NH State Representative Steven Smith

$1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Trump Administration Announces Additional $1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program

USDA Begins Issuing Agreements for Round Three

(Washington – Aug. 25, 2020) – Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced up to an additional $1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The additional funding allows the program to continue critical support to farmers, distributors, and American families in need. The Farmers to Families Food Box program has provided over 70 million boxes to hungry Americans across the country.

“I’m so proud of the people of USDA for designing this program in record time. With this additional up to $1 billion in funding, the Farmers to Families Food Box Program will continue to save countless jobs, support our farmers and move food to where it’s needed most,” said Secretary Perdue. “As the President said, when a food box is delivered to a family, we show them that in this country no one is forgotten.”

Today, in a Fayetteville Observer op-ed, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump said, “As we work to achieve the Great American Comeback, The President and his Administration have stabilized our American food supply chain and protected our Nation’s families, farmers and ranchers…We are proud of the profound effect the Farmers to Families Food Box Program has had by keeping our farmers in business, empowering the food distribution industry workforce, and providing for those most in need.”

Background:

Additionally, USDA today announced it has begun issuing agreements for distribution of Food Boxes in the upcoming third round of solicitations. The first two rounds of deliveries began on May 15th and will run to August 31st. The third round will put more emphasis on food insecurity by seeking entities that provide combination boxes and requiring distributors to illustrate how they will provide coverage to areas identified as opportunity zones, detail subcontracting agreements, and address the “last mile” delivery of product into the hands of the food insecure population.

As a part of the third round, USDA continues to review proposals and make announcements of Basic Ordering Agreements (BOA). A list of current BOA holders and more information about the third round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program purchases is available at www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box.

The additional up to $1 billion funding is part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) authorization. Entities that proposed under the previous solicitation, including current vendors, must resubmit a proposal to participate in the third round.

USDA is using BOAs in order to have greater flexibility to ensure contracted entities provide adequate coverage throughout the states and territories. A basic ordering agreement is not a contract but is a written understanding, negotiated between USDA and a company. It establishes terms for future contracts during a specific period, describes what will be provided and how future orders will be priced, issued and delivered under the contract. A BOA does not authorize companies to ship products and does not guarantee future work.

In the ongoing second round of purchasing and distribution, which began July 1st and will conclude Aug. 31, 2020, USDA has purchased over $1 billion of food, extended contracts of select vendors from the first round of the program worth up to $1.27 billion and approved up to $202 million in new contracts to increase the focus on Opportunity Zones in order to direct food to reach underserved areas, places where either no boxes have yet been delivered, or where boxes are being delivered but where there is additional need.

The first round of purchases totaling up to $1.2 billion occurred from May 15 through June 30, 2020 and saw more than 35.5 million boxes delivered in the first 45 days.

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Aug 25 Update

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Students returning to campuses bring COVID with them

Students are returning to residential New Hampshire campuses this week, and the COVID-19 virus is right behind them. An individual has tested positive for COVID-19 at the boarding school Kimball Union Academy just days after student orientation leaders arrived back on campus, and Franklin Pierce University has discovered six confirmed cases last week.

More at https://www.concordmonitor.com/COVID-case-at-Kimball-Union-Academy-35892135

NH task force emails show early division on economic reopening

By HOLLY RAMER Associated Press Published: 8/23/2020 6:08:13 PM

CONCORD — In an April 30 email titled “Comments on reopening,” Robert Paul simply wrote: “Don’t.” Five hours later, Joe Condi sent a blank email with the subject line: “OPEN-OPEN-OPEN.”

The two messages were among the nearly 1,800 sent to Gov. Chris Sununu’s Economic Reopening Task Force between April 22 and May 1, when The Associated Press requested copies. The emails, which were turned over two and half months later, add up to nearly 3,000 pages of stark division over what should reopen and what should stay closed during the coronavirus pandemic. More at https://www.concordmonitor.com/Task-force-emails-show-early-division-on-economic-reopening-35876179

COVID-19 testing issues delay move-in for NH college, university students

https://www.wmur.com/article/covid-19-testing-issues-delay-move-in-for-keene-state-students/33758849

NH Secretary of State’s office reports 72,000 absentee ballots requested so far

https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-secretary-of-states-office-reports-72000-absentee-ballots-requested-so-far/33774226

Bedford school officials considering plans for football, other sports

https://www.wmur.com/article/bedford-school-officials-considering-plans-for-football-other-sports/33783229

