Coronavirus Information

These are difficult times, but we’ll get through this together. We’re seeing inspirational stories all across South Dakota where individuals and businesses are stepping up for their communities in this time of need – there’s nothing more American than that. As this crisis continues to unfold, please use my office as a resource. Below, you’ll find updates from me and my team that I hope will help answer many of your questions. If not, please call, write, or email, and we’ll do our best to help get you the information that you need. Contact information can be found below.

Updates from Sen. Thune

February 2022

Date Title
2/14/22 Unmask America's Children – Federal Government Should not be Masking Toddlers

April 2021

Date Title
4/27/21 Thune: Democrats’ Tax Hikes Would Crush Economic Recovery and Punish Working Americans

March 2021

Date Title
3/10/21 Thune: Senate Democrats Use COVID-19 Spending Bill to Push Liberal Agenda
3/6/21 Thune Rejects Partisan and Wasteful Spending Package
3/4/21 ICYMI: Thune on Fox News: Democrats’ Partisan Spending Bill is Part of a Far-Left Agenda
3/4/21 Thune: Partisan COVID-19 Bill is Not an Accurate Representation of What Americans Want
3/3/21 Thune: Unity Requires Cooperation and a Willingness to Negotiate in a Bipartisan Way
3/2/21 Thune: Democrats Pursuing Liberal Wish List Under the Guise of “COVID Relief"

February 2021

Date Title
2/26/21 Let’s Work Together
2/25/21 Thune Continues Fight for America’s Farmers and Ranchers
2/24/21 Thune: Loan Forgiveness is Not a Solution for the Student Debt Problem
2/23/21 Thune: Democrats Should Abandon Partisan COVID Bill and Work With Republicans on Bipartisan Approach
2/17/21 Baldwin, Thune Lead Bipartisan Push to Make More Farmers and Ranchers Eligible for Paycheck Protection Program Loans
2/4/21 Thune Introduces Amendment to Relieve Mobile and Remote Workers of Unfair Tax Burdens Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic
2/4/21 Thune: President Biden’s Calls for Unity Must Turn Into Action
2/3/21 Thune: Senate Democrats Must Leave Behind Partisan Agenda and Prioritize American People

January 2021

Date Title
1/28/21 Thune, Baldwin Request Guidance for Producers Applying for Second Paycheck Protection Program Loans

December 2020

Date Title
12/22/20 Thune Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Coronavirus Relief Package
12/21/20 Thune: Bipartisan COVID Relief Package is a Win for the American People
12/17/20 Thune: Thankful for Bravery of Vaccine Volunteers
12/15/20 Thune: Senate Republicans Continue to Fight for Additional Relief Funding as First Batch of COVID-19 Vaccines are Distributed
12/10/20 Thune: Coordination Between All Modes of Transportation is Critical to Efficient Vaccine Distribution
12/3/20 Portman, Cardin, Thune, Menendez Introduce Legislation to Fund COVID-19 Vaccine Public Advocacy Campaign

November 2020

Date Title
11/18/20 Thune: Providing COVID Relief and Confirming Qualified Judges Among Senate Republicans’ Top Priorities
11/17/20 Thune: Republicans are Ready to Pass Targeted and Fiscally Responsible COVID Relief
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Resources

  

Congress' Response to COVID-19 Outbreak:

For Individuals and Families: (click here for info)

For Small Businesses: (click here for info)

For Health Care Workers on the Front Lines: (click here for info)

Funding for State and Local Governments (click here for info)

STAY INFORMED ON COVID-19:

South Dakota COVID-19 information hotline: (800) 997-2880

Department of Health hotline: (800) 592-1861

*UPDATE: GET YOUR ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT: The IRS is committed to helping you get your Economic Impact Payment as soon as possible. The payments - also referred to by some as stimulus payments - are automatic for most taxpayers. If you filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019 but did not include your bank account information, you can add your direct deposit information to speed up your payment and have it go straight into your bank account. Find the "Get Your Payment" app and more info for filers and non-filers here: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments

More info on the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act: https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/6b7fbd31-ac6c-484b-86ab-390921d1406b/17B866AF38AE690870E1D3E8D9D71AF0.paycheck-protection-program-and-health-care-enhancement-act-one-pager.pdf 

Paycheck Protection Program Information Info-sheet (updated): https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/f004c144-d444-4fdc-adab-19be0eef006e/942312EDEAACEA7D79237F3A5F05FF47.paycheck-protection-program-flexibility-act.pdf

CDC COVID-19 information: https://www.coronavirus.gov/

South Dakota-specific COVID-19 news and updates: https://doh.sd.gov/news/coronavirus.aspx#SD

South Dakota health care provider information: https://doh.sd.gov/news/coronavirus.aspx#SDGuidance

South Dakota community guidance and resources: https://doh.sd.gov/news/coronavirus.aspx#Groups

Resources for South Dakota farmers and ranchers: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus

COVID-19 guidelines for South Dakotans: https://news.sd.gov/newsitem.aspx?id=26560

Want to do all you can to stay healthy? Click here. 

SOUTH DAKOTA SMALL BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYERS:

Paycheck Protection Program Information Info-sheet (updated): https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/f004c144-d444-4fdc-adab-19be0eef006e/942312EDEAACEA7D79237F3A5F05FF47.paycheck-protection-program-flexibility-act.pdf

Information on the SBA's loan forgiveness application instructions for borrowers: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/3245-0407-SBA-Form-3508-PPP-Forgiveness-Application.pdf

The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses (including agriculture businesses) and homeowners recover from declared disasters: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

More information on the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses: https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/mainstreetlending.htm

Information from U.S. Treasury on the Paycheck Protection Program and other ways the CARES Act helps Small Businesses: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/assistance-for-small-businesses

SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS AND RANCHERS:

Information on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program which provides direct relief to producers who have suffered losses during the 2020 marketing year due to COVID-19: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap

UNEMPLOYMENT FOR SOUTH DAKOTA WORKERS: 

Need to file for unemployment insurance in South Dakota? https://dlr.sd.gov/ra/individuals/default.aspx

Don’t know how to file for unemployment insurance? Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OVcAJAUKrM&feature=youtu.be

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS, and U.S. Department of Labor announce plan to extend 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

FEDERAL PAID LEAVE INFORMATION: 

U.S. Department of Labor helpful facts for employees: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave

Federal paid leave questions and answers: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions

Federal paid leave requirements: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave

FEDERAL TAXES AND IMMEDIATE CASH RELIEF: 

How does the coronavirus outbreak affect your federal income taxes: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus

Tax Day extended 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

Immediate cash relief for eligible South Dakotans: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know

FEDERAL GRANTS AND APPLICATIONS: 

For grants that are due between March 9, 2020 – May 1, 2020, NIH will be accepting late applications: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-091.html

Information on requesting support for competitive grants: https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/federal-grant-funding

SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENTS AND EDUCATION INFORMATION: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus

SOUTH DAKOTAN’S LIVING OR TRAVELING ABROAD: 

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program: https://step.state.gov/

Contact a U.S. embassy near you or call 1-888-407-4747 (U.S. & Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from overseas)

If you or anyone you know is thinking about international travel, please click the following link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/travel-advisory-alert-global-level-4-health-advisory-issue.html

If you or anyone you know is thinking about traveling in the United States, please click the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING IN SOUTH DAKOTA?

Learn how to serve your community here: https://volunteers.sd.gov/

Not finding what you’re looking for? Contact my office:

Sioux Falls: (605) 334-9596

Aberdeen: (605) 225-8823

Rapid City: (605) 348-7551

Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-2321

Send me an email here: https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact