Congressional Record, Senate, May 5, 2020 — Coronavirus Response and Legal Liability
Summary
Page S2229 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for May 5, 2020, in interleaved columns, from floor remarks on the coronavirus response. A speaker says relief will not move forward without addressing legal liability and describes a proposal from the Senator from Kentucky that has not been seen, which is that speaker's view. Another speaker says the United Food and Commercial Workers estimated at least 5,000 plant workers have reported infection and anywhere from 10 to 20 have died, and criticizes an Executive order. A further passage says people overcoming addiction face added stress.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, May 5, 2020 — Coronavirus Response and Legal Liability.”
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May 5, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2229
high school, go through college taking will not move forward when it comes to COVID virus infection. United Food
the tough courses and getting good dealing with these challenges without and Commercial Workers, which rep-
grades, get accepted to medical school, addressing one issue, and that was the resents many of these plant workers,
and after working hard for 4 years or issue of legal liability. I will not de- estimated that at least 5,000 have al-
more there, go through residencies scribe in detail what the Senator from ready reported infected and anywhere
which are backbreaking exercises in Kentucky is proposing because we from 10 to 20 have died. Now the Presi-
actually learning the clinical practice haven’t seen it, but what he is sug- dent issues an Executive order man-
of medicine, and just before we tell gesting is that our greatest fear dating that these companies open for
them they are licensed doctors ready shouldn’t be the coronavirus; it should business. Well, I can say to the Presi-
to practice in America, we give them be trial lawyers—trial lawyers. dent, yes, they should open, but only if
bad news—the news that they must be He is fearful that we are going to see they dedicate themselves to the health
carrying a student debt from medical COVID–19 lawsuits. Well, let me tell and safety of their workforce as the
school of between $200,000 to $240,000 on you, there could easily be COVID–19 highest priority. Let’s make that
average? What are we thinking? These lawsuits and some—and I think most workplace safe before we talk about
women and men are critical to our fu- Americans would agree—should be making it a mandatory opening.
ture and our own healthcare. Why do filed. Is there a COVID–19 lawsuit if In fairness to the industry, in my
we burden them with this certain awe- someone is profiteering with protective State of Illinois, several companies
some debt that they have to carry for- equipment, raising the prices way be- that have been affected have reached
ward and build their career around? yond reach because they have this mo- out to us and are, in fact, determined
That is why this bill really seeks to ment of opportunity with the crisis we to make their workplace safe. I salute
look at this from a new angle and says are facing? One downstate hospital in them for taking that approach. They
that we ought to reward those medical Illinois talked about surgical gowns are talking about testing and making
students who are willing to practice in that cost 22 cents apiece and now cost sure that workers on the job have nec-
areas of greatest need—minority stu- between $11 and $20 apiece. Clearly, essary distancing and protective equip-
dents as well—and provide for them there is price gouging and profiteering. ment. That is the right approach. In
scholarships to defray the cost of med- If we can, can we hold those respon- the meantime, those companies that
ical school so they don’t end up grad- sible for profiteering liable? I would ignore that responsibility, should they
bear some liability for the illnesses or
uating with this incredible financial say yes. Is that a COVID–19 lawsuit? I
injuries that result? Well, under work-
burden. This legislation would help think it is related to COVID–19, but it
ers’ compensation law, they certainly
provide doctors, nurses, mental health relates to it in a way that most Ameri-
would. Is the Senator from Kentucky
professionals, dentists, and others to cans would agree there should be legal
calling that the COVID–19 lawsuit? It
communities with shortages which action.
