John Barrasso

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today with the remarks I had prepared while home in Wyoming last week, but first I need to comment on the tragedy that is facing our Nation today. Anyone who has seen the video of George Floyd being murdered-- murdered--has to be heartbroken. The peaceful protests that followed-- peaceful at first--about police abuse against any--any--American are important and are necessary. These peaceful protests about George Floyd's death have been hijacked, though, by violent criminals. Anyone who sees the video of the wanton destruction and the looting and the rioting and the arson knows that those who are involved have no respect for the people they are harming. They dishonor the memory of George Floyd, and they dishonor the cause for which the demonstrators and the protesters first took to the streets. Those who would desecrate the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Veterans Memorial, and the church that every President has worshipped in going back to James Madison--those are people who are set on undermining our Nation Coronavirus My goal today is to come to the floor to talk about rebuilding our Nation--rebuilding our Nation as we recover from coronavirus. Last week at Memorial Day services in Wyoming, I reflected on America's heroes and the sacrifices so many have made for the rest of us. As I talk with people in Wyoming and travel the State, I am reminded how self-reliant, how resourceful, how independent, and how resilient we are as Americans. Well, the worst of coronavirus does now seem to be behind us. People want to get back to work. The economy, forcefully shut down by the government, is now showing signs of life. Businesses are starting to reopen. As we say in the West, it is time to get back in the saddle. We are going to fully reopen our communities, and we are going to do it smartly, safely, and soon. Every Governor needs to speed, not impede, the process so people can return to work. Just as important, our children need to get back to school. It is critical. Parents know how important it is for our students and our kids to be back in the classroom. The lockdowns have been hard on young people. Our kids miss their teachers, they miss their friends, and they miss their normal activities. Every child learns differently. Many children are having trouble learning at home, and others are having difficulty learning on the screen. Some kids are basically teaching themselves. What happens if an at-risk child misses an entire year of school? And what about the impact on child welfare? I published an op-ed last week entitled ``Coronavirus Collateral Damage.'' In it, I noted that pediatricians are very concerned that with the shutdowns, a significant number of child abuse cases are going undetected and unreported. Thankfully, schools are figuring out safe ways to reopen. The Senate Health Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee is holding a hearing this week on going back to college safely, and next week we are going to hold a hearing called ``Going Back to School Safely.'' Most of the K-12 schools and colleges hope to reopen this fall. Research tells us that young people are better able to deal with the virus and are less likely to suffer symptoms of the disease. Nevertheless, the California State university system has decided to keep all of its campuses closed for the fall semester--every one of them. They say they will not open any of them again until after New Year's. California's university system is the country's largest and serves about half a million students. They have campuses throughout the State of California, and they are taking a one-size-fits-all approach, treating every campus as if they are all identical. In my view, that decision is misguided. To date, nearly two-thirds of U.S. colleges plan to reopen this fall. That is according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, which is researching the universities and talking with them, finding out exactly what is going on from school to school. Universities across the country are rolling out responsible reopening plans aimed at protecting students as well as staff. Back at home, the University of Wyoming in Laramie is advancing a bold fall reopen agenda and plan. The university has asked the Governor for $79 million in Federal coronavirus relief funds to help support the effort. Some of the safety measures being discussed include single dorm rooms, smaller classes, enhanced cleaning, and required staff and student coronavirus testing every several weeks. In a recent statement, the University of Wyoming president stressed ``the importance of an on-campus educational experience.'' The president of the University of Wyoming, Neil Theobald, has pledged to ``bring our students back to campus safely and protect the health of our community to the highest extent possible.'' Last week, two university presidents in Indiana published op-eds discussing their decisions to reopen this fall. Writing in the Washington Post, Purdue University president and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels said that failing to reopen would be ``an unacceptable breach of duty''--an unacceptable breach of duty. He said Purdue based its decision on current scientific data showing COVID-19, while very dangerous for the old and the sick, ``poses a near zero risk to young people.'' To keep the community safe, Purdue is taking a number of steps, including making its campus less dense. Purdue will require one-third of the staff to work remotely. The former Governor said that personal responsibility is key. He goes on to say: ``Upon arrival in August, each Boilermaker will receive a kit including face masks and a thermometer for daily temperature taking as well as the Protect Purdue Pledge.'' President Mitchell Daniels said: ``Forty-five thousand young people--the biggest student population we've ever had--are telling us they want to be here this