Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla sent a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and California State Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins asking them to use their authority within Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to help special districts and other units of state and local government that are in dire need of relief due to the Covid-19 crisis. Section 9901 provides funds to help states, territories, Tribal governments, and localities manage the public health and economic consequences of the pandemic.

The House Ways and Means Committee wrote to Social Security Administration Commissioner Andrew Saul expressing concern about SSI beneficiaries still awaiting their economic impact payments. Because SSA had not yet sent the necessary files to IRS, tens of millions of SSI beneficiaries were awaiting their EIPs.

35 Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen asking her agency to provide maximum flexibility for the distribution of relief funds in the American Rescue Plan, so that states can target these relief monies to the benefit of their most vulnerable communities.

The House Ways and Means Committee wrote to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul expressing concerns about reported delays in sending automatic stimulus payments to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries, along with Railroad Retirement Board and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries. The committee urged the IRS and SSA to quickly issue these payments, and update the committee about the timeline for these payments by March 26, 2021.

Thirteen Senate Democrats wrote a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to temporarily suspend trade waivers that would allow foreign companies that do not have American workers or pay U.S. taxes to bid on projects funded by the American Rescue Plan.

More than 90 trade associations and chambers of commerce urged the Senate Small Business Committee, House Small Business Committee, and other congressional leaders to pass the PPP Extension Act of 2021, which would extend the Paycheck Protection Program application period beyond March 31, 2021.

A bicameral group of 21 Democrats sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig urging them to ensure that individuals who received unemployment compensation in 2020 are able to use the tax exclusion included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

A bipartisan group of ten senators wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking USDA to assist biofuels producers hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The House Oversight Committee sent letters to the CEOs of Cardinal Health, McKesson Corporation, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson requesting information about these companies’ plans to use a CARES Act tax provision to increase tax deductions for litigation costs related to these companies’ role in the opioid crisis. The letters to Cardinal Health, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson can be found here: https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-03-04.CBM%20Gomez%20DeSaulnier%20to%20Kaufman-Cardinal%20Health%20re%20CARES%20Act.pdf; https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-03-04.CBM%20Gomez%20DeSaulnier%20to%20Tyler-%20McKesson%20re%20CARES%20Act.pdf; https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-03-04.CBM%20Gomez%20DeSaulnier%20to%20Collis-%20AmerisourceBergen%20re%20CARES%20Act.pdf; https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-03-04.CBM%20Gomez%20DeSaulnier%20to%20Gorsky-%20Johnson%20%20Johnson%20re%20CARES%20Act.pdf

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Acting SBA Administrator Tami Perriello, renewing its request for documents relevant to its investigation into the Paycheck Protection Program, which found that the Trump administration issued more than $4 billion in loans that may have been subject to fraud and didn’t prioritize underserved communities in loan disbursements.

14 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urging him to include safeguards in the upcoming Covid-19 relief package to protect Americans losing access to utilities, including power, heat, water, and internet services, during the pandemic. The letter came after extreme cold weather in Texas and other parts of the U.S. left Americans without heat and water.

11 Senate Democrats wrote to President Joe Biden urging him to include recurring direct payments and automatic unemployment insurance extensions, tied to economic conditions, in his Build Back Better long-term economic plan.

Eight Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asking them to include targeted support for the behavioral health needs of children, through the expansion of the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access program, in the next Covid-19 relief package. The senators asked for a $16 million annual allocation.

Iowa’s congressional delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking him to expand the eligibility of USDA’s Covid-19 relief programs to include custom cattle feeders, a sector of Iowa’s agricultural economy operated primarily by family farmers.

The Project on Government Oversight wrote to President Joe Biden urging his administration to improve the collection and reporting of Covid-19 relief data.

Five Senate Democrats wrote to Acting Labor Secretary Al Stewart requesting that he review and consider revising guidance issued on Jan. 8, 2021, specifying that workers “who [are] working reduced hours while [their] place of employment continues to operate” are not eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. The senators argued that workers who have their hours reduced or are temporarily laid off when their employer reduces business operations due to Covid-19 are covered under PUA.

17 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asking them to provide “as much funding as possible” to HBCUs, and to ensure these institutions’ equitable access to relief funds, as Congress crafts the next Covid-19 relief package. The senators further requested that HBCUs receive at least the same proportion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund as they received in last year’s Covid-19 relief packages.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis sent letters to RER Solutions, Rocket Loans, and Rapid Finance as part of its ongoing investigation of a $750 million contract the Trump administration awarded to manage the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program. The letters to RER Solutions, Rocket Loans, and Rapid Finance can be found here:

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2021-02-11.Clyburn%20and%20NV%20to%20RER%20Solutions%20re%20EIDL%20%20%281%29.pdf;

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2021-02-11.Clyburn%20and%20NV%20to%20Rocket%20Loans%20re%20EIDL%20.pdf;

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2021-02-11.Clyburn%20and%20NV%20to%20Rapid%20Finance%20re%20EIDL%20.pdf

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Katie Porter, wrote to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to prioritize improving data reporting requirements for assisted living facilities, residential behavioral health facilities, and other congregate care settings in future Covid-19 relief packages. Specifically, the members asked congressional leaders to include provisions of the Assisted Living Facility Coronavirus Reporting Act in upcoming legislative packages.

13 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell requesting that they provide dedicated funding in the next Covid-19 relief package for summer enrichment opportunities for low-income children.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Tina Smith, and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Rep. Lauren Underwood urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include provisions that improve research and data collection, safeguard the health of pregnant and postpartum individuals, and dedicate resources to combat the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis during the pandemic, in the next Covid-19 relief package. Specifically, the members asked congressional leaders to include portions of the Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act in the next relief package.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith wrote to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to include provisions in the next Covid-19 relief package that would boost the nation’s capacity to domestically manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients and drugs that are critical to national security and public health. Specifically, the senators asked the leaders to include portions of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Defense and Enhancement Act in the next relief package.

A bipartisan group of Ohio mayors wrote to Ohio’s congressional delegation requesting direct, flexible assistance to Ohio communities to address the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Andy Levin wrote to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urging them to expand the country’s public health workforce as they begin crafting relief legislation to execute President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Warren and Levin argued that the best way to expand the public health workforce during the pandemic is through their Coronavirus Containment Corps Act, reintroduced this week, which would train a culturally competent and diverse public health workforce to counter mistrust among historically marginalized communities.

28 Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the Treasury to ensure that Covid-19 relief reaches individuals experiencing homelessness.

A bicameral group of Democrats wrote to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to repeal “unwarranted” tax cuts for the wealthy in the next Covid-19 relief package. The tax breaks, given to a small number of extremely wealthy tax payers, were placed in a relief package passed in 2020.

A bicameral group of 120 Democrats wrote to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to repeal tax breaks for the wealthy in the next Covid-19 relief package.

13 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asking them to include additional relief for states, localities, and tribal governments in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote to Genesis Healthcare Chairman and CEO Robert Fish expressing concern about the decision by Genesis and its board to approve and pay out exorbitant bonuses to its top executives after more than 2,800 residents in its facilities died of Covid-19. Warren requested an explanation for this decision amidst a public health emergency and economic crisis. Warren asked why Genesis, which claimed to be on the brink of bankruptcy, accepted $300 million in CARES Act aid and then gave its top executive at the time a multimillion dollar bonus.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, House Homeland Security Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee, along with Reps. Dina Titus, Lucille Roybal-Allard, and Mike Thompson asked President-elect Joe Biden to waive all cost-share requirements for the Covid-19 emergency declarations declared on March 13, 2020, and any subsequent major disaster declarations for all states, tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia for the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Ayanna Pressley wrote to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris encouraging a bold vision for racial and economic justice by including the American Opportunity Accounts Act, or “Baby Bonds,” in the next Covid-19 relief package. Baby Bonds would create a federally funded savings account for every American child with the hope of closing the racial wealth gap; at birth, $1,000 is deposited, and the account grows every year until the child is 18 years old.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and six House Democrats urged HHS Secretary Alex Azar to allocate funds reserved for underserved communities in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021. Given that the pandemic has disproportionately impacted low-income communities, Tribal nations, and communities of color, the members noted that the funds Congress appropriated to address health disparities for these communities must be used effectively, including allocated through grants to nonprofit organizations and for culturally responsive outreach activities.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis and the House Committee on Financial Services wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin criticizing his decision to request the Federal Reserve to return unused CARES Act funds. The committees noted that such a request risked crippling the Fed’s emergency lending programs at a time when the government should be using every tool at its disposal to support the country’s economic recovery. The committees urged Mnuchin to extend these programs and rescind his request to return funds that have already been invested in these lending facilities.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis and the House Committee on Financial Services wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin criticizing his decision to request the Federal Reserve to return unused CARES Act funds. The committees noted that such a request risked crippling the Fed’s emergency lending programs at a time when the government should be using every tool at its disposal to support the country’s economic recovery. The committees urged Mnuchin to extend these programs and rescind his request to return funds that have already been invested in these lending facilities.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to include provisions addressing health equity in the Covid-19 relief package under negotiation. Warren noted that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on low-income communities, Tribal nations, and communities of color. She requested that the next federal Covid-19 relief package include funding that directly reaches these communities and enlists trusted partners to provide services and information that help slow the spread of Covid-19.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to include provisions addressing health equity in the Covid-19 relief package under negotiation. Warren noted that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on low-income communities, Tribal nations, and communities of color. She requested that the next federal Covid-19 relief package include funding that directly reaches these communities and enlists trusted partners to provide services and information that help slow the spread of Covid-19.

Sens. Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden, Dianne Feinstein, Patty Murray, and Maria Cantwell wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Committee asking the Senate to pass federal housing assistance for residents of Oregon, Washington, and California impacted by wildfires. The senators noted that state resources and funding have been strained by the Covid-19 pandemic and are now completely depleted by weeks of fighting some of the most dangerous and widespread fires on record.

Sens. Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden, Dianne Feinstein, Patty Murray, and Maria Cantwell wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Committee asking the Senate to pass federal housing assistance for residents of Oregon, Washington, and California impacted by wildfires. The senators noted that state resources and funding have been strained by the Covid-19 pandemic and are now completely depleted by weeks of fighting some of the most dangerous and widespread fires on record.

A bicameral group of Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to consider an additional stimulus package to address the impact of Covid-19 on the country, and to include emergency support for communities recovering from devastating and historic wildfires.

Sens. Bernie Sanders, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Ed Markey, and Ron Wyden wrote to their Senate colleagues to demand that any new Covid-19 relief proposal includes a $1,200 direct payment to adults and $500 to their children.

A bicameral group of Democrats wrote to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to include robust assistance for environmental justice communities in the next Covid-19 relief package.

A bicameral group of Democrats wrote to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to include robust assistance for environmental justice communities in the next Covid-19 relief package.

The House Committee on Financial Services wrote to President-elect Joe Biden asking him to reverse actions taken by the Trump administration in a variety of areas, including those pertaining to Covid-19, public health, consumer protection, and housing. Chairwoman Maxine Waters attached a list of regulations and other executive actions taken by the Trump administration over the past four years within the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Financial Services. Of relevance to the Covid-19 pandemic, Waters asked Biden to fully implement the Defense Production Act. issue an executive order to prevent evictions, promote stable housing during the pandemic, fully use CARES Act lending authorities, and fully support agencies involved in consumer protection, including the CFPB. A list of recommendations provided by the committee can be found here: https://financialservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/cmw_ltr_to_biden_attachment.pdf.

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee wrote to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig asking the IRS to resolve all remaining inquiries regarding Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) before the end of the year. The committee also asked IRS to keep the EIP mailbox for congressional offices open through the end of the next filing season. The tool was created after congressional offices were inundated with requests from constituents seeking a more direct pathway to IRS assistance during the Covid-19 crisis.

New York’s congressional delegation wrote to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to include robust emergency relief for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sen. Mark Warner and 31 other senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to include extensions of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program in the next Covid-19 relief package. The senators also asked McConnell and Schumer to include additional weeks of benefits for both programs.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley wrote to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro requesting a GAO report on how federal Covid-19 relief funds have been distributed to disproportionately affected communities, including businesses and providers located in low-income and medically underserved communities, Tribal businesses and health-care providers, community health centers, and other organizations serving high-need populations.

The House Committee on Small Business wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza seeking more information on the status of SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The committee noted that publicly available data did not provide the level of detail needed to determine the effectiveness of EIDLs or the precise amount remaining in the fund. The committee expressed concern about the opaqueness of the EIDL process, while arguing that greater transparency among SBA, EIDL applicants, and Congress was necessary to strengthen the program and prevent fraud from occurring.

The House Committee on Small Business wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig asking their agencies to reverse their stances on the deductibility of expenses paid for with funds obtained via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The IRS had issued multiple rulings in recent months treating loan proceeds as taxable, contrary to Congress’s intent under the CARES Act. The committee urged the Treasury and IRS to bring their positions in line with congressional intent.

Sen. Rick Scott wrote to GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro asking him to provide updates on GAO’s review of potential fraud in SBA’s Covid-19 relief programs, including PPP and EIDL.

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concern about SBA’s ability to detect and prevent fraud in the EIDL program, and requesting answers to several questions about the program. The letter, authored by Chairman Marco Rubio, comes after an Oct. 28 SBA IG report, which found that billions of dollars in potentially fraudulent EIDL loans and grants were made to ineligible businesses.

