[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1822-S1823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, over the last few weeks, given the 
nature of this unprecedented virus, Members of Congress have been able 
to come together during divided times to support our country's 
response.

[[Page S1823]]

  First, we passed an emergency funding bill to bolster our response in 
the critical early stages of community spread. Since it was signed into 
law nearly 2 weeks ago, it has provided funding for the personal 
protective equipment our healthcare professionals rely on and has 
supported our community health centers and State and local health 
departments. It has also bolstered our resources in the race to develop 
a vaccine, possible treatments, and more tests. It has been a strong 
start, but we have known all along that it would just be the first 
step. As the scope of this virus continues to grow and challenge our 
country in new ways, we are working as quickly as possible to respond 
in realtime.
  As we know, more and more Americans are staying home and practicing a 
new term, a new phrase--social distancing. It is one that I really had 
not heard of before this virus. While that is a sign of progress in our 
fight to slow the spread of the coronavirus, it is handicapping 
millions of businesses and workers. As travel plans are abandoned, as 
public events are canceled, and as restaurants and shops are closing 
their doors or scaling back their operations, many people are losing 
their jobs and their livelihoods.
  A recent poll found that nearly one in five American households has 
experienced a layoff or reduced work hours, and those who work in the 
service or hospitality industry are particularly hard hit. Think about 
the waiter at your favorite local restaurant, the person who cuts your 
hair, the individual who sweeps the aisles after a basketball game, the 
housekeeper who cleans rooms at a hotel. They are among the millions of 
workers across the country who are trying to survive this new reality.
  Here in the Senate, we are working as quickly as possible to support 
them. Yesterday, we passed a bill to help individuals and families who 
face economic fallout from this outbreak. We improved paid sick leave 
for those who have been impacted by the coronavirus, and we have 
strengthened our food security for Americans of all ages. We also made 
coronavirus testing free for all Americans. No one should be afraid to 
get tested because of the cost.
  For all of the benefits this legislation will deliver, it will not 
address every problem. We knew that it would just be the second step in 
a journey of undetermined length. Yet, rather than holding that bill up 
and doing nothing, in order to include additional measures we would 
like to see, we worked as quickly as possible to put that second phase 
into action, and we then moved on to phase 3.
  In building on the first two steps we have taken, it is time to make 
bold moves to support our economy. We need to be sure it can survive 
this pandemic in the short term and thrive in the long term. The 
American people are resilient. We have been through national disasters, 
like 9/11 and the huge economic meltdown and great recession of 2008, 
but in my experience, we have never had anything quite like the 
coronavirus pandemic. Yet the American people have always maintained 
their good attitudes and worked through these crises and have come out 
stronger and better in the end.

  As I mentioned, the shift in our daily routines is having a serious 
impact on the businesses we are used to supporting every day in our 
local communities. Sadly, those small businesses that employ about half 
of all U.S. workers are among the hardest hit. Here is the thing. They 
bear no responsibility for the economic conditions they find themselves 
in. This is something totally beyond our control.
  The restaurants, the hardware stores, the salons, the gyms, and the 
countless other small businesses that are operated by our neighbors are 
facing tough decisions. Over the last couple of days, I have talked 
about a number of my constituents, fellow Texans, who are experiencing 
hardship--one whose revenue is down about 60 percent, one who is 
rotating her employees so each can at least get some work, and one who 
is terrified that this could sink the business he has worked on for 25 
years.
  As we continue working on this third phase of the coronavirus 
response and recovery, my top priority is to support these small 
business owners and their employees, who have been left with no way to 
collect paychecks, no way to provide for their families, and no way to 
provide for the necessities of life.
  Yesterday, Senate Republicans met with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and 
discussed wide-ranging proposals to provide relief to workers and small 
businesses. There is one thing we all agreed on. We need to take 
immediate action to put money directly into the hands of these 
displaced workers. Work opportunities may be disappearing for some 
workers, but the expenses don't go away. People need money to buy 
groceries, to pay their bills, and to stay afloat until things 
normalize.
  There are ongoing discussions about the most efficient and most 
effective way to get money into the hands of those who have been the 
most negatively impacted, but I want to assure all Texans we are 
working as quickly as possible to find the best solution. The 
centerpiece of the phase 3 deal will be that of direct aid to American 
workers who have been displaced, but it must also include additional 
actions to protect the integrity of our healthcare system. As more and 
more people are being tested and diagnosed, our hospitals and 
healthcare providers are needing additional support so they can 
continue to serve patients. We are working to get our healthcare 
providers the resources and equipment they need so they can continue 
fighting this virus on the frontlines.
  I thank the majority leader, Senator McConnell, for publicly 
committing to keep the Senate here in session until we pass legislation 
that meets these high demands--a decision that I fully support.
  While the Senate's work continues, I know many Americans are feeling 
some helplessness and uncertainty at a time when the best thing you can 
do may be to just stay home. While older Americans face a higher risk 
if they come into contact with the virus, every one of us has a role we 
can play in beating this virus.
  I reiterate remarks made earlier this week by Dr. Deborah Birx, who 
is coordinating the White House Coronavirus Task Force. She continues 
to stress the importance of millennials--one of the largest generation 
cohorts--in saying that this is the core group who will stop this 
virus.
  We all know young people feel bulletproof and that their lives will 
be eternal. Many a time, they don't understand that they are just as 
mortal as the rest of us. Because these younger individuals are at a 
lower risk of contracting the virus, they think it is fine to continue 
with their normal routines as long as they aren't experiencing 
symptoms. Yet, if they are infected, they can still transmit the virus 
to others, especially to the older, more vulnerable people in their 
communities.
  Dr. Birx has pointed out that we often talk about the ``greatest 
generation,'' which is the World War II generation--people like my mom 
and dad and those who answered the call to serve and fought for our 
freedoms. Yet now is the time for the younger generation, the 
millennials, to answer a different call and take the necessary 
precautions to protect that ``greatest generation,'' which is among the 
most vulnerable.
  I am proud of the fact that, when Texas faces a crisis, whether it be 
hurricanes or tornadoes that have devastated our State in recent years, 
Texans come together and support one another. The truth is, this is 
also how I would describe Americans when they react to an attack, 
whether it be 9/11, the great recession of 2008, or now this 
coronavirus.
  This is not a time for us to engage in business as usual. This is a 
time for us to come together in a new and very important but different 
way. Stay home, and take this seriously. We will get through this 
together.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Young). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. 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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