Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate Senators Gardner Murphy C

Symptoms of an unidentified at the time respiratory disease and increasing numbers. We now know, that the virus has covid19 and as completely appended our way of life in the globe. This virus has infected over 3. 5 Million People around the world and killed tragically over 60000 people in the United States and that includes over 900 incredible and great coloradans, my home state. We certainly mourn those families who have lost loved ones and we will keep fighting for a path forward we get through this together. That is my command and strongest terms asur possible, our ,rontline workers weathers been First Responders, Healthcare Professionals or those who have allowed us to continue to enjoy a safe and secure food supply. The people in essential businesses each everyday dont complain but that of work to help make sure that our communities can give back to work. Enlisted heroes in our communities, those who have given so much goes on and on and on. I think it is important to recognize that as we have addressed, the coronavirus challenge in this country, the measures that we have taken, the steps that have been laid out by mayors and governors and the president. They have beenee through complid with guidances and Health Directives to comply with the bestom science and scientists tt our country has not out of fear, not because people are afraid of covid19 but they have done it out of love. Love for their communities pretty love for their parents in reference to make hope to keep safe and healthy. Love for our country to stop the spread and planted the curb. And so to all of our incredible healthcare workers, the frontline workers, the essential workers, Grocery Store clerks and gasta station worker, mechanics at farmer equipment places, tour ranchers and farmers who kept our food supply flowing. Thank you. People everywhere across colorado hurting. Obviously because of this pandemic. I have heard, numerous stories across our great state rated ive hel. Preparing meals, providing them to the hungry and homeless. A Small Business owner and monument, colorado shared how business hurt by turning off 35 Staff Members but not having a choice part of talk to businesses in El Paso County nearr Colorado Springs you useut the last prepaid minutes on a cell phone to participate in our town hall to try to figure out how they could get food. I have talked to elderly people from colorado who were afraid to go to the grotius or because they didnt know if that special hours that they had an underlying condition they did not know if they could go safely. Our staff was able to helpce this person get the groceries they needed and the disinfectants they had requested and leave information about the special hours that Grocery Stores around the town were holding for people who needed a little more social distancing, more space, mores time in a safer environment to go out. But the vex of the coronavirus is not because someone intentionally decided to hurt our economy, but they are hurting because of the necessary publicrn Health Actions their government has taken. It is in large part the governments g responsibility to help get them through this because it was a government that said to them, stayathome, close your doors, do not go to work. It is ourov responsibility to provide the help our economy needs to get moving again, to get people back to work. Because it was the advice from government from the local to federal government that said these are the things you need to do to stop the spread and flatten the curve. Throughout this entire Health Epidemic i have approached it with a three prong strategy. Throughout the process the three sprung strategy has been the focus i have used to approach what we, as a country, must do to get through. These are not steps that should be taken one at a time you dont accomplish step one and then attempt to accomplish step two and maybe get to step three. These are things that need to be done all at the same time as we move on our path to recovery. First we must obviously address the media health crisis. Secondly must provide real time assistance to real individuals who are really hurting across the state of colorado in the country. The third prong is to make sure we arehe supporting our businesses through this crisis to make sure when the Health Emergency is over we have an economy we can step back and run strong. These steps have to be done at e. The same time, not one, two, three, but the first when the steps taken to flatten the curve and stop the spread of been critical and will continue to be critical. Congress is taken many steps to support the Health Response including 175 million for Healthcare Provider 17 billion to the Strategic National stockpile for medical equipment and supplies it with the recent infusion of 25 billion to support testing and include a funding for states and tribes. Weve also sent funding for scientists as they rapidly developed new testing technologies and work to get them to the market as quickly asor possible. Its going back to the bravery of our frontline healthcare workers, our First Responders, Public Health experts as well as thets innovation of our scientists that served as beacons of light during this difficult time will help us get through this healthro emergency. On prong two, individuals with assistance they need, we have continued to do that and must continue to do that to address this Health Emergency. When we started the very first steps we said to every american, please stay home. Figure out how to socially distance but as a result unemployment claims have skyrocketed to record numbers as americans gravel with work reduction, job loss and overall changes to our daily lives. Its Important Congress acted quickly to provide individuals withvi that immediate assistance and the carriers actually provide direct individual assistance to millions of individuals and married couples across the state and across thent country. To allow student loan borrowers to defer payments for 60 months without penalty prayed we establish temporary Pandemic Assistance Program for those self employed or independent contractors whose livelihood have been impacted by the pandemic, people who otherwise might not have had the place to go. One consistent message ive hearde from countless folks from colorados ive spoken with them to the pandemic as they appreciate the bipartisan efforts but its beyond that its simply not of a partisan effort wert its nonpartisan. Because republicans and democrats realize there is no reason to bear that mantle of party. Because so many people are hurting and we know what needs be done for the country to work together, to be nonpartisan, to provide the reef a jet relief individuals need in real time. We have to keep fighting in this nonpartisan way this bipartisan way to make testing widely available to support state and local governments cant advocate for frontline the essential workers and set up our economy to return as strong as it was before the pandemic. Thank goodness our economy was as strong as it was when we went into it. I have a weaker struggling economy as we entered the Health Emergency. Prong three requires support for small t businesses for the Economic Relief to the Paycheck Protection Program under the care of zac continues to be an essential tool to affects our Small Businesses and families across all four quarters of colorado over 10 billion in round one and round two of patient Protection Program has been delivered to key people on payroll in colorado but the Paycheck Protection Program was created to keep employees on payroll we keep bills paid so they can keep their jobs, salaryl and benefits keep them in so Small Businesses can hit the ground running when they are able to resume operations. We look at Small Businesses for over tricks and sam moawad joined dollars in salary every year in this country. We often talk about Small Businesses being the backbone, edthe foundation, the bedrock of our economy it is absolutely true. Small businesses employed nearly half of all American Workers and they make up 99. 5 of all colorado businesses. Fploying more than 1. 1 million coloradans. Because clarification to the program i fought for just last week i heard from three rural hospitals in colorado that received a Paycheck Protection Program loans through their local community bank. They were within a matter of a week or weeks of having to lay off employees and in some cases shut down the access to the Paycheck Protection Program it was an absolute game changer for these critical and vital rural hospitals. Now these hospitalsic continue to provide Critical Healthcare services to their communities and jobs with the employees in many communities these rural hospitals are the largest employer in that community. These actions and programs are essential cornerstones our recovery. We must finish laying the foundation to ensure our economy snaps back and runs strong. While governments can allow businesses to open, the American People simply wont return, they will not fully return to the economy until they haveun confidence that the virus is under control. The first step to tackling any problem is seeing it. Thats especially true with covid19. How do we see it . Through wide spread testing. Widespread testing is the key to seeing the Bigger Picture in the fight against this virus. Our countrys wellbeing both medically and financially relies on our ability to see where the illness is and where it is not. Where it is spreading, and where it is declining. That in turn depends on our ability to ramp up testing capacity. Rapid testing for covid19 and further research into the benefits, applications and developments of body testing will help to show which coloradans have been exposed to covid19 and the percentage of our population that is already recovered. This will better inform local schools, businesses, governments as they make their own determination about the path forward. It will help provide peace of mind for colorado as a start to visit their families, rescheduled doctors appoints for routine Preventive Services and return to their jobs. I will also help states and local Health Departments decide what type of other response measures are necessary. My approach to the pandemic has been an all hands on deck approach. By the governor calls means that our state needs more tasks, maps, mark women, i get to work to find that assistance. Working together with the governor, leaders and allies abroad lived able to secure hundreds of thousands of masks and tests forta our state we are working around the clock for more. Without effectivepr widespread testing and a corresponding strategy that leverages and improves Public Health for monitoring we cannot have a realtime response to the virus. Rapid testing and the ability for Public Health to inform individuals of positive cases they can take appropriate action for the prevent the spread isev critical to make sure our entire economy is not forced to shut down in the future. The dollars we have provided when it comes to actions of the Health Emergency will help with the testing will invent the kind of testingt we need in the body says, the opportunities we have to the people know whats happening what is not happening and how we should tailor our Public Policies to fit the spread of the virus, the decline of the virus, the reopening of our economy. We need a test is so ubiquitous that they can buy a big goal but 719 byatt covid19 firstaid get taken test if they wake up with a sore throat instead of shutting down a household or a community, or a country, we can get the results to implement better Public Policies then and there. Congress must also make sure the Paycheck Protection Program continues to be funded and improved, improved where needed to better support americas Small Businesses and the employees they are able to keep on payroll as a result. We must make the program flexible enough to be effectively must make the rules so clear, so clear that people will be confident they can use it. I have seen the headlines about big businesses taking this money when they might not really need it. Ive also attacked the 15 Employee Companies who have deeded 30 or 40000 to pay their workers who are now terrified of crossing federal prosecutors. I heard from colorado and whos built their entire life working with her sons business that essential business 68 open because the role they play in the food supply they went to the bank, they got the loan and the Paycheck Protection Program theyre very excited theyd be able to get the doors open. Then they received a letter that said hey, i sure you needed this loan . Maybe didnt. And now they dont know if they should keep it or not. There terrified to usehi it. So while we have to make sure our programs arent abuse, we have to make sure it does not create a Chilling Effect on businesses that truly need it. I understand the need to be careful about who gets this money but will we are scaring businesses that we wille all agree need assistance the most, maybe things have gone too far, and congress is no longer helping. Congo chef tod make rules that are clear, we should help guide those rules to be clear, and bring confidence to the programs make sure people can be at work, keep their jobs, keep their benefits. When the foundation is secure and we have the foundation secure, we should then explore the immediate opportunities for Economic Opportunity employment. For quicker recovery. Until the American Consumer is fully back with the economy we need to fill the gap. We have long talks about the need to refurbish our infrastructure, now is the time to do it. The self crisis has laid baird, the cyber desert that maexists in many rural communities. We should make a concentrated effort to make Rural Broadband a reality. We should fully and permanently fund the land of Water Conservation fundso and do it across the federal lands we cherish so much that would create immediate jobs building roads and maintainingie trails, and created the kind of Job Opportunities that many of her High Mountain towns desperately need as a result of this healthow emergency, and now economic emergency. Ive introduced a bit had support on both sides of the oil. As the president support and certainly the ideas are supported across both chambers of congress. The Great American outdoors act. Community throughout the nation would benefit in these funds would help contribute to a strong and growing Outdoor Recreation economy, one of the largest drivers of our economy states. In short, we need to take some big and bold steps to make sure our economies back on track and to help accelerated once again. We need these big steps because weve taken a hard shop in the last couple of months. We also need to support Mental Health efforts. 70 of colorado Mental Health uiaders on meant and on average one died from suicide every seven hours in colorado. Before covid19 is working on number of legislative efforts to improve Mental Health support and covid19 has only underscored just how time sensitive these matters are, particularly my legislation, the National Suicide act. In the middle of an emergency its almost impossible to member the ten digitha hotline, sometimes theres more than 110 digit hotline. So establishing 988 as a National Student side prevention hotline will save lives and help more americans indeed access critical Mental Health support. Is 2661, senate bill 2660 when the National Suicide hotline act is more than smart policy that will help save lives it is a statement that our government recognizes the crisis and is working across party lines to address it. Establish 988 as a National Suicide prevention hotline will save lives. I have been proud to push for this three digit hotline and funding for the National Suicide prevention lifeline it will keep fighting to make Million People<\/a> around the world and killed tragically over 60000 people in the United States<\/a> and that includes over 900 incredible and great coloradans, my home state. We certainly mourn those families who have lost loved ones and we will keep fighting for a path forward we get through this together. That is my command and strongest terms asur possible, our ,rontline workers weathers been First Responders<\/a>, Healthcare Professionals<\/a> or those who have allowed us to continue to enjoy a safe and secure food supply. The people in essential businesses each everyday dont complain but that of work to help make sure that our communities can give back to work. Enlisted heroes in our communities, those who have given so much goes on and on and on. I think it is important to