Monday, April 6, 2020

Much of the weekend’s and today’s federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic centered on implementation of recently enacted COVID-19 response measures, including the launch of the CARES Act small business loan program (the Paycheck Protection Program). Below is a synopsis of recent actions.

Congress

Over the weekend, House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) sent a Dear Colleague letter to House Members updating them on the newly-established House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, as well as her desire to bring to the floor a bipartisan CARES 2 package later this month

Agency Activity

Department of the Treasury / Small Business Administration

• On Friday, lenders began processing loan applications under the small business Paycheck Protection Program
  • See update from Senate Small Business Committee Chairman Rubio (R-FL) here

• Over the weekend, President Trump tweeted, “I will immediately ask Congress for more money to support small businesses under the @ppploan if the allocated money runs out”
• This afternoon, the Fed announced it would establish a facility to provide term financing backed by PPP loans, with additional details forthcoming
• SBA Clarifies Eligibility of Faith-Based Organizations to Participate in Paycheck Protection and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Programs, April 4, 2020

Department of Labor

• U.S. Department of Labor Publishes New OSHA Poster Aimed At Reducing Workplace Exposure to the Coronavirus, April 6, 2020
• U.S. Department Of Labor Publishes Guidance on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Guidance to States on CARES Act Section 2102, April 5, 2020
• U.S. Department Of Labor Publishes Guidance on Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Guidance to States on CARES Act Section 2104, April 4, 2020

Department of Homeland Security

• Weekly Update: DHS Response to COVID-19, April 6, 2020

Department of Health and Human Services

• HHS Supports State, Territorial and Tribal Public Health Labs with COVID-19 Rapid Point-of-Care Test, April 6, 2020
• HHS Announces Upcoming Funding Action to Provide $186 Million for COVID-19 Response, April 6, 2020

Food and Drug Administration

• Enforcement Policy for Infusion Pumps and Accessories During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency: Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff, April 5, 2020
• Enforcement Policy for Clinical Electronic Thermometers During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency: Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff, April 4, 2020
• CVM GFI #270 - Guidance on the Conduct and Review of Studies to Support New Animal Drug Development during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, April 3, 2020

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• CDC Launches New Weekly COVID-19 Surveillance Report, April 4, 2020

Department of State

• Briefing With Dr. William Walters, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Operations, Bureau of Medical Services; Acting Assistant Secretary Alice Wells, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs; and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ian Brownlee, Bureau of Consular Affairs On COVID-19: Updates on Health Impact and Assistance for American Citizens Abroad, April 6, 2020
• Joint Statement from Co-Chairs of the ASEAN- U.S. High Level Interagency Video Conference to Counter COVID-19, April 6, 2020

Department of Education

• Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Authorizes New Funding Flexibilities to Support Continued Learning During COVID-19 National Emergency, April 6, 2020

Federal Communications Commission

• Chairman Pai Thanks Broadcasters for Their Response to COVID-19, April 6, 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