Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to March 21, 2020
Representatives Moore, García Urge Support for Public Transportation Agencies and their Workforce During Coronavirus Pandemic
Source: U.S. Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI, 4th)
March 20, 2020
“Many Americans are staying in their homes to follow guidance by public health officials to keep our communities safe. This is taking a toll on our overall economy, but will particularly impact our public transportation systems, which have lost ridership and farebox revenues” said Rep. Moore. “Reliable transportation options are a must for any economy and we need to work to ensure that our public transit systems remain viable. I am so proud to join Rep. Chuy Garcia in calling for critical funding to support our public transit agencies and their workers through these trying times.”
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Sen. Moran, Colleagues Urge Secretary Perdue to Make Emergency Payments to Cattle Producers
Source: Senator Jerry Moran- (R - KS)
March 20, 2020
“It is important that we act quickly to provide assistance to cattlemen in these unprecedented times without unnecessarily intruding into the markets,” the senators wrote. “I urge you to use your authorities under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act to make a one-time emergency payment to help beef cattle producers during this crisis.”
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In Midst Of Economic Volatility, Mucarsel-Powell Renews Call for Transformative Infrastructure Investments To Put People To Work In South Florida And Across U.S.
Source: U.S. Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL, 26th)
March 20, 2020
“The economic crisis we are experiencing now as a result of this global pandemic is unprecedented and requires an extraordinary response,” said Mucarsel-Powell. “Unless we enact big solutions like this, we risk exponential growth in unemployment and a depressed economy. During the Great Depression, the New Deal renewed people’s belief in the American dream. This investment would do the same for generations to come. A nearly billion-dollar infrastructure investment would put people in South Florida and across the nation back to work, fix our crumbling roads and bridges, and take significant steps towards a low-carbon, sustainable future. We need to turn this framework into legislation and pass it now.”
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SBA Loans Available for Small Businesses in Oklahoma
Source: U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin (R-OK, 2nd)
March 21, 2020
“99 percent of businesses in Oklahoma are small businesses and they need help during this public health crisis,” Mullin said. “Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and I applaud Governor Stitt for taking quick action to help them get the relief they need.”
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AS SCHOOLS CLOSE DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MURPHY, SENATE DEMOCRATS RELAY CONCERNS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Source: Senator Christopher Murphy (D-CT)
March 21, 2020
“Assisting states and districts to navigate their obligations to meet the legal requirements of students’ individualized education plans (IEPs) and individualized family service plans (IFSP) for infants and toddlers with disabilities will be critical during this national public health emergency.”
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Murphy, Cunningham Urge Congressional Leadership to Suspend Tariffs in Upcoming Coronavirus Response Bill
Source: U.S. Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-FL, 7th)
March 18, 2020
The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on many Chinese imports under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and on aluminum and steel imports from nearly every country under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. This has led China and many other countries to retaliate by imposing tariffs on a wide variety of American exports. Today, 161 trade associations representing businesses in every sector urged the President to temporarily suspend these tariffs.
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Senator Murray Applauds Congressional Passage of Legislation to Protect GI Bill Benefits As Colleges Close or Go Online Due to Coronavirus
Source: Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
March 21, 2020
Housing allowances under the Post-9/11 GI Bill are based on whether student veterans attend a university in person versus an online program. As colleges and universities close campuses to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, veterans on the GI Bill could lose or have their benefits cut. This bill would allow these student veterans to continue to receive full benefits even if the colleges they are attending decide to close or temporarily move classes online due to coronavirus. Senator Murray helped introduced this bill last week with U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester, respectively the Chairman and the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
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Rep. Nadler Statement Condemning Trump Administration for Refusing to Lift Fetal Tissue Ban for COVID-19 Vaccine Research
Source: U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY, 10th)
March 19, 2020
"Scientists have told Congress again and again that fetal tissue is the gold standard for vaccine research. The ban on this research imposed by the Trump Administration last year has no scientific purpose, with reports showing it already impacting promising, life-saving medical research. This new report reveals that even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, the Trump administration is unwilling to set aside their dangerous anti-science bias to allow research to go forward simply because it involves fetal tissue."
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CONGRESSMAN NEGUSE URGES IMMEDIATE AND COMPREHENSIVE ACTION TO ENSURE EVERY AMERICAN ABROAD MAY RETURN HOME AMIDST THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Source: U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO, 2nd)
March 20, 2020
“We have heard from an alarming number of constituents whose family members have been unable to leave certain affected areas due to closed borders, movement restrictions, mandatory quarantines, and canceled flights,” Congressman Neguse writes in the letter. “They have contacted us from Peru, Morocco, the Philippines, Honduras, China, Cambodia, Chile, Guatemala, and several other countries looking for clear guidance as they navigate this difficult and frightening landscape to return home to their families. In some instances, constituents informed us that they have been unable to establish any level of communication with U.S. Embassy and Consular personnel.”
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