Weekly Update | April 4, 2020
Coronavirus Q&A
You Asked, We Answered
This week, I did two Facebook Live sessions answering questions from constituents. The three bills Congress has passed to help Americans through this pandemic continue to be implemented. Many want to know about changes to unemployment, direct payments, and more.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions. Check out the videos below or my website rodneydavis.house.gov/coronavirus to learn more.

Question: I receive a Social Security benefit. Do I need to do anything to get the coronavirus direct relief payment from the IRS?
  • Answer: The IRS has announced that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will have payments automatically deposited into their accounts. For more information: IRS.gov/coronavirus or click here.

Question: I am self-employed. Am I eligible for the forgivable loans through the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program?
  • Answer: Small businesses, nonprofits, veteran organizations, sole proprietorships, the self-employed, and independent contractors with 500 or fewer employees can apply. Most local financial institutions are participating in the program and they are your point of contact for obtaining a loan. For more information: treasury.gov/coronavirus.

Question: I am unemployed and have heard unemployment benefits were expanded. What do I need to do to access those benefits?
  • Answer: The CARES Act expanded unemployment insurance by adding a $600 weekly benefit on top of what an individual state provides and increasing the amount of eligible individuals. Learn more here. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) will still be the one administering the program. The expanded program will be available soon. I encourage you to check the IDES website continually.
Click here or image above to watch my Facebook Live Coronavirus Q&A with HSHS Medical Group on Tuesday, March 31st. You can also watch highlights from WAND here .
Click here or image above to watch my Facebook Live Coronavirus Q&A with the Herald & Review on Friday, April 3rd.
I'm Here to Help
If you are seeking information on the government response to the coronavirus pandemic please visit my webpage dedicated to keeping you informed. If you have questions call my office at (217) 403-4690 or send me an e-mail . We will do our best to answer your questions or connect you with the right agency.
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More COVID-19 Updates
The Latest on PPE
I continue to work daily on ensuring my district's hospitals have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need. Illinois has either received, or will receive shortly, the following list of more than 3.4 million PPE and ventilators from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) strategic national stockpile:

  • N95 Masks – 540,523
  • Surgical Masks – 1,285,657
  • Face Shields – 260,330
  • Surgical Gowns – 213,230
  • Coveralls – 7,621
  • Gloves – 1,130,407
  • Ventilators – 450
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis' bill to offer tax-free student loan payment benefit is highlighted on CNBC on April 1st, 2020. You can also watch the clip here :
Reducing the Cost of Student Loan Debt
Student loan debt is now the second highest form of consumer debt. The CARES Act did three major things to help people with student debt right now, including a temporary version of my bill to allow employers to help pay student debt. This was highlighted by Chegg, a company already offering this benefit to their employees, on CNBC recently.

The CARES Act:

✅Defers student loan payments until Sept. 30
✅Delays interest on student loans for six months
✅Allows for businesses to offer a tax-free student loan payment benefit



Announcing CDBG Funds to Local Governments
This week I announced that seven communities in IL-13 have received a total of $4,851,118 in HUD CDBG Disaster Recovery grants to combat the impacts of the coronavirus. This funding was appropriated through the CARES Act, which I voted for and President Trump signed into law on Friday, March 27th. The CDBG grants are flexible funding to states and local governments for a range of services to address coronavirus impacts at the community level. Recipients below:

  • City of Bloomington, $329,144
  • City of Champaign, $591,549
  • City of Decatur, $834,287
  • Madison County, $1,755,949
  • Town of Normal, $246,067
  • City of Springfield, $799,156
  • City of Urbana, $294,966
NPS Awards Grant for 1908 Springfield Race Riot Site
I announced this week that the  Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition  has received a $50,000 African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation grant from the National Park Service (NPS). The grant funds will be used to develop an augmented reality application focused on the 1908 Springfield Race Riot. T his is great news for the advancement of the site as a place of historic importance and furthers our efforts to designate it as a National Historic Monument.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13) visits the Springfield Race Riot site on July 31, 2019.
Census Update
It's time to complete your 2020 Census. I've already done mine along with 45.8% of IL-13 households as of April 1st. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete. It is a simple step you can take to ensure your community gets the funding it deserves from the state and federal government.

Congressional Art Competition Changes
My 2020 Congressional Art Competition submission deadline has been extended by two weeks to Friday, April 17th and submissions will now be accepted electronically. Both of these modifications are due to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting mandatory school closings. Students may do their artwork independently at home and are not required to submit through their school.


Constituent Service Spotlight
Helping Constituents Cut Through Red Tape in White Heath
"Our son and daughter-in-law have just landed in Miami. Your support has meant a lot to us. Blessings on your continued work on behalf of Illinoisans."

-Mary in White Heath, IL