let's deliver right away on all the subjects where everybody agrees and argue over the rest later. p the solution has been in plain sight for a long time now for anybody willing to see it. back that progress and make law, take the pressure off and then keep debating areas where we don't agree. there's no actual reason like a second round of the job a savins paycheck protection program had to be linked to the proposals

like stimulus checks for illegal immigrants. there's no reason why the funding for the vaccine distribution or extending unemployment aid should have been tied to the radical ideas like paying people more not to work than essential workers earned on the job. these linkages have been totally arbitrary. just a political decision thee democratic leaders made many months back. democratic leaders tried to create a narrative for this but it's taken for granted that the most bipartisan common sense relief policies with the most outlandish ideas. that just isn't so. they tried to create a dynamic where they move from one made-up number to a slightly smaller arbitrary number and call it a

meaningful succession. 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 the nation through what we hope will be the last chapter of the pandemic. we have disagreements all the time. our system can handle disagreements, but both sides have to be willing to compel their commonalities and make the law. up until now our democratic colleagues have declined to do that. remember this pandemic was a tremendous opportunity to t restructure things to fit our vision and then in september and in october our democratic colleagues block policies they do not even oppose.

ignow it's been heartening to se a few hopeful signs in the past few days. after months of arbitrary dollar amounts the speaker of the house claimed were essential that it would be an insult those baseless claims have suddenly evaporated. then that's at least moving it in the right direction. but the underlining reality, mr. there are many important policies that have strong support and there are many others that do not. the way to help the country is for our democratic colleagues to let the former group be signed into law while we keep arguing over the rest. the targeted second round of the paycheck protection we have been trying to establish since july would have a huge number of businesses survived the finish line and huge numbers of workers

keep their jobs. with s operation warp speed it makes no sense to scalp on the systems to distribute and deliver vaccines around the country. those could pass the senate today, possibly unanimously. university presidents have made it clear that they need legal certainty. let me say that again. university presidents have made it clear they need legal certainty for their reopenings. they shouldn't be able to pass the senate today. a number of our democratic colleagues have focused on several of the unemployment relief programs set to expire in a matter of days. i specifically made sure to include those in my framework a few days ago. that could pass the senate

today. the house of representatives spending on issues like marijuana. you know, serious and important legislation benefiting the nnational crisis. but here in the senate, i put forth a serious and highly targeted relief proposal including that which we know the president is ready and willing to sign into law. why should these be delayed and long last let's do what congress does best when we want an outcome, let's make law on the subjects we agree and areas where president trump is ready to sign bipartisan relief into the law. i promise the members will still be here today and the disagreements will be right where we left them. but you know, but can't wait,

american workers, american small businesses, k-12 schools, the vulnerable americans and front-line healthcare workers for whom the speedy vaccine distribution will literally be a life or death matter. yesterday my home state of kentucky experienced yet another dreadful record-setting day. but kentucky also knows hopeis s insight. our state workers are standing by and the key logistical centers that will play a role in sending vaccines all around the country. people are hurting but they are ready to finish the fight. congress shouldn't keep them waiting literally months ago. so, compromise is within reach. we know where weee