Congressional Record — Senate, March 19, 2020, Page S1820
Summary
Page S1820 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for March 19, 2020. A speaker calls for paid sick leave, naming Senator Murray as having legislation, and for liquidity for small businesses, and says Senate Democrats have not been included in discussions with Senate Republicans about "phase 3" while Leader McConnell is putting together a plan. The speaker says Forty-one thousand unemployment insurance claims were filed in Illinois in the past 2 days, compared with 4,445 in the same 2 days last year. Cornyn also speaks about Members of Congress coming together during divided times to support the country's response.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record — Senate, March 19, 2020, Page S1820.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-03-19-crec-2020-03-19-pt1-pgs1820-ace7411123/
, SHA-256 a9b32419fccdb0b659b73576776b4a5027976b1d9950cb624e391319189b3be2.Full text
S1820 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 19, 2020
Another must for us is paid sick I have taken time to lay out these One hundred and twenty-eight new
leave. Senators MURRAY and GILLI- ideas on the floor because—thus far, at cases were announced yesterday in our
BRAND have important legislation on least—Senate Democrats have not been State. It is the largest single 1-day in-
this issue and want to get this done. included in discussions with Senate Re- crease since we have been reporting.
And for small businesses, there must publicans about phase 3. Leader We have 2 additional counties that
be liquidity. Many of these businesses MCCONNELL is putting together his own have now been touched out of the 102.
are great businesses. They were doing plan. He is talking to his chairman and We are now up to 17 counties with the
fine until 2, 3 weeks ago, but no cus- his Members, and then, he has said, he infections. An additional 20 people at
tomers are coming in the door or call- will present it to Senate Democrats or the DuPage County long-term care fa-
ing on the phone. In addition to paying even House Democrats. cility tested positive, bringing it to a
their workers through our employment As I have said before, if we want to total of 42—30 residents and 12 mem-
insurance, we must see that these busi- get this done quickly, the best way to bers of that staff—in that one facility.
nesses have liquidity to pay their in- do it is to have a four-corners negotia- Forty-one thousand unemployment
surance bills, to pay their mortgages, tion: House and Senate, majority and insurance claims were filed in Illinois
to pay their problems, and deal with minority. If we do it in each step, obvi- in the past 2 days. To put that in per-
that so when, God willing—and I am ously—knowing how the Senate and spective, during the same 2 days last
confident it will happen—this crisis the House work—it will take much year, 4,445 were filed. That is roughly
leaves us, they will be able to open longer. We have to move quickly. 10 times the number of unemployment
their businesses stronger than ever be- Make no mistake about it, our entire claims that have been filed this year.
fore. caucus wants to work in a bipartisan As I mentioned, that is 10 times the
There are many other things we want way to get this done quickly. What we level of the same 2-day period a year
to get done. Today, Senator WARREN, are prescribing are some of the things ago.
Senator MURRAY, Senator BROWN, and I we think would do the most good. The Department of Labor reported
are announcing a bill to cancel—can- In reference to that, we are living in this morning that 281,000 people filed
cel—student loan payments during the a time of emergency. The typical legis- unemployment insurance claims na-
duration of the coronavirus and to pro- lative process takes too long and will tionwide last week, and that number is
vide a minimum of a $10,000 payoff for not work. I believe all parties should be likely to grow. Oak Park—just to the
all student loan borrowers. This is a in the room from the get-go so that west of Chicago—is the first town in Il-
problem that has been going on for too any final product can pass as swiftly as linois to issue a shelter-in-place order
long. It is exacerbated by the crisis. We possible. We are all interested in com- for residents, which will last until
have to help the students and those ing together as quickly as we can. April 3. Mayor Lightfoot for the city of
with big loans on their backs. That leg- Time is of the essence. Let us come to- Chicago announced the city would tem-
islation—something like it—should be gether, construct, and pass this bill as porarily suspend debt collection prac-
in phase 3 of legislation. soon as we possibly can. tices and nonsafety-related citations,
I yield the floor.
