On the coronavirus aid package. Senators are likely to talk about that upon the floor. Now to live coverage of the senate on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, our rock of safety, hear our prayers. Help us to live that the generations to come will know of your mighty acts. Today, give our lawmakers the hearts to seek, find, and follow your will. Lord, guide them in the path you have created, inspiring them with the potency of your powerful presence. May they trust you in adversity and prosperity knowing that they will reap a productive harvest if they persevere. Lord, we trust you to lead us with your loving providence. We pray in your merciful name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Grassley madam president. The presiding officer the senator from about a with a. Mr. Grassley i ask permission for one minute of morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley i want to talk about the World Trade Organization. I said what im going to say now before so i want to say it again. The United States must reaffirm its commitment to significant reform of the World Trade Organization. The United States must move to revitalize that organization because the World Trade Organization advances the cause of free and fair global trade, and they do that necessarily do it because of the modern economy were in. It is imperative that we continue to double down on the effort that demonstrates the United States leadership at geneva, the headquarters of the World Trade Organization. That includes our efforts to reform the World Trade Organization appellate body to work on subsidies that too many countries are using and to continue ongoing negotiations to accomplish these goals. The World Trade Organization can and should play an Important Role in the Global Economic recovery from our virus pandemic. I urge the administration and my colleagues here in the United States senate to advocate for our interest. I urge the administration to confront trade distortions, and most importantly, this Administration Must encourage all World Trade Organization members to unite in an effort to lift us out of the nearly unprecedented global downturn weve had in trade because of the virus pandemic. I yield the floor. Mr. Mcconnell madam president. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell yesterday Senate Republicans put forward the heals act, our framework for another round of historic relief for American Workers and families. Our nation stands at a challenging crossroads. We have one foot in this pandemic and one foot in the recovery. We cant go back to april, and until we have a vaccine, we cant go back to normal either. What the American People need is smart, safe, and stable middle ground and they need congresss help to construct it. Thats exactly what our major proposal would do. Everyone knows that another rescue package will need to be partisan to pass the senate. So the country before the country is now really quite simple. Are we going to see the versions of house and Senate Democrats that helped us unanimously pass the cares act back in march or are we instead going to see the same democrats who decided to block Police Reform in june and senator tim scotts proposal instead of working with him to make law . In other words, madam president , do the speaker of the house and the democratic leader believe that struggling americans deserve an outcome or do they want to stay on the sidelines and recite talking points . Well, yesterday, even before the democrats had seen our legislation, they began attacking it. All the tired old partisan tropes were trotted out. For releasing a proposal that wants to give schools even more money than House Democrats bill and would continue the traditional Unemployment Benefits at eight times the dollar amount that democrats established during the last crisis, we were informed here on the floor that, quote, those republican hardright money people dont want the federal government to help anybody. Its beyond parity. Republicans put forward a trillion dollar proposal for kids, jobs, and health care, including direct cash to households and even more cash to unemployment people and the democrats say it proves we dont want to help people. They say it proves we dont want to help people. These are not serious statements. Its politics as usual with talking points that went stale 20 years ago. But the week is young and the heals act is full of provisions that i would frankly dare my democratic colleagues to actually say they oppose. Republicans want to extend supplemental Unemployment Insurance at hundreds of dollars per week. If democrats block legislation, it will stop all together. Republicans wanton send thousands of dollars more want to send thousands of dollars more for direct payments. If democrats wont come to the table, they get nothing. Republicans want to use tax incentives to encourage the rehiring of laid off workers and testing and remadling and p. P. E. If democrats block action, workers will be on their own. Republicans want to specifically protect medicare seniors from a speak in premiums because of covid19. If democrats treat the heals act like they treated Police Reform, seniors will be on their own as well. Republicans want to pour money into k12 schools and give greater flexibility