Coronavirus Government Response Update—House Passes $2 Trillion Coronavirus Bill

Welcome to the Coronavirus Government Response Update. This information is intended to keep ISSA members up to date on fast-moving government affairs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other public policy issues important to the cleaning industry. Today’s update touches on the U.S. House of Representatives passing a US$2 trillion coronavirus bill, an upcoming ISSA webinar on the U.S. government’s ongoing response to COVID-19, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) efforts to increase the availability of disinfectant products, and more.

House Passes $2 Trillion Coronavirus Bill
Today, the House passed a third economic stimulus bill, the $2 trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.” U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to swiftly sign the measure into law. The legislation includes a package of tax relief provisions, corporate and small business loan programs, and a taxpayer rebate program. 

Register for Webinar: U.S. Government’s Ongoing Response to COVID-19
During this free ISSA webinar, from 12 pm-1 pm CT on Wednesday, April 8, you’ll receive an update on fast-moving government affairs related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the full spectrum of the cleaning industry. This webinar provides new and updated information from our March 25 webinar on the same topic.

EPA Continues Efforts to Help Increase the Availability of Disinfectant Products for Use Against the Novel Coronavirus
The EPA has taken steps to provide additional flexibilities to manufacturers of disinfectants and other pesticides. The EPA intends for these flexibilities to increase the availability of products for Americans to use against the novel coronavirus. After meeting with stakeholders last week and discussing supply chain challenges posed by the pandemic, the EPA is allowing manufacturers to obtain certain inert ingredients—or inactive ingredients like sodium chloride or glucose—from different suppliers without checking with the agency for approval.

EPA COVID-19 Enforcement Policy

The EPA is mindful of the health and safety of the public, as well as its staff, and those of Federal Agencies, State and Local Governments, Tribes, Regulated Entities, Contractors, and Non-governmental Organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency is taking these important considerations into account as we all continue our work to protect human health and the environment. Accordingly, EPA has issued a temporary policy regarding EPA enforcement of environmental legal obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Five Things to Know about the New Coronavirus Paid Leave Law
U.S. small businesses and their employees are living through unprecedented times. As the COVID-19 epidemic continues, many are concerned with the day-to-day as state and local governments close or otherwise restrict business operations to halt the spread of the disease. Amid fears of a declining economy, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law emergency legislation. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act includes several provisions, but two of them have a particular impact on employers with fewer than 500 employees.

Disinfectant Shortage to Last Weeks Without Raw Materials
Disinfectants and sanitizers that help fight the novel coronavirus may be absent from store shelves for weeks, as chemical manufacturers struggle to get the raw materials they need to make the products. Companies are starting to see limitations on the amount of isopropyl alcohol manufacturers can purchase, as well as supply interruptions with items such as the towelette material found in canisters of wipes, said Howard Bochnek, vice president of technology and scientific affairs at North American Infection Control Ltd. “Raw materials suppliers are having a tough time keeping up with demand,” Bochnek said.

Other links of interest

• ISSATV: How U.S. Governments Are Responding to COVID-19
• ISSA Essential Business Resources
• ISSA Federal Coronavirus Legislative Response Summary
• U.S. Department of Labor: COVID-19 and the Workplace
• SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus
• SBA Disaster Loan Assistance
• EPA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)