Ann Wagner: I will do everything in my power to protect the life and welfare of our citizens

(From Second District Congressman Ann Wagner)

The Governor made the right call by telling people to abide by a stay at home order across the state. I have been urging the Governor, other elected leaders, and our business community to abide by this guidance so Missouri is using every tool at our disposal to flatten the curve.

People across Missouri need to understand the severity of the COVID-19 threat, stay in their homes, and not leave unless necessary. 

Until this crisis has passed, I will be doing everything in my power to protect the life and welfare of our citizens, so that we can restart our economy, put people back to work, and rebuild what was lost from this virus.

The St. Louis region urgently needs more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies. 

I have been working night and day to engage with the National Strategic Stockpile and FEMA, our local and state providers, and our hospitals, all in an effort to get direct shipments of PPE to Missouri. We are all in this together, and it is extremely good news the President invoked the Defense Production Act to help address the many shortages that have been reported across the state. 

It is all hands on deck during this crisis, and my staff and I are leaving no stone unturned as we work to ensure the safety of our fellow Missourians.

As part of these continuous actions, last week I reached out to Vice President Pence and the relevant federal agencies urging them to help bolster our efforts to provide front line health care workers and first responders in Missouri with this vital equipment they need to safely and effectively do their jobs.

Missouri's doctors and nurses are calling for help and we can answer that call by providing more PPE to the brave men and women who desperately need it as they fight to keep our neighborhoods safe.

I dropped by food donations to the St. Louis Area Foodbank and Operation Food Search. In these uncertain times, more and more families may be going without a paycheck and still need to put food on the table. I encourage everyone who is able to give back to their community in any way they can. No one should go hungry while we weather this national emergency, and we can all do our part to help those in need.







I am extremely pleased to announce the Department of Housing and Urban Development has moved quickly and will disburse coronavirus relief funds Congress authorized in the CARES Act.

I have been working closely with our state and local officials during this emergency to make sure Congress is providing the appropriate resources as we fight this pandemic. I had the opportunity to personally inform the County Executives they are receiving these funds and am confident they will be able to put them to good use to address the numerous impacts of the coronavirus.

We are in the midst of a National Emergency where speed matters and can save lives. I am grateful HUD worked so quickly to distribute these funds so our local officials will have even more resources to ensure our community stays strong through this crisis.

Read the full press release here.

The IRS will be distributing the CARES Act tax rebate checks in the coming weeks. I have a page on my website with some of the most frequently asked questions about these checks if you have any questions.

As always, if you have specific questions about your personal situation, my office is always available to help how we can.

I participated in a phone call with Dr. Ben Bernanke, Distinguished Fellow in Residence at the Brookings Institution and former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 

Dr. Bernanke provided his perspective on the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and suggested additional steps Congress should consider to keep both our financial markets and the country’s economy stable and on course for a quick recovery. 

America’s financial system is well positioned to continue supporting our economy through this pandemic. 

Our banks have a lot more capital, they have a lot more liquidity, and they’ve been rigorously stress tested to endure economic scenarios such as what we’re experiencing now.

If you or a business you know needs assistance during this trying time, visit the SBA's website here. If you own a small business and have questions about receiving an SBA loan please don’t hesitate to contact my office.

If you need to apply for unemployment, visit the Missouri Department of Labor’s website here. If you or someone you know is having trouble applying for unemployment, if you are having trouble with any federal benefits or are having issues with a federal agency, my office is always available to help and you may reach us here.

My office has continued to assist dozens of families who have been stuck overseas. Most recently we have assisted nonprofit workers, Peace Corps volunteers, and numerous families that were stranded across the globe. I am grateful that we have been able to step in and help those in need in such an uncertain time, and I want you to know that if you or someone you know needs assistance getting back to the US, my office stands ready to assist in any way we can.

I also encourage those in need to register with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive safety and security alerts from the relevant Embassy. You may also call the State Department’s American Citizen Services at 1-888-407-4747 from within the United States or Canada or 202-501-4444 if you are in another country.