Sens. Sherrod Brown and Jack Reed wrote to FHFA Director Mark Calabria expressing concern about recent loan sales by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that could put homeowners at risk of further delinquency or foreclosure. Fannie and Freddie had both recently sold large numbers of loans they previously guaranteed to private investors; the senators noted that unlike Fannie and Freddie, private purchasers of these loans are not obligated by Congress to provide forbearance to borrowers. Thus, unless FHFA requires Fannie and Freddie to secure contractual representations, warranties, or covenants obligating the new owners to continue offering the same loss-mitigation options, new owners are under no obligation to offer borrowers the post-forbearance options Fannie and Freddie created, nor are they obligated to pause foreclosures during the Covid-19 pandemic. The senators noted that they have repeatedly supported FHFA’s decision to extend a foreclosure moratorium to Fannie and Freddie borrowers to ensure that Americans are not at risk of losing their housing during the pandemic. However, FHFA’s decision to allow the sales to proceed undermined the protections it had put in place.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote to Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) Brian Miller criticizing a response he gave to her July 15 letter, in which Warren asked SIGPR to review and report on the role of lobbyists in the dispensation of CARES Act funds in the quarterly report to Congress. Warren stated that Miller’s response indicated that he was unwilling to conduct nonpartisan oversight investigations and was unwilling to do the work required to fulfill his role as chief watchdog of CARES Act funds. In this letter, Warren reiterated her original request that SIGPR conduct a nonpartisan review of the role lobbyists are playing in helping companies secure CARES Act aid, and the process through which executive agencies responsible for the dispensation of CARES Act grants, loans, and corporate bond purchases are addressing conflicts of interest and ethics. Warren also reiterated her request that SIGPR include analysis on the aforementioned topics in the next quarterly report to Congress.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Congressional Oversight Commissioner Bharat Ramamurti wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell regarding the Treasury’s and the Fed’s failure to ensure the programs they created under the CARES Act equitably served people of color and women. Pressley and Ramamurti asked that they use the monetary policy tools at their immediate disposal to quickly and directly address the outsized impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on communities of color and women, as well as the large racial unemployment gap.

The American Securities Association wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell urging them to extend the Municipal Liquidity Facility and expand eligible issuers, allow for lower rates, and longer repayment terms. ASA stated in their letter that they believe that the current MLF rates are significantly higher than necessary, and that the MLF’s current 36-month repayment term is too short.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell requesting clarification as to why the Fed was financially propping up firms like Marathon Petroleum, ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, and other energy companies, while failing to sufficiently help cities and municipalities grappling with losses in tax revenue and costs associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. Tlaib cited a report by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis that showed that the Fed’s Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility portfolio included the bonds of 95 companies that paid out dividends to their shareholders even as they laid off workers.

Illinois’ congressional delegation wrote to FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor expressing concern about the agency’s processing of Illinois’ public assistance requests as they relate to Covid-19 expenses. To date, the delegation noted that FEMA has approved less than 5 percent of Illinois’ submitted claims, taking an average of more than 90 days to process a claim. The delegation requested clarification on these policies and denials, while urging FEMA to be transparent, timely, and communicative as they enforce administrative requirements.

Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking his agency to reverse course on new classifications that exclude meat produced from breeding animals for eligibility for reimbursement under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 2. Schumer and Gillibrand noted that while milk is the primary source of income for dairy farmers, these farmers often run diversified operations with significant revenue coming from the meat of cows retired from milking. Under the first version of CFAP, farmers could claim reimbursement and federal assistance for losses from meat production no matter the purpose for which their livestock was raised. However, in the second version of CFAP, farmers can only claim reimbursement and assistance for losses from meat production for livestock specifically raised for slaughter. The senators expressed concern about the effect of CFAP 2 on New York’s dairy industry, which has already suffered losses due to the pandemic and economic downturn.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow and 14 other senators wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking the USDA to reverse its decision to exclude dairy farmers from receiving Covid-19 relief to cover losses related to meat production. The senators argued that USDA has sufficient resources to cover these losses, and stated that it would be less complicated for relief to cover all livestock and avoid confusion about what animals are covered or excluded. Additionally, the senators noted that while milk is the primary income for dairy farms, dairy farms often diversify their operations, with significant revenue often coming from the meat of cows that have been “retired” from milking.

Sen. Patty Murray and 33 other senators wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking that she ensure federal student loan borrowers can gain access to crucial federal relief. Since March 2020, the CARES Act has provided forbearance, waived interest, and halted collections for borrowers whose student loans were directly held by the Department of Education. But, according to new information provided by the Education Department to Murray, 8.2 million federal student loan borrowers currently cannot take advantage of this relief because some or all of their loans do not qualify. Of those borrowers, 4.4 million are not receiving any relief, and 3.8 million have a mix of loans that qualify and those that do not. In their letter, the senators urged DeVos to ensure that these borrowers do not continue to face unnecessary financial struggles and confusion, and to take immediate action to help them qualify for relief.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis wrote letters to four cargo carriers — Atlas Air, Kalitta Air, Western Global Airlines, and Amerijet International — that received more than $630 million total from the Treasury as part of the Payroll Support Program (PSP, which was created to preserve aviation jobs) despite reports of these companies’ financial success during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rep. James Clyburn, subcommittee chairman, called on these companies to either return the money or to demonstrate that they needed the funds to keep workers on the payroll. The letters to Atlas Air, Kalitta Air, Western Global Airlines, and Amerijet International can be found here in the order listed: https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-19.Clyburn%20to%20Dietrich%20re%20Cargo%20Carrier%20Letter%20Atlas%20Air%20FINAL.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-19.Clyburn%20to%20Kalitta%20re%20Cargo%20Carrier%20Letter%20Kalitta%20Air%20.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-19.Clyburn%20to%20Neff%20re%20Cargo%20Carrier%20Letter%20Western%20Global%20Airlines%20.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-19.Clyburn%20to%20Strauss%20re%20Cargo%20Carrier%20Letter%20Amerijet%20.pdf

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis wrote to Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria asking that his agency direct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to require mortgage servicers to automatically grant forbearance to borrowers who are delinquent for 60 days or more. Rep. James Clyburn, the chairman of the subcommittee, noted that although forbearance is currently an option for delinquent mortgage holders, data obtained by the subcommittee showed that a substantial number of delinquent borrowers, particularly borrowers with the lowest incomes, had not obtained forbearance as of August 2020 and were in need of financial relief.

The Government Finance Officers Association, International City/County Management Association, National Association of Counties, National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, National Association of State Treasurers, National League of Cities, and the United States Conference of Mayors wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell emphasizing the importance of the Municipal Liquidity Facility (MLF). The coalition, which represents state and local governments and finance officers, provided recommendations for improving the MLF and its responsiveness to issuers of governmental securities, including that it be extended into 2021 and expanded to a greater number of eligible issuers. The coalition requested that the MLF’s 36-month term be extended and that borrowers have greater flexibility over its usage. Lastly, the coalition recommended that the Fed create a Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility. Many of these recommendations were reflected in the Congressional Oversight Commission’s Fifth Report.

The House Education and Labor Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education wrote to the Department of Education’s Inspector General asking for an audit of the department’s monitoring of states’ and localities’ compliance with the equitable services requirement of Education Stabilization Fund grants. The CARES Act required local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide equitable services “in the same manner” as section 1117 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. However, the committees claimed that the department distorted the plain language of this section, first through unauthorized
guidance, and then through unauthorized rulemaking, creating confusion and forcing LEAs to choose between delaying the use of some of their CARES funds or diverting more than a billion dollars of federal emergency aid from public school students to serve private school students.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis wrote letters to the seven aviation contractors receiving the most Payroll Support Program (PSP) funds, asking that they forgo any layoffs or furloughs until all PSP funds awarded to them have been expended. The letters follow the release of a staff report revealing that the Treasury allowed aviation contractors to fire thousands of workers, even as these companies received hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds intended to protect those workers’ jobs. The letters, sent to DAL Global Services LLC; Menzies Aviation, Inc.; Flying Food Fare Inc.; Swissport USA, Inc.; Gate Group; Sky Chefs, Inc.; and Worldwide Flight Services, Inc., are linked here in the order listed: https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-09.Clyburn%20to%20Taylor%20re%20PSP%20Follow%20up%20letter%20DAL%20Global%20Services%20LLC.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-09.Clyburn%20to%20Redmond%20re%20PSP%20Follow%20up%20letter%20to%20Menzies%20Aviation%20Inc.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-09.Clyburn%20to%20Cotton%20re%20PSP%20Follow%20up%20letter%20Flying%20Food.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-09.Clyburn%20to%20Mena%20re%20PSP%20Follow%20up%20letter%20Swissport.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-09.Clyburn%20to%20Rossinyol%20re%20PSP%20Follow%20up%20letter%20Gate%20Gourmet.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-09.Clyburn%20to%20Rutjes%20re%20PSP%20Follow%20up%20letter%20Sky%20Chefs%20Inc.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-10-09.Clyburn%20to%20Simpson%20re%20PSP%20Follow%20up%20letter%20Worldwide%20Flight%20Services%20Inc.pdf

Rep. Nydia Velázquez (chairwoman, House Committee on Small Business) wrote a letter to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting that SBA release data related to Covid-19 relief programs. In her letter, Velázquez asked SBA to comply with data requests from GAO related to SBA’s Covid-19 response programs, specifically the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren sent letters to the largest banks —those with more than $250 billion in total consolidated assets — requesting information on how these institutions are assessing and mitigating risks resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Warren raised concerns about the Federal Reserve Board of Governors’ lack of transparency about the methods and findings of its recent stress tests and noted that banks may not be prepared for the economic fallout in the coming months, especially if households and businesses do not receive needed relief from Congress.

Reps. Bobby Scott (Chairman, House Education and Labor Committee) and James Clyburn (Chairman, House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis) wrote] to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos expressing concern over South Carolina’s misuse of CARES Act education funds to develop a voucher program. South Carolina’s governor dedicated $32 million in Governor Emergency Education Relief funds to the Safe Access to Flexible Education grants program, a violation of GEER and CARES Act regulations, which only permits usage of these funds for institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, and “education related entities,” not school vouchers. Scott and Clyburn requested that the Education Department review South Carolina’s SAFE grants program to determine if it complies with the relevant sections of the CARES Act, and asked for all communications between the governor’s office and the department related to the development, implementation, or legality of South Carolina’s SAFE grant program.

Reps. Carolyn Maloney (Chairwoman, House Committee on Oversight and Reform), Jimmy Gomez (Vice Chairman, House Committee on Oversight and Reform), and Rosa DeLauro (Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education within the House Committee on Appropriations) wrote to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia requesting information and a staff briefing on the Labor Department’s implementation of paid leave provisions in the bipartison Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which passed in March 2020 and expanded access to paid sick leave and paid family leave during the Covid-19 pandemic. In August 2020, the department’s inspector general issued a report highlighting key flaws in the administration’s implementation of the program, and a federal judge in New York ruled that the administration defied Congress’s intent in implementing the law. The letter raised concerns highlighted by the IG report, the court decision, and other issues with the administration’s implementation of these provisions, which could limit workers’ access to paid leave.

Reps. James Clyburn (Chairman, House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis), Maxine Waters (Chairwoman, House Committee on Financial Services), Carolyn Maloney (Chairwoman, House Committee on Oversight and Reform), and Stephen Lynch (Chairman, House Subcommittee on National Security) wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper requesting documents on the potentially inappropriate use of hundreds of millions of dollars from the CARES Act. The letter follows reporting that nearly $1 billion of Defense Production Act funding, which Congress appropriated to DOD under the CARES Act to “prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus,” instead has been “funneled to defense contractors and used for making things such as jet engine parts, body armor, and dress uniforms.”

Reps. James Clyburn (Chairman, House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis), Maxine Waters (Chairwoman, Committee on Financial Services), and Carolyn Maloney (Chairwoman, Committee on Oversight and Reform) wrote letters to the outside directors of the Eastman Kodak Company requesting documents pertaining to the Trump administration’s effort to award a $765 million federal loan to Kodak for the production of ingredients for generic drugs. The lawmakers also requested documents related to the Kodak board’s decision to issue stock options to Kodak Executive Chairman James Continenza and board members, as well as trades in Kodak stock surrounding the loan announcement.

On July 28, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced the administration’s interest in awarding Kodak the loan, using loan authority granted to DFC in connection with the pandemic. In response to the lawmakers’ Aug. 4 documents request to Continenza, counsel for Kodak informed the committees that the company was not able to produce documents and communications possessed by Kodak’s outside directors.

Links to the letters sent to Kodak’s outside directors (Richard T. Bradley, Jeffrey D. Engelberg, George Karfunkel, Phillipe D. Katz, Jason New, and William G. Parrett), in the order listed, can be found here: https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-09-28.Joint%20Comte%20to%20Bradley%20re%20Kodak.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-09-28%20.Joint%20Cmte%20to%20Engelberg%20re%20Kodak%20FINAL.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-09-28%20.Joint%20Cmte%20to%20Karfunkel%20re%20Kodak.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-09-28%20.Joint%20Cmte%20to%20Katz%20re%20Kodak.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-09-28%20.Joint%20Cmte%20to%20New%20re%20Kodak.pdf; https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020-09-28%20.Joint%20Cmte%20to%20Parrett%20re%20Kodak.pdf

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and other members of the California congressional delegation (Reps. Josh Harder, Ami Bera, Grace Napolitano, Gilbert Cisneros, Jr., Barbara Lee, Mark DeSaulnier, and Juan Vargas) wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to include a six-month extension for states and local governments to spend their allocations of the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), as provided by the CARES Act, in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ro Khanna wrote a letter to Sean O’Donnell, the acting Defense Department inspector general, asking him to review the Pentagon’s potential misuse of CARES Act funds. Pursuant to the Defense Production Act (DPA), the CARES Act provided the department with $1 billion to fund efforts to manufacture PPE and other supplies. According to press reports, however, the Pentagon redirected the majority of these funds — $688 million — to defense contractors to make things such as jet engine parts and body armor.

Sens. Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders, and Rep. Peter Welch, wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Perdue following USDA’s award of the Farmers to Families Food Box contract to two non-Vermont entities. The program, initiated with the passage of the CARES Act, partners with regional and local producers to provide produce, dairy, and meat to food-insecure families. The Abbey Group, a food service company based in Enosburg Falls, Vt., distributed 568,682 food boxes containing local Vermont produce regionally from May through mid-September. For the third and final phase of the program, USDA selected Costa Fruit and Produce, based in Massachusetts, and Sysco, based in Texas, to distribute food boxes in Vermont. The Vermont delegation expressed concern that the number of families reached by the program may decline and that Vermont farms will be unable to participate in the program as they have before. The letter also raised general concerns regarding the continuity of the program’s operations through October.

