Coronavirus

Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today as the Senate returns to help the country recover from coronavirus. This global pandemic is hopefully a once-in-a-lifetime, once-in-a-century shock, but it has been an earthquake that continues to shake the world to its core. Tragically, we have lost tens of thousands of Americans to the disease, and our hearts and prayers go out to each of those impacted and all of their loved ones.

More than 30 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last 6 weeks due to the virus and the State lockdowns that have been put in place as a result of the virus. People want and need to get back to work as soon as possible. It is vital we reopen America smartly and safely and we do it as soon as we can.

Many States are starting to open. Wyoming did this past Friday. We must all be prepared and alert for any likely aftershocks that will occur from the virus.

The economy could not reopen had it not been for the major medical progress we have been experiencing. Our heroic nurses, doctors, and others on the frontlines have saved many lives. Testing in the United States has been dramatically expanded, and we are producing promising treatments. The American people deserve a lot of credit for their tremendous sacrifices to contain the spread of the virus. Everyone in my home State of Wyoming is suffering from the economic fallout, as are Americans all across the country. The best way to help these people is to push the start button on the economy.

The Senate is in session and will consider taking targeted temporary and bipartisan relief measures. We are now assessing the relief money that has already been spent. We know what has worked--the Paycheck Protection Program funds that go to mom-and-pop organizations that are part of the CARES Act has saved 30 million jobs. Small business is the backbone of our economy, the engine of job creation. In Wyoming, the program has been very successful and very popular. Before the pandemic, the United States had record job growth and record low unemployment. Our economy will bounce back, there is no question in my mind.

As we look to the future, in terms of recovery legislation, what we need to do is to prevent a second epidemic. I am very concerned that the second epidemic will be that of frivolous coronavirus lawsuits. Any future legislation must focus on the virus and must include reasonable liability protections for the hard-hit healthcare workers and for American employers.

Opportunistic lawyers are already advertising, and they are targeting the healthcare workers and small businesses that we have assisted during the crisis. Ironically, the relief money could end up lining the pockets of greedy trial lawyers.

As businesses bravely begin to reopen, class action lawsuits are being planned nationwide. Ambulance chasers are running recruitment ads right now that read ``receive a free coronavirus lawsuit review.'' They go on to say: Call if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with COVID- 19 and you believe another party's negligence caused the exposure.

Nursing homes appear to be the prime target. One lawyer who described himself as a ``coronavirus exposure lawyer'' encouraged action for nursing home negligence. That is why nurses, doctors, and hospitals are counting on Congress to pass commonsense liability reform.

Yet Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer say they oppose this critical liability protection. Instead, Democrats are demanding more aid for States and local governments. They want American taxpayers to bail out States with long histories of financial mismanagement. That is already on top of the $150 billion that the States have just received within the last 2 weeks. Nancy Pelosi now wants a lot, lot more.

We put the full force of the American Government in this fight against the coronavirus. We cannot afford to allow an avalanche of abusive lawsuits to crush our awakening economy. Republicans will insist on a legal shield for essential workers and for businesses before spending another dime. It is our job to do everything that we can to get people back to work and back to work safely.

The physical and economic health of our country is at stake today. We are continuing to deliver financial support plus medical help to all people across the country. One thing is clear: trial lawyers should not profit from our Nation's pain. Together, America will come back and Americans will come back and it will be stronger and better than ever.

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