Comprehensive response addressing not just the medical priorities but the Economic Impact this virus has had on so Many American families. We provided funding for coronavirus testing, medical care, personal protective equipment for frontline medical personnel, vaccine and treatment development, for veterans, nutrition programs, first responders, Unemployment Benefits, elementary schools, high schools and colleges, farmers and ranchers. The coronavirus aid relief and Economic Security act or thes act, the third relief act we pass provided 350 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program to help Small Businesses keep employees on the payroll during this crisis. When the program ran out of money we provided another 310 billion to ensure as many Small Businesses as possible were able to take advantage of this help. Thes act appropriated 293 billion for direct payment to american citizens to help them get through this difficult time. At this point Government Agencies are focused on getting all the aid we passed out the door. Some programs like the Paycheck Protection Program have been up and running since day one. More than 4 billion businesses have applied for or already received forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program enabling millions of workers to keep their jobs. The vast majority of direct payments to american citizens, approximately 130 million so far have been sent out. Other aid is still in the process of getting out the door. The Tobacco Culture recently announced it will use funds appropriate in the cares act plus other money to issue direct payments to farmers and ranchers affected by this crisis. These payments are expected to reach farmers and ranchers in late may or early june. Over the course of four coronavirus bills we provided more than 500 billion to state and local governments. That is equal to roughly 25 of the yearly operating budgets of the 50 states combined. That money includes at least 185 billion front employment benefits, 150 billion for general relief fund for states, localities, and tribes, 45 billion for the Disaster Relief fund, 26 billion for nutrition programs, 13 billion for school districts, 4 billion to help the homeless. 1 billion for first responders. There is so much more. On top of that congress directed the Federal Reserve to provide additional 500 billion in loans to help state and municipalitys with cash flow issues during the pandemic. A lot of the money we have provided has been sent to states while some is in the process of being dispersed. Meanwhile states are in the process of figuring out how to spend the money they received. Some, they spent, some they have not which brings me to an important point with my friends across the aisle are pushing for more money, more money, more money. Yesterday the house of representatives unveiled a 3 trillion Coronavirus Relief bill. That is right, 3 trillion. We havent yet seen the effects of the money we provided already. Difficult to understand how democrats can call for an additional 3 trillion, all money, i might add, borrowed on the backs of younger workers and our children and grandchildren when they havent seen what existing funds have been used for or whether they have been used at all. Nobody is questioning, nobody is questioning the we may need additional money to address this crisis. Republicans have stepped up and expropriated 2. 4 trillion, roughly 50 of the entire federal budget for 2020. That is an extraordinary amount of money but these are extraordinary circumstances that call for an extraordinary response but it is important to remember that every dollar of what we have appropriated for coronavirus, todays Young Workers and our children and grandchildren are paying for this borrowing. We are putting an incredible burden on younger generations and we have an absolute obligation to make sure that we are only appropriating what is really needed. And the way we find out what is really needed is by carefully monitoring the implementation of the 2. 4 trillion, 2. 4 trillion we have already provided not by rushing into providing trillions more before we know whether and where they are needed. Once the money we arty provided has been fully allocated we will have a better sense where we might need to appropriate additional funds and where we spend enough. It is important to remember there are other things we can do in congress besides borrowing money that younger generations have to repay. Yesterday the leader came to the floor to talk about the Liability Protections republicans are pursuing for healthcare workers, businesses and others on the front line of the response and reopening. As the leader noted, hundreds of coronavirusrelated lawsuits have already been filed around the country. These lawsuits represent a real threat to our economic recovery. Doctors and hospitals for example are making extraordinary effort to protect patients and healthcare workers but are still reluctant to resume noncoronavirus related care for fear of being sued if a patient were somehow exposed to the disease in the process of receiving care. Businesses are worried that they could be held responsible if one of their employees develops coronavirus even if the business talk every reasonable precaution to discourage infection. There is obviously a place for lawsuits. Individuals or businesses engage in gross negligence or intentional misconduct. We will not be giving a free pass to anyone who fails in their basic duties during this crisis. We need to make sure medical professionals and Small Businesses and others can get back to running their operations and employing americans without worrying an army of trial lawyers is about to descend. There will undoubtedly be other things we can do to help americans get back to work and deal with the effects of the coronavirus without spending trillions of dollars, everything from Regulatory