Tomorrow, the Senate is expected to vote on a FY 2021 budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 5) with reconciliation instructions to advance President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief proposal, the “American Rescue Plan,” without Republican support. A “vote-a-rama” process is expected to begin this afternoon, which allows Senators to offer an unlimited number of amendments to the budget resolution. According to the Senate Republican Policy Committee, Republicans have filed more than 500 amendments. The initial debate is capped at 50 hours, but Senators can continue to offer amendments after the period of debate if they are budgetary in nature. The resolution is expected to pass along party lines.
Yesterday, the House voted 218-212 to adopt a similar FY 2021 budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 11). All Republicans and two Democrats, Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Jared Golden (D-ME), voted against it. After both chambers act, two dozen House and Senate committees will have until February 16 to draft the relief package. The legislation must stay below $1.9 trillion and adhere to Senate rules against including non-fiscal provisions for Democrats to pass the bill by simple majority in the Senate. Democratic leaders are aiming to have the legislation ready for President Biden to sign into law before March 14, the date when federal $300 weekly unemployment insurance benefits expire.
President Biden’s “American Rescue Plan” includes $350 billion in emergency fiscal assistance for state and local governments. However, we expect some details to change as Congress drafts and negotiates the bill. The White House has signaled that it is open to amending its proposal, including imposing stricter limits on the pool of Americans eligible to receive a $1,400 stimulus check, and possibly negotiating the total amount of state and local aid (The Washington Post).
Capitol Hill. On February 3, the Senate formally adopted, by unanimous consent, a resolution (S. Res. 27) organizing the chamber for the duration of the 117th Congress, two weeks after Democrats took back the majority. Passage of the resolution came hours after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that he and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had reached a power-sharing deal on how to organize the evenly divided 50-50 Senate. The organizing resolution mirrors a power-sharing agreement from 2001, the last time the Senate was briefly evenly split. The resolution sets up the committees, including allocating their budgets, with an even number of Democrats and Republicans serving on each committee. If a full committee vote is tied, the chair would transmit a notice to the Senate, which would be printed in the Congressional Record. The Majority or Minority Leader could still seek to bring the nomination or legislation to the floor through a motion to discharge, which would be subject to four hours of debate. They would consult with the chairman and ranking member. The resolution does not change the chamber’s cloture rules that require 60 votes to limit debate on most legislation, nor would it rule out any future modifications to the filibuster, as Leader McConnell had initially sought.
On February 2, Leader Schumer announced the Chairs and members of all Senate Committees for the 117th Congress. Leader McConnell did so as well on February 3 for Republican members, including all of the new Ranking Members of each committee. House Committee chairs and ranking members were announced several weeks ago, however, subcommittee chairs and ranking members and rank-and-file members have continued to be announced over the past several days and weeks.
On February 1, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its Economic Outlook Overview report for 2021—2031. The report projects that the COVID-19 relief package signed into law on December 27, 2020 will lead to the economy growing 1.5 percent faster on average in both 2021 and 2022. CBO staff said the boost would be concentrated in the first quarter of 2021. The report says that “The economy will bounce back over the next several months, even without more stimulus aid from Congress, but employment levels are unlikely to fully recover until 2024 [… ] The economy is expected to grow ‘rapidly’ at 4.6 percent this year, continuing to expand over the next decade.”
13 Democratic Senators sent a letter on January 28 to Leaders Schumer and McConnell calling for additional relief for state, localities, and tribal governments in the next COVID relief package, including a strong all-state minimum to ensure every state can meet the economic and public health challenges the nation still faces.
On January 30, 101 House Democrats urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-KY) in a letter to include a pathway to citizenship for undocumented essential workers in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package.
44 Democratic Senators sent a letter on February 1 to Leaders Schumer and McConnell calling for the inclusion of robust supplemental funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the next COVID-19 relief package.
On February 2, the House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Subcommittee Chair Val Demings (D-FL) wrote a letter to COVID-19 Equity Task Force Chair Marcella Nunez-Smith regarding the lack of equitable distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
Administration. The White House announced the federal government will increase the overall, weekly vaccine supply to states, Tribes, and territories to 10.5 million doses nationwide beginning this week – a 22% increase since January 20. The Administration committed to maintaining this as the minimum supply level for the next three weeks. The Administration also announced the launch of the first phase of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination.
