[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1733-S1734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 3415

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, this is simple. We need people who are 
sick to stay home if we have any hope of slowing the spread of this 
virus, but, today, one in four private sector workers in our country 
cannot stay home from work without losing a day's pay or potentially a 
job.
  We have got to fight this virus with everything we have--every single 
one of us--and that means we have to have policies in place that help 
people make the right choices for themselves, their families, and their 
communities.
  Our bill will give all employees 14 paid sick days immediately--
today, not next week, not the week after, today--in public health 
emergencies like this one, in addition to allowing them to accrue 7, 
meaning it would help workers and communities right now.
  I urge Senate Republicans: Treat this like the public health crisis 
it is. Allow parents, families, businesses, communities to have the 
peace of mind to know that we are acting today and take this urgent 
needed step. This is nothing short of a chance to save lives and buy 
desperately needed time to fight this virus. Please don't waste it.

[[Page S1734]]

  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions Committee be discharged from further consideration 
of S. 3415--this is a bill that will allow Americans to earn paid sick 
time so they can address their own health needs and the health needs of 
their families--that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration, 
the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Nebraska.
  Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, we have a 
paid family leave provision in law already, and the rules are in place 
from Treasury. We received those in September. I worked on this 
provision during tax reform, and I would certainly be happy to work 
with the Senator from Washington and my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle in a bipartisan manner to extend the program that we have in 
law already that will help families. This is a public health emergency. 
It is ready. It is there. We need to work on it together.
  Therefore, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

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