Senator McConnell Unveils Coronavirus Response Portal to Assist Kentuckians

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today he created a Coronavirus Response Portal on his website to help Kentuckians who may have questions related to how the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will help their families, organizations, small businesses, and communities take advantage of the provisions in the legislation.

The portal can be accessed by Kentucky families and small businesses owners who may have questions related to unemployment insurance, low-interest federal loans, federal taxes and relief checks, federal grants, and assistance for Kentuckians traveling or living abroad. 

“At my direction, the Senate stepped up to face this challenge presented by COVID-19. We passed a bold plan called the CARES Act to assist families, workers, small businesses and medical professionals. I hope the following resources will be helpful as your family, organization, small business or community takes advantage of the federal funding I helped make available,” Senator McConnell said. “We’ll win this fight against the Coronavirus because Americans continue finding creative ways to stand united—even if we have to stand six feet apart.”

The Coronavirus Response Portal link: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?p=coronavirus-updates

Kentucky Workers

Have you recently been laid off and need to file for unemployment insurance?

• General information: https://educationcabinet.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
• To file an unemployment insurance claim visit https://kcc.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx; or call one of Kentucky 12 Work Centers to file your claim https://kcc.ky.gov/Pages/Locations.aspx
• Questions about new federal paid leave requirements related to the Coronavirus?
• The U.S. Labor Department’s Fact Sheet for Employees https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave
• Questions and Answers https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions

Kentucky Employers and Small Businesses

Need help to make payroll or to keep the lights on?

• The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations  https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
• The IRS is extending payroll tax credits to eligible small and midsize businesses https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-and-labor-announce-plan-to-implement-coronavirus-related-paid-leave-for-workers-and-tax-credits-for-small-and-midsize-businesses-to-swiftly-recover-the-cost-of-providing-coronavirus

Questions about unemployment benefits?

• General information: https://educationcabinet.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
• Questions about new federal paid leave requirements related to the Coronavirus?
• The U.S. Labor Department’s Fact Sheet for Employers https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employer-paid-leave
• Questions and Answers https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions
• Field Assistance Bulletin on the Labor Department’s 30-day non-enforcement policy. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/field-assistance-bulletins/2020-1
• Required Poster for Employers to Fulfill Notice Requirement https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf

Federal Taxes and Rebate Checks

Questions about how Coronavirus affects your federal incomes taxes?

• General information: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
• The IRS delayed Tax Day until July 15 https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-day-now-july-15-treasury-irs-extend-filing-deadline-and-federal-tax-payments-regardless-of-amount-owed
• Questions about the immediate cash relief Kentuckians will receive?
• The IRS will send recovery rebate checks to eligible Americans https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus

Competitive Federal Grants

How will this affect federal grant applications and awards?

• Check the awarding agency website for announcements and reach out to the agency regarding extensions and other inquires
• For example, NIH will be accepting late applications for grants due between March 9, 2020 and May 1, 2020 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-091.html
• Visit Senator McConnell’s grants website to request support for your competitive federal grant application https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/grants

Kentucky Education

What resources are available to help students, graduates and schools respond to the Coronavirus?

• General information: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus

Kentuckians Living or Traveling Abroad

Need individual assistance?

• Contact Senator McConnell’s casework staff at (502) 582-6304
• Are you abroad and need assistance from the U.S. State Department?
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) https://step.state.gov/
• Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or call 1-888-407-4747 (U.S. & Canada) or 1- 202-501-4444 (from overseas) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html

Thinking about international travel?

• The U.S. State Department has issued its highest level advisory, urging all U.S. citizens to avoid international travel https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/travel-advisory-alert-global-level-4-health-advisory-issue.html

Thinking about traveling in the U.S.?

• The CDC has issued guidance to consider before domestic travel https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Kentucky Volunteers are Part of the Solution

Looking to help your neighbors during the Coronavirus crisis?

• Kentucky Emergency Management is seeking companies to sell or produce personal protective equipment (PPE). Fill out this form if you can help https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/cdbec8a2257c47769d0eb7826d7d6b4f.
• If you would like to donate, sell, or produce medical supplies and other goods for the federal government visit www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help
• Kentuckians looking for volunteer opportunities and ideas can also visit https://www.usa.gov/volunteer