Fifth Telephone Town Hall on Coronavirus

>> Good evening, everyone. Welcome to Congressman the coronavirus pandemic. In a moment, I’ll turn it over to Congressman Delgado for opening remarks. First, I want to explain the format. You are which means you can hear me speaking, but I cannot hear you. question, just press star-3 on you’ll be connected with a staff person who will take your questions and get you into the queue. We’d like to get through as many of your questions as possible during this call, so we ask that you limit it to one question each. Pressing star-3 right now is all you need to do you have an individual case or concern with the federal social Security, or the VA, please press star-6 to be connected to a caseworker in our office. Now I’m going to turn it over to Congressman Delgado. >> Thank you, Amanda. Thanks to everyone for joining our fifth telephone town hall focusing on addressing the coronavirus pandemic. As a reminder, if you’re 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 to really express my gratitude for each of you joining on the call today. I hope you find this conversation helpful, informative, and I hope to be able to answer as many questions as I possibly can. I do want to thank all of our frontline workers, the folks who work in the health care space, you know, the folks who are the first responders, law enforcement, the individuals who are doing essential work to save lives every single day. It is so, so important that we continue to do right by you and fight for more protective equipment and more testing. We have got to do better in that space, and I’m going to continue to beat the drum on that until we get to a place where you are truly your incredible work and your commitment to our community that you continue to persist and endure in an effort to save and protect lives. So thank you so much. I also want to mention early on that my office is working to remain a resource during this public health emergency, including helping folks return from abroad, SBA loans, and we’ll continue to serve as a resource as we navigate the new federal and local resources available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, if you have a specific case work concern and would like to speak with a constituent service representative from our office, you can press star-6 now. I’ll quickly speak about the work that’s happened at the federal level before we open it up for questions. I know there has been a lot of confusion, if not also accompanied by frustration, around the implementation of some of the new programs that were meant to help folks. So I want to touch on sort of where we’ve been and where we’re headed. I’m sure most of you know by now we’ve passed three bipartisan emergency relief packages. The stimulus package in the country’s history, the CARES Act was meant to support individuals, working families, small businesses, health care did so during an unprecedented increased unemployment benefits, small business relief that I fought as a member of the small business Committee to include, as well as disaster assistance. But I championed, along with other colleagues, for our small farmers, local producers as well. As for the direct cash payments, as I’m sure you know, the checks are going out this week. An important update for non-filers. We just received word that those receiving SSI or SSDI, social Social Security or VA benefits, will automatically receive their federal rebate government. This was something I the passage of the CARES Act. The treasury slowly initiated its guidance to ensure automatic payment of these groups. This guidance for veterans was just issued a couple of hours ago. The CARES Act, I also will note, did set aside $9.5 billion in disaster assistance that unlike what we’ve seen with other programs, we are still waiting on the guidance from the this funding. And I am concerned that the funding at least go to where we want it to go. For those who have been following the plight of our farmers and know that during the trade war the tariffs were really having an impact. The administration Market Facilitation Program in an attempt to aid our farmers. But for the most part, the larger operations in the want that same dynamic to happen here. My team, my office is going to continue to stay on top of this to make sure we get some real guidance on the disaster assistance funds. We have now, moving forward, a few things to figure out, particularly as it pertains to the small business programs you know, there’s some good things that we were able to get done and some things that I think need some improving. I was able to introduce the bill, the small business Business Repayment relief Relief Act, which provides 17 billion to ensure every small business with a qualified SBA loan automatically be relieved of their loan payment, including principal interest and fees, for the next six months. It targets three of the biggest SBA loan programs, provides immediate, automatic support. It does not require anything on the part of the small business owner. So that is a good start. The paycheck protection Paycheck Protection Program, another important program that was meant to provide real relief and loan forgiveness in the event that small business owners were able to retain their employees. This this point, and we are in much need of having to increase these funds as soon as possible to struggling on the ground can access them. That’s something I’m going to continue to