Colorado’s Morning News, Cory Gardner, March 17, 2020
Station: KOA, 850 am
Show: Colorado’s Morning News
Guests: Gardner, Cory
Date: March 17, 2020
Topics: Colorado Springs
HOST APRIL ZESBAUGH [00:00:03] The Senate could take up an emergency bill as early as today in response to the coronavirus crisis around the country. We were just talking with [U.S.] Representative Ed Perlmutter [CO-07] about that very thing. Colorado Republican Senator Cory Gardner joins us on our live line to give us his two cents. Good morning, Senator.
U.S. SENATOR FROM COLORADO, CORY GARDNER [00:00:20] Good morning.
ZESBAUGH [00:00:20] So, this was approved by the House early Saturday. What had to change to get it to the Senate?
GARDNER [00:00:26] Well, the House passed it Saturday morning and then they had to do a very significant rewrite of the bill — so about a 40 or 50 page technical corrections amendment, they didn’t get the bill passed again until about last night at eight or nine o’clock Eastern Time. So they have just now passed the bill and have enabled that bill to come over to the Senate. The Senate will begin its work on the legislation today. This is the first of many pieces of legislation that must pass in order to make sure that we’re protecting the American people, preventing the spread of coronavirus, and making sure our economy is moving forward when we get through this.
HOST MARTY LENZ [00:00:58] Senator, is this a first step kind of bill? Are we going to see more like this, or is this kind of what you’re doing, and this is it, and spend the money wisely and for what it’s actually allocated for?
GARDNER [00:01:08] Absolutely. You know, last week, Congress passed the $8.3 billion supplemental that provided Colorado with tens of millions of dollars. It provided testing and other things. This is additional testing components. This is additional dollars for making sure that we cover testing. It’s free testing, making sure that health expenses are covered. I’ve also been working on a bill called the American Workforce Act, which would provide a new form of help for workers who were affected or have to stay home or self-quarantine, to make sure they’re able to buy food, put food on the table, pay rent. This is incredibly important that Congress look at this, not just as a one off, but as a succession of steps that we can take to protect the American people, protect the American economy and unite this nation together because we will get through this.
ZESBAUGH [00:01:50] Yeah. Let’s go to the last part of what you were talking about, 10 percent of Colorado workers are in the restaurant industry. And that’s just one part of the economy that’s going to be hit hard by this virus as it continues to spread. How soon could we get money into those people’s hands so they can pay their bills?
GARDNER [00:02:06] We have to do this as soon as possible. My — the work that I’m doing right now would create a new category, a COVID-19 furlough, which would allow them — they don’t have to lose their job unlike other programs. They would be able to go to the unemployment insurance benefits, receive help so they can put food on the table, help them get through this period while we’re limiting contact, while we’re staying at home, businesses may be shut down, so that they aren’t affected financially with a default and they are able to find food. So, this is a new — this would be a new effort through unemployment insurance. It’s already set up, already established, and this could get that relief out immediately.
LENZ [00:02:39] I know the primary concern is the coronavirus spread. But, Senator, are you concerned about the economy? Are you concerned that we’re heading [toward] a recession and I’ve even heard some economists, you know, say the D-word [depression]? Are you concerned about that?
GARDNER [00:02:50] Well, there’s three things that we have to focus on. Number one, we have to make sure that we are addressing the spread of this: social distancing, washing our hands, being smart, doing our part. Two, we have to make sure that people are taken care of, making sure that the workforce is taking care of, that businesses are taken care of. And that’s part of the House bill. That’s part of the Senate action. That’s part of the supplemental last week and continued actions by Congress, and [part of] the American Workforce Bill that I am working on, as well. Three, we are going to get through this. We have faced tough challenges and trials in America before, and we unite as a country. And that’s what we have to do with the smart actions we’re taking now. But yes, Marty, I am worried about the economy, and that’s why we have to take these steps today. Thank goodness the economy is where it is — [correcting himself] you know, where it was when we went into the Coronavirus, as strong as it was, because imagine if we were weak going into this experience.
ZESBAUGH [00:03:35] Senator, before we run. How has your life changed because of the coronavirus?
GARDNER [00:03:40] It’s a great question. I asked my family that every night. What have we done today to act differently, to do our part, to make sure that we’re not spreading Corona virus? So avoiding crowds — you know, we have three kids who love dearly their grandparents. But, you know, they’re calling him on the phone because we are social distancing. We don’t want to risk that exposure. We’re being smart about how we time ourselves and go to the grocery store. We’re figuring out what we need and what we don’t need. And, you know, so this is a time to think about and ask yourself every day, several times a day, “What am I doing differently today?” Washing your hands more effectively, you know, singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice. My mom told me ‘Jesus Loves You’ is the way you sing it and get to 20 seconds. So, you know, there are things that we can do to make sure that we are changing our behavior to flatten the curve so that we get through this faster and sooner than we otherwise would.
LENZ [00:04:29] Senator Cory Gardner, thank you for your time.
GARDNER [00:04:31] Thank you very much for having me
