Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., March 11, 2020)

Summary

A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated March 11, 2020, at page S1697, under the heading Coronavirus. Mr. Booker says there are over 1,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 35 States and DC, that the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic and that thirty-one people have died, including one in New Jersey. He says 81 percent of people in food service and 75 percent of childcare center workers lack paid sick leave, and calls for a comprehensive approach including expanded SNAP benefits. Mr. Markey then urges free testing and treatment, a higher Federal Medicaid assistance percentage, and disaster relief, and a later speaker praises research into coronaviruses.

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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., March 11, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-03-11-crec-2020-03-11-pt1-pgs1697-8e2bba065d/, SHA-256 abd73ea1e36fccacf737e295fd8ef06fc8026f3287ac85d014dcfaf7dcc7d1e8.

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March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1697
CORONAVIRUS also report that 81 percent of people their restaurant closes or they lost
Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, as of working in the food service industry— childcare should be able to access the
today there are over 1,000 confirmed let me say that again: 81 percent of critical benefits they need to help their
COVID–19 cases in 35 States and Wash- people working in our food service in- family get by. That means we also ex-
ington, DC. The World Health Organi- dustry—and 75 percent of childcare pand SNAP benefits for those kids who
zation has now declared COVID–19 a center workers do not have access to are forced to stay at home and from
pandemic. Thirty-one people have died paid sick leave. This is disproportion- school and may miss meals.
in the United States already because of ately seen in communities of color. To take on this virus, to protect all
this virus. This includes one person in Think about the choice you make. of our communities, to ensure the
the State of New Jersey. Communities Your child is sick, you are showing strength of our economy, and to ensure
across the country, and most recently signs but you know if you do not go to our health, we need to take a com-
New Jersey, are confronting the possi- work, you will not be able to make prehensive and inclusive approach.
bility of seeing a spread of this virus. rent, you will not be able to put food That means leaving no one behind, be-
We also know that it is possible that, on the table, you will miss a car pay- cause we are all in this crisis together.
due to delays and lack of availability ment, which means your car will be re- I have seen challenges from 9/11 to
of testing, the actual number of those possessed. These are choices that don’t when I was mayor and we had Hurri-
infected here in the U.S. is likely high- just put the families in crisis but they cane Sandy hit. It was the strength of
er than what has been reported. put us all at risk. our community in that region around
Every day that passes during the The disparity in access to preventive 9/11. It was the strength of that com-
spread of this virus—every single day, care is also an issue. There are dispari- munity during that terrible storm. I
every single hour, every single moment ties in access to healthcare and afford- remember seeing that the strength was
is critical. We must act urgently to able medicine for people all across our that we stood up for each other and
slow its spread, to mitigate its impact. country—millions and millions of peo- stood by each other—neighbors opening
We all have a role to play in fighting ple. This is already before the global up their homes, people lending a hand,
the virus, each and every one of us, pandemic is a health crisis. The contin- people showing sacrifice for each other.
from our personal hygiene habits to ued and unmitigated spread of COVID– That is the American way. Those val-
those of us in positions of authority 19 could have disastrous impacts on ues and virtues should be reflected in
and the roles we can play to protect people in communities that already our policy. We are weakened and more
each other and to protect our commu- have this vulnerability. In my commu- vulnerable right now because we do not
nities. One of the most significant nity, where I live, where I hopefully have commonsense policies that other
ways to do this is actually by encour- will go home this weekend, in Newark, countries take for granted, like paid
aging people to stay home. Members of NJ, the median income for the census family leave. We in the U.S. Senate
Congress have self-isolated. For people track I live in is about $14,000, accord- should act for the love of each other
who have symptoms or who have severe ing to the last census. That is $14,000 and love of country, for the strength
per household. I know that public and security and health of our well-
coughs or who may have been exposed,
health emergencies can quickly be- being for each other.
there is an importance in social isola-
I yield the floor.
tion, staying home when you are sick. come economic disasters for those who The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
The challenge for us as a country is are already struggling in the economic ator from Massachusetts.
that for millions and millions of Amer- margins of our country. Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I just
icans this idea of staying home is not As we work together to combat the want to first say that I agree with ev-
an option. Tens of millions of Ameri- spread of this virus, we need to remem- erything the Senator from New Jersey
cans know that if they stay home, they ber that any of us is only as healthy as just said, and I think it is important to
miss a paycheck. If they miss a pay- our most vulnerable neighbors. In heed his message, because as of this
check, that can mean financial devas- other words, as Martin Luther King afternoon, we are officially facing a
tation or ruin for their family. said years ago, when he said ‘‘injustice global pandemic.
We are now the only industrialized anywhere is a threat to justice every- The coronavirus pandemic has spread
nation in the world that doesn’t have where,’’ well, the virus anywhere is a to more than 100 countries around the
paid family sick leave for workers. threat to the health and safety of us world. The World Health Organization
This is an unwelcome and, unfortu- everywhere. has declared it a pandemic. The eco-
nately, this is a dangerous distinction That is why we need to pass the bill nomic repercussions have taken on a
now in the time of a global pandemic. introduced by Senator PATTY MURRAY global dimension. This is also a virus
This literally punishes people who are to guarantee 7 days of sick leave for all that is impacting Americans on a very
struggling, low-income workers. workers and critically guarantee 14 personal dimension.
Right now the choice for millions of days of paid sick leave during public Massachusetts residents are worried
Americans is really this: Choose be- health emergencies. That is an act of about keeping their children, their
tween your next paycheck and caring self-interest. families, and themselves safe. Day to
for your sick child. Choose between Again, I know with over 80 percent of day, even hour to hour, there is a lot of
going to work sick or having to skip a those who handle our food in res- uncertainty during this public health
meal. Choose between your health and taurants, if those folks do not have emergency. Will I be able to work? Will
well-being or your family’s financial paid family leave, they are now eco- I be able to get medical care? Will I be
security. That choice, unfortunately, nomically incentivized to go to work able to pay the mortgage or the rent?
even before this pandemic, was a sick. It can cause a greater spread of There is one thing I want my con-
choice that many Americans knew— the virus. stituents to know for certain. I share
that the people who are handling our Paid sick and family leave is a public your concern for your loved ones, and
food, the people who work in our res- health and safety issue, plain and sim- your safety is my top priority. We need
taurants, and the people who work ple. It is about economic justice and our response to this emergency to
with our elderly often go to work sick economic strength and security, but it match the seriousness of the crisis.
in this country helping the normal flu is a public health issue for us all. As we I commend the Governors and may-
and other illnesses spread. In the case prepare to fight this virus, we need to ors across this country who have
of a pandemic which has a mortality do the things that keep our people, our stepped up and provided leadership to
rate of potentially five or ten times communities, and our country safe, their constituents, including Massa-
that of the flu, this is, unfortunately, a healthy, and strong. That means join- chusetts Governor Charlie Baker, who

