Weekly Update | April 18, 2020
Serving on the President's Bipartisan Task Force on Reopening the Economy
This week, I was asked to serve on the President's Bipartisan Task Force on Reopening the Economy. Up until last month, we had months of record-low unemployment and historic economic growth, but this pandemic has halted everything and now we need to figure out how we get through this and back to a booming economy.

I believe we can start by ensuring the administration has the resources needed to continue to implement successful programs, like the Paycheck Protection Program , to help businesses now. Illinois is 5th in the nation for loans approved to help small businesses pay their bills and keep their employees on the payroll. Unfortunately, this program has run out of money and Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer continue to block additional funding. Keep reading to see why this program is so important to local businesses and their employees.

I'm thankful for President Trump's leadership on this and I look forward to working with the administration, this task force, and others to safely get Americans back to work and our economy back on track.
Didn't Get Your Economic Impact Payment Yet?
File taxes, but not yet received your Economic Impact Payment? The IRS has launched a new tool (click above) where you can:

1) Check your payment status
2) Check your payment type
3) Enter direct deposit information

Don't file taxes? The IRS has a new tool (click above) where those who meet the following criteria should go to enter their payment information:

1) You did not file a 2018 or 2019 federal income tax return because your gross income was under $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples). This includes people who had no income.
2) You weren’t required to file a 2018 or 2019 federal income tax return for other reasons.

Receive Social Security Retirement, SSDI, SSI, VA or Railroad Retirement benefits? You do not need to take action UNLESS you have dependents age 16 and under. If you do have dependents age 16 and under go to the IRS's website for non-filers and enter your information. This will ensure you get the $500 per dependent age 16 and under payment in addition to the automatic $1,200 per individual.

SSI Automatic Payments Announcement:

VA Beneficiary Automatic Payments Announcement:
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.

My website has information on:

  • ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
  • WHAT I'M DOING
  • STATE AND LOCAL GUIDANCE
  • DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR AMERICANS
  • RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
  • EXPANDED BENEFITS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
  • HEALTHCARE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
  • RESOURCES

Coronavirus Issue or Story to Share?
More COVID-19 Updates
We Need to Act Now to Fund the Paycheck Protection Program
The Paycheck Protection Program is delivering for Illinois small businesses and workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. Illinois has nearly 70,000 businesses approved for 100% forgivable loans worth nearly $16 billion. That is the 5th highest amount in the country. The CARES Act created this bipartisan program but now it needs more funding and Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer are stalling it. Let's stop playing games and act immediately to help more small businesses pay their bills and their employees.



Help for 13th District Students is on it's way
The 13th District is home to 8 colleges/universities and 5 community college districts and as the father of three college students, I know many students and schools have been impacted because of this pandemic. These funds will provide direct relief to many college students who are out of money for housing, meal plans, and other related expenses. These grants and the funds provided to the Governor will also begin to help our colleges and K-12 schools handle these unexpected changes.

University or College/Total Allocation/Minimum Allocation Must Go To Emergency Financial Aid to Students

  • Blackburn College: $913,000/$456,000
  • Heartland Community College: $2.092 million/$1.046 million
  • Illinois State University: $16.1 million/$8.06 million
  • Illinois Wesleyan University: $1.341 million/$670,000
  • Lewis and Clark Community College: $2.062 million/$1.03 million
  • Lincoln Land Community College: $2.7 million/$1.35 million
  • Millikin University: $2.29 million/$1.149 million
  • Parkland Community College: $3.275 million/$1.637 million
  • Richland Community College: $1.365 million – $682,000
  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: $9.67 million/$4.83 million
  • University of Illinois Springfield: $1.73 million/$856,000
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $31.4 million/$15.7 million

Additionally, the State of Illinois will receive nearly $108.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education's  Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund  to provide flexible funding to fit the state's specific educational needs.


Advocating for Expeditious VAWA Reauthorization
As Americans are told to stay at home, those who feel in danger at home are especially impacted. Shelters in my district and across the country have been forced to change how they work to protect victims of domestic violence because of coronavirus and more federal support is needed. Now is the time to work in a bipartisan way to reauthorize VAWA, grant flexibility to these programs, and provide additional funding to help cover these new costs to shelters. We need to make this a local, state, and federal effort to help victims of domestic violence during this time.

Announcing Funding for Local Airports
This week I announced tens of millions of dollars in federal funding to local airports. Like so many, airports have been hard hit by the slowing of our economy due to the coronavirus. This funding will help them get through this difficult time. It will ensure they can still operate when necessary and continue to pay their employees. Recipients below:

  • St. Louis Regional Airport, Alton, $69,000
  • Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington, $4,632,066
  • Decatur Airport, Decatur, $17,494,522
  • Litchfield Municipal Airport, Litchfield, $30,000
  • University of Illinois Willard Airport, Savoy, $1,838,071
  • Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Springfield, $4,661,086
  • Taylorville Municipal Airport, Taylorville, $30,000


WGLT: Bloomington Airport To Get $4.6 Million From Coronavirus Rescue Bill



3 Ways to Take the 2020 Census
The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that a majority of IL-13 households have now completed their 2020 Census - 50.6%. Have you? If not now is the time. Illinois' amount of representatives in Congress and presidential electoral votes depends on you!

Constituent Service Spotlight
Helping Constituents Return from South Africa to Decatur
"HE's IN AMERICA...Word can't express our UNDYING THANKS LINDA! Thank you for ALL YOUR HARD WORK!"

-John & Paula in Decatur, IL