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This week, I was appointed to the Bipartisan White House Task Force. Through this group, we will advise and address the question of when our country should reopen the economy. A three phase plan has been announced, which will act as guidelines aimed at softening restrictions. However, we must not rush these phases. It is critical that before we take care of the health of the economy, we first take care of the health of our individuals.
If you have any ideas as to how we should be approaching this situation, I welcome your feedback. Although we are living in difficult times, we will get through this together.
In the district, I visited a local food bank, as well as held a telelistening session with the Small Business Administration and local faith based organizations. We discussed ways we can help faith based organizations and churches during these difficult times. These services, along with many others, are constantly being updated and I urge you to visit my website and social media pages, @repcuellar, to stay informed.
I would also like to reiterate that my staff continues to work with constituents in the district, as well as those stranded overseas.
As always, please contact one of my offices if you need assistance with any federal agency.
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Rep. Cuellar Visits South Texas Food Bank
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On Wednesday, April 15, the Texas Army National Guard and I, visited the South Texas Food Bank to assess their needs. The food bank has been working hard to provide food assistance to the many struggling individuals and families in our communities. As a reminder, all distribution sites are drive-thru only and the food bank asks that you please wear a face mask or face covering for the safety of staff, volunteers, and yourself. For more information regarding the South Texas Food Bank, click here. Pictured is Rep. Cuellar, members of the Texas Army National Guard, and members of South Texas Food Bank.
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Rep. Cuellar and Sen. Heinrich Lead a Bicameral Letter Demanding End to Border Wall Construction During COVID-19 Pandemic
On Wednesday, April 15, Senator Heinrich and I led a bicameral letter with 66 representatives as well as 25 senators to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, Attorney General William Barr, and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, urging them to halt ongoing wall construction at the southern border as the United States responds to COVID-19. It is dangerous and unacceptable for border wall construction to continue during this public health crisis. Every government resource should be directed towards producing needed medical supplies, constructing additional hospital beds, providing services to people in quarantine, ensuring food and other vital supplies are available, and finding a vaccine to defeat this virus. To read the full letter, click here.
IRS Update: Veterans will Receive Stimulus Check
The IRS recently announced that veterans and their family members, who did not file tax returns for 2018 or 2019, will automatically receive economic impact payments without having to take any further actions. There are many veterans who rely solely on government benefits; our nation's heroes should not face any hurdles when receiving federal support during this crisis. For more information on economic payments, click here.
How to Spot an IRS Scam
With the economic impacts payments being distributed to millions of Americans, there are unfortunately scammers who will try to take advantage of these situations. Make sure you are not a victim of these tactics by being cautious of potential scams. Scammers or impersonators will often try to reach out through phone, email or mail. In this article, learn 10 ways to spot scammers, as well as how to report it. To access the article, click here.
| National Library Week |
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Librarians and library workers are continuing to serve their communities during this time of crisis. To celebrate National Library Week, check out all the digital resources they have collected, including ebooks, student lesson plans, movies, and so much more. For more information, click here.
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Coronavirus Resource Handbook
My office's COVID-19 Resource Handbook can be an extremely helpful list of tools and services for all those in the district. We are constantly updating the information in our handbook and you can regularly check my website for the newest edition. This wide-ranging economic rescue package provides rapid and meaningful assistance for individuals, businesses, and those responding to the pandemic on the ground. Sections include: unemployment, direct payments, food assistance, homeowners and protection programs, and more. If you have any questions about the topics listed on the handbook, please contact my offices for assistance. To view the English handbook, click here. To view the Spanish handbook, click here.
Stay Home and Fill Out the 2020 Census
As many of us are staying home and practicing social distancing, don't forget to take part in the 2020 Census. You can complete the census form online, by clicking here. If you want to complete it by phone, call: 1-844-330-2020. Or, you can respond through mail, once you receive the paper form.
| This Week's Grant Newsletter |
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Don't miss out on a grant opportunity! Attracting more federal funds to the district and region has been a top priority during my tenure in Congress. In an effort to better serve you, I want to provide you with information on a variety of open federal grant opportunities in each week's newsletter. To subscribe to the weekly grants newsletter please fill out the form here.
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Center for Disease Control and Prevention: How does COVID-19 spread?
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In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, we must continue practicing social distancing and when possible, staying home.
This video from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.
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