[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 74 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM

  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I am here this afternoon to speak about 
the critical aspect of the paycheck act as it relates to businesses, 
particularly in the newspaper and broadcasting business. It is so 
important for us to address this issue because these are the people who 
are on the frontlines delivering the information to us about this 
crisis.
  Unfortunately, in the past legislation, we did not include 
associations of broadcasters and newspapers under the definition, so up 
to several thousand newspapers and hundreds of local radio and 
television stations across the country are without existing programs by 
the small business affiliation rule to assist these companies in 
keeping important news print and news broadcasting staff at their jobs.
  When I think about what I have learned about the coronavirus from 
these individuals, what I have learned about the broadcast information 
of nursing home problems, what I have learned about issues with 
Remdesivir, I all know that it came down to the local media who was 
telling us about it. So when I think of the headlines I am seeing--the 
LA Times, ``Coronavirus crisis hastens the collapse of local 
newspapers.''; ``Long-Struggling Local Newspapers Pushed to Brink 
Brought by Coronavirus''--I know it is time for us to do something to 
help these individuals, and I hope that we can do that soon.
  We need the media--the local small media--to help us continue to 
communicate. After all, the basis of a democracy is about truth and 
transparency, and they are helping to build a community of truth and 
transparency. We need to help them during this crisis.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader.

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