[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 56 (Sunday, March 22, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1894-S1895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, before I begin, we just learned that our 
colleague Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for the coronavirus. 
Our thoughts and prayers are with him for a speedy recovery. We will 
consult with the attending physician at the Capitol about appropriate 
measures for those of us who have been in contact with the Senator.
  This is the kind of situation that Americans across the country are 
dealing with right now, and it underscores the importance of acting 
immediately to deliver more relief for the American people.
  The Senate has been working around the clock over the past few days 
to put together a third round of coronavirus legislation. We are very 
close to moving forward with a major bill that will deliver much needed 
relief to American families, workers, and businesses and put more 
resources into the hands of medical professionals.
  This is a big bill, but this situation requires a big and bold 
response. Across our country, American workers and American businesses 
are struggling. Families are scared. Businesses have been forced to 
drastically curtail

[[Page S1895]]

or close their operations, and social distancing has become a public 
health priority.
  Workers are wondering how long they will be getting a paycheck. Small 
businesses are worrying about whether they will be able to reopen their 
doors when all of this is over. Key industries have taken a massive 
economic hit. A major response is required.
  The package we put together addresses a number of priorities: putting 
emergency cash into the hands of American families and American workers 
quickly, in a way that ensures those most in need get the maximum level 
of support; delivering relief to small businesses to help them keep 
their workers employed; injecting stability into the economy to help 
bridge this crisis and to limit layoffs; providing new resources for 
State unemployment programs to help workers displaced by this 
emergency; and most importantly--most importantly--continuing to 
deliver resources to the healthcare workers fighting to stop this 
pandemic.
  This package is the product of bipartisan input, and I hope it will 
receive overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate. Republicans and 
Democrats have already come together to deliver two coronavirus relief 
bills. It is time for us to come together again to deliver this 
legislation.
  As the leader said yesterday, the American people need help, and they 
need it now. This bill will provide them with relief.
  These are challenging times. There is a lot of stress and 
uncertainty, and Americans are understandably worried. We are going to 
get through this. There may be difficult days ahead, but we are going 
to come out the other side.
  All around this country, Americans are standing up to meet this 
challenge. We have our heroic healthcare workers who are putting their 
lives on the line to care for the seriously ill, our first responders 
who got their name because they are always the first on the scene in 
any crisis, and new heroes: grocery store employees, truck drivers, 
delivery people, pharmacy employees--people we may have taken for 
granted before but won't again.
  Everywhere I look in my State, I see South Dakotans helping other 
South Dakotans. It is the same all across this country: people looking 
out for their neighbors, providing meals for those in need, offering 
childcare help to those who can't telework, running errands for 
elderly, or those with compromised immune systems who can't leave their 
house.
  I was touched to read a story from the Rapid City Journal yesterday 
about a group of young people from Eagle Butte, SD, who showed up 
outside the Medicine Wheel Village Nursing Home to hold up signs to 
encourage the residents who can't receive visitors right now because of 
the risk of virus transmission.
  We are going to get through this together. My colleagues and I in the 
Senate are going to keep working to deliver the resources that 
Americans need to confront and defeat this disease.
  I yield the floor.

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