Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m., Sunday, March 22; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and morning business be closed; further, following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 748; finally, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 748 be a 30-minute vote.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. 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.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, so for the information of our colleagues, the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 748 will occur at 3 p.m. tomorrow and will be held open for 30 minutes.

Mr. McCONNELL

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. McCONNELL. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of Executive Calendar Nos. 596 through 599; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, all en bloc.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, Senators' bipartisan discussions continued all day yesterday and through the night. Both sides' negotiators, with the administration, are continuing to work toward a bipartisan agreement on major legislation to support American workers and families, protect small businesses, help to stabilize our economy, and put more resources on the frontlines of our healthcare battle against the coronavirus. As of now, an agreement has yet to be finalized, but our committee chairs, their Democratic counterparts, and President Trump's representatives are making important progress. Yesterday, I took action on the floor to keep the process moving along with the urgency that it demands. By rule, it set up our first procedural vote for tomorrow, and then, on Monday, the Senate will vote on passage. It has only been 2 days since Senate Republicans introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to give shape and structure to these urgent discussions. We put forward four objectives: First, put emergency cash in the hands of individuals and families as quickly as possible. Second, deliver the major relief that American small businesses need at this unprecedented time, and deliver it fast. Three, help bring some stability to our economy and prevent as many layoffs as possible. Four, continue to rush resources to the frontline healthcare workers and providers who are actually treating patients. And perhaps most important of all, we looked specifically for policies that could do all of the above as quickly as humanly possible. Small businesses all across the country have made it clear: If they are going to keep their lights on and keep their employees on payroll, they need help, and they need it now. Americans who have already been laid off due to this crisis have made it clear they need help and they need it now. Key national industries which are hemorrhaging business through no fault of their own but due to the government's own public health guidance have made it clear: In order to retain their workers, they need help, and they need it now. In particular, every single American who has opened a newspaper or turned on the television in the last week has heard from our brave nurses, doctors, first responders, and public health experts: If our Nation is going to punch back and beat this virus, the people on the medical frontlines need our help, and they need it now. Senate Republicans put out our starting proposal as fast as we could. Then I created a structure for bipartisan discussions to begin as fast as they could. No legislation will move through the Senate that does not contain ideas from both parties. That is the way this body is designed. So these bipartisan talks have been essential, and they are ongoing, but what we need to do now is move forward. Now, 2 days ago the press reported that a senior Member of the House Democratic leadership told his colleagues: ``This is a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision''--a senior Member of the House Democratic leadership. Well, let me suggest that that is exactly--exactly--the wrong approach right now. That is the kind of thinking that could bog down these urgent discussions. That is the kind of mindset that the American people cannot afford for their elected representatives to adopt. I hope it does not describe the view of our own Senate Democratic colleagues as we try to close out these talks. More Americans are being laid off every day. More small businesses are being forced to shed payroll every day. Our nurses and doctors are running lower on key supplies every day. This is not a political opportunity. This is not a political opportunity. This is a national emergency. It is time to come together, finalize the results of our bipartisan discussions, and then close this out. Earlier this week, I had the Senate move quickly to pass the more modest bill that came over from the Democratic House of Representatives. I didn't believe it was perfect--far from it. But Senate Republicans did not delay it needlessly. We did not try to originate our own version and burn several more days trying to fit them together. Instead, we treated that bill with the bipartisanship and urgency this crisis requires. Since then, the situation has only grown more dire, so I hope that our Senate Democratic colleagues and the Democratic House will bring equal bipartisanship and equal urgency to this legislation as well. In closing, I think all of us could take a lesson from our constituents. As we finish negotiating and finalize this bold legislation, we should look to the American people. Everywhere you look these past days, individuals, families, and organizations are stepping up to the plate and finding creative ways to serve those in need. One of my fellow Kentuckians is a woman named Erin Hinson. Erin lives in Louisville. She is someone whom doctors have told to be particularly careful these past few days, so her opportunities to pitch in were somewhat limited, but she was determined to do her part. Here is what she said: ``I may never have the capacity to develop a vaccine or a magic pill to get rid of COVID-19 . . . but I can master a spreadsheet!'' Erin created a website--Louisvillecovid19match.com. There is one signup sheet for neighbors who are older or at heightened risk and another signup sheet for neighbors who are young and healthy. And Erin is performing a kind of matchmaking service. If someone needs a prescription pickup or some groceries delivered or even a friendly phone call, she helps make the connection. With a little help from local media, Erin is already tracking more than 400 volunteers--400 volunteers--from every Louisville ZIP Code. It is the perfect manifestation of Kentucky's State motto: ``United we stand, divided we fall.'' United we stand--even if we have to stand 6 feet apart for a few weeks--and divided we fall. Brave and generous and creative Americans all across our Nation get it. They just need Congress to get it too. I am impressed and heartened by the speed and bipartisan spirit that has characterized the past day's discussions, but we need to keep it up. We absolutely cannot let up now. We need to finish these negotiations and move forward.