Below, please find a summary of the federal government’s activities in response to COVID-19 since Monday’s update. Our next update will be published Friday, July 17.
Congress
Congressional leaders continue to stress their desire to reach agreement on another round of COVID-relief legislation in the coming weeks – although the two parties remain far apart in terms of the size of scope of any relief package.
On CNN yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) again outlined the need for action and her priorities for the next relief bill: “We also have to come to an agreement. The timetable is the timetable of the American people needing their unemployment insurance, their direct payments, their assistance for rent and mortgage foreclosure, forbearance in terms of that. And we need it for states and localities to be able to pay their employees who are meeting the needs of their constituents. And you know what, we need it to open the economy by testing, tracing, treating, isolating.”
Speaker Pelosi also indicated she would be willing to forgo the August recess to reach an agreement. And in a
Dear Colleague outlining the chamber’s July floor schedule, House Majority Leader Hoyer said that if an agreement is not reached before the House’s August recess is scheduled to start on July 31, Members would be called back to Washington to vote on an agreement.
As reported in Monday’s update, Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) expects to finalize Senate Republicans’ relief proposal next week, prior to beginning negotiations with Congressional Democrats.
While neither chamber is voting this week, House committee activity continues. On Friday, SBA Administrator Carranza and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin will appear before the House Committee on Small Business in a
hearing entitled “Oversight of the Small Business Administration and Department of Treasury Pandemic Programs.”
Congressional Statements / Letters
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Senators Van Hollen, Warren, Cortez Masto Urge Mnuchin and Powell to Provide Greater Financial Assistance to State and Local Governments, July 14, 2020
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Senator Schumer and Representative Suozzi Unveil Plan to Fully Repeal SALT Cap in Next Federal COVID Legislation, July 14, 2020
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Senator Warren: Department of Defense Says Big Defense Contractors Cannot Divert Increased Progress Payments During COVID-19 to Share Buybacks, Dividends, or Executive Salaries, July 15, 2020
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Baldwin Helps Introduce $430 Billion Coronavirus Relief Legislation to Address National Child Care and Education, July 15, 2020
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Senator Ernst Unveils New Proposal to Support Child Care Providers, Families, July 14, 2020
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Senators Introduce Legislation to Expand & Improve Public Service Loan Forgiveness amid Covid-19 Pandemic, July 14, 2020
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Senate HSGAC Ranking Member Peters Presses Federal Agencies For Plans On Safely Reopening, Protecting Workers From Coronavirus, July 14, 2020
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Senate HELP Chair Murray Demands Transparency On Trump Administration Move to Upend COVID-19 Data Collection, July 15, 2020
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Senators Collins, Reed Lead Effort to Boost COVID-19 Immunization Infrastructure, July 15, 2020
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Senator Boozman: Arkansas Delegation Urges Action to Ensure Adequate Supply of COVID-19 Testing Reagents, July 15, 2020
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In Effort to Strengthen Contact Tracing, Senator Hassan Calls for Improvements to Electronic Health Record Systems, July 15, 2020
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Senators Klobuchar, Moran Call on the Federal Trade Commission to Protect Seniors from Contact Tracing Scams, July 14, 2020
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Senators Tillis and Warner Lead Bipartisan Push for Cotton and Textile Industry Assistance in Next COVID-19 Relief, July 14, 2020
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House Committee Chairs Waters, Smith, Engel, Thompson and Pallone Seek Information on Trump Administration Failures to Boost Production of PPE and Testing As COVID-19 Cases Spike, July 14, 2020
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As COVID-19 Cases Spike Across U.S., Chair DeFazio Applauds Newly-Added Mask Requirement in THUD Appropriations Bill, July 14, 2020
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House Small Business Committee Chair Velázquez Looks for Lasting Solutions for Small Business Recovery, July 15, 2020
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Representative McBath Sends Letter to IRS Commissioner Regarding Timely Disbursement of Economic Impact Payments, July 14, 2020
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Representatives Brindisi & Katko Call On IRS To Provide Flexibility To Struggling Families, Deliver Timely Refunds, July 15, 2020
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Representative Slotkin Leads Major, Bipartisan Package to Overhaul National Stockpile, Make More Critical Supplies In America, July 15, 2020
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Representative Steil Urges House Leadership to Support Child Care in Next Coronavirus Relief Bill, July 15, 2020
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Representative Pressley, Senator Warren Question Trump Administration's Failure to Follow the Law and Publicly Release Plans to Address Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, July 14, 2020
Other Stakeholder Statements / Letters
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NRF Calls On Retailers To Set Nationwide Mask Policy, July 15, 2020
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Association Calls for Critically Needed Federal Support of the Restaurant Industry, July 15, 2020
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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Reopening K-12 Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic, July 15, 2020
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AFL-CIO: Virginia Issues an Emergency Temporary Workplace Standard to Protect Workers from COVID-19: Federal OSHA Must Do the Same, July 15, 2020
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AHCA Letter to Governors: Urgent Attention Needed to Prevent COVID Outbreaks in Long Term Care Facilities With Major Spike in New Cases; Urge Caution and Thoughtful Approach In Reopening Facilities, July 14, 2020
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Aerospace Industry Letter to Congressional Leaders Regarding Need for Additional COVID Relief, July 14, 2020
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American Public Transit Association Letter to Congressional Leaders on COVID-19 Emergency Response & Recovery Funding, July 14, 2020
White House / Agency Activity
White House
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Remarks by Vice President Pence and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Briefing on COVID-19, Baton Rouge, LA, July 14, 2020
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Remarks by Vice President Pence During a Roundtable on Higher Education Reopening, July 14, 2020
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Readout from the Vice President’s Governors Briefing on COVID-19 Response & Best Practices, July 13, 2020
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Bill Announcement: Emergency Aid for Returning Americans Affected by Coronavirus Act Signed, July 13, 2020
Internal Revenue Service
Department of Labor
Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
Department of Homeland Security
Department of State
Federal House Finance Administration
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