If there are scams and profiteering, could be related to COVID–19, for sure.
often contribute to health disparities
the people responsible for it should be Should they have their day in court? I
as I described earlier—inner-city areas,
held legally responsible in a lawsuit, if certainly hope so.
rural America, smalltown America. As we look at the challenges before
Studies show that having doctors who necessary. If people are promulgating
us, and there are many, this notion of
reflect the communities they treat ac- phony tests and making representa- drawing a redline on legal liability, un-
tually helps health outcomes. So my tions that are a fraud on the public, fortunately, fails to take into account
bill would help to expand the represen- should they be held accountable? Well, that system of justice in America
tation of minorities in the workforce. of course. Is that a COVID–19 lawsuit? which we have turned to in good times
Last week, in a letter to the CDC, Could be. and bad to make sure that justice is
Centers for Disease Control and Pre- What about those who are talking
meted out to those who have no re-
vention, I urged the agency to support about the protection of workers? If
course but to consider lawsuits in
global efforts to build up our commu- workers are not protected on the job,
court. Let’s take this issue seriously,
nity health workforce capacity. Com- they may be turning to workers’ com- carefully. Let’s not squander the op-
munities of color across America are pensation for any of the injuries and portunity of protecting the people who
suffering at disproportionate rates illnesses that result. Are we going to are risking their lives every day in es-
across this pandemic, and we have to stop those as COVID–19 lawsuits going sential workplaces and believe they,
step up to help all Americans against too far? Nurses are suing in some situa- too, should be protected by our system
the threat of coronavirus. It is unac- tions because they are not being given of justice. I will stand with them, and
ceptable, but sadly not surprising, that adequate or quality protective equip- I hope that other Members of the Sen-
communities of color are bearing the ment. Do we want to stop that litiga- ate will join me.
burden of this dangerous virus. I stand tion as well? Is that what the Senator I yield the floor.
here to continue fighting with my col- from Kentucky is suggesting? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
leagues in the Senate to try to solve There is an interesting situation ator from South Dakota.
these inequities happening in commu- with meatpacking workers right now. I BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE
nities across the Nation. know a little more than some Senators Mr. THUNE. Madam President, after
There aren’t many redlines that have about that. When I was working my a few weeks of working remotely to
been drawn publicly so far as we have way through college, I spent 12 months help flatten the coronavirus curve, we
considered coronavirus legislation. We working in a meatpacking plant in are back in Washington to continue
passed the original CARES Act, $2.2 East St. Louis, IL. I was paid $3.65 an our coronavirus response and address
trillion, with 96 votes on the floor of hour. I thought that was pretty good, other important issues. It has been an
the Senate and with no dissenting but it was hard, hard work. I saw what incredibly difficult couple of months
votes. The next bill, the coronavirus it was like then, many, many years for our country and, in fact, for most of
3.5, as it was characterized, passed the ago. I have gone back to see the the world. More than 1 million Ameri-
U.S. Senate by a voice vote, adding $484 meatpacking and meat processors cans have contracted the coronavirus,
billion to the effort. More will obvi- today. It is not much different. People and thousands have died. Our economy
ously be needed, not just for small stand literally elbow-to-elbow, shoul- has taken a huge hit. Millions of Amer-
business loans but also for unemploy- der-to-shoulder, as conveyor belts icans are out of work, and businesses
ment insurance and certainly to make bring through hundreds and hundreds are struggling to stay afloat. Ameri-
sure that our hospitals, large and of pounds of meat and poultry that cans are worried. They are worried
small, can survive this crisis as we all have to be acted on immediately to about their own health. They are wor-
hope America will. We are certain they keep up with the line. It is tough, hard ried about the health of their families
will, but we have to be prepared to do work, and now it turns out to be an ex- and loved ones, and they are worried
that. traordinarily dangerous line of work as about their finances.
