[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 6, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2255-S2256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          National Nurses Week

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today is the first day of National Nurses 
Week--an annual commemoration each May celebrating the contributions of 
nurses--so today seemed like a fitting day to come down to the floor 
and talk about the contributions of nurses and other essential workers 
over the past couple of months.
  When we think about heroism, we tend to think of striking actions 
that take place in extreme circumstances--running into burning 
buildings, jumping onto a grenade to save a fellow soldier, racing out 
under fire to rescue a wounded comrade. And it is right that when we 
think of heroism, we think of such acts--acts of superhuman courage, 
generosity, and self-sacrifice.
  The past couple of months have also reminded us of another kind of 
heroism--the quiet heroism of doing one's duty, of getting up and going 
to work and doing your job day after day in difficult circumstances, 
even when you are tired, even when you are scared, even when you know 
that doing your job could place you in danger. We have seen a lot of 
that heroism over the past couple of months.
  A lot of Americans have been able to telework during the coronavirus 
crisis, but many, many more have had to go out and do the work that 
can't be done from home: police officers, first responders, 
pharmacists, grocery store employees, farmers and ranchers, food supply 
workers, cleaning personnel, bank employees, utility workers, delivery 
drivers, and most of all, doctors and nurses.
  Over the past few weeks, we have come to realize how much we rely on 
these individuals and that society couldn't operate without them. All 
the food in the world won't do us any good if it doesn't make it to 
grocery store shelves. That prescription from the doctor for lifesaving 
blood pressure medication is useless without a pharmacist to dispense 
the drug. We tend to take our utilities for granted, but what would we 
do during this crisis if no one was picking up our trash or making sure 
that the water keeps running and the electricity keeps flowing?
  Sometimes heroism looks like running into a burning building, and 
sometimes it looks like putting on a mask and gloves and stocking the 
shelves with bread and pasta and cereal.
  I want to say a special word about medical personnel. Of all the 
essential workers who have gotten up and gotten on with their duty in 
these days of the pandemic, medical personnel have displayed a special 
courage. They have been on the frontlines of this battle, the ones 
directly confronting the disease. Every day when they go to work, they 
go to work knowing that day could be the day they catch the virus from 
a sick patient, but they go to work anyway. They have read about and 
sometimes seen colleagues die from the disease. At times, they have 
lacked adequate protective equipment, but they have gone to work 
anyway.
  Those nurses we are celebrating this week have worked 12-hour shifts 
providing medical care in a high-stress environment and have still 
found time to sit with and comfort patients. I have read more than one 
story about nurses making sure coronavirus patients separated from 
family and friends don't die alone.
  To our Nation's doctors and nurses and other medical personnel: Thank 
you. We are so grateful for your courage and for your sacrifice.
  Before I close, I want to say a special thank-you to the essential 
workers around the Capitol Complex here in Washington.
  While Senators have been able to do aspects of our job remotely, we 
have

[[Page S2256]]

also had to be here in the Capitol to do the critical work of 
responding to the crisis, and we simply couldn't be here without the 
contributions of a number of individuals: the men and women of the 
Capitol Police, the cleaning staff, the food service workers, the 
maintenance technicians and other support staff, the staffers who have 
to be in the office for the Senate to be able to operate, and the 
staffers right here on the floor--the doorkeepers and cloakroom staff 
and individuals from the Offices of the Secretary and the 
Parliamentarian.
  I know these are stressful days to be coming to work. I know you have 
been asked to exceed your normal duties. I am incredibly grateful and I 
know that all of my colleagues are incredibly grateful for everything 
you have done to keep the Senate operating safely. It is because of you 
that we are able to get keeping our work done for the American people.
  Sooner or later, we are going to get through this pandemic and life 
will return to something resembling normal, but I hope we will still 
remember to be grateful for the people who have kept our society 
running during this crisis, who have shown us, in a difficult and 
challenging time, how to get up every day and do our duty.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.