Objection. Mr. Mcconnell mr. President , anyone whos heard me speak about coronavirus relief, going back months has heard one central principle lets deliver right away on all the subjects where everybody agrees and argue over the rest later. The solution to this impasse has been in plain sight for a long time now for anyone willing to see it. Agree where we agree. Back that progress. Make law. Take a whole lot of pressure off struggling people. And then keep debating the areas where we dont agree. There is a he no actual reason why the fates of commonsense policies like a second round of the jobsaving Paycheck Protection Program had to be linked to the fates of fringe proposals like stimulus checks for illegal immigrant. There is no reason why the fate for Vaccine Distribution or extending unemployment should have been tied to radical ideas like paying people not to work than essential workers earn on the job. These linkages have been totally arbitrary. Just a political decision that Democratic Leaders made many months back. Democratic leaders have tried to create a narrative where its taken for granted that the most bipartisan, commonsense cal reliefpologieses would live or die with their sides most outlandish ideas. Well, that just isnt so. Theyve trade to create a dynamic where they move from one madeup number to a second slightly smaller arbitrary number and call it a meaningful concession. The truth is simple. This has always been about policy differences. We have two sides with two different visions for the best way to support our nation through what we hope will be the last chapter of the pandemic. Now, that isnt new. We have disagreements all the time. Our system can handle disagreements, but both sides have to be willing to compile their commonalities and make law here. And up till now, our democratic colleagues have declined to do that. Remember, their side said in march this pandemic was, quote, a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision. So when republicans tried to pass commonsense relief measures in july and in september oh, and in october as well our democratic colleagues actually blocked policies they do not even oppose. Now its been heartening to see a few hopeful signs in the past few days. After months of arbitrary attachment to skyhigh dollar amounts that the speaker of the house claimed were essential, that it would be an insult to settle senator a nickel less, those baseless claims have suddenly evaporated. That is at least movement in the right direction. But the underlying reality, mr. President , is still with us. There are many important policies that have strong bipartisan support. There are many others that do not. And the way to help the country is for our democratic colleagues to finally let the former group be signed into law while we keep arguing over the rest. The targeted second round of paycheck protection that weve been trying to establish since july would help a huge number of Small Businesses survive to the finish line and help huge numbers of workers keep their jobs. And it could pass the senate today probably with 95 votes. With the apparent success of operation warp speed, it makes no sense to skimp on the systems to distribute and deliver vaccines around the country. Those funds could pass the senate today, possibly unanimously. University president s have made it clear they need Legal Certainty for their reopenings. Let me say that again. University president s have made it clear they need Legal Certainty for their reopenings. That shouldnt be partisan. Liability protection should be able to pass the senate today. A number of our democratic colleagues have focused especially on several of the unemployment relief programs that are set to expire in a matter of days. I specifically made sure to include those programs in my framework a few days ago. That extension could pass the senate today. The house of representatives is spending this week on pressing issues like marijuana marijuana. You know, serious and important legislation benefiting the national crisis. But here in the senate, i put forward a serious and highly targeted relief proposal including elements which we know the president is ready and willing to sign into law. Why should these impactful and noncontroversial lifepreservers be delayed one second longer . At long last, lets do what congress does when we want an outcome. Lets make law an all the subjects where we agree, on all the areas where President Trump is ready to sign bipartisan relief into law. I promise our deep differences will still be here to debate. Our disagreements will be right where we left them. But, you know what cant wait . What cant wait . American workers, american Small Businesses, k12 schools, the vulnerable americans and Frontline Health care workers for whom speedy Vaccine Distribution will literally be a lifeordeath matter. Yesterday my home state of ten of kentucky experienced yet another dreadful recordsetting day. Kentuckians also know that hope is in sight. Our states workers are standing by at the u. P. S. Port in louisville and the public in northern kentucky, kilo just key Logistic Centers that are play roles in the distribution. Theyre ready for this fight. Congress should not keep them waiting for reinforcements that should have arrived literally months ago. So compromise is within reach. We know where we agree. We can do this