COVID-19 Washington Update: April 2020 #8

Below is a synopsis of today’s federal government actions in response to COVID-19.

Congress

This morning, the Paycheck Protection Program’s funding was exhausted, leaving the Small Business Administration (SBA) unable to approve additional loans for the nation’s small businesses

• SBA Lapse in Appropriations Notice: SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding

The Congressional stalemate on an “interim emergency” relief bill continues, although negotiations between Democratic leadership and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin continue

• Statement by Secretary Mnuchin and Administrator Carranza on the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
• McConnell and McCarthy on Democrats’ Lapse in the Paycheck Protection Program: “This Did Not Have to Happen”
• Senate Small Business Committee Ranking Member Cardin Renews Call for Increasing Funds for COVID-19 Economic Relief Program
• House Small Business Committee Chair Velázquez on Status of SBA COVID-19 Relief Loan Funding
• 200+ Trade Groups’ letter urging PPP funding

Meanwhile, facing increasing “rank and file” pressure for remote voting, House Rules Committee Chairman McGovern (D-MA) recommended a temporary rules change to allow lawmakers to let other members vote on their behalf

Recent Congressional Statements / Letters

• Wyden, Finance Committee Democrats Outline Priorities For Health Provider Pandemic Aid Fund, April 16, 2020
• Senators Brown, Warren Call On Banks To End The Seizure Of Stimulus Checks, April 15, 2020
• Chairman Barrasso Calls on EPA to Reduce Biofuel Mandate on America’s Refineries, April 15, 2020
• Reps. Byrne (R-AL) and Cooper (D-TN) led a bipartisan letter – with more than 100 signatures – to the SBA asking how the agency is working to speed the issuance of Emergency Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to small businesses and what Congress can do to assist
• Pallone Urges Verma to Immediately Release CMS Data on Health Disparities Among COVID-19 Patients, April 15, 2020

White House / Agency Activity

White House

• President Donald J. Trump Convenes Members of Congress to Serve on the Opening Up America Again Congressional Group, April 16, 2020
• During his evening news conference, President Trump was expected to release federal guidelines for states to lift stay-at-home orders and relax social distancing practices

Department of the Treasury

• U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin’s Joint IMFC and Development Committee Statement, April 16, 2020

Department of Labor

• Statement by Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia on Unemployment Insurance Claims, April 16, 2020
  • See weekly claims report here
• U.S. Department of Labor Issues Alert to Help Keep Manufacturing Workers Safe During Coronavirus Pandemic, April 16, 2020
• U.S. Department of Labor Awards More than $131 Million in Dislocated Worker Grants in Response to Coronavirus Public Health Emergency, April 15, 2020

Food and Drug Administration

• FDA Continues User-Fee Related Reviews Through COVID-19, April 16, 2020
• FDA Encourages Recovered Patients to Donate Plasma for Development of Blood-Related Therapies, April 16, 2020
• Temporary Policy for Compounding of Certain Drugs for Hospitalized Patients by Outsourcing Facilities During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, April 16, 2020
• Enforcement Policy for Telethermographic Systems During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency, April 16, 2020

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

• CMS Implements CARES Act Hospital Payment and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Waivers, April 15, 2020

Department of Energy

• COVID-19 Energy Sector Response Efforts and Frequently Asked Questions, April 16, 2020

Environmental Protection Agency

• Letter from 14 State AGs to EPA Administrator Wheeler Opposing the Agency’s COVID-19 Enforcement Policy, April 15, 2020

Federal Communications Commission

• FCC Approves First Set of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Applications, April 16, 2020
• FCC Tasks BDAC Working Group With Addressing COVID-19 Challenges, April 16, 2020
• FCC to Hold Open Commission Meeting by Teleconference, April 16, 2020

Federal Reserve

• Federal Reserve announces its Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility is fully operational and available to provide liquidity to eligible financial institutions, April 16, 2020
• Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act: Main Street New Loan Facility, April 16, 2020
• Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act: Main Street Expanded Loan Facility, April 16, 2020

State / Local Activity

Given the plethora of state and local actions, we recommend MultiState’s COVID-19 Policy Tracker as a comprehensive tool to monitor the response

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