Tom Udall: “I thank the Presiding Officer for the recognition today and thank you very much for being here. Today, the Senate is…”

“I thank the Presiding Officer for the recognition today and thank you very much for being here. Today, the Senate is gathered in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic. More than 220,000 Americans have died, millions more have been infected, and millions more are out of work because of the resulting economic crisis. These are some of the hardest times to fall upon this Nation in decades. People are hurting. They are scared, they are exhausted, and they are looking for help. Millions of Americans are also looking around asking how they can help in their communities. They are stepping up, whether it is as members of the essential workforce, as healthcare workers, or by donating their time or resources to a charity or local food bank. We are seeing the best of this country. Here in the Senate, we, too, have the power to do something to help. On a much larger scale, we have the power and the duty. We could do something big to help beat this virus, to help people and businesses get back on their feet, get the kids back in school, to help make life easier for the millions who are struggling. Yes, the Senate is gathered in the middle of a pandemic, but we aren't gathered here by the majority leader to do anything to help the American people. We aren't gathered here to do the hard work, to negotiate, to compromise, and to pass an urgently needed COVID-19 relief package that Americans are clamoring for--no.…”