We will receive testimony from the secretary of the check treasury as required under title iv of the cares act congress has appropriated 3 trillion to protect to fight the pandemic and to stabilize the infrastructure of our economic system. A large portion of this funding is from the title iv of the cares act which has significant resources for loans and loan guarantees and other investments from the Federal Reserve with the emergency lending facilities in the states and municipalities and tribes. The title iv provided 454 billion as the infusion into the Stabilization Fund to support the emergency lending facilities that facilitated the qualities to support eligible businesses, states, local governments and tribes. And to be authorized under section 13 and to stabilize those markets but the Federal Reserve announced the establishment of the intent to establish to support the Financial Markets and businesses including some that are supported by the cares act. Last week other members of
Balance of opening our business, but they will only be as successful as the Customer Confidence that is there to patronize those businesses. That is not just for the hospitality. That is true for all business. Retail has been the hardest hit. My understanding is over 2 of businesses have closed permanently already. How are we to address this Consumer Health issue . I know this is something you have talked about. What should we be doing . Chairman powell it affects different sectors of the economy differently. The ones we talked about are the ones we are exposed to. Other sectors of the economy may be able to recover much more quickly, and we certainly hope so. Thing is people believing it is safe to go back to work. That is about having a sensible, thoughtful reopening of the country, something we all want. Something we are in the early stages of. That is what it will take for people regain confidence and resume their activities. At a different pace depending on the nature of the busin
Take some time for public to regain confidence and adapt to the new world and start traveling, taking vacation, going to restaurants and things like that. Im glad you brought that up. Thats one thing we havent talked about was this notion that when we looked to open our businesses and i think we all in a bipartisan way, thats what we want. We have to find this balance, opening our businesses in general. Theres only going to be as successful as the Customer Confidence that is there to patronize those businesses thats not just true for the Hospitality Industry thats true for all businesses i do know that the service and retail has been hardest hit business and my understanding that some of the data ive seen over 2 of those businesses have closed permanently already how are we to address this Consumer Confidence issue . I know thats something you thought about and talked about publicly what should we be doing . One thing ill say is it affects different sectors of the economy. The one we t
Massive local tax increases. Anyone of those alone threatens to make this economic crisis even worse and the combination of all three is almost unthinkable. The bureau of labor statistics just reported that state and local governments laid off nearly one million workers in april. That is almost one million firefighters, police officers, teachers, Emergency Personnel that should be on the front lines of the Public Health crisis but are sidelined instead. Chairman powell, let me start by asking, do you agree that our economy will get worse if state and local governments are forced to lay off even more firefighters, teachers, any and Emergency Personnel . Let me say what we are doing. We have a liquidity facility that is there to address the shortterm liquidity needs that these entities have because of their loss of revenue due to the effects of the pandemic. That is really the tool that we have. I appreciate that. That is not my question. States,ion is if counties, and municipalities con
Lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, the author of unity, remind our lawmakers that people accomplish laudable goals more through unity than division. May our senators remember that all of us are more effective than any one of us. As our legislators pursue effectiveness in their work, give them the wisdom to forge alliances that make the difficult become easy and the impossible become probable. In their search for common purposes, inspire them with the conviction that nothing is impossible for those who believe. We pray in your omnipotent 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 is recognized. Mr. Grassley i ask to speak in morning business for one minute. The pres