There are many other things that as well as penalties for late payment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The as-
must be done. As we Senate Democrats I might add that we learned last
sistant Democratic leader.
a couple of days ago announced a $750 night that two Members of the House
f of Representatives have tested positive
billion package—well, there are other
things that are in there, and there may CORONAVIRUS for the virus: Representatives MARIO
be other things that have to be added, Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I DIAZ-BALART of Florida and BEN
but we have to look at this crisis in its come to the floor today to thank MCADAMS of Utah. Both developed
totality and address it. Speaker PELOSI, Leader SCHUMER, and symptoms last Saturday, just hours
Some have proposed—I have heard all of my colleagues who help support after voting on the coronavirus re-
this coming out of the administration the Families First Coronavirus Re- sponse bill with hundreds of other
and from some of my colleagues—an al- sponse Act. That measure was signed Members.
ternative to these policies: a one-time yesterday by President Trump. As I un- I have joined with Senator ROB
cash payment of $1,000. That might derstand from Leader MCCONNELL, PORTMAN of Ohio in proposing that we
help families cover rent, groceries for a work is underway on a third take into consideration the fact that
month, but then what? If we are going coronavirus package in the form of an we have critically important work to
to do this kind of payment plan—first, economic stimulus to provide more do in the Senate, but gathering in
it cannot be a substitute for the things support to families, businesses, and to groups, as we have done historically,
I have mentioned. It must be in addi- the healthcare community, including poses a health risk not just to us as
tion. I think there is a general, unani- our hospitals. Members and our families but to the
mous view on our side that should be This morning, I spoke to the Gov- staff as well as their families, the staff
the case. ernor of Illinois—we have been speak- in the Senate and their families. We
But second, if we are going to do it, ing on almost a daily basis, sometimes ought to be more thoughtful in terms
it has to be bigger, more generous, and almost several times a day—and asked of our own families and the people who
more frequent than some that I have him about the State of the situation in work in the U.S. Senate. Yes, do our
heard proposed from the other side. We our home State of Illinois. Unfortu- job, but do it in a sensible and thought-
all know that workers and families nately, we are still desperate for test- ful way.
need assistance, and they are going to ing kits. Illinois has about 5,000 more Senator PORTMAN and I are exploring
get it. Democrats want to get that as- kits that were provided yesterday by a possibilities for remote voting by Mem-
sistance as quickly to the American private company at the urging of our bers of the Senate. Why is it required
people as possible, and I believe our Re- Governor, but we have never seen the that we be physically present on the
publican colleagues do as well. But number of test kits that we believe are floor, closer to one another, than per-
those who want to limit that assist- necessary to measure the current state haps we should be at this moment dur-
ance to a one-time payment of around of this coronavirus in our home State ing a public health crisis? Senator
$1,000 given to everybody, for people of Illinois. The official count—and I PORTMAN and I, on a bipartisan basis,
who make $1 million and people who might add that word ‘‘official’’—is that are trying to find a way to achieve this
make $500 a week, that doesn’t make we have had 288 Illinoisans infected and goal and to still protect the integrity
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
sense. 1 fatality. I believe that the number of of the voting process in the U.S. Sen-
The pandemic requires bold, struc- infections in the official report grossly ate. Yes, it is new. Yes, it is different.
tural changes to our society’s safety understates the exposure in my home Yes, it reflects the 21st century and re-
net to give people a lifeline for months, State of Illinois. Once more tests are flects a challenge, the likes of which
not just weeks. It requires the kinds of administered and we receive the re- we have never seen. Tomorrow that
things I have mentioned. If we are sults, I am afraid we are going to see a challenge may be another public health
going to go this route, it has to be big- dramatic increase in that number of re- crisis, some other national emergency,
ger, more generous, more frequent. ported infections in the State. or maybe even a terrorist attack.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19MR6.005 S19MRPT1
March 19, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1821
Shouldn’t we be ready to make sure haven’t already, because of this pan- for jobless benefits last week, a 33-per-
the Senate can still do its business if it demic. In so many cases, losing your cent increase from the previous week.
is difficult, impossible, or not advised job means losing your health insur- Similar grim news has come out of Illi-
for Members of the Senate to come ance. That is why I am working to en- nois that has seen unemployment
physically to the floor and announce sure individuals who lose their job as a claims skyrocket, as I mentioned ear-
their vote each time it is needed? We result of this coronavirus do not also lier. These figures show us how serious
believe we should explore this on a bi- lose their healthcare. Under current this is for working families, under-
partisan basis, and we are urging the law, COBRA coverage allows individ- scoring the importance to move quick-
leaders on both sides to look at it seri- uals to remain on their employer-spon- ly and boldly.
