Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., July 28, 2020)

Summary

Page S4526 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for July 28, 2020, headed Coronavirus, in interleaved columns. Mr. Barrasso asks unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to morning business with speeches of up to 10 minutes each. Mr. Perdue says Senate Republicans introduced a framework bill for the next coronavirus relief legislation, which he calls the capstone to the pandemic rescue operation, and says bipartisanship is tossed around often, which is his view. Remarks also note healthcare workers contracting the virus and retirees asked to return to work.

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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., July 28, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-07-28-crec-2020-07-28-pt1-pgs4526-2-1fad2b36a6/, SHA-256 90e73b1e0572b5ee2701c70e005588eb897f561c42ff32ec6cdfd2971570396a.

Full text

S4526 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 28, 2020
LEGISLATIVE SESSION since the spring lockdowns. Still, some nately, we don’t often see bipartisan-
believe that the worst of the virus may ship put into action. However, as we
--- be yet to come. have faced an unprecedented crisis re-
MORNING BUSINESS The Senate has put together a com- cently, I believe we have seen the Sen-
Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I monsense plan to aid the recovery. ate prove that it can, in fact, get it
ask unanimous consent that the Sen- This week, Senate Republicans intro- done. People can come together, and
ate proceed to legislative session for a duced a framework bill for the next real, bipartisan solutions can actually
period of morning business, with Sen- coronavirus relief legislation. It is the happen in this body.
ators permitted to speak therein for up capstone to our pandemic rescue oper- It is actually encouraging to me—and
to 10 minutes each. ation. Our plan focuses on getting peo- it is simply a function of what I have
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ple back to work and kids back to known since I was a kid—that Ameri-
objection, it is so ordered. school and doing it safely, as well as, of cans deal with a crisis better than any-
f course, defeating the disease. The Sen- one else. In many ways, we put things
ate proposal provides even more re- aside, and we get together for what is
CORONAVIRUS
sources for testing and healthcare. good for the people back home.
Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I This means more for hospitals, more Since the COVID–19 crisis began, we
come to the floor today as the Senate for treatment, and more for vaccines. have passed three phases of relief pack-
works on the next phase of pandemic Our package includes over $100 bil- ages to help our country weather this
relief and recovery legislation. The lion for schools to open safely, plus COVID–19 storm. In these three phases,
country is united in combating the funding for childcare. The Senate plan we ramped up testing in support of our
coronavirus. provides liability protection. We shield healthcare workers, we helped Ameri-
The Senate’s top priority is pro- the medical community, K–12 schools, cans who are struggling financially,
tecting the American people, and we colleges, universities, and small busi- and we created the Paycheck Protec-
are working together to save lives. nesses from frivolous lawsuits. Our tion Program, which has saved millions
America is fighting a war—a war plan includes another round of PPP of jobs and many businesses. Today, as
against a deadly disease. There is no loans, helping the hardest hit small we debate a fourth COVID–19 relief
retreating, no giving up the American businesses. We also send a targeted sec- package, it is absolutely critical that
fighting spirit. We will finish the fight. ond round of direct payments to indi- we continue to find common ground
The key to victory is to control the viduals. The Senate package extends and bipartisan solutions to bring our
virus spread until we have a vaccine. A unemployment benefits in a way that country together again.
successful vaccine is vital to beat the encourages, not discourages, work. We
virus and to return to normal life. The The Healthcare Workforce Resilience
cannot continue to pay people more to Act is a real, bipartisan solution to a
race for a COVID–19 vaccine is as im- stay home than they would make at
portant as putting a man on the Moon. serious problem our country faces
work. So we end the $600 weekly ben- today in our healthcare delivery sys-
We have made incredible progress. Vac- efit bonus. That is in contrast to
cine development is well ahead of tem. This bill is first and foremost a
NANCY PELOSI’s $3 trillion-and-growing healthcare bill that will help our hos-
schedule. The administration’s public- bill, her so-called Heroes Act. Her
private partnership, Operation Warp pitals deal with this COVID–19 crisis. It
package actually makes it easier for is absolutely critical that we include it
Speed, has started phase 2 and phase 3 the economy to stay closed and much
vaccine trials much sooner than ex- in the next COVID–19 relief package.
harder for the economy to reopen fully. Today in America, many commu-
pected. These are human trials. If all The Senate is focused on healthcare,
goes well, we hope to have a vaccine nities are facing severe shortages of
on kids, and on jobs. Democrats, it doctors and nurses. Particularly, hos-
ready by the end of this year. seems, have other priorities—endless
Senate Republicans will make sure pitals and clinics in rural areas and
bonus checks for staying home, bloated communities of color are badly under-
Americans have a safe, effective vac- bailouts for mismanaged cities and
cine as soon as possible. It will be the staffed and are struggling to fill cru-
States, and runaway spending unre- cial positions.
most accessible vaccine in the history lated to the challenge before us.
of the United States. Meanwhile, we My home State of Georgia has been
Pre-pandemic, we had a booming
should all do our part to slow the especially impacted by this particular
economy. We had record job growth,
spread, and we know what that means. crisis. While Georgia is the 8th largest
and we had record low unemployment.
That means socially distancing, using State by population, it ranks 39th in
We are working to restore Americans’
good hygiene, and wearing a mask. the number of active physicians per
confidence. A solid majority of Ameri-
This is the time for all of us to come capita—39th. Over half of Georgia’s 159
cans now say they see their finances as
together. But instead of fighting the counties have been designated as pri-
stable.
virus, Democrats are waging a never- mary care health professional shortage
I urge my Senate Democratic col-
ending bidding war for more govern- areas. The Georgia Department of Pub-
leagues to come to the table. It is time
ment spending. People want and people lic Health has stated that Georgia’s
to find common ground and to finish
need and people deserve real leader- nursing shortage is a full-blown crisis.
the fight.
ship. They expect us to slow the spread This is also true in most other States,
Together, Madam President, we will
of the virus and to protect the vulner- actually. They have warned that Geor-
make sure that America wins the war.
able. I yield the floor. gia is not able to recruit the nurses or
We have made tremendous progress I suggest the absence of a quorum. doctors our hospitals need. But we can
on testing. We have tested over 50 mil- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The change that.
lion people already, and we are close to clerk will call the roll. The COVID–19 crisis did not start
conducting 1 million tests—1 million The bill clerk proceeded to call the this shortage of healthcare workers, by
tests—every day. We also have better roll. the way, but it has exacerbated it dra-
treatments for the disease, and we are Mr. PERDUE. Madam President, I matically.
taking care of our most vulnerable citi- ask unanimous consent that the order Since the beginning of this crisis, I
zens—seniors and people with chronic for the quorum call be rescinded. have held conference calls with thou-
medical conditions. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without sands of constituents across Georgia
At the same time, the economy is objection, it is so ordered. over the last 41⁄2 months. I have heard
bouncing back. We had record job f directly from healthcare workers who

Dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
growth in May, as well as in June. That have explained the dire situation they
is because the Senate responded quick- HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE are facing. Nurses and doctors are
ly to the health and economic crisis. RESILIENCE ACT working longer hours. Retirees are
The Senate’s historic CARES Act res- Mr. PERDUE. Madam President, the being asked to come back to work.
cue package has helped this country word ‘‘bipartisanship’’ gets tossed Many healthcare workers have con-
weather the storm. We have come far around a lot in this town. Unfortu- tracted the virus themselves. In fact,

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