Oregon’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig asking them to extend the non-filer deadline for claiming Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) into the beginning of December and to improve outreach to hard-to-reach communities. The delegation noted that many Oregonians are still waiting to receive their EIPs; given the dual challenges posed by the recent wildfires and the pandemic, delivering outstanding EIPs to Oregonians impacted by wildfires would help these communities rebuild. While the IRS announced on Sept. 17 that it had mailed letters to 131,647 Oregonians who may be eligible for EIPs, many impacted by the wildfires will be unable to access mail because their homes have been destroyed or mail delivery has been disrupted.

Rep. Frank Pallone (Chairman, House Energy and Commerce Committee), Rep. Richard Neal (Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee), and Sen. Ron Wyden (Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee) wrote a letter to HHS Secretary Azar and CMS Administrator Verma expressing concern over CMS’s lack of transparency in expanding the Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Program beyond the scope authorized by the CARES Act. AAP is intended to assist certain providers in emergencies; the CARES Act expanded the number of eligible providers and increased the maximum payment amount. In their letter, lawmakers raised concerns that CMS jeopardized the integrity of the program, requested answers to questions related to the unauthorized expansion of AAP, and requested a briefing.

Reps. Mark Pocan and Barbara Lee wrote to the co-chairs of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus (Reps. James Clyburn, Carolyn Maloney, and Adam Smith) asking them to commence oversight investigations and public hearings regarding the Pentagon’s alleged misuse of the majority of $1 billion intended for the purchase of medical supplies like masks and swabs. The Pentagon instead funneled those monies to defense contractors.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote a letter to Jamie Dimon and Doug McMillon, former and current board chairs of the Business Roundtable (BRT), criticizing them and other BRT member CEOs for failing to honor commitments from BRT’s 2019 Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation. Warren inquired about the changes to corporate governance they were making to implement their commitments, and wrote about how Covid-19 exacerbated and worsened existing racial and economic disparities. She criticized corporate greed (cutting benefits for essential workers, which disproportionately impacted workers of color, while increasing executive compensation) and hypocrisy (statements of solidarity with Black lives, while failing to hire, fairly compensate, and promote Black men and women) during the pandemic. Warren also noted that BRT lobbied against congressional efforts to extend unemployment benefits, Covid-19 liability protections, and other measures to benefit essential workers.

Twenty senators wrote a letter to the CEOs of 28 Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) lender and guaranty agencies requesting that they take additional measures to support federal student loan borrowers during the pandemic. While the CARES Act and other administrative actions automatically provide forbearance, waive all interest, and halt collections on federally held loans, approximately 8 million borrowers with loans not directly held by the Department of Education were left out of that relief.

Sen. Marco Rubio (Chairman, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship) wrote to Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase Jamie Dimon following reports that bank employees may have been involved in the misuse of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funding. Rubio asked Dimon to provide the committee with additional information regarding JPMorgan Chase’s investigation into potential misuse of PPP and/or EIDL funds.

Ohio’s congressional delegation wrote to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose asking him to use his existing authority to provide prepaid return postage on ballots and ballot applications, and communicate with USPS to ensure that all Ohioans receive their ballots on time. The delegation noted that Congress provided Ohio with more than $12 million in CARES Act funding to help cover the cost of initiatives like prepaid postage.

Reps. Peter DeFazio, Dan Lipinski, and Jennifer Wexton wrote to Amtrak CEO William Flynn asking that he prohibit any Amtrak jobs from being offshored. The letter followed a Request for Proposal (RFP) for eCommerce and Mobile Development that would allow certain work to be offshored at a time when Amtrak is looking to reduce its workforce by 14 percent and seeking additional taxpayer funds to maintain limited service during the pandemic. The lawmakers note that if Amtrak does not reverse the offshoring provision in this or any existing or future RFP, they will find it difficult to support additional taxpayer monies for Amtrak.

In an update on Sept. 11, DeFazio, Lipinski, and Wexton noted that Flynn scrapped the RFP that would have allowed for jobs to be offshored: https://transportation.house.gov/news/press-releases/defazio-lipinski-and-wexton-applaud-amtrak-president-and-ceo-william-flynn-for-committing-to-not-send-jobs-overseas

Sen. Pat Roberts and 20 other senators wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking that USDA use resources available through the CARES Act to provide adequate support for wheat farmers and ensure that all classes of wheat are covered under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The senators noted that CFAP provides critical assistance to many wheat producers impacted by Covid-19, including at-risk 2019 crop losses for hard red spring and durum wheat. While this assistance remains important to these producers, the letter makes the point that the classes of wheat covered by CFAP constitute just 30% of 2019 production, leaving the majority of wheat farmers without access to CFAP assistance.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown, Chris Van Hollen, Robert Menendez, and Jack Reed wrote to CFPB Director Kathleen Kraninger regarding the agency’s failure to ensure that borrowers receive timely and accurate information regarding their options to access mortgage relief and avoid foreclosures during the Covid-19 pandemic. The senators wrote to Kraninger seeking information about how CFPB plans to ensure that borrowers are made aware of available mortgage relief options and how to access them.

The House Committee on Education and Labor wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking her agency to cease misusing the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF), a CARES Act fund intended to support local education agencies and postsecondary entities facing the loss of state and local revenue due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The letter accused the Department of Education of not following the plain language of the statute and granting educational institutions across the country the necessary funding to support student learning during the pandemic. The committee noted that the department was using taxpayer dollars to fund the Trump administration’s apprenticeship program (IRAP) and other programs Congress had not authorized.

Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein wrote to President Trump expressing support for California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for California in response to widespread wildfires. Harris and Feinstein asked Trump to expedite a Major Disaster Declaration without the need for complete preliminary damage assessments and to make federal assistance available. The senators noted that the Covid-19 crisis compounded the challenges facing California as the state addresses these wildfires.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote to the Acting Chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Michael Horowitz urging PRAC to investigate the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s $765 million loan to Eastman Kodak Company as part of the Trump administration’s Covid-19 response.

Maine’s congressional delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging USDA to assist Mainers whose livelihoods depends on the lobster industry. On June 24, 2020, President Trump issued the “Memorandum on Protecting the United States Lobster Industry,” instructing USDA to provide assistance to fishermen and producers working in the U.S. lobster industry within 60 days. To date, USDA had not assisted those working in the industry.

117 House Democrats urged Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to pass the Worker Relief and Security Act, which will extend unemployment benefits and ensure benefits last for the duration of the Covid-19 recession by tying enhanced unemployment insurance to the pandemic.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to include robust funding for substance use disorder and mental health in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the House Committee on House Administration, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Democrats from the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy requesting information regarding the Trump administration’s role in Postal Service delays.

Sen. Joe Manchin wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to express concern with the distribution of Economic Impact Payments to West Virginians. Manchin noted that many of his constituents had not yet received their EIPs. He urged Mnuchin to work with his office to resolve these issues as soon as possible.

A bipartisan group of 10 senators asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include the Flexible Financing for Rural America Act of 2020 (S.4152) in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Bobby Scott wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking USDA to use its full authority to provide healthy meals to students for the duration of the school year amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Stabenow and Scott noted that In the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Congress granted authority to USDA to provide waivers that allow children to receive school meals during the pandemic. While several waivers have already been approved for the 2020-2021 school year, USDA had not extended flexibilities for several key programs that keep children fed while schools are closed and also reduce administrative burdens for schools.

Five Democrats from Colorado’s congressional delegation wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy expressing concern about the administration’s decision to end census field data collection activities early. The delegation urged congressional leadership to include an extension of the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 census in the next Covid-19 relief package, and require the enumeration period to be extended through Oct. 31, 2020.

A bipartisan group of 24 senators urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include support for charitable nonprofits providing frontline services in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Nine Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include funding to increase cybersecurity capabilities for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, school districts, libraries, small businesses, hospitals, and other essential services and institutions, in the next Covid-19 relief package.

A bipartisan group of 48 senators urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to extend the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 census in the next Covid-19 relief package.

17 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking that student loan forbearance be codified for the duration of the the economic crisis and included in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Five senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting the inclusion of the Edith Shorougian Senior Victims of Fraud Compensation Act in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein, Kamala Harris, and Rep. Salud Carbajal wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to finalize the Covid-19 emergency response package and include assistance for BOP to respond to the ongoing pandemic.

A bipartisan group of 16 senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Committee urging them to include $1.1 billion in funding for Older Americans Act programs in the next Covid-19 relief package.

25 senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting that $15.5 billion for NIH be included in the next Covid-19 relief package. The senators noted that Covid-19 has impacted the country’s biomedical research process; according to NIH Director Francis Collins, the pandemic has caused over $10 billion in lost research, in addition to medical research needs posed by the virus.

Sens. Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy, and Tammy Baldwin wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to include incentives to use Work Sharing, and to help states expand the availability of Work Sharing, in the next Covid-19 relief package. Employers participating in Work Sharing avoid layoffs by reducing the hours of their employees or bringing laid off employees back to work at reduced hours, who receive a pro-rated UI benefit.

17 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to include provisions in the next Covid-19 relief package providing access to free phone and video calls for incarcerated people during and after the pandemic.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell seeking documents and information about the Main Street Lending Program’s implementation. Chairman James Clyburn also urged Mnuchin and Powell to ensure that the program protects workers and is accessible to businesses requiring its assistance. He expressed concern about the delays in issuing loans and questioned whether the program was appropriately designed to support small businesses in need.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Committee urging them to include an additional $20 million for the National Criminal History Improvement Program in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig urging Treasury and the IRS to deliver remaining Economic Impact Payments to Illinois residents as quickly as possible.

11 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to include their Force to Fight Covid-19 Proposal in the upcoming Covid-19 relief package.

25 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to prioritize the inclusion of the Child Care Is Essential Act in the next Covid-19 relief package.

42 Senate Democrats urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to ensure that policies protecting Americans most at risk for Covid-19 are included in the next relief package.

Sen. Michael Bennet urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include emergency funding for USPS in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to provide meaningful relief and enact bold solutions to address the child care and education crises facing the U.S amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sens. Susan Collins and Kyrsten Sinema asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the Senate HELP Committee to prioritize supplemental funding for the Administration for Children and Families to support the immediate, pandemic-related needs of the National Child Abuse Hotline in the next Covid-19 relief package.

11 senators asked the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee to recapitalize the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and EIDL Advance programs and remove the caps imposed by SBA in the next Covid-19 relief package.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for additional time for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to use CARES Act funds to respond to the Covid-19 crisis. States are using these funds for a variety of initiatives responsive to the pandemic, so the delegation asked that the current deadline of Dec. 30, 2020, be extended.

Eight Senate Democrats urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include prohibitions on arbitration clauses in all forms of Economic Impact Payments in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include funding and flexibility for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants and Assistance to Firefighter Grants programs in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to provide substantial funding for workforce development programs, as the Senate has done during previous recessions.

Sen. Maggie Hassan asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to incorporate solutions to address racial disparities and health inequities that have disproportionately affected communities of color during the Covid-19 pandemic in the next relief package.

Rep. Donald McEachin and 36 other members of Congress wrote to congressional leaders asking them not to provide corporations that operate in an unsafe manner during the Covid-19 pandemic immunity from liability in any forthcoming recovery or relief package.

33 Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging the inclusion of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Data Integrity Act in the next Covid-19 relief package.

27 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urging him to ensure that tax-paying immigrants who have Individual Tax Identification Numbers are able to access vital economic relief assistance provided by the CARES Act and any future Covid-19 relief legislation.

Massachusetts’ congressional delegation urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include additional funding for hospitals and healthcare providers in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Democrats from Oregon’s congressional delegation wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos expressing concerns about the Education Department’s interim final rule interpreting the equitable services provision of the CARES Act. The delegation noted that ED misinterpreted the CARES Act in a way that would improperly divert federal emergency aid dollars intended for public schools to private school students. Under the agency’s interpretation, Oregon public schools would lose $11,310,291. The delegation asked DeVos to rescind her agency’s interim final rule so states may use these resources to reopen public schools.

30 Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Committee to oppose conditioning education funds in the next Covid-19 relief package on reopening of elementary and secondary schools for in-person instruction.

The House Committee on Ways and Means sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern about racial inequalities in aid administered under the CARES Act and the Internal Revenue Code.

The House Education and Labor Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, and the Senate HELP Committee wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking the Department of Education to rescind its “equitable services” interim final rule, which would redirect Covid-19 relief funding away from students in public schools to fund services for students in private schools, regardless of their wealth or residence.

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, Ron Wyden, Cory Booker, and Bernie Sanders asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee to include the Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Vice Chair for Supervision Randal Quarles requesting information about Quarles’ lobbying to insert regulatory favors for big banks into future stimulus legislation. The letters to Powell and Quarles can be found here: https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/07.30.20%20Brown%20Warren%20letter%20to%20Powell.pdf; https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2020.07.30%20Letter%20to%20Quarles.pdf

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis and the Small Business Committee wrote to the SBA regarding the $500 million contract issued by SBA to process Emergency Injury Disaster Loan applications during the crisis, following reports that millions of small businesses seeking emergency loans have faced long delays, poor service, and processing errors.

Sens. Gary Peters and Lisa Murkowski wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking them to provide workforce development, employment, and economic support for veterans and transitioning service members in the next Covid-19 relief package.

29 Senate Democrats urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to include key provisions related to Medicaid home and community-based services and direct service providers in the House-passed HEROES Act in any future Covid-19 relief package.

Nine senators wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar asking HHS to support important physician training programs in rural areas by releasing approximately $100 million in targeted funding from the Provider Relief Fund established in the CARES Act.

