Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate U.S. Senate 20240713

Breathe your strength and peace into our senators and use them for your glory. May they continue to totally depend on you knowing that with your mighty power you will surround them with the shield of your blessing. Holy god, your goodness will prevail until the end of time, we pray in your great name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley i request one minute to address the senate in morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley as the coronavirus spreads, u. S. Federal health and intelligence agencies are working hard to protect the public. Its critical that their hard work not go to waste. Federal Health Agencies must have access to all Intelligence Community information that could help combat this pandemic. To help with that access, the Intelligence Community must guard against overclassifying information. In situations like this, information is power. Our federal health and intelligence agencies are the best in the world. Lets show the world that america can stop the spread of this virus. My tweet for the morning is thie just received the bill from the house called the Families First Coronavirus Response act. What business do democrats have blaming mcconnell all weekend for not calling a vote when we cant do anything until the house sends it over . They know better. Stop the politics. This is in response to 172 calls my office got yesterday wondering why we have not voted on this important bill, so its important for me to remind everybody that the senate cant pass this bill or even debate this bill until the house sends it over. We have now received it, and i assume that we will soon do that. Mr. Mcconnell madam president. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell as the global outbreak of the new coronavirus continues to grow, its impact on American Families and Small Businesses is continuing to scale up. School closures are challenging both parents and teachers. Child care closures are complicating family life even further. Main street Small Businesses and their employees are grappling with an unprecedented situation where their local leaders are effectively winding down their businesses for a period of time through no fault of their own. Major industries that our nation relies on have seen business virtually dry up overnight. Again, not due to any business decision they made but because of appropriate directives from Public Health experts. And, madam president , most important of all, our Health Care System and our doctors, nurses, and other frontline professionals are gearing up for what seems very likely to be the most significant nationwide challenge they have faced in generations. At every level, this new challenge is testing our nation and our institutions. Yesterday, my home state of kentucky reported its first coronavirusrelated death. Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and neighbors in Bourbon County who are mourning. I spoke with governor bashir yesterday, and we continue to stay in close touch. The bluegrass state has confirmed 25 cases total to date. We are heeding the sober warning of dr. Fauci. This is what dr. Fauci said things will get worse before they get better. It is abundantly clear that our nation cannot afford partisan politics as usual. This is a moment for bold and bipartisan action. Thats what the senate did earlier this month when we passed billions of dollars and targeted funding to assist medical professionals and responders in every state and to ease the initial shock to Small Businesses, and thats what the senate needs to expand on this week, bold and bipartisan action. Yesterday evening, the house finally completed its work on their Coronavirus Relief proposal, made a number of changes, and sent the paperwork over here to the senate. I know senators on both sides are eager to assist workers, families, and Small Businesses with the financial fallout of this extraordinary period. So, madam president , as i said yesterday afternoon, Senate Republicans are convinced that the houses noncomprehensive bill can only be the beginning, the beginning of our efforts to support our health system, assist individual americans and families, as well as stabilize the u. S. Economy. So last night, a group of republican senators conferred with secretary mnuchin. Hes returning to the capitol to meet with our entire conference today. We are continuing urgent talks on further legislation that will address head on the three major priorities we have spent the last several days discussing in depth. Number one, we need to provide more direct assistance for American Workers and families. Number two, we need further strong steps to secure our economic foundation, most especially our Small Businesses. In particular, it seems increasingly clear that the houses effort to mandate that Small Businesses provide new worker benefits, just as many Small Businesses themselves are in significant jeopardy, might even be actually harmful unless we urgently address a broader package that includes more and broader Small Business relief. And third, of course, the foundational priority is to continue providing all the support that our medical professionals need as they fight this new virus on the front lines. These conversations are ongoing. Were making progress. The house of representatives may have left town, but the senate is right here at work. Were crafting the major legislation that the American People deserve in the face of this major challenge. And its my intention that the senate will not adjourn until we have passed significant and bold new steps above and beyond what the house has passed, to help our strong nation and our strong underlying economy weather this storm. Now, before i conclude this morning, i wanted to take a moment to echo and amplify the updated guidance that our Public Health experts and the white house rolled out yesterday. As President Trump said yesterday, the next two weeks are an important opportunity. Our nation will have a major say in how long the virus will spread within the United States before it is contained. Following the commonsense steps laid out by