorney general of Texas and more
by taxpayer dollars and borrowed TO INVIGORATE COMMUNITIES than half the Republican Members of
money EVERYWHERE ACT OF 2020—MO- the House.
Everyone sees the game here. These TION TO PROCEED Today, we heard from the junior Sen-
are the same Democrats who proudly Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ator from Missouri that he intends to
blocked the entire aid package for move to proceed to Calendar No. 480, S. object to the election results, particu-
months because they tried to hold out 3985. larly in Pennsylvania—a State where
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December 30, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7973
the Trump campaign and its allies have families. There are only a few days left to the American people or not? Let’s
brought no fewer than 13 lawsuits and in this session, and the Senate should have the vote.
lost every single one, many with Re- consider both issues before adjourning. UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—H.R. 9051
publican judges ruling. There have There is a very simple solution to I ask unanimous consent that the
been only three individuals—three— this dilemma: Leader MCCONNELL Senate proceed to the immediate con-
charged with voter fraud in Pennsyl- should bring both measures up for a sideration of H.R. 9051, a bill received
vania, and in each case, the person vote and let the chips fall where they from the House, to increase recovery
voted for Trump. may. I believe both measures—the de- rebate amounts to $2,000 for individ-
The effort by the sitting President of fense override and the $2,000 checks to uals; that the bill be read a third time
the United States to overturn the re- American families—will pass, but at and passed; and that the motion to re-
sults is patently undemocratic. The ef- the very least, the Senate deserves the consider be considered made and laid
fort by others to amplify and burnish opportunity for an up-or-down vote on upon the table with no intervening ac-
his ludicrous claims of fraud is equally increasing the individual payments to tion or debate.
revolting. This is America. We have the American people. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
elections. We have results. We make At the end of my remarks, I will ask objection?
arguments based on fact and reason, the Senate to set a time tonight for a Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
not conspiracy and fantasy. vote on the House bill to provide $2,000 object.
On January 6, Congress will meet to checks. The Republican leader objected The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
formally recognize the electoral col- to a similar request I made yesterday, tion is heard.
lege result. There is a very clear proc- and it appears he may be considering a
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
ess to handle and dispense with the ob- different bill that packages stimulus
jections of Members of Congress to the checks with other unrelated and par- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
counting of the result, and that is just tisan policies. the previous order, the leadership time
what we will do—dispense with them. I want to be very clear about one is reserved.
On January 6, Congress will ratify the thing: There is no other game in town f
electoral college’s decision that Joe besides the House bill. The only way to MORNING BUSINESS
Biden will be President and KAMALA get the American people the $2,000
HARRIS will be Vice President. Make no checks they deserve and need is to pass The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
mistake about it—Joe Biden and the House bill and pass it now. The the previous order, the Senate will be
KAMALA HARRIS will be sworn in as House has recessed for the year. Any in a period of morning business, with
President and Vice President on Janu- modification or addition to the House Senators permitted to speak therein
ary 20. bill cannot become law before the end for up to 10 minutes each.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT of this Congress. It is a way to kill the The Senator from Vermont.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now bill. Make no mistake about it: Either f
let me return to the matters at hand. the Senate takes up and passes the
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS—
Today, the Senate will begin the House bill or struggling American fam-
H.R. 9051 AND H.R. 6395
process of overriding the President’s ilies will not get $2,000 checks during
veto on the annual Defense bill. The the worst economic crisis in 75 years. Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I want
House has already overridden the veto Over the past few days, the idea of in- to concur with what Senator SCHUMER
by a comfortable margin. I expect the creasing direct payments to the Amer- said. What he said goes beyond eco-
Senate to follow suit and enact the ican people has united folks from all nomics. It goes beyond the desperation
NDAA into law over President Trump’s points of the political spectrum. I sa- that tens of millions of working fami-
evolving and ridiculous objections. lute the Senator from Vermont for the lies are facing. It goes beyond the
Congress has passed the annual Defense good job he has done in bringing this struggles of the people of Vermont or
bill for 59 years in a row. It is an im- forward to the American people’s at- Kentucky.
portant opportunity to ensure our de- tention. An overwhelming bipartisan Let me just make it clear for the ma-
fense and security policies reflect the majority in the House supports the jority leader that 10 out of the poorest
evolving challenges of our world and $2,000 checks. Senate Democrats 25 counties in the United States of
provide our servicemembers and their strongly support these $2,000 checks, America are located in Kentucky. So
families, as well as Defense Depart- and our unlikely ally, President my colleague the majority leader
ment civilians, the support, resources, Trump, this morning, tweeted: ‘‘$2000 might want to get on the phone and
and training they need. The particular ASAP!’’ For once, the Democrats agree start talking to working families in
legislation includes a pay raise for with something on President Trump’s Kentucky and find out how they feel
troops and provisions that will allow Twitter feed. Let’s send $2,000 ASAP to about the need for immediate help in
the executive branch to be better pos- working Americans who are facing the terms of a $2,000 check per adult. I have
tured to identify and deter breaches to hardest and darkest days of the pan- the strong feeling that the people of
America’s cyber security. In the wake demic. Kentucky will respond no differently
of the SolarWinds hack, that might be After all of the insanity that the than the people of Vermont or New
a good policy to enact. Senate Republicans have tolerated York. The last poll that I saw had 78
Nonetheless, President Trump vetoed from President Trump—his attacks on percent of the American people saying
this legislation because it provides for the rule of law, an independent judici- they wanted and needed that type of
renaming military installations that ary, the conduct that led to his im- help.
honor Confederate military leaders or, peachment—is this where the Senate This discussion, frankly, is not just
maybe, because it doesn’t address an Republicans are going to draw the about the economic struggling of work-
unrelated social media issue. Think line—with $2,000 checks to the Amer- ing families in this country. It is not
about it for a moment. The President ican people? That is a bridge too far? just about the massive levels of income
vetoed a pay raise to living American Please. and wealth inequality. It is about basic
soldiers in order to defend the honor of For the awareness of my colleagues, democracy.
dead Confederate traitors. Well, the we can have this vote tonight and send Now, what we have to do here on the
Senate will soon have an opportunity the bill directly to the President’s desk floor, whether it is Senator SCHUMER or
to override the President’s objection for his signature. We can vote on the Senator MCCONNELL or I, is to talk in
and do right by those brave Americans NDAA bill tonight and finish the Sen- legalese. That is the language of the
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who wear the uniform. ate’s business before the end of the U.S. Senate. The stuff sounds pretty
As I said yesterday, there are two year. All it takes is our Republican col- complicated to the average person, but
major issues before the Senate right leagues to consent to a simple vote on all that Senator SCHUMER and I are
now—the annual Defense bill and the the House bill to provide $2,000 checks asking of the majority leader is very
vital and important effort to send to the American people. Yes or no, up simple: Allow the Members of the U.S.
$2,000 stimulus checks to American or down, do you support sending $2,000 Senate to cast a vote. If you want to
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