Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate Sen. Durbin Barrasso Can

This economy. Get the strong eco mr. Durbin mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from illinois. Mr. Durbin mr. President , america has never seen anything like this before. To think that half of the people who live in the United States are under some order to either stay home or at least avoid contact with others, unheard of. This is an enemy, this virus, the likes of which weve never faced as strong and determined our nation is when it comes to these challenges, this is uniq unique. And it calls for unique leadership. There are a lot of critics of the United States congress for good reason, but i think what weve demonstrated in the last several weeks since weve addressed this coronavirus is that there is a capacity for commonsense bipartisan work and a timeliness that is essential. First two measures were passed in record time, one for 8 billion that really opened the door for more medical resources. The second for 100 billion which tried to guarantee to people they would never have to pay to be tested for coronavirus, that there would be adequate Food Supplies during this calamitous time, that we would have resources sent to the states for medicaid reimbursement at new levels, that we would also engage people with family leave if necessary so that they could stay out of the workplace if they felt badly, and that wed also have an idea that we would come together as a nation to move Unemployment Insurance with dispatch. That passed again in a timely way with a bipartisan vote. And then we came to the third challenge, a challenge the likes of which ive never seen in my time in congress and i dont imagine anyone else has. Because we decided in a span of about seven days to come up with a package of authorizations and appropriations which is larger than the annual federal budget for domestic Discretionary Spending in america. In seven days we did what usually takes 12 months or longer, but we knew we had to because the need is that great. And america was watching and wondering if we could rise to that challenge. There was some bumps in the road and its no surprise. An undertaking of that magnitude with this kind of pressure to get the job done quickly and properly is bound to create differences of opinion and it did. There were moments of anxiety on the floor of the senate and those who have followed cspan have watched many speeches that reflected the emotional levels that were reached in this chamber. But the emotions in this chamber were not that different than the emotions in most Homes Across America as people worry about whether this illness will touch their families and if so, will they be able to conquer it. That emotion on the senate floor led us to further negotiations in an effort to try to make a bill presented to us on sunday better three days later. And that brings us to this moment. History will judge as the senator from kentucky noted earlier as to whether theres an improvement thats been made to this bill over the last 72 hours. Ill just stand up and tell you i would testify definitely, definitely because just consider the first priority. We have to make sure that hospitals and clinics and Health Care Providers at every level in america are proposed to rise to this are prepared to rise to this challenge, and we know this is a challenge the likes of which weve never seen. When the governor of new york suggests that the hospitals of that great state expand their capacity by 50 as quickly as possible to take the incoming patients from this covid19 virus and be prepared, he said, to expand it by 100 , we appreciate the magnitude of the challenge. On the democratic side our leader senator schumer has called it a Marshall Plan for hospitals and health care. I dont think thats an exaggeration. The bill that was presented to us on sunday envisioned some 75 billion for that purpose and many of us felt that was not adequate as large as that number may be. So today well bring a bill to the floor that will increase that allocation for health care from the 75 billion in the bill just three days ago to 130 billion. Is it enough . Probably not unless god spares us from the spread of this disease even further in the United States. But it says to those who are anxiously expanding their resources, expanding the number of beds, bringing in retired medical personnel as the governor from illinois j. P. Pritzker is doing, that we hear them and were providing them the resources to go to work to fight this challenge that we face at every corner of the United States. The second thing we set out to do when the bill was presented sunday was to expand the opportunity for Unemployment Insurance. Some have criticized on the floor and said dont get into structural changes. Well, you couldnt expand Unemployment Insurance without getting into a structural change because the system which affects only a small percentage of americans is not adequate in most cases to keep a family together. If you lose your job and try to live on take unemployment check on that unemployment check, its hard to do. People lose their homes over that, their cars. They cant pay their utility bills. And so what weve done, its been described as putting Unemployment Benefits on steroids. The amount of money