Yet, this morning, the Republican well. We are learning that dispropor- My colleagues and I know that Amer-
leader came forward and said he is tionate numbers of workers in this in- icans are suffering. Our overriding pri-
drawing a redline; that Republicans dustry are coming down with the ority over the past 2 months has been
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S2230 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 5, 2020
responding to the coronavirus crisis. for pandemic recovery at the Treasury going to get through them. We are
We passed several major response bills Department, a key role created by the going to come out tougher on the other
and provided substantially more than legislation that we passed here in the side. In the meantime, we have work to
$2 trillion in assistance. We have fund- Congress, critically important to the do here in the U.S. Senate. People
ed testing, medical care, personal pro- implementation, making sure every- across this country are hurting and
tective equipment for frontline medical thing is done in the right way. As we struggling, and there are many prior-
personnel, vaccine and treatment de- all know, inspectors general pay a key ities that need to be addressed. So I am
velopment, paid sick leave, unemploy- oversight role in Federal departments, pleased that the Senate is open for
ment benefits, direct relief payments helping to root out waste, fraud, and business. We are going to be working
to American citizens, forgivable loans other abuses of taxpayer dollars. If the next few months, as I mentioned,
for small businesses, and much more. confirmed, Mr. Miller will be an essen- on the national defense authorization
Our goal has been to provide a com- tial part of ensuring that the trillions bill, a piece of legislation that we have
prehensive response, addressing not we provided for coronavirus relief are to do on an annual basis that deals
just the medical priorities but also the spent properly. with all of our national priorities,
economic impact this virus has had on Committees are doing other essential making sure that the men and women
so many American families, and there coronavirus work this week as well. who defend this country, the American
is more work to be done. Right now a The Senate Health, Education, Labor, people, and our interests around the
big part of that work is monitoring the and Pensions Committee is holding world have the training, equipment,
implementation of legislation we have hearings on an initiative Senators and resources to do their jobs to keep
already passed. We provided a tremen- Blunt, Alexander, and others worked to Americans safe.
dous amount of money, and we need to get included in the coronavirus legisla- We have a critical water infrastruc-
make sure it is getting to where it tion. This initiative was designed to ture bill that will be marked up by the
needs to go as quickly as possible and spur innovation in private sector and Environment and Public Works Com-
is being spent in the most effective public sector collaboration, with a goal mittee, also a piece of legislation that
way. of dramatically increasing our is important to the economy in this
Monitoring the implementation of coronavirus testing capabilities. So country. If you look at the long list of
the legislation we have already passed that is going on in the Health, Edu- things and priorities that we need to
is also crucial for informing any future cation, Labor, and Pensions Com- deal with here in the U.S. Senate, it is
legislation. As I said, we have provided mittee. important that we be about the peo-
a tremendous amount of money for The Senate Commerce Committee, of ple’s business.
coronavirus, equal to almost 50 percent which I am a Member, is holding a I know I can speak from personal ex-
hearing this week looking at the im- perience that over the past several
of the entire Federal budget for 2020,
pact of COVID–19 on the airline indus- weeks, like my colleagues, we have
and it is important that any future
try, an industry we know is being pro- worked really hard to stay connected. I
funding be carefully targeted. We need
foundly impacted by what is happening worked really hard to stay in touch
to make sure that Federal dollars are
with the virus. with people across South Dakota using
going only to real coronavirus prior- Next week, the Senate Health, Edu-
ities. Our children and grandchildren technology, platforms, and apps that I
cation, Labor, and Pensions Committee never really had much experience with
will be footing the bill for the money will be hearing directly from the lead-
we are adding to the national debt. using in the past. From Zoom to
ers of our fight against the Skype, to Google Hangouts, to Shindig,
As a case in point, the debt to GDP, coronavirus—Drs. Fauci, Redfield, and
which was scheduled to be 79 percent there are all kinds of interesting new
Hahn and Admiral Giroir. Committee
this year, is now expected to be, in the apps that I think many of us became
work will play a key role in any future
Year 2020, 101 percent. That jump from acquainted with, conducting lots of vir-
coronavirus bill, and it is good to have
79 percent debt to GDP to 101 percent tual meetings and staying in touch
committees able to meet once again
debt to GDP is the largest jump, I am with our constituents to see what is
here in Washington, DC.
