Kelly Loeffler

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. I yield the floor.

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Madam President, in downtown Atlanta at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Jesse Hill Jr Drive, there is a 65-foot mural of Congressman John Lewis with the lone caption: ``Hero.'' I personally got to see it yesterday from the Downtown Connector, the major interstate that runs through the heart of Atlanta, as I drove to Hartsfield-Jackson airport. I was struck by the void left by his passing, not only in Georgia, but across our entire country. When parents teach their children about courage and the fight for freedom and equality, the story of Congressman John Lewis will be told. He dedicated his entire life to pushing America to live up to its promises. He championed nonviolent protests. He stood for community, justice, and love. Congressman Lewis's story has inspired millions. At just 18, he wrote to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when he sought to attend the all-White Troy State University. He went on to become a leader in the civil rights movement. He organized sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Nashville. He was on the buses during the 1961 Freedom Rides. He was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. He was brutally beaten while leading peaceful demonstrators across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL. For the last 33 years, he served Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was known as ``the conscience of Congress.'' He was also known for his many bipartisan friendships. One of them was with my predecessor, Senator Johnny Isakson, a true statesman. They shared a powerful moment last year on the House floor when Congressman Lewis embraced him during farewell speeches to the Senator, one of the most touching moments in Congress's recent history. Sadly, Congressman Lewis was not the only civil rights icon we lost last week. Georgia also lost Reverend C.T. Vivian. Both he and Congressman Lewis were champions of peaceful, nonviolent protest. I hope we can honor their legacy by using nonviolent means as we strive toward equality and a more perfect union. Georgians cannot think of our beloved State without thinking of these and so many other civil rights icons and leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our Nation is better because of their leadership and their courage. Their legacy will never be forgotten. May God comfort the Lewis and Vivian families during this incredibly difficult time. (The remarks of Mrs. LOEFFLER pertaining to the introduction of S. 4238 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Mr. President, 160 years ago, Abraham Lincoln reminded us that ``at all times . . . all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling.'' That bond--our commitment to coming together to move our country forward, our embrace of the challenges our country faces because we know we will come out of these moments strong--has made the United States exceptional. As we approach the Fourth of July holiday, I want to take a moment to recognize what makes America who she is today and the values that have allowed us to carry on the Great American Experiment for 244 years. The United States--the shining city on a hill, the land of opportunity, the land of the free and the home of the brave, the red, white, and blue--our country is exceptional precisely because we have never settled for anything less. It was that very reason it was Americans who first discovered electricity, built the airplane, put a man on the Moon, developed chemotherapy, and that other countries look to us for leadership during troubled times. It is why we prevailed in two world wars, defeated the axis of evil, and have since maintained the greatest Armed Forces in the world. It is why the ideal of the American dream exists. Importantly, it is the American people, past and present, who have shaped our American character--the 56 men who put their lives on the line to draft and sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776; the volunteer army of farmers and shopkeepers who defeated the British and today has grown into the best fighting force the world has ever seen. Fifty-five Americans came together to write the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing the freedoms for Americans to worship, to speak out, to bear arms, and to peaceably assemble. In the years that followed, America fulfilled its promise to form a more perfect union while acknowledging it is not perfect but always striving to do better. We ended the injustice of slavery; 100 years ago this year, gave women the right to vote; overcame the Great Depression; fought for the equal rights of all Americans during the civil rights movement; and persevered after September 11. Today we still have those heroes who make America what she is today. We see these works in our midst every day: our service men and women who bravely protect us across the globe and keep the enemy away from our shores; the dedicated men and women of law enforcement who work tirelessly to keep our communities and our families safe; our teachers, who provide the gift of education to our youth; our doctors and nurses, who save lives every day and have bravely taken on the challenge of COVID-19. American exceptionalism started with our humble beginnings, and it has endured throughout the challenges our country faces. It is tempting to focus on the divisions in America today, but we have much more in common that unites us. This Fourth of July is a reminder of the blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that all Americans deserve. President Reagan once said: Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. I agree, and I hope this Fourth of July we can stand together, proud that we will strive to make this country a more perfect union. I yield the floor.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Madam President, 8 weeks ago today, the Senate passed the CARES Act, an unprecedented $2.2 trillion package of legislation aimed at providing relief as our country took steps to respond to the threat of COVID-19. Previously, we passed legislation to expand free access to testing and paid leave, accelerate vaccines and treatments, and to support the Federal agencies leading our pandemic response. The CARES Act was designed to support the health of our citizens and the economy. It included direct payments to American families, grants to hospitals, and the Paycheck Protection Program--forgivable loans to small businesses to keep their employees on the payroll. The program was so successful that a month later, Congress approved the additional $310 billion for PPP loans, $75 billion for hospitals, and $25 billion for testing. Georgia hospitals have received over $1.7 billion, including at least $328 million for our rural businesses under the CARES Act. I worked to include provisions in the CARES Act to expand rural health and telehealth program. Our State has received more than $800,000 from these programs. They are helping Georgians across our State stay connected with their doctors from the safety of their own homes. In addition, our State and local governments have received $5.8 billion to help schools adjust to online learning, to provide assistance for those who lost their jobs or homes, to keep our airports running, and to help our communities respond and serve in this challenging moment. The action Congress took has helped to meet immediate challenges, but it is clear the pandemic has caused significant human suffering and staggering economic losses. In the last 2 months, I have heard from hundreds suffering the effects of this outbreak and the response: first responders, doctors, and nurses on the frontline, small business owners and farmers who have seen the viability of their businesses threatened, families who have suffered job losses, children who are out of school, and food banks that have seen an unprecedented surge in demand. Before this pandemic, Americans were enjoying a thriving economy, with the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years. Under the leadership of the Trump administration, more families were on their way to living the American dream. Then, in late March, the day after the Senate passed the CARES Act, we learned that a record 3.3 million workers had applied for initial unemployment benefits in a single week. The total is now a staggering 36.5 million Americans who filed initial jobless claims. This is more than the combined populations of Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In my State, more than one in three Georgians have lost their jobs. Watching this unfold, despite the relief of the CARES Act, I recognize that it is time to look beyond the immediate response and to focus on our recovery. As a member of the President's Opening Up America Again Congressional Group, I am putting my nearly three decades of experience in building companies and creating jobs and opportunities to work for Georgians. With my experience and the conversations I have had with Georgians, I developed a U.S.A. Restoring and Igniting the Strength of Our Economy plan--or U.S.A. Rise--to bring back our thriving economy. The four pillars of the plan are Made in the U.S.A., Grown in the U.S.A., Hiring in the U.S.A., and Families in the U.S.A. I started to introduce legislative proposals based on this four-pillar framework that incentivize companies to invest in America, to grow jobs, and to help families. I would like to highlight one of those pillars today, Families in the U.S.A. First, we mourn the loss of those to COVID-19. The toll of this has devastated thousands of families. It is also clear that with economic damage comes societal damage. Our country needed to take dramatic actions to flatten the curve, but those steps meant most Americans were confined to their homes. This meant work from home, school from home, but also, in too many instances, lost jobs, isolation, depression, suicide, and domestic, substance, and child abuse. It is timely that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution op-ed, Eve Byrd and Jennifer Olsen of the Cardinal Center wrote: ``Isolation is one of the cruelest components of the outbreak.'' Last week, I spoke with the head of a mental health treatment facility in Georgia. They are seeing a significant spike in those reaching out for help. The waitlist is growing, and the demand for help is rising rapidly. An emergency hotline run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration in HHS saw a 1,000-percent increase in calls in just 1 month. That was this April compared to last April. I have spoken with local law enforcement officials who have seen a serious spike in domestic abuse calls. The nationwide Crisis Text Line has seen a 78-percent increase in texts related to domestic violence across our country. The millions of Americans who have lost their jobs or their businesses are suffering. Tiffany, a mother of three from College Park, GA, was furloughed from her steady job stocking store shelves. She said: ``It is very overwhelming when you have rent, when you have children to take care of.'' When a parent loses their job, they lose much more. They lose their ability to put food on the table, to pay rent, and the uncertainty grows for children. It is vital to help families weather this crisis. We know that Americans who have a steady paycheck are more likely to have stable, secure families, and children from stable families are more likely to do well in school. That is why I have designed the USA RISE Plan as an economic framework that takes the human cost of the coronavirus into account. Helping families and job creation today will allow parents to get back to work and reduce the fallout from this pandemic from permanently impacting an entire generation. Importantly, this does not mean we should expand the grip of the Federal Government. An American Enterprise Institute report on achieving the American dream, released just a few weeks ago, states: The power of community has become all the more poignant as we retreated more to isolated lives required by social distancing. Oftentimes, local institutions and neighborhoods have a greater influence on economic outcomes than what is occurring at the Federal level. Being in Washington working on behalf of our State, I see that local impact firsthand. Often, these organizations are at the heart of our communities. It is where people turn for help, for a sense of belonging. Churches and other nonprofits are doing amazing work during this very difficult time. They have been providing childcare, meals, and other support for family and children. For example, YMCAs are the largest provider of childcare in Georgia. Many have stepped up to provide childcare for essential workers. They are providing thousands of meals each week to help out needy families. That is why last week I introduced legislation, the Limiting Infant Fatality and Empowering Nonprofit Organization Workforces Act, or LIFE NOW Act. It allows larger nonprofits access to the Paycheck Protection Program loans. These loans will help them keep their doors open and continue to serve their communities while ensuring that no taxpayer dollars go to abortion providers. Yesterday, I introduced the Working Families Childcare Access Act. This will give more working families more flexibility by allowing parents to contribute more to their employer-sponsored dependent care cafeteria flexible spending account, or FSA. If a family doesn't use all their funds in 1 year, any leftover funds can be rolled over to the following year. This will help families make plans for childcare as they begin to go back to work. I am continuing to work on additional legislation to provide families with targeted relief--for example, a bill to codify the Trump administration regulations to help Americans who recently lost their jobs and their health insurance. The Trump administration expanded short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans after President Obama substantially restricted those plans just 2 months before he left office. These plans had previously been available for nearly 20 years. They are an affordable option for Americans who are in between jobs or who have been laid off. The dramatic economic numbers alone do not convey the full cost of this pandemic--the futures impacted, the isolation, domestic abuse, substance abuse, and suicide. As our country begins to look forward amid the coronavirus pandemic, we must support job growth and families to build strong futures. In the coming weeks, I will introduce additional bills as part of the USA RISE Plan aimed at incentivizing manufacturing in the United States, helping our farmers and small business owners, and to ensure that America is the best place in the world to do business. While I continue to do all I can to fight COVID-19, I will also continue to do all I can to help Georgia families and employers recover and prosper. I yield the floor.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to complete my remarks before the 12:30 p.m. vote.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Mr. President, my first priority during the COVID-19 pandemic has been to do all I can to keep Georgians and all Americans safe and healthy. But while at home in Georgia these last few weeks, I have seen that the measures we needed to take to fight this unprecedented health crisis have created dramatic economic and societal impacts. One in five Georgians is unemployed. In the last 6 weeks, the Georgia Department of Labor has issued more unemployment payments than in the previous 4 years combined. Hotels in the Golden Isles were seeing 80 to 90 percent occupancy rates at the beginning of March, the start of beach season for our beach communities. As the number of tourists plummeted, the president of our visitors' center described the economic impact as ``absolutely devastating.'' School districts, like Forsyth County schools, are organizing meal pickups and food delivery for students who typically rely on eating breakfast and lunch at school. Then