Major industries that our nation relies onua have seen business virtually dry up overnight. Again not getting any business decision they made but because of appropriate directives from Public Health experts. And, madam president , most important of all our Healthcare System and our d 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 coronavirus related death. Our thoughts are with the family, friends and neighbors in Bourbon County who are morning. I spoke with the Governor Beshear yesterday and were continuing to stay in close touch. The bluegrass is now confirmed 25 total cases to date. And we are keeping sobel warning of dr. Fauci. This is what dr. Fauci said. Things willr. 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 in targeted funding to assist medical professionals and responders in every state, and to ease the initial shock to Small Businesses. Thats what the senate needs to expand on this week. Te 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, send republicans are convinced that the house c noncompensable can only be thein 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. Is returning to the capital to meet with our entire conference today. We are continuing urgent talks on further legislation that will address headon three major priorities we spent the last several days discussing indepth. De numberer 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 house ever demanded it Small Business to provide new worker benefits just asms many Small Businesses themselves are insignificant 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. We are 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 here now before i conclude this morning i wanted to take a moment to echo and amplify the updated guidance that our Public Health experts in 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 comments and 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. I will children should be kept at home. And anyone with questions about their symptoms should contact their medical provider. Unwell children. Wherever possible american should engage in work or school from home. Those who cannot including those whose in person Job Functions are central to our government for our nation must take especially seriously the cdc guidelines for health and hygiene. Especially washinghi hands and social distancing. All americans have beeng strong urge to avoid eating or drinking out to avoid discretionary travel, and to avoid visiting Nursing Homes or retirement facilities and less and less to provide critical assistance. Some of his these recommendatis sound like basic common sense. Others of them we would woulde thought almost unthinkable just a few weeks ago. Its almost impossible to exaggerate the pace of change over the past weeks and days. But americans are strong. We are resilient. This is our proud nation with a world changing history. And we have come through far greater challenges t than this. This is not a time for fear or panic. Yesterday the president of the United States and c the cenr for Disease Control contacted us individually and at leastro through the media to advise us to avoid gatherings of more than ten people. Its a a reflection of a natiol emergency we face in the Public Health crisis that america is facing headon as it should. This morning as we open the senate there were 18 people gather