Democrats from Nevada’s congressional delegation wrote to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia asking the Labor Department to combat instances of criminal attempts to exploit and undermine the stability of the unemployment system and delay benefits. The Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation identified more than 100,000 applications flagged for potential fraud in Nevada.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell requesting that the unemployment benefits authorized in the CARES Act be extended until the economy improves.

Six Senate Democrats asked the Senate Appropriations Committee to include additional funding to modernize federal information technology systems through the Technology Modernization Fund in the next Covid-19 supplemental appropriations bill.

The House Financial Services Committee, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, and Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to explain PPP funds that were given to the airlines to support jobs that no longer exist and what Treasury intends to do to recoup the funds.

13 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee asking them to include common sense privacy protections for Covid-19 health data in the next Covid-19 stimulus package.

13 members of Congress wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking them to include support for farmers, food processors and retailers, and hunger response organizations in the next Covid-19 relief package.

13 Senate Democrats wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos expressing concerns with the Education Department’s interim final rule on student eligibility for emergency financial aid under the CARES Act, saying that it has a disproportionate and damaging impact on nearly 200,000 student veterans. The interim final rule excludes aid to a large number of students, particular student veterans who do not generally pursue Title IV aid because they access GI Bill benefits. The senators asked ED to immediately rescind the interim final rule and inform Congress on how the agency will ensure that veteran and military-connected students can access the same CARES Act resources as other students.

Sens. Ben Cardin, Chris Van Hollen, Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Committee to express their opposition to the use of Covid-19 relief funds to construct new FBI headquarters in Washington, DC. The senators argued that such a project is irrelevant to advancing the country’s public health and economic recovery, and urged leadership and the committee to reject the Trump administration’s request to fund a new FBI headquarters building.

A bicameral group of Democrats urged HHS Secretary Alex Azar to provide additional funding to the country’s community health centers during the Covid-19 pandemic. HHS distributed a third round of funding from the Provider Relief Fund to hospitals and other safety net providers, but CHCs were largely excluded.

Sens. Sherrod Brown, Chris Van Hollen, Dick Durbin, Bernie Sanders, and Cory Booker wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to include increased funding for the Full-Service Community Schools program in the next Covid-19 relief package, and include language clearly stating expenditures related to the implementation and maintenance of community schools be an allowable use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding.

16 Senate Democrats urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include modifications to the Medicare Accelerated and Advanced Payments program in the next Covid-19 relief package. The program has provided health care providers across the country with financial assistance to help ensure liquidity as revenues declined and Covid-19 response expenses increased.

18 Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include frontline workers in the next Covid-19 relief package by amending the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. These provisions, the senators argued, would ensure that individuals who served the public during the pandemic receive student loan forgiveness.

15 members of Congress wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue expressing concerns that many shellfish producers, including clam and oyster harvesters and processors, have not received assistance from USDA during the Covid-19 pandemic. The members asked Perdue to consider using funds appropriated to USDA by Congress to establish a short-term purchasing program for shellfish products, including farmed and wild-caught oyster and clam products, as part of the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Section 32 authority.

House committees demanded documents regarding SBA’s attempts to target local Planned Parenthood organizations that participated in the Paycheck Protection Program.

10 Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and chairs and ranking members of the Senate Appropriations and Senate HELP Committees to exclude for-profit colleges from emergency funding intended for higher education institutions in the next Covid-19 relief package.

12 Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include substantial funding to protect Amtrak’s funding, especially for projects in the Northeast Corridor, in the next appropriations bill.

Nine members of Congress urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, S.3599 and H.R.6788, in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to extend the CARES Act’s expanded unemployment benefits in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen wrote to HUD Secretary Ben Carson requesting that supplemental Community Development Block Grant funding appropriated by Congress be immediately disbursed to assist those suffering due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organizations representing public health, medical providers, and advocates for children and families wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting increased federal education and health funding so that schools can safely reopen and health-care systems can respond to the needs brought on by the Covid-19 epidemic. They asked House and Senate leadership to call on Congress to pass at least $200 billion in K-12 education funding.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to include in the next Covid-19 relief bill an amendment, attached to the letter, that would condition direct assistance to states and local governments on having mask mandates.

Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Mike Rounds asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza to issue updated guidance clarifying that small business and non-profits who previously returned their Paycheck Protection Program loans are allowed to reapply, now that Congress has updated the program.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking them to provide additional funding for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts as part of any future Covid-19 legislative package.

Connecticut’s congressional delegation wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking them to provide at least $500 million in fisheries assistance, specifically targeted towards producers ineligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program or NOAA Section 12005 funds, in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sens. Tom Carper, John Kennedy, Rand Paul, and Gary Peters asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include the Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act in the next Covid-19 relief package. The law would provide federal agencies the tools they need to curb waste and fraude involving stimulus payments.

15 Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Homeland Security Committee to provide emergency funding to USCIS to prevent thousands of employees from being furloughed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Massachusetts’ congressional delegation asked Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to redistribute CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief funds from Massachusetts institutions of higher education to under-resourced institutions in the commonwealth, consistent with her recommendation to college and university presidents in an April 9, 2020, letter.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to include additional relief funding for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in upcoming Covid-19 relief legislation.

Sen. Ron Wyden wrote to Acting OMB Director Russell Vought asking the Office of Management and Budget to establish a single, comprehensive, publicly available data source that shows the amount of CARES Act funding received by each health-care provider. Wyden noted that he made a similar request to HHS Secretary Alex Azar.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote to Treasury Department Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery Brian Miller requesting information about the role of lobbyists in dispensing CARES Act funds, whether there were any conflicts of interest in the dispensation, and whether there are processes in place to prevent possible conflicts of interest.

A bipartisan group of 27 senators asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include at least $5.6 billion in funding in the next Covid-19 relief package to develop and support vaccine infrastructure to ensure that when the vaccine becomes available, it can be readily deployed across the U.S., particularly to high-risk populations.

Twelve Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to increase support for outdoor recreation and tourism jobs in the next Covid-19 stimulus package.

The House Education and Labor Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos requesting an explanation for why the Department of Education has delayed distributing emergency educational relief for Puerto Rico. Congress designated $400 million in the CARES Act to help Puerto Rico address immediate educational needs. However, to date, the Education Department had only disbursed $7 million, citing past program implementation challenges; the department indicated it will withhold the remaining relief funds until after the school year begins.

Reps. Maxine Waters (chairwoman, House Financial Services Committee), Eliot Engel (chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs), Adam Smith (chairman, House Committee on Armed Services), Bennie Thompson (chairman, House Committee on Homeland Security), and Frank Pallone Jr. (chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce) wrote to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and HHS Secretary Alex Azar asking why the administration had not used CARES Act funding for the Defense Production Act to boost domestic production of critical medical supplies and equipment needed to combat Covid-19, such as PPE and diagnostic testing. The CARES Act provided $1 billion to help boost production of medical supplies, but the administration has, to date, only spent $212 million on the health sector, while proposing allocating $688 million to support the defense industry. Lawmakers urged the administration to provide detailed information regarding its actions and plans related to increasing domestic production of medical supplies and equipment before allocating any further CARES Act funds to carry out the Defense Production Act.

Thirty-seven Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asking him to support funding for state and local governments, equal to the levels included in the HEROES Act, in future Covid-19 relief legislation. The senators also asked McConnell to work with them to provide new funding to state and local governments struggling to pay first responders, as well as flexibility in the use of those funds.

Reps. Bobby Scott (chair, House Committee on Education and Labor) and Rosa DeLauro (chair, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, House Committee on Appropriations), and Sen. Patty Murray (ranking member, Senate HELP Committee) wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos expressing concern about the Education Department’s interim final rule (IFR) to prevent millions of students from getting the emergency relief Congress provided under the CARES Act. The members argued that while the department has taken the position that emergency financial aid grants to students are limited to those eligible to participate in Title IV programs under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the legal basis and rationale put forth in support of this position are flawed. They stated that the CARES Act did not impose any eligibility restrictions on students, and that limiting eligibility to Title IV eligible students denies aid to students in need who are facing significant financial challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. They urged DeVos to immediately rescind both the guidance and the IFR, and grant institutions the maximum flexibility to distribute this emergency aid.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Catherine Cortez Masto wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin requesting more federal assistance to state and local governments.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asking Congress to provide financial relief to hospitals struggling to stay afloat due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In her letter, Gillibrand called for Medicare accelerated/advanced payment program loan forgiveness for hospitals across New York.

32 senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting significant foreign assistance to aid the international response to Covid-19 in future Covid-19 relief legislation.

24 Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include significant financial support for public transit in any future Covid-19 relief package. The senators requested that the nation’s train systems remain fully operational by providing an additional $32 billion in emergency supplemental funding for public transportation through the end of 2021.

Minnesota’s congressional delegation asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to provide relief for state Unemployment Insurance programs so these programs are able to continue providing support for the millions of American workers who have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig regarding the millions of Americans who did not receive Economic Impact Payments under the CARES Act.

Washington state’s congressional delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to express concerns with USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The delegation asked USDA to change its eligibility requirements for specialty crop growers so that more speciality crop applications to CFAP from Washington state will be included in the program.

49 members of Congress wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan expressing concern about the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on rural hospitals. The members asked HHS to make remaining Provider Relief Fund monies available to rural healthcare providers, requested a briefing on how the allocation so far has benefited rural providers, and asked for plans for distributing the remaining funds.

A bipartisan group of 19 senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Agriculture Committee requesting that any future Covid-19 stimulus package include direct payments to chicken farmers who have experienced revenue losses of at least 5 percent as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. Dick Durbin wrote to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul urging his office to protect Illinois students from fraud perpetuated by for-profit colleges. Durbin emphasized the long history of for-profit colleges taking advantage of people during times of economic uncertainty by luring students into massive debt for worthless degrees. Durbin noted signs of a for-profit college “resurgence” during the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and expressed concerns about for-profit colleges receiving CARES Act funds without adequate protections for students and taxpayers.

16 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asking him to bring the HEROES Act to the floor for consideration before the Senate recesses.

Maryland’s congressional delegation wrote to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor requesting the authorization of increasing the federal cost share for eligible Public Assistance program expenses to 100 percent. The members discussed how reimbursing Maryland for 100 percent of eligible incurred costs would benefit the state’s residents.

A bipartisan group of 16 senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressing concern about the “maximum allotment” provision included in Section 675B(b)(3) of the Community Services Block Grant Act, which has significantly limited the supplemental CSBG funds available to service providers in smaller states as they respond to Covid-19. The senators asked that the next round of Covid-19 response legislation include a provision to clarify that the maximum allotment provisions are waived with respect to CSBG funds provided by the CARES Act.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bob Casey, Chris Van Hollen, Sherrod Brown, and Tim Kaine asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to provide at least $30 million in financial support for the Developmental Disabilities network in the next Covid-19 stimulus package.

Nine Senate Democrats wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar calling for greater oversight and transparency regarding CARES Act payments made to shareholders and private equity owners of major health care providers. They asked HHS to require all payment recipients to provide documentation accounting for all dividends, management fees, stock repurchases, and bonuses paid in cash or in stock since receiving federal aid from the Provider Relief Fund and also asked HHS to require recipients to provide information about the use of funds, including an accounting of funds spent on PPE, supplies, and wages.

19 members of Congress wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting that $300 million in additional emergency appropriations be directed to the ESSA Title 1, Part C Migrant Education Program, and $350 million be directed to the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Program in the next Covid-19 relief package. The members argued that these additional relief funds would equip the Migrant Education Program and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Program to cover additional costs from meeting added needs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen wrote to HUD Secretary Ben Carson asking him to immediately disburse Emergency Solutions Grants funding to support individuals experiencing homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless. As moratoriums on initiating eviction and foreclosure proceedings are lifted across the country, Shaheen argued that funding authorized by Congress must be immediately disbursed to assist households suffering from lost income or increased expenses due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sens. Chris Van Hollen, Mark Warner, Ben Cardin, and Tim Kaine wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking him to provide support to the shellfish aquaculture industry by leveraging $16 billion in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program funding and tools available through the Agricultural Marketing Services Section 32 purchasing authority.

13 Senate Democrats asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig to use existing tools to distribute further supplemental payments to those in need.

16 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting additional funding for the Economic Development Administration’s programs in a future Covid-19 relief package.

20 Senate Democrats urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Committee to include appropriations to ensure HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs are able to adequately respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and continue providing life-saving services to people at risk of HIV and AIDS. The senators asked these supplemental appropriations be included in the next Covid-19 relief package.

A bipartisan group of 39 senators wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar expressing concern about the disproportionately low amount of Provider Relief Funds distributed to children’s hospitals, and asked HHS to provide additional funding for children’s hospitals.

Nine Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concern about an Interim Final Rule that Treasury released on April 28, 2020, that allowed seasonal businesses to calculate their Paycheck Protection Program loans based on summer season payroll data. The senators noted that this rule would prevent seasonal businesses that already received PPP loans based on off-season data to increase the size of their loans and urged Mnuchin and Carranza to issue a new Interim Final Rule that would enable seasonable businesses to access larger PPP loans.

28 Senate Democrats wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern that the Education Department and Treasury may be offsetting tax refunds from federal student loan borrowers in default, even though the CARES Act required that all collections on federally held, defaulted student loans be suspended until Sept. 30, 2020. The senators requested information regarding Treasury’s implementation of the CARES Act mandate to stop seizing the tax refunds of these individuals.

Sens. Tammy Baldwin, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Gary Peters asked White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro to support the inclusion of their legislation, End Outsourcing Act, which would use the tax code and federal grants, loans, and contracts to end the outsourcing of jobs overseas, in future Covid-19 relief legislation.

Maine’s congressional delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking for USDA to include maple syrup as an eligible specialty crop for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The delegation also expressed support for the letter of request sent to USDA by Maine Gov. Janet Mills, which outlined the necessity of CFAP relief for the Maine maple syrup industry.