work for, particularly when it comes to making sure that our local community and regional banks need to provide these loans to our much-needed small business community. So that is an issue that we are certainly focusing on. I made a point, along with my colleagues, on the house small business write to the treasury to make sure when it allocates the money for loans to support the economy through this crisis that it do so by prioritizing microbusinesses with less than 25 employees and prioritize specialized capital access needs of independent contractors and sole proprietors and that it also prioritize lending to traditionally underserved communities, particularly those small businesses located in rural areas. So this is a very big focus of mine and will continue to be a focus moving forward. Then there’s the economic injury disaster Disaster Loan, another important program to advance money to small businesses and for nonprofits to apply for economic relief during this time. The advances will not have to be repaid. There’s still a delay on the disbursement of this loan. And in terms of what can be advanced is now being underlying loan was originally set at 2 million. It is now being capped at 15,000. So there’s a lot of work left to be done to bolster this program. Most notably, I would add, our farmers are not currently eligible for this disaster loan, even though it was the intent of eligible for this loan. I have written a letter, along with 86 of my colleagues, a bipartisan letter, calling for the SBA to disaster loans. It is absolutely important that we replenish these programs. It is absolutely leaders make sure that we come to an agreement that allows us to plus up these funds and do right by our small business community. It is also critically leaders come together and not only plus up these programs but provide more aid for our centers, and health systems and make sure we have more testing and protective equipment. And it provide robust funding for our state and local governments, who pinch right now because of the fact that there is no real revenue source coming from small businesses on the ground. No tax revenue source. So it is states and our localities and we want our county-level function as they have been, serving the community, they’re going to need resources, and they’re going to need those resources now. Those, to me, are the urgent needs. It is not just a matter of plussing up certain programs. It is also a matter of protecting our health care providing for our state and local governments. It is so, so important that we do that. And it is particularly important that we do that in rural communities. I just led a letter, along with Senator Gillebrand that it be include in the next legislation. Counties and villages with populations under 5,000, government units serving those populations are ineligible for funding from the CARES Act. That’s everywhere in New York 19. Our district is the eighth most rural district in the house. We have 11 counties, 163 towns. The largest one is Kingston. All 23,000. We have got to make sure we have a separate pool of money that can be directed to our localities on the ground, particularly in rural communities. In addition, I have led a bipartisan ledder to the USDA to highlight more rural specific needs. The letter urges that the USDA create a rural COVID-19 task force that will be responsible for these needs at the department of agriculture. This will allow our opportunity to have insight and communities. I have a bill that I introduced with Senator Gillebrand in late October called the rebuild rural America act. We believe it’s a good model it implement when it comes governments and communities are provided the resources they actually need right now more than ever. A few other things before for questions. I just want to reiterate and highlight the urgent need for our protective equipment. It is so imperative. I’m talking to folks on the ground daily about this, and it is a real struggle. I’m going to continue to urge the President to utilize the defense production Act to do whatever is producing test kits. If we’re going to talk about opening up the country and economy, we cannot do that without a robust attempt to make sure we get a handle on all the testing needs out there. Right now we have some deficiencies that need to be met. In closing, I know that this is a difficult time for our entire community. There’s no doubt about it. I have talked to students in high schools. I’ve talked to middle schools. I’ve health care. I’ve talked to business owners. I’ve talked to our first responders. I know the pain that people are feeling. I know the frustration that people are being asked to endure. I’m going to keep fighting to make sure that we continue to solve problems, put partisanship aside and make sure we are helping and serving the public. It is so, so important that we do that. Before I open it up, I want to note that we are lucky to have a few folks on the call to help with answering questions, to give more texture to whatever I can say from a more local perspective. I’m going to introduce these individuals, and then we’ll open it up for questions. First, we have New York State Senator, my office mate, Jan Metzger. We also have the smallSmall Business Small Business Development Center, Dr. Arnaldo. COVID-19 task force. Lastly, we have the county director. These individuals will be answering questions along with me over the hall. As a reminder, if you’re just