Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate Senator Durbin And Senate Minority Leader Schumer On... 20240713

Session. I said at the time its our obligation to beards why we ran for office when you to be part of it for the good of the nation but we are about to have three straight weeks about one major on the senate relating to the pandemic we face not one, three weeks, not one. Hearings and subcommittees, yes. N activity on the floor of the senate, no. No built brought to the floor in fact an attempt yesterday and the resolution said the United States should be involved in the Global International effort to find a vaccine was projected on the republican side. The reason the senator objected to it its of the Foreign Relations committee see wants to take up the measure in his committing a laternk date i encourage that senator to do it s quickly. Think there is a sense of urgency across america in terms across this emergency theres not a sense of emergency on the republican side of the aisle. Despite the fact the three weeks have not considered one measure on the floor related to this covid virus circumstances unexplainable and indefensible. Senator mcconnell of kentucky has told us he does not sense the urgency for us to take up the measure passed last week by the house of representatives. This was a measure by the house of representatives which attempted to move us forward from the original cares act of 3 trillion of cumulative spending that we have focused on thesi economy and the Public Health challenge facing our nation. Is there any u urgency to it . Will i sense that urgency every time i pick up the phone or read the newspaper in my state of illinois. I am on Conference Call after Conference Call with groups across our state who are concerned about Economic Issues as well as Public Health issues. There is truly a sense of urgency where i live, cannot believe senator mcconnell does not sense it in his own state of kentucky. Kentucky hospitals and Healthcare Providers have received dollars in funding. I dont question whether they were deserving or needed it, we receive f funds as wellin the state of illinois. But the Kentucky Hospital Association tells us the hospitals in kentucky are expected to lose 1. 3 billion in march and april alone. We are next door to kentucky downstate Southern Illinois right next to kentucky told me thee same thing theyre losing money right and left to think this is an urgent problem illinois . You bet they do and i bet the hospitals in kentucky do as well. This is what the Vice President of Hospital Association said since there is no clear path to recoup these losses, the hospitals are left with no choice but to look at their own operations to cutns as much cost as they possibly can. The university of kentucky is projecting a 160 milliondollar loss for its Healthcare System is furloughed 1500 employees. Jenny Stewart Health and Hopkins Ville kentucky furloughed 248 staffgh numbers Appalachian Regional Health in lexington will furlough 500 employees. Saint cloud health will furlough 300 Pikeville Medical Center furloughed 200. Is there a sense of urgencys in these communities when many of these hospitals are the largest employers in town . And the hundreds of people are being furloughed because of the covid virus . Because of the fact they cannot resume ordinary hospital operations . They cant with the shadow of infection hanging over them. An the bill passed the house of representatives last week that we not consider or discuss to my knowledge, and the senate this week that heroes act called for more than 100 billion more and relief to hospitals. How important is that . I know how important that is in illinois. I can say flat out is a downstate or we take it rural and smalltown hospitals in my state they are struggling. One hospitalli administered or told me she had scheduled for elective surgeries last monday, a week ago and only one patient showed up. The other three called up and said theyre too frightened to go to the hospital and run the risk of being exposed to the covid virus. I cannot imagine that is not the same situation going on in kentucky. Isnt there a sense of urgency in kentucky as in illinois for us to move and move quickly before they furlough more people and ultimately face closure in a disaster in any community we want to avoid, urgently avoid. State and local governments are struggling now to pay teachers, First Responders and healthcare workers as they face record revenue losses and increased cost of fighting the virus. The measure to pass the house of representatives last week had almost a trillion dollars to help state and local governments. Not just in illinois but in every state including the commonwealth of kentucky. States around the country, red and blue the center for budget and policy priorities say the states are losing 650 billion summer. Ue by next by the end of the year kentucky is expected to lose between ten and 17 of its annual revenues. Without help from the federal government, kentuckys governor announced that kentuckys recession will be longer or its unemployment will be greater. They have one or 50 billion from state and local governors that the cares act thats not enough to make up for the enormous losses are being faced by state and local governments across the state. These governors, mayors, leaders have a sense of urgency in making up this revenue. They face the reality of cutbacks and police, firefighters, First Responders, paramedics, nurses, doctors, teachers. The heroes act that passed the house of representatives last week that is not been considered this week in the senate includes 875 billion in Fiscal Relief for state localities to help cover the shortfall and make sure communities can continue to pay frontline essential workers. What about the unemployment situation . Understand the deadlines the rebuild into the cares act. The first deadline, june 30 that is the date by which Small Businesses that borrowed money under your payroll protection part of that act, need to have spent the money in order to have the loan forgiven. June 30, who among us believes Small Businesses will be in a position to recover and get back to business as u usual by june 30 . I pray that is the case but i know better. And my home state and i bet in the state of kentucky as well. How about unemployment . We came through in the cares act and did something dramatic and unprecedented. We said that we were going to give an extra payment of federal payment to those who were unemployed. So they could weather this storm as their families try to adjust to no breadwinner in the house. 