the White House Coronavirus task force can significantly reduce each americans risk of being exposed or spreading the virus within communities. First, obviously, those who feel sick, stay at home. Those who feel sick, stay at home. Unwell children should be kept at home. And anyone with questions about their symptoms should contact their medical provider. Wherever possible, americans should engage in work or school from home. Those who cannot, including those whose inperson Job Functions are central to our government or our nation, must take especially seriously the c. D. C. s guidelines for health and hygiene, especially washing hands and social distancing. All americans have been strongly urged to avoid eating or drinking out, to avoid discretionary travel, and to avoid visiting Nursing Homes or retirement facilities unless, unless to provide critical assistance. Some of these recommendations sound like basic common sense. Others of them would have sounded almost unthinkable just a few weeks ago. It is almost impossible to exaggerate the pace of change over the past weeks and days. But americans are strong. We are resilient. This is a proud nation with a worldchanging history. And we have come through far greater challenges than this. This is not a time for fear or panic. It is a time to follow the facts , listen carefully to the experts, and take precautions to protect not only ourselves but the most vulnerable in our society. Every single one of us can do our part. The presiding officer under the previous order, the leadership time is preserved. Under the previous order, the senate will be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. 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 thoughtful way. Madam president , i yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call mr. Schumer madam president . The presiding officer the democratic leader. Mr. Schumer i ask unanimous consent the quorum be dispensed 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 economic consequences. As covid19 spreads, our local Health Officials and Health Experts tell us were woefully unprepared for whats about to hit us. Public Health Infrastructure like hospital beds and masks and ventilators must be produced and procured. Testing is still not at its proper capacity. And the resulting economic downturn from this virus is already impacting millions of American Families, workers, and businesses. Small, medium, large alike. First, on a personal note, please, americans, take care of your selves a void unnecessary contact, even though i know that so many of the meetings and gatherings and celebrations that we have planned must be postponed. Its painful but not as painful as the continuing spread of this awful virus. And a little advice and this is not universal, but ive harder this from a number of medical people that i trust take your temperature in the morning and in the evening. Its a good way to check that whether you have this illness and it is progressing within you. Not all experts agree with that, but many do. In my view, it cant hurt. Its something that i am doing. Im urging my family to do it. Im couraging my staff to do it. Now to our response here in the senate and in the congress. The response to the coronavirus will require a massive mobilization of Public Resources federal, state, and local as we have marshaled before only in wartime. Its going to require congress to work in a bipartisan way and with uncommon speed, and the American People, too, must pull together and sacrifice in ways small and large. Their normal way of life in an effort to combat this disease and limit its spread. All hands must be on deck because the task before us is daunting and may yet eclipse the pain felt by woargs and families during the great recession, at least for many families. Now, whats the first order of business here in the senate . Its to take up and pass the recent house bill and do it today. It would provide free coronavirus testing. Thats essential. It would extend paid sick leave. It would give Food Assistance, medicaid reimbursement and expanded Unemployment Insurance. I understand that some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle might want to amend the legislation or have it written differently if they were the ones putting it together, but id remind them that leader mcconnell said that he would defer to the agreement between the speaker of the house and secretary mnuchin. The president has said he will sign this bill if the Senate Passes it. So if we change the bill, it will go back to the house, be delayed, and delay the aid it contains for American Families coping with the impact of the virus. So please, my colleagues, we will have other opportunities to legislate, and there will be a great need for them, but lets move this now. Lets move this now. I believe our side of the aisle will clear this. I hope the other side will and it will be on the president s desk today. Lets hope, and let us not delay any longer. But there is much more to be done. Once this legislation is sent to the president s desk, our work is not over, not even close. We must soon move to other very necessary measures to address the coronavirus and its widening impact on the health and wellbeing of the American People. Today im presenting a series of proposals to congressional appropriators that would provide an initial infusion of at least 750 billion. Our proposal is big, its bold, but it is also targeted. It focuses on those americans in the parts of the Health Sector and the economy most in need now. Hospitals and treatment, Unemployment Insurance and medicaid, loan forbearance and aid to Small Business, child care and senior citizens. It focuses on those who need help, who dont have an income because they have lost their job temporarily, of those who need, help with senior citizens, with children who are not in school, of hospitals who are short of equipment and maybe personnel. Thats the immediate focus. Thats what we must do right now, focus on those who need help immediately and do it in a way that deals with the structural problems in the country that have made the attack of this virus more virulent, more harmful, and