joining, 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. Now we’re going The first question is going to come from Jason from Rensselaer. I would. . >> I would like to ask during this time of government overreach what you are doing personally to protect the citizens you represent and to reopen our economy and restore our amendments, especially the second Amendment. How are you handling that? What exactly are you doing? Thank you. >> So what I’m going to do and I continue to do, is first and foremost put the life and health and safety of our fellow human beings first. We are experiencing a loss of life here that is alarming. It is important that we do everything in our power to protect our community, protect those who are working in our health care system, protect our essential workers. And that requires making sure that we have the equipment, whether it’s protective equipment, whether it’s the ventilators, whether it’s making sure that we are abiding by the social guidelines that have been instituted. I certainly understand the frustration and the angst that can accompany the harsh reality of having to watch as our economy is halted as a result of this pandemic. It is causing incredible pain for a lot of undoubtedly. I can assure you can get back to a place of normalcy as soon as humanly possible, and do so in a fashion that is the least partisan and least divisive way that we can. I understand that the administration has signaled that it wants to give the Governors of each state the flexibility to figure out what’s best on the ground. Here in New York, we know that we are at the epicenter of this crisis. We know that we have the most deaths in the entire country. We cases. So it is imperative that given that we are in this position, that we do everything in our power to protect life, protect life. From there, be able to build out our economy. If you do not have a well-functioning, healthy economy. So that is what I’m going to continue to do moving forward as your representative. Next question we have from Mary Lou. >> Hello. Thank you very much for taking my question. I’m just wondering what happens to small nonprofits? Do they funding? >> That’s a great question. It’s so important to understand that nonprofits, including small nonprofits, are eligible for SBA assistance. The economic injury talked about which provides up to $10,000 in emergency loans in a low-interest loan plan, these funds can be used to cover mortgage and payroll. Nonprofits Protection program. If the nonprofit uses at least 75% of the loan funds to get employees back on the payroll, the loan will be forgiven. These loans are up to $10 million and have a of automatic deferral. Collateral is not required. All the borrow fees are waived. Now, programs are currently on pause since the SBA has exhausted the funds for these programs. While programs, you can gather information needed for these programs and for the applications as you look ahead. I’m going to continue to work to urge leadership to bring a bill to the floor to get these programs funded and to also have appropriate guardrails in place to ensure that nonprofits like yourself, I’m assuming, or other small businesses can access these funds. I want to bring in Dr. Severette if you have >> Thank you, Congressman. Three things come to mind. First of all, that’s very good advice. Yes, those programs right now funding comes our way. We’re all renewed. But the system itself, anything they’ll definitely improve. They’ll learn from the experience that we’re having, which is unprecedented. So if you’re interested, familiarize yourself with the requirements and start gathering the information. If you’re running a not-for-profit or for-profit business, you should have books, you should have accounting records. Many of that stuff is what you’re going to be needing. So familiarize yourself. Start ready for it. Also, I will suggest that you go to the internet and start Googling additional resources. Not resources, but some of the largest not-for-profit foundations are helping smaller not-for-profits. So that would you. >> Thank you. Up next we have Ed from East Durham. >> Thank you, Congressman Delgado. We appreciate you taking our questions on these issues. My question regards the Paycheck Protection Program. As a seasonal business, we hire about 150 people in our small county. Currently because we are not an essential business, we cannot rehire our people that we had to lay off due to the COVID virus. Currently, as I understand it, there’s no funding available, no funding Paycheck protection. Protection Program. In addition, the June 30th deadline may not be realistic for businesses like ours to be able to rehire our full staff and get fully staffed again. So just addressed by Congress in this session. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ed. It’s an important question. I want to address the second piece first this. There are certain businesses where the timeline that is currently constructed is not helpful, right, because the time it’s going to take to get back up operationally, the runway is long enough where it’s going to take the business owner some time to be able to get to a place where they’re back in a position, you know, to pay for the loan or to administer the loan appropriately. I’ll say that the fact we are in this position right now where we don’t have the funds or the funds have been dried up is all the more reason why we have to, in Congress, move quickly and do everything we can to plus up these programs. These programs are helping. These programs, when they are being disbursed, the funds really are meeting a real need on the ground. And it is imperative that we do what we can to make sure that we replenish these programs as quickly as possible. It’s important, you know, to keep in mind that we also need more than just money. We also need to ensure that our microbusinesses in rural communities and small financial institutions, this is access these funds. That’s an important part of what we’re pushing for in the next package. As you might imagine, there could be scenarios and it’s been the case where certain lenders of a certain size might not have the liquidity or might not have the access in ways that other larger banks or operations might have with certain clients. They shouldn’t -- our community banks shouldn’t have to be competing make sure we have some liquidity that’s injected into our credit unions, our local banks, our sure that we’re able to help the folks here in our rural to gather the necessary documentation and information needed for the PPP program so that as soon as the program receives additional funding, you can be first in line to apply. Zr Doctor, do you want to add anything there? >> It is extremely important to understand that the community banks, smaller banks are neighbors. That’s a very important concept. Decisions are made locally by people who understand what’s going on. So there’s a lot more at stake for them. They want to operate in a neighborhood, in a community that thrives. If they happen, they stay viable. So if you don’t have a relationship with a local lender at this moment, this may be a good time even to start it and get to know them, let them know you and establish the relationship that will allow you to then go back to them and say, hey, listen, I need your help for the PPP. That’s an issue that’s been going on since the program started. Our experience is that those who have maintained or established relationships with the local banks tend to be a lot better, get better attention than those who don’t. >> Thank you, doctor. The next question we have is Howard from Ulster. >> Thanks for taking my call. I was just wondering if you had any information on the progress of unravelling this unemployment situation. application done weeks ago. I just can’t get anymore information. The phone that they had to call is now just a message that shuts off on you. probably going to be getting the PUA. If you had info on that, I’d appreciate it. Appreciate the question. I certainly understand, you know, your frustrations. I’ve heard from a number of folks on the ground on this issue. I would suggest speaking with the gentleman in Ostego County. He’s had the same frustration. My office has heard we’ve got to do better in terms of making sure people are getting these resources. We’re going to do what we can to keep helping and navigate folks through a broken application system. We reached out to New York Department of Labor. It sounds like you applied before the Governor established a new program because on April 9th, and correct me if I’m wrong, but you said you were at this pretty early. The Governor recently announced a new unemployment application system that does not Department of Labor after applying. This is a step in the process that left applicants calling for hours and hours without ever being able to speak to a real person. Instead of one of a thousand call center staff will call the applicant within think there’s a new approach that the Governor has announced, like I said, as of April 9th. That should make this process a bit more efficient and seamless. I want to bring in Sandra Metzger, if you have anything you want to add to this, please do. >> Sure. First of all, I just -- I understand your frustration. So many people’s frustration trying to get signed up. The unemployment -- the Department of Labor has seen over a 16,000% increase in its call volume. So it’s been huge. But the changes that have recently been made that the Congressman mentioned are -- should expedite the process. I want to note that it is important, even if you just fill out a partial application online, you will get a call back within 72 hours. I just want -- many of the employees are calling from home. So they’re private number that is reaching out to you. So I urge anyone who has submitted a form online to answer the phone if it’s an unfamiliar number. You might get the DOL office number, which is 518-704-2704. But from what we’ve seen in our office and our constituent services staff, this is probably 80% of the calls and we’re helping constituents with their efforts. It is progress. I encourage you to contact your state and consider them a resource. >> Thank you, Sandra. Next question is coming from Patricia in Columbia County. >> Yes, thank you for taking my call. I really do have a question that I had prepared, your quotes. Let me quote you directly that, we are the number one state in the country, which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19. Our economy has been halted as a result of the pandemic, and the loss of life that succinctly and correctly. However, the inaction of Congress, which was preoccupied with impeachment, is directly responsible for this pandemic. While you were didding and fiddling about impeachment, China and all of the messages the pandemic was being totally ignored. So that’s number one statement. The other thing I called