Coronavirus

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on another issue--and more current-- earlier this year, after the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, the government told the American people to stay home and businesses to close--the first time in 240 years of our country. Countless lives have been saved because Americans heeded their government's call. And at the same time, whether they wanted to or not, they were sacrificing for their fellow Americans.

There is no doubt that containing this virus has caused economic pain not seen since the Great Depression. Hopefully, we are racing toward a vaccine answer to this pandemic. In the meantime, Americans must continue to sacrifice, just as previous generations did for the sake of their neighbors, families, friends, and loved ones.

Make no mistake, we will beat this virus, and the United States of America will emerge stronger and even more prosperous than before.

Today, Senate Republicans, hopefully, will unveil an unprecedented expansion of previous assistance to help our country get through this crisis. As Finance Committee chairman, I look forward to introducing further assistance to individuals, relief for workers and employers, support for patients, providers, and foster youth, and additional flexibilities for State and local governments to fight this disease and the economic pain that has come before it.

I call on my colleagues to, once again, work together and not let partisan politics or gamesmanship get in the way of delivering for the American people.

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