Catherine Cortez Masto

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to; that the preamble be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 77, submitted earlier today.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 853.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, the coronavirus pandemic has devastated economies and industries at every single State across the country. In Nevada, our hospitality travel and tourism sectors have been especially hard-hit. These businesses are economic engines for our communities, employing hundreds of thousands of workers and pumping billions of dollars into our economy each year, but they are facing incredible challenges right now due to COVID. This amendment ensures that the Senate will prioritize support for the hospitality industry and its workers as it crafts legislation to provide coronavirus relief and recovery to communities across the United States. Almost half of all job losses since the pandemic began have been in the travel, leisure, and hospitality industries, and the situation gets more dire every day we don't act. Communities across this country have suffered as nearly $500 billion in travel spending and an estimated $64 billion in Federal, State, and local revenues have evaporated. Our communities cannot afford to see these industries decimated. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment to expand support for our struggling hospitality industry and provide relief for the workers in the industries hardest hit by this pandemic.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I rise to join my good colleague, the chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, the Senator from Hawaii, and I couldn't agree more with him in my support of the budget resolution that is coming before the committee in the Senate this week. In Nevada and across the country, our Tribes are hurting. They are trying to do too much with far, far too little. Some of them are still under lockdown, desperate to protect elders--often the gatekeepers of rich Native languages and cultures--from the impact of the virus that they see is devastating their communities, and many are struggling to keep business doors open. All of them are stretched too thin. Sadly, this isn't new. Tribes were suffering from unstable funding streams and budget shortfalls even before the coronavirus pandemic affected their economies. Now on shoestring budgets--with staffing levels that were insufficient even before the pandemic hit--they are trying to address the myriad urgent needs of their communities. That means administering COVID-19 testing and getting vaccines into arms, all while providing a whole range of other critical healthcare services like behavioral healthcare and primary care. It also means administering affordable housing programs, supporting Tribal businesses, and ensuring the safety of the students and teachers in Native communities. The needs are immense. Coronavirus relief for Nevada and the Nation's Tribes has to address the disparities that have made Natives up to 3.5 times more likely to contract COVID-19, and it has to make sure Tribes can build back economically after the pandemic ends. To do this, we have to start by replenishing the Coronavirus Relief Fund, the Education Stabilization Fund, and the Homeowner Assistance Fund, all of which have been providing valuable lifelines to Native communities impacted by COVID- 19. The Federal Government absolutely has to do more to support these efforts and uphold the Federal trust responsibility. It can help Tribes navigate the Federal bureaucracy and ensure that funds allocated to Tribal priorities actually get into the hands of those who need them. Congress also needs to make sure that we are meeting our treaty obligations to provide healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives even when they live in urban areas rather than on Tribal lands. We can start by passing the Urban Indian Health Parity Act to shore up Medicaid funding for urban Indian healthcare facilities and put them on a level playing field with Indian Health Services run by the Federal Government or Tribes on reservations. Looking forward, we also must do more to permanently and robustly fund the Indian Health Service. This pandemic has only shown the risks of underinvesting in public health in Native communities, and we have to make sure that the IHS is able to prepare for emergencies, like this one, far better in the future. Leaving American Indian and Alaska Native communities without sustainable funding streams for the health services that they were guaranteed by this government is a violation of our treaty obligations, plain and simple. I support every resource we can get for Nevada's hard-hit Native communities and our communities across the country, and that is why I urge my colleagues to support this budget resolution that will help these hardest hit communities. I yield the floor to my new colleague from the great State of New Mexico.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I would close by just saying, please, my colleagues, do not disenfranchise the voters of Arizona and certify their votes tonight. Thank you.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. Vice President, I know that this room is full of leaders of both parties who love this country, and many believe that for America to succeed, our politics must find common ground. That has never been clearer than today, when armed rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, emboldened by President Trump's false and inflammatory rhetoric about the 2020 elections. I believe that we, in this Chamber, have a special duty as leaders to work together to lower the temperature of our politics, and I hope that my colleagues, who have questioned the legitimacy of this election in Arizona and all of these other States, now see the dire and dangerous consequences of sowing doubt and uncertainty. I also know that, as U.S. Senators, we all take solemnly the oath we swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. At this moment in history, I can think of nothing more patriotic than renewing our faith in the Charters of Freedom that our Founding Fathers crafted for our Republic, starting with the fundamental American principle in our Declaration of Independence that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. The people have spoken in this election, and our only job here today is to do what they ask. It is not to argue election security. That is not the place for what we are doing today. Our Constitution specifically reserves to the people the right to meet in their respective States and vote for the President and Vice President. As a result, individual States oversee and implement the election process, not the Federal Government. To guard against fraud or irregularities in the voting process, the States are required to have robust election security measures. Likewise, State legislatures have the opportunity to examine evidence of voter fraud before they certify their electoral college votes. And our courts--from district courts to the United States Supreme Court-- adjudicate legal challenges and election disputes. All of those things happened after the 2020 election. Statehouses and courts across the country took allegations of voter fraud seriously and followed the constitutional process to hear challenges to this year's election. No State found evidence of any widespread voter fraud and neither did any court ask to review the State's findings. In Arizona, Republican Governor Doug Ducey; the Democratic secretary of state, Katie Hobbs; the Republican attorney general, Mark Brnovich; and the State supreme court chief justice, Robert Brutinel all certified the results of the election on November 30. And we know--we have heard--Arizonans have been voting by mail for almost 30 years, and Governor Ducey has expressed confidence in the State's process numerous times. In November, he said: We do elections well here in Arizona. The system is strong, and that is why I have bragged on it so much. He further stated: We have some of the strongest election laws in the country, laws that prioritize accountability and clearly lay out our procedures for conducting, canvassing and even contesting the results. And they are right. Arizona has one of the most transparent election processes in the country with built-in accountability, starting with the internal auditing. We have heard unfounded allegations that voting machines in Arizona and elsewhere somehow changed vote tallies or somehow improperly rejected ballots while claiming to accept them. These allegations all ignore the fact that Arizona counties conducted ballot audits by hand to double-check the machine counts, and these audits found no widespread fraud or irregularities. Maricopa County, the county where more than 60 percent of the State's population resides, conducted a postelection hand count audit in the week after the election, which showed perfect, 100 percent, accuracy in the machine tabulations. So why would we need, my colleagues, to call for a 10-day emergency audit to be conducted by a legislative commission when it has already been done by the State of Arizona? What happened to State's rights? The audit involved checking ballots for the Presidential election but also ballots for Federal and State legislative elections. The audit report shows every precinct's machine and hand count totals for each of the races audited, and for every single race in every precinct, the difference between the hand count and the machine count was zero. Maricopa's audit report stated: No discrepancies were found by the hand count audit boards. Seeking to find any reason to contest these results, some of the State Republicans then tried to claim that Maricopa County failed to follow State law in conducting this audit by selecting voting center locations to audit instead of voting precincts. This was wrong. And this, too, went to a court. In rejecting this claim, the State court in Arizona found that the county followed the properly issued guidance on hand audit procedures from the Arizona Secretary of State. And the court found that Maricopa County officials, therefore, could not lawfully have performed the hand count audit the way the plaintiffs wanted it done. If they had done so, they would have exposed themselves to criminal punishment

