Medium
United States Legislative Related Sessions Update
MARCH 24, 2020
Press Briefing President Donald Trump and Coronavirus Task Force
- President Trump will assess when to restart the economy on March 31 (end of the “15 days to slow the spread” period)
- President Trump’s anticipated date to restart the economy is April 12
Senate Session on The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
- White House officials and Senate leadership reached a bipartisan agreement on the CARES Act
- The $2 trillion CARES Act would:
- expand unemployment benefits,
- provide cash payments to taxpayers,
- fund hospitals and state and local governments, and
- offer small business grants and big business loans
United States Legislative Related Sessions Update
MARCH 23, 2020
11:00 AM Senate Session on The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
- 1:00 PM - Procedural vote failed to move the $1.8 trillion package in Senate forward for the second time
- The Senate adjourned at 8:19 PM with no final decision made on the CARES Act
- The Senate will convene on March 24th, at 9:00 AM CDT and continue negotiating on various
- The motion to proceed to the consideration of H.R. 748 remains as the pending question
5:00 PM Press Briefing President Donald Trump and Coronavirus Task Force
- President Trump enforced a law that prohibits individuals from purchasing excessive quantities of personal protective equipment (PPE) for reselling purpose
- The Health and Human Service and Department of Justice will identify essential items for preventing the spread of coronavirus and impose restrictions on purchase volumes by individuals
- Self-collect swabs are now available and can be collected in clinics or drive-through testing sites
- The goal of self-collected swabs is to reduce the demand for PPE
- VP Mike Pence visited FEMA to discuss the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic
- Washington, California and New York secured Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to Support States’ COVID-19 Emergency Response
- As of today, state hospitals and health care centers are required by law to report the results of coronavirus tests to the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
- Tonight, the Health and Human Services will issue a new guidance to direct all commercial labs to prioritize testing for hospitalized patients
- FEMA Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force is working on increasing the supply of PPE and ventilators by:
- searching and sourcing from around the world
- providing tools for businesses that want to convert plants either by expansion or entering the business manufacturing of PPE and ventilators
United States Legislative Related Sessions Update
MARCH 20, 2020
10:30 AM Press Briefing President Donald Trump and Coronavirus Task Force
- Senate Republicans are currently working with the Democrats on various elements of the CARES Act
- The U.S. Department of Education will not enforce Standardized Tests requirements for elementary through High School students for the current year
- All interest on Federal student loans are temporarily waived
- Federal lenders to allow borrowers to suspend student loans without penalty for the next 60 days
- Tax deadline was moved from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020
- Tax payments for families and businesses are extended to July 15 with interest free and penalty free for 90 days
- Lifted restrictions (unspecified) so that big retailers can get stock in time
- U.S. CBP - U.S.-Mexico border, U.S.-Canada border and Ports of entry will be closed on March 21 until further notice. This does not apply to trade or commerce
- Starting March 20, CBP will immediately return individuals arriving without documentation from Canada, Mexico and other countries to their respected countries
- U.S. DHS - Illegal immigrants from Mexico and Mexico that are being be tested for coronavirus before taken to immigration custody
- President Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to mobilize the private sector to provide medical equipment, mainly masks, to states for health care professionals
- Secretary Pompeo advises U.S. citizens that are abroad to return to the U.S. now or plan to remain abroad for an extended period
11:00 AM Senate Session on Coronavirus Economic Aid Package
- The Senate:
- Adjourned at 4:30 PM with no final decision made on the CARES Act
- Will reconvene March 21 at 11:00 AM and resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.748, the legislative vehicle for the coronavirus stimulus package.
United States Legislative Related Sessions Update
MARCH 19, 2020
Passed COVID-19 Related Bills:
- Complete Bill – H.R. 6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- Bill Summary - H.R. 6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Additional Resources
READ: Senate Republicans’ Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act