WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) joined Speaker of the House, Ron Ryckman’s telephone town hall hosted by the Kansas House of Representatives leadership and Kansas Together to provide a federal update on the COVID-19 crisis. Also on the call was Attorney General Derek Schmidt, Chad Austin from the Kansas Hospital Association and Education Commissioner Randy Watson. 

Senator Roberts’ remarks as prepared for the telephone town hall

Good afternoon. 

This is a time of great stress and anxiety for our nation. 

I want to take a moment to thank Speaker Ryckman, for putting together our call and all of our state legislators, Governor Kelly, Secretary Norman, Attorney General Schmidt, our mayors and city commissioners.

Everyone – no matter what political party they represent – is working together for Kansans. The legislation coming from Washington is really focused on giving resources to states and local communities.

We believe leaders on the frontlines will know what is most needed whether it’s by county, by region or statewide. I applaud our state and local leaders for meeting these challenges with such determination and cooperation.

Let me speak plainly about the concerns I’m hearing from Kansans, and some of the steps the government is taking to respond to the coronavirus.

Kansans are worried right now. About their own health and the health of their loved ones. About having enough cash to pay their bills. About keeping their jobs and paying their employees. About the uncertainty of what lies ahead. 

Getting through this challenge will require hard truths, decisive action, and a collective effort from everyone – individuals, businesses and government alike.

I’m confident we’ll get through this. But we must all do our part. To meet that commitment, I want to briefly update you on some of the measures that I’ve been working on.

First, earlier this month Congress passed and the President signed into law $8.3 billion in emergency funding to combat coronavirus. 

Those funds are going to federal, state, and local health departments, toward research in finding a vaccine and treatments, and a range of Covid-19 mitigation efforts.  

Second, last week Congress passed and the President signed into law a major relief package of more than $100 billion.

That package included: 

·         Free coronavirus testing and coverage for healthcare services related to testing;                    

·         Paid sick leave and paid family leave and medical leave for those impacted by the virus;        

·         Food assistance to children, low-income Americans; and others in need; and               

·         Enhanced unemployment aid. 

The Senate is now working on one of the largest economic relief packages in our nation’s history. 

It’s a massive proposal with a simple aim: to provide a financial bridge to households and businesses through this economic shock.

Here are some of the key measures: 

Direct Payments to Americans. That means rebate checks of $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples, and $500 for each additional child. Those numbers might change, but that’s the proposal right now. 

The payments phase-out the more income you make, but it will help a lot of folks weather this economic storm. 

Small Business Relief. $350 billion for small business loans to help prevent workers from losing their jobs and small businesses from going under.

The SBA’s “Paycheck Protection Program” will give small businesses eight weeks of cash-flow assistance through 100 percent guaranteed loans as long as they keep employees on the payrolls.

Increased Unemployment Benefits. The bill significantly expands the size and scope of unemployment benefits, including relief for self-employed workers and independent contractors. In addition to the added $250 billion, it will make unemployment insurance benefits more generous per week on top of what the state normally pays in unemployment, and provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits.

Assistance to Distressed Industries. The bill also pumps $500 billion in emergency relief to distressed businesses, as well as states and municipalities and Main Street businesses.

Most of the funds go through the Treasury or Federal Reserve to keep the market functioning, preventing runs on money markets, and providing lending opportunities for small businesses.

Loans – not bailouts – will also go to airlines and businesses that are critical to our national security. 

Investments in healthcare. The health and lives of Americans are on the line, which is why it’s so disappointing that the bill currently before the Senate has been held up by partisan bickering.

The current bill includes $75 billion to support hospitals and providers incurring expenses related to Covid-19, so they can continue caring for patients without worrying about the cost.

The bill also temporarily suspends the 2% Medicare sequester on hospital payments and implements a 15% add-on payment for hospital services treating Covid-19 patients so they can continue caring for patients without worrying about the cost.

This will help financially stabilize hospitals on the front lines of this outbreak, as well as those who are seeing patient volume decline as elective procedures are canceled and resources are diverted to prepare for treating Covid-19 patients.

The bill will also help ensure that these facilities can continue to employ doctors, nurses, and other clinicians who are the backbone of the response.

The current legislation also complements the Phase I and Phase II bills passed by Congress previously.

Just recently, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced that grants from the Phase I legislation totaling nearly $1.3 million are being awarded to 19 different Community Health Centers in Kansas.

On top of that, the bill currently under consideration allows these health centers, as well as Rural Health Clinics, to offer telehealth services to patients who remain in their homes – giving patients easier access to care and helping these facilities keep their doors open. 

This bill may not include every possible policy that every Member of Congress would like to see included – but it does offer real, tangible assistance to health systems, providers, and patients.

As Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, I would be remiss if I didn’t provide a few updates on that front. 

It is essential that we provide our producers with as much certainty and predictability as possible during these uncertain times. The increase in funding and flexibility for the CCC in the McConnell package would allow for responses to Covid-19 related factors. 

And, it would help ensure that USDA can implement 2018 Farm Bill programs without delay.  

It is important to provide the Department flexibility to respond to major market disruptions and assistance to our agriculture producers during these uncertain times.

And, the Department must have the resources to continue mandatory inspection services to ensure food safety and minimize potential interruption in the food supply chain. 

Additionally, I’d note that the Administration has provided guidance on the critical role that the agriculture and food value chain—input suppliers, farmers/growers, food processor and manufacturers, shipping, and grocery/retail delivery—play during this challenging time.

Congress has worked to provide resources for nutrition assistance given the uncertainty facing many families. Last week, $1 billion was committed to supporting our nation’s food banks as well as the women, infant, and children program.

The package being discussed would provide additional emergency funds to address the needs facing many of our child nutrition programs, food needs on Indian reservations, and food banks, and, states would administer increases in the SNAP program to assist those in need of assistance responding to impacts of Covid-19.

Additionally, Congress also recognizes the needs of rural America, and we are working to provide additional resources for telemedicine, broadband connectivity, and business and industry loans.

Time is of the essence in combating this pandemic. In the interest of public health, we need to pass this legislation now.

Frankly, this bill should have passed days ago. But Democrats blocked the motion to proceed and then Speaker Pelosi introduced her party’s wish-list legislation.

Here are some of the proposals in her bill: 

·                  Imposing “Green New Deal” emission standards and carbon offsets on airlines

·                  Requiring airline literature on flight emissions

·                  Promoting federal public employee unions

·                  Imposing a “permanent” minimum wage hike on employers

·                  Cancelling public and private student loan debts of up to $10,000

·                  Bailing out the U.S. Postal Service

·                  Requiring same-day voter registration in all 50 states

·                  The list goes on…

This is not a time for partisanship. This is a time to help the American people.

I've been around and seen a lot.  

I remember back to the Great Depression and WWII. My Dad was off on an island called Iwo Jima.

I remember the Civil Rights turmoil when Washington DC was on fire.

I remember the terrible strife and pain associated with Vietnam. Watergate ripped this country apart.

It was terrible.

Then there was 9/11, when our homeland was actually attacked. The world changed forever in 2001.

I've lived through the impeachment of two Presidents and the 2008 Financial Crisis. It was all bad and so is coronavirus.

But, in each of those instances, Americans pulled together, circled the wagons, figured things out and emerged stronger than ever before. We will do that here. 

Have faith. Be realistic but be positive. Help your neighbors. Be compassionate and kind. We will endure.

In times like this, I can't help but think of two things.

First, I think of Winston Churchill and our English brothers in 1940. Imagine how they felt. Churchill advised his countrymen that "when you are going through hell, keep on going."

We are going to need to do that here.

Second, I think of our forefathers here in Kansas. Many of them walked out to a windswept treeless prairie, dug a hole to live in, put some seed in the ground and prayed for the best.

To say the least, Kansans have come through some pretty tough times in the past.

I know we’ll get through these, too.

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