Today’s federal government actions in response to COVID-19 include additional details on President Trump’s Tuesday evening Executive Order on meat and poultry processors.
Congress
Today, House Speaker Pelosi
named Democratic Members to serve on the newly-created Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis; House Republican Leader McCarthy has yet to name GOP Members.
Speaker Pelosi concluded a
Dear Colleague letter discussing the new committee with a short update on the next relief package: “Thanks to our distinguished Committee Chairs, we are making progress in shaping CARES 2, starting with honoring our heroes in the fight.”
She also informed Members that a House working group continues efforts to develop a plan for remote voting – with expectations for “options that we can vote on upon our return.”
Meanwhile, in
comments to the press today, Senate Majority Leader McConnell again confirmed the Senate’s plans to return to Washington this coming Monday:
- “… we're willing to discuss with the Democrats the way forward, but we're going to do it with all Senators here and not back in their home states. We’re all going to be here, and we believe we can man the Senate in a way that’s consistent with good practices, the proper spacing, masks where appropriate. We believe we can conduct the people’s business, and we intend to.”
- Leader McConnell also reiterated that Republicans would insist upon liability protections for frontline workers.
Recent Congressional Statements / Letters
- Senate Commerce Committee Announces May 6 Hearing on the Current State of the Aviation Industry, April 29, 2020
- Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Roberts’ Statement on Executive Order for Meat-Processing Plants During COVID-19, April 28, 2020
- Senate Democratic Leader Schumer Criticizes Trump Use Of DPA For Meatpacking Facilitates But Not For National Testing Strategy, April 29, 2020
- Senate Democrats Announce Legislation to Federalize Medical Supply Chain, Increase National Production and Create an Equitable and Transparent Process for Delivery of Necessary Supplies, April 29, 2020
- Backed by Large Group of Senate Colleagues, Sens. Tina Smith and Elizabeth Warren Press to Include $50 Billion Childcare Bailout in Next Coronavirus Relief Package, April 29, 2020
- Senators Tina Smith, Dick Durbin to Introduce Legislative Fix to Help State and Local Governments Provide Paid Leave During Pandemic, April 28, 2020
- Senator Schatz Calls For More Funding For Social Service Nonprofits In Next Coronavirus Relief Bill, April 28, 2020
- Senate EPW Ranking Member Carper Releases Staff Analysis of State Efforts to Ensure Continued Utility Services for Americans Facing Economic Hardship, April 29, 2020
- House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair DeFazio Responds to Report Leader McConnell Won’t Support Infrastructure Investment for Future Coronavirus Response Plan, April 29, 2020
- House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Neal: Assistance for Cities and States a Priority for Next COVID-19 Response Package, issued following call with U.S. Conference of Mayors, April 29, 2020
- Ways and Means Democrats Urge Mnuchin to Ensure Support Reaches Most Vulnerable Americans During COVID-19 Crisis, April 29, 2020
- Chairs Velázquez and Grijalva: PPP Loan Distribution Must be Equitable for Small Businesses in U.S. Territories, April 29, 2020
- Upton, DeGette lead 182 Members of Congress in urging relief for science and medical research community, April 29, 2020
- Pappas Leads Bipartisan Group of 83 Lawmakers in Calling for PFAS Action in Upcoming Stimulus Legislation, April 27, 2020
Other Stakeholder Letter
White House / Agency Activity
White House
Department of Commerce
Department of Labor
Department of the Treasury
Small Business Administration
April 29 tweets from SBA Administrator Carranza:
- “To assist small community lenders and ensure their small business customers have access to the #PaycheckProtectionProgram, today from 4 PM EDT – 11:59 PM EDT, @SBAgov systems will only accept loans from lending institutions with asset sizes less than $1 billion.”
- “Lending Institutions with asset sizes less than $1 billion will still be able to submit #PaycheckProtectionProgram loans outside this time frame as well.”
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Transportation
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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
