Federal Help for People and Small Businesses; Fighting for Postal Service

My office has received many questions about relief that Congress has passed for individuals, families and small businesses affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. For most people, the economic impact payments (sometimes called "stimulus checks") for individuals and families are expected to arrive starting this week, by direct deposit rather than a paper check in the mail. Direct deposit is faster and more secure.

I and other members of Congress were successful in pushing to allow Social Security retirees and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients to receive their economic impact payments without having to file a tax return. I am also working with congressional colleagues to press for the same simplified access for as many Americans as possible.

Click here for the Internal Revenue Service's economic impact payment website at irs.gov.If you don't normally file a tax return, you should visit that site to speed up your payment – especially if you have a child under age 17. The Social Security Administration has more information about this on its website.

If you have a question about the economic impact payments, you can also click here to email my office or call us at 215-276-0340. People need help now -- and I am working to make sure you receive it!

Speaking of urgently needed help, I know many Philadelphians have lost jobs or face reduced hours because of the Covid-19 outbreak – you can find the latest information about unemployment compensation in Pennsylvania by clicking here. If you would like to contact your state legislators about an unemployment compensation issue, you can find their contact information here.

Help for Small Businesses

That same principle – trying to get help to the community now -- also applies to help for small businesses. As vice chair of the House Small Business Committee, I am concerned by calls and reports that many small businesses are having trouble getting the help Congress provided in the recently passed CARES Act.

To address this, I led in sending a letter to congressional leadership, co-signed by 71 colleagues, urging funding through the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program be prioritized for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and those in underserved and rural markets; and requesting leadership set aside a portion of the PPP funding for smaller community lenders, such as credit unions and community development financial institutions (CDFIs).

Click here for more information about new and expanded SBA programs such as PPP and EIDL Loan Advance, which provides up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.

As Congress develops more legislation to address the Covid-19 outbreak, I am pressing for changes to address these problems. If your small business is having difficulty receiving federally guaranteed assistance, you can contact my office at 215-276-0340.

Fighting for Vital Postal Service

I have long supported the U.S. Postal Service and its workers. Many of you have recently contacted me urging support for this vital service, especially since vote-by-mail will be important for protecting the right to vote and preventing the spread of Covid-19. The Postal Service is also a crucial link for many seniors and other vulnerable Americans to receive prescription medications and critical documents.

I will co-sponsor the Protect Our Post Offices Act, H.R. 6425, which would allocate $25 billion in emergency appropriations to the Postal Service. These funds could be used to make up lost revenue, buy and provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line postal workers, and other purposes that are necessary to support continuing services.

Pennsylvania recently made voting by mail widely available – click here for more information on registering and voting in Pennsylvania.

Help for Philadelphia Health Centers: Last week I announced $10.7 million in federal funding will go to 11 health centers and organizations in the 3rd Congressional District. You can click here to see the list.

One-Stop Shop for Covid-19 Resources: To help you find available services and information about the virus outbreak, I have added a new section to my website with many types of resources.

Telephone Town Hall: Thank you to the nearly 4,300 people who called or listened to my recent telephone town hall! I was joined by experts for health and small-business questions: Dr. Elizabeth Datner, chair, department of emergency medicine, Einstein Healthcare Network; and Michael Kane, deputy district director, Eastern Pennsylvania District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration, respectively. If you missed it, you can listen to it here.

Staying Informed: To keep up with information and services between these updates, I invite you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Sincerely,

Dwight Evans

Member of Congress