told, literally, since 1943, in the middle Of course, while the COVID–19 pan- important to them, finding out what is
of World War II. So it is essential that demic will continue to be our priority working and what is not working and
we spend wisely. in Washington in the coming weeks getting feedback on what we could be
In addition to overseeing the imple- and months, there is other essential doing to even better respond to the cri-
mentation of the coronavirus legisla- work that we have to do for the Amer- sis that is out there. But there is no
tion we passed and gathering data to ican people: appropriations bills, nomi- substitute, when it comes to doing the
inform any future bills, we also have a nations to essential administration Nation’s business, for being here, for
number of coronavirus-related nomina- posts, and critical national security committees to work, to meet, for us to
tions to consider, something that is a legislation is just some of the items on be able to vote, for us to be able to deal
role that is unique to the U.S. Senate our agenda over the next couple of with the important nominations I men-
under the Constitution. When it comes months. This week, the Senate Armed tioned that under the Constitution, we,
to judicial nominations, nominations Services Committee and the Senate In- the Senate, have an obligation and re-
to the executive branch, the Senate has telligence Committee are holding hear- sponsibility to advise and consent on,
the responsibility to ensure that we ings on nominees for key national se- whether that is a judicial nomination,
conduct the research, investigate curity positions, including the Director key Cabinet post, or an important ad-
nominees, hold confirmation hearings, of National Intelligence and the Sec- ministration position that pertains to
and ultimately vote to put people into retary of the Navy. national security and the virus.
key positions in the administration Senate Republicans are committed to There are lots of priority items for
and on the courts. getting our country through this crisis which the U.S. Senate has a key and
So the question about why we are and helping American workers and principal responsibility, and we need to
here this week I think is a fairly easy businesses deal with the virus’s impact. be about that business. So I hope, in
one to answer, and that is because We will be discussing a lot of ideas over the days and weeks ahead, as we take
there are lots of really important posi- the next couple of weeks, from tax and on those challenges, that we can work
tions that are key not only to the regulatory relief to support farmers together in a way that provides max-
healthcare crisis we are facing in this and ranchers to ways to spur job cre- imum safety for the people who work
country but to our ongoing national se- ation and shield responsible businesses here but also gives the important pri-
curity priorities as well as to the eco- from frivolous litigation once the econ- ority to the items and the issues that
nomic challenges we are facing through omy is opened up again. As I said, we are critical to Americans at this point,
this crisis. will continue to focus on making sure in the middle of this crisis and, hope-
In fact, this week, the Senate Bank- that the money we provided gets where fully, when we get on the other side of
ing Committee will be holding a hear- it is needed as fast as possible. it, those important critical national se-
ing on the nomination of Brian D. Mil- The United States undoubtedly has curity priorities, economic priorities,
ler to be the special inspector general more tough days ahead, but we are and other business that the American
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May 5, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2231
people need us to deal with on a daily We have done some pretty extraor- The goal, of course, is, once we defeat
basis. dinary work in the last 6 weeks or so. this virus—as we will—we will then be
I thank the Presiding Officer for the Both Chambers have come together in a position for those businesses to
time and look forward to working with and quickly passed four separate pieces bring their employees back, if they
my colleagues, albeit in different cir- of legislation to strengthen our re- have furloughed them, to help us build
cumstances than we have had to deal sponse to the coronavirus. out of this recession in which we are
with in the past but, nevertheless, to We sent vital funding to our hos- currently involved.
have the U.S. Senate, the people’s rep- pitals. Ironically, at a time when our We also provided critical funding for
resentatives, here doing the important hospitals were the frontline of defense our farmers and ranchers and other
work the American people expect us to dealing with people with COVID–19, producers so they can keep our country
do. many of them were laying off employ- fed. We have taken unprecedented steps
I yield the floor. ees because we had asked them to forgo to minimize the impact of this virus on
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- elective surgery, which is one of the the American people and our economy
ator from Texas is recognized. ways that they end up paying the bills. and tried to provide some modicum of
Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, let Then we learned, in the global com- certainty amid so much uncertainty.
