Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4033

Floor Speech

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Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I want to thank my colleagues from Connecticut, from Virginia, and in particular my colleague from Minnesota, who has done such a great job--not just today but as the ranking member of the Rules Committee--in fighting for expanding the right to vote in the context of this pandemic.

My colleague from Minnesota has stood to ask for unanimous consent for the enactment of the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act, which is a broad and bold framework to ensure access to the ballot in every State in the United States in the midst of this ongoing pandemic.

We are just 4 months from the election--126 days to be exact--and as day after day the number of infections has risen, it is clear that this pandemic is far from over. So far, 125,000 Americans have died and 2.5 million have been infected. It is completely reasonable for millions of Americans who are senior citizens, who have preexisting conditions, and who have particular vulnerabilities to be concerned about the risk they might take if they go to a polling place to vote.

Today is primary day in Colorado, in Oklahoma, and in Utah, and we have seen in primary days just passed in Kentucky, in Georgia, and in Wisconsin, example after example where the State officials involved did not have the resources to hold elections where everyone could safely participate in a pandemic and hadn't worked out the plans.

In Georgia, a State long known for voter suppression efforts over decades past, voters waited in line for hours and hours. I was inspired by their passion, their persistence to exercise their right to vote, and concerned, disheartened--even angered--by the fact that no preparations were made sufficient to meet the moment.

In Wisconsin, dozens--more than 50--voters and poll workers tested positive for COVID-19 after exercising their right to vote, one of the most fundamental rights in our democracy

Across the country we have heard from election officials who have struggled with the infrastructure that is ill-equipped to handle this pandemic.

So, as my colleagues have already said, we should come together to advance this legislation, legislation I introduced with the Senator from Minnesota and the Senator from Oregon, which is a series of commonsense solutions to this obvious challenge.

It would expand early, in-person voting; no-excuse, absentee vote-by- mail; and reimburse States for the additional costs involved in administering an election during a pandemic. It would ensure American voters aren't faced with that untenable choice: risk their health to vote in person or stay home and not vote at all.

Today is June 30. It is also the last day of the Delaware General Assembly, and like several other States, Delaware has passed legislation to provide for no-fault absentee voting in this pandemic, but they lack the resources to fully deliver on this solution.

That is why, in the Appropriations subcommittee where I am the most senior Democrat, I have fought alongside my Democratic colleagues to advocate for money in this next COVID relief package--$3.6 billion-- which is what experts across the country say States need for printing ballots, for postage, for new high-speed scanners, for secure drop boxes, for personal protective equipment, and so much more.

I appreciate that the Senator from Missouri who came to the floor to object did say that he would support additional funding, and I look forward to working with my colleague from Minnesota to help ensure that that is actually secured, but we have to do more than just provide financial resources.

We have to provide this bill. We have to provide the legal framework. We have to provide a clear and confident path forward to voting.

Let me close by reminding everyone in this Chamber that voting by mail, voting absentee under exigent circumstances, is nothing new. Our troops back in the Civil War voted by mail so that they could continue to participate in free and fair elections even as they were fighting for the very existence of this Republic.

In every election, hundreds of thousands of American troops, diplomats, and development professionals safely and securely cast their votes from around the world--election after election. There is no reason we can't do that now.

So let me close by thanking my wonderful colleague from the State of Minnesota, who has been such a passionate, effective, and engaged advocate on this issue.

I call on my Republican colleagues. Let's step up. Let's get this done. Let's ensure that the American people can safely exercise their right to vote this November.

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