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tragic choice that families are trying ing with the rest of our industrial na- has wisely and swiftly declared a state
to make. tions and having paid family sick of emergency in Massachusetts, and
According to the National Partner- leave. That means opening up and mod- our great mayor of Boston, Martin
ship for Women and Families, 70 per- ernizing the Unemployment Insurance Walsh, who has led early on this issue
cent of the lowest income workers do Act, because workers who lose a pay- to make sure that we deal with this
not have a single paid sick day. They check because their factory closes or crisis.

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S1698 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020
We need that leadership more than into States to deal with this health cri- The legislative clerk proceeded to
ever because we are seeing a dangerous sis. We did this during the great reces- call the roll.
complete abdication of leadership from sion as a way to assist States in pro- Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I
Donald Trump. His mismanagement of viding medical care. We should do it ask unanimous consent that the order
this crisis is unconscionable. It is im- again, and I will be introducing legisla- for the quorum call be rescinded.
moral, and the harm it is causing the tion to accomplish that. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
American people is an injustice. The Fourth, we need to ensure paid sick CRAMER). Without objection, it is so or-
Trump administration has let this cri- leave for our workers. We need to pass dered.
sis spin out of control. Senator PATTY MURRAY’s legislation to f
President Trump has repeatedly said provide an additional 14 days’ sick
leave immediately in the event of any CORONAVIRUS
the risk is low and minimized the im-
plications of the disease, even saying public health emergency, including the Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I
that Americans are unlikely to die current coronavirus crisis. will have to tell you and all of my col-
from an infection. But just today, Dr. Fifth, we need to enhance unemploy- leagues, as they probably know, this
Tony Fauci, Director of the National ment insurance and expand and sup- has been a fairly tough month for my
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Dis- port programs like SNAP and Women, fellow Tennesseans.
eases and the Nation’s leading expert Infants, and Children and school lunch As you know, last week, a tornado
on infectious diseases, explained that and other initiatives to support food tore through eight counties. This start-
coronavirus is 10 times more lethal security. Banks should suspend pay- ed in West Tennessee and exited
than the flu. The administration over- ments on mortgages for those strug- through Middle Tennessee up on the
ruled health officials who wanted to gling with the economic impacts of plateau of our great State. This left
recommend that the elderly and phys- this crisis, and we should provide rent- multiple communities absolutely dev-
ically fragile Americans be advised not al assistance for those who need it. astated. We have mourned the loss of
to fly. Sixth, we need to protect consumers, life and livelihoods and property.
Trump has called efforts to draw at- and that includes shielding them from I want to, again, thank President
tention to the real risk of coronavirus, scams and price gouging, which I called Trump for coming to Tennessee to offer
the new Democrat-created ‘‘hoax.’’ on Amazon to do. Amazon took action his support and for listening to those
Just today, it is being reported that by removing bad actors from the site who were so adversely impacted by this
the White House has ordered top offi- who were charging upwards of $400 for storm and for being there to encourage
cials to treat top-level coronavirus hand sanitizer. No one should be al- the emergency management officials,
meetings as classified, further ham- lowed to reap a windfall from fear and the volunteers, and all of the elected
human suffering. community officials.
pering information sharing in our re-
We need to provide clear guidance on We have been encouraged that our
sponse to this virus.
protections for frontline health work- Tennesseans have been joined from vol-
We saw what a lack of transparency,
ers and access to needed protective unteers all across the country who
misinformation, and denial did in
equipment. In a pandemic, our have shown up to help. They have do-
China with the spread of this virus. We
healthcare workers are heroes, but nated their time, their supplies, and