which is going to be sent to families who are furloughed, laid off, or unemployed is dramatically bigger than it would have been if we hadnt restructured Unemployment Compensation. At the same time, the president and white house suggested direct cash payments. We never argued against those, but said its just a downpayment. Its just a single check. We believe Unemployment Insurance is going to be a guarantee of payments for months to come. Since sunday we expanded the period of additional Unemployment Compensation from three months to four months. Theres a big price on that, of course, but we think its reasonable to give people peace of mind that for four months theyll be able to keep their Families Together as we work our way through these medical challenges and god willing see our economy back on its feet. I hope that happens. I hope its even sooner. But were prepared for four months. The third thing we set out to do is one thats near and dear to my in my state and i bet in most other states, we set out to compensate the states and some localities, counties, and cities which are expending substantial sums of money because of covid19 threats that they are facing. Lets face it, for the most part, our governors have been in the front line of defense when it comes to Americas Health care over the last several weeks. Theyve done exceptional things and theyve been called on to spend money in ways that they never dreamed they would be called on to spend. For example, Unemployment Benefits, which involve state payments in many respects have mushroomed and skyrocketed, sometimes ten times the numbers that they were just last year at the same time. My governor and others, mayors and the leaders of county government have come forward and said, are you going to help us . Were spending a lot of money because of this covid19. Well, this bill does it. It was not an easy task. We had to convince the other side that it was money well spent, and im happy to report that on a bipartisan basis we reached that agreement, some 150 million will be going to these state and local governments, as it should. Those are things that i believe will move us down the path to resolving this challenge in america and doing it in a proper way, always keeping in mind that the welfare of workers and their families is the paramount concern. First the investment in the medical side to stop the onslaught, second the support for families and workers across america. In were some items that are still be debated on the floor here. You heard it in the early statements by the majority leader, and those relate to the benefits to be given to businesses to keep them moving forward. We all understand the Aviation Industry is at the heart of the american economy. It is an engine in one respect to move it and a reflection of its activity in another respect, and that Aviation Industry is flat on its back. Some 80 to 90 of the passenger load has disappeared, hundreds of thousands of employees in the Airline Industry has come to us and asked for help, and were prepared to do that and that is part of the package that will come before us. The administration also asked for resources to be loaned to other businesses that need a helping hand. Im not opposed to that. Some are, but im not. But can i do believe a account ability and transparency are essential. Since sunday, we have dramatically changed this package so that there will be transparency and accountability on a timely basis as decisions are made by this administration to allocate these taxpayer funds to help these companies. Some of us learned a bitter lesson in the past when benefits were given to corporations and they were misused for stock buybacks and dividends and profiteering at a time of Great National need. We dont want to repeat that story. We want to make certain that taxpayer dollars invested in these corporations are really designed to get them back on their feet and the economy moving forward on the benefit of everyone who lives in this country. That kind of transparency and accountability is essential. I believe this new agreement some three days after the original one was proposed is improvement. Credit should be given to both sides because democrats and republicans had to agree for this to make the final package. But we agree we will vote on this afternoon and i believe we will enjoy strong bipartisan support from the senate is a dramatic improvement in the last 72 hours. Credit to both sides. We believed some of these ideas were essential and thats why we voted like we did on the floor but to reach agreement, it took both sides. I want to salute my colleagues, starting with the democratic leader, senator schumer. He put in some hours. I cant tell you how many times i stepped in his office and his secretary told me he was meeting with secretary mnuchin. They started from midnight until fresh in the morning to reach an agreement. I think were finally done. Theres a few little agreements. So senator schumer and his staff, and to all my colleagues, ranking members who pitched in this their committees of jurisdiction to come up with good ideas and to sell them in a bipartisan agreement. It was an exceptional amount of work. Special credit to my staff my own and the others who have come to work in this dangerous moment. Weve been told to stay