Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate U.S. Senate 20240712

Mcconnell announced a vote on the next covid relief package coming up tomorrow although we expect discussion on the matter today as well. Now live to the floor of the u. S. Senate here 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. Faithful father, our refuge and strength, give us such lawmakers that their lives will enable you to be glorified by bringing healing to our land. Lord, provide our nation with physical, mental, social, and spiritual healing by the power of your grace. Sustained by this grace, may our senators seek to please you in all they do. Inspire them to give you cheerfully their highest be gracious, mighty god, to our nation and world. Intowr us all empower us all until the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts are acceptable to you. We pray in your sacred name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance 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. The presiding officer the senator from iowa is recognized. Mr. Grassley i ask one minute for morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley this year has been one of the most challenging years for iowa farmers during my 40 years in the senate. Farmers have had to confront coronavirus supply chain disruptions, widespread drought, and a record wind storm that blew across our state during my county meetings, i saw iowa fields that were completely destroyed, 150 miles long, 3040 miles wide. The images of mature crops laying flat on the ground was heartbreaking, but iowans are a very resilient people. But the hurt that farmers have endured in year will be felt in our state for a few years to come. Senator ernst and i will keep fighting to strengthen iowas farm economy despite this years very challenging situations. I yield the floor. Mr. Mcconnell madam president. The presiding officer the majority leader is recognized. Mr. Mcconnell anyone watching the senate yesterday saw another installment in an ongoing series that has become somewhat familiar. Republicans roll out yet another effort to forge a bipartisan compromise around Coronavirus Relief, and democrats reply with partisan cheap shots and threats to block everything. Republicans develop a serious plan to get historic amounts of additional money in the pipeline for kids, for jobs, for schools, and democrats just point fingers, call names and keep blocking American Families from getting any more help before the november election. In july, republicans put forward a serious framework, but Speaker Pelosi and the democratic leader refused to talk unless starting point was their literally absurd 3. 4 trillion farleft wish list that even House Democrats called a stunt. In august, when those talks stalled, republicans proposed narrow agreements on specific urgent policies to help families. Unemployment benefits, the Paycheck Protection Program. Democrats refused again. This time their invented excuse was that any assistance short of their entire wish list was too piecemeal, too piecemeal and not worth doing. If democrats didnt get their diversity studies for the cannabis industry, stimulus checks for illegal immigrants, tax cuts for bluestate millionaires, theyd make sure millions of americans would lose their Unemployment Benefits and p. P. P. Would close. Thats what they threatened and thats what they did. So here we are in september. Schools and colleges have gone without, without the 105 billion that republicans wanted to give them back in july. Thats more money than Speaker Pelosi put in her bill. American workers have gone without the second round of the p. P. P. That republicans proposed weeks and weeks ago. Speaker pelosi had no money for p. P. P. In her 3. 4 trillion bill. The race for treatments and vaccines has gone without the additional funding that republicans wanted to deliver. Families have gone without the Economic Relief that republicans wanted to put in their pockets. And washington democrats have just kept trying to run out the clock, run out the clock until november. But heres one thing, madam president. The Senate Majority works for the American People. We fight for American Families. Were not going to let Speaker Pelosi and the democratic leader kill and bury Coronavirus Relief behind closed doors without putting every senator on the record. So we have put together a new targeted proposal containing several of the most urgent and most popular policies that would help americans right now, and tomorrow the whole senate will vote on it. It will be a procedural vote. Its not a vote to pass our bill tomorrow precisely as written. Its a vote for senators to say whether they want to move forward toward huge amounts of relief for kids, for jobs, for health care, or whether they are happier doing absolutely nothing. That is what every single senator will decide tomorrow. Do you want to do something something or do you want to do nothing . Democratic leaders know this simple choice will put the spotlight on their partisan antics. They know this vote will expose their obstruction. Speaker pelosi and leader schumer were attacking our new proposal yesterday before they even read it, before it had even come out. I would normally make fun of that, madam president , but in this case it makes perfect sense because their position is clearly they do not want any bipartisan relief whatsoever. They do not want any bipartisan relief whatsoever to reach American Families prior to the election. They didnt even need to see what we were proposing. If it helped working families in any way, in any way between now and november 3, Speaker Pelosi and leader schumer knew for sure they opposed it. Their red herrings and cherrypicked arguments have given way to total dishonesty. Yesterday our colleague from new york railed against a provision pertaining to critical supply chains, calling it some sinister giveaway to big business. A provision pertaining to critical supply chains, he called a sinister giveaway to big business . Madam president , that provision is cosponsored by his own democratic Ranking Member on the committee. So either the democratic leader is impugning his own Ranking Member right along with republicans or else he simply doesnt know what hes talking about. Likewise, the junior senator from vermont attacked this provision as corporate welfare, but he himself did not vote against this very provision in committee on two occasions. Theyre so desperate to keep working families from getting hean before the election any help before the election that some democrats are now attacking things they previously supported. At this point its just silly season on the democratic side. Theyve run out of excuses not to legislate, and even their cheap shots just backfire in embarrassing ways. But tomorrow, tomorrow the senate will cut through all the noise with one vote. Every senator will either say they want to move forward, agree where we can, and make a law to help people and keep arguing over our differences later, or say they prefer to do absolutely nothing. Every senator will vote on this significant package which secures federal Unemployment Benefits, reopens the p. P. P. For a second draw, sends more than 100 million to keep kids safe in school, helps parents with child care, helps family afford expenses for homeschooling, and rebuilds our strategic medical stockpile. This is not, not a simplistic argument over big versus small. Republicans want more money for k12 and college than was in the democrats bill. We want more money for p. P. P. , which their bill forgot to