about is the stimulus passed, the one that the farmers should have gotten money. Did insisted on the Kennedy Center getting money? And why didn’t you make sure that cultural center, which has hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, was not set aside and fight for there’s a lot of things that I can tell you and talk about, but I think you have gotten the picture. And on this new funding, is the farmers in there? And what -- you know, what are you directly doing on the new one to make sure there’s no pork like the last one that got held up for many weeks because of all the pork that was put in there for other things that had nothing to do with the pandemic or people’s jobs. >> Thank you for your question, Patricia. I’ll speak to a few of the things that you -- first and foremost, on the question of farmers, I’ve been fighting for farmers since day one of being sworn into Congress. As a member of the House Ag Committee I made a point to make sure family farmers are not left behind, well before the pandemic even with the consolidation of the marketplace, increased land prices, plummeting milk prices, and the China trade war, the tariffs, the lack of a USMCA for far too long, which I ultimately voted for and was happy to do so. I had to deal with Secretary Perdue coming before the Ag Committee and say if you can’t make a profit as a small farmer, then essentially shame on you. I told him that his priorities were wrong because our policies in Washington are geared more towards the big ag and corporate ag at the expense of our farmers. I’m going to continue to fight for our farmers. In this package, I champion $9.5 billion of disaster assistance aid for our farmers, and I continue to beat the drum to the USDA making sure they do what they’re supposed to do and disburse these funds as soon as humanly possible. That is a big issue for me, and I’m going to continue to fight for our farmers every step of the way. On the question of what we were doing from the beginning, we don’t have, in my estimation, the sometime time or the luxury to try to rehash and relitigate what was or was not happening. My focus right now and will continue to be my focus moving forward is to make sure that we are helping people who need help right now on the ground. You quoted me at the very beginning of your question. Your quotes were that the death rate is alarming. Your quotes were that the economy has come to a halt. Your quotes were that New York has the highest number of cases in the country. We agree on all those facts. And those are the most important facts to me. Those facts tell me that we’ve got to put the partisanship aside. We have to put the divisiveness aside. We have to stop blaming each other and actually get busy working on behalf of the American people. That’s why I ran for congress.. That’s why I’m here. I’m going to serve you to the best of my ability every step of the way. I’m going to keep fighting for our farmers, small business owners, and make sure we do appreciate your question, and I do hope that we can continue to come together and put our parties. Thank you. Jeff. Jeff, you there? Looks like Jeff was going to ask about Jeff, this has been a big issue for me. One of the issues that we as a rural community have enforced to sort of endure before the pandemic was our lack live in a rural community and you do not have densely populated areas, that means the on investment for capital be what they desire, which explains in part why private actors have not invested in rural communities and built out the towers or laid the fiberoptics. But the problem is our government has taken on the mentality of a private investor and continues to abandon promoting the general welfare. That, to me, is of utmost importance. We have the dollars in broadband and make sure no community is left behind, ever. If there were ever essentialness of broadband, it asked to work from home, when learn online, when you have individuals who are relying on this matter of life and death telemedicine. So I’ve been very busy in this space, well before the pandemic, introducing legislation to address flawed mapping techniques to hold our providers accountable, providing us with real, accurate data to make sure we can fully implement a robust plan. Again, my Rebuild Rural America act will also be helpful in this space. Senator Metzger, I know this is an issue you’ve thought about as well. Anything you want to share? >> Yes, yes, absolutely. Thank you, Congressman. So my largely rural district has enormous gaps in broadband. New York State, we’ve been hearing from the Governor’s office that we’ve pretty much solved this problem, but we know from our communities that this is just talking with teachers just today who were so upset about the lack of access for their students. They can’t benefit as other students are in other parts of the state from all the resources that are available online to learn remotely. I have introduced two bills in the state legislature. First, I just want to thank Congressman Delgado. The bills he’s introduced at the federal level are incredibly important. These commission and a plan to close those gaps, those broadband service quality standards by ISPs in New York for the first time because there are no service quality standards. There’s no one holding these companies accountable for broken promises to their customers about speeds, about interconnection, about fixing their interconnection. So we’ll be pushing very hard