Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. With that, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned in accordance with the order of March 26, 2020, for previously ordered pro forma sessions.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, it has only been 65 days since the first American tested positive with the new coronavirus on our soil. In barely 2 months, this pandemic has upended our Nation. As of this morning, more than 175 million Americans have been advised to remain in their homes. More than half of our people are effectively sheltering in place. Hospitals in major cities are pushing capacity. Doctors and nurses are exhausting crucial supplies. And, if it were not enough for Americans to fight to stay healthy, they are also fighting to keep their paychecks, to keep supporting their families. Combating this disease has forced our country to put huge parts of our national life on pause and triggered layoffs at a breathtaking pace. This strange new reality has forced our Nation onto something like a wartime footing. A fight has arrived at our shores. We did not seek it. We did not want it. But, now, we are going to win it. Ten days ago, I laid out four urgent priorities for new Senate legislation to help our Nation through this crisis. We had to get direct--direct--financial assistance to the American people. We had to get historic aid to small businesses to keep paychecks flowing, stabilize key industries to prevent mass layoffs, and, of course, flood more resources into the frontline healthcare battle itself. One week ago, Senate Republicans laid down an initial proposal that tackled each--each--of these emergency missions. Our Members put forward a bold plan to send cash to households, stand up historic emergency loans for Main Street, stabilize key sectors, and put the full might of Congress behind our doctors, nurses, hospitals, healthcare providers, and the race for treatments and vaccines. I couldn't be more proud of our colleagues. Our Nation needed us to go big and go fast, and they did. The creative policies our chairmen crafted in just a couple of days' time remain the central building blocks of the proposal we will pass today. But Republicans knew the Nation had no time--no time--for conventional political gamesmanship, so the instant we released our first draft, I created a series of bipartisan working groups. I asked Republicans and Democrats to work together around the clock--literally, around the clock--to make the bill even better. By Sunday, we had an updated proposal that was even stronger and contained even more ideas, literally, from both sides--both sides. Republicans and Democrats have worked together to dramatically strengthen and rework unemployment insurance during this crisis. We have worked together to make sure lower income families could receive the full cash assistance, and on and on. I will leave it to others to compare the bipartisan Sunday bill to the final version we will pass today and determine whether the last few changes really required or merited 3 days of delay--3 days of delay--in the face of this worsening crisis. But that Washington drama does not matter anymore. The Senate is going to stand together, act together, and pass this historic relief package today. Struggling Americans are going to go to their mailboxes and find four-figure checks to help with their bills. Why? Because the Senate stepped up. Many American families who have poured everything into a restaurant or a shop or a small manufacturer are going to keep making payroll and keep their businesses alive because this Senate stepped up. Hundreds of thousands of workers in key sectors who might well have been laid off through no fault of their own will, instead, get to keep their job and continue their career because this Senate stepped up. And, for the healthcare heroes who leave their own sleeping children and drive to the hospital for an all-night shift, who spend hour after hour healing the sick, comforting strangers, and literally battling this disease, there will be more masks in their supply closet, more funding for their hospitals, and, soon, more new treatments to administer to their patients because this Senate stepped up. So, today, the Senate will act to help the people of this country weather this storm. Nobody thinks legislation can end this. We cannot outlaw the virus. No economic policy could fully end the hardship so long as the public health requires that we put so much of our Nation's commerce on ice. This is not even a stimulus package. It is emergency relief--emergency relief. That is what this is. No, this fight is not going to be won or lost in Washington. It is the American people who will beat this virus. Americans will keep making sacrifices to slow down the spread. Americans will keep pitching in and looking after each other. Americans will keep finding creative ways to stand united, even if they have to stand 6 feet apart. We will win this fight because of people like Amy Jean Tyler, a stay- at-home mom in Oldham County, KY, who is leading a drive to sew cotton masks for a local children's hospital. We will win this fight because of people like Pastor Grant Hasty in Stearns, KY, who is gathering volunteers to distribute more than 550 home-cooked meals. We will win this fight because of people like Peg Hays, who runs a distillery in Christian County, KY, and is temporarily converting her bourbon-making facilities to churn out hand sanitizer. We will win this fight because national companies are switching production lines to make medical supplies because our largest high-tech companies are partnering with the government to throw supercomputing power right into the race for vaccines. We will win this fight because of families, neighbors, and church communities that cannot even worship together in person and because of small businesses, big businesses, public health Ph.D.s, and local entrepreneurs. It has been 18 years since every American was united in amazement and prayer as firefighters and first responders rushed into burning buildings on September 11, 2001. In the coming days and weeks, our Nation is going to meet new heroes. Many may be police, firefighters, and EMTs once again. Many others will be truckdrivers, grocery store clerks, and pharmacists, who literally keep our supply chains running; utility workers and delivery drivers, who leave their homes so everyone else can remain in theirs; teachers, who somehow manage to keep educating their students over the internet while looking after their own kids at the very same time. And, most of all, we are going to meet a whole lot of American heroes who wear scrubs and masks and gloves--heroes who rush toward the sick and wash their hands until they bleed and work around the clock to heal our friends and our families. When our Nation comes through this and takes flight again on the other side, it will be because American heroes won this fight. All the Senate can do is to give them the resources to do it, and that is exactly what we are going to do today.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that following leader remarks on April 20, the Senate proceed to executive session and the consideration of Executive Calendar No. 556. I further ask unanimous consent that at 5:30 p.m., the Senate vote on the nomination; and that if the nomination is 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 the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to minutes each.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 570 and 631.