there is the emotional toll combating the virus has taken. A local law enforcement officer told me that his department has seen a dramatic spike in domestic abuse calls. An emergency hotline run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration saw a 1000- percent increase in calls last month compared to last April. The full cost of this pandemic remains to be seen, but it is clear we need to look ahead and plan for a future that protects Americans' lives and livelihoods. As a member of the President's Opening Up America Again Congressional Group, I am putting to work my nearly three decades of experience building companies and creating jobs. Over the last few weeks, I have held more than 100 calls to hear directly from Georgia hospitals, State officials, first responders, food banks, small businesses, farmers, large employers, nonprofits, chambers of commerce, as well as the President and his administration, to address the needs of Georgians. With my experience and the feedback I have heard from Georgians, I have developed the USA Restoring & Igniting the Strength of our Economy Plan--USA RISE. This is a plan to bring back our thriving economy. It offers a four-pillared framework for investing in America, growing jobs, and helping families without expanding the grip of the Federal Government. It builds on the success of President Trump's America First agenda. The USA RISE Plan calls on all of us in Congress to ensure that the more than $2 trillion of relief already passed in the CARES Act and in phase 3.5 is targeted to the areas of the economy that need it most while providing prudent oversight. The first pillar, Made in the USA, addresses the fact that for too long, our manufacturing has moved overseas. Now more than ever, we are reminded of how dangerous it is to rely on other countries, especially competitors like China. The USA RISE Plan calls for incentivizing companies to return to the United States, investing in infrastructure to spur economic development, and having a competitive tax and intellectual property framework to promote hiring and capital expenditures. We need to ensure that America remains the best country in the world to do business. The second pillar, Grown in the USA, is aimed at supporting our farmers and helping Americans who are seeing empty grocery shelves or local food banks that are depleted. I grew up working in the fields as the fourth generation working on my family's farm, and I know firsthand the challenges that farmers face even in the best of times. Today, fruit and vegetable prices are down about 50 to 60 percent, and cattle and pork producers have been affected by meat processing plant closures and limitations. At the same time, the Georgia Food Bank Association told me they have seen roughly a 40-percent increase in demand for their services. We need to ensure that the relief in the CARES Act is making its way to our farmers and agriculture businesses. Any future trade deals with China must hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for their role in spreading the coronavirus and should focus on shifting supply chains back to the United States. Farmers account for just 2 percent of America's population, but 100 percent of us eat. It is time to harness our agriculture advantage to support our farmers who put their businesses on the line every single day to feed Americans and the world. The third component of my plan, Hiring in the USA, proposes removing regulatory barriers and cutting taxes to help small businesses keep employees on the payroll and to create jobs. Half of all Americans are employed by small businesses, and these are the small businesses that have been particularly hurt by COVID-19. Congress has already taken extensive action to provide loans and grants to small businesses like Globalus, a small trucking company in Fulton County, and Jan's Family Daycare in Dalton. I recently talked to daycare owners Bill and Jan Whetstone, who received a PPP loan. This will allow them to keep their doors open and to serve working families. Our economy cannot recover without our small businesses. My plan also calls for reducing the temptation for trial lawyers to use COVID-19 lawsuits to drain profits from employers at the expense of productive jobs. Local shops and restaurants are the lifeblood of our communities, and there is more we can do to help them. Finally, we must support families in building strong futures. Right now, too many families have lost their incomes and are struggling to afford their rent and to put food on the table. The fourth component of my plan is ``Families in the USA.'' It aims to provide targeted relief for families and for children. Among other things, it supports churches that are helping families during this difficult time and other organizations, like YMCAs across our State, which are the largest providers of childcare in Georgia, and they are providing thousands of meals each day to families across our State. In the last several weeks, we have made great strides in expanding testing for COVID-19. This is a crucial tool for getting back to work. Over 7 million Americans had been testing through Monday. As President Trump noted, no one else, no other country in the world has even come close to this level of testing. This is something we are proud to build on. In fact, the President has also announced the Testing Blueprint, which is