to get those bills passed this year. >> Thank you. And I continue to want to work with you on making sure we address this very important issue. I want to bring in Christopher from Ulster. You there, Chris? Okay. Looks like Chris was going to ask about whether or not COVID has had an impact on the opioid epidemic and if I could comment on increasing telemedicine beyond the pandemic. Well, I’ve addressed the telemedicine piece in my previous answer, but I do think, Chris, it is an important question when it comes to the opioid epidemic. All of the challenges that we as a community have faced, whether it’s broadband access, whether it’s access to hospitals, whether it’s the opioid epidemic, are being compounded as you might imagine by the pandemic. Talking with folks who are hoping to recover from substance abuse, I know that’s put a real strain on resources and put a strain on human lives who are being asked to endure self-isolation, who are being asked to endure social distancing. There’s a real mental strain that accompanies these realities that we cannot of moving forward. So it is a very important piece for us to think about. I’ve tried to website to this end, particularly when it comes to the mental support piece, critical we do what we can to provide real assistance and real aid and not forget that, you expand beds in the event of increased COVID cases, that we don’t at the same time forget about the necessity of those beds and those treatment facilities for folks who are struggling with addiction. It is so, so important. I want to make sure I bring in a health care expert as well to address this issue. I want to bring in Ottsego sego County health director. >> I think a lot of our health awareness and resources related to that because it does affect the whole population, and it affects different groups in different ways. I think locally you’ll find that a lot of counties have had really tried to be responsive and put out helpful information that people can utilize from their homes. >> Great, thank you so much. Paul from Kingston. You there, Paul? All right. Looks like Paul was going to ask the question, express concern that we do not have enough testing to facilitate opening things back up. He’s very concerned about this. Paul, I agree. I think that we are facing a testing crisis. We’re not even able to test to the fullest extent. The folks who are exposing themselves to -- potentially exposing themselves to the COVID virus, folks on the front lines doing this workdayly. daily. This week the CDC released a report showing nearly 9,300 frontline workers have been tested positive for COVID. This is almost certainly an undercount. It’s just no way that -- we know there’s more that need testing. I’ve heard it directly. I was just on a phone call this week his life, frightening. A couple of his co-workers had already experienced the effects of COVID-19. So it’s a real issue. To your question about the and the lack of testing, I think this is a critical point. It’s such an important piece. If we are going to get to a place where people are really genuinely going to be comfortable sending their kids back to school, going back, you know, to our churches, synagogues, mosques, going back to businesses or malls or movies and the like, it is so, so important that people know what they’re walking into. You don’t want to walk into these situations blind. People need comfort. The best way to be able to provide that comfort is aggressive, robust testing. Testing that can both capture those individuals who might have it and have symptoms but also those individuals who are asymptomatic but still can an important piece to this equation. I would continue to encourage the administration to double down on the production of give, I think, the public the comfort it’s going to need, particularly in our hot spots, particularly where we know we are really dealing with the surge of this virus. So, so important. I’m going to continue to odd advocate for the use of the Defense Production Act in this regard to make sure we have that testing capacity and the protective equipment to provide. I want to make sure we get a local perspective on the importance of local testing and local responses. So with that, I want to bring in the chair of Otsego County COVID-19 task Task Force. Would you like to provide any information on this issue as well? It would be very helpful. >> Yeah, thanks, Congressman Delgado. I’m going it over to Heidi, who’s the public health director. Testing is huge. In order to mitigate the spread, we have to test. There’s a lot of people walking around out there asymptomatic, spreading it. I know Heidi has been working on getting more you’ve been doing. >> Yes, locally, I think at least in Otsego County, we’ve had enough in the past couple weeks, testing capability, to test those who are ill but certainly not the capability to do any testing at a wide community level. And that’s just molecular testing for acute illness. We haven’t seen the serology testing at all, which I finding out who’s immune and who may still be susceptible. That’s able to get back to somewhat of a normal life out there. >> Thank you, both. Very helpful. The next question is coming from James from Ulster. You there, James? >> I am. Hello? Congressman Delgado? >> Yes. >> First of all, thank you for everything you’ve done and your staff. My wife and I just received our stimulus checks. We are so grateful. The response and the empathy they display, I