home, telework where you can. In some cases you cant. Those who did show up to the capitol, including the staff on the floosh, come at floor, come at risk, risk to their own health and family members and others. I thank them for this it i understand we may be gone for several weeks, and i think that is appropriate, but for a National Emergency which calls us back, and we will come back if that is necessary, i think we should take time away from one another, away from the capitol to mind our own health and the wellbeing of our own families and work back home best we can, teleconferencing and other ways to let people know what weve done with this legislation. I hope i can engage my colleagues in thinking about another issue. Senator portman, republican from ohio, have introduced legislation calling for at least an inquiry at this moment in history about remote voting or some different approach to voting that doesnt require our reporting to the floor in times of National Emergency. It just makes sense. Our meetings at the senate almost every single day have violated c. D. C. Guidelines that tell us not to gather in a group of ten or more. And, yet, we come to the floor because we have to because this is life or death when it comes to this legislation that were considering and we know what our jobs are. We can find a better way to do this in the 21st century using the technology that is is available in so many different ways to have verifiable, accurate, honest voting for those who cannot or should not physically be present on the floor. Ive spoken to elizabeth mcdonough, the parliamentarian of the senate and her staff and want to engage in a conversation. What we know is this is historic, and it really is a dramatic change from when weve done in the past. I dont think its unrealistic. I think it reflects the reality of where we are today with a Public Health crisis, it could reflect what we deal with tomorrow if we can deal with a National Emergency or god forbid terrorist activity that keeps us from this building when we still have work to do. I want to thank senator portman, senator klobachar, who has been one of the leaders in this effort, senator schatz, who is a cosponsor. We are up to 20 cosponsors on a bipartisan basis in this movement to change the senate rules. I hope we can have Conference Calls during the time were physically away from the capitol and move this business forward. The house is considering the same thing as well. Now is the time to do it. It is time to bring this great body, the United States senate into the 21st century when it comes to executing our constitutional responsibility without endangering anyone, especially members of the staff and their family. Mr. President , i yield the floor. The presiding officer the senator from wyoming. Mr. Barrasso mr. President , for families, if for health care workers, for Small Businesses, people who are waking up today all across the country are asking whats next . I believe today we can report, there is good news. The resolve and determination of this senate, working in a bipartisan way, and working with the white house, have delivered a rescue plan, a rescue plan for the American People and for American Health care workers. Today we are going to pass new authorities, new resources and new programs to deal with two crisis that we, as a nation are facing. One is the medical crisis, the coronavirus, and the other is the economic crisis that is a result a direct result of the medical crisis that we are facing. The senate is providing an overwhelming and a Massive Health care and economic response package. Were doing both. And we have to do both at the same time. Its a rescue operation. The resources that our Health Care Providers need and the resources that are our economy needs. The Health Care Resources are going to be surging for communities all around the country, every one of the 50 states is affected. Over 100 billion for our hospitals and for the heroes who are taking care of coronavirus patients. Mr. President , as you know, im a physician, practiced medicine for a long time in wyoming. People go into medicine so that they can do a number of things. You go into medicine and what we expect of our Health Care Providers is to save lives, to cure the particular, and to prevent disease. For all of those men and women working in this profession, i will tell you this will be their finest hour. Were hearing about heroes all over the country and that is going to continue as long as this crisis is in effect. Because thats what were asking them to do every day, save lives, heal the sick, and prevent disease. We see that with our Public Health office hoarse are trying to prevent disease, we see it in the communities, people trying to heal the sick and to save the lives in the hospitals day and night. And what they are asking for us are resources and that is now going to be provided in the bill that were going to pass today and will hopefully soon be on the president s desk. So were also surging dollars to individuals and to families and to businesses and distressed parts of our economy. Direct money to 1,200 per individual, 500 per child. You take a look at that and 350 billion in bridge loans and grants to small and mediumsized businesses. Unemployment insurance to make workers you know, were talking