fall.'' Only a week after California's decision to stay closed for the fall and the rest of the year, the University of Notre Dame made headlines by announcing it will reopen this fall. Writing in the New York Times last week, Notre Dame president, Reverend John Jenkins, said: ``Educating young people--the future leaders of our society--is worth risking a good deal.'' Notre Dame is going to open August 10--2 weeks earlier than they had planned--and to limit the back and the forth, the Fighting Irish will forgo their fall break and end the semester before Thanksgiving. Other safety measures being considered include masks, social distancing, aggressive testing, temperature checks, contact tracing, and remote options for at-risk students and staff. Father Jenkins noted that the school's decision is guided by science but also took courage and common sense. These schools have sought the best possible medical advice. They are following Federal public health guidelines, and they are committed to protecting the vulnerable. This is all new territory. There is no manual. Every community faces a unique set of challenges. Every school must chart its own course. Still, we can all agree that during this difficult and challenging time, America's schools must stand with their students, and not just for the well-being of the students but for others as well. Colleges are critical for the economic health of entire communities; hence the name ``college towns.'' Universities are major employers, often the best local source of stable jobs. Many university jobs are also on the line this fall. The college shutdowns have also shut down Main Street. For many small businesses, losing graduation weekend alone was a crushing blow. Can mom-and-pop businesses sustain another lost semester? Taking away people's educational opportunities, social supports, and livelihoods has a real, negative impact. Here is the bottom line: We have learned that we can protect people from the virus and we can get back to normal life. For the good of the whole society, it is so critically important that we reopen now. It is time for America to get back in the saddle again. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, Americans have come together in this moment. We have come together to defeat the coronavirus. We have come together to ramp up testing, to ramp up healthcare, and to reopen our communities and our country. The coronavirus has brought out the best in so many ways in America and in the American people. From our frontline healthcare workers taking care of patients to scientists and researchers working on testing, on treatment, and on vaccines, to those in public service keeping essential parts of the government running day in and day out, to those working on supply chains to deliver goods 24 hours a day, and to those who are staying at home to keep themselves and keep others safe, Americans are in this together. It is interesting because all we are seeing from the other side of the political aisle is more of the same old politics and name-calling. President Obama is taking cheap shots at President Trump; Speaker Pelosi just put out a $3 trillion bill that reads like the Democratic Party platform; and Joe Biden is holed up and hiding in his basement. Is this the best the Democrats can offer? Is this the best they can do? Biden, Obama, and Pelosi should be embarrassed. This is not leadership. Republican policies in the CARES Act that we passed actually have had significant results--real results--with the Paycheck Protection Program making sure 50 million Americans are still getting their paychecks, economic impact payments, which are reaching 130 million families. These are policies that are going to build a bridge for the country to get to the other side of the devastation done by the virus, and, still, more money and resources from the CARES Act are slated to go out to States, to hospitals, and to small businesses all across America. All together, between Congress and the Federal Reserve, we have injected close to $9 trillion into the economy in just a couple of months. All of this money is nowhere close to having even been spent. In fact, it is only because of the steps we have taken already--the efforts of Governors across the country, the work of this administration--that the House Democrats have found themselves in a position, as they were last Friday, of wasting time and energy on a fantasy bill. Republicans now have two jobs. The first is to get the country back on track, and the second is to not allow the Democrats to try to exploit the crisis that is upon this country for their own political gains. Democrats are pushing their agenda as a cure-all for the virus. Let me be clear. It is not. It is simply a solution for their electoral problems. Yesterday, the New York Times published a front page article. Online it was called ``Seeking: Big Democratic Ideas That Make Everything Better.'' In the printed copy, they changed the headline to say: ``Biden Pursues Ideas to Match Scale of Crisis,'' ``Left Senses an Opening for a Bolder Agenda.'' The article goes step by step on how the pandemic is being used by the Democrats to make sweeping changes in their policy platforms in their effort to remake America, basically consistent with their dangerous Democratic socialist views. They are planning, according to this, to get rid of their so-called center-left policies that they had additionally and initially envisioned. They are now courting what they call leftwing allies. They are adopting the ideas of single-payer healthcare--one size fits all healthcare, with the government making decisions for you rather than you or your doctor making decisions for you. They are adopting ideas through labor unions, liberal think tanks, progressive institutions. They have taken over the Democratic Party, and they are all beholden to Nancy Pelosi. Democrats are using the coronavirus so that their favorite groups get a giveaway. That is what it