[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 210 (Friday, December 11, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7436-S7437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, first of all, I did want to get some final 
comments. I mentioned a minute ago and, of course, it is the right of 
the leaders--Democratic and Republican leaders--to have the first time. 
It is fine with me, but I just want to make one comment about it.
  The minority leader was talking about what is going on right now and 
who would be favored and all that. I think one of the things we don't 
talk about, we should talk about. You know, I know the media doesn't 
like our President, and a lot of things he has done he didn't get 
credit for it.
  One of the major things--and this is all going to come out--
unfortunately, this didn't come out before the election, but it should 
have because there is--what do they call that? Warp speed? Is that 
right? Yes, this Operation Warp Speed. This was back in June. The 
President came out with this. General Perna was put in charge of it.
  I wasn't prepared to talk about this, but I think it is important 
right now that we do because I want to follow up with what the minority 
leader talked about because everyone is concerned about it. They are 
all concerned about the coronavirus and those things. This has never 
happened in this country before. But it has happened. It had nothing to 
do with this administration. They did a great job. And to demonstrate 
what a great job they did, they had the Operation Warp Speed--this was 
back in June of this year--and they put General Perna in charge of it.
  I chair the Senate Armed Services Committee. They wanted us to have a 
hearing on this. I was so excited. No one could have sat through that 
hearing last June without coming to the conclusion that this thing is 
going to be behind us. We are winning this thing. And you come to the 
conclusion that we are going to have the virus under control. We are 
going to have this system. We all know that is happening today, right 
now, as we are speaking. We have several companies--five companies--who 
have come so close, and they are now distributing the necessary 
equipment so that people become immune to this thing. That is happening 
right now.
  It happens that even though this was last June--it was last June that 
we had the hearing in my committee. Everything that they predicted, 
that General Perna predicted at that time, is happening. They said by 
December we would have it. Well, here it is, December, and we have got 
it. And then we said it is going to take about 3 months to be able to 
make the distribution around the country. And that time is coming up. 
It is getting close to that time, and that is going to happen. I mean, 
we are looking right now at April as the time that we have got this 
thing defeated. And right now, this administration--I want to give them 
credit for this. They have got this distribution system set up so it is 
going to be going around the country, and this thing is going to come 
to an end.
  I have to tell you that the President is responsible for putting this 
in place, and it is, right now, on schedule.
  I don't want to take a lot of time. I see that Senator Reed has come 
in. Senator Jack Reed is the ranking member on the Senate Armed 
Services Committee. Let me just tell you, I can't think of anyone I 
would rather have as a partner in putting together the Defense 
authorization bill--the most important bill of all year--than Senator 
Jack Reed. He has been there by my side, with me, working together.
  We had a Big 4 meeting. We always end up with a Big 4 meeting. To 
tell you what that is, that is the ranking Democrat and Republican in 
the House, the Democrat and Republican in the Senate; and the four of 
us get together and decide what are we going do, what is this going to 
look like. And then we pass it. We passed this bill. It is a good bill. 
It is one that we have the opportunity to vote on today, the most 
important bill of the year. And if voting against it, you have to stop 
and think about those kids who are out there in harm's way and the 
threats that they are facing on a regular basis. This is a problem. 
This is a serious thing that is out there. I can't imagine wanting to 
have to face these people in the field, in harm's way, and say: Well, 
we didn't pass the Defense authorization bill.
  We are going to pass it. These kids are going to get the right 
treatment that they need. They are going to get the resources they 
need. I did mention just a few minutes ago about the previous 
administration. I don't want people to misunderstand what I am saying.

[[Page S7437]]

I am not saying this critically of the Obama administration. I am 
saying he didn't have the same priorities that many of us have. His top 
priority was not defending America, in spite of what the Constitution 
tells us what should be the top priority. And so we went through that 
time with--as I mentioned, between the years of 2010 and 2015, 5 years, 
reduced the funding for the military by 25 percent. At the same time, 
China was increasing their funding for their military by 83 percent. 
This is what we looked at, and that is what our President was faced 
with. And that is why--I don't know who is ill-advising the President 
to be concerned about an issue that has nothing to do with the 
military. And I know that the President has been the strongest--I don't 
know if there has ever been a President who has been a stronger 
supporter of our military and our kids in harm's way than President 
Trump. I am just looking at this now, and I am thinking, we are now 1 
minute away from passing a bill that is the most significant bill.
  At this time, I ask if the minority would like to make any comments 
at all because I will tell you right now, I mentioned the names of all 
the people who worked on this bill for the last year, and side by side 
have been Senator Jack Reed and I in the leadership of this bill.
  It is going to be a reality.
  I want to thank you and give you an opportunity to get a last word in 
here because we are going to vote on this in less than a minute.
  Mr. REED. The last word will be very brief if I am recognized, Mr. 
President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.

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