June 1, 2020

Dear Friend,

High speed internet impacts virtually every aspect of our lives from healthcare to education. It is critical that Mississippians have access to broadband and not be left behind simply because they live in a rural area. Everyone should have access to telemedicine and distance learning which became more important than ever because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Rural Broadband Acceleration Act, bipartisan legislation that was introduced in the House last week, will direct the Federal Communications Commission to free up existing money from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to jump start projects in partnership with our rural electric power associations. This will deliver high speed internet access within a year of the start date. For more information on H.R. 7022, p lease click on the link.

ACTIONS IN THE HOUSE

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act

The Paycheck Protection Program has enabled thousands of Mississippi businesses to stay open and keep their employees on the payroll. From the beginning, it became obvious that the program would need to be extended to include more businesses. After further review, we have determined the need to expand the loan forgiveness period. The House passed, with my support, H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. This legislation addresses a variety of facets of the program, including the extension of loan forgiveness to 24 weeks. To read more about this legislation, please click on the link.

National Guard: providing for our men and women in uniform

In times of war and peace, members of the National Guard and Reserve stand at the ready. These men and women in uniform willingly place their lives on the line and continue to do so in response to COVID-19. More than 46,000 have been deployed for this assignment which includes supervising drive through testing and delivering emergency supplies. It is important that these members of the National Guard receive the retirement and educational benefits that are owed to them. The Department of Defense (DOD) was set to end National Guard orders at 89 days, one day shy of the 90-day threshold to attain these benefits. My colleagues and I wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper requesting our mobilized service men and women are afforded the same protections as their Active Duty counterparts. Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending the National Guard's Title 32 orders, a decision that will provide them with the benefits that they have earned and deserve. To read the letter, please click on the link.

first congressional district art competition - time's up!

Every year, I look forward to seeing all the great artwork that is submitted from students across the First District for the 2020 Congressional Art Competition. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent in Mississippi and across our great Nation. The overall winner will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. We will announce a winner on June 4. To learn more about the competition, please click HERE. You can also send an email to Melinda.Whited@mail.house.gov

welcome to sarah grace moore

Participating in our internship program is a great opportunity to learn more about the legislative process. From day one, our interns are taught that the most important way to be an effective voice on Capitol Hill begins by listening to our constituents.

Sarah Grace Moore, a native of Glen, Mississippi, is the daughter of Mitch Moore and Christy Ferris. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University where she earned a degree in Communications and a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration. During her college career, Sarah Grace participated in numerous extracurricular activities while maintaining excellent grades. "I enjoyed my years in college and am now ready for my next challenge - an internship with Rep. Kelly's office," Sarah Grace said. "I can't wait to see where this journey leads me."

welcome to Victoria fox!

Victoria Fox, the daughter of Jeffrey and Lauren Fox, is working with our team in the Tupelo District Office. She is a rising sophomore at the University of Mississippi where she is majoring in Business Administration. Victoria said she learned about our internship program and knew that would be a great learning experience. "I enjoy following politics," Victoria said. "I wanted to understand more about how the process works. I am so excited to be here."

STAY IN TOUCH

Let me know if there is anything my office can do to assist you. You can keep up with the latest news by signing up for my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01)
Member of Congress