Rep. Delgado Telephone Town Hall on Coronavirus

DELGADO’STOWN HALL. TOWN HALL. YOUR MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT’S CALL. IN A MOMENT I WILL TURN THE PHONE OVER TO CONGRESSMAN DELGADO FOR OPENING REMARKS AND THEN QUESTIONS. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN THE FORMATTED FOR TONIGHT’S CALL. MODE. WHICH MEANS YOU ARE ABLE TO HEAR THE SPEAKERS BUT THEY CANNOTHEAR YOU. HEAR YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION, JUST PRESS STAR 3 ON YOUR TELEPHONE AND YOU WILL BE WHO WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTION AND GET YOU INTO THE QUEUE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH CONGRESSMAN DELGADO. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THROUGH AS POSSIBLE DURING THIS CALL. SO WE WILL LIMIT PARTICIPANTS TO ONE QUESTION. PRESSING STAR 3 RIGHT NOW IS ALL QUESTION. YOU NEED TO DO TO ASK YOURQUESTION. ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU HAVE AN WHETHER THAT’S A RELATIVE OVERSEAS OR ANY OTHER ISSUE WITH A CENTRAL AGENCY, INCLUDING MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, OR THE VETERAN’S AFFAIRS, PLEASE A CASE WORKER IN OUR OFFICE. AND NOW I’M GOING TO TURN IT FOR JOINING FOURTH TOWN HALL -- TELEPHONE TOWN HALL IN AS MANY WEEKS. AS A REMINDER, IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING NOW, YOU CAN PRESS STAR 3 TO GET IN THE QUEUE TO ASK A QUESTION OR STAR 6 TO TALK TO A MEMBER OF MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM. I WANT TO WELCOME NEW PEOPLE ON PREVIOUS TELEPHONE TOWN HALLS AND WELCOME THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IT’S A REAL PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH YOU IN THIS FASHION. A WEEKLY BASIS AS WE COLLECTIVELY MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THESE VERY CHALLENGING, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, THAT YESTERDAY AT SUNDOWN WAS PASSOVER, SO, FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE OBSERVING, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR YOU PASSOVER. I KNOW MY FAMILY IS. ALSO WE HAVE EASTER COMING UP THIS SUNDAY AS WELL. I HOPE ALL OF US ARE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER ENJOY EACH OTHER’S FAMILIES AS MUCH AS WE CAN DURING THESE TIMES. OF PEACE AND TOGETHERNESS DURING THIS TIME. I I WANT TO START WITH AN UPDATE ON THE CURRENT STATE OF CASES IN NEW YORK, AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, ACCORDING TO THE STATE OFFICIALS, WE HAVE MORE THAN 159,000 CONFIRMED CASES IN NEWYORK STATE. YORK STATE. THIS WEEK WAS DIFFICULT. AND THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THAT BEING SAID, IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT THE DATA THAT WE’RE SEEING IS CORRECT IN THAT WE ARE -- WE ARE, THROUGH OUR SOCIAL DISTANCING EFFORTS AND FLATTENING THE CURVE. WE WILL SEE HOW THINGS PAN OUT, BUT THE DATA SUGGESTS THAT WE’RE MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION IN THAT REGARD. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO FIRST REALLY MAKE IT CLEAR HOW APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL I AM FOR THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND EVERYONE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS PANDEMIC. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR DAY. YESTERDAY MY FAMILY AND I, LACY AND OUR LITTLE BOYS, WE ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTAKE AND SUPPORT TO OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS RIGHT HERE IN RYAN BECK AND IT WAS JUST A POWERFUL AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW OUR LOVE AND APPRECIATION TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO WERE CERTAINLY MOVED AND IT WAS -- WAS THAT JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT. I WANT TO MENTION EARLY ON THAT MY OFFICE IS WORKING TO REMAIN A RESOURCE DURING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HELP AMERICANS RETURN FROM ABROAD. APPLIES FOR SBA LOANS. WE WILL CONTINUE JUST TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE AS WE NAVIGATE NEW AND FEDERAL -- NEW FEDERAL AND LOCAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC CASE, WE’RE CONCERNED AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH A CONSTITUENT SERVICE REP FROM OUR OFFICE. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 NOW SO YOU CAN BE ABLE TO HAVE THATCONVERSATION. CONVERSATION. DURING THE LAST THREE WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN WORKING TO HEAR FROM FOLKS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT INCLUDING MEETING WITH MY FOUR LOCALLY BASED BIPARTISAN ADVISORY GROUPS FROM HEALTHCARE TO SMALL BUSINESS TO AGRICULTURE AND VETERANS. EACH OF THESE CONVERSATIONS HAS INFORMED MY WORK AND IS CERTAINLY GOING TO PLAY A ROLE AS WE THINK ABOUT FUTURE LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS THAT ARE ONGOING. I WILL QUICKLY SPEAK TO THE WORK THAT HAS HAPPENED AS I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS. WE HAVE CURRENTLY PASSED THREE PACKAGES. THE FIRST WAS AN 8.3 BILLION-DOLLAR STIMULUS, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO REALLY HELP DEVELOPMENT OF THE VACCINE AND TELEMEDICINE FOR SENIORS. WE ALSO ALLOWED ABOUT $7 BILLION BUSINESSES. THAT WAS A VERY FIRST PACKAGE WE PASSED. THE SECOND ONE WAS THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT WHICH INCLUDES FREE TESTING. EXPANDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. NUTRITION ASSISTANCE FOR WELL AS EXPANDED MEDICAID BENEFITS AND MOST RECENTLY THERE THE LARGEST STIMULUS PACKAGE IN PROVIDES EMERGENCY LEAF LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, OUR FAMILY FARMS DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC. THE LEGISLATION INCLUDES A NUMBER OF CRITICAL PROVISIONS FOR UPSTATE NEW YORK INCLUDING DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS, INCREASE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND RELIEF TO OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL AS SMALL FARMERS. ON ON THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE. I HAVE BEEN INCIDENT MENTALLY INVOLVED IN THE WORKINGS OF OUR EFFORTS. MY BILL THE SMALL BUSINESS REPAYMENT RELIEF ACT WAS INCLUDED IN THE CARES ACT PROVIDES 17 BILLION TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SMALL BUSINESS WITH A QUALIFIED SBA LOAN AUTOMATICALLY BE RELIEVED 6 LOAN PAYMENTS INCLUDING PRINCIPLE, INTEREST AND FEES FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS THIS, TO BE CLEAR REQUIRES OWNER. OR A NEW ONE THAT YOU ARE ENTERING INTO THE PAYMENT OWED ON THAT LOAN WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY WAIVED NOT DEFERRED, WAIVED. PAID PAID FOR. THAT IS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK. THE NEXT BUCKET IS THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM PPP. CONTAINS ABOUT $350 BILLION IN FUNNELS SMALL BUSINESSES AND LOANS UP TO $10 MILLION. COVER UP TO AVERAGE. THE LOANS WILL BE FORGIVEN IF THE BUSINESS RETAINS ITS EMPLOYEES AND THEIR SALARY LEVELS. THIS IS A -- SOMETHING THAT WE’RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON IN CONGRESS SOMETHING ROLLED OUT. A LOT OF FOLKS ARE RELYING ON IT AND BECOME PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FEED FUNDING INTO THIS PROGRAM. ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PROGRAM IS USED FOR OUR FARMERS. FARMERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO ACCESS THE PPP PROGRAM. SO, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR FARMERS ARE AWARE OF THAT. IT ALSO CONTAINS 10 BILLION IN FUNDING FOR PROVISION TO PROVIDE AN ADVANCE OF UP TO $10,000. WHICH WOULD BE TURNED AROUND WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS AFTER FILING SUCCESSFULLY YOUR APPLICATION. THE INJURY, THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN ETLE SHORTHAND OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. THIS IS MEANT TO REALLY GIVE IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ACROSS THE STRICT DISTRICT AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UNFORTUNATELY FARMERS CURRENTLY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS DISASTER LOAN. WE IN CONGRESS INTENDED THIS FOR FARMERS TO BE EXCLUDED. THAT’S WHY I LED A LETTER WITH ABOUT 86 OF MY COLLEAGUES URGING THAT THE SBA MAKE THIS ADJUSTMENT AND UTILIZE DISASTER RELIEF IN THE WAY CONGRESS INTENDED MAKE SURE OUR FARMERS COULD ACCESS THESE FUNDS AS WELL. ON THE FARMER’S PIECE, I WILL NOTE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO A MORE STREAMLINE PROCESS WITH THE H 2 A PROGRAM TO ROLL BACK SOME OF THE IN-PERSON INTERVIEW REQUIREMENTS THAT HAS HAPPENED WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO SECURE $9.5 BILLION IN DISASTER PRODUCERS SUFFERING FROM DISRUPTIONS TO LOCAL MARKET. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE NOW TO WATCH OVER THE USDA. WE ARE STILL WAITING, UNFORTUNATELY, ON GUIDANCE OF DISPERSED. WE DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE A SITUATION AS WAS THE CASE WITH THE TARIFFS WHERE ONLY LARGE RESOURCES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LOCAL, SMALL, MID SIZED FARMERS KNOW, IN OUR EFFORTS. SO WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT EFFORT. MOVING FORWARD I WANT TO CONCLUDE AND TALK ABOUT THE PPE PROGRAM THE PPE AND DPA. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND THE DEFENSE PROTECTION ACHE. WE CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM FOLKS ON THE GROUND THERE IS A REAL NEED AND SHORTAGE ON THAT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THOSE RESOURCES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY LEVELS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB AND DO THEIR JOB WHILE BEING PROTECTED IT. PARTICULARLY AS WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS WITH REGARDS TO THE FLATTENING OF THE CURVE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT. IT IS HELPFUL OR I SHOULD SAY IT’S A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEGUN TO UTILIZE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACTED. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THAT AND COORDINATE THAT ACROSS THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MAKE SURE COORDINATED EFFORT TO BEST UTILIZE OUR ASSETS TO PROTECT LIVES AND SAVE LIVES FOR THAT MATTER. NOW, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO -- FOR QUESTIONS, I DO WANT TO TELEPHONE TOWN HALLS I HAVE SOME LOCAL ELECTED AND LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO HELP US OUT WITH THE CONVERSATION AND I WILL THEM IN TO CERTAIN QUESTIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THE TOWN HALL. BUT, THEY INCLUDE MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXECUTIVES MATTHEW AUSTIN FORK. AND PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR SARAH BERINKO AND ASSEMBLY WOMAN DEE DEE BARRETT AND DAN WHITMAN THE DEPUTY DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OUT OF THE SYRACUSE DISTRICT OFFICE. COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM ALL OF THEM AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING THE CALL AS WELL. LASTLY, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO QUESTIONS, JUST AS A REMINDER, IF YOU ARE JUST NOW JOINING, YOU CAN PRESS STAR 3 TO GET IN THE QUEUE TO ASK A QUESTION OR STAR 6 TO TALK TO A MEMBER OF MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM. AND WITH THAT, I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO QUESTIONS. AND LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST QUESTION WE HAVE IS FROM MY MIMI OLIVEBRIDGE. CALLER: HELLO? HI, FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE ON OUR BEHALF AND TO WORKERS AS WELL. FOR UNEMPLOYMENT ON APRIL 1ST AFTER THE CARES ACT WAS SIGNED IN. AND UNDERSTANDABLY, BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE, I HAVEN’T HAD A RESPONSE. TODAY I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM YOUR OFFICE THAT SAID THAT I SHOULD APPLY FOR THE PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. AND SO I JUST WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD CLARIFY WHAT SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF SHOULD BE DOING, THE REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT OR THE PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE? >> DELGADO: THAT’S THE SAME UNEMPLOYMENT PROCESS GO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU. I WOULD GO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO GET CLARITY ON THAT. SO -- HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS YET? THAT WOULD BE THE WAY TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY. AND WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL ON OUR END FOR YOU IF IT’S EASIER. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A DIRECT LINE AND YOU UNDERSTAND EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE TO SECURE THOSE UNEMPLOYMENTBENEFITS. BENEFITS. SO, I WOULD DIRECT YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OR CERTAINLY CAN COORDINATE WITH YOU HOW BEST TO NAVIGATE THAT AS I’M SURE YOU DO KNOW, AND THIS IS WHY I LIKE TO HELP MAKE SURE WE FACILITATE OVERWHELMED. SO, TO THE EXTENT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A BACKLOG OR THERE IS AN INCREASE IN APPLICANTS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP IF FACILITATE THAT AND MAKE IT AS EASY AS A PROCESS AS IT CAN BE. WE ARE, WE SHARE IN THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING, GIVEN SORT OF THE AND GIVEN. SO LACK OF CLARITY AROUND THESE DYNAMICS. WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FLAG THE APPLICATIONS, YOU KNOW, FOR UPSTATE FAMILIES. AND, YES, YOU KNOW, THE CARES ACT DID EXPAND THE UNEMPLOYMENT ORIGINALLY NOT ELIGIBLE. IT’S A BIG, BIG PROGRAM. IT INCLUDES SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS AND INCLUDES FREELANCE WORKERS IT. INCLUDES PART TIME WORKERS AND INCLUDES GIG WORKERS. THERE IS A WIDE NET THAT COVERS THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. FOR ELIGIBILITY. THEN THIS SHOULD BE THE AVENUE FOR YOU. A COUPLE MORE POINTS ON THIS. AS FUNDS A $600 PER WEEK INCREASE IN BENEFITS FOR RECIPIENTS FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AND IT WILL PROVIDE 100 PERCENT WAGE REPLACEMENT FOR THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE WORKFORCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BILL PROVIDES 13 WEEKS OF FEDERALLY FUNDED HAVE EXHAUSTED THEIR STATE PROVIDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. SO, SOME