The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
The CARES Act provides for $2 trillion in emergency aid as we combat COVID-19. Below are summaries of key provisions in CARES and what the money appropriated through CARES will do. Should you have specific questions about what these resources mean for you, do not hesitate to contact our Constituent Services Team in our state office at 270-782-8303.
The Official Guide to Government Information and Services
The Commonwealth of Kentucky’s homepage for COVID-19 resources
Assistance with unemployment benefits
Opportunities to volunteer and serve the community
The White House and CDC’s official COVID-19 website
Be suspicious if you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the Treasury Department and offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal information, or an advance fee, tax, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, as these may be scammers.
- Contact www.ic3.gov to report suspicious communications.
VIEW OUR FULL DOCUMENT OF RESOURCES
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS is the lead agency responding to the public health challenges posed by COVID-19. They have assembled substantial COVID-19 resources and responses to FAQs here, via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is developing new medical treatments and warns about Medicare, COVID-19 testing and treatment scams.
1-888-INFO-FDA is the FDA Hotline—operating 24 hours a day—for finding supplies for testing or diagnostic developments.
1-800-CDC-INFO is the public hotline for questions relating to anything CDC-related.
Guidance for K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.htmlGuidance for healthcare facilities: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-
facilities/index.htmlCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is studying the virus worldwide and helping communities respond locally. Check the CDC’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) page for news and guidance.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has guidance for Medicare recipients and Medicare providers.
Administration for Community Living offers information for older adults, and people with disabilities.
Food and Drug Administration is working with the medical industry to develop vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic tests. For healthcare professionals, they offer FAQs about diagnostic testing.
National Institute on Drug Abuse advice for people with substance use disorders.
National Institutes of Health are researching COVID-19 treatments and a vaccine and posted updates on the grants process.
Resources for higher risk populations: (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/index.html
Department of Labor (DOL)
Department of Labor has information for employers and workers on preparing workplaces and responding to COVID-19 in the workplace.
- Resources from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for employers and employees, including hazard recognition and workers’ rights: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/
- Resources for employees and employers during public health emergences: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic
- Background on the Administration’s efforts on unemployment flexibility: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20200312-0
- An FAQ page for how to apply for unemployment insurance: https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance
- Navigating worker’s compensation during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/InfoFECACoverageCoronavirus.html
- Background and information on DOL and the Department of Agriculture’s partnership to identify labor needs among H-2A employers: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/03/19/usda-and-dol-announce-information-sharing-assist-h-2a-employers
Department of Energy (DOE)
- The Department of Energy (DOE)’s general website for coronavirus information https://www.energy.gov/coronavirus-hub
- DOE has provided this resource to learn more about what DOE and its laboratories are doing to combat COVID-19. https://www.energy.gov/articles/how-doe-and-our-labs-are-combating-covid-19
- DOE, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) are working together to ensure the continued reliability of the U.S. energy grid. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/03/f72/COVID-19_Release_DOE_FERC_NERC_0320_FINAL.pdf
Small Business Administration (SBA)
- The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
- For specific SBA Loan information: https://www.sba.gov/page/guidance-businesses-employers-plan-respond-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
- Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
- SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance will coordinate with the state’s or territory’s Governor to submit the request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance.
- Once a declaration is made for designated areas within a state, the information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be made available to all affected communities as well as updated on our website: SBA.gov/disaster
- SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance per small business and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
- These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
- SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.
- SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible.
- For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1- 800- 659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
- Visit SBA.gov/disaster for more information.