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White House COVID-19 Updates

by Raul Santa | Apr 22, 2020 | DC Updates

White House COVID-19 Updates

4/20/20 White House Briefing (Highlights below)

President Trump’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again () ()

COVID-19 Updates and Resources

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CDC YouTube Pages (VIDEOS)

Twitter

The White House-

La Casa Blanca- ()

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White House COVID-19 Updates

4/18/20 White House Briefing ( and Highlights below)

President Trump’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again ()

COVID-19 Updates and Resources

()

CDC YouTube page: and (NEW VIDEOS)

Twitter: ()

Washington Update Special Edition – April 21

by Raul Santa | Apr 22, 2020 | DC Updates

WASHINGTON UPDATE SPECIAL EDITION – April 21, 2020

The Senate on Tuesday approved roughly $484 billion in new coronavirus aid for small businesses and hospitals and more funding for testing, ending a lengthy battle over the size and contents of the package.

The agreement was passed by a voice vote after days of negotiations between congressional Democrats and Treasury Secretary , with the talks lasting until approximately midnight on both Sunday and Monday.

The deal includes an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including $60 billion specifically for community banks and smaller lenders, as well as $75 billion for hospitals, $25 billion for testing, and $60 billion for emergency disaster loans and grants. Lawmakers are under pressure to act quickly as the coronavirus decimates large sectors of the economy where businesses have either scaled back or closed altogether.

Forty-three percent of respondents to a Pew Research Center said they have had their wages cut or lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Senate’s passage came only hours after a senior administration official confirmed the agreement had been reached and less than two hours after text of the bill began to circulate as leadership tried to “hotline” the deal to find out if it could pass it by consent, which would allow it to avoid bringing back members amid health concerns sparked by the coronavirus.

The House is expected to pass the bill on Thursday morning, with members returning to Washington for a recorded vote. threw his support behind the deal on Tuesday, an endorsement that could help the agreement avoid landmines from libertarian-minded lawmakers and fiscal conservatives.

“I urge the Senate and House to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act with additional funding for PPP, Hospitals, and Testing,” Trump tweeted.

He added that once the bill is signed, he will start discussions on the “phase four” coronavirus bill, including more help for states and local governments, infrastructure, “tax incentives” and a payroll tax cut. Both chambers are expected to be out of Washington until at least May 4.

Congress faced calls to quickly replenish the PPP funds after the initial $349 billion appropriated during last month’s $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package ran out late last week amid high levels of interest from independent contractors and businesses that have been hit hard by the coronavirus.

The agreement provides $310 billion for the program as well as an additional $10 billion for administrative costs and fees.

Senate Majority Leader (R-Ky.) and Senate Democrats initially tried to pass their own dueling proposals nearly two weeks ago, but both were blocked. McConnell was offering an additional $250 billion for the small-business aid program, while Democrats wanted to add an additional $100 billion for hospitals, $150 billion for state and local governments, and a boost in food stamp assistance.

McConnell took a victory lap on Tuesday, arguing that Democrats had dropped “a number of their unrelated demands” during the negotiations.

“Democratic leaders blocked the money and spent days trying to negotiate extraneous issues that were never on the table. I am grateful our colleagues have walked away from those demands and will finally let Congress act,” he said in a statement.

But Democrats argued that hospitals, many of which have seen a drop in revenue as they’ve sidelined elective surgeries, and states needed additional funding. They also wanted to reform the Paycheck Protection Program to earmark funding specifically for smaller lenders.

The rollout of the small-business program was beset by mishaps, including an overwhelmed Small Business Administration system, banks adding additional regulations to the applications and confusion about who was eligible for the funding, which was meant to provide loans and grants to businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

Lawmakers have fumed this week amid reports that chain restaurants were able to get tens of millions in loans under the program. Shake Shack, which received a $10 million loan, announced that it would return the funding amid the backlash.

Sen. (R-Fla.), who chairs the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, pledged that he would subpoena uncooperative companies as part of oversight he’ll do later this year.

“This fall, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship will conduct aggressive oversight into the use of the PPP. If companies are not forthcoming, the Committee will use its subpoena power to compel cooperation,” .

Democrats also homed in on getting more money for testing. Public health experts warn that ramped up, widely available testing is crucial before social distancing restrictions, put in place to try to curb the spread of the virus, are lifted.

Democrats offered their own plan to provide $30 billion for testing and the creation of a nationwide strategy.

The deal passed by the Senate includes $25 billion to “research, develop, validate, manufacture, purchase, administer, and expand capacity” for tests.

