[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 215 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, our bipartisan discussions are 
continuing to make significant headway toward another relief package 
for the American people. The Democratic leader, Speaker Pelosi, Leader 
McCarthy, and I have been working around the clock for several days 
now. The talks remain productive. In fact, I am even more optimistic 
now than I was last night that a bipartisan, bicameral framework for a 
major rescue package is very close at hand.
  Well, let's face it, though, it doesn't help struggling Americans 
keep their jobs or endure unemployment or pay their rent or get 
vaccines any faster to keep hearing that we are having good 
discussions. What families across the country deserve--what they have 
needed and deserved for months now--is an outcome, another targeted 
relief package to get more assistance into their hands as fast as 
possible.
  Struggling small business owners have already waited too long for a 
targeted second round of PPP. Laid-off workers have already waited too 
long to have expiring programs extended. Kids, teachers, and families 
have already waited too long for funding to help schools reopen safely. 
We have already waited too long to fully fund vaccine distributions so 
our scientists' historic sprint toward a safe and effective vaccine is 
followed up by an equally important logistical effort.
  This has been an unbelievably hard year for our country. We have seen 
normal daily life grind to a halt and take a record-setting economy 
right down with it. And even as we have watched doctors, nurses, and 
researchers make lifesaving history, we have lost more than 300,000 
Americans entirely too soon.
  Like I have said, the Senate will be right here until an agreement is 
passed, whenever that may be. We will just continue voting. There are 
some more well-qualified nominees for important posts that we can 
confirm in the meantime. So let's finish our business for the American 
people

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