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, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 No. 47 Senate The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was United States has maintained contin- My home State of Kentucky cur- called to order by the President pro uous diplomatic relations with Lith- rently has eight confirmed cases. I ap- tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). uania since 1992—in other words, since plaud the efforts of State and local f the period of time that the Soviet leaders who are working together with Union had jurisdiction over it. In these Federal officials to proceed carefully PRAYER last 30 years, since the return of free- and intelligently. The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- dom, we have seen the partnership be- Our public health experts are com- fered the following prayer: tween our two countries become piling the best guidance for individ- Let us pray. stronger than ever. uals, families, businesses, schools, and Arise, O Judge of the Earth, and Lithuania is a close U.S. ally, a bea- healthcare professionals in one place, bring healing and help to our Nation con of Western values, and very much and www.coronavirus.gov is the place and world. We praise You that Your on the frontlines of freedom. I thank to go. I encourage every American to plans succeed and Your precepts are Lithuania for its friendship, for its im- read through the information, particu- sure. portant contributions to our North At- larly anyone whose personal cir- Lord, You know our thoughts before lantic Treaty Organization alliance, cumstances make additional pre- we think them. Encourage our law- and for its vocal defense of our shared cautions a wise idea. makers to do Your will. Give them the values. President Trump and Senators also wisdom to totally depend upon Your I yield the floor. discussed potential policies to soften unfailing love, remembering that un- I suggest the absence of a quorum. the economic impact of the virus. Over less You help them, they labor in vain. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the last 3 years, we have built a his- Lord, when doubts fill their minds, clerk will call the roll. torically strong economy of American provide them with the renewed hope in The senior assistant legislative clerk workers and middle-class families. We the ultimate triumph of Your purposes. proceeded to call the roll. should take sensible steps to help that Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, We pray in Your strong Name. Amen. momentum continue, notwithstanding I ask unanimous consent that the order f this new challenge. for the quorum call be rescinded. I am glad the Secretary of the Treas- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ury and the Speaker of the House are The President pro tempore led the objection, it is so ordered. Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: engaging in direct bipartisan talks on f this subject. Congress has already pro- I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Repub- RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY vided billions in new funding to Fed- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, LEADER eral, State, and local health leaders. I indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- hope we can bring the same bipartisan The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. jority leader is recognized. energy to any steps that prove nec- essary to support our strong U.S. econ- LOEFFLER). The Senator from Iowa. f Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I omy. CORONAVIRUS ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 Now, it has been sad but not sur- minute in morning business. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, prising to see some of President The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without yesterday President Trump visited the Trump’s Democratic critics here in objection, it is so ordered. Capitol to discuss the ongoing efforts Washington fall back on the same old f to fight the new coronavirus and its predictable partisan attacks, even at a growing footprint here in the United time like this, but across the country, LITHUANIA States. where leaders are working together on Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, As Vice President PENCE, Dr. An- the frontlines, we have seen something 30 years ago today, the freely elected thony Fauci, and the other administra- different. I want to commend the Parliament of Lithuania declared the tion experts related in their briefing Democratic Governor of California, restoration of that country’s independ- yesterday, we should expect a number who stated on Monday that he had been ence. Lithuania’s brave actions began of cases to continue to climb through- in close touch with the President and the breakup of the Soviet Union, some- out our country. Fortunately, our Na- Vice President and appreciated their thing all freedom-loving Americans tion was rated the best prepared in the attention and support. ought to be celebrating. world for this kind of outbreak, and we Here is what he said: The modern Republic of Lithuania is are continuing to scale up our response He said everything I could have hoped for. 102 years old as of last month, and the every day. We had a very long conversation, and ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S1677 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11MR6.000 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1678 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 every single thing he said, they followed are longtime leftwing goals that have CONCLUSION OF MORNING through on. basically nothing whatsoever to do BUSINESS That is the Governor of California with the actual threats now before us. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning talking about the Republican President But the American people’s confidence business is closed. of the United States. He praised the ad- in the key institutions of our democ- ministration’s work on this and said: racy does not mean they are compla- f ‘‘It starts at the top.’’ cent; they aren’t. The same survey LEGISLATIVE SESSION So, clearly, this does not have to be shows the American people understand a time for partisan bickering. The full well that foreign adversaries like American people know that. The lead- Russia want to divide our country and PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL ers around the country know that. I distort our discourse through DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER hope our Democratic colleagues here in disinformation. 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES Washington understand the American The intelligence community con- CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED people expect us to be working to- firms that as well. Our intelligence ex- BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDU- gether on this problem. perts have publicly assessed that Rus- CATION RELATING TO ‘‘BOR- f sia and other adversaries will continue ROWER DEFENSE INSTITU- looking for ways to warp our public de- TIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY’’—Re- ELECTION SECURITY bate from overseas. sumed Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, We all need to be aware that our ad- now on another matter, yesterday, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under versaries seek to exploit the openness the previous order, the Senate will re- both the House and Senate were briefed of our society to turn Americans by top intelligence community officials sume consideration of S.J. Res. 56, against ourselves. Adversaries like which the clerk will report. on the state of ongoing efforts to pro- Russia want to exacerbate social and tect the security of American elec- The senior assistant legislative clerk political tensions in our country. They read as follows: tions. want to undermine our confidence in A joint resolution (S.J. Res. 56) providing I was glad that so many Members our own election and our democratic took the chance to hear directly from for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 institutions. This is why I have of title 5, United States Code, of the rule the experts. This issue is very impor- stressed that politicians need to be submitted by the Department of Education tant, and it is bad for our democracy careful not to take the bait. It is why relating to ‘‘Borrower Defense Institutional that some have sought to politicize it. the President signed an Executive Accountability’’. All of us should acknowledge the order to enable sanctions against any Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- threat, and all of us should applaud the person or any country that attempts to sence of a quorum. unprecedented step this administration meddle in our elections. It is why this The PRESIDING OFFICER. The has taken to protect against it. These administration has created new proce- clerk will call the roll. significant efforts undertaken by the dures for promptly notifying cam- The senior assistant legislative clerk administration and funded by the Con- paigns that are targeted by foreign en- proceeded to call the roll. gress are actually working. tities, unlike—unlike—how the Obama Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask Since 2017, the hundreds of millions administration hid the ball back in unanimous consent that the order for of dollars we have directed to help 2016, and it is why the new, tough for- the quorum call be rescinded. State and local election officials rein- eign policies of the last 3 years will The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without force their systems have been finding continue to be essential. objection, it is so ordered. their mark. Narrow, tailored solutions are impor- CORONAVIRUS In all 50 States and across thousands tant, but the best way for the United of jurisdictions, new tools, more re- Mr.