Coronavirus Update April 24th

PPP Vote

After partisan politics stalled negotiations, Congress finally passed additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program yesterday. This is something that should have been done last week before the program ran out of money, but it's good news that the program is now replenished. The $310 billion will be vitally important as we move into the last week of April, as a substantial number of businesses have been applying for PPP relief. Secretary Mnuchin stated that through the first 14 days of this program, 14 years' worth of requests were processed - that is a staggering number.

Although this program is not perfect, it's obvious that it is working. Small businesses need our help now and will continue to need our help even as we begin to reopen the economy. The gradual move back into economic normalcy will not start with immediate prosperity for small businesses across the state, so the PPP will remain a vital component moving forward.

Letter to Governor Ivey

As a member of Governor Ivey's "Getting Alabama Back 2 Work" Task Force, it is my responsibility to provide the Governor with information about our district and represent the broader feelings of how and when we should get back to work. After consulting with thirteen local business owners, directors of the twenty-six Chambers of Commerce in the district, individual members in those Chambers, and hospital administrators, I sent my recommendations to the Governor.

Included in my letter were findings from a survey we sent out to business owners across the district. We found that 64% of those who responded are prepared to get back to work immediately and want businesses to reopen starting on May 1. Additionally, the responses showed overwhelming support of enhanced sanitary measures, such as continuing social distancing, wearing masks, frequent sanitation of surfaces, hand washing stations, and more. I know the Governor will take these findings, and my recommendations, seriously as she builds a plan to reopen Alabama.

If you would like to read the full letter I sent, you can do that by clicking here.   

COVID-19 Numbers

As of now there are over 2.6 million confirmed Coronavirus cases around the world, over 5,000 of which are right here in our state. Although this number get incrementally higher each day, the spread of the virus is slowing down. This is great news as we discuss how and when to reopen Alabama and the rest of the country.

However, we must continue to care for those infected by COVID-19 and take care of the health providers who are working tirelessly during this pandemic. As I mentioned earlier, Congress passed a replenishment bill for the PPP, and included in that bill was $75 billion for hospitals. This portion of the bill will specifically provide additional funding to our hospitals and health care providers and give financial relief to those that have lost revenue due to the Coronavirus. It is my hope that these funds are able to help the hospitals in Alabama, especially those in rural parts of the state, as they are the backbone of many communities.

Hubble Anniversary

Today is a great day for space exploration as one of the most incredible pieces of technology ever produced for space flight turns 30 - the Hubble Telescope. Launched from the Space Shuttle Discovery on this day in 1990, the Hubble Telescope has given the world a glimpse into the great expanse of the universe, showing us what no human has ever witnessed before. Providing unbelievable amounts of knowledge to NASA's scientists and a great amount of inspiration to kids across the country, the Hubble Telescope is a beloved part of our mission to explore space.

Making this annivesary even more special, all of the design, development, and construction of Hubble was done right here in Alabama, at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

And, if you never have before, check out what Hubble captured on your birthday by clicking here.​​​​​​​