Coronavirus Government Response Update—Small Business Relief in Danger as Negotiations Stall

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 small business relief being in danger of drying up, state governors forming groups to explore lifting virus restrictions, states going their own ways on environmental enforcement, and more.

Small Business Relief in Danger of Drying up as Negotiations Stall in Coronavirus Bill
Billions of dollars in additional relief for small businesses has been left in the crossfire as congressional leaders fight over what should be included in a fresh package of coronavirus aid. At the center of the fight is $US250 billion to replenish quickly evaporating funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a fund for small businesses. That would be added to the nearly $350 billion U.S. Congress approved last month as part of the $2.2 trillion pandemic response known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

Governors Form Groups to Explore Lifting Virus Restrictions
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed he has “total” authority and “calls the shots” when it comes to deciding how and when to lift the pandemic restrictions and reopen the economy, even as governors on both coasts proceeded with their own plans and asserted their own powers. The contrary approaches hinted at what could become a fractured response from state and federal officials in the coming weeks and months, marked by disagreements over who has the authority to dictate when, whether, and how to begin the nation’s slow return to normalcy.

States Go Their Own Ways on Environmental Enforcement during Crisis
Some state environmental regulators have decided not to follow the Trump administration’s lead in easing enforcement of environmental rules for companies adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most states appear to be providing some level of enforcement discretion, but the degree of such forbearance varies. “Even though industry is pushing to slow down environmental rule-making in California, our governor and state legislative leaders are committed to maintaining and building on our state safety net of public health air and water quality regulations,” said Annie Notthoff, Western States Advocacy Director at Natural Resources Defense Council.

Register for ISSA’s Webinar: U.S. Government’s Ongoing Response to COVID-19
Join us this afternoon for our next webinar, Part 2: U.S. Governments’ Response to COVID-19. During this webinar, you’ll receive an update on fast-moving government affairs related to the COVID-19 pandemic and how these government responses impact the full spectrum of the cleaning industry. The webinar provides the latest and updated information from ISSA’s March 25 webinar on a similar subject.

Other links of interest

• ISSA Coronavirus Government Response FAQ
• ISSA Essential Business Resources
• ISSATV: How U.S. Governments Are Responding to COVID-19
• EPA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• How the Treasury Department Is Taking Action