FEMA announced it will extend assistance and provide flexibility to applicants to take measures to safely conduct emergency sheltering activities through June 30, 2021. All work eligible under FEMA’s existing COVID policies, including increasing medical capacity, non-congregate sheltering, and emergency feeding distribution, will be reimbursed at 100% federal share. USDA announced it is extending the eviction and foreclosure moratorium to multifamily housing residents through March 31.
TSA will require individuals to wear a mask at TSA screening checkpoints and throughout the commercial and public transportation system. CDC’s detailed description of acceptable and unacceptable mask types are here. TSA will fine travelers who refuse to wear a mask.
IRS updated its FAQ document regarding COVID-19 related tax credits for required paid leave provided by small and midsize businesses.
HHS announced a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and families for Marketplace coverage This SEP will allow individuals and families in states with Marketplaces served by the HealthCare.gov platform to enroll in 2021 health insurance coverage. The enrollment period is February 15 - May 15.
HHS added additional categories of qualified persons authorized to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Healthcare providers licensed in one state may now administer the vaccine in any state, and certain providers with expired licenses (within past 5 years) may also administer the vaccine.
NIH released a study finding that pregnant women who experienced severe symptoms of COVID-19 had a higher risk of complications during and after pregnancy.
DOL released guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
FHA waived certain provisions requiring in-person contact between mortgage servicers and borrowers.
CDC issued guidelines on attending Super Bowl celebrations and watch parties.
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A variant of the coronavirus first found in the United Kingdom has gained a mutation that could make it more resistant to vaccines, according to an analysis from Public Health England. The mutation is linked to strains in Brazil and South Africa. According to the analysis, estimated rates for cases with the mutation are 25 to 40 percent higher than estimated attack rates for other strains.
NACo sent a letter to congressional leadership calling on Congress to immediately pass local government support elements of the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan. NACo responded to the GOP proposal for the next coronavirus relief package, which does not include aid to states and localities, stating, “This plan unfortunately misses the mark by omitting much-needed investments in the frontline heroes of the country workforce.”
The U.S. Conference of Mayors sent a letter to Congress demanding action to support cities by passing the fiscal relief for local governments included in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The letter has 402 bipartisan signatures from mayors across the U.S.
As reported in TFG Transportation Notes, Airlines for America sent a letter to the White House stating their concern with the Biden Administration’s interest in pre-departure testing requirements for domestic air travel.
Vaccine News
More Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine than have tested positive for the virus, according to Bloomberg. The US has been administering shots at a faster daily rate than any country in the world, giving 1.34 million doses a day.
Vaccinating the general population in the US will largely fall on retail pharmacies, with companies such as CVS Health Corp, Walgreens-Boots Alliance Inc., Walmart Inc. and Kroger Co. saying they are prepared to give tens of millions of shots a month, according to the WSJ.
Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose coronavirus vaccine was 66 percent effective at preventing moderate and severe disease the company said this week, according to Politico. Johnson and Johnson said it plans to file for emergency use authorization in early February and expects to have products ready to ship immediately following authorization.
NIH found an investigational COVID-19 vaccine developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals appears to be safe and effective at preventing moderate and severe COVID-19 in adults. The vaccine requires only a single injection and can be stored in a refrigerator for months.
Moderna has requested FDA permission to fill its COVID-19 vaccine vials with up to five additional doses to ease gridlock in manufacturing. The change would allow Moderna to put 15 doses in the same size vials now cleared to hold 10.
Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has demonstrated nearly 92% efficacy against symptomatic cases of COVID-19 and provided complete protection against severe cases, according to a peer-reviewed analysis of a large clinical trial published in the medical journal the Lancet released by Axios. Russia is almost entirely dependent on Sputnik V to vaccinate its own population, and over a dozen other countries have purchased doses.
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Webinars, Events and Resources |
County Eviction Series: Solutions from Across the County
NACo Webinar
TODAY, February 4 at 2:00 PM ET
Fighting Food Insecurity During COVID-19 and Beyond: Key Updates for County Leaders
NACo Webinar
February 5 at 2:00 PM ET
CRS Reports of interest:
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