fund. These are bipartisan priorities that democrats left behind and republicans want to take care of. So tomorrow, tomorrow American Families will learn who wants to make a law for them and who is happiest if they get nothing. Now on a completely different matter, on saturday the world of sports once again revolved around my hometown of louisville for the 146th kentucky derby. Like so many other events, the coronavirus made this years derby look a little different. The race had already been postponed for only the second time in history, and none of the 150,000 spectators who normally fill Churchill Downs were there to sing my old kentucky home. But, the most exciting two minutes in sports refused to be defeated. The derby remains the longest continually held american sporting event, and this years labor day derby proved worth the wait. The winning thoroughbred, authentic outlasted a ferocious challenge from the favorite. Id like to extend the senates congratulations to the entire hall of fame team. This years derby showed our great traditions can adapt to overcome any challenge. But our sport must be protected. Ive been proud to stand up for kentucky horse racing throughout my career. I introduced a checkout bill to promote the sport domestically. I p assembled a keelings to opew markets in japan and hong kong. I worked to make sure that internet regulation did not unduly restrict the racing industry. I secured tax provisions to promote he equine equity and grw investment in kentucky. Its been my privilege to deliver for this sport and kentuckians who stand behind it. Today im introducing new legislation to keep it up, because unfortunately the coronavirus isnt thoroughbreds racing only challenge. In recent years tragedies on the track, medication scandals and a patchwork of regulations have cast clouds over the future. The National Publications Editorial Board even called for this sport to be abolished altogether. We needed action to protect the sport we love, defend our history and the 24,000 kentuckians who work in the thoroughbred racing industry. So in lexington, the Horse Capital of the world, i announced that my friend, congressman andy barr, that we found a way forward. Today ill introduce the horse racing integrity and safety act to recognize the uniform National Standard for thoroughbred racing. Baseball, football, and other professional sports have a central regulatory authority. Thoroughbred racing should as well. Some of the biggest names in the sport, Churchill Downs, the breeders cup and the jockey club, just to name a few, are supporting our plan to provide federal recognition and enforcement power to an independent horse racing integrity and safety authority. The board will be made up of both industry selected and independent members. It will set National Standards for track safety, antidoping and medication practices and lab protocols. This will make thoroughbred racing as fair and as safe as possible. Im proud to partner with senator christen gillibrand christen gillibrand on this bipartisan legislation. New york is home to another leg of the triple crown. Their junior senator has introduced similar legislation to protect our sport. Im also glad to have the senior senator from california as an original cosponsor on this bipartisan bill. Today congressman barr and congressman tonko will present this legislation over in the house. Im grateful for congressman barrs years of leadership on this issue, and im glad we are making bipartisan, bicameral progress with our bill. This way, when we can all return to the grandstands to watch the thoroughbreds round the final turn toward a thundering finish, well be taking pride in a fair and safe race. 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, brett h. Ludwig of wisconsin to be United States district judge for the Eastern District of wisconsin. Mr. Mcconnell i notice the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Schumer madam president. The presiding officer the democratic leader is recognized. Mr. Schumer i ask unanimous consent the quorum be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Schumer now, madam president , the amount of 1984like doublespeak that comes out of the other side never ceases to amaze, and i guess its becoming more its becoming more and more extreme. The republican leader calls his bill bipartisan. I would remind the leader that bipartisan means two parties, democrats and republicans. His bill is only a product of the republican side. The republican leader said democrats are delaying things. Was it democrats who called for a pause . Was it democrats when covid was ranging said raging said we had to assess the situation . Oh, no, it was the republican leader who said those things. Meanwhile, democrats in the house, supported by democrats in the senate, have passed a strong, comprehensive bill. We have just been waiting and waiting for our republican friends to get their act together so they might come close, even near coming to the moment that we need it. So after taking a pause on covid relief for four months, finally, finally, finally Senate Republicans are realizing the damage that their delay has done to our economy and the nations health. Yesterday, leader mcconnell announced by the end of the week, the senate would vote on a new slimmeddown version of an alreadyskinny republican bill. We know what happened here. The leader did nothing for months, but the American People are demanding action. Republican governors, local officials, hospitals, Small Businesses, everyone is demanding action. Restaurants. Performance stages in places are demanding action, not just of democrats, but of both sides of the aisle. So the leader had to do something. At first, he tried to cobble together a legislative response, but it failed spectacularly. Leader mcconnell was unable to bring it even forward for a vote. Thats happened a couple of weeks ago. So now, because he cant get the votes, because by his own admission, 20 of his own members want no money voted in this crisis. How Many Americans think there should be no money at the height of the greatest economic crisis we have had since the depression, the height of the greatest Health Crisis we have had since the spanish pandemic flu . How Many Americans think the federal government should do nothing . But a large chunk of the Republican Caucus evidently seems to, by the Republican Leaders own admission. So he couldnt even get this trilliondollar bill passed. It was pathetic. So now republicans are going to cut their original inadequate, 1 trillion bill in half in a desperate attempt to find the lowest common denominator among republicans. As the pain, the economic pain for millions of americans advance, Senate Republicans are actually moving backward. Of course, up until now, the issue in our negotiations with the white house where leader mcconnell have been absent has been about the size and scope of the next relief bill. Democrats passed a 3 trillion bill through the house over two months ago. Why . Thats the need of america during this great crisis. We didnt come up with just any numbers. We studied it carefully. We talked to school administrators. What do you need . We talked to hospital administrators. What do you need . We talked to restaurants. We talked to performance places. What do you need . We came up with a carefully thoughtout bill that met the need. Our republican friends didnt meet the need. They came out with what they called a skinny bill at 1 trillion. We all know why. The rightwing ideology that has so gripped so much of the Republican Party doesnt want to