Fellow Illinoisan,

Health experts have made it clear that widespread testing is the key to beating COVID-19 and reopening our nation’s economy.  Just look at South Korea, and you’ll see why. 

South Korea confirmed their first COVID-19 cases on the same day as the United States.  Twelve weeks later, U.S. cases have spiked & South Korean cases have not.  Why?

 You guessed it - testing.

South Korea moved quickly to institute massive-scale, nationwide testing that was fast and free for everyone.  The Trump Administration, on the other hand, still does not have a plan for national testing in place.

Senate Democrats understand the importance of widespread testing.  We understand that we will not be able to safely end sheltering-in-place until we have testing in every place. 

So, Senate Democrats came up with a plan of our own to ensure COVID-19 testing is everywhere, and for everyone -- a “Manhattan Project” for testing, so that we can start to ease social distancing and begin the process of re-opening our economy.

You can read more about our plan here.  I hope my Republican colleagues are willing to step up & join us in this effort.  It is the only way we’re going to beat COVID-19 and get this country -- and its economy -- open for business once again.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)