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I would like to recognize and thank the Senator from Kansas, Pat Roberts. He has served the people of Kansas and our Nation in Congress for nearly 40 years, serving 16 years in the House of Representatives and in U.S. Senate since 1997. Over the past 4 years, I have had the pleasure of serving with Senator Roberts in the Senate, including on the Committee on Rules and Administration and the Finance Committee for the last 2 years. Senator Roberts has been a pragmatic partner on legislation focused on supporting rural hospitals and telehealth access during the pandemic. We introduced the Rural ACO Improvement Act to support rural health care providers as well as the Ensuring Parity in Medicare Advantage for Audio-Only Telehealth Act to protect seniors' access to telehealth visits even when video is not available during the COVID-19 public health emergency. I respect and appreciate Senator Roberts's dedication to these important issues. Senator Roberts has had a long and esteemed tenure in Congress, and his emphasis on working across the aisle can be seen clearly with the record number of votes in favor for the 2018 farm bill. His evident love for his family, rich heritage as a fourth-generation Kansan, and his call for levity and humor in the Senate to ensure bipartisanship will be remembered for years to come. I thank Senator Roberts and wish him, his wife Franki, and his family all the best in the coming years.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank Senator Martha McSally for her career of service. I had the pleasure of serving alongside Senator McSally on various committees but primarily wanted to underscore our work together on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Water and Power. In her capacity as subcommittee chair and mine as ranking Member, we were successful in shepherding the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act, P.L. 116-1, through the Senate and ensuring that it was signed into law on April 16, 2019. This monumental legislation culminated years of work by the seven Colorado River basin States, researchers, local stakeholders, and Tribal governments, and affirmed the commitments made by the basin States to reduce States' water usage and target minimum water levels for reservoirs in the river's watershed, such as Lake Mead on the Arizona-Nevada border and Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border. I commend Senator McSally's dedication to this effort to secure sustainable water levels for the 40 million Americans who rely on the Colorado River as a water source. It has truly been a pleasure to work with Senator McSally on this and other western priorities, and I wish her and her family all the best in their future endeavors.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I want to recognize and thank Senator Cory Gardner for his years of service to the people of Colorado. Senator Gardner has served the people of Colorado for 15 years as a member of the State house of representatives, a Congressman from Colorado Fourth District, and as a U.S. Senator. It has been an honor to serve with him in the U.S. Senate and alongside him on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Like my home State of Nevada, Colorado is a precious treasure of the American West, famed for its soaring peaks and beautiful countryside. Senator Gardner committed himself to protect and preserve heritage through championing our national parks and public lands with the passage of the Great Americans Outdoors Act. Senator Gardner also understands that preserving our outdoor spaces is vital to our western economies and to the physical and emotional well-being of the people who call our State home. I must thank him for supporting our successful, bipartisan effort to reauthorize Brand USA to promote the United States as a destination to global travelers and support workers and businesses in tourism and hospitality in our States. I also want to thank him for partnering with me on the ACCESS Broadband Act to enhance access to Federal broadband programs and deliver these vital services to our rural communities. Finally, I must acknowledge Senator Gardner for joining Senators Burr, Sinema, Congressman DeSaulnier, and me in introducing the Moving FIRST Act to invest in our local communities infrastructure to help them overcome local challenges and meet the needs of the future. Thank you, again, to Senator Gardner, for his public service. It has been an honor to work with him here in the Senate and join in his commitment to all of us throughout the region we call home.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank Senator Doug Jones for his service in the U.S. Senate and to the people of Alabama. In just 2 years, Senator Jones has become a respected voice in the Senate and built a reputation as someone who puts the interests of his constituents before partisanship or ideology. It has been a privilege working alongside him during the 116th Congress. Senator Jones's achievements are remarkable for a first-term Senator. I was proud to work with him on his Military Widow's Tax Elimination Act, which helps ensure that nearly 70,000 surviving military spouses receive their full benefits, as he shepherded this important legislation through Congress. He has also passed legislation to expand insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, helped his rural constituents navigate the healthcare system, and promoted justice for victims in unsolved criminal civil rights cases. I am proud to have worked with him on my legislation to expand workforce development programs and hands-on learning in high schools. These incredible accomplishments demonstrate the hard work and dedication that Senator Jones brought to the Senate. He is a man with unwavering principles but a strong drive to find common ground and bring tangible benefits to the people of Alabama. Senator Jones's legacy in the Senate is one I hope we can all remember as we look to work together for the betterment of our States and the Nation. It has been a privilege to work alongside him for the last 2 years, and I know he will continue to inspire us all as he begins the next chapter in his distinguished life.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Udall, for his years of leadership in the Senate, on our committee, and for his commitment and service to our Tribal communities. It has been an honor to serve with him the past 4 years. I want to thank Senator Udall for his wisdom, his mentorship, and the example that he has set for us through his many years in Congress and in the Senate. I also want to thank his staff for their support of all of our work in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Senator Udall's tireless leadership and ability to work across the aisle with Chairman Hoeven, each Member of the Senate, and our Tribal leaders has encouraged all of us to truly work together in a bipartisan manner to find solutions on behalf of our Tribal communities. I am particularly thankful, for Senator Udall's leadership in helping ensure that Senator Murkowski's and my bills, the Not Invisible Act and Savanna's Act, became law. With their passage, we are finally beginning to address the serious epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. His commitment to combatting violence against Native women and children has been crucial for their success. Senator Udall's achievements in the Senate stand as a testament to the spirit of the West, which we both call home. From conserving and protecting our public lands through the Great American Outdoors Act and championing the rights of Indian Country, to empowering our Tribal communities through introducing the Native American Voting Rights Act and ensuring vital coronavirus relief funds and care reach those who need it most, Senator Udall has always prioritized the needs of western communities. Whether it is through finding creative solutions to address the homework gap through partnering with me to introduce E-Rate Support for School Bus Wi-Fi, or fighting for quality housing through reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act, his work here has led to tangible benefits for rural and Native communities in my home State of Nevada and all across the country. I have no doubt that Senator Udall's legacy of service here will continue to leave a powerful impact on the lives of many in our Tribal communities for years to come, so thank you again, Senator Udall, for all your contributions.