Rep. Delgado Telephone Town Hall on Coronavirus

>> . >> CONGRESSMAN , WELCOME TO CONGRESSMAN ANTONIO DELGADO’S TELEPHONE TOWN HALL. MY NAME IS AMANDA AND I WILL IN A MOMENT TURNOVER THE CALL TO REMARKS. FIRST I WANT TO EXPLAIN THE YOU ARE CURRENTLY A LISTEN ONLY MODE WHICH MEANS YOU CAN HEAR ME BUT I CANNOT HEAR YOU. PRESS *3 ON YOUR PHONE AND YOU’LL BE CONNECTED WITH A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTION AND GET YOU INTO THE QUEUE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH CONGRESSMAN DELGADO. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THROUGH TO YOUR QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE TONIGHT, SO WE WILL LIMIT PARTICIPANTS ONLY ONE QUESTION EACH. PRESSING *3 RIGHT NOW IS I NEED IF YOU HAVE A CASE FOR CONCERN SUCH AS AN ISSUE WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCY INCLUDING MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY OR VA PLEASE PRESS *6 TO BE CONNECTED TO A CASEWORKER AND OUR OFFICE. NOW, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CONGRESSMAN DELGADO. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU AMANDA. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR DIALING INTO TODAY’S TELEPHONE TOWN HALL. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AS WE BRING THIS AN END. JUST REMIND FOLKS WERE DIALING IN YOU CAN PRESS *3 TO ASK THE QUESTION AND *6 TO BE CONNECTED WITH CONSTITUENT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES IN MY OFFICE. HOLDING THESE TELEPHONE TOWN HALLS TO ME IS CRITICALLY CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE IN THESE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES ON ABLE TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY AND BE AN ADVOCATE IN WASHINGTON. WANT TO START THIS DISCUSSION BY THINKING OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, THOSE WERE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES ON THE FRONT LINES, PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS TREMENDOUS EFFORT AND TRULY APPRECIATED ACROSS THIS COMMUNITY, AND STATE. AS YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES. IT IS TOUGH. WAY AND MORE CHALLENGING TIMES IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF LOSS OF LIFE WHICH IS GOOD TO KNOW, THE GROUND FOR FOLKS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT OR LOSS OF CRITICAL SERVICES THIS IS CHALLENGING. I DO WANT TO FLY FOR PEOPLE ONE OFFICES HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT FOLKS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY ARE DOING IN TERMS OF SACRIFICING AND PUTTING THEMSELVES IN THE POSITION TO SERVE IT EVERY LEVEL. I’VE TALKED TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, OWNERS OF DISTILLERIES WHO TRANSFORM THE FACILITY INTO HAND SANITIZER PRODUCTION. I HAVE TALKED TO CONSTITUENTS TO HER CLOTHING DESIGNERS RETURNED THEIR BUILDING INTO A FACILITY TO MANUFACTURE MASKS TO DONATE. I TALKED TO A GENTLEMAN TODAY WHO WORKS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WHO DELIVERS TESTING EQUIPMENT AND CRITICAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS. I TALKED TO A WOMAN FROM HOLSTER COUNTY TODAY WHO DOES IN EVERY TURN IS AMAZING PEOPLE YOU CAN GO TO MY WEB SAW DELGADO.HOUSE.GOV TO TUNE INTO I DRAW A LOT OF INSPIRATION FROM THEM AS WE TRIED TO MAINTAIN SOME POSITIVITY AND CUT THROUGH ALL THE PARTISANSHIP AND DIVISIVENESS AND WE ALL WANT TO DO RIGHT BY EACH OTHER AND STAND UP FOR THE GREATER GOOD. YOU WITH THE TOP OF THIS CONVERSATION. AT THIS POINT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND CONGRESS IS NOW PAST FOUR MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THECORONAVIRUS. CORONAVIRUS. YESTERDAY I WAS THERE IN D.C. TO VOTE FOR THE LATEST LEGISLATION 3.5 PACKAGE WHICH PROVIDES EMERGENCY FUNDING TO REPLENISH THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS, SPECIFICALLY THE BILL PROVIDES 310 BILLION FOR THE WITH $60 BILLION SET ASIDE FOR SMALLER COMMUNITY-BASED LENDINGINSTITUTIONS. INSTITUTIONS. A VERY IMPORTANT DEVELOP MEANT THERE. $50 BILLION FOR ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS AND $10 BILLION FOR THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN GRANTS UP TO $10,000. IN TOTAL, THE PACKAGE FUNDS ARE MORE THAN THREE AND $50 BILLION IN NEW DISASTER LOANS. FOUGHT FOR WHICH ENSURES OUR LOCAL FARMERS AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES ARE INJURY DISASTER LOAN AND GRANT. MEMBERS URGING THE SPA TO INCLUDE SMALL FARMERS IN THE PROGRAM WHEN THE SPA WOULD NOT COMPLY I PUSHED FOR INCLUSION IN THIS PACKAGE. I’M PLEASED IT’S NOW LAW. OUR SMALL FARMS AND SMALL ACCESS THIS INCREDIBLE TOOL OF IMMEDIATE RELIEF. THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES $75 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH PROVIDERS INCLUDING 600 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS IN FEDERAL QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS AND 225 MILLION FOR RURAL HEALTH CLINICS. THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES 25 MILLION TO RAMP UP OUR TESTING CAPACITY IN WHICH WE KNOW IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS WE CONTEMPLATE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP OUR ECONOMY ONCE AGAIN, OUR COUNTRY ONCE AGAIN. THE LATEST PACKAGE BUILDS ON THE PROGRAMS MADE IN THE PREVIOUS CARE’S ACT. AS I FLAGGED, WE ARE REALLY PLACING UP THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM AND THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN. THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT I UTILIZED BY MILLIONS OF FOLKS AND ARE HOPING TO MAINTAIN SMALL BUSINESSES AND PROTECT OUR LOCAL FARMERS THROUGHOUT THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME. AS YOU ALL KNOW, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CARES ACT PROGRAM HAS NOT BEEN SEAMLESS. IN PARTICULAR I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM AND IDLE PROGRAMS RUN OUT OF MONEY. I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES IN SENDING A LETTER TO THE SPA AND TREASURY REQUIRING DATA ON WHO IS GETTING THE LOANS. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW. AFTER LEARNING THAT A NUMBER OF LARGE, PUBLIC COMPANIES WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THESE FUNDS INAPPROPRIATELY I’M GLAD TO SEE THE TREASURIES GIVING THESE COMPANIES TWO WEEKS TO RETURN THEIR LOANS OR FACE CONSEQUENCES. I WAS ALSO PLEASED TO SEE IN THE LEGISLATION THAT INCLUDES A SET ASIDE OF FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED LENDING INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE RURAL SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE THE ONES WE HAVE IN UPSTATE. BILL. IT’S AT THE ASIDE $50 BILLION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE RELIANT ON COMMUNITY-BASED LENDERS IN RURAL AREAS. MORE MUST BE DONE UNDOUBTABLY TO ENSURE THESE FUNDS ARE GOING I ALSO JOINED A LETTER WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE SMALL BUSINESS AND FEDERAL RESERVE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO PRIORITIZE A FEW THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO THE $2.3 TRILLION IN LOANS THAT THEY ARE ISSUING. MICRO BUSINESSES WITH LESS THAN 25 EMPLOYEES MUST BE PROVIDED WITH YOUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS I ALSO WANT TO PRIORITIZE SPECIALIZED CAPITAL AXIS NEEDS BUSINESSES AND OF COURSE LENDING TO TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES INCLUDING SMALL BUSINESSES IN RURAL AREAS. WITH REGARDS TO FARMERS, I MENTIONED THEY ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR THE ECONOMIC INJURYDISASTER RELIEF. DISASTER RELIEF. I ALSO LED THE CHARGE IN SECURING 9.5 BILLION IN SMALL PRODUCERS. THIS WAS ON TOP OF THE 14 BILLION FOR THE U.S. TO SUPPORT THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY AND LAST FRIDAY THE USDA ANNOUNCED THEY ARE PLANS TO DISPERSE THESE FUNDS THROUGH A DIRECT PAYMENT PROGRAM AND A FEDERAL PURCHASING PROGRAM. WE ARE STILL AWAITING ON THE DETAILS ON HOW FARMERS CAN ACCESS THESE LOANS AND I WILL BE UPDATING FOLKS WITH THAT INFORMATION WHEN IT’S AVAILABLE. FUTURE BILLS, WE GOT 3.5 AND IT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP. WE NEED TO FOCUS AGAIN ON THENEXT STEPS. NEXT STEPS. HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THAT AS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AND IS BIPARTISAN AS POSSIBLE. MY FOCUS ON FUTURE LEGISLATION WILL CERTAINLY INCLUDE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR RURAL AREAS. NEW YORK 19 IS THE EIGHTH MOST RURAL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY. THE CARES ACT PUT FORTH NO FUNDING FOR NO GOVERNMENT UNIT SERVING LESS THAN 75,000. THERE ARE NO GOVERNMENT UNITS IN OUR DISTRICT OF THAT SIZE. WE HAVE CRITICAL NEEDS ON THE GROUND. CIVIL SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTHCARE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT NEED REAL SUPPORT IN LIGHT OF THE LACK OF TAX REVENUE. I WAS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENED TO HEAR SENATOR McCONNELL SUGGEST THAT STATES GO BANKRUPT RATHER THAN SUPPORT STATE AND LOCALFUNDING. FUNDING. THAT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE HE SEES NO PROBLEM NOT PAYING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND POLICE OFFICERS AND TEACHERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS AND SO MANY ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT ARE RALLYING AROUND OUR COMMUNITY DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND PROVIDING MEANINGFUL SERVICES. I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR COMMUNITIES AND FIGHT PARTICULARLY FOR FUNDING COMMUNITIES. ON THAT NOTE, I DID WRITE A LETTER WITH SENATOR JILLIRAN URGING THE INCLUSION OF RURAL FUNDING. A RURAL AMERICA ACT WHICH CREATES A MULTIYEAR NONCOMPETITIVE BLOCK GRANT THAT WOULD ALLOW SMALL TOWNS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING AND SUPPORT THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES TO THIS CRISIS. THERE IS MORE I CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. I AM HAPPY AS I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST TO WELCOME A NUMBER OF LOCAL FOLKS ON THE GROUND TO PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT AS WELL. THEY WILL BE JOINING US OVER THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE GREENE COUNTY CHAIRMAN OF LEGISLATION THAT LINGER, WE WILL HAVE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH DOCTOR AMY GILDEMEISTER AND WILL ALSO HAVE THE UPSTATE NEW YORK BRANCH MANAGER AT THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONJUST VOICED. JUST VOICED. THEY WILL BE CHIMING IN OVER THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION PROVIDE SOME INSIGHTS AS WE ATTEMPT TO ANSWER YOUR I’M EXCITED TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. WITH THAT I WILL OPEN IT UP NOW FOR CONVERSATION. THE FIRST PERSON WE HAVE IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE AL FROM DELAWARE. >> HELLO, CONGRESSMAN. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: HOW ARE YOU DOING AL? >> I’M DOING FINE, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS ON COVID-19. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU.> MY QUESTION IS THIS, I’VE BEEN TRYING TO GET ON THE IRS WEBSITE, I AM A TAXPAYER AND ALWAYS BEEN A TAXPAYER. WHEN YOU CHECK ON IT MY PAYMENT FOR THE STIMULUS PAYMENT IT KEEPS KICKING ME OUT AS INFORMATION DOES NOT MATCH RECORDS. IT DOES THE SAME THING WITH MY WIFE. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: YOU ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS THE CASE PRESUMABLY? >> THERE ARE TWO FACTORS HERE. ONE IS WE OWED A FEW DOLLARS ON OUR TAXES SO WAS NOT SET UP AS A DIRECT DEPOSIT IT WAS A DIRECT DEBIT.HE OTHER THING IS I’M A VETERAN. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: ON THE VETERAN PIECE, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE IN SERVING THE COUNTRY. I KNOW THAT WE RECENTLY WERE COMMUNICATING TO MAKE SURE THEIR AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS FOR OUR VETERANS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HAS BEEN DONE. I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION, I UNDERSTAND IT’S BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS ACROSS THE BOARD WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONFUSION IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL NEED TO DO BETTER AT MEETING. THERE’S TOO MANY DIFFICULTIES IN THE SPACE. TO BE CLEAR, THAT’S WHY I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK AND CALLING ON DISTRIBUTE THE REMAINING RESTORE CUSTOMER SERVICE. CONSTITUENTS RELY ON THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AT THE IRS FOR CASE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. FURTHER WE KNOW THAT MANY FOLKS LACK ACCESS TO RELIABLE USE THE PAYMENT TOOL IN ORDER TO GET A STATUS UPDATE ON THE IMPACT PAYMENT. IF YOU ARE STILL EXPERIENCINGMY OFFICE. MY OFFICE. WE WILL GET TO WORK ON THIS AND BETTER POSITION TO ACCESS THE PAYMENT.MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS AND WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP. PLEASE CALL YOUR QUESTIONS OR REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY MORE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ON THIS. AS I SAID, IF YOU PRESS *6 YOU WILL BE CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTITUENT SERVICE REP WHO CAN NAVIGATE THIS. I’M SORRY IT’S TAKING A BIT WE STILL WANT TO MAKE SURE WE YOU. THE NEXT QUESTION LOOKS LIKE ITIS BILL. IS BILL. >> THAT’S CORRECT CONGRESSMAN. HOW ARE YOU? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: I AM >> I’M DOING REALLY WELL. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU ARE DOING ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE EMAIL YOU SENT FAMILY. IT MADE MY DAY. YOU SO MUCH. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANKYOU SO MUCH. [LAUGHTER] >> MY QUESTION IS IN REGARD TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE SIZE OF THE DEFICIT GROWING AND GROWING SO MUCH MORE WITH OUR CURRENT CRISIS I’M WORRIED THAT WE ARE GETTING SET UP FOR CERTAIN CUTS AND I’M AFRAID SOME IN CONGRESS ARE SETTING US UP FOR PROPOSALS THAT WILL DO DRASTIC CUTS IN BOTH MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND MOST LIKELY IN MEDICAID ALSO. I’M WONDERING WHAT WE CAN DO AS CITIZENS AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING SPECIFICALLY IN ANTICIPATION OF THAT POTENTIAL FLOODING? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: IT’S AN IMPORTANT POINT BILL, WE DON’T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THE GROWING NARRATIVE AS WE HOPE TO DIG OURSELVES OUT OF THIS VERY CHALLENGING TIME ECONOMICALLY THE REFRAIN IS WE SOME CRITICAL PROGRAMS WHETHER IT’S MEDICARE OR SOCIAL SECURITY. IT’S INTERESTING HOW THESE CONVERSATIONS DON’T TEND TO HAPPEN WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PASSING A TAX BILL THAT GIVES WEALTHY CORPORATIONS AN INCREDIBLE TAX BREAK AND ADDS $1 TRILLION TO A DEFICIT. CUTTING MEDICARE OR THE IMPACT OF MEDICARE THEN, BUT NOW WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE THIS COULD BECOME THE NARRATIVE. WE ARE ALSO HEARING THIS NOW WHEN IT COMES TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE NOTION THAT AS McCONNELL SUGGESTED, WE DON’T WANT TO KEEP HAVING TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO OUR STATE AND LOCAL ACTORS BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON THE DEFICIT. REALLY WANT TO COME INTO PLAY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE WE ARE PROVIDING A TAX CUT FOR COMPANIES THAT DO NOT NEED IT. ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW IT DOESN’T MATTER WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE WE ARE IN NEED OF REAL RELIEF THAT MUST BE PROVIDED TO OUR CIVIL SERVANTS ON THE GROUND FROM OUR COPS TO FIREFIGHTERS TO TEACHERS TO NURSES. I DON’T KNOW WHY THAT IT BECOMES AN ISSUE. IT’S THE SAME LOGIC THAT SHOULD APPLY WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY. THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR ME THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AND PROTECT. I THINK WE AS A COUNTRY HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE WE FORTIFY THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVIDING MEANINGFUL LIFESAVING SERVICES IN SOME CASES ACROSS THE BOARD. IN PARTICULAR WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL SECURITY WERE TALKING ABOUT AN EARNED BENEFIT HERE. IT’S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DO AND PROTECT FOLKS. ON THIS POINT? I BELIEVE I HEARD McCONNELL TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE PENSIONS THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PROTECT. THESE ARE RETIREMENT FUNDS, THIS IS HARD EARNED MONEY THAT FOLKS HAVE SET ASIDE OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR LIFE. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT THESE BENEFITS MOVING FORWARD. THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL PRIORITIZE MOVING FORWARD. IT’S A REAL ISSUE AND I WILL CONCLUDE BY SAYING WE AS A COUNTRY HAVE TO DO BETTER AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL INVESTING IN THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND INVESTING IN THE NEED OF MAKING SURE WE ARE HAVING MORE EQUITY IN OUR SYSTEM ACROSS THE BOARD. FROM BROADBAND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ACCESS, TO MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS A REAL SHOT COUNTRY. MAKING SURE WE HAVE SUPPORT FOR SURE WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR CIVIL SERVANTS ON THE GROUND. WE HAVE GOT TO RALLY AROUND EACH OTHER RIGHT NOW AND NOT MAKE IT A ZERO START AGAIN. QUESTION I WANT TO ASK FOLKS TO PRESS *3 IF YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. I’M HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR QUESTION. I THINK WE HAVE STEPHANIE FROM COLUMBIA COUNTY? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOSTING THESE TELECOM HOLES WHERE YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE SUCH ACCESSIBILITY. I’M GLAD TO SEE MORE OVERSIGHT OF THE LOANS BEING MADE TO LARGE CORPORATIONS THROUGH THE SBA LOAN FUND IS NOW RECOGNIZED. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING ROUNDS BECAUSE I HAVE NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS IN COLUMBIA COUNTY WERE NOT ABLE TO SECURE LOANS IN THE FIRST ROUND BECAUSE THEY RAN OUT OF MONEY. THE FIRST QUESTION IS, HAVE THE LOANS BEEN EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY? THE SECOND PART IS, HAVE THESE REGISTERED IN TAX HAVENS AND BEEN EXCLUDED IN THIS NEXT ROUND OF FUNDING? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: STEPHANIE, YOU ARE RIGHT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THE WAYS IN WHICH SOME OF THESE LOANS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED HAVE BEEN FAR FROM EQUITABLE. WE HAVE TRIED TO SOME DEGREE COURSE CORRECT THAT BY HAVING EXCLUSIVELY OR UNDER BANKED COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY INRURAL AREAS. RURAL AREAS. SOME OF THE PROBLEM LIED IN THE FACT THAT THE 500 EMPLOYEES LANGUAGE IN THE HOSPITALITY SPACE, HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS PHYSICAL LOCATION BASIS. HE HAD SCENARIOS WHERE THESE CHAIN RESTAURANTS THAT MIGHT PER LOCATION WERE STILL ABLE THROUGH THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TO APPLY FOR THE FUNDING. WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC TO SAY THE LEAST. REMARKS IT’S GOOD THE TREASURY HAS MADE CLEAR THAT PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES NEED TO RETURN THEIR LOANS. WE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL HAVE GOT TO BE A BIT MORE TARGETED TO MAKE SURE THESE FUNDS GO TO WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED. THAT’S WERE TRYING TO DO AND THAT’S WILL KEEP DOING GOING FORWARD AND PUT MORE GUARDRAILS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THESE LOANS IN ALL FEDERAL LOANS FOR THAT EQUITABLY. PART OF THE PROBLEM ALSO IS THAT LARGER LENDERS WHO ARE PROCESSING APPLICATIONS ARE MORE INCLINED TO APPROVE LOANS TO BUSINESSES. THEY HAVE A PRE-EXISTING RELATIONSHIP, THAT’S WHY WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SET ASIDE THE $60 BILLION SO THAT THESE PREARRANGED RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MOVE OUTFITS DON’T GET THE JUMP ON ALL THESE SITUATIONS. IN ESSENCE, CLOGGED UP ACCESS TO THESE FUNDS FOR THOSE THAT I WANT TO BRING IN JEFF WHO I KNOW MIGHT HAVE SOME MORE INSIGHT ON THIS AS WELL GIVEN HIS ROLE AS A MANAGER AT THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. >> BORROWS SEEKING FUNDING PROGRAM HAVE TO CERTIFY AS PART OF THE APPLICATION THAT THEY WERE ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS DISASTER AND THEY HAVE TO IN FACT SHOW THEY HAVE A TRUE BUSINESS NEED FOR THIS FUNDING. THAT IS IMPORTANT. SMALL SHOULD TAKE THOSE SERIOUSLY. THAT REQUIREMENT IS THERE AND WE’VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REINFORCE THAT FOR CERTAINLY ANY FUTURE BORROWS TO THE PROGRAM. I ALSO WOULD ADD LOOKING BACK, THE FUNDS DISPERSED THROUGH THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM TO DATE, HERE’S SOME GOOD NEWS. WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIST 1.6 MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES, LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT OF THOSE LOANS WERE MADE IN AMOUNTS OVER $1 MILLION. 