feel I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention that. >> Thank you so much, James. >> We are very concerned about what’s happening with the post office, or I should say what’s not happening. It seems to be none of the funding in the bills you’ve talked about, none of it addresses the big debt that’s happening with the post myself and the people in our community, we rely on the post office so much, the people who work there. They’re our neighbors. I don’t know, is there anything that could be done? If nothing else, just to bring the attention of the situation to the public at large. Thank you. >> No, it’s such an important point, James. My local post office, those individuals are just amazing people and do our communities. I couldn’t agree with you more. The post office is expected to lose about 13 billion during COVID. This threatens the operations of the post office at a critical time in our communities. In the last package, there was a pretty providing this $13 billion, but unfortunately, the administration opposed the funding. It was eventually am -- and you’re right, I am a a Congressperson, and I’m going funding be included in future packages at a time when social distancing is critical and folks are being urged to stay home. We must ensure that seniors and others can receive medication other critical activities. So I’m with you on this, James. We’ll continue to fight to make sure that we’re able to stand with folks in the post office. Next question, we’re going to go with Glen from Duchess. >> Hello, Congressman. >> I’m not dead yet. I am the recipient of a Payroll Protection loan. I’m getting a loan because of the guarantee that the debt will be forgiven when I use it for the payroll purposes. But when I sign the loan documents, my banker does not know what will be required in order to have the loan forgiven and when it will be forgiven. I am very hesitant to sign those loan papers without knowing these two important facts. How can you help me? >> Well, I would encourage you first and foremost for this hopefully we can help give you more clarity on this question. that pertains to the information that is going to be needed. As you know, the Paycheck Protection Program, it is a loan that is based on percentage of your monthly payroll costs, and is using 75% of that loan on understanding of what the requirements are. If that’s not been laid out in the program for you or if you’re having a difficulty identifying for your lender where that language is, you know, we should make sure to help you with that. As I noted, you know, earlier in the call, you can press star-6 and talk to a caseworker on my team to help, you know, specifically address PPP program is intended to effectively be a grant if small employees back on payroll. The treasury and SBA released guidance, and due to the high least 75% of the funds are required to get your employees back on payroll. The other 25%, as far as I know, can be used like rent or mortgage. I not having enough information. We have consistently urged the clear and consistent guidelines on how they will calculate forgiveness. I don’t know if you given your role at the Small Business Development Center. By all means. >> Yeah, Congressman. We’ve heard the same occurrence -- the same thing occurring in a number of occasions. What we have found is because this is -- yes, it is a federal program, but it is up to the lenders to administer it. good intentions, they apply knowledge or their own interpretation of certain things. You know, things get a little confused. I think your suggestion is spot on. That’s what I have been getting, and advise anybody. If you don’t have an attorney, and you don’t have to have one, but if you don’t have an attorney, definitely contact the Congressman’s office. They may not have the answer, by the way, because it’s a very complex issue that keeps flowing. It’s very fluid. However, they know where the answer will be, and they will be able to get it. Hope is there. Thank you. >> Absolutely. So unfortunately, it looks like this has to be our last question, the last one we just took. I do want to leave a little bit of time for our panelists to share some final thoughts before we close out. Again, I want to just thank everybody who’s taken time to join us tonight. I really appreciate you doing so. I really appreciate the questions and continue to have these conversations moving forward. we hear from at least one more time each of our panelists. I’ll start with New York State Senator Jen Metzger. >> Thank you, Congressman Delgado. I just wanted to mention something that was raised earlier in the conversation. We were discussing mental health resources that were available to people. I just wanted to mention that in New York State, thousands of mental health professionals have volunteered their time for a state hotline that provides free counseling. You can call 844-863-9314. I just wanted to mention that because it is an incredibly stressful time and want to make sure people know Delgado and your staff, for hosting this telephone town hall, all of these telephone town halls. They’re incredibly valuable. And for all of your efforts to get New Yorkers the federal relief that we so York State during this pandemic. I also want to just express my deep gratitude to all of our health care workers, our first responders who are really on the front lines. They’re putting their lives at risk. They’re working under very stressful conditions to save