| Congress Must Return to Work on Our Country’s Reopening
As President Trump and the Senate are working safely in D.C., Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats still won’t bring the House back to work. Congress should be back in session to help workers and families, hold China accountable, get our economy up and running, and move our medical supply chain to America.
This week, I joined Jeff Crouere on WGSO radio to discuss getting back to work. The American people are looking to their leaders for guidance, we must lead by example and bring the House back to keep working on our country’s reopening with a focus on economic and personal health.
An Update on the Paycheck Protection Program
Earlier this week, the SBA released a report with information regarding the second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding approved by Congress. Since the second round of funding resumed on April 27th, over 2.2 million loans have been approved for small businesses across the country. During the second round of loans, over 32,000 Louisiana businesses have been approved for PPP loans, resulting in over $2 billion of approved dollars.
To ensure these loans are going to small businesses in need, the Trump Administration released new guidance instituting a review for loans greater than $2 million.
FEMA Provides COVID-19 Crisis Counseling
To help assist the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump delegated authority to FEMA to approve requests for the Crisis Counseling program. Crisis counseling is now available nationwide to all residents of the United States through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services’ Disaster Distress Helpline. This program provides support to people and communities dealing with the effects of COVID-19.
You can reach the helpline by calling 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service to call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or TTY 1-800-846-8517.
Community Updates and Good News of the Week
- FEMA is coordinating two shipments totaling a 14-day supply of PPE to over 15,000 nursing homes across the country. The first shipments are expected to begin in the first week of May, and the total amount of PPE being disbursed to these facilities includes over 7.1 million surgical masks, nearly 32.3 million gloves, over 922,000 goggles and eye protection, and nearly 9.7 million gowns.
- According to FEMA, as of May 4, FEMA, HHS, and the private sector combined have coordinated the delivery of or are currently shipping: 66.8 million N95 respirators, 115.4 million surgical masks, 7.5 million face shields, 18.7 million surgical gowns, 946.6 million gloves, 10,663 ventilators and 8,450 federal medical station beds.
- Jefferson Parish released their strategic plan to safely and effectively reopen the Jefferson Parish economy. They will reopen the economy in three phases based on contact risk and mitigation strategies for various industries. The plan will be done in communication and cooperation with medical experts and in adherence to federal guidelines.
- Pfizer and BioNTech SE announced that they have started human testing for an experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
- This week marks Teacher Appreciation Week. Education has not stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though kids can’t physically be in classrooms. Teachers are working tirelessly and getting creative to keep students learning and connected during this crisis. I want to give a huge THANK YOU to all of America’s educators!
It is an honor to represent you in Congress.
God Bless,
Steve Scalise
House Republican Whip |
