By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said Thursday COVID-19 economic stimulus checks will be begin going out today, as government officials on the state and national level discuss additional assistance for businesses and individuals.
"The first set of checks will be deposited today," Moran said. "At the base level, Americans who earn less than $75,000 a year will get a $1,200 check."
He said the program is just getting started, and not everyone will receive the money on the first day, but disbursement will begin with people that have completed their 2018 and 2019 tax returns and have direct deposit information on file at the Internal Revenue Service.
"That's a start to help to tide over and help out people," Moran said.
SBA guaranteed loans are also being processed in an effort to assist businesses continue paying staff. Many of those loans he said will be forgiven if certain criteria are met.
"While the legislation we passed includes things I normally wouldn't be for, and this is a lot more government than I am historically willing to vote for and spends a lot more money than I would want us to spend and this is something that we can't continue to do, " Moran said, "these are serious times. Through no fault of their own people are finding themselves in pretty difficult circumstances."
He also said he hopes to see continued bipartisan measures to assist Americans, even though the legislation may not be perfect.
Moran also said he understands the push-back from some concerning stay-at-home measures, but said saving lives is paramount.
"I know Kansans. I am one of them. I have the same attitude that I don't want anyone telling me what to do, Moran siad.
"We certainly see the consequences of how our lives have changed by this stay-at-home order, by the social distancing and all of the steps we are trying to take," Moran said, "but I would say it is important to follow that procedure."
The number of people infected, and have died are not just numbers, Moran said, they are people.
He also warned that the peak infections in Kansas are not expected until April.
"I would certainly prefer to overreact, rather than explain to someone who has lost a loved one, why we didn't take the necessary steps," Moran said.
He said he is pushing for a COVID-19 vaccine to be developed as quickly as possible and wants expanded testing to get people back to work and living more normal lives faster.
"This has to be something that we have to react to appropriately to get it to come to an end sooner rather than later," Moran said.
Continuing to flatten the curve, with social distancing will allow the opportunity to help the health care sector get caught up with needed equipment and protective equipment, he said. More testing facilities are coming online more kits are being produced and sent out, he said.
"Our goal is to make sure anybody that wants to be tested can be tested by the end of summer," Moran said.
Expanded testing, he said, will ensure schools can be open next fall.