In a teleconference held the other day with New-Mexico-based media practitioners, US Senator Martin Heinrich answered questions and discussed updates on initiatives to assists the New Mexicans who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The senator opened the discussion saying, it's been almost a month since the first batch of New Mexicans who are tested positive for COVID-19. He also added, "The data we're seeing" indicates that communities throughout the state are "headed into the thick of this public health crisis" at present.

Senator Heinrich also said he could not emphasize enough how vital the role of each plays in literally saving the lives of the New Mexicans. Also, the government leader called for everyone to continue to stay in their apartments or homes except only for visits outside that are utterly essential for the safety, welfare, and health.

More so, the physical distancing done as a state, the senator stated, is making a difference already, not to mention, bending the curve. This is how critical it is, he continued, to continue the initiatives to minimize (if not totally control) COVID-19 from spreading across the state.

Updates on the Initiatives

One of the initiatives this government official mentioned is the tireless work of the health care providers who are taking care of the New Mexicans who have contracted COVID-19. And, with this, Senator Heinrich said, when people stay at home, they guarantee that the health care workers are provided with everything they need to treat every citizen of this state confined at the hospital with the virus, with the care they undeniably deserve.

To simply put, the public servant elaborated, everyone's behavior today will determine the number of people who will die tomorrow.

Continuing his update, Senator Heinrich said the government would continue working "around the clock" for the security of the resources for public health, those who are in desperate need of economic relief for both the families and small businesses across New Mexico, and emergency medical supplies.

Additionally, the senator explained how well the local government could deliver the economic and medical resources that are included in the $2 trillion CARES Act passed by the Congress in March, depends nearly entirely on the Trump administration.

However, he said he is doing everything he can "to hold them responsible every step of the way" for the delivery of this assistance as effectively and efficiently as realistically possible.

The senator expressed deep awareness of the manner this public health crisis has inflicted havoc on different employers and their employees across each area, and in each of the state's corner.

Meanwhile, the economy's whole sector, which includes the hospitality and tourism industry, has ultimately been upended.

Fighting Hard to Secure Provisions in the CARES Act

The significant impact of the pandemic has become the main reason why Senator Heinrich has been actively fighting to secure substantial provisions in the CARES Act to offer relief to non-profits and small businesses inflicted by COVID-19 and the public health responses it requires.

This new law, as discussed in the teleconference, covers $377 billion in assistance for small businesses, including loans amount of up to $10 million from the Payment Protection Program (PPP), for non-profits and small companies that have a maximum of 500 employees.

The said loans are convertible to grants if the companies can maintain their previous payroll until December 31, 2020.

Nevertheless, the senator continued, he would be the first to say that this assistance has not reached the New Mexicans fast enough.

He added, while many small companies have applied for support in New Mexico, he's unaware of a single dollar that the state has received yet.

Moreover, the public servant explained that the CARES Act authorized the Treasury Department as well, for the designation of many other financial organizations as the "new SBA eligible lenders."

Relatively, the success of the PPP loan program relies on SBA's lending network's expansion. Senator Heinrich committed he'd push the National Government to immediately and effective expansion of its lending network.

These were only a few of the many initiatives the senator discussed with the reporters during the teleconference.

Other efforts include the livelihoods of people, increased testing capacity to become fundamentally universal, which consists of the distribution of much-needed supplies such as ventilators along with the necessary PPE for health workers to stay healthy while combating the COVID-19 pandemic, among others.

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