600. Week on top of whatever the state benefit of unemployment might be. For some families it was just enough to get by. Understand though that that benefit, that unemployment benefit of 600 from the federal government each week is going to end at the end of july. Thats not that far awayot you know. We are talking about ten weeks at the most. Do we honestly believe the Unemployment Crisis from 36 million unemployedye americans will be behind us . Will it be behind us by the end of july . I wish that were the case but i know better in my state of illinois we know better. Its a safe responsible carefully to give Small Businesses a fighting chance to open their doors again and survive. Its going to be a struggle in many of them wont make it. Earlier this month 69000 people filed new unemployment claims in kentucky 4000 increase from laster. To those families who are now unemployed, feelsp this response this assistance in unemployment benefit is urgent . You bet it is how many of them in illinois or kentucky believe they wont need this help after the end of july and this year . July, the same month at 600. Week of benefits expire the Unemployment Rate in kentucky is projected to be 16. 3 . The tenth highest in the nation. And yet the republican leader says there is no sense of urgency and moving on this measure that was considered by the house of representatives and passed last week. The senate had on was 2 milliondollar in payments of the state of kentucky worth more than 3 billion helping families put food on the table to keep paying their rent and their mortgage. Whent you take a look at that Economic Impact payment, understand the manger that passed the house which we did not bring to the floor this week with the senate a cause for 1200 more and for 1200 for each child. Families needed in illinois, you bet they do. Even though it was originally proposed by President Trump, politics had nothing to do with the support it receives from both Political Parties and the support this measure that just past the house should receive from both parties here in the senate as well. There is a sensef of urgency when it comes to these Cash Payments to people who are struggling to make ends meet. The bill that passed the house as a second t round of these critical payments. They extend the Unemployment Benefits beyond the end of july. According to the department for economic equality 10000 have lost their Health Insurance due to the pandemic. What a moment in life to lose her Health Insurance. In the midst of a pandemic with people facing hospitalizations, treatment inandout of the hospital, and in some cases icus. To think he would be without Health Insurance . The measure that passed the house of representatives last week, which was not brought to the floor by the republicans this week in the senate, includes ahe provision to ensure people who lost her Health Insurance as a result of becoming unemployed can remain on their Employer Health care plan without paying any premiums. In other words, we want to make sure people have Health Insurance rather than lose it. Was that brought up for debate this week in the senate . No. No it was not. Is it a matter of urgency if you are facing the loss of Health Insurance in the middle of this coronavirus epidemic . Of course it is. That Paycheck Protection Program still has funding left in it to provide loans with businesses have to spend the money within eight weeks of receiving the loan or will not be forgiven. Many Small Business owners across the United States are facing a june 8 deadline, striking to spend the money due to the fact theyve not been able to open their doors. The heroes act which passed the house of representatives i was not brought up for consideration in the senate this week, which it could have been, would have extended the deadline in additional 16 weeks providing Small Businesses 24 weeks to spend the money they were loaned by the sba. It would authorize the paycheck protectionhe program to the end of the year to ensure we can continue to help Small Businesses through this difficult time. Is there a sense of urgency and Small Businesses in my m state to extend this period . That you can spend the money is a Small Business and have your loan forgiven . Of course there is a sense of urgency in illinois, north carolina, georgia, kentucky, across the United States. Why the Senate Leader does not feel an urgency of this measure which ultimately ends on june 30, is beyond me. I have heard from farmers across my state struggling to survive, asking for help. I have heard from the Census Bureau they need to push back its response deadline to october 31. Measures also included in the heroes act that passed the house of representatives three weeks ended here in the floor of the knighted state senate. But for a few speeches on this floor if you lend the record of legislative activity youd wonder if the leaders in the United States senate even realize we are facing a pandemic. We spent our time onte nomination after nomination. We spent our time in hearings with friends and those who pass political muster to the Lifetime Appointments of the federal court but somehow we have managed to miss the biggest story in america. The pandemic. I would say senator mcconnell and the Republican Leadership we have wasted an opportunity, threeweek