​On Behalf Of Senator Mike Braun Press Office
​
Support guides for small businesses, employees,
non-profit organizations, and Veterans.

JASPER, IN – Today, U.S. Senator Mike Braun released a number of resource guides regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that will help Hoosiers navigate through the coronavirus.

“My staff and I are here to help Hoosiers, and these guides will help small-business owners, non-profit organizations, veterans, students, and employees across the state navigate the federal response to the coronavirus.  Again, it’s very important for Hoosiers to wash their hands, limit their time in public, help their neighbors, and together we will defeat the coronavirus."
​
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: Affected Business and Employee Resource Guide

• The resources contained within this document are a culmination of state and federal efforts to combat the economic crisis created by the public health battle being waged against the novel coronavirus. For help on any issues related to COVID-19 please contact my office using [email protected].

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: Support for Non-Profit Organizations

• The CARES Act provides non-profit organizations assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic primarily in two ways: provides support to certain nonprofit employers, and incentivizes charitable contributions.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: About The Paycheck Protection Program

• The CARES Act creates a Paycheck Protection Program for small employers, self-employed individuals, and “gig economy” workers, appropriating nearly $350 billion to mitigate challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: Defense-Related Provisions

• The CARES Act includes $10.5 billion for the Department of Defense to support the military’s response to the Coronavirus and ensure we protect our forces during this vulnerable time in our history. Notable appropriations are listed below.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: About Direct Support Payments to Americans

• Who is eligible for a recovery rebate? All U.S. residents with adjusted gross income under $75,000 ($112,500 for head of household and $150,000 married), who are not the dependent of another taxpayer and have a work-eligible Social Security Number, are eligible for the full $1,200 ($2,400 married) rebate. They are also eligible for an additional $500 per child. A typical family of four is eligible for a $3,400 recovery rebate.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: Education-Related Provisions

• Stipulates that borrowers will not accumulate interest on student loans for three months, and do not have to make payments on those loans.

Congressional Response to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: Health Care Systems, Treatments & Vaccines

• Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (Phase 1): On March 6, 2020, President Trump signed into law an $8.3 billion in emergency funding to combat COVID-19. The package provides critical funding to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in response to COVID-19, as well as funding to: help develop vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, enable the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to procure personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and other medical supplies; and give states the boost in the resources needed to combat the virus.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: Provisions related to Veterans

• The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) is receiving $19.6 Billion through the Cares Act. The VA serves as a backup health system in times of crisis—often referred to as the VA’s 4th mission. These funds will help ensure continuity of service to our Veterans, including homeless and low income Veterans, and prepare for the possibility of being activated for 4th mission.

# # #
Press Office of Senator Mike Braun, Indiana
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

SIGN UP for SENATOR BRAUN'S 
WEEKLY UPDATE - Click here. (Tip: Scroll to the bottom of the page.)
To Subscribe to Senator Mike Braun's Youtube Channel- Click here.

Mary DeBoer | Mar 29, 2020
Source: NWITIMES.COM
[Excerpts from the original article
published on March 29, 2020]

GUEST COMMENTARY: Speech blessed right on, off line
Excerpt 1:
Growing up, my husband heard his father say, “It is better to remain silent and be thought ignorant than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to know Harold DeBoer since he died long before I met my husband. However, I have found myself recalling that phrase over the years, after I had stuck my foot in my mouth or had spoken out of turn.
It has also come to mind in the course of my job when someone said or wrote something absurd. As a judicial officer, I have had 10 years to practice the skill of keeping my mouth shut and allowing people to say what they came to say when they’re in court. Not always easy.
In our times of social media, now more than ever, people seem perfectly fine “sharing” their thoughts with all of their friends on whatever site they’re on as if they are experts on a particular topic.

​[storyline ...]
​
Excerpt 2:
While I firmly believe that we have the right to voice our opinions, we should take a breath and think about what we circulate in our community before we hit “Enter” — especially since social media shares what you post instantaneously. Some people post what I call “less than productive” things on social media because they crave even negative attention while others get a thrill from being confrontational and whipping people up. If you are one of those people, then I highly doubt this article will impact you much. Daane DeBoer died for your ability to be that person.