reads when you take a look at that $3 trillion bill that Nancy Pelosi dragged across the floor of the House last Friday night with Members of her party kicking and screaming about voting for it. That is what we see. Some were kicking and screaming because the $3 trillion bill that started as a $1.5 trillion bill didn't get big enough, didn't include enough of their far left socialist agenda. This is not a solution for the crisis facing America. It is not a solution for the crisis that we are facing with coronavirus. It is not a solution that we are facing with a crisis of a shut-down economy, shut down by the government in an effort to protect ourselves from the disease. Oh, no. What we see here is a partisan political playbook. It is the Democrats' agenda for the 2020 election. The efforts to get the coronavirus behind us and get our communities and our country open must be targeted, must be temporary, and must be tailored to the needs of our communities at this critical time in our Nation's history. Ultimately, it is time for America to open swiftly and smartly and safely. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to discuss the House Democrats' $3 trillion spending spree. The American people are at a point where they need a life preserver. Instead, Speaker Pelosi has just thrown them an anvil. It is absurd. Her COVID-19 proposal is pricey, partisan, and it is a pipe dream. It is a bloated bonanza of all of her leftwing socialist projects. It weighs in at over 1,800 pages, but there is one glaring omission: House Democrats forgot to help fight the coronavirus. This bill is Nancy Pelosi's socialist Democratic dream, but it is a nightmare for the American people. Nancy Pelosi needs a very serious reality check. The far-left fantasy will never become law. It cannot pass the Senate. The country is trying to recover from the coronavirus. People are stressed. They are struggling. They are sacrificing. They are suffering. They need help to survive the crisis. People have been living through 2 months of lockdowns to slow the spread of the disease. While the infection rate has finally started to flatten, tragically, tens of thousands of Americans have already died. More than 36 million people have lost their jobs. People back home in my State of Wyoming and people who, I am sure, are back home in the Presiding Officer's home State of Missouri--people all across the country know what we need to do. We need to get back to business safely. We need this disease behind us. We need our communities back, and we need it as soon as possible. Yet, as States reopen, incredibly, the Democrats are exploiting and prolonging the Nation's pain. Why? It seems to me they are trying to do it for political gain. Joe Biden has called this deadly disease ``an incredible opportunity . . . to fundamentally transform the country.'' Nancy Pelosi agrees. The global outbreak, she said, is a ``wonderful opportunity'' according to the Speaker of the House. She cannot let a crisis go to waste. I have seen the video of Hillary Clinton saying that you do not want a crisis to go to waste. So what is Nancy Pelosi doing? She is wasting the public's time on a proposal that does not have a single chance in the world of becoming law. This bill really is a political payoff to Nancy Pelosi's constituency and her allies. Look at the wish list. Topping the House Democrats' $3 trillion liberal wish list is the great blue State bailout. It has $1 trillion to bail out very badly mismanaged Democrat-run States and local governments, sanctuary cities, one after another. The bill rescues underwater blue State pension plans. It includes a tax cut to the wealthiest 1 percent who live in those specific States--Illinois, New York, and California. It is a windfall for wealthy taxpayers in Democrat-run States. That is not all. The bill provides direct payments to illegal immigrants. Apparently they forgot about that in the last bill, so they put it in this one--direct payments to illegal immigrants. Astonishingly, there is not an additional dime for paycheck protection funds, not for the small businesses that we need to keep on the payroll, even though the paycheck protection plan has saved 50 million jobs already in America. The bill does want to seek to release prisoners from ICE detention centers, so Nancy Pelosi is focusing on that. But there is no liability protection for the small businesses that we need to get to reopen the country. That is not included in her bill. These mom-and-pop businesses in my State of Wyoming are facing an avalanche of abusive lawsuits as they try to reopen. The Wyoming legislature actually addressed it in a special session on Friday. We need to address it as a nation. The proposal that Pelosi has put out abolishes State voter ID requirements and overrides State voting laws. It is all a part of her master plan for Federal control of State election laws. As a former attorney general, the Presiding Officer understands clearly the importance of States having the preeminent role in the election process, not the Federal Government. The Pelosi bill bales out the U.S. Postal Service, and it funds something that she calls environmental justice and does it to the tune of $50 million. How does that help in the fight of coronavirus? The proposal takes good care of the marijuana industry--absolutely-- even though selling pot is still a felony in most States. I don't know how that helps in the fight against the coronavirus. No matter. The Pelosi plan gives the cannabis business special access to cut-rate finance. In fact, her bill reads more like a marijuana measure than a pandemic package. That is because it includes the word ``cannabis'' 68 times--more often than she mentions jobs, hiring--the important thing about getting our country open and getting our communities back. This Democratic socialist Christmas list just goes on and on--and the astronomical price: $3 trillion. If enacted, this Pelosi package would be the largest waste of taxpayer dollars in U.S. history. It is the largest bill, financially, ever passed in Congress. Fortunately, it will never become law. Now, Nancy Pelosi must not realize that families all across America are having a hard time paying their bills, feeding their kids, paying the rent. She must not recognize that; otherwise, why would she put all of this money in all of these things--these priorities: payouts to sanctuary cities--how does that help us fight the coronavirus?