opportunity to move forward and we have particularly wasted this week when we could have taken up the measure the passed the house of representatives last week. I we prepared to negotiate . Compromise . Of course we are with them at every time we brought up s a measure related to the pandemic. It should be bipartisan in the rrend. But to say it is quote dead on arrival and there is no sense among the republicans in the senate to take up this measure is to ignore the obvious. Whether its 1200dollar payments to american citizens, who are struggling to get by. Whether its increase. Of time for qualification to receive unemployment insurance. Whether its s loans to Small Businesses so they can survive, these are the urgent needs of america. We have hospitals furloughing employees in illinois, and kentucky and around the nation we run the risk of losing these great hospitals that are needed for the future. Is it urgent we take up this matter . Of course it is. And yet this week we have done nothing. Zero. When it comes to this measure. We arech going to leave now for the memorial day week which means it will be about two weeks before we can return. I can just about guarantee the sense of urgency across america will be palpable at that time. The question is whether there will be a sense of urgency felt by the republican leader from the state of kentucky. On a similar issue, my friend and colleague from texas senator came from the floor to discuss before liability and immunity as part of the conversation of the next measure of relief and rescue for our economy. For weeks senator mcconnell and cornyn has said this gives a broad legal immunity to corporations they will block emergency aid to help state and local, governments avoid massive layoffs of policemen, firefighters andrs teachers. The logic behind this position is hard to fathom. There has been no flood of covid19 lawsuits. There is a website that tracks all the lawsuits filed in america. They look for cases based on covid19, senator mcconnell has cited this tracking. That tracker update updated its numbers as of yesterday reported that out of one and a half million confirm covid cases and 90000 deaths there have been two, two covid19 medical malpractice cases over 1000 complaints that have been filed. Twentysix cases alleging workplace exposure to covid19. The senator from kentucky called this a tidal wave of lawsuits. A windfall for trial lawyers, two cases of medical malpractice . Workplace exposure . E and the other cases that mention covid19 there relate to prisoners in prisons and jails were questioning whether their rights are being violated because of the circumstances the Health Circumstances in theag prison, there are lawsuits against insurancey companies as to whether or not the policy covers a business and suffered losses because of the covid virus that had been lawsuits as well between businesses is a responsibility for it. But this notion of tidal wave of lawsuits being filed, to medical malpractice cases across the United States of america. Mi twentysix workplace exposure cases and keep in mind that if you do get sick and you want to file a lawsuit, a good lawyer will advise you, be careful proving where you were in fact it is not an easy thing. And he also looked to the standard of conduct of the business that he could be the defendant did they act reasonably . Had a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee Last week on liability during the covid19 pandemic. I quoted this before but its worth repeating. Yne of the witnesses called by the republicans was a very good man, very thoughtful his name is kevin smart hes a chief executive officer and president of quick check foods and divine, texas. He went to the litany of things he had done at his workplace to make it safer, not just for his employees but for the customers that came in. It was impressive. Theat statements he made to us were accurate, i believe they were, he is doing his part to try to make his workplace safer. But heres what he said, this was a challenge because the guidance provided by the cdc, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and state local governments often conflicted with one another in addition to being vague and difficult to follow. Yet, despite many insurgencies include in the adjusting guidelines to begin to adjust to the pandemic. The point im making is this, see our democratic leader on the floor and going to wrap it up quickly. The point im making is this, we should establish reasonable standards to the center for Disease Control and osha. So that conscientious businesses can in good faith know what needs to be done to protect their employees and their customers. And whenve they follow those guidelines, i believe they have absolving themselves of liability. They have certainly valid defense to any claims of wrongdoing. But this notion that comes before us on the floor from the republican side goes to an extreme. Asking for government immunity from the conduct of businesses in the midst of this pandemic without holding them to any standards we are still waiting for an explanation. Why would we allow the workplace to be more dangerous with the customers that they live up to reasonable standards established based on science and health, in my mind thats a gooday defense. And that is what should be. To do otherwise is to give a green light to businesses that do not follow standards, endangeringeo their workers and their employees. It means more people are going to get infected and sick in america and thats the last thing we need an meta president yield the floor. Madam president ,. The democratic leader is recognized very. Thank you madame president prayed first i want to thank my friend and colleague the from the state of illinois he is always on the money pushing this country to do what better angels recommend and help america listens to his floor speech today and every day. Because what he is doing would make america a better, stronger, more