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday I introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act: Senate Republicans' bold proposal to continue combating this health crisis and the economic crisis it is causing. And I called on our Democratic counterparts to join us immediately at the table for urgent discussions so the Senate can deliver measured relief to the American people as soon as humanly possible. I am glad to say that talks are already well underway. Earlier this morning, a number of our committee chairmen began indepth, bipartisan talks with their Democratic counterparts. We were joined by representatives from the administration, and those talks continue right now as we speak. Here are the next steps: These Member-level discussions will proceed with the goal of reaching agreements on each of four components of the legislation by the end of today--by the end of today, agreements on each of these four components. This would allow the first procedural vote to occur before the end of the day tomorrow, and that would allow a bipartisan package focused on immediate challenges to pass the Senate Monday. The Nation's needs and expectations are perfectly clear. Workers, families, small businesses, and the foundations of our economy itself need swift action. And in the Senate, ``swift'' means bipartisan. The Senate rose to the occasion earlier this month. We united across party lines to pass billions in quick funding to support the medical response, and we did it again just this week. We passed the more modest proposal that came over from the Democratic House quickly and in a bipartisan fashion. Now our Nation needs a major next step, and we need it fast. That is why Senate Republicans produced a bold initial proposal to give shape and structure to these discussions. First, our CARES Act will deliver direct financial help as quickly as possible to the American people. Senate Republicans want to put cash in Americans' hands. For Americans who have lost work, this would be the quickest possible first wave of government assistance to supplement unemployment insurance and help with bills and immediate needs. For our Nation's seniors, this would supplement Social Security and provide further relief to those who are at heightened risk and have had to change their routines literally overnight. And for Americans still working, this infusion of money would provide a little more certainty in this very uncertain moment and the opportunities to invest in local economies where possible. Second, our proposal would provide the quickest possible access to desperately needed liquidity for small businesses all across our country. Our proposal would use existing channels and small businesses' existing lending relationships to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in emergency capital, a significant cash infusion as fast as possible so that more small businesses can hold on to their workers, weather this disruption, and come out on the other side instead of having to resort to layoffs or shutdowns right away. So no tangled new bureaucracies, no delay of this urgent aid while we try to redesign complex programs from the ground up, just the most direct path--the most direct path to the cash that small businesses need to keep making payroll, while, in many cases, the government itself is chasing away their customers for the sake of public health. This straightforward approach is already earning support. A coalition of small business advocates has already written to express their hope that ``both Republicans and Democrats can come together'' to pass this. Third, our bill recognizes a big, structural, national crisis requires a big, structural response. Let me say that again. Our bill recognizes that a big, structural national crisis requires a big, structural response. We want to empower the Treasury Department to engage in targeted lending--not bailouts but loans--to key sectors and industries which this pandemic is hurting. Again, we want to preserve employer-employee relationships wherever we can. We have to fight to protect jobs, and we need to recognize that our Nation will need industries to come back online quickly on the other side of the crisis. Fourth--and this is crucial--our legislation will continue to push surged resources to the frontlines of the medical battle against the virus itself. We want to expand access to testing and treatment to further encourage and speed up research on therapeutics and eventually vaccines, to continue to fund the hospitals and health centers that are treating patients, and we want to expand healthcare workers' access to critical equipment and supplies, including--including--respirator masks. These are the four big things our bill seeks to do. As we speak, at this very moment, Senators on both sides are discussing the details and exchanging suggestions on all four of the pillars that I have just outlined. So, once again, this will not be the first bill we pass to combat this crisis or the second, and I do not expect it will be the last. This legislation does not need to contain every piece of the ongoing national effort. In fact, that would be impossible. But everyone-- everyone--from public health experts to economists, to working families of this country--everyone--has made it clear that we need to deliver relief and we need to deliver it now. We need to go big. We need to minimize new complexity, and we need to move swiftly. We need to push immediate relief to Americans. We need to keep Americans employed as much as possible and help job creators literally stay afloat. We need to continue taking action to stand with medical professionals and protect our Nation's health. Laid-off workers cannot wait. Struggling Main Street businesses cannot wait. Our hospitals and health centers cannot wait. So, as I said, I hope these Member-level discussions will be able to produce agreements in principle on all four components by the end of the day today. In fact, they must reach agreement by the end of the day today. That would leave tomorrow for drafting legislative text and for the first procedural vote on the shell. And that should allow a bipartisan package, focused on immediate challenges, to pass the Senate on Monday. The crisis is moving fast. The Senate is here, we are working, and we are going to deliver.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of Executive Calendar Nos. 604 and 606 through 628 and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy; that the nominations be confirmed; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of PN1611 and that the Senate proceed to consideration of that nomination.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate; that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have a request for one committee to meet during today's session of the Senate. It has the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committee is authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 157, H.R. 748.

