Sunday, May 3, 2020

FLORIDA - DUNN DISPATCH 05/03/2020

NEWS FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT

Dear Friend,
We continue to navigate the Coronavirus pandemic and the resultant world-wide quarantine together. I remain confident that we will soon control the disease and begin our return to the great economy we had in February.

Despite the economic shock this pandemic has brought to our lives, there is still good news to share and progress to note. Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that additional funds would be available for the Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant, which will help us to rebuild following Hurricane Michael.

The Paycheck Protection Program provided additional funding for small businesses that is critical to their ability to pay employees and keep their businesses alive. In addition, Governor DeSantis announced that Florida will begin Phase I of its reopening process. This progress is proof that the Trump Administration is working swiftly to save our economy and our patients by anticipating where additional support is needed, such as targeted protections for our seniors.

Please read about my week below:

Continuing to RebuildThe U.S. Department of Labor has announced an additional $3,333,334 for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant to Florida in response to Hurricane Michael. Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker training and employment programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses. This specific grant was awarded in response to Hurricane Michael and will prevent hundreds of residents in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District from being laid off. This has been a priority of mine and I'm glad to see this grant approved so we can continue to rebuild.

Paycheck Protection Program Update

The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act provided an additional $310 billion into the Small Business Administration's PPP program. The SBA has approved loans for more than 1.7 million small businesses, and this number will grow with the additional funds that have been infused into the program.

Small businesses in Florida's Second Congressional District provide exemplary goods and services that are the backbone of our local economies. They are struggling to make payroll and keep operations running as a result of the COVID-19 quarantine. The rapid funds from PPP will be critical in days ahead to provide them with the resources they need to pay and retain their employees and help their businesses survive this temporary economic shutdown. Click here to see how the PPP is helping fellow Americans. If your small business has benefitted from the PPP, click here to share your story.

If you or someone you know is a small business owner, (<500 employees for profit or non-profit) see the resources below for additional guidance on the PPP:

• SBA Resources on the Paycheck Protection Program
• Lenders Participating in the Paycheck Protection Program
• SBA's Updated FAQ on the Paycheck Protection Program

Reopening Florida: Phase ILast week, Governor DeSantis announced Phase I of reopening the state of Florida that will take effect tomorrow, May 4th.

Reopening:
» Restaurants may reopen with tables arranged with 6 feet of
space between them. Indoor seating will only accommodate
25% capacity.
» Retails store may reopen at 25% capacity.
» Elective surgeries may resume.

Remaining Closed:
» Gyms, salons and others personal service businesses, bars
» Schools
» Senior facilities/nursing homes

For Our Seniors

Throughout this pandemic, many of us are not only caring for ourselves, but also the seniors in our lives. Our parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends that fall within higher risk category for serious illness from contracting COVID-19 deserve our support. Whether by provding direct care, picking up groceries, or simply remaining physically isolated from them, they deserve to know we care and are working to protect them. It is also critical to know that The Trump Administration is taking positive steps to make sure our seniors are protected and cared for during this pandemic. To our seniors and your families, here are some ways we are supporting you:

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is
   conducting targeted inspections in healthcare systems to
   identify and protect residents susceptible to serious health
   complications.
• The Trump Administration has established the Coronavirus
   Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes to
   ensure that those facilities are made as safe as they can be.
   Expert teams from the VA Nursing home centers
   are working as emergency consultants to help all assisted
   living and nursing homes bring their facilities up to the new
   standards and to address new hot spots immediately.
• The President deployed additional Veterans Affairs staff to
care for our veterans receiving care in nursing homes.
• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
   announced that the CARES Act provided $1 billion in grants
   to help older adults and those with disabilities. These funds
   will support home-delivered meals, respite care and additional
   support for families and caregivers. Click here for more details
on how these funds are supporting your loved ones.
• Members of the National Guard are engaged in the
   emergency sanitizing of nursing homes, staffing food banks
   and screening individuals at entry points to give seniors and
   their families peace of mind.

As always, please visit my website's page for Coronavirus resources here.

Thank you for your continued energy and optimism, as reflected in your letters and Facebook posts. If you haven’t already, LIKE my Facebook page. You can also follow me on Twitter @DrNealDunnFL2.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in Congress!

Sincerely,