A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator for west virginia. Mr. Manchin are we in a quorum call . The presiding officer it is. Mr. Manchin wish to vitiate the quorum call. I will i am doing so because i believe he is well qualified for the job. He has been the commissions general counsel for the past two and a half years. He understands the complex legal issues that come before the commission. I voted to report mr. Danlys nomination both last november and last week on the strength of his qualifications, not on politics. I urge my colleagues to do the same. But the position to which mr. Danly has been nominated is one of five seats on the federal Energy Regulatory commission. By law, no more than two of the five seats can be held by one party. Only three of the seats are now filled. Two by republicans and one by a democrat. The other democratic seat has been vacant since last august. Traditionally when both a republican seat and democrat seat has been vacant, the president past president s have sent nominations to fill both at the same time. I am deeply disappointed this has not happened this time. The politics involved in this town is outrageous. Truly outrageous that even proper decorum, simple civility, just a little bit of procedure is not even considered anymore. The white house has had a highly qualified candidate to fill the democratic seat for over a year. Totally vetted, gone through all the processes that we had, but the president and his staff has still not filled the nomination. I hear that she is a very bright, very articulate, very intelligent person. She knows the issue and is well respected in her field. By breaking the longstanding practice of pairing nominations and not sending the nomination, it undermines this structure. I said i would support mr. Danly because he is wul qualified and i will vote to confirm him. Two wrongs dont make a right here, but this has got to stop and both sides have to stand up and say, mr. President , this is a tradition. This is what we do. This is customary of whats been done and it gives us a fivemember ferc which is extremely important for our energy, our country, and the reliability that we depend on. As i told my colleagues on the energy committee, when we voted on mr. Danlys nomination that i will not support another nominee unless we get both. It has to stop. Im asking my colleagues on the republican side to please help us put some kind of structure and some kind of procedure back into the operation. We need to start acting as a senate and not be guided by the politics and the toxic politics and this tribal men talt. Mentality. I want the president to send us the nominations so we can have a fully functioning committee. So, with that, i ask all of my colleagues to to, please, lets vote for the qualifications of the person, not the politics of the person, but also lets medicare sure that we have a complete working commission and not just a partial commission that is overweighted. With that, i see an absence i yield the floor. The presiding officer on the nomination. Is there a sufficient second . There appears to be. The clerk will call the roll. Vote vote vote vote vote the presiding officer are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote are or change their vote . If not, the yeas are 52, the nays are 40. The nominations confirmed. The presiding officer the majority whip. Mr. Thune i ask unanimous consent that with the company to the respect to the dally nomination dally nomination the president be immediately notified of the senates action. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Thune i ask that the senate proceed to morning business with senators permitted to speak up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Thune i have six requests for committees to meet during todays session of the senate, they have the approval of the majority and minority leaders. The presiding officer duly noted. Mr. Thune mr. President , last Week Congress provided billions in funding to address the coronavirus outbreak. These funds will help support virus research, testing and medical care. Congress is now looking at other measures that may be required, including measures to address the Economic Impact of the virus. The house may consider an economic response measure today, but my understanding is its bill doesnt yet reflect an agreement with the white house which will be needed november any stimulus package. I want to echo the leaders comments from yesterday. This is not a time for partisanship and it is very important that we Work Together on matters related to the coronavirus so that we can get needed legislation passed in a timely fashion. More americans are testing positive for the virus each day, including eight people in my home state of south dakota, continue is it our responsibility, as members of congress, to Work Together to ensure that our country has the resources it needs to combat and defeat this disease. Mr. President , theres doubt that things are stressful right now. Americans are understandably worried about their own health and the health of loved ones. But we have a lot of dedicated people working to keep americans safe from nurses to doctors to Public Health officials. Everyone is focused on making sure that we do what we need to do to limit the spread of this virus. And all of us, of course, can help in that effort by paying attention to the guidance were given, whether its advice about washing our hands or avoiding large gatherings or requests to stay home for a bhiel. For a while. Mr. President , its a challenging time but america has been through challenging times before and emerged from them stronger, and im confident that if we pull together thats what will happen again. Mr. President , i yield the floor. And i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call wathen gar quorum call mr. Cardin mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from maryland. Mr. Cardin i would ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cardin