Finances. My colleagues and i know that americans are suffering. Our overriding priority for the past few months has been responding to the coronavirus iscrisis. We passed several major response bills and provided substantially more than 2 trillion. We have funded medical care, personal protective equipment for frontline medical personnel and Treatment Development hate sickly of Unemployment Benefits direct relief payments to american citizens, forgivable loans for Small Businesses and much more. Our goal has been to provide a comprehensive responses addressing not just the medical priorities but also the Economic Impact of viruses have on so Many American families. There is more work to be done. Right now a big part of the work is monitoring the implementation of the legislation we have already passed. We provided a tremendous amount of money and we need too made sure its getting word needs to go as quickly as possible and its being spent in the most effective way. Monitoring the implementation of legislation we have already passed is crucial for informing any futuree legislation. As i said we have provided a tremendous amount of funny money for coronavirus equal to almost 50 of the entire federal budget for 2020. Its important to any future funding to carefully target and we need to make sure federal dollars are going to coronavirus parties. Our children anddr grandchildren madam president will be footing the bill for the money we are adding to the national debt. As a case in point the debttogdp which was scheduled to be 79 this year is now expected to be in 202101 . That jump from 79 gdp to 101 debttogdp is the largest jump i am told literally since 1943 in the middle of world war ii. Madam president is essential that we stand wisely in addition to overseeing the implementation of a coronavirus legislation we passed gathering data to inform future bills we have another coronavirus related nomination to consider,hi something that ia role unique to United States senate under the constitution to make comes to judicial nominations nominations to the executive branch, the senate has the responsibility to ensure that we conduct confirmation hearings and vote to put people into key positions in the administration and on the courts. The question about why we are here madam president is a fairly easy one to answer and that is there lots of important positions that are key not only tonsha the Health Care Crisis tt we are facing in this country but to our Ongoing NationalSecurity Priorities as well as to the economic challenges that we are facing through this crisis. This week the senate 19th committee will be holding a hearing on the nomination of the special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery at the treasury department, a key role created by the legislation we passed in the congress, critically important to the implementation making sure its done in the right way. Inspectors general play a key oversight role helping to root out waste, fraud and other misuses of taxpayer dollars. If confirmed he will be an essential part of ensuring that the trillions that we have provided for Coronavirus Relief are spent properly. Movies are doing other essential coronavirus work this week as well for the Senate Health education labor andmi Pensions Committee is holding a hearing on an initiative senators blunt and alexander worked to get included in the coronavirus legislation for this i initiatie designed private sector and Public Sector collaboration with the goal of dramatically increasing our coronavirus test. Thats going on in the Health Education labor and Pensions Committee. The Congress Committee which im aemi member will be hearing abot the impact of the covid19 on the airline industry, something we know is an industry thats being pro family impacted by whats happening with the virus. The Senate Health education labor and Health Committee will hear about the fight against the coronavirus. Doctors thought she would feel on an avril. Committee work will pay play key role in the coronavirus a bill and its good to be able to me once again here in washington d. C. Of course what the covid19 pandemic will continue to be our herd in washington in the coming weeks and months theres other essential work we have to do for the American People. Appropriations bills, nominations to essential of as usury are just a few print the Senate Armed Services committee in the Senate Intelligence committee are Holding Hearings on nominees for key nationalna security positios including the director of National Intelligence and the secretary of the navy. Madam President Senate republicans are committed to getting our country through this crisis to help the American Workers and businesses deal with the virus impact. We have been discussing ideas over the next couple of weeks on tax and radio to relief and support for farmers and ranchers to spur job creation and seal responsible businesses from frivolous litigation once the economy has opened upen again. As they say will contain a focus on making sure the money that we have provided gets where it is needed as fast as possible. Madam president the United States undoubtedly has more tough days ahead but we are going to get through this and we are going to come out tough for on the other side. In the meantime we have got work to do here in the United States senate. The people across this country are hurting and struggling and there are many priorities that need to be addressed. Im pleased the senate is open for business. We are going to be working the next few months as i mentioned on the National Defense authorization bill that we have to do on an annual basis to