lives, and we’re incredibly grateful. As and the grocery store clerks and the mail carriers and day care staff and all of the other New Yorkers that are working in these essential businesses to provide services that we can’t do without. So we’re grateful to all of you. This is a terrible, unprecedented time for all of us in this public health crisis. I just want constituents to know resource for you as you navigate have a great staff who are working around the clock to help people. We also have put together an online resource guide for constituents. We really wanted to create just a on, you know, federal, state efforts, local efforts, and it addresses a range of questions people have, questions about that are open in your county during this time. So that guide top of our social media, Senator Jen Metzger platforms, and on our website, Metzger.NYSenate.gov. Thank you so much, Congressman, for hosting this important town hall. >> Thank you, Senator Small Business Development center an opportunity to provide any parting remarks. very much for holding this town meeting. I think it’s extremely important. I just want to share a very personal thought. We’re New Yorkers. We’re used to this type of situation, not because we like it, but let’s remember different this time is they are or what they do, is being affected. You hear time and time again we’re in this together. We are in this together. So for those who need business or a not-for-profit or an individual, there are a lot of people who are really trying to do their best to provide that assistance, given the fact there living in the state and 2.2 million small businesses. For the small Small Business Development Center, your Congressman’s office, your local assemblyman or assemblywoman. There’s the county where you live. Though information, not everybody has all the tools, but eventually things will get done with the assistance and the coming together of all those resources. County Treasurer and Chair, Alan Russ else. Russells. >> Yeah, first off, thank you so much for this opportunity, Congressman. And to everyone on the line, thank you for listening. I think these are important. I think, you know, I heard James mention the biggest thing there is communication. biggest thing we want to push. Second thing, I want to thank you, Congressman, as well for what’s going to help this area getting that aid to municipalities with less than 500,000 people. We haven’t seen any yet. Us at the local level appreciate you doing everything you can for that. Real quick, in Otsego County, this is kind of what we’re doing, we started and we formed two working groups, a health working group, and an economic impact working group that focuses on the economics of health group. The most important thing here is the health and safety of our constituents. I don’t think anybody here can deny the facts of the economic downfall that’s going to happen in the next three to six to nine months. So that group meets once a week in Otsego County. Everyone is invited to Zoom in. I believe last week we had over 65 people Zoom in where presentations were given on how to, you know, prevent the spread of coronavirus, on things you can do. It’s little things if something is wrong, how you can help yourself out from inside your house and things like that. But they also help to work with an economic group that focuses on small businesses. We put out a survey where we had over 400 businesses answer. The number one thing they needed at the time was communication and where to go. So we needily set up a support website where we’ve already had over 600 businesses register on that site. You can go there and sell items. We had a love your locals campaign where we send people there every Saturday, to that website, to try to push local business and marketing. So we want to try to get it out more regionally in your area. If there’s any other counties on the line looking for assistance in setting that up, we’d be more than happy to help. And again, Congressman Delgado, thank you for this and thank you for everyone that’s on the call. We’re here to help any time that we can. >> Thank you, Alan. I want to also lastly bring in Otsego County Public Health Director to leave us with my remarks as well. Congressman. Thank you for director, I want to continue to push the message that we all need to practice social distancing, wear masks when we’re out in public and not able the spread of transmission and help us to get this under control. Thank you. >> Thank you. And again, who provided wonderful insight thanks to everybody who joined on the telephone town hall this evening. I really appreciate you taking the time. A few reminders State coronavirus hot line is 1-888-36 1-888-364-3065. My Kingston office line is 845-443-2930. We do have a phone appointment tool and a COVID-19 resource guide on our website, Delgado.House.gov. Finally, if we did not go get a chance to take your question opportunity to leave a voicemail with my office at the end of this call, and we’ll be sure to get back to you. Again, thank you all for calling in this evening and for sharing your Friday night with us. My office is going to continue to be a challenging time, a time that is testing our entire community, irrespective of party I just would encourage all of us to keep that in mind as we hope collectively, one country, and that is thoughtful, and that is healing and grounded in love and shared sacrifice. So please stay safe and stay healthy and look