[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1861-S1862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on September 11, America was attacked by 
evil. Thousands of our countrymen were murdered by terrorists. In an 
instant, the Nation was gripped with fear and anxiety. And as our 
buildings burned, we mourned the loss of our fellow Americans, but as 
we mourned, we also became very united as a country. We came together 
and stood as one against a common enemy. That unity laid a foundation 
for our victory, and it helped our military men and women deliver 
justice to those who sought to destroy us.
  Now, we confront a similar challenge. Unlike the 9/11 attacks, our 
enemy today is faceless. We can't see or hear that enemy. We can't send 
our Armed Forces to hunt it down and protect us, but much like our 
response to the terrorist attacks nearly 20 years ago, we must unite as 
a country. The threat we face is perhaps the greatest since World War 
II. So much like our response to the terrorist attacks 20 years ago, we 
will be united.
  Never before have we shuttered so much of our country: businesses 
closing, restaurants particularly, all kinds of--just stay at home, in 
other words. Never before has our society changed so much, seemingly 
overnight.
  The coronavirus issue could prove as deadly as any war in recent 
history, and that is why it is everyone's responsibility to do their 
part.
  In Congress, we have already passed legislation to provide emergency 
relief, and our job isn't done yet. Further, unprecedented economic and 
public health support is on the way, but what we do in Washington and 
State capitols across our country is only one part of that solution. It 
is the civic duty of every community, every family, and every 
individual to enlist in this fight.
  Make no mistake, our Nation is at war--a war on our own soil. This 
war and this enemy aren't like anything that we fought before. Our 
strategy and tactics will be different, but the stakes are just as 
high.
  This war will not be waged on foreign lands with tanks or guns or 
troops. It will be waged right here in hospitals and public places and 
in homes and with personal responsibility, personal

[[Page S1862]]

sacrifice, and patience on the part of our people.
  It is on every American to exercise these values: Do not gather in 
large groups. Don't hoard crucial goods. Keep your distance from those 
you must be near. Protect yourself and others by washing your hands, 
covering your cough and sneeze, and cleaning commonly used surfaces. 
Work from home if you can. Check on your neighbors. Call your 
relatives. Offer to help each other, especially the most vulnerable. We 
are all in this together.
  Much as we did before, we must shed party labels and put aside 
partisan politics. We must band together and hold on to our national 
identity, our families, and, most importantly, our faith.
  Throughout history, Americans have risen to the occasion when 
confronted with crises. I am confident this time will be no different.
  It is up to each and every American to fight the spread of this 
deadly virus. Countless lives depend on it. The days and months ahead 
will be tough for everyone. But just like post-World War II, a safer, a 
healthier, and a more prosperous United States of America is just 
around the corner
  I yield the floor.

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