Decision to extend federal funding past the december 11 deadline to avoid a Government Shutdown. Your watching live Senate Coverage here on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Bay black, will open the senate with prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Almighty god, who in your wisdom has so ordered our earthly lives that we must walk by faith and not by sight, increase our trust in your sovereign care. Remind our lawmakers that no problem is too difficult for you to solve. Lord, give our senators a faith th triumphs over despair, love that triumphs over hate, and courage that triumphs over faintheartedness. Empower them to be bold participants rather than timid spectators in meeting the daunting challenges of these times. We we pray in our powerful name, amen. The president pro tempore please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I edge allegiance to the fla of the United States of erica, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisie, with liberty and justice for all. The presiding officer thet . Senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley one mine for morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley like many iowans, for the first time in my life, i wasnt able to share a meal with my family this thanksgiving. That doesnt keep me from being thankful for the essential workers of our country who have also missed many thanksgiving meals. Still, these essential workers provide and continue to provide for and keep our country safe. An essential job that often gets overlooked is that of the 86,000 iowa farm families that produce the food that we consume on thanksgiving and 364 days out of the rest of the year. Thats why im proud to see ron and susie cardell get welldeserved recognition this past week. You see, ron and susie, along with their two turkeys, corn and cob, participated in a timehonored white house tradition. That tradition is the National Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony at the white house. This ceremony helps connect the dots for many americans, showing them that the food they put on the thanksgiving table isnt grown in a grocery store. So i want to thank ron, susie, and President Trump for highlighting iowa agriculture this thanksgiving, in a year that has been so very difficult for most americans, its nice to see tradition like this carried on. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. Clerk will call the roll. E quorum call quorum call the presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent at further proceedings under thquorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell first, mr. President , as the Senate Reconvenes this afternoon, im especially happy to welcome back our president pro tempore. Senator grassley quarantined, worked from home following his positive covid test two weeks ago. We all predicted that if any member of the body had the stamina and the spirit to kick the virus to the curb, it would certainly be him. And sure enough, our colleague reports that he experienced no symptoms. His doctors have cleared him to come back to work, and were sure glad to have him back. Chairman grassley had to put his epic streak of consecutive votes temporarily on hold for the sake of other people. Of course, leadership and examplesetting are nothing new for the senior senator from iowa. Im confident our colleagues will pick up our colleague will pick up exactly where he left off, resuming both his perfect attendance record and the tireless work for iowans that it represents. We all benefit so very much from his leadership. So the senates back in session to finish up 2020. The American People are counting on us to finish strong. We need to Reach Agreement on the federal government funding to avoid a lapse in basic programs and services. We need to finish the annual Defense Authorization to shore up the u. S. Militarys competitive advantage over our adversaries. And we need to continue processing wellqualified nominees for vacancies throughout the government, especially, especially on the federal bench. These are important assignments, but they arent the only things that congress should get done before the end of the year. There is no reason, none, why we should not deliver another major pandemic relief package to help the American People through what seems poised to be the last chapters of this battle. This morning, we got yet another major sign of hope. More data appear to confirm that the vaccine developed by moderna is more than 94 effective. They are going ahead and asking the f. D. A. For emergency use authorization. Experts are calling this news absolutely remarkable. Alongside other promising vaccine developments from pfizer, astro astrazeneca, johnson and johnson and others is continued cause to suspect this victory over this pandemic is not far off. But a huge amount of work remains before us. If operation warp speed remains on this historic trajectory, we need to continue investing in the system that will distribute these vaccines around our country. We want the Small Businesses that have already hung on for most of the year to a few more months. We need a second round of the jobsaving Paycheck Protection Program for the workers at the hardest hit establishments. Some major parts of the historic cares act have already run dry. Many others are set to expire at years end. We republicans have spent months trying to renew important help and provide even more. We tried to send more than 100 billion to help schools and welcome students and teachers safely to the classroom. We tried to implement common sense Legal Protections that universities and charities have been clamoring for. We have tried to pass all of this over and over again. But Speaker