This fight against COVID-19 is unlike anything we've seen in our lifetimes. However, I am dedicated to doing whatever it takes to help our nation through this unprecedented virus outbreak.

John, Yesterday, President Trump signed the CARES Act into law. This $2.2 trillion bill, which will help stabilize our economy and get resources to our medical professionals, was the product of a lot of hard work between Republicans and Democrats. I am proud of many of the economic provisions in this legislation. Here are a few of the highlights of the new law. Financial relief for middle-class families. $1,200 per adult or $2,400 per couple. $500 per child. $350 billion in small business loans to help our local companies cover payroll, pay rent, and other bills. Loan money spent on salary and other expenses can be forgiven. $117 billion for hospitals and veterans' health care. Rural healthcare prioritized through expanded telehealth and home health services. Loan money spent on salary and other expenses can be forgiven. More than $1.25 billion for the State of South Carolina to deal with coronavirus-related needs. And much, much more. (Additional details can be found below) The $1,200 per person payment is a lot of money to middle class individuals and families, and it will help keep the lights on and the refrigerator stocked. If you're on Social Security and haven't paid income taxes, you'll still get a payment. Any adult making less than $75,000 in 2018 will get a payment. The money will come via direct deposit if you receive your tax refund or Social Security payment that way, or it will come via check if you are not already set up with direct deposit with the IRS. It's going to take a few weeks, but the money will be coming as quickly as possible. This virus is impacting every community in South Carolina. For instance, there are 1,700 restaurants in Myrtle Beach, virtually all of which are shut down. Our goal is for them – and small businesses like them all over the state – to be able to go to the bank, get a loan, keep their employees on the payroll, pay the rent, keep the lights on until this thing turns the corner, and then have most or all of the loan forgiven. That helps businesses stay solvent and keeps employees getting paid through this crisis. While the CARES Act does a lot of good, it also contains a provision which I strongly opposed and tried to change. The law allows some individuals to make significantly more money from unemployment benefits than they would working at their full-time job. I coauthored an amendment to cap the unemployment benefits at 100% of what laid off workers were making at their job, but the amendment was defeated by a vote of 48-48. I will continue working to correct this part of the law in the weeks to come so that the government doesn't pay people more money not to work. This fight against COVID-19 is unlike anything we've seen in our lifetimes. However, I am dedicated to doing whatever it takes to help our nation through this unprecedented virus outbreak. To further explain this legislation, I hosted a Town Hall meeting yesterday on Facebook where I answered numerous questions from constituents about how the law works. You can watch the video here. Please check in on your neighbors, take care of your families, and practice social distancing at all times. We will get through this together and emerge stronger than ever. God bless you. Sincerely, Lindsey Graham United States Senator HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CARES ACT Provides Money to American Families Gives a one-time tax rebate check of $1,200 to every American whose 2018 tax return, or 2019 if filed, showed income at or below $75,000. That's $2,400 per married couple, with an extra $500 per child. There's no minimum threshold, so all working people benefit. That assistance is reduced for those earning between $75,000 - $99,000, and ends at $99,000, to give more help to the middle class. Expands unemployment insurance to self-employed workers and makes more money available for longer. Makes it possible for self-employed and independent contractors in the "gig economy" to receive unemployment, and increases benefits by adding $600 per week for up to four months. Additional $260 billion to support workers affected by COVID-19. Under this pandemic unemployment assistance program, funding will also be provided to states to reimburse 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government agencies, and Indian tribes for half of the costs they incur to pay unemployment benefits. Helps Small Businesses Keep Employees and Stay Open Creates a "Paycheck Protection program" that will provide 8 weeks of cash-flow assistance through 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to small businesses who maintain their payroll. That means these small businesses, self-employed individuals, and "gig economy" workers have the support they need to keep their businesses going and keep their employees on payroll. This program is also available to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, 501(c)(19) veteran's organizations, and 31(b)(2)(c) tribal organizations. $350 billion in federally guaranteed credit for small businesses so that they can keep staff. $10 billion for Small Business Administration emergency grants of up to $10,000 to provide immediate relief for small business operating costs. $17 billion for the Small Business Administration to cover 6 months of payments for small businesses with existing loans. Helps Families Stay in Their Home Implements a Foreclosure Moratorium on Federally-Backed Mortgages for People Who Experience Hardship as a Result of COVID-19 - Prohibits foreclosures on all federally-backed mortgage loans for a 60-day period beginning March 18, 2020. Provides up to 180 days of forbearance for borrowers of a federally-backed mortgage loan who have experienced hardship related to the COVID-19 emergency. Provides Relief to People with Federal Student Loans Affected by COVID-19 Requires federal student loan payments, principal, and interest be deferred for 6 months through September 30, 2020 without penalty to the student. This provides relief for over 95 percent of student loan borrowers. Fully mobilizes America's health care sector and prioritizes rural health Significantly expands telehealth so that patients can see doctors with whom they don't already have a relationship from the safety of their own home, connecting people on home dialysis with providers, and allowing federally qualified health centers to participate. The bill also fully mobilizes the care community empowering nurse practitioners and physicians' assistants to prescribe home health services. Makes Common Sense Reforms to Health Savings Accounts Allows the use of HSAs to cover telehealth and over the counter drugs without a prescription. Stabilizes the Economy by Authorizing the Federal Reserve to Provide Liquidity to Markets Provides $454 billion for loans, loan guarantees, and investments in support of the Federal Reserve's lending facilities to eligible businesses, states, and municipalities. Provides Loans (Not Bailouts) to Support Important National Industry Provides direct lending through the Treasury's Exchange Stabilization Fund to passenger airlines, cargo airlines, and businesses important to "maintaining national security." Protects Workers, Not Executive Compensation Prohibits the passenger airlines, cargo airlines, and businesses important to maintaining national security from engaging in stock buybacks and increasing compensation of any officer or employee beyond $425,000. These recipients are also required to maintain payroll in order to receive grants. Additionally, the Congress allocates $340 billion of emergency funding to combat the coronavirus outbreak on all fronts. More than 80%, or $274 billion, of this funding will go to state and local governments. The comprehensive package brings to bear the full resources of the federal government to protect the health and well-being of Americans. THIS PACKAGE ALSO INCLUDES FOR HEALTH CARE RESPONDERS $117 billion for hospitals and veterans' health care; $45 billion for FEMA disaster relief fund; $16 billion for the Strategic National Stockpile which includes procuring personal protective equipment, ventilators, and other necessary medical supplies for federal and state response efforts. Lindsey Graham is a fighter who doesn't back down from a challenge. He's a conservative who gets things done. He's a leader who puts our country above all! In the United States Senate, South Carolina's Lindsey Graham has earned a reputation as a conservative, a problem-solver, and a leader who gets things done. He is a great friend to our men and women serving in uniform, a respected voice on national security matters, a leading advocate for cutting the out-of-control spending in Washington, and a champion for confirming conservative judges. We want to make sure you're a proud member of Team Graham, and we don't want to bother you. To receive only the most important emails, please click here. We'd hate to see you go, but if you'd like to unsubscribe, please click here. Paid For By Team Graham, Inc.