a partnership to help States build out their testing capabilities. In my State of Georgia, Governor Kemp has partnered with our universities and private companies to expand testing capabilities, and that is now at record levels. Anyone who thinks they may have the virus can use an app developed by Augusta University to screen their symptoms and schedule a test at one of the 66 testing centers in our State. Testing is a key component to restarting our economy safely, but we must start to adapt to this new reality now. Before this pandemic hit, we saw job creation and opportunity that lifted up all Americans. The four pillars I have outlined are critical to reigniting our economic engine. The USA Rise Plan offers solutions to grow our economy without unnecessarily growing the Federal Government or our deficits. Americans want to get back to work and back to their lives but safely. While we continue to fight COVID-19 on the health front, we also must look ahead and make plans to rebuild now. I am confident we will because I know that when Americans unite, we rise to meet any challenge.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Madam President, last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recognized agriculture for its critical role in the United States' COVID-19 response. Today, in recognition of National Ag Day, I want to highlight the work that millions of Americans do each day to make the agriculture industry in America the greatest in the world. This industry is incredibly expansive, and at its most basic level, it is defined by the food, feed, fiber, and fuel it generates. But it is so much more. It fuels the global economy and is driven by millions of dedicated hard-working people who are working every day to deliver these products. These folks are our Nation's farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers. This includes those who manufacture and sell equipment, who drive trucks and barges to move products, who provide seed and fertilizer, and who store, process, and market these products. It spans small and large businesses, from family farms to community banks, to universities, to science, veterinarians, and livestock operations. In my home State of Georgia, agriculture is our No. 1 industry. It accounts for more than 1 in 7 jobs, and we have 42,000 farms in Georgia. I grew up working in the soybean fields and the feedlot of my family's farm. I know firsthand how hard those in agriculture work to provide poultry, peanuts, pecans, cotton, cattle, and blueberries. The risks they take each day and the exposure with global markets and changing regulations, technology, consumer pressures, and economic pressures--our ag industry rises to all of these challenges. This is especially true right now as our country faces the coronavirus outbreak. We have all seen how vital each role in our supply chain is, from the ground to the grocery store, and from the cotton gin to the global export market that the Savannah Harbor ships to around the world. Americans are used to a readily available supply of food, but in recent weeks, we have seen empty aisles in grocery stores. But we know that this is not the new normal. These shelves are quickly restocked because of the tireless work that is done each day by our farmers, food processors, truckdrivers, and grocery store personnel. Without them, empty shelves and food shortages would be the norm. Today, Americans are heeding the call to protect themselves from the coronavirus. At the same time, agribusiness is continually managing their production, processing, and manufacturing. It is not just planting and harvest. While some businesses are being forced to take measures to slow their operations, sadly, such as restaurants, others, such as grocery stores, are seeing unprecedented demand. Everyone is dealing with uncertainty and volatility. In Georgia, fruits and vegetables are being planted as I speak. Cotton and peanuts will be planted very soon. Some products, like Georgia's Vidalia onions, will be harvested in the next month. As we recover from the crisis in the months to come, farmers will still be in their fields, working tirelessly to ensure that Americans have access to the food and the products they need. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, I am strongly committed to supporting America's leading role in agriculture. I want to thank President Trump for his strong support of American agriculture and for recognizing the contributions of the American Farm Bureau, the FFA, 4-H, and so many others. Last week, my colleague from Georgia, Senator David Perdue, and I urged the administration to support our farmers by enabling flexibility for the labor that they rely on for their harvest and planting. As the third coronavirus relief bill comes to the floor, we worked to support rural America by expanding telehealth, as well as funding rural healthcare programs that are so needed in our rural communities. This comes in the form of economic aid for agribusiness and farmers, whether through small business loans or other facilities, and to support things like telecommunications and broadband. Agriculture is perhaps the world's most important industry, and it is important to mark their contributions every year. But on this year's National Ag Day, I call on my colleagues to reflect on where our country would be today without the contribution of the American agriculture industry and without the contribution of Georgia's farmers. Especially as we face this unprecedented challenge, we couldn't do it without those who feed and clothe the world. I yield the floor.