-- favorable financing to the marijuana industry, tens of millions of dollars for environmental justice. Keep in mind, much of the money from the bipartisan CARES relief package that Congress already passed, money that has been appropriated, has not yet been spent. In March, Congress approved nearly $3 trillion in combined coronavirus aid. Lots of it has gone to States. My home State of Wyoming just had a special session of the legislature this past Friday-Saturday to see how we are going to go ahead spending the billions--$1.25 billion--that have come to so many States. And Wyoming--while there are a number of other States smaller in size--got the lowest amount of money. They haven't spent it. They are having a special session to decide how to spend it. Some States may need more flexibility in spending it. But Nancy Pelosi is trying to send out another trillion dollars to States and to cities. As a Republican, I would say, from the start, our focus has been on helping people through the health and economic crisis that is upon us. We want to help the American people weather the storm. Now, when House Democrats say that Nancy Pelosi lays down a marker-- as she says--for future bipartisan talks, in reality, Democrats are only weakening their position by betting big against the American economic recovery. That is what they are doing in the bill that they put together because the Pelosi bill includes specific what I believe are job-killing proposals--not things to help more Americans work but things making it harder for Americans to get back to work. This bill would slow the recovery by keeping millions of Americans on the government payroll all the way into 2021. The Presiding Officer has been a leader in this fight about perverse incentives that we see in some of the legislation that has already passed. This bill, this fantasy island that Nancy Pelosi is on, extends increased unemployment benefits so people could make more money by not working than by going back to work. Now, that means as much as half of the workforce could earn more by not working than by returning to work all the way into 2021. So the Democratic socialists want the businesses that are trying to reopen and to rehire workers to compete with unemployment benefits until 2021, until April of next year. The Democrats are proposing that these American businesses--instead of hiring 36 million Americans who are out of work, they want to make it easier for them to hire illegal immigrants than the Americans who are currently out of work. That is what she has set up in her scheme. The bill also raises taxes on struggling small businesses. It mandates paid family leave through the end of 2021 and removes a small business tax exemption. It is as if Democrats don't want the economy to reopen and don't want people to return to work. That is what I see when I read through the 1,800 pages. Before the pandemic hit, we had record job growth, record low unemployment, and record-high consumer confidence. Now, unemployment is approaching the level of the Great Depression. The best way to help the 36 million people who are out of work is to reopen our communities and reopen our country. It is telling that House Democrats' $3 trillion bill includes no measures to help Americans get back to work, no added support for hard-hit small businesses, and no protections for American jobs. Congress will be considering providing more virus aid in coming months and weeks. Any recovery legislation will have to be targeted, temporary, and tailored to address the coronavirus emergency. COVID-19 legislation must include reasonable, responsible liability protections for healthcare providers and for employers, for the small businesses in our States, and it needs to promote economic jobs and growth. Now, Senate Republicans are focused on reopening America. The American taxpayer can't be asked to pay for items on Speaker Pelosi's $3 trillion socialist Christmas list. The American people need us to throw them a life preserver, not the anvil that Nancy Pelosi has thrown their way. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I also come to the floor today to discuss America's relationship with China. The coronavirus has made clear that our current relationship with China is built on a house of cards. It is simply too risky. We have to learn the lessons from this global pandemic. The outbreak has taught us that the time has come to break away from dangerous aspects of the relationship. By mishandling and manipulating the crisis, China has revealed itself to be not worthy of our trust. Let me be clear. The Chinese people are not to blame for any of this. The people of China have also suffered tremendously. It is the Chinese Communist Party that is at fault. The virus could have been contained had it not been for the Chinese Government's unscrupulous coverup. China knew the risk months before the rest of the world; yet Chinese communist leaders destroyed key evidence, they underreported the number of coronavirus cases, and they misled the world about its deadly, rapid spread. In fact, Chinese leaders silenced the heroic Chinese doctor, Dr. Li, who tried to sound the alarm and who later died from the virus. China's deceit doesn't stop there. China has repeatedly denied U.S. officials access to the country to uncover the truth about the deadly disease. Meanwhile, the Chinese Government continues to engage in a disinformation campaign to try to avoid blame. With this track record, China