SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2020 | 5A
CARES from page 1A
direct financial assistance
to businesses, workers, cor-
porations, medical organi-
zations, educational institu-
tions and tribal entities.
However, as is often the
case with many large-scale
federal programs, the speed
with which the legisla-
tion was created, and the
changing circumstances on
the frontlines of the battle
against the virus, reveal gaps
in the plan and new situa-
tions which require adjust-
ments and modifications.
Earlier this week, U.S. sen-
ators Ron Wyden and Jeff
Merkley, along with other
senators, coauthored a letter
to Small Business Adminis-
tration (SBA) Administrator
Jovita Carranza expressing
concern over the lack of
support for agricultural-re-
lated family businesses by
her agency as it relates to the
CARES package.
“We write to urge the U.S.
SBA to make farmers and ag-
ricultural businesses eligible
for the Emergency Econom-
ic Injury Grant program that
was included in the CARES
Act,” the senators wrote.
“The SBA made farmers
and agricultural businesses
ineligible for this program
and we would like to know
the reasoning behind this
decision and any statutory
limitations on aiding farm-
ers. Farmers need our help
to make it through this pan-
demic while continuing to
feed American families and
fuel our economy, both of
which are essential to our
short and long-term surviv-
al.”
Additionally,
Wyden,
the son of a journalist, has
joined 18 other senators in
asking U.S. Senate leadership
to include protections for
small town newspapers and
local journalists in any future
COVID-19 related legisla-
tion.
“The current public health
crisis has made the already
vital role of local news even
more critical. Some of the
most important guidance
tance for tribal entities across
the state to receive disburse-
ment of allocated funds as
soon as possible while main-
taining respect for the tribes’
sovereignty and indepen-
dence.
The Oregon senators
joined other members of the
inherent sovereignty of In-
dian Tribes and show defer-
ence to Tribal views, particu-
larly as they relate to the use
and distribution of CARES
Act resources and the Trib-
al Coronavirus Relief Fund
that will make an enormous
difference in the everyday
“The current public health crisis has made the already vital role of
local news even more critical. Some of the most important guidance
for families and businesses during this crisis has been highly localized.
Local journalism has been providing communities answers to critical
questions, including information on where to get locally tested, hospi-
tal capacity, road closures, essential business hours of operation and
shelter-in-place orders. During this unprecedented public health crisis,
people need to have access to their trusted local news outlets for this
reliable and sometimes life-saving information.”
— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Robert Menendez,
Sheldon Whitehouse, Jeanne Shaheen, Tim Kaine, Mark Warner,
Amy Klobuchar, Jack Reed, Patty Murray, Mazie K. Hirono, Bob Casey,
Cory Booker, Edward J. Markey, Angus King, Sherrod Brown,
Tom Udall, Tammy Baldwin and Joe Manchin
for families and businesses
during this crisis has been
highly localized,” the sen-
ators wrote. “Local jour-
nalism has been providing
communities answers to
critical questions, including
information on where to get
locally tested, hospital capac-
ity, road closures, essential
business hours of operation
and shelter-in-place orders.
During this unprecedented
public health crisis, people
need to have access to their
trusted local news outlets for
this reliable and sometimes
life-saving information.”
The letter described local
news outlets as an “essen-
tial service” and “critically
important” during the pan-
demic.
A third major area of con-
cern has surfaced for both
Wyden and Merkley, which
is the need for financial assis-
U.S. House and Senate in
coauthoring a letter to Pres-
ident Donald Trump, urging
the swift initiation of those
elements of the CARE pack-
age associated with Native
Peoples.
“The U.S. government
has specific trust and treaty
responsibilities to Ameri-
can Indians and Alaska Na-
tives, responsibilities that
all federal agencies share
equally. Implementation of
the CARES Act will require
many federal agencies with-
in DOI, the Department of
Health and Human Services,
the Department of Treasury,
the SBA and others to work
directly with Indian Country
on implementation of com-
plicated new authorities and
deployment of critical fund-
ing,” the lawmakers wrote. “It
is therefore incumbent upon
these agencies to respect the
Faith – Friendship - Fellowship – Fun
CHURCH DIRECTORY
To include your organization in this directory,
please call us @ 541-997-3441
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Online Worship Services 11:00 AM Sunday
All our welcome! 541-999-1979.
Bishop Larry Farnsworth
FOURSQUARE CHURCH
1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family.
Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 6pm-7pm
Website:florence4square.com
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418
Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45
Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –
Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m.
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A.
21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113
Pastor Rachel Simonson – All are welcome
Church leadership has decided to cancel
all worship services (Wednesdays included)
between now and the end of April.
Sermons are on YouTube at
https://youtu.be/jcTJVWp_6ps.
www.florencenewlife Lutheran.org
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Corner of 10th & Maple –997-3533
We will be live streaming from
Facebook at 10am Sunday morning.
