[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 192 (Tuesday, November 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S6628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on January 20, the Biden-Harris 
administration will begin its work with a mandate secured by the 
largest number of votes ever received by a Presidential ticket in 
American history. Its task, of course, will be daunting. The darkest 
days of the COVID-19 pandemic are, unfortunately, ahead of us. More 
than 100,000 Americans are being diagnosed with COVID-19 a day, and 
more than 1,000 Americans are dying.
  Soon, thankfully, we will have an administration that actually 
acknowledges this healthcare crisis--an administration that takes its 
job seriously and that will listen to the counsel of scientists and 
doctors and work to improve the lives of all Americans, regardless of 
whom they voted for.
  Already, the incoming administration is preparing to hit the ground 
running. Yesterday, the President-elect announced his COVID-19 task 
force, a group of the Nation's top public health experts and scientists 
who will advise the incoming administration on policy.
  Today, Senate Democrats will receive a briefing from one of 
President-Elect Biden's scientific advisers, former Surgeon General Dr. 
Vivek Murthy. I expect it will be the first of many conversations about 
how the Senate and the incoming administration can work together to get 
COVID-19 under control and on the retreat, because the truth is, the 
executive and legislative branches are going to have to work together 
in the coming months to crush this virus and put our economy back on 
the right track.
  Nearly 15 million Americans have now lost their jobs, and, by 
extension, many of them have lost their healthcare coverage. Medicaid 
enrollment has spiked across much of the country, adding new stress to 
State programs already beleaguered by the demands of COVID-19. 
Democrats have a plan, through the Heroes Act, to strengthen and secure 
Medicaid for the duration of the crisis.
  Congress should pursue a strong, comprehensive COVID-relief bill that 
actually meets the needs of the American people. Yesterday, however, 
the Republican leader suggested the Republican majority will continue 
to pursue its policy of targeted relief--in other words, inadequate 
relief. He seemed to suggest that the development of a possible vaccine 
was actually a reason to pare back on aid to the American people.
  Let's be very clear. Getting this country vaccinated will be a 
massive undertaking, and while I share in the hope that yesterday's 
news brings, we cannot pretend this pandemic is nearly over. Regardless 
of this news, it is likely the coming winter months will be the worst 
yet.
  The Nation is suffering from the uncontrolled spread of the virus 
now. With hospitalizations and fatalities on the rise all across the 
country, hospitals and healthcare providers are again overwhelmed. 
Temporary morgues are, once again, sadly, being pressed into service.
  We all look forward to the day when vaccination is widely available, 
but we do not have the luxury of waiting to grapple with the current 
effects of this crisis until then. We have to act now to prevent the 
immediate crisis that is coming this winter.
  So while the incoming administration prepares to take on a resurgent 
COVID-19, Congress must as well. Leader McConnell and Senate 
Republicans must come to the table in good faith and work with us on a 
bipartisan bill that meets the needs of all our country. The House, of 
course, is Democratic, and the Senate needs a bipartisan bill to pass 
something. We have to work in a bipartisan way, and we owe it to the 
American people.

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