Maintenance of National Parks and other federal land open to the public. Senators are now working on amendments to the bill. No votes are scheduled yet, but work is expect today continue to next week. Now to live coverage of the u. S. Senate here on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. 1mighty god, thank you for your great and precious promises. You have promised to keep a record of our pain. You have promised that no weapon formed against us will prosper. You have promised to supply our needs and to surround us with the shield of your blessings. You have promised to keep us from stumbling or slipping. Lord, you have promised that nothing can separate us from your love. You have promised to do for us more than we can ask or imagine. Great and precious are your promises. Give our lawmakers confidence in your promises, as they face these tumultuous times. Sustain them with your
Yet to be spent and frankly much of which we dont know what the actual need is out there until we have a better sense for what the revenue loss is to a lot of our state and local governments. They are sounding the alarm and justifiably worried about what happens if the downturn in the economy continues and what that might mean to their revenues. They are looking to washington, d. C. For assistance, and i think that as i said earlier in the cares package, there was 150 billion dollars that went out to state and local governments and there have been concerns about how those funds can be used. They were stipulated they had to be used for covidrelated expenses, and many state and local leaders were concerned that that did not give them the flexibility they needed to meet other types of needs. Well, the Treasury Department has in the past few days, madame president , come out with an interpretation that would allow those dollars, the 150 billion dollars already appropriated to be used to pa
Heavens that bring blessings to our earthly pilgrimage. Today, guide our lawmakers with your glorious wisdom. In the greatness of your majesty, fulfill your purposes for their lives as you order their steps. Show them such unfailing love that they will walk before you in wholehearted devotion. Lord, place your Healing Hands upon our nation and world, delivering us from this Global Health crisis. We pray in your powerful name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance 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. Mr. Grassley madam president. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley permission to speak in morning business for 90 seconds. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley my iowa offices are located in cedar rapids, council bluffs, davenport, doims, sioux city and waterloo. My state
Note the absence of a quorum. I rise today to join my colleagues those that continue tohe work in service to the nation during the 19 pandemic breast with dedicated citizens amid the challenges that we face. Many sectors deserve recognition notably healthcares, workers, teachers go to store, Law Enforcement i want to focus on the critical efforts of Agricultural Producers of farmers and ranchers. Keeping the food Health Supply chain is essential as a combat coronavirus farmers and ranchers provide the food and fiber thatne we need americans truly benefit every single day from the high quality low cost food supply in the world things to our producers. s operations across the country are impacted Food Security is a particular fo concern we appreciate the efforts f of those working to keep food on our tables and the workers that only their farmers and ranchers but those at the add processing facilities we know there are real challenges. We appreciate all those workers out the processing f
Again. We will move as quickly as we can but should we not be able to accommodate every member in person today, we will be accepting statements for the record until thursday, april 30. This important hearing i want to mention the chairwoman has been in our thoughts and prayers we wish you nothing but the best as you recover. Small businesses and entrepreneurs play a Critical Role within the american economy. Not only do they employ half of the nations workers but created two out of every three new jobs in the nation. You only need to take the poll from main street america. It is demonstrated Small Businesses and employees and the Response Congress created with a Paycheck Protection Programs with as many Small Businesses as possible during emergency. A low interest loan can be forgiven if used for payroll and Small Businesses have a tool available to assist them as they weather the storm experiencing extremely high demand and within a two week span all the money was exhausted i devote m