me join our friend and my friend, the petition for personal protective equip- I don’t think there is a single event
Senator from South Dakota, and say ment, literally every mayor, every in my lifetime that rivals the breadth
that I am glad to be back in this Cham- Governor, every President, every lead- and depth of the crisis that we have
ber doing the work of 29 million Tex- er of every country around the world reached. Certainly, 9/11 was a different
ans. I see the Presiding Officer and my was in a global rush to try to come up type of crisis. The 2008 great reces-
partner, my fellow Senator from Texas, with personal protective equipment. sion—with the meltdown of the banks
joining us as well. One of the things I have told my con- on Wall Street and the great recession,
I was listening closely to the Senator stituents and friends that I think we those were significant events to be
from South Dakota’s recitation of all have learned is we can’t depend on sure, but nothing quite has rivaled
the things we have to do. There is no China and on these uncertain supply what the coronavirus has done to our
shortage of work for us to do, and there chains for things as important as per- public health and to our economy.
is no reason for us to continue to curl sonal protective equipment—or phar- The cascading consequences of this
up in a fetal position in some undis- maceuticals, for that matter. So these virus have reached every community,
closed location and be afraid to go out- are some of the lessons and some of the every sector of our economy, and every
doors. feedback we have gotten as we have corner of the globe. Every single Amer-
The fact is, the experts at the Cen- interacted with our constituents. ican has experienced some sort of shift
ters for Disease Control, people like Dr. We know that testing has gotten in their daily routine as a result of the
Fauci and Dr. Birx, whom we have seen much more widespread, and we have virus. Maybe ‘‘shift’’ is too tentative a
on TV on a nightly basis, tell us what made tremendous advances in terms of word. Actually, many of us have had
we need to do in order to function safe- treatment with all the clinical trials our lives turned on their head.
ly. It is the same thing that our gro- that are underway—well over 70 of For some, the changes were very sig-
cery clerks and our doctors and nurses them—and now the hope of a vaccine, nificant. Think about those who con-
and, frankly, our law enforcement per- hopefully sooner rather than later. tracted the virus, the loved ones who
sonnel are doing. We know how to do Once we get a vaccine, then hopefully couldn’t be at their side, the
this and how to do it safely. this will be relegated to the same sta- healthcare workers who were there and
At the same time, we simply cannot are helping them, those who are sick.
tus as the seasonal flu, for which we
hide out and not show up for work. Then there are billions of Americans
typically do have a vaccine, so the par-
What kind of message does that send to who have lost their jobs, small business
ticularly vulnerable individuals—the
the American people? owners wondering whether they are
elderly, people with underlying chronic
We know this is an extraordinary cri- going to cease to exist and whether
disease—can be protected first and
sis, an unprecedented crisis, and we they can survive this current crisis,
foremost.
have done some things we would never and then the farmers seeing a glut of
We also sent funding to our State and
consider doing under normal times— supply and reduced demand.
local Governors: $150 billion. Now, we
Now, many people have been able to
appropriating more than $3 trillion at have all talked to our mayors and our safely work from home, and that is
warp speed. I, frankly, think it is a county judges—in Texas, that is what wonderful, but often they end up pull-
good time for us to tap the brakes and we call our county leaders—and Gov- ing double duty as teachers for their
to consider what it is we have already ernors. Obviously, the sales tax rev- children with the schools having been
done and where we need to make some enue has fallen off a cliff because there closed, and others have continued
corrections. is not much business going on in our heading out to work every day to keep
Anytime you do anything this big retail stores, to be sure, although there the cogs of our society running—so-
and this fast, you are going to make is a lot going on online with deliveries called essential workers.
some mistakes. We have seen that, and and those sorts of orders. By the way, I really don’t like the
there have been corrections both in But we know our State and local gov- designation between essential and non-
terms of the way the Treasury is ad- ernments provide for law enforcement essential. I think, really, what we
ministering the program, but also we and other essential services, so we felt ought to call it is safe and unsafe be-
have heard about gaps. For example, I it was important to throw them a life- cause all workers are, I believe, essen-
have done a number of video con- line, too, to help them meet their budg- tial.
