[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 103 (Wednesday, June 3, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2676-S2677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Coronavirus

  Ms. ERNST. Madam President, for months, as our Nation has confronted 
this pandemic together, everyone in America--every single one of us--
has been asked to make serious sacrifices, whether that has meant 
working overtime in a hospital caring for the afflicted, temporarily 
closing a family business, euthanizing hogs and cattle, or forgoing 
important life events like a high school prom or a college graduation. 
COVID-19 has brought with it very challenging times.
  While we have missed milestones and time together, Americans across 
the country have stepped up to help slow the spread of this virus and 
its toll on the lives of our fellow citizens. While we cannot return to 
life as usual just yet, we are entering a new phase. Step by step, 
State by State, America is safely reopening.
  In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds has led our State with a steady hand 
during this critical time. Under Governor Reynolds' thoughtful plan and 
guidance from public health officials at the local, State, and Federal 
level, Iowa communities and businesses are starting to safely reopen, 
and many activities are carefully resuming. Iowans can once again 
participate in America's great pastime and play golf. Places of worship 
are opening for services while taking smart precautions. And while they 
will not be as crowded as they once were, restaurants and bars are 
taking the first steps in opening again, as well as are places that we 
all grew up going to in Iowa--our amusement parks, racetracks, outdoor 
performance venues, movie theaters, and museums--all with important 
public health guidelines in mind.
  All of this is contingent, of course, upon having smaller groups of 
people and continuing to practice social distancing--simple precautions 
that can make a big difference.
  While we all yearn for life to return back to how it was a few months 
ago, we must be smart about taking the appropriate steps. Certainly, we 
want to see our elderly relatives, gather with our family and friends 
once again, and

[[Page S2677]]

return to work and school. But, folks, the pandemic is not over. Let's 
take this one step at a time and keep in mind that while restrictions 
are being loosened, they are not eliminated, and there is a good reason 
for that.
  As this process moves forward, Washington can make this transition 
more safe and successful. Working in partnership with the 
administration, State leaders, and the private sector, we can continue 
to increase testing and ensure those who may be infected are following 
proper guidelines and getting the care and information they need to 
limit the spread of the virus. We need to make sure our essential 
workers and others returning to the workforce have the personal 
protective equipment--the PPE--necessary to allow America to get back 
to work while ensuring the safety of our great workers.
  In addition, these frontline essential workers should absolutely be 
able to keep more of their hard-earned paycheck--something I am working 
on closely with the administration and my colleagues. Our small 
businesses must be protected from predatory lawsuits so that Iowa's 
mom-and-pop shops can continue to provide paychecks to their hard-
working employees.
  Of course, we must continue to support our families--our moms and 
dads who are struggling to purchase diapers; our childcare providers 
and workers who have continued to look after our kids; our family 
caregivers who are helping Iowa seniors and those who are most at risk 
during this pandemic--and make sure we are prepared for whatever might 
come next.
  Let's not only focus on the immediate needs but on the long-term 
national priority for critical medical supplies and other materials to 
be produced right here in the United States of America. We should never 
again depend on a foreign nation to protect our citizens, especially 
one like the Communist Party of China, which has been continually and 
unsurprisingly deceptive about this threat from the very beginning.
  Folks, while we still have a ways to go before we can return to life 
as we know it, we will get through this, and when we do, we will revive 
the great economy we have built together and prepare for an even 
stronger future together.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Perdue). The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I am very pleased to join my colleague 
from Iowa to highlight the need to responsibly reopen America and our 
economy as we continue to fight this COVID pandemic.