But during these times of the coronavirus, isolation and fear, I hope that if you want to share your thoughts or “information” that you do so in an intelligent and responsible manner. Please fact-check before you drop your bombs on your 842 friends or followers. [...]

To read the full article in its entirety, click here.

On March 12, 2020, the Porter County Commissioners established “social distancing”
practices for Porter County Government Departments and venues. That afternoon, the Porter
County Attorney, Scott McClure, discussed the implementation of these practices with the Porter
County judiciary in the hopes that the courts would put into place similar practices to limit the
gathering of large groups of people and reduce court hearings as able to minimize the spread of
the COVID-19 virus and to “flatten the curve.” The Commissioners have tentatively cancelled
events through April 8, 2020 with the caveat that cancellations thereafter will be posted on the
website.

That same afternoon and the following morning, Porter Circuit Court Judge, Mary
DeBoer, conducted meetings with her supervisors and magistrate at the Porter County Juvenile
Justice Services Center to determine how to effectuate the Commissioners’ plan to minimize the
threat of the COVID-19 virus in our community yet meet the statutory time deadlines that exist
in juvenile cases. Judge DeBoer is currently working with the Porter County judiciary to petition
the Indiana Supreme Court pursuant to Administrative Rule 17 for special permission to toll
various time periods in juvenile and adult criminal, civil and mental health matters due to the
health emergency. She anticipates this petition will be filed with the Supreme Court by
Thursday for their review.

The business conducted every day at the Juvenile Justice Center involves juveniles who
are housed in the Detention Center; juveniles who come into the Juvenile Probation Department
for probation intake and supervision meetings as well as Day Reporting; juveniles and parents
who attend hearings in Juvenile Court; juveniles who come to the Center for various programs,
such as Teen Drug Court, Teen Court and Juvenile Justice Jeopardy; Probation officers who go
out into the field to do home and community checks on juveniles who are on Home Detention;
and outside entities who visit the Detention Center for programming or mental/physical health
issues. People are coming and going constantly in various areas of the Center. But in an effort
to protect the juveniles in and out of detention, the staff in all areas of the Juvenile Justice
Services Center and the community as a whole, Judge DeBoer and the supervisors have worked
hard to limit everyone’s exposure to the COVID-19 virus and to be a part of the effort to “flatten
the curve” for the good of Porter County.

Judge DeBoer put the following policies in place through mid-April. Said practices shall
be extended if the need exists to do so.

Juvenile Detention Center Practices:
In General

• Cleaning protocols have been coordinated with medical staff and Porter County

Facilities for the entire Juvenile Services Center.

• All non-essential meetings are cancelled.
• All parties shall restrict the flow of people in and out of juvenile court, detention

and probation whenever possible.

Intake

• Court and staff will carefully assess and limit detention orders for the most

serious cases.

• Detention staff will review and implement intake protocols prior to admission of

juveniles in the detention center.

Detained Juveniles

• All outside programs at the JDC shall be suspended until further notice. These

programs include Youth Service Bureau, PACT, Bible groups and Valparaiso
University mentoring.

• Visitations shall be telephonic only.
• Professional visits shall be conducted telephonically unless an emergency exists,

and only after approval from detention supervisors.

Juvenile Court

• The Court will schedule only mandatory hearings.

Probation

• Probation staff will delay intakes or perform them telephonically.
• All probation officer meetings for low-risk and medium-risk shall be suspended.
• Probation officers will conduct probationary meetings telephonically.
• Placement visits performed by Probation officers shall be conducted

telephonically.

• Supervision officers shall conduct visits telephonically unless the juvenile is at

high risk to offend.

Other Programs

• All office-based programs such as Teen Court, Juvenile Justice Jeopardy and

Positive Approach to Teen Health shall be suspended.

• Teen Drug Court shall be suspended unless an emergency arises.
• Home Detention community checks will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and

will be required only in the most serious cases.

• Day Reporting shall be suspended at this time, until and unless it becomes

absolutely necessary.

• Project Attend’s truancy program shall be conducted telephonically.