to child care providers so americas kids can have a safe but more Normal School year. If democrats blocking action, School Districts will get none of it. Republicans want to create a second targeted round of p. P. E. To keep Small Businesses above water. If democrats wont negotiate, the now open signs will come down and going out of business signs will replace them. Republicans want to proactively expand our domestic manufacturing capability for mask and p. P. E. And medical countermeasures. If democrats refuse to negotiate, well be just as dependent on adversaries as competitors in the next crisis. Republicans want to protect doctor, nurses, School Districts, and universities from a second epidemic of frivolous lawsuits. If democrats dont come to the table, our nations reopening will be at the mercy at the mercy of trial lawyers. Republicans want to go even further to backstop hospitals and Health Care Providers and fuel the sprint for vaccines. If democrats wont let us, americans will just have to cross our fingers and hope the medical system remains stable. So to be clear, madam president , republicans are not proposing to cut to cut any relief. Under current law expanded u. I. Expires and is replaced with nothing. Under current law will there are no more direct payments and no second p. P. E. Every single thing we put forward is a way to get more relief into peoples hands. Our democratic colleagues want to pretend its a controversy it is controversial somehow that taxpayers should not pay people more not to work than people who do go back to work. They want to pretend its controversial that taxpayers should not pay people more not to work than people who do go back to work . The American People dont call that a controversy, they call that common sense. They call that basic fairness. This is absolutely a time to be generous and provide additional federal relief to people who have ban laid off been laid off, but we should not redistribute money away from the essential workers who have reminute and at their posts. We should not be taxing somebody whos been stocking shelves for months so the government can pay her neighbor more than she makes to sit at home. Thats what were talking about, taxing essential workers to pay their neighbors a bonus to stay home. One study by the university economists just found these benefits can exceed previous incomes twothirds of the time. Twothirds of the time. They found a medium recipient earns 134 of their prior salary. That means half are making even more than that. Thats just not fair. Its not compatible with a reopening economy and more than six in ten americans feel this creates a disincentive to work. Even the Democratic House majority leader said just thissing morning our perspective, quote, has some this morning our perspective, quote, has some validity to it. Its not 600 or bust. That was the majority leader in the house. The democratic majority leader in the house said, quote, its not 600 or bust so lets get past the partisan cheap shots and have an adult conversation. Look at it this way. Think about one street, one block in one neighborhood anywhere in america. Think how they would benefit if this bill were signed into law. Right now several families on that block probably have no idea whether their kids will be headed back to school in a few weeks. Our bill would provide the money and Legal Certainty for School Districts to reopen safely. Now lets talk about the familys pocketbooks. Likely every mailbox on that street or each Checking Account would get another 1,200 per adult and 500 per dependent. For a family of four were talking about 3,400 in cash. Maybe some of these homeowners are among the millions of americans who have been thrown into joblessness. As we discussed they would get hundreds of dollars more every week in added unemployment. But because were doing it smarter, if anyone on the street owns a coffee shop or contracting business, they wont hear from workers that they are earning more by staying at home. And those unemployed workers will get back on the job faster when our bill supercharges incentives for rehiring and helps pay for health and safety in the workplace. Maybe some other people in the street held on to their jobs because of the historic paycheck protection program, but their employer is considering closing down with that relief nearly exhausted. Our targeted second round of p. P. E. Could keep their paycheck coming instead of a pink slip. Maybe a retired couple lives on this block. If our proposal for Medicare Part b premiums becomes law theyll be protected from a spike in cost during the pandemic. And needless to say every Single Person on that street would benefit from Even Stronger medical benefits from the diagnostics, treatments and vaccines that will ultimately win the Health Care Battle for all of us. So look, madam president. Its very simple. Partisan histrionics will not get any American Family any of the relief i just described. Calling names will not get School Districts one dime. Washington finger pointing will not one cent to anyones unemployment check. Democrats face a simple choice. They can come to the table, work with republicans, and engage seriously to make law for the American People, or they can stay on the sidelines, point fingers, and let