about people who are working and ready to go to work the next day that werent able to because of the medical crisis affecting us. So workers who werent able to work right now to make sure they are made whole. Now, we have held the line against so many of the ideological issues that democrats, and specifically the speaker of the house tried to put into this legislation. We made it clear, lives are at stake. Those are debates for another day. The crisis is upon us and the rescue work needs to be done. I believe time was wasted. Time we should have passed this last sunday. Time was wasted and its time that was wasted that the American People dont have. Didnt have. But today we are working on this action plan. Pass the senate bill today to surge Health Care Resources to the front lines. The house cannot delay. Mr. President , the house needs to get this passed today and sent to the president of the United States for his significant today. America should not wake up tomorrow and have to watch and wait and worry to see if the house was going to pass this bill. The house needs to vote. The American People need that assurance today. American families, everyone, have people are doing it all around the country. People are going to continue to ramp up manufacturing of medical equipment, mafntion, ventilators, recipients, tests to save lives. People will cut red tape for treatment and vaccines. Going forward, and i see the minority leader on the floor, United States<\/a> are under some order to either stay home or at least avoid contact with others, unheard of. This is an enemy, this virus, the likes of which weve never faced as strong and determined our nation is when it comes to these challenges, this is uniq unique. And it calls for unique leadership. There are a lot of critics of the United States<\/a> congress for good reason, but i think what weve demonstrated in the last several weeks since weve addressed this coronavirus is that there is a capacity for commonsense bipartisan work and a timeliness that is essential. First two measures were passed in record time, one for 8 billion that really opened the door for more medical resources. The second for 100 billion which tried to guarantee to people they would never have to pay to be tested for coronavirus, that there would be adequate Food Supplies<\/a> during this calamitous time, that we would have resources sent to the states for medicaid reimbursement at new levels, that we would also engage people with family leave if necessary so that they could stay out of the workplace if they felt badly, and that wed also have an idea that we would come together as a nation to move Unemployment Insurance<\/a> with dispatch. That passed again in a timely way with a bipartisan vote. And then we came to the third challenge, a challenge the likes of which ive never seen in my time in congress and i dont imagine anyone else has. Because we decided in a span of about seven days to come up with a package of authorizations and appropriations which is larger than the annual federal budget for domestic Discretionary Spending<\/a> in america. In seven days we did what usually takes 12 months or longer, but we knew we had to because the need is that great. And america was watching and wondering if we could rise to that challenge. There was some bumps in the road and its no surprise. An undertaking of that magnitude with this kind of pressure to get the job done quickly and properly is bound to create differences of opinion and it did. There were moments of anxiety on the floor of the senate and those who have followed cspan have watched many speeches that reflected the emotional levels that were reached in this chamber. But the emotions in this chamber were not that different than the emotions in most Homes Across America<\/a> as people worry about whether this illness will touch their families and if so, will they be able to conquer it. That emotion on the senate floor led us to further negotiations in an effort to try to make a bill presented to us on sunday better three days later. And that brings us to this moment. History will judge as the senator from kentucky noted earlier as to whether theres an improvement thats been made to this bill over the last 72 hours. Ill just stand up and tell you i would testify definitely, definitely because just consider the first priority. We have to make sure that hospitals and clinics and Health Care Providers<\/a> at every level in america are proposed to rise to this are prepared to rise to this challenge, and we know this is a challenge the likes of which weve never seen. When the governor of new york suggests that the hospitals of that great state expand their capacity by 50 as quickly as possible to take the incoming patients from this covid19 virus and be prepared, he said, to expand it by 100 , we appreciate the magnitude of the challenge. On the democratic side our leader senator schumer has called it a Marshall Plan<\/a> for hospitals and health care. I dont think thats an exaggeration. The bill that was presented to us on sunday envisioned some 75 billion for that purpose and many of us felt that was not adequate as large as that number may be. So today well bring a bill to the floor that will increase that allocation for health care from the 75 billion in the bill just three days