On October 27, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally announced plans to modernize and reorient American diplomacy to meet the evolving demands of the 21st century. The State Department, in consultation with...more
On September 8, 2021, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Committee (NAIAC or the “Committee”). The NAIAC will advise the...more
President Biden’s Discretionary Budget Request: Fiscal Year 2022 -
On April 9, 2021, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) submitted President Biden’s discretionary funding request (the “Request”) to Congress for...more
4/30/2021
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Biden Administration ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Privacy ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Government Agencies ,
NIST ,
OMB ,
U.S. Commerce Department
With Introduction of HEALS Act, Bipartisan Negotiations on Phase 4 Begin in Earnest: An Analysis of the House and Senate Positions -
Senate Republicans on Monday unveiled their next COVID-19 response legislation in the...more
7/29/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Economic Downturn ,
Federal Funding ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Relief Measures ,
School Districts ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Virus Testing
On July 21, 2020, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) jointly announced $75 million for three new quantum computing centers. The targeted investment will be...more
Leaders of Small Business Committee Reach Consensus on Bill to Extend PPP Loan Deadline, Senate Fails to Clear Measure by Unanimous Consent as Phase 4 Negotiations Likely to Dominate June -
Bipartisan leaders of the Senate...more
5/26/2020
/ Agricultural Sector ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Agriculture ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Farm Workers ,
Farms ,
Federal Funding ,
Federal Reserve ,
Filing Deadlines ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
Small Business ,
Small Business Loans ,
Supply Chain ,
Trump Administration ,
USDA
House Democrats Unveil Phase 4 Proposal – the HEROES Act -
House Democrats today unveiled H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. The approximately $3 trillion proposal, which...more
5/13/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Federal Funding ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Liability ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Relief Measures ,
Trump Administration ,
Virus Testing
Senate Elevates Bipartisan Calls for Revisions to Paycheck Protection Program -
This week Senate Republicans and Democrats have underscored the need for a number of changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)...more
5/8/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Reserve ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Loan Forgiveness ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
Small Business ,
U.S. Treasury
Federal Reserve Board Announces Expanded Scope and Eligibility for the Main Street Lending Program -
The Federal Reserve Board unveiled plans yesterday to expand the scope and eligibility for the Main Street Lending...more
5/1/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Data Privacy ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Federal Reserve ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Health and Safety ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Main Street Lending Programs ,
New Guidance ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
Trump Administration ,
Unemployment Benefits
White House Unveils Testing Blueprint, Senate Slated to Return Monday, House Return Uncertain -
President Trump unveiled the Administration’s blueprint for state testing plans and rapid response programs on Monday,...more
4/29/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Reserve ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Relief Measures ,
State of Emergency ,
Trump Administration
House Passes $484 Billion Relief Package -
Today, the House of Representatives passed a $484 billion economic relief package in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care...more
4/24/2020
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
FDIC ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Health and Safety ,
New Legislation ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Public Health ,
Relief Measures ,
State and Local Government ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Treasury
Congress, Administration Reach $484 Billion Deal for Phase 3.5 -
Yesterday, congressional Democrats and Republicans reached a $484 billion deal with the Trump Administration for “Phase 3.5” of the coronavirus response to,...more
4/22/2020
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medical Testing ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Public Health ,
Relief Measures ,
State and Local Government ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Treasury
President Trump Unveils Framework for “Opening Up America Again” -
President Trump yesterday provided recommendations to governors for reopening parts of the U.S. economy. The guidance, dubbed “Opening Up America Again,”...more
4/17/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Reserve ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Public Health ,
Relief Measures ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Treasury
Congress Fails to Reach Agreement on Additional Dollars for Small Business and Hospitals; Agencies Act to Provide CARES Act Funding to Key Sectors -
Congressional negotiators failed to reach agreement yesterday on adding...more
4/14/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Loans ,
Federal Reserve ,
Hospitals ,
Main Street Lending Programs ,
Relief Measures ,
Small Business ,
State and Local Government ,
U.S. Treasury
Congress, Administration Call for Additional Emergency Coronavirus Relief – Differences Remain -
In coordination with congressional Republican leadership (and with little advance notice to their Democratic counterparts),...more
4/13/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Economic Injury Disaster Loans ,
Federal Loans ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
Small Business ,
Trump Administration
Pelosi and McConnell Both Look to Bipartisan Phase 4 Legislation -
Congress now likely remains adjourned until April 20 for the safety of both members and congressional staff, but discussions have already begun on a Phase...more
4/9/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Sector ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Petroleum ,
Public Health ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
Small Business
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Congress has passed three major pieces of legislation to provide relief to families and the U.S. economy. On March 6, 2020, President Trump signed into law H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus...more
Treasury Releases Details of Key CARES Act Loan Programs; Infrastructure Takes Center Stage in Phase 4 Relief Package -
Shortly after Phase 3 of the Coronavirus response concluded on Friday, March 27... the U.S....more
Early Wednesday morning, Senate and White House negotiators announced they had reached a deal on a $2 trillion Phase 3 economic stimulus package in response to the Coronavirus pandemic—the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic...more
President Trump Signs $2 Trillion Phase 3 Deal -
Today, President Trump signed a $2 trillion Phase 3 economic stimulus package in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security...more
Senate Closes in on Bipartisan Phase 3 Deal -
Congressional negotiations to pass Phase 3 of the emergency economic relief package continued throughout the day on Tuesday, following Monday’s failed procedural measure to...more
Senate Falters on Phase 3 Vote But Inches Closer to Bipartisan Deal -
As another procedural vote failed to move a Phase 3 Coronavirus package forward this afternoon, frustration and tensions flared on the Senate floor with...more
[co-author: Taylor Daly, Public Policy Specialist]
Congress turns to Phase 3: Emergency Economic Relief -
This afternoon, Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) released his proposal for Phase 3, the Coronavirus Aid,...more
Senate Considers Phase 3, Aims for Passage As Soon As Possible -
With more states issuing orders for residents to stay at home and businesses to close, the Senate failed to agree to a procedural motion on Phase 3 of the...more
3/22/2020
/ Business Closures ,
CARES Act ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Defense Production Act ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Department of Veterans Affairs ,
Donald Trump ,
FEMA ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Medicare ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
SBA ,
Shelter-In-Place ,
SNAP Program ,
U.S. Commerce Department ,
US Department of State
Senate Negotiates Phase 3, Aims for Passage by Monday -
Senate bipartisan working groups met well into the night on Friday and throughout the day on Saturday to negotiate Phase 3 of the Coronavirus response following Senate...more
3/21/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
FEMA ,
Minority-Owned Businesses ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
Secretary of the Treasury ,
Small Business ,
U.S. Treasury