Below, please find a summary of recent federal government activity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress

On Tuesday, after returning from the August recess, Senate Republicans unveiled a “targeted” COVID relief proposal – the Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act (text here). A Senate floor vote is planned for Thursday. Senate Democrats are not expected to support the legislation, making passage unlikely (60 votes are required for passage).

The $500 billion proposal is a scaled-down version of the $1 trillion HEALS Act introduced by Senate Republicans in July, and follows weeks of stalled negotiations with Congressional Democrats. To help offset the cost, the new legislation repurposes approximately $350 billion in unspent CARES Act funding.

Among other things, the new targeted proposal includes:

• $300 / week in extra, federally-funded unemployment benefits through December 27 (replacing the $600 / week supplement that expired at the end of July)

• Emergency appropriations, including: $105 billion for schools; $16 billion for testing, contract tracing, and surveillance; $31 billion for vaccine, therapeutic and diagnostic development; $20 billion of additional farm assistance; and $15 billion in child care grants

• A second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for struggling small businesses

• Liability protections for hospitals and healthcare workers, businesses, education institutions, local governments, and other nonprofits

• Forgiveness of the $10 billion Treasury loan to the U.S. Postal Service authorized in the CARES Act

• Additional provisions for pandemic preparation and strategic stockpiles

• Several provisions to expand “school choice”

In a joint statement, Senate Democratic Leader Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) called the proposal “emaciated” and said it was “laden with poison pills” Democrats would never support.

Meanwhile, in comments to the press today, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said he is focused on reaching a legislative agreement to fund the government ahead of the September 30 end of the current fiscal year – and said he was uncertain about the prospects for another COVID relief bill.

COVID-19 Congressional hearings for the remainder of the week:

• A September 10 House Foreign Affairs Committee | Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy and the Environment hearing entitled: Protecting Democracy During COVID-19 in Europe and Eurasia and the Democratic Awakening in Belarus

• A September 10 House Financial Services Committee hearing entitled: The Need for Financial Aid to America’s States and Territories During the Pandemic: Supporting First Responders, Assisting Schools in Their Efforts to Safely Educate, and Preventing Mass Layoffs

• A September 10 House Small Business Committee | Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship hearing entitled: Kick Starting Entrepreneurship and Main Street Economic Recovery

• A September 11 House Ways and Means Committee | Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures hearing entitled: Consequences of Inaction on COVID Tax Legislation

• A September 11 House Science, Space, and Technology | Subcommittee on Energy hearing entitled: Biological research at the Department of Energy: Leveraging DOE’s unique capabilities to respond to the COVID 19 pandemic

Recent Congressional Statements / Letters

• Senate HELP Chair Alexander: FDA-Approved COVID-19 Vaccine is the Way to Stop More Deaths, September 9, 2020

• Senate HELP Ranking Member Murray Calls for Transparency to Ensure President Trump’s Political Interference Doesn’t Derail COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts, September 9, 2020

• Senators Tillis, Colleagues Call on CDC, HHS to Improve and Modernize COVID-19 Data Collection and Management, September 9, 2020

• Senator Capito, Colleagues Call on VA Secretary to Provide Veterans Coverage for Telehealth Services Amid COVID-19, September 9, 2020

• Sen. Stabenow: Report: Economic Justice - Fighting Racial Disparities during COVID-19 and Beyond, September 9, 2020

• Senate Banking Committee Chair Crapo Statement at Hearing on the Status of the Federal Reserve Emergency Lending Facilities, September 9, 2020

• Senate Banking Ranking Member Brown Demands Congress Do More For The Workers Who Keep Our Economy Afloat, September 9, 2020

• Senators Brown, Warren, Van Hollen, Menendez, and Reed Probe CFPB’s Failure to Alert Borrowers to Mortgage Relief Options During Pandemic, September 4, 2020

• Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Wyden Statement on Treasury Guidance on Payroll Tax Deferral, August 31, 2020

• Senators Roberts, Klobuchar Lead Request for Wheat Grower Assistance, September 2, 2020

• House E&C Leaders Call on CDC Director Redfield to Brief Congress, September 3, 2020

• E&C Democratic Leaders Pallone & Eshoo Statement Following Member Briefing with FDA Commissioner Hahn, August 31, 2020

• E&C Republican Leaders Walden, Guthrie Publish Third and Final Pillar of E&C Republicans’ Second Wave Project, August 20, 2020

• Representatives Fudge, Scott Send Letter to USDA Requesting Clarification of Pandemic EBT Guidelines, September 3, 2020

• Representatives Scott, Norton Demand Support for Local Schools to Keep Kids Safe and Learning, September 3, 2020

• House Ed & Labor Chairman Scott: PPP Reports Show Disturbing Imbalance Between Private and Public School Emergency Funding, September 1, 2020

• Representatives Young, Wild Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Child Care Services, Get Parents Back to Work, September 8, 2020

• House Oversight Chairs Seek Administration’s Plans to Distribute and Deploy Coronavirus Vaccine, September 8, 2020

• House Financial Services Committee Chair Waters: Trump Action Introduces Potential Criminal Penalties for Millions of Renters on Brink of Eviction, September 1, 2020

• House Appropriations Committee Chair Lowey Statement on Trump Administration’s Refusal to Join Global COVID-19 Vaccine Effort, September 2, 2020

