Coronavirus Relief Update:
On Friday, President Trumped signed into law the Senate’s coronavirus emergency relief package, known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). To better explain the CARES Act, and the relief it will provide, my team created a comprehensive toolkit that outlines what assistance is available and answers many frequently asked questions. To view the toolkit, click HERE.
Hoosiers can also visit my coronavirus relief webpage at young.senate.gov/coronavirus or email [email protected] for additional information. We are standing by and ready to help.
Resources in the toolkit are hyperlinked below:
In the News:
I’ve been speaking with Hoosiers across the state about the resources available to help stop the spread of coronavirus and stem its economic impact. See below for a sampling of interview clips.
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Legislative Update
My Support of the Coronavirus Emergency Relief Package
Last week, I voted in support of the third phase of the coronavirus emergency relief package known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This emergency relief package is designed to help Hoosier families, workers, job creators, healthcare heroes on the front lines, patients, and everyone who has suffered through no fault of their own. Now that this bill is law, it will provide direct funding to Hoosier households and bolster the state of Indiana’s response to this unprecedented public health crisis. In addition to providing economic relief, I’m hopeful this historic agreement will also help alleviate our nation’s anxiety. We are going to get through this by working together, and we are going to come out stronger.
Highlights of the CARES Act include:
- 2020 Recovery Rebate payments of $1,200 for rank-and-file Hoosiers subject to income limitations plus an additional $500 for each child under the age of 17.
- Indiana will receive a minimum of $1.25 billion to aid its response to the pandemic. Indianapolis will be eligible for additional direct funds as a result of its significant population size.
- $11 billion in funding to advance the manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other medical needs of the American people.
- $16 billion to procure personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and other medical supplies for the strategic national stockpile.
- $100 billion to support hospitals and health care providers.
- Over $30 billion is allocated to help America’s agriculture industry continue to keep food in our stores and on our tables.
- Relaxation of rules for withdrawals from retirement accounts without penalty.
- Payroll tax credit for employers that retain their workers.
- $14.4 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs to respond to the increased demand for healthcare services at the VA. $2.1 billion for veterans to receive care in the community. And $606 million to upgrade VA Medical Facilities to better respond to pandemics.
- Rolls back regulations to allow veterans to use tele-health services to reduce the risk of leaving the house and being exposed to the virus.
My efforts helped to secure provisions that:
- Expand Medicare telehealth authorities to allow seniors to access a broader range of physicians and other providers from safety of their homes.
- Expand Medicare telehealth for home dialysis patients.
- Encourage the use of telecommunications systems for patients in home health.
- Allow Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics to furnish telehealth services.
- Increase access to post-acute care facilities, like long-term acute care hospitals.
- Address the high demand for qualified nurses in underserved areas by allowing nurses at health care facilities with critical nursing shortages to benefit from the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program, regardless of the facility’s tax status. This provision was modeled off of my Nursing Where It’s Needed (WIN) Act.
- Increase funds for the Child Care and Development Block Grant that will keep child care providers in business and support access for working families especially those in the health care workforce.
- Provide funding for resource partners to provide education, training, and advising to small businesses and employees on available federal assistance.
- Waive the affiliation rules for businesses in the hospitality and restaurant industries, franchises that are approved on the SBA’s Franchise Directory, and small businesses that receive financing through the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program.
Bill to Help Sustain Rural Broadband Connectivity During Coronavirus Pandemic
Students and teachers across Indiana are struggling to complete e-learning days with broadband connections that are unreliable at best. I’ve joined a bipartisan bill to improve remote learning for Hoosier students and telehealth for seniors most at risk during coronavirus.
The Keeping Critical Connections Act would establish a Keeping Critical Connections fund at the Federal Communications Commission where small broadband providers with fewer than 250,000 customers could be compensated for broadband servicesif they provided free or discounted broadband services or upgradesduring the pandemic for low-income families who could not afford to pay their bills or provided distance learning capability for students. The bill is endorsed by NTCAthe Rural Broadband Association, WTA Advocates for Rural Broadband, Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), and the Indiana Rural Broadband Association.
Calling On Houthi Authorities To Stop Obstructing Humanitarian Aid
Last Thursday, I called on Houthi authorities in Yemen to stop restricting humanitarian assistance from reaching Yemeni citizens. The coronavirus pandemic has yet to hit Yemen, but as it sweeps through the Middle East, it is just a matter of time. It’s unconscionable that Houthi authorities would impose unacceptable restrictions on the ability of the United Nations and other aid organizations to deliver assistance to millions of people in need. We are calling on Houthi officials to stop obstructing humanitarian aid from reaching Yemeni civilians while the country is teetering on the brink of starvation and famine. And although we are encouraged by the news of a possible ceasefire by warring forces in Yemen, absent an immediate halt to violence and a return to negotiations, people will continue to suffer.
Social Media Recap
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