April 14th Updates from the Trump Administration – Stimulus Payments to be Sent this Week – Paycheck Protection Program FAQs

Over 80 million Americans are set to receive direct payments this week – providing immediate economic relief for families during the coronavirus outbreak.

• TREASURY DEPARTMENT: “Over 80 Million Americans Will Receive Economic Impact Payments in their Bank Accounts This Week”
• TREASURY DEPARTMENT: “Millions of Americans are starting to see Economic Impact Payments deposited directly in their bank accounts. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS expect tens of millions of Americans will receive their payments via direct deposit by Wednesday, April 15. These payments are being automatically issued to eligible 2019 or 2018 federal tax return filers who received a refund using direct deposit. Treasury and the IRS worked with unprecedented speed to get this fast and direct assistance to the American people.”
• TREASURY DEPARTMENT: “Treasury expects a large majority of eligible Americans will receive Economic Impact Payments within the next two weeks.”

The Trump Administration is taking action to make sure these payments are easily accessible for Americans.

• TREASURY DEPARTMENT: “This week, the IRS will launch a separate online application, ‘Get My Payment.’ This FREE app allows taxpayers who filed their tax return in 2018 or 2019 but did not provide their banking information on their return to submit direct deposit information so they can receive payments immediately, as opposed to getting mailed checks which will start being distributed before the end of April. ‘Get My Payment’ will also allow taxpayers to track the status of their payment.”
• TREASURY DEPARTMENT: “Also, eligible Social Security beneficiaries and railroad retirement recipients who did not file a tax return in 2018 and 2019 will be automatically sent their economic impact payments, primarily electronically.”

The Department of Treasury also released additional FAQs on the Paycheck Protection Program:

• Paycheck Protection Program Loans: Frequently Asked Questions

President Trump and his Administration have remained in constant contact with leaders at the State and local level.

• The White House and federal agencies have briefed more than 65,000 State, Local, and Tribal leaders in every state and territory in the nation.
• Since the beginning of the outbreak, the White House and federal agencies have held more than 140 briefings with state and local leaders.
• President Trump and Vice President Pence have personally led many of these briefings with our nation’s governors.
  • Additionally, the President and Vice President have conducted numerous one on one calls with governors.

President Trump and his Administration are working closely with state and local leaders on an aggressive coronavirus response effort.

• President Trump has approved disaster declarations in all 50 states, four territories, and the District of Columbia, opening up federal resources to aid state and local leaders.
• FEMA is delivering critical supplies and helping build emergency medical sites in hard hit states across the country.
  • Thanks to the President’s quick action, some states like California and Washington had even more supplies than needed and ventilators were redeployed to New York.
• CDC has released coronavirus mitigation strategies which have helped inform state and local efforts.
• The Administration is covering costs for states deploying National Guard units to assist with response efforts, while ensuring governors remain in command.

USDA Unveils Tool to Help Rural Communities Address the COVID-19 Pandemic (HERE)

• Perdue today unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide is a first-of-its-kind resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.

USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in Rhode Island (HERE)

• Secretary Perdue today announced Rhode Island has been approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, a new program authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed by President Trump, which provides assistance to families of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals dealing with school closures.

NIH Begins Study to Quantify Undetected Cases of Coronavirus Infection (HERE)

• A new study has begun recruiting at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, to determine how many adults in the United States without a confirmed history of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have antibodies to the virus.

Local, State and Federal Partners Provide Food Assistance During COVID-19 Response (HERE)

• With nonessential businesses ordered to close, followed by rounds of layoffs and furloughs, the previously employed are now swelling the ranks of those requiring food assistance. To meet this need, local, state and federal entities are pitching in to help both directly and by assisting area food banks.