Today's federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic included an agreement on Congress’s “phase three” response – with a Senate vote expected tonight – as well as additional announcements from the White House and various federal agencies. Below is a synopsis of today's actions.

Congress

After approximately five days of intense negotiations, Congressional leaders and administration officials announced an agreement on a “phase three” relief package shortly after 1am today

• The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is expected to be approved by the Senate yet this evening, despite some last minute complaints over unemployment insurance provisions
• Highlights include: a “recovery rebate” for families and individuals; enhanced unemployed insurance benefits; an employee retention tax credit for employers, as well as a variety of business tax provisions; approximately $377 billion for small businesses; hundreds of billions in emergency funding for the healthcare industry and state and local governments; and a $500 billion Treasury fund to help struggling businesses (with strict oversight provisions)
• The language is still being finalized; below are summaries from key committees of jurisdiction available at this time:
  • Senate Appropriations Committee (emergency funding)
  • Senate Finance Committee (tax and unemployment insurance provisions)
  • Senate Small Business Committee
  • Senate HELP Committee (health, education, and labor provisions – including modifications to recently-enacted paid leave provisions)
• House Members continue to review the package and are holding a series of conference calls on major policy issues throughout the day – timing for a House vote remains uncertain, though the earliest vote is likely tomorrow (and Friday is also a possibility)
  • Currently, it sounds as though the House may do a voice vote, allowing Members to voice yes or no on the floor
• As highlighted in yesterday’s update, House Majority Leader Hoyer (D-MD) told Members on a Tuesday conference call to expect a 4^th and a 5^th package (though timing is far from certain)

White House / Agency Activity

Department of Labor

• U.S. Department Of Labor Publishes Guidance Explaining Paid Sick Leave And Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, March 24, 2020
• UPDATED: U.S. Department of Labor Invites Stakeholders to a National Online Dialogue on Paid Family and Medical Leave and Paid Sick Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, March 25, 2020

Internal Revenue Service

• IRS unveils new People First Initiative; COVID-19 effort temporarily adjusts, suspends key compliance program, March 25, 2020

Department of Homeland Security

• DHS Initiating Crucial Research to Mitigate COVID-19, March 25, 2020

Food and Drug Administration

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup, March 24, 2020

Environmental Protection Agency

• EPA Announces Plan to Reduce TSCA Fees Burden for Stakeholders, March 25, 2020
• Efforts Underway to Increase Sterilization Capacity in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 25, 2020

Department of Education

• Secretary DeVos Directs FSA to Stop Wage Garnishment, Collections Actions for Student Loan Borrowers, Will Refund More Than $1.8 Billion to Students, Families, March 25, 2020

Export Import Bank

• EXIM Board Takes United Action in Response to COVID-19 to Support U.S. Exporters and Jobs with Unprecedented Financing Flexibility, March 25, 2020

Federal Communications Commission

• FCC Changes Upcoming Auction 105 Schedule, Postpones Auction 106, March 25, 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