Pelosi and the Senate Democratic leader have blocked it. They have been very transparent about all this with their political strategies, laid it right out there. The speaker of the house spent the entire summer and the entire autumn literally gambling with the health and welfare of the American People. She gambled that if American Families didnt get any more relief before the election, her party would expand its majority in the house and democrats could continue demanding the right to remake all of society along farleft lines in exchange for passing any more covid relief whatsoever. But their allornothing obstruction backfired. Democrats did not pick up seats in the house, but instead appear to have lost seats. They have not gained any leverage. Instead, they have lost leverage. And in the meantime, with the coronavirus surging from coast to coast, the American People have gone entirely, entirely without any additional aid, even the least controversial, most bipartisan programs because the democrats say no. Here is a summary from one news outlet. Quote, pelosi seems to have overplayed her hand as she held out for 2 trillionplus right up until the election. The results of the election, we saw democrats lose seats in the house appear to have significantly undercut her position. By now, its abundantly clear to everyone that the speaker will not be getting to fundamentally transform American Society in a socialist direction in exchange for more bipartisan relief. The hostage taking was never going to work. Now, there is only one remaining question for the speaker and the democratic leader, just one question. One question, mr. President. Will they finally, finally let Congress Pass hundreds of billions of dollars of relief on all the subjects where we agree . Where we agree. Or will they continue to insist that either they get their entire ideological wish list or the American People get nothing at all . Even their fellow democrats are increasingly seeing this as not a terribly difficult question to answer. For example, over the weekend, professor Austin Gouldsby who chaired the council of economic advisors under president obama called on democrats to finally play ball. Quote, heres what he said. There are a lot of people really hurting. I Hope Congress can agree on something soon. If they have to accept half a loaf, then they have to accept half a loaf. Speaker pelosi is number two, the House Democratic majority leader feels the same way. I just hope we can get agreement. It may not be everything that everybody wants, but at least some significant relief to people. Our distinguished Senate Colleague from illinois, the democratic whip, said the same thing. Quote, get something done that is significant. Do what we can achieve now. Now. Here is the headline from newsweek. Democrats urge pelosi to accept smaller stimulus package to ensure relief by the end of the year. Even the speakers own democratic members are now openly campaigning for our republican approach. Heres one of the democratic congressmen who nearly lost his reelection after Speaker Pelosis stonewalling. Quote, we absolutely have to get something done. Mitch mcconnell is talking about a bill we can actually pass. We should negotiate that to the finish. Thats a House Democrat saying that the Senate Republican proposal is the template that can pass. Rankandfile democrats in both chambers are telling Speaker Pelosi and the democratic leader to stop stonewalling and move forward with the approach republicans have been urging for months. The American People need more help, and they need it right now, right now. Democratic leaders have already burned through three months, three months, and they didnt even get the political result that their cynical strategy was supposed to deliver. So, mr. President , lets hope our colleagues at the top of the Democratic Party can finally hear their own members and stop blocking the commonsense multihundredbilliondollar measures that republicans have been ready to deliver for months. Now, mr. President , i move to have proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 761. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. All inavor say aye. All opposed no. The ayes appr to have it. The motion is agreed to. The clerk will report the nomination. The clerk nomination, Federal Reserve system, Christopher Waller of minnesota to be a member of the board of governo governors. Mr. Mcconnell i send a cloture motion to the desk. The presiding officer the clerk will report the motion. The cle cture motion, we, the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standingules of the senate do hereby move to bring a close debate on the nomination of Christopher Waller of minnesota to be a member of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve syste signed by 17 senators. Mcconnelli ask consent the reading of the names be waived. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i move to proceed to legislative session. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. All in favor say aye. All opposed no. The ayes appear to have i the ayes do have it. Mr. Mcconnell i move to preed to executive session to consider calendar number 842. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. All in favor say aye. All opposed no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The motion is agreed to. The clerk will report the nomination. The priding officer nomination, the judiary, lia p. Hardy of virgia to be a judge of thenited states court of appeals for the armed forces. Mr. Mcconnell i send a cloture motion to the desk. The presiding officer t clotureotion willeport the motion. The clerk cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators in accordanceith the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules the senate do hereby ve to bring to a close debate on the nomination of liam p. Hardy of virginia to be judge of the United States court of appeals for the armed forces for the senators. 