Congress
Congressional leaders from both parties and administration officials have acknowledged that the two sides remain far apart as negotiations on the next COVID relief package continue. See today’s floor statement from Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) here.
Bipartisan talks have been underway since Senate Republicans unveiled their HEALS Act on Monday evening (see our previous update here). In a press briefing following talks with the administration today, House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Democratic Leader Schumer (D-NY) were particularly critical of Leader McConnell’s insistence on including Republicans’ entire liability proposal, which Speaker Pelosi called “liability on steroids.”
In a Tuesday Dear Colleague to fellow Democrats, House Speaker Pelosi outlined her specific concerns with the Senate GOP proposal. Beyond liability, a number of policy differences remain, including how to address expiring pandemic unemployment assistance and whether to provide additional funding to state and local governments.
Earlier today, National Governors Association leaders issued a statement regarding the ongoing negotiations, reiterating their request for $500 billion in federal aid to states over the next three years.
And while President Trump today suggested that Congress should pass a short-term bill – e.g., extend unemployment insurance and the federal eviction moratorium and approve another round of economic impact payments – Congressional leaders have not been receptive to the proposal, preferring continued negotiations on a comprehensive bill.
Further complicating the talks, Senate Republicans have yet to unify around the HEALS Act, particularly its $1 trillion-plus price tag.
Bipartisan negotiations will continue tomorrow.
Recent Congressional Statements / Letters
- Senate HELP Committee Chair Murray Criticizes Republicans for Failing to Require End-to-End National Vaccines Plan, Ensure Eventual Vaccine, July 29, 2020
- Senator Stabenow and House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Maloney Seek GAO’s Review of Gilead’s Taxpayer-Funded COVID-19 Treatment, July 28, 2020
- Senators McSally, Cornyn, Daines, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Ensure Americans Don’t Lose Health Coverage, July 28, 2020
- Senators Van Hollen, Murphy Introduce Legislation to Prevent Health Care Providers from Seizing Bank Accounts, Wages, July 28, 2020
- Senators Urge Inclusion of Critical Health Care Privacy Bill in COVID-19 Relief Package, July 29, 2020
- Senator Baldwin, Colleagues Introduce Masks for All Act to Curb Deadly Coronavirus Surge, July 29, 2020
- Senator Booker Introduces Bill to Boost Safety and Protect Meatpacking Workers From COVID-19, July 28, 2020
- Senator Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Support Tourism Industry, Protect Travelers and Workers, July 28, 2020
- Senators Markey, Schumer, and Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Ensure Families Can Safely Fly Together, July 29, 2020
- Senator Baldwin Leads Bipartisan Group of Senate and House Members Calling for More Support for Farmers, Agriculture, July 28, 2020
- Senator Tina Smith Introduces Loan Program to Help Dairy Processors Weather COVID-19 Economic Crisis, July 29, 2020
- McSally Introduces Bill to Help Complete Transportation Projects Impacted by COVID-19, July 28, 2020
- Senator Shaheen, Colleagues Push for Support of School Meal Programs Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, July 29, 2020
- Senators Harris and Merkley, Representative Tlaib, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Consumers from Dangerous Utility Shut-offs, July 28, 2020
- Senator Warren and Rep. Levin to CDC and Education Department: Parents, Educators, School Staff Need to Know If School Reopening Guidance May Have Been Influenced by Trump’s Political Pressure, July 28, 2020
- House Ways and Means Committee Democrats Introduce Legislation to Protect Seniors and People with Disabilities During the COVID-19, July 29, 2020
- Senators Warren and Schatz Again Raise Concerns About the Stability of the Financial System During the COVID-19-Induced Recession, Citing Recent Bank Sensitivity Analyses, July 29, 2020
- House Financial Services Committee Chair Waters Again Sounds Alarm on Need to Prevent Evictions; Calls Senate Republican HEALS Act a ‘Slap in the Face’ to Struggling Families, July 29, 2020
- Republican Energy and Commerce Committee: Congress and Executive Branch Work to Expand COVID-19 Testing, July 29, 2020
- Representatives Pressley, Omar, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Cancel All Rent and Mortgage Payments During the COVID-19 Pandemic, July 28, 2020
- Committees Launch Investigation Into Waste and Abuse in Treasury’s Payroll Support Program, July 29, 2020
- Bipartisan House letter to Congressional leadership calling for extension of CARES Act Payroll Support Program (PSP) for frontline airline industry workers, July 27, 2020
- Representatives Levin, Neguse, Luján, Malinowski Urge Inclusion of Local Funding in Senate Coronavirus Relief Package, July 28, 2020
- Representatives Nadler, García, Moore, Takano, and over 100 Members Highlight Urgent Need to Support Public Transportation Agencies, July 29, 2020
- House Democratic Committee Leaders Call on Treasury and SBA to Focus Remaining PPP Relief on Small, Minority-Owned Businesses, July 28, 2020
- Representatives Newhouse, Phillips Lead Bipartisan Letter to Protect Small Business Expenses in COVID-19 Package, July 28, 2020
- Representatives Dunn and Axne Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Tax Burden on Health Care Providers During COVID-19, July 29, 2020
- Representatives Johnson, Spanberger Introduce Bill to Strengthen Telehealth, July 29, 2020
- Representative Panetta Introduces Legislation to Support Community Economic Development Centers, July 29, 2020
- Representative Burgess: Burgess/Cornyn Op-ed: SAVE Jobs Act will boost energy job market, July 28, 2020
- Representatives Pascrell, McHenry Introduce Bipartisan American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act, July 29, 2020
- Representative Gallagher Leads Effort to Include Funding for Critical Dairy Program in Phase Four Relief Package, July 29, 2020
- Representative Rouda Leads Letter Requesting Examination of COVID-19 and PFAS Relationship, July 29, 2020
- Representative Spanberger Co-Leads Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Study Financial & Health Impacts of COVID-19, July 29, 2020
Other Stakeholder Statements / Letters
- National Governors Association: Four Ways Congress Can Partner With States And Territories To Combat COVID-19, July 29, 2020
- Association of American Medical Colleges: A Road Map to Reset the Nation's Approach to the Pandemic, July 29, 2020
- NAM: Manufacturers on SAFE TO WORK Act (liability), July 28, 2020
- Retailers Encouraged by Key Provisions in HEALS Act, July 28, 2020
- American Public Transportation Association: Urge Members of Congress to Support At Least $32 Billion of Additional COVID-19 Emergency Funding for Public Transit, July 28, 2020
- U.S. Chamber Calls on Congress to Provide Temporary and Targeted Coronavirus Relief, Adds ‘There Is No Time for the Traditional Washington Games’, July 27, 2020
- COVID-19 Liability Shield Welcomed by Leading Retailers, July 27, 2020
- Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO: Petition for Rulemaking for Mandatory Passenger Mask Usage to Address COVID-19, July 27, 2020
- Hotel Industry Applauds Release of Senate COVID Relief Package, Calls for Swift Passage, July 27, 2020
- Travel CEOs Urge Federal Action on COVID-19 Testing, July 27, 2020
- Travel Community Praises PPP Eligibility Change in Senate Relief Package, July 27, 2020
White House / Agency Activity
White House
Department of Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Small Business Administration
Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
Department of Homeland Security
Department of State
Department of Agriculture
Department of Education
Federal Communications Commission
Federal Reserve
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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