During the COVID-19 health crisis, many of our municipal units are taking proactive measures to keep the public safe through limited access or complete closures to the public. We have identified our county and city efforts and have provided those links for your convenience. 

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, March 12, 2020
 
Gov. Holcomb Announces New Steps to Protect Public from COVID-19
INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced additional steps the state will take to reduce the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Indiana. As of noon today, the state has 12 Hoosiers who have tested presumptively positive for COVID-19.
 
“This is a time when we must do all we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19, protect our most vulnerable populations and reduce their potential to acquire or spread this virus,” said Gov. Holcomb. “While some actions are drastic, now, not later, is the time to act.”
 
Here are the actions Gov. Holcomb is initiating today.

• Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people. This includes any event or gathering of people who are in one room or a single space at the same time, such as cafeterias, churches, stadiums, meeting and conference rooms, auditoriums and the like. This guidance applies to professional, social, community and similar other gatherings. Detailed guidance will be posted on the Indiana State Department of Health website by the end of the day.
• Effective immediately, school corporations will be provided with a 20-day waiver of the required 180 instructional days for use as needed for the remainder of the academic year. The waived days do not need to be used consecutively and can be leveraged as needed.
  • If a school corporation has evidence of community spread or a confirmed positive test for coronavirus, officials should consult with the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana State Department of Health for additional steps. Schools should plan now for broader closures, including eLearning and remote classroom options.
  • The Department of Education will release additional guidance detailing the process for submitting waiver requests as early as Friday.
  • Schools should follow the guidelines for non-essential gatherings as they make decisions about non-essential extra-curricular or co-curricular activities.
• Child care and adult day care facilities should institute social distancing and minimize large gatherings. Temporary suspension of operations should be done in consultation with the Family and Social Services and ISDH in the instance of documented community spread.
• Nursing facilities and hospitals should restrict and screen visitors. Any individual who is allowed to visit is restricted to the patient’s room. Visitors are not allowed if they present with any of this criteria:
  • Display signs or symptoms of illness, especially respiratory illness
  • Have traveled internationally or been in contact with someone with a respiratory illness in the past 14 days
  • Reside in a community with a known COVID-19 case
  • Those who are less than 18 years of age
• The Indiana Department of Correction has suspended visitation at all facilities as a precaution for the health and safety of IDOC staff and offenders.
• Individuals over 60 years of age or those with a known underlying health issue such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease should limit their public exposure. Whenever possible, friends and family should arrange to provide food and other essential items.
• Those who run senior centers and congregate meal services should consider suspending congregate meals services and arrange for home delivery
• Encourage businesses to utilize telework policies, if available

 
Governor Holcomb is also issuing guidance for state employee operations. The state will suspend all non-essential out-of-state and international travel beginning today and for the next 45 days. The state is also providing employees with guidance about the use of leave and remote work options for limited durations while ensuring the delivery of essential state services. The guidance is attached.
 
“I fully expect there will be additional actions warranted in the coming days,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Just as we have since the beginning of the year, we are working with partners at all levels to secure all necessary resources for any escalation of this virus.”
 
If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus:

• Stay home unless you need to seek medical care.

• Avoid public areas and public transportation
• Stay away from others as much as possible, especially people who are the most at risk such as older adults with multiple medical problems and those with a weakened immune system
• Don’t shake hands
• Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening such as difficulty breathing and call your doctor or healthcare facility before you seek care.

More information may be found at the ISDH website at https://on.in.gov/COVID19 and the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
-30-
​
Rachel Hoffmeyer
Press Secretary
Office of Governor Eric J. Holcomb
Cell: 317-914-5634
Follow Governor Eric Holcomb on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

​Dear Friends, in the midst of the Coronavirus COVID-19 health crisis, please know that we're in constant comunication with both County and State Officials and following their directions as things develop. We are also following the guidance and practices subscribed by the Porter County Health Department, State of Indiana Health Department and the CDC. We are providing the ISDH Alert button along with its link below to keep the public and our members informed. Please take all precautions to keep your families safe.
​
http://www.state.in.us/isdh/28470.htm