This is not a time for fear mr. Durbin madam president. The presiding officer the senator from illinois. Mr. Durbin madam president , yesterday, the president of the United States and the center for Disease Control contacted us individually and at least through the media to advise us to avoid gatherings of more than ten people. Its a reflection of the National Emergency we face and the Public Health crisis that america is facing head on, as it should. This morning, as we opened the senate, there were 18 people gathered on the floor of the senate, three senators and 15 staff people. As those who follow the senate can tell, our staffers come to work as they are expected to, but come under circumstances that are more challenging than they were just a few weeks ago. I want to thank each and every one of them here on the floor, as well as the many that you dont see behind the scenes who are necessary for the opening of this capitol and for the protection of everyone who works here. There are policemen, there are people engaged in basic activities here to keep this magnificent structure functioning, and they come here now in the midst of a Public Health challenge where most every american has been told stay home. If you can possibly stay home, do it. Social distancing. Make certain that you stay a certain distance between yourself and some other person. And yet, they come here and we thank them for it. The obvious question is why are we here under these circumstances . We were called back into a week of legislative activity which had been scheduled to be a week where we were back home in our individual states. Theres a lot for me to do back home, and im sure thats true for every senator. From the crisis which we had at ohare airport. I was working on that saturday and sunday night. To the issue of closing schools and feeding children, and all of the other issues that are part of this coronavirus challenge. But we were told to come back here this week, to make a trip back, to fly back from wherever to come to the United States capitol for two reasons. We were told we had to pass the federal Intelligence Surveillance act reauthorization because it expired as of last weekend. It turns out that we found a way to avoid a necessary vote at the last minute. The Senate Republican leader agreed last night, just a few minutes before the scheduled vote, to accept a proposal that had been made to him by republican senator mike lee of utah last thursday. The Senate Republican leader did not accept it then. He accepted it last night. The net result was we didnt have to be present. We didnt have to make the journey for that purpose. But the second part of our return is equally important, maybe more so in liept of this this Public Health crisis. This was the measure taken up by the house of representatives and passed in the Early Morning hours of saturday. This measure known as the Families First Coronavirus Response act is a second piece of legislation which we are considering and im sure not the last. Were already talking about the coronavirus three act which is likely to be debated and voted on soon. But the point im making is this measure which was physically sent to us last night with technical corrections could have been considered as early as last saturday. By unanimous consent the senate can take up a measure before it physically arrives from the house. Its happened many times before. Its not extraordinary. The physical presence of the document is not necessary for this debate or for a vote to consider it. We acknowledge the fact that sometimes the movement of paperwork from the house may take a little longer than the actual time when we physically can take possession of it through other means. And so the argument that was made this morning it wasnt until we received the document last night that we could consider it is not accurate under the senate rules by unanimous consent we could have considered it as soon as it was enacted by the house. But the question before us now is what are we waiting for . There was a technical correction bill that was added to it yesterday after the house overcame the objections of a republican congressman after his objections were set aside or satisfied, they moved forward with the technical corrections. So we have the package. Its before us now. And the obvious question is, why arent we passing this measure immediately . We should. Because contained in this measure are important changes in the law that will help American Families respond to this coronavirus crisis. Fundamental questions, will we provide for Many American workers medical leave if they decide they dont feel well and want to keep themselves, their family, their coworkers and the public safe by staying home. But theyre afraid if they dont get a paycheck, they cant need the needs of their families. So this bill extends the medical leave coverage to more workers across america. Im unhappy that it doesnt go further and perhaps we can extend it further with the third iteration of our coronavirus legislative package. But theres no reason not to pass this. And to pass it now. And not to wait a day or two or three before we get around to it. Lets do it. Lets get it done. In addition, we have changes in Unemployment Compensation. If someone literally loses their job because of this Public Health crisis, we want to make sure that they have something coming in to help their families as quickly as possible. Thats a measure im sure all of us agree on, to change the Unemployment Compensation laws to help these families through very difficult times. Why would we wait to pass that . We should pass this by unanimous consent today and do it quickly. That is something that i hope Senate Republican leader will consider. Theres just no reason for delay. And there are so many other things involved in this. The basic issue of feeding america is now in question. Who is going to feed these School Students who whose schools have been closed across illinois and across the United States. Its a practical challenge in springfield, illinois, as well as chicago. Well, we have issues that are raised by this coronavirus legislation that is before us that will change and strengthen Food Assistance at this time of Public Health crisis. Why wait . Lets get this done by unanimous consent. We should be doing it and doing it right now. In addition to that, we