Link to our website
https://www.florencecrossroadag.org/church-online
All other platforms will be update after the service.
florencecrossroadag.org
office@florencecrossroadag.org
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC
1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Ron Allen
Services on Facebook live
Sunday’s at 11:00 am
Wednesday’s at 6:00 pm
All Bible studies held at the church including
Sunday morning, Thursday Ladies study, and
Children’s Programs are suspended.
Blessings on you and your family.
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational
Services suspended this week. We will continue
to meet as The Church through our Community
Groups. We are working on options for you and will
communicate that with you soon.
FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16)
1833 Tamarack Street
(2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.)
Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m.
www.churchofchristflorence.org
FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
12th and Nopal – 997-9020
Services will be available via YouTube.
Follow the link at http://florencenaz.church/
FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
1318 Rhododendron Dr. • 541-997-2523
Sunday Service 11am ( Children Sunday School)
Mid-Week Activities, all ages.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW
3996 N Hwy 101 997-7136
Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. ,
Reverend Greg Wood
Worship services and all group meetings
in the church have been temporarily
suspended at least until the end of March.
Our 10am Sunday worship service will be available
via Zoom using your phone, tablet or computer.
Church members and friends will be called
this week and given phone in/logon information.
You can also call the church office for this
information.
All Welcome. Come as you are.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL
We worship in homes at 11am Sundays
Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for locations.
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH,
L.C.M.S.
Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m.
85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038
DVD of Weekly worship service available.
Pastor Randy Benscoter
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
Link to Sunday services at
www.florenceunitedmethodist.org
or find us on Facebook.
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Introducing
P rincess Rianna Weese
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
2135 19th St. –- 997-6600
8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer
Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m.
Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth.
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES
CATHOLIC CHURCH
1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312
No Mass schedule until further notice.
FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951
Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M.
Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M.
FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road
All are welcome to explore the answer.
In lieu of our regular service, we will be
videotaping the sermon and have it available from
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/
UC1h3s3lhuRKRCXNxbF8H3Nw).
www.FlorenceUUF.org - (541) 997.2840
lives of their members and
communities.”
The lawmakers conclud-
ed, “This can only be ac-
complished by engaging
in meaningful, robust and
— given the nature of this
pandemic crisis — rapid
government-to-government
consultation.”
Oregon’s U.S. Senators are
not the only federal legisla-
tors working to fine tune the
CARES bill.
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
has been proactive in ad-
dressing what he considers
to be inadequacies in the
CARES package. He held a
virtual town hall on Wednes-
day, April 8, to update con-
stituents on the coronavirus
situation and what he sees as
deficiencies in the bill.
“I was on a call today with
Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx, and
we are flattening the curve,”
DeFazio said, referencing
U.S. Coronavirus Task Force
members Dr. Anthony Fauci
and Dr. Deborah Birx. “So-
cial distancing is working,
and it is the only tool we
have, other than PPEs (per-
sonal protective equipment).
… So please continue to fol-
low the suggestions that have
been put in place by the gov-
ernor.”
The representative add-
ed that PPEs such as medi-
cal-grade face masks, proper
gloves and hospital gowns
continue to be “in incredibly
short supply, as they are be-
ing reserved for medical per-
sonnel, and even they don’t
have enough.”
DeFazio also recapped the
three different coronavirus
bills that have been passed
by Congress, highlighting
the modifications he rec-
ommended that were in-
cluded in the final version of
the CARES package. Those
changes included extending
employment benefits to the
self-employed, limiting pay-
outs to those making more
than $100,00 and preventing
government officials from
profiting from the pandemic.
Later in his town hall, he
also touched on the prob-
lems experienced by those
applying for unemployment.
DeFazio indicated that
while administration of the
program falls under state
authority, Oregon’s federal
partners are working to im-
prove the service received by
constituents seeking unem-
ployment benefits.
Most significantly, De-
Fazio reported that Oregon
Employment Department
staffing has increased from
106 to 350 and will grow to
an eventual total of 450 em-
ployees who will be process-
ing new claims.
Another topic the repre-
sentative covered was Ore-
gon Gov. Kate Brown’s deci-
sion to not reopen Oregon’s
public schools for the re-
mainder of this school year.
“Oregon’s schools will
close for the rest of the school
year, but many students ar-
en’t able to e-learn because
they lack internet access. I’m
pushing for increased fund-
ing for broadband infra-
structure in the next COVID
recovery package so students
across Oregon can get the
tools they need to distance
learn,” DeFazio said. “All stu-
dents deserve access to an
education, no matter their
zip code.”
The evaluation and anal-
ysis of the omnibus CARES
package will be an ongoing
task for Oregon’s Congres-
sional Delegation, and the
instances cited here are only
the beginning of a process
that will hopefully benefit
not only Oregonians, but all
Americans.
Wyden has a compre-
hensive webpage devoted
to providing information
and assistance to Ore-
gonians seeking support
during the COVID-19
emergency at wyden.senate.
gov/covid-19-economic-
resources.
For more information
from DeFazio, go to defazio.
house.gov.
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