Reform to assuring frontline volunteers dont face surprise tax bills. Not to say we wont be providing additional funding. In fact it is likely that we will have to appropriate more money for the Coronavirus Response but as i already said it is absolutely essential that we consider further investment carefully and only spend money where it is truly needed. My friends across the aisle tend to think government money and Government Programs are the solution literally to every crisis. They are happy to throw taxpayer dollars around without thought of the consequences of future generations and disturbingly more than one democrat has indicated that they might take advantage of this crisis to remake america in their own far left image. That is not a responsible response. Republicans are going to continue to do everything we can to help americans through this crisis. We are committed to meeting the countrys needs while spending taxpayer dollars responsibly and with an eye to the burden we are placing on younger workers and future generations of americans. We undoubtedly have more difficult days ahead but our country is strong, so are the American People and we are going to get through this. I yield the floor. Democratic leader is recognized. Thank you, madam president. I came to the floor this morning to listen to the statements made by the other side of the island reaction to the proposal of nancy pelosi to deal with Coronavirus International emergency which we face. The republican leader senator mcconnell of kentucky as well as his whip repeated their theme on the issue of the liability facing businesses and others because of the covid19 virus pandemic which we are facing. The fact senator mcconnell has gone so far as to declare that it is a red line, his words, a red line that bars any further assistance to state and local governments and other entities until we address the socalled liability question. Hes gone so far as to say he will refuse to fund the money that has been proposed officially by the democrats to help our police, firefighters, paramedics and teachers unless we provide guaranteed business immunity from covid19 lawsuits that might be brought by workers and consumers. Senator mcconnells guaranteed business immunity is an invitation sadly for irresponsible corporations to cut corners when it comes to protecting workers as well as protecting their customers. Mcconnell red line threat would result in more people being infected by the coronavirus and more people getting sick exactly the opposite of what we should be doing as a matter of policy. We also here today from senator mcconnell and senator thune that there is no urgency in continuing to provide assistance across america because a economic crisis we face and certainly the Public Health crisis we face. I couldnt disagree more on both counts. The mcconnell red line on guaranteed business immunity as well as the argument that we have done enough, lets sit back and wait and see what happens. I couldnt disagree more. Yesterday we had a hearing from the Senate Judiciary can, Lindsey Graham held a hearing in the title was examining liability during the covid19 pandemic. That hearing took place yesterday afternoon after senator mcconnell had come to the floor and spoken about concerns of businesses about lawsuits against them related to the covid19 virus. Senator mcconnell came to the floor yesterday morning and characterized, characterized the lawsuits that were being filed and pending because of this epidemic, pandemic, i am sorry and the words used to characterize them were very explicit. He called it an epidemic of frivolous lawsuits which he referred to the minefields created by these losses, went so far as to call them a tidal wave, his words on the floor of the United States senate when it came to these lawsuits related to covid19. I went into this with my staff and said told me about this terrified tidal wave of lawsuits and heres what we discovered about the socalled tidal wave of lawsuits 958 covid19 related cases have been discovered in tracking the database this year, 958. Then we took a closer look. How many of these lawsuits were being brought against hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses, medical professionals . Nine. Nine lawsuits. 1. 3 million americans diagnosed as infected by the covid19 virus, 9 lawsuits have been filed. Senator mcconnell called data tidal wave. A tidal wave . It is barely a ripple. 27 other cases for personal injury. 36 cases out of 1. 3 million americans diagnosed as infected, 36 cases, not to say that they are all serious oral frivolous, no way of saying, counting all lawsuits, personal injury and medical malpractice because of covid19. Then we looked at other lawsuits. Turns out 264 lawsuits filed by prisoners in jails arguing they are in unhealthy or unsanitary or unsafe conditions. Is that what the senator wants to stop. Does he consider that it tidal wave of lawsuits . 171 cases were brought against Insurance Companies which a business is suing Insurance Company over the coverage in the insurance, is that the avalanche of lawsuits senator mcconnell is talking about . 