GOOD STUFF IN THERE. AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GET THAT ASSISTANCE. OKAY. THE NEXT WE GOT HARVEY. I’M NOT SURE, HARVEY, WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM BUT HARVEY REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION THERE? >> HARVEY: YES, I’M HERE. >> REPRESENTATIVE DELGADO: HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> HARVEY: OKAY. I’M ALSO SELF-EMPLOYED. I HAVE BEEN APPLYING OR TRYING TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT WITH NEW YORK STATE WITH THE D.O.L. SINCE MARCH 25TH. NONFUNCTIONAL OR IF YOU GET THROUGH, THEY WILL DISCONNECT YOU. TODAY I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE APPLICATION IN ALTHOUGH THIS, TOO, AS A 1099 SELF-EMPLOYED PERSON, I WILL TELL YOU, NONE OF THOUGHT THROUGH BY EITHER THE STATE OR WHOEVER, BECAUSE THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NORMAL JOBS AND, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE YOUR ACTUAL INCOME? ALL OF THIS IS REALLY CONFUSING. BUT, MOSTLY MY COMMENT IS THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING ONLINE. IT QUITS. ONLINE TWICE ONLY TO HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON AND FOR IT TO BASICALLY QUIT. AND INVALIDATE ALL THE WORK I HAD DONE. ONLINE THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO CONNECT YOU WHEN YOU FINALLY CONNECT YOU TO A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE WHICH I NEED TO DO TO COMPLETE MY APPLICATIONFOR THE PUA. FOR THE PUA. AND THEN YOU BASICALLY THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO CONNECT YOU AUTOMATIC VOICE AND THEN YOU GET A BUSY TONE. AND I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME. AND SO I HAVE ALMOST NO FAITH THAT IT’S EVER GOING TO ACTUALLY WORK. WHICH I WAS TOLD TO APPLY FOR. ORIGINALLY TOLD THEY WOULD FEDERAL GRANT WITHIN THREE WORKING DAYS. THEN OVER THE WEEKEND THE WEBSITE WAS CHANGED TO READ OVER A SERIES OF DAYS. THEY MADE IT ABSTRACT AND VAGUE. SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: A COUPLE THINGS. HARVEY, I AM VERY EMPATHETIC TO YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I TRY TO DO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM DOING EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO AND UP TO DATE INFORMATION I POSSIBLY CAN. AND JUST TO BE CANDID WITH YOU YOU KNOW, AS A FIRST-TIME, FIRST KNOW, THE FRUSTRATION AROUND MAKING SURE THAT I’M BEST POSITIONED AND MY TEAM IS BEST POSITIONED TO UNDERSTAND HOW CERTAIN TYPES OF LEGISLATION WILL, IN FACT, PRACTICALLY ROLL OUT AND HOW AGENCIES WILL ULTIMATELY PUT THEM INTO EFFECT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING, TO SAY LEAST. I UNDERSTAND AND I THINK WE ALL CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING ENTERPRISE, RIGHT? COUNTRY’S HISTORY. THERE IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE SOME THING TO IRON OUT. WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DO IT. ON THE ONLINE PIECE, I WILL SAY THERE IS PROBABLY -- THE REALITIES OF THE SYSTEM JUST BEING TOTALLY OVERWHELMED BY THE SHEAR VOLUME OF INPUT. I KNOW THAT IN OUR FUNDING FOR SURE THAT WE HAVE FUNDING ADDED IN THERE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION PIECE OF ALL OF THIS. BECAUSE, GIVEN THE HIGH DEMAND, IT WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE AN PIECE. THAT’S GOING TO BE A REALITY. AS I SAID TO THE PREVIOUS CALLER, YOU KNOW, WE ARE CONSTANTLY, MY TEAM IS CONSTANTLY WILLING AND ABLE TO SO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU JUST TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE WHEN IT COMES TO TRY TO ACCESS AND GET ANY GUIDANCE THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY PROVIDE. LOAN, AS I SAID IN MY OPENINGREMARKS. REMARKS. THE LACK OF CLARITY AROUND WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR, THIS PARTICULARLY AS IT PERTAINS TO FARMERS, HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. AND, TO YOUR QUESTION AROUND THE TURN AROUND DATES, EVERYTHING I THINK, YOU KNOW, I CAN’T SPEAK TO WHY THAT CHANGE WAS SPECIFICALLY MADE BECAUSE I DIDN’T MAKE THAT CHANGE. BUT I DO THINK THAT BECAUSE INDIVIDUALS WERE HAVING DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY OR INTERPRETING WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE THREE DAYS TURNED AROUND AND IF THAT MEANT THE DAY YOU ACTUALLY SUBMITTED, DOES THAT MATEEN DAY WAS AS A RESULT, THERE WAS -- TO NOT OVERPROMISE IS PARTIALLY PROBABLY WHY THAT LANGUAGE WAS PUT IN THERE. BUT WE’RE TRYING TO GET OURSELVES WRAPPED AROUND ALL OF THIS MOVING FORWARD AND PROVIDE AS MUCH CLEAR INFORMATION AS WE PROBABLY CAN BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD PROGRAM. AND IT DOES PROVIDE REAL RELIEF TO THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS IT. SO THAT’S A BIG, BIG PIECE FOR US MOVING FORWARD AND WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT ELIGIBILITY PIECE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS CAN ACTUALLY EFFECTIVELY ACCESS THE RESOURCES. I DO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, YOU KNOW, TO BRING DAN IN, WHO IS A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OUT OF SYRACUSE DISTRICT OFFICE WHO ALSO CAN AS WELL FROM THE SBA PERSPECTIVE. >> DAN: HI, THANKS A LOT, CONGRESSMAN, AND THANKS FOR HAVING OUR OFFICE ON THE CALL AGAIN. WE APPRECIATE THAT AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY SOMEOF THESE THINGS. OF THESE THINGS. TO THE EXTENT WE CAN. AND I THINK YOU STATED IT QUITE SUCCINCTLY AND ACCURATELY WITH RESPECT TO, YOU KNOW, THE ROLLOUT OF THE EIDL ADVANCE. AND I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT IF FOLKS HAVEN’T SEEN THE EIDL ADVANCE, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT GOT THEIR ADVANCE IN EARLY ON YET THAT THEY SHOULD BE SEEING ACCOUNTS IN THE COMING, YOUKNOW, DAY OR SO. KNOW, DAY OR SO. OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MORE THAN LIKELY. OF COURSE, IT IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. BUT THAT’S MY UNDERSTANDING. AND THEY ARE PROCESSING THOSE APPLICATIONS IN THE ORDER THAT THEY WERE RECEIVED, OF COURSE. BUT THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF SPECIFICALLY. I DON’T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD OTHER THAN THAT OTHER THAN TO WATCH YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS. I THINK THERE WAS SOME EXPECTATION THAT THERE WOULD BE THE ADVANCE. AND I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO SEND OUT THOSE EMAILS PROBABLY TONIGHT TO CLARIFY THAT THE ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS WILL FOLLOW WHEN THE ACTUAL LOAN IS PROCESSED. APPRECIATE THAT I WANT TO BRING IN NOW SAM. >> SAM: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REPRESENTATIVE DELGADO. LOUISIANA, CHICAGO, AND NEW YORK ARE REVEALING THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE DISPROPORTIONALLY CONTRACTING AND DYING FROM THE VIRUS. WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO TO BRING DOWN THE LONGSTANDING CURVE OF THE HIGHER RISK FACTORS OF POOR AS ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE, SEQUEL LERRED SCHOOLS, POO POLLUTED NEIGHBORHOOD AND POOR NUTRITION IN THE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE NEXT CORONAVIRUS LEGISLATION AND BEYOND? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THERE IS ALARMING STATISTICS WHEN WE START BREAKING DOWN THE DISPROPORTIONALITY HOW THIS VIRUS IS IMPACTING PEOPLE OF COLOR. AND IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. THAT WE UNPACK SORT OF YOU WHO AND CONDITIONS THAT FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, PARTICULARLY ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN THAT ARE EXACERBATING THIS SITUATION. THE CORONAVIRUS HAS PUSHED TO THE FOREFRONT THESE LONG TIME HEALTH DISPARITIES WHICH OFTENTIMES ARE FLOWING FROM SYSTEMIC SOCIETAL DISADVANTAGES SO IMPORTANT THAT WE WRESTLE WITH THIS REALITY AND TO DO THAT, I THINK IT’S VERY IMPORTANT AND I WAS JUST ON A CAUCUS -- A CONFERENCE CALL WITH SOME SENIOR ELECTED OFFICIALS DATA. EXACTLY WHAT THE DATA IS TELLING US AND LOCATE WHAT YOU JUST REFERRED TO NOT JUST THE STATE LEVEL BUT DOWN TO THE COUNTY AND TOWN LEVEL TO LOCATE WHERE WE SITUATIONS BECAUSE, ONE, THAT DATA IS GOING TO INFORM US ABOUT THE CONTEXT, THE AREAS IN WHICH THESE ARE HAPPENING. WE CAN DRAW CONCLUSIONS TO SOME EXTENT. THE OTHER PIECE IS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO THOSE AREAS WHERE SOME OF THE LOSS IS SO ALARMING THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF IT BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PAIN IS HAPPENING WE CAN ACT ACCORDINGLY. YOU CAN’T DO THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION READY AT HAND. SO WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR IN CONGRESS TO THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE MORE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GET IN THIS SPACE THE BETTER BECAUSE INFORMATION IS POWER IN THAT REGARD. AND WITH IT THEN WE CAN MAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEPS OR TAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO MEET THE URGENT NEED. NOW, THERE ARE CERTAINLY DYNAMICS THAT PREDATE ALL OF THIS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO UNPACK AND DEAL WITH MOVING FORWARD. BUT THERE IS ALSO A REALITY HERE OF SORT OF FIRST ORDER NEEDS AND LIVES. DATA TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND THEN HAVE YOU GOT TO ALLOCATE THAT DATA. I THINK -- YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO BRING IN SARAH JUST TO SPEAK MORE BROADLY ABOUT SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY DURING THIS TIME NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE AND YOUR RACE AND YOUR BACKGROUND. SOME OF THOSE AREAS THAT YOU THROUGHOUT WHO WANT TO KEEP THEMSELVES AND SHOULD BE KEEPING TIME? >> ABSOLUTELY. SO AS A LATINA WOMAN IN AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT 23% OF OUR POPULATION IS LATINO, WE WORK VERY OPENLY AND VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR POPULATIONS. I ACTUALLY HAVE HAD SOME CONTACTS WITH SOME OF OUR LOCAL FARMERS UTILIZE MIGRANT FARM WORKERS HELPING TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS WHEN THOSE GROUPS COME INTO OUR AREA TO START DOING SEASONAL WORK. WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY IN SPANISH BECAUSE THAT IS OUR POPULATION. AND WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS ACTUALLY OUR LATINO POPULATION, BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH DISPARITIES OF HEALTH IN GENERAL, THEY ARE ACTUALLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH US AND AND OUR GUIDANCE BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW HEALTH IN GENERAL IS IMPACTED BY THE FACT THAT THEY ARE MINORITIES. AND THEY TYPICALLY ARE NOT GIVEN INFORMATION THAT IS ACCURATE OR IN A LANGUAGE THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND. SO THAT’S ONE THING THAT WE’RE DOING HERE. AND I THINK FOR ME IT’S A UNIQUE POPULATION BECAUSE IT IS MY BACKGROUND. IT IS -- IT IS -- THEY ARE MY PEOPLE. SO, FOR ME, I HAVE THAT CONNECTION. AND I THINK MY ADVICE TO OTHER COUNTIES AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WOULD BE TO FIND YOUR LEADER IN EACH OF THOSE MINORITY GROUPS AND CONTINUE TO GAUGE THAT ENGAGE THATLEADER TO THE PERSON THAT YOU NEED IN THAT COMMUNITY TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT. KNOW SIMPLE THINGS LIKE HAND WASHING IT’S GREAT TO TALK ABOUT A PICTURE AND GIVE VISUAL BUT THAT WRITTEN INFORMATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT. ESPECIALLY IN THE LATINOPOPULATION. POPULATION. AND SO FOR ME THAT IS ONE THING MY DEPARTMENT IS FOCUSING ON CURRENTLY. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> SARAH: YOU ARE WELCOME. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL. BRING IN PAUL. >> PAUL: HI, CONGRESSMAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: I CAN THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. >> PAUL: THANK YOU FOR INVITING ORGANIZED UNDER A SUBS CORPORATION. THIS DISCUSSION IS GOING TO BE REPRESENTATIVE THERE. APPLICATION, IT WAS BASICALLY DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE -- FOR EMPLOYERS WHO DRAW A REGULAR SALARY. AND THE WAY -- I THINK MOST SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE IN A SUB-S CORPORATION DRAW THEIR SALARY IS TAKE A SMALL SALARY LIKE I DO. DRAW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR THE RETAINED EARNINGS COME IN, WHICH IS A TAXABLE INCOME. BUT IT’S NOT SUBJECT TO F.I.C.A. TAXES. SO, MY QUESTION IS HOW DO I BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR THAT? OR I DO JUST WRITE AS I MAKE UP THE DOCUMENTATION I DO INCLUDE THAT IN THE DOCUMENTATION AND INCLUDE THE W-2 AMOUNT THAT I ACTUALLY RECEIVED OR HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE SHOWN IN THE APPLICATION? THERE IS NO GUIDANCE ON THAT. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, PAUL. YOU ARE RIGHT IN TERMS OF HOW TO APPLY AS PERTAINS TO YOUR QUESTION, DAN, YOU MIGHT BE BETTER POSITIONED TO TAKE THISQUESTION ON. QUESTION ON. IF YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHTS HERE. >> DAN: HI. YES. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION THE THURSDAY FOR THE INITIAL SET OF GUIDELINES FOR THE PPP PROGRAM THAT WAS TARGETED MORE TOWARDS I THINK AS PAUL INDICATED TOWARDS EMPLOYEE PAYCHECKS AND I THINK THAT PART OF THE RULINGS IS CLEAR. THERE IS REFERENCE TO THE OWNER OWNER’S INCOME WITHIN THE FINAL RULE THAT GIVES A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE METHODS TO USE TO CALCULATE SUCH AS NET EARNINGS ON THE BUSINESS. RESPECT TO, YOU NEGOTIATION JUST FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN GENERAL, WHERE THE FINAL RULE DOESN’T SPECIFICALLY STATE BUT IT PROVIDES SOME EXAMPLES, YOU KNOW THE BORROWER CAN WITH APPROPRIATE CERTIFYING DOCUMENTATION TO THE LENDER INCLUDE THAT IN THEIR CALCULATIONS AND THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. YOU KNOW, THE LENDER RECOGNIZES I WILL SAY THAT MORE CLARITY IS GOING TO COME OUT FOR SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS. ARE 1099 CONTRACTORS, FOR EXAMPLE TOMORROW WHEN THAT PORTION OF THE PPP LAUNCHES AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOSE WITHOUT EMPLOYEES SPECIFICALLY. IT’S ALSO CLEAR THAT WILL PROBABLY HELP FORM LIKE PAUL’S PERHAPS. I WOULDN’T EXPECT IT TO BE TOO UNFAMILIAR TO WHAT’S ALREADY IN THE FINAL RULES. SO A LITTLE BIT OF A PLUG FOR SELF-EMPLOYED AND CONTRACTOR PPP GOING LIVE TOMORROW AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY. LITTLE BIT OF A DIRECTION FOR YOU, PAUL. WOULD NOTE TO PIGGY BACK OFF OF DAN’S POINT. TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE DOCUMENTATION, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD REACH OUT, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR LENDER AND REALLY ENGAGE WITH THE LENDER AROUND WHAT MIGHT BEST REFLECT YOUR EARNINGS AND TRY TO UTILIZE WHATEVER DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO WHEN YOU ARE CONNECTING WITH THE LENDER. BUT,JUST AS A GENERAL MATTER, CONTINUAL WORK IN PROGRESS. IT IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE’RE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE UPON. AND WE SHOULD BE MOVING ALONG HERE WITH MORE INSIGHT AND CLARITY OF PURPOSE. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF TRYING TO ROLL SOMETHING OUT OF THIS SIGNIFICANCE AT THE PACE THAT IT WAS ROLLED OUT. CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND, YOU KNOW, OUR RESEARCH -- OUR RESOURCE GUIDE ON THE WEBSITE ALSO CAN HELP FACILITATE WITH REGARD TO SOME THESE QUESTIONS AS WELL. TO -- WE HAVE ALANNA.>> ALANNA. >> ALANNA. HELLO. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: HITHERE. THERE. >> ALANNA: HI, THANKS FOR DOING THESE CALL-S IN IT’S A GOOD WAY TO GET INFORMATION.I APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE IT. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANKSFOR JOINING US. FOR JOINING US. >> ALANNA: AS WITH THE OTHER CALLERS I AM SELF-EMPLOYED AND HAVE LOST ALL OF MY INCOME DUE TO THE CLOSURES OF THE UNIVERSITY, THE FITNESS CENTERS AND THE PLACES WHERE I TEACH. AND SO IT IS REALLY UNNERVING FOR ME AND I WAS VERY THRILLED WHEN GOVERNOR CUOMO CAME OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND ANNOUNCED THE MORTGAGE RELIEF PACKAGE FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK SO I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY BANK MVP AND IT TOOK THEM ALMOST TWO WEEKS TO GET BACK TO ME. AND, WHEN THEY DID, THEY INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE MY LOAN IS A FREDDIE MAC LOAN, THAT IT IS NOT IN ANY WAY SUBJECT TO ANYTHING THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO SAID. THROUGH THE CARE ACT, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT THEY CAN’T KICK ME OUT OF THE HOUSE. IT. BUT, I EITHER HAVE TO KEEP PAYING OR STOP PAYING AND SUFFER WHATEVER CONSEQUENCES THEY DECIDE. SO, WHEN I TALKED TO THE BANK, THEY GAVE ME THREE CHOICES FOR A FORBEARANCE. ONE WAS TO PAY BACK THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE FORBEARANCE ON THE FIRST DAY THAT I WAS NO LONGER IN FORBEARANCE. THAT WAS RIDICULOUS. THEN THE SECOND CHOICE WAS TO TAKE THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE AND HAVE ME PAY IT BACK ALONG WITH MY REGULAR MORTGAGE OVER A PERIOD OF A YEAR. BECAUSE I WORK ON A VERY SMALL INCOME, THAT’S NOT POSSIBLE EITHER. AND THEN THE 24EURD OPTION THIRD OPTION WAS TO EXTEND THE LOAN OUT FOR 10 YEARS FOR A THREE MONTH FOR BARONS FORBEARANCE AND THEREBY COLLECT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT MORE INTEREST FROM ME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO. I HAVE TALKED TO YOU YOUR STAFF AND THEY HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO SEE IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. I’M WONDERING IF YOU KNOW OF ANYTHING OR IF I HAVE MAYBE UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING ABOUT THE KERAS ACTED? >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS A VERY GOOD ONE, ALANNA. THE CARES ACT DOES PROVIDE LOANS. THAT IS A FACT. SPECIFICALLY UNDER THE CARES ACT, YOU KNOW, HOMEOWNERS WITH FEDERALLY BACKED MORTGAGES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING SIX MONTHS OF FORBEARANCE WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS IF YOUR SERVICE IS ARE RESPONSIVE AND CONTINUE TO BE NONCOMPLIANT, HOMEOWNERS CAN CONNECT OR CONTACT THE FEDERAL AGENCY OR ENTITY THAT IS BACKINGTHE MORTGAGE. THE MORTGAGE. THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE OUTLINED IN TERMS OF WHAT OPTIONS HAVE REGARD TO FORBEARANCE ARE THINGS THAT I CAN’T SPEAK TO DIRECTLY RIGHT NOW. BUT, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONTACT GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW FOLKS IN YOUR POSITION ARE BEST ABLE TO RELY ON THE ASSISTANCE IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE THROUGH THE CARES ACT. YOU KNOW, WE ARE HEARING CONCERNS FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT THEIR SERVICERS ARE PERMITTING FORBEARANCE BUT WILL NOT EXTEND THE MORTGAGE TERMS. EFFECTIVELY FORCING HOMEOWNERS TO MAKE MONTHS’ WORTH OF PAYMENTS AS SOON AS THE FORBEARANCE PERIOD IS PAID -- IS OVER, I SHOULD SAY. THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY CONCERNING. ADDRESSED IN FURTHER COVID-19 LEGISLATION. SO MY PLAN IS TO WORK TO ADDRESS THAT REALITY AND THE WAY IN WHICH SERVICERS ARE EXPLOITING THE SITUATION. SO, I HEAR Y. HEAR YOU ALANNA AND MAKE SURE WE DON’T ALLOW FOLKS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SITUATION THAT’S ALREADY DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FLAGGING IT FOR ME AND FOR MY TEAM. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON THIS MOVING FORWARD AS WE LOOK TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND MANY MORE COVID-19. WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMPACT OFCOVID-19. I ALSO WANT TO BRING IN CYNTHIA. I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE FROM, CYNTHIA. ARE YOU THERE? >> CYNTHIA. I AM. MY CALL. THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO.HI. HI. >> CYNTHIA. I HAVE A QUESTION. I READ ABOUT FOOD AND MILK GOING TO WASTE IN FIELDS AND FARMERS THAT HAVE HAD TO DUMP GALLONS AND GALLONS OF MILK. COULDN’T SOMETHING BE DONE WHEREBY THESE FARMERS ARE CLOSE TO PEOPLE. I’M SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED IN THEIR AREAS. I DON’T KNOW WHAT SPECIFIC AREA THEY WERE REFERRING TO. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT OF WORK, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, THAT COULD PROBABLY USE THE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND THE MILK. ISN’T THERE ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE SO THIS DOESN’T GO TO WASTE AND PEOPLE ARE MADE ACCESSIBLE TO THESE IMPORTANT PRODUCTS? CYNTHIA, AS A MEMBER OF THE AD COMMITTEE AND AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION FOR THE DAY I WAS SWORN IN TO THE PLIGHT OF OUR DAIRY FARMERS IN PARTICULAR, WHICH, BY THE WAY, PREDATES THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WHEN YOU COMBINE THE COST OF CONSOLIDATION AND TARIFFS TRADE WAR IT WAS ALREADY A TOUGH, TOUGH FARM ECONOMY FOR OUR DAIRY FARMERS. AND THAT’S A BIG REASON WHY I CALLED FOR A DISASTER ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS TO OUR FARMERS WHO ARE THE EMERGENCY FOOD SYSTEM. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THAT. THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE THAT WE TRY FLAG EARLY ON. IN THIS PROCESS. IT’S NOT ALWAYS AN OPTION TO BRINGS THEIR PRODUCT TO MARKET IF A PROCESSOR CLOSES OR CAN’T GET THEIR PRODUCT TO THE MARKET. THIS IS A REALITY THAT MANY OF OUR FARMERS AND I’M HEARING FROM THEM ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO NO DUMPING, THAT IS ONGOING. AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DISRUPTION OF MARKETS AND THE CLOSURE OF PROCESSORS, YOU KNOW, MANY OPERATORS ARE BEING FORCED TO PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS POSITION. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM. AND OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES NEED TO TREAT OUR SMALL FARMS AS SMALL BUSINESSES IN THIS REGARD. AND REALLY PROVIDE DISASTER ASSISTANCE RELIEF THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDING. THAT’S WHY IT IS STILL VERY EXCITING TO ME THAT THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN IS NOT ELIGIBLE YET FOR FARMERS THERE ARE SOME OTHER IDEAS, YOU KNOW, BE CONSIDERED. AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE PLIGHT OF OUR DAIRY FARMERS, THERE COULD BE A DIRECT PAYMENT THAT IS PROVIDED TO THEM DECLINE AND DEMAND OF DAIRYPRODUCTS. PRODUCTS. THE U.S. -- YOU COULD ALSO START TO MAKE PURCHASES OF DAIRYPRODUCTS. PRODUCTS. THESE ARE. SO IDEAS THAT WHEN I TALK TO FOLKS ON MY AG ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOLKS SERVING ON THE NEW YORK FARM BUREAU, THESE ARE HEARING FROM THEM AND SO CERTAINLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HELP OUR DAIRY FARMERS GET THROUGH THESE I WANT TO BRING IN ASSEMBLY WOMAN BARRETT WHO MIGHT ALSO BE WELL. >> BARRETT: THANK YOU, THE VALLEY AND CASS CO-REGION. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL. AND I THINK THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT’S WITH ALL THE HEART-BREAKING STORIES WE HEAR DUMPED AT THE LEVEL THAT IT HAS BEEN WHEN PEOPLE GO TO AND SEE EMPTY SHELVES IS, YOU KNOW, IT’S REALLY HARD TO MAKE SENSE OF I AGREE WHETHER A WE NEED IS CREATIVE THINKING. I KNOW OUR STATE AG AND MARKETS IS WORKING TO FIND SOLUTIONS. I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, COLUMBIA COUNTY TO SHOP WHEN THEY CAN AT THE FARM STANDS AND BECAUSE THIS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM. WE ARE CONTINUING TO HELP THEM BUT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT A FUTURE WHERE WE WILL NEED THESE FARMERS UP AND RUNNING. WE WILL NEED THESE, YOU KNOW, MILK BEING A A PERISHABLE PRODUCT CHALLENGING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. WE WILL NEED THEM GOING FORWARD. HOPE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL ULTIMATELY ADDRESS THIS COST OF MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS WHICH IS SUCH, YOU KNOW, AN AWFUL CONUNDRUM THAT, AS YOU SAID, SORT OF SETS FARMERS UP FROM THE VERY BEGINNING FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY SHOULDN’T SO, I WOULD SAY THAT TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME ALTERNATIVES IN -- AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS REALLY THE BEST -- ONE OF THE BEST APPROACHES THAT WE CAN HAVE. WE CONTINUED TO WORK HERE PARTICULARLY IN COLUMBIA COUNTY. WE HAVE LAUNCHED A FUND -- BUSINESS CONTINUITY FUND THAT WORKS WITH FARMERS AND HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY TO HELP GET -- SORT OF BRIDGE THE GAP. I KNOW THE SBA PROCESS IS SLOW AND CUMBERSOME. I’M ALREADY HEARING FROM SOME OF MY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT THE EIDL WHICH HAS BEEN CAPPED AT $15,000 FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN OUT OF BUSINESS FOR A MONTH ALREADY. AND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER MONTH AHEAD. IT’S NOT ADEQUATE. SO, THE CHALLENGES ACROSS THE BOARD REALLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BRING SOME OF THIS MONEY FROM THE NEXT STIMULUS PACKAGE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LOCAL CONTROL OFFERED AS PART OF IT. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I ALSO WANT TO BRING IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXEC MATTHEW AUSTINFORDIS IF YOU WANT TO >> MATTHEW: THANK YOU SO MUCH. A LOT OF SMALL FAMILY FARMS AS YOU VERY CLEARLY AND STATED VERY WELL WE ARE STRUGGLING EVEN BEFORE BEFORE WE GOT INTO THIS SITUATION. AND WE HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES HERE LOCALLY AS WELL OF JUST MILK BEING DUMPED BY MANY, MANY GALLONS AT A TIME. AND WHAT WE HAVE TIED TO DO TRIED TO DO IS CONNECT SOME OF THOSE FOLKS TO LOCAL PEOPLE SO THEY COULD STILL SELL SOME GOODS BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS HERE AND I SPOKE TO ONE FAMILY FARMING OPERATION, YOU KNOW, THAT’S LOOKING TO TAKE SO, CONGRESSMAN, I THINK YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK HERE. WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU, BIG TIME. AND OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY IS COUNTING ON YOU BIG TIME TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FARMERS ARE COMING FROM WASHINGTON AS HEARD GOVERNOR CUOMO TODAY, YOU KNOW, THE DEFICIT THAT THEY ARE CHALLENGE FOR US. SO REALLY I THINK WE ARE GOING TO ULTIMATELY HAVE TO LEAN ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF HERE AND I’M VERY HAPPY TO KNOW AND THAT YOU ARE ON TOP OF IT. WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT IT. AND TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK THERE BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE HEARING IN THE HUDSON VALLEY RINGS VERY TRUE HERE IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY AS WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOR SOME TIME NOW AND WORSE. THIS IS JUST MAKING IT EVENWORSE. I ACTUALLY SAID TO MY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS, I SAID IS THIS THE END OF DAIRY FARMING AS WE KNOW IT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY? THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO PREVENT. WE NEED TO PREVENT THIS FAMILY GENERATIONS TO JUST HAVE IT JUST OF THIS CRISIS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND ANY INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GET TO OUR AG COMMUNITY, PLEASE KEEP SHARING THAT THANKYOU. YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MATT, AND FOR THE KIND WORDS AND FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THE GROUND AS WELL. AND ASSEMBLY WOMAN THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, TOO. IT’S SO CRITICAL RIGHT NOW. AND ALWAYS BUT CERTAINLY RIGHT NOW. AND JUST WANT TO PUT JUST A FINE THE FARM PIECE IS GOING TO BE MAKING SURE THAT THE DISASTER ASSISTANCE THE $9.5 BILLION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE IN THE TO GO. AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE AND I’M ALL OVER. THIS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE DISPERSED IN A WAY THAT REALLY MEETS THE ACUTE NEEDS OF OUR SMALL MID SIZED FARMS, PARTICULARLY OUR DAIRY WHO ARE REALLY HURTING RIGHT NOW. WE ARE GOING TO STAY ON TOP OF THAT AND CONTINUE TO BUILD. OLESTER. >> THOMAS: YES. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: HOW ARE YOU DOING, SIR? >> I’M DOING GOOD. THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL. MY CONCERN IS THE PENSION AND PENSION FUND I KNOW MY FUND IS IN DISTRESS AND WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN CUTS AND WITH THE DOWNTURN IN THE MARKETS AND EVERYTHING, I CAN’T HELP BUT THINK THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE FURTHER CUTS FURTHER LEGISLATION THE LEWIS ACT AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE CHANCES HAVE THIS FOLDED INTO ONE OF THESERECOVERY PLANTS? RECOVERY PLANTS? A GOOD QUESTION, THOMAS. AS WE HAVE SEEN COVID-19 HAS TAKEN A SERIOUS HIT TO OUR ECONOMY OR GIVEN ONE. WE SEE SOME SERIOUS MARKET DOWNWARD TURNS, THE UNEMPLOYMENT, YOU KNOW, CLAIMS ARE ALARMING. AS A RESULT WE ARE SEEN SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT HIT AS WELL. TO YOUR POINT, CONGRESS ASK CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING FURTHER LEGISLATION TO RESPOND TO THE IMPACT CAUSED BY THE CORONAVIRUS. WHICH TO PROTECT, YOU KNOW, THE STRESS PENSION FUNDS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND ARE DOING. AND I THINK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE BUSH LOUIS ACT. WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUTMOVING FORWARD. MOVING FORWARD. THE FACT IS OUR ECONOMY IS REALLY GOING THROUGH IT AS A RESULT OF THIS PANDEMIC AND TO A DEGREE THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN SOME TIME. AND SO WE, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, PROTECT AGAINST THAT AND TO PROTECT, YOU KNOW, THOSE FUNDS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT. SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK. IT’S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS ON THE MINDS OF A LOT OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PURSUING THIS PAT AS WELL. SOME -- SOME FOLKS ARE GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT AND VERY CHALLENGING TIME WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR OWN POCKETBOOKS. I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR ON THAT, THOMAS. I THINK THIS MIGHT BE OUR LAST QUESTION. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE JEFF FROM GREENE COUNTY, IT’S AN ONLINE QUESTION. I’M GOING TO HAVE TO READ IT. IT SAYS CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEW STIMULUS BILL THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED NOW? QUESTION. THIS IS A QUESTION THAT SEEMS PACKAGE. PACKAGES AT THE TOP OF THE CALL. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH A FOURTH PACKAGE AS WE SPEAK AND THERE ARE ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS SIDE TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE CORONAVIRUS. THE CARES ACT WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I THINK IT WAS A GOOD STEP. TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE ARE INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAMILY FARMS. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A PACKAGE THAT IS BEINGCALLED 3.5. CALLED 3.5. AND THIS PACKAGE IS AIMED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE SBA. THE CARES ACT AUTHORIZED NEARLY PROTECTION PROGRAM. AS OF WEDNESDAY, AROUND 100 BILLION OF THAT WAS ACCOUNTED FOR. SO THE DISCUSSION NOW IS ADDING ADDITIONAL 250 BILLION FOR THAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AS POSSIBLE. IT IS A PROGRAM THAT IS HELPING A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. AND IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT ALLOWS OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO RETAIN THEIR WORKFORCE DURING THIS DIFFICULT ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. ABLE TO OPEN BACK UP THE ECONOMY WE’LL BE ABLE TO JUMP START IT IN A WAY THAT WE MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO IF BUSINESS OWNERS CANNOT RETAIN THEIR WORKFORCE. THERE IS ALSO A DISCUSSION ARE A FOURTH AND FIFTH PACKAGE, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD COME AFTER THE 3.5. AND MY PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE EXPANDING ON THE SBA PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE OUR SMALL AND FAMILY FARMS, THE PPP PROGRAM AND THE EIDL PROGRAM, TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CONTINUING ASSISTANCE FOR ALL SMALL BUSINESSES, EXPANDING BROAD BAND ACCESS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I FOCUSED ON EXTENSIVELY LONG CRITICAL BROAD BAND ACCESS IS. NOT JUST FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE HOME SCHOOLING CAN ACCESS THEIR WORK ONLINE OR TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CAN STILL ENGAGE IN THE OR, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SENIORS ARE ABLE TO SEEK OR ANYBODY FOR THAT MATTER WHO WITHOUT RURAL BROAD BAND, THAT’S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. THINK WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SUPPORTING OUR HOSPITALS AND FRONT LINE WORKERS BY PROVIDING APPROPRIATE FUNDING AND PPE NEEDED TO WIN THIS FIGHT. SO I IT’S ALSO GOING TO BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO, AND THEN LASTLY, YOU KNOW, I WANT TONE SURE THAT RURAL COMMUNITIES RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING -- ARE RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC EFFORTS THAT FIT THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. FACING CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESSING FUNDS. THAT’S WHY I INTRODUCED THE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO SPEAK TO THIS NEED. AND I THINK WE NEED SOMETHING IN THAT VEIN THAT WE CAN CREATE COMMUNITIES TO BUILD OUT THE BROAD BAND, TO BUILD OUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WE CAN BOUNCE BACK AS WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC. SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO JOIN US TONIGHT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE I CLOSE WE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO HEAR CLOSING REMARKS FROM ALL OF OUR PANELISTS. I WILL KICK IT OVER TO AUSTINFORD TO BEGIN. TOGETHER. FOR EVERYBODY LISTENING IN, THERE IS A LOFT INFORMATION THAT IS COMING AT FOLKS AND IN A VERY TOUGH TIME. AND WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH JUST TRYING TO GET INFORMATION OUT AND ALL WORK TOGETHER AND HERE IS STRONGER TOGETHER AND WE ARE FOCUSING ON THAT ANY FOLKNESS MONTGOMERY COUNTY GET ON OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THERE IS A LOT OF RESOURCES OUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND STRESS AND THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES TO HELP. PLEASE DON’T BE SHY, CALL, EMAIL, TEXT TEXT AND HE WOOL BE THERE TO HELP AND WE WILL BE THROUGH THIS TOGETHER AND PUSHING FORWARD. CONGRESSMAN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TO STAY CLOSE AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU, MATT, FOR BEING A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AND PROVIDING INSIGHTS. I WANT TO BRING IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR SARAH: SARAH? CONGRESSMAN. AS PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR, FOR ME THIS IS THE FIRST PANDEMIC OUTBREAK THAT I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH. AND AS MATT SAID, WE ARE REALLY WE ARE REALLY COMING TOGETHER AS HEALTH DIRECTOR I’M FINDING THAT FOLKS ARE NOT ONLY HAVING THAT ANXIETY IN REFERENCE TO COVID, BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING OTHER HEALTH ISSUES. WE ARE STILL SEEING FOLKS WITH HEART CONDITIONS, DIABETES, OBESITY, CANCER. AND IT’S REALLY THE COVID IS ARE TREATING ALL INDIVIDUALS. AND I WANT US TO JUST GO BACK TO A TIME IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE DIDN’T HAVE COVID AND REMEMBER THAT AT THE HEART OF THIS WE ARE ALL PEOPLE AND WE HAVE TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, WE STILL HAVE EACH OTHER. AND AS MY EXECUTIVE SAID WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. AND THAT INCLUDES OUR REGIONAL APPROACH TO -- AND THE WORK YOU ARE DOING, CONGRESSMAN. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU, WELL SAID. DEE DEE? >> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ON OUR PANEL TODAY AND ALL OF YOU WHO CALLED IN FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND FOR BEING PART OF LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS AND AND, CONGRESSMAN, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR ALWAYS BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE OF YOUR DISTRICT WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT AND ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS. I MEAN, AS SOME OF US CELEBRATED PASSOVER LAST NIGHT AND GO INTO EASTER, WE REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS A PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING TIME. SO EVER OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONNECTED IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND THIS IS TOWN HALL IS JUST ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES THAT THE CONGRESSMAN HAS BEEN SO GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME TO OFFER. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THAT AS OF TODAY THE STATE HAS INSTITUTED A AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ACTUALLY IN THE NEXT TWO HOURS THERE IS A CALL BACK SYSTEM AND PART OF THE LOGJAM WITH D.O.L. IS THAT THEY ASK PEOPLE TO CALL A SECOND TIME AND AS THE GETTING THROWN OFF AFTER GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS CAN ATTEST, THEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT A SECOND TIME. SO NO LONGER WILL THAT BE NECESSARY. THEY WILL BE CALLING PEOPLE WITHIN 72 HOURS. WE HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF CONSTITUENTS TODAY THAT THAT’S ALREADY BEGUN AND SO THE COMBINATION OF THE RE-SET AND THIS NEW CALLBACK SYSTEM STATE IS SLOWLY GETTING ON TOP OF WHAT HAS BEEN AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYMENT REQUESTS COMPARED TO WHAT THEY HAVE EVER DONE, YOU KNOW, IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE. SO, THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN,AGAIN. AGAIN. AND, YOU KNOW, GOD BLESS EVERYBODY. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: THANK YOU ASSEMBLY WOMAN, AGAIN, FOR A REAL EXAMPLE FOR ME AND SOME OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE. SO, THANK YOU. I WANT TO BRING IN LASTLY DAN WHITMAN. >> DAN: THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN. I JUST WANT TO KIND OF ECHO WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS ON THE CALL AND, FOLKS NAVIGATE. THIS AT LEAST WITHIN OUR -- WITHIN OUR PART OF THIS ECOSYSTEM AND HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES. WE HAVE PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, THAT STAND READY ACROSS THE STATE TO HELP EVERYBODY FIGURE THIS OUT. I KNOW IT’S A LOT AND THERE IS -- SEEMS LIKE A NEW PROGRAM EVERY DAY. THERE IS CERTAINLY UPDATES TO THESE PROGRAMS AS YOU INDICATED, CONGRESSMAN, AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THIS PROGRAM WORKS. YOU KNOW 2K3W50EUD DANCE IS COMING OUT FREQUENTLY. I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BEST SOURCE OR INDEED, THE ONLY SOURCE FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT SBA PROGRAMS IS GOING TO BE OUR WEBSITE AT SBA.GOV. FREQUENTLY, DAILY, OKAY? SOME OF THAT LOCAL ASSISTANCE THAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TO HELP YOU HOW TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO APPLY FOR PPP. HOW TO FIND A LENDER THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE PPP PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE. IT’S HOW YOU APPLY FOR THE EIDL PROGRAM. AND THAT IS TRUE AS NEW LENDERS ARE COMING ON BOARD. YOU KNOW, WE ARE UPDATING THAT INFORMATION ALL THE TIME. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE HERE TO DO TO HELP YOU FIGURE THIS OUT SO PLEASE CALL US.THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> CONGRESSMAN DELGADO: DAN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I KNOW IT’S A LOT FOR THE SBA. YOU ARE REALLY OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, TAKING A LOT OF INCOMING RIGHT NOW. AND IT MEANS A LOT TO ME, YOU KNOW TO HAVE YOU ON THESE CALLS. SO REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHTS, YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE FOLKS CAN SO, THANK YOU FOR -- FOR ONCE AGAIN JOINING. JOINED IN THIS EVENING FOR YOUR TIME AND IT MEANS A LOT TO HAVE YOU ALL LISTENING IN. AND I DO HOPE THAT YOU FIND THESE TELEPHONE TOWN HALLS INFORMATIVE AND USEFUL. A QUICK REMINDER AS YOU WRAP UP, NEW YORK STATE CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE IS 1-888-364-3065. 845-443-2930. TOOL AND COVID -- COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE ON MY WEBSITE DELGADO.HOUSE OHIOAN .GOV. FINALLY IF YOU DIDN’T GET A TONIGHT, YOU WILL HAVE AN MAIL WITH MY OFFICE AT THE END OF THIS CALL AND WE WILL BE SURE TO GET BACK TO YOU. I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, JUST UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT THESE ARE INDEED CHALLENGING TIMES. AND WHILE THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND. SO PROGRAMS AND THE ROLLOUT AND SORT OF, YOU KNOW, JUST THE MAGNITUDE OF ALL OF THIS HAS PROVEN, YOU KNOW, A DIFFICULT ENTERPRISE, I AM ALSO, THOUGH, INSPIRED. I’M INSPIRED BY THE EFFORT. I’M INSPIRED BY THE DEDICATION. I’M INSPIRED BY THE COMMITMENT TO PUSH THROUGH, TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING SOURCES, TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO GET THOSE FUNDS OUT THE OF OUR HUMAN CAPITAL ON THE GROUND AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT FROM THE FEDERAL,STATE, TO LOCAL. STATE, TO LOCAL. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE AND WE ARE. AND I THINK WE CAN NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THAT FACT. WE ARE. WE ARE COMING TOGETHER. WE ARE ABIDING BY THE GUIDELINES. WE ARE MAKING THE SHARED CURVE FLATTENING, WHICH MEANS WE ARE SAVING LIVES. AND SO, I JUST WANT TO LEAVE FOLKS WITH A POSITIVE NOTE HERE BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE WINNING IN THIS AND WE ARE LEANING IN TO OUR VALUES. WE ARE LEANING IN WHAT TO WHAT I CANS US GREAT THAT’S OUR ABILITY TO RALLY AND MOBILIZE AROUND EACH OTHER AND TO NEVER FORGET ABOUT OUR SHARED VALUES AND COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE AND JUST BEING GRATEFUL. SO I JUST WANT TO LEAVE YOU ON A POSITIVE NOTE. I KNOW IT’S HARD. I KNOW IT’S A TOUGH TIME RIGHT NOW. WE ARE ALL WORKING HERE AND I THINK WE ARE ALL DEDICATED TO GETTING THROUGH THIS AND WE ARE SEEING SOME GOOD SIGNS. I WANT TO WISH YOU ALL A BLESSED REMAINDER OF THE WEEK, A BLESSED HOLIDAY WEEKEND AS WELL. PLEASE STAY SAFE AND STAY HEALTHY.LOVE YOU ALL.