[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 135 (Thursday, July 30, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S4623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               HEALS Act

  Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, this Nation faces a moment of crisis. The 
coronavirus pandemic has taken a serious and devastating toll on our 
country. Right now, in every corner of America, families are struggling 
to get by, and they are worried about what the future holds in store 
for them. Americans are worried about where their next paychecks will 
come from. They are worried about whether or not they will be able to 
keep their small businesses open. They are worried about how they will 
be able to pay their mortgages, their rent, or their utility bills, and 
they are worried about how they are going to feed their children.
  As I said before, this is a time of crisis, but it is a moment that 
we can overcome together. We are a nation that in the face of great 
challenges has responded with caring and compassionate leadership. 
COVID-19 is a major challenge--make no mistake about that--but we as a 
Congress can bring real and meaningful results to the American people. 
I am sad to say that the legislation introduced by Leader McConnell, 
the HEALS Act, does not do this. In fact, it does not even come close.
  This is a bill that slashes Federal unemployment assistance for 
people who are out of work not due to any fault of their own and 
because of a deadly pandemic and an unprecedented economic catastrophe. 
This is a bill that has no money for programs like SNAP to ensure that 
American children don't go hungry. This is a bill that provides no 
support to State and local governments so that they can continue to 
provide critical services during the pandemic. This is a bill that 
provides no support for the EIDL Program or EIDL Advance, which provide 
direct support to small businesses to pay their operating expenses. 
This is also a bill that doesn't even continue the eviction moratorium, 
putting countless Americans at risk of losing their homes as soon as 
this weekend when the rent comes due. This is unacceptable.
  In Nevada, our travel and tourism industry has been hit hard by the 
pandemic, which has hurt our entire economy. In April, unemployment 
reached over 30 percent--30 percent. It is the highest in our Nation. 
Even now, months later, unemployment is still in the double digits--15 
percent by the last count--which is more than four times our 
prepandemic level.
  Now, just as Nevadans feel that we can't take any more pain, this 
bill plans to slash unemployment relief?
  Amidst our unemployment crisis, State and local governments are also 
struggling. In Nevada and across our country, our public employees have 
been on the frontlines of the pandemic, fighting against the disease 
and working to ensure the safety and well-being of all Americans.
  With little revenue coming in and significant costs going out, our 
States, our cities, our towns, and our Tribes are now facing massive 
budget shortfalls that will require cuts to critical programs and which 
threaten the pay of our teachers, our firefighters, and our first 
responders. The HEALS Act--Senator McConnell's proposal--has zero funds 
for any of them.
  While the majority leader's party prides itself on helping business, 
our Nation's small businesses, too, are left behind in his legislation.
  Small businesses, the economic engines that keep our communities 
going, have been hammered by this pandemic. But the HEALS Act has 
zero--zero additional funding for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan 
Program, which has benefited millions of small businesses nationwide, 
including tens of thousands of small businesses in Nevada.
  Senator Cornyn and I introduced bipartisan legislation last week that 
would not only provide $180 billion in funds to the EIDL and EIDL 
Advance Programs but will also lift the Small Business Administration's 
arbitrary caps on the loans and grants that all small businesses can 
receive.
  Real bipartisan solutions are possible, but our bipartisan proposal 
to help small businesses is not in Senator McConnell's bill either.
  Let's be clear. The HEALS Act is not a bipartisan solution, and it 
does not address all the needs of the American people. Just as a house 
cannot stand without support from a sturdy foundation, we cannot expect 
the American people to stand upon a bill that is the legislative 
equivalent of cheap drywall and a coat of paint.
  Our constituents, my constituents, need real support, a lifeline, not 
just window dressing. So I ask my colleagues in this body to rise to 
the challenge we face and provide that lifeline to the people of Nevada 
and to all of the American people.
  Let's help people keep their homes. Let's help families feed their 
children. Let's help small businesses keep their doors open. We must 
come together and develop timely, targeted, and thoughtful legislation 
to protect both the lives and livelihoods of the American people during 
this crisis. They deserve no less.
  Across the country right now, scientists and healthcare professionals 
are working around the clock, maximizing resources, developing 
innovative ways to protect the health of our Nation and save lives. As 
they work day in and day out, Congress needs to do the same.
  The House passed the Heroes Act over 2 months ago. It is long past 
time for the Senate to get to work. It is imperative that the Senate 
remain in session and that Senators remain in Washington, working 
tomorrow through the weekend until the Senate passes a true coronavirus 
relief bill. Working Americans don't get Fridays off, and neither 
should Congress.
  Although we may not agree on every aspect of how to address this 
crisis, my Democratic colleagues and I stand ready to work across the 
aisle to deliver relief to the American people.
  So I ask the majority leader, who controls our schedule--I ask him 
this: Don't we owe it to our constituents, to the American people, all 
Americans, to work through the weekend until we have an agreement? The 
essential workers on the frontlines of this battle aren't taking the 
weekend off to rest, and neither should we.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.