compassionate place. As the covid19 pandemic continues to afflict our country, businesses are suffering, families areio struggling to pay the rent, millions of americans are filing for unemployment every single week and tens ofam thousands of americans are dying. Every aspect of American Society has been changed by this crisis except perhaps the republican senate. Here, it is business as usual. Leader mcconnell was spent three weeks of the senate time largely on nominations only one of whom is directly related to covid19. Not one bill on the floor of the senate having to do with covid in the entire month of may. The leader has put none on the floor. Democrats have had to relentlessly pressure our colleagues to hold even the most routine and needed oversight hearings on the coronavirus. The coronavirus is raging, people are upset about how the administration is implementing it, we do not have hearings until we push, push, push for them. Then they have been few, far between and too late. Would be one thing of the republican majority it was doing the other business while negotiating with democrats on the next phase of emergency relief. Republicans are not negotiating on the next phase of emergency relief other colleagues on the other side of said moral relief is not necessary. They rejected from the house of representative for the bill is even drafted. It was a kneejerk partisan response at a time when we should bep working together to help the suffering constituents i dont know why it has been so difficult to have friends on the other side to focus on an ongoing crisis it appears lack of focus lack of urgency thats going to get even worse today the chairman slanders the family of the political c opponent. Believe it or not this powerful Senate Committee with broad jurisdiction over so many aspects of the itgovernments response to the ongoing pandemic, is prioritizing yet another attempt to smear Vice President biden. The committee could be holding a meeting with fema administrator to discuss disaster assistance. But no, the highest priority of Senate Republicans lies in promoting conspiracy theories that have already been discredited on numerous occasions. Conspiracy theories which, by the way, are known to be part of the russian disinformation campaigns. A republican majority is using russian propaganda to try and damage a political opponent. Is that a disgrace . Is that a disgrace . The republican chairman pressinge forward without membersom even receiving a briefing from the intelligence community. Even more shameful the company, my colleague from wisconsin wants to subpoena, is cooperating with the committee in providing documents. It appears the subpoena is for show away to create the false impression of wrong doing. Its like a third world dictatorship, show trial with no basis or fact, no due process, with no reality. Not to be outdone, the republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee is asked members of his committee to consider subpoenas related to yet another conspiracy three push by President Trump. A theory that tries to rewrite the history of russian interference in the 2016 election, to match the fiction and President Trumps head. It seems republicans want to dive into the deepest muck of right wing conspiracy to invent scapegoats for the president to use in his Reelection Campaign. Madam president , the conspiracy caucuses back. It reared its ugly head in december and has been on simmer ever since. Now it is boiling over once again, shamefully in the middle of a Public Health crisis and Economic Disaster that requires all of us to focus on the problems at hand. They are turning Senate Committee rooms into the studio of fox and friends. Senate republicans are not just ignoring the coronavirus, they are practically sprinting towards a partisan election making this chamber part of a Reelection Campaign not what it was ever intended to be by the Founding Fathers or anyone else until this fever to bow down President Trumps wild conspiracy theories have overtaken just about every senate republican. Heres what chairman graham said about his investigation yesterday heres what he said. I want to get all of the information out there. I want to do it before the election. Well, there is a republican intention right there. Do it before the election. Leader mcconnell said republicans not felt the urgency to act on the coronavirus. It sure sounds like theres an urgency to get these phony investigations going before november. A feverin is raging theyre doing a very poor job in dealing with this crisis. So they turn to wild Conspiracy Theory and turned the senate which should be debating, discussing, coronavirus relief. Theyve changed it into a partisan sham chamber. It is disgraceful. Not leader mcconnell, gave a lengthy speech on the floor of the senate yesterday, having covered i too many of the president s crackpot theories about what transpired in 2016. I will just say this leader temcconnell reportedly watered down a bipartisan wording about russian interference in the fall of 2016. He stalled for years on Election Security funding and still to this day, is a blocking security funding. If leader mcconnell once to look back at the history of russian interference in the 2016 election, he should look in the mirror. He might not like the way his own role is viewed. The American People should be just furious with Washington Republicans and so many are, more and more every day. Americans are waiting in modernday bread lines, jammed into municipal buildings, cars snaked around parking lots and city blocks. It is so sad to look at these pictures. Doctors and nurses and other caregivers have been working nonstop to save american lives,or often without the proper equipment. Millions of American Workers are sitting at home having lost their jobs through no fault of their own, dreading the day the next rent payment comes due. But here in washington, Senate Republicans feel no urgency to help these americans. They