FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today he created a Coronavirus Response Portal on his website to help Kentuckians who may have questions related to how the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will help their families, organizations, small businesses, and communities take advantage of the provisions in the legislation.

The portal can be accessed by Kentucky families and small businesses owners who may have questions related to unemployment insurance, low-interest federal loans, federal taxes and relief checks, federal grants, and assistance for Kentuckians traveling or living abroad.

“At my direction, the Senate stepped up to face this challenge presented by COVID-19. We passed a bold plan called the CARES Act to assist families, workers, small businesses and medical professionals. I hope the following resources will be helpful as your family, organization, small business or community takes advantage of the federal funding I helped make available,” Senator McConnell said. “We’ll win this fight against the Coronavirus because Americans continue finding creative ways to stand united—even if we have to stand six feet apart.”

The Coronavirus Response Portal link: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?p=coronavirus-updates

Kentucky Workers

Have you recently been laid off and need to file for unemployment insurance?

• General information: https://educationcabinet.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
• To file an unemployment insurance claim visit https://kcc.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx; or call one of Kentucky 12 Work Centers to file your claim https://kcc.ky.gov/Pages/Locations.aspx
• Questions about new federal paid leave requirements related to the Coronavirus?
• The U.S. Labor Department’s Fact Sheet for Employees https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave
• Questions and Answers https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions

Kentucky Employers and Small Businesses

Need help to make payroll or to keep the lights on?

• The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations  https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
• The IRS is extending payroll tax credits to eligible small and midsize businesses https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-and-labor-announce-plan-to-implement-coronavirus-related-paid-leave-for-workers-and-tax-credits-for-small-and-midsize-businesses-to-swiftly-recover-the-cost-of-providing-coronavirus

Questions about unemployment benefits?

• General information: https://educationcabinet.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
• Questions about new federal paid leave requirements related to the Coronavirus?
• The U.S. Labor Department’s Fact Sheet for Employers https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employer-paid-leave
• Questions and Answers https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions
• Field Assistance Bulletin on the Labor Department’s 30-day non-enforcement policy. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/field-assistance-bulletins/2020-1
• Required Poster for Employers to Fulfill Notice Requirement https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf

Federal Taxes and Rebate Checks

Questions about how Coronavirus affects your federal incomes taxes?

• General information: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
• The IRS delayed Tax Day until July 15 https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-day-now-july-15-treasury-irs-extend-filing-deadline-and-federal-tax-payments-regardless-of-amount-owed
• Questions about the immediate cash relief Kentuckians will receive?
• The IRS will send recovery rebate checks to eligible Americans https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus

Kentucky Education

What resources are available to help students, graduates and schools respond to the Coronavirus?

• General information: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus

Kentuckians Living or Traveling Abroad

Need individual assistance?

• Contact Senator McConnell’s casework staff at (502) 582-6304
• Are you abroad and need assistance from the U.S. State Department?
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) https://step.state.gov/
• Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or call 1-888-407-4747 (U.S. & Canada) or 1- 202-501-4444 (from overseas) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html

Thinking about international travel?

• The U.S. State Department has issued its highest level advisory, urging all U.S. citizens to avoid international travel https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/travel-advisory-alert-global-level-4-health-advisory-issue.html

Thinking about traveling in the U.S.?

• The CDC has issued guidance to consider before domestic travel https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Kentucky Volunteers are Part of the Solution

Looking to help your neighbors during the Coronavirus crisis?

• Kentucky Emergency Management is seeking companies to sell or produce personal protective equipment (PPE). Fill out this form if you can help https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/cdbec8a2257c47769d0eb7826d7d6b4f.
• If you would like to donate, sell, or produce medical supplies and other goods for the federal government visit www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help
• Kentuckians looking for volunteer opportunities and ideas can also visit https://www.usa.gov/volunteer

Jane E. Holycross, the leader of the Eastern Kentucky Red Cross’ Pillowcase Project, stands with Big Sandy Area Community Action Program Resource Representative Wendy Bolen at the BSACAP service office in Allen. Holycross shared information on Red Cross recommendations for disaster preparedness.

Our area is accustomed to disasters. From the flooding that plagues us each spring and summer and the ice and snow storms in the winter to the risk of tornadoes and home fires, each of us needs to make sure that our families and ourselves are ready for whatever comes.

At a recent workshop hosted by Big Sandy Area Community Action Program, Jane E. Holycross of the American Red Cross provided valuable information about Red Cross programs that our community can look to when thinking about disaster preparedness and how to recover from a disaster.

As the leader of the Eastern Kentucky Red Cross’ Pillowcase Project, Holycross shared great information about how to teach children about disasters and learn what to do when they are faced with one because as Holycross said, “It’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when.”

The Pillowcase Project teaches children what supplies they will need in the event of a disaster. They can gather up the things they need, put them in the pillowcase, check the item off the list printed on the fabric, and get ready to go. School and community groups can even arrange for the program, which is available for 3^rd – 5^th graders, to be taught by a Red Cross member at their school or meeting place.

Holycross noted that there is even a fun, free disaster preparedness smartphone app for children ages 7-11 called “Monster Guard,” which uses adorable cartoon monsters to teach kids about emergency preparedness.

But the Red Cross encourages the whole family and individuals to be ready to face potential disasters. Holycross said that among the most important things to take a look at are your disaster kit, all of the exit routes from your home or work, and your communication plan.

The Red Cross recommends that disaster kits include three days of food and water for each person, a can opener, extra medicine and medical supplies (including an extra pair of eyeglasses), flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, first aid kit, copies of personal documents, cell phone with charger, extra cash, baby supplies,  pet supplies, extra sets of keys, extra clothing, and personal hygiene items.

The Red Cross also recommends that you look at all of the ways to exit, not only your house, but each room in your house. Ideally, everyone should have multiple exits in mind and practice making the evacuation twice each year.

If you experience a disaster, it’s important to have a meeting place and a communication plan so that family members can find one another and stay in touch. It is recommended that the communication plan include the numbers of everyone to contact and include at least one person out of state. The out of state contact may be able to receive a call from you even if local phone lines are jammed.

To help everyone stay alert to possible threats, the Red Cross suggests keeping up to date on weather reports and making preparations. They have created several free smartphone applications to assist with learning about first aid, specific threats, recovery options, and even weather alerts. Information is also available on their website, www.redcross.org.

Holycross also informed community members about the free Smoke Detector Campaign. The Red Cross will install smoke detectors that will last for 10 years in your home for free. All you have to do is ask. Community groups can even join the Red Cross to canvas local areas, going door to door, to ask each resident if they would like a smoke detector installed in their home.

Holycross said, “The most important thing we can do is really look at our homes and offices and really take the time to think about what we would do, how we would respond, if we were faced with disaster.”