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

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call for the cloture motion be waived.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I just filed cloture on the motion to proceed to a shell that will serve as the vehicle for the CARES Act. Member-level discussion is going on as we speak. The goal is to reach agreements on each of the four components of the legislation by the end of the day. Senators are here; we are working; and we are going to deliver.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. 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.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 noon, Saturday, March 21; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 748.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, yesterday, President Trump and his team announced several new actions to help contain and combat the coronavirus. The President invoked the Defense Production Act, laying groundwork to manufacture more medical equipment. The Department of Health and Human Services will let medical professionals practice across State lines. The Department of Defense will deploy hospital ships and transfer millions of respirator masks and thousands of ventilators to HHS. The FDA will deepen partnerships with commercial laboratories to expand testing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development will suspend foreclosures and evictions on FHA-insured mortgages. And the Department of Homeland Security reached a mutual agreement with Canada to close our northern border to nonessential travel. These are major steps as we confront a major crisis Here in the Senate we are preparing to take further bold steps of our own. Yesterday, we passed legislation from the House that will provide some American workers with additional benefits during this emergency. As I explained yesterday, that legislation was hardly perfect. It imposes new costs and uncertainty on small businesses at precisely the most challenging moment for small businesses in living memory. So the Senate is even more determined that our legislation cannot leave small businesses behind. Support for small business is one of the four key components of the much bolder proposal we are finalizing. Chairman Rubio and Chairman Collins have been crafting a major plan to help small businesses survive this crisis and help workers continue to get paid. We are talking about new federally guaranteed loans on the order of hundreds of billions of dollars to address immediate cashflow problems. This is no massive new bureaucracy. We want to let qualified small businesses get liquidity through familiar institutions--their own community banks, credit unions, or nationwide lenders. As Chairman Collins explained yesterday, owners will not be able to use the funds to give themselves raises or increase their own profits. The point is to help small business endure, help workers keep their jobs, and help both businesses and workers emerge from this ready to thrive. As Chairman Rubio explained, the portions of these funds that small businesses use on core expenses, such as paying workers and paying their rent or mortgage, will convert into grants they will not need to pay back. This will make sure that even lower profit margin Main Street businesses get a fighting chance to stay open and continue paying workers. This is straightforward: a rapid injection of cash to help small businesses through this turmoil--not some brandnew program with a long lead time but an existing program that has been tested. The second major pillar of our legislation will be even more straightforward: direct financial help for Americans. Senate Republicans want to put cash in the hands of the American people. Chairman Grassley and a number of our colleagues are finalizing a structure that will get assistance to individuals and families as rapidly as possible. This is no Washington process with a thousand cooks in the kitchen, no piles of forms for laid-off workers or busy families to fill out--money for people from the middle class on down, period. For laid-off Americans, this infusion would complement unemployment insurance and could be put toward immediate needs during this crisis. For Americans who are still working, the money would provide extra certainty in this uniquely uncertain time and help remind everyone that temporary shutdowns at bars and restaurants do not mean all commerce has to halt. For retirees, the money would complement Social Security and help seniors navigate the unusual routines that have suddenly become necessary for their own safety. This is a form of additional tax relief that we want to push to taxpayers right away. It is not an ordinary policy, but this is no ordinary time. The American people need help, and they need it fast. This will deliver it. Now, we believe this rapid assistance is crucial, but, more broadly, we need to keep as many Americans as possible on the job and connected to their employers. The small business relief will help, and so will a number of additional tax relief measures, which will be designed to help employers maintain cashflow and keep making payroll, preserving employment and protecting economic foundations. That is also why the third pillar of our proposal involves targeted lending to industries of national importance. Chairman Shelby, Chairman Wicker, and Senator Thune are leading this component. Just like small businesses, entire sectors are being crushed-- crushed--by public health guidance, which is obviously through no fault of their own. For example, our Nation needs airlines. Yet they have ongoing maintenance costs that do not disappear just because the government has chased away all the customers. We cannot expect this key industry to mothball itself overnight, then dust off in weeks and months and pop right back online as the Nation will need and expect. So let's be clear about something. From small businesses to key sectors, we are not talking about so-called bailouts for firms that made reckless decisions. Nobody is alleging a moral hazard here. None of these firms--not corner stores, not pizza parlors, not airlines-- brought this on themselves. We are not talking about a taxpayer-funded cushion to companies that made mistakes. We are talking about loans, which must be repaid, for American employers whom the government itself--the government itself--is temporarily crushing for the sake of public health. The fourth piece of our proposal goes