{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-shares-what-you-need-know-covid-19-april-28", "Greg Walden Shares What You Need to Know on COVID-19 - April 28", "2020-04-28", "2020", "2020-04", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released an update on COVID-19 for April 28, 2020.\nThe latest on the coronavirus:\nOregon Sees Low COVID-19 Rates Oregon has some of the lowest COVID-19 rates across the country. Oregon Health Authority is working to expand pharmacy based testing. The current case positivity rate is 2%.\nMore Help for Farmers and Ranchers: Last week, President Trump signed a supplemental funding package to replenish a number of federal COVID-19 relief programs. Importantly, this package expanded eligibility for Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to farms, ranches, and other agriculture businesses with up to 500 employees. Learn morehere. SBA Provides more PPP Loans: Starting this week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) began processing more Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans. This comes after President Trump signed into law more funding for the PPP. As of yesterday afternoon, SBA announced that they had processed over 100,000 PPP loans from more than 4,000 lenders since the program resumed accepting applications. Learn morehere.\nFunding for Firefighters: FEMA has announced that fire service organizations nationwide with people on the front lines of this pandemic will soon be able to apply for additional funding to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE). This funding comes from the $100 million FEMA was awarded in the CARES Act to help ensure first responders have enough PPE. FEMA will begin accepting applications for the grant funding on Tuesday, April 28. The deadline for applications is May 15. Learn morehere.\nMore Funding for Health Care Providers & Hospitals The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded over $40 billionto health care providers and hospitals - including $103,577,091 for providers in Oregon. The funding comes as a result ofHHS distributing over $40billion of the $100 billion that theCoronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Actdesignated for provider relief. In addition to this funding HHS has already distributed $30 billion nationwide, including $291 million to Oregon. Read morehere.\nHow to Get Your Economic Impact Payment Over the next several weeks, most Americans will see their payment of $1,200 per individual, $2,400 per couple, and $500 per child arrive directly to their bank account via direct deposit thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. TheIRS announced a change for veteranswho receive disability compensation, a pension, or survivor benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs - these veterans DO NOT need to do anything to receive their payment. Those on Social Security who do not file taxes also DO NOTneed to file anything to receive this new payment. Low income individuals with a gross income between $12,200 for individuals and $24,400 for married couples that do not file taxes,WILL need to submit information to the IRS to receive this payment.You can provide this information through the IRS's websitehere.\nFor additional information about the economic impact payment you can visit the IRS websitehere.\nWatch out for COVID-19 Scams: BoththeFederal Trade Commissionand theFederal Communications Commissionare reporting a spike in coronavirus related scams including home testing kits, fake cures, and other malicious attempts to prey onCOVID-19fears.The Treasury Department will NOT ask you to pay anything for the payment most Americans will receive as a result of the CARES Act and will not contact you for your bank account information.If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from the government asking for this type of information, please report it towww.ftc.gov/complaint. You can learn more about how to protect yourself from these types of scamshere.\nResources to Know and Share:Here are some helpful resources and information on COVID-19.\nIndividual Payments: The IRS launched theGet My Paymentweb portal with features to let taxpayers check on their Economic Impact Payment date and update direct deposition information.Click hereto check on the status of your payment.\nHelpful Resources on PPE: CDC updated the PPE Burn Rate Calculator, a spreadsheet-based model that will help health care facilities plan and optimize the use of PPE for response to COVID-19. Morehere. You can now see PPE shipments to Oregon countieshere.\nASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing billions in funding toward job retention and certain other expenses. Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards. For a top-line overview of the programCLICK HERE  \n\tIf you're a lender, more information can be foundHERE  \n\tIf you're a borrower, more information can be foundHERE  \n\tThe application for borrowers can be foundHERE\nOther resources on the Paycheck Protection Program:\n  INFORMATION FOR AMERICANS ABROAD: The State Department has repatriated over 50,000 Americans from more than 90 countries. The State Department is making efforts to bring home Americans, including through commercial flights, chartered flights, and military transport. Any American abroad who needs assistance should contact their local U.S. embassy and register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), availablehereor by calling 1-888-407-4747. If you decide to travel abroad or are already outside the United States:\n Consider returning to your country of residence immediately using whatever commercial means are available.\n\tHave a travel plan that does not rely on the U.S. Government for assistance.\n\tReview and follow theCDC's guidelinesfor the prevention of coronavirus.\n\tCheck with your airline, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.\n\tVisittravel.state.govto view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security.\n\tVisit Embassy webpages on COVID-19 for information on conditions in each country or jurisdiction.\n\tVisit theDepartment of Homeland Security'swebsite on the latest travel restrictions to the United States\n   ASSISTANCE FROM HHS AND FEMA: HHS and FEMA have fielded many requests to assist or partner with the Federal Government in response to the COVID pandemic.\n Organizations or individuals seeking to contract with the federal government to import or manufacture medical products to aid the U.S. response submit information to FEMA through a Request for Proposal, availablehere.\n\tOrganizations or individuals that wish to donate medical supplies or equipment can submit that informationhere.\n\tOther inquiries from organizations or individuals, including individuals who want to volunteer or organizations that want to produce a product related to the COVID response, among other inquiries, can be referred tohttps://www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help.\n How to schedule a blood donation appointment:\nFast Facts:Here are some helpful stats on COVID-19 asof4/27/20 Cases of COVID-19: U.S.current case count -There are currently at least 988,451 cases and 56,245 deaths in the United States, as reported by Johns Hopkins and other media sources.\nOregon current case count :2,354 Benton: 29 Clackamas: 204 Clatsop: 6 Columbia: 14 Coos: 14 Crook: 1 Curry: 4 Deschutes: 75 Douglas: 23 Grant: 1 Hood River: 5 Jackson: 49 Jefferson: 6 Josephine: 20 Klamath: 36 Lane: 50 Lincoln: 5 Linn: 79 Malheur: 7 Marion: 447 Morrow: 5 Multnomah: 664 Polk: 38 Sherman: 1 Tillamook: 6 Umatilla: 36 Union: 4 Wallowa: 1 Wasco: 12 Washington: 475 Yamhill: 37\n  Testing in Oregon: Positive: 2,354 Negative: 48,844 Total (since 1/24): 51,198  \n\t\nICYMI from Walden:\nGreg Walden Statement on President Trump Signing Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act\nGreg Walden Statement on House Passage of Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act\nGreg Walden Floor Statement on the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-shares-what-you-need-know-covid-19-april-28"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7528821006417274, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}