Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released the following statement after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the state of Kansas $7,851,905 from the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG). This is the second tranche to be awarded to our state. 
 
"Our community, like so many across the country, has experienced financial hardships due to severe lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Rep. Estes. "Kansas continues to receive support from the federal government thanks to the CARES Act, and HUD's award of nearly $8 million to the Sunflower State will be especially helpful in the areas of public health and housing disruption needs. So many Kansans have been affected by job loss or income changes at no fault of their own, but programs like the Community Development Block Grant can provide hope, relief and stability for hurting families." 
 
Supplemental funding for this grant is provided through the CARES Act. This is the second time Kansas has been awarded CDBG funding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Estes voted in favor of the CARES Act in March, which continues to provide relief to Kansas residents and state and local governments. 
 
In addition to today's CDBG announcement, the state of Kansas has received $1.25 billion specifically for state, territorial, local and tribal governments. Kansans have also received $1,980,223,913 in Economic Impact Payments as of May 8. During the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), $4,288,652,108 was approved for 26,245 Kansas small businesses in the form of forgivable loans. The Joint Economic Committee estimates that 427,000 Kansans will be able to keep their jobs due to PPP. On March 27, Unemployment Insurance (UI) was increased by $600 a week and eligibility was extended to self-employed individuals. Additionally, hospitals received $325 million in aid, community health centers received $15 million in grants, public universities received $49 million from the Higher Education Relief Fund, the Kansas Department of Labor (KSDOL) received $9.5 million for administrative costs, and Medicaid funding to Kansas was increased by $220 million. More funding has been assigned to Kansas through Department of Health and Human Services grants, Department of Housing and Urban Development grants, Department of Justice grants, Department of Transportation grants, Department of Agriculture programs, and more. 

Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.