Unanimous Consent Request—H.R. 9051 (Cong. Rec., Dec. 31, 2020)
Summary
Page S7986 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for December 31, 2020, headed Unanimous Consent Request on H.R. 9051, in interleaved columns, with Recognition of the Democratic Leader. A speaker says the Republican leader invented an excuse to prevent a clean up-or-down vote on $2,000 checks, that nearly $900 billion in targeted relief was signed into law less than a week earlier, and that some believe a family of five should earn $350,000 before aid stops, which are that speaker's views. Another speaker, Mr. Sanders, discusses income and wealth inequality and tax breaks for the rich.
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“Unanimous Consent Request—H.R. 9051 (Cong. Rec., Dec. 31, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-31-crec-2020-12-31-pt1-pgs7986-2-4a444594d5/
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S7986 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 31, 2020
checks.’’ In fact, they believe a family that is exactly what we did less than 1 no such demand. President Trump
of five should have to earn $350,000 be- week ago, when nearly $900 billion in couldn’t care less about how the bills
fore the spigot of government money more targeted relief was signed into are packaged in Congress.
would stop entirely. law for our people. So the Republican leader has in-
Socialism for rich people. That is f vented an excuse to prevent a clean,
what Speaker PELOSI and Senator up-or-down, yes-or-no vote on $2,000
SANDERS have sketched out. A terrible RECOGNITION OF THE checks from coming to the floor. This
way to help those who need it, and ex- DEMOCRATIC LEADER maneuver to combine all three issues is
perts across the political spectrum The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- intended to kill the possibility of $2,000
agree. pore. The minority leader is recog- checks ever becoming law.
The liberal editors of the Washington nized. Just to prove it, let me make this
Post have blasted so-called progres- f offer to the Republican majority. We
sives demanding a nontargeted give- are willing to vote on the other issues
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST— that President Trump mentioned—all
away that would give ‘‘huge amounts’’
H.R. 9051 the issues the Republican leader says
to ‘‘perfectly comfortable families.’’
Larry Summers, who ran the Treas- Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, must be addressed—so long as we vote
ury Department for President Clinton the Senate today meets for a rare New on them separately. That way, $2,000
and the National Economic Council for Year’s Eve session for one reason and checks could become law, and we could
President Obama, says there is ‘‘no one reason only: The Republican leader debate all the President’s supposed
good economic argument’’ for more has refused to allow us to vote on legis- concerns.
nontargeted checks with no linkage to lation to provide the American people We can vote on setting up a commis-
need. $2,000 checks. He has twice objected to sion to look at the President’s roundly
The liberal New York Times reported my requests to set a time for a vote on rejected claims of voter fraud. We
this morning that a majority of the the measure, claiming yesterday that would also have the commission look
households that get nontargeted direct stimulus checks were ‘‘poorly at voter suppression and gerry-
checks do not end up spending them on targeted,’’ bemoaning the idea that mandering. That is completely unre-
urgent needs but rather just add it to some of these checks might go into lated to helping Americans pay their
their savings. ‘‘We know where the ‘‘the hands of Democrats’ rich friends bills, but we are willing to take a look
pockets of need are,’’ said one econo- who don’t need the help.’’ Senator at the whole picture. Just give us a
mist, and ‘‘putting [money] there TOOMEY said much the same thing. vote on the House-passed bill so we can
would be a much more efficient use.’’ Well, funny, I don’t remember the get help now for people who des-
Fortunately, though some of our col- Republican leader and Senator TOOMEY perately need it.
leagues seem to have forgotten, that is complaining about how a $2 trillion Heck, we can also have a vote on re-
exactly what we did only a week ago. It across-the-board corporate tax cut was pealing 230. We can do it today. We will
has been less than 5 days since Presi- ‘‘poorly targeted’’ because some large use Leader MCCONNELL’s exact lan-
dent Trump signed into law another companies didn’t need the help. No, guage. He wouldn’t agree to that be-
when corporations get a blanket tax cause he knows his caucus wouldn’t ac-
historic bipartisan rescue package tar-
break, that is fine by the Republican tually support such an act. Unlike the
geted to Americans who actually need
majority. When the average American President, some Members of this body
the help.
We passed an entire second round of gets a little help from their govern- understand what 230 means. They un-
ment, it is ‘‘poorly targeted.’’ derstand that section 230, which cer-
PPP loans to save small business jobs,
I hope that every American heard the tainly needs change, actually enables
targeted to the hardest hit. We re-
objections by these Republican Sen- the President to spew his lies.
newed multiple kinds of additional We all know the 117th Congress will
benefits for unemployed workers, in- ators. I hope every American who has
have to take a close look at the rela-
cluding an extra $300 supplement every their water or heat or electricity shut
tionship between liability and reckless
week. There are billions for targeted off or had eviction notices stapled on
speech on the internet. But if Leader
food assistance, billions for targeted top of one another to their door or had MCCONNELL wants a vote on these
rental assistance, and many billions of to choose which meal to skip on a issues, we are here for it. Just give us
dollars for vaccine distribution so we given day—I hope they all heard the a vote on the House-passed bill, and we
can finally beat this virus and reopen reason they will not receive $2,000 can vote on whatever rightwing con-
the economy in full. checks is because Leader MCCONNELL spiracy theory you would like.
