November 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6691 counties’ health departments have in- tegic investment that Congress made are addressing what we generally call creasingly relied on this funding to en- back in March to support our commu- phase 4, another effort to improve the sure they are able to meet the needs of nities that need it the most. opportunities for us to provide relief to their community now and into the fu- I believe that State and local govern- our constituents due to the pandemic— ture as this pandemic stretches on. ments know what is best for their com- whatever all those machinations are— Many States, including my own of munities, including where and when to they will not happen quickly enough, Kansas, have also established forward- spend these Federal dollars. and they certainly will not happen looking programs to distribute grants Extending the relief for CRF pay- quickly enough to make certain that for economic development projects ments dedicated to, particularly, job our local officials and their citizens that respond to COVID–19, such as tele- creation projects will allow Kansas and know that they no longer would need medicine, tele-education projects, and other States to strategically target to spend the money that we have pro- projects that would improve broadband areas of need over a longer period of vided them in the next 5 or 6 weeks. infrastructure in rural and underserved time, making more certain that our By including the coronavirus relief areas. These communities already face taxpayer dollars are making the great- fund in the CARES Act, Congress ex- a sharp divide in terms of broadband est impact to help our people recover tended a hand to States, local govern- availability, and this pandemic has from this pandemic. This will better ments, and areas in need across the highlighted that. Unfortunately, for all ensure that the areas in need identified country that are looking to adapt to the work we have accomplished in by States and localities have a stable the new realities of the ongoing pan- spreading the use of broadband, the source of investment that will aid in demic. In the absence of an extension availability of broadband, increasing the ongoing economic recovery. of the deadline, money will be misspent its connectivity, there are still plenty That said, I remain engaged with the and will certainly not be spent in the of areas that need to be improved for Treasury and Senate Finance Com- most effective and valuable way. access to quality internet services. mittee to improve the RISER Act to I urge my colleagues not only to sup- As more broadband-intensive work ensure the availability of bipartisan port the legislation that I have intro- like video conferencing and virtual ap- support. This is a bill I want to pass, duced, the RISER Act, but to work pointments now takes place at a much not a bill I just want to introduce. with others—all of us—to come to a higher rate, the urgency to improve While this thoughtful discussion with point in which we are capable this these services increases. Rural commu- Treasury and the Finance Committee week—if it doesn’t get done this week, nities stand to lose the most without continues, I recognize that Congress it probably means very little in an ex- these types of projects. must urgently act to extend the dead- tension—to this week pass an exten- Many of the projects require long line in the meantime. sion beyond December 31 for the use of lead times to wisely plan, appropriate, While I have a particular bill that those CARES dollars in States across and expend Federal funding. However— does things that I think are hugely im- the Nation. and here is the problem—the CARES portant in this arena, I also recognize I urge my colleagues to join my legis- Act mandates that CRF funds be spent that we don’t have the time to wait. lation. I urge my colleagues to join to by the end of this year, now just a lit- Often throughout these few days that I ensure that the hand we offered under tle more than a month away. This is have been home, away from Wash- the CARES Act won’t be withdrawn absolutely not enough time for prepa- ington, DC, I have been asked: How is way too soon. I am thankful for the op- ration-intensive projects to be care- your legislation coming? The answer portunity to address my colleagues in fully planned and executed. The cur- is: There is broad bipartisan support. the Senate. rent deadline puts several long-term Most Senators—most Republican Sen- I yield the floor. economic development plans at risk of ators and most Democratic Senators— The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. losing funding if they are not com- are supportive of this measure, but the ERNST). The Senator from Iowa. pleted by December 31, and it also pre- issue is: Will we be able to extend the vents new, meaningful proposals from deadline in time for our local units of REMEMBERING ROGER JEPSEN being considered in the first place. government to know that they have an Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, Many Kansans—from our county additional amount of time, or, in the today I pay tribute to our former col- health departments to our universities, absence of that, will we allow them or league and my friend, former U.S. Sen- to our schools, to our cities and coun- require them to spend money in ways ator Roger Jepsen. Roger Jepsen ties, to mayors and county commis- less effective or efficient than they passed away last Friday, at age 91, at sioners whom I have visited with—have otherwise would? Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Quad urged us to extend this looming dead- I know that there are other pieces of Cities, IA. line. We need to have a longer period of legislation introduced by a few of my An Iowa native and an American pa- time so that the Federal dollars are colleagues that would offer what we triot, Roger devoted his life in service not spent—I always try to avoid using would call a clean extension of the CRF to his family, faith, and community. the phrase ‘‘Federal dollars.’’ They are deadline, and I urge my Senate col- He spent his youth on his family farm really taxpayer dollars or borrowed leagues to support the immediate en- near Cedar Falls, about 5 miles from money that has to be paid back by tax- actment of these legislative proposals where I was born and grew up. I still re- payers. It is a silly proposition that we to provide flexibility in fostering side within 4 miles of the farmhouse would require the money to be spent meaningful investments in our home where I was born. when what it will mean is we will States. Regardless of the close proximity of spend money less effectively and less Around here, too often, it seems that us as young people, I didn’t become ac- efficiently than we otherwise would in if we can’t do everything to solve a quainted with Roger until he rep- the absence of this near-term deadline. problem, we do nothing to solve a prob- resented Scott County in the Iowa Leg- That is why Senator ROBERTS and I lem. I have never understood that atti- islature. I wish I had known him ear- have introduced the Remove Impedi- tude or approach. The things that we lier when we were neighbors, as chil- ments for a Successful Economic Re- can agree on—and this is one, I think, dren. covery Act, or RISER. This bill would on which we can, this extension of the For 14 years, Roger served our coun- extend that deadline for State and deadline—we ought not wait for a larg- try in the U.S. Army. He was a para- local governments by 2 years for a set er package that continues to be nego- trooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, of currently eligible expenditures that tiated between the White House and and then he later served in the Army meet criteria for qualified economic Speaker PELOSI or between Republican Reserve. development plans. and Democratic leadership in the Sen- Roger worked for 20 years in the life This bill would allow funds for crit- ate or the Republican leadership with insurance business and was a member ical projects that require additional at- the Democratic leadership in the of the National Association of Life Un- tention and time for a more thoughtful House. derwriters. Along the way, Roger an- investment to be spent more effec- Whatever the negotiations ongoing swered the call to public service and tively without cutting short a stra- today to get us to a point in which we civic leadership. For more than two

VerDate Sep 11 2014 08:20 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16NO6.007 S16NOPT1 rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE S6692 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 16, 2020 decades, he climbed the ranks of elect- Christian Rescue Effort for the Eman- that help. Through the same simple ed officials in service to his community cipation of Dissidents, known as steps we heard about since the begin- and the State of Iowa. CREED, to promote religious freedom ning of the pandemic, we can stop or at He started out as a county supervisor as a human freedom around the world. least dramatically slow the trans- in Scott County, IA, and went on to Each time I return home by way of mission of COVID–19. represent his neighbors in Iowa Senate Cedar Falls, IA, I pass Jepsen Road. In Again, it gets back to the basics we District 15. An active, grassroots leader fact, it intersects my street. Over the have all been taught and I think more in the Republican Party of Iowa, Roger years, Roger’s and my paths crossed or less most of us have been employing: served as a delegate to the national many times in service to Iowans. See- washing your hands, wearing a mask, GOP convention of 1972 and 1980. ing that street sign reminds me that no practice social distancing, and don’t let In 1968, he was elected as Iowa’s 39th dream is too big for an Iowa farm kid. the pandemic fatigue win. Lieutenant Governor, where he served Roger and Dee celebrated 62 years of We need to all remain vigilant and with Governor Bob Ray for two terms. marriage in September. Together they committed to these basic practices Until Iowa adopted reforms under a raised 6 children. until the experts tell us that COVID–19 constitutional amendment in 1972, the Barbara and I extend our condolences is no longer a threat—likely, a point office for Governor and Lieutenant to his family and loved ones. On behalf after which the vaccine has been wide- Governor were on the ballot every 2 of the State of Iowa, we thank Roger ly deployed. None of us knows exactly years in my home State. for his service here on Earth as he is when that might happen, but we have In 1978, when I won reelection to welcomed home into the hands of the been getting some great news this last Iowa’s then Third Congressional Dis- Lord. week or so about scientific develop- trict in the U.S. House of Representa- I yield the floor. ments that have been funded by the ef- I suggest the absence of a quorum. forts that we in Congress have taken tives, Roger Jepsen flipped Iowa’s U.S. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate seat. He defeated incumbent together on a bipartisan basis. clerk will call the roll. On Friday, in my State, the Governor Senator Dick Clark. At the time, polit- The bill clerk proceeded to call the ical observers gave Roger scant chance announced the Department of Health roll. and Human Services will distribute a of a victory that year, but on election Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I day, Roger Jepsen pulled off the upset, new COVID–19 therapy to hospitals ask unanimous consent that the order across the State as early as this week. beating his opponent by more than for the quorum call be rescinded. 