September 22, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 164 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
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WE MUST ADVANCE URGENTLY NEEDED CORONAVIRUS ASSISTANCE; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 164
(House of Representatives - September 22, 2020)
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[Page H4646] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] WE MUST ADVANCE URGENTLY NEEDED CORONAVIRUS ASSISTANCE The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) for 5 minutes. Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, this body must advance urgently needed coronavirus assistance. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said, ``Every death we experience is a tragedy.'' When he said it, the United States had just hit the grim milestone of 100,000 souls lost from the COVID pandemic. That was mid-May, around the same time Democrats advanced the HEROES Act in the House. In the 4 months that followed, 100,000 more Americans have died as the epidemic has spiraled out of control, and chaos has continued to reign from the White House. We have reached the breaking point. Plain and simple, it is time for the Senate to pass our comprehensive rescue package or offer a real alternative of their own. No more waiting. No more excuses. Throughout this crisis, the Senate majority has abdicated responsibility to this President's insufficient leadership and papered over his deadly shortcomings. For the lives and livelihood of every one of my constituents, I beg my colleagues on the other side of the Capitol to seize this moment to follow a new guide. Let that guide be science. Let it be truth, because politics, really, truly bad politics, has brought America low in the face of this crisis. But it is not too late. On January 22, President Trump tweeted ``China has been working very hard to contain the coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency.'' He made similar remarks again on January 30 and on February 7. The very same day President Trump was privately admitting to journalist Bob Woodward that the coronavirus is an airborne pathogen more deadly than the flu. Despite his full awareness of the danger, he kept going, praising China and publicly downplaying the coronavirus threat. Politico has found at least 15 examples of President Trump publicly praising China's coronavirus response during this period, including on February 10, 13, 18, 23, 26, 27, and 29. He said it over and over. In the following weeks and months, he would repeatedly downplay the danger and suggest, fully aware of his deception, that this virus was comparable to a seasonal flu. President Trump's deception on these matters is not opinion, he was recorded. He is literally on the record saying that he intended to downplay this disease and deny the American people the information we would need to make vital decisions for ourselves, our families, our communities, and indeed, our Nation. Every death that resulted from this was a tragedy. In February, President Trump said, ``It is going to disappear one day. It is like a miracle, it will disappear.'' He knew better. At this point the virus had been given nearly 2 months to circulate unchecked. Americans were still going about our daily lives, flocking to movie theaters, churches, synagogues, going to Mardi Gras, going on spring break, unaware of the true extent of the threats spreading all around us. On March 11, President Trump took only his second major national step, another travel ban. It was around this time that Congress stepped up the scale of our response to this threat. We moved quickly to pass the CARES Act, including delivering emergency funds for America's hospital and staff, small business owners, laid off workers, and everyday Americans facing unprecedented fear and uncertainty. The CARES Act was a rescue plan. It wasn't perfect, but it was America's first real effort to stem the tide. That rescue was powerful, but it was no substitute for executive leadership. Sadly, we are still waiting for executive leadership. Between March and May, America saw its death toll skyrocket past 100,000. The Members of this Chamber again moved swiftly to advance another rescue package, the HEROES Act. Since the House passed the HEROES Act on May 15, more than 110,000 Americans have died of COVID- 19. For comparison, this is the equivalent of losing every soul living in Albany, New York, our State capital, that I represent. And that is just the recorded death toll since mid-May. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responded that States should file for bankruptcy instead, and the Senate would wait and see. Wait for what? Haven't we seen? We have waited 4 months and paid dearly for it. Enough of this craven politics. Senators, consider your oath to the people you serve. What will you say when they ask what you did to stop this disease from stealing their loved ones; from destroying their small business? What will you say to the teachers that are being laid off as States and cities drastically cut their budgets? From undermining America's standing in the world? To my colleagues, I say this: We have a plan. Join us. Let's invest heavily in research and follow science and public health guidance. They are the fastest route to get us to the other side of this crisis. Our HEROES Act gets it done. Let's deliver emergency funding to sustain local essential services, and the salaries of first responders, nurses, teachers, infrastructure maintenance workers, and many more. The HEROES Act gets that done, too. Let's save lives and turn the corner on this crisis with a coordinated national plan for testing and tracing. The HEROES Act gets it done. Let's deliver the financial support our essential workers, unemployed workers, and financially strained Americans need to weather the storm. The HEROES Act gets it done. Let's rescue our schools, our healthcare providers, our first responders, our hungriest families. The Republican skinny bill just doesn't get it done. I say pass the HEROES Act. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President. ____________________
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