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I would like to recognize and thank Senator Johnny Isakson for his service in the U.S. Congress. Having served in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2004 and later in the Senate from 2005 until his retirement in 2019, Senator Isakson has dedicated himself to supporting longstanding, bipartisan measures. His ability to find common ground and his commitment to public service are a reflection of his adherence to Georgians' and our Nation's values. It is my honor to have served alongside Senator Isakson during the 116th Congress. In his tenure, Senator Isakson sponsored over 130 bills--a testament to his determination and aptitude to work across party lines. Having served in the Georgia Air National Guard, Senator Isakson played a key role in passing salient legislation to aid our veterans. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, he led the Department of Veterans Affairs Educational Assistance Improvement Act of 2017, which created opportunities for veterans to pursue higher education. I am proud to have cosponsored this bill in my first year in office and to have worked with Senator Isakson to unite Congress in support of our veterans, among many other bipartisan causes led by Johnny. Senator Isakson's time in office has left a profound mark in the Halls of Congress. I am confident his courage, compassion, and celebrated accomplishments will be remembered for years to come. I thank Senator Isakson for his service and send my best wishes to him and his wife Dianne and their children, Kevin, Julie, and John.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank the Senator from Wyoming, Mike Enzi. He has served the State of Wyoming and our Nation for more than 40 years, first as the Mayor of Gillette, then in both chambers of the Wyoming Legislature, and finally in the U.S. Senate since 1997. Over the past 4 years, I have had the pleasure of serving with Senator Enzi in the Senate, including on the Finance Committee for the last 2 years. Together, we introduced the 1921 Silver Dollar Coin Anniversary Act, to celebrate the anniversary of the Peace silver dollar memorializing the end of World War I. Senator Enzi has had a long and distinguished tenure in the Senate as both the chair and ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and as the chair of the Budget Committee. Across all his legislative efforts, Senator Enzi has remained a staunch advocate of his ``80 percent tool''--the belief that we can get a lot done when we can agree on 80 percent of the issues 80 percent of the time. This lesson is one that we all should take to heart as we enter the 117th Congress and the future. Senator Enzi's legacy and his words of wisdom--do what is right, do your best, treat others as they wish to be treated--will continue to remind us to work hard and serve our constituents to the best of our abilities. I wish him a peaceful retirement fly-fishing on the banks of Wyoming's rivers, and I wish his wife Diana and his family all the best in the next chapter.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and Senator from Tennessee, Lamar Alexander. Senator Alexander has committed his life to public service for both the people of Tennessee and Nation. He served first as the Governor of Tennessee, then as the Secretary of Education under President George H. W. Bush from 1991 to 1993, and finally in the U.S. Senate since 2003. Senator Alexander has served more years as Governor and U.S. Senator than any other Tennessean who has occupied both positions. It has been an Honor to serve with Senator Alexander over the past 4 years. As chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Alexander dedicated the end of his Senate career to issues such as the opioid epidemic, supporting mental health providers, lowering prescription drug prices, and cultivating innovation in the medical field, just to name a few. During his tenure as chair Senator Alexander presided over more than 70 hearings and oversaw more than 45 bills that eventually became law. Senator Alexander has dedicated his career to faithfully representing the people of our great country, believing that ``the best decisions are made by those closest to the people.'' Thank you, again, to Senator Alexander. I wish him a long and peaceful retirement, playing piano and spending time with his wife, Honey, their children and grandchildren, and dog, Rufus.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today I am honored to recognize former Reno mayor and justice of the peace for the Reno Justice Court, Pete Sferrazza, who retired in October of this year. Mr. Sferrazza has a long history of public service to the great State of Nevada. He served as Reno's mayor from 1981 until 1995, an unprecedented length of service, and served as a judge on the Reno Justice Court from 2008 until his retirement earlier this year. In the intervening years, Mr. Sferrazza served as county commissioner for Washoe County, from 1998 to 2007. During his time as mayor and throughout his life of public service, Mr. Sferrazza focused on advancing labor rights and economic prosperity, while promoting the beauty of the Reno community. As mayor, he led the establishment of the City of Reno Arts Commission, as well as the creation of Reno's Victim Advocate Program, which has served as a model for the rest of the State. Mr. Sferrazza was also responsible for helping to preserve the Mt. Rose Wilderness and supporting the iconic Truckee River Walk. In a time of seemingly stark political divide, Mr. Sferrazza is a shining example of what an elected official can and should be. As county commissioner, he approved a number of expansions of Reno's downtown and helped to consolidate various local emergency services, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Finally, during his time on the Reno Justice Court, Mr. Sferrazza was elected by his colleagues as president of the American Judges Association, the largest judges' association in the United States. His willingness and desire to help everyone in his community have been crucial to the city's development, especially as the city continues to grow into the 21st century. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Pete Sferrazza as he retires after decades of serving the city of Reno, Washoe County, and the State of Nevada in so many ways. His time in public office has made the Reno-Sparks community stronger and more inclusive for everyone, and I want to thank him for his service and lifelong commitment to leaving the Truckee Meadows a better place than he found it.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I come forward today to recognize the life, career, and service of a fellow Nevadan and friend, Mayor Robert Crowell. His leadership and love of the Silver State are an example to all of us. As mayor of Carson City, he led the city through some difficult times--the great recession and the current coronavirus pandemic--and oversaw the redevelopment of the capital city's downtown core with his unique mix of dedication, compassion, good humor, and vision. Mayor Crowell began his life of service as a young Navy sailor serving in the Vietnam war. After retiring as a naval captain, he earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Stanford University in 1967 and his doctor of jurisprudence degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1973. He was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada in 1973. He was a member of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and had been included in Best Lawyers in America in the fields of government relations and energy law for the past 25 years. Born in Tonopah and raised in Carson City, Mayor Crowell was always active in his community, serving as a board member or leadership role with the Carson City School Board, Nevada Association of Counties, Nevada League of Cities, Carson Area Chamber of Commerce, Northern Nevada Development Authority, Rotary Club of Carson City, and Nevada Legal Services. In addition, he was past president of State Bar of Nevada and chair of the Nevada Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board. He was appointed by the Governor to the Colorado River Commission and twice held the position of chairman, overseeing Nevada's allocation of water and power from the Colorado River. Mayor Crowell also served as president of the Board of Indigent Defense Services, a State agency to oversee the provision of indigent legal services in Nevada. He was also a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and was selected to be part of the ``first in the country'' Honor Flight for Vietnam Veterans in Nevada. Mayor Crowell has numerous recognitions for his countless contributions to the quality of life of his fellow Nevadans. He was awarded the Participatory Democracy Award from the Nevada Association of Counties and the State Bar of Nevada Presidential Award--the highest honors awarded