Congressional Record, Senate, March 17, 2020 — Coronavirus: Families First Coronavirus Response Act (S1771)
Summary
Page S1771 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for March 17, 2020, under the heading Coronavirus. Cornyn says an $8.3 billion emergency package was passed and that the House has passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and describes the Act's provisions on 14 days of paid sick leave, 12 weeks of paid leave for virus-related long-term absences, and changes to unemployment insurance. A later speaker says the supply of mechanical respirators and ventilators is inadequate and cites data that there may be only 62,000 hospital ventilators in the entire nation.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, March 17, 2020 — Coronavirus: Families First Coronavirus Response Act (S1771).”
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March 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1771
CORONAVIRUS those who rely on tips—are among the This legislation also includes a range
Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, hardest hit. of provisions to provide financial secu-
across our country, we are seeing cit- I am glad to say that soon the Senate rity for those who are unable to work,
ies, schools, businesses, and other orga- will take action to provide additional and that is because they are protecting
nizations take the necessary and seri- relief. As the Presiding Officer knows, the public health. It will create a new
ous precautions to keep the American we passed an $8.3 billion emergency Federal emergency paid sick leave pro-
people safe from the spread of the package to help fast-track discovery of gram for those impacted by the
coronavirus. School districts, colleges, a vaccine and to make sure that our coronavirus. That means that any
and universities are canceling in-per- healthcare sector is prepared for what Texan—any American who is diag-
son classes, churches are moving serv- is coming at it, or at least better pre- nosed, quarantining, or caring for a de-
ices online, professional sports teams pared. pendent who was impacted by this
are hitting pause on their regular sea- The House has now passed the Fami- virus will be able to take 14 days of
son, airlines are canceling flights, and lies First Coronavirus Response Act, paid sick leave. And many Texas work-
many Main Street businesses are clos- which we are in the process of taking ers will be able to access 12 weeks of
ing their doors. up and will hopefully finish this week, paid leave for virus-related long-term
I know that all of this is a little dis- and then I expect there will be a third absences. These protections include
orienting and certainly alarming. But installment—a stimulus package that workers who stay home to care for
while these measures aren’t normal, it Treasury Secretary Mnuchin will be up their loved ones, including staying
is a sign that we are heeding advice here on the Hill talking about today to home with their kids due to school clo-
from the experts, people like Dr. Fauci try to help employees and employers sures.
and organizations like the Centers for and entire industries survive this eco- This bill also makes changes to un-
Disease Control. It is a sign that we are nomic trauma. employment insurance. It will tempo-
doing what we can to prevent or at The Families First Coronavirus Re- rarily waive requirements for workers
least slow down community spread. It sponse Act will help protect both the to prove they are actively searching for
is a sign that we are standing together physical and financial health of our work during the public health emer-
and making progress, ultimately ex- country by supporting workers and gency response, and it will provide $1
pecting that we will get through this their families impacted by the virus. It billion in emergency grants for States
together. The difficult decisions that will remove financial barriers for Tex- to support processing and paying un-
need to be made by elected officials, ans who need access to coronavirus employment insurance benefits. In
business owners, and community lead- testing, regardless of income or insur- other words, we know that people are
ers when they decide to shut down nor- ance coverage. staying home because their employers
mal parts of our daily lives—these are This is one of the things I talked to have told them their businesses have
not easy decisions for them to make. Governor Abbott about in particular. been shut down. Even though they are
Despite the public health benefits He said that there are two things that not sick, they are suffering financial
these closures will provide, we are also Texas needs. He said it is more testing loss. The purpose of this is to make
expecting other serious—mainly eco- and it is more protective equipment, sure that through the vehicle of unem-
nomic—consequences. Our economic personal protective equipment—PPEs, ployment insurance, they do get some
engine is being brought to a halt as as they are called—in order for this money so that they can take care of
people are staying home rather than testing to take place. their necessities and keep putting food
producing, and small businesses and While it is still true—according to on the table.
their employees in particular are feel- the Centers for Disease Control—that This bill also takes serious steps to
ing the impact. you should not be tested unless you are strengthen food security for those who
Jason Phillips is a manager at Zoli’s experiencing symptoms and referred by are struggling with reliable access to
Pizza in Fort Worth, TX, and he has a healthcare provider, it is clear that healthy meals. This is one of the things
been in the service industry for more more testing is going to be needed, and I heard from a friend of mine out in
than 20 years. Still, he said he has indeed we have heard from the Presi- West Texas just today concerned about
never been in a situation quite like dent and the Vice President and the ad- the food banks that provide a safety
this one. He said this past Saturday ministration in general that we expect net for people without access to reg-
that Zoli’s Pizza had about half the a huge ramping up of the capacity to ular, healthy food. This bill actually
number of customers they have come test people so they can know whether will send $400 million to local food
to expect. they are positive and they need to stay banks, which are supporting those low-
Steven Startz has experienced a simi- in isolation or possibly need healthcare income families across the country, in-
lar struggle. Last November, he opened treatment or whether, like the Presi- cluding in places like West Texas.
