Breathe your strength and peace into our senators and use them for your glory. May they continue to totally depend on you knowing that with your mighty power you will surround them with the shield of your blessing. Holy god, your goodness will prevail until the end of time, we pray in your great name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley i request one minute to address the senate in morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley as the coronavirus spreads, u. S. Federal health and intelligence agencies are working hard to protect the public. Its critical that their hard work not go to waste. Federal Health Agencies must have access to all Intelligence Community information that could help combat this pandemic. To help with that access, the Intelligence Community must guard against overclassifying information. In situations like this, information is power. Our federal health and intelligence agencies are the best in the world. Lets show the world that america can stop the spread of this virus. My tweet for the morning is thie just received the bill from the house called the Families FirstCoronavirus Response act. What business do democrats have blaming mcconnell all weekend for not calling a vote when we cant do anything until the house sends it over . They know better. Stop the politics. This is in response to 172 calls my office got yesterday wondering why we have not voted on this important bill, so its important for me to remind everybody that the senate cant pass this bill or even debate this bill until the house sends it over. We have now received it, and i assume that we will soon do that. Mr. Mcconnell madam president. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell as the global outbreak of the new coronavirus continues to grow, its impact on American Families and Small Businesses is continuing to scale up. School closures are challenging both parents and teachers. Child care closures are complicating family life even further. Main street Small Businesses and their employees are grappling with an unprecedented situation where their local leaders are effectively winding down their businesses for a period of time through no fault of their own. Major industries that our nation relies on have seen business virtually dry up overnight. Again, not due to any business decision they made but because of appropriate directives from Public Health experts. And, madam president , most important of all, our Health Care System and our doctors, nurses, and other frontline professionals are gearing up for what seems very likely to be the most significant nationwide challenge they have faced in generations. At every level, this new challenge is testing our nation and our institutions. Yesterday, my home state of kentucky reported its first coronavirusrelated death. Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and neighbors in Bourbon County who are mourning. I spoke with governor bashir yesterday, and we continue to stay in close touch. The bluegrass state has confirmed 25 cases total to date. We are heeding the sober warning of dr. Fauci. This is what dr. Fauci said things will get worse before they get better. It is abundantly clear that our nation cannot afford partisan politics as usual. This is a moment for bold and bipartisan action. Thats what the senate did earlier this month when we passed billions of dollars and targeted funding to assist medical professionals and responders in every state and to ease the initial shock to Small Businesses, and thats what the senate needs to expand on this week, bold and bipartisan action. Yesterday evening, the house finally completed its work on their Coronavirus Relief proposal, made a number of changes, and sent the paperwork over here to the senate. I know senators on both sides are eager to assist workers, families, and Small Businesses with the financial fallout of this extraordinary period. So, madam president , as i said yesterday afternoon, Senate Republicans are convinced that the houses noncomprehensive bill can only be the beginning, the beginning of our efforts to support our health system, assist individual americans and families, as well as stabilize the u. S. Economy. So last night, a group of republican senators conferred with secretary mnuchin. Hes returning to the capitol to meet with our entire conference today. We are continuing urgent talks on further legislation that will address head on the three major priorities we have spent the last several days discussing in depth. Number one, we need to provide more direct assistance for American Workers and families. Number two, we need further strong steps to secure our economic foundation, most especially our Small Businesses. In particular, it seems increasingly clear that the houses effort to mandate that Small Businesses provide new worker benefits, just as many Small Businesses themselves are in significant jeopardy, might even be actually harmful unless we urgently address a broader package that includes more and broader Small Business relief. And third, of course, the foundational priority is to continue providing all the support that our medical professionals need as they fight this new virus on the front lines. These conversations are ongoing. Were making progress. The house of representatives may have left town, but the senate is right here at work. Were crafting the major legislation that the American People deserve in the face of this major challenge. And