{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-delivers-floor-remarks-on-urgent-need-to-pass-bipartisan-covid-19-relief", "Peters Delivers Floor Remarks on Urgent Need to Pass Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Gary Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.20\n\t\t\t Peters Delivers Floor Remarks on Urgent Need to Pass Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t We need to once again work together to pass another round of help. We've done it before and we did it when case counts were far lower than they are now. We need to summon the same urgency again. We must come together by the end of this week and pass meaningful - bipartisan - and comprehensive COVID relief.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today spoke on the Senate floor on the need for the Senate to come together to pass urgent bipartisan COVID-19 relief to support small businesses, workers, families and health care providers suffering from the ongoing pandemic. In his remarks, Peters emphasized the need for bipartisanship and how the Senate can only achieve progress on pandemic relief and other key priorities by working together across the aisle.\r\nThis past year, I'm proud to say we've worked together to advance legislation on priorities that not only address the pandemic  but also tackle issues facing Michiganders and people across this country each and every day, said Senator Peters. We must prove to the American people that bipartisan negotiation is not a relic of the past Let us work together to get things done. Our constituents demand that of us. And this week we can start with a bipartisan COVID relief bill that makes a difference to everyone suffering through this pandemic.\r\n\r\nYou can download video of Senator Peters' remarks by clicking here.\r\nBelow are Senator Peters' remarks, as prepared for delivery:\r\n2020 has been a year of immense challenges. We're in the middle of an unprecedented economic and public health crisis. Small businesses have been forced to shutter or are barely staying afloat. Workers are out of jobs through no fault of their own  folks are stressed about feeding their families and keeping a roof over their heads. Health care workers are exhausted  pressed to their breaking points from caring for COVID patients.\r\nBut thankfully  there is a light at the end of the tunnel. With the recent FDA vaccine emergency use authorization  Michiganders and Americans are finally starting to receive much-needed reinforcements to combat  and control  this virus.\r\nAlthough there is light at the end of the tunnel  we know the next 2 to 3 months are going to be difficult. We cannot let our guard down. We must continue to wear a mask  practice social distancing  and wash our hands. We all can  and must  play an important role in defeating this virus  and we can do it if we work together.\r\nM. President  working together is the key to get through this pandemic.\r\nWe know what happens when we work together here in this Chamber. Early on in this pandemic, we worked together to pass the CARES Act  which provided vital resources and support to keep families and workers afloat. We worked together to pass additional aid for small businesses, testing, health care providers and hospitals.\r\nAnd right now  we NEED to once again work together to pass another round of help. We've done it before and we did it when case counts were far lower than they are now. We need to summon the same urgency again. We must come together by the end of this week and pass meaningful  bipartisan  and comprehensive COVID relief.\r\nWe must prove to the American people that bipartisan negotiation is not a relic of the past. As I talk to Michiganders each and every day, the message is clear  they want us to put partisan politics aside and solve the very real challenges confronting our country.\r\nFinding common ground and bringing people together has always been my approach to serving the people of Michigan and this nation.\r\nThis past year, I'm proud to say we've worked together to advance legislation on priorities that not only address the pandemic  but also tackle issues facing Michiganders and people across this country each and every day.\r\nOn a bipartisan basis, we've been able to pass legislation out of Congress on a number of topics.\r\nWhether it's been: expanding apprenticeship opportunities for veterans; closing loopholes that posed a threat to our national security; saving taxpayer dollars; protecting the Great Lakes  which are one of our nation's most precious natural resources; hiring more agricultural inspectors at our nation's ports of entry; or improving the Department of Veterans Affairs' Caregiver Program; I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their partnership with me in advancing these priorities.\r\nNow M. President  I know there's no shortage of differences among us. But when we put personal politics aside and focus on addressing the problem at hand  we can get results.\r\nAs we enter the next session of Congress, I'm hopeful that we can build on some of the progress we've made.\r\nWhether it's supporting small businesses  lowering prescription drug costs  ensuring our nation remains a global leader in innovation  or getting through this public health and economic crisis  there's much more work to be done in the next Congress. And that can only be done by reaching across the aisle.\r\nTwo years ago I delivered George Washington's Farewell Address on the Senate Floor  an annual tradition here in the Senate. In that address, President Washington warned of the dangers of tribalism and political polarization in our country.\r\nWe cannot forget President Washington's message  particularly during these uncertain and daunting times. We cannot let polarization prevent us from doing the peoples' work.\r\nLet us build on the spirit of bipartisanship. Let us work together to get things done. Our constituents demand that of us.\r\nAnd this week we can start with a bipartisan COVID relief bill that makes a difference to everyone suffering through this pandemic.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-delivers-floor-remarks-on-urgent-need-to-pass-bipartisan-covid-19-relief"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8221410680562258, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}