recognize that as we have addressed, the coronavirus challenge in this country, the measures that we have taken, the steps that have been laid out by mayors and governors and the president. They have beenee through complid with guidances and Health Directives<\/a> to comply with the bestom science and scientists tt our country has not out of fear, not because people are afraid of covid19 but they have done it out of love. Love for their communities pretty love for their parents in reference to make hope to keep safe and healthy. Love for our country to stop the spread and planted the curb. And so to all of our incredible healthcare workers, the frontline workers, the essential workers, Grocery Store<\/a> clerks and gasta station worker, mechanics at farmer equipment places, tour ranchers and farmers who kept our food supply flowing. Thank you. People everywhere across colorado hurting. Obviously because of this pandemic. I have heard, numerous stories across our great state rated ive hel. Preparing meals, providing them to the hungry and homeless. A Small Business<\/a> owner and monument, colorado shared how business hurt by turning off 35 Staff Members<\/a> but not having a choice part of talk to businesses in El Paso County<\/a> nearr Colorado Springs<\/a> you useut the last prepaid minutes on a cell phone to participate in our town hall to try to figure out how they could get food. I have talked to elderly people from colorado who were afraid to go to the grotius or because they didnt know if that special hours that they had an underlying condition they did not know if they could go safely. Our staff was able to helpce this person get the groceries they needed and the disinfectants they had requested and leave information about the special hours that Grocery Store<\/a>s around the town were holding for people who needed a little more social distancing, more space, mores time in a safer environment to go out. But the vex of the coronavirus is not because someone intentionally decided to hurt our economy, but they are hurting because of the necessary publicrn Health Actions<\/a> their government has taken. It is in large part the governments g responsibility to help get them through this because it was a government that said to them, stayathome, close your doors, do not go to work. It is ourov responsibility to provide the help our economy needs to get moving again, to get people back to work. Because it was the advice from government from the local to federal government that said these are the things you need to do to stop the spread and flatten the curve. Throughout this entire Health Epidemic<\/a> i have approached it with a three prong strategy. Throughout the process the three sprung strategy has been the focus i have used to approach what we, as a country, must do to get through. These are not steps that should be taken one at a time you dont accomplish step one and then attempt to accomplish step two and maybe get to step three. These are things that need to be done all at the same time as we move on our path to recovery. First we must obviously address the media health crisis. Secondly must provide real time assistance to real individuals who are really hurting across the state of colorado in the country. The third prong is to make sure we arehe supporting our businesses through this crisis to make sure when the Health Emergency<\/a> is over we have an economy we can step back and run strong. These steps have to be done at e. The same time, not one, two, three, but the first when the steps taken to flatten the curve and stop the spread of been critical and will continue to be critical. Congress is taken many steps to support the Health Response<\/a> including 175 million for Healthcare Provider<\/a> 17 billion to the Strategic National<\/a> stockpile for medical equipment and supplies it with the recent infusion of 25 billion to support testing and include a funding for states and tribes. Weve also sent funding for scientists as they rapidly developed new testing technologies and work to get them to the market as quickly asor possible. Its going back to the bravery of our frontline healthcare workers, our First Responders<\/a>, Public Health<\/a> experts as well as thets innovation of our scientists that served as beacons of light during this difficult time will help us get through this healthro emergency. On prong two, individuals with assistance they need, we have continued to do that and must continue to do that to address this Health Emergency<\/a>. When we started the very first steps we said to every american, please stay home. Figure out how to socially distance but as a result unemployment claims have skyrocketed to record numbers as americans gravel with work reduction, job loss and overall changes to our daily lives. Its Important Congress<\/a> acted quickly to provide individuals withvi that immediate assistance and the carriers actually provide direct individual assistance to millions of individuals and married couples across the state and across thent country. To allow student loan borrowers to defer payments for 60 months without penalty prayed we establish temporary Pandemic Assistance Program<\/a> for those self employed or independent contractors whose livelihood have been impacted by the pandemic, people who otherwise might not have had the place to go. One consistent message ive hearde from countless folks from colorados ive spoken with them to the pandemic as they appreciate the bipartisan efforts but its beyond that its simply not of a partisan effort wert its nonpartisan. Because republicans and democrats realize there is no reason to bear that mantle of party. Because so many people are hurting and we know what needs be done for the country to work together, to be nonpartisan, to provide the reef a jet relief individuals need in real time. We have to keep fighting in this nonpartisan way this bipartisan way to make testing widely available to support state and local governments cant advocate for frontline the essential workers and set up our economy to return as strong as it was before the pandemic. Thank goodness our economy was as strong as it was when we went into it. I have a weaker struggling economy as we entered the Health Emergency<\/a>. Prong three requires support for small t businesses for the Economic Relief<\/a> to the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> under the care of zac continues to be an essential tool to affects our Small Business<\/a>es and families across all four quarters of colorado over 10 billion in round one and round two of patient Protection Program<\/a> has been delivered to key people on payroll in colorado but the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> was created to keep employees on payroll we keep bills paid so they can keep their jobs, salaryl and benefits keep them in so Small Business<\/a>es can hit the ground running when they are able to resume operations. We look at Small Business<\/a>es for over tricks and sam moawad joined dollars in salary every year in this country. We often talk about Small Business<\/a>es being the backbone, edthe foundation, the bedrock of our economy it is absolutely true. Small businesses employed nearly half of all American Workers<\/a> and they make up 99. 5 of all colorado businesses. Fploying more than 1. 