Paycheck Protection Program Now Open

The Paycheck Protection Program is now available to small businesses that collectively employ 60 million Americans. This $350 billion lifeline to small business was included as part of the recently-passed CARES Act. The Paycheck Protection Program loan will be forgiven in full so long as the businesses adhere to a set of requirements, including using the loan for payroll costs like salaries and cash tips, as well as debt obligations like mortgage, rent, and utitilies.

• Resources from Treasury found here.
• Program overview found here.
• If you're a borrower, get information here.

Advice from a Frontline Doctor

I encourage everyone to watch this video. From his experience on the frontlines in the nation's coronavirus hotspot, Dr. David Price of Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City gives us sound advice, makes the disease a little less scary, and gives us hope by empowering us.

I am highlighting Dr. Price's video because it is important that we don't become gripped with fear or allow panic to sweep our society.

All of us as individual citizens need to do our part. That starts with taking our situation seriously and following Dr. Price's good advice to do everything we can to avoid contracting or spreading COVID-19. We don't have to shut down our entire economy to accomplish that. In fact, it is essential that we keep as much of it open and operating as we can.

Read the rest of my comments in Real Clear Politics.

Major Disaster Declaration Request

Earlier this week, I lead my colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump requesting support for Gov. Tony Evers major disaster declaration request to assist Wisconsin's COVID-19 response. The disaster declaration is crucial to bring much needed federal dolllars to Wisconsin to win the fight against coronavirus.

Read the letter here.

The Census Counts

April 1 was Census Day. I strongly encourage everyone to fill out the 2020 Census as soon as possible. Responding to the census takes less than 10 minutes, and responding online saves taxpayer money by allowing data to be processed more efficiently.

More information here: my2020census.gov

Wisconsinites Doing Good

So many Wisconsin companies are stepping up in a big way to help with the critical need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Chairman and CEO of Jockey, based in Kenosha, was at the White House this week announcing the manufacturing and donation of surgical gowns. Read more about their plans here.