[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 104 (Thursday, June 4, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Coronavirus

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, responding to the coronavirus continues to 
be one of our top priorities here in Congress, I think, as evidenced 
that yesterday the Senate moved a bill across the floor of the Senate 
that will be on its way now to the President's desk for his signature, 
previously passed by the House, that makes some modifications to the 
PPP program--things that were sought by both sides, improvements, I 
think, that enable that program to be used with greater flexibility, 
extending the amount of time in which those dollars that have been 
received can be used, and allowing some greater flexibility in how they 
are used.
  So I think that is evidence, again, that this body, and both 
Democrats and Republicans working together, can get things done for the 
American people that address the very direct needs and challenges they 
face right now as a result of the coronavirus.
  I credit the authors of that--Senators Collins and Rubio on our side, 
along with their Democratic counterparts--for working together to 
structure a program that has not only helped many businesses stay in 
business--millions of businesses stay in business--but has kept tens of 
millions of people in this country employed at a time when we 
desperately need to keep those jobs.
  So, again, I think it is evidence of this body's and our Senate 
majority's focus on the coronavirus and things we can do to help assist 
those who have been most harmed economically by that, as well as 
addressing the very real health emergency that we need to continue to 
focus on in terms of finding those therapeutics and vaccines that will 
enable the American people to have confidence, once again, that they 
can go out.