spend any money. We at least in an offer to compromise offered to meet our republican friends in the middle. They balked. No, no, no, they didnt want to compromise. Their way or no way. And now, instead of improving their offer, Senate Republicans have made it even stingier and even less appropriate to the looming crises that we have. Im not sure what kind of negotiating strategy that is, but it sure isnt a serious strategy and it sure wont be successful. Thats why i called it cynical yesterday. Covid19 has changed nearly every aspect of american life. The needs in our country are so great. The pain felt by average americans is severe. And yet the new republican proposal doesnt include Food Assistance for people who cant feed their kids, rental assistance for people who will be kicked out of their homes, aid to state and local governments desperate not to lay off, bus drivers, sanitation workers and firefighters. In their new bill republicans wont even let the states use existing funds to cover lost revenues. It leaves out hazard pay, it leaves out broadband so desperately need in rural areas, it leaves out funding for safe elections and help for the census. It shortchanges our Health Care System and education system. As school years begin across the country, the new emaciated republican bill basically makes funding for schools contingent upon reopening. So if youre a school struggling with the cost of operating remotely, if youre a school that would like to reopen safely but need help instituting new standards and protections, the g. O. P. Bill says tough luck. Donald trump comes up with the idea that all schools must open and our republican colleagues come up with a proposal that says to the millions of kids who will go to school remotely or in hybrid situations, were going to make it much heard for you to harder for you to get help. That is to say nothing about the fact that the new republican covid bill is laden with poison pills designed to make its passage possible. Some would say if they want to come to a compromise why would they put poison pills in the bill that they know are nonstarters to get a bipartisan compromise . Is it because they really dont want a bill but a political issue, one that will ultimately backfire on them, i believe . Well, but theyve done it. There is broad corporate immunity that my colleague in illinois has so focused on, an immunity protection that would protect corporations that would put people in harms way. And to get liability from hardright seashes who didnt want to spend money, they added a Program Proposed by secretary devos. Republicans call their new bill targeted but by almost every measure it misses the mark. It is impossible to look at the new g. O. P. Proposal as a serious effort to passing a law. It is impossible to look at this g. O. P. Proposal and not wonder do our republican friends see the damage in america . Are they still intent on playing these same games . Are they still trying to fool the American People by calling a harshly partisan proposal bipartisan as the leader just did . If republicans were serious about achieving a result they would have joined negotiations with Speaker Pelosi and me and the white house. If leader mcconnell was so eager to get something done, why wasnt he at the table for weeks . Republicans could have encouraged the white house to improve their offer to meet us in the middle, toe break the to break the logjam. Where are the republican senators . I havent heard a voice. Speak out to say we should meet in the middle. They are all so afraid of what donald trump might say, i suppose. Leader mcconnell, instead, crafted a partisan bill, no input from democrats, even leaner and meaner than the previous republican proposal. And will rush it to the floor two days after releasing it. This is one of the most cynical moves by any leader ive ever seen. This isnt about making law or working in good faith with the other party. Leader mcconnell isnt searching for bipartisan progress. He seems to be looking for political cover. It wont pass on thursday and well be right back where we are today, needing our republican colleagues to understand the gravity of the situation in our country and work with us in a bill that actually makes some sense and deals with the flag tiewd magnitude of this awful crisis. Now a final matter. The new republican bill is silent on a whole host of crucial issues, including a number of the items that affects Small Businesses. Over the state work period, i visited several independent music and theater venues that have struggled during the covid19 pandemic. Live venues were some of the first to close and theyll be the last to open up. Many of them are already on the brink of collapse. Theres the rent, the utilities, an entire year without revenues. Live music, people are close together so they couldnt continue during covid and they have to pay thele until they have to wait until the very end. But they are so important to so many communities, urban, suburban, and rural. And, unfortunately, according to one survey, 90 of independent venues will have to close permanently without federal funding. What an incredible shame that would be. These are indy music venues, jazz clubs, orchestra halls, comedy clubs, even broadway which is made up of thousands of small theaters. These independent venues provide 75 of all artists income and drive Economic Activity within our communities at restaurants, hotels, stores, and other establishments. But what we risk if these venues close permanently isnt purely economic, although it is so important. I was in albany and syracuse yesterday. It is estimated that the arts are one of the top five employers in both of those cities. We cant afford to let this happen. Economically we will lose thousands and thousands of jobs. Cities will lose cities downtown will lose their vitality. And the risks, if these venues close permanent, is not just economic. They are the very fabric of our society, which has been stretched to the breaking point by this crisis. Once this is all over, we will need these venues and the passionate, inspiring artistic work that they help make possible as we come together again and try to make sense of this incredible difficult moment in our history. So we is have a bipartisan bill, the save our stages act, that would create a new 10 billion program to provide federal grants to live venue operators so when goodwilling they can open safely, these venues can open up bigger and better than ever. Those grants would go six months giving the venues enough time to recuperate and god willing there is a new vaccines, they will be able, able to open again. One of the most difficult parts of this pandemic is the effect on societys art and culture, these are the things we live for, sports, comedy, music. And when the pandemic is behind us, we will want to celebrate at these venues. I hope that we can come together in future to pass the save our stages act and save this essential part of american culture. I yield the floor. Mr. Durbin madam president. The presiding officer the democratic whip is recognized. Mr. Durbin madam president , i want toc thank my colleague from new york to thank my colleague from new york. Many of the things he said on the floor affected illinois in the five or six weeks since i have been home. People i have spoken to who have genuinely suffered because of the coronavirus pandemic and the state of the american economy. There was a moment here on the floor of the Senate Earlier this year when the gravity of the situation brought us together. It was march 26, almost six