AN UPDATE FROM NAW GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM - 7.16
Latest on Main Street Lending Program
While we’ve seen no reports on how active banks and the Fed have been now that the MSLP is operational, the Boston Fed yesterday released a new set of FAQ’s on the program. The new FAQ’s include changes made by SBA to the definition of ineligible businesses in relation to PPP, guidance on several loan terms and borrower requirements, portal security measures, and links to legal documents.
You can access the updated FAQs HERE and a document showing the changes in the FAQs HERE.
Latest on Congressional Pandemic Response
Roll Call reports today that Congressional negotiators seem open to trade-offs for the next coronavirus relief package and that liability protections, unemployment insurance and direct aid to households are in play as deadlines loom.
Democrats will have to give Republicans some business liability protections they're demanding, and in exchange the Republicans will have to agree to stronger federal regulations to protect workers. Republicans will have to agree to extend unemployment insurance provisions with some extra aid from the federal government. Many employers – including many NAW members – report that the bonus payment has made it difficult for them to hire or re-hire workers. Democrats will likely agree to a number below the current $600 federal benefit in exchange for more generous direct payments to individuals and families.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have both offered hints in recent days that talks are headed in that direction, as they've laid out their demands while still leaving room for compromise.
To read the full Roll Call story, click HERE.
Issues Unrelated to COVID-19
Today the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced that soon it will publish a Request for Information (RFI) seeking feedback on how to improve workers’ and employers’ use of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Once the RFI is published, NAW will send out a request to member companies soliciting feedback on suggestions for improvements for the program. The feedback from NAW member companies will allow us to submit comments to the Wage and Hour Division through the regulatory process.
You can read the announcement from the Wage and Hour Division HERE.
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:
How Is Technology Changing Distribution? Each month from July 2020 through January 2021, NAW will post one Research Report and follow it up with a Webinar in the same month. Both offer double the punch and will provide you with the intelligence you need to formulate new strategies and ensure that your company thrives through this era of technology transformation. This project is driven by research conducted among wholesaler-distributors, manufacturers and end users.
For more details, click HERE.
Grant Thornton shared a new thought leadership piece on the COVID-19 Pandemic called “Distributors Need New Resilience.” We thought you might find it of interest.
To read Grant Thornton's latest paper, click HERE.
From McGuireWoods Law Firm: Got More Hand Sanitizer? (Part 2) More Legal and Business Considerations for New Market Entrants
This second McGuireWoods alert covering regulation of the manufacture and distribution of hand sanitizer addresses the additional legal and business considerations outlined in the Food and Drug Administration’s June 1 update to its hand sanitizer guidance. In this update, FDA concedes to industry that not all alcohol can be easily sourced, but certain standards and requirements will apply.
To read on for details about the updated hand sanitizer guidance, recent related lawsuits and how companies can reduce their risk of such litigation, click HERE.
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.