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Mr. President, once again, I stood at this podium yesterday and called on the Senate to put politics aside and deliver critical relief to the American people, many of whom are on the frontlines of this war. Yet Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats have turned their backs on them, having been encouraged by Nancy Pelosi. People are getting sick. They are worried about their families. They are losing their jobs. Schools are closed. Small businesses are days away from shutting their doors, and hospitals are running out of equipment, cash, and room. Doctors and nurses are working around the clock, and they are our first line of defense. People are suffering. A hospital in Tifton, GA, faces such severe equipment shortages that it is forced to wear trash bags as protection. Many rural hospitals in Georgia only have days of operating cash left. Also, in rural Georgia, children go to the bus stops to pick up their local papers. That is their education for the day while their schools are closed. In Cartersville, GA, Table 20 was forced to lay off nearly all of its staff just to remain open, like too many others. In Athens, GA, the virus has turned a college town into a ghost town, and the virus is devastating its economy, like too many others. All over the State, waiters, waitresses, car salesmen, mechanics, farmers, and shopkeepers wonder: How will I possibly care for my family? For the last 2 weeks, I have been continuously talking with the people of Georgia: with cancer patients whose procedures have been canceled; with families whose entire livelihoods have been wiped out; with people in businesses who can't pay the rent, the mortgage, the car payment, get groceries, or get lifesaving tests and procedures; and with families who have been forced to cancel weddings and funerals. While the effects of this disease tear through our country, thousands of Americans are infected, and millions face layoffs. They are fighting with all they have. Yet what are Schumer and Pelosi doing? Nothing. The Democrats continue to politicize this rescue. How many people must be hurt for them to leave their selfish partisanship behind and get relief to our fellow Americans? While the rest of America comes together, like the Savannah Salvation Army that holds church services outside or like Meals on Wheels that delivers meals to seniors, the Democrats are playing games and holding hostage desperately needed relief. America does not deserve this. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are putting solar panels ahead of people. Meanwhile, President Trump and his administration are working around the clock to address this crisis while the Democrats are continuing the resistance. I know the folks at home see it for what it is--politicians who will not miss their own paychecks or their own benefits or who will not miss their home payments or their car payments. They are safely tucked away behind their coffee carts in their offices and are taking advantage of the moment--pushing ideas that could never pass in Congress. A bipartisan bill was ready to go this weekend. This delay is entirely on their backs. It is the worst of Washington, and it is disgusting. The American people must hold the Democrats to account. I will keep fighting for Georgians and all Americans with my colleagues, and I will not leave here until our work is done. I yield the floor.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Madam President, I want to begin with my gratitude and respect for those on the frontlines in Georgia and across America today. The doctors, nurses, first responders, employees in our grocery stores and supply chains, and our State and local leaders who are leading the response on the ground at this perilous time--together, this is the best of America. Now, 17 days ago, I spoke from this podium and called on the country to come together to combat the outbreak of novel coronavirus. I asked the media, my colleagues in Congress, and leaders across our country to join me in putting politics aside and to put the health and safety of all Americans first. The next day in Congress, we came together to quickly pass $8.5 billion in emergency funding to support our response to this virus, which President Trump signed immediately. In March, the week after that, the President declared a national emergency, unleashing $50 billion to further mobilize testing, therapeutics, and care. Today we find ourselves in an even more serious and urgent situation. The health threat facing our Nation has intensified. Recent reports show the acceleration of infection. At the same time, people are losing their jobs; small businesses are closing; and fear is taking hold, while families are home with children out of school, and parents are out of work. This is why we must act immediately to pass the CARES Act, bringing in well over $1 trillion, with an economic impact being a multiple of that. We are in a rapidly changing environment with each passing day that requires this immediate and substantial action. Each day, families are put more at risk and financial peril, and hospitals are going without