another rescue package go the same way as the Police Reform bill they killed back in june. Republicans are ready to govern. We just need democrats to decide whether they are serious about actually making a law. The presiding officer under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. Morning business is closed. Under the previous order, the senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following nomination which the clerk will report. The clerk nomination, the judiciary, David Cleveland joseph of louisiana to be United States district scruj for the Western District of louisiana. Mr. Mcconnell i notice the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the detector will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Schumer madam president. Are we in a quorum call . The presiding officer we are. Mr. Schumer i ask unanimous consent the quorum be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Schumer now, madam president , yesterday, after putting the senate on pause for three months and after months of blocking nearly every democratic attempt to pass legislation related to coronavirus, Senate Republicans finally revealed their longoverdue proposal for the next phase of covid relief. In my many years in serving this chamber, of serving in this chamber, i have never seen a republican majority, a Senate Majority of any type, respond to a National Emergency in such a disorganized and disoriented fashion. Weeks of infighting among Senate Republicans in the white house caused unnecessary and harmful delays. Instead of presenting a single unified bill, republicans released several separate drafts last night, and there might be more today. They cant agree on one bill. They cant get 51 votes for anything. Thats comprehensive, that deals with the problems, the very real problems the American People face. And even before republicans announced their bills, senior republican senators admitted that they lacked full support of republicans. Two republican chairmen have said that probably half of the Republican Senate will vote against their own proposals. Worst of all, the republican plan falls dreadfully short. It is ununified, unserious, completely unsatisfactory. My republican friends, this is the greatest crisis america has faced in generations. 100 years since the last Health Crisis of this magnitude. 75 years since the great depression. And you are paying attention to your corporate friends and not answering the needs of the people. We democrats want a real bill that answers peoples needs, that deals with the Serious Problems we face. Thats what were fighting for. Well keep fighting for it. And our republican friends are nowhere to be found. While the republican proposal fails to provide crucial relief for families, workers, and the unemployed, it is littered with corporate giveaways, k street handouts, and president ial pet projects. The republican bill includes a 20 billion slush fund for large agribusiness and tax breaks for threemartini lunches, but it doesnt provide a dime in Food Assistance for hungry kids. It includes an unprecedented, unsweeping provision to shield corporations for five years from liability for negligent treatment of workers and consumers, but there is no new sweeping provision to shield americans from evictions or foreclosures. It includes a 30 billion wish list for defense contractors, but no funding to make sure americans can vote safely in november. There are reports that republican that the republican proposal may include a provision to lower capital standards at wall street big banks, but nothing to help state, local, and tribal governments keep teachers and firefighters and bus drivers on the job. Senate republicans managed to sneak in nearly 2 billion in taxpayer funds for a new f. B. I. Building whose location will increase the value of the trump hotel and enrich the president and his family. Yup, in this proposal, Senate Republicans reward the president and his familys business interests, but not our essential workers. Who, my republican friends, needs the help more . President trump who proudly claims he is a billionaire, or a worker who is about to lose his job, a Small Business person whose business is going under, a family that cant feed hungry children . Who needs the help more, them or President Trump . And perhaps, worst of all, in the middle of a pandemic, Senate Republicans and the white house want to give outofwork americans a 30 pay cut. If you have lost your job through no fault of your own and you cant go back to work because the administration bungled this crisis, Senate Republicans take propose taking 1,600 out of your pocket every single month. Let me show my colleagues what new yorkers think of the republican proposal. Let em eat cake, g. O. P. Plan slices 600 check, rejects aids to states. Let them eat cake. Thats what new yorkers think. Thats what new yorkers think. Thats what americans think. Let them eat cake. Shame, shame on our republican friends. The cover of the New York Daily News sums it up. Let them eat cake. Let them eat cake sums up the republican proposal in response to the greatest economic crisis in 75 years. Let them eat cake. People cant feed their kids. People are losing their homes. Getting kicked out of their apartments. Small businesses are going und