[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1677-S1678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, yesterday President Trump visited the 
Capitol to discuss the ongoing efforts to fight the new coronavirus and 
its growing footprint here in the United States.
  As Vice President Pence, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the other 
administration experts related in their briefing yesterday, we should 
expect a number of cases to continue to climb throughout our country. 
Fortunately, our Nation was rated the best prepared in the world for 
this kind of outbreak, and we are continuing to scale up our response 
every day.
  My home State of Kentucky currently has eight confirmed cases. I 
applaud the efforts of State and local leaders who are working together 
with Federal officials to proceed carefully and intelligently.
  Our public health experts are compiling the best guidance for 
individuals, families, businesses, schools, and healthcare 
professionals in one place, and www.coronavirus.gov is the place to go. 
I encourage every American to read through the information, 
particularly anyone whose personal circumstances make additional 
precautions a wise idea.
  President Trump and Senators also discussed potential policies to 
soften the economic impact of the virus. Over the last 3 years, we have 
built a historically strong economy of American workers and middle-
class families. We should take sensible steps to help that momentum 
continue, notwithstanding this new challenge.
  I am glad the Secretary of the Treasury and the Speaker of the House 
are engaging in direct bipartisan talks on this subject. Congress has 
already provided billions in new funding to Federal, State, and local 
health leaders. I hope we can bring the same bipartisan energy to any 
steps that prove necessary to support our strong U.S. economy.
  Now, it has been sad but not surprising to see some of President 
Trump's Democratic critics here in Washington fall back on the same old 
predictable partisan attacks, even at a time like this, but across the 
country, where leaders are working together on the frontlines, we have 
seen something different. I want to commend the Democratic Governor of 
California, who stated on Monday that he had been in close touch with 
the President and Vice President and appreciated their attention and 
support.
  Here is what he said:

       He said everything I could have hoped for. . . . We had a 
     very long conversation, and

[[Page S1678]]

     every single thing he said, they followed through on.

  That is the Governor of California talking about the Republican 
President of the United States. He praised the administration's work on 
this and said: ``It starts at the top.''
  So, clearly, this does not have to be a time for partisan bickering. 
The American people know that. The leaders around the country know 
that. I hope our Democratic colleagues here in Washington understand 
the American people expect us to be working together on this problem.

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