ago to 130 billion. Is it enough . Probably not unless god spares us from the spread of this disease even further in the United States<\/a>. But it says to those who are anxiously expanding their resources, expanding the number of beds, bringing in retired medical personnel as the governor from illinois j. P. Pritzker is doing, that we hear them and were providing them the resources to go to work to fight this challenge that we face at every corner of the United States<\/a>. The second thing we set out to do when the bill was presented sunday was to expand the opportunity for Unemployment Insurance<\/a>. Some have criticized on the floor and said dont get into structural changes. Well, you couldnt expand Unemployment Insurance<\/a> without getting into a structural change because the system which affects only a small percentage of americans is not adequate in most cases to keep a family together. If you lose your job and try to live on take unemployment check on that unemployment check, its hard to do. People lose their homes over that, their cars. They cant pay their utility bills. And so what weve done, its been described as putting Unemployment Benefits<\/a> on steroids. The amount of money which is going to be sent to families who are furloughed, laid off, or unemployed is dramatically bigger than it would have been if we hadnt restructured Unemployment Compensation<\/a>. At the same time, the president and white house suggested direct cash payments. We never argued against those, but said its just a downpayment. Its just a single check. We believe Unemployment Insurance<\/a> is going to be a guarantee of payments for months to come. Since sunday we expanded the period of additional Unemployment Compensation<\/a> from three months to four months. Theres a big price on that, of course, but we think its reasonable to give people peace of mind that for four months theyll be able to keep their Families Together<\/a> as we work our way through these medical challenges and god willing see our economy back on its feet. I hope that happens. I hope its even sooner. But were prepared for four months. The third thing we set out to do is one thats near and dear to my in my state and i bet in most other states, we set out to compensate the states and some localities, counties, and cities which are expending substantial sums of money because of covid19 threats that they are facing. Lets face it, for the most part, our governors have been in the front line of defense when it comes to Americas Health<\/a> care over the last several weeks. Theyve done exceptional things and theyve been called on to spend money in ways that they never dreamed they would be called on to spend. For example, Unemployment Benefits<\/a>, which involve state payments in many respects have mushroomed and skyrocketed, sometimes ten times the numbers that they were just last year at the same time. My governor and others, mayors and the leaders of county government have come forward and said, are you going to help us . Were spending a lot of money because of this covid19. Well, this bill does it. It was not an easy task. We had to convince the other side that it was money well spent, and im happy to report that on a bipartisan basis we reached that agreement, some 150 million will be going to these state and local governments, as it should. Those are things that i believe will move us down the path to resolving this challenge in america and doing it in a proper way, always keeping in mind that the welfare of workers and their families is the paramount concern. First the investment in the medical side to stop the onslaught, second the support for families and workers across america. In were some items that are still be debated on the floor here. You heard it in the early statements by the majority leader, and those relate to the benefits to be given to businesses to keep them moving forward. We all understand the Aviation Industry<\/a> is at the heart of the american economy. It is an engine in one respect to move it and a reflection of its activity in another respect, and that Aviation Industry<\/a> is flat on its back. Some 80 to 90 of the passenger load has disappeared, hundreds of thousands of employees in the Airline Industry<\/a> has come to us and asked for help, and were prepared to do that and that is part of the package that will come before us. The administration also asked for resources to be loaned to other businesses that need a helping hand. Im not opposed to that. Some are, but im not. But can i do believe a account ability and transparency are essential. Since sunday, we have dramatically changed this package so that there will be transparency and accountability on a timely basis as decisions are made by this administration to allocate these taxpayer funds to help these companies. Some of us learned a bitter lesson in the past when benefits were given to corporations and they were misused for stock buybacks and dividends and profiteering at a time of Great National<\/a> need. We dont want to repeat that story. We want to make certain that taxpayer dollars invested in these corporations are really designed to get them back on their feet and the economy moving forward on the benefit of everyone who lives in this country. That kind of transparency and accountability is essential. I