a new restaurant in New Braunfels, TX, dent and one of our colleagues here, We know that older Americans are
just north of San Antonio, called Le Senator GRAHAM, they are negative, the most vulnerable when it comes to
Citron European Cafe and Bistro. The and obviously the peace of mind that the coronavirus, and many are afraid
first year for any new restaurant is comes with that. This legislation re- to leave their homes at the risk of get-
bound to be tough. As luck would have moves all financial barriers for that ting sick. This legislation provides a
it, a week after they opened, an oven testing. quarter of a billion dollars for the sen-
broke, and it had to be replaced. But For those who have private insur- ior nutrition program to provide home-
nothing has prepared Steven for the ance, it requires that all plans cover delivered meals to low-income seniors.
months of February and March, what the cost of testing, including the cost It also provides half a billion dollars
they would bring. He was hoping, as of a provider, an urgent care center, for Federal food stamps. It provides
you might imagine, for an uptick in and emergency room visits in order to flexibility on work requirements, so
tourists, which would mean more busi- get tested. As I said, right now, CDC those who lose their jobs or aren’t able
ness, but instead a pandemic has kept protocol calls for a healthcare provider to work can receive assistance when
everybody at home. Rather than a posi- to make a diagnosis based on symp- they need it the most.
tive bump in the business, revenue for toms that would then lead to a test. I mentioned the food banks and the
his young restaurant is down 60 per- Those are the same zero-cost meas- school lunch program. Last week, the
cent. As a result, he has had to cut ures that would apply to those covered U.S. Department of Agriculture ap-
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
staff, and he hasn’t hired replacements by Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. proved a request from Texas with re-
for the employees he has recently lost. It also requires the National Disaster gard to school lunches. Millions of
This is an all-too-familiar struggle Medical System to reimburse the cost Texas students are currently eligible
for millions of Americans who are un- of testing for patients who are unin- for free lunch programs, but, obviously,
able to go to work during this pan- sured. when the schools close, they don’t get
demic and are facing serious economic In short, the bottom line is, no one access to that nutrition. But thanks to
uncertainty about their future. Those will have to pay to be tested for the the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
in the service industry—especially coronavirus, period. Texas schools can continue to serve
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S1772 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 17, 2020
free meals to low-income students, response and what that may look like, leadership void. Earlier this week, he,
even when their schools are closed. I believe it is time to pass the Families along with the Governors of New York
This legislation also includes a range First Coronavirus Response Act so that and Connecticut, imposed new restric-
of measures to support healthcare we provide this needed relief to the tions on restaurants, shops, and other
workers, veterans, small businesses, American people as soon as possible. public gathering spaces. These are
and countless Texans who are strug- (Mr. SULLIVAN assumed the Chair.) tough, unquestionably, but we need
gling financially as a result of this pan- f every New Jerseyan, as well as every
demic. American, to take Federal and State
Of course, we know we are all racing RECESS
recommendations about social
against the clock to respond to this Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask distancing seriously, avoiding gath-
virus, and it is important for Congress unanimous consent that the Senate erings of more than 10 people, washing
to act promptly to demonstrate to the stand in recess until 2:15 p.m. your hands frequently, and if you feel
American people that we understand There being no objection, the Senate, sick, staying home and calling your
the problem and that we are using at 12:03 p.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m. healthcare provider immediately.
every tool in our toolbox to respond to and reassembled when called to order We all need to be part of the solution
this crisis on their behalf. by the Presiding Officer (Mrs. CAPITO). or we can become part of the statistics.
