COVID-19 Federal Response Update From Congressman Andy Barr

Over the last few weeks, the resilience of Kentuckians and all Americans, as well as the heroic selflessness and skill of our doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, has been on full display as we fight the 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) together.  If you find this update to be helpful, and you would like to receive my regular e-newsletter, please sign up by visiting https://barr.house.gov/newsletter-subscription. 

CARES Act:

Last Friday, Congress passed, with my support, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the most aggressive fiscal stimulus legislation in American history. To watch my speech in support of this comprehensive legislation on the House floor, please click here.  This legislation supports the work of doctors, healthcare workers and first responders in Kentucky and throughout the country.  It also unleashes America’s researchers, scientists and pharmaceutical companies to find therapies to fight and ultimately defeat this virus.  Finally, this legislation provides Kentucky small businesses, workers and families desperately needed cash to pay their bills and to face the economic challenges this virus is posing to Kentucky and to our country.  Here is a partial breakdown on some of the key provisions and how this legislation may impact you: 

What Does this Mean for Individuals?

• Americans will receive direct cash assistance in the form of recovery rebates.  In order to be eligible, a person must have a valid Social Security Number – meaning that those who receive Social Security benefits are also eligible for this assistance.  Illegal aliens and people without a valid Social Security Number are not eligible.
• The full rebate amount is $1,200 for individuals with adjusted gross income at or below $75,000 and $2,400 for couples with adjusted gross income at or below and couples with income at or below $150,000.  Families with children will receive an additional $500 per child.  Rebates will be gradually reduced for individuals and couples above those income thresholds and ultimately phased out at $99,000 for individuals and $198,000 for couples.
• Creates a new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program to help those not traditionally eligible for Unemployment Insurance, such as self-employed and independent contractors, like gig workers and Uber drivers, as well as those who are unable to work or telework as a result of the Coronavirus public health emergency.
• Provides an additional $600/week payment to each UI or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance recipient for 4 months beginning April 1 through July 31, 2020.
• For a full breakdown on how CARES Act effects individuals, you can read more here.

• Small businesses will have access to the Paycheck Protection and Loan Forgiveness Program which will provide federally guaranteed loans to small businesses, certain nonprofits, sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed workers.
• Businesses with 500 employees or fewer, and certain franchisee businesses, are eligible for loans of 2.5 times monthly payroll, up to $10mm.    
• The amount of the loan used for payroll costs, rent, utilities and other obligations over an eight-week period will be forgiven.
• For a full breakdown on how CARES Act effects businesses, you can read more here.

• Provides $16 billion for the Strategic National Stockpile to produce personal protection equipment, ventilators, and other medical supplies for response efforts.
• Provides $4.3 billion for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Ensures that all tests for COVID-19 are covered with no out-of-pocket costs.
• Requires that any potential COVID-19 vaccine be covered with no out-of-pocket costs.
• Provides billions in urgent increased funding and grants for hospitals.
• For a full breakdown on how CARES Act effects healthcare, you can read more here.

• I joined my colleagues in the Kentucky Congressional Delegation in a bipartisan effort to quickly secure the now-approved Presidential Disaster Designation for the Commonwealth.  As a result, Kentucky will now have access to additional federal funds and resources through the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA).
• I have been coordinating and advocating with FEMA, HHS, and ASPR to ensure Kentucky receives the medical supplies our hospitals and healthcare workers desperately need that are available from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). 
• To date, Kentucky has received three shipments from the SNS with the following supplies included:
  • On March 21, Kentucky received a shipment of 41,744 N95 Masks, 99,443 Surgical Masks, 18,936 Face Shields, 15,439 Surgical Gowns, 79 Coveralls and 54,972 Gloves.
  • On March 24, Kentucky received 41,744 N95 Masks, 99,443 Surgical Masks, 18,936 Face Shields, 15,439 Surgical Gowns, 79 Coveralls and 54,972 Gloves.
  • On March 30, Kentucky received 60,450 N95 Masks, 143,511 Surgical Masks, 31,207 Face Shields, 25,688 Surgical Gowns, 1,765 Coveralls and 184,258 Gloves.
• I was pleased to lead a bipartisan effort with Congressman John Yarmuth to call on the Food and Drug Administration to cut red tape for distilleries so they can produce hand sanitizer.  Our letter to the FDA has 87 members of Congress as co-signers.  I will continue to advocate for the necessary changes to bureaucratic regulations to empower Kentucky distilleries to mass produce this product during this pandemic.
• I have been in regularized and constant contact with our Kentucky hospital administrators, physicians’ groups, nursing homes, community bankers, small businesses and small business groups to listen to and help coordinate the federal relief response to meet their needs.
• For Kentucky community businesses, my office has established a Small Business Response team to address the concerns of our main street businesses and direct them to the resources provided in both the CARES Act and the other legislation passed by Congress to combat COVID-19. 
• For further information, please visit the COVID-19 page on my website, which constituents can access to find resources to many of the challenges being posed by COVID-19. 

Appreciation:

I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the courage of millions of Americans who are unsung heroes, going to work every day as grocery store employees, garbage collectors, truck drivers, postal workers, sanitation and cleaning professionals as well as all the other Americans still working despite the danger this virus poses to them.  Their sacrifice helps our communities maintain some normalcy as so many temporary changes are occurring.

I continue to seek your feedback and ideas as Congress works on a bold agenda to guide America through the COVID-19 pandemic and engineer the great American comeback that is forthcoming.  You can always reach out to me at https://barr.house.gov/email-me with your input.  Lastly, if you would like to stay informed on what is happening in Washington, D.C. and around the Sixth Congressional District, again, I encourage you to sign up to receive my e-newsletter by visiting https://barr.house.gov/newsletter-subscription. If you want to unsubscribe to my e-newsletter, you can do so by clicking here. 

Sincerely,

Andy Barr
Member of Congress