"There's nothing like it in our history": Oklahoma lawmakers react to CARES Act

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The largest, single bill in U.S. history is officially law, after President Trump signed the CARES Act Friday afternoon. The $2.2 trillion piece of legislation is Congress' response to the growing coronavirus outbreak, and the damage its done on the economy.

Congressman Tom Cole told FOX 25 Friday, it was important to get this bill passed as soon as possible.

"Frankly, people are in need," says Cole. "Look at this week's unemployment numbers. Almost 3.3 million people claimed unemployment this week. The previous record, from 1982, was 700,000. That gives you an idea of the scope of the challenge in front of us."

The bill provides billions of dollars in direct payments to Americans, grants and loans for small businesses, loans for corporations and a boost to unemployment funds. While lawmakers say the bill is far from perfect, it's what the country needs during this pandemic.

Lots of small businesses having to make decisions on whether or not to retain workforces. If they don't have the money, they needed to know money was going to be there," says Cole. "Obviously lots of unemployment funds around the country will go through the money they have on hand pretty quickly. They needed to know extra money was coming. So speed was extraordinarily important.I promise you you can find something not to like, or something you wish you would've gotten more of, or you think was left out. That's fine. We can come back and deal with those things."

Congresswoman Kendra Horn agrees.

"It is not perfect, but it does provide oversight to makes sure those resources are getting to where they need to be," said Horn in a YouTube video following the vote.

While there was wide bipartisan support, it wouldn't be Washington without some last-minute drama. Today's came from Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, who tried to force lawmakers to return to the nation's capitol for a recorded vote. The move didn't sit well with most lawmakers from either party, including Cole.

"You know you're just endangering people for no reason at all," says Cole. "So I regret that he did that, and I regret that so many members were inconvenienced."

Enough House lawmakers did return to Washington to block Massie's move, and the CARES Act was passed with a voice vote. President Trump signed the plan hours later.

The bill, and the speed at which it breezed through the normally bogged-down Congress, underscoring serious bipartisan efforts to get the plan passed. Congressman Cole says he was proud of the unity he saw, considering just weeks ago, the two parties couldn't have been further divided.

"We're coming right out of impeachment, which is about as divisive a political experience you can go through, and I just think it shows how Americans can pull together in a crisis," says Cole. "We may fight against ourselves domestically, but when we're confronted with an enemy, we pull together pretty quickly."

While the CARES Act marks the third piece of COVID-19-related legislation to move through Congress, Cole admits it likely won't be the last.

"I have no doubt there will be additional packages in the future, once we have a better idea of the scope and impact of the virus itself, and then the economic consequences that stem from that," says Cole.

You can read the full text of the CARES Act here.

Also noteworty: Friday marked the final day of coronavirus self-quarantine for both Congressman Cole and Congresswoman Horn. Both tell FOX 25 they had no symptoms, and are eager to end their isolation.