Following is an update on COVID-19-related federal government actions since our last update.

Congress

Congress remains in recess, with both chambers scheduled to return to Washington on Monday, May 4; today, both Senate Leader McConnell and House Majority Leader Hoyer confirmed their respective chambers would indeed return next Monday

• McConnell Confirms Senate Will Reconvene May 4th, Previews Commonsense Reforms to Strengthen Nation’s Response & Re-Opening, highlights need for liability protections, April 27, 2020

Following Friday’s enactment of an interim emergency relief package, Congressional leaders continue discussing parameters for the next phase(s) of their COVID-19 response effort

Meanwhile, today the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee – established by the CARES Act – named an executive director and launched its public website, available here

Recent Congressional Statements / Letters

• Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden statement proposing automatic triggers to preserve the extension of unemployment insurance benefits, April 27, 2020
• Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Urge McConnell to Resist Democratic Calls for Renewable Tax Credit Extensions in COVID-19 Response Efforts, April 24, 2020
• Cassidy, Manchin Lead Bipartisan Letter Calling for Financial Support for Main Street Trade Associations, April 27, 2020
• House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Waters, Top Democrats Call on Treasury, Small Business Administration to Expand Paycheck Protection Program Opportunities for CDFIs and MDIs, April 26, 2020
• House Budget Committee Stresses Importance of Strong Federal, State, and Local Partnership in COVID-19 Response, April 27, 2020
• House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Chairman Jim Costa Pushes USDA on Inspector Safety, April 24, 2020
• New Democrat Coalition Urges House Leadership and Committee Chairs to Implement Remote Voting and Virtual Proceedings, April 27, 2020
• House Republican Study Committee Unveils Conservative Framework for Recovery, Accountability, and Prosperity, April 27, 2020

Industry Efforts

• Retailers unveil Blueprint for Shopping Safe, April 27, 2020
• American Coalition for Ethanol: Administration Must Initiative a Plan to Aid Ethanol Producers Struggling to Survive the Catastrophic Economic Fallout of COVID-19, April 27, 2020
• Business Roundtable Sends Administration, Governors Considerations for Consistent Workplace and Public Safety Guidelines April 24, 2020

White House / Agency Activity

White House

• President Donald J. Trump Is Ensuring States Have The Testing Capacity Needed To Safely Open Up America Again, April 27, 2020

Department of the Treasury

• Treasury Implementing CARES Act Programs for Aviation and National Security Industries, April 25, 2020; see key Questions and Answers here
• Interim Final Rule on Additional Criterion for Seasonal Employers (PPP), April 27, 2020
• Updated Paycheck Protection Program FAQs, April 26, 2020

Internal Revenue Service

• IRS enhances Get My Payment online application to help taxpayers, April 26, 2020
• VA, SSI recipients with eligible children need to act by May 5 to quickly add money to their automatic Economic Impact Payment; ‘Plus $500 Push’ continues, April 24, 2020

Small Business Administration

• Guidance on Participation Sales for Paycheck Protection Program Loans, April 24, 2020

Department of Labor

• ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers And Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic, April 26, 2020
• U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA and CDC Issue Interim Guidance To Protect Workers in Meatpacking and Processing Industries, April 26, 2020
• U.S. Department of Labor Issues Additional Respirator Guidance for Healthcare During The Coronavirus Pandemic, April 24, 2020

Department of Health and Human Services

• HHS Launches COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal, April 27, 2020
• SAMHSA Awards Grants Expanding Community-Based Behavioral Health Services, Strengthens COVID-19 Response, April 27, 2020

Food and Drug Administration

• Update: FDA Continues to Ensure Availability of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Addresses Safety Concerns, April 27, 2020

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

• CMS Reevaluates Accelerated Payment Program and Suspends Advance Payment Program, April 26, 2020

Department of Homeland Security

• Weekly Update: DHS Response to COVID-19, April 27, 2020

Department of Transportation

• FAA releases list of control towers where hours will be temporarily adjusted, April 27, 2020

Department of Education

• Secretary DeVos Launches New Grant Competition to Spark Student-Centered, Agile Learning Opportunities to Support Recovery from National Emergency, April 27, 2020

Federal Housing Finance Agency

• “No Lump Sum Required at the End of Forbearance” says FHFA’s Calabria, April 27, 2020

Securities and Exchange Commission

• SEC Announces Investor Advisory Committee Meeting Focusing on COVID-19, April 27, 2020

Federal Communications Commission

• FCC and U.S. Department of Education Promote Remote Education, April 27, 2020

Federal Reserve

• Federal Reserve Board announces an expansion of the scope and duration of the Municipal Liquidity Facility, April 27, 2020
• Agencies extend comment period on updates to resolution plan guidance for large foreign banks, April 27, 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