1 million coloradans. Because clarification to the program i fought for just last week i heard from three rural hospitals in colorado that received a Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> loans through their local community bank. They were within a matter of a week or weeks of having to lay off employees and in some cases shut down the access to the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> it was an absolute game changer for these critical and vital rural hospitals. Now these hospitalsic continue to provide Critical Healthcare<\/a> services to their communities and jobs with the employees in many communities these rural hospitals are the largest employer in that community. These actions and programs are essential cornerstones our recovery. We must finish laying the foundation to ensure our economy snaps back and runs strong. While governments can allow businesses to open, the American People<\/a> simply wont return, they will not fully return to the economy until they haveun confidence that the virus is under control. The first step to tackling any problem is seeing it. Thats especially true with covid19. How do we see it . Through wide spread testing. Widespread testing is the key to seeing the Bigger Picture<\/a> in the fight against this virus. Our countrys wellbeing both medically and financially relies on our ability to see where the illness is and where it is not. Where it is spreading, and where it is declining. That in turn depends on our ability to ramp up testing capacity. Rapid testing for covid19 and further research into the benefits, applications and developments of body testing will help to show which coloradans have been exposed to covid19 and the percentage of our population that is already recovered. This will better inform local schools, businesses, governments as they make their own determination about the path forward. It will help provide peace of mind for colorado as a start to visit their families, rescheduled doctors appoints for routine Preventive Services<\/a> and return to their jobs. I will also help states and local Health Departments<\/a> decide what type of other response measures are necessary. My approach to the pandemic has been an all hands on deck approach. By the governor calls means that our state needs more tasks, maps, mark women, i get to work to find that assistance. Working together with the governor, leaders and allies abroad lived able to secure hundreds of thousands of masks and tests forta our state we are working around the clock for more. Without effectivepr widespread testing and a corresponding strategy that leverages and improves Public Health<\/a> for monitoring we cannot have a realtime response to the virus. Rapid testing and the ability for Public Health<\/a> to inform individuals of positive cases they can take appropriate action for the prevent the spread isev critical to make sure our entire economy is not forced to shut down in the future. The dollars we have provided when it comes to actions of the Health Emergency<\/a> will help with the testing will invent the kind of testingt we need in the body says, the opportunities we have to the people know whats happening what is not happening and how we should tailor our Public Policies<\/a> to fit the spread of the virus, the decline of the virus, the reopening of our economy. We need a test is so ubiquitous that they can buy a big goal but 719 byatt covid19 firstaid get taken test if they wake up with a sore throat instead of shutting down a household or a community, or a country, we can get the results to implement better Public Policies<\/a> then and there. Congress must also make sure the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> continues to be funded and improved, improved where needed to better support americas Small Business<\/a>es and the employees they are able to keep on payroll as a result. We must make the program flexible enough to be effectively must make the rules so clear, so clear that people will be confident they can use it. I have seen the headlines about big businesses taking this money when they might not really need it. Ive also attacked the 15 Employee Companies<\/a> who have deeded 30 or 40000 to pay their workers who are now terrified of crossing federal prosecutors. I heard from colorado and whos built their entire life working with her sons business that essential business 68 open because the role they play in the food supply they went to the bank, they got the loan and the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> theyre very excited theyd be able to get the doors open. Then they received a letter that said hey, i sure you needed this loan . Maybe didnt. And now they dont know if they should keep it or not. There terrified to usehi it. So while we have to make sure our programs arent abuse, we have to make sure it does not create a Chilling Effect<\/a> on businesses that truly need it. I understand the need to be careful about who gets this money but will we are scaring businesses that we wille all agree need assistance the most, maybe things have gone too far, and congress is no longer helping. Congo chef tod make rules that are clear, we should help guide those rules to be clear, and bring confidence to the programs make sure people can be at work, keep their jobs, keep their benefits. When the foundation is secure and we have the foundation secure, we should then explore the immediate opportunities for Economic Opportunity<\/a> employment. For quicker recovery. Until the American Consumer<\/a> is fully back with the economy we need to fill the gap. We have long talks about the need to refurbish our infrastructure, now is the time to do it. The self crisis has laid baird, the cyber desert that maexists in many rural communities. We should make a concentrated effort to make Rural Broadband<\/a> a reality. We should fully and permanently fund the land of Water Conservation<\/a> fundso and do it across the federal lands we cherish so much that would create immediate jobs building roads and maintainingie trails, and created the kind of Job Opportunities<\/a> that many of her High Mountain<\/a> towns desperately need as a result of this healthow emergency, and now economic emergency. Ive introduced a bit had support on both sides of the oil. As the president support and certainly the ideas are supported across both chambers of congress. The Great American<\/a> outdoors act. Community throughout the nation would benefit in these funds would help contribute to a strong and growing Outdoor Recreation<\/a> economy, one of the largest drivers of our economy states. In short, we need to take some big and bold steps to make sure our economies back on track and to help accelerated once again. We need these big steps because weve taken a hard shop in the last couple of months. We also need to support Mental Health<\/a> efforts. 70 of colorado Mental Health<\/a> uiaders on meant and on average one died from suicide every seven hours in colorado. Before covid19 is working on number of legislative efforts to improve Mental Health<\/a> support and covid19 has only underscored just how time sensitive these matters are, particularly my legislation, the National Suicide<\/a> act. In the middle of an emergency its almost impossible to member the ten digitha hotline, sometimes theres more than 110 digit hotline. So establishing 988 as a National Student<\/a> side prevention hotline will save lives and help more americans indeed access critical Mental Health<\/a> support. Is 2661, senate bill 2660 when the National Suicide<\/a> hotline act is more than smart policy that will help save lives it is a statement that our government recognizes the crisis and is working across party lines to address it. Establish 988 as a National Suicide<\/a> prevention hotline will save lives. I have been proud to push for this three digit hotline and funding for the National Suicide<\/a> prevention lifeline it will keep fighting to make Suicide Prevention<\/a> services more accessible. Come together and lets get it done. Er and lets access to Mental Health<\/a> care is important during this trying time filled with grief and uncertainty for so many people. We must ensure were doing everything we can to keep these devastating outcomes from occurring. No matter how bleak the situation looks, its important to remember that america has faced its fair share of challenges. Together we have persevered and persisted through world wars, economic disasters, september 11 terrorist attacks and much, much more. This virus will not be the last challenge that our countryfa faces, we note this too shall pass. And together, we will make it to the other side stronger than ever. I have faith and confidence in the American People<\/a>. And in our ability to pull together and continue to meet the challenge head on. Colorado is been a shining example and so many instances and it will continue to be. Over these last several months of spoken directly to countless colorado inns all unsure of what the future holds but they are certain we will get through it by looking up to that great Rocky Mountains<\/a> horizon. Colorado everywhere is steppingat up and being a challenge theyre donating food, the donated personal protective equipment there toning their time, talents, and their blood. Individuals and businesses across colorado in the country are seeing needs and