Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I move to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 133.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and the Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged and the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: PN1938, PN2024, PN2101, PN2030, and PN2025.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted, on the following dates and times, and that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn for the next pro forma session: Thursday, December 24, at 10 a.m. and Monday, December 28, at 10 a.m. I further ask that when the Senate adjourns on Monday, December 28, it next convene at 12 noon on Tuesday, December 29; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

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 previous order.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on a related matter, while this rescue package will dominate headlines, we are also set to fund the entire Federal Government on a bipartisan basis. We must not overlook the tireless work from Chairman Shelby, Senator Leahy, and our Appropriations Committees in both Chambers. Their hard work goes beyond just avoiding shutdowns. Full-year funding bills give our Armed Forces the certainty to make plans and budgets so we can continue to modernize our capabilities and keep pace with competitors like Russia and China. This year's bills also tackle important domestic priorities. Everything from agricultural research to the fight against opioid abuse, to border security and law enforcement are provided for. We aren't defunding the police or abolishing ICE around here--not on our watch. Federal law enforcement from the U.S. Marshals to the Border Patrol will get the resources they need to protect innocent Americans and uphold the rule of law. And I want to especially thank Chairman Shelby and Congresswoman Granger for beating back a number of far-left poison pills. These bills maintain pro-life guardrails on funding, secure President Trump's approach to title X, and respect our citizens' Second Amendment rights. The Senate is about to cast some incredibly impactful votes. None of us think any of this legislation is perfect, but a big bipartisan majority of us recognize the incredible amount of good it will do when we send it to the President's desk. The American people have waited long enough. I am glad for our country that we are now moving ahead together.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to complete my remarks before the vote.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, with the Senate poised to complete some major business for the country and wrap up a most unusual year, I want to express some gratitude to the men and women behind the scenes who make our work possible. Passing a historic rescue package and a full-year funding bill would be a serious undertaking even in ordinary circumstances. And, of course, this pandemic year has brought anything but ordinary circumstances to the Senate, just like everywhere else. For about 10 months and counting, COVID-19 has imposed new challenges on hundreds of people who are already plenty busy enough. After much of the Senate worked remotely in April, we came back to work in early May--like the essential institution that we are. Month after month, we have taken smart and careful precautions and remained an exemplary safe workplace. All along, we have not just continued to govern but completed landmark confirmations and historic legislation for the American people. None of this would have been possible without many people beyond the 100 of us with our names on these desks. I want to thank the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, led by Julie Adams and Mary Suit Jones. This team encompasses everyone from the talented professionals who sit on the dais to the Official Reporters of Debate, to Disbursing and many other offices. Thanks to our Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, who faithfully calls the balls and strikes. She won the admiration of our temporary presider, Chief Justice Roberts, before we reclaimed her as the Senate's own. Thanks also to Senate Sergeant At Arms--Mike Stenger and Jennifer Hemingway and their whole team, from the doorkeepers to the IT team that stood up enormous telework capabilities almost overnight, to the workers who clean offices, move furniture, and keep this place running in hundreds of ways. Our Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, assumed his role just before the pandemic hit. He never missed a beat. His team tackled cleaning in a way that exceeded industry standards, reconceived the food services, and, again, physically kept the Capitol functioning. Of course, very special thanks are due to our Attending Physician, Dr. Brian Monahan, and the entire team he leads. Believe me, they already had a full-time job caring for Members of Congress and the Supreme Court. We have leaned on Dr. Monahan in countless ways all year long. His expertise and wise counsel have been a credit to the Senate throughout the pandemic. Here in the Chamber, I want to thank our cloakroom teams, led by Gary Myrick on the Democratic side and Robert Duncan on ours. Duncan had only just stepped into his current role when the crisis began to unfold. He navigated about 10 years' worth of big challenges in his first 10 months in the top job. Thanks to him and his capable deputy, Chris Tuck. Another key group these past months has been our Rules Committee, led by Chairman Blunt and his staff director, Fitzhugh Elder. The committee has run point on coordinating many of the changes and adaptions that have helped keep this body safe. They have done an outstanding job without enough recognition or thanks. We are grateful to the men and women of the Capitol Police, led by Chief Steven Sund, who have stood their posts even when most of the rest of us have worked remotely. They have stood strong during this pandemic, during protests both peaceful and otherwise, and during the other daily operations that they handle with courage and