ferences with our chambers of com- ets and maintain those vital services. In ways big and small, this virus has
merce around the country, and they Perhaps the most ambitious and the affected everybody in this country.
ask me: Why did you leave the cham- most popular thing we did is to try to While we must continue working to
bers out of the support under the Pay- help our small businesses stay afloat slow the spread and reduce the eco-
check Protection Program for non- through the Paycheck Protection Pro- nomic impact, we cannot ignore the
profits? I, frankly, don’t have a good gram. Obviously, this was successful— profound human impact it has had.
answer for that. I said that is some- or it is certainly popular in that $350 Many people have been isolated under
thing we need to go back and fix. If we billion was spent in 2 weeks. Then we very difficult circumstances, not know-
can’t do it by Treasury guidance, then had to come back and replenish that ing whether they will still have a job
we need to do it by future legislation. with another $320 billion. But we know to go back to. Many are living with the
I have no doubt we will continue to that money is flying out of our local uncertainty of this pandemic, perhaps
legislate, but we need to do it smartly. community banks and credit unions, in a crowded house or apartment with
We need to be here in person so we can helping small businesses keep their children, maybe elderly parents and
have the interaction and deliberation employees on the payroll. And, if they others, cut off from the rest of society.
and debates that are so important to do that, then this low-interest loan It is no secret that this pandemic is
coming up with a good product. will turn into a grant. taking a toll on America’s mental
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S2232 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 5, 2020
health. Last weekend, the family of a but the current circumstances have it are taking a tremendous toll on the
New York City emergency room doctor made those daily battles much more American people. It is not just the
released some devastating news. Dr. difficult. They are isolated from their virus and the threat of catching the
Lorna Breen had been in the trenches friends and loved ones, and they are virus that are taking the toll. We need
battling this virus for weeks. She was dealing with the anxiety caused by the to look at this holistically and realize,
working long hours, as many of our virus and possibly—probably—facing fi- if you are a victim of domestic violence
healthcare providers are, and told her nancial struggles. and you are forced to be confined with
family about the devastation that she The new stressors brought on by this your abuser and have nowhere else to
was seeing every day. virus are compounded by reduced ca- go and maybe have no money coming
She contracted COVID–19 and took a pacity for treatment. In-person support in the front door, only to have your
week and a half off to recover, but then meetings are canceled, treatment clin- abuser abusing alcohol and perhaps be-
she went back to work, eager to help ics and counselors are curtailing ap- coming even more violent—there are a
where she could. Shortly after, Dr. pointments, and the barriers to over- whole catalog of problems associated
Breen’s family intervened and brought coming addiction loom even larger. For with this virus and the virus itself, the
her home to Charlottesville, VA, to those individuals, treatment cannot risk of infection being just one, and we
rest and to spend a little time with her simply be delayed. need to look at this holistically.
family and for R&R. Our country has made serious in- As our discussions continue this
Sadly, tragically, the struggles Dr. roads in our battle against the opioid week on how to support the American
Breen was facing felt untenable. After epidemic. In 2018, overdose deaths were people during this unprecedented time,
overcoming COVID–19, she ultimately down 4 percent from the previous year, resources for mental health and sub-
took her own life by suicide. the first decrease in nearly three dec- stance abuse treatment providers can-
Dr. Breen was a hero who devoted her ades. We can’t let the coronavirus de- not fall by the wayside.
entire life to caring for others, to put- rail the progress we have fought so (Mr. CRUZ assumed the Chair.)
ting others before herself. While her hard to make. f
tragic death cannot be reversed, it The CARES Act—I am glad to say—
should serve as a warning signal about does expand access to telehealth. I RECESS
the broader impact of this virus. think many Americans are experi- Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask
In a recent poll by the Kaiser Family encing the benefits of telehealth, and I unanimous consent that the Senate
Foundation, nearly half of Americans predict at some point this will change stand in recess until 2:15 p.m. today.
