Coronavirus

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this morning, the Senate and House Sergeants at Arms announced the suspension of public tours and nonofficial access to the Capitol Complex beginning at the close of business today and running through the end of March. Their decision was made in close consultation with the Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress, Dr. Brian Monahan.

I support the decision of these nonpartisan officers. It follows new guidance from the Washington, DC, Department of Health encouraging that all nonessential mass gatherings of more than 1,000 people be postponed. The Capitol Complex welcomes many times that many visitors on a typical day, particularly at this time of year.

Congress will continue to do our work. Offices will be able to welcome constituents and visitors for meetings and official business by appointment, but in deference to the experts and to protect the health of many Americans who travel to our Nation's Capital, tourism and nonofficial access to the Capitol and the complex will be put on pause.

This virus is challenging our Nation in ways that feel unfamiliar to us, but our great country is strong, we are equipped, and we have overcome far greater challenges before. I know the entire Congress will look forward to welcoming all Americans back to visit their beautiful Capitol as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we continue to encourage everyone to follow the facts, listen to the experts, and take smart and calm precautions as appropriate. Every American can access up-to-date recommendations for their own personal circumstances at www.coronavirus.gov.

Last night, President Trump addressed the Nation on the broader, ongoing effort to slow and mitigate the spread of the virus here on American soil. As I have noted before, the administration's early proactive measures to repatriate U.S. citizens and restrict travel from China bought more time for public health professionals to prepare our response, and the funding measure that Congress passed last week is sending an infusion of new funding into laboratory research, frontline medical care, and everything in between.

With those critical steps already taken, this week brought a further opportunity to help communities and families face the economic effects of the virus spread. Unfortunately, it appears at this hour that the Speaker and House Democrats instead chose to produce an ideological wish list that was not tailored closely to the circumstances. One is reminded of the famous comment from President Obama's first Chief of Staff: ``You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.'' Instead of focusing on immediate relief to affected individuals, families, and businesses, the House Democrats chose to wander into various areas of policy that are barely related, if at all, to the issue before us.

Instead of working within existing law and within existing systems to deliver targeted relief as officially and effectively as possible, the Speaker's proposal would stand up a needless thicket of new bureaucracy. They would task offices like the Social Security Administration with standing up brand-new bureaucracy that would delay the delivery of aid to those who need it.

As currently drafted, the proposal appears to impose permanent unfunded mandates on businesses that could cause massive job losses and put thousands of small businesses at risk. The administration was ready to collaborate. The Senate was ready to seriously consider a compromise product, but it appears that over in the House, leftwing political messaging may have taken priority over the needs of our country. Certainly, this is disappointing.

I want to commend Secretary Mnuchin for his efforts and his continued conversation. At a minimum, I hope that Senate Democrats will not block potential requests from our colleagues today to pass smaller, noncontroversial pieces of legislation right away that would bolster particular aspects of the fight against coronavirus.

The good news is that our Nation's economy remains strong. The President is continuing to take action himself. We just passed billions--billions--in urgent funding just last week, and the Senate will continue to stand ready and willing to work toward further bicameral, bipartisan actions when the House Democrats decide to get serious.

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