On the recordMarch 19, 2020
like my colleague from Missouri, I also rise to address the Nation's response to the COVID-19 virus. In particular, I want to discuss the next steps we need to take at the Federal level to deal with this health emergency and the severe economic dislocation resulting from it. Before I offer my comments, I want to offer some thanks. I want to thank the Senate staff and all those in the Capitol who are working here under tough circumstances. I notice that the pages are not here, and that is because the Senate has wisely decided that, while we ought to be here doing the people's business, even at some risk to ourselves, the young people who would normally be here should be home with their families. I want to thank healthcare workers all across the United States. They are doing very difficult work right now, and they are doing it under very stressful circumstances. So many people who work at our healthcare facilities are there trying to protect patients. They have kids in schools that have been closed, and they are grappling with where their own children are during the day and whether they can find childcare during what would normally be the school day. I particularly want to thank them. Finally, I want to thank the American public. I will return to this point at the end of my comments. We are not an authoritarian nation. There are steps that other nations are taking with respect to this virus, where they can sort of order or quarantine in ways that we can't here.…
