Washington, D.C. – Last week, the Senate Majority replenished the Paycheck Protection Program with $310 billion in funding for small businesses across the nation. In addition to providing critical relief to small businesses and their employees, Senate Republicans are working to champion causes that benefit their communities most.
Senator Martha McSally announced that her 15 Days of Giving campaign raised $212,000 for the Salvation Army. During the two-week stretch, Senator McSally paused her campaign to focus her resources toward raising money for Arizonans affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Senator McSally volunteered at food banks around the state, gave blood and donated her paycheck as a part of the effort. She also released a new ad highlighting how the CARES Act is benefiting Arizona workers and frontline health care professionals.
Senator Kelly Loeffler donated $1 million to the Phoebe Putney Health System’s Coronavirus Relief Fund. Phoebe Putney Health System’s CEO Scott Steiner said, “Senator Loeffler has been a wonderful partner with Phoebe throughout our entire response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I have spoken with her numerous times, and she has been a passionate advocate for hospitals in our state as we have sought federal resources to assist in our efforts to meet the unprecedented health care needs created by this public health crisis.”
During the pandemic, Senator David Perdue has been connecting with communities across the state to offer his support and updates on progress in Washington. Senator Perdue has had conversations with small business owners, farmers, individuals and groups across Georgia that have been affected by Coronavirus.
Senator Cory Gardner secured 150,000 Coronavirus test kits from South Korea for Colorado this week. South Korea’s Ambassador Seoung-Hyun Moon said of all the requests for help they received, they focused on helping Colorado because of their close relationship with Senator Gardner. In addition to the test kits from South Korea, Senator Gardner also helped secure two million masks from Taiwan, 100,000 of which went to Colorado.
Senator Thom Tillis published an op-ed about the reopening of North Carolina and his observations while listening to his constituents during tele-townhalls. Senator Tillis has hosted over 25 tele-townhalls, and he’s spoken to North Carolinians in each of the state’s 100 counties. Senator Tillis also released a new ad highlighting his work to deliver results for North Carolinians during Coronavirus.
Senator Joni Ernst penned an op-ed for the Carroll Times Herald about protecting the safety of Iowa workers and the integrity of the food supply. She writes: “Growing up on my family’s hog, corn, and soybean farm in Southwest Iowa, I know firsthand the sense of pride our farmers have… Now more than ever, it’s important we make sure they have the resources they need to get through this global pandemic, so that Iowans, and all Americans, can continue to have food on the grocery store shelves, in our food pantries and banks, and on our kitchen tables.”
Senator Susan Collins, the author of the Paycheck Protection Program, released a new ad highlighting Maine workers and small businesses that have benefited from the program. So far, Maine has received $2.24 billion from the program, aiding almost 17,000 small businesses and 180,000 of their employees.
Senator John Cornyn donated $25,000 to Feeding Texas – a statewide system of food banks that reaches those in need in each of Texas’ 254 counties.
Senator Steve Daines visited the University of Montana this week to see how a $2.5 million grant he helped secure was being used to advance a Coronavirus vaccine. Senator Daines told Newstalk KGVO that “I had an outstanding brief from the scientists at the University of Montana who are doing cutting edge research on developing a vaccine for COVID 19.”