are too busy touting conspiracy theories to Election Year for the president. Speaking of the present, he was here yesterday on the capital to have lunch with Senate Republicans. They had a giant pep rally they got all fired up to do nothing. That was the conclusion. On the way out of the capital the president was asked about the fact that the United States leads the world and confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Heres what President Trump said, maybe, listen to this asked about leading the world and confirmed cases of coronavirus, the president said i dont look at that as a bad thing, i look at that in certain respect is being a good thing because it means our testing is much better. So i view it as a badge of honor first of all our testing is not much better. States are struggling to get peoplean tested with confusion and lack of leadership the experts believe we are far short of what weg. Need on testing. Those have understand testing inid this virus would say the president deserves a badge of honor for his work. But even more is the idea that lets of cases of coronavirus is a good thing. That is what the president said having lots of cases of coronavirus is a good thing. A lot of cases is not a good thing, mr. President. It means people are sick and people are dying. A lot of cases means more americans are in the hospital pillar more americans in icu struggling to breathe on ventilators paid a lot of cases means americans will die as a result of the virus. That has already claimed the lives of nearly 100,000. A lot of cases means a lot more americans are seriously ill, mr. President that is not a good thing. Even your mind what seems so warped at times cannot really believe that. There is no honor and leading the world and the number of people infected with coronavirus. The United States has 1. 5 million cases is nothing to celebrate, it is something to be ashamed of. Calling it a badge of honor is not just wrong, it is sick. And it is an insult to every American Family that loses a loved one to this evil disease. I yield the floor and no the absence of a quorum. This memorial day weekend on American History tv on cspan three, saturday at 10 00 p. M. Eastern on real america the 1967 film discover america promoting tourism and Domestic Travel in the u. S. Saint augustine florida since the oldest house in the oldest town of all the oldest towns. We find the ancient stones of san marco, spanish fortress from a vanished time. Hereby the spot once Ponce De Leon pushed on to seek a magic fountain. And sunday on american artifacts theres an african town and national stork landmark neighborhood in mobile, alabama. They said listen we want to get back home. We need you to go and the go she ate with the mayor, whatever it takes to get us out of here. They went to work for him, every friday when it came time to get paid that money went for food, clothing and shelter. They never had any discretionary money. So this came to the result they were just going to have to stay in the community, they did not understand the language, the customs but they made a way out. They brought their customs, their culture to this community and said this is our african town. This memorial day weekend on American History tv on cspan three. This memorial day weekend on book tv, saturday at 3 25 p. M. Eastern bestselling author James Patterson talks about his efforts to assist bookstores impacted by the coronavirus. Plus his latest book the house of kennedy. And on sunday at 4 00 p. M. Eastern foundation for liberty and american greatness founder nick adams on his book trump and churchill, defenders of western civilization. At 430 eastern Time National Political Correspondent will talk about her latest book, pelosi which looks at the career of speaker of the house of representatives, nancy policy. At 9 00 p. M. On after words, cofounder chris hughes talks about his book, fair shot about his plan to reduce poverty and strength in the middle class. Then on monday at 8 30 p. M. Eastern, bestselling thriller writer talks about his writing career and books on indepth. Watch book tv, this memorial day weekend on cspan2. Sunday night on q a historian jeff glynn discusses his book the vagabonds. About the summer road trips taken by henry ford and thomas edison. The idea came to take a car chip into the everglades. We see lots of exotic plants, animal life it would be an adventure. It was pointed out to them theres not really any roads there and its dangerous, theres alligators and worse. People could die but they knew better. The trip lasted a liked the idea. And so it came about that they would take a trip once a year if they could. But with a little better planning so disaster would be less looming. Sunday night at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspans q a. Cspan has unfiltered coverage of congress, the white house, the supreme court, and publicpolicy events from the president ial primary through the impeachment process. And now, the federal response to the coronavirus. You can watch all of cspan Public Affairs programming on television. Online, or listen on our free radio app. And be part of the National Conversation through cspan daily washington journal program. Or through our social media feed. Cspan, created by americas Cable Television company as a Public Service and brought to you today by your television provider. hunter biden association with burisma. In a confirmation hearing with President Trump to be Deputy Energy secretary. The Senate Homeland Security Committee approved a subpoena for documents and deposition from blue star strategy a Consulting Firm that worked with Ukrainian Gas Company burisma when hunter biden served on the board. Democratic members of the committee voiced the opposition and urge the committee to focus on the coronavirus pandemic response. The final subpoena vote was 8 6 along party lines. On may 12 the Committee Meets to consider a subpoena. I note the presence of the