are responding to those in need. To the brave Healthcare Provider<\/a>s fighting aroundtheclock, reliable farmer and ranchers working day in and dayhe out to keep food on the table and all the essential workers that continue to selflessly put themselves at risk to ensure others are taking care of first. I give my deepest thanks andst praise. In colorado, we have lost to First Responders<\/a> on the front light in the fight against covid19. Deputy jeff hopkins served in the El Paso County<\/a> Sheriffs Office<\/a> copies been serving there since 2001. On april 1 he passed away from covid19 at the age of 41. One day after he was diagnosed with covid19. His death was determined to be a line of duty death. A reminder to all of us that our brave First Responders<\/a> are in harms way every day. Especially during this pandemic. We also recently lost a paul carey who worked as a firefighter paramedic in aurora for more than 30 years. Paul was 66 years old and he selflessly drove 27 hours straight to new york in an ambulance to help out in the battle against9. Covid19. There he was tending to patients and transporting them to hospitals, it fallen ill with the virus paul died on0. April 30. Colorado residents line the streets to give him a heros farewell. To deputy hopkins, its a paul carey, and the countless heroes like them were risking their own life for our safety every day. Thank you. First responders and medical professionals all across our states continue to make countless sacrifices on our behalf. The long hours, the time away from family and loved ones, the undeniable mental toll this pandemic takes on those on the front lines in the health risk, these sacrifices dont goic unnoticed. We must do everything we can to make sure the First Responders<\/a> of covid19 have the resources, support and personal protective equipment needed to fight this pandemic. Well never be able to fully show our appreciation for Healthcare Provider<\/a>s, frontline employees and First Responders<\/a> with got to do everything we can to make up what theyve done for us. Big ways in small ways, every day. Colorado we dont look back, we look forward, we looked out across the great plains, the great high plains up to that majestic rocky mount horizon for that next optimistic day. In the middle of the Health Emergency<\/a>, a couple weeks ago i received a letter in the mail and it had a pair of pliers in this letter. I really didnt know it was it sat on my desk. I opened it up, not knowing what it was, and i would ask mr. President unanimous consent i would be allowed to show the item on theem floor that was sent to me during the health pandemic. Without objection. In the letter this pair of pliers came and i opened it up. Heres what it said. Senator gardner coming to thank you and everyone at your office profusely for everything you have done for me, youve allowed for me to it continue receiving uninterrupted benefits and care for combat injuries. That i sustained while serving as an officer in the u. S. Army. In 2014 you came to visit me in the ward of walter reed will i was bandaged and pretty beat up missing my dominant hand and looking overall pretty haggard. You told me a story about the course my moms side of the family who the letter was from another member drew clearly the story i told this young soldier. He told me a story about mom side walking into the Hardware Store<\/a> stress testing pliers it was a story i received about my granddad about these two brothers whod come in years and years ago, decades ago they grab a pair of pliers of the parts candidate squeeze them so hard they would snap the pin and the pliers. I told them that story, he wrote his letter apparently my ancestors would notn buy a pair if they did not stand up to the grip of a man that i can only imagine was pretty strong. Well im sure that we broke a few sets and got away with it by being expletive, i have enclosed a pair. After youve visited a check that story with me. After five years as an amputee, i have been an infantry officer and spent years training is a special forces officer. The only amputee to ever pass assessment and selection. It is bit inspiring to grip this set of pliers, and try to snap them. And then he wrote, sometimes our tools break, sometimes its our fault, sometimes it is not flat and started to begin with sometimes these tools have just been used to the point on failure. Every time though, what really matters is what we do on sexual is broken. We fix it. We get a new one. Or we improvise something better. Either way, we figure out it finish the job because people are depending on us to do and get it done. Carried of all, captain u. S. Army, fort bragg, north carolina. We face a tremendous challenge like weve ever faced in our l lifetime. And while we are going to use every tool we have, to help fix what has happened, we know that everyone is not going to be b perfect. But we have to keep trying. Because that is what the American People<\/a> do every day. They make it work, they fights, they get back on their feet. We have to be in this fight with them. Mr. President , thank you yield the floor. Connecticut. Thank you, mr. President i think all of us are in all on a o daily basis of those that we have a responsibility to serve people to people of colorado, texas, connecticut, doing absolutely extraordinary things. I hope over the next several weeks, we get to hear more of the stories. At the end of last week, i got a chance with my governor to go down to a healthcare facility in bridgeport connecticut, it is been designated to serve only covid 19 positive patients. The nurses and staff came outside into the parking lot area to have a socially distant masked conversation with us. While they have struggles, and help, they have a sense of mission about them and their working double shifts, rarely get to see their kids, know their life is in danger every ten they go into a facility where their only patients have testedre positive for covid19 and they know theyre doing something with their life today that they will be able to tell their kids and grandchildren about. They are making a difference. I think about those individuals that are not first responder, that are not healthcare workers, but have found a way to do heroic things just to their neighborhoods. Luciana was already making a difference, she was a bilingual teacher in the stanford Connecticut School<\/a> system. She heard about a crisis one of her students was having, one of her students mothers had contracted the virus and got into a coma but was pregnant. And delivered a child while she was in a medically induced coma. Her husband also had the virus as did one of their children. So do you know what she did, genoa this teacher did . She took the baby into her home and while she taught her students online during the day, she warmed up bottles and fed that baby at night. Gerry sicard is 100 years old, he lives in stratford, connecticut. Even that 100 years old, he decided to get together with his daughter judy, and start making masks. We all have the stories from our states. Just focus it started selling masks and giving them out to people who needed them. Gerry gave much of his neighbors, he sent some to the correctional center, gave into former students, and then when folks learned gerry was good at making mass, call and make them on order. These are stories that could frankly fill up the whole day from each one of our states. While my constituents in connecticut who are as generous as that would have undertaken those actions regardless of the effectiveness of the response from the government, their actions are all the more important, given the failures of their federal government to do the right thing by them. I want to spend a few minutes today, talking about the Trump Administration<\/a>s response to the crisis we are facing pretty foro going to be here in washington i think its important for us to talk about what is missing. Theres been a lot of time spent criticizing the Trump Administration<\/a> to the crisis. The strategy wasth wrong, the focus was in the wrong place, level of activity wasnt high enough, i really think this is the wrong paradigm, its the wrong lens through which to have this discussion. The problem really isnt that President Trump<\/a>s response to coronavirus has been ineffective, its that he has not responded