[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 96 (Thursday, May 21, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2563-S2564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE

  Mr. McCONNELL. All month, the Senate has been on the job attending to 
the needs of our country. We legislated, we confirmed nominees, we held 
major hearings, and conducted oversight on the historic response to 
COVID-19.
  Yesterday, we learned that our Senate action will continue to 
contrast with our absentee neighbors across the Rotunda. While 
essential workers across the country continue to clock in, the 
Democratic House of Representatives has essentially put itself on paid 
leave for months. Since the early days of this crisis, the self-
described ``People's House'' has been suspiciously empty of people. I 
understand they have convened for legislative session a grand total of 
2 days in the last 8 weeks. At this point, I am wondering if we should 
send Senators over there to collect their newspaper and water the 
plants.
  It is not just their physical absence; it is House Democrats absent 
from any serious discussions at all. About the only product to emerge 
from their lengthy sabbatical has been a 1,800-page, $3 trillion 
messaging bill that couldn't even unite their own conference.
  Yesterday, the Speaker announced this arrangement will continue for 
another 45 days at least, but there is a new wrinkle. House Democrats 
jammed through a precedent-breaking remote voting scheme that will let 
1 Member cast 10 additional votes--1 Member cast 10 additional votes. 
Actually, 1 person, 11 votes. Remember, these are the people who want 
to remake every State's election laws.
  There are several problems with this. One of them happens to be 
article I, section 5 of the U.S. Constitution,

[[Page S2564]]

which says a majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do 
business. For about 231 years, Congress has managed to fulfill this job 
requirement. They worked through a Civil War, two World Wars, terrorist 
threats, and a major pandemic without trying to shirk this duty. The 
12th Congress endured the War of 1812, including the occupation of 
Washington and the burning of this very building that we are in right 
now without abandoning in-person meetings.
  The Constitution requires a physical quorum to do business. Normally, 
both Chambers may presume one. But any House Member has a right to 
demand an in-person attendance check. The Democrats' new rule says one 
person may mark himself and 10 others present, even if they are nowhere 
in sight, which is a flatout lie.
  There will be enormous constitutional questions around anything the 
House does if they fail to demonstrate a real quorum, but plow ahead 
anyhow. They have had 2 normal workdays in 8 weeks and one absurd, 
unserious proposal. And now they are playing games with the 
Constitution so they can continue their never-ending spring break well 
into July.
  Let's come over here to the Senate. In the past 3 weeks, we have 
filled crucial posts at the National Counterintelligence and Security 
Center, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of 
Homeland Security.
  Today, we will confirm the next Director of National Intelligence.   
John Ratcliffe will lead the intelligence community in countering 
threats from great powers, rogue nations, and terrorists, and ensuring 
that work is untainted by political bias.
  The Banking Committee heard from Chairman Powell and Secretary 
Mnuchin on the workings of the CARES Act and the state of our economy. 
The Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee has reported the 
nominee to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery Programs.
  The Special Committee on Aging is examining all the ways this crisis 
has hurt America's seniors.
  The HELP Committee has discussed with top experts like Dr. Fauci and 
Admiral Giroir how schools, universities, and businesses will begin to 
reopen.
  Senator Cornyn and I are working on legal protections that our 
healthcare workers deserve and institutions will need if they want to 
return to anything reassembling normal.
  On the floor, we have passed major bills, renewing key national 
security tools and dialing up the consequences for Communist China's 
abuse of human rights.
  In short, the Senate has just followed the lead of the American 
people. For months now, healthcare workers have been clocking in to 
help and heal strangers. Every minute on the job is an act of 
selflessness and bravery. Families have forged new routines and set up 
home offices and home schools overnight. Community volunteers have 
found new ways to pitch in and help the vulnerable from 6 feet apart.
  Tens of millions of workers have kept collecting paychecks instead of 
pink slips because of our Paycheck Protection Program, which sent 
hundreds of billions of dollars to keep small businesses alive.
  COVID-19 has killed nearly 100,000 Americans. It has cost tens of 
millions their jobs. This is a generational tragedy. But in the midst 
of it, our country is pulling together.
  My home State of Kentucky is showing us how it is done. A glass 
producer transformed its operation to make protective shields for 
businesses. A high school principal, Evan Jackson, invented a virtual 
commencement so graduates didn't go uncelebrated. Dr. Erin Frazier, a 
pediatrician, somehow found the spare time to stand up brandnew food 
pantries. Restaurants are spreading hope and hospitality by donating 
meals to first responders.
  And one group of restaurants headquartered in Louisville called Texas 
Roadhouse has gone to great lengths to avoid layoffs. The founder gave 
up his salary and put his own money into a worker assistance fund. So 
far they have spent $17 million on their workers, covering everything 
from healthcare premiums to bonuses.
  These past few months have been trying indeed, but the American 
people have been truly inspiring. This spring, the Senate wrote and 
passed the largest rescue package in American history to try to help 
bridge this period. This Nation of nearly 330 million people put their 
lives on pause to protect our medical system, and it worked.
  The American people did what Americans do: They got it done. We kept 
our healthcare system intact; we did not let this virus break us; and 
as far as we know, not one single American who needed a ventilator 
could not get one. We have not yet won the war, but the citizens of 
this Nation have won an important battle.
  What comes next? Sustaining this flattened curve will take vigilance. 
Safely reopening schools, universities, and businesses will take care 
and leadership. The race for even more testing, therapeutics, and of 
course a vaccine will be one great national project.
  Rebuilding the prosperity we had just a few months ago will be 
another. Life will not go right back to normal. Repairing the damage 
will take creativity. But the greatest country in world history will 
find a more sustainable middle ground.
  Every one of my Senate colleagues should be proud of how we helped 
our Nation win this battle. Every day, our historic rescue package has 
continued to push out money and aid. Every day, we are working on ways 
to smooth the road toward reopening that lies before us.
  The American people have already been heroes. It is our honor as 
Senators to stand with them

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