95 contract cases, 79 civil rights cases. We took a look at the civil rights cases being filed with mention of covid19, many being filed by businesses arguing that they should be allowed to reopen. Is he prohibiting those lawsuits as well . What it comes down to is this. There is no tidal wave of lawsuits. We shouldnt condition helping businesses, Unemployed People and individuals across america because of the phantom threat of lawsuits, they im didnt refer to a caravan of trial lawyers. And in brought in by republican senators. And in texas. And he told the story of what he has done in businesses, he has gone to the testimony and Great Lengths to create the same workplace. And the problems he faces. This is a challenge because guidance provided by the cdc and state and local governments conflicted with one another that is difficult to father follow. What he has been looking for and stated in his sworn testimony were guidelines, guidelines for safe workplace, safe business place and they dont exist in one of the reasons came up this morning when senator schumer came to the floor, we want to see cdc guidelines released to businesses and individuals across america can see how to deal with this threat in the workplace. There was an objection on the republican side of the aisle for publication of cdc guidelines. They cant have it both ways. They cant argue through senator mcconnell that we should have guaranteed business immunity and liability and they told us there were no guidelines. That is the defense in any lawsuit, we live by the guidelines, have appropriate social distancing, to protect employees and customers and wearing masks. Those are good defenses in any lawsuit that might be brought but republicans want it both ways and no guidelines as to a safe practice. It makes the job next to impossible. And it showed a tidal wave. Mark perrone is the president of the united food and commercial workers. And and in meat processing. Working in a meat packing plant is something i know something about and work my way through college in illinois. It is hot and dangerous work, elbow to elbow with former workers, it has changed over the years was the fundamentals are still there and that is the danger of the workplace, the most dangerous workplace in america, meat processing, 162 deaths and 25,000 of mark perrones workers have been infected so far with covid19. If you want to talk about a tidal wave, we look at what those workers what they are facing right now. Some are conscientiously trying to do the right thing, make their workplace better, safer, i salute all of them. They are all good people leading these businesses and making good decisions but they need the guidelines and standards of the cdc and osha and republicans objected to these standards. There is a way through this pandemic in a sensible fashion that is fair to business and fair to workers as well and this notion of guaranteed immunity to businesses across the board is the answer is plain wrong. Those businesses, many of them will take advantage of that umbrella of protection, cut corners, people will be infected and more bad results, conscientious businesses like the one represented yesterday on the republican side in the Senate Judiciary committee to serve what mister smart is asking for, standards we can stand by. Let me say a word about the heroes act that was released yesterday by nancy pelosi. Yes, she has asked more money to be spent. We have to decide if it is worth spending. It is worth giving more direct economic payments to families across america . I supported Donald Trumps call for those payments in the first round. Does he believe that we believed, that the senate believe 1,200 is the end of the story for people who are struggling these days, facing unemployment, facing hardships . The flood of people in food banks tells us that people need more resources for the basics of their family. Senator mcconnell told us that is not an urgent need. He should go to a food bank in kentucky and take a look around. He will see a lot of people, not just democrats but republicans and independents facing hardships in this economy. And say that it is not urgent to provide money to hospitals . Even in illinois, small town rural illinois, hospitals are struggling even if they dont have covid19 infections to deal with because an economy of people who are leery about Going Forward with elective surgery and outpatient treatment. One thing to keep in mind even if you have a hospital in a remote rural area with little or no infection from the virus if you want to return to elective surgery, good medical practice requires we test the patient before the surgery to see if they are positive. Hospitals i talked to our testing the driver who will take the patient home after the procedure. We need testing so that these hospitals even in areas not directly affected by this pandemic can big get back in business and keep their doors open. What a tragedy to lose hospitals in rural areas, the heroes act calls for additional funds for these hospitals. Theres a sense of urgency, senator mcconnell does not. The notion that we honor the people who are working on the front lines to make sure they continue to serve us and risk lives for us in treating patients. Including that money to give first responders, Health Workers and others a helping hand. Let me say this notion we shouldnt be helping state and local governments, who do we think is on the front line in the battle against this National Emergency, this pandemic . It is the doctors and the nurses but also first responders, policemen, firefighters, even our teachers. If we dont provide resources lost to states and localities because of this pandemic there will be cut backs in pay and layoffs for sure. Is that how we answer this National Emergency . I believe there is a profound sense of emergency here is a profound sense of emergency as well. A couple of my colleagues are on the floor to speak, i will wrap up my remarks by saying we need to stick with this program of helping america get back on its feet, standby the individuals are struggling to feed their families and going to food banks to try to get by, we need to stand by those drawing Unemployment Insurance today with additional federal help, trying to keep families together. We need to stand by Small Businesses who cannot survive if we dont continue our assistance, Speaker Pelosi suggested it has got to be a bad idea, it is just plain wrong and selfish, look at her proposals for their merits. They mirror what we started to do with the cares act and need to continue to do. As i said yesterday you dont build a bridge halfway across a river, you