months ago, when we voted 960, to pass the cares act, a 3 trillion effort to try to keep americas economy alive, breathing during this pandemic and the impact its had on all of our lives, 3 trillion, money for the unemployed, substantial sums for those who were about to see their lives transformed overnight, laid off and fired from jobs they may never return, they try to keep their families with auto payments, rent payments, automobile loans, credit responsibilities they face and just putting food on the table. It was a wrenching, disquieting situation for so many of those families that we said we should give them 600 a week in federal assistance to get through this period. What we did not only helped those families, but it helped the economy. The money those families received was spent almost instantaneous, thats understandable. They are struggling to survive. But we knew that this program that we enacted on march 26, had a termination date of july 3. We hoped 31. We hoped by then the pandemic would be behind us, our economy would be recovering, we wouldnt need any further relief. We are were wrong. Terribly wrong. We still face this coronavirus in a way that we never expected six months ago. Its still a challenge, ar terrible challenge that has a terrible chal teng that has claimed over 180,000 american lives to date. I can speak about our response as a nation to this pandemic and talk about the lack of leadership from the very top in washington when it came to dealing with this public Health Crisis, but suffice it to say for a moment, the two numbers tell the story. The United States has 4 of the worlds population, sadly we have 20 of covid19 deaths in the world. The United States has not responded as expected, innocent people have died, the situation was chaotic in the white house. The leadership that needed wasnt there. Where are we today . Here we are in the first week, second week of september, where are we now as we reflect on the situation . Many of us believe we still face a grievous, serious challenge and need to respond accordingly, but others see it differently. Senator mcconnell, the leader on the republican side, is going to offer a proposal tomorrow. Its a fraction a fraction of what was offered on march 26 to deal with this crisis. Many people obviously on the republican side feel that america is headed in the right direction, and therefore we dont need to make a substantial investment in people and businesses and the Health Resources of this country. For those who come to the floor and argue that americas headed in the right direction, threefourths of the American People disagree with them. You see a survey taken just two weeks ago, 75 of the American People said americas headed in the wrong direction. So when the republicans come up with a modest, almost immodest proposal that they are going to bring to the floor tomorrow, they disagree with threefourths of the American People. Many of them believe we dont have to make a massive investment in helping families fighting unemployment, helping businesses survive. They must believe that the worst is behind us. Well it turns out two out of three of the American People disagree with them. Thats right. Two out of three in that recent survey in america said the worst is still ahead. Wrong direction 75 , the worst is still ahead by twothirds, and what is the response on the republican side . First it was silence. You see, its been almost four months now since the house of representatives, under democratic leadership with Speaker Pelosi, passed the heroes act, a 3 trillion investment to make sure that we stood by the families that were unemployed to make sure that that we put money into the hands of businesses that needed to survive, to make certain that we had adequate testing across the United States, give money to schools so that they could weather this crisis as they readjust to the challenges they face, to put money in the hands of hospitals and providers that are that are in some cases just hanging by a thread because the state of the economy and this medical challenge. Thats what Speaker Pelosi did almost four months ago. In the meantime, in that fourmonth period, the republican leader of the senate has done nothing. Nothing. Didnt bring a bill to the floor, didnt pass a bill and call for a conference committee. In fact, during this entire period of time, the republican leader in the senate has refused to personally attend the negotiations between the white house and congressional leaders. Both he and House Republican leader mccarthy have boycotted any negotiation sessions, any persuasion they want to bring to the issue, they bring to the floor of the senate in speeches, not behind closed doors where compromises are reached and where in fact we were successful last march in passing the cares act. So now we face a challenge as a nation. Which party will stand up for america to weather this crisis and come out strong . The democrats have a proposal. Weve had it for four months. Republicans tomorrow will offer a skinny, some say emaciated version of that proposal. They want to take the assistance to unemployed americans, 800,000 of them in my home state, millions across the nation, and cut it in half. Does senator mcconnell get a news flash that i missed that mortgage payments will be cut in half as of tomorrow . Rental payments will be cut in half as of tomorrow . The car payment will be cut in half . The cost of food will be cut in half . Not at all. We know these families will face the same obligations, and under the republican proposal receive a fraction of what they were given and have received between march and the end of july. Thats unfair to these families. I know whats happening in food banks across illinois, and im sure its the same case in kentucky, perhaps in georgia, perhaps in new york. People are flooding these food banks asking for help. Some are embarrassed by the situation. They shouldnt be, but they are. Many people who used to volunteer at these same food banks are now standing in line looking at their shoes, hoping to take enough food home to make it through a week. Thats the reality, but its not the reality that is reflected in the Senate Action this week. What we have from senator mcconnell is a small effort at a time when America Needs a substantial effort to deal with not only the situation facing our economy, but also the coronavirus. And i am troubled too because i represent a state thats so diverse, the great city of chicago, but all the way downstate, my roots, small town america, rural america. Many of the hospitals and Health Care Providers in those areas are literally struggling to survive. They are looking to washington for a helping hand. Do you know what it means to smalltown america to lose a hospital . Its devastating not only from the viewpoint of health care and emergency care, which is unavailable on a timely basis in many places, but also because its hard to keep a business or attract a business if you dont have Quality Health care nearby. Many of those hospitals are struggling to keep the lights on and survive, and they wont make it unless we step up. So what is included in the republican proposal when it comes to these Health Care Providers to increasing medicaid assistance to them, for example . Virtually nothing. I cant understand this. Ive got to believe that the Republican Leadership representing states with small towns and rural populations are hearing exactly what im hearing in downstate illinois, and yet when it comes to a proposal on the floor, theyre doing nothing. Nothing. Let me just add in