cannot continue to control international groups like the World Health Organization. The United States is the World Health Organization's single largest financial supporter. Yet, from the start, the World Health Organization blindly accepted Chinese leaders' false reporting, and they understated the threat. Today, America knows how dangerous it is to depend on China not just for information but also for essential equipment, for products, for materials, for minerals, and certainly for medicine. China didn't warn the world when the outbreak began. Instead, China secretly hoarded masks and protective gear. China knew that global shortages would soon follow. Then China threatened to cut off lifesaving antibiotics and other critical drug exports to the United States. The virus should have been contained in Wuhan, China. Tens and tens of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have died as a result of China's failure. Looking forward, America should focus on priorities right now to protect ourselves from future health crises. No. 1, not again, not ever will America rely on information from international health organizations. We should set up direct bilateral health relationships with other countries. U.S. personnel on the ground must include monitoring of health data in their national security determinations. No. 2, not again, not ever will we let people travel to the United States from countries where there is a major outbreak. We should restrict travel early on, just as President Trump did with regard to China. No. 3, not again, not ever will America be without an early warning system. Our gateway cities, in particular, need better monitoring and surveillance of health issues when people enter the United States. No. 4, not again, not ever will America rely on critical health equipment from China. We should encourage U.S. companies to create Western and American supply chains. That way our frontline workers have what they need in the time of crisis. No. 5, not again, not ever will we be exclusively sourced for critical drugs from China. We should diversify supply and bring home as much of our supply chain as possible. No. 6, not again, not ever will our hospitals be taken for granted. They should be classified as critical infrastructure and our healthcare workers--our nurses, our lab technicians, our first responders, our doctors. Critical infrastructure and frontline workers should be properly resourced around our Nation. No. 7, not again, not ever will Americans rely solely on the Centers for Disease Control for testing. President Trump proved that when called upon, our private sector has an incredible multiplier effect. No. 8, not again, not ever will we allow public misrepresentation and confusion concerning an urgent health issue. The American people deserve timely, credible, and accurate information--the same as for tornadoes, hurricanes, and other disasters. No. 9, not again, not ever will we be dependent on China for trade and goods, especially not for critical infrastructure and technology. No. 10, not again, not ever will a previous administration leave an incoming administration without an updated, forward-looking bipartisan policy and preparedness program on pandemics and without a pathway for the products and equipment needed to go along with it. By taking these sensible steps, we will be able to protect the health and the well-being of the American people. These 10 priorities will make America and Americans stronger, safer, and more secure. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, we have just voted on an amendment by Senator Lee, which passed overwhelmingly. As we in the Senate are working to defeat this invisible enemy, the coronavirus, we are also mindful that there are other real threats around the globe. That is why the amendment that we just passed was so important to be debated and discussed and dealt with--the bill that is on the floor--because the Senate is debating a bill to provide national security tools to our intelligence community. We want to make sure they have the right tools, the tools that work, that provide national security but also freedom for American citizens. Now, this is unfinished business because these tools under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act have been left on the shelf, expired now for nearly 2 months. Before Congress departed the Capitol due to the coronavirus, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill to temporarily keep these authorities in place. The House Democrats left without acting on what the Senate had passed. Speaker Pelosi left town, and she left our national security frozen. Now, this week, Congress is going to pass a 3-year reauthorization of these authorities under FISA. These authorities are known as the business records provision, the roving wiretaps provision, and the lone wolf amendment. The business records provision, or section 215, as it is known, compels telecommunications companies to provide call records relevant to investigation. The roving wiretaps provision allows surveillance of multiple cellphones of an investigative target. This allows national security operators to keep up with a target, even as she or he goes through burner phones. The lone wolf amendment allows national security operators to investigate targets unaffiliated with a specific terrorist organization. That is why they are called lone wolves. Combined, these tools give the intelligence community and law enforcement important capabilities: to surveil bad actors, to get to them before they get to us, and to take apart their networks. Congress put these authorities in place after 9/11. They have been updated with broad bipartisan support numerous times. Importantly, the tools have helped keep our country safe and strong now for nearly 20 years after 9/11. There have been abuses of the FISA process unrelated to these provisions, which this bill also addresses. The bill puts in place safeguards to ensure FISA applications are accurate and complete, with multiple layers of approval before an application goes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The bill also makes the FISA process more accountable, from the Attorney General on down. Those who hide information, those who engage in misconduct, or those who disclose information will be met with prison time. The bill provides a greater role for Congress to make sure there are another set of eyes on FISA applications. All together, these are significant reforms that the Attorney General has said will protect against abuse and misuse in the future. He went on to say the bill deserved broad bipartisan support, and I agree. Coronavirus