build it all the way. Lets build it up point our economy can rebound with strength and people can get back to work, families and businesses in support the heroes act introduced in the house of representatives. I yield the floor. Mister president. Senator from louisiana. I am honored to follow my friend the senior senator from illinois. I enjoy his comments very much. As you know, mister president , this congress has passed i think four bills to provide money to the American People and American Healthcare delivery system, to business women in business men throughout the country to fight the coronavirus and the damage to our Public Health and the economy. We have spent and will spend because all the money is not yet spent about 3 trillion, thtrillion, that is 3000000000 zero zero zero dollars. That is 3000 billion. We dont even take that much money in a year. We take in in revenue 90 of that. So we borrow the money. I voted for the bills. We had to do it. The Federal Reserve through its lending facilities, including but not limited to a 133 lending facilities. Spent 3 trillion, i ask see your officials at the Federal Reserve, he told me in the past two months in the Federal Reserve has done it. Many of the transactions by the Federal Reserve are loans but we know all loans will be paid back and since the Federal Reserve cant raise money, to appropriate even more money than we appropriated in the cares act to backstop those losses. We are up to 6 trillion. The speaker introduced a new bill that would spend another 3 trillion. That of course we would have to borrow. Some americans think we print the money, we dont. We issue treasury securities which is just basically a bond, and for Many Americans, including but not limited to china and we have to pay that money back. Now we are up to 9 trillion, that is 9000000000000 and our total debt, that is going to put us at 28 trillion. Im not going to repeat the 0s again. Nancy pelosis bill is not going to pass the senate in its present form. You dont have to be a senior at the university of georgia to know that. It has provisions in it. It cost 3 trillion, it will expand the Affordable Care act which is controversial in the senate. It will change our election law dramatically, Nancy Pelosis bill that would federalize elections, take them away from our states. It was forbidden by the United States constitution. Nancy pelosis bill will dramatically change immigration laws, amnesty for people in the country, in the pandemic, will provide a lot of money. Hundreds of millions of dollars to people in our country illegally. It will be controversial. Nancy pelosis bill will release many federal prisoners during the coronavirus unless the bureau of prisons can affirmatively show, committing a violent crime. It has to prove that john doak, the prisoner, is being released but wont commit a violent crime. That is not impossible stated to meet. It is very procannabis, i dont know how you feel about cannabis. That is your business but it is controversial in the senate and it mentioned cannabis, 28 times. Nancy pelosis bill addresses in many respects the subject of rice, direct every federal agency to keep d posits in minority owned banks which are not suggesting that is good or bad but it will be very controversial, for that reason the bill is not going to pass this body in its present form. That sets up three scenarios. One scenario, the bill isnt going pass, it is the messaging bill. She sending a message with an eye toward the november elections, one scenario is it is a messaging bill and his political pageantry. There is a second possibility. This is her opening it. And, in the leadership on the republican side, the Republican Leadership in the house, and and without much input for members of the senate. They will come up with something and they will come back to bus, im in labor, not management. They will come back to us and say here it is, take it or leave it, without much input from us individuals. That has happened before. It has happened a lot. We can say geez, we can moan and groan and grumble, and follow our leaders into the chute, we can move and follow our leaders into the chute like cattle, the third scenario with respect to the speakers would be the second scenario happens but members of the senate and members of the house say not this time. We are not going to move and throw our leadership into the chute like cattle. That is a particular danger in the house because of the gain, and the interest and concern, and the compromise is going to the house. And the short answer is no, long answers hell no we are not voting for this. That will also happen in the senate. Our leaders would negotiate a package but heres the deal. The liability provision would cost trillion dollars in extra spending. They are standing over here, they will have heartburn as that happens. Nothing happens. We have appropriated as i mentioned, i dont want to belabor the point, 3 trillion, some of that money went to state and local governments, 150 billion, my state got 3 billion. Many of the states need that money. Not saying we are not going to have to share sacrifice, or ask state and local governments to submit to us revenue estimates. I am not saying, and it is undeniable states and local governments sustained damage. And. And relied at income tax, hasnt been coming in. Some of our colleagues believe we should not give the state any latitude to use any of that 150 billion to address revenue shortfalls and i understand that point of view. Take florida for example. In a few moments senator scott is going to speak. An incredible job, balancing their budget, grew employment dramatically, someone said any government needs to reform his entire state government. That is not going to happen at least not in the next year, and that is just a National Natural factor have. And and for the state and local government act. And they are going