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COVID-19 Resources for 42nd Congressional District Constituents

COVID-19 Resources for 42nd Congressional District Constituents

Our nation is responding to an outbreak of a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected across the globe The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19").

The most important thing Americans can do to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community at-large is to listen to our public health officials and social distance themselves in order to flatten the COVID-19 growth curve, and reduce the strain on our health care facilities.

To sign up for regular breaking updates from my office on COVID-19 please click HERE.

HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19
- California Department of Public Health
- Riverside County Coronavirus Information Line: Dial 2-1-1
RESOURCES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS:
- Includes information on the meals program for seniors on a limited budget.
RESOURCES FOR WORKERS:
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES:
- Includes information about CalFresh/SNAP Assistance Program (previously known as food stamps) to provide low-income households with food assistance.
- The IRS has established a special phone line (800-919-9835) for taxpayers with questions about their Economic Impact Payments (EIP).
RESOURCES FOR VETERANS, MILITARY RETIREES AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY:
NOTE: The VA encourages veterans call their VA medical center before going to a VA clinic, urgent care, or emergency room, especially if they have symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath.
RESOURCES FOR CONSUMERS:
RESOURCES FOR U.S. TRAVELERS:
- U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad are encouraged to enroll to ensure the nearest Embassy or Consulate is aware of their trip.

ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS

In the CARES Act, Congress provided aid to state and local governments to support the local public health response to COVID-19. While not exhaustive, the CARES Act and other legislation have provided the following resources to state and local governments:

  • $139 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund for state and local governments, with $15.3 billion directed to California
  • $45 billion Disaster Relief Grants to help meet public health needs of state and local governments under a major disaster declaration
  • $4.3 billion thorough the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to support federal, state and local public health agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. H.R. 266, Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act included $12 billion in additional funds to continue purchasing tests and scale-up laboratory capacity, trace contacts, and support employer testing.
  • $30.75billion for an Education Stabilization Fund for states, school districts and institutions of higher education
  • $5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program
  • $4 billion in Homeless Assistance Grants
  • $850 million for the Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant program, which may be used to purchase PPE for law enforcement
  • $100 million grants for purchase of PPE for first responders
ACTIONS TAKEN BY CONGRESSMAN KEN CALVERT:
  • February 13, 2020: Rep. Calvert signs a bipartisan Riverside County delegation letter to the Department of Health and Human Services in support of Riverside County's reimbursement request for its help in support of the repatriation of U.S. citizens from Wuhan, China.
  • February 13, 2020: Rep. Calvert signs a bipartisan delegation letter to the Department of Health and Human Services requesting guidelines for states and local governments to receive reimbursement for costs incurred as part of the federal response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • March 4, 2020: Rep. Calvert votes for legislation providing emergency funding for the U.S. response to COVID-19. (Signed into law)
  • March 14, 2020: Rep. Calvert votes for legislation providing additional federal benefits for American workers and families. (Signed into law)
  • March 20, 2020: Rep. Calvert sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper requesting the deployment of the USNS Mercy naval hospital ship to the Port of Los Angeles to aid the Southern California region's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • March 20, 2020: Rep. Calvert signed a letter to the Trump admin. urging them to prioritize working with our trading partners to find essential personal protective equipment and avoid placing any new red tape/restrictions on medical providers as they seek to obtain this equipment from available sources.
  • March 26, 2020: The House of Representatives approves the CARES Act via voice vote to provide a bridge for American workers, job creators, and health care providers to get through this challenging period.
  • April 2, 2020: Rep. Calvert holds a COVID-19 Small Business Telephone Townhall with the Small Business Administration for 42nd District job creators.
  • April 7, 2020: Rep. Calvert holds a COVID-19 Telephone Townhall with Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari for 42nd District constituents.
  • May 12, 2020: Rep. Calvert cosponsored legislation to establish a bicameral, bipartisan joint select committee to investigate China's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • June 11, 2020: Rep. Calvert joins the California delegation in sending a letter to Governor Newsom urging him to distribute CARES Act funds to small, rural communities across California.
  • June 17, 2020: Rep. Calvert signed a letterto the Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar asking for clear guidance on how the implementation of contract tracing to track the spread of COVID-19 will balance data privacy protections.
  • June 25, 2020: Rep. Calvert signed a letterto California Attorney General Xavier Becerra requesting an investigation into Governor Newsom's deadly policy of returning COVID-19 positive patients to nursing homes, putting other residents and staff at great risk.
  • July 1, 2020: Rep. Calvert supported legislation to extend Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through August 8, 2020 when it passed the House via voice vote. The program is bringing critical relief to America's small businesses.
  • July 13, 2020: Rep. Calvert signed a letterto Governor Gavin Newsom expressing disapproval of the Governor's threat to withhold Federal CARES Act funding to local governments for lack of compliance with State mandates.
  • July 16, 2020: Rep. Calvert cosponsored the Coronavirus Public Safety and Economic Recovery Act to protect businesses from being sued due to COVID-19 if they are in compliance with CDC and local health requirements.
  • July 27, 2020: Rep. Calvert cosponsored the Defend COVID Research from Hackers Act (H.R.7708) to protect American research and development of a COVID-19 vaccine from hackers, and hold those that attempt to commit these cyber crimes accountable.
  • August 26, 2020: Rep. Calvert signed a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in support of a proposal to keep temporarily expanded telehealth reimbursement flexibilities, allowing Medicare recipients and providers to increase access to necessary health services, in place even when the pandemic is over.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY CARES ACT FUNDS

The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has required our solutions to also be extraordinary. This is why Rep. Calvert was proud to support the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. This historic relief package was designed to help Americans emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic as strong as ever.

Throughout the pandemic, Rep. Calvert has tirelessly advocated for the needs of Riverside County. The CARES Act provided more than half a billion dollars in relief for Riverside County, here are a few examples of the way these funds have been distributed to aid our community.

  • $431 million to the County of Riverside to assist with expenses related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the seventh highest allocation in the country. Funding includes:
    • $46 million for small business relief
    • $33 million for low-income family rental assistance
  • Local airports received $22.4 million in aid from the Department of Transportation to help our local airports weather the crisis and to maintain our existing regional infrastructure.
  • $13.4 million to the Riverside County Office of Education and local higher education from the Department of Education's Higher Education Relief Fund.
  • $14.7 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist with local housing and support homeless families and individuals.

SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF

The CARES Act created a relief program for small businesses in the form of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP is a loan program for small businesses, self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and sole proprietors impacted by COVID-19. The program provides loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) which are forgivable if the borrower demonstrates they maintained their payroll.

In the 42nd District of California thus far,

  • 8,499 businesses have received loans
  • 91,688 jobs were retained by those loans
  • More than $583 million in loans were distributed to local businesses
Issues:Health Care