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come for an additional reason, and that is to tell you that in my home State of Wyoming, we have reopened. We did that starting last Friday. Many States across the country are continuing to do so, and people all across my home State are ready, willing, able, and needing to get back to work. We are doing it safely, we are doing it smartly, and we are following the guidelines set out by the White House. States all across the country are doing it. Governors and local leaders are reopening, and they are doing it in a responsible way. As of today, over 30 States have reopened. On Thursday, Michigan will reopen. On Friday, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, as well as California will begin to reopen. By this time next week, nearly 40 States will have opened again. Now, we do hear, on the other side of the aisle, Democrats complaining about wanting to do significant amounts of additional spending. Americans are busy getting back to work. That is where our focus should be. People are packing their lunches. They are taking proper precautions. They are putting on their work gloves. They are earning their keep. They aren't looking for favors. They are not looking for frills from Washington. They just want to do their jobs, and they want to make sure that we do ours as well. We have spent close to $3 trillion in this country over the last 2 months, and we have a duty to make sure that money is spent properly and that we got it right. We need to make sure we are here and focused on work-friendly policies, and this doesn't necessarily mean additional spending. It means making it easier for the 30 million people who currently are out of work and who have lost their jobs to get back to work sooner. Our priorities are America's priorities: rebuilding the economy and jobs, addressing the coronavirus, and helping our health systems. Plenty of dollars have started to go out the door. Many more dollars, already approved, are still slated to go to the American people, to small businesses, to States, and to our healthcare system. The $3 trillion doesn't get spent overnight. The support we have provided is finding its way through the economy, through the healthcare systems, and through the States to the men and women of America. States are looking at the dollars coming in, and they are figuring out how best to use the resources. They are asking for more flexibility, and I believe they need to have more flexibility in how the money is spent. Senators and committees are here to make sure that we get this right. We need to do that through hearings, through oversight, and through confirmations. Just this week, the Senate will be having COVID-19- related hearings in the Banking Committee, in the Homeland Security Committee, in the Commerce Committee, and in the Health and Education Committee. We are just getting started. Importantly, this is not the time to reshape America along some liberal wish list of ideas that the Democrats have suggested. It is not time to legislate from either Brooklyn or San Francisco. It is not time to veer to the left. It is time to stay focused. The Senate Republicans are here, and we are going to stay focused on the future of America. I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, before my friend and colleague, Senator Carper from Delaware, leaves the floor, I will tell you what a privilege it is to work with him, and we have worked together as partners on the Environment and Public Works Committee. As you know, every chair works with a ranking member, and I couldn't have a better partner than I have in Tom Carper. He has been magnificent in times, always trying to find a right solution that is a bipartisan solution, and we have done it again today on the Environment and Public Works Committee as we passed two major pieces of water infrastructure legislation. Last year, we passed highway legislation, and he is focused, as am I, on rebuilding for America the highways, the bridges, repairing as well the tunnels, all of the areas--roads, bridges, ports, riverways, reservoirs. I could not find a better partner. You know, it is interesting he mentioned Matthew 25, and if you read Matthew 25, it was Ben Franklin's favorite Bible verse. What Ben Franklin would say is, if someone chose to live their life by one Bible verse, if they chose Matthew 25, he said, the world would be a better place. Tom Carper is one who leads his life every day consistent with the teaching and the readings and the writings of the Gospel of Matthew 25. He mentioned my good friend Rob Wallace from Wyoming, who is now the Assistant Secretary of the Interior overseeing parks, as well as fish and wildlife for the country. Rob always said, as was so quoted by our Ranking Member Carper, that bipartisan solutions are the best solutions. He is somebody who knows. He worked on the Hill. He worked as a staffer for former Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming and then on the Energy Committee when Senator Wallop was so actively involved in those days in the 1980s and '90s. But the other thing that Rob Wallace talked about, to which Senator Carper and I agree as well, is there are lands in this great country that need to be protected and preserved and passed on because, as Rob pointed out that day, he said whether it was John Muir, who carried a stick, whether it was Ansel Adams, who carried a camera, or Teddy Roosevelt, who carried a gun all into these vast areas of our country, they all recognized, no matter what they were carrying, the value that these wonderful lands meant for the people of our country, and we needed to make sure that they were there for generations to come. I know that the work that Senator Carper is doing on this committee is meant for generations to come, and it is a privilege to work with him.