Latest on Congressional Pandemic Response

It was anticipated earlier this week that Senate Republicans would release their proposal for another COVID response bill by the end of the week.  However, yesterday afternoon Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that the legislative proposal would not be released this week, but that several separate bills dealing with specific issues would be introduced/released by the relevant Senate Committee Chairs on Monday.  The White House subsequently confirmed that they were continuing to review legislative language on the various proposals.

While nothing is certain and the final content of the GOP proposal will not be known until Monday, there have been reports this week that the proposals will include language to:

• Extend the PPP, allow certain borrowers to obtain a second loan, expand some eligibility to trade associations, and tailor the program to target smaller businesses and underserved communities – unknown if additional funding will be made available;

• Create a temporary and limited liability protection to employers/health care and education establishments;

• Extend the unemployment insurance program, but most likely with a smaller bonus payment than the current $600 weekly bonus;

• Expand and extend the Employee Retention Tax Credit and most likely make businesses eligible for both PPP loans and the ERTC under some circumstances; and

• Make direct stimulus payments to individuals.

Negotiations with Senate Democrats have reportedly not yet begun, and the final bill will have to have 60 votes to pass the Senate.  If/when that mission is accomplished, the Senate bill – expected to provide approximately one trillion dollars in relief – will have to be “conferenced” with the House-passed three-trillion-dollar HEROES Act.

Issues Unrelated to COVID-19

On Wednesday, we reported on the NLRB decision regarding use of profanity/abusive language in the workplace.  The Reed Smith Law Firm has prepared a very useful paper with specifics on how this Board decision impacts employer actions.

You can read their paper, HERE.

The Senate set to vote on two National Labor Relations Board nominees:

Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed cloture on two nominations for the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB).  Cloture is a procedural action that limits debate on the nominees and allows for a vote on the nominees to happen as early as next week.  The nominees are Marvin Kaplan, who currently serves on the board and was nominated for another term, as well as former Democratic nominee Lauren McFerran.  Both nominees are expected to be confirmed, which will give the board a 3-1 Republican majority going into 2021.

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:

Complimentary Webinar from Nixon Peabody: Please join us for our upcoming live webinar to discuss important employee benefits issues facing employers today. Wednesday, August 5, 2020 from 1:00–2:15pm (EST)

Our discussion will include:

• Changes under the CARES Act
• Pandemic-related regulatory pronouncements
• Questions about how workforce decisions impact benefits programs
• COBRA notice issues, including a spike in related litigation

To register, 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.