Greg Walden Shares What You Need to Know on COVID-19 - April 27
Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released an update on COVID-19 for April 27, 2020.
The latest on the coronavirus:
More Help for Farmers and Ranchers:
Last week, President Trump signed a supplemental funding package to replenish a number of federal COVID-19 relief programs. Importantly, this package expanded eligibility for Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to farms, ranches, and other agriculture businesses with up to 500 employees. Learn more here.
SBA Provides more PPP Loans:
Starting today, the Small Business Administration (SBA) began processing more Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans. This comes after President Trump signed into law more funding for the PPP.
The legislation refilled the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The bill includes $310 billion for the PPP, $50 billion for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, $10 billion for the EIDL advance/grant program, $75 billion for hospitals/health care providers, and $25 billion for testing.
Learn more here.
Funding for Firefighters:
FEMA has announced that fire service organizations nationwide with people on the front lines of this pandemic will soon be able to apply for additional funding to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE). This funding comes from the $100 million FEMA was awarded in the CARES Act to help ensure first responders have enough PPE.
FEMA will begin accepting applications for the grant funding on Tuesday, April 28. The deadline for applications is May 15. Learn more here.
More Funding for Health Care Providers & Hospitals
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding over $40 billion to health care providers and hospitals. The funding comes as a result of HHS distributing over $40 billion of the $100 billion that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act designated for provider relief. In addition to this funding HHS has already distributed $30 billion nationwide, including $291 million to Oregon. Read more here.
How to Get Your Economic Impact Payment
Over the next several weeks, most Americans will see their payment of $1,200 per individual, $2,400 per couple, and $500 per child arrive directly to their bank account via direct deposit thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The IRS announced a change for veterans who receive disability compensation, a pension, or survivor benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs - these veterans DO NOT need to do anything to receive their payment.
Those on Social Security who do not file taxes also DO NOT need to file anything to receive this new payment.
Low income individuals with a gross income between $12,200 for individuals and $24,400 for married couples that do not file taxes, WILL need to submit information to the IRS to receive this payment. You can provide this information through the IRS’s website here.
For additional information about the economic impact payment you can visit the IRS website here.
Watch out for COVID-19 Scams:
Both the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission are reporting a spike in coronavirus related scams including home testing kits, fake cures, and other malicious attempts to prey on COVID-19 fears. The Treasury Department will NOT ask you to pay anything for the payment most Americans will receive as a result of the CARES Act and will not contact you for your bank account information. If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from the government asking for this type of information, please report it to www.ftc.gov/complaint. You can learn more about how to protect yourself from these types of scams here.
Resources to Know and Share: Here are some helpful resources and information on COVID-19.
Individual Payments:
The IRS launched the “Get My Payment” web portal with features to let taxpayers check on their Economic Impact Payment date and update direct deposition information. Click here to check on the status of your payment.
Helpful Resources on PPE:
CDC updated the PPE Burn Rate Calculator, a spreadsheet-based model that will help health care facilities plan and optimize the use of PPE for response to COVID-19. More here.
You can now see PPE shipments to Oregon counties here.
ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.
Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards.
For a top-line overview of the program CLICK HERE
If you’re a lender, more information can be found HERE
If you’re a borrower, more information can be found HERE
The application for borrowers can be found HERE
Other resources on the Paycheck Protection Program:
- Coronavirus.gov Small Business Resources Page
- Treasury Department Overview On The Paycheck Protection Program
- SBA.gov/Coronavirus Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources Page
INFORMATION FOR AMERICANS ABROAD:
The State Department has repatriated over 50,000 Americans from more than 90 countries.
The State Department is making efforts to bring home Americans, including through commercial flights, chartered flights, and military transport. Any American abroad who needs assistance should contact their local U.S. embassy and register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), available here or by calling 1-888-407-4747.
If you decide to travel abroad or are already outside the United States:
- Consider returning to your country of residence immediately using whatever commercial means are available.
- Have a travel plan that does not rely on the U.S. Government for assistance.
- Review and follow the CDC’s guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus.
- Check with your airline, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security.
- Visit Embassy webpages on COVID-19 for information on conditions in each country or jurisdiction.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States
ASSISTANCE FROM HHS AND FEMA:
HHS and FEMA have fielded many requests to assist or partner with the Federal Government in response to the COVID pandemic.
- Organizations or individuals seeking to contract with the federal government to import or manufacture medical products to aid the U.S. response submit information to FEMA through a Request for Proposal, available here.
- Organizations or individuals that wish to donate medical supplies or equipment can submit that information here.
- Other inquiries from organizations or individuals, including individuals who want to volunteer or organizations that want to produce a product related to the COVID response, among other inquiries, can be referred to https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help.
How to schedule a blood donation appointment:
- Visit RedCrossBlood.org. Click on “Schedule an Appointment” under the “Donate Blood” tab. From there you can enter your zip code to find a blood drive near you.
- Red Cross Blood Donor App
- Call 1-800-RED-CROSS
- Use Amazon Alexa Blood Scheduling Skill
Fast Facts: Here are some helpful stats on COVID-19 as of 4/26/20
Cases of COVID-19:
U.S. current case count (As of 4/25/20)- There are currently at least 919,066 cases and 52,100 deaths in the United States, as reported by Johns Hopkins and other media sources
Oregon current case count (As of 4/26/20): 2,311
Benton: 29
Clackamas: 204
Clatsop: 6
Columbia: 14
Coos: 12
Crook: 1
Curry: 4
Deschutes: 73
Douglas: 23
Grant: 1
Hood River: 5
Jackson: 49
Jefferson: 6
Josephine: 20
Klamath: 36
Lane: 50
Lincoln: 5
Linn: 74
Malheur: 6
Marion: 436
Morrow: 5
Multnomah: 652
Polk: 38
Sherman: 1
Tillamook: 6
Umatilla: 36
Union: 4
Wallowa: 1
Wasco: 12
Washington: 466
Yamhill: 36
Testing in Oregon (As of 4/26/20):
Positive: 2,311
Negative: 46,653
Total (since 1/24): 48,964
ICYMI from Walden:
Greg Walden Floor Statement on the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act