Capitol Hill.
The White House and Congress are close to finalizing a deal on an interim coronavirus response bill. The legislation is expected to include up to $500 billion in additional aid for small businesses, hospitals, and testing initiatives. Additional financial relief for states and local governments is not expected to be included in the agreement, but reports suggest the provisions may still be on the table. A fix to provide paid family and sick leave reimbursement to public employers is also not expected to be included in the legislation.
The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation before the House, but the timing for the votes is still unclear. On Sunday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told House Members they should be prepared to return to Washington for a recorded vote on the legislation as soon as Wednesday.
In addition, the congressional nominations for a five-person committee charged with overseeing the Administration's implementation of the CARES Act are almost complete, with three confirmed nominations so far. Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate were each charged with naming one member of the panel. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
tapped
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), House Minority Leader McCarthy (R-CA)
selected
Rep. French Hill (R-AR), and Speaker Pelosi (D-CA)
nominated
Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL). The Chair of the panel will be selected in a joint decision by McConnell and Pelosi.
Bills and Letters of Interest
- Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and three other Senate Democrats sent a letter to the Treasury Department requesting data on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Emergency Grant Program.
- Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and 31 other Senate Democrats sent a letter to McConnell and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin regarding state, local, and tribal government support.
- Chairs of several House Committees called on Congress to send $4 billion to states to allow for mail-in voting and other efforts to conduct elections during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) indicated plans to introduce bipartisan legislation to create a $500 billion fund to assist states and local governments as they respond to the current public health and economic crisis.
- Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and three other Senators sent a bipartisan letter to Senate leadership regarding future COVID-19 legislation make local newspapers, TV, and radio stations eligible for small business assistance under the PPP.
Administration.
President Trump
announced
that the Administration will use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to direct a company to increase production of the much-needed swabs for coronavirus testing. Trump did not name the company. The DPA allows the federal government to direct production and distribution of goods in an emergency.
