On the recordMarch 27, 2020
This morning, thousands of Mainers are staying home and doing their part to bend the curve in the fight against the coronavirus. But thousands of healthcare professionals, shipbuilders, grocery store employees, and many others deemed essential got up this morning and went to work. They will do their jobs in this difficult time, despite the risk, because people depend on them. Congress shouldn't be any different. We are about to vote on a bill in response to the pandemic sweeping through our Nation and the growing economic crisis that follows it. Nearly 900 pages long, my office received the text a little over 24 hours ago. I will be honest, many of us are still working to understand this bill in full, portions drafted by lobbyists with loopholes you might drive a Mack truck through. Only time will tell whether this behemoth will fully deliver on its economic promises. It won't fully stop the deepening recession. Only the loosening of the tourniquet will let the blood flow back into our economy, but that is not yet an option. I will, however, support this relief act. It is not a stimulus. It is an emergency relief act providing $100 billion to hospitals.





