[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1765-S1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, as the global outbreak of the new 
coronavirus continues to grow, its impact on American families and 
small businesses is continuing to scale up. School closures are 
challenging both parents and teachers. Childcare closures are 
complicating family life even further. Main Street small businesses and 
their employees are grappling with an unprecedented situation, where 
their local leaders are effectively winding down their businesses for a 
period of time through no fault of their own. Major industries that our 
Nation relies on have seen businesses virtually dry up overnight--
again, not due to any business decision they made but because of 
appropriate directives from public health experts. And most important 
of all, our healthcare system and our doctors, nurses, and other 
frontline professionals are gearing up for what seems very likely to be 
the most significant nationwide challenge they have faced in 
generations. At every level, this new challenge is testing or Nation 
and our institutions.
  Yesterday, my home State of Kentucky reported its first coronavirus-
related death. Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and neighbors 
in Bourbon County, who are mourning.
  I spoke with Governor Beshear yesterday, and we are continuing to 
stay in close touch. The Bluegrass has now confirmed 25 total cases to 
date.
  And we are heeding the sober warning of Dr. Fauci. This is what Dr. 
Fauci said: ``Things will get worse before they get better.''

[[Page S1766]]

  It is abundantly clear that our Nation cannot afford partisan 
politics as usual. This is a moment for bold and bipartisan action. 
That is what the Senate did earlier this month when we passed billions 
of dollars in targeted funding to assist medical professionals and 
responders in every State and to ease the initial shock to small 
businesses. And that is what the Senate needs to expand on this week--
bold and bipartisan action.
  Yesterday evening, the House finally completed its work on their 
coronavirus relief proposal, made a number of changes, and sent the 
paperwork over here to the Senate.
  I know Senators on both sides are eager to assist workers, families, 
and small businesses with the financial fallout of this extraordinary 
period. So, as I said yesterday afternoon, Senate Republicans are 
convinced that the House's noncomprehensive bill can only be the 
beginning--the beginning--of our efforts to support our health system, 
assist individual Americans and families, as well as stabilize the U.S. 
economy.
  So, last night, a group of Republican Senators conferred with 
Secretary Mnuchin. He is returning to the Capitol to meet with our 
entire conference today. We are continuing urgent talks on further 
legislation that will address head-on the three major priorities we 
have spent the last several days discussing in depth.
  No. 1, we need to provide more direct assistance for American workers 
and families.
  No. 2, we need further strong steps to secure our economic 
foundation, most especially our small businesses. In particular, it 
seems increasingly clear that the House's effort to mandate that small 
businesses provide new worker benefits, just as many small businesses 
themselves are in significant jeopardy, might even be actually harmful 
unless we urgently address a broader package that includes more and 
broader small business relief.
  And, No. 3, of course, the foundational priority is to continue 
providing all the support that our medical professionals need as they 
fight this new virus on the frontlines.
  These conversations are ongoing. We are making progress. The House of 
Representatives may have left town, but the Senate is right here at 
work. We are crafting the major legislation that the American people 
deserve in the face of this major challenge. It is my intention that 
the Senate will not adjourn until we have passed significant and bold 
new steps--above and beyond what the House has passed--to help our 
strong Nation and our strong underlying economy weather this storm.
  Now, before I conclude this morning, I wanted to take a moment to 
echo and amplify the updated guidance that our public health experts 
and the White House rolled out yesterday. As President Trump said 
yesterday, the next 2 weeks are an important opportunity. Our Nation 
will have a major say in how long the virus will spread within the 
United States before it is contained.
  Following the commonsense steps laid out by the White House 
Coronavirus Task Force can significantly reduce each American's risk of 
being exposed or spreading the virus within communities.
  First, obviously, those who feel sick, stay home. Those who feel 
sick, stay home. Unwell children should be kept at home. And anyone 
with questions about their symptoms should contact their medical 
provider.
  Wherever possible, Americans should engage in work or school from 
home. Those who cannot, including those whose in-person job functions 
are central to our government or our Nation, must take especially 
seriously the CDC's guidelines for health and hygiene, especially 
washing hands and social distancing.
  All Americans have been strongly urged to avoid eating or drinking 
out, to avoid discretionary travel, and to avoid visiting nursing homes 
or retirement facilities unless--unless--it is to provide critical 
assistance.
  Some of these recommendations sound like basic common sense. Others 
of them would have sounded almost unthinkable just a few weeks ago.
  It is almost impossible to exaggerate the pace of change over the 
past weeks and days, but Americans are strong. We are resilient. This 
is a proud Nation with a world-changing history, and we have come 
through far greater challenges than this. This is not a time for fear 
or panic. It is a time to follow the facts, listen carefully to the 
experts, and take precautions to protect not only ourselves but the 
most vulnerable in our society. Every single one of us can do our part.

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