at all. Purposes,tents there is been no response to coronavirus from this administration. Thereve been press conferences, social media presence, they are not running a National Response<\/a>. From the beginning, the response has been left to the states, to cities, to counties, to hospitals, to School Districts<\/a> to nursing homes, food banks, charitable organizations, really to every Public Entity<\/a> that is not the administration. We should not lose sight of how remarkable that is. In the face of the most serious National Crisis<\/a> and stu thousand one, perhaps since the vietnam war or world war ii, the administration has effectively chosen to stand down and let others lead. I know that sounds like hyperbole, theres a task force, right . Theres press events on tv every day. But hear me out. At the beginning, the president didnt do nothing, he fanned the flames. He called the coronavirus in the early days a hoax, perpetuated by his political opponents. E he telegraphed to the country this is not something we need to be prepared for because it was just going to go away. Despite all the experts telling him differently. Im told on occasion he praised the chinese response, said the president was doing an excellent job for the crisis praise or transparency a moment when the International Community<\/a> was trying to get into china defined itne with a new so we can start developing vaccines in those early days of the chinese response was our own president. Arguably the most significant action Trump Administration<\/a> undertook really the only action the president mentions essay when pressed potential things hes done was to set travel restrictions. But Public Health<\/a> experts told the president the restrictions would not work, especially since they were filled with loopholes. We now know that 400,000 people ended up getting to the United States<\/a> and the countries that were subject to the restrictions list. The travel ban was a failure. And after that, the administration effectively gave up, they gave up. Not what could they have done as a travel ban started to prove ineffective at stopping the virus and cases started to mount . What could they have done . They could have decided to lead a National Effort<\/a> to make sure we had the supplies necessary to fight the virus. Members of Congress Told<\/a> the Administration Early<\/a> on we need to appropriate dollars to make sure with things like masks and gowns and ventilators. They could have created a National Effort<\/a> to ramp up Domestic Production<\/a> of personal protective equipment, they did not do that. They couldve come up with a National Testing<\/a> m plan, they could have done an early assessment on how many tests were going to be needed, take control of this supply chain to make those diagnostics machines the cartridges that go inside them, they did not do that. They could have begun the work of Building National<\/a> Public Health<\/a> workforce, every expert told the administration it was not just the machines and equipment, we were going to need Public Health<\/a> workers to do the testing to then trace the spread of the disease to help support quarantine, they couldve started to put together plan to help build that workforce to a National Level<\/a> or plan to help the states build the workforce, they did not do that. They couldve earlyth on worked with states have uniform standards for school and business closings did not have to be left to states and municipalities and individuals to Superintendents Administration<\/a> couldve chosen to lead on how and when we chose to close our economy and School Systems<\/a> down, but they did not do that. They could have joined with countries to jointly produce a vaccine. In fact, there is an entity set up at the beginning of the Trump Administration<\/a> specifically for that purpose, coalition for epidemic preparedness innovations. They couldve made an investment in that International Organization<\/a> after having refused to join early on during the president s term, they did not do that. Theyns could have increased aid for developing nations in refugee camps they couldve got on the International Offensive<\/a> like president obama dideb during the a bowl epidemic and made sure we were helping every country beat the virus because as we know, due to the failure of a travel restriction if you dont stop everywhere the not stopping anywhere, they did not do that. They couldve made sure everybody in this country had insurance, the Trump Administration<\/a> couldve stopped pushing junk plans, at least temporarily put on hold the lawsuits to end the Affordable Care<\/a> act to the 20 Million People<\/a> insured through. They didnt do that they could have created a National Commitment<\/a> to make sure every student has the ability to distant gent distancelearning avenue access and couldve ramped up money for special d Education Funding<\/a> they couldve protected children with disabilities during this crisis. They did not do that. And finally they did not propose any of the congress that they pass. The hospital relief uncover the National Testing<\/a> program fund, none of these were initiatives from President Trump<\/a>, early on negotiations were beginning on these release packages the president s only idea a payroll tax cut. Frankly, it still the president s only idea. The president did not need to leave all of the legislative leadership to congress. He and his team could have laid out detailed new programs to combat the virus or to save the economy impress congress to pass them. They didnt even do that. I am not saying there arent butwo meetings, im not saying there arent press o conferences, but my state, where the hardest hit in the nations had to effectively fend for itself. When i talk to state leaders, hospital executives, food pantry directors, none of them talk to me about all of the help they are getting from the Trump Administration<\/a>. They talk about the programs that congress has passed, but they dont talk about any meaningful, impactful, responsive crisis run by the Trump Administration<\/a>. D why . Because they dont exist. And even when the Trump Administration<\/a> tries to do something meaningful, they screw it up. Take for instance the much heralded plan to reopen america. That was a good i idea. A serious set of guidelines for states to used to judge when the right time is to reopen. I may have quibbles with certain elements of the plan, but i r thought generally they were on the right tracke giving state some specific guidelines , so we can have some consistency across the country as to when states decide to reopen schools and businesses. The administration stuck with that plan for about aee week. And now, President Trump<\/a> is calling on states to reopen, regardless of any the benchmarks have been met in his own plan. And now hes talking about healthcare workers, cafeteria workers, as warriors. Apparently prepping them for a summer during which experts tell him, they will be 3000 corona virus a deaths a day. Because of these early reopenings. Now if that issi true, the president s socalled coronavirus warriors would be dialing at a daily total ten times that of the warriors who fought in world war ii. Not all of this was avoidable. China, where the virus started, bears serious responsibility for the global spread. Have to become the crisis of the magnitude we witness today. A normal president would have been able to take steps early on and throughout to control the spread. Our president effectively chose to stand aside at least 50 states and thousands of cities and hospitals to manage the response instead. They were left largely helpless without significant federal support, competing against e each other for scarce resources, and now our country is in desperate straits. So once again, it is up to congress to lead. I agree with my friend from colorado there is been remarkable bipartisan support in this body, in order for us to fill the vacuum that has been created by the refusal of our president to lead. So we will have to do it again. And so let me leave my colleagues with a few suggestions as to the path we should take going forward, to build upon those suggestions brought by mike coley from colorado. First and foremost, we have to admit what is true. The states and cities are in charge of their response. The Trump