E chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. The clerk the speakers rooms, washington, d. C. October 2, 2020. I hereby apoint the honorable Henry Cuellar to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, nancy pelosi, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore the prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. Chaplain conroy let us pray. Dear lord, we give you thanks for giving us another day. The nation awakens to the news of the president having contracted the coronavirus. Countless numbers of other National Leaders and figures are exposed and there is now a heightened vigilance surrounding the plague. All along we have been aware of the danger of infection and have been beseeching your protection and healing. Hear us again now as we place our trust in you. Comfort and send your spirit of healing to those who suffer from illness. And those who mourn those who have died. Bless those who care for the sick and inspire those who seek tre
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
Colleagues have come to the floor and spoken here or elsewhere about the importance of providing assistance to state and local governments, and that if that doesnt happen that theyre there are going to be police officers, First Responders and people who have essential jobs that we rely on every single day and for whom were so grateful, that wouldnt be able to get paid. I would just point out that already as part of the Coronavirus Relief measures that congress has passed, there was 150 billion sent to state and local governments, much of which has 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. Clearly they are sounding the alarm and are justifiably worried about what happens if the downturn in the economy continues and what that might mean to their revenues. And so they are looking to washington, d. C. For assistance, and i think that as i
The speaker the house will be in order. The prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. Chaplain conroy let us pray. Eternal god, we give you thanks for giving us another day. Send your spirit of peace and calm that all might have confidence in your faithfulness to us. That no matter what lies ahead your grace is abundantly available. Now we approach a week during which all americans will gather to remember who we are. A nation generously blessed not only by you, our god, but by courageous ancestors faithful allies, and the best good wishes of people everywhere who long for freedom, who would glory in the difficult work of participative government and who do not enjoy the bounty we are privileged to possess. Bless the members of this assembly and us all that we would be worthy of the call we have been given as americans. Help us all to be truly thankful and appropriately generous in our response. May all that is done this day be for your greater honor and glory, amen. The sp