74 PERCENT OF THE PPP LOANS WERE FOR AMOUNTS OF $150,000 OR LESS. I THINK WHILE THERE IS SOME PRESS RECENTLY ON THESE LARGER BUSINESSES BORROWING FUNDING REALITY IS WE ARE PRIMARILY ABLE TO ASSIST THE SMALL BUSINESSES, MAIN STREET BUSINESSES WHO TRULY HAVE A REALLY URGENT NEED FOR THESE FUNDS. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: I’VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY INCLUDING THOSE IN GREENE COUNTY AND FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE BANK WHO MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THAT WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS TO SOME DEGREE HERE MAKING SURE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM. IT’S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE. I WANT TO KNOW BRING IN FREDERICA. >> HI CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU SO >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THE POST OFFICE IN THE PRESIDENT’S ASSAULT ON THE POST OFFICE. ALTHOUGH I DO NOT LIVE IN A FROM PAID PROVIDERS LIKE FEDEX AND UPS ARE NOT NECESSARILY VERY RELIABLE HERE. THE PACKAGES WIND UP ANYWHERE THEY FEEL LIKE DROPPING THEM AND THEY USUALLY REQUEST THE POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY OF ANYTHING THAT I ORDER. OFFICE INVOLVED IN A VOTE BY MAIL IF THAT IS AT ALL POSSIBLE BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE RELIABLE AND THE AREAS UNDER THE CITY ARE THE BEST. I’M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS EVEN A DISCUSSION OF THE STANDING OF THE POST OFFICE. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: I AM COMPLETELY ALIGNED WITH YOU ON THIS ISSUE FREDERICA. I AM PROFOUNDLY CONCERNED AS WELL. THE NOTION OF USING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE POSTAL SERVICE GOING BANKRUPT. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE CRITICAL SERVICE DISRUPTIONS IT WOULD CAUSE, BUT ALSO THE IMPOSE ON TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES ACROSS OUR STATE. MORE THAN 1300 IN MY DISTRICT. PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM FIRMLY FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE USPS AND FULLY SUPPORT THE APPROPRIATION OF EMERGENCY IN FACT, THIS WEEK I JOINED A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP CALLING FOR 50 BILLION IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE IN ADDITION TO THE 25 BILLION OF ADDITIONAL BORROWING AUTHORITY. THE BIG ISSUE THAT WE HAVE GOT AS WE NOW SHIFT TO THE NEXT RELIEF PACKAGE. I APPRECIATE YOU FLAGGING THAT FOR ME AND WE ARE ALL OVER IT. I WANT TO KNOW BRING IN CHIP FROM GREENE COUNTY.>> HOW ARE YOU DOING SIR? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: DOING GOOD CHIP, HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> I WANT TO ECHO EVERYONE’S COMMENTS THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. IF AN INCREDIBLY APPROACHABLE AND COMMUNICATIVE BEFORE THIS PRICE IS ENDURING AND THEN I’M SURE AFTERWARDS AS WELL.HANK YOU. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU CHIP. >> JUST WANT TO CHECK ON WHAT’S BEING DONE TO HELP HER STAFF PERFORMERS AND MANY OF WHOM WHO ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. I AM PART OF THE NATIONAL AND WE SENT A LETTER TO CONGRESS A FEW DAYS AGO ASKING FOR HELP AND SUPPORT AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF YOU COULD TALK SPECIFICALLY ON WHAT IS BEING WITHIN THE STATE AS WELL. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION CHIP. THERE IS EXISTING SBA SUPPORT FOR PERFORMING ARTS VENUES AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. THESE FOLKS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PPP AND THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN. THAT’S THE FIRST POINT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW. I’VE HEARD FROM MANY CONSTITUENTS THAT FOLKS IN THESE GROUPS HAD A REALLY HARD TIME ACCESSING THE PPP LOANS BEFORE THE FUNDING RAN OUT. IT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE RULE OUT ACTUALLY PUT INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AT A DISADVANTAGE. THE ROLE THAT THE PROGRAM IN WAVES AT FIRST THERE WERE SMALL BUSINESSES AND SOLE PROPRIETORS WHO COULD APPLY AND IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS COULD APPLY. THOSE IN THE SECOND WAVE WERE FURTHER BACK IN THE QUEUE AND ULTIMATELY THE FUNDS RAN OUT. I’M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE REFUNDED THIS PROGRAM AND REPLENISH THE PROGRAM. WE HAVE PUT SOME GUARDRAILS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAD A HARD TIME ACCESSING THE FUNDS IN THE FIRST ROUND CAN ACCESS THEM IN THE SECOND ROUND. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON. QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS AND HOW THEY CAN PREPARE THE APPLICATIONS I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE. I DO WANT TO BRING IN CHAIRMAN PAT WHO CAN SPEAK A BIT ABOUT THIS FROM HIS ROLE IN GREENE COUNTY. >> PAT LINGER: WE HAVE SEVERAL BANKS IN OUR AREA THAT ARE PARTICIPATING WITHIN THE SBA LOANS. WE HAVE SOME WHO WERE SOME THAT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. WE NOTICED RIGHT AWAY THERE WAS A HUGE REQUEST FOR THESE LOANS. WE STARTED TALKING AMONGST OURSELVES ON THE LEGISLATURE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR THE COUNTY. WHAT WE FOUND WAS WE DO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS FUNDS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RETOOL, STILL WITHIN PROGRAM GUIDANCE BE ABLE TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS A LITTLE BIT WOULD BE A SECOND AVENUE FOR SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES TO POSSIBLY TAP INTO FOR MONEY. WAS TOOK SOME OF THAT FUNDING ABOUT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AND SET IT UP AS $10,000 LOANS. THERE ARE SOME OF THE ELIGIBLE OR THE FUNDING WAS GONE ON THE SBA THAT THEY COULD THEN APPLY FOR THAT TYPE OF LOAN THROUGH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. WE ALSO AT THE SAME TIME UNDERSTOOD THAT SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THAT. THIRD PROGRAM THAT WILL BE OUR FALLBACK FOR SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT FALL THROUGHTHE CRACKS. THE CRACKS. DEVELOPMENT FUNDS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN FUND BALANCE AND WE WILL MOVE THOSE INTO A SPECIAL EMERGENCY LOAN FUND FOR A $7500 LOAN FOR A THREE-YEAR PERIOD WITH A SIX-MONTH DEFERRAL PRETTY EASY APPLICATION PROCESS. REQUIREMENTS. WITH PERSONAL GUARANTEES THESE ARE ZERO PERCENT LOANS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN SAVE SOMEBODY’S