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today as the Senate returns to help the country recover from coronavirus. This global pandemic is hopefully a once-in-a-lifetime, once-in-a-century shock, but it has been an earthquake that continues to shake the world to its core. Tragically, we have lost tens of thousands of Americans to the disease, and our hearts and prayers go out to each of those impacted and all of their loved ones. More than 30 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last 6 weeks due to the virus and the State lockdowns that have been put in place as a result of the virus. People want and need to get back to work as soon as possible. It is vital we reopen America smartly and safely and we do it as soon as we can. Many States are starting to open. Wyoming did this past Friday. We must all be prepared and alert for any likely aftershocks that will occur from the virus. The economy could not reopen had it not been for the major medical progress we have been experiencing. Our heroic nurses, doctors, and others on the frontlines have saved many lives. Testing in the United States has been dramatically expanded, and we are producing promising treatments. The American people deserve a lot of credit for their tremendous sacrifices to contain the spread of the virus. Everyone in my home State of Wyoming is suffering from the economic fallout, as are Americans all across the country. The best way to help these people is to push the start button on the economy. The Senate is in session and will consider taking targeted temporary and bipartisan relief measures. We are now assessing the relief money that has already been spent. We know what has worked--the Paycheck Protection Program funds that go to mom-and-pop organizations that are part of the CARES Act has saved 30 million jobs. Small business is the backbone of our economy, the engine of job creation. In Wyoming, the program has been very successful and very popular. Before the pandemic, the United States had record job growth and record low unemployment. Our economy will bounce back, there is no question in my mind. As we look to the future, in terms of recovery legislation, what we need to do is to prevent a second epidemic. I am very concerned that the second epidemic will be that of frivolous coronavirus lawsuits. Any future legislation must focus on the virus and must include reasonable liability protections for the hard-hit healthcare workers and for American employers. Opportunistic lawyers are already advertising, and they are targeting the healthcare workers and small businesses that we have assisted during the crisis. Ironically, the relief money could end up lining the pockets of greedy trial lawyers. As businesses bravely begin to reopen, class action lawsuits are being planned nationwide. Ambulance chasers are running recruitment ads right now that read ``receive a free coronavirus lawsuit review.'' They go on to say: Call if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with COVID- 19 and you believe another party's negligence caused the exposure. Nursing homes appear to be the prime target. One lawyer who described himself as a ``coronavirus exposure lawyer'' encouraged action for nursing home negligence. That is why nurses, doctors, and hospitals are counting on Congress to pass commonsense liability reform. Yet Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer say they oppose this critical liability protection. Instead, Democrats are demanding more aid for States and local governments. They want American taxpayers to bail out States with long histories of financial mismanagement. That is already on top of the $150 billion that the States have just received within the last 2 weeks. Nancy Pelosi now wants a lot, lot more. We put the full force of the American Government in this fight against the coronavirus. We cannot afford to allow an avalanche of abusive lawsuits to crush our awakening economy. Republicans will insist on a legal shield for essential workers and for businesses before spending another dime. It is our job to do everything that we can to get people back to work and back to work safely. The physical and economic health of our country is at stake today. We are continuing to deliver financial support plus medical help to all people across the country. One thing is clear: trial lawyers should not profit from our Nation's pain. Together, America will come back and Americans will come back and it will be stronger and better than ever. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Carly for her hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. Carly is a native of Sheridan. She is a graduate of the University of Wyoming, where she studied psychology. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Carly for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Jacy for her hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. Jacy is a native of Cheyenne. She is a student at the University of Wyoming, where she is studying environmental resources and environmental systems. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Jacy for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Tatum for her hard work as an intern in my Washington, DC, office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. Tatum is a native of Cody. She is a student at Western Washington University, where she is studying political science. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Tatum for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Elizabeth for her hard work as an intern in the Senate Republican Conference. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. Elizabeth is a native of Tennessee. She is a graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South, where she studied international global studies. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Elizabeth for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Alex for his hard work as an intern in the Environment and Public Works Committee. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. Alex is a native of Louisiana. He is a graduate of American University, where he studied history. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Alex for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Jack for his hard work as an intern in the Environment and Public Works Committee. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. Jack is a native of Colorado. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studied human geography. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Jack for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Brianna for her hard work as an intern in my Casper office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. Brianna is a native of Douglas. She is a student at Casper College, where she is studying pre-pharmacy. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Brianna for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Kylie for her hard work as an intern in my Casper office. I recognize her efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. Kylie is a native of Casper. She is a student at Casper College, where she is studying pre-medicine. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made her an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of her work is reflected in her great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Kylie for the dedication she has shown while working for me and my staff. It was a pleasure to have her as part of our team. I know she will have continued success with all of her future endeavors. I wish her all my best on her next journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, clean and constant nuclear energy is one of the key pillars of America's energy security. Nuclear powerplants supply 20 percent of our Nation's electricity and more than 50 percent of our clean energy. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is the independent Federal agency that regulates these powerplants to protect public health and safety. It is a very important job. These independent regulatory structures and this specific one has successfully benefited the American people for decades by ensuring the safe operation of our nuclear reactors. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's inspector general is responsible for detecting and preventing waste, fraud, and abuse, as well as mismanagement at the Commission. President Trump has nominated Mr. Robert Feitel to serve as inspector general of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He did that last October. Mr. Feitel has been reported out of the Environment and Public Works Committee by unanimous vote in December. Today the Senate will vote to confirm him. Mr. Feitel is well qualified. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this important position. Mr. Feitel has spent more than 25 years as an attorney at the Department of Justice and at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During his long career Mr. Feitel received numerous achievement awards for his excellent service. Mr. Feitel will be the first new inspector general at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in over 25 years. His nomination comes at a pivotal time for both the nuclear industry and the Commission. Some utilities are seeking to operate their nuclear plants for 20 more years, while others are shutting down, and they are shutting their reactors before their licenses even expire. The Commission is also preparing to license new nuclear technologies that will be essential to our clean energy future. This time of unprecedented activity requires a fully staffed and a fully functional agency. The Commission needs an inspector general to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commission. Mr. Feitel is that individual. Mr. Feitel is a man of character whose commitment to upholding justice makes him an ideal candidate for the position. I encourage the entire Senate to vote today to confirm Mr. Robert Feitel to serve as the inspector general of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to Jackson for his hard work as an intern in my Rock Springs office. I recognize his efforts and contributions to my office, as well as to the State of Wyoming. Jackson is a native of Laramie. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming, where he studied animal science-production. He has demonstrated a strong work ethic, which has made him an invaluable asset to our office. The quality of his work is reflected in his great efforts over the last several months. I want to thank Jackson for the dedication he has shown while working for me and my staff. It is a pleasure to have him as part of our team. I know he will have continued success with all of his future endeavors. I wish him all my best on his journey.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Utah (Mr. Lee), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Paul), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Romney), and the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Thune).

Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Utah (Mr. Lee), the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Paul), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Romney), and the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Thune).