closing here, if we dont take testing seriously in america, we cannot be serious about reopening the economy, reopening schools from colleges to kindergartens. Thats the reality, to be able to test in an effective, costeffective way people who are positive for this virus so that they are notified and stopped from circulating among those who were at that point healthy. But the testing investment by this bill on the republican side doesnt meet the challenge at all. They cant call for opening the economy on the one hand and ignore the responsibility for testing on another. So where do we go from here . Well, tomorrow is a symbolic partisan vote on the republican side when it should be much more. And after it is finished and we know the outcome perhaps then the republican leader in the senate will be willing to sit down and negotiate. Will he be willing to occupy that empty chair in that negotiating room with the white house and Democratic Congressional leaders . Will he be willing to sit down and actually work on a compromise comparable to the cares act that passed here in march of earlier this year . Thats what it takes. Not a speech on the floor, not a press release, not a symbolic vote, but something much more significant. The willingness to sit down and acknowledge the obvious. America is heading in the wrong direction, and we should be heading in the right direction. Many people worry that the worst is yet to come. We want them to be more hopeful and optimistic because we care. And if both parties do care to help the unemployed, to help businesses, to make sure that our Health Care Providers have the resources that they need, then we can start to address this coronavirus, this pandemic with the leadership that has been so lacking in the months that weve faced this year. Madam president , i yield the floor. Mr. Thune madam president. The presiding officer the majority whip is recognized. Mr. Thune thank you, madam president. Madam president , starting this week and tomorrow there will be a vote on a Coronavirus Relief bill, and its a bill that is targeted to the areas that really need it. It is fiscally responsible, and, madam president , it is rooted in reality. In other words, it is a realistic approach to dealing with the coronavirus challenges that we as a nation are facing. And the democratic leader, the democrat assistant leader have been down here just now talking about the Democrat Bill, a bill which passed the house of representatives and a bill that was 3. 5 trillion in terms of its price tag, and a bill that was filled with goodies for special Interest Groups and lots of leftwing priorities, many of which have nothing to do at all with the coronavirus. In fact, madam president , 3. 5 trillion is a number that i think was pulled out of thin air. I have no idea how they came up with it. I dont think it was based on any feedback or input that they got from states or businesses around the country. I think it was lets just make up as many things as we can and lets just throw a lot of money out there and see what it does. Well, unfortunately, madam president , i think people have come to the realization, people around the country, at least, that every dollar that we spend now is a borrowed dollar. And so the 3. 5 trillion that was allocated by the House Democrats and which has been supported just in the last few minutes here by the democrat leader and the democrat whip, 3. 5 trillion is borrowed money. It should come as no surprise to anybody in this country that our country already was deeply in debt. We added about 3 trillion earlier this year, we passed the cares package, at the time something that was needed. We needed it to be big and bold and move quickly, which we did. And we have a much better sense now, i think, madam president , about this disease, what the needs are, and we ought to be targeting our assistance to those areas of greatest needs, whether its Small Businesses who need assistance, havent been able to reopen, whether its in the area of health care, our hospitals and nursing homes, provider community; or whether its supporting the efforts that are being made to come up with vaccines and therapeutics, the money thats going to into testing. Those are all things, i think, that there was pretty broad agreement on, madam president , at the time. We still believe those are things that are essential in addition to supporting our schools as they try to safely reopen. There are a number of priorities out there that i think we have learned, got more information about and determined where the dollars made the most difference, what can be changed and modified in these programs to make them more workable, and thats what has led to the discussion that we are having now and the bill that we will vote on tomorrow. What the democrats in their bill, the 3. 5 trillion bill, did was they just decided, you know, money is no object, and evidently without, again, much consideration about how those dollars are spent or in any way making sure that they are targeted to the right areas, those areas of greatest need, just basically decided to kind of throw caution to the wind and throw 3. 5 trillion out there at the economy. The ironic thing about it in many respects is that without having feedback or input, for example, from state and local governments about how much they need it, they put another 1 trillion into that bill, 1 trillion for state and local governments at a time, at a time when very little of the 150 billion that we had already done in direct assistance, not to mention additional assistance to states, to education, to colleges and universities, elementary, secondary education, Health Care Providers, a lot of additional dollars are gog to the state to the tune of about 500 billion already, much of which hasnt been spent. The 150 billion in direct assistance that went out to state and local governments, the latest numbers i have as recently as about a week ago is only about a quarter of that, about 25 of that money had been spent and yet they were asking for another 1 trillion, another 11 another 1 trillion, every single dollar of which has been borrowed. It was reported that in 2021 the United States will exceed 100 debt to g. D. P. That puts us in the elite and rare company of italy, greece, japan, countries around the world that have gotten dramatically overextended when it comes to their sovereign debt. And when you get to the debt to g. D. P. Which is in excess of 100 , madam president , thats pretty dangerous territory. Everybody says were the best economy in the world, you know, were the worlds reserve currency and people are going to want to continue to invest in the United States. At some point there are consequences, the chickens come home to roost, you cannot continue to borrow without consequence. Interest rates are going to normalize, Interest Rates when they go up means the amount that we have to pay to borrow money goes up. And when our interest gets north of 1 trillion, it will exceed every other item in our budget, including the amount that we spend for national security. So thats the other part of the debate which the other side never references. And that is what are we doing to the longterm future of this country, to our children and grandchildren, all of whom are going to be responsible for this debt . Were essentially doing everything we do right now, putting it on the credit card and handing the bill to our children and grandchildren, which is to say that republicans believe that we ought to do Coronavirus Relief and help those who need it. And there are many people in our economy, and im going to talk in just a moment about all the things this bill does to help those who really need the help. But it ought to be targeted. It ought to be some thought towards whats the greatest need, where can we make the biggest difference as to those who are struggling as a result of the virus, the pandemic. And we ought to do it in a fiscally responsible way, realistic way, we ought to do it in a bill thats rooted in reality. The reason i say the democratic bill isnt rooted in reality is because of the many things it contained. In fact there were more mentions of the word cannabis in the Democrat Bill than there were mentions of the word jobs. More mentions of the word cannabis, synonym for marijuana, than the mentions of the word jobs. So if you think about that, the 58 mentions in the democrat 3. 