The challenges we face. Lord, we can meet these challenges with your power that transcends human understanding. When you whisper, dangers flee into the darkness. The sound of your footsteps causes tribulations to hide. Almighty god, permit our lawmakers to be aware of your providential guidance. May they depend on you to lead them according to your will. Give them the wisdom to trust you when they cant see the road before them, believing that you will be their light in the darkness. We pray in your great name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Grassley mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley permission to address the senate for one minute in morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley ame
Heavens that bring blessings to our earthly pilgrimage. Today, guide our lawmakers with your glorious wisdom. In the greatness of your majesty, fulfill your purposes for their lives as you order their steps. Show them such unfailing love that they will walk before you in wholehearted devotion. Lord, place your Healing Hands upon our nation and world, delivering us from this Global Health crisis. We pray in your powerful name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance i pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Grassley madam president. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley permission to speak in morning business for 90 seconds. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley my iowa offices are located in cedar rapids, council bluffs, davenport, doims, sioux city and waterloo. My state
Battle to defeat the coronavirus is only intensified. Thereve been some have s questionedof the wisdom of the senate coming back to washington and convening. But i think we need to be here. We need to do our jobs. We know how to do this safely, we know how to social distance, we h know how to wash our hands, not touch her face, those of the responsibilities each of us bear to one another not to spread this virus. But if there is such a thing as essential and nonessential workers, and i dont think that distinction is one we should discuss, because 26 million americans are not nonessential workers they are absolutely essential to our economy and to our way of life. Make no mistake, selfgovernment is essential under any construction, any definition of the word, our system was not made to run on autopilot. So is appropriate we show up, do her job, and we protect the American People and do everything we can to defeat thiso virus from a Public Health standpoint but also to do whats necessary
Colleagues have come to the floor and spoken here or elsewhere about the importance of providing assistance to state and local governments, and that if that doesnt happen that theyre there are going to be police officers, First Responders and people who have essential jobs that we rely on every single day and for whom were so grateful, that wouldnt be able to get paid. I would just point out that already as part of the Coronavirus Relief measures that congress has passed, there was 150 billion sent to state and local governments, much of which has yet to be spent. And, frankly, much of which we dont know what the actual need is out there until we have a better sense for what the revenue loss is to a lot of our state and local governments. Clearly they are sounding the alarm and are justifiably worried about what happens if the downturn in the economy continues and what that might mean to their revenues. And so they are looking to washington, d. C. For assistance, and i think that as i
To wash your hands, not touch or face. Those are the responsibilities we dare to one another and want to spreadea this virus. But if there is such a thing as essential and non essential workers, and i dont think that the distinction is one that we should discuss because 26 million americans are knocking on the essential workers o but they are absolutey essential to the economy and to the way of life. But make no mistake cost the government is essential under any construction or any definition of that word. Our system wasnt made to run on roautopilot. Its essential that we show up and do our job and protect the American People and do everything we can to defeat from a Public Health standpoint but also to do what is necessary to maintain a lifeline to the tieconomy and the workers that e an essential component of it. And so, when we defeat the virus that they will be prepared for people to go back to work in full and keep the economy and jobs growing again. 5we know about 3. 5 million ca