Weekly Update: 4/27/20
California
California cities are anticipating a near $7 billion collective revenue shortfall over the next two fiscal years due to the coronavirus pandemic, an estimate that could grow substantially if stay-at-home orders extend through the summer” (Politico).
In a letter to Speaker Anthony Rendon, Assemblyman Bill Quirk argued for remote voting, stating that "failure to make accommodations for legislators who are over 65 years old, pregnant, immunocompromised, or care for children or loved ones who are at risk or otherwise vulnerable, raises serious concerns around democracy, representation, and equity,'' according to a letter obtained by POLITICO….
President and Administration
The Trump administration will impose limits on how much individual banks can lend under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) due to the program's high demand among businesses seeking relief from effects of the coronavirus pandemic….
On Sunday, 4/26, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force coordinator, said that some form of social distancing will probably remain in place through the summer….
Tens of millions of pounds of American-grown produce is rotting in fields as food banks across the country scramble to meet a massive surge in demand, a two-pronged disaster that has deprived farmers of billions of dollars in revenue while millions of newly jobless Americans struggle to feed their families (Politico).
The Trump administration is facing a lawsuit filed Friday, 4/25, over a provision in the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package that denies stimulus checks to more than 1 million U.S. citizens married to undocumented immigrants…
Education
There has been talk amongst the nation’s colleges concerning the possibility of an online fall semester….
Congressional Democrats say Education Secretary Betsy DeVos exceeded her authority under the economic rescue law when she excluded undocumented college students from an emergency aid program meant to cover expenses like food, housing and child care…
In addition to the $12.2 billion coronavirus-related stimulus funding that went to higher education institutions, the CARES Act allocates approximately $1.05 billion in emergency aid to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs)….
More than 50 education and related national associations are supporting new legislation that calls for an additional $2 billion in emergency funding to help students without high-speed internet access continue learning from home during the coronavirus pandemic…
Congress
GOP senators say they expect to return to Washington, D.C. next week, after taking a five-week absence due to the spread of the novel coronavirus…
Lawmakers are clashing over a potential fifth coronavirus relief bill, raising early questions about how quickly Congress will be able to reach an agreement…
The CARES Act, and its similarly rushed companion bills, has fueled rising angst for lawmakers….
Rumor has it that the House is working on the FY’21 appropriations bills and that the Energy and Water bill maybe one of the first to be marked up and could be released the first week in May….
Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris (CA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) introduced a bill with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Thursday that would expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits…
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is planning to push for a provision in the next coronavirus package that would stop President Donald Trump from putting his name on any additional stimulus checks…