cannot allow that to happen in the
these heroes need help. We have to their money to our restoration and re-
United States of America. The bottom
make sure they get the protective gear building and recovery and cleanup ef-
line: Families need clear, nonbiased,
they need. forts. To all of those who have volun-
accurate, and reassuring information. The coronavirus is not the first and
They need it from public health offi- teered and offered their support, you
it will not be the last biothreat the
cials. They need it from their elected have made such a difference in the
United States faces. That is why I have
leaders. There should be no partisan- lives of so many Tennessee families.
introduced legislation that provides $1
ship in pandemics. We know this is going to be a long and
billion for research into a universal
The President and his administration coronavirus vaccine that prevents the difficult recovery.
have undermined science and our sci- After all of this occurred, on Wednes-
next biothreat that would come in the
entists. We have the best scientists in day of last week, Tennessee health offi-
form of a coronavirus. They morph into
the world. We must put their expertise different types of coronaviruses. We cials confirmed our first case of
to work to solve this challenge. We have to plan for the future. We need to coronavirus. It was in a patient just
have shown that we can do that. Con- find a universal coronavirus vaccine south of Nashville in Williamson Coun-
gress came together and quickly passed now, and we have to fund it, which is ty.
$8.3 billion in emergency funding to re- why I am asking for $1 billion for that With all that said, that is a lot to
spond to this crisis, but we can do solution to be found. handle in any given week, but Ten-
much more. Sadly, the reality is that this pan- nesseans and all Americans should be
First, the President should imme- demic is going to get worse before it encouraged that there is a lot of good
diately declare the coronavirus pan- gets better. But this is our call, and work that is taking place. As I said,
demic an emergency under the Stafford this is our time to come together. We the rebuilding efforts span all of those
Act. That direction would allow FEMA all have a responsibility to act, to show counties in our State.
to access over $42 billion in disaster re- leadership, and to support those who And then, of course, right there in
lief funds and support States and com- are most vulnerable and will be most Nashville are efforts to combat the
munities directly as they deal with the impacted by this virus. The elderly in spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus.
spread of this virus. I am officially nursing homes, our young children, the The Vanderbilt University Medical
calling on President Trump to do that uninsured, the undocumented—they Center’s Denison Lab is one of the top
today: Declare this an emergency need our help right now. These are the 20 labs in the world that is studying
under the Stafford Act. Free up the lives to be saved, livelihoods to be pro- this disease. For over 25 years, they re-
FEMA money of $42 billion in disaster tected, and futures to ensure. ceived Federal grants for their research
relief so that we can work on this issue I will continue to work with my col- into how these viruses make us sick,
right now, dealing with it in a way that leagues and fight for legislation that and they are currently helping with
reflects the seriousness of the threat. provides Massachusetts residents and the development of treatments, anti-
The President should act today. businesses and those all across our virals, and vaccines to deal with
Second, we need widespread and free country with the resources they need. I coronaviruses, and especially the
coronavirus testing and affordable urge all of my colleagues to join me in COVID–19. I am just so pleased with

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treatment for all. this commitment to action. the progress they are making.
Third, we need to increase the Fed- With that, I yield back. Today I want to draw attention to a
eral Medicaid assistance percentage. I suggest the absence of a quorum. threat that has, again, been high-
This would increase the amount of Fed- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. lighted because of this coronavirus out-
eral dollars that go into Medicaid, im- BLACKBURN). The clerk will call the break. Pharmaceuticals are no dif-
mediately pumping more resources roll. ferent from other products in that they

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