[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 204 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7191-S7192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, anyone who has heard me speak about 
coronavirus relief going back months has heard one central principle: 
Let's deliver right away on all the subjects where everybody agrees and 
argue over the rest later. The solution to this impasse has been in 
plain sight for a long time now for anybody willing to see it: Agree 
where we agree, bank that progress, make law, take a whole lot of 
pressure off struggling people, and then keep debating the areas where 
we don't agree.
  There is no actual reason why the fates of commonsense policies like 
a second round of the job-saving Paycheck Protection Program had to be 
linked to the fates of fringe proposals like stimulus checks for 
illegal immigrants. There is no reason why the fate of funding for 
vaccine distribution or extending unemployment aid or legal certainties 
for universities should have been tied to radical ideas like paying 
people more not to work than essential workers earn on the job.
  These linkages have been totally arbitrary, just a political decision 
that Democratic leaders made many months back. Democratic leaders have 
tried to create a narrative where it is taken for granted that the most 
bipartisan, commonsensical relief policies would live or die with their 
side's most outlandish ideas. Well, that just isn't so.
  They have tried to create a dynamic where they move from one made-up 
number to a second slightly smaller arbitrary number and call it a 
meaningful concession. The truth is simple. This has always been about 
policy differences. We have two sides with two different visions for 
the best way to support our Nation through what we hope will be the 
last chapter of the pandemic.
  That isn't new. We have disagreements all the time. Our system can 
handle disagreements, but both sides have to be willing to compile 
their

[[Page S7192]]

commonalities and make law here, and, up to now, our Democratic 
colleagues have declined to do that.
  Remember, their side said in March this pandemic was ``a tremendous 
opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' So when 
Republicans tried to pass commonsense relief measures in July, in 
September, and in October, as well, our Democratic colleagues actually 
blocked policies they do not even oppose.
  It has been heartening to see a few hopeful signs in the past few 
days. After months of arbitrary attachment to sky-high dollar amounts 
that the Speaker of the House claimed were essential--that it would be 
an insult to settle for a nickel less--those baseless claims have 
suddenly evaporated.
  That is at least movement in the right direction, but the underlying 
reality is still with us. There are many important policies that have 
strong bipartisan support. There are many others that do not, and the 
way to help the country is for our Democratic colleagues to finally let 
the former group be signed into law while we keep arguing over the 
rest.
  The targeted second round of paycheck protection that we have been 
trying to establish since July would help a huge number of small 
businesses survive to the finish line and help huge numbers of workers 
to keep their jobs. And it can pass the Senate today, probably with 95 
votes.
  With the apparent success of Operation Warp Speed, it makes no sense 
to skimp on the systems to distribute and deliver vaccines around the 
country. Those funds could pass the Senate today, possibly unanimously.
  University presidents have made it clear they need certainty for 
their reopenings. Let me say that again. University presidents have 
made it clear they need legal certainty for their reopenings. That 
shouldn't be partisan. Liability protections should be able to pass the 
Senate today.
  A number of our Democratic colleagues have focused especially on 
several of the unemployment relief programs that are set to expire in a 
matter of days. I specifically made sure to include those programs in 
my framework a few days ago. That extension could pass the Senate 
today.
  The House of Representatives is spending this week on pressing issues 
like marijuana--marijuana--you know, serious and important legislation 
befitting this national crisis. But here in the Senate, I put forward a 
serious and highly targeted relief proposal including the elements 
which we know the President is ready and willing to sign into law. Why 
should these impactful and noncontroversial life preservers be delayed 
one second longer?
  At long last, let's do what Congress does when we want an outcome. 
Let's make law on all the subjects where we agree and on all the areas 
where President Trump is ready to sign bipartisan relief into law.
  I promise, our deep differences will still be here to debate. Our 
disagreements will be right where we left them. But do you know what 
can't wait? What can't wait are American workers, American small 
businesses, K-12 schools, the vulnerable Americans and frontline 
healthcare workers for whom speedy vaccine distribution will literally 
be a life-or-death matter.
  Yesterday, my home State of Kentucky experienced yet another 
dreadful--dreadful--record-setting day. But Kentuckians also know that 
hope is in sight. Our State's workers are standing by at the UPS 
Worldport in Louisville and the DHL Express American Hub in northern 
Kentucky, key logistics centers that will play crucial roles in sending 
vaccines all around the country.
  Our people are hurting, but they are ready to finish this fight. 
Congress should not keep them waiting for reinforcements that should 
have arrived literally months ago.
  So compromise is within reach. We know where we agree. We can do 
this. Let me say it again. We can do this, and we need to do this. So 
let's be about actually making a law

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