to make 150 billion, it has been given to the state and local governments. It can only be used for coronavirus expenses. And does not spend a single solitary dollar. It just says the governors have additional flexibility to spend the 150 billion they have given them. They will not spend their pension systems. My bill prohibits that. They address a revenue shortfall. Which many of them have. We will never agree in this body about which state is wellmanaged and which state is not wellmanaged. One persons trashes another persons treasure. Senator scott does, there will be a different point of view. Speaker pelosis bill is not going to pass, it will not pass today or tomorrow or june. The second thing we can agree on is our states and cities have sustained damage and we can take off the handcuffs and allow the money we have already given them to try to help them repair the damage as we help them recover from this horrible pandemic and for that reason, mister president , i ask unanimous consent that we pass my bill. That we just vote on that. We dont vote enough around here. I came up here till deliberate and decide. I didnt come to issue press releases and participate and delay. On honest days work for an honest days pay. We want an honest weeks work, and honest weeks pay for an honest days work. We can spit it out and step on it and vote now in front of god and country but if you like it you can vote for it. Lets be senators again. For that reason, mister president i ask unanimous consent that time to be at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the democratic leader. Appropriations to be discharged from further consideration, that is my bill. The senate proceed to its immediate consideration i asked there be 2 hours of debate, plenty of debate, equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the bill and the use or yielding back of that time, the kennedy substitute amendment number 151 be considered and agreed to. And, affirmative vote, with no intervening action or debate. The motions to be considered be considered made and laid upon the table. Let my people vote. Senator from florida. Reserving the right to object. I appreciate the comments. The coronavirus pandemic is a significant and life altering time. Our country and economy will never be the same. This is a challenging time for every level of government. We continue to work to help Small Businesses and individuals that are hurting and getting the economy back open as soon as possible. This crisis was unprecedented and Congress Took both actions to stem the spread of the virus but if we are not Careful Congress will have a devastating crisis down the road. A crisis of our own making. The National Debt and deficits at unsustainable levels have skyrocketed as congress has spent almost 3 trillion to address this crisis. At some point we need to start thinking about the impact this spending will have on the countrys financial future and the future of our children and grandchildren. As i mentioned last week i appreciate the spirit of my colleagues proposal and understand his desire to help his state. I know he cares is deeply for louisiana as i do about florida. I want to help states too which is why i support maintaining the existing restrictions tied to the Coronavirus Relief fund that were included in the cares act, how imperfect the Coronavirus Relief fund, make sure spending is for Coronavirus Response. Regardless whether we are removing existing guardrails or talking about new funding both actions would result in a blank check bailout for states. Lets remember we are talking about 150 billion. Put that in perspective. The Median Income per capita in florida is 30, 000. 150 billion will pay the total annual income for more than 5 million floridians. Lets talk who we are bailing out. Not those on unemployment. We took care of them in the cares act. Not teachers, we took care of them in the cares act. Healthcare workers, we took care of them in the cares act. We are bailing out liberal politicians who cannot live within their means, and we are asking floridians to pay for the incompetence of governors like andrew cuomo. We cant give hardearned taxpayer money to poorly managed state are going to turn around and spend it on liberal priorities and backfill their budget shortfalls and solve their longstanding fiscal problems. States like california, illinois and new york have big budgets, high taxes and tons of debt because they refused to make the hard choices and live within their means. They know they cannot tax their citizens more so they have their hands out for federal taxpayers to rescue them but that is not fair to citizens of citizens of states like florida where we made the hard choices. Let me show you this chart from 19852018 this is how many people moved to florida from other states, we gained 2 Million People. This is how many people left new york, illinois and california. Why did they leave . They like the weather better but look at the tax rates. Way higher in these states. Look up the business climate. Those three states are the worst in the country. The Tax Foundation ranking, the worst in the country. Look at the death. We have more people than new york by 3 Million People in the debt was twee 7 times as much. Alloy at least double, 3 times as much debt. You look at this, this is why income is moving to our state and away from these states and these states want us to tax our citizens. To to pay for their debt, tensions, other fiscal irresponsibility. Thats not fair to the citizens of our state. When i became governor in 2011 we had a big budget shortfall. We lost 832,000 jobs in four years. When i became governor he started cutting taxes every year, 10 billion over eight years and guess what . Our revenue has increased. The state went from losing hundreds of thousands of jobs over four years to adding 1. 7 million jobs in eight years, we turned to 2. 