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Home , Lindsey Graham, Rob Portman, Shelley Moore Capito, Steve Daines

May 14, 2020 — SENATE S2445 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Hyde-Smith, , Mike CLOTURE MOTION question is on agreeing to the motion. Crapo. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I The motion was agreed to. f send a cloture motion to the desk. The clerk will report the nomination. LEGISLATIVE SESSION The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- The bill clerk read the nomination of ture motion having been presented James E. Trainor III, of Texas, to be a Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I under rule XXII, the Chair directs the Member of the Federal Election Com- move to proceed to legislative session. clerk to read the motion. mission for a term expiring April 30, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The bill clerk read as follows: question is on agreeing to the motion. 2023. CLOTURE MOTION The motion was agreed to. CLOTURE MOTION We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- f Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the send a cloture motion to the desk. EXECUTIVE SESSION Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- ture motion having been presented nation of John Leonard Badalamenti, of EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Florida, to be District Judge under rule XXII, the Chair directs the for the Middle District of Florida. clerk to read the motion. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Mitch McConnell, , Joni The bill clerk read as follows: move to proceed to executive session to Ernst, , , CLOTURE MOTION consider Calendar No. 601. , Roger F. Wicker, Roy We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Blunt, , , ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the question is on agreeing to the motion. Shelley , , Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby The motion was agreed to. , , Cindy move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Hyde-Smith, Richard Burr, Mike The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Crapo. nation of James E. Trainor III, of Texas, to clerk will report the nomination. be a Member of the Federal Election Com- The bill clerk read the nomination of Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous mission. John F. Heil III, of Oklahoma, to be consent that the mandatory quorum Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, Joni calls for the cloture motions be waived. Ernst, John Barrasso, Deb Fischer, United States District Judge for the Northern, Eastern and Western Dis- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without John Cornyn, Roger F. Wicker, Roy objection, it is so ordered. Blunt, John Thune, Rob Portman, tricts of Oklahoma. , Steve Daines, CLOTURE MOTION f Lindsey Graham, Pat Roberts, Cindy Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I LEGISLATIVE SESSION Hyde-Smith, Richard Burr, . send a cloture motion to the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- f ture motion having been presented MORNING BUSINESS LEGISLATIVE SESSION under rule XXII, the Chair directs the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I clerk to read the motion. ask unanimous consent that the Sen- move to proceed to legislative session. The bill clerk read as follows: ate proceed to legislative session for a The PRESIDING OFFICER. The CLOTURE MOTION period of morning business, with Sen- question is on agreeing to the motion. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- ators permitted to speak therein for up The motion was agreed to. ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the to 10 minutes each. Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby f The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- objection, it is so ordered. EXECUTIVE SESSION nation of John F. Heil III, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the f Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of TRIBUTE TO THE KENTUCKY EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Oklahoma. DERBY Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, Joni Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Ernst, John Barrasso, Deb Fischer, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, as move to proceed to executive session to John Cornyn, Roger F. Wicker, Roy spring begins to give way to summer, consider Calendar No. 600. Blunt, John Thune, Rob Portman, there is a singular tradition that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Shelley Moore Capito, Steve Daines, unites everyone from across my home question is on agreeing to the motion. Lindsey Graham, Pat Roberts, Cindy State. Even after particularly conten- The motion was agreed to. Hyde-Smith, Richard Burr, Mike tious college basketball seasons, Ken- Crapo. The clerk will report the nomination. tuckians of all backgrounds can look The bill clerk read the nomination of f with pride to the Twin Spires of Anna M. Manasco, of Alabama, to be LEGISLATIVE SESSION Churchill Downs for the Kentucky United States District Judge for the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Derby. Since 1875, the pride of Louis- Northern District of Alabama. move to proceed to legislative session. ville has been inextricably linked to CLOTURE MOTION The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the ‘‘Most Exciting Two Minutes in Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I question is on agreeing to the motion. Sports.’’ send a cloture motion to the desk. The motion was agreed to. This year, however, fans couldn’t gather at the Grandstands, the infield, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- f ture motion having been presented or at a Derby Party. The coronavirus under rule XXII, the Chair directs the EXECUTIVE SESSION pandemic has changed the daily lives clerk to read the motion. of nearly every American. Even our The bill clerk read as follows: most sacred traditions have been put EXECUTIVE CALENDAR CLOTURE MOTION on hold as we follow the advice of med- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ical experts to slow the spread of this ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the move to proceed to executive session to terrible virus. As a result, the Ken- Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby consider Calendar No. 602. tucky Derby has been postponed for move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the first time since the Second World nation of Anna M. Manasco, of Alabama, to question is on agreeing to the motion. War. The 146th Run for the Roses will be United States District Judge for the The motion was agreed to. instead take place over Labor Day Northern District of Alabama. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The weekend in September. Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, Joni clerk will report the nomination. Jerry Brewer, a Kentucky native and Ernst, John Barrasso, Deb Fischer, John Cornyn, Roger F. Wicker, Roy The bill clerk read the nomination of Washington Post sports writer, put Blunt, John Thune, Rob Portman, John Leonard Badalamenti, of Florida, into words the sense of longing felt by Shelley Moore Capito, Steve Daines, to be United States District Judge for so many Kentuckians. In a wonderful Lindsey Graham, Pat Roberts, Cindy the Middle District of Florida. column published on what would have

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:20 May 15, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G14MY6.029 S14MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S2446 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 14, 2020 been Derby weekend, Jerry shared both hick, and as much as we despise that stereo- swanky and magnificent. We clean up good his personal reflections and our shared type, part of us plays along because it helps for y’all, but mostly we clean up good for us. the beauty of Kentucky remain a secret, emotions. In Louisville, the Derby is f more than a single race. Kentuckians never to be swarmed and overtaken by care- less outsiders. CORONAVIRUS spend the weeks before celebrating our But during Derby week, that mentality people and our heritage. I am grateful shifts. We want to shine. Louisville—the Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unani- that someone with such eloquence only city in that feels like a big mous consent to have printed in the could describe Kentucky’s Derby pas- city (when it actually claims its relationship CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Senator ALEX- sion. to Kentucky)—becomes the most gracious ANDER’s opening statement that he de- That is not to say horseracing fans host that any sporting event has ever had. livered yesterday at the Senate Com- weren’t treated to a race on May 2. In- Don’t challenge me on that; I can wield a mittee on Health, Education, Labor stead of hosting the world’s most an- mean pitchfork. When it comes to tailoring and Pensions. every inch of an area to ensure an unforget- ticipated horse race, Churchill Downs table experience for all visitors, Louisville There being no objection, the mate- created a virtual running of Triple rolls out a red carpet and throws rose petals rial was ordered to be printed in the Crown winners. In a match of some of at your feet. RECORD, as follows: horseracing’s biggest names, Secre- Rick shook off that weird introduction and COVID–19: SAFELY GETTING BACK TO WORK tariat—one of the greatest horses to loved his first Derby experience. He has been AND BACK TO SCHOOL ever run—completed an all-star vic- back several times. When I started dating Mr. Alexander. The Committee on HELP tory. my wife seriously, I took her to the Derby; will please come to order. First, some admin- meeting the entire family was a mere after- Although a lot will be different about istrative matters based on the advice of the thought. As a Paducah native who lived in Attending Physician and the Sergeant at the Labor Day Derby, so much of what Louisville for several years, there is no makes the Kentucky Derby special will Arms after consulting with the Department greater personal holiday than the first Sat- of Health and Human Services and the Cen- remain the same. Whether at the track urday in May. And so, as the novel ters for Disease Control and Prevention. or watching from home, fans will still coronavirus pandemic keeps us in isolation, Individuals in the hearing room are seated get to sip a mint julep filled with Ken- there is no stronger sense of loss for me than 6 feet apart. As a result, there is no room for tucky’s signature spirit. Longtime what I’m experiencing right now. the public to attend in person. Representa- I have attended 11 Derbies. I have partied residents and first-time visitors alike tives of the press are working as a pool to during the Derby for just about all 42 of my relay their observations to colleagues. The will feel the sentimental tug as they years. My childhood memories are full of hearing may be watched live on-line. An un- sing ‘‘My Old Kentucky Home.’’ And gatherings at my grandparents’ house in east edited recording will be available on the the thundering hooves of Louisville, where the scent of mint was more Committee’s website—www.help.senate.gov. welcome than pine at Christmastime. My thoroughbreds will echo in the ears of Witnesses are participating by video- adult memories are even better, from trying millions. conference in a one-time exception. Some to cover the event as poetically as the The postponement is certainly a dis- senators, including the chairman, are par- sportswriting legends I grew up reading to, appointment, but I would encourage ticipating by videoconference. Senators may well, acting a fool in the infield during my my fellow Kentuckians not to despair. remove their masks to talk into the micro- college days. phone since they are all six feet apart. I am Our traditions are rooted deeply in the Even in Kentucky, with its beautiful roll- grateful to the Rules Committee, Sergeant Bluegrass. We will beat this virus, and ing hills and horse farms, this is a niche at Arms, the press gallery, the Architect of Kentucky will get the chance to shine sport. Everyone is a Kentucky Derby fan, the Capitol, the Capitol Police, and our com- once again. Like the champions whose though. Our connection to this event is a mittee staff, Chung Shek and Evan Griffis, names surround Churchill Downs, Ken- very powerful and emotional thing. Derby week is so grand, and we delight in for all of their hard work to help keep all of tucky has the strength and grit to us safe. overcome any obstacle and cross the sharing all of the festivities with the world while fighting to keep the Kentucky Oaks— At our hearing last Thursday, I said that finish line. the illustrious Grade I stakes race for 3– all roads back to work and back to school We may not have a 146th Kentucky year-old fillies held the day before the lead through testing and that what our coun- Derby champion for a few more Derby—a more local event. But over the past try has done so far on testing so far is ‘‘im- months, but I think Jerry Brewer 20 years, even the Oaks crowd has surpassed pressive but not nearly enough.’’ Over the would agree, it is worth the wait. 100,000 with regularity. weekend, Sen. Schumer, the Democrat lead- Still, the fancy affair turns intimate when er, was nice enough to put out a tweet Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- quoting half of what I said. He left out the sent that Jerry Brewer’s article be ‘‘My Old Kentucky Home’’ plays before the Derby. We wait all year just to feel alive and other half, the ‘‘impressive’’ part. So let me printed in the RECORD. relevant in that moment. Soon after, the say it again in more specific terms. There being no objection, the mate- most anticipated two minutes in sports con- When I said ‘‘impressive,’’ I meant that, rial was ordered to be printed in the clude, and before you know it, the time to according to Johns Hopkins University, the RECORD, as follows: clean up and plan anew has arrived. United States has tested over 9 million [From , May 1, 2020] I like the fleeting nature of this joy. The Americans for COVID–19. That is twice as Derby is our cherry blossom. Wait, wait, many as any other country—we don’t know ON DERBY-LESS WEEKEND, MISSING MY wait, revel. Go back to waiting. It’s deflating what has done—and more per capita KENTUCKY HOME to know the wait will be much longer this than most countries including , (By Jerry Brewer) time. which several committee members have A Kentuckian’s most humbling Kentucky The 146th Kentucky Derby has been re- cited as an example of a country doing test- Derby story: About 15 years ago, I hosted scheduled for Sept. 5. Churchill Downs an- ing well. Washington Post colleague Rick Maese, then nounced Thursday that its spring meet will According to Dr. Deborah Birx, the U.S. with , for his first Run for open May 16. Fans won’t be able to attend, will double its testing during the month of the Roses. Picked him up from the airport. but the plan is to start racing again. There’s May and be able to do at least 10 million Bought us tickets to a concert that week something even emptier about the thought tests per month. Here is what ‘‘impressive’’ featuring Common and the Roots. Probably of horses competing in a bubble than human means in Tennessee: First, anyone who is had a mint julep and slice of Derby pie wait- athletes. sick, or a first responder or a health care ing in the cupholder. I was thrilled to show And who knows if even that is safe enough? worker can get tested. Next, Governor Bill him Louisville at its proudest time. Everything about the resumption of nor- Lee is also testing every prisoner, every resi- On the drive to my apartment, Rick looked malcy comes back to this: We are at the dent and staff member of a nursing home, of- out the window and saw a man who was mercy of a virus that we are still trying to fered weekend drive-thru testing, and has walking clumsily, perhaps drunkenly, while understand. So the odds of this Derby really done specific outreach to increase testing in pulling a dog that was missing a leg. The being the Derby in September—with 150,000 low income neighborhoods. A Tennessean scene was cruel, heartbreaking, ridiculous. It fans flaunting their style, understanding of can get a free test and a free mask at the was Rick’s first impression of my state. color and taste in hats—seem long. If it hap- local public health clinic. The governor’s slo- And that’s usually how we are: Mostly pens, it may play decently on television, but gan is: ‘‘If in doubt, get a test.’’ rural, largely odd and shockingly com- it won’t be the same. Gov. Lee sent his testing goals for May to plicated. Our long-standing problems with To me, the Kentucky Derby is a home- the federal government, as every state has big issues such as race and education are coming with a paisley bow tie wrapped done. The federal government will help make well documented. We’re weird. We see blue in around it. We get the floor, and we make it sure the state has the supplies it needs if the grass. We love basketball more than we love the most majestic floor you have ever seen. labs and hospitals in our state have trouble people. We are known for keeping it real Home can be cringeworthy, but it’s also getting them through the usual commercial

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