Issues
The COVID19 global pandemic has impacted Americans lives in every way, as the country begins to grow accustomed to a new normal. Axios held a virtual panel, “Helping Small Businesses Weather the Coronavirus Storm,” focusing on the economic impact of COVID19 on small businesses. Speakers on the panel included small business owners, financial technology (fintech) companies,…
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act. The bill provides additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, hospitals, and testing. The bill passed the U.S. Senate Tuesday afternoon. To view the bill, click here.
The Paycheck Protection Program was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The program is implemented by the Small Business Administration with support from the Department of the Treasury. This program provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.…
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that paid leave protections will now be enforced. There was a temporary non-enforcement period of paid leave protections to allow employers and American workers covered by the new law, established under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), to come into compliance. To read the press release from the…
The U.S. Senate passed an interim Coronavirus emergency package by voice vote. The package includes additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), hospitals, and testing. The bipartisan agreement comes days after negotiations and a week after the PPP ran out of its initial funding. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell stated,…
Over the past few months, the U.S. has dealt with the impact of COVID19 pandemic to every part of our daily lives. For those workers who are on the frontlines of battling the pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has consolidated various guidance on safety, health, and enforcement as the crisis evolves. To…
Over the past few months, the U.S. has dealt with the impact of COVID19 pandemic to every part of our daily lives. As governors nationwide have issued stay at home or shelter in place orders, Americans have reduced road use and overall mobility. The University of California, Davis, Road Ecology Center produced an updated report…
Per the U.S. Small Business Administration: Today, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin issued the following statement regarding the success of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): “The Treasury Department and SBA launched the unprecedented Paycheck Protection Program in just one week. Following its launch, the SBA…
A bipartisan group of lawmakers submitted a letter to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza seeking “information and guidance from the SBA regarding Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), how your agency is meeting the challenges facing this program, and how Congress can assist the SBA.” In the letter, Members of Congress recognize that…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposal to retain, without changes, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM) including both fine particles (PM2.5) and coarse particles (PM10). Per the EPA, this proposal comes after careful review and consideration of the most current available scientific evidence and risk and exposure information,…