Author: Thornrun

Capitol Hill Update

Washington is currently at a crossroads with the next tranche of COVID-19 legislation after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) “Phase 3.5” measure failed to advance by unanimous consent in the Senate yesterday. While the White House and Senate Republicans are pushing for an additional $250 billion for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) emphasized that the proposal cannot pass the House in its current form without addressing additional funding for frontline COVID-19 workers, health care needs, and state and local government response efforts. Conversely, Trump administration officials have stated that President Donald Trump will not sign a bill that includes priorities beyond the PPP, saying that he prefers to handle additional funding needs in the “Phase IV” legislation. As such, it remains to seen whether officials can coalesce around an agreement on this expedited measure. Senators will convene for their next pro forma session on Monday, Apr. 13 at 10 AM.

Capitol Hill Update

Moments ago, Senators failed to pass a roughly $250 billion funding bill to bolster the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program amid disagreements over additional funding for COVID-19 response efforts. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) attempted to pass additional funding for the PPP by voice vote during a “pro forma” session this morning, but was met with opposition by Senate Democrats who objected to unanimous consent passage. The Democrats’ latest offer calls for additional funding priorities beyond the small business loan funding in the “Phase 3.5” effort, calling for: (1) $100 billion for health care providers; (2) $150 billion for state and local governments; and (3) a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have also expressed displeasure with Leader McConnell for allegedly refusing to negotiate with Democratic leadership on this next tranche of funding.

Capitol Hill Update

Congress is eyeing swift action on an additional round of funding that would shore up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program. Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stated yesterday that he will look to pass a measure by unanimous consent as soon as Thursday that would provide roughly $250 billion in funding for the program amid concerns that the money could dry up prematurely. Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are pushing for additional funding priorities beyond the small business loan funding in this “Phase 3.5” effort, calling for: (1) $100 billion for health care providers; (2) $150 billion for state and local governments; and (3) a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits.

Capitol Hill Update

As lawmakers continue to ponder next steps on the Phase IV COVID-19 response legislation, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are continuing to jostle for positioning on the next bill. Speaker Pelosi has remained steadfast on the need for another robust measure, prioritizing more funding for states, worker protections, access to treatment, and transportation, among other things. However, Leader McConnell has stressed the need for more time to implement the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and identify potential gaps that need to be addressed in the $2.3 trillion Phase III measure, pouring cold water on using the next legislative effort as a vehicle to pass unrelated policy priorities. Despite the partisan sentiments, members on both sides of the aisle agree that another round of COVID-19 response legislation is inevitable, and could reach north of $1 trillion to address existing and emerging issues pertaining to the outbreak.

Capitol Hill Recap

Officials are continuing to outline policy priorities for the next round of COVID-19 response legislation despite their distance from Washington. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) penned a “Dear Colleague” letter to members this weekend stating that she hopes to craft and consider the legislation by the end of this month. While it remains to be seen whether both parties can strike an agreement on big-ticket legislative items such as infrastructure, policies that currently enjoy bipartisan support include funding for health care needs, additional money for SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program, more unemployment insurance and direct payment relief, and a fix for struggling pension programs. Congress is not expected back in Washington until April 20 at the earliest. However, leadership could call members back at any time should key votes get scheduled. 

Capitol Hill Recap

Lawmakers have left Washington amid the COVID-19 outbreak, and are not expected back in Washington until Apr. 20 at the earliest. Despite their distance from Capitol Hill, members are continuing discussions on the next round of legislative relief efforts aimed at stemming emerging and existing issues from the outbreak. Congressional leadership could call members back at any time should key votes get scheduled.

Capitol Hill Update

With Congress’s schedule in flux for the balance of the year, Appropriations leaders are delaying the start of their fiscal year (FY) 2020 funding work amid the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. Congressional appropriators have pushed their expectations for completing FY 2020 spending work past the late spring-early summer dates that leadership targeted earlier this year. As of now, House lawmakers are aiming to clear spending bills by June, while Senators are eyeing markups and passage after the Fourth of July. Congress is not expected back in Washington until Apr. 20 at the earliest. However, leadership could call members back at any time should key votes get scheduled. 

The Week in Review

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill scrambled to pass legislation aimed at stemming the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The latest effort — a massive $1.6 trillion stimulus package (Division A Summary; Division B Summary) — is currently stalled after Senators failed (47-47) to invoke cloture on a procedural motion that would have lined up a vote on final passage of the measure. Democrats have taken issue with several aspects of the GOP’s revised bill and are pushing for additional funding, suggesting that the package could ultimately top $2 trillion when the dust settles.