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Senate Section E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 116 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 No. 91 Senate The Senate met at 10:30 a.m. and was their States. But it is not every day Just a few months ago, millions of called to order by the President pro that we hear about the executive hard-working men and women were tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). branch of government and its bureauc- thriving and optimistic. They were f racy making an effort to listen to the making big plans across kitchen tables. American people. Fortunately, that is Now all of that is in chaos. PRAYER changing under this administration. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- I have advised the people of Iowa, and reports that nearly 4 in 10 American fered the following prayer: I am advising them again—and, hope- households that earn less than $40,000 a Let us pray. fully, my colleagues will have their year had somebody get laid off in the Almighty God, guide our lawmakers constituents take advantage of it—that month of March alone. This emergency today to think of themselves as Your this administration in January, is very serious, so the Senate’s re- faithful servants eager to do Your bid- through the White House, put out a sponse has been serious. ding. May they strive less for success call to Americans who deal with Fed- In March, Senate Republicans de- and more for faithfulness, realizing eral regulations to share their ideas on signed and the full Senate passed the that You expect dependability from how to ensure that those who face reg- CARES Act. It pushed trillions of dol- them. ulatory enforcement have due process lars to working families, job creators, Lord, give them the wisdom to be- and get a fair shake. Those ideas will and medical professionals. We sent di- lieve that though they may plant and now be used to make regulatory en- rect cash to almost 130 million Ameri- water the seeds of our Nation’s destiny, forcement fairer. Take advantage of cans. We delivered hundreds of billions only You can bring the harvest. As this opportunity. of dollars in paycheck protection loans they look to You, the Lord of the har- Americans who face a burden of com- to small businesses, saving tens of mil- vest, soothe their doubts and calm plying with regulations should have a lions of American jobs. We helped their fears. And Lord, we thank You for voice in making the process better, and State and local governments defray the many courageous staffers who en- I applaud this administration for lis- coronavirus costs. We funded able the Senate to function. tening to the American people. healthcare providers and testing. Even We pray in Your gracious Name. I yield the floor. now, its programs are still taking ef- Amen. I suggest the absence of a quorum. fect, still coming online, still helping. f The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The Senate took a blank sheet of paper clerk will call the roll. and turned it into the largest rescue PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The senior assistant legislative clerk package in history. The President pro tempore led the proceeded to call the roll. We have taken this crisis seriously, Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, but the House Democrats have taken a I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the I ask unanimous consent that the order totally different approach. While we fi- United States of America, and to the Repub- for the quorum call be rescinded. nalized the CARES Act, the House lic for which it stands, one nation under God, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without parachuted in with miscellaneous lib- indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. objection, it is so ordered. eral demands that were completely un- The PRESIDING OFFICER. (Mrs. f related to COVID–19—solar energy tax HYDE-SMITH). The Senator from Iowa. credits, airline emissions. One senior Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY House Democrat called the virus a ask permission to address the Senate LEADER ‘‘tremendous opportunity to restruc- in morning business for 1 minute. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- ture things to fit our vision.’’ One Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without jority leader is recognized. ate Democratic colleague asked: ‘‘How objection, it is so ordered. f many times are we going to get a shot f at a $1 trillion-plus program?’’ They CORONAVIRUS told us exactly what they were up to, REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, so we ignored the leftwing wish list and REFORM this pandemic is weighing heavily on stayed serious, and the CARES Act is Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, the American people. Roughly, 1.4 mil- still helping Americans bridge these an important part of my job—and I lion Americans have been infected, temporary shutdowns. hope for every Senator—is hearing the more than 80,000 have died, and unem- So let’s fast-forward to today. The views, in my case, of Iowans but in the ployment has not been this high since Democratic House is still not back in case of my colleagues, the citizens of World War II. Washington. Its constitutional duty ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S2431 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:04 May 15, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14MY6.000 S14MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S2432 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 14, 2020 stations are still unmanned, but the Forget about making law; this thing leagues and I have made clear, strong Democrats cannot stop salivating over even fails as a messaging bill. That is legal protections will be a hard redline the possibilities for partisan gain. what is so remarkable. The House in any future legislation. Former Vice President Biden says he Democrats had a blank slate to write That is what is happening here in the sees this tragedy as an ‘‘incredible op- anything they wanted to define the Senate—serious leadership on a serious portunity . to fundamentally trans- modern Democratic Party—any vision crisis like we have been doing for form the country.’’ Biden said it is an for the society that they wanted—and months. This half of the Capitol is ‘‘incredible opportunity . to fun- here is what they chose: tax hikes on doing our job. damentally transform the country.’’ small businesses, giveaways to blue f Speaker PELOSI said: ‘‘I see every- State millionaires, government checks thing as an opportunity.’’ for illegal immigrants, and sending di- RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME A cochair of the Congressional Pro- versity detectives to inspect the pot in- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under gressive Caucus said: ‘‘For me, the le- dustry. The House gave itself no as- the previous order, the leadership time verage is that there is enormous suf- signments for 2 months except to de- is reserved. fering.’’ ‘‘The leverage is that there is velop this proposal. Yet it still reads f enormous suffering.’’ There are 80,000 like the Speaker of the House pasted Americans who have died and more together some random ideas from her CONCLUSION OF MORNING than 20 million who have lost their most liberal Members and slapped the BUSINESS jobs. I call that a crisis; they call it le- word ‘‘coronavirus’’ on top of it—an verage. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning unserious product from an unserious This week, the Speaker published an business is closed. House majority that has spent months 1,800-page seasonal catalog of leftwing f oddities and called it a coronavirus re- dealing itself out of the crisis. The House Democrats have been lief bill. So here we go again. It in- LEGISLATIVE SESSION missing in action for months. While cludes a massive Tax Code giveaway to the Senate was passing the CARES high earners in blue States. Working Act, the Democratic House was on the families are struggling to put food on USA FREEDOM REAUTHORIZATION sidelines substantively and literally. the table, but the House Democrats are ACT OF 2020—Continued They had already gone home. Nearly 2 prioritizing millionaires on the coasts. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under months later, the Senators are back at It would print another round of the previous order, the Senate will re- checks—listen to this—specifically for our duty stations with new pre- sume consideration of H.R. 6172, which illegal immigrants. Can you believe it? cautions. We have been back for 2 the clerk will report. We forgot to have the Treasury Depart- weeks. We are holding major hearings The senior assistant legislative clerk ment send money to people who are on the pandemic. We are legislating read as follows: here illegally. My goodness. What an and confirming nominees. Yet the House is still at home. And when it A bill (H.R. 6172) to amend the Foreign In- oversight. Thank goodness the Demo- telligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to pro- crats are on the case. does contribute, it is not serious. hibit the production of certain business The Speaker’s bill also tries to use The House Democrats have checked records, and for other purposes. out of this crisis and left governing up the virus as cover to implement sweep- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- to the Senate. They even intend to ing changes to election laws that the jority whip. shatter congressional history and jam Democrats have literally wanted for CORONAVIRUS years, like forcing every single State through remote voting so they can con- tinue to be counterproductive from the Mr.
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