the resources they need. Uncertainty rests on Americans' doorsteps daily. They wonder: How much longer can I make this work? How do I protect my family's health and welfare? We need immediate relief in the hands of the American people, and we needed it days ago. We cannot wait another day. To the families worried about paying rent and feeding their children, the small business owner forced to shutter their doors and lay off staff who is like family to them, those who worry about foreclosure by landlords, the employees of service, travel, and tourism industries left unemployed, the hospitals--rural and urban--and the assisted- living facilities running out of equipment, staff, and beds, and the public health officials--nurses and doctors working around the clock on the frontlines--help is on the way. Every American needs to know that, in Washington, we have their backs; that we know there is deep uncertainty and fear; and that we are working right now to address it. We must turn our rhetoric into action. I will say it again. There is no room for political maneuvers here. I want every Georgian to know I am fighting for them every day. No amount of false politicized allegations against me or my family will distract me. Nothing will get in my way of delivering much needed relief to Georgian families--nothing. I have spent the last 2 weeks speaking with hospital leaders, small businesses, employers, and employees across Georgia. The impact is felt by every Georgian. The need is urgent. From Lowndes County to Rabun County, the issues of health and economic concern are widespread. Across the country, we must stand together symbolically, though we cannot stand together physically. That is why I am calling on the Senate to act expeditiously to pass this relief package immediately. Let me be clear. It is time to deliver. As we have seen, this virus does not wait for politics as usual to play out. Only swift action will save lives, families, and jobs at this unprecedented time. Just as the rest of America has done, the Senate must step up and help win this war for all Americans. Thank you. I yield the floor.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Mr. President, I was sworn in 2 months ago and left behind a nearly three-decade business career to serve the people of Georgia in our Nation's Capital. It is truly my honor to support and defend the Constitution. I arrived as impeachment began, one of the most divided and partisan times in the history of Congress. Now, with impeachment behind us and the President's having been acquitted, ongoing partisanship is undermining the American people's access to facts during a public health emergency. What I have seen in the last few weeks has been alarming. Day after day, I witness exactly why the American people are fed up with Washington--the partisan rhetoric, the media's sensationalism, the negative political news--all while America is facing a public health emergency. The government at all levels must carry out the responsibility to keep Americans safe. Federal agencies and the Vice President and our President are working relentlessly to do just that. We need to be united in our efforts to protect the health and safety of all Americans. This is not a time to score political points through baseless commentary. It is a time for facts. I hope my colleagues, the media, and political leaders across America will continue to put Americans first and put politics aside while we prepare to combat this outbreak. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Madam President, at the heart of this debate is life. When I reflect on the importance of protecting innocent life, the story of Ellie Schneider comes to mind. She is a child who was born at just 21 weeks 6 days in Kansas City. Ellie is one of the youngest babies to survive, in the United States, a premature birth. She was born so early that most hospitals in Missouri would not treat her, except for the faith-based hospital St. Luke's. She weighed only slightly more than a can of soda and was about as long as a piece of paper. She weighed just 14 ounces. At 21 weeks, the odds were stacked against her, but she is a fighter. Through the power of prayer and an incredible medical team, Ellie is now a healthy, happy 2-year-old girl. She brings endless joy to her family. Her inclusion in the President's State of the Union Address is a powerful testament to life. Ellie is an example that every child is a blessing worthy of protection, and we have a moral obligation to defend the born and unborn. In today's political climate, it is easy to forget that there are both Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, and people from every religious affiliation who believe in protecting the human rights of the unborn. I am proud to be a cosponsor S. 311, the Born- Alive Survivors Protection Act. It sends a clear message by establishing the real consequences for those who kill or abandon innocent children after they are outside the mother's womb. We should all be able to agree that once born, each baby deserves the right to proper access to medical care. I also proudly support S. 3275, the Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act, which places much needed restrictions on elective abortions on children at 20 weeks post-conception. It is unconscionable that America is one of only seven countries that does not have a 20-week