The House Natural Resources Committee wrote to President Trump detailing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the seafood industry and fishermen’s livelihoods. Lawmakers noted that while the CARES Act includes $300 million to Tribal, subsistence, commercial, and charter fishery participants, Commerce took six weeks to determine how to allocate the funds; as of the date of the letter, the lawmakers noted that fishermen have yet to receive any CARES Act monies. They also noted that while Trump issued an executive order (“Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth”) on May 7, 2020, the order does not help the fishing industry in the near term and will have negative impacts on both the industry and fish in the long term.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Mike Braun wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell asking them to make changes to the Main Street Lending Program. The senators asked Mnuchin and Powell to consider increasing allowable donations as share of revenue; extending loan terms; ensuring better access to smaller non-profits; and accommodating different risk levels.

15 Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig urging them to clarify outstanding questions about the Treasury Department’s decision to distribute cash assistance to individuals provided by the CARES Act through pre-paid debit cards. The senators expressed concern that this decision imposed fees and other burdens on individuals who preferred to receive stimulus payments by check.

A bipartisan group of seven senators wrote to Amtrak President and CEO William Flynn expressing concern about Amtrak’s downsizing plan, outlined in its supplemental funding request. Congress provided Amtrak $1.02 billion in CARES Act funds. The senators asked Amtrak to provide information about its rationale for its supplementary funding request for FY 2021.

A bicameral group of Wisconsin Democrats asked Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to respond to a June 9, 2020, inquiry from the Wisconsin Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development about the eligibility of Wisconsin recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Ten Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to include additional funding for the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Systems and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in future Covid-19 relief packages to strengthen public safety during the pandemic.

Sens. Jon Tester and Jacky Rosen wrote to Amtrak President and CEO William Flynn expressing concern about Amtrak’s decision to gut long-distance service and slash jobs, despite Congress providing Amtrak $1.02 billion in the CARES Act. They urged Amtrak to preserve service to rural states and to protect jobs.

The Senate Appropriations Committee wrote to Acting OMB Director Russell Vought requesting emergency funding for USCIS to prevent 19,000 staff, including 1,700 Vermonters, from being furloughed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus sent a letter to the Inspector General of the Small Business Administration, requesting an investigation into a vulnerability in loan processing at the SBA that led to many businesses receiving duplicate loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.

Nine Senate Democrats asked Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize improved broadband access for Americans in rural communities by fully obligating money allocated by the CARES Act for USDA’s ReConnect program, a program designed to equip rural America with grants and loans to facilitate and fund construction of new broadband internet infrastructure.

The Senate Agriculture Committee wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking for the extension of WIC through Sept. 30, 2020, as authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The committee asked Perdue to provide certainty about the program’s extension to its beneficiaries.

Illinois’ congressional delegation wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking her to approve Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s request for an SBA Economic Injury Declaration for some Illinois counties.

36 Senate Democrats urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig to ensure economic stimulus recovery rebates are accessible to survivors of domestic violence.

41 Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include at least an additional $175 billion in funding for the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund. The senators stressed the need to ensure that schools are ready to educate children this fall, and to close opportunity gaps in communities experiencing the greatest medical and economic harm from Covid-19.

Sens. Chris Murphy, John Cornyn, Richard Blumenthal, and Martha McSally asked the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies to include at least $25 million for the DOJ to hire additional National Instant Criminal Background Checks staff in future appropriations responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.

18 Senate Democrats urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to consider legislation providing additional funding for state, local, and tribal governments, including an increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage that can be enacted before many states’ fiscal years begin on July 1. The senators expressed concern that states and counties have lost revenues due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis.

19 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urging the Senate to debate and consider the HEROES Act on the floor before the July 4 recess.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to ensure that nonprofits receive substantial emergency assistance in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Bill Cassidy requested that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer include the Edith Shorougian Senior Victims of Fraud Compensation Act in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell urging Treasury and the Fed to expand access to the Municipal Lending Facility to special districts that provide essential services such as drinking water, wastewater treatment, and fire and police protection.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks, FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams, and CFPB Director Kathleen Kraninger expressing concern that some mortgage servicers are providing consumers with confusing or incomplete information regarding Covid-related relief. Feinstein urged the agencies to issue guidance to mortgage servicers requiring uniform and comprehensive consumer disclosures that explain all federal mortgage forbearance options available during the Covid-19 pandemic. Feinstein also asked that the agencies encourage servicers to extend forbearance relief options to borrowers with privately backed mortgages.

A bipartisan group of 30 senators asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to make permanent the provisions in the CONNECT for Health Act that were included in the previous Covid-19 legislation. The provisions specified included an expansion of access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery Brian Miller to resist any political pressure from the White House while ensuring proper administration of CARES Act funds. They asked he alert Congress if he encounters any obstacles while carrying out his duties.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting communications with banks and industry associations, all applications received, and loans granted to determine whether the Paycheck Protection Program has favored large companies over struggling small businesses.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis sent a letter to the Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration, as well as to eight banks (JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, PNC Bank, Truist Bank, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Citibank, and Santander) regarding preferential loan processing and waste in the Paycheck Protection Program.

Reps. Richard Neal, Maxine Waters, and Nydia Velazquez wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting information about the recipients of the Paycheck Protection Program and the loans granted to these recipients.

A bipartisan group of 44 senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking them to make the PPP loan forgiveness application easier to understand and complete by revising the application so that it is no longer than one page for any loan under $250,000.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai asking the FCC to provide additional transparency to the public and Congress, regarding awards it is making under the Covid-19 Telehealth Program that Congress created in the CARES Act.

47 senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza to improve the PPP loan forgiveness application process, especially for very small businesses, sole proprietors, and underserved borrowers.

39 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking that any future Covid-19 legislation include strong provisions to ensure Americans have access to quality and affordable health care coverage. The letter asked leaders to build upon efforts in the HEROES Act by further enhancing the Medicaid federal medical assistance percentages to ensure continued and comprehensive coverage for enrollees, and to add provisions to reduce premium payments for Americans in the ACA exchanges.

Rep. Katie Porter and Sen. Kamala Harris wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking them to increase transparency about the Paycheck Protection Program, including by providing basic identifying information about PPP grant recipients and the amounts they received.

Sens. Mitt Romney and Chris Coons wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin requesting information about unemployment numbers, the effect of the Payroll Protection Program on the labor market, the impact of UI on the labor market, and the impact of PPP on small businesses.

The House Committee on Education and Labor wrote a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos expressing concern over unauthorized guidance to restrict Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) funds to millions of students across the country. After the passage of the CARES Act, the Education Department released the HEER certification of agreement form, which established the conditions institutions would accept to receive HEER funds; many institutions immediately applied for this emergency aid by signing and transmitting these forms. However, after an initial wave of applications, the department released a guidance document interpreting the CARES Act to include several restrictions on institutions’ HEER funds. Among these provisions, it claimed that the CARES Act prohibited institutions from providing HEER funds to students ineligible for Title IV student aid, such as federal direct loans, a restriction not specified in the CARES Act. The committee expressed concern that these restrictions would exclude students in needs, and urged the department to stop imposing onerous and unauthorized requirements on emergency relief funds and facilitate institutions’ distribution of aid.

31 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to provide $47 billion for students and institutions of higher learning in the next Covid-19 relief package.

In the interest of transparency around Covid-19 relief funds, the Senate Finance Committee wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar asking that his agency create a comprehensive public database of funds distributed from the CARES Act to health-care providers.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos expressing concern about her agency’s directive for allocating CARES Act funds for elementary and secondary schools. Specifically, Shaheen criticized an April 3, 2020, agency memo directing school districts receiving CARES Act funding to provide funds for equitable services for private school students based on the enrollment of “all students…without regard to poverty, low achievement, or residence in a participating Title 1 public school attendance area.” Shaheen noted that this directive contradicted statutes stating that funding for equitable services must be provided based on school districts’ low-income student populations. Shaheen urged DeVos to revise this guidance and implement CARES Act funding correctly.

Sens. Maria Cantwell, Mazie Hirono, and Ed Markey wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking them to ensure that small businesses with 10 or fewer employees and self-employed individuals receive assistance from the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and other coronavirus-related assistance.

Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to provide resources and assistance to support Massachusetts’ clean energy industry and its workforce in any upcoming Covid-19 relief packages.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Tina Smith, Jacky Rosen, and Bob Casey, and Rep. Katherine Clark urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza to issue guidance to child-care providers and to banks administering Paycheck Protection Program loans to ensure that child-care small businesses can access benefits available under the CARES Act.

Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee expressing support for expanding Paycheck Protection Program eligibility to include local nonprofit organizations. The senators asked that the CARES Act be amended to allow local 501(c)(6) organizations to participate in PPP.

Maryland’s congressional delegation wrote to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan urging him to address errors in the Unemployment Insurance claims system and address challenges in the administration of UI to Marylanders.

A bipartisan group of 16 senators asked HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma to consider the economic impact of Covid-19 on hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of Medicaid and low-income patients when distributing future congressionally appropriated Covid-19 relief funding.

Nine Senate Democrats wrote to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor urging his agency, in consultation with Indian Health Service and other relevant federal agencies, to guide tribal governments regarding available disaster response resources. The senators also urged FEMA to streamline and standardize the process for tribes to request Public Assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting that the additional funds allocated for Amtrak in their supplemental FY21 request be included in the next Covid-19 relief bill or in an appropriations measure as emergency spending.

Six Senate Democrats asked the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide an additional $20 million in funding to support Regional Public Health Training Center Programs in any forthcoming legislation addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.

14 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to include payroll support for digital native news professionals in the next Covid-19 relief legislation.

41 senators wrote to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Chairman Roy Blunt and Ranking Member Patty Murray to request additional emergency funding for community health centers in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Vermont’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig expressing concern about the significant delays and confusion surrounding the processing and receipt of Economic Impact Payments. The delegation asked Treasury and the IRS to provide updated guidance about when all remaining social security beneficiaries can expect their EIPs. The delegation also asked the IRS to change current guidance that any errors in EIP amounts will be corrected after recipients file their 2020 tax returns and requested that corrected EIPs be sent to their constituents as soon as possible. Lastly, the delegation asked the IRS to outline ways it will improve outreach and guidance for the public and for Congress.

Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to ask for the inclusion of additional fisheries assistance in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Eight Senate Democrats wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern that recent guidance issued on PPP loan forgiveness will be too burdensome for small businesses and time-consuming and costly for micro-businesses. The senators asked SBA and Treasury to update its loan forgiveness guidance to streamline and simplify the PPP forgiveness application process, create a safe harbor for borrowers receiving loans of $100,000 or less, and commit to collecting borrower demographic information.

The Senate Small Business Committee wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting that they make PPP, EIDL, and debt relief program data publicly available. The committee also asked Treasury and SBA to further revise the eligibility threshold for Community Development Financial Institutions and other community lenders in order for them to become eligible PPP lenders.

The chairs and ranking members of the committees of jurisdiction over Medicaid wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar expressing concern over prolonged delays in disbursing funds from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for Medicaid-dependent providers. The letter was signed by House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone Jr., House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Greg Walden, Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley, and Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden. The members highlighted the need for a dedicated distribution from the PHSSEF for providers who rely on Medicaid.

A bicameral group of 57 Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking them to include a robust clean energy recovery plan in future economic stimulus legislation, as the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing economic crisis has devastated the clean energy workforce and sector.

15 Senate Democrats asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include policies that improve maternal health in the next Covid-19 legislative package.

23 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking Congress to provide substantial relief, beyond what is included in the CARES Act, to support the country’s museums.

21 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking them to include funding for behavioral health care for children and youth in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Nine Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to direct USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to halt higher-speed slaughter and processing systems for poultry, swine, and cattle, to improve worker safety and better protect consumers. The request came as Senate leadership considered additional legislative priorities addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Senate Appropriations Committee wrote to Defense Secretary Mark Esper urging the agency to release its spending plan to provide Congress and the public with greater transparency about the agency’s use of $10.6 billion in CARES Act funds.

12 Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging him to clarify the disbursement formula Treasury used to allocate Coronavirus Relief Fund payments to Tribal governments.

13 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer encouraging them to support increased funding for post-viral-disease research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the next Covid-19 relief package. The senators expressed concern that, like viral outbreaks in the past, Covid-19 could trigger an increase in ME/CFS patients.

Sens. Ron Wyden, Patrick Leahy, Chuck Schumer, and Amy Klobuchar requested assurances from Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin that he would not follow an illegal order from President Trump to withhold federal aid from states that facilitate voting by mail during the Covid-19 pandemic.

15 Senate Democrats wrote to HUD Secretary Ben Carson urging him to allocate all remaining Community Development Block Grant and Emergency Solutions Grant to state and local governments. CDBG and ESG provide funding for critical health facilities, child care centers, senior services, food banks, affordable housing, and services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar urging him to expedite efforts at HHS to provide more grant dollars to healthcare providers through the Provider Relief Fund established under the CARES Act.

Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein wrote to the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting that any forthcoming Covid-19 relief legislation appropriate $50 million for Family Justice Centers, an organization serving domestic violence victims.

20 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Committee asking them to include resources to address the needs of communities plagued by gun violence in the next Covid-19 relief package.

41 Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking SBA to stop pressuring Planned Parenthood to return Paycheck Protection Program funds. The senators stated that it is critical for SBA to implement PPP as Congress directed, without “trying to score political points” by attacking Planned Parenthood.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote to HUD Secretary Ben Carson expressing her concern that HUD had not yet awarded significant portions of housing and homelessness funding appropriated through the CARES Act and urging HUD to distribute the remaining Community Development Block Grant and Emergency Solutions Grant funds to state and local governments as quickly as possible.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the Senate Appropriations Committee, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and the House Appropriations Committee asking them to provide additional funding for individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness in New Hampshire and across the country as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.

A bipartisan group of 22 senators urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include relief funds dedicated to children’s hospitals and pediatric health care providers in the next Covid-19 relief package.

