Friends,
Last week President Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Kansas due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This will open up additional federal funding options for State, tribal, and local governments to use for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance. I am thankful this administration is using the full extent of the federal government to deliver relief and assistance to all who are adversely impacted.
I understand that Kansas workers, families, and small business owners are suffering due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. My staff and I are doing everything that we can to facilitate information from federal and state agencies to Kansans who need assistance. We are working constantly to get the most accurate and concise information out to you as it becomes available.
Please feel free to contact my office if you have any questions, or visit my COVID-19 resources page for to up to date information.
Kansas Dept. of Labor
Last week, my staff held a call with Kansas Dept of Labor Secretary Delia Garcia and members of her staff to learn more about the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program authorized by the CARES Act. This new program will help contractors, part-time workers and others that were previously ineligible for unemployment insurance collect much-needed assistance during these unprecedented times. Sec. Garcia and her staff are currently working with the U.S. Department of Labor to launch the new program for Kansans. In the meantime, we ask that Kansans who have lost their job because of the coronavirus outbreak take the following steps:
- Click Here to file for unemployment. In order to be eligible for the new PUA program you must first apply for traditional unemployment insurance and be found ineligible.
- Watch the getkansasbenefits.gov website for further instructions on how and when the PUA application will be available.
Employers who are moving several employees onto unemployment are asked to use the spreadsheet application method to submit all employees at once, instead of having each employee apply separately. Click Here for more information.
Kansas is Prepared
Using new data from researchers at the University of Washington, President Trump and his team believe that while the coronavirus will peak around April 15th in the United States, it will peak in Kansas in late April or early May.
That same data, available Here, shows Kansas is not expected to experience a shortage in overall hospital beds. Though we might be short a few ICU beds, and perhaps ventilators, I’m sure we can make some adjustments, like converting surgical recovery rooms into ICU beds or, as we have already seen in hospitals across the nation, place two or even four patients onto a single ventilator with some minor adjustments.The critical issue going forward will be health care staff – the doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists that are required to provide patients with around-the-clock care. We must continue to do everything we can to support our healthcare workers on the front lines of this crisis.
Communities Supporting Each Other
In the face of this public health care challenge, I am doing all I can to provide federal resources for our families, small businesses and organization that serve our communities.But there is so much we can all be doing at the community level to support one another and keep services going. I encourage folks to help one another - like delivering meals to the elderly through the Meals on Wheels program or volunteering at your local food bank. This pandemic has forced many volunteers to stop serving so organizations need younger individuals to step in and step up. It's imperative that we continue good hygiene practices and social distancing, but if you can, I urge you to help someone in need. Together we will get through this!
CARES Act Applications Open
Friday was the first day that small businesses and sole proprietorships will be able to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP, a provision of the CARES Act that provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs, including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay other expenses like utilities, interest on mortgages, and rent. The funds are provided in the form of loans that can be forgiven as long as certain parameters are followed. Small businesses looking to receive them can apply through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Republicans on the House Small Business Committee have put together an extensive guide that details all of the provisions designed to help small business owners respond to the financial difficulties related to the coronavirus, along with answers to some frequently asked questions. Click Here to see the guide.
Kansas Corn STEM Learning
Kansas Corn STEM is the award-winning education program of the Kansas Corn Commission, it encompasses educational programs that provide lessons for teachers and students from the elementary to the high school level. The lessons will help students learn about science and agriculture using tools like virtual breakout box activities, videos and at-home experiments that can be done with normal household items.
Many resources are already available and more will be added through the end of the school year.
Click Here to learn more.
Kansans Stepping Up
Faculty at Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland are putting their technical skills to work manufacturing plastic face masks using the college’s 3-D printers. These masks can replace the disposable masks worn by health care professionals, law enforcement offices and other emergency personnel. The college has received orders from area hospitals, the county health department and local law enforcement agencies. College President Ben Schears said the college is in the process of purchasing 4 more 3D printers after receiving local donations. That makes 8 printers at the college, which Schears said will be running around the clock to make the equipment those on the front lines deserve and need.
Feeding the World
In the midst of this public health crisis and economic slowdown, I'm hearing some good news from producers across Kansas.International demand for Kansas Wheat and Kansas Sorghum is up and our producers are busy filling orders around the world. Misleading headlines will have you believe there is a food shortage. The truth is we have enough commodities here at home to feed the country, and the world, for many more weeks to come.
USDA Telemedicine Grant Program Funding
USDA has announced that they are opening a second application window for funding under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Electronic applications for window two may be submitted through grants.gov beginning April 14, 2020, and are due no later than July 13, 2020. Paper applications will not be accepted under the second window.USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. To learn more about Rural Development’s COVID-19 response, Click Here.