deal with critical National Security priorities and making sure the men and women who defend this country and the American People and arent just around the world have the training, equipment, the resources to do their jobs to keep americans safe. We have a critical water for structure bill that we mark up its also piece of legislation thats importantt to the economy in this country madam president. As we look at the long list of priorities that we need to deal with here in the United States senate its important that we go about the peoples business and i know i speak from personal experience over the past several weeks like my colleagues we work hard to stay connected. I worked hard for standup for the people of south dakota using Technology Platforms and apps that ive never had much experience with using in the past. From zoom to skype to google hang out to shindig, they are all types of interesting new apps that many of us became acquainted with and conducted meetings and lots of Virtual Meetings in tuesday connected with their constituents to see whats important to them and to find out whats working and whats not working and get the feedback about what we would be doing as a for respond to the crisis that is out there. There is snow substitute madam president when it comes to doing the nationsmi business here for us to be able to meet and vote and make important nominations. We have the obligation and responsibility to advise and consent for the judicial nomination whether thats a key cabinet post to import positions as it pertains to National Security or the virus. There are massive rarity items for what the United States senate has the principle responsibility and we need to get about the business. Ks in the days and weeks ahead as wes take on those challenges i hope we can Work Together in a way that provide maximum safety for those who work here but also gives the important prior to to the items in the issues that are critical to americans. At this point in the middle of this crisis and when we get on the other side of it the important critical National Security priorities and economic priorities and other this is before the American People to deal with on a daily basis. So madam president i thank you for the time and look forward to working with my colleagues albeit under different circumstances than we have had to deal with in the past butal nevertheless to have the United States senate, the peoples representatives here doing the important work that the American People expect us to do. Madam president i yield the floor. The senator from texas is recognized. Madam president let me join my friend, let me join our friendd and my friend the senatr from south dakota to say im glad to be back in this chamber doing the work of 29 million texans and my presiding officer and might partner and fellow senator from texas is joining us as well. As i was listening closely to the senator from south dakota is a recitation of all the things that we have to do there is no shortage of work for us to do and there is no reason for us to continue to curl up in a fetal position and in some undisclosed location and be afraid to go outdoors because the fact is the experts at the center for Disease Control people like dr. Fauci dr. Birx to be seen on tv on a nightly basis, they tell us what, we need to do in order to function safely and its the same thing that are grocery clerks and our doctors and nurses and frankly n our Law Enforcement or smell are doing. We know how to do this and how to do it safely but at the same simply cannot hide out and not show up for work. What kind of the messages sent to the American People . We know this is an extraordinary crisis, an unprecedented crisis and we have got someth things tt he would never consider doing under normal times, proofreading more than 3 trillion at work speed. The brakes and to consider what it is weve already done and where we need to make some corrections. Any time you do anything this big and this fast, youre going to make some mistakes, and to make some mistakes, and sen. John cornyn there have been corrections about the way the treasury has been administering the program but also have heard about gaps. Ar example, i have done a number of videoconferences with wr chambers of commerce around the country. They asked me why did you leave the chambers out of the support under the Paycheck Protection Program for nonprofits. I think we dont have a good answer for that. I said that is something that we need to go back and fix. If we cant do it treasury guidance than we need to do it by legislation. I have no doubt, we will continue to legislate. But we need to do it smartly, we need to be here in person so that we can have the interaction and deliberation and debates that are so important coming up with a good product. We have done some pretty extraordinary work in the last six weeks or so. But chambers have come together and quickly pass for separate pieces of legislation to strengthen our response to the coronavirus. We have sent vital funding to our hospitals. At a time when our hospitals the frontlines of defense dealing eawith people with covid19. Many of them were laying off employees because we had asked tem to forgo elective surgery which is one of the ways that they and up paying the bills. Then we learned in the global competition or personal protective equipment, literally every mayor, every governor, every president , every leader of every country around the world was in a global rush to try to come up with the personal protective equipment and one of the things i told my constituents and friends that i think we have learned is that we cannot depend on china. On these uncertain supply chains for things is important is personal protective equipment. Or pharmaceuticals for that matter. And so these are some of the lessons and, some of the feedback that we have gotten as we had interacted with her constituents. We know the testing is gotten much more widespread. We have made tremendous advances in terms of treatment. With all of the Clinical Trials that are underway, well over 70 of them, and now the help of a vaccine rated hopefully sooner rather than later. Lets begin a vaccine, then hopefully this will be relegated to the same status as a seasonal flu. For which we typically do have a vaccine. So the particularly vulnerable individuals, the elderly, people with underlying chronic disease, can be protected first. We also sent funding to our state and local governments. 