believe this new agreement some three days after the original one was proposed is improvement. Credit should be given to both sides because democrats and republicans had to agree for this to make the final package. But we agree we will vote on this afternoon and i believe we will enjoy strong bipartisan support from the senate is a dramatic improvement in the last 72 hours. Credit to both sides. We believed some of these ideas were essential and thats why we voted like we did on the floor but to reach agreement, it took both sides. I want to salute my colleagues, starting with the democratic leader, senator schumer. He put in some hours. I cant tell you how many times i stepped in his office and his secretary told me he was meeting with secretary mnuchin. They started from midnight until fresh in the morning to reach an agreement. I think were finally done. Theres a few little agreements. So senator schumer and his staff, and to all my colleagues, ranking members who pitched in this their committees of jurisdiction to come up with good ideas and to sell them in a bipartisan agreement. It was an exceptional amount of work. Special credit to my staff my own and the others who have come to work in this dangerous moment. Weve been told to stay home, telework where you can. In some cases you cant. Those who did show up to the capitol, including the staff on the floosh, come at floor, come at risk, risk to their own health and family members and others. I thank them for this it i understand we may be gone for several weeks, and i think that is appropriate, but for a National Emergency<\/a> which calls us back, and we will come back if that is necessary, i think we should take time away from one another, away from the capitol to mind our own health and the wellbeing of our own families and work back home best we can, teleconferencing and other ways to let people know what weve done with this legislation. I hope i can engage my colleagues in thinking about another issue. Senator portman, republican from ohio, have introduced legislation calling for at least an inquiry at this moment in history about remote voting or some different approach to voting that doesnt require our reporting to the floor in times of National Emergency<\/a>. It just makes sense. Our meetings at the senate almost every single day have violated c. D. C. Guidelines that tell us not to gather in a group of ten or more. And, yet, we come to the floor because we have to because this is life or death when it comes to this legislation that were considering and we know what our jobs are. We can find a better way to do this in the 21st century using the technology that is is available in so many different ways to have verifiable, accurate, honest voting for those who cannot or should not physically be present on the floor. Ive spoken to elizabeth mcdonough, the parliamentarian of the senate and her staff and want to engage in a conversation. What we know is this is historic, and it really is a dramatic change from when weve done in the past. I dont think its unrealistic. I think it reflects the reality of where we are today with a Public Health<\/a> crisis, it could reflect what we deal with tomorrow if we can deal with a National Emergency<\/a> or god forbid terrorist activity that keeps us from this building when we still have work to do. I want to thank senator portman, senator klobachar, who has been one of the leaders in this effort, senator schatz, who is a cosponsor. We are up to 20 cosponsors on a bipartisan basis in this movement to change the senate rules. I hope we can have Conference Calls<\/a> during the time were physically away from the capitol and move this business forward. The house is considering the same thing as well. Now is the time to do it. It is time to bring this great body, the United States<\/a> senate into the 21st century when it comes to executing our constitutional responsibility without endangering anyone, especially members of the staff and their family. Mr. President , i yield the floor. The presiding officer the senator from wyoming. Mr. Barrasso mr. President , for families, if for health care workers, for Small Businesses<\/a>, people who are waking up today all across the country are asking whats next . I believe today we can report, there is good news. The resolve and determination of this senate, working in a bipartisan way, and working with the white house, have delivered a rescue plan, a rescue plan for the American People<\/a> and for American Health<\/a> care workers. Today we are going to pass new authorities, new resources and new programs to deal with two crisis that we, as a nation are facing. One is the medical crisis, the coronavirus, and the other is the economic crisis that is a result a direct result of the medical crisis that we are facing. The senate is providing an overwhelming and a Massive Health<\/a> care and economic response package. Were doing both. And we have to do both at the same time. Its a rescue operation. The resources that our Health Care Providers<\/a> need and the resources that are our economy needs. The Health Care Resources<\/a> are going to be surging for communities all around the country, every one of the 50 states is affected. Over 100 billion for our hospitals and for the heroes who are taking care of coronavirus