worse. Now, by contrast, its reported that the administration is proposing a massive bailout, federal bailout of industry and a payroll tax cut. If were going to follow up the house bill with another Major Economic stimulus package, which we must, our major focus cannot be based on bailing out airlines, cruises, and other industries. We must first prioritize Economic Solutions that are focused on workers and their families, solutions that would allow us to fix our broken unemployment system, rebuild our Public Health system, which is overburdened, save small and mediumsized american businesses that have a cash crunch and will go out of business even though they were healthy a month ago because no one is buying their products or using their services. Lets remember, corporations are not people. People are people. And when it comes to this cascadeing crisis, we should help our fellow americans first. Even as we plan and execute policies that protect our economy, the administrations proposal, if that is the sum of it, a massive bailout of industry and a payroll tax cut doesnt do that. It doesnt target at the people who most need the help. And any package that were going to do here, which must be passed in a bipartisan way, must contain large elements of what i am talking about and maybe other things as well that help the people who are in need. I will be sending my proposal and a powerpoint slide to every one of my colleagues shortly, and i hope that they will understand the need for it. Ive consulted with large numbers in our caucus, and we have broad support for these proposals and some others. So, again, when it comes to this cascadeing crisis, help fellow americans first, even as we plan and execute policies that protect our economy. First we take actions to fight this virus. First we get liveliness to our workers, our patients, our students, our seniors, our Small Businesses. If your house is on fire, the first thing you worry about is not smoke damage to the roof. You try to put out the fire. Thats what our proposal does. It means first and foremost, we work to address the coronavirus itself and the people most impacted. In the midst of a sprawling health and economic catastrophe, industry bailouts should not be at the top of our priority list. Now, our proposal also does not include a payroll tax cut. That option may be premature and the wrong response to the problems we face today. There are much better ways to get money in the hands of the americans who need it most, in the ways they need it most. For example, in our proposal, the Senate Democratic proposal, if youre a worker and you lose your job and cant work, you qualify for nearly 10,000 over six months in unemployment benefits. If you cant work because you get sick and your employer doesnt provide paid sick leave, we would allow you to apply for Unemployment Insurance and get reimbursed. And we are also, under senator murrays leadership, doing more on the sick leave front. If your hours are cut and you suddenly cant pay your mortgage, youre going to lose your home, or are otherwise struggling to make ends meet because you choose to pay your mortgage but then cant pay other vital expenses, our proposal would let you defer your Mortgage Loans for six months. No penalty fees or impact on your credit. Well do the same for student loans. Well do the same for Small Business loans, a sixmonth moratorium. That helps real people. If youre a working parent and suddenly you have to worry about finding a safe place for your kids to stay during the day, we would provide emergency funding to safely ramp up Child Care Services for heavily impacted parts of the country. And if youre a Small Business suddenly facing cash flow problems, we would allow you to apply for low interest loans and other forms of direct Financial Assistance that can offer relief quickly and allow you to overcome this problem and keep your business going in a healthy way. And these are just a few examples. Our proposal includes much more but includes what is needed and needed immediately. It includes what governors across the country are calling for, aid to Public Health systems and citizens impacted by this crisis. And i would say to my republican colleagues we want to work with you, you will have different ideas, but our ideas must be contained in a package. The thing the administration has been talking about, if thats true, is not good enough at all. One other thing we need, as more testing becomes available, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases will inevitably increase and the strain on our Public Health system will become even greater. Were going to need massive investments to ensure we have the capacity and necessary infrastructure to treat all americans that need it. Our proposal addresses that as well. So as we discuss what is to come in the next few weeks, i strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, both ends of the capitol, to review our proposal and organize our next organize our next legislative response around these ideas. In conclusion, madam president , this crisis is going to demand more from all of us, more from an administration and a president that has been far too slow in making up to the scale of the challenges we now face, more from a congress that has to set aside partisan squabbles and Work Together, and more from the American People who must diligently follow Public Health guidance and endure massive disruptions of their daily lives. I know my family is enduring that right now, and so are millions and millions and millions of families across america. We have to stick together, be strong, support one another, and well get through it. We will. We have not faced a Public Health crisis of this global scale in recent times. We are unsure how long the disturbance to our National Economic life will last. But we americans have overcome challenges of this magnitude and even greater before, and we will again. It will demand determination, cooperation, and sacrifice. It will demand an enormous coordinated effort by the government of the United States at all levels to protect the health and safety of the American People, but overcome this problem we will. Together, strongly, forcefully, and smartly. Madam president , i yield the floor. I note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Thune madam president. The presiding officer the majority whip. Mr. Thune madam president , the senate had three priorities the presiding officer were in a quorum call. Mr. Thune madam president , i would ask unanimous consent the quorum call be lifted. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Thune madam president , the senate had three priorities for this week reauthorizing the expiring provisions of the federal Intelligence Surveillance act, passing the second phase of our Coronavirus Response, and initiating a serious discussion about what else we need to do to help americans address this challenge. And i have to say im glad, madam president , that we have already made progress in all three fronts. On sunday, several key provisions of the federal Intelligence Surveillance act expired, including the provision that allowed the f. B. I. To wiretap lone wolf terrorists, terrorists not affiliated with a specific terrorist organization, and the role being wiretap provision that prevents the f. B. I. From having to seek a new wiretap war and each time a terror suspect changes his phone number. Madam president , every minute of every day, the men and women of our Law Enforcement intelligence communities are working to track terrorist threats and prevent attacks on american citizens. We need to ensure that they have all the tools that they need to do their jobs. The federal Intelligence Surveillance act provisions that expired sunday are key weapons in the fight to keep americans safe, and im pleased that we were able to pass a 77day extension of these provisions yesterday and have set up a process for consideration of a longterm extension. I strongly support the bipartisan house bill which combines extensions of these key antiterrorism tools with new Accountability Measures that will ensure that our Law Enforcement is held to the highest standards when pursuing surveillance of suspected terrorists and foreign agents. Attorney general barr has also endorsed the house bill and i look forward to taking up this legislation and debating several related issues raised by my colleagues before we are on the brink of another expiration. Madam president , of course, the other thing that were focused on this week is the issue thats at the top of everyones mind, and thats dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. Two weeks ago, Congress Passed coronavirus legislation providing more than 8 billion in funding for virus research, testing, and medical care. This week, were looking to pass the second phase of Congress Response, and thats legislation to continue our investment in medical care and to begin to address the Economic Impact the coronavirus is having on American Workers. The house has reached an agreement with treasury secretary steve mnuchin, and senators are currently reviewing the houses legislation which arrived, i might add, here in the senate just this morning. And i look forward to passing that bill this week. But as the leader said on sunday, madam president , Senate Republicans believe that any legislation we pass this week is only the blink of Congress Response to the virus. As this outbreak continues to unfold, other issues will need to be addressed, and Senate Republicans are already planning for legislation to address future priorities, whether its increased funding for medical facilities or measures to provide support for American Families and businesses. Madam president , this is a challenging time for our country. Its often in challenging times that we see the very best in america. And were seeing that already, in neighbors ensuring that neighbors are supplied with necessities. Sports figures donating to ensure that workers at their arenas are still played even when games arent being played. Restaurants helping to feed their neighbors even though their businesses are currently suffering. And companies and arts organizations acting to provide free resources to families hunkering down at home. In the millions of americans who are providing the essential services that we need during this outbreak, from the workers stocking the shelves at our Grocery Stores and pharmacies to the Truck Drivers delivering needed goods across our country. And finally and especially, in our Health Care Professionals from doctors and nurses to sanitation staff who risk exposure every day to ensure that americans receive the care that they need. Madam president , when weve come through this outbreak, all of us want to be able to look back and say we did everything we could to help our fellow americans keep safe and to slow the spread of this disease. And the best way to do that is by following the guidelines that weve been given. Washing our hands frequently and thoroughly, practicing social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and staying home when advised. Some these measures may be inconvenient but theyre a small price to pay to flatten the curve and limit the diseases spread. While anyone can be hit hard by the coronavirus, there are lot of people who are especially vulnerable to complications from elderly americans to the many individuals with preexisting conditions. Lets do everything that we can to prevent our fellow americans and prevent our hospitals and our Health Care Professionals from being overwhelmed with cases. Madam president , im confident that if we pull together and look out for each other, our nation will emerge from this challenge stronger. And i look forward to working with my colleagues here in congress to ensure that our nation has the resources it needs to combat and defeat this disease. Madam president , i was encouraged to hear our Senate Democratic leader speak about his willingness to work with republicans obviously to do anything here in the senate require 60 votes which means we have to have bipartisan cooperation. We have a vehicle, as i mentioned, the legislative vehicle that contains a number of features that are helpful, i think, in terms of addressing the crisis that were experiencing thought only on the health care front but on the