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 action.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, so here we are, colleagues. For the information of all of our Senators, we will first vote on the adoption of the Sasse amendment at a 60-vote threshold, and then our second and final vote will be on passage of the CARES Act, also at a 60-vote threshold. We are going to pass this bipartisan relief package and send it over to the House so they can put it on the President's desk. When the Senate adjourns this evening, our next scheduled vote will be the afternoon of Monday, April 20. Of course, during this unprecedented time for our country, the Senate is going to stay nimble. As always, we will convene regular pro forma sessions, and if circumstances require the Senate to return for a vote sooner than April 20, we will provide at least 24 hours' notice. Our Nation obviously is going through a kind of crisis that is totally unprecedented in living memory. Let's stay connected and continue to collaborate on the best ways to keep helping our States and our country through this pandemic. Let's continue to pray for one another, for all of our families, and for our country.

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I call up the substitute amendment No. 1578 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 748; further, that the only amendments in order be amendments to be offered by Senator McConnell, No. 1578, and Senator Sasse, No. 1577, or their designees; further, that the Senate vote on the Sasse amendment with a 60-affirmative-vote threshold for adoption; further, that following disposition of the Sasse amendment, the McConnell amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time, and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with a 60-affirmative-vote threshold for passage; finally, if passed, that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and that all rollcall votes in this series be 30 minutes in length.

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I proceed under my leader time.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4771 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3587, introduced earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the junior Senator from West Virginia, the senior Senator from Alaska, and the majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions on Wednesday, March 25 through Monday, April 20.

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 until the next pro forma session: Monday, March 30, 11 a.m.; Thursday, April 2, 10 a.m.; Monday, April 6, 10 a.m.; Thursday, April 9, 10 a.m.; Monday, April 13, 10 a.m.; Thursday, April 16, 3 p.m. I further ask that when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, April 16, it next convene at 3 p.m., Monday, April 20; 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, that upon the closing of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the Feitel nomination, under the previous order.