patients. Mr. President , as you know, im a physician, practiced medicine for a long time in wyoming. People go into medicine so that they can do a number of things. You go into medicine and what we expect of our Health Care Providers<\/a> is to save lives, to cure the particular, and to prevent disease. For all of those men and women working in this profession, i will tell you this will be their finest hour. Were hearing about heroes all over the country and that is going to continue as long as this crisis is in effect. Because thats what were asking them to do every day, save lives, heal the sick, and prevent disease. We see that with our Public Health<\/a> office hoarse are trying to prevent disease, we see it in the communities, people trying to heal the sick and to save the lives in the hospitals day and night. And what they are asking for us are resources and that is now going to be provided in the bill that were going to pass today and will hopefully soon be on the president s desk. So were also surging dollars to individuals and to families and to businesses and distressed parts of our economy. Direct money to 1,200 per individual, 500 per child. You take a look at that and 350 billion in bridge loans and grants to small and mediumsized businesses. Unemployment insurance to make workers you know, were talking about people who are working and ready to go to work the next day that werent able to because of the medical crisis affecting us. So workers who werent able to work right now to make sure they are made whole. Now, we have held the line against so many of the ideological issues that democrats, and specifically the speaker of the house tried to put into this legislation. We made it clear, lives are at stake. Those are debates for another day. The crisis is upon us and the rescue work needs to be done. I believe time was wasted. Time we should have passed this last sunday. Time was wasted and its time that was wasted that the American People<\/a> dont have. Didnt have. But today we are working on this action plan. Pass the senate bill today to surge Health Care Resources<\/a> to the front lines. The house cannot delay. Mr. President , the house needs to get this passed today and sent to the president of the United States<\/a> for his significant today. America should not wake up tomorrow and have to watch and wait and worry to see if the house was going to pass this bill. The house needs to vote. The American People<\/a> need that assurance today. American families, everyone, have people are doing it all around the country. People are going to continue to ramp up manufacturing of medical equipment, mafntion, ventilators, recipients, tests to save lives. People will cut red tape for treatment and vaccines. Going forward, and i see the minority leader on the floor, Going Forward<\/a> we need to take a long, hard look at our supply chain. China has been exposed. We cannot allow ourselves ever again to be in any way dependent on china for medicines, for materials, or my focus, along with the president s focus is to bring america back stronger than ever before. We are a strong and resilient nation. We will get through this. Our countrys Health Care Infrastructure<\/a> and our economic resolve is today being tested. We will defeat the virus and we will be back stronger than ever. Thank you, mr. President , and i yield the floor. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from washington. Ms. Cantwell mr. President , i come to the floor to thank my colleagues for all their hard work on this legislation and to urge my colleagues to move forward today because the state of washington desperately needs this help. When i think about this package that literally has been crafted since saturday about 10 00 and people running to collaborate and there were many challenges to that collaboration. I also think of the people on the front line in the state of washington who have paid such a heavy price. From the factory worker we just lost in everett, washington, to the grocerier who was trying to deliver groceries to the public, to a pathologist who was a leader in this field but also lost his life, real sacrifice and real crushing blows have been dealt in this december. But today we are responding with more help from our state. We are giving them more money for hospitals, more money for the front line with protective gear, more money for testing, and more money to support them as they continue the effort to try to stop this disease. Its so important that we give state and local governments and tribes the resources they need to be on the front lines in fighting this disease, and i thank our governor, governor inslee, for leading that charge every single day in trying to focus our response on this disease. Because we were the site of the first covid19 case, we have been at this since january 21. And the sadness that we have all felt over the kirkland nursing home where we lost so many patients we hope will be a lesson for the rest of the nation to Pay Attention<\/a> to the seriousness of this virus. Were here today, though, to also besides giving that fraughtline support that frontline support to states, to cities, to counties, and to other Health Care Delivery<\/a> system, were also here to say we want to try to lessen the Economic Impacts<\/a> of a shelter in