economic front and the hardships that are being experienced by millions of americans. But theres more that we need to do. And those discussions, as i mentioned, are under way. And im hopeful that we will be able to come to a conclusion to a resolution that would be good not only for those americans who have been hurting economically, perhaps not working, not able to get to work. Businesses that have shut down or Small Businesses who create most of the jobs in this country, majority of the jobs in this country. And certainly the Health Care Professionals who, as i said, are on the front lines every single day. We need to take every step we possibly can to ensure that people that we not only protect people from the spread of disease but also that we ensure that they continue to be able to sustain an economic livelihood in the midst of this crisis. So many of the things that are being discussed and worked on that will require collaboration with the democrats, with the house of representatives, we need to approach this in a way, a bipartisan way recognizing that the need is great and just absolute necessity of cooperation is greater than ever. So i look forward to working with our colleagues here this week as we move forward in a way that hopefully will lead to some very positive results and address the very critical needs being felt by families all across this country as a result of this coronavirus disease. Madam president , i yield the floor. And i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call the presiding officer the senator from from montana is recognized. A senator are we in a quorum call . The presiding officer we are. Mr. Tester i ask that the quorum call commonsensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Tester in the last 36 hours weve seen schools, restaurants, bars, gyms, ski resorts and churches closed. Thousands of children are home from school, many of them not knowing where the next meal will come from, and parents are without child care. There are no test kits to test for coronavirus. A few, but not nearly enough. And inadequate medical supplies in indian country. Thousands are concerned about what it means for their paycheck. Seniors are word about their health. Businesses are faced to make very, very tough choices. Millions of americans are depending on us here in washington, d. C. , to act and to act quickly. The house jumped into action and began negotiating with the administration on a bill to address some of the most pressing and immediate concerns of the coronavirus. The deal was struck and the house passed the bill with overwhelming bipartisan majority what happened in the senate . Well, last thursday the majority leader sent us home, business as usual. What we should have done, we should have stuck around and did the peoples work. But instead my friends in the majority decided we should operate as business as usual and take off friday and take off the weekend, go home. Well, this is not business as usual. If the majority leader would have listened to the c. D. C. , he would have heard that what he did last thursday went very contrary to the recommendations that they have made. To avoid groups, to avoid airports. We did just the opposite. Millions of americans are waiting for the senate to act. Were here today to consider what we should have considered last saturday, an important start towards providing needed relief. It provides for testing, sick leave, Unemployment Insurance for those losing their jobs through no fault of their own. We could have done this several days ago. But instead we continue to wait. We continue to wait, as weve watched athletic shutdowns, the ncaa, baseball, hockey, restaurants, broadway, schools closed the list goes on and on. We continue to languish here in the United States senate, supposedly the greatest deliberative body in the world. We do this while four in ten americans struggle to cover unanticipated expense of 400. Let me say that again. Four in ten families are 400 away from a financial crisis. This bill ensures that a Hotel Employer in bill employee can stay home without sacrificing that to 4 for rent and child care. A quarter of American Families go without medical care for fear of covering the cost. This bill will make sure that no one is going to go get health care or a coronavirus test without the fear of an expense. More than that, the bill would increase the amount of funding for montanas Medicaid Program to cover additional medicaid expenses. Many kids in montana rely on lunch that they get at their school as a primary source of nutrition for that day. This bill will allow those kids to continue to get lunch even if the schools are closed. Seniors who are homebound rely on Meal Services like meals on wheels. Missoula aging services is just as an example of one is already preparing to use the allotment of millions of dollars in additional revenue for senior nutrition, for providing more meals for seniors who are following recommendations to stay home. This pandemic is already causing significant impacts to our economy. We know that all too well. This is why this bill addresses unexpected unemployment and helps Small Businesses cover paid sick leave for those who need it. Under this bill, lowincome pregnant women and others with Young Children could lose their jobs due to covid19 will be able to access Food Assistance. All of these are commonsense Bipartisan Solutions that the senate has delayed for no good reason. On the farm, when there is work to be done, especially when its timesensitive work, you dont take a break. You get the job done. I call on my colleagues not to waste another moment, to hold a vote, and get the job done. With that, madam president , i yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call mr. Cornyn madam president . The presiding officer the senator from texas is recognized. Mr. Cornyn madam president , i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be rescinded. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn madam president , across our country were seeing cities, schools, businesses, and other organizations take the necessary and serious precautions to keep the American People safe from the spread of the coronavirus. School district, colleges, universities are canceling inperson classes. Churches are moving to services online. Professional sports teams are hitting pause on their regular season. Airlines are canceling flights. And many main street businesses are closing their doors. I know that all of this is a little disorienting and certainly alarming. But while these measures arent normal, it is a sign that we are heeding advice from the experts, people like dr. Fauci, organizations like the center for Disease Control. Its a sign that were doing what we can to prevent or at least slow down community spread. And its a sign that we are standing together and making progress ultimately expecting that we will get through this together. The difficult decisions that need to be made by elected officials and Business Owners and Community Leaders when they decide to shut down normal parts of our daily lives, these are not easy decisions for them to make. Despite the Public Health benefits these closures will provide, were also expecting other serious, mainly economic consequences. Our economic engine is being brought to a halt as people are staying home rather than producing and Small Businesses and their employees in particular are feeling the impact. Jason phillips is a manager at zoles pizza in fort worth, texas. And hes been in the Service Industry more than 20 years. Still he said hes never been in a situation quite like this one. He said this last saturday zoles pizza had about half the number of customers theyve come to expect. Steven has a similar struggle. He opened a new restaurant in texas north of san antonio called the cetrinoe european cafe and bistro. The first year for any new restaurant is bound to be tough. As luck would have it a week after they opened, an oven broke and it had to be replaced but nothing has prepared stephen for the months of february and march, what they would bring. He was hoping, as you might imagine for an uptick in tourists which would mean more business, but instead a pandemic has kept everybody at home. Rather than a positive bump in the business, revenue for his young restaurant is down 60 . As a result hes had to cut staff and he hasnt hired replacements for the employees hes recently lost. This is an alltoo familiar struggle for millions of americans who are unable to go to work during this pandemic and are facing serious Economic Uncertainty about their future. Those in the Service Industry, especially those who rely on tips are among the hardest hit. Im glad to say that soon the senate will take action to provide additional relief. As the presiding officer knows, we passed an 8. 3 billion emergency package to help fast track discovery of a vaccine and make sure that our Health Care Sector is prepared for what is coming at it or at least better prepared. The house has now passed the Families First Coronavirus Response act which we are in the process of taking up and will hopefully finish this week and then i expect there will be a third installment, a stimulus package that treasure secretary mnuchin will be up here on the hill talking about today to try to help employees and employers and entire industries survive this economic trauma. But the Families First Coronavirus Response act will help protect both the physical and financial help of our health of our country by supporting workers and their families impacted by the virus. It will remove financial barriers for texans who need access to coronavirus testing regardless of income or insurance coverage. This is one of the things that i talked to our Governor Abbott about in particular. He said there are two things that texas needs, its more testing and its more protective equipment, personal protective equipment, p. P. E. s theyre called, in order for this testing to take place. While its still true according to the center for Disease Control that you should not be tested unless you are experiencing symptoms and referred by a Health Care Provider, its clear that more testing is going to be needed and indeed weve heard from the president and the Vice President and the administration in general that we expect a huge ramping up of the capacity to test people so they can know whether they are positive and they need to stay in isolation or possibly need Health Care Treatment or whether like the president and one of our colleagues here, senator graham, they test negative and obviously with the peace of mind that comes with that. But we will this legislation removes all financial barriers for that testing. And for those who have private insurance, it requires that all plans cover the cost of testing, including the cost of a provider, an urgent care center, an emergency room visits in order to get tested. As i said, right now c. D. C. Protocol calls for a Health Care Provider to make a dying nose base diagnosis based on symptoms that would then lead to a test. Those are the same zero cost measures that would apply to those covered by medicare, medicaid, and tricare. It also requires that National Disaster medical system to reimburse the cost of testing for patients who are uninsured. In short, the bottom line is no one will have to pay to be tested for the coronavirus, period. This legislation also includes a range of provisions to provide Financial Security for those who are unable to work, and thats because they are protecting the Public Health. It will create a new federal Emergency Paid Sick leave program for those impacted by the coronavirus. That means that any texan, any american whos diagnosed, quarantining or caring for a dependent who is impacted by this virus will be able to take 14 days of paid sick leave. And many text workers many texas workers will be able to access 12 weeks of paid leave for longterm absences. These protections include workers who stay home for their loved ones including staying home with their kids due to school closures. This bill also makes changes to Unemployment Insurance. It will temporarily waive requirements for workers to prove that they are actively searching for work during the Public Health Emergency Response and it will provide 1 billion in emergency grants to states to support