After two weeks of tense negotiations, Congress completed action this afternoon on a bipartisan $484 billion package to replenish funding for the popular small business loan program, provide additional supports for hospitals and health care providers, and expand COVID-19 testing nationwide. The Senate passed the legislation unanimously on Tuesday night, the House approval was forced to wait until today as certain members insisted on a recorded vote so members needed to time to return to town. The final House vote was 388 – 5 (and one abstention), and the President is expected to sign the legislation into law as quickly as possible.... Read more about CARES Act Supplemental Funding for Small Businesses, Hospitals and Testing Approved

Congress and the Administration have agreed to a nearly $2 trillion package of urgent assistance, economic stimulus and supplemental appropriations to address the ongoing national public health emergency. This third legislative package responding to COVID 19 builds on earlier efforts (for information on the first and second please see our update here) and includes a wide range of economic supports, from expanded unemployment insurance to small-business loans, direct payments to individuals, corporate financial support, tax relief, flexibilities for student aid, and funding for research and development related to COVID-19. The Senate is expected to pass the measure quickly, although last minute drafting is continuing, and the House is exploring options for passing swiftly with the expectation that the bill will reach the President before the end of the week.... Read more about Bipartisan Agreement on $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Package

In the last two weeks, the federal government has been working to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and domestic public health and economic crisis, with efforts intensifying after the President declared a national emergency late last week. Ten days ago, a first bill was approved and signed to inject $8.3 billion into CDC, NIH, and the nation’s public health infrastructure. A second major emergency-funding package totaling nearly $100 billion was approved by House last week to support the public’s health and caregiving needs. This measure is pending in the Senate, while work on a third package to address the larger economic fallout of the pandemic is already underway with a likely cost between  $750 billion and $1 trillion in direct funding and tax supports.... Read more about Federal Government’s Emerging COVID-19 Response

The House Appropriations Committee began the annual appropriations process in earnest this week, advancing the first of 12 funding bills for Fiscal Year 2020. In marked contrast to the President’s FY20 budget proposal, it was an encouraging start for University priorities, as appropriators approved substantial increases across student aid programs at the Department of Education and a $2 billion boost for the National Institutes of Health.

The White House yesterday released its topline budget request for Fiscal Year 2020, once again proposing increased spending on defense, large cuts to spending on non-defense and mandatory programs, and significant new funding for a border wall. Of these familiar themes, which were included in each of the President’s two prior budget requests, only a growing defense budget has come to fruition. With Democrats now in control of the House and the 2020 election cycle already underway, the President’s newest budget is no more likely to be enacted than previous versions. However, it does give...

Congress officially returns on January 3 to begin the 116^th Congress with Democrats taking control of the House on the strength of their strong returns in November. Divided control of government will face an immediate challenge in the stalled efforts to address the partial government shutdown which began December 22. The new House leaders have pledged to act immediately on legislation to end the shutdown, although Republican Senate leaders indicate they will follow the President’s lead and are unlikely to take up the House legislation. With the shutdown heading into its second...