5 trillion bill had to do, for example, with diversity training. This was a study that was requested, a study of diversityy diversity training. A diversity study in the access to financing for people who are in the marijuana business. That was something that was determined a priority and funded in the democratpassed bill. Thats just one of many examples, madam president , of why that bill wasnt taken seriously by anyone. And when i say anyone, im talking about the New York Times. The New York Times called it a messaging document. A messaging document and not a viable piece of legislation. The New York Times, madam president , called it a messaging document and not a viable piece of legislation. The National Public radio said that it was a wish list, a democrat wish list of favorite policies. Politico called it a long wish list of democrat policies. Nobody, madam president , nobody took the Democrat Bill seriously. And when you cant get the New York Times to speak favorably about a democrat Coronavirus Relief bill, it tells me that it was completely out of step and out of touch with what is really needed in this country. And certainly by the people in this country who do want to see us respond, but respond in a way, again as i said, that is targeted and is fiscally responsible and doesnt throw any kind of fiscal caution to the wind. It just throws money out there at a lot of favorite pet causes and ideological agenda items on the democrat wish list. Thats essentially what that bill did. And so as we kind of decided to put together a bill, we listened carefully. We listened to Small Businesses. We listened to Health Care Providers. We listened to schools, school administrators. We listened to those folks that are impacted on a daily basis. The changes that we make to the p. P. P. Was a bipartisan effort shared with people like marco rubio, susan collins, ben cardin, gene sha shaheen, others involved in making that effective. Subsequent to that changes that made it work even better. This will include some changes that we think makes it work even better. There are some in here that i frankly was very supportive of because it helps people who, under the last Paycheck Protection Program, didnt receive help because for one reason or another they were excluded from the qualifications. It makes changes, this is a bipartisan program, these changes will be bipartisan in nature. There were a number of things that the leader mentioned when he was on the floor where he talked about some of the provisions that senator alexander added. There are things in that space that, again, share bipartisan support. So if you look at this bill, in many respects the democrats are also saying we need to do more to help our schools open safely. This legislation does that. Theres significant funding in here that actually helps out, makes sure that our schools, our administrators, our school boards, our teachers, our students, our parents are assisted in a way, mr. President , that would see that our schools open safely and get our children back to where they can be learning again at the fastest rate possible. So those are just, again, some of the priorities that were in this legislation. And i would add, mr. President , because i think its really worthwhile noting, that one of the provisions in this bill does take dollars from the cares act that have not been spent and, frankly, may not be spent, and repurposes them so that the cost of this piece of legislation is reduced. Something, again, that i think is important. I think its important to the American People and important to our kids and grandkids as we look at the price tags weve been talking about, the 3 trillion done earlier this year and what we might do here that we do it in a way that is fiscally responsible, with an eye towards ensure that the taxpayers are getting the best spending and spending in a way that makes sense and doesnt just throw money out there. Which i would argue the 3. 5 trillion bill proposed by the House Democrats did. A bill, which again, was roundly denounced not just by republicans or conservatives but by entities like the New York Times. So, mr. President , i just want to speak very briefly about what happens happening out there. Why i think this whats happening out there and why i think this bill is important and why it addresseses the real needs from the people out there who have been adversely impacted by this. The good news, mr. President , is were hearing continually improving numbers on the economy. And as recently as last friday, the economy added 1. 4 million jobs in august, the Unemployment Rate fell again to 8. 4 . And let me be clear, 8. 4 is not where we want to be, but it is a tremendous improvement where we were four months ago when the Unemployment Rate was 14. 7 . It is very encouraging to see the economy rebounding so quickly. The last time america went through a really tough time economically during the first few years of the obamabiden administration, unemployment stayed high for years. In fact, during the obamabiden administration, america went through two solid years of employment above 9 . So its been great to see the economy rebounding at a rapid pace. Again, were still a long way from where we need to be and where we want to be. 8. 4 is not an acceptable Unemployment Rate but were definitely on the right track. Mr. President , one of the reasons our economy is rebounding quickly is because the economy was thriving before covid came along. Republican tax reform and progrowth policies had driven unemployment below 4 . Having the economy in a healthy position precovid laid the groundwork for a strong recovery. The policies we put in place in the early time of the pandemic, particularly Small Businesses, have gone a long way toward helping our economy rebound. Republicans are committed, mr. President , to building on those policies. But, as everyone knows, democrats have so far blocked our efforts. Despite weeks of negotiating efforts, republicans, democrats refuse to budge from their demand from a giant bill that would spend an irresponsible amount of taxpayer money and would include a bunch of measures with no relation to the coronavirus crisis. This week, mr. President , republicans are trying again. We introduced a targeted bill focused on a few key coronavirus priorities like helping the hardest hit Small Businesses, getting kids and college kids back to school and helping with resources to help fight the virus. The Paycheck Protection Program, part of what the senator passed back in march, played a key role in helping businesses survive the pandemic. This would offer a second round of Paycheck Protection Program for the hardesthit Small Businesses, it would simplify the loan forgiveness process for Small Businesses with Paycheck