COLUMN
Contact:
Andrew Allison, Acting Director
Kessarin Horvath, Sr. Communications Associate
kessarin.horvath@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028
COVID Update and the Census
By: Sen. Blake Tillery (R – Vidalia)
The General Assembly is still suspended for the COVID-19 State of Emergency, although we anticipate reassembling April 15th to address the potential re-ratification of the Governor’s State of Emergency. We could potentially address other topics that day such as the 2021 State Budget, but that remains to be determined. Expect the 2021 budget to see a substantial decrease in spending, as a reflection of the hit to the economy COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders have made.
Many of you have also requested information concerning COVID-19 and federal response packages. I’ve included a few links below to the most requested information.
- For Information on the SBA Disaster Loan Program: www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
- For Information on Unemployment due to COVID-19 for Employers and Employees: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic
While we may be away from our capitol desks, I am still fielding constituent calls daily. If you have other questions not addressed here, do not hesitate to reach out if I can be of service to you during this time.
The Census
One item you can check off your “to-do” list, while still maintaining our medical professionals’ guidelines for social distancing, is the 2020 Census. Completing the census is vitally important in rural Georgia where you and I reside. Participation means closer representation in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., increased population figures for industrial and commercial recruitment, and approximately $2,300 per individual in federal funding to our local and state governments. Additionally, if you mail in or complete your form online, no census worker will visit your home, but you must have your mailed census form code to complete your census online.
Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you. Until next time, stay home and stay safe.
# # # #
Sen. Blake Tillery serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 19th Senate District, which includes Appling, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, and Wheeler counties and a portion of Liberty and Tattnall counties. He can be reached by email at blake.tillery@senate.ga.gov.