A bipartisan group of 32 senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Appropriations Committee urging them to provide additional funding to support shelter and transitional housing services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as they work to develop a CARES 2.0 package. The senators also requested an additional $4 million for the Justice Department’s Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Alliance grant program authorized by the Pet and Women Safety Act.

The House Committee on Education and Labor, House Committee on Appropriations, and Senate HELP Committee wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking her agency to rescind its “equitable service” guidance, which would redirect Covid-19 relief funding away from students in public schools to fund services for students in private schools, regardless of their wealth or residence.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig asking them to provide recourse as quickly as possible to individuals who have not yet received their stimulus payments.

Sen. Ron Wyden and 21 other senators wrote to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia requesting clarification on circumstances under which individuals may refuse to return to work due to the Covid-19 crisis, but still continue to claim Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

Sens. Mark Warner, Doug Jones, and Kyrsten Sinema wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell urging them to make adjustments to the Main Street New Loan Facility and Main Street Expanded Loan Facility in order to maximize the impact for U.S. businesses and workers experiencing distress due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein, John Cornyn, Kamala Harris, and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking her to revise her current guidance to make 501(c)3 nonprofit educational institutions eligible for financial relief, such as the Paycheck Protection Program, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging him to take immediate action to reduce the financial burden borne by participants in the Paycheck Protection Program by extending the maturity of PPP loans.

Sens. Tom Carper and Mike Braun wrote to Acting OMB Director Russell Vought urging swift implementation of the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019.

Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for $1 billion for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund as part of the next Covid-19 relief package.

Thirteen Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to request that forthcoming legislation in the Senate relating to the Covid-19 pandemic include additional funding for state governments to upgrade their unemployment insurance claims systems.

Thirteen Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to request that forthcoming legislation in the Senate relating to the Covid-19 pandemic include additional funding for state governments to upgrade their unemployment insurance claims systems.

24 Senate Democrats wrote to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to express concern with the significant delays in processing UI claims, including those benefits under the three major UI programs authorized by the CARES Act (FPUC, PUA, and PEUC), during the Covid-19 pandemic. The senators urged Labor to complete a comprehensive assessment of state UI systems and to make policy recommendations to Congress to address state systems’ shortfalls. The senators also asked Labor to use its authority and resources to provide states with the assistance they need to expedite the disbursement of benefits.

The Senate Appropriations Committee wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue expressing concern about the slow response from USDA regarding the supplemental funding provided to the agency to address the Covid-19 pandemic. The committee asked USDA to quickly deliver food and farm assistance to those in need, as appropriated by Congress.

Sens. Robert Menendez, Sherrod Brown, Thom Tillis, and Lisa Murkowski wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell asking the Treasury and the Fed to take further action to stabilize the municipal bond market to ensure state and local governments have access to needed medium- and long-term financing.

24 Senate Democrats wrote to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to express concern with the significant delays in processing UI claims, including those benefits under the three major UI programs authorized by the CARES Act (FPUC, PUA, and PEUC), during the Covid-19 pandemic. The senators urged Labor to complete a comprehensive assessment of state UI systems and to make policy recommendations to Congress to address state systems’ shortfalls. The senators also asked Labor to use its authority and resources to provide states with the assistance they need to expedite the disbursement of benefits.

The Senate Appropriations Committee wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue expressing concern about the slow response from USDA regarding the supplemental funding provided to the agency to address the Covid-19 pandemic. The committee asked USDA to quickly deliver food and farm assistance to those in need, as appropriated by Congress.

Sens. Robert Menendez, Sherrod Brown, Thom Tillis, and Lisa Murkowski wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell asking the Treasury and the Fed to take further action to stabilize the municipal bond market to ensure state and local governments have access to needed medium- and long-term financing.

A bipartisan group of seven senators wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma requesting a meaningful level of financial relief from the Public Health and Social Services Fund for Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and for providers that receive Medicaid Home and Community Based Services waivers.

Sen. Maggie Hassan wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging the Treasury and the SBA to promptly issue guidance detailing the conditions under which small employers and self-employed individuals are eligible for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program.

Vermont’s congressional delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging USDA to support the dairy industry during the Covid-19 pandemic and asking USDA to use all available programs to support the struggling dairy industry, including the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, to provide direct relief to farmers in need.

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza following reports that some lenders, without explanation, reduced the funding small businesses receive through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to less than what those businesses were eligible to receive under the program. The committee asked Mnuchin and Carranza for responses to questions about monitoring PPP lending, investigations into PPP loan discrepancies, and steps taken to hold lenders accountable

A bipartisan group of seven senators wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma requesting a meaningful level of financial relief from the Public Health and Social Services Fund for Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and for providers that receive Medicaid Home and Community Based Services waivers.

Sen. Maggie Hassan wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging the Treasury and the SBA to promptly issue guidance detailing the conditions under which small employers and self-employed individuals are eligible for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program.

Vermont’s congressional delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging USDA to support the dairy industry during the Covid-19 pandemic and asking USDA to use all available programs to support the struggling dairy industry, including the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, to provide direct relief to farmers in need.

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza following reports that some lenders, without explanation, reduced the funding small businesses receive through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to less than what those businesses were eligible to receive under the program. The committee asked Mnuchin and Carranza for responses to questions about monitoring PPP lending, investigations into PPP loan discrepancies, and steps taken to hold lenders accountable

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging him to expand the allocation of $17 billion in CARES Act loans to businesses critical to national security, including the entire aerospace supply chain and workforce.

Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, Chris Coons, Mike Braun, and Josh Hawley wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking them to prioritize students’ access to higher education by providing zero origination fees for federal student loans in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Nine Senate Democrats wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar expressing concerns with ongoing instances of wage garnishment by hospitals pursuing medical debt collection during the Covid-19 pandemic. As HHS prepares to release further tranches of emergency funding to health care providers from the Public Health Social Services Emergency Fund, the senators requested that Azar condition payment of these funds on a commitment by hospitals not to garnish wages as a means to collect medical debt during the pandemic.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging him to expand the allocation of $17 billion in CARES Act loans to businesses critical to national security, including the entire aerospace supply chain and workforce.

Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, Chris Coons, Mike Braun, and Josh Hawley wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking them to prioritize students’ access to higher education by providing zero origination fees for federal student loans in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Nine Senate Democrats wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar expressing concerns with ongoing instances of wage garnishment by hospitals pursuing medical debt collection during the Covid-19 pandemic. As HHS prepares to release further tranches of emergency funding to health care providers from the Public Health Social Services Emergency Fund, the senators requested that Azar condition payment of these funds on a commitment by hospitals not to garnish wages as a means to collect medical debt during the pandemic.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee wrote to transportation and travel sector stakeholders requesting feedback regarding President Trump’s budget request for FY 2021, the CARES Act, and other legislation impacting TSA operations and programs in light of the Covid-19 crisis. Responses from the stakeholders (Airlines for America, Airports Council International North America, American Association of Airport Executives, Security Manufacturers Coalition, Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Travel Association) are included in the order mentioned, with the exception of Airlines for America (link provided by the committee could not be opened): https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/F3CA88E2-5F8C-429E-8797-07A23B8FC4CE; https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/A9CDA2FB-AFEA-4A2E-957B-4CFC8C86B806l; https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/F2D05655-1C18-4450-9D1B-E0C23C5DD6CB; https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/A1037232-0245-4D6B-93AF-A934AAB89B98; https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/5F7F69D8-2764-4FBA-A4E3-8624E125612F).

Eight Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin requesting information about IRS errors made when disbursing Economic Impact Payments. The senators also invited Mnuchin to work with Congress to ensure the needs of the IRS are met so Americans receive economic assistance in a timely manner.

Sen. Joni Ernst and 22 other senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to provide additional support to the child care sector in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Eight Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin requesting information about IRS errors made when disbursing Economic Impact Payments. The senators also invited Mnuchin to work with Congress to ensure the needs of the IRS are met so Americans receive economic assistance in a timely manner.

Sen. Joni Ernst and 22 other senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to provide additional support to the child care sector in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, Ben Cardin, and Jeanne Shaheen wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranz asking SBA to reverse a policy that limits Economic Injury Disaster Loans to $150,000 and to open up the program to all eligible small businesses, not just farms and agricultural businesses.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, Ben Cardin, and Jeanne Shaheen wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranz asking SBA to reverse a policy that limits Economic Injury Disaster Loans to $150,000 and to open up the program to all eligible small businesses, not just farms and agricultural businesses.

Sens. Brian Schatz, Angus King, Lisa Murkowski, and John Boozman wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting dedicated funding for broadband for healthcare providers and $2 billion in additional support for the Rural Health Care Program in any future Covid-19 relief package considered by Congress.

Connecticut’s congressional delegation wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar urging him to release additional congressionally appropriated funding to the 17 small- and medium-sized hospitals in Connecticut that were excluded from the recent $10 billion Covid High Impact Allocation.

Sen. Michael Bennet and 12 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig requesting information on the status of Economic Impact Payments, specifically relating to the $500 payment per eligible dependent.

Six Senate Democrats wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell calling on the Fed to reconsider its recent changes to the Main Street Lending Program, which will give oil and gas producers access to loans meant for small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing the need for SBA to issue guidance and regulations regarding the implementation and interpretation of Section 1106 of the CARES Act, which established the parameters for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin requesting information on the implementation of CARES Act assistance for the air transportation industry. In particular, the senators asked Mnuchin to provide a detailed report on the status of the Payroll Support Program (PSP) included within the CARES Act, which authorizes the Treasury to provide direct assistance to air carriers and their airport-based contractors to ensure the continued payment of their employees’ wages, salaries, and benefits.

Sens. Brian Schatz, Angus King, Lisa Murkowski, and John Boozman wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting dedicated funding for broadband for healthcare providers and $2 billion in additional support for the Rural Health Care Program in any future Covid-19 relief package considered by Congress.

Connecticut’s congressional delegation wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar urging him to release additional congressionally appropriated funding to the 17 small- and medium-sized hospitals in Connecticut that were excluded from the recent $10 billion Covid High Impact Allocation.

Sen. Michael Bennet and 12 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig requesting information on the status of Economic Impact Payments, specifically relating to the $500 payment per eligible dependent.

Six Senate Democrats wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell calling on the Fed to reconsider its recent changes to the Main Street Lending Program, which will give oil and gas producers access to loans meant for small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis sent letters to five large public corporations (EVO Transportation & Energy Services, Gulf Island Fabrication, MiMedx Group, Quantum Corporation, Universal Stainless & Alloy Products), demanding that each return the Paycheck Protection Program loans intended for small businesses.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing the need for SBA to issue guidance and regulations regarding the implementation and interpretation of Section 1106 of the CARES Act, which established the parameters for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program.

The House Committee on Education and Labor wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking her agency to abandon its plan to divert emergency education funding, intended to provide Covid-19 relief for public schools, toward private school vouchers.

Sens. Sherrod Brown, Chuck Schumer, and Maria Cantwell wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern following decisions by certain air carriers to involuntarily reduce the hours of their employees, despite the fact that these carriers received payroll support funds from the CARES Act. The senators urged Mnuchin to issue guidance making clear that air carriers’ unilateral reduction of workers’ hours is inconsistent with the intent of the Air Carrier Worker Support provisions of the CARES Act and require air carriers to comply with those provisions.

A bipartisan group of 28 senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to expand eligibility for nonprofits to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program by modifying the current 500-employee cap or by other means; treat self-funded nonprofits fairly by increasing federal unemployment insurance reimbursement for self-funded nonprofits to 100 percent of costs; and encourage donations to the work of charitable organizations by enabling taxpayers making donations on and after March 13 (date of national emergency declaration) and before July 16, 2020, to claim the deductions on their 2019 tax filings.

A bipartisan and bicameral group of ten members of Congress wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, and SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul expressing concerns about reports that deceased individuals are receiving Covid-19 economic relief payments and requesting they take action to prevent these improper CARES Act payments.

Sens. Sherrod Brown, Chuck Schumer, and Maria Cantwell wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern following decisions by certain air carriers to involuntarily reduce the hours of their employees, despite the fact that these carriers received payroll support funds from the CARES Act. The senators urged Mnuchin to issue guidance making clear that air carriers’ unilateral reduction of workers’ hours is inconsistent with the intent of the Air Carrier Worker Support provisions of the CARES Act and require air carriers to comply with those provisions.

A bipartisan group of 28 senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to expand eligibility for nonprofits to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program by modifying the current 500-employee cap or by other means; treat self-funded nonprofits fairly by increasing federal unemployment insurance reimbursement for self-funded nonprofits to 100 percent of costs; and encourage donations to the work of charitable organizations by enabling taxpayers making donations on and after March 13 (date of national emergency declaration) and before July 16, 2020, to claim the deductions on their 2019 tax filings.

A bipartisan and bicameral group of ten members of Congress wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, and SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul expressing concerns about reports that deceased individuals are receiving Covid-19 economic relief payments and requesting they take action to prevent these improper CARES Act payments.

30 Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern about the solvency of USPS, especially in the middle of a global pandemic. The senators stated that millions of Americans depend on USPS to receive much-needed relief checks through the mail and asked Mnuchin to reject imposing counterproductive or politically motivated conditions on the pledged $10 billion emergency loan to USPS.

Six Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concern that payday lenders are lobbying to gain eligibility for the Paycheck Protection Program and that the Treasury and SBA have been using administrative authority through Interim Final Rules to adjust eligibility requirements for PPP. The senators asked the agencies to reject PPP requests by payday lenders, whose business model centers on providing predatory loans to financially vulnerable Americans.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar and 10 other senators wrote to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons expressing concern about a sharp increase in scams targeting small businesses seeking access to SBA lending programs. The senators urged the FTC to ensure small businesses are protected from exploitation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

30 Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern about the solvency of USPS, especially in the middle of a global pandemic. The senators stated that millions of Americans depend on USPS to receive much-needed relief checks through the mail and asked Mnuchin to reject imposing counterproductive or politically motivated conditions on the pledged $10 billion emergency loan to USPS.