Protection Program loans of 150,000 or less. Again, mr. President , i would point out this program, these changes share bipartisan support. The virus is highlighted has highlighted how much we rely on our nations farmers and ranchers, and this legislation has an additional 150,000 in funding to help assist ag producers. Our legislation would also provide for an additional 300 per week over and above regular Unemployment Benefits for those who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. Mr. President , our bill contains another important measure to help keep our recovery going and to protect jobs, and that is be Liability Protections. No matter how many precautions schools, hospitals and businesses take, there it is no way no way for them to completely eliminate all risk of employees, students or customers contracting the virus. But that doesnt matter to the army of trial lawyers itching to levy lawsuits against even the most careful schools and businesses. I dont need to tell anybody that saddling businesses large and small with a bunch of frivolous lawsuits could seriously hamstring our economic recovery. Theres no question that schools and businesses should be liable for gross negligence for intentional misconduct, but businesses and schools that are taking every reasonable precaution to protect employees and students should not have to worry about facing lawsuits for virus transmission that they could not have prevented. In addition to providing schools with Liability Protections our bill focuses on providing schools with the resources they need to get kids and teachers back in classrooms safe live of our bill would help expand the Educational Options that parents have for their children and it would provide increased funding for child care during this crisis so parents trying to get back to work have a safe place to send their kids. Finally our bill would provide more money for coronavirus testing and tracing and for the development of the therapies and vaccines that we need to defeat this virus and it would focus on building up state and National Stockpiles of the National Resources for the coronavirus. I would like to think that democrats would work with us to get a version of this bill passed this week. While this bill may not address every current or future coronavirus need, it would go a long ways toward helping with our most pressing needs, supporting jobs, getting kids and teachers back to school, and ensuring that we have the medical resources necessary to fight the virus. Unfortunately, its become very clear that democrats are more interested in keeping the coronavirus as a political issue than actually fighting the virus. If democrats were serious about Coronavirus Relief, they would be willing to negotiate with republicans to arrive at a bill that both sides could agree to and actually pass congress. They made it clear reasonable negotiations are off the table. Instead they are content to watch our economy slow in the hopes of winning the november elections. Its disappointing, mr. President , but its not going to stop republicans from continuing to try to pass Coronavirus Relief legislation. The American People are depending on us and were going to do everything we can not to let them down. Mr. President , i hope that at least some democrats will decide that they should join us. Mr. President , i yield the floor. Mr. Cornyn mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from texas. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , over the last several months texans have found new and creative ways to connect with one another while following the necessary covid19 precautions. Things like drivethrough birthday parties, livestreamed weddings, virtual family reunions and socially distanced barbecues. Life looks a lot different today than it did at start of the year, but despite the challenges that we face, we know its unrealistic to hit the pause button until this pandemic subsides. While covid19 continues to be ever present in our daily lives, folks across my state are safely adapting the routines. Thats certainly been my objective here in the senate. Over the last few months i, like many of my colleagues, maybe all of my colleagues, have largely replaced inperson conversations with virtual ones. Through more than 150 separate calls with groups across the state of texas, these virtual conversations continued over the august the month of august, along with a number of socially distanced events complete with all of the c. D. C. Precautions. Close communication with my constituents has always been important and the covid19 pandemic has made these conversations even more critical. During august i spent time hearing from my constituents, learning their their challenges and what they need in the way of additional help. I dont don i donned my mask to meet with city leaders, teachers, food care workers and others across the state. I continued to join telephone and video calls with texans whose routines and livelihoods have been disrupted by the pandemic. It actually was an exhilarating opportunity to get outside from behind my computer screen and to share information about the Coronavirus Relief bills that weve passed thus far but to learn also, and just as significantly, where those bills were working and where more needed to be done. And as the Senate Perhaps to vote on a targeted relief bill tomorrow, it these discussions could not have been more timely. I also hosted recently four telephone town halls with constituents across texas. This is an amazing technology, as the presiding officer knows, where you can reach out it a quarter of a Million People in an hourlong phone call and give them a chance to express their views or ask their questions. I heard from parents who were concerned about the start of the school year, Small Business owners who were trying to stay afloat, not knowing when all of this would end. A woman in rural texas that is worried if the u. S. Postal service goes under, she wont be able to receive her medication in the mail. This is a difficult time for many of our neighbors and i was glad to share the information about the resources that we provided and to answer questions about what texans might be able to expect in the next relief bill. One of the most commonly asked questions was about unemployment insurance. Since march, more than 3. 4 million texans have filed for Unemployment Compensation and many were able to take advantage of the extra 600 a week in federal benefits provided by the cares act. But that extra funding expired at the end of july, leaving many texans who were still unable to return to work without the income they needed to support their families. Despite our repeated efforts, congress has been unable and unwilling to come up with an agreement on Unemployment Benefits before the start of the august of of the month of august. So as a gap filler, the president issued an executive order to provide an additionalled dz 300 a additional 300 a week in benefits which texans have received. This is good news for those relied on these benefits but it doesnt provide them with the same level of certainty that congressional legislation would provide. The next relief bill must provide those who are still without a way to have a paycheck a way to replace their income. It is important that we agree to an amount or formula that doesnt hinder our economic recovery or perversely incentivize people not to go back to work safely. Over the last month, i have heard from a number of employers who have had trouble hiring woashes because in some cases their workers are earning more with the additional 600 benefit than they would from working. Well, it just doesnt make any sense to incentivize people not to go back to work when they can safely do so. So we need to strike that delicate balance that gives them the resources they need to support their families without incentivizing them to stay home. As businesses have reopened and employees return to work, texas has made serious progress in getting more folks back on the payroll. The state Unemployment Rate has steadily declined from the peak of 13. 