ously at this moment. sored health insurance plan after they Congress must immediately take
I might add as well that Governor lose their jobs and otherwise become steps to ensure State unemployment
Pritzker spoke about the issues that ineligible. There is a basic problem trust fund accounts have more re-
they are facing and said to me, more with COBRA. It costs too much and the sources to get the benefits to those
than once, that we need Federal guid- employee—now severed from their who need them. This morning, my Gov-
ance as to what we should do in our work—has to pay 100 percent of the ernor alerted me to the fact that there
State. I want to salute him and the premiums with no employer contribu- is a cashflow problem because of these
other Governors who are doing the best tions. Many people just can’t afford it. claims being made on the unemploy-
they can in drawing their own public I think it is imperative that Congress ment benefits account. Nationwide,
health conclusions based on the advice step up and offer Federal funding to small businesses and retailers are clos-
they have received. cover the costs of COBRA coverage for ing their doors—some, we hope, only
I would think we need to be sensitive individuals who lose their jobs as a re- temporarily. Restaurants are moving
to the reality of the hospitals that are sult of this pandemic. Loss of a job is to take-out only or closing up their
facing real challenges today that are bad enough. We can’t also sit by while shops altogether.
likely to increase. What we have seen millions of people lose their health in- This morning, I had a webinar with
over the past few weeks from our surance. Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. We
healthcare workers on the frontline is Democrats are working on a robust expected about 100 people to partici-
nothing short of heroic. The nurses, the funding package to help our U.S. mili- pate, and over 500 did. Small businesses
doctors, the technicians, the lab ex- tary defend our country against this across America are very conscious of
perts have done work above and beyond pandemic. It includes substantial in- the threats to their continuing busi-
their call of duty that we hope for in creases in the capacity of military ness by this public health crisis. This is
these times of challenging crisis. I healthcare that will benefit the troops, going to be a significant hit for a lot of
commend every hospital employee for their families, retirees, and members of small businesses. We have to be there
their selflessness and quality work. the public. We need more resources to to help them.
What I am hearing from Illinois provide the National Guard with the I support a proposal that also is
health officials is that hospitals are means to tackle this crisis. As of being led by my Senate colleagues,
being stretched to the absolute limit. Wednesday, nearly 2,000 Guardsmen are Senators BROWN BENNET, and BOOKER,
One hospital executive in central Illi- active in 54 States and territories. The to request that direct cash assistance
nois told me that his cashflow runs out number grows each day. The women beginning at $2,000 be sent to American
in a matter of weeks and his hospital and men of the National Guard are families in need. This will be a crucial
may be forced to close. In downtown working hard, distributing meals, lifeline, but it alone can’t help these
Chicago, our academic medical centers transporting medical professionals, as- families navigate the crisis.
have activated emergency protocol and sisting with planning, and much more.
I support what Senator SCHUMER said
are burning through protective masks, Our States are paying for this emer-
earlier about strengthening unemploy-
respirators, and other equipment. gency mission work out of their own
ment insurance for these same fami-
As of Tuesday, three-fourths of the pockets. This is a national emergency.
lies. A second wave of assistance is
2,600 intensive care beds in Illinois States need Federal assistance as the
likely to go out. I support that as well.
were already occupied, and 40 percent role of the Guard is likely to grow.
of our 2,100 ventilators were being de- Some may be surprised there are just I don’t believe this is a short-lived
ployed. over 4,000 beds in the entire military crisis. We have to see it through and
For the next package that we are medical system. Some projections say stand by the workers and their families
considering here—CV–3 or phase 3, we will need triple that number, and I all the way.
however you characterize it—Congress want to make sure that the funding is In past times of economic crisis, we
must step in with direct, immediate as- there if, God forbid, we need it. have seen an increase in chapter 11
sistance to recognize the extreme fi- We also need to take immediate ac- bankruptcy filings by businesses. Too
nancial burden and equipment short- tion to address the threat COVID–19 often, these businesses have been able
falls of hospitals and healthcare work- poses to inmates and staff in our Fed- to manipulate the bankruptcy process
ers. This has to be priority No. 1, pe- eral prison system. Just yesterday, two to favor creditors and management
riod. Federal Bureau of Prison staff tested while leaving the workers high and
Prior to this coronavirus challenge, positive for COVID–19. It is only a mat- dry. We cannot let this happen again.
