WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith and two other House representatives have introduced a resolution to add county supported hospitals to participate in the paycheck protection program of the federal CARES Act.

The Paycheck Protection Program is intended to keep people on company payrolls during the coronavirus pandemic, but government employees were not included.

Since some rural hospitals are county supported, their employees are ineligible for the paycheck protection. However, the cancellation of elective medical procedures has impacted jobs.

Smith said rural hospitals are at risk of closing because of revenue lost during the pandemic and it’s important to give workers the paycheck protection offered in the CARES Act.