5 years signed by 17 mr. Mcconnell i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i move to proceed to legislative session. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. L in favor say aye. All opposed no. E ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The motion iagreed to. Mr. Mcconnell i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding offir the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Schumer mr. President . Democratic leader. Cer the mr. Schumer i ask unanius consent the quorum call be diensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Schumer first, i he all of my colleagues d a good and fine thanksgiving. We all know that across the country, we celebrated a thanksging, all of us, every american unlike any in recent memory. Too many loved ones spent this holiday alone unable to join with loved ones out of concern for their safety. As painful as it is to refrain from seeing family and friends, these are tough choices that we sometimes have to make. And we need to maintain our resolve more than ever. We are living through the wor stretch of the pandemic right now. Last friday for the first time, over 200,000 new cases of covid were reported in a single day. The United States is arming over one million new cases a week. Some 20 of all patients now hospitalized in the United States have covid19. The worst and most unalterable part of this pandemic, of course, are the deaths. Since november 10, america has beenosing more than 1,000 precious lives a day. On one day, november 24, we lost more than 2,000. The National Death toll stands at a very sad 270,000 american souls. Families all across the country are experiencing the unthinkable, unbearable losses of their loved ones. As a compassionate nation, we cannot and must not ignore or become inureed to this terrible reality. We must not avert our gaze. We must acknowledge the lives were losing. We must honor the lives of, the increasing number of america who are dying from covid19 every single day. And we must redouble our efforts to flat an the curve and protect each other by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and complying with the guidance of health officials. As this chamber gavels back into session, we must redouble our efforts before the end of the calendar year. As the pandemic increases in severity, so does the economic pain felt by countless working families and Small Business owners. In a few short weeks, several provisions of the cares act, including student loan forbearance, eviction moratoriums will expire. First and foremost on the senas todo lois is covid relief both sides should come bac and negotiate a covid relief bill in a bipartisan way that meets the needs of our businesses, schools, health care systems, ourorkers, our families. At the start of this crisis, democrats came together in a flurry of negotiations. Istically involved with them with secretary mnuchin. Now were about to preach a new, more difficult sge of the crisis. We need to renew that spirit, that urgency, that bipartisanship. Leader mcconnells view, just stated a few minutes ago, seems to be that the only things that should be in this bill are things republicans approve of. Even if the needs of the country, the desperate needs of the country, are beyond the small list that republicans might support. And that is not real compromise. We need to come together. Both sides must give. We have a democratic house, and democratic votes to pass a bill. So we need a trusion bipartisan bill. Not this is our bill, take it or leave it. That can bring us together and solve the desperate needs of the American People, which we all very much want to solve. The secretary item on our todo list is federal appropriations, which expire in two wks. As we speak, appropriators from both sides in theelevant committees continue their negotiations. Its my hope and expectation that we can come to an agreement very soon. Third and finally, congress should pass the annl defense bill. As our country prepares for a peaceful transfer of power, the continuity of the our National Security is paramount. For nearly 60 Years Congress has never failed to pass the annual defense bill. But this year it seems the normally uncontroversial legislation has hit at hit a snag. President trump has threatened to veto the bill over a provision that would rename military basesnd installations named off confederate leaders, men who would rend this country in half to preserve the institution of slavery, men who literally fought against this nations military in pursuit of an ignoble cause. For that, a provision to rename our military bases to honor actual heroes rather than traitors to our country, President Trump is threatening to veto a pay raise for our troops. And it seems that republicans in congressre slowwalking the bill in hes of finding some way to appease the outgoing president rather than just passing a bill over his rather ridiculous objection. The provision to rename these installations was included in both the house and senatepassed versions of the bill. The larger bill paled both chambers with broad bipartisan support. Theres no reason to further delay a pay raise for our military heroes, our living military heroes, because President Trump wanted toonor dead confederate traitors. The other provision thats at risk, shoingly, from our republican colleagues is an amendment to assist veterans who have long suffered from their expose uto agent orange in the vietnam war. The amendment passed this chamber with 94 v