Six Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concern that payday lenders are lobbying to gain eligibility for the Paycheck Protection Program and that the Treasury and SBA have been using administrative authority through Interim Final Rules to adjust eligibility requirements for PPP. The senators asked the agencies to reject PPP requests by payday lenders, whose business model centers on providing predatory loans to financially vulnerable Americans.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar and 10 other senators wrote to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons expressing concern about a sharp increase in scams targeting small businesses seeking access to SBA lending programs. The senators urged the FTC to ensure small businesses are protected from exploitation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. John Cornyn and 20 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza calling on the administration to raise SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program non-payroll forgiveness cap.

42 Senate Democrats wrote to President Trump expressing concern over the lack of detail and strategy in his administration’s testing blueprint. The senators asked Trump to allocate the $25 billion provided by the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to ramp up testing in a manner that optimizes public health and promotes equity. Further, the senators asked for the prompt formulation, reporting, and implementation of a highly detailed and specific national strategic plan, as required by the act.

Sen. John Cornyn and 20 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza calling on the administration to raise SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program non-payroll forgiveness cap.

42 Senate Democrats wrote to President Trump expressing concern over the lack of detail and strategy in his administration’s testing blueprint. The senators asked Trump to allocate the $25 billion provided by the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to ramp up testing in a manner that optimizes public health and promotes equity. Further, the senators asked for the prompt formulation, reporting, and implementation of a highly detailed and specific national strategic plan, as required by the act.

Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar voicing concerns that, to date, roughly $70 billion had been distributed to health-care providers under the CARES Act in a way that discriminated against Medicaid-dependent providers. Wyden and Pallone called on Azar and the administration to address the lack of financial relief for Medicaid providers fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

23 Senate Democrats wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern that SBA is not administering EIDLs with the swiftness and transparency Congress intended and the economic crisis demands, and requesting answers about SBA’s handling of the EIDL program.

23 Senate Democrats wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern that SBA is not administering EIDLs with the swiftness and transparency Congress intended and the economic crisis demands, and requesting answers about SBA’s handling of the EIDL program.

18 senators, each of whom represents states with substantial chicken farming and processing operations, wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking USDA to provide direct assistance to chicken farmers impacted by Covid-19 and to continue providing support to chicken processing facilities.

Sens. Doug Jones and Tim Scott wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting additional guidance on loan forgiveness as they implement the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.

Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and Reps. Seth Moulton and William Keating, wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue reiterating their request that USDA include East Coast seafood producers among the agricultural producers that the agency is providing financial assistance to during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue expressing support for commercial fishermen, shellfish growers, and aquaculture farmers, and to request that they be included in USDA’s Purchase and Distribution (Farmers to Families Food Box) Program as part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging them to provide updated guidance clarifying the timeline and process for forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program.

18 senators, each of whom represents states with substantial chicken farming and processing operations, wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking USDA to provide direct assistance to chicken farmers impacted by Covid-19 and to continue providing support to chicken processing facilities.

Sens. Doug Jones and Tim Scott wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting additional guidance on loan forgiveness as they implement the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.

Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and Reps. Seth Moulton and William Keating, wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue reiterating their request that USDA include East Coast seafood producers among the agricultural producers that the agency is providing financial assistance to during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue expressing support for commercial fishermen, shellfish growers, and aquaculture farmers, and to request that they be included in USDA’s Purchase and Distribution (Farmers to Families Food Box) Program as part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging them to provide updated guidance clarifying the timeline and process for forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to express concern about the financial state of the U.S. Postal Service and to urge them to include funding for the agency in future Covid-19 relief legislation.

A bipartisan group of 27 senators wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to follow up on an April 9, 2020, letter regarding USDA’s relief for local food producers. The members urged USDA to incorporate provisions specific to local food producers as the agency finalizes the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Specifically, the members asked USDA to: adjust the CFAP payment calculations to better reflect the business models of local producers; amend the covered time period to more appropriately reflect when local producers experience losses; and develop an inclusive outreach plan to ensure all local food producers are aware of benefits available to them under the CFAP.

Sen. Gary Peters and Rep. Ben Lujan wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking them to include funding for broadband infrastructure to expand broadband deployment in rural and tribal communities across the U.S. in the next Covid-19 relief package.

Vermont’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging them to provide clear and official guidance about the loan forgiveness provisions in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Sen. Kamala Harris wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concerns about small businesses struggling amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to previous lack of response, Harris reiterated requests made in an April 17 letter in which she asked Treasury and SBA to review potential explanations for why California received the fewest PPP loans per small business of any state, review disparities in PPP funding, and respond with any statutory changes needed to make the program more equitable. She also asked information about how SBA plans to ensure that businesses in California receive an equitable share of PPP relief.

Sen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Gregory Meeks wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza to express frustration with the technical difficulties that have effectively barred access to many community banks, minority depository institutions, and community development financial institutions from the relaunch of the Paycheck Protection Program. Harris and Meeks asked how the agencies intend to fix SBA’s systems and address these issues, and when community banks, MDIs, and CDFIs will be able to successfully access PPP funds.

Sens. Rob Portman and Ben Cardin wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting that SBA revise its Interim Final Rule for the Paycheck Protection Program to allow individuals with criminal records to apply for PPP funds.

Sen. Kamala Harris wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concerns about small businesses struggling amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to previous lack of response, Harris reiterated requests made in an April 17 letter in which she asked Treasury and SBA to review potential explanations for why California received the fewest PPP loans per small business of any state, review disparities in PPP funding, and respond with any statutory changes needed to make the program more equitable. She also asked information about how SBA plans to ensure that businesses in California receive an equitable share of PPP relief.

Sen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Gregory Meeks wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza to express frustration with the technical difficulties that have effectively barred access to many community banks, minority depository institutions, and community development financial institutions from the relaunch of the Paycheck Protection Program. Harris and Meeks asked how the agencies intend to fix SBA’s systems and address these issues, and when community banks, MDIs, and CDFIs will be able to successfully access PPP funds.

Sens. Rob Portman and Ben Cardin wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting that SBA revise its Interim Final Rule for the Paycheck Protection Program to allow individuals with criminal records to apply for PPP funds.

14 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting at least $8 billion in new funding to help states and localities recruit, hire, and train contact tracers and deploy voluntary digital tools that can alert people who have crossed paths with a newly diagnosed Covid-19 patient. The senators asked that such a fund include a small state minimum of no less than $50 million to ensure that every state can bolster and maintain its testing and contact tracing infrastructure.

Sen. Marco Rubio and 21 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging their agencies to provide an immediate administrative fix to ensure the continued operation of the 7(a) loan program.

Sen. Angus King wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking USDA to tailor the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to respond to the unique circumstances of Maine’s potato growers. As USDA finalizes CFAP, King recommended it should, along with facilitating direct purchases, consider loss of product sales in direct relief calculations and allow farmers to self-certify their economic losses with the Farm Service Agency.

Sen. Angus King wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue consider the unique needs of Maine’s wild blueberry industry and tailor economic relief for the specialty crop industry that adequately responds to its circumstances.

Sen. Angus King wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging him to release CARES Act loan funds for USPS so that it can continue its operations during the Covid-19 crisis.

Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and Reps. Seth Moulton and William Keating wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to express frustration and concern over the extensive delay in the issuance of guidance for CARES Act assistance to fisheries. The members asked Ross to ensure the Commerce Department issues guidance as soon as possible so that fisheries’ aid reaches those who need it.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Appropriations Committee, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and the House Appropriations Committee asking them to include additional funding and measures to address the housing needs of victims of domestic abuse in the next Covid-19 stimulus bill.

14 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting at least $8 billion in new funding to help states and localities recruit, hire, and train contact tracers and deploy voluntary digital tools that can alert people who have crossed paths with a newly diagnosed Covid-19 patient. The senators asked that such a fund include a small state minimum of no less than $50 million to ensure that every state can bolster and maintain its testing and contact tracing infrastructure.

Sen. Marco Rubio and 21 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging their agencies to provide an immediate administrative fix to ensure the continued operation of the 7(a) loan program.

Sen. Angus King wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking USDA to tailor the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to respond to the unique circumstances of Maine’s potato growers. As USDA finalizes CFAP, King recommended it should, along with facilitating direct purchases, consider loss of product sales in direct relief calculations and allow farmers to self-certify their economic losses with the Farm Service Agency.

Sen. Angus King wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue consider the unique needs of Maine’s wild blueberry industry and tailor economic relief for the specialty crop industry that adequately responds to its circumstances.

Sen. Angus King wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging him to release CARES Act loan funds for USPS so that it can continue its operations during the Covid-19 crisis.

Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and Reps. Seth Moulton and William Keating wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to express frustration and concern over the extensive delay in the issuance of guidance for CARES Act assistance to fisheries. The members asked Ross to ensure the Commerce Department issues guidance as soon as possible so that fisheries’ aid reaches those who need it.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Appropriations Committee, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and the House Appropriations Committee asking them to include additional funding and measures to address the housing needs of victims of domestic abuse in the next Covid-19 stimulus bill.

Sen. Tina Smith and 30 other senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to prioritize funding child care in the next Covid-19 legislative package.

Sens. Brian Schatz and Sherrod Brown wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging them to issue guidance to ensure that the processing and disbursement of Paycheck Protection Program loans prioritize Main Street small businesses and nonprofits, and not large, well-funded companies.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concern that Hawaii’s small businesses are significantly disadvantaged from accessing the second round of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program. The delegation asked for an immediate and full review of issues with the PPP and for Treasury’s and SBA’s assurance that Hawaii’s small businesses will be able to obtain at least $1.8 billion in second-round PPP funding, representing roughly the pro rata portion of total PPP availability in this current tranche as Hawaii obtained in the first tranche.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting their agencies work diligently to provide more detailed and up-to-date data on the lenders and businesses applying to, and participating in, the Paycheck Protection Program.

Sens. Brian Schatz and Sherrod Brown wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging them to issue guidance to ensure that the processing and disbursement of the Paycheck Protection Program loans prioritize Main Street small businesses and nonprofits.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting their agencies work diligently to provide more detailed and up-to-date data on the lenders and businesses applying to, and participating in, the Paycheck Protection Program.

Sens. Brian Schatz and Sherrod Brown wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging them to issue guidance to ensure that the processing and disbursement of the Paycheck Protection Program loans prioritize Main Street small businesses and nonprofits.

Maine’s congressional delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to confirm aquaculture farmers’ eligibility for direct relief from USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

Sen. Bill Cassidy and 17 other senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to expand access to the Paycheck Protection Program, particularly for local trade and professional organizations, in future Covid-19 relief legislation.

Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship expressing concern that PPP eligibility criteria excludes nonprofits listed under 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. The senators asked Senate leadership and the committee to consider modifications to the PPP and expand the program to include 501(c)(6) nonprofits that do no engage in substantial federal campaign or lobbying activities and can demonstrate economic hardship.

Sen. Mark Warner and seven other senators wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin asking them to ensure that minority and low- and moderate-income communities get proper access to the assistance made available under the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar and 21 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking for information on what their agencies were doing to ensure that funds made available to small business owners through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program reach small business owners who need the assistance. The senators also asked Treasury and SBA about actions they are taking to prevent PPP funds from enriching applicants who are not in need of the same relief.

Sen. Jack Reed and 45 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin regarding the Treasury’s Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance. The senators argued that it was fully in Mnuchin’s authority, and the intent of the CARES Act, that these funds may be used to replace lost or delayed tax revenues and maintain public services. The senators urged Mnuchin to promptly revise his interpretation so that states, Tribal, and local governments can use these funds to prevent further economic damage.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concern about the treatment of Tribal business concerns under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Sinema asked SBA, in consultation with the Treasury, to quickly address the economic distress imposed on tribal gaming operations by the interim final rule “Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program – Additional Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for Certain Pledges of Loans.” Sinema asked SBA and Treasury to make administrative changes to allow Tribal gaming operations to apply for and receive PPP funding.

Sen. Chris Coons and seven other senators wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell inquiring about the Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility (PPP Facility). As the Fed worked to expand eligibility to the PPP Facility, the senators urged it to make the PPP Facility available to nonbank community financial institution lenders, including certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), so that underserved businesses can access critical capital.

Sens. Maggie Hassan, Tom Carper, and Ron Wyden wrote to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig urging the IRS to continue strengthening its efforts to protect Americans from fraud and identity theft, particularly related to Covid-19 stimulus payments provided by the CARES Act.

Sen. Susan Collins and and five other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig asking them to consider allowing certain Social Security and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries with dependents who missed the April 22, 2020, deadline to still receive the additional $500 per qualified dependent this year. The senators expressed concern that individuals unable to meet the deadline announced in the April 20 guidance would have to wait until the next year to receive the full payments they were entitled to under the CARES Act.

Sens. Maggie Hassan, Tom Carper, and Ron Wyden wrote to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig asking him to continue efforts to protect Americans from fraud and identity theft, particularly related to Covid-19 stimulus payments. The senators also urged Rettig to develop fraud prevention strategies for the recently released “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info and Get My Payment” online tools, to coordinate with the FTC and the FCC to educate Americans about preventing stimulus payment-specific fraud, and to share information on identifying, reporting, and investigating stimulus payment-specific fraud.

Maryland’s congressional delegation wrote to CMS Administrator Seema Verma expressing strong support for ensuring that nursing homes and other long-term care facilities receive the resources they need to effectively respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and to prevent outbreaks in their facilities. The delegation asked CMS to disburse CARES Act funds allocated for nursing homes.

Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking them provide greater transparency regarding the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, and the Emergency EIDL Grant Program to help Congress better undertake its oversight responsibilities of these programs, and to help the senators assure the efficacy of these programs for their Connecticut constituents and businesses.

Sen. Maggie Hassan and multiple other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul expressing concern that without additional action from their agencies, many families who receive Social Security benefits and have young children may not receive the full cash assistance that Congress provided in the CARES Act until 2021. The senators urged Mnuchin and Saul to ensure that economically vulnerable non-filers receiving social security retirement, social security disability, SSI, and VA benefits receive stimulus payments for themselves and their dependent children before the next year.