one in four rural hospitals across ter of time until the virus begins to For more than 10 years, I have had a
America were already facing closure. If spread within these correction facili- bill to reform chapter 11 to improve
a rural hospital closes in your home ties, if it hasn’t already. Despite this outcomes for workers and retirees,
State—whether it is Nebraska or Kan- threat, the Trump administration has most importantly, by doubling to
sas or Ohio or Illinois—jobs will leave, not requested any additional funding $20,000 the value of worker wage claims
businesses close, and the community’s for the Bureau of Prisons to prepare for that are entitled to priority payment
healthcare needs are in peril. As part of overtime costs. We need to make sure in bankruptcy.
the measure that we are presently con- our Federal, State, and local prisons Let’s get that reform done as part of
sidering—this phase 3 or CV–3 meas- and jails have access to the supplies the challenge of this crisis. Let’s make
ure—Senator JAMES LANKFORD of Okla- and personnel and resources they need. helping workers the highest priority
homa, a Republican, and I are calling We need to do everything we can to when it comes to business bankruptcy.
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
for inclusion of our rural hospital relief safely release or transfer as many in- We also need to make clear that com-
act, which will provide immediate re- mates as possible to home confine- panies that take Federal bailout
lief to the most financially vulnerable ment, particularly those vulnerable money can’t turn around and use chap-
rural hospitals. These hospitals are the and elderly. ter 11 to try to get rid of their collec-
backbones of our health system in Our economy is being ravaged by this tive bargaining agreements with their
rural America. public health epidemic. The Depart- workforce. My legislation would pre-
As we know, as well, many people ment of Labor reported this morning vent this type of gaming. We need to
soon may lose their jobs, if they that more than 281,000 people applied get that done as well.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19MR6.006 S19MRPT1
S1822 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 19, 2020
If Congress is going to consider which is perhaps to shift over to article Our legislation will address three pri-
changes to make the bankruptcy proc- II—to the executive branch—or not to orities: providing direct, immediate as-
ess simpler and less painful for busi- be addressed at all. sistance to American workers and fam-
nesses, we ought to do the same for I thank my colleague from South Da- ilies; giving our economy, especially
workers and families. That includes kota. I thank Senator DURBIN from Illi- our small businesses, the necessary
Americans who are currently being nois for working with me on this support to weather the storm; and, of
crushed by student loan debt and face project. My hope is we can see a change course, most importantly, providing
their own economic recession even be- in our Senate rules coming out of this medical professionals with the re-
fore this one. If we are talking about process so that we can have the ability sources they need to fight this virus.
relieving debts that businesses and in- to do our constitutional duties regard- I have been working closely with col-
dividuals cannot pay, for goodness’ less of what is happening with regard leagues on the Senate Commerce and
sake, how can we ignore the crushing to the National Capital or the crisis we Finance Committees to develop the
student loan debt across America, are currently facing with COVID–19. parts of the legislation that will ad-
which compromises the futures of the I yield back my time. dress tax relief, particularly for small
thousands of Americans? We need to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- businesses, and support for industries
take steps to forgive student debt, like jority whip. that have been directly impacted by
for students who were defrauded by for- f this pandemic, including the airline in-
profit colleges—a measure we continue CORONAVIRUS dustry, which has taken a devastating
to fight Secretary DeVos over—and we hit from this outbreak.
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, yes- The Senate will be here as long as it
need to restore dischargeability in terday the Senate passed the Families
bankruptcy for student loans once and takes to get this additional legislation
First Coronavirus Response Act, which to the President’s desk.
for all. is bipartisan legislation that will pro-
In short, bold policy ideas to help These are difficult days. This is new
vide critical relief to American work- territory for most of us, and there is a
families during this time are not exclu- ers, families, and small businesses. lot of uncertainty in the air. Ameri-
sive to either political party. I look Two weeks ago, the Senate passed cans are worried about their own
forward, as we have in the first two the first phase of Congress’s COVID–19 health and that of their loved ones.
measures, to a bipartisan effort and a response, and that was $8.3 billion in They are worried about what this out-
timely effort to respond. America is funding for coronavirus research, test- break will mean for their jobs and their
counting on us. Now is the time for us ing, and medical care. Yesterday’s bill financial health. It is a difficult time
to produce. was the second phase of that response.