its my intention that the senate will not adjourn until we have passed significant and bold new steps above and beyond what the house has passed, to help our strong nation and our strong underlying economy weather this storm. Now, before i conclude this morning, i wanted to take a moment to echo and amplify the updated guidance that our Public Health experts and the white house rolled out yesterday. As President Trump said yesterday, the next two weeks are an important opportunity. Our nation will have a major say in how long the virus will spread within the United States before it is contained. Following the commonsense steps laid out by the White House Coronavirus task force can significantly reduce each americans risk of being exposed or spreading the virus within communities. First, obviously, those who feel sick, stay at home. Those who feel sick, stay at home. Unwell children should be kept at home. And anyone with questions about their symptoms should contact their medical provider. Wherever possible, americans should engage in work or school from home. Those who cannot, including those whose inperson Job Functions are central to our government or our nation, must take especially seriously the c. D. C. s guidelines for health and hygiene, especially washing hands and social distancing. All americans have been strongly urged to avoid eating or drinking out, to avoid discretionary travel, and to avoid visiting Nursing Homes or retirement facilities unless, unless to provide critical assistance. Some of these recommendations sound like basic common sense. Others of them would have sounded almost unthinkable just a few weeks ago. It is almost impossible to exaggerate the pace of change over the past weeks and days. But americans are strong. We are resilient. This is a proud nation with a worldchanging history. And we have come through far greater challenges than this. This is not a time for fear or panic. It is a time to follow the facts , listen carefully to the experts, and take precautions to protect not only ourselves but the most vulnerable in our society. Every single one of us can do our part. The presiding officer under the previous order, the leadership time is preserved. Under the previous order, the senate will be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. Mr. Durbin madam president. The presiding officer the senator from illinois. Mr. Durbin madam president , yesterday, the president of the United States and the center for Disease Control contacted us individually and at least through the media to advise us to avoid gatherings of more than ten people. Its a reflection of the National Emergency we face and the Public Health crisis that america is facing head on, as it should. This morning, as we opened the senate, there were 18 people gathered on the floor of the senate, three senators and 15 staff people. As those who follow the senate can tell, our staffers come to work as they are expected to, but come under circumstances that are more challenging than they were just a few weeks ago. I want to thank each and every one of them here on the floor, as well as the many that you dont see behind the scenes who are necessary for the opening of this capitol and for the protection of everyone who works here. There are policemen, there are people engaged in basic activities here to keep this magnificent structure functioning, and they come here now in the midst of a Public Health challenge where most every american has been told stay home. If you can possibly stay home, do it. Social distancing. Make certain that you stay a certain distance between yourself and some other person. And yet, they come here and we thank them for it. The obvious question is why are we here under these circumstances . We were called back into a week of legislative activity which had been scheduled to be a week where we were back home in our individual states. Theres a lot for me to do back home, and im sure thats true for every senator. From the crisis which we had at ohare airport. I was working on that saturday and sunday night. To the issue of closing schools and feeding children, and all of the other issues that are part of this coronavirus challenge. But we were told to come back here this week, to make a trip back, to fly back from wherever to come to the United States capitol for two reasons. We were told we had to pass the federal Intelligence Surveillance act reauthorization because it expired as of last weekend. It turns out that we found a way to avoid a necessary vote at the last minute. The Senate Republican leader agreed last night, just a few minutes before the scheduled vote, to accept a proposal that had been made to him by republican senator mike lee of utah last thursday. The Senate Republican leader did not accept it then. He accepted it last night. The net result was we didnt have to be present. We didnt have to make the journey for that purpose. But the second part of our return is equally important, maybe more so in liept of this this Public Health crisis. This was the measure taken up by the house of representatives and passed in the Early Morning hours of saturday. This measure known as the Families FirstCoronavirus Response act is a second piece of legislation which we are considering and im sure not the last. Were already talking about the coronavirus three act which is likely to be debated and voted on soon. But the point im making is this measure which was physically sent to us