[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 28, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S4526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today as the 
Senate works on the next phase of pandemic relief and recovery 
legislation. The country is united in combating the coronavirus.
  The Senate's top priority is protecting the American people, and we 
are working together to save lives.
  America is fighting a war--a war against a deadly disease. There is 
no retreating, no giving up the American fighting spirit. We will 
finish the fight.
  The key to victory is to control the virus spread until we have a 
vaccine. A successful vaccine is vital to beat the virus and to return 
to normal life. The race for a COVID-19 vaccine is as important as 
putting a man on the Moon. We have made incredible progress. Vaccine 
development is well ahead of schedule. The administration's public-
private partnership, Operation Warp Speed, has started phase 2 and 
phase 3 vaccine trials much sooner than expected. These are human 
trials. If all goes well, we hope to have a vaccine ready by the end of 
this year.
  Senate Republicans will make sure Americans have a safe, effective 
vaccine as soon as possible. It will be the most accessible vaccine in 
the history of the United States. Meanwhile, we should all do our part 
to slow the spread, and we know what that means. That means socially 
distancing, using good hygiene, and wearing a mask.
  This is the time for all of us to come together. But instead of 
fighting the virus, Democrats are waging a never-ending bidding war for 
more government spending. People want and people need and people 
deserve real leadership. They expect us to slow the spread of the virus 
and to protect the vulnerable.
  We have made tremendous progress on testing. We have tested over 50 
million people already, and we are close to conducting 1 million 
tests--1 million tests--every day. We also have better treatments for 
the disease, and we are taking care of our most vulnerable citizens--
seniors and people with chronic medical conditions.
  At the same time, the economy is bouncing back. We had record job 
growth in May, as well as in June. That is because the Senate responded 
quickly to the health and economic crisis. The Senate's historic CARES 
Act rescue package has helped this country weather the storm. We have 
come far since the spring lockdowns. Still, some believe that the worst 
of the virus may be yet to come.
  The Senate has put together a commonsense plan to aid the recovery. 
This week, Senate Republicans introduced a framework bill for the next 
coronavirus relief legislation. It is the capstone to our pandemic 
rescue operation. Our plan focuses on getting people back to work and 
kids back to school and doing it safely, as well as, of course, 
defeating the disease. The Senate proposal provides even more resources 
for testing and healthcare. This means more for hospitals, more for 
treatment, and more for vaccines.
  Our package includes over $100 billion for schools to open safely, 
plus funding for childcare. The Senate plan provides liability 
protection. We shield the medical community, K-12 schools, colleges, 
universities, and small businesses from frivolous lawsuits. Our plan 
includes another round of PPP loans, helping the hardest hit small 
businesses. We also send a targeted second round of direct payments to 
individuals. The Senate package extends unemployment benefits in a way 
that encourages, not discourages, work. We cannot continue to pay 
people more to stay home than they would make at work. So we end the 
$600 weekly benefit bonus. That is in contrast to Nancy Pelosi's $3 
trillion-and-growing bill, her so-called Heroes Act. Her package 
actually makes it easier for the economy to stay closed and much harder 
for the economy to reopen fully.
  The Senate is focused on healthcare, on kids, and on jobs. Democrats, 
it seems, have other priorities--endless bonus checks for staying home, 
bloated bailouts for mismanaged cities and States, and runaway spending 
unrelated to the challenge before us.
  Pre-pandemic, we had a booming economy. We had record job growth, and 
we had record low unemployment. We are working to restore Americans' 
confidence. A solid majority of Americans now say they see their 
finances as stable.
  I urge my Senate Democratic colleagues to come to the table. It is 
time to find common ground and to finish the fight.
  Together, Madam President, we will make sure that America wins the 
war.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. PERDUE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered

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