professionalism. Across the board, I want to thank all of our Senate staff. Both the smaller footprint who have continued physically working at the Capitol and those who kept up their hard work remotely have confronted all kinds of novel challenges. Our institution and our country are grateful to you all. Last but not least, I want to thank my own team. My personal office, led by departing chief of staff Phil Maxson, has fought every day for Kentuckians' needs and priorities throughout this crisis. Our State offices, steered by Terry Carmack, kept us connected to our constituents in new ways. My communications director, Robert, Steurer, and all their colleagues who staff these operations are invaluable to me and to Kentucky. Here in the Capitol, my leadership staff has given an incredible amount of themselves to me, to our team, and to the Senate the entire year. Remember, this is somehow still the same calendar year that began with an impeachment trial, continued through the CARES Act, other major legislation over the summer, a Supreme Court vacancy and confirmation this fall, and finally the all-out legislative sprint since Thanksgiving. First, my two deputy chiefs of staff. Stef Muchow runs our operations in an incredibly historically complex time to handle operations. She has worn about 10 different hats all year long--as usual. Scott Raab handles policy. He has led his colleagues through a legislative year like no other, from mammoth negotiations and historic rescue packages to our most particular priorities and everything in between. We have all leaned on Scott heavily, and he has been indispensable. Beneath them, within our operation, are a lot of talented folks I am lucky to have. I want to name them very briefly. My chief counsel, Andrew Ferguson, offers brilliant advice, from impeachment to policy to the judiciary. Robert Karem, my defense policy expert, has brought critical institutional leadership as 2020 tested everything from national security to continuity of government. Jane Lee handles her massive portfolio--and more besides--with incredible effectiveness and calm under fire, and she sings the best Christmas carols in the office. Terry Van Doren is a policy master who delivers for Kentucky and the country every time. Erica Suares and Jim Neill are expert liaisons and advisers who keep me connected inside the Senate and beyond. Steve Donaldson has been my point man for all things election law during this election year. John Chapuis is a seasoned Senate veteran who picked quite the time to join our team and cover economic policy. Jody Wright fights to get good people in good positions with good cheer. Andy Quinn is a master of words and ideas. David Popp heads my press team. He, Doug Andres, Scott Sloofman, and their whole operation keep my message and the Republican conference's message front and center. Sarah Steinberg manages my days, and Alex Jenkins manages my office-- both with great humor and even greater professionalism. Moon Sulfab keeps our technology systems running and our spirits high. I have to mention our healthcare expert Jen Kuskowski, who worked remotely this spring while expecting her baby boy and has been cheering us on while on maternity leave. We can't wait to get her back. Thanks to Grace Graham and Peter Oppenheim, whom Senator Alexander generously shared from his HELP Committee staff to help us in Jen's absence. Rounding out our leadership team are crack researchers Robert Utsey and David Hauptmann; skilled communicators Dylan Vorbach, Valerie Chicola, Suzanne Youngblood, Emily Hauck, and Katherine Grayson. Our frontline troops, the jacks-of-all-trades who keep everybody in line, are Victoria Mason, Elise Stebick, and Spencer Abraham. Finally, at the head of this entire team is our fearless leader, our chief of staff, Sharon Soderstrom. Everybody on Capitol Hill and everybody in Washington knows that Sharon is one of the smartest, most dedicated, and most effective staff leaders working at any level in any branch of government. She is my first call and my last call on every subject. She was in the leader's office before I was. She supported both Trent Lott and Bill Frist. So I count my blessings on a daily basis that I am lucky No. 3. Sharon bears the weight of the world on her shoulders and not only delivers but somehow prioritizes lightening everybody else's load while she is at it--a walking master class in leadership. I am proud of all that we have accomplished for the country in this challenging year, and I couldn't be gladder to be heading into 2021 with these talented professionals at my side. So I thank them, Mr. President. I thank them, one and all. Vote on Soskin Nomination

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all time be yielded back.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 128, which was received from the House.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. 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.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, here is where we are on the status of the Defense authorization bill. The Senate has passed this annual bill to support our servicemembers and our national security every year for the last 59 years. As I indicated when I filed cloture on the NDAA conference report after Thanksgiving, my intention was and is to ensure the Senate continues fulfilling our obligation to the men and women of our Armed Forces. I hope the President will not veto this bill, which redoubles our commitment to modernization, advances cutting-edge capabilities, and equips our military with the tools and resources they need to compete with our great power adversaries on land, on sea, in the air, and in cyberspace. These are the steps we need to take to continue to compete with Russia and China. In the event that President Trump does elect to veto this bipartisan bill, it appears the House may choose to return after the holidays to set up a vote to consider the veto. The Democratic leader and I have agreed to a unanimous consent request as follows: The Senate will meet for pro forma sessions only until December 29, when we will return to session. In the event that the President has vetoed the bill and the House has voted to override the veto, the Senate would have the opportunity to process the veto override at that time.