[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 103 (Wednesday, June 3, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2677-S2678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Protests

  Mr. President, before I talk about reopening America, I would like to 
address a deep tragedy--the brutal death of George Floyd.
  It is clear that our entire country is united in horror and 
opposition to the violent killing. Racial discrimination has absolutely 
no place in this country whatsoever. This senseless murder is 
unacceptable, and those responsible should be held accountable. I am 
anguished at the death of George Floyd. I am anguished at the violence 
we are seeing all across our streets today. There is no question that 
we must do our part to change racist attitudes that, unfortunately, 
exist today, and this must be done in a peaceful way. Looting and 
violent riots are not the way to do this, and it is not the way to 
honor George Floyd or those who are protesting peacefully, which is the 
great majority of people.
  The other day, George's brother encouraged all of us to peacefully 
protest. He said that violence will not bring his brother back. No, it 
will not bring his brother back.
  It makes me sad to see businesses and monuments that honor some of 
our bravest heroes destroyed and violence happening in cities across 
the Nation. In my State of West Virginia, there have been protests. 
However, they have been peaceful. I commend my West Virginians for 
peacefully protesting, and I encourage them to continue this. Instead 
of violence, we need to come together as a nation, to listen to one 
another, and to learn from one another. This is how real change can 
happen.
  President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush published a statement 
yesterday, and I would like to read the last paragraph because I found 
it really quite moving as to how we are going to address this issue.

       The rule of law ultimately depends on the fairness and 
     legitimacy of the legal system. And achieving justice for all 
     is the duty of all. This will require a consistent, 
     courageous, and creative effort. We serve our neighbors best 
     when we try to understand their experience. We love our 
     neighbors as ourselves when we treat them as equals, in both 
     protection and compassion. There is a better way--the way of 
     empathy, and shared commitment, and bold action, and a peace 
     rooted in justice. I am confident that together, Americans 
     will choose the better way.

  I appreciate so much the entire statement. Those last several words, 
as I said, really touched me.
  On the matter before us today, many communities in our country are 
beginning to open, including in my State of West Virginia. As 
everywhere, COVID has had a terrible impact on many of our communities 
all across the country. The disease has affected every part of our 
lives. More than 105,000 of our fellow Americans have lost their lives 
because of this terrible virus. That includes 78 West Virginians. The 
unofficial unemployment rate is 14 percent in this country, but in my 
State of West Virginia, it is a shade over 15 percent, and we expect 
those numbers to rise when the May numbers are published later this 
week.
  State and local officials across the country closed much of our 
economy in order to slow the disease. Our goal as a nation was to bend 
the curve in order to prevent our hospitals and other medical providers 
from being overrun. In West Virginia, as in most of the country, we 
have been successful in bending the curve and reducing the spread of 
this terrible disease. It is important, as we move now to responsibly 
reopening our economy, to continue to follow the guidelines that have 
been prepared by our public health experts--washing our hands, social 
distancing, avoiding touching your face, and wearing your mask. 
Following these guidelines will help to make America's reopening 
successful. It will protect your health and the health of your 
community. Hindering the spread of the disease while allowing 
businesses to remain open as they follow the guidelines will aid in our 
economic recovery as well.
  Most Americans understand there is no way to choose between public 
health and a strong economy because you cannot have one without the 
other. We can't have a strong economy if we are not protecting people 
from becoming sick, and we will not be able to make the necessary long-
term investments in public health if we don't have a strong economy. 
That is why a responsible, step-by-step approach to reopening the 
economy that is driven by the data in States and local communities is 
so very important.
  West Virginia's cumulative percentage of positive tests now stands at 
2 percent, which is less than one-fifth of the national average. As of 
this morning, our daily positive test percentage was 0.88 percent. This 
is despite the fact that West Virginia has tested a higher percentage 
of our residents than the national average and all of our neighboring 
States. Even more encouraging is that, even as we began reopening our 
businesses in May, our cumulative percent of positive tests has 
remained below 3 percent since April 25.
  Yet we have faced challenges. Outbreaks at our long-term care 
facilities in Monongalia County, Wayne County, Jackson County, and 
Kanawha County have resulted in 43 deaths, but do you know what? Our 
State responded quickly and tested every resident and every staff 
member in the nursing homes in our State. We were the first State in 
our Nation to do this and set the example that many have followed. Just 
last week, we had an outbreak at one of our prisons, where we had 118 
positive tests. So we know that this is still there and that it still 
presents a danger, but I am really proud of the way we have pulled 
together during this crisis and addressed these challenges.
  The progress reflected by the statistics is only possible because our 
State's residents have followed the guidelines. I thank all of the 
medical professionals, the first responders, and the frontline workers 
who have gone beyond the call of duty to protect public health and keep 
our communities running during this most difficult time.
  Opening our economy is paramount, and opening it responsibly must be

[[Page S2678]]

done. Even though the COVID is still with us, we must continue working 
together and following the guidelines so we can protect both our 
economy and our health.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.