These are the kinds of targeted emer- thinks it could wind up in the hands of We can even vote to set up a special
gency programs that directly help the ‘‘Democrats’ rich friends.’’ blue-ribbon commission to determine
most vulnerable, and we just poured al- Let’s be very clear. There is one way whether Georgia’s secretary of State
most another trillion dollars into and only one way to pass $2,000 checks has a brother named Ron, if that would
them, less than 5 days ago, along with before the end of the year, and that is make our Republican friends happy.
more direct checks that are already ar- to pass the House bill. It is the only Just don’t let these conspiracy theo-
riving in households’ accounts. That is way to get the American people the ries and Presidential fantasies get in
what we did just 5 days ago. $2,000 checks they need and deserve. the way of helping actual people—peo-
This crisis has not affected everyone The House is gone for the session. ple whose livelihoods have been torn
equally. The data show that many Any modification or addition to the apart by this pandemic, people whose
upper middle-class Americans have House bill can’t become law. Either the lives have been torn apart by the ad-
kept their jobs, worked remotely, and Senate takes up and passes the House ministration’s mismanagement of this
remained totally financially com- bill or struggling Americans will not pandemic, people who need just a little
fortable. On the other hand, some of get $2,000 checks during the worst eco- direct assistance.
our fellow citizens had their entire ex- nomic crisis since the Great Depres- The President’s term, thankfully,
istence turned upside down and con- sion. will end in 20 days. It is a term that
tinue to suffer terribly. Leader MCCONNELL knows this. So he has been marked by hate and division
We do not need to let the Speaker of has said that the Senate can only vote and turmoil. He has so far used his
the House do socialism for rich people on a bill that combines the checks with term to enrich himself and the
in order to help those who need help. other unrelated partisan policies: a re- wealthy.
Our duty, both to struggling Ameri- peal of section 230 and an investigation Let’s close out the term on a good
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
cans and to taxpayers, is to focus on into the President’s dishonest and note. For once, he wants to help reg-
targeted relief that will have the max- bogus claims of election fraud. ular people, to give Americans a leg up.
imum impact and help the people who The Republican leader claims that Let’s allow him to do that.
need it the most. That is what the ex- President Trump insists that all three We have a chance at the end of this
perts say we should do. That is where issues must be addressed in one bill, painful year to give Americans a rea-
there is broad bipartisan support, and but, of course, the President has made son to have some hope in 2021. The only
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December 31, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7987
thing standing in the way is the Repub- provide corporate welfare to corpora- SCHUMER’s State. It is taking place in
lican Senate majority. In a moment, I tions that don’t need it. That is social- Kentucky. In fact, the State of Ken-
will, once again, ask consent that the ism for the rich. The majority leader is tucky—a very beautiful State; I have
Senate set a time for a vote on the right, but let’s talk about, in fact, had the pleasure of being there a num-
House bill to provide $2,000 checks to what is in this bill. ber of times—a beautiful State—is the
the American people. Remember, the According to the Tax Policy Center, State in which 10 out of the 25 poorest
Democrats are willing to vote on all of fewer than 1 percent of the benefits of counties in America exist. I am sure
the other issues that the Republicans the direct payments—that is the $2,000 Senator MCCONNELL is aware that,
say the President supposedly cares per working-class adult that Senator throughout his State, you have thou-
about. Just let us vote on a clean bill SCHUMER and I are talking about— sands and tens of thousands of people
with the $2,000 checks. would go to the top 5 percent of Ameri- living in economic desperation. I am
Madam President, I ask unanimous cans. Virtually nothing would go to the talking about counties where 30 to 40
consent that the Senate proceed to the very, very rich. The overwhelming ma- percent of people are living in poverty
immediate consideration of Calendar jority of those funds would go to the and where many thousands of residents
No. 645, H.R. 9051, a bill to increase the middle class, the working class, low-in- are trying to survive on less than
recovery rebate amounts to $2,000 for come people, who in the midst of this $20,000 a year.
individuals; that the bill be read a pandemic are in desperate economic I am just using Kentucky as an ex-
third time and the Senate vote on pas- condition. ample because that is the State Sen-
sage; and that if passed, the motion to Again, I am delighted to hear the ma- ator MCCONNELL represents, but it is
reconsider be considered made and laid jority leader talking about socialism true all over this country.
upon the table with no intervening ac- for the rich, and I hope we will con- In Kentucky, over 22 percent of the
tion or debate. tinue that discussion in the next ses- children are living in poverty. Do you
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- sion. Let me talk about the socialism think they might need a little bit of
pore. Is there objection? for the rich that the majority leader is help?
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, enthusiastically supportive of as the In the State of Kentucky, more than
I object. majority leader helped to lead this 190,000 workers are making extremely
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- body to pass Trump’s tax bill. low wages, and over a half a million
pore. Objection is heard. Now, do you want to talk about so- people earn less than $15 an hour.
f cialism for the rich, Mr. Majority Somebody might want to ask those
Leader? people what a $2,000 check per adult
CONCLUSION OF MORNING Under that bill, Charles Koch—one of would mean. I am talking about Ken-
BUSINESS the very richest people in America, tucky, and I will never forget this be-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- who has a net worth of $113 billion—re- cause I visited Kentucky and talked to
pore. Morning business is closed. ceived a $1.4 billion tax break. some of the people there. Kentucky has
f
Mr. Majority Leader, that sounds, to suffered from a particular opioid crisis.
me, like socialism for the rich. Ah, but I will never forget talking to a football
LEGISLATIVE SESSION that is not all. coach who told me that a bunch of the
In Nevada, you have a gentleman kids on his football team were living
named Sheldon Adelson, who is a major with their grandparents or on couches
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY contributor to the Republican Party because of the opioid epidemic.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- and a big funder for Donald Trump. In other words, the people in Ken-
TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR Under that same tax bill led by the ma- tucky, the people in New York, and the
2021—VETO—MOTION TO PRO- jority leader, Sheldon Adelson received people in Vermont are hurting. They
CEED—Resumed a $560 million tax break. A guy who is need help.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- worth $34 billion desperately needed So I say today to Senator MCCON-
pore. Under the previous order, the that tax break of $560 million. NELL, the leader here, let us address
Senate will resume consideration of Do you want more tax breaks for the the horrendous economic crisis facing
the veto message on H.R. 6395, which rich? Do you want to talk about social- tens of millions of Americans.
the clerk will report. ism for the rich? The pandemic today is worse than it
The senior assistant legislative clerk Senator MCCONNELL had no problem has ever been. Hopefully, hopefully, the
read as follows: giving a $104 million tax refund to vaccine will make a profound dif-
Veto message, a bill (H.R. 6395) to author- Amazon over the past 3 years despite ference, but, right now, people are
ize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 for the fact that the company made $30 bil- hurting, and they are looking to this
military activities of the Department of De- lion in profits. So the argument that institution. They are looking to Con-
fense, for military construction, and for de- this bill, in any significant way, bene- gress. The House did the right thing.
fense activities of the Department of Energy, fits the rich is just not accurate, but They are now looking to the Senate.
to prescribe military personnel strengths for let us talk about whom this bill does They are looking to Senator MCCON-
such fiscal year, and for other purposes.
benefit. NELL.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- This bill benefits tens of millions of After all is said and done and after
pore. The Senator from Vermont. Americans who, as a result of this pan- all of the legalese—and I am going to
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—H.R. 9051 AND demic, have lost their jobs and have be introducing some legalese in a mo-
H.R. 6395 lost their incomes. Some, in fact, have ment—it comes down to one thing:
Mr. SANDERS. Madam President, let lost their lives. These are people who Senator MCCONNELL disagrees with the
me briefly respond to some of the are going hungry today. We are seeing proposal that Senator SCHUMER and I
points that Majority Leader MCCON- today a recordbreaking level of hunger are making. I got it. That is fine. This
NELL has made, to his inaccurate state- in America—the richest country in the is a democracy. He has the right to his
ments. history of the world. All over this point of view. I would love to have the
Now, I am delighted that, after years country—and I receive emails from debate on the floor with Senator
of talking on the floor of the Senate people all over this country—people are MCCONNELL about this legislation. All
about socialism for the rich, appar- frightened to death that they are going that we are asking is to give us the op-
ently, that has gotten across to my Re- to be evicted from their homes. Think portunity to vote up or down on wheth-
publican friends. Of course, that is about what a $4,000 check or a $5,000 er or not working families in this coun-
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE
what we do every single day. That is check would mean to those struggling try should be able to receive a $2,000
why we have the incredible level of in- families—husband, wife, kids. In fact, check. Senator MCCONNELL disagrees.
come and wealth inequality that exists let me give you an example. Come to the floor. Tell us why you
in this country, because, decade after This is a problem taking place all disagree. Then we will do what this in-
decade, we have used this body to pro- over this country. It is taking place in stitution is supposed to do. We will
vide massive tax breaks to the rich and Vermont. It is taking place in Senator have a vote.
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