to the heart of this crisis: the health of the American people. Chairmen Alexander and Grassley will be rolling out proposals to get resources on the frontlines of our fight against the virus itself because, to be clear, nothing I have laid out so far will represent a typical economic stimulus in the way that we think of that term. Nobody--nobody--expects that employment figures or the stock market or GDP growth will bounce right back to where they were a few weeks ago. No policy and no amount of money could return things to normal overnight. There is an underlying medical reality that is driving this disruption. In the words of one journalist, this is primarily ``a health crisis--with an economic crisis strapped to its back.'' So, yes, our proposal will immediately help American workers, families, and businesses. Yes, it will help position our economy to thrive once again after this public health menace is behind us. This may not be the last economic legislation we pursue, but, fundamentally, we have to beat back this virus. We have to beat back this virus. That is why our proposal will go even further to remove barriers to care, speed innovation, fund the hospitals and health centers that will treat patients, and expand healthcare workers' access to the tools they need, including respirator masks. Immediately after we pass this legislation, Congress must begin a bipartisan, bicameral appropriations process to address the administration's new supplemental funding request, so we can keep funding healthcare and other priorities. I think every American shares the sense that the last several days have felt more like several months. Just last Saturday, our Nation had fewer than 3,000 confirmed cases, and 58 Americans had lost their lives. Already, the number of cases has nearly tripled. Tragically, so has the number of deaths. The crisis is moving fast; our health system is under strain; and our economy is hurting. The legislation I have just laid out will not be the last word. As I said, we will need to turn right away to a bipartisan appropriations process. This is not Congress's last chance to legislate, but it is critical that we move swiftly and boldly to begin to stabilize our economy, preserve Americans' jobs, get money to workers and families, and keep up our fight on the health front. That is exactly--exactly--what our proposal will do. These are not ordinary policies. This is no ordinary time. The American people are strong. They are brave. There is no doubt the American people will come through this battle and then soar to new heights on the other side. The American people will win this fight against this virus. The Senate's job is to give them the tools they need, and we are not leaving until we do our job. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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, as our Nation confronts this health crisis and the economic crisis it is spawning, Senate Republicans have prepared a bold legislative proposal. I am officially introducing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. This legislation takes bold action on four major priorities that are extremely urgent and very necessary: first, direct financial help for the American people; second, rapid relief for small businesses and their employees; third, significant steps to stabilize our economy and protect jobs; and fourth, more support for the brave healthcare professionals and the patients who are fighting the coronavirus on the frontlines. Now, just yesterday, by an overwhelming vote, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation that originated with the Democratic House of Representatives. So I hope this bold, new proposal will find a similar degree of bipartisan respect and mutual urgency on the other side of the aisle and across the Capitol. I look forward to working with our Democratic colleagues and the administration to complete this important work and to deliver for our country. Here are the next steps. A group of my Republican colleagues is standing by to explain this legislation and talk with the group's counterparts: Chairman Crapo and Senator Toomey from the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Chairman Alexander from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Chairman Grassley and Senator Portman from the Committee on Finance; Chairman Rubio from the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, as well as Senator Collins; Chairman Wicker from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and our majority whip, Senator Thune. These will be our point people. I invite all of their Democratic counterparts to join us at the table tomorrow. These are urgent discussions. They need to happen at a Member level, and they need to happen starting right now. I might add that all Republican Senators, whether they are part of this group that I just mentioned or not, have been asked to stay in town. We are here. We are ready to act as soon as an agreement with our colleagues across the aisle can be reached. The administration has agreed to send the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of the National Economic Council, and the White House Director of Legislative Affairs, and they will participate in these discussions, again, beginning tomorrow. These bipartisan discussions must begin immediately and continue with urgency at the Member level until we have results. We know this legislation will not be the last word. Bipartisan, bicameral talks are already underway to act on the administration's request, in addition to this, for a supplemental appropriation, but we need to take bold and swift action as soon as possible. We need to take further steps to continue addressing our Nation's healthcare needs, and we need to help protect American workers, families, and small businesses from this unique economic crisis that threatens to worsen with every single day. We need to have the American people's backs. This legislation is a significant next step, and the Senate is not going anywhere until we take action. Our Republican colleagues are here. They are in town. They are ready to act. We look forward to meeting with our Democratic counterparts tomorrow.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, before he leaves the floor, I want to particularly thank the senior Senator from Florida for the extraordinary contribution he is making as we move toward completion of this rescue package

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.