[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 217 (Sunday, December 20, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7862-S7863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Coronavirus

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators--
and, more importantly, for the American people--we can finally report 
what our Nation has needed to hear for a very long time: More help is 
on the way.
  Moments ago, in consultation with our committees, the four leaders of 
the Senate and House finalized an agreement. There will be another 
major rescue package for the American people. As our citizens continue 
battling this coronavirus this holiday season, they will not be 
fighting alone.
  We have agreed to a package of nearly $900 billion. It is packed with 
targeted policies to help struggling Americans who have already waited 
entirely too long. For workers at the hardest hit small businesses, 
there will be a targeted second draw of the Paycheck Protection 
Program. We have not worked so hard to save as many jobs as possible, 
all these months, only to fumble the ball with vaccinations already 
underway.
  Speaking of vaccines, we can't nullify the success of Operation Warp 
Speed by falling asleep at the switch on distribution. This agreement 
will provide huge sums for the logistics that will get these lifesaving 
shots to our citizens as fast as possible.
  Of course, many millions of Americans have lost their jobs--and are 
continuing to lose them--through no fault of their own. This package 
will renew and extend a number of the additional important Federal 
unemployment benefits that have helped families stay afloat.
  Across all kinds of families, in all kinds of situations, this has 
been a difficult time across the board. So, at the particular request 
and emphasis of President Trump and his administration, our agreement 
will provide another round of direct impact payments to help households 
make ends meet and continue our economic recovery.
  We all know this crisis has tested our healthcare providers. This 
legislation will continue to fund the frontlines.
  But the crisis in American education has been staggering as well. So 
this package will supply millions and millions of dollars to help get 
kids back in school and to do so safely.
  These are just some of the key components. There are many more. And 
importantly, we are going to supply this emergency aid in a way that is 
smart and responsible. We will be repurposing more than $560 billion in 
money that was already set aside by the CARES Act--but not spent--
toward these urgent needs that I have outlined.
  We will be appropriately paring back some of the most expansive 
powers that Congress temporarily gave unelected officials to stabilize 
the financial system back in the springtime. And I want to particularly 
thank Senator Toomey for his extraordinary contribution to that effort.
  At long last, we have the bipartisan breakthrough the country has 
needed. Now we need to promptly finalize text, avoid any last-minute 
obstacles, and cooperate to move this legislation through both 
Chambers.
  This is good news. But I need to close with one observation that is 
regrettable. From where I stand, from where Senate Republicans stand, 
there is no reason this urgent package could not have been signed into 
law multiple months ago--multiple months ago.

[[Page S7863]]

  For months, Senate Republicans have consistently supported a targeted 
rescue package, under $1 trillion, focused on the same kinds of 
policies that we have actually settled on today. As far back as July, 
and all autumn, Republicans have consistently supported a targeted 
package right in the ballpark of this total amount, with exactly the 
same kinds of policies in the mix.
  The package that will shortly become law falls exactly within the 
ballpark of what Senate Republicans have been proposing and trying to 
pass since last summer. This is eerily similar to what we were trying 
to pass last summer.
  Compare the shape of this major agreement with the shape of what I 
proposed all the way back in late July. Yes, some fine details are 
different. There is no doubt this new agreement contains input from our 
Democratic colleagues. It is, of course, bipartisan. But those matters 
could have been settled a long time ago as well.
  Why did it take all this time? We know why. We have heard Democrats 
say openly that they were not willing to deal all summer and fall but 
are willing now--willing now--because they have a President-elect of 
their own political party. That is not my accusation; that is their 
admission. They have been pretty candid about it.
  So, look, I am glad we have gotten this done. My Democratic 
colleagues and I have had good discussions this past week. Both parties 
have a lot to be proud of. But I really regret that some on the 
Democratic side decided that partisan Presidential politics were more 
important than getting urgent and noncontroversial relief out the door 
much sooner to families who have needed this help badly.
  The progress of this past week could have happened in July or August 
or September or October. Senate Republicans were advocating for a 
package just like this one all along in realtime. I just wish our 
partners on the other side had put political calculations aside and 
worked with us to make this happen a long time ago.
  However, with that said, I appreciate the earnest conversations of 
this past week. I want to thank the Democratic leader, Speaker Pelosi, 
Leader McCarthy, as well as, in particular, Secretary Mnuchin, who has 
been tireless in these discussions throughout. Both sides, in both 
Chambers, have really stepped up and worked hard to get this done.
  We will be moving forward with the start of the pandemic relief and 
full-year funding legislation for the Federal Government, as well, and 
I hope we can do this as promptly as possible.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.