[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1770-S1771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I rise today at a pivotal time for our 
Nation. It is quiet today in Big Sky Country. Over the last 36 hours, 
we have seen schools, restaurants, bars, gyms, ski resorts, and 
churches close. Thousands of children are home from school, many unsure 
where their next meal will come from, and parents are without 
childcare.
  There are no test kits to test for coronavirus to speak of--a few, 
but not nearly enough, and inadequate medical supplies in Indian 
Country.
  Thousands are concerned about what it means for their paychecks. 
Seniors are worried about their health. Businesses are forced to make 
very, very tough choices.
  Millions of Americans are depending on us here in Washington, DC, to 
act and to act quickly. The House jumped into action and began 
negotiating with the administration on a bill to address some of the 
most pressing and immediate concerns of the coronavirus. A deal was 
struck, and the House passed the bill with an overwhelming bipartisan 
majority.
  And what happened in the Senate? Well, last Thursday, the majority 
leader sent us home. Business as usual.
  What we should have done--we should have stuck around and done the 
people's work. But, instead, my friends in the majority decided we 
should operate as business as usual and take off Friday, take off the 
weekend, and go home.
  Well, this is not business as usual. If the majority leader would 
have listened to the CDC, he would have heard that what he did last 
Thursday was contrary to the recommendations they have made to avoid 
groups, to avoid airports. We did just the opposite.
  Millions of Americans are waiting for the Senate to act. What we are 
here to consider today, which we should have considered last Saturday, 
is an important start toward providing needed relief. It provides free 
testing, sick leave, unemployment insurance for those losing their jobs 
through no fault of their own.
  We could have done this several days ago, but, instead, we continue 
to wait. We continue to wait as we have watched athletics shut down--
the NCAA, baseball, hockey, basketball, NBA--restaurants, Broadway, 
schools close. The list goes on and on, and we continue to languish 
here in the U.S. Senate, supposedly the greatest deliberative body in 
the world. We do this while 4 in 10 Americans struggle to cover an 
unanticipated expense of $400. Let me say that again: 4 in 10 families 
are $400 away from financial crisis.

  This bill ensures that a hotel employee in Billings can stay home if 
she is feeling ill without sacrificing that $400 for rent, groceries, 
or childcare.
  A quarter of a million Americans go without medical care for fear of 
the cost. This bill ensures that no one is going without healthcare or 
coronavirus tests for fear of the expense. More than that, the bill 
would increase the amount of funding for Montana's Medicaid Program to 
cover additional Medicaid expenses.
  Many kids in Montana rely on lunch that they get at their schools as 
the primary source of nutrition for the day. This bill will allow those 
students to continue to get lunch even if the schools are closed.
  Seniors who are homebound rely on meal delivery services such as 
Meals on Wheels. Missoula Aging Services is already preparing to use 
its allotment of millions of dollars in additional revenue for senior 
nutrition, for providing more meals for seniors who are following 
recommendations to stay home.
  This pandemic is already causing significant impacts to our economy. 
We know that all too well. This is why this bill addresses unexpected 
unemployment and helps small businesses cover paid sick leave for those 
who need it.
  Under this bill, low-income pregnant women and mothers with young 
children who lose their jobs due to COVID-19 will be able to access 
food assistance. All of these are commonsense, bipartisan solutions 
that the Senate has delayed for no good reason.
  On the farm, when there is work to be done, especially when it is 
time-sensitive work, you don't take a break. You get the job done. I 
call on my colleagues not to waste another moment--to hold a vote and 
get the job done.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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