Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation in response to the coronavirus outbreak. I submitted this proposal to Senate Leadership earlier this week. It is my expectation that the language I've developed will be included, in some form, in the final agreement we're negotiating. The legislation is designed to remove a stumbling block to enactment of a third coronavirus relief package. Specifically, the proposal I've developed responds directly to the concerns--voiced by some of my colleagues in recent days--that we should add accountability provisions to the relief package now under consideration by this chamber. It's my understanding that the Senate leaders are seriously considering including this or very similar language in their compromise. I applaud them for their efforts and strongly urge my colleagues' support for these sensible provisions. My proposal would impose strict congressional oversight over the Treasury Department fund that is tasked with extending lending and other assistance to air carriers and American companies that have been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. It mirrors closely the language that this chamber adopted in 2008, during consideration of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. For example, this bill, like that 2008 statute, calls for the creation of a special inspector general for the coronavirus relief program and would authorize $50 million for this purpose.…”