150 million. We have all talk to our mayors and our county judges in texas. And obviously the saleses tax revenue has fallen like a cliff because theres not much business going on in our Retail Stores to be short. Although there is a lot going on line with the deliveries and those sorts of orders. Ndt we know our state and local government provide for Law Enforcement and other essential services. So we felt this was important to throw them a lifeline tool and to help them meet their budgets and maintain those vital services. Perhaps the most ambitious in the most popular thing we did was to try to help our Small Businesses stay afloat through the Paycheck Protection Program. Obviously this was successful, and certainly popular, three and 50 million were spent in two weeks. Then we had to come back and replenish that with another 320 billion. But we knowli that money is flyg out of our local Community Banks and Credit Unions helping Small Businesses to keep their employees on the payroll. And if they do that, this low interest loan will turn into a grant. And the goal courses once we defeat this virus as we will. Then we will then be in a position for those businesses, we bring their employees back if they followed them. But to help us build out of this recession in which we are currently involved. They also provided critical funding for our farmers and ranchers and other producers so they can keep our country fed. They taken unprecedented steps to minimize the impact of t this virus on the American People on our economy and try to provide some mode of certainty. There is so much uncertainty. I dont think theres that civil timeline that has the breath of the crisis that we have reached. Certainly 911 was a different type of crisis. Since 2008, the Great Recession with the 2 meltdown of the banks on wall street. The Great Recession. Thus were significant events to be sure but nothing quite as rival that with the coronavirus has done to our Public Health and to our economy. The cascading consequences of this virus have reached every Community Every sector of our economy, and every corner of the globe. Every single american has of shift in their daily retune as a result of the virus. Maybe shift is to tentative of a word. Actually many of us have had our lives turned on their heads. For some, the changes were very significant. I think about those who contracted thee virus. The loved ones who cannot be at their sides, the healthcare workers who were there and are helping them. Helping those who are sick. The millions of americans who have lost their jobs. Small Business Owners wondering whether they are going to cease to exist. And whether they can survive this current crisis. And then thehe farmers, seeing a glut of supply in reduced demand. Many people have been able to work from home. That is wonderful. But often in a pulling double duty as a teacher for the children. Schools having been closed and others have continued heading out to work everyday to keep because of our society running. The socalled essential workers. By thewo way, i really dont lie that designation between essential and nonessential. I think really what we had a call it is safe, and unsafe. Because all workers, are i believe, essential. In ways big and small, this virus has affected everybody in this country. While we must continue working, to slow the spread and reduce the Economic Impact, we cannot ignore the profound human impact that this his head. Many people have been isolated under very difficult circumstances not knowing whether they will, still have a bjob to go back to. Many know that living with the uncertainty of this pandemic, perhaps in a crowded house or apartment w with children, eldey parents and others cut off from the rest of society. It is no secret that this pandemic is taking a toll on americas Mental Health. Last week the family emergency room doctor released destiny newsprint doctodr. Lorna breen hg long hours as many of our Healthcare Providers are played until the family that shefa was seeing every day. She contracted covid19 and it took a week and have off to recover. But then she went back to work eager to help her she could. Shortly after dr. Lorna breen family intervened and brought her home to virginia to rest and spend ae little time with her family and for r r. But sadly, tragically, the struggles that dr. Lorna breen felt unattainable. After overcoming covid19, she ultimately took her own life by suicide. Dr. Lorna breen was a hero who devoted her entire life to caring for others. Putting others before herself. And while her tragic death cannot be reversed, it should serve as a warning signal about the broader impact this virus. In recent poll by the Kaiser Family foundation, nearly half of americans reported that the coronavirus is having a negative impact on their