BUSINESS FROM NOT REOPENING WE DO GET TO THATPOINT. POINT. A LITTLE BIT ABOVE AND SET THE BAR PRETTY HIGH. NOT EVERYBODY HAS THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE. WE DID AND WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO SAVE SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: I APPRECIATE THAT PAT. JEFF, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS AS WELL IN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS? ECONOMIC DISASTER ONE OF PAPER CHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, SOLE INDIVIDUALS. EVEN IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OF ONE I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEEK OUT FUNDING THROUGH BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS. SUPPORT. THE CONGRESSMAN DESCRIBED EARLIER IN THE CALL THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALLOCATED TO ENABLE US TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF MAKING LOANS THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. I WANT TO MENTION TO FOLKS, JUST THIS AFTERNOON THE SBA ADMINISTRATOR AND TREASURY SECRETARY PUT OUT A RELEASE ANNOUNCING ON MONDAY, APRIL 27 AT 10:30 A.M. WE WILL AGAIN BE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THESE PROGRAMS. I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO BE READY FOR THAT IF THEY HAVEN’T ALREADY TO REACH OUT TO YOUR LENDER, GO TO AN SBA APPROVED BANK OR CREDIT UNION, PARTICULARLY SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITY LENDERS THAT THE CONGRESSMAN MENTIONED AND GET WITH THEM ON MONDAY IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY. GET YOUR APPLICATION IN AND CERTAINLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE FUNDS. USE THEM TO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS AND HELP YOU GET THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: JUST SO FOLKS ARE CLEAR, IF FOLKS HAVE APPLIED AND HAVE DONE SO, SUBSEQUENT TO THE FUNDS RUNNING OUT THEY SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATION AND THEY WERE AVAILABLE, DO THEY HAVE TO REAPPLY OR ARE THEY ABLE TO NOW BE IN THE QUEUE AND READY TO BE CONSIDERED? >> JEEFREY BOYCE: THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REAPPLY. IF THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN AND DID THAT THROUGH THE SBA WEBSITE AND AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE BRIEF APPLICATION THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A CONFIRMATION PAGE WITH A NUMBER.F THEY HAVE THAT, THEY ARE GOOD. THAT MEANS APPLICATION WAS ACCEPTED AND DEEMS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AND IT’S IN PROCESS. EVEN IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FUND IT BECAUSE THE FUNDING RAN OUT. THEY ARE GOOD ON THAT SIDE. PROTECTION PROGRAM, THERE, THE APPLICATION AND INTAKE IS THROUGH ONE OF OUR LENDING PARTNERS, BANK OR CREDIT UNION. THE BORROWER NEEDS TO POSE THAT QUESTION TO THE LENDING PARTNER PROCESS. THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST INFORMATION AT ANY POINT IN THAT PROCESS. THE QUESTION IS DID YOU TAKE MY APPLICATION IN AND WAS IT COMPLETE? YES OR NO? THE NEXT QUESTION IS YOU THEN TRANSMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE FDA? YES, OR NO. FINALLY, ASK DID YOU GET THE RESPONSE BACK FROM THE SBA AND WAS MY APPLICATION ASSIGNED ALOW NUMBER? LOW NUMBER? THOSE ARE THE DIFFERENT STEPS OR GATES IN THE PROCESS AND YOU WANT TO ASK YOUR LENDER WHERE YOU ARE IN THAT QUEUE SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE THE TIMEFRAME OR EXPECTATIONS. THERE SHOULD NOT BE A NEED FOR ANYONE TO START FROM SCRATCH. THEY SHOULD SIMPLY UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU, THAT’S AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WERE AWARE OF. AND I WANT TO BRING IN THE SALVADOR. >> SALVATORI. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: NOW THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE. >> CONGRESSMAN, I’M A DISABLED VET IN VIETNAM, AN OWNER OF A BED-AND-BREAKFAST IN SMALL FARM. I BELONG TO THE FARMERS COALITION WITH YOU GUYS. I’M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT, BUT I’M WORRIED ABOUT ALL OF MY FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 14 YEARS AND IT JUST IS VERY STRESSFUL KNOWING HOW YOU’RE GOING TO PAY YOUR MORTGAGE. NOBODY’S REALLY REFERRING TO THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE NO BUSINESS. THE BEGINNING OF THIS HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH. I’M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION. SBA IS GREAT BUT IF YOU HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY FOR THE LOAN WHAT GOOD IS THE LOAN? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND, IS THE QUESTION PERTAINING TO HOW YOU SUPPORT FARMERS OR SMALL BUSINESSES OR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO PAY FOR THE MORTGAGE? I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD YOU CORRECT. >> IT’S A BUNDLE, WE HAVE A SMALL FARM, I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT, I’M TOO SMALL TO WORRY ABOUT THE FARM. MY BED-AND-BREAKFAST THAT MY WIFE AND I HAVE WE ARE CLOSED DOWN AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR38, 39 DAYS. 38, 39 DAYS. I GO OUT ONCE IN A WHILE TO GET WE ARE PAYING THE MORTGAGE AND THERE IS NO BENEFIT FOR US. ALL THEY TELL YOU IS WE PUT THE LOAN ON THE END. HAVE TO PAY IT. MONTHS, THREE MONTHS WE STILLHAVE TO PAY IT. I DON’T MIND PAYING, BUT I NEED TO HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY IT. WE HAVE GOT PROBABLY ANOTHER 6-8 MONTHS BEFORE THAT GOES BY. THAT INCLUDES MY WIFE’S RETIREMENT THAT SHE PUT INTO HER RETIREMENT IN THE BIG PROBLEM IS THE RETIREMENT HAS DROPPED ABOUT $80,000. BECAUSE OF THE STOCK MARKET. THAT’S ALL UNDERSTANDABLE. I’M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I PUT AN SBA LOAN IN FOR HELPING US OUT IS THAT POSSIBLE TO DO? ACCORDING TO MY INTELLIGENCE. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: YES, YOU CAN PUT AN SBA LOAN IN. THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT THE BED-AND-BREAKFAST ABSOLUTELY. IT IS A SMALL BUSINESS AND ELIGIBLE FOR THIS SUPPORT. WANT TO MAKE SURE AND PART OF THE REASON WE WANT TO CLOSE UP THE PROGRAM IS YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS PROGRAM IS FOR FOLKS. WHETHER IT’S THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM OR ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN. OVERHEAD IS AN ALLOWABLE USE OF PPP FUNDS. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. PAYING RENT AND OVERHEAD IS AN ALLOWABLE USE OF PPP FUNDS. YOUR BUSINESS AS A BED-AND-BREAKFAST IS A BUSINESS THAT I THINK FROM MY VANTAGE POINT SHOULD BE ALLOWABLE. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO YOU CAN ACCESS THEM FOR PURPOSES OF PAYING DOWN YOUR OVERHEAD. I WOULD SUGGEST YOU DO THE AND CERTAINLY THE GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING AS WIDE A NET OF SUPPORT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. WE WILL KEEP DOING THAT OVER THE PROCESS. I KNOW YOU SAID YOU ARE A SMALL FARM AND YOU’RE NOT REALLY SURE IF THAT’S SOMETHING YOU CAN FOCUS ON. I WANT TO TELL YOU YOU SHOULD PURSUE EVERY AVENUE YOU CAN. OUR FARMERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BOTH THE PPP PROGRAM AND NOW THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM IS IMMEDIATE RELIEF. IT CAN TURN AROUND IN ADVANCE UP TO $10,000 IN A MATTER OF DAYS. INTO THE AS WELL. I WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO OUR FARMERS BEFORE THIS LAST BILL WAS PASSED. WE ARE ABLE TO LEAD THE LETTER ON THAT TO MAKE THAT THE CASE NOW WE HAVE THE BILL THAT ULTIMATELY MAKES IT LAW. LOAN AS WELL AS THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN DELGADO.CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: I CAN HEAR YOU. >> I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, ONE I’M NOT REALLY SURE IF THE CENSUS OFFICES ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW, ARE THEY? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: DENTIST OFFICES? THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION. MY UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE THAT WOULD NOT BE THE CASE. PRIMARILY, TO THE EXTENT IT’S NOT AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR SOME FOLKS IT MIGHT BE GIVEN THE CONTEXT. I CAN’T TELL YOU FOR CERTAIN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. I WOULD TELL YOU TO CALL YOUR DENTIST. >> HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, I’M HOPING NEW YORK STATE MEDICAL THERE CAN BE SOME KIND OF CONNECTION BETWEEN A REFORM BECAUSE MEDICAL AND DENTAL ARE DULY CONNECTED. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE WHERE I HAVE BEEN IN HOSPITAL SEEMS THAT THERE IS A TERRIBLE DISCONNECTION AND THERE NEEDS TO BE REFORM IN OUR STATE MEDICAL SYSTEM. IF YOU ARE IN THE HOSPITAL AND HAVE A DENTAL PROBLEM IT HAS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED. MY OTHER QUESTION IS, CAN THERE BE IN NEW YORK STATE HEALTH PASS WHERE THINGS CAN BE OPEN ON SOME TENNIS COURTS WERE THERE CAN BE HEALTHY -SOME TENNIS IS A SPORT OR SOCIAL PEOPLE CAN PASS BALLS BACK AND FORTH WITH BRACKETS. IT’S A SOCIAL DISTANCING SPORT. MAYBE SOME YOGA STUDIOS CAN BE BUSINESSES CAN BE OPEN. LIKE SENIOR CENTERS OF WOODSTOCK SCHOOL OF ART WHICH IS A BIG AIRY ROOM AND LIMITED AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE. THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE GETTING UPSET BECAUSE RESTAURANTS CAN GIVE DRINKS TO GO AND SALES OF ALCOHOL ARE UP, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE ACTING LIKE THEY’RE IN A CRISIS AND GETTING CRISIS OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING ALIENATED FROM THEIR USUAL THINGS. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN PUSH FOR SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES AND LOOSEN UP UPTIGHT NEW YORK. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU, I WILL SAY A COUPLE THINGS. PIECE ABOUT DENTISTS, MY IN THE EVENT OF A MERGER BE AVAILABLE.O YOUR BROADER QUESTION ABOUT WHICH SPEAKS TO HOW WE DECIDE TO OPEN UP OUR ECONOMY AND HOW WE BEGIN TO SOCIALIZE. THE FACT IS WE HAVE HAD TO IMPLEMENT SOME PRETTY RIGID GUIDELINES IN ORDER TO FLATTEN THE CURVE AND SAVE LIVES AND MAKE SURE WE CAN CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. WE SEEM TO BE WORKING OUR WAYTHROUGH THAT. THROUGH THAT. THE TESTING PIECE IS IMPORTANT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TESTING OF HOW AGGRESSIVE THE VIRUS IS SPREAD. DO THEY STILL HAVE ANTIBODIESOR NOT? OR NOT? THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE WILL CAN PUSHING FOR. AS FOR THIS BILL IS SO IMPORTANT, IT WILL HELP STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING OURS GET A REAL HANDLE ON WHAT THE MAKEUP IS ON THE GROUND FOR WHO IS CONTRACTING THIS VIRUS AND GET A REAL FEEL. A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE ARE ABLE TO CARRY IT WITHOUT ABOUT MAKING THESE CHALLENGING DECISIONS AND THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WOULD LIKE FOR THE GOVERNORS OF EACH STATE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS AS WELL AS LOCAL OFFICIALS. HEY HAVE THE PROXIMITY TO WHAT’S GOING ON ON THE GROUND. THEY HAVE THE BEST DATA. THEY HAVE THE INFECTION RATES, THEY KNOW THE TESTING CAPACITY IN THE HOSPITAL BEDAVAILABILITY. AVAILABILITY. ALL THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT DATA POINTS WHEN THEY WILL MAKE THESE IMPORTANT DECISIONS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO RELY UPON THE EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, RELY UPON THE SCIENCE AND MAKE SURE WHATEVER CHOICE WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE HERE, WE DO SO IN A WAY THAT IS GROUNDED IN THESE FACTS. DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO ENDURE THROUGH THIS PROCESS BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON’T CREATE A SCENARIO WHERE WE THINK WE HAVE GONE PAST THE APEX OF THE SITUATION THAN OPEN THE DOOR BACK UP AGAIN FOR IT TO REAR ITS UGLY HEAD ONCE AGAIN. AN IMPORTANT BALANCE WE HAVE DESTROYED AND TESTING WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS REGARD. COUNTY DIRECTOR PUBLIC HEALTH DOCTOR AMY GILDEMEISTER WHO CAN SPEAK WELL TO THIS HEALTHCAREBEST PRACTICES. BEST PRACTICES. >> AMY GILDEMEISTER: HI, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU ON THE ISSUE BETWEEN MEDICAL AND DENTAL. FOR SOME REASON IN OUR SOCIETY WE HAVE CHOSEN TO ISOLATE THE OF THE BODY WHICH IS AN ODD CHOICE. OBVIOUSLY, DENTAL HEALTH IS INTEGRAL TO MEDICAL HEALTH AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY MOVED TREATMENTS INTO PRIMARY CAREFOR CHILDREN. FOR CHILDREN. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD STEP. MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS ANOTHER PIECE SHOULD NOT BE COMPLETELY ISOLATED FROM YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH. WE KNOW THERE IS A MIND, BODY CONNECTION THAT IS VERY POWERFUL AND THOSE THINGS CANNOT BE TREATED COMPLETELY I THINK THERE IS A LONG WAY TO IN TERMS OF THE HEALTH PASS, IT’S VERY CONCERNING. WE HAVE A LOT OF CHRONIC DISEASE, A LOT OF OBESITY AND DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE IN ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING ON. WE TELL PEOPLE TO STAY HOME PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY MIGHT BE MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND LIVE A HAVE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE THEY SOMETIMES DON’T DO THAT. SOME PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO DO IT. SOME PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GO RUNNING, I HEARD SOMEBODY RUNNING A MARATHON IN THE BACKYARD WHICH IS REMARKABLE DEDICATION IN MY OPINION. I THINK TENNIS SPORTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. I KNOW IN OUR AREA THERE ARE TENNIS COURTS AT SCHOOLS AND THERE IS NO PRESCRIPTION AGAINST PLAYING TENNIS OR USING IN TERMS OF YOGA AND THOSE OTHER KINDS OF INDOOR