26,000 votes. The antibody treatment is produced by The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Eli Lilly and will be critical in reduc- In that same election, Roger re- objection, it is so ordered. turned both houses of the State legisla- ing hospitalizations. It is meant for CORONAVIRUS those who are known to be at a higher ture to Republican control for what Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, it is would be Governor Ray’s final term in risk of developing severe symptoms, no secret that in parts of Texas and in like the elderly or those with under- office. In the previous legislative ses- cities across the country, COVID–19 lying chronic illness. For those who are sion, Iowa expanded its historic ‘‘right cases and hospitalizations are on the diagnosed with COVID–19, this drug to work’’ law. For decades, this instru- rise. Dr. Angela Clendenin is an epi- may be effective in preventing the mental policy has enhanced Iowa’s demiologist at Texas A&M University’s onset of severe symptoms. The anti- ability to attract businesses, create School of Public Health, and she at- body treatment received emergency jobs, and grow wages across the State. tributes this increase to what she calls use authorization from the Food and It was under attack in the last elec- pandemic fatigue. Drug Administration last week, and I tion. Iowa voters responded by expand- After months of vigorous am hopeful it will help stop or at least ing the Republican majority at the handwashing and mask wearing, it slow dramatically the alarming rise in Iowa State House under a Republican seems that people are becoming less hospitalizations that we have seen administration led by Governor Kim and less vigilant. She said, if we con- across parts of my State. Reynolds. tinue in the behaviors that we are be- So far, about 80,000 doses are ready During his 6 years here in the U.S. having in right now without regulatory for distribution nationwide, and we Senate, Roger Jepsen solidified his pro- intervention, we are going to continue should have that up to a million doses life, pro-family credentials. He was a in the direction we are headed. I guess a day by the end of the year. While the fiscal conservative. He flexed steadfast that is one way of saying if we don’t quantity is limited at this point, every support for the military, and he shape up, the present spread of the single dose could mean a life saved. worked to put money back in the tax- virus will continue with, perhaps, in This alone is cause for hope. payers’ pockets. some instances, dangerous, even fatal, But the good news doesn’t stop there. In 1981, he voted to end ‘‘bracket consequences. Last week, Pfizer announced its creep’’ by indexing for inflation across- That is a path we should not head COVID–19 vaccine has been more than the-board tax rate cuts. down and one that will put an even 90 percent effective in clinical trials. An outspoken advocate for rural greater strain on our healthcare work- Just this morning, Moderna announced America, Roger Jepsen fought to boost ers. I guess, as I think about it, there its vaccine candidate is nearly 95 per- the economic recovery across the farm are two ways to approach this pan- cent effective—just incredible results. belt. He championed farm exports, ex- demic. One is to leave it to government This is exactly why we invested bil- panded lending and tax relief for farm- to tell us what we can and cannot do, lions of dollars in developing these life- ers. to engage in more and more lockdowns saving drugs earlier this year. The He was chairman of the Joint Eco- and deprivation of our individual lib- funding that we have appropriated has nomic Committee and served on the erty or we can take personal responsi- supported not only research and devel- Senate Agriculture and Armed Services bility. Speaking for myself, and I hope opment but manufacturing of vaccines Committees. others, I hope the personal responsi- and therapeutics. We wanted to be sure After losing his bid for reelection in bility route is the one we will take. that distribution could begin as soon as 1984, President Reagan nominated From staffing shortages due to the these drugs were approved as safe and Roger Jepsen to serve as Chairman of coronavirus exposure to short supplies effective, and that is exactly the direc- the National Credit Union Administra- of personal protective equipment, to a tion we are headed in. tion, where he served from the years lack of critical equipment like ventila- We are on track to have tens of mil- 1985 to 1993. tors, our frontline healthcare workers lions of doses of vaccine available by Although he and his wife Dee retired have carried on this fight in the face of the end of the year, likely from at least to Florida, Scott County was what he tremendous challenges. Now, with two different drug makers. This his- considered his home. Roger and Dee de- cases climbing in parts of my State and toric investment has led to historic voted considerable time and effort to around the country, these heroes are in progress. end religious persecution and promote dire need of another line of defense. I could not be more proud of the men religious liberty. Alongside Congress- The public—meaning Congress—on and women who have made this pos- man Jack Kemp, they cofounded the their behalf has the power to provide sible. I am incredibly grateful to the

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