Last week, nine House committees held budget hearings on a potential $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package. The House Budget Committee is expected to combine the various pieces of legislation into a reconciliation vehicle. House Democrats plan to hold a full vote next week, to allow the Senate time to debate and pass the bill ahead of a March 14 deadline that would see key unemployment benefits expire. The Small Business Administration (SBA) reached a $200 billion milestone in the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, which has provided emergency aid to U.S. small businesses, non-profits, and cultural businesses. Over the weekend, the Senate voted to acquit former President Trump on the charge he incited an insurrection at the Capitol, ending the Impeachment trial.

The House Committee on Ways and Means will hold an Oversight Subcommittee hearing on Free Tax Preparation Services During the Pandemic. The hearing will take place Thursday, February 18 at 2:00 PM.

Bills of Interest 

  • Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19) introduced a bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to require the Environmental Protection Agency to include in any notice of rule making a statement regarding the impact of the rule on jobs loss or creation, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Ted Budd (R-NA-13) introduced a bill to require the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to revise job classification and qualification standards for positions within the competitive service regarding educational requirements for such positions, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-2) introduced a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the qualified opportunity zone tax incentive, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) introduced a bill to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish a program to encourage small business concerns to make business succession plans, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA-11) introduced a bill to require the head of each agency to establish a safety plan relating to COVID-19 for any worksite at which employees or contractors are required to be physically present during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) introduced a bill to establish a grant program for domestic maritime workforce training and education, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. William Keating (R-MA-9) introduced a bill to establish an offshore wind career training grant program, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-7) introduced a bill to amend the Small Business Act to spur entrepreneurial ecosystems in underserved communities.
  • Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN-3) introduced a bill to establish the Innovation and Startups Equity Investment Program in the Department of the Treasury, through which the Secretary of the Treasury shall allocate money to certain States to assist high-potential scalable startups access venture capital to commercialize innovations, create jobs, and accelerate economic growth, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI-7) introduced a bill to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry.
  • Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) introduced a bill to amend the Small Business Act to include certain beverage manufacturing entities for paycheck protection program second draw loans, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Allen Rick (R-GA-12) introduced a bill to reform the H-2A program for nonimmigrant agricultural workers, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Earl Carter (R-GA-1) introduced a bill to provide that an eligible facilities request under section 6409(a) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.
  • Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16) introduced a bill to amend the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to amend the definition of eligible facilities request, to codify the 60-day time frame for certain eligible facilities requests, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV-3) introduced a bill to  promote the general health and well-being of individuals accessing work through digital marketplace companies, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10) introduced a bill to eliminate discrimination and promote women’s health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
  • Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced a resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of February 13 through February 20, 2021, as “National Entrepreneurship Week” to recognize the importance and contributions of entrepreneurs and startups to the economic prosperity of the United States and the well-being of every community across the United States.
  • Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced a bill to amend the Small Business Act to include hospitals serving rural areas or areas of persistent poverty in the paycheck protection program, and for other purposes.
  • Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced a bill to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish a border closure recovery loan program for small businesses located near the United States border, and for other purposes.
  • Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) introduced an original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

 

At the Agencies

U.S. Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor confirms investment advice exemption.

The U.S. Department of Labor announces additional funding to 28 states, territories to combat unemployment insurance fraud, identity theft. 

U.S. Department of the Treasury

The U.S. Department of the Treasury released a Statement from Treasury Department Spokesperson on Secretary Janet L. Yellen’s Participation in the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting. 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced EDA Awards Over $70 Million to Support Economic Recovery Across the U.S. and Territories.

U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration Reaches $200 Billion Milestone in Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to Small Businesses and Non-Profits.