We know that this is important and it's important we act with effectiveness but speed at the same time.
Every time we've had a national crisis, this one included, I think it's always called the better angels of our nature and resulted in our ability to work together to produce our best efforts to help address the crisis, to solve the problem, and to help the American people.
WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the importance of Congress efficiently delivering relief to the American people by passing the next round of coronavirus stimulus legislation. The Senate remains in session this weekend to debate the CARE Act, the next relief bill to address the coronavirus pandemic. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s floor remarks are below, and video can be found here.
“Over the last few weeks, the virus has spread across the country and our health officials and community leaders have taken every precaution to keep their people safe.”
“On Thursday in Texas, Governor Abbott issued an executive order adopting the standards set out by the President and the Center for Disease Control to further slow the spread across the entire state.”
“As cities across the state and across the country have taken similar precautions, we’ve seen the economic consequences that these difficult decisions have brought about. Our local restaurants, hardware stores, gyms don’t have the money to keep paying their employees’ wages and expenses without anything coming in the front door. Through no fault of their own, many of these businesses suddenly find themselves without customers to serve.”
“There has been in my lifetime nothing quite like this in terms of the fear it’s engendered and the reaction of both the markets and the economy and public health concerns.”
“We know that this is important and it’s important we act with effectiveness but speed at the same time. This is the largest of the bills so far.”
“But I believe this emergency requires bold action to address this pandemic from every angle possible.”
“We’ll see, for people who through no fault of their own don’t have any money coming in, direct financial aid, something many of us never would have contemplated under nonemergency circumstances.”
“Think about your local waiter, somebody working for tips, somebody working for an hourly wage, bartenders, hairdressers, housekeepers, the ones who only a few weeks ago had jobs and steady paychecks and are now without any income with which to sustain themselves or their families. They’re wondering how they’re going to pay the rent before the first of the month, cover their electric bill, buy groceries to feed their family, and keep things afloat until life returns to normal. We’re working to get that money into the hands of Texans and Americans who need help now as fast and efficiently and as effectively as possible. No paperwork to fill out, just direct aid from Washington to middle class Americans.”
“Again something I never would have contemplated in a nonemergency situation, but I think under this situation, we need to act quickly and we need to act effectively to get money into the hands of those who through no fault of their own don’t have any money coming in.”
“Every time we’ve had a national crisis, this one included, I think it’s always called the better angels of our nature and resulted in our ability to work together to produce our best efforts to help address the crisis, to solve the problem, and to help the American people.”