5 billion budget shortfall into a 4 billion surplus with 3 billion in the rainy day fund. The first Florida Governor in 20 years to pay downstate debt. I paid down as part of my legislature and the success of our state in eight years, that didnt happen in california or illinois and it didnt happen in new york. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was irresponsible and reckless not to bailout states like his. Estate with 2 million fewer people in florida with a budget almost double hours. The opposite is true. It is irresponsible and reckless to take money from americas taxpayers and use it to save liberal politicians from the consequences of their poor choices. Everyday American Families make responsible budgetary decisions. States like florida have done it for years. Time for new york, illinois, california to do the same. As you see from this chart congress has allocated billions of dollars in direct and indirect aid to states and localities, totally direct funding for the federal government, over 1 trillion. This doesnt count another 1. 3 trillion in indirect assistance to Small Businesses, individuals and increase Unemployment Benefits for all our states. We have 150 billion for expenses and this is not the way it is done with fema, this money was sent with no obligation for states to pay a portion. When i had my hurricanes i had to pay a portion of costs the government would participate in but we paid part of the cost. We have 500 billion in shortterm loans, 45 billion in fema disaster funds, 30 billion for education without knowing whether education cost went up or down, 34 billion for mass Transit Community grants, 270 billion under the appropriations of indirect funding so we have not sent a lot of money to the states already. I appreciate the senator from louisiana taking the vote on this proposal but this legislation has not been considered by any committee although i think we both agree the cares act was far from perfect, Congress Must work methodically before we make such largescale changes like those proposed by my colleagues. We have to get absolutely serious about how we are spending taxpayer money, the fact that this years federal budget deficit will be the largest in the history of our nation. I have twee 7 grandchildren, four are watching here today. August, eli, quintin, and sebastian. I have no interest in having them or children across them have mountains of debt. To do so would not only be a political failure. It would be in abdication of our moral responsibility. It is time we make the hard choices to go on a path to recovery, recovery from this virus, the economic devastation brought with it and the fiscal calamity decades of politicians have ignored. I hope my colleagues join me in the fight to keep our countrys future bright. I respectfully object. Objection is heard. Mister president. Senator from virginia. Mister president , i am coming here to speak on a different topic but i want to comment for a moment on the exchange between my friend from louisiana and my friend from florida. I can assure my friend from louisiana who was the best managed state by an independent source, the commonwealth of virginia during my tenure as governor, we are proud to be ranked by Forbes Magazine the best state for business and i have looked at the senator from louisianas bill, i think we should be voting on it. I think, strange to me, i am proud of the fact that we maintain a aaa bond rating, we are fiscally responsible. We are better than every state in the country and we made the hard choice to make that happen. When we say we are going to come in and bail out the airlines, we are going to generously take care of every Small Business when they lost revenues but when states and localities are losing revenue at a record rate, to say we are not going to give them flexibility, i will support a clause in will say lets prohibit any of those from being used take care of longterm obligations. The notion that somehow we are going to say we will take care of everybody elses lost revenues but not take care of local government with meals tax dry up and watch its tax dry out in sales tax dry up and use only are on your own is got to lay off Police Officers and firefighters and emts at this moment in time doesnt make sense. Millions of these folks have also lost their Health Insurance. Insurance. I was just reading 27 million americans have seen the Health Insurance lost due to the virus. The Federal Reserve actually forecast that 47 million americans, or nearly onethird of the workforce, could lose their jobs. These are not just numbers. They represent the pain being felt by families across the country. As we enter into the greatest economic crisis of our lifetime. Candidly, we need to face some hard truths about how we got here and what will come next if we fail that. The reason were facing this dire economic crisis is simple. The federal government failed to take the appropriate early actions to control this virus. Thats why they had have to do social distancing. Social distancing isnt very much fun, and i see some of my friends and colleagues on the floor. Its a particularly hard for people who spend lifetimes shaking hands and saying hello to folks. Its been tough on all of us but it has saved lives and its begun to flatten the curve. But we also know that thinks ths cant just go back to normal overnight, not before we have vaccine. Not before the government working in concert with the private sector solves the chronic shortages in testing, in ppe that have hampered our response to this pandemic from day one. States like mine are working towards a new normal wear we gradually scale back social distancing, where its safe to do so. But its just not realistic to suggest as the president has that we can just immediately reopen the economy before we have contained a virus. As if companies will simply just resume normal business knowing that another coronavirus outbreak could shut them down any day. As if the virus for which we still didnt dont have vaccine, didnt kill just 80,000 of our fellow americans. Mr. President , its a time to face the facts but what it will take for our economy to recover from this Public Health crisis. There is not a magic switch that we can just flip. Unfortunately, the woman not be a vshaped recovery if we stay our current course. Just as it views used to emerge from the Great Depression it could take years or even decades to recover from the coronavirus, if we do not take immediate action in the next Coronavirus Relief bill. Our first goal must be to prevent further job losses as well as permanent disruptions like business closures, evictions, and foreclosures. Second, we must work quickly to reduce the Economic Uncertainty facing workers and Small Businesses. To do this we need to provide immediate assistance to millions of American Workers who have gone overnight from a steady job to unemployment, through no fault of their own. Im not talking about another stimulus check, im not talking about Unemployment Benefits. Im talking about paychecks. The proposal which i put forward with senator sanders, senator jones, senator blumenthal would create a National PaycheckSecurity Program for American Workers. A very similar proposal has been put forward, my friend on the other side of the outcome senator hawley, from missouri. It uses a direct support model that has support on both left and right. The New York Times and wall street journal have both commented on it. We know those news organizations never agree on anything. But people think this approach bears merit. And we know this direct support approach works because it has been implemented successfully in a number of European Countries and in canada where the unemployment rate, yes, they are pumped up but a couple of points, not to the level of what i i believe will be over 20 unemployment and what the fed and even the Administration Officials have predicted may reach 25 within the next month. Paycheck security means that the federal government will help cover the payroll expenses for rankandfile workers who have been furloughed or laid off because of the coronavirus. These Treasury Department grants will cover salaries and wages up to 90,000 for each employee plus benefits and run for at least six months. They would provide funds to many businesses to help cover business operating costs such as rent and utilities. The program would be delivered to the Employee Retention tax credit. I was happy to work my friend from oregon on regarding the earlier coronavirus bill which is already set up at the irs and can be leveraged to deliver far greater benefits than it currently provides. In exchange for the paycheck security grant, employers would commit to forgo further layoffs and maintain the pay and benefits of rankandfile workers. They would also be required to spend stock buybacks and limit ceo compensation for at least the term of federal assistance. A National PaycheckSecurity Program would immediately work to prevent financial calamity for millions and millions of American Families. At the same time it would maintain in many cases reestablish that Critical Link between workers and their employees. That reestablishment of that link would put in place the Healthcare Benefits that many workers receive through the employment that they have now lost even though they may be ungenerous unemployment. If we reestablish this connection, the economy will be able to bounce back much more quickly after the Public Health crisis ends. The certainty provided by this program would also give consumers the confidence they need to begin spending money in the economy, accelerating the essential economic recovery. It will be expensive as i can say this is some who spent a long time thinking and working on trying to reduce the deficit. But when we compared to over 660 billion spent on the ppp program, which is only taken one section of her economy, this is is under 500, thats done nothing so far for those midlevel businesses, 50010,000, i think the alternative will actually be viewed as much cheaper. Would actually be pennies compared to the damage that will be done if we fail to adequately assist our fellow americans in this moment of economic crisis. Now, mr. President , im pleased my colleagues and also put forward an initial draft of their view of the next Coronavirus Relief package. It adds a number of important provisions. However, it has not taken what i believe is the bold step to say before we simply refill up some of the existing buckets, which affected many cases mixed results so far, perhaps we should take a pause and a timeout and state is there not a better way to provide the kind of security and guarantees that the American People are looking for from their government . Even though the one thing i do know is that my house colleagues and i share a enormous sense of urgency. With unemployment and makes the official numbers that nearly 50 , numbers all of us expect to go over 20 when they reported later this month. This is not the time to play wait and see. Its no exaggeration to see that we face the prospect of not a recession, but actually a Great Depression. Everyday we delay, we drag yourself deeper and deeper into the hole that must eventually climb out of when the healthcare crisis is behind us. And as we enter into negotiations come both in the next phase of the Coronavirus Response, i would encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to take a look at bold solutions. Lets give our fellow americans the kind of paycheck security they deserve. Lets put paychecks, not stimulus checks in their hands. Lets help them get back to work as fast as it safe is able to do so. Thank you, mr. President. I yield the floor. Mr. President , countless utahns have stepped up to sve