In any major event—whether it is a The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. We all need to be part of the solution.
natural disaster or a pandemic—we BLACKBURN). The Senator from New This is one time in which we all must
need an all-of-government response. Jersey. come together as Americans and be
All of us need to be cooperating and f part of the solution so that we are not
working on the same page, moving as CORONAVIRUS part of the statistics.
efficiently as we possibly can. Already families are feeling the im-
As I said, the Families First Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, pact, whether in lost wages, smaller
Coronavirus Response Act builds on first of all, I want to thank the staff paychecks, school closures, restaurant
the $8.3 billion emergency spending bill here in the Senate. Even in these dif- curfews, or outright job losses. That is
that was signed into law by President ficult times, they answer the call of why I am calling on the Senate to act
Trump earlier this month. It also com- doing the work of the American people, today—today—on legislation that will
plements the national emergency dec- and I want to appreciate their being provide paid leave and unemployment
laration made by President Trump last here so that the Senate can conduct its assistance to impacted workers, food
week and Governor Abbott’s disaster work. They are essential to being able assistance to children and seniors,
declaration for the State of Texas. to do that. So I want to acknowledge more funding for Medicaid. We cannot
That is why I plan to support this bill that. leave families alone to weather the
when a vote is scheduled. I come to the floor today as our storm.
I know there are other Senators who country grapples with a global pan- We also need to do more to help res-
have said they have good ideas. Many demic that, tragically, has claimed the taurants and shops and other busi-
of them are intriguing and I think lives of thousands of people around the nesses struggling with the economic
would make a positive addition to this world, including dozens throughout the fallout of the coronavirus from manda-
legislation, but I think in times like United States and three in my home tory curfews to supply chain shortages,
this, the thing we need to do is to work State of New Jersey. to decreased demand for their services.
together and function expeditiously to I come to the floor because I hope They need help. At the end of the day,
get this legislation passed. And because that people understand the fierce ur- we want them to be able to survive the
we know there is going to be another gency of ‘‘now’’—the fierce urgency of crisis in order to offer the employment
installment—a third installment—to ‘‘now.’’ This is a public health crisis, that will be necessary to revive the
respond to the coronavirus, perhaps and we can’t wait to act. economy.
those other good ideas can be included The rapid spread of COVID–19, also But we must remember that this is
in that additional legislation, which we known as the coronavirus, has dis- first and foremost a public health cri-
will pass before we recess. rupted our daily lives. It has desta- sis. The wealth of our Nation will ulti-
I was interested to hear the majority bilized our economy and has imposed mately depend on the health of our Na-
leader say that we will not recess until an enormous strain on our healthcare tion. Nothing economically will be
we take up and pass that third install- system. solved without dealing with the health
ment. I think his sense of urgency and I think many failed to grasp the of the American people, and we cannot
his sense of determination and focus is scope of this threat—the lack of a na- ignore the demands that COVID–19 will
well justified, and I congratulate him tional response just as the virus began make on our healthcare sector and, es-
for that. I think we need to all pull to- to reach America’s shores. But I am pecially, hospitals in the days and
gether in a similar spirit of unity. not here to talk today about where the weeks to come.
I thank the Trump administration, administration went wrong; I am here The U.S. Centers for Disease Control
especially Treasury Secretary to talk about how it can start making and Prevention, the CDC, has projected
Mnuchin, for working so quickly with things right. that between 160 million and 214 mil-
Speaker PELOSI to build this package If there is anything we have learned lion people could contract COVID–19 in
so that we can provide relief for Amer- in recent weeks, it is that you have to the United States and that between 2.4
ican workers and families as soon as be proactive. In the past week, the million and 21 million of those infected
possible. number of confirmed COVID–19 cases could require hospitalization. As a
This is not the first bill to strength- here in the United States jumped from means of comparison, our hospital sys-
en our response to the coronavirus, and around 1,000 to well over 4,000. While tem has less than 1 million staffed
it will not be our last. As I said, there other countries were testing thousands beds, which would be inadequate even
is a bipartisan commitment to passing of people, the United States was test- under the CDC’s most optimistic pro-
the third phase to strengthen our econ- ing mere dozens. While other countries jections.
omy and support the industries and were staging makeshift hospitals, we Hospitals must also have the re-
businesses that have been hit the hard- were overloading ours. While other sources and equipment available to
est by this pandemic. countries implemented aggressive so- treat the expected influx of patients.
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
Leader MCCONNELL has made clear cial distancing measures to limit the There is a significant concern that the
his commitment to finding a bold, bi- spread of COVID–19, our government Nation’s supply of mechanical res-
partisan solution to the economic chal- sent mixed signals to the American pirators and ventilators is inadequate
lenges we are facing and will continue people about the sacrifices they must to meet the exponential need we will
to face in the months ahead, and I am make in order to save, maybe, their likely experience in the coming weeks
proud to support this effort. lives and, if not, the lives of others. and months. The latest data indicates
While conversations continue regard- State leaders like my own Governor, that there may be only 62,000 hospital
ing the next phase of our coronavirus Phil Murphy, stepped in to fill the ventilators in the entire nation. Even
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