reported that coronavirus is having a a lot of the ways that we receive con- Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:18 p.m.,
negative impact on their mental sultation by healthcare providers: not recessed until 2:17 p.m. and reassem-
health—one-half. That is up from one- having to drive our car and make ap- bled when called to order by the Pre-
third in March. The number of texts to pointments, pay for parking, spend a siding Officer (Mrs. CAPITO).
the Federal Disaster Distress Helpline lot of time out of our day. We can sim-
skyrocketed in April—more than a ply do it through video conference, f
1,000-percent increase. conveniently and effectively. But more EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued
As we continue to discuss what fu- must be done to support those battling
ture coronavirus legislation could look The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
addiction and mental health chal-
like, we cannot ignore the mental Democratic leader.
lenges.
health impact. Nationwide, we rely on For those who are transitioning from UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST
the community mental health centers the criminal justice system, the need Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President,
and community behavioral health or- for additional resources and support is over the past few months, both parties
ganizations to support those battling especially dire. Earlier this year, Sen- have worked together to provide his-
mental health and substance abuse dis- ator BLUMENTHAL and I introduced the toric levels of funding to help small
orders. As the need for these services Crisis Stabilization and Community businesses retain employees, meet pay-
has increased, resources have actually Reentry Act to support those who have roll, and stay afloat during the COVID–
decreased. More than 90 percent of the been a part of the criminal justice sys- 19 pandemic. The Paycheck Protection
community behavioral health organi- tem and to provide stable treatment Program—the main instrument to help
zations nationwide have been forced to for those with mental illness. small businesses—received $349 billion
reduce their operations—reduce their Most prisoners who are receiving under the CARES Act and another $310
operations at a time of increased need treatment for a mental health or a sub- billion in supplemental legislation.
and demand—and more than 60 percent stance use disorder are released with- The public has a right to know how
of behavioral health organizations out a plan to keep them on their regi- this money is being spent. Oversight,
project they can’t survive financially men. This often leads to higher recidi- transparency, and accountability are
for more than 3 months under the cur- vism rates, unsurprisingly, which could crucial because from the moment the
rent COVID–19 conditions. be avoided. It also means that law en- administration began implementing
Congress tried to do something to forcement is, all too often, left to be these funds, it became clear that much
help. We provided $175 billion for the the first responders for those suffering of it wasn’t going to those who needed
Public Health and Social Services a mental health crisis, which can esca- it most.
Emergency Fund to support healthcare late those confrontations and put both Today, we are not taking any other
providers on the frontlines of this cri- the officer and the individual in that action on the floor dealing with
sis. As this funding is being distrib- crisis at risk. COVID. We thought we would take this
uted, mental health providers cannot This bill creates grants to connect opportunity to ask unanimous consent
be forgotten. law enforcement, State and local, and to get something real done that should
Along with 24 of our colleagues, Sen- community resources to help individ- have bipartisan support on both sides
ator STABENOW and I have sent a letter uals who are either engaged in the of the aisle. Who can be against trans-
to Secretary Azar and Administrator criminal justice system or have been parency? Who can be against account-
Verma, urging them to quickly allo- released from prison and makes it pos- ability? Who cannot want to know
cate this funding and ensure that these sible for them to access the resources where close to $700 billion of the tax-
mental health organizations are in- they need to have a successful reentry payers’ money is going? Is it going to
cluded. Not only do they provide vital into civilized society. These grants the right places?
care and support for individuals strug- connect those services to make sure Unfortunately, today at least 200
gling with mental health issues; they that people suffering from an acute epi- publicly traded companies have man-
also are key to fighting addiction and sode can access treatment without the aged to secure PPP loans, and most of
substance abuse. risk of being reincarcerated. those are not very small, including
Those struggling to overcome addic- We are facing a battle unlike any we some companies whose owners are
tion are often living in a fragile state, have seen in my lifetime, and the large contributors to President Trump.
fighting each day to stay the course, stress and the anxiety that come with Truly small businesses, however—the
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