provide addition medicaid benefits to the states to deal with the objection health challenges. We want to make sure the Health Care Workers and god bless them for risking their lives for us we want to make sure theyre paid. We want to make sure the equipment needed by hospitals and clinics comes on board as quickly as possible. In my state of illinois, we have challenges from the city of chicago, through rural and small towns. They need help. Medicaid assistance in this bill will provide help for them immediately. Why wait . Lets pass this and do it this morning. We also have free testing for coronavirus that is set out in the law whether you have insurance, youre covered by medicare, medicaid. Youre going to be able to be tested when the tests are available, i might quickly add, without cost to you and thats the way it should be. These are things that are basic. They were agreed to not just by nancy pelosi, the speaker of the house, but by the trump white house. Mr. Mnuchin, the secretary came forward and negotiated all the changes which i have just described. So theyre bipartisan in nature. There is no reason for us to delay this in any way. We should move on it quickly. Putting this off for a day or two or whatever the plan is with the Republican Leadership is totally unnecessary and unfortunately requires staff to wait around here when theyve been advised they should be home. There should be social distance. They should be in a circumstance where theyre not endangering themselves in terms of their health or anyone else. Lets get this done. The third issue that i want to raise is one which is critically important but i believe its timely. We have to think anew about the way the senate does business. If were telling people to do their work from home when possible, teleconferencing as opposed to being physically present at work, what are we doing to achieve the same thing . Theres been speculation, conjecture about a coronavirus aid package, the third one in the series. I totally support it. The democratic side we have a long list of particulars, of things that we think will be helpful to get this economy back on its feet by starting with families and workers and expanding it to Small Businesses. Its a long list. Its a comprehensive list. And im sure there are even more suggestions that could come before us. How are we going to consider those . Are we going to meet as committees as we ordinarily do in the same room when weve been advised that that is not a good idea from a Public Health viewpoint or do it by teleconferencing and scieping and using skypeing and using modern technology . Its time for the senate to wake up to the 21st century and making sure were using technology that allows us to communicate with each other without any danger or risk to Public Health. Theres a more difficult question about how we can vote in the United States senate if we are not physically present. I know thats being considered. Senator klobuchar and i have discussed it. I know she is thinking about it from the senate rules perspective. Senator schatz of hawaii has raised the same question. Others have, too. Lets get into this. Lets find a way to do this which protects the integrity of our voting procedure but acknowledges the reality that our physical presence on the floor may not be required to actually be present under the rules of the senate, at least for the sake of counting our votes. We ought to be discussing that this week and make sure we have a task force that is working on coming up with answers to that as quickly as possible. And finally, i think its time for us to start meeting as committees by this teleconferencing and skypeing and talking about this package. Coronavirus three package, the one that really stretches us beyond where we are. Lets take a look at the first two measures, coronavirus one which was a supplemental appropriation. The president asked for about 2 billion. We came up on a bipartisan basis in just two short weeks with 8 billion. Primarily focusing on health care resources, on research and developing vaccines. That was a must and we did it on a bipartisan basis. The second package talks about families and workers and Small Businesses and how they should respond and we can help them. And the third package i think will take a look at the original two to see if they need to be changed in any way but to expand our reach even more. Let us do it in the context that we are preaching to america. As we hold the press conferences in washington and tell americans avoid going to work physically if you can, let us try to find ways to make the senate work without putting anyones health at risk. We can do that. But we need to do that together. Let me also say that the senator from kentucky said that the senate will not return until significant will not recess until significant new measures beyond what the house has passed are considered. If theres a plan for that, please let us know. Those of us who are here and worried about whether theres transportation back home to our families at some point would like to know what the schedule is going to be. If the senate leader, the republican leader has a plan, please share it was, too. All of us are waiting and anxious to know what our circumstances will be for the days ahead. I want to stay here and get the work done but lets do it in an orderly, safe, nonrisky way. Lets try to abide by the same guidelines were preaching to the rest of america. Lets use new technology. Lets use our best thinking and come up with bipartisan answers. That to me is the way to manage the senate in the midst of this National Emergency. But we shouldnt be returning as we have this week and face situations like last night where our vote was not even necessary. Many of us came here ready to vote and found that there had been an agreement that made such a vote unnecessary. Its time for a greater spirit of cooperation and communication. Just to have the republican side come up with their list and we come up with ours without dialogue doesnt lead us to where we need to be. Lets have that dialogue and do it in a safe and thoughtfule did with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Schumer now, madam president , our country is facing an unprecedented Public Health emergency with severe and potentially longlasting on
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