by those organizations--as well as being inducted in the Nevada Lobbyist Hall of Fame. Mayor Crowell had many titles--lawyer, lobbyist, veteran, community leader--but it was clear he found great joy in serving the people of Carson City as mayor. Among his accomplishments was leading the effort to redevelop downtown Carson City, creating an entirely new dynamic downtown that supported local businesses and our community. For his leadership on this effort, he was recognized by the Nevada Chapter of the American Planning Association with the De Boer Award as well as the Robert Broadbent Distinguished Services Award from the Nevada Chapter of the American Public Works Association. What I will remember most about my friend Mayor Crowell are not his numerous and distinguished professional achievements but the way he conducted himself and how he led. Mayor Crowell was dedicated to his fellow residents and the betterment of his community and our great State. I can recall the many acts of kindness and friendship that he showed me when I became Nevada's attorney general and in the years since. And Mayor Crowell brought those same qualities to every person he interacted with in both his professional and private life. Nevada lost a true treasure when Mayor Crowell passed on September 12, 2020. His wife Susan and his family shared him with all Nevadans during his life, and we share in their grief upon his passing.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

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

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise today to talk a little bit about what is happening in Nevada. Last week, I had the opportunity to be home, and I went to one of our mobile food banks in East Las Vegas just before Thanksgiving. The mobile food bank is one of our food pantries throughout the State of Nevada, and this particular one is run by Three Square. I arrived around 8 a.m. in the morning to a line of cars waiting at the site. That line sometimes gets so long, police have to direct traffic around it. Literally, they lined up at 3 a.m. The food pantry doesn't even open until 7 or 8 in the morning, but they were there at 3 a.m., around the block, in their cars to stay safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. There were over 350 of them throughout that morning. That is not unusual with what is happening in Nevada right now. That is not unusual, and it should be, but because this pandemic has hit Nevada and so many States so hard, we are seeing the consequences of inaction by this body in the Senate. As I got there that morning, I imagined those people in the middle of the night with their lights and power off in their cars to save fuel in the cold desert night. And they waited patiently. They were quiet because they knew assistance would be there when morning came. And sometimes that food runs out for those many people who are waiting, and then they have to come the next day. But because of the inaction in this Chamber, most Nevadans who are hurting don't have that reassurance that there will be immediate, swift relief for them because they don't know when Federal help will come. Lifeline organizations like Three Square, which are working tirelessly to help families fill the gaps, are running out of resources. It has been 223 days since the Senate last approved funds to help all Americans endure this once-in-a-lifetime catastrophe. Meanwhile, too many people in Nevada are languishing in the dark, hoping for economic assistance that still hasn't arrived In Nevada, we continue to have the second highest unemployment rate in the country at 12 percent. That is almost twice the national rate. Unemployment is so high in Nevada because of the coronavirus pandemic. It has stopped conventions, entertainment, hospitality, and travel operations in the Silver State and across the country. In August, in Nevada, employment in travel and tourism was down 25 percent over last year. Nationwide, spending on travel has declined by 42 percent compared to 2019. As a result, there are 60 percent fewer travelers to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and 50 percent fewer travelers to Las Vegas itself. The American Hotel and Lodging Association estimates that without more funding, nearly 70 percent of hotels may close by the end of this year. Because of the devastation to what had been a thriving hospitality industry in Nevada, many of the jobs aren't there right now, and too many workers in Nevada can't pay their bills. More than 175,000 people in the Silver State continue to claim unemployment insurance. People without jobs are struggling right now to pay rent or mortgages or healthcare. Let me tell you, housing assistance from the CARES Act helped tens of thousands of Nevadans and millions of Americans keep a roof over their heads. That was legislation we passed immediately in a bipartisan way-- one of four. But those funds have run out. They are gone, and they need to be replaced. When the limited CDC eviction moratorium expires on January 1, Nevada is bracing for 250,000 to 400,000 possible evictions. That is more than 20 times the national number of evictions in 2019. Families and seniors can't get enough to eat. In August and September, 234,000 Nevadans said their households were experiencing food insecurity. That is 11 percent of Nevada households going hungry-- the second largest share in the country. One hundred and twenty-nine thousand said that the children in their homes didn't have enough food. The longer we delay passing additional economic relief, the more jeopardy we create for our entire economy, nationwide. Don't take my word for it; just listen to Chairman Powell of the Federal Reserve, who has been saying this over and over again--most recently in a hearing in the Banking Committee, which I am a member of. The Senate must do more to help people not just in my home State but across the country, especially now, as case counts are climbing. We are only months away from being able to give the population at large immunity to this deadly virus. We have to do everything we can to help people get to that time, to ensure that for the coming months, Nevadans can stay in their homes, they can take care of their kids, they can keep their businesses running, knowing that they will have an opportunity to open them in the future, and they can protect themselves from this virus. The only way to do that is to get them the relief they need now. That relief simply has to include more money for State, local, and Tribal governments, which have had to cut back on critical services in the middle of a pandemic. It should include extended unemployment benefits and pandemic unemployment assistance, as well as more loans for our small businesses and for PPP. It must have housing assistance to prevent a wave of homelessness and illness. It should do more to protect workers, fund education, and stave off hunger for families. It also needs to include billions that States have asked for to help with vaccine distribution. We are going to be rolling out millions of doses of vaccines, all of which will need to be stored, handled, and tracked across 50 States. Healthcare workers not just in Nevada but across the country will need training to administer the vaccine, and the public needs education about vaccine safety and access. We have witnessed an amazing feat of human ingenuity in developing a vaccine faster than we have ever done it before, but the Federal Government and this Chamber still haven't set money aside to make sure that vaccines get to those who need it. It also has to include money for testing and tracing so that we can contain spread of this virus and get more people back to work. Nobody should be standing in the way of a comprehensive, bipartisan relief package to help Americans hold out until they can get the vaccines we know are coming. They need relief now. That is why I support the bipartisan proposal that our colleagues in the Senate put together just recently. That proposal, which they look at in a comprehensive way for all of our States, includes money for State, local, and Tribal governments. It includes additional unemployment insurance. It supports funding for small businesses, including the Paycheck Protection Program, EIDL disaster loans, restaurants, stages, and deductibility. What I mean by stages are the live events in the hospitality industry that have been so devastated and have not received any relief during the time we have appropriated funds to address the pandemic. It includes CDFI, community lender support. It includes transportation--our airlines, our airports, our buses, our transit, Amtrak--and our workers there. It includes vaccine development and distribution and testing and tracing. It includes money for healthcare provider relief. It includes money for education, for student loans, and, yes, housing assistance and rental assistance that is needed now. It also includes money for nutrition, for the food insecurity that I just talked about that I witnessed that morning in Las Vegas and that we hear about constantly, not just in Nevada but across this country. It includes money for childcare, for broadband, for the U.S. Postal Service--so many things. It was well reasoned and compromised and thought out, and it was our colleagues coming together--Republicans and Democrats coming together-- for the best interests of this country. I will tell you, we do not need unanimous support for this proposal. What we need is a vote on the floor of the Senate. That is why I am asking Mitch McConnell to allow this proposal to come to the floor of the Senate for a vote. If some of my colleagues don't want to support any more relief, then they don't have to vote for it. But I would guarantee and I would suspect that there are more than enough of my colleagues on both sides of aisle who want to pass relief for the many Americans across this country in our States who are suffering right now, but they have to be given the opportunity. I get that right now, there is only one person who gets to decide what goes on the floor of the Senate. I don't agree with that, but that is the way the rules are set. Mitch McConnell decides every single day what legislation comes to the floor of the Senate, what can be debated, what amendments can come. I have watched this for years as Mitch McConnell, instead of including the Democrats in bipartisan negotiation on some of these important bills, puts them together behind closed doors, with only Republicans and maybe the current administration, and then puts them on the floor of the Senate for the first time; bypasses our committee hearings, where there is bipartisan support, usually, for bills; bypasses that and puts it on the floor of the Senate without any compromise, without any of the Democrats' involvement, and expects us to vote for it, and then holds the Democrats accountable--accountable-- because we didn't have the opportunity to fight for our States and put important funding in there for State and local government, for broadband, for our healthcare workers, for our hospitality industry-- you name it. That is not the way the Senate should be operating. You know that, and I know that. We have to get back to a time when we compromise, when we all come representing our States. We all have equal votes. There are two of us from each State. We are fighting for our constituents and our States, and we should be able to have that debate, that conversation, on the floor of the Senate in a fair manner. That is why I ask Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on this proposal. I had the opportunity to watch one of my colleagues talk about this. I absolutely agree with him, Senator Angus King. He said: I sit in these committees, in these bipartisan committees, and I vote for relief for disasters, hurricane disasters, fire disasters--fires in the Western States where I come from and where you know so well that the fires are devastating our Western States. But for the hurricanes that happen in Texas, Florida--you name it--I vote for relief because I know those constituents in those States are suffering. I don't look at them as blue States or red States. I look at them as Americans who are in need right now, and I am going to support that relief. Why are we doing that with this coronavirus relief package? I do not understand. It is not what the American people expect of us. It is not what they want, and it is not what they deserve. I cannot stress this enough: It is time for the Senate to get back to work on behalf of the American public. That means that we are willing to compromise. That means we are willing to do what is right and what is needed in our communities because I can guarantee you, any one of us who goes home to our State--we are all suffering; we all see it. That is what the American people expect of us. I hope Mitch McConnell allows a vote on the floor for this bipartisan compromise that the Senators have worked on. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I rise today to join my colleagues in opposing the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett as Justice of the Supreme Court. This is the wrong time to be choosing a Supreme Court Justice, and Justice Barrett is the wrong candidate for a seat on that Court. The timing of tonight's confirmation vote is shocking. The majority of Americans want to be able to weigh in on who should sit in Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on the highest Court in the land. They want to vote to choose a President to fill that vacancy. We are 8 days away from Americans casting their final votes in the 2020 election. Over 58 million Americans have already voted, including more than 649,000 Nevadans. The American people are making their voices heard in response to this administration's disastrous handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to the loss of 225,000 American lives, including 1,748 Nevadans, and sickened over 95,000 Nevadans. In the middle of this crisis, Congress should be doing everything it can to address the needs of the American people. Instead, the Senate majority leader is ramming through a nominee at breakneck pace. He and the President are rushing this nominee's confirmation for a reason, which is because they believe, based on Judge Barrett's own public statements, that she will be the decisive vote to overturn the Affordable Care Act in a case that will be heard just a week after the election. On November 10, the Supreme Court will listen to arguments from lawyers in a court case about whether the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. Majority Leader McConnell and the President want a Justice who shares their views on the Affordable Care Act seated on the Court by that date. Amy Coney Barrett's record on the ACA, not to mention her stance on the rights for women and the LGBTQ Americans that you have heard from my colleagues today and you will hear throughout the night, but her record on the ACA poses tremendous risk to Nevadans at a time when they need every help we can extend to them during this health pandemic. That is why I opposed her nomination to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals back in 2017, and that is why I oppose her confirmation to the Supreme Court today. Instead of rushing her through in a partisan fashion to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court, we should be working together to get the additional coronavirus relief that Nevadans and Americans so badly need right now. Most of us here in the Senate understand that the American people need help to cope with the pandemic. To save lives and to stop the spread of the virus, people have to wear masks, they wash their hands, and they socially distance. That has meant that businesses haven't been able to operate as usual. Some companies have been able to rethink their business models and thrive, but others just can't substitute online interactions for in- person contact. That includes Nevada's world-class travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. During April, Nevada had the highest unemployment rate ever recorded anywhere in the country at 30 percent. We are recovering from that peak more slowly than other States, and we still have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. In August, second only to Hawaii's, it was 12.6 percent. Nevadans are hurting. Nevadans are hurting, Americans are hurting, and my constituents tell me about it all the time, and the data is clear what I see in Nevada. One in seven Nevadans say they aren't getting enough to eat, and one in five Nevadans say the children in their household are underfed. There has been a 14-percent increase in those receiving SNAP benefits in the Silver State since February. There are 14 percent of Nevadans who say they are behind on rent or mortgage, and 38 percent are having difficulty with household expenses. There are 110,000 households in my home State that could be at risk of eviction by January. That is why I have spent weeks calling on Leader McConnell to extend and expand upon the support that we put in place in the relief legislation that we passed in the first half of this year. Unfortunately, instead of negotiating another COVID relief package, Leader McConnell would rather play politics. Nevadans need to understand the partisan political games that are being played right now. Over the last 7 months, Senator McConnell has refused to come to the table to even negotiate with the administration, with Speaker Pelosi, and Leader Schumer. Now, Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer originally asked for $3.4 trillion in a new stimulus package. They have since come down to request for $2.2 trillion in relief. That is a decrease of $1.2 trillion from their original position. In return, as they have been negotiating with the administration, President Trump and Secretary Mnuchin have offered $1.8 trillion in coronavirus relief. Clearly, Speaker Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin have been working to get closer to an agreement over the amount and structure of the next needed comprehensive COVID stimulus package. Meanwhile, while that negotiation is going on, Senator McConnell is not even at the table. He refuses to even negotiate with the Democrats. Just this week, last week, he has forced two votes on the floor of the Senate on relief packages that were crafted behind closed doors with no bipartisan negotiation, and the second package was half the price of the one before. That is not a negotiation. That is politics. Senator McConnell doesn't want to deal. He hasn't participated in the talks, and he is proposing less than a third of what even the Secretary of the Treasury thinks we need. Instead, the majority leader has been laser-focused on one thing and one thing only, rushing through the Supreme Court nomination for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. There is a reason he is pushing so hard. He and others in the GOP have been obsessed with getting rid of the Affordable Care Act since it passed, and in Amy Coney Barrett, they see their chance to finally do just that. Now, I want Nevadans to understand exactly what is at stake and how we got here. Let me lay out the timeline of just some of the dozens of Republican attacks on the Affordable Care Act and how Judge Barrett fits into their larger plan to overturn healthcare protections. In 2010, the Obama administration passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the ACA, to bring down healthcare costs and make sure that Americans had access to quality healthcare. Now, Republicans have been trying to repeal it ever since, voting at least 70 times--70 times--to undo the law in Congress. When they failed in Congress, they attempted in the courts. Republicans have repeatedly used the courts to challenge Congress's power to enact the ACA. Their first attempt ended in failure in 2012 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the important provisions of the ACA in an opinion written by Chief Justice Roberts in the landmark case, NFIB v. Sebelius, but that has not stopped the Republican leadership. Even though a majority of the American people have made it clear over and over that they want the ACA and its extensive protections for healthcare, this administration and Mitch McConnell have been stacking the court with Federal judges they believe would overturn the ACA, and Professor Barrett fits their profile. In 2017, Professor Amy Coney Barrett wrote a book review article for Notre Dame Law School making it clear at the time in that book review that she thought Justice Roberts incorrectly decided NFIB v. Sebelius. She said that Chief Justice John Roberts ``pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute.'' Conservatives who agreed with her, well, they took notice, because in May of that same year, 2017, they nominated her to serve as a judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals--go from professor to a judge of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Now, while her nomination was pending in 2017, in July, the Republican leaders in the Senate again tried to force a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and during that vote, the late Senator John McCain gave his famous thumbs down to show that he would not be responsible for repealing the ACA and ripping healthcare away from millions of Americans. Well, a couple of months later, October 2017, Amy Coney Barrett was appointed to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. I opposed her then for the same reasons that I oppose her nomination today. One month later, in November, she is then placed on President Trump's list of potential nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court. She just got to the circuit court. A month later, she is now on President Trump's list. Why is she on that list? Because she made it very clear in her writings that she was opposed to the Affordable Care Act. Then 3 months later, in December of 2017, the Republicans in Congress passed a bill that would continue their attempts to sabotage the ACA. What they couldn't get done, because Senator John McCain and several others stopped him, they continued to sabotage it, so they passed a law. Based on this new law, several Republican attorneys general then went to Court asking the Court to rule the ACA unconstitutional. That case is California v. Texas, and it will be argued this year, November 10, just 2 weeks from now. So their pathway has been consistent; I give them credit for that. The Republicans have been consistent in wanting to do away with the Affordable Care Act. They have either tried it here in Congress, or they are continuing to work the courts, and if they can't win in the courts, then let's put judges on the Federal benches that we know will support our position, and that is what you have happening. That is why this is being rushed through now, because they need Amy Coney Barrett on the bench when that case is heard November 10 to determine the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Let me tell you, the U.S. Department of Justice has done everything it can to assist their efforts to strike down the ACA. They filed a brief. The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of President Trump's administration, have filed a brief arguing that the entire law is invalid in support of those Republican attorneys general who want to do away with the Affordable Care Act. They have done this because the President wants them to. In an interview with ``60 Minutes'' that aired just this evening, the President said that with regard to the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act, ``I hope that they end it.'' That is not the only time. It is not a secret. President Trump wants to do away with healthcare coverage and patient protections in the middle of a pandemic that has killed 225,000 Americans, and he has been very clear about it. I mean, look back. June 26, 2015: If I win the Presidency-- When he was a candidate. --my judicial appointments will do the right thing, unlike Bush's appointee, John Roberts, on ObamaCare. February 8, 2016: I am disappointed-- This is President Trump. --I am disappointed in Chief Justice Roberts because he gave us ObamaCare. He had two chances to end ObamaCare, and he should have ended it by every single measurement, and he didn't do it, so that was a disappointing one. May 7, 2020, President Trump reiterated his position: We want to terminate healthcare under ObamaCare, and ObamaCare is a disaster. September 27, 2020, shortly after Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court, President Trump tweeted: ObamaCare will be replaced with a much better and far cheaper alternative if it is terminated in the Supreme Court. It would be a big win for the USA. So, 4 years, at least, while I have been here, Republicans have been trying to repeal it, and this administration has been promising a replacement for healthcare in this country if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, but we see no replacement. We know that they have been putting judges on the Federal courts that will do their bidding--or at least think that they will do their bidding. Now, let me give Judge Amy Coney Barrett credit because here is the thing: As an attorney, I respect judges, and I am always looking for a judge--a mainstream judge--who is going to weigh the evidence and the facts, look at the precedent, and make a decision that is on behalf of this country and the American people. So it is fair, though, without knowing her background, to judge which way she is going to rule and if she has an inherent bias based on her writings. That is what we do all the time. What are her writings? Whether it is in private life as a professor or as an attorney practicing law or as a judge in her written opinions, that is fair game. That will give us insight, because we can't see into somebody's mind and what they are thinking. That will give us insight on their legal analysis. We know what she said at the hearing. There is two hearings: One is the Seventh Circuit, and one is U.S. Supreme Court. I will say, in her confirmation hearings, Judge Barrett has said: I am not hostile to the ACA at all. But this statement contradicts the thing she said about the ACA before her nomination to the court. I believe now what I believed in 2017, Judge Barrett's writing showed her to be clearly opposed to the ACA. My view is that no one--no one-- not even a judge, should weaken those protections for healthcare in this country during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. The Affordable Care Act is a crucial part of the Nation's response to coronavirus. Without it, insurance companies would be able to charge more or even deny insurance to people with preexisting conditions. That includes more than 95,000 Nevadans who have had COVID-19 to date because contracting that coronavirus is a preexisting condition. It includes another 1.2 million Nevadans with other preexisting conditions from asthma to cystic fibrosis to depression. Without the ACA, insurance companies would also be able to consider pregnancy a preexisting condition as they used to. The 1.5 million women in Nevada could be charged more for their care than men, and lifetime and annual benefit caps could be reinstated. If the Affordable Care Act is repealed or found unconstitutional, insurance companies would be able to kick children off their parents' insurance before the age of 26. Across the country, without the ACA, more than 20 million people would lose their health coverage, and over 135 million Americans would lose protections for their preexisting conditions. If the Supreme Court eliminates the ACA, millions of newly uninsured people will be unable to afford coronavirus treatment. If you don't have insurance and you contract COVID-19, you are looking at tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills. Let me tell you, this is especially alarming because COVID-19 has hit communities of color the hardest, including in my State. In Nevada, a third of our population are Latino; with another 10 percent of the population African-American; and 9 percent, fastest growing Asian-American/Pacific Islander; 2 percent, Native-American. Among COVID-19 cases, however, these numbers are practically turned upside down. Forty-five percent of Nevada's COVID-19 cases are among Latinos who make up 29 percent of the population. And 29 percent of the cases are among White Nevadans who are 45 percent of the population. Nevadans of color are also overrepresented in the numbers of those who have lost their lives during this pandemic. In Nevada, 12 percent of those who have died of COVID-19 are African-American and another 12 percent are Asian-American/Pacific Islander. We also know from national data that COVID-19 has particularly devastating effects on children of color. Of those under 21 who have been killed by the coronavirus, more than 75 percent have been Hispanic, Black, or Native American. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on pregnant women of color and their babies. Nationwide, Latino mothers make up nearly half of the coronavirus cases among pregnant women, according to the CDC data through August. Young people and communities of color are also seeing the greatest economic impact as a result of this pandemic. They are losing jobs and healthcare at higher rates. A recent study suggested that job losses would mean that 5 million Black, Latino, and Asian Americans would lose healthcare during the pandemic. People in these communities don't always have the financial reserves to keep a roof over their heads, let alone access to critical, physical, and mental healthcare. Repealing the ACA would just further jeopardize these Americans, including millions in my home State and across this country. And without the ACA protections, women in Nevada would also see adverse impacts on their health. That is because the ACA requires insurance plans to offer women essential benefits, like annual wellness examines, preventive mammograms and other screenings, maternity care, and access to free birth control. If the law is struck down, these benefits would go too. In fact, Judge Barrett publicly signed a statement of protest against the ACA contraceptive coverage requirements. She said that those requirements were ``an assault on religious liberty when applied to religious employers and institutions.'' But that is just the first part of the danger that Judge Barrett represents to women's healthcare. She puts reproductive health rights at risk across the board. In 2006, Judge Barrett signed a letter that called for ``an end to the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade.'' As a judge, she has repeatedly voted to rehear cases that struck down unconstitutional abortion restrictions. During her confirmation hearing, she refused to describe Roe v. Wade as a superprecedent that could no longer be challenged. These views suggest--her written views and comments--that as she predicted in a 2016 speech, a Trump nominee to the Supreme Court would mean that the restrictions on abortion would change and that the Court would likely increase how much freedoms States have in regulating abortion, and if those States have more freedom to regulate abortion, it will lead to a patchwork of different laws in different States. A recent study suggests that if Roe v. Wade were overturned, the closest abortion clinic would close for 41 percent of women across the country, and the distance to the nearest clinic would increase from an average of 36 miles to an average of 280 miles. In 2020, American women shouldn't have to choose what State to live in based on what kind of healthcare they think that they can get. These are fundamental rights that shouldn't be up for grabs. More than 80 percent of Nevadans believe that women should control their own reproductive choices, and I stand with them. I am also concerned about the impact that Judge Barrett would have on LGBTQ Nevadans if she is confirmed to the Court. The ACA contains specific protections against discrimination based on gender identity. The Trump administration has already weakened these protections significantly. If the ACA is struck down altogether, people who don't conform to gender stereotypes, including transgender Americans, could face increased discrimination in healthcare. A study of transgender patients before the ACA went into effect, found that one in five had experienced discrimination from doctors and that 28 percent have postponed medical care in the past in order to try to avoid that discrimination. Judge Barrett could also pose a considerable threat to the LGBTQ individuals in other ways. During her confirmation hearings, she refused to say whether she agreed with a decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the right to same-sex marriage nationally. In 2015, she publicly signed a letter stating that marriage is founded on the indissoluble commitment of a man and a woman. She has also publicly argued that title IX of the Civil Rights Act does not apply to transgender Americans, noting that it seems to strain the text of the statute to say that title IX demands that the government guarantee transgender bathroom access. So, again, I am very concerned that if she is confirmed to the Court, Judge Barrett will be an additional vote to strike down things like same-sex marriage and imperil the health of LGBTQ Nevadans. The truth is that Judge Barrett's views on a whole host of issues are far from mainstream. In her short time in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Barrett has sided with corporations over workers and consumers in a majority of business-related cases, resulting in the erosion of workers' rights and consumer protection rights. She has suggested that voting rights should be more easily restricted than the right to possess firearms. And she has ruled that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act does not protect job applicants from hiring practices that harm older Americans. Now, I have received over 18,000 letters from Nevadans opposing her confirmation. That is compared to 3,900 supporting it. So, clearly, Nevadans are concerned that Judge Barrett doesn't share their views, and they are right to be concerned. The Supreme Court makes decisions about so many issues that affect our communities, and it will be lifelong. People in this country care deeply about issues, and in so many cases, Judge Barrett's views are out of step with what large majorities of Americans want. Seventy-seven percent of Americans think we should stop unlimited dark money from influencing our politics, but a 6-to-3 conservative Court would slam the door on campaign finance reform, allowing corporations and other groups to throw their wealth behind their pet policies Americans believe voting should be easy, safe, and secure, and that you shouldn't have to risk your health during a pandemic to cast your ballot. But, again, a 6-to-3 conservative Court with Amy Coney Barrett on the Bench would make it harder for people to vote, especially people in low-income communities and communities of color. And, again, bear in mind that we are in the middle of an election. If she is confirmed tonight, Justice Barrett would also be in a position to rule on any legal disputes about that election. That is one of many topics that she simply refused to answer questions about during her confirmation hearings. Now, it is understandable for a judge to avoid questions about a case that may come before her so that she doesn't prejudge the outcome. But Judge Barrett refused to answer the most basic of questions--questions that any high school civic student knows the answer to. She wouldn't say whether the Constitution allows Congress to protect the right to vote. Answer: It does in at least five separate provisions. She wouldn't say whether the President of the United States can delay the election. Answer: He can't. That is not within his authority. She wouldn't say whether the President should peacefully transfer power to the winner of a Presidential election. The most important American principle is that we the people get to decide who governs it, but Judge Barrett wouldn't even affirm that. And she wouldn't say whether voter intimidation or voting twice in an election is illegal. Well, it is. Those laws are clearly on the books. It doesn't take a constitutional scholar to interpret them. People in Nevada and across the Nation need to realize that many of the rights and protections they enjoy are one vote away from being ended by the Supreme Court. There are at least 120 landmark Supreme Court cases from the past several decades that were 5-to-4 decisions, with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg the deciding vote in the majority and Justice Antonin Scalia, whose judicial philosophy inspires Judge Barrett, in the minority. There is every reason to think that Judge Barrett would take positions like Justice Scalia's in those areas and more. With Amy Coney Barrett on the Court, Americans' civil rights, workers' rights, reproductive rights, healthcare, and, yes, their voting rights are at risk. For all of these reasons, Judge Barrett is not only the wrong nominee, but she comes at the wrong time. Now is not the time to rush a nominee onto the Court. Now, as millions fill out their ballots, is not the time to deprive the American people of a voice in choosing the next President who will choose the Supreme Court Justice. Now is not the time for us to focus on the immediate crisis at hand. We need to act to save lives and to protect families in Nevada and across the country. We need that focus now on what our families are dealing with because of this pandemic. That is why our focus should be on passing another comprehensive COVID-19 stimulus package. We need pandemic unemployment insurance for those who have been laid off or furloughed, through no fault of their own, and subsidized health coverage for those workers. We need additional funds to address the health aspects of this pandemic--everything from PPE to COVID-19 testing and tracing, to funding to develop vaccines and treatment. We need rental and homeowner's insurance to keep people safe in their homes as winter approaches. Our small businesses need extended PPP so they can retain staff. And many of our large industries need support as well. State, local, and Tribal governments must have assistance so they can afford to fund EMTs, police, firefighters, and healthcare providers, not to mention teachers who are reinventing education on the fly. All of these essential services are keeping our communities safe and functioning during this crisis. I can keep going on and on with this list, or I can just simply point my colleagues to the Heroes Act, which the House passed months ago. If Senator McConnell really wanted to get meaningful relief passed, he would do it. We know he can move quickly because we can see that with this Supreme Court nominee. If he would just come to the table with Senators from both parties who are eager to find a compromise to help out their constituents, and he could make that deal happen, that is what should happen. Instead, he and the majority in this Chamber have decided to fast-track this nominee. They have decided the most important thing they can do for this Nation during a once-in-a-lifetime health crisis is to confirm a Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court. The cruelty and blindness to the real needs of Americans is astounding to me. Instead of working for our constituents, Republican leadership has focused on a last-minute power grab that threatens Americans' health. I can't support that. There is no reason to rush this nominee. There is every reason to act on a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package. It is what we should have been doing months ago. My priority is and will continue to be getting Nevadans comprehensive and meaningful support that they need right now. Thank you I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I rise to recognize a lifelong Nevadan and a friend to all he knew, Sean Higgins. Sean was a dedicated member of our community, an unmistakable presence, and a tireless champion and advocate for our gaming industry and small businesses in Nevada. He was born in Chicago in 1964, but raised in Las Vegas, 1 of 10 siblings--5 brothers and 5 sisters. His father, Dr. Gerald Higgins, was an orthopedic surgeon and doctor for the Rebels, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas football team. Sean graduated from Bishop Gorman High School. He left Nevada only briefly for his education, obtaining a degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. Sean and I grew up in Las Vegas when it was a much smaller town of 330,000 people, so perhaps our paths were always destined to cross. We met in the 6th grade when we attended Matt Kelly Elementary School together. Even then, Sean had a presence, with his distinctive voice and outgoing personality. He was friendly, charming--yes, even at 11 years old--and made you want to hang out with him. And so we did, spending time at pool parties and dancing to the band ``Hot Chocolate.'' Over the years our paths diverged, but his focus, like mine, was on returning to Las Vegas and the State we loved to practice law. Sean represented clients both large and small to State gaming regulators and government bodies across the Silver State. Everyone knew Sean for his gregarious nature and his booming voice, which made him a fierce advocate for championing the causes of his clients. He spent 17 years as general counsel of Herbst Gaming, a multijurisdictional casino operator in Nevada that became Affinity Gaming in 2011, and where his sister, Mary Beth Higgins, now serves as CEO. He served as executive- vice president of government affairs for Golden Entertainment, a casino company and slot machine route operator, and became a partner at the Gordon Silver Law firm. He became a small business owner himself, operating a popular gaming pub with two of his brothers and founding his own law firm, STH Strategies, in 2015. We reunited in our professional careers in Carson City when I was working for Governor Miller and he was advocating for taverns and gaming. The best part, he was still the same Sean Higgins I met in the 6th grade--friendly, charming, and yes, he made you want to hang out with him. So I did. For the last 20 years as our professional careers converged, I had the opportunity to watch Sean as he advocated for the town he loved and the businesses that made us a success, all the while smoking cigars and enjoying a good meal with the friends he cultivated along the way. I will miss my friend, and I am grateful I got to talk with him to say goodbye, to tell him that I loved him. During our conversation, his main concern was for his family. Sean loved Lynn and cherished his children Samantha and Connor. He was so proud of them. I experienced this firsthand when he came to Washington to visit Connor, who was working as an intern on the Senate Committee for Environment and Public Works. In every conversation, Sean would talk about his amazing children. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering my friend and fellow Nevadan, Sean Higgins, for his advocacy and legal acumen. Sean will not soon be replaced in the Las Vegas community or in the gaming industry in Nevada. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife Lynn, his children Connor and Samantha, and the many friends who knew him well.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I come forward today to recognize the life and service of Norman Harry, wise leader of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, fierce advocate for the environment and a friend to all Nevadans. On the morning of August 11, 2020, Mr. Harry passed peacefully at his home in Nixon, NV, his family surrounding him in love. He was 65 years old. Mr. Harry was born to Floyd and Charlotte Harry on October 20, 1954, and was raised on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation in addition to spending time with family on the Walker River Paiute Reservation. At Fernley High School, he played basketball and was a member of the rodeo club, going on to gain recognition as a competitive team roper and talented rodeo photographer as a young man. On December 21, 1990, he married Beverly, and together, they have a son, Jared, and a daughter, Autumn. He was dedicated to his family and to his people and was recognized as a national leader in the environmental justice movement as he was a tireless advocate for his people, the lands, the water, and the bounty our natural world provides. Mr. Harry's legacy includes his historic work protecting Northern Nevada's Pyramid Lake. Under his leadership, the Truckee River Operating Agreement was completed and settled decades of litigation over water rights and preserving the flow of water to Pyramid Lake and securing it for future generations. Over the years, Mr. Harry served in many roles for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, including as Tribal chair for three terms and vice chair. He fought many battles to protect water quality in northern Nevada and waged a multiyear battle that ended the open burning of munitions at the Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, CA, a practice that sent toxic clouds eastward over the nearby Pyramid Lake Paiute tribal lands and northern Nevada. In 2005, he fought for the removal of 13 tons of rockets, shells, and ammunition from Pyramid Lake left by the military going back to World War II. He served as chairman of the board for Great Basin Mine Watch and, through his life, urged other Tribal leaders to get involved in protecting groundwater and environmental resources for the people. He mentored and taught countless other activists and organizers to champion issues of environmental protection. Today, I celebrate the life and many contributions of Mr. Norman Harry, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family and Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The State of Nevada is a better place because we were lucky enough to call Norman Harry one of our own. His activism, leadership, knowledge, and voice will be sorely missed.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

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