Other Stakeholder Statements / Letters

• National Hazard Pay Campaign Launches Today As COVID-19 Continues to Threaten and Sicken Thousands of America’s Frontline Workers, September 1, 2020

• REPORT: State Of Hotel Industry Six Months Into COVID Pandemic, August 31, 2020

• AICPA, COST Lead Letter Urging Congressional Support for State Tax Filing Relief for Remote Workers, August 27, 2020

• Report Shows American Automakers Will Be An Engine for Economic Recovery, August 26, 2020

• REPORT: Hotel Industry Facing Historic Wave Of Foreclosures, August 18, 2020

• U.S. Chamber and More than 30 Trade Associations Send Letter Urging Congress and Treasury to Provide Relief for American Families Without Imposing Large Tax Bill, August 18, 2020

• U.S. Chamber Launches “Cost of Inaction” Campaign, Illuminating The Burden on Americans as a Result of the Impasse Over Additional Coronavirus Aid, August 18, 2020

• Middle Market Business Index Shows Long-Term Economic Impact of COVID-19, August 18, 2020

• Aviation Manufacturing Industry Coalition Calls For Targeted And Temporary Support To Help Protect American Jobs, August 11, 2020

• Business Roundtable Urges Congress, the Administration to Redouble Efforts on COVID-19 Legislation, August 10, 2020

White House / Agency Activity

White House

• Readout from the Vice President’s Briefing with Higher Education Leaders and State and Local Officials on Campus COVID-19 Considerations, September 4, 2020

• President Donald J. Trump Is Working to Stop Evictions and Protect Americans’ Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic, September 1, 2020

Department of Treasury

• Statement of Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin Before the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, September 1, 2020

Internal Revenue Service

• IRS to Mail Special Letter To Estimated 9 Million Non-Filers, Urging Them to Claim Economic Impact Payment By Oct. 15 at IRS.Gov, September 8, 2020

• Guidance issued to implement Presidential Memorandum deferring certain employee Social Security tax withholding, August 28, 2020

Department of Labor

• ICYMI: U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers And Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic, September 6, 2020

• U.S. Department of Labor Awards $646 Million In Employment Service Grants to States, September 2, 2020

• U.S. Department of Labor Awards $13.5 Million in Dislocated Worker Grants in Response to Coronavirus Public Health Emergency, September 1, 2020

• U.S. Department of Labor Provides $100 Million to States To Combat Unemployment Insurance Fraud, September 1, 2020

Department of Health and Human Services

• Trump Administration Takes Action to Expand Access to COVID-19 Vaccines, September 9, 2020

• New Resource: Discharge Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic, September 9, 2020

• Trump Administration Announces $2 Billion Provider Relief Fund Nursing Home Incentive Payment Plans, September 3, 2020

• FAQ: Application of OIG's Administrative Enforcement Authorities to Arrangements Directly Connected to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency, September 3, 2020

Food and Drug Administration

• Guidance Document: Investigational COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma, September 2, 2020

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup, September 8, 2020

National Institute of Health

• NIH Continues To Boost National COVID-19 Testing Capacity, September 2, 2020

• NIH-Supported Study To Track Prevalence And Impact Of SARS-Cov-2 Among Pregnant Women In Low- and Middle-Income Countries, September 1, 2020

Department of Homeland Security

• Weekly Update: DHS Response to COVID-19, September 3, 2020

Customs and Border Protection

• CBP to Reopen Trusted Traveler Programs Enrollment Centers September 8, September 4, 2020

Department of Defense

• DOD Awards Goldbelt Security, LLC, $125 Million in Support of National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, September 4, 2020

• DOD Sites Selected for Phase III COVID-19 Vaccine Trials: Five Medical Treatment Facilities in National Capital Region, San Antonio, and San Diego to Participate, September 3, 2020

• DOD Provides On-Line Mental Health Resources Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, September 2, 2020

• DOD Awards $10 Million Undefinitized Contract Action to Copan Industries, Inc. to Establish Domestic Production Capacity of Flock Tip Testing Swabs, September 1, 2020

Department of State

• Update on U.S. Withdrawal from the World Health Organization, September 3, 2020

Department of Agriculture

• USDA Extends Free Meals for Kids Through December 31, 2020, September 8, 2020

• Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Team Up for Rural Health Initiative, September 1, 2020

Department of Transportation

• U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces More Than $1.2 Billion in Infrastructure Grants to America’s Airports, September 1, 2020

Department of Housing and Urban Development

• HUD Provides Flexibilities for Emergency Solutions Grants Program CARES Act Funds, September 9, 2020

• HUD Urges Localities to Prevent Evictions by Using Grant Funds, September 4, 2020

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

• FERC Extends Pandemic Emergency Waivers, August 20, 2020

Federal Communications Commission

• FCC, HHS, and USDA Team Up for Rural Telehealth Initiative, September 1, 2020

Export Import Bank of the United States

• EXIM Board Approves Three Authorizations Totaling $900 Million and Supporting an Estimated 3,300 Jobs Across the United States, September 9, 2020

• EXIM Expands U.S. Small Business Eligibility for Export Financing by Adopting U.S. Small Business Administration Standard, September 4, 2020

• EXIM Further Extends COVID-19 Temporary Relief Measures Through October 31, 2020, September 1, 2020

Federal Reserve

Reports to Congress Pursuant to Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act in response to COVID-19

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

[View source.]