It also requires states to come up with a plan for how to test for and mitigate the spread of the coronavirus as well as a national strategy from the administration on assisting states.

Update on Administration COVID-19 Efforts

by Raul Santa | Apr 13, 2020 | DC Updates

Update on Administration COVID-19 Efforts

Video

Today’s White House

The President’s

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America

30 Days to Slow the Spread ()

30 Días Para Desacelerar la Propagación ()

For more updates, visit ()

Assistance for American Workers and Families

Economic Impact Payments: ()

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Small Business Administration (SBA)

Assistance for Small Businesses: ()

Paycheck Protection Program:

Find an eligible lender ()

Department of Treasury

COVID-19 Actions and Updates:

Department of Labor (DOL)

Paid Leave ()

Families First Coronavirus Response Act: ()

Unemployment Insurance ()

New Aimed at Reducing Workplace Exposure to the Coronavirus ()

Guidance on Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for Self-Employed Workers, Independent Contractors and Gig Workers ()

Twitter

()

Additional Spanish resources

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How to Help

Help the effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 ()

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Follow On Twitter

Surgeon General Jerome Adams:

Administrator Jovita Carranza:

U.S. Department of Treasury:

U.S. Department of Labor:

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America

30 Days to Slow the Spread ()

30 Días Para Desacelerar la Propagación ()

For the most up-to-date information, please see the CDC’s website: ()

Small Business Administration (SBA)

Paycheck Protection Program:

Assistance for Small Businesses: ()

Treasury

COVID-19 Actions and Updates:

Treasury and Federal Reserve Board Announce New and Expanded Lending Programs to Provide up to $2.3 Trillion in Financing ()

Department of Labor (DOL)

Paid Leave () and Unemployment Insurance ()

Guidance on Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for Self-Employed Workers, Independent Contractors and Gig Workers ()

White House COVID-19: Updates (English and Spanish)

by Raul Santa | Apr 2, 2020 | DC Updates

ICYMI: President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force 4/4/20 Press Briefing ( and Highlights below)

30 Days to Slow the Spread and Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions ()

U.S. Department of Labor’s

Assistance for American Workers and Families: Economic Impact Payments: ()

Assistance for Small Businesses: (PPP)

For a top-line overview of the programÌý

• PPP

If you’re a lender, more information can be foundÌý

• PPP Form
• PPP (Federally Insured Depository Institutions, Federally Insured Credit Unions, Farm Credit System Institutions)

If you’re a borrower, more information can be foundÌý

• PPP Form (Updated 4/2/20)

Treasury released additional guidance regarding the Paycheck Payroll Program.

SBA released additional guidance regarding participation of faith-based organizations in the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs.

• SBA in the PPP and EIDL programs
• Paycheck Protection Program

For additional updates, visit: and

Coronavirus (English/Spanish)

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

U.S. Department of Labor’s

Treasury’s CARES Act website:

Assistance for American Workers and Families: Economic Impact Payments: ()

Assistance for Small Businesses:

• For a top-line overview of the programÌý
• If you’re a lender, more information can be foundÌý
• If you’re a borrower, more information can be foundÌý
• Final Borrower
• Lender Electronic Data
• Paycheck Protection Program –

White House COVID-19 Updates

• ICYMI: President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force 4/1/20 Press Briefing ( and Highlights below)
• Coronavirus (English and Spanish)
• 1600 Daily: A Million American Lives Are Worth Fighting For ()

Additional Updates

• Treasury and IRS Release FAQs to Help Small and Midsize Businesses Navigate Paid Sick and Family Leave Tax Credits ()
• IRS: Employee Retention Credit available for many businesses financially impacted by COVID-19 ()

COVID-19: Background & Additional Information

For background and the most up-to-date information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus Disease 2019 website:

Spanish Resources:

• ()

Twitter

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• Twitter ()
• Facebook ()

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Twitter ()
• Facebook ()

What you should know:

ÌýSituation Updates:

Information for Businesses:

• SBA:
• DOL:
• DOL:
• WHO:
• CISA:
• EPA:

Information for Travel and Transportation:

• State:
• State:
• State:
• DOT:

Information for Healthcare Providers, First Responders, and Research Facilities:

• CMS:
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Information for Law Enforcement:

Information for Families and Households:

• EPA:

Information for Schools, Childcare Providers, and Students:

• USDA:
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Information for Community Events and Gatherings:

• EPA:

Agency Resources and Information: