Sen. Pat Roberts: Kansans, Americans will make it through coronavirus with CARES Act

Ad astra per aspera — to the stars through difficulties. Our state’s motto is something we Kansans live by each and every day, and I can’t think of a time when this motto was truer than it is today.

The coronavirus pandemic is unlike anything we’ve seen in the last 100 years, causing widespread sickness and economic distress throughout our entire country. Kansas needs help, and we need it now. Luckily, help is on the way. Last week, the Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act, which the president signed into law Friday. This comprehensive relief package is the third, and most substantial, piece of legislation signed into law this month to combat the novel coronavirus.

The CARES Act provides aid directly to Kansans most in need through emergency relief checks, providing $3,400 to the average family of four. I expect these payments to be in most Kansans’ pocketbooks next month. The legislation also provides more than $350 billion to support small businesses and help keep workers on the payroll.

For the thousands of Kansans who unfortunately are out of a job now because of the coronavirus, this bill significantly expands the availability of unemployment benefits, allowing the self-employed, independent contractors, those with limited work history, among others, to receive unemployment benefits. It also makes pre-existing benefits more generous, providing an additional $600 per week for four months and increasing unemployment insurance by 13 weeks.

In addition to directly helping the American people, this legislation provides crucial funding for our hospitals and health care providers. We know they need our help now more than ever. The CARES Act provides an additional $100 billion to support hospitals and health care workers, while investing in community health centers. It also expands access to telehealth, a critical way to extend health care services to rural areas and allow patients in any area to get the medical care they need without leaving their homes and risking exposure to the virus.

As families are asked to do more from home, and children throughout Kansas adjust to classes being held online instead of in a classroom for the remainder of the school year, this legislation boosts funding for broadband deployment to rural areas that often struggle with no or slow internet service.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, protecting our nation’s farmers and ranchers is always a top priority. If you’ve been to the grocery store during the past few weeks, you know how important farmers are in keeping food on the shelves. This legislation provides additional resources for nutrition assistance and supports our nation’s food banks as well as the Women, Infant and Children program. It also provides aid to livestock producers and others in agriculture who are negatively impacted by the coronavirus.

Earlier in March, Congress passed the first bill to deal with the coronavirus challenge. The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 provides $8.3 billion in funding to combat the virus. Those funds are already going to health care providers and research to find new treatments and vaccines, as well as state and local response efforts that are critical to public health.

The second package, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, provides Americans with more than $100 billion of economic relief and makes testing free to anyone whose doctor orders a test. It also provides paid family leave and medical leave for those who are sick or taking care of their loved ones because of the coronavirus.

As the coronavirus continues to impact our country, I encourage you to stay home and avoid going out unless absolutely necessary. My staff and I will continue being a resource for Kansans in need during this time. Whether you have a family member who is having trouble returning from overseas or have questions about applying for a small business loan through the federal government, we are here to help.

Ad astra per aspera. We will get through this together.

Pat Roberts represents Kansas in the U.S. Senate.

This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 5:00 AM.