I yield the floor. for our country. We are going to get
The Families First Coronavirus Re- through this.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- sponse Act will ensure that all Ameri- America has faced big challenges be-
ator from Ohio. cans can access coronavirus testing at fore, and we have come through them
f no cost. even stronger. This time will be no dif-
REMOTE VOTING The bill also ensures expanded tele- ferent. I see the strength of America
health access for Medicare recipients everywhere I look—in the dedicated
Mr. PORTMAN. Madam President, I during this outbreak, which I strongly
appreciate my colleague from South doctors and nurses putting their lives
support. As a resident of a rural State, on the line to care for the sick and our
Dakota giving me a minute to respond I have long been a supporter of tele-
to the comments of the Senator from first responders who are always at the
health for the expanded healthcare ac- forefront of the response to any crisis
Illinois about remote voting. I appre- cess it can deliver for rural commu-
ciate his joining me today on a bipar- and the truckdrivers and grocery store
nities. The value of telehealth isn’t employees and delivery workers who
tisan resolution to say that, during limited to rural States. During an out-
times of emergency and crisis, the U.S. keep on doing their jobs in the face of
break like this, for example, telehealth
Senate would be able to vote remotely the outbreak, ensuring all of us have
services can help keep patients—par-
in a secure manner. I think it is time the essentials we need. It is also in the
ticularly vulnerable, elderly patients—
for us to turn to this. thousands of ordinary Americans who
out of doctors’ offices and hospital
I actually supported such legislation are stepping up to help their neigh-
waiting rooms. Patients can use a
back in the House when I was there al- bors—running to the grocery stores for
phone call or the internet to check in
most two decades ago. At the time, we elderly or sick individuals, providing
with their doctors for minor com-
didn’t have, frankly, the electronic childcare for those who can’t telework,
plaints or medication followups, in-
communications we have today to be and looking out for those who are
stead of having to venture out and be
able to safely vote remotely; now we exposed to possible coronavirus infec- struggling financially. This is what
do. We have the ability to do it in a se- tion. I am very pleased that Medicare will get us through.
cure way, in an encrypted way—a way I and my colleagues in Congress will
patients will have greater access to
that would protect the fundamental continue to do our part to ensure that
telehealth services during this out-
right to vote. I think it is important our country has everything it needs to
break.
that we move forward with this. The largest part of the Families First weather this crisis and to defeat this
It is something that would be up to Coronavirus Response Act focuses on disease.
the majority leader and the minority I yield the floor.
providing economic support for fami-
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
leader to jointly agree upon. Once they lies during this difficult time. The bill The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
agreed upon that, there would be 30 makes provisions for paid sick leave clerk will call the roll.
days. After 30 days, Congress would and paid family and medical leave for The legislative clerk proceeded to
have the vote—the Senate would have American workers, particularly for call the roll.
the vote to continue it. those who might not otherwise have Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I
I think—not just because of COVID– access to these benefits. It also invests ask unanimous consent that the order
19, where we have an obvious problem additional money in unemployment in- for the quorum call be rescinded.
right now but the threat of terrorism, surance where benefits are available The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
bioterrorism—these sorts of issues, un- for those who need them. objection, it is so ordered.
fortunately, are part of our 21st cen- I am pleased we were able to pass f
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
tury life. We have to be aware of the this bipartisan bill that the House pro-
fact that this is possible. duced, but there is more work to be CORONAVIRUS
It is important to me and I think all done. The House bill touches on only a Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, over
my colleagues that article I be heard; small part of what is needed to help the last few weeks, given the nature of
that the legislative branch be heard; Americans weather the storm, which is this unprecedented virus, Members of
that we have the ability to convene for why Senate Republicans are currently Congress have been able to come to-
the continuity of government and not working to develop the third phase of gether during divided times to support
allow what we would normally do, Congress’s response. our country’s response.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 20, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19MR6.007 S19MRPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-03-19_crec-2020-03-19-pt1-pgs1820.pdf
- Size
- 227,679 bytes
- SHA-256
- a9b32419fccdb0b659b73576776b4a5027976b1d9950cb624e391319189b3be2
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov