Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 758.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 712.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 904.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 895.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 836.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 591.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, well, we in Congress are no strangers to December funding deadlines or the occasional pre-Christmas cliffhanger. In that respect, the situation we face now is familiar. Funding for the Federal Government is hanging in the balance. In the next few days, Congress will either succeed or fail at providing secure and stable funding for our military commanders, our Federal Departments, and key investments for our future. Fortunately, our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee and their House counterparts have been on the case. Bipartisan, bicameral committee work has full-year government funding legislation on the 1- yard line. I am optimistic that if we can close out our other parallel business, we should be able to fund the government and move forward together. But that brings me to the way in which this year is unlike anything we have seen before. It has been more than 9 months since our Nation began to feel the full force of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American people have done what Americans do when crises come knocking. Essential workers have kept our Nation running. Healthcare professionals have worked day and night to care for strangers. Heroic American businesses have adapted, reinvented, and obeyed the advice of medical experts. Now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Operation Warp Speed has given us safe and effective vaccines in record time, but the American people need another bridge to those better days that are not so far off. The country needs Congress to come through with another targeted rescue package. They have waited months. They have waited and suffered, and some have died while needless political games have played out. The American people's wait for more emergency assistance ought to be over. For months, I have called for a targeted, bipartisan package that would put hundreds of billions of dollars into payroll support, testing, vaccine distribution, extended unemployment aid, safe schools, and other essential priorities. So I am encouraged that our Democratic colleagues have now embraced this framework that has been the right solution for our country all this time. And a bipartisan, bicameral agreement appears to be close at hand. The outline that I have been discussing with the Democratic leader, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy would get another huge dose of bipartisan support out the door as fast as possible. We have yet to nail down every detail, but in broad strokes, we have been discussing the targeted second round of the job-saving Paycheck Protection Program that Republicans have sought since last summer. We are discussing many tens of billions of dollars for distributing vaccines, COVID testing, and equipping safe schools to get our kids' educations back on track. We are discussing extending important unemployment programs. At the particular urging of President Trump and Secretary Mnuchin, who continue to be the champions of cash relief for American families, we are discussing more direct impact payments for individuals, plus the bonus for families with children. These are just some of the major pillars. And equally important, we are agreeing to be smart about financing these extraordinary policies. Now listen to this. We intend to repurpose more than $400 billion in unspent funds which we have already allocated in the CARES Act. It turned out these funds did not need to be tapped to restore basic stability to our economy. It is time we put that money to urgent use. Like I said at the time yesterday, I am heartened by our discussions and our progress. I believe all sides are working in good faith for our shared goal of getting an outcome. But I will say this. In my judgment, we are very close to a point that arises in every major negotiation. It is the point where each side faces a fork in the road. Do we want to lapse into politics as usual and let negotiations lose steam? Do we want to haggle and spar like this were an ordinary political exercise, get wrapped around the axle of language or policy riders that we know are controversial, or, on the other hand, after months of inaction, do we want to move swiftly and with unusual bipartisanship to close out our issues, seal the deal, and write text that can quickly pass into law? In short, we are near the point in this process where we decide if we are going to stay on the fast track or drift back toward business as usual. I say the answer should be obvious. After all these months, struggling Americans don't just need action; they need action fast-- fast. So I continue to appreciate our productive discussions, but I hope we also remember just how urgent the situation is for millions and millions of our fellow citizens. So for the information of all Senators, we are going to stay right here--right here--until we are finished, even if that means working through the weekend, which is highly likely. And if we need to further extend the Friday funding deadline before final legislation can pass in both Chambers, I hope we will extend it for a very, very short--short--window of time. Our citizens can't afford for us to get bogged down in the back-and- forth. Let's finish up our bipartisan framework. Let's make law as soon as possible. That is what our people deserve. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, over the course of this year, dedicated citizens in a small Jackson Purchase community have poured through their hometown's historical record. The bicentennial of Lynnville, KY, was coming, and they wanted to celebrate every detail. Today, it is my privilege to join these passionate Kentuckians in marking 200 years of Bluegrass history and heritage. Lynnville is no ordinary town. Near the Tennessee border in Graves County, this agricultural community has survived all-consuming fires, devastating tornadoes, and even the Black Patch Tobacco War. Through perseverance and grit, Lynnville has certainly earned its nickname ``The Little Town That Won't Die. For 200 years, stalwart Kentuckians have overcome challenges, come together to rebuild, and made Lynnville a wonderful place to live. I am proud of their resilient spirit, and I look forward to this community's bright future. Unfortunately, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic canceled some aspects of Lynnville's bicentennial celebrations, but the Kentucky Historical Society joined the festivities with a special commemoration. They delivered a new historical marker to Lynnville to detail this community's rich heritage. It is a well-deserved tribute. I am grateful to everyone who made the historical marker and this year of celebration possible. On behalf of the Senate, I share our congratulations with every Lynnville family on its 200 years of proud Kentucky history.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I want to extend congratulations and best wishes to a friend, a skilled attorney in the areas of campaign finance and election law, and a devoted defender of the First Amendment. After more than 35 years, Jan Witold Baran is retiring from the law firm Wiley Rein LLP at the end of the month. Throughout his distinguished career, Jan has successfully represented thousands of clients, including me. He has put his brilliance to work defending all Americans' rights to participate in our democracy and express themselves through voluntary contributions to the candidates of their choice, so that a few elite gatekeepers cannot control the public discourse in our country. When you consider Jan's background, it is no surprise he is committed to preserving freedom. Jan was born in postwar Europe to a Flemish mother and Polish Catholic father. Before Jan was born, his father had survived 2\1/2\ years in concentration camps including Auschwitz, before he was liberated by American troops at Dachau. Jan's father was incarcerated because during his tenure as mayor of a small town in Poland, he refused to turn in his rifle to the Gestapo. Clearly a stubborn dedication to freedom under law is in Jan's bloodline. Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the Baran family's immigration to America. I am sure his parents would be extremely proud of what their son has accomplished. A decorated scholar from Vanderbilt Law School; general counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee; a trailblazing attorney at the FEC; general counsel to the 1988 campaign of President George H. W. Bush; counsel to the Republican National Committee. President Bush appointed him to the Commission on Federal Ethics Law Reform and as Ambassador and Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to the World Administrative Radio Conference. Jan Baran has been an integral part of legal teams that have defended Americans' political speech rights before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was part of my team when I challenged the constitutionality of the campaign finance law known as McCain-Feingold. From McConnell v. FEC to Citizens United and beyond, Jan was in the middle of these important battles. Through these episodes and many more, I personally have witnessed and appreciated Jan's candor, sharp legal mind, and strategic thinking. Washington can be a transient place, but Mr. Baran has stayed in the fray for more than 40 years and given his best every day to uphold free speech and defend the Republic. I am not sure if the people of that small town in Poland know that the son of their wartime mayor's son built such a distinguished career in just one generation. His talent, perseverance, and commitment to his country are a credit to where Jan came from and the life he has led along the way. I extend my warm wishes to him and his wife Kathryn, their four children, sons-in-law, and grandchildren.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Democratic leader and I worked into the evening alongside the Speaker of the House and the House Republican leader. We made major headway toward hammering out a targeted pandemic relief package that would be able to pass both Chambers with bipartisan majorities. We committed to continuing these urgent discussions until we have an agreement, and we agreed we will not leave town until we have made law. The American people need more help. It is that simple. Further targeted relief is now months overdue. We need vaccine distribution money. We need to re-up the Paycheck Protection Program to save jobs. We need to continue to provide for laid-off Americans. Congressional leaders on both sides are going to keep working until we get this done.