[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 164 (Tuesday, September 22, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S5735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, one final matter. According to the 
official tally at Johns Hopkins University, the United States today 
will reach a staggering milestone of 200,000 Americans lost to COVID-
19--200,000 Americans--more than any other country on Earth. Far more 
than we should have. Far more than we would have had there been a 
proper, coordinated, and energetic response to the virus by the Trump 
administration.
  In the face of this tragic milestone, what does President Trump do? 
Does he mourn the astounding loss of lives? No, he goes off on the 
campaign trail, where yesterday he told his supporters that the virus 
``affects virtually nobody.''
  Affects virtually nobody? Tell that to the families and friends of 
the 200,000 who are in mourning.
  Seriously, the day before the United States hits 200,000 deaths from 
COVID-19, the President said the virus ``affects virtually nobody.''
  He also said: ``If you take the blue states out, we're really at a 
very low level.''
  He also said: ``It is what it is.''
  This is our President? My goodness.
  Do you want to know why we have the worst pandemic response of any 
developed nation on Earth? You want to know why now nearly one out of 
every five deaths from COVID-19 come from America? It is because 
President Trump lied to the American people from day one about the 
gravity of this disease, and he is still doing it now, in a desperate 
and vile effort to boost his political fortunes.
  And here in the Senate, Republicans will do anything--anything to 
back him, no matter what he says or does, as long as he nominates their 
judges.
  I yield the floor.

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