Administration<\/a> is not. Ive heard my colleagues talk about aid to states or municipalities that b are fighting the virus bailout. That is nonsense. It is more accurate, to talk about what the states and cities are doing as a bailout s the federal government. When the Trump Administration<\/a> refused toik run a National Response<\/a> it was the states, like mine, cities like those in my state that stepped up to lead the response. All we are asking, as we share in the cost of the states and cities effort to save lives. Second, our schools are going to be overwhelmed with need when they reopen. As one of the few parents of public age school children, my kids are lucky enough they dont have special learning needs, theyve got two parents who were able to tell a work from home and support their distancelearning. But there are millions of kids who have learning disabilities. Who have needs totally unmet during this time. We are going to show back up at school way behind and in crisis. And we need to appropriate money right now, especially for special education, so that School Districts<\/a> across the country can start to do planning now, this spring and summer so that there are supports around those kids in the show back up. Every kidid is going to have to catch up, but especially for kids with serious learning disabilities. They are going to need extra help and states are going to have extended all of the money available both to them to fight the virus will have revenues because of the shutdown of the economy are not going to be able to fund those special Education Needs<\/a> themselves. Going to have to be us, its going to have to be us. So why wait until the fall . Lets make a down payment on that assistance for kids withow disabilities and do it now. Food pantries in connecticut are running dry, they are running dry. We need more support in the next bill for nutrition assistance. We have to start thing and creatively on how to make sure that everybody has access to food. Right now, if you are on a stamp benefit you have to go to Grocery Store<\/a> and those are not good places for those on his snap benefits dont place that might be open is a long way away. And so restaurants can be a lifeline right now. Traditionally we do not allow you to use your snap benefits and restaurants. Ihe think we should temporarily allow for that in the next package we pass on that would be a win for people who need more food options, who art assistance, also win for the restaurants. They are looking for customers. Fourth, weve got to build that Public Health<\/a> workforce. Again states will be able to afford it themselves every medical expert tells us its not just testing comments tracing the context that in vigil had comets quarantining those that contact with and that cannot be done just has to beat workers that help do that tracing, help support the quarantine, weve got to build that workforce, again theres no conceivable way states can pay for that by l themselves. And lastly we need to get back into the game internationally. The beginning to think we could just shut our borders and protect yourself, that is not how viruses work. In an interconnected Economy Today<\/a> theres no practical way to completely shut down your borders from individuals or products move across international boundaries. And so we have offers to engage with our partners internationally they could end up saving lives the United States<\/a>. I mentioned the Trump Administration<\/a> refusal to join cip i which is the International Body<\/a> working on a vaccine. Why . Why is europe, canada, australia, japan, saudi arabia, india, working jointly on a vaccine and we are on the outside . It does not mean we have to stop doing our own congressionally funded work, but why not also join the interNational Effort<\/a> we are not on the outside if they developed a vaccine . Thats an easy thing we can do in this next bill. Make sure we are both working on a vaccine domestically and workings internationally. When this crisis is overrm and life has returned to relative normal, there will be a grave, serious accounting of how badly the Trump Administration<\/a> failed this nation. That it was sworn to protect sprit im grateful for my colleagues stepping up time in a bipartisan way to fill that vacuum that has been createdve by the failure to lead by the executive branch. And hopefully will we do that accounting, it will allow us to learn lessons. But for now, this congress has got to soldier on, and do our best to muster a federal response that if not for our actions, would be practically nonexistent. I yield the floor. Madam president , senator from texas is recognized. Madam president , like other senators come around this time of year im used to welcoming folks from home who were traveling to washington d. C. Between spring break trips and industry clients, spring is normally a very busy season here at the capital. And i always look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces, spending time with my constituentsng and talking about the challenges they are facing and the changes they would like to see coming out of congress. But as we all know, this is not a typical springtime in washington. Normally busy sidewalks and hallways are largely empty as our constituents hunkered down at home, while we continue working to get them the help they need. Just as texans have adopted new routines, to meet social distancing requirements, so have i. So have all of us. Over the last few weeks, and i know i am not alone among my colleagues, i have logged some serious hours on phone calls and videoconferences with folks across texas. Actually, ive been a little surprised at how efficient it is in terms of reaching large numbers of people. I think it will probably change some of the way we work here and some of the way we interact with some of our constituents in the future. But ive spoke with those of the medical field about the ongoing challenges to our frontline healthcare workers, the progress toward developing a vaccine, antibody test, and the like. I talked with the Texas Farm Bureau<\/a> of farmers and ranchers, Grocery Store<\/a> workers are food bank, about the need to make sure all texans can access the food they need, especially during a time like this. With the mayors, county judges, other leaders in our communities of talked about the work they are doing. I was listening to her friend and colleague from connecticut, who believes the response needs to be coming out of washington. And we all need to simply fall in line according to the dictates of the National Government<\/a>. It raises interesting questions about the Constitutional Convention<\/a> and the agreement to have a federal system not a nash jet nationalwn system of sovereign states that have their only sphere of responsibility. Our cities and counties are both stable in my view to respond to localha conditions. Eand rather than a commandandcontrol, response, what we have had in texas, a dazed entrant dear say most places weve had a collaborative approach. Working with the National Government<\/a> to provide the resources and guidance thats very important, with our governors whod controlled the National Guard<\/a> that have come out to help do testing, help stock food banks, help build temporary hospital facilities, and our mayors and county judges, local officials have done its down downing job im very proud of the work theyve done. But we have not just taken orders on high from the federal government, we have worked together hand and glove. With the federal government. Of course ive talked to countless Small Business<\/a> owners across her big cities and small towns and everywhere in between about the financial strain caused by the pandemic and it is significant to say the least. Many of course were forced to close their doors are dramatically scaled back their operations and many have just had to make really hard decisions to stay afloat. I was just emailing with a friend of mine in dallas who has ownership in a company that just declared chapter 11 bankruptcy. Our Small Business<\/a>es are the heart and soul of our communities. They are our favorite locally owned restaurants we call upon on anniversaries birthdays and other holidays, the dry cleaners, barbershops, the gyms, the pharmacies, all the places we have been going for years, they feel like an extended part of our family. They are part of what make our communities unique and they are a huge driver of our economy. In texas and across the country Small Business<\/a>es employ 50 of the local workforce. Rs for many of these workers the closures and cancellations brought on by the coronavirus have put their livelihoods in jeopardy. With many losing some or all of their income, and many their job entirely. As the senate was working on the third response package back in march, we knew without serious investment in our businesses the result would be catastrophic. Thats why we created the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> through the cares act to provide cash flow assistance for our Small Business<\/a>es. As we know, those low interest loans can be used to cover everything from payroll, to supply chain interruptions to mortgage. If they are able and i will underline if they are able to keep their employees on payroll until june, then much of those loans can be turned into grants. During my calls of videoconferencing chambers of commerce and smallbusiness owners throughout texas ive been able to talk about the benefits of these loans and how to access them. Small Business Administration<\/a> staff is joined me on dozens of these calls to answer technical questions about the loan program and other types of assistance offered by the sba. Which is been really valuable and appreciated bye. Everyone. My Small Business<\/a>es in my state have jumped at the opportunity to take advantage of the ppp loans and Start Talking<\/a> with their banks and gathering their paperwork and going through the formal application process. As we know now, it became quickly obvious how popular the ppp program wasnt it would exceed the funding levels after two weeks, two weeks. That indicates the kind of demand and need in our response was hitting the target. But after two weeks, the first 350 billion was exhausted, depleted, from that first 350 billion, 135 Small Business<\/a>es in texas received loans. More than any other state. That Program Brought<\/a> a proximally 28 and a half billion dollars to texas Small Business<\/a> and protected thousands of jobs. Well, we know after a little bit of jockeying back and forth with the house, congress finallyad replenished the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> with an additional 320 billion and that money is flying out the door. You dont have to look far to see why this program was so popular. Valerie owns delicious tamales in my hometown of san antonio. Like other restaurants across the country her business has struggled as stayathome orders were put in place. Delicious tamales closed for two weeks last month, but was able to reopen because of the 232,000dollar loan they received through the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a>. All 38 employees returned to work. Valerie called the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> a lifesaver. For patients at a clinic in tyler texas, another ppp loan recipient, these loans could be a literal life saver. It provides Healthcare Services<\/a> to low income texans in the tyler area. The clinic does not receive state or local funding, and one third of their budget comes from the hangers of hope thrift stores. Which were forced to closed. The clinic had to furlough their employees in order to survive the financial squeeze. But they were able to take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a>. Christie is a chief financial and operation officers and she said this is erased a lot of worry for the clinic and allowed the furloughed employees to return back to work. It is also enabled them to continue to serve the public during a time of heightened healthcare concerns. The Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> has been vital to texas Small Business<\/a> and i dare say to the nations Small Business<\/a>es. I am glad congress, working together as we should, during a time of national emergency, was able to provide this lifeline and replenish these funds when they ranan dry. Thats not to say this program has been implemented without a hitch. When you do something this big and this fast, there are bound to be some hiccups. We expected there would be some small hull or gaps in what was needed, and over the last few weeks those have become pretty clear. One of those issues is the taxdeductible expenses for the business that take advantage of these loans. Businesses are normally able to deduct wages and other business expenses from their taxable income. But the notice issued by the irs said Small Business<\/a>es cannot deduct these expenses, which is exactly the opposite of what we intended to do. To give you an idea how harmful this could be, for Small Business<\/a> payroll during the eight week period00 covered by a loan for 100,000. That could not be deducted as a business expense with a file their taxes. Our goal with this legislation to hurt help not hurt and keep them solvent to keep employees on their payroll so they could recover from the pandemic as soon as possible and be ready for what i hope is a v shaped bounce back economy once we defeat this virus. We certainly did not intend to make next years tax season a nightmare or to add to the burdens of the Small Business<\/a>es. Based on the irs guidance thats the path we are headed down. We have to write this wrong. Yesterday, i introduce the bipartisan Small Business<\/a> expense protection act for ranking members of the finance committee, senator grassley and senator whited. Along with senator rubio who chairs a Small Business<\/a> and senator harper who serves as i do on the finance committee. This legislation would clarify the Small Business<\/a>es could still deduct the expenses that were paid for with the forgiven paycheck protection loan from their taxes. Without this clarification, Small Business<\/a>es would be up the creek without a paddle and they filed their taxes next year. This program was created to reduce the financial barriers to Small Business<\/a>es are trying to overcome not to add more. This bipartisan bill is already receive support of the american t institute of cpas, certified public accountants, and is critical to ensuring americas Small Business<\/a>es receive the full intended benefits by congress and the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a>. As we continue to provide relief for americas workers and Small Business<\/a>es, it is critical that this fix be included. Texas Small Business<\/a> saw the paychecks Protection Program<\/a> is a lifeline during this incredibly challenging time. Lets not make them regret grabbing a hold of it. Sunday night on q a look at american president s of the lens of the books theyve written with journalist and historian craig. Samantha stories often been you sought in that piercing quote that kennedys father was the one pulling the strings behind the scene. But thats not true jack kennedy won the Pulitzer Prize<\/a>. He told another historian i would rather win a Pulitzer Prize<\/a> and be president. And so because he had the strong desire for literary fame, even though he didnt really want to do literary work, he got himself the prize. In new york city, washington d. C. , people have been gossiping did kennedy really write that book . I wonder who really wrote that book . I wonder how much money theyre getting out the royalty checks . The pulitzer change the equation and made a moral question and an ethical question. Leaders realize this too. When is at the president ial library at looks at the letters kennedy is receiving a 1957. Librarians resetting letters, schoolteachers were sending letters saying did she really write this book . They were responding to the interview you did it wouldnt of accepted that prize if you didnt write that book, thats not the right thing to do. Watch sunday night at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on son spends q a. the hearing will come to order. Order. This is a meeting room set up differently to deal with the reality we all face as a nation trying to practice social distancing and good hygiene. Thank you for coming everybody has disinfected they can use. We have spaced out the room to be as safe as possible for my staff and minority staff , thank you for working together to set up the room. 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