ACTIVITIES, I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH BACK A BIT ON THAT ONE. I DON’T THINK THAT WE ARE THERE YET AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A ESPECIALLY IN EXERCISE CLASSES WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE BREATHING HARDER THAN THEY WOULD NORMALLY JUST WALKING AROUND AND WE KNOW THAT INCREASES THE CHANCES YOU ALSO KNOW THERE IS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC AND ARE ABLE TO PASS THIS DISEASE WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE IT. IT WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE INTENTIONAL, BUT EVEN IN OUR COUNTY WE HAVE SEVERAL DOCUMENTED CASES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE NO SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER AND WERE TESTED BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPOSURE BUT WENT ON TO AFFECT PEOPLE WHO BECAME EXTREMELY ILL AND IN SOME CASES EVEN NEEDED HOSPITALIZATION AND INTUBATION. I THINK WE ARE QUITE A WAYS FROM EXERCISE CLASSES, CLASSES, BUT I THINK IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR SOMEONE THAT YOU HAD A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF GOOD, SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH THAT SOMETHING LIKE TENNESSEE COULD PROBABLY DO OR MAYBE LACROSSE OR ANY OF THOSE SPORTS WHERE YOU ARE NOT ACTUALLY TOUCHING THE BALL. OBVIOUSLY, BASKETBALL IS NOT A GOOD CHOICE RIGHT NOW. HOPEFULLY WILL GET THERE SOON. APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT THERE. IT’S AN IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE ON THE ABSOLUTELY.THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK THIS WILL HAVE TO BE OUR LAST QUESTION BECAUSE I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL THE PANELISTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME TAKEAWAYS TO THECONCLUSION. CONCLUSION. DAVID FROM GREEN. ARE YOU THERE DAVID? >> I AM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I SIT HERE IN A LISTEN I LISTEN BUSINESSES. I FILLED OUT MY ECONOMIC INJURY APPLICATION 3-4 WEEKS AGO AND I’VE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING. WE SHUT OUR BUSINESSES DOWN AND STOP WORKING THROUGH NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. WE ARE ECONOMICALLY AGAINST THE WALL AND I HAVE NO ONE TO CALL, AND WAIT AND LOOK AT MY EMAIL 10 TIMES PER DAY TO SEE IF I CAN BE CONTACTED. WHAT IS THE STORY? BUSINESSES THAT ARE RUNNING, I SAW A BUSINESS THAT IS RUNNING AT $2.1 MILLION AND THE OWNER STAYS AT HIS FULL EMPLOYMENT AND HIS BUSINESS KEEPS RUNNING TO THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS HE DOESN’T HAVE TO PAY IT BACK. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: DAVID, FIRST OF ALL I APPRECIATE YOUR FRUSTRATION. I KNOW IT IS TOUGH. WE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REPLENISHING THESE FUNDS AS EFFECTIVELY AS WE CAN. I WILL TELL YOU THERE WERE SOME ISSUES AS I NOTED IN MY OPENING REMARKS WITH WHO WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THESE FUNDS AND HOW QUICKLY THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THEM. THERE WERE TOO MANY BUSINESSES HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NATURE THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THESE FUNDS TARGET. WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THAT TO SOME EXTENT IN THIS LAST INTERIM PACKAGE TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE REALLY NEEDED ON THE TO THESE FUNDS, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE BIG RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS AND QUICKLY AND APPLY FOR THESE LOANS AND CREATE A DYNAMIC WHERE WE HAVE A BACKLOG OF FOLKS WHO REALLY ARE LIKE YOURSELF SIR AND IN DESPERATE NEED OF SUPPORT. THESE ARE GREAT PROGRAMS AND SO FAR AS IF YOU RETAIN YOUR EMPLOYMENT YOUR WORKFORCE THE LOANS BECOME GRANTS. DEVELOPMENT ALLOWS BUSINESSES TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES THROUGH THAT ONCE WE GET THROUGH IT ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU CAN THEN REEMERGE AND NOT HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH ALL OVER AGAIN BUT ECONOMY MAKES ITS WAY BACK. IT’S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT AND WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO HELP REPLENISH THESE FUNDS. THE GOOD NEWS I THINK AND PLEASE REITERATE THIS, BUT I THINK YOU’VE ALREADY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION AND YOU DID SO AFTER THE FUNDING RAN OUT SHOULD ALREADY BE IN THE QUEUE AND BE IN LINE AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS THESE FUNDS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. JEFF, IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING BY ALL MEANS. >> JEEFREY BOYCE: WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE PAYCHECK ADVICE IS TO CHECK WITH YOUR LENDER ON THE STATUS FOR THAT. AS IT RELATES TO THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN A COUPLE OF THINGS, REMEMBER THAT THE CHANGES TO THE EXISTING PROGRAM. HE GAVE US THE ABILITY TO DO UP DISBURSEMENT. WHILE THAT IS DONE THROUGH A GRANT. THAT IS NOT ALONE IT’S MONEY THAT YOU GET TO KEEP TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS. IT’S TAKEN LONGER THAN ANY OF US WANT FOR THOSE FUNDS TO DISPERSE. THE GOOD NEWS IS I TALKED TO BUSINESSES EVERY DAY AND THE MONEY IS STARTING TO FLOW. WE ARE HEARING FROM COMPANIES HERE IN THE STATE THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING THOSE FUNDS. IT IS THE DIRECT DEPOSIT ELECTRONICALLY RIGHT TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. HOPEFULLY, THE HELP SPEEDTHINGS UP. THINGS UP. I NOTICED TAKEN LONGER THAN ANY OF US WANT. UNTIL THE FUNDS RAN OUT HERE A FEW DAYS AGO I WILL TELL YOU LOANS IN 14 DAYS AND WE HAD DONE IN THE PREVIOUS 14 YEARS. THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH HERE AT THE SBA. THE DEMAND AND NEED IS UNPRECEDENTED. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE FOLKS ARE WORKING SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK TO TRY TO MEET THAT NEED. TO THANK EVERYBODY AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US TONIGHT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED. BEFORE WE SIGN OFF I WANT TO GET OUR WONDERFUL PANELISTS HERE AT THE CHANCE TO PROVIDE ANY CLOSING REMARKS OR THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO SHARE WITH FOLKS BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT. I WILL START WITH PAT LINGER GO AHEAD PAT. >> PAT LINGER: THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN. I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING FOR MY ASSISTANCE HERE ON YOUR TELECONFERENCE. LET ME QUICKLY SAY TO DAVID WAS JUST ON PHONE GREENE COUNTY, DAVID IF YOU GO TO THE GREEN GOVERNMENT.com WEBSITE YOU WILL IS A LINK THERE TO APPLY NOW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. TRY THAT AS WELL. FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, I WANT TO ECHO THE CONGRESSMAN STATEMENT, WORK THAT IS GOING ON AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL. WE ARE THE FOLKS IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT PROVIDE MOST OF THE SERVICES THAT THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS PUT OUT THERE. IT IS OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND. I CANNOT THINK OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES ENOUGH FROM PUBLIC HEALTH TO SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, MY OWN LEGISLATURE IN OUR ADMINISTRATION. EVERYBODY THAT IS OUT THERE IS WORKING VERY HARD AND NOT ONLY ON THE COVID-19 ISSUE BUT OUR NORMAL BUSINESS IN THE STATE BUDGET THAT JUST PAST. WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE ALL OF THAT OUT. AS WELL AS A REOPENING PLAN FOR THERE IS INDEED A TREMENDOUS NOW.HANK YOU VERY MUCH CONGRESSMAN, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK FOR US. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU CHAIRMAN AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE CALL. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU’RE DOING AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. IT’S SO IMPORTANT. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING FUNDING FOR SERVICES THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR FOLKS HERE ON THE GROUND. I WANT TO BRING IN ONCE AGAIN COUNTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH DOCTOR AMY GILDEMEISTER. >> AMY GILDEMEISTER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH CONGRESSMAN. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE REALIZES, I HEARD THE FOCUS AND CONCERN HAS SHIFTED PRIMARILY TO ECONOMIC IMPACT. I THINK EVERYONE HAS A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE HEALTH IMPACT AT THIS POINT. PUBLIC HEALTH IS ALSO VERY AWARE OF THAT. WE ARE PART OF WORKING TOWARDS DOING CONTACT TRACING AND WATCHING THE CASES AND DOING THAT OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH WORK THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL WE ARE LOOKING AT CAMPGROUNDS, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT FIND WAYS TO ALLOW BUSINESSES TO REOPEN. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS FRONT AND CENTER EVEN IN PUBLIC HEALTH WHICH I THINK PEOPLE A LOT OF TIMES THINK OF AS BEING THE DISEASE TRACING. ANALYSIS WILL WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE SEROLOGICAL RESULTS IN NEW YORK STATE THIS WEEK WHERE THEY DID GO OUT AND TEST AND DO BLOOD SAMPLE TESTS TO LOOK FOR MARKERS OF IMMUNITY. BETWEEN UPSTATE AND THE RURAL OF PEOPLE HAVE NOW HAD EXPOSURE TO THE ILLNESS WHICH IS A LONG WAY FROM ANYTHING RESEMBLING AN IMMUNITY THAT WILL ALLOWREOPENING. REOPENING. WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE WITH THE IMMUNE STATUS IS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED. IT DOES MEAN THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPOSURE AND HAVE DEVELOPED SOME LEVEL OF IMMUNE RESPONSE WITHOUT HAVING HAD SYMPTOMS. THAT IS A POSITIVE RESULT IN NEW YORK CITY IS AROUND 30 PERCENT. IT BRINGS THE DEATH RATE DOWN TO START TO DO SOME OF THE REGRESSION AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF CASES AND INCLUDE THOSE ASYMPTOMATIC CASES. IT BRINGS THAT DEATH RATE DOWN TO SOMETHING THAT’S A LITTLE BIT MORE EASY TO LOOK AT. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE BECAUSE GET THE BUSINESSES BACK OPEN AGAIN. GETTING WIDESPREAD TESTING AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE LEVEL OF IMMUNITY IS IN THE POPULATION AND WHO IS STILL VULNERABLE AND WHO IS STILL ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THE SOCIETY WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT SPREADING DISEASE.THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU DOCTOR AND THE POINT OF TESTING IS SUCH A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ONE. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT QUESTIONS OF OPENING UP THE RESPONSIBLY I THINK THAT IS WHY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THE $25 BILLION INCLUDED IN THIS BILL. AS WE NOW SHIFT OUR ATTENTION A BIT MORE TO THE ECONOMY WE HAVE TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT GIVES US VISIBILITY INTO THE REAL IMPACT EXPOSED TO IT AND WHO HAS NOT BEEN. OTHERWISE, WE DO POTENTIALLY PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION WE WERE BACK IN THE SAME POSITION WE WERE IN 5-6 WEEKS AGO. A VERY IMPORTANT POINT. I WANT TO BRING IN LASTLY OF THE SBA JEFFREY BOYCE. >> JEEFREY BOYCE: THANK YOU AGAIN FOR INVITING US TO BE IT’S AN IMPORTANT THING YOU ARE DOING BRING FOLKS TOGETHER. IT’S VERY HELPFUL. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IN CONCLUSION IS IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY APPLIED FOR THE TWO PROGRAMS WE TALKED ABOUT PLEASE DO SO.LEASE TAKE ACTION ON WEBSITE, YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION THERE ON BOTH PROGRAMS. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN THROUGH THE WEBSITE STARTING ON MONDAY.HAT IS ONE FINAL THING. AS IMPORTANT AS THE MONEY IS THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. I WANT TO PUT A PLUG IN FOR ONE OF OUR RESOURCE PARTNERS THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER NETWORK. TO AN SPEC ADVISOR TO GET THE COUNSELING AND MENTORING AND BUSINESS PLANNING ADVICE YOU WILL NEED TO MOVE THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME, MAKE THE BEST USE OF THESE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND HOPEFULLY COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE MUCH STRONGER AND MORE SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: JEFF, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF HIGH DEMAND RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO APPLICATIONS AND LOANS. YOUR INSIGHT IS REALLY HELPFUL ON THIS CAUSE. BEFORE WE SIGN OFF I WANT TO I WANT TO MAKE A FEW QUICK REMINDERS AS WE WRAP UP THE NEW YORK STATE CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE IS 1-888-364-3065. YOU CAN REACH MY OFFICE AT 845-443-2930. . APPOINTMENT OR REVIEW OUR COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE ON THE WEBSITE DELGADO.HOUSE.gov. IF WE DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO TAKE A QUESTION FROM YOU THIS EVENING YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE A VOICEMAIL WITH MY OFFICE AT THE END OF THIS CALL AND WE WILL BE SURE TO GET BACK TO YOU. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR CALLING IN THIS EVENING AND SHARING YOUR FRIDAY NIGHT WITH US. MY OFFICE IS A RESOURCE FOR YOU THROUGHOUT THIS CHALLENGINGTIME. TIME. A TIME THAT IS CHALLENGING INDEED FOR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO DATE AND COUNTRY. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. WE WILL GET THROUGH IT BY ROLLING AROUND EACH OTHER. WE WILL GET THROUGH IT BY NOT WE WILL GET THROUGH IT BY LEANING IN TO OUR VALUES AND UNDERSTANDING WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEFORE WE HEAR ANYTHING ELSE. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR JOINING US. GOD BLESS STAY SAFE ANDHEALTHY. HEALTHY.