Federal Response & Relief for COVID-19
Dear Friend,
This week, Congress took bold, unprecedented action to stem the tide of the coronavirus pandemic by passing the CARES Act to provide immediate relief to Americans. As President Trump stated, ”our nation is at war with an invisible enemy.” Right now, extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. We have no time to waste.
While I have serious concerns with some bad policies, partisan provisions, and the overall price tag of the CARES Act, I am more concerned about delaying support for millions of hurting Americans and the prospect of an even costlier recession for our country. It is crucial we move quickly to provide temporary relief for the working families, small businesses, and frontline health care professionals in West Texas and across the nation.
What you need to know about the CARES Act
The CARES Act includes direct relief payments for American individuals and families:
- Americans will receive a one-time direct relief payment.
- The payment, subject to income limits, will be $1,200 per individual, $2,400 per couple and $500 per eligible child.
- The IRS will post updates on the direct relief payments here. Please check the website for updates instead of calling the IRS.
- Expands unemployment insurance to cover gig workers and self-employed and non-profit employees who are not normally covered under unemployment insurance.
- Provides $300 million to help the fisheries industry impacted by Coronavirus.
The CARES Act includes $350 billion in small business assistance:
- Creates a new SBA-backed loan program to assist small businesses.
- Loans taken by small businesses to keep employees on payroll may be forgiven.
- Recipients can use the loans to cover eligible payroll costs including: salaries, mortgage interest, rent, utilities.
- Allows businesses with more than one location that employ no more than 500 employees per location in certain industries, including food service, to be eligible.
- In addition to this new loan program, the bill allows banks to provide forbearances to small businesses on existing loans.
The CARES Act supports our healthcare professionals on the front line:
- Increases access to testing and ensures additional resources for medical providers by providing $16 billion for the Strategic National Stockpile to procure PPE, ventilators, and other medical supplies.
- Expands the use of Telehealth to prevent and contain the spread of Coronavirus.
Click here for a detailed summary and explanation of the bill.
You can listen to my full speech in support of this bill by clicking here or the image below.
Helpful COVID-19 Resources:
I encourage you to review the resources and updates provided by the CDC and other federal and state agencies listed below. As always, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my offices. My staff and I stand ready to assist you.
Center for Disease Control-
Texas Agencies:
ICYMI:
- Discussing CARES Act with Sean Spicer - 3/27/20
- COVID-19 Temporary & Targeted Relief and 2nd Amendment with Chad Hasty- 3/27/20
- Pelosi Delaying Bill and COVID-19's Impact on Energy w/ John Bachman - 3/23/20
It is an honor to be your Representative. Feel free to forward this coronavirus update to our fellow West Texans and encourage them to sign up here for this weekly update. Please know that I am praying for all of you. We will get through this. America and Texas are strong.
Your friend and fellow West Texan,
Jodey C. Arrington
Member of Congress |