Sen. Jerry Moran and multiple other senators urged President Trump to eliminate Coronavirus Food Assistance Program payment limits for livestock, dairy, and speciality crop producers before the final CFAP program details are announced.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote to HUD Secretary Ben Carson in support of Los Angeles County’s proposed formula for allocating Emergency Solutions Grant funding provided through the CARES Act. She asked Carson to consider this request and work to ensure equitable distribution as he allocates the remaining funds.

Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Kevin Cramer, and Reps. Peter Welch and Roger Marshall, wrote to President Trump urging him to support dedicated funding for small broadband providers to keep students and low-income families connected to the internet during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar asking him to recognize shortcomings of the Provider Relief Fund and to make necessary adjustments to future Provider Relief Fund disbursements.

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the House Committee on Small Business wrote a letter SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concern about recent reports that SBA permitted sensitive, personally identifiable information of thousands of EIDL applicants to become exposed. The committees asked SBA to provide a complete accounting of this incident, including: a summary of information about the data breach and how the breach occurred; the number of individuals and firms that may have been affected; when SBA notified these individuals and firms possibly affected; the period of time when information was compromised; and what steps SBA has taken to ensure that applicant information is secure going forward.

Sen. Sherrod Brown wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking them to improve the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, Sherrod Brown, and Ben Cardin wrote to SBA Inspector General Mike Ware asking him to investigate reports that certain lenders participating in SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) have prioritized the applications of their larger and wealthier clients to the detriment of smaller businesses adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sen. Richard Durbin and 22 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin urging his agency to redouble its efforts to make Economic Impact Payments available to the most vulnerable populations, including those without internet access and those who cannot file a tax return electronically.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking her to expeditiously release direct assistance for institutions of higher education provided by the CARES Act.

Sen. Joe Manchin wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza expressing concern with the PPP and EIDL programs, and other financial assistance measures that Congress enacted to help struggling small businesses during the Covid-19 crisis. Manchin described the challenges West Virginia businesses face during the pandemic, and asked SBA to provide the resources the businesses in his state desperately need. Manchin asked for clarification on the implementation of the PPP and EIDL programs, given perceived delays in SBA’s allocation of these programs’ funding.

Sen. Sherrod Brown and Reps. Marcy Kaptur, David Joyce, and Anthony Gonazalez wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking him to to extend direct federal Covid-19 relief to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA).

Sens. Chris Murphy and Bill Cassidy wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking for clear guidance to protect the needs of students with disabilities during and following nationwide school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The senators noted that as the Education Department considers any recommendations to Congress for additional flexibility with regards to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), they were committed to seeking targeted supplemental funding for IDEA in the next Covid-19 stimulus package.

Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking him to issue additional guidance on how state and local governments can use funding secured in the CARES Act, including as revenue replacement. The senators also asked that the administration work with them to ensure that new funding for state and local governments beyond the CARES Act is robust, dedicated, and flexible, allowing governments to provide critical services and address significant budget shortfalls associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The House Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs wrote to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro expressing concern that PPP loans may not have gone to those who need them most. Chairman Gary Peters asked GAO to review the PPP, as part of its ongoing oversight, including funds provided under the CARES Act and any subsequent legislation. Peters asked GAO to review the policies, procedures, and criteria used by SBA and lenders to determine how, and to whom, to issue PPP loans. He also requested answers to various questions concerning the geographical distribution of PPP loans, SBA’s internal controls (to ensure lenders administer the PPP in compliance with the law, and the extent to which PPP recipients met eligibility criteria established under the CARES Act, among other questions.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig urging their agencies to ensure that economic impact payment beneficiaries can continue using the IRS online non-filers tool to seek stimulus payments for their qualifying child dependents past April 22, 2020.

Sen. Ron Wyden requested Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin provide information about the decision-making process that led to Donald Trump’s name being printed on Economic Impact Payment checks intended to assist Americans with the effects of the Covid-19 epidemic. Wyden worried that the signatures would delay delivery of the checks.

Sen. Doug Jones wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging her to make sure the agricultural sector is not excluded from CARES Act relief programs.

Sen. Sherrod Brown and six other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell expressing concern that the Treasury and the Fed have not provided sufficient transparency into the structure and administration of CARES Act loan programs or adequate explanations for the decisions made so far about these programs. The senators requested responses to questions pertaining to these loan programs.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking their agencies to investigate the large state-by-state disparity in the distribution of funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and to take all necessary steps to mitigate any inequities identified.

Sen. Kamala Harris and 13 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking him to use Treasury’s rulemaking authority to exempt Americans’ coronavirus direct assistance payments from private debt collection.

Senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting information about the number and amount of loans distributed to small businesses, nonprofits, and religious organizations through the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Emergency Grants Program.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Maston wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging USDA to act quickly and build off of existing programs, and recently appropriated CARES Act funds, to deliver direct assistance to dairy farmers, dairy processors, and others in the supply chain.

Sen. John Hoeven and 42 other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging the Treasury and SBA to ensure that rural electric cooperatives will be considered eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program.

Sen. Richard Durbin and eight other senators wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar expressing concern about front-line health workers and health-care settings that were excluded from, or inadequately supported through, the first round of CARES Act funding. Given these concerns, the senators asked Azar to alter the methodology for the next round of funding to better reflect the contributions of children’s hospitals, hospitals that serve a disproportionate share of Medicaid and uninsured patients, and rural hospitals, as well as hospitals that serve communities with higher volumes of Covid-19 cases.

Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging USDA to provide immediate, direct financial assistance to family pork and beef producers amid the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Reps. David Trone and Jamie Raskin wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting that their agencies coordinate to provide updated guidance allowing for delayed disbursement of PPP funds and extended use of proceeds in order to better align with business re-openings. Specifically, they asked that the Treasury issue revised guidance specifying that the disbursement of PPP loans may be delayed (currently, the Treasury requires disbursement of those funds within 10 days after the loan is approved). The members also asked the Treasury to issue guidance clarifying that PPP loan proceeds may be used after June 30, 2020, and until a reasonable amount of time has passed after the end of state-of-emergency restrictions to ensure that small businesses can get back up and running.

Sen. Ron Wyden and 11 other senators wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar requesting the administration be transparent and equitable in its distribution of the remaining $70 billion in the CARES Act Provider Fund. The letter outlined two key priorities for the administration to adhere to when it distributes the remaining funds: First, providing a detailed and public account of where all funds have gone, as well as a thorough explanation of the criteria used to determine which providers receive funds. Second, ensuring an equitable distribution of funds to where they are needed most. The senators requested that future distributions account for the imbalanced allocation of the first $30 billion, ensure that all providers receive the resources they need, and avoid penalizing states for their efforts to expand qualified, comprehensive health coverage.

Sen. Ron Wyden and 11 other senators wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar urging him to prioritize transparency, equity, and urgency as HHS prepared to distribute the $70 billion in remaining funds allocated for health-care providers to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rep. Ayanna Presley, Sen. Kamala Harris, and multiple members of Congress wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking them to ensure that minority-owned businesses are not shut out of the PPP program and that lenders are required to report on the demographics of any PPP lending. The members also requested that SBA and Treasury amend guidance on PPP to reaffirm lending institutions’ obligations to comply with fair lending laws.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell urging them to ensure that nonprofit organizations are eligible for loans under the Main Street Lending Program.

Nevada’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell requesting that their agencies prioritize loans to businesses uniquely impacted by Covid-19, particularly the hospitality and tourism industries.

Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging the SBA to request additional funding from Congress for the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan Program. The senators also asked the SBA to release emergency EIDL grants to businesses promptly and issue clear, concise, and accurate guidance on the EIDL program immediately.

Maryland’s congressional delegation wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar urging his agency to ensure that all health-care entities impacted by Covid-19 are able to benefit from the CARES Act’s Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. The delegation also asked Azar to provide maximum transparency around how these funds are being disbursed and which entities are receiving them.

Sen. Chuck Schumer and 33 other senators wrote to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia asking him for guidance on a variety of issues related to workers that are supposed to benefit from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and 28 other senators wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking USDA to ensure that specialty crop producers receive CARES Act assistance that is commensurate with the losses they are facing. The CARES Act established a $9.5 billion disaster fund and specifically included producers of specialty crops as eligible for assistance.

Sen. Patrick Leahy and 24 other senators wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging USDA to act immediately to help dairy farmers. The CARES Act included $9.5 billion in emergency response funds for agriculture, allowing USDA to prepare for, prevent, and respond to Covid-19 through direct support to producers; dairy producers are specifically supported by this fund.

Sens. Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao expressing concerns about the Treasury Departments’s implementation of the “Air Carrier Worker Support” section of the CARES Act. The agency planned to require that airlines repay 30 percent of grants received under this section, effectively converting a portion of direct assistance to workers into a loan. The senators worried this proposal would result in job losses and new burdens on airline employees and discouraged the Treasury and DOT from imposing conditions that would negatively harm the aviation workforce.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin expressing concern regarding the potentially long wait times for individuals, particularly those who do not provide direct deposit information to the IRS, to receive their economic stimulus payments. The senators encouraged Mnuchin to do everything in his power to address this problem immediately and ensure that taxpayers quickly receive their stimulus checks, regardless of banking status.

Sen. Chuck Schumer and 33 other senators wrote to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to request that the Labor Department clarify its guidance pertaining to workers who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 without receiving a test, workers with Covid-19 who take time off of work, workers without child-care options in summer months, workers unable to get to work due to stay-at-home orders, workers with underlying health conditions like asthma, and self-employed workers like gig workers experiencing plummeting demand for services. The senators argue that parts of the guidance appear narrow or ambiguous, which could make states think they need to exclude workers whom Congress intended to receive unemployment compensation through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

New Jersey’s congressional delegation wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma following up on a March 31, 2020, letter regarding the $100 billion fund for health-care providers in the CARES Act. As HHS and CMA consider releasing additional funding, the delegation asked them to consider instituting a modifier to ensure that hospitals with the greatest need are able to access critical funding. When the letter was written, New Jersey was the second-most impacted state in the country.

Colorado’s congressional delegation wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma requesting immediate consideration of the needs of health-care providers who did not receive sufficient support from the initial round of funding through the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. The delegation urged HHS and CMS to work on a solution to provide relief to hospitals and providers, taking into account the financial impact of Covid-19.

The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to request information on how the VA is planning to implement provisions secured by Sen. Jon Tester (ranking member) in the Covid-19 stimulus package for veterans. Tester noted that veterans are, by nature of their age and underlying health conditions, at higher risk for developing complications from Covid-19.

Maryland’s congressional delegation wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and NOAA Administrator Chris Oliver to coordinate with states in order to allocate CARES Act assistance to U.S. fisheries negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging them to address several major issues with the Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that are of serious concern to employers in New Hampshire.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking them to immediately take action to ensure banks can swiftly provide PPP loans and help rescue Wisconsin small businesses and nonprofits.

Sen. Ron Wyden and 18 other senators wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging SBA to provide clear and consistent guidance regarding its interpretation and implementation of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and Emergency Economic Injury Grants (EEIGs).

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Patty Murray, and Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Ayanna Pressley, wrote to Pres. Trump urging him to support including the PAID Leave Act in the next legislative vehicle. The members noted that while the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) took important steps to providing limited access to paid sick days and paid family leave, too many families were left without coverage. The members urged broadening the availability of paid leave beyond the provision of FFCRA.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking his agency to promote three common-sense principles in any guidance related to distributions from the Coronavirus Relief Fund: flexibility, fairness, and clarity. Duckworth asked for jurisdictions to have flexibility in how to use relief funds to provide essential services and avoid layoffs of frontline employees. She also asked that the Treasury ensure jurisdictions of all sizes receive their fair share of funds distributed from the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Finally, she asked that any final guidance released by the Treasury will provide maximum clarity in helping jurisdictions understand how to appropriately distribute the relief resources they receive.

The Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) Christy Goldsmith Romero wrote to Treasury Secertary Steve Mnuchin recommending that the Treasury put to better use unspent funds in TARP to enhance existing unemployment mortgage assistance through the Hardest Hit Fund in light of recent, significant unemployment due to the Covid-19 crisis. A response to SIGTARP, from Gavin Beske (deputy assistant secretary for community and economic development), is also included.

Colorado’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia urging them to quickly release comprehensive guidance on Unemployment Insurance-related programs (as part of the CARES Act) to states, so that Colorado can quickly disseminate benefits to workers who do not already qualify for state UI.

Sen. Doug Jones and five other senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting that their agencies allow payroll processing companies to disburse essential funds, including PPP loans, to small businesses to reduce complications and expedite salaries to workers. In collaboration with lenders, the senators wrote, payroll processors can play a key role in verifying payroll data to help facilitate a speedy process while also helping alleviate the risk of fraud.

Sen. Dick Durbin wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin urging them to quickly issue guidance to lenders and agents that clearly outlines how lenders can best serve small businesses in rural and underserved communities, including agricultural operations and farms where wages are not paid in the conventional sense. Durbin noted that it was critical for lenders and agents to receive clear and expeditious guidance to ensure that farmers, women, minority, and veteran-owned small businesses and nonprofits in rural and underserved communities were not left behind.

Sen. Dick Durbin wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting that farms and agricultural business suffering economic injury due to Covid-19 be acknowledged as eligible for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Eight Democratic senators wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin expressing concern about reports of financial institutions turning away or being unable to lend to small businesses, private nonprofits, and other entities seeking capital through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The senators asked SBA and Treasury to issue guidance that offers access to eligibility experts at SBA and Treasury who can help borrowers and lenders determine if a borrower is eligible for a PPP loan, and how to calculate and document the loan amounts and expected forgiveness. The senators also asked the agencies to finalize all regulations to lenders from processing to closing, so they can get funds to borