AN UPDATE FROM NAW GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM - 7.13
Latest on the Main Street Lending Program
Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that disagreements between leaders at the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department in recent months slowed the start of the Main Street Lending Program.
The disagreements over relatively narrow design issues reflect broader philosophical differences over what the program is trying to accomplish and how much risk the government should take as a result. The Fed has taken the lead analyzing, designing and proposing terms for the programs. The Treasury then approves, vetoes or suggests different terms. The program went through multiple revisions and finally opened for business last week. Some government officials believe the disagreements between the Fed and Treasury could have been avoided if Congress had been clearer that it didn’t expect the $454 billion to be returned to the Treasury.
The full article is included at the end of this email.
Latest on Congressional Pandemic Response
Last Friday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Trump Administration would support another round of tax rebate checks and help for restaurants, hotels and airlines as part of the next coronavirus aid package. In CQ Roll Call’s latest podcast, they discuss what the Trump administration is considering for another coronavirus relief package to help kick-start the U.S. economy and how states are trying to make voting safe during the age of COVID-19. Senate Leader Mitch McConnell is still adamant that the next relief bill should include targeted liability protections and that the $600 pandemic unemployment insurance bonus payment should not be extended.
You can listen to CQ Roll Call’s latest podcast HERE.
The House and Senate remain in recess until July 20th and will have only a few weeks of session in late July/early August before they adjourn again for the Republican and Democratic national conventions.
Latest on Economic Recovery and Re-Opening the Workplace
As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to impact the United States economy and businesses across the nation, it can be hard to decipher how new regulations and laws may impact your business. To help you manage these issues NAW is providing information about reports, webinars and seminars that you may find useful:
From Littler Law Firm: This Won’t Hurt a Bit: Employee Temperature and Health Screenings – A List of Statewide Orders, as of July 13, 2020
Employee health screening steps, including temperature checks, are becoming more common as states begin to reopen their economies. This post covers measures that require employers to take employees’ temperatures and/or conduct other screening procedures.
To read the article, click HERE.
From Littler Law Firm: Facing Your Face Mask Duties – A List of Statewide Orders, as of July 13, 2020
As businesses re-open, face coverings are likely to remain popular as a preventative measure. This post identifies the jurisdictions where face coverings are recommended or required.
To read the article, click HERE.
From Reed Smith Law Firm: It’s official: Illinois law presumes COVID-19 is a workplace injury for essential workers
Illinois officially has made it easier for certain workers who contract COVID-19 to claim it is an occupational disease for purposes of collecting workers’ compensation. Last week, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law House Bill 2455, which amends the Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act (820 ILCS 310/et seq.) with respect to such...… Continue Reading
Stateside Associates publishes a daily report about State and Local Government responses to the evolving situation.
To read their latest report, click HERE.
We are also providing a link to a spreadsheet that includes state and local COVID-19 response information provided by MultiState Associates.
To view their spreadsheet, click HERE.
Jade West, Chief Government Relations Officer
Blake Adami, Vice President-Government Relations
Seth Waugh, Associate Vice President-Government Relations
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
The above information and links to other information has been prepared by NAW for the general information of NAW members. It is not intended to, and does not, provide tax, legal or professional advice concerning any specific matter. You should not act on the information without first obtaining professional advice and counsel.