Policy News – October 8, 2020

President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other Administration officials are grappling with a coronavirus outbreak in the White House. The president has been hospitalized since last Friday evening. Over the weekend, President Trump’s medical team mentioned his health remains in stable condition. On Monday morning, the president was discharged from the hospital, back to the White House.

Negotiations over the next coronavirus relief package continued over the weekend. While a coronavirus outbreak continues to impact Hill lawmakers and the Trump Administration, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin are making another attempt to iron out differences. Both sides agree on a second round of stimulus checks and small business relief aid but have remained apart on other issues, including tax credits for children and families and enhanced unemployment benefits. Furthermore, while the House is on recess through the election, lawmakers could be called back to vote on a bipartisan deal if one emerges from ongoing talks. 

In the wake of three Senators testing positive for the coronavirus, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced that the chamber would delay their return another week. The Senate Judiciary Committee has begun the confirmation process for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court. Following the Judiciary hearings, a final vote could reach the Senate floor as early as Thursday, October 22nd. 

 

Bills of Interest

  • Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT-2) introduced the Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act.
  • Rep. Earl Carter (R-GA-1) introduced a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for stockpiles to ensure that all Americans have access to generic drugs at risk of shortage, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO-8) introduced a bill to prohibit certain business concerns from receiving assistance from the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.
  • Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR4) introduced a bill to extend the Payroll Support Program, and for other purposes.
  • Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced a bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a voluntary Cyber Sense program to test the cybersecurity of products and technologies intended for use in the bulk-power system, and for other purposes.

 

At the Agencies

 

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Department of Labor Acts to Help American Workers and Employers During the Coronavirus Pandemic.

U.S. Department of Labor Announces First Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program

 

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Department of Commerce reports Manufacturing is Still Among Top Five U.S. Employers

 

Small Business Administration

SBA Proposes Small Business Size Standard Revisions in Eight Industrial Sectors to Increase Small Business Eligibility for Contracting and Loan Programs