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[Pages S1770-S1771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CORONAVIRUS
Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I rise today at a pivotal time for our
Nation. It is quiet today in Big Sky Country. Over the last 36 hours,
we have seen schools, restaurants, bars, gyms, ski resorts, and
churches close. Thousands of children are home from school, many unsure
where their next meal will come from, and parents are without
childcare.
There are no test kits to test for coronavirus to speak of--a few,
but not nearly enough, and inadequate medical supplies in Indian
Country.
Thousands are concerned about what it means for their paychecks.
Seniors are worried about their health. Businesses are forced to make
very, very tough choices.
Millions of Americans are depending on us here in Washington, DC, to
act and to act quickly. The House jumped into action and began
negotiating with the administration on a bill to address some of the
most pressing and immediate concerns of the coronavirus. A deal was
struck, and the House passed the bill with an overwhelming bipartisan
majority.
And what happened in the Senate? Well, last Thursday, the majority
leader sent us home. Business as usual.
What we should have done--we should have stuck around and done the
people's work. But, instead, my friends in the majority decided we
should operate as business as usual and take off Friday, take off the
weekend, and go home.
Well, this is not business as usual. If the majority leader would
have listened to the CDC, he would have heard that what he did last
Thursday was contrary to the recommendations they have made to avoid
groups, to avoid airports. We did just the opposite.
Millions of Americans are waiting for the Senate to act. What we are
here to consider today, which we should have considered last Saturday,
is an important start toward providing needed relief. It provides free
testing, sick leave, unemployment insurance for those losing their jobs
through no fault of their own.
We could have done this several days ago, but, instead, we continue
to wait. We continue to wait as we have watched athletics shut down--
the NCAA, baseball, hockey, basketball, NBA--restaurants, Broadway,
schools close. The list goes on and on, and we continue to languish
here in the U.S. Senate, supposedly the greatest deliberative body in
the world. We do this while 4 in 10 Americans struggle to cover an
unanticipated expense of $400. Let me say that again: 4 in 10 families
are $400 away from financial crisis.
This bill ensures that a hotel employee in Billings can stay home if
she is feeling ill without sacrificing that $400 for rent, groceries,
or childcare.
A quarter of a million Americans go without medical care for fear of
the cost. This bill ensures that no one is going without healthcare or
coronavirus tests for fear of the expense. More than that, the bill
would increase the amount of funding for Montana's Medicaid Program to
cover additional Medicaid expenses.
Many kids in Montana rely on lunch that they get at their schools as
the primary source of nutrition for the day. This bill will allow those
students to continue to get lunch even if the schools are closed.
Seniors who are homebound rely on meal delivery services such as
Meals on Wheels. Missoula Aging Services is already preparing to use
its allotment of millions of dollars in additional revenue for senior
nutrition, for providing more meals for seniors who are following
recommendations to stay home.
This pandemic is already causing significant impacts to our economy.
We know that all too well. This is why this bill addresses unexpected
unemployment and helps small businesses cover paid sick leave for those
who need it.
Under this bill, low-income pregnant women and mothers with young
children who lose their jobs due to COVID-19 will be able to access
food assistance. All of these are commonsense, bipartisan solutions
that the Senate has delayed for no good reason.
On the farm, when there is work to be done, especially when it is
time-sensitive work, you don't take a break. You get the job done. I
call on my colleagues not to waste another moment--to hold a vote and
get the job done.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
[[Page S1771]]
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