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Every day we use the food, feed, fuel, and fiber produced by American agriculture. In times of strain such as the COVID-19 pandemic, these men and women need allies more than ever. Fortunately, President Trump has made it a point to highlight the work rural communities do to feed America and the rest of the world.
COVID-19 has certainly affected all of our lives. To slow the spread of this virus, we have been asked to go without many things: sporting and entertainment events, family functions, celebrations, and even congregating for worship services. While this situation is far from ideal, I am thankful we have technology to bridge the gap and keep us connected.
In rural states like Nebraska, agriculture is a way of life. The men and women who dedicate their lives to feeding the world provide a service like no other. For so long, American agriculture has enjoyed unprecedented success, producing food more effectively and efficiently than any other place at any other time in history. In fact, access to quality food has become so commonplace it is often taken for granted. However, in times like these we are reminded of how crucial food production is to the well-being of our country.
Much has changed in the four months since President Trump signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law back in December – not the least of which is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, what has not changed is the importance of this agreement.
Recovering financially from the economic damage caused by the pandemic will require an all-out effort on a nation-wide scale. Thankfully, the American people have demonstrated toughness and resilience throughout our history. We know we will get through this.
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues its destructive pace, the devastating effects on the economy have come into clearer view. No business, small or large, is immune from the effects of the virus and the measures we are taking to counter it. Fortunately, Congress and President Trump have been hard at work to come up with solutions for keeping businesses and their employees afloat during this pandemic.
There is no doubt America relies on our farmers and ranchers to provide a strong, safe, and stable food supply. In times such as the current COVID-19 situation, their importance is even more obvious.
As the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic continues, most of our attention has been focused on fighting this disease and the economic consequences of our response. While we continue the fight this disease, we must also be sure to not let our guard down against fraud. Recently, there have been numerous reports of scams taking advantage of this pandemic.
Join Congressman Smith, the Nebraska District Office of the Small Business Administration, and other speakers to learn about programs in the CARES Act which could help your small business during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Preregistration is required, and can be done here>>>bit.ly/2wVQloR
For additional information, please contract Congressman Smith's Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adrian Smith released the following statement after President Trump approved Governor Ricketts request for a major disaster declaration due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:
In order to address COVID-19, Congress and President Trump have enacted three major pieces of legislation to fight this disease and help as many Americans as possible stay employed, with the goal of resuming our strong economy as soon as possible when this pandemic subsides. While agencies such as Treasury and the Small Business Administration (SBA) are working to roll out these programs as quickly as possible, I hope the information below will be helpful to you in this challenging time.