mr. President , this womens History Month we have the opportunity to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment of the constitution which gave the right of women to vote. We recognize the countless women who put their own safety and comfort on the line in order to make this country more just, democratic, and inclusive. These include heroes like margaret brent, a daughter of maryland who was the first to demand a vote for women in the colonial legislature, and Sojourner Truth who advocated for a more diverse and transsexual womens sufficient froth movement. Thanks to their bravery and many other activists, our nation witnessed the largest suffrage in history. We ought to celebrate that monumental achievement, the ability to vote has been empowering women to demand a government that represents them and their interests and they have taken their power seriously. Women have voted in higher numbers than men in every National Election in the last 5 a 5 55 years. We saw the results in 2018 that can happen when women raise their voices and fight mo more inclusive democracy. As a record 117 women won election to congress across the United States. We cannot overstate how dramatically the adoption of the 19th amendment changed our country for the better. But its also incumbent upon us to take stock of the progress that still needs to be made because just a few years after women won the right to vote, a suffrage name alice paul introduced another critically important constitutional amendment, one that would go enfurther in guaranteeing an equal status of women. It was called the equal rights amendment or the e. R. A. It reads as follows. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any of its state on account of sex. Thats it. Its just 24 words. But those 24 words had the power to correct a 250year silence in our constitution when it comes to recognizing and protecting womens equality. The e. R. A. Was ratified by the u. S. Congress if 1972 in 1972. With virginias ratification this past january, enough states have adopted the amendment to meet the threshold for it to be added to the constitution. So whats the holdup . Why isnt it part of the constitution yet . Well, when congress ratified the equal rights amendment, they imposed a deadline for state legislatures to ratify and that deadline has passed. But there should never be a deadline on equality. The constitution does not call for time limits for ratification of amendments. And there is precedent for amendments being added to the constitution as long as 200 years after they were first proposed. And most importantly, just as congress as the how we are to impose and extend the deadline by resolution, we had the power to remove it through the same means. That is why ive introduced a resolution with senator murkowski to remove the ratification deadline for the equal rights amendment. Representative jackie sphere introduced a companion resolution that has already been passed by the house of representatives. We are closer than ever to making the equal rights amendment a reality. This measure has historically enjoyed bipartisan support. The vast majority of americans, 94 of them, are in favor of a constitutional e constitution equality amendment. Perhaps its because they understand this is an issue not of politics but of basic human rights. If you have any doubt about that, just look at the rest of the modern world. Every constitution written around the globe since world war ii recognizes in the constitution equal stature of men and women. Ours does not. Thats shameful. Among those who have hesitated to support the e. R. A. , one of the most common arguments is that its not necessary. People argue that women already enjoy equal rights and protection in our society. So whats the need to write it down. To them i say think again. Through the wage gap between men and women has narrowed over time is still still exists today. In 2019 women eastern only 7 earn only 79 as much as their male counterpart fossil lar work. This disparity is even worse for women of color and affects women their entire lives. It also affects their retirement. Recent data showed that women over 65 are twice as likely as men to live below the poverty line. We owe it to americas women, to our mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, to recommendty this societal failure remedy this societal failure. Women in the United States have no gender recourse. The courts have allowed Police Officers to refuse on defend victims of Domestic Abuse and have even struck down the protection offered by the violence against womens act. The equal rights amendment will require the federal government to prohibit and penalize this type of discrimination. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said that if she could choose an amendment to add to the constitution, it would be the came rights amendment because she would like her granddaughters when they pick up the constitution to see that notion that women and men are persons of equal stature. As a basic principle of our society. As a grandfather to two granddaughters myself, i couldnt agree more. I want them to know that in america, they will enjoy the same protections and opportunities as anyone else. I want every young person to grow up understanding that her dreams are within reach. And her autonomy is respected and that her life is significant. Snored to make that a reality, women need more than the right to vote as fundamental as that is. They need a promise that they will be free from all forms of discrimination and injustice. Thats why men, women, republicans and democrats must come together in order to correct that silence in our constitution that speaks volumes. We must all unite to support the equal rights amendment. Mr. President , i would suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call a senator mr. President . The presiding officer the senator for arkansas. A senator i ask the quorum call be rescinded. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Boozman thank you, mr. President. Mr. President , i rise today to honor h. U. D. Springs Police Officer first class brent scrimshaw who was killed in the line of duty on tuesday, march 10, a native of malvern, arkansas, he graduated from Malvern High School and henderson state university. Officer scrimshaw was an exemplary member of Law Enforcement. He served on the police force for a number of years and was recognized as the departments employee of the quarter just recently. In acknowledgment of his unique dedication, work ethic, and professionalism. Attorney general Leslie Rutledge also named him the Southwest Region officer of the year in 2016 which according to media reports he earned in part because of his lifesaving action to help control the bleeding of a stabbing victim. Scrim was known for trading his brothers in blue as well as those he encountered while doing his job with kindness and dignity. He also enjoyed being outdoors hunting and fishing. He deeply loved his wife and two children who are now left behind to go through life without the devoted husband and dad they adored. Our hearts break for them, the rest of his family, and friends, and his entire family at the hot springs police department. His death is a tragic reminder of the risk that our Law Enforcement officials face each time that they put on the uniform. I send my deepest condolences to the officers loved ones. We honor his service and his sacrifice and pray all those fortunate enough to have known him will find comfort in his legacy and in the outpouring of love and support from so many. On behalf of all arkansans, we celebrate officer skrimshaws life and example of courageous, willing and selfless public service. May he rest in peace. And i note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Cornyn mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from texas. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , are we in a quorum call . The presiding officer we are. Mr. Cornyn id ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , earlier today as the senate knows now, leader mcconnell announced that we would cancel our state work period so we could continue to work on legislation here in washington, d. C. To help families and our communities get through the economic effect of the coronavirus spread. Im glad he made that decision, and i look forward to continuing to work on those issues for the benefit of our constituents and the nation. This situation calls for an allofgovernment response, and it will allow us additional time to hammer out a bipartisan agreement to respond to the Ripple Effect that this outbreak is having in texas and across the country. As we continue our discussions on this legislation, i would just urge my colleagues that this is the time to put partisanship aside and stop playing politics, if there ever was one. There is actually precedent for that. At the height of the ebola crisis in 2014, republicans in the senate worked with our democratic colleagues and president obama to ensure we were ready to treat texans and other americans who needed care from that particular disease. We need to come together to do the same now, not to use the opportunity to attack or score political points or to try to damage our opponents. Unfortunately, that seems to be the first impulse of some of our friends across the capitol chamber. Most of the public concern is focused on the elderly, on cruise ship travelers and those with underlying medical conditions, but we need to think of every family, every college student, and to make sure that everyone worrying about how to make ends meet during this particular crisis because they had to stay home and miss work, that their concerns are addressed as well. This virus could disrupt everyones daily routine in one way or the other. And as weve seen from the departure of some of our colleagues for selfquarantining, we are truly in this together. Im glad well be staying in session to try to bring as much relief and reassurance as we can in this uncertain time, and i look forward to all of us, republicans and democrats, the house and senate and the white house, working together to get every american ready for what is to come. Its not just the senate thats altering its plans due to the coronavirus. Across the country serious measures are taking place out of an abundance of caution to keep the American People safe. Some schools are choosing to close their doors. Nursing homes are barring visitors. And major events like south by southwest in austin are canceling. On the global scale, were seeing an unprecedented action, including all of italy, some 60 Million People, going on a complete lockdown. For many americans, it seems like this Public Health crisis has escalated incredibly quickly. We went from never having heard of this new virus to constant News Coverage about its growing reach within a matter of weeks. But this outbreak began long before the average american even knew that it existed, and it was no accident that chinese officials kept the rest of the world in the dark. One of the first people to sound the alarm about the novel virus thats what they call it, the novell coronavirus was 34yearold chinese dr. Li win ong, who sadly became a victim of the coronavirus. On december 30 last year, after seeing several patients that he believed at the time to have sars, another type of coronavirus, dr. Li messaged a group of medical School Classmates to let them know that he had seen something new and different and potentially dangerous. Dr. Li told them that these were confirmed cases of coronavirus infection, but the exact strain was still being subtyped. He also urged them to have their families and friends take protective measures. But these messages were soon shared much wider than the intended audience, and the Chinese Communist party and the government quickly stepped in to stop this information from being spread. Chinese police reprimanded dr. Li and several others for, quote, spreading