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 notwithstanding the upcoming adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture motion with respect to the motion to proceed to H.R. 748 be withdrawn.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the provision of rule XXII, the cloture motion with respect to the motion to proceed to H.R. 748 occur at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Democratic leader during today's session.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 3504, which was received from the House.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Moran substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam 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. Madam President, for weeks now, the American people have been contending with the coronavirus pandemic that is spreading across our country and the massive, massive disruptions to daily life it is creating for all of us. They are grappling with small business closures, mass layoffs, and uncertainty for their families. But that isn't all. For the last several days now, in the midst of all that--in the midst of all that--they have also had to watch the Senate spin its wheels. As we convene this morning, roughly 40 percent of our population is under stay-at-home orders from State leaders. Employers across America are wondering how they will keep the lights on. Doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals are literally crying out for support. We literally have Army field hospitals on the way to being set up in our major American cities. In the space of just a few weeks, this has become, unfortunately, our new normal. This is a national crisis. It is the most serious threat to Americans' health in over a century and quite likely the greatest risk to Americans' jobs and prosperity that we have seen since the Great Depression. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have already lost their jobs because so much of our commerce has been put on pause. Families are wondering how they are going to pay their rent or mortgage in 8 days. Rent is due on April 1. People don't know how they are going to pay bills or make their car payment. Many other hard-working Americans are still employed for now but fall asleep every night wondering if it will be there when they wake up to that email or phone call tomorrow. American seniors have seen decades of savings cut down in the space of days as the markets literally tumble. Our national life has literally been transformed in less than a month. The urgency and the gravity of this moment cannot be lost on anyone. Every day, every hour the Congress delays in passing a significant relief package, we risk more American livelihoods and the safety of more healthcare professionals. That is why, right after I fast-tracked the Democratic House relief bill through the Senate, I immediately turned the Senate toward developing an even bigger and bolder relief package for the American people. Nine days ago, I laid out the key objectives of our work. We had to send direct financial assistance to Americans--direct assistance to Americans. We had to help Main Street small businesses. We had to act to stabilize the foundations of our economy for workers. And, of course, we had to send more resources to medical professionals and our healthcare system. Five days ago, Senate Republicans released our initial framework for the CARES Act. We put forward bold policies like sending cash directly to Americans, pouring money into small businesses, lending to national industries to prevent mass layoffs, and surge resources for doctors, nurses, and patients. We knew we needed a proposal to address our Nation's pain at literally every level. Now, in the past few days, some voices have tried to pit some Americans against other Americans and argue that directly helping workers and strengthening businesses are somehow conflicting priorities. That is utter nonsense. American workers need paychecks. They need jobs. The working men and women of this country do need direct relief from government in this crisis, but for goodness' sake, they also need their paychecks. They need to be able to resume their lives and their jobs once this is over. The two things can't be separated. There is a term for when you separate employees from employers. There is a term for that. It is called unemployment. Let me say that again. There is a term for when you separate employees from employers. It is called unemployment. That is what we are trying to avoid. This is no time to point fingers or stoke these culture wars. This is the time to unify. Perhaps now more than at any moment in living memory, all of us Americans are in this together. This pandemic is not the fault of the American workers who make this country run. It is not the fault of small business owners. It is not the fault of major national employers. Everyone needs help. We are all in this together. We need an ``all of the above'' approach, and that is what our framework put forward: help for workers and families and employers and healthcare providers. As soon as Republicans put out a draft proposal to treat every aspect of this crisis, I immediately called for bipartisan talks. That is not something you see often in Washington. As soon as I released our first draft, I immediately invited the other side, these folks over here, to make their suggestions. That is what you call urgency. We set up bipartisan working groups. I asked negotiators to work together to turn our rough draft into something that could pass the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. Republicans and Democrats traded ideas. Democrats asked for many changes to the initial draft and received many. The updated text, released a few days ago, included proposals from the other side. And, of course, as our colleagues have dragged out the last several days, even further changes have been made at their request. This majority has gone out of its way to make this process as bipartisan and as open as possible. The administration has bent over backward to work with Democrats and address their concerns. Now, at last, I believe we are on the 5-yard line. It has taken a lot of noise and a lot of rhetoric to get us here. That, of course, sometimes happens in this town. At different times, we received Democratic counteroffers that demanded things like new emission standards or tax credits for solar panels. We saw the Speaker of the House release an encyclopedia of unrelated demands as though it were a coronavirus proposal somehow. In spite of all that, we are very close. We are close to a bill that takes our bold Republican framework, integrates further ideas from both parties, and delivers huge progress on each of the four core priorities I laid out a week ago. Today the Senate has a chance to get back on track. Today we can make all of the Washington drama fade away. If we act today, what Americans will remember and what history will record is that the Senate did the right thing, that we came together, that we took a lesson from the way Americans are uniting all across the country and working together, that we combined ideas from both sides and took a bold step to protect Americans and help our Nation through this crisis. I am not sure how many ways to say it, but the clock has run out. The buzzer is sounding. The hour for bargaining as though this were business as usual has expired. The American people need our Democratic friends to take yes for an answer. I hope that will happen today. Doctors and nurses need masks. Families need help. Small businesses need cash. Hospitals need funding. Their Senate majority is ready to deliver those things. We have been ready to deliver those things for a while. I hope today is the day this body will get it done.