abortion ban. These countries include China, North Korea, and Vietnam. While it is disheartening that this type of horrific practice needs congressional action, I am glad there are commonsense pieces of legislation that can address the atrocities of late-term abortion and severely punishes those in the business of taking the lives of our youngest human beings. I pray that the American people will recognize that lives hang in the balance, will stand with us to get our Nation back on the right track, and will fight for the born and the unborn. Being a voice for the voiceless requires us to take important steps, like passing the Born- Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. Mr. President, I am honored and humbled to stand before you today as Georgia's and our country's newest U.S. Senator. As the 100th Senator, I have spent the least time in Washington, but as the least senior Senator, I am also the most recently attached to the private sector, where the vast majority of Americans live and work. I am intensely aware of the needs and the expectations that Americans hold for us. Just 2 months ago, I left nearly a three-decade business career to serve the great people of Georgia and our Nation, but being here in this respected, historic Chamber is a very long way from where I started. I was born and raised as the fourth generation of corn and soybean farmers, and I grew up working in our fields and with our cattle on the feedlot. I waitressed and sold watches and shoes to put myself through school. Then I moved around the country to pursue my dream of a business career. I have been a job seeker and a job creator. I haven't spent my life trying to get to Washington, but I worked hard to stand where I am today. I have lived the American dream, and each day, I remember where I came from, and I am proud of my beginnings. While I am an outsider to politics, I am not new to getting results. I came here to get things done for the people of Georgia. So why does all of this matter today, in this historic moment right now, just 2 days from my vote to acquit President Trump? Because for months and, sadly, years for many, Members of Congress who have meant to serve the American people have been tied up in a political game. There is much to regret here--the House's false urgency to push through deficient articles, only to ask for more time, more evidence, more testimony; the deception of the House managers, who are more focused on political power than they are on pursuing the facts; the media who ran with the narrative the Democrats planted, with selective, unlawful leaks. For the last 132 days, Congress has been neglecting the American people. I came here to get things done for Georgians, but for the last 2 weeks, we have been stuck in the Senate Chamber, working on something that most Americans have little interest in. As my notebooks filled up, I thought to myself, how did this case even make it to the Senate? When I am around the State, it is very clear that this is not what people at home care about. Georgians aren't losing sleep over a call the President made or questioning his constitutional right to conduct foreign policy. They are concerned with taking care of their families, their jobs, and their freedom to achieve the American dream and live the lives they imagined. I think of young kids, whether in the inner city or on a farm or in the suburbs. What example are we setting in Washington? Why should employers feel that Washington cares about job creation when there is a neglect of the engine that makes America strong? Why are we here? We are public servants, charged with protecting the Constitution and our country and I hope, in the process, bettering the lives of all Americans. Despite this monumental distraction, this administration has worked tirelessly to move our country forward. Last week, the President signed into law the United States-Mexico- Canada Agreement. Sadly, this sat on Speaker Pelosi's desk for 1 year, denying American farmers and workers untold economic opportunity. Last month, the administration completed a phase one deal with China, now holding China accountable for unfair trade practices and adding to our thriving economy. For 3 years, as the Democrats have focused on taking down a duly elected President, President Trump's pro-growth policies have given us a booming economy. These policies have resulted in record employment, 7 million new jobs, and a blue-collar boom that is lifting up hard- working Americans. This administration charges on, but it needs Congress's support if America is to move on with the American dream for all. With that in mind, I say: Enough. Let's put our trust in the American people. They are the ones who should make a judgment about the President, and they will do that in 9 months. Let's not be so arrogant as to take that decision away from the American people. Instead, let's focus all of our energies on improving their lives. Impeachment does not do that. It is time to move on. I yield the floor.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. I send a question to the desk on behalf of myself and Senators Hawley, Cruz, Perdue, Gardner, Lankford, Hoeven, Toomey, Scott of Florida, Portman, and Fischer.

Mrs. LOEFFLER

Mrs. LOEFFLER. I send a letter to the desk on behalf of myself, Senators Blackburn, Hyde-Smith, Cotton, Hawley, Barrasso, Perdue, Fischer, and Cornyn.