Kentucky First District Congressman James Comer said he hears the concerns of small business owners, organizations and churches who have been closed for several weeks now. While he does believe social distancing and a push for increased personal hygiene have factored in Kentucky’s success to flatten the curve, he said he believes Kentucky should re-open for business in the next two or three weeks.
“If [Gov.] Beshear called and asked me my opinion or advice on anything, he hasn’t yet, but if he did, I would strongly encourage him to come up with a plan over the next two weeks to try to begin to get Kentucky open again,” he said.
During Thursday’s Town Hall Call, Comersaid many of the decisions to shut the doors on businesses and other organizations have been made by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and Congress had no recourse for those decisions. He also said he anticipates Congress will deliberate new legislation this summer which would limit a governor’s ability to impose such regulations if or when something like this happens again.
Comer also said he anticipates social distancing guidelines will be in place for “many, many more months,” but he believes businesses can work around those guidelines and hygiene recommendations while conducting their business.
Regarding other legislation which may arise when Congress reconvenes, Comer said he anticipates and will fully support legislation which “holds China accountable” for not properly and honestly disbursing information about COVID-19 when it first emerged.
“I have zero confidence in anything China says,” he added, saying he believes the summer congressional session will result in bipartisan legislation mandating medical personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccines be produced in the U.S.
“We should never have to depend on China for anything our hospitals and nursing homes need,” he said. “I don’t want to depend on China for anything related to my health.”
Comer said he wants to see trade between the U.S. and China continue but for those specific products, he will make a push for American-made.
Comer said another issue he’s currently undertaking is working with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue and the USDA in an immediate and ongoing investigation into the cattle market after receiving more calls from that industry of farmers, than all of the others industries combined. He said the price cattle farmers are receiving for their product continues to decrease while the price tags on beef in the grocery stores continue to increase.
Comer said Kentucky is the largest cattle producer east of the Mississippi River, and the issue is deeply impacting rural Kentucky. He said the issue is “very serious...very suspicious,” and the USDA is taking its investigation seriously.
Comer also asked his constituents to fill out the 2020 Census. He said his district has very low participation so far, but the need for funding determined through census data is high.
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a guest on Comer’s town hall, said Kentuckians need to be alert and proceed with caution as a number of scammers are preying on their fear during the coronavirus pandemic.
He said his office has received more than 160 reports of coronavirus-related scams including callers asking for donations to find a cure for the virus or seeking funds on behalf of a family member who needs treatment.
“Legitimate organizations will never pressure you to donate or ask for donations using wire transfer, cash or gift cards,” he said.
Cameron said some Kentucky charitable organizations and active charitable campaigns are required to register with the attorney general’s office and those are listed on the website.
Cameron said his office is also investigating more than 3,000 claims of suspected price gouging. Most of those involve spiking prices by as much as 1900 percent for food items, medical supplies and emergency supplies. He said his office has set up a user-friendly online tool for reporting suspected scams and price gouging.
Cameron warned against accepting health advice from anyone other than certified and trained healthcare professionals. He also warned Kentuckians to do their homework before participating in a testing site, because many fraudulent sites are only after personal information and money. He said his office has received reports from people who paid for or turned over personal information in exchange for a test, but never received the results.
Cameron advised contacting the local health departments before utilizing testing sites.
