By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostU.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said help is on they way to Kansas families and businesses after the House approved a $2 trillion coronavirus aid package Friday."No. 1 we want to protect Kansans' lives," he said, "so there is significant funding for our hospitals and the doctors and nurses to make sure they get the equipment they need to protect themselves and do their jobs."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584054346770.jpeg" alt="U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>The bill provides $100 billion in direct assistance to health care providers.The legislation will increase reimbursement percentages to Critical Access Hospitals, most of which are in rural areas. If CAC hospitals do have patients with coronavirus, they will receive increased funding.&nbsp;Marshall noted many small CAC hospitals do not have ventilators or the respiratory staff to use them. The CACs will need to refer patients with more critical needs to hospitals such as HaysMed."We need to make sure that HaysMed has what they need," Marshall said. "Today, I spoke with the Kansas Department of Health making sure they have stockpiles ready to go."Marshall added, "The No. 1 thing we can do right now is stop the spread of this virus. If it becomes an epidemic across Kansas, there is not enough ventilators in the world to take care of people."The onerous is on each community to contain this virus. That is what is so important right now is containing the virus."Marshall noted President Trump has been frustrated with the CDC in getting people tested for the virus.However, Marshall said he believes everyone who needed to be tested in Kansas has received a test."I think we have turned a corner there, and there is much more testing throughout the state," Marshall said noting private labs have taken on the bulk of the coronavirus testing in Kansas.Marshall next highlighted direct payments provide for in the bill to individuals — $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples plus $500 per dependent.The bill also extends unemployment insurance benefits from 26 to 39 weeks and increases each check by $600."With the oil and gas industry, I am afraid some people will be getting laid off from their jobs," he said.&nbsp;Marhsall called small businesses the "backbone of rural America" as he described the bill's aid package for small businesses as well as farmers and ranchers.If the businesses keep staff on board during the crisis, they are eligible for forgivable loans from the Small Business Administration.Not only can farmers and ranchers access assistance through the SBA, Marshall said the legislation increased funds to the Commodity Credit Corporation.&nbsp;Agriculture Secretary Sunny Perdue has been authorized for an additional $14 billion to replenish the CCC to address low commodity prices and trade disruptions for those producers who have been affected by COVID-19. These funds will include payment to cattle producers."We tried to protect Kansans' health, protect families and their income and protect their jobs. That is our hope right now," Marshall said of the legislation.President Trump has said he would like to see Americans start going back to work by Easter, but he has drawn sharp criticism from some health professionals who argue that will be too soon.Marshall, who is a physician, said he also thought by Easter some Americans would be returning to work."I think it is a great goal," he said. "It is a lofty goal. The only way that happens is if we contain the virus, if communities lock down and isolate the virus."He said he hoped anti-body testing could start soon and people who have already had the virus could go back to work."It will be different for each state and each community on when we go back," he said. "Right now, there seems to be a big difference between what is going on in Kansas City versus Wichita versus Hays."He said he hopes that soon communities would be able to do random testing to determine how much virus is in communities."There is so much fear mongering going out there," he said. "You can choose to live in fear or you can choose to live in faith. Our country has been through tougher times, and there are tougher times ahead of us. We are going to get through this one, and we are going to do just fine."Read a press release from Marshall with more details on the stimulus plan below:Marshall Statement on Passage of Phase III COVID-19 Relief PackageWASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., returned to Capitol Hill to vote yes on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 748 – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which will put emergency cash into the hands of American families and workers, while also delivering desperate relief to agriculture producers, ranchers, small businesses, and provide needed funding for health care workers and hospitals. During the debate,&nbsp;<a href="https://dispatch.revily.com/t/r-l-jhhtcly-l-y/">Dr. Marshall made remarks from the floor</a>, and after the vote he released the following statement:"Last Sunday, the U.S. Senate announced a bipartisan framework to help individuals and small businesses through the Chinese coronavirus crisis. Then, Speaker Pelosi entered the fray. In the five&nbsp;days that have followed, coronavirus has cost hundreds of Americans their lives, over 40,000 have been infected, and millions of jobs have been lost.Thank goodness, cooler heads have now prevailed. This is not a perfect bill by any means, and there’s a lot I wish I could take out myself, but the reality is this compromise has a lot that the American people and their small businesses need right now. I want to thank our President for his leadership, for halting travel from China, which saved hundreds of lives, and for reaching out early to private enterprise to work toward solving the testing challenges. Unlike the political garbage we’ve seen this week, these decisions actually saved lives.As a physician, I remind Americans to follow the President's 15-day guidelines. Let’s flatten the curve. Let’s not let up. Let’s ignore the petty political games from the Speaker. And as one nation under God, this exceptional nation will get through this."The bill includes funding for the following:Resources for Health Care Providers:&nbsp;Provides $100 billion in direct assistance to health care providers on the front lines of the crisis.Funding for a Cure: Provides $11 billion for producing a vaccine and other therapies that will prevent the virus from spreading and help treat it.Resources for Critical Medical Supplies:&nbsp;Provides $16 billion&nbsp;to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE, ventilators, and other critical medical supplies.Funding for Centers for Disease Control:&nbsp;Provides $4.3 billion to the CDC for public health preparedness and response.Supports Americans with direct payments:&nbsp;Up to $1,200 per individual, $2,400 per married couple, and $500 per dependent, based on 2018 tax filing, if 2019 tax filing is not available.Flexibility for Small Business Loans:&nbsp;Increases the number of eligible businesses, nonprofits, and lenders that can participate in the SBA’s 7(a) loan program, providing temporary flexibility in the use of the loan, and allows for loan forgiveness measures to keep employees on the payroll during this uncertain time.Support for Farmers and Ranchers:&nbsp;Provides $9.5 billion for Secretary Perdue to provide support to farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19 including livestock producers; and includes an additional $14 billion to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to address low commodity prices and trade disruptions.Treatment for Veterans:&nbsp;Provides for the VA $19 billion to treat COVID-19, acquire test kits and Personal Protective Equipment and support veterans during this pandemic.Support for Manufacturers:&nbsp;Provides $50 million of increased funding to NIST’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program, which provides direct support to small and mid-sized manufacturers, with none of the funding subject to the cost share requirement that is a normal requirement for this program.Increased Food Access: Provides $450 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to help food banks stay stocked and ready to serve those in need.Support for Small Airports:&nbsp;Provides $100 million for general aviation airports and $56 million for Essential Air Service (EAS, keeping small and regional airports operational during the crisis.Support for Schools:&nbsp;Provides $31 billion to support K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to help our students continue to learn.Support for Cities and Towns:&nbsp;Provides $5 billion for Community Development Block Grants that help our cities and towns across Kansas remain strong.Relief for Community Banks:&nbsp;Will help banks quickly provide loans to those who need them by lowering the Community Bank Leverage Ratio, enabling banks to dip further into their capital reserves for increased lending during these times of stress.Support for Rural Development:&nbsp;Provides additional resources for USDA’s Business &amp; Industry Loan Program, USDA’s Distance, Learning, Telemedicine and Broadband Program and the USDA’s ReConnect Program to expand broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved areas.

Marshall: Help on the way for rural Kansas