Mental Health one half. That is up from one third. It was in march. In the number of text to the federal disaster distress outline, skyrocketed in april. More than a thousand percent increase. As we continue to discuss what future coronavirus legislation could look like, we cannot ignore the Mental Health impact. Nationwide, we rely on the community Mental Health centers and Community BehavioralHealth Organizations to support those battling Mental Health and Substance Abuse disorders. But his need for the services has increased, resources have actually decreased. More than 90 percent of the Community BehavioralHealth Organizations nationwide are enforced to reduce their operations. We just them at a time of increased need and demand. More than 60 percent of Behavioral Health organizations project they cannot survive financially for more than three months under the current covid19 conditions. Now congress tried to do something to help. We provided hundred 75 billion for the Public Health of the social Services Emergency fund to support Healthcare Providers on thee frontlines of this crisis. As thispr funding is being distributed, Mental Health providers cannot be forgotten. Along with 24 of our colleagues, the senator and io have sent a letter to secretary hayes are an administrator and encouraging them to quickly allocate this funding and ensure that these Mental Health organizations are included. Not only do they provide vital care and support for individuals struggling with Mental Health issues, they also are key to fighting addiction and Substance Abuse. Those struggling to overcome addiction, are often living in a fragile state. Fighting each day to stay the course for the current circumstances have made this daily battles much more difficult. They are all isolated from the friends and loved ones, and theyre dealing with anxiety caused by the virus and possibly probably facing financial struggles. The distress brought on by this virus are compounded by the reduced capacity for treatment. In person support meetings are canceled. Treatment clinics and councils are curtailing appointments. The barriers to overcoming addiction grew even larger. For those individuals treatment cannot be simply be delayed. Our country is made serious inroads in battle against the opioid epidemic. In 2019, Overdose Deaths were down 4 percent from the previous year. The first increase in nearly three decades. The first decrease freedom cant let that coronavirus derail the progress that we fought so hard to make. Medicares act, i am glad to say expands access to telehealth. I think Many Americans are experiencing the benefits of telehealth and i predict that at some point this will change a lot of the place that we received consultation by Healthcare Providers, not having to drive our car or make appointments, pay for parking, spend a lot of time out of our day. We can simply do it through video conference, conveniently and effectively read but more must be done to support those battling addictions and Mental Health challenges. For those who are transitioning from the criminal Justice System, the need for Additional Services and support, is especially dire. Earlier this year, senator blumenthal and i introduced the crisis stabilization and Community Reentry act. To support those who have been a part of the criminal Justice System and to provide stable treatment to those with Mental Illness read most prisoners who are receiving treatment for Mental Health, or Substance Abuse disorder, are released without an plan. To keep them on their regimen. This often leads to it also means that Law Enforcement is also left to be the First Responders to those with suffering a Mental Health crisis. It could escalate those confrontations and for both the officer and the individual in that crisis at risk. This bill creates grants to connect Law Enforcement state and local and Community Resources to help individuals bring their engage in the ncriminal Justice System or have been released from prison and made it possible for them to access the resources they need to have a successful reentry into civilized society. These grant connect those in services to make sure the people suffering from an acute episode, can access treatment without the risk of being re incarcerated. Were facing a battle unlike any we have seeny in my lifetime. In the stress and the anxiety that come with it is taking a tremendous toll on the American People. It is not just the virus and the threat of catching the buyers that is taking the toll, we need to look at this holistically and realize if you are a victim of domestic violence, and youre forced to be confined, with your abuser and have no rustico and maybe no money coming in the front door. Only to have your abuser abusing alcohol and perhaps becoming even more violent. We have a whole catalog of problems associated with this virus in the virus itself and the risk of infection being just one. We need to look at this holistically read in discussions how to support theec market peoe during this unprecedented Time Resources for Mental Health and Substance Abuse treatment theiders cant not fall by wayside. Both parties have worked together to help Small Businesses retain employees, meet payroll and stay afloat during the covid19 pandemic. The Paycheck Protection Program, the main instrument that helps small business, received 349 billion under the cares act. And another 310 million in supplemental legislation. That public has a right to know how this money is being spent. Oversight, transparency and accountability areci crucial. From the moment these oadministration began implementing these funds, it became c t