[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 83 (Monday, May 4, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2195-S2196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Senate is back in session. In this 
unusual period for our Nation, it has been more than 5 weeks since the 
full Senate last convened. As I explained on March 25, right before we 
passed the CARES Act 96 to 0, the Senate has kept right on working this 
whole time.
  We have monitored the implementation of that bill--the largest rescue 
package in American history--and strengthened it where necessary. We 
passed further legislation to provide even more economic assistance, 
even more support of testing, and more relief for hospitals and 
healthcare workers.
  This deadly coronavirus does not take days off, and so the U.S. 
Senate has not either. For more than a month, we were among the many 
Americans who have found creative ways to telework and continue doing 
our jobs remotely. But now the time has come for us to continue 
conducting our Nation's business in ways that are only possible with 
Senators here in the Capitol.
  For this work period, the Senate will shift out of the ranks of those 
Americans who are working remotely and into the ranks of the Americans 
working in essential sectors who are listening to expert guidance and 
modifying their routines and ultimately continuing to man their posts 
to keep the country running.
  If it is essential that brave healthcare workers, grocery store 
workers, truckdrivers, and many other Americans continue to carefully 
show up for work, then it is essential that their U.S. Senators 
carefully show up ourselves and support them.
  I want to thank the dedicated men and women who worked hard to 
develop solutions so the Senate can take

[[Page S2196]]

these careful steps back toward in-person operations: Dr. Brian Monahan 
and the entire Office of the Attending Physician, well done; everyone 
in the Offices of the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms, 
the Secretary of the Senate, and our colleagues on the Rules Committee 
and their staff. Of course, the teams who support our networks and 
telecommunications were working hard day and night during these weeks 
of remote work.
  Even more broadly, I want to recognize and thank all--all--the 
essential Senate staff who are here with us today in person so the 
Senate can function. Whether they be staff members in our own offices 
and committee offices, all the nonpartisan professionals who serve the 
institution itself, and, particularly, our facilities employees, 
custodians, food service staff, and, of course, the men and women of 
the Capitol Police, we are grateful for your service, and, more 
importantly, your country is grateful for your service. You are 
literally helping our government function in the midst of this crisis.
  The Senate is back in session because we have important work to do 
for the Nation. Critical posts throughout the Federal Government--from 
public health to national security and beyond--remain vacant. Qualified 
nominees who have been held up for too long already have become even 
more necessary in these uncertain times.
  On the floor and in committee, the Senate will be acting on key 
nominations that relate directly to the safety of the American people, 
oversight of our coronavirus legislation, and more. We need to continue 
to maintain and safeguard our domestic nuclear resources. That is our 
first nominee, Mr. Feitel.
  We need to keep protecting our Nation against foreign intelligence 
services. That is another nominee we will be moving soon, Mr. Evanina. 
Those around the world who wish harm on Americans are not going to give 
us a free pass until the pandemic is over, so the Senate needs to 
overcome obstruction and continue to act.
  I don't think anybody could seriously argue that filling critical 
national security posts is not essential Senate business. But to any of 
my colleagues who may wish that we did not have to devote floor time 
and rollcall votes to these kinds of nominations, I would simply say: I 
agree with you. I agree with you.
  Unfortunately, for more than 3 years now, my colleagues in Democratic 
leadership have used across-the-board obstruction to force floor time 
and even cloture votes for the kinds of sub-Cabinet level nominations 
that used to travel easily by voice vote. If any of my colleagues on 
either side wish that we could recover the Senate's tradition and spend 
less floor time on these sorts of nominations, I would invite them to 
share their view with the distinguished Democratic leadership and 
invite them to change their tactics. But as long as floor time and 
rollcall votes remain the only way for the Senate to fill important 
posts, that is what we will do. We cannot let nuclear watchdogs or 
counterintelligence leaders stay on the sidelines.
  The Senate is going to be as smart and safe as we possibly can, and 
we are going to show up for work like the essential workers we are. Our 
bosses are the American people, and they are counting on us to keep on 
serving.
  It is good to see the Chair and all of our colleagues again. I am 
grateful that all 100 of us have come through the last several weeks 
safely and in good health. Let's work together, across the aisle, and 
get some more work done for the American people

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