5 to 8 in july. Obviously, thats still way too high and a far cry from the 3. 5 we saw precovid. If were going to keep working and moving in the right direction, we need to have our workers return to work when that becomes an option, and obviously, it goes without saying, they would be able to safely return. Of course, its not just to give the resources they need to support their families. We also need to ensure that they have jobs to return to. Thats why the Paycheck Protection Program has been so vital and has saved countless jobs since it was established in march through the cares act. So far, congress has invested 670 billion in this jobsaving program, and im glad to say that texas has received more than 41 billion across more than 417,000 individual loans. It has literally been a lifesaver for many of these Small Businesses. I hope, mr. President , the next relief bill will provide an opportunity for the hardest hit businesses to receive the second p. P. P. Loan and save even more jobs at Small Businesses and communities, not just across my state but across the United States. Our state also has a vibrant arts and culture scene and some of the hardest bit businesses are our live event venues. These were actually some of the first to close when the pandemic hit, and they will be the last to reopen. Unlike restaurants or retailers which were able to switch to curbside or pickup delivery, event venues dont offer a service that can be tailored to meet the c. D. C. Guidelines. The experience of a concert at the lowbrow palace in el paso or a trip to hear the symphony at the myerson in dallas isnt the same through a computer screen. And that leaves no opportunity for live venue operators, promoters, producers, and talent representatives to organize events, and no chance for security guards, ticket takers, bartenders, or cleanup crews to earn a paycheck. These venues are not only a special part of our culture and our communities, they are also major employers and fuel our economic engine. Providing relief for these venues is an important way to protect our local economies, jobs, and beloved cultural institutions. Thats why i introduced the safe our stages act with senator klobuchar, our colleague from minnesota. It would establish a 10 billion Grant Program to give independent venues and their employees the funding they need to survive this pandemic. Were not talking about huge publicly traded multinational corporations here. In order to be eligible, recipients must have fewer than 500 employees and cant be publicly traded. They can use the money to cover payroll and benefits as well as rent, utilities, and other expenses to stay afloat. As the Senate Continues to work on our next Coronavirus Relief bill, i hope this provision will be included, the save our stages legislation. Our economy in texas, like the rest of the country, is moving in a more positive direction, and we want to keep it that way. We need to do everything woe can to ensure that once the pandemic is contained, that our cultural institutions, our businesses and jobs that we rely on will be ready to bounce back. I appreciate the countless texans who shared with me their feedback and ideas on how congress can do more to support our state and our country through this crisis. Im going to do my part to keep fighting to enact these ideas into law and give texans the support they deserve. Mr. President , i yield the floor. The presiding officer the question occurs on the ludwig nomination. Is there a sufficient second . There appears to be. The clerk will call the roll. Vote vote vote vote the presiding officer have all senators voted . Does any senator wish to change their vote . The yeas are 91, the nays are 5. The nomination is confirmed. Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table. The president will be immediately notified of the senates action. The presiding officer the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. The clerk cloture motion. We, the the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate the nomination of christie Criswell Wiegand of pennsylvania to be United States district judge for the Western District of pennsylvania, signed by 17 senators. The presiding officer by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. The question is, is it the sense of the senate that the debate on the nomination of christy Criswell Wiegand of pennsylvania to be United States district judge for the Western District of pennsylvania be closed. Under the rules, the yeas and nays are mandatory. The clerk will call the roll. Vote vote vote the presiding officer have all senators voted . Any senator wish to change their vote . On this vote the yeas are 80, the nays are 16. The motion to invoke cloture is agreed to. The clerk will report the nomination. The clerk nomination, the judiciary. Christy Criswell Wiegand of pennsylvania to be United States district judge for the Western District of pennsylvania. The presiding officer is there a motion to invoke cloture . The clerk we, the undersigned senators, rs in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of hala y. Jarbou of michigan to be United States district judge for the Western District of michigan, signed by 17 senators. The presiding officer by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. The question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of hala y. Jarbou of michigan to be United States district judge of the Western District of michigan shall be brought to a close. Yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. The clerk will call the roll. Vote vote the presiding officer are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or to change their vote . If not, the yeas are 80, the nays are 15, and the motion is agreed to. The clerk will report the nomination. The clerk nomination, the judiciary, hala y. Jarbou of michigan to be United States district judge for the Western District of michigan. The presiding officer under the previous order, the Senate Previous order, the senate book tv on cspan2 has top nonfiction books and others every weekend. Coming up this weekend, saturday 8 40 p. M. Eastern, former policy advisor for President Trumps 2016 president ial campaign on his book, abuse and power. In his american was trained in an attempted loop against the president. Sunday 7 40 p. M. Eastern, chief media correspondent in his book. Donald trump, fox news and dangerous distortion of truth. Im p. M. On afterwards, Sarah Huckabee sanders, former White House Press secretary for President Trump on her book, speaking for myself, faith, freedom and the fight for our lives inside the trunk white house. Shes interviewed by bloomberg news, White House Reporter jennifer jacobs. Watch book tv on cspan2 this weekend. Shameful, the most catastrophic betrayals in our lifetime. He spent his entire career on one side of history. Hes failed his most basic duty to the nation. Hes failed to protect us. Hes failed to protect america. My fellow americans, that is unforgivable. 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