America's response to the coronavirus outbreak continues to call for unprecedented service and sacrifice for all of us. I tried to make improvements to the House coronavirus bill so I could vote for it, but in the end I couldn't support a bill that will harm small business and limit laid-off worker benefits. Although I want to provide immediate financial support to Americans and American businesses affected by the coronavirus, I voted no on HR 6201 because the Senate failed to address the major problem with the bill that was eminently fixable.

My amendment, which received bipartisan support but not enough to be adopted, would have removed mandatory burdens on employers, temporarily expanded eligibility, and waived the waiting period for state unemployment benefits and increased state benefits to provide two-thirds of actual wages up to $1,000 per week. It also would have reimbursed employers with fewer than 500 employees who voluntarily provide paid sick and family leave to employees affected by the coronavirus.

Now that the House bill passed unamended, laid-off workers will get far less from state benefits, and many employers will be forced to shoulder a financial burden they cannot afford.

Next Steps: 'Phase 3'

America is in the midst of a national crisis that is no one's fault. Elected and nonelected federal, state and local officials are making tough decisions and taking decisive action to limit the spread of the coronavirus. They deserve our collective support and our acceptance that results will be far from perfect.

That said, as we legislate, we must identify specific objectives and follow a basic problem-solving process: Gather information, identify and define the problem, establish achievable goals, then design solutions.

Read the rest of my recommendations here.

We're All In This Together

Thank you to everyone doing their part to slow the spread over the coming weeks.

Keep up to date with the latest recommendations at this new website: coronavirus.gov

Help for Small Business

We know the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has caused a number of changes and challenges for small businesses all across Wisconsin. To help navigate these uncertainties, we've pulled together several resources from across the federal and state government in one convenient place on my website. You can find our Assistance for Small Businesses Affected by the Coronoavirus Pandemic linked on the home page of our website.

I also connected with over a thousand Wiscoinsin business owners during this webinar Friday with Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. You can listen to it here.

Take Action

• If you're healthy, it's important to donate blood even now during the coronavirus. As the U.S. Surgeon General has been stressing, blood centers are open and the need for blood is constant. One donation can save up to three people.

• The other action step you can take right now is to respond to your 2020 Census invitation online. All field operations have been suspended until at least April 1. Responding online saves taxpayer money and allows data to be processed more efficiently.