[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 21, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2177-S2178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, earlier today, leaders in both Chambers 
and the administration reached a bipartisan agreement to supplement the 
historic CARES Act. At the core of our agreement is $320 billion more 
for the Paycheck Protection Program, which is already saving millions 
of small business jobs and helping Americans get paychecks instead of 
pink slips. This is even more money than we had first requested a while 
back. In the intervening time and at our request, this new money puts a 
special focus on community banks and credit unions.
  Separately, thanks to the hard work of Senator Collins and Senator 
Rubio, the bill supplies $60 billion for additional economic injury 
disaster loans; and because of Senator Roberts, Senator Daines, and our 
other colleagues from rural States, it will be clear that farmers and 
ranchers will be eligible as well.
  Senate Republicans wanted more funding for Americans' paychecks 
nearly 2 weeks ago before the program even shut down, but in the days 
that our Democratic colleagues delayed these urgent funds, additional 
Federal help for hospitals, healthcare providers, and testing became 
timely as well. Republicans have always supported more medical funding 
as soon as it was necessary, so I am proud this package will provide 
roughly $75 billion more to fund hospitals and healthcare providers in 
this crisis.
  Thanks to Chairman Alexander and Chairman Blunt, there is an 
additional $25 billion for State-led--State-led--COVID-19 testing plans 
and for research, development, and other testing support for key 
Federal agencies, such as the CDC, the NIH, and BARDA.
  This is a significant package. It does just what I outlined the 
evening we passed the CARES Act back in March. The Senate is continuing 
to stand by the American people, watching the CARES Act go into effect, 
and adding funding when necessary to key programs that are working 
well. It is unfortunate that it took our Democratic colleagues 12 days 
to agree to a deal that contains essentially nothing that Republicans 
ever opposed. In my view, it is indefensible that Main Street small 
businesses and their workers had their assistance cut off for partisan 
leverage. That was the word of choice for one leading House Democrat: 
``Leverage.'' The American people cannot be political leverage.
  I am glad we are now poised to move ahead. Senate Republicans are 
prepared to pass the bill. It is my hope the entire Senate will be able 
to pass it as soon as possible, potentially as soon as just a few 
minutes from now.
  Before I conclude, I want to share my gratitude for the people whose 
efforts allow us to produce these vital pieces of legislation on a 
crash timeline in these most unusual circumstances. A lot of talented 
people worked day and night to produce this bill: in the 
administration, Secretary Mnuchin and his staff at the Treasury 
Department and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows; here in the 
Senate, our Members on both sides, our committee and leadership staff 
on both sides, and the incredible team players in the Office of the 
Legislative Counsel--these are nonpartisan staff who serve the 
institution and our country. As usual, we literally would not have this 
legislative text without their extraordinary help. These are 
unprecedented times for the entire Nation, and the Senate is no 
exception. So I want to thank everyone--those who worked remotely from 
their kitchen tables, those of you here in the Chamber right now, the 
Capitol police officers who protect the place day and night--I thank 
you all, and more importantly, your country thanks you.
  Now, let's just get this done. Let's move ahead and get it done for 
the American people.

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