COVID-19 Congressional Action Update From    Congressman Andy Barr

First, let me thank all of the medical professionals, healthcare workers, first responders and public servants who have been working overtime to keep Kentucky and our nation safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. Kentuckians and Americans have displayed their resilience, compassion and strength as we take on this insidious virus.

Over the past week, the full weight and force of the American public and private sectors have been unleashed to combat the threat of the COVID-19 strain of Coronavirus. As your Representative in Congress, I have been working tirelessly to advocate for your interests and protect our community. Here is an update on my actions to date to address this crisis over the last few weeks:  

  • On March 4, I voted for H.R. 6074, the bipartisan Coronavirus Preparedness Response and Supplemental Appropriations Act to provide $8.3 billion of emergency supplemental appropriations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and other federal agencies to fully fund a robust response to COVID-19, including expansion for diagnostic testing, antiviral therapies and vaccine development, support for state and local governments, assistance for affected small businesses, and care for those infected with the virus.
  • On March 14, I voted for H.R. 6201, the bipartisan Families First Coronavirus Response Act on March 14 to deliver on the President’s promise to ensure free COVID-19 testing for all Americans, provide temporary paid sick and family medical leave related to COVID-19 or because of school closures, and reimburse small businesses with less than 500 employees dollar for dollar for Coronavirus-related sick and family leave costs through payroll tax credits and Treasury advances to small businesses with insufficient cash deposited with the IRS.
  • Attended regular briefings on COVID-19 developments with Administration officials leading the response including Vice President Mike Pence, Seema Verma, Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Steve Redd, Senior Advisor for COVID-19 Response at CDC, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Stephen Hahn, Commissioner of the FDA, and Robert Kadlec, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS.
  • Coordinated and hosted multiple conference calls with hospital administrators, health care providers, nursing home administrators, small businesses, public housing authorities, food bank administrators, state and local officials, and community banks and credit unions to give an update on federal response efforts to COVID-19 and solicit feedback from Sixth District constituents to raise and coordinate these concerns at the federal level.
  • Accepted an invitation by Minority Whip Steve Scalise to join small business task force to advise Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on additional measures needed to assist small businesses through this economic challenge. 
  • Participated in multiple conference calls with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, top Federal Reserve officials, financial regulators and colleagues in Congress to discuss fiscal stimulus proposals in response to the partial, voluntary, pandemic-related shutdown of the U.S. economy.
  • Coordinated with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to request for Kentucky a disaster designation to enable small businesses access to the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program to provide low interest loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

How You Can Help:

As Dr. Fauci has stated recently, the COVID-19 outbreak is expected to get worse before we overcome it.  However, I believe we are taking the appropriate steps needed to protect our communities. If you are interested in pitching in too, here are some things you may want to consider doing:

Shop Local

Restaurants, bars and small shops in Kentucky are in a time of uncertainty. Buying gift cards to these establishments or ordering take out from a local restaurant can go a long way in supporting Kentucky small businesses that are a staple in many of our communities.

Donate To A Local Food Pantry

Many non-profit organizations and health care facilities have all hands are on deck. Feeding Kentucky for example is encouraging monetary donations to their food pantry so they can build up their supply. They are also asking for healthy volunteers to sort donated food, pre-packed meal boxes and distribute food boxes at drive-through and mobile pantry locations. You can learn more by visiting FeedingKy.org/coronavirus, email info@feedingky.org or call 502-699-2656.

Coronavirus Response Fund

Last week, United Way of the Bluegrass (UWBG) and Blue Grass Community Foundation (BGCF) joined forces to launch a Coronavirus Response Fund to help provide support to vulnerable populations impacted by the outbreak across Central and Appalachia Kentucky.  The Fund will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations providing relief to impacted individuals and families and will provide flexible resources to organizations working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. Donations to the Fund will support economically vulnerable populations caused by loss of work or reduced wages, childcare challenges due to school and business closures, and the increased demand for assistance with food, transportation and healthcare.  To donate online, click HERE.

Protect YOU

During this pandemic, please consider the following guidelines from the CDC to protect yourself and your family. We are all in this together, and we will defeat this virus and come out stronger than ever before.

2-1-1 – Information and Referral

If you are in need of non-emergent assistance, please call United Way’s 2-1-1 Contact Center, or text your 5-digit Zip Code to 898211 for help.  2-1-1 is a free and confidential information and referral service that connects people with available resources like food, housing, health care, senior services, transportation, legal aid, and much more. 2-1-1 is available 24/7 and can assess needs and make referrals to regional partners providing services to individuals and families.

If you would like to stay informed on what is happening in Washington, D.C. and around the Sixth Congressional District, I encourage you to sign up to receive my e-newsletter by visiting https://barr.house.gov/newsletter-subscription.