last night with technical corrections could have been considered as early as last saturday. By unanimous consent the senate can take up a measure before it physically arrives from the house. Its happened many times before. Its not extraordinary. The physical presence of the document is not necessary for this debate or for a vote to consider it. We acknowledge the fact that sometimes the movement of paperwork from the house may take a little longer than the actual time when we physically can take possession of it through other means. And so the argument that was made this morning it wasnt until we received the document last night that we could consider it is not accurate under the senate rules by unanimous consent we could have considered it as soon as it was enacted by the house. But the question before us now is what are we waiting for . There was a technical correction bill that was added to it yesterday after the house overcame the objections of a republican congressman after his objections were set aside or satisfied, they moved forward with the technical corrections. So we have the package. Its before us now. And the obvious question is, why arent we passing this measure immediately . We should. Because contained in this measure are important changes in the law that will help American Families respond to this coronavirus crisis. Fundamental questions, will we provide for many American Workers medical leave if they decide they dont feel well and want to keep themselves, their family, their coworkers and the public safe by staying home. But theyre afraid if they dont get a paycheck, they cant need the needs of their families. So this bill extends the medical leave coverage to more workers across america. Im unhappy that it doesnt go further and perhaps we can extend it further with the third iteration of our coronavirus legislative package. But theres no reason not to pass this. And to pass it now. And not to wait a day or two or three before we get around to it. Lets do it. Lets get it done. In addition, we have changes in Unemployment Compensation. If someone literally loses their job because of this Public Health crisis, we want to make sure that they have something coming in to help their families as quickly as possible. Thats a measure im sure all of us agree on, to change the Unemployment Compensation laws to help these families through very difficult times. Why would we wait to pass that . We should pass this by unanimous consent today and do it quickly. That is something that i hope Senate Republican leader will consider. Theres just no reason for delay. And there are so many other things involved in this. The basic issue of feeding america is now in question. Who is going to feed these School Students who whose schools have been closed across illinois and across the United States. Its a practical challenge in springfield, illinois, as well as chicago. Well, we have issues that are raised by this coronavirus legislation that is before us that will change and strengthen Food Assistance at this time of Public Health crisis. Why wait . Lets get this done by unanimous consent. We should be doing it and doing it right now. In addition to that, we provide addition medicaid benefits to the states to deal with the objection health challenges. We want to make sure the Health Care Workers and god bless them for risking their lives for us we want to make sure theyre paid. We want to make sure the equipment needed by hospitals and clinics comes on board as quickly as possible. In my state of illinois, we have challenges from the city of chicago, through rural and small towns. They need help. Medicaid assistance in this bill will provide help for them immediately. Why wait . Lets pass this and do it this morning. We also have free testing for coronavirus that is set out in the law whether you have insurance, youre covered by medicare, medicaid. Youre going to be able to be tested when the tests are available, i might quickly add, without cost to you and thats the way it should be. These are things that are basic. They were agreed to not just by nancy pelosi, the speaker of the house, but by the trump white house. Mr. Mnuchin, the secretary came forward and negotiated all the changes which i have just described. So theyre bipartisan in nature. There is no reason for us to delay this in any way. We should move on it quickly. Putting this off for a day or two or whatever the plan is with the Republican Leadership is totally unnecessary and unfortunately requires staff to wait around here when theyve been advised they should be home. There should be social distance. They should be in a circumstance where theyre not endangering themselves in terms of their health or anyone else. Lets get this done. The third issue that i want to raise is one which is critically important but i believe its timely. We have to think anew about the way the senate does business. If were telling people to do their work from home when possible, teleconferencing as opposed to being physically present at work, what are we doing to achieve the same thing . Theres been speculation, conjecture about a coronavirus aid package, the third one in the series. I totally support it. The democratic side we have a long list of particulars, of things that we think will be helpful to get this economy back on its feet by starting with families and workers and expanding it to Small Businesses. Its a long list. Its a comprehensive list. And im sure there