place or social distancing. Our businesses, Small Businesses<\/a> have been hit hard. Our restaurants, our other businesses who shut down who dont have the same resources to come to washington, d. C. And to lobby for aid and support but are counting on us to create a program that Small Businesses<\/a> can get both grants and loans so the 360 billion in this program i hope s. B. A. Will help dispatch with urgency to those businesses who have complied and have done their best to keep their employees while also shutting down their business. We also know that the Unemployment Benefits<\/a> in this package which will be for four months will be a boost to giving people who are unemployed and the expansion of that definition to cover those who are part of a gig economy that may not have been covered in the past is important to give people the safety neat to make it through this process. I wish we would have come to terms on even allowing for cobra enhancements, particularly for the aerospace sector. Ill be filing a bill today to make sure that as we continue to move through this crisis, that we think about those who are going to have a shift or laid off as we have seen in recent days in everett, washington, that they, too, could have health care beyond just one month of a cobra health plan. Its so important in fighting this disease that not only we take care of Unemployment Benefits<\/a> but we also make sure people in unemployment have access to health care. We cant be in the midst of a pandemic and not give people Affordable Access<\/a> to health care. I also thank my colleagues for other provisions of this package that are helping in giving individual taxpayers relief in the sense of a rebate check. Not only will individuals get a rebate check but families a rebate check of 2,400 that should help those who have been hit hardest by this disease to help in these sustaining days in which we are sheltering in place in the state of washington. There are so many more things that we need to do, and while i support the elements of supporting the Aviation Industry<\/a> in this package, i wish that we would have gotten more requirements on the Airline Industries<\/a> for the grant section of this bill. I personally believe that in the future in a healthier Airline Industry<\/a> they should pay money back to the federal government. We certainly should be protecting the workforce during this time period, and that is what is most important, to make sure that an airline doesnt take money from the federal government or go into bankruptcy and shortchange the workers and the workforce as has been done in previous packages to them. I fully support, though, the Loan Guarantee<\/a> program and the Loan Guarantee<\/a>s that are so important and so qualified in this package to have very specific requirements to them. I also want to thank my colleagues from the Banking Committee<\/a> who worked hard on provisions in this legislation to make sure there was more transparency in the process for who got access to the grants im sorry, to the loans in this package. While we think of the processes weve been through before on tarp and the processes weve been through before on other lending, our colleagues here on this side of the aisle made sure that there were better requirements for oversight, inspector generals accounting of the resources, and to make sure we knew exactly where these dollars were being spent. I know treasury will have its hands full, but because of democrats we will have more transparency in exactly how those dollars go out the door. So, mr. President , i want to thank leader schumer and his staff for working so diligently on this package. It has been a very hectic couple of days. And i would say a special thanks to the Commerce Committee<\/a> staff, to david strickland, melissa porter, david martin, ron altman who literally have been camped out for probably since last saturday working and perfecting the language in these sections related to aviation. As i said, theres more work to do, and we all know theres more work to do. I know that i want to continue to fight for the aviation supply chain to make sure that when we come out of this crisis after an economic downturn around the globe, that the United States<\/a> is well positioned to return the supply chain workforce to building one of americas best products, airplanes, one of americas greatest actually americas single largest exports, airplanes. But to do that were going to have to get through this crisis and protect what we think needs to be continued Health Care Access<\/a> to those laid off workers. So lets get these dollars to the front line, to our hospitals, to our states for better equipment, for more supplies. Lets support them in doing what they do best, helping to fight this disease and seeing this through to the other side of americas challenge she was the. Now, mr. President , i say to the American People<\/a>, help is on the way, big help, quick help. I say to the American People<\/a> because democrats insisted on making this bill better, we can now call it a bill that puts workers first, not corporations, that has a Marshall Plan<\/a> for hospitals, and that has accountability, transparency, and watchdogs over much of the lending that is in this bill. 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