Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

COVID-19 Washington Update: May 29, 2020

By Paul Rosenthal, Dana Wood, Maggie Crosswy

Kelley Drye Client Advisory

May 29, 2020

Today’s federal government activities in response to COVID-19, include:

Congress

The Senate will return to Washington next week, and is likely to vote on legislation to modify the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program. Senate Small Business Committee Chairman Rubio (R-FL), citing “inadvertent technical errors” in a PPP reform bill passed by the House yesterday, has indicated the Senate is likely to pass a separate bill (thus requiring further House action prior to enactment).

According to SBA data on the PPP, as of May 28, approximately 4.5 million loans have been approved, totaling $510.5 billion (with approximately $100 billion in remaining appropriations).

Earlier today, House Majority Leader Hoyer (D-MD) wrote to House Members regarding the summer legislative schedule and released an updated calendar (with more information on the fall schedule forthcoming). Notably, most of June will be dedicated to committee work preparing “must pass” legislation for floor consideration, with floor votes pushed until late June and July (although the House would come back earlier in June, when and if a subsequent COVID relief package has passed the Senate).

Also today, President Trump announced his intent to terminate the country’s relationship with the World Health Organization, due in part to its handling of the coronavirus.

COVID-Related Congressional Hearings Next Week

Senate

A June 2 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine best practices for incarceration and detention during COVID-19

A June 2 Senate Banking Committee hearing to examine implementation of Title IV of the CARES Act

A June 2 Senate Finance Committee hearing to examine the FDA's foreign drug manufacturing inspection process, focusing on COVID-19 and beyond

A June 3 Senate Small Business Committee hearing to examine COVID-19's impact on small business, focusing on perspectives from Main Street; the committee has also scheduled a June 10 hearing on implementation of Title I of the CARES Act with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Carranza

A June 3 Senate Commerce Committee hearing to examine the state of transportation and critical infrastructure, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

A June 4 Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing to examine COVID-19, focusing on going back to college safely

A June 4 Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing to examine infrastructure, focusing on the road to recovery

House

A June 2 House Energy and Commerce Committee, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee virtual hearing entitled, “On the Front Line: How Governors are Battling the COVID-19 Pandemic”

A June 3 House Judiciary Committee virtual hearing entitled, “Protecting the Right to Vote During the COVID-19 Pandemic”

A June 3 House Budget Committee virtual hearing entitled, “Addressing the Economic Impacts of COVID-19: Views from Two Former CBO Directors Virtual Hearing”

A June 3 House Financial Services Committee, Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Promoting Inclusive Lending During the Pandemic: Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions”

A June 4 House Appropriations Committee, Labor/HHS Subcommittee hearing on the COVID-19 Response with CDC Director Redfield

A June 4 House Administration Committee virtual hearing entitled, “The Impact of COVID-19 on Voting Rights and Election Administration: Ensuring Safe and Fair Elections”