Friends —

Team Warner hopes that you and your families are staying safe and healthy. We will get through this together. Our team is committed to bringing you updates on what Mark Warner is working on to make sure that all Virginians are cared for during this difficult time.

This week, the Senate unanimously passed their latest bi-partisan coronavirus relief package, aimed at helping struggling businesses, which included:

• $310 billion to fund the Paycheck Protection Program, of which $60 billion was earmarked for women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, and businesses in rural areas.
• $75 billion to support health care providers who are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
• $60 billion to fulfill Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help small and mid-sized businesses who have seen their revenue impacted by the pandemic.
• $25 billion to increase coronavirus testing and research, which will be critical to eventually re-opening the economy.

That bill is a great step toward making sure workers and small businesses are protected through this pandemic, but there's still work to be done.

That's why Mark is working with Senators Sanders, Jones, and Blumenthal on the Paycheck Security Act, would cover the payroll expenses for workers making up to $90,000 per year at any company whose business has been severely impacted by this pandemic. This would not only secure the paychecks and health care benefits of millions of American workers, it would help stabilize the economy and prevent future layoffs.

The Paycheck Security Act isn't Mark's only priority this week. Here's what else Mark is working on:

• Mark joined his Senate colleagues in calling on pharmaceutical companies to diversify clinical trials for coronavirus treatments, to include subjects to reflect the American people — including more women, members of minority communities, and LGBTQIA individuals.
• Mark continued his efforts to ensure that folks in rural areas — including more than 770 thousand Virginians — gain access to affordable and reliable broadband internet service.
• Mark joined his Democratic Senate colleagues in calling on the Trump administration to work with them to combat the rise in hate crimes and race-based harassment toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
• On Thursday, Mark held another virtual town hall event to talk about the coronavirus response and answer questions from folks across the Commonwealth. If you missed it, you can watch a recording of the event on Mark's Facebook page (you do not need a Facebook account to access this!)

Be well,
Team Warner