Four N.H. Business Apply To Reopen As Child Care Centers

https://www.nhpr.org/post/four-nh-business-apply-reopen-child-care-centers#stream/0

N.H. Recovery Centers Face Funding Gap As State Waits For Opiod Response Grant

https://www.nhpr.org/post/nh-recovery-centers-face-funding-gap-state-waits-opiod-response-grant#stream/0

Nashua approves the start of all fall sports; other school districts cancel football season

https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/nashua-approves-the-start-of-all-fall-sports-other-school-districts-cancel-football-season/article_ccf64c31-d5f0-5c48-9ef7-8ac38751ff5d.html

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 24th, 2020

On Monday, August 24, 2020, DHHS announced 27 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 7,134 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, there is one individual under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 30% being female and 70% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (12), Merrimack (5), Cheshire (3), Strafford (3), Belknap (1), and Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (1) and Nashua (1).

Hospitalizations

One new hospitalized case was identified for a total of 712 (10%) of 7,134 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Nine of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

No additional deaths reported by DHHS.

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

Belknap 122
Carroll 99
Cheshire 119
Coos 17
Grafton 109
Hillsborough – Other 1,285
Hillsborough – Manchester 1890
Hillsborough – Nashua 808
Merrimack 494
Rockingham 1771
Strafford 376
Sullivan 44

New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report

(data updated August 24th, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 7,134

Recovered 6,450 (90%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 429 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 255
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 712 (10%)
Current Hospitalizations 11

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 198,229
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 29,258
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 41,464
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 1,181
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 2,100

Number of Specimens Tested by Date of Report to NH DHHS

Information above, and archived daily updates are available here: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/news/updates.htm

Regional Information (total positive test results, deaths)

Look-back period is 1 week.

NH: 7,134 positive test results 429 deaths (1 week ago: 7,004 positive test results 423 deaths) (+130/+6)

MA: 126,022 positive test results 8949 deaths (1 week ago: 123,841 positive test results 8842 deaths) (+2181/+107)

ME: 4,356 positive test results 131 deaths (1 week ago: 4,197 positive test results 127 deaths)

VT: 1,566 positive test results 58 deaths (1 week ago: 1,527 positive test results 58 deaths)

CT: 52,011 positive test results 4,460 deaths (1 week ago: 51,267 positive test results 4,456 deaths)

RI: 21,302 positive test results 1035 deaths (1 week ago: 20,572 positive test results 1023 deaths)

NY: 434,866 positive test results 32,489 deaths (1 week ago: 430,636 positive test results 32,435 deaths) (+4,230/+54)

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Be Heard – August 24 Update

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Social Media is not the Answer

I have heard some folks who are really unhappy with the current restrictions asking people to post in forums and groups, and on their pages. Sure, do that. But, if you want to have an impact, you need to be heard by the people making the decisions. These days, it is easier than ever to attend public meetings (since you can just call in). If they don’t hear from you, they will assume that everything is just fine. So, if you disagree, attend a meeting or take a minute to send an email. Here is the information for the next GOFERR task force meeting. ~ Steve

Scheduled Meetings

When:	August 27, 2020 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Public Comments 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Task Force Meeting
Call-In Information:	Call-in: 1-800-356-8278 or 1-857-444-0744 Pin: 194499 For Public Comments session to request to speak, press 5*
	If anybody has a problem getting on the call, please call 603-271-0670 or email at hilary.ryan@livefree.nh.gov
Task Force Public Comments Email:	nhreopen@nheconomy.com

Misleading Headline to Follow

The first article says that restaurant can open to 100% capacity. This is not true. The new rules do lift the capacity restriction, but tables have to be 6 feet apart. Establishments with tighter layouts will not be able to seat people at every table. I’m still waiting for a clarification on booths. Stay tuned ~ Steve

Restaurants get green light to fully reopen

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/restaurants-get-green-light-to-fully-reopen/article_1a0fdf65-b653-58ff-9ebe-093afd004a52.html?block_id=695277

Restaurants boost capacity, courthouses keep travelers out

https://apnews.com/75f7d804efbb4f516389c9dab112e947

Relief Funding Distribution

GOFERR has a tool that allows you to check specific recipients of relief funding, or to search by town or city. Click go to https://www.goferr.nh.gov/ to use it.

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 23rd, 2020

On Sunday, August 23, 2020, DHHS announced 15 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 7,107 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, all are adults with 40% being female and 60% being male. The new cases reside in Cheshire (4), Merrimack (2), Rockingham (2), and Strafford (1) counties. The county of residence is being determined for six new cases.