processing and paying Unemployment Insurance benefits. In other words, we know that people are staying home because their employers have told them their businesses have been shut down, even though they are not sick, they are suffering financial loss. The purpose of this is to make sure that through the vehicle of Unemployment Insurance, that they do get some money so that they can take care of their necessities and keep putting food on the table. This bill also takes serious steps to strengthen Food Security for those who are struggling with reliable access to healthy meals. This is one of the things i heard from a friend of mine out in west texas just today concerned about the food banks that provide a safety net for people without access to regular healthy food. This bill actually will send 400 million to local food banks which are supporting those lowincome families across the country, including in places like west texas. We know that Older Americans are the most vulnerable when it comes to the coronavirus, and many are afraid to leave their homes at the risk of getting sick. This legislation provides a quarter of a billion dollars for the Senior Nutrition Program to provide homedelivered meals to lowincome seniors. It also provides a half a billion dollars for federal food stamps and provides flexibility on work requirements so those who lose their job or arent able to work can receive assistance when they need it the most. I mentioned the food banks and the school lunch program. The u. S. Department of agriculture last week approved a request from texas with regard to school lunches. Millions of texas children are currently eligible for free lunch programs but obviously when the schools close, they dont get access to that nutrition. But thanks to the u. S. Department of agriculture, texas schools can continue to serve free meals to lowincome students even when their schools are closed. This legislation also includes a range of measures to support Health Care Workers, veterans, Small Businesses, and countless texans who are struggling financially as a result of this pandemic. Of course we know were all racing against the clock to respond to this virus, and its important for congress to act promptly to demonstrate to the American People that we understand the problem and that we are using every tool in our toolbox to respond to this crisis on their behalf. In any major event, whether it is a natural disaster, a pandemic, we need a allofgovernment response. All of us need to be cooperating and working on the same wage, moving as efficiently as we can. The Families First Coronavirus Response, as i said, builds on the 8. 3 billion emergency spending bill that was signed into law by President Trump earlier this month. It also complements the National Emergency declaration made by President Trump last week and Governor Abbotts declaration for the state of texas. Thats why i plan to support this bill when a vote is scheduled. I know there are other senators who have said they have good ideas, and many of them are intriguing and i think would make a positive addition to this legislation, but i think in times like this, the thing we need to do is to Work Together to function expeditiously, to get this legislation passed, and because we know theres going to be another installment, a third installment, to respond to the coronavirus, perhaps those other good ideas can be included in that additional legislation, which we will pass before we recess. I was interested to see the majority leader say we will not recess until we take up and pass that third installment, and i think his sense of urgency and his sense of determination and focus is welljustified, and i congratulate him for that, and i think we ought to all pull together in a similar spirit of unity. I want to thank the Trump Administration especially treasury secretary mnuchin for working so quickly with nancy pelosi. This is not the first bill to strengthen our response to the coronavirus, and it will not be our last. As i said, there is a bipartisan commitment to passing a third phase to strengthen our economy and support the industries and businesses that have been hit the hardest by this pandemic. Leader mcconnell has made clear his commitment to finding a bold, bipartisan solution to the economic challenges we are facing and will continue to face in the months ahead, and im proud to support this effort. While conversations continue on regarding the next phase of our Coronavirus Response and what that may look like, i believe its time to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response act and that we provide this needed relief to the American People as soon as possible. Mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that the senate stand in recess until 2 15 p. M. The presiding officer without objection. Objection. Track the spread throughout the u. S. And the world with interactive maps and charts. Watch briefings and hearings with Public Health specialist anytime unfiltered at cspan. Org coronavirus. Cspans washington journal live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. Coming up we will discuss the role and powers of the local, state, and federal government during a Health Emergency with Georgetown University law center, national and Global Health law director and with Arizona State University Center for Public Health law director james hodge. Watch cspans washington journal live at seven eastern this morning. A number of senators spoke on the floor about the coronavirus economic aid package which the house had agreed to earlier. We will begin with Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell who also talks about the first death in his state from the virus. As the global outbreak of a new coronavirus continues to grow, its impact on American Families and Small Businesses has continued to scale up. School closures are challenging both parents and teachers, childcare closures are complicating family lives even further. Main street Small Businesses and their employees are grappling with an unprecedented situation where the local leaders are effectively winding down their businesses for for a period ofe through no fault of their own