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[Pages S1894-S1895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CORONAVIRUS
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, before I begin, we just learned that our
colleague Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Our thoughts and prayers are with him for a speedy recovery. We will
consult with the attending physician at the Capitol about appropriate
measures for those of us who have been in contact with the Senator.
This is the kind of situation that Americans across the country are
dealing with right now, and it underscores the importance of acting
immediately to deliver more relief for the American people.
The Senate has been working around the clock over the past few days
to put together a third round of coronavirus legislation. We are very
close to moving forward with a major bill that will deliver much needed
relief to American families, workers, and businesses and put more
resources into the hands of medical professionals.
This is a big bill, but this situation requires a big and bold
response. Across our country, American workers and American businesses
are struggling. Families are scared. Businesses have been forced to
drastically curtail
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or close their operations, and social distancing has become a public
health priority.
Workers are wondering how long they will be getting a paycheck. Small
businesses are worrying about whether they will be able to reopen their
doors when all of this is over. Key industries have taken a massive
economic hit. A major response is required.
The package we put together addresses a number of priorities: putting
emergency cash into the hands of American families and American workers
quickly, in a way that ensures those most in need get the maximum level
of support; delivering relief to small businesses to help them keep
their workers employed; injecting stability into the economy to help
bridge this crisis and to limit layoffs; providing new resources for
State unemployment programs to help workers displaced by this
emergency; and most importantly--most importantly--continuing to
deliver resources to the healthcare workers fighting to stop this
pandemic.
This package is the product of bipartisan input, and I hope it will
receive overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate. Republicans and
Democrats have already come together to deliver two coronavirus relief
bills. It is time for us to come together again to deliver this
legislation.
As the leader said yesterday, the American people need help, and they
need it now. This bill will provide them with relief.
These are challenging times. There is a lot of stress and
uncertainty, and Americans are understandably worried. We are going to
get through this. There may be difficult days ahead, but we are going
to come out the other side.
All around this country, Americans are standing up to meet this
challenge. We have our heroic healthcare workers who are putting their
lives on the line to care for the seriously ill, our first responders
who got their name because they are always the first on the scene in
any crisis, and new heroes: grocery store employees, truck drivers,
delivery people, pharmacy employees--people we may have taken for
granted before but won't again.
Everywhere I look in my State, I see South Dakotans helping other
South Dakotans. It is the same all across this country: people looking
out for their neighbors, providing meals for those in need, offering
childcare help to those who can't telework, running errands for
elderly, or those with compromised immune systems who can't leave their
house.
I was touched to read a story from the Rapid City Journal yesterday
about a group of young people from Eagle Butte, SD, who showed up
outside the Medicine Wheel Village Nursing Home to hold up signs to
encourage the residents who can't receive visitors right now because of
the risk of virus transmission.
We are going to get through this together. My colleagues and I in the
Senate are going to keep working to deliver the resources that
Americans need to confront and defeat this disease.
I yield the floor.
____________________