Friends,
On Sunday, President Trump announced that he was extending the CDC’s guidelines for slowing the spread of the coronavirus until April 30th. Stay up to date on what’s included in those guidelines, as well as other key facts to know about COVID-19 and the federal government’s response by visiting https://www.coronavirus.gov/.
At yesterday’s briefing with the White House Coronavirus Task Force, President Trump continued to talk about the strides the Administration was taking to combat this virus. He cited the multiple emergency use authorizations issued by the FDA that is allowing for faster testing, making more potential therapeutics available, and giving more personal protective equipment to medical professionals.
Following the emergency use authorizations making hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine – potential therapeutics for COVID-19 – available for use, Bayer Pharmaceuticals donated one million doses to the federal government and Novartis donated 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine. These positive steps were lauded by The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board as a way to, “reduce the strain on hospitals,” in the immediate future, while calling effective drug treatments, “more important and less costly than government quarantines in defeating the pandemic,” in the long run.
In terms of needed medical supplies, the President said yesterday that FEMA and HHS have already delivered 11.6 million N-95 respirators, 26 million surgical masks, 5.3 million face shields, 4.4 million surgical gowns, and 22 million gloves. He also announced that more than 8,100 ventilators have been delivered directly to states, and 1,000 more will be delivered in the next two days.
In addition, the Administration continues to collaborate with the private sector. Yesterday, in conjunction with BARDA, Johnson & Johnson announced that it plans to initiate human clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate by September and anticipates that the vaccine could be available for emergency use by early next year. On top of that, Ford announced that it will produce 50,000 ventilators in Michigan over the next 100 days. Production is expected to start the week of April 20 at a plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, with the capacity to produce 30,000 ventilators per month if needed.
Finally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced new policies to provide more flexibility for health care providers and patients to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The regulatory waivers and new rules will increase hospital capacity, rapidly expand the number of health care professionals providing care, make it easier for patients to access care they need, promote telehealth in Medicare, and more.
Seema Verma, the Administrator at CMS, specifically cited the “Hospitals Without Walls” component at the briefing yesterday, which will allow communities to take advantage of local ambulatory surgery centers to care for patients, and permits non-hospital buildings and spaces to be used for patient care and quarantine sites. According to Administrator Verma, this will, “allow hospital systems to create new treatment sites outside of their facility, to expand capacity and be able to safely separate patients that are infected with the coronavirus and those that are not.”
Economic Impact Payments, What You Need To Know:
Over the past week, my office has received many questions about distribution of economic impact payments included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Support (CARES) Act.
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced that distribution of these payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people who qualify. Copied below are key points from the IRS that you should know about these payments:
Who is eligible for the economic impact payment?
Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment. For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds. Single filers with income exceeding $99,000 and $198,000 for joint filers with no children are not eligible.
Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 will automatically receive an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples. Parents also receive $500 for each qualifying child.
How will the IRS know where to send my payment?
The vast majority of people do not need to take any action. The IRS will calculate and automatically send the economic impact payment to those eligible.
For people who have already filed their 2019 tax returns, the IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount. For those who have not yet filed their return for 2019, the IRS will use information from their 2018 tax filing to calculate the payment. The economic impact payment will be deposited directly into the same banking account reflected on the return filed.
The IRS does not have my direct deposit information. What can I do?
In the coming weeks, Treasury plans to develop a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online, so that individuals can receive payments immediately as opposed to checks in the mail.
I am not typically required to file a tax return. Can I still receive my payment?
Yes. People who typically do not file a tax return will need to file a simple tax return to receive an economic impact payment. Low-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Social Security recipients, some veterans and individuals with disabilities who are otherwise not required to file a tax return will not owe tax.
How can I file the tax return needed to receive my economic impact payment
IRS.gov/coronavirus will soon provide information instructing people in these groups on how to file a 2019 tax return with simple, but necessary, information including their filing status, number of dependents and direct deposit bank account information.
I have not filed my tax return for 2018 or 2019. Can I still receive an economic impact payment
Yes. The IRS urges anyone with a tax filing obligation who has not yet filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019 to file as soon as they can to receive an economic impact payment. Taxpayers should include direct deposit banking information on the return.
I need to file a tax return. How long are the economic impact payments available?
For those concerned about visiting a tax professional or local community organization in person to get help with a tax return, these economic impact payments will be available throughout the rest of 2020.
Where can I get more information?
The IRS will post all key information on IRS.gov/coronavirus as soon as it becomes available. The IRS has a reduced staff in many of its offices but remains committed to helping eligible individuals receive their payments expeditiously. Check for updated information on IRS.gov/coronavirus rather than calling IRS assistors who are helping process 2019 returns.
As always, If you have any specific questions or need assistance as it pertains to the coronavirus response effort, please contact Ryan Hofmann with my office at ryan.hofmann@mail.house.gov.
Supporting Wyoming’s Rural Hospitals
This week, I joined 121 bipartisan members of Congress in sending a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar requesting immediate support for America’s rural hospitals as they fight the spread of coronavirus.
The letter highlights the acute financial crisis facing small and rural hospitals and requests HHS to prioritize funding included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for these critical healthcare providers.
Our rural healthcare professionals are acting heroically in the face of an unprecedented global health crisis. I will continue working to ensure Wyoming’s hospitals receive the resources necessary to defeat coronavirus. The full letter can be seen here and reviewed below:
What Wyoming Business Owners Need To Know:
On Friday March 28th, following passage in the House, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the third coronavirus relief package providing emergency aid for American workers, families, small businesses, and hospitals.
Copied below is important information for Wyoming small business owners who have questions about the financial aid included in the CARES Act:
Wyoming small businesses impacted by coronavirus have received final federal approval to seek loans up to $2 million as part of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
SBA has added all 23 Wyoming counties to it’s list of designated “economic disaster” regions eligible for small business disaster loan assistance.
To apply for a SBA Federal Disaster Loan, click on the following link: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
FEMA Coronavirus Rumor Control: Myth Of The Day
Due to the large amount of speculation regarding coronavirus, this is a reminder to rely on OFFICIAL sources for accurate information. Help control the spread of rumors by sharing this page: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control
Frequently Asked Question: Is there a national lockdown or quarantine?
FACT: No. States and cities are responsible for announcing curfews, shelters in place, or other restrictions and safety measures.
The full list of guidance for the state of Wyoming can be found here.
Please follow this newsletter and the coronavirus page on my website for continued updates about COVID-19 and how government is responding to protect both the country’s health and our economic security.
Congresswoman Liz Cheney