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call be waived.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators-- and, more importantly, for the American people--we can finally report what our Nation has needed to hear for a very long time: More help is on the way. Moments ago, in consultation with our committees, the four leaders of the Senate and House finalized an agreement. There will be another major rescue package for the American people. As our citizens continue battling this coronavirus this holiday season, they will not be fighting alone. We have agreed to a package of nearly $900 billion. It is packed with targeted policies to help struggling Americans who have already waited entirely too long. For workers at the hardest hit small businesses, there will be a targeted second draw of the Paycheck Protection Program. We have not worked so hard to save as many jobs as possible, all these months, only to fumble the ball with vaccinations already underway. Speaking of vaccines, we can't nullify the success of Operation Warp Speed by falling asleep at the switch on distribution. This agreement will provide huge sums for the logistics that will get these lifesaving shots to our citizens as fast as possible. Of course, many millions of Americans have lost their jobs--and are continuing to lose them--through no fault of their own. This package will renew and extend a number of the additional important Federal unemployment benefits that have helped families stay afloat. Across all kinds of families, in all kinds of situations, this has been a difficult time across the board. So, at the particular request and emphasis of President Trump and his administration, our agreement will provide another round of direct impact payments to help households make ends meet and continue our economic recovery. We all know this crisis has tested our healthcare providers. This legislation will continue to fund the frontlines. But the crisis in American education has been staggering as well. So this package will supply millions and millions of dollars to help get kids back in school and to do so safely. These are just some of the key components. There are many more. And importantly, we are going to supply this emergency aid in a way that is smart and responsible. We will be repurposing more than $560 billion in money that was already set aside by the CARES Act--but not spent-- toward these urgent needs that I have outlined. We will be appropriately paring back some of the most expansive powers that Congress temporarily gave unelected officials to stabilize the financial system back in the springtime. And I want to particularly thank Senator Toomey for his extraordinary contribution to that effort. At long last, we have the bipartisan breakthrough the country has needed. Now we need to promptly finalize text, avoid any last-minute obstacles, and cooperate to move this legislation through both Chambers. This is good news. But I need to close with one observation that is regrettable. From where I stand, from where Senate Republicans stand, there is no reason this urgent package could not have been signed into law multiple months ago--multiple months ago. For months, Senate Republicans have consistently supported a targeted rescue package, under $1 trillion, focused on the same kinds of policies that we have actually settled on today. As far back as July, and all autumn, Republicans have consistently supported a targeted package right in the ballpark of this total amount, with exactly the same kinds of policies in the mix. The package that will shortly become law falls exactly within the ballpark of what Senate Republicans have been proposing and trying to pass since last summer. This is eerily similar to what we were trying to pass last summer. Compare the shape of this major agreement with the shape of what I proposed all the way back in late July. Yes, some fine details are different. There is no doubt this new agreement contains input from our Democratic colleagues. It is, of course, bipartisan. But those matters could have been settled a long time ago as well. Why did it take all this time? We know why. We have heard Democrats say openly that they were not willing to deal all summer and fall but are willing now--willing now--because they have a President-elect of their own political party. That is not my accusation; that is their admission. They have been pretty candid about it. So, look, I am glad we have gotten this done. My Democratic colleagues and I have had good discussions this past week. Both parties have a lot to be proud of. But I really regret that some on the Democratic side decided that partisan Presidential politics were more important than getting urgent and noncontroversial relief out the door much sooner to families who have needed this help badly. The progress of this past week could have happened in July or August or September or October. Senate Republicans were advocating for a package just like this one all along in realtime. I just wish our partners on the other side had put political calculations aside and worked with us to make this happen a long time ago. However, with that said, I appreciate the earnest conversations of this past week. I want to thank the Democratic leader, Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, as well as, in particular, Secretary Mnuchin, who has been tireless in these discussions throughout. Both sides, in both Chambers, have really stepped up and worked hard to get this done. We will be moving forward with the start of the pandemic relief and full-year funding legislation for the Federal Government, as well, and I hope we can do this as promptly as possible. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, our bipartisan, bicameral discussions on another major pandemic rescue package continued all night and this morning. We are winnowing down the remaining differences. I believe I can speak for all sides when I say I hope and expect to have a final agreement nailed down in a matter of hours. Yesterday evening, our Democratic colleagues agreed to important language authored by Senator Toomey. Back in March, in the CARES Act, Congress funded several new emergency lending facilities to be operated by the Federal Reserve. Their purpose was simple: to backstop the basic foundations of our economy and prevent any kind of sweeping financial paralysis. Our actions worked. The other historic relief that Congress passed, combined with the existence of these lending facilities staved off systemic collapse. American workers and families still need much more help, but a total financial meltdown never materialized. These new emergency lending facilities were always intended to sunset at the end of this year. Senator Toomey and our Democratic colleagues have landed on compromise language that ensures this will, in fact, happen. It also redirects the dormant money in these accounts toward the urgent needs of working Americans and ensures that these expired programs cannot be simply restarted or cloned without another authorization from Congress, all while preserving both the independence of the Federal Reserve and the proper authority of Congress. It is yet another example of good-faith bipartisan collaboration that has defined our discussions all week. At this point, we are down to the last few differences that stand between struggling Americans and the major rescue package they need and deserve. These days and nights of negotiations have been encouraging, but our citizens need this waiting game to be over. Yesterday alone, another 3,388 of my fellow Kentuckians tested positive for the coronavirus. The virus continues to spread throughout our country. Thousands of Americans are being robbed of their lives on a daily basis. And while the resilience of the American people have brought along our economic recovery faster than expected, it will remain both insufficient and tenuous until the vaccines that will end this fight have been distributed all across the Nation. For months--literally months--Senate Republicans have been calling for another targeted package to reopen the job-saving Paycheck Protection Program, extend Federal unemployment benefits, fund K-12 schools, fund vaccine distribution, and get a lot more help onto the frontlines as fast as possible. I am relieved that we appear to be just hours away from legislation that will finally do that. When we get this done, Congress will not deserve any special praise, not with this relief having waited until late December and not with some of our Democratic colleagues openly saying the reason they finally changed their tuned was that they finally got a President-elect of their own party. When we finalize this measure and pass it, Congress will only have done our job. We will have finally done our duty in getting more relief to those who need it most. Let's make today the day we join together, put differences aside, and finally get it done.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I enter a motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL. I enter a motion to reconsider the vote.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, our Nation stands at a crossroads in our months-long battle with the new coronavirus. Tracking recent developments lately has felt like watching a split-screen television. On the one hand, Operation Warp Speed has fostered a modern medical miracle. The genius of science has brought forward safe and effective vaccines at a pace which, just months ago, many claimed would be impossible. For about 9 months now, our Nation has been treading water altogether. Now the road to victory is in sight. But at the same time, even as we see this hopeful sunrise on the horizon, in the here and now, we are still facing an ongoing five-alarm national crisis. The virus is surging across our country. Two days ago, my home State of Kentucky set another bleak new record--the most Kentuckians lost in a single day of this pandemic so far. Nationwide, since the start of December, we have lost around 3,000 of our fellow Americans to this disease every single day. Meanwhile, although the American people have built our economic recovery with more speed and resilience than anyone had anticipated, we have known all along that recovering prosperity would come hand-in-hand with defeating the virus. Thus, millions of working families across the Nation are still under terrible strain. Last week, economists thought we would see a slight downward tick in new unemployment claims. Instead, the numbers shot up, logging 885,000 new claims in just 1 week--almost 900,000 newly laid-off Americans in 1 week alone. Senators on both sides know what we need to do. In the springtime, when the country needed a bridge, we passed the largest rescue package in American history on a unanimous, bipartisan basis. Now what Americans need is another bridge. Fortunately, this time we do not need a bridge over an unknown and frightening future but a bridge through the next several months, while the lifesaving vaccines can flow throughout our country. Frontline healthcare workers are receiving the vaccine as we speak. Yesterday, Vice President Pence, Speaker Pelosi, and I all received first doses of vaccines pursuant to preexisting plans for the continuity of our government. These vaccines are safe. They are effective. They are our Nation's path out of this hellish chapter. So the first lines of the cavalry are already arriving. We just need to help American families hold on while reinforcements continue to pour in: more paycheck protection loans for the hardest hit businesses, more additional Federal unemployment aid, more direct assistance for families, a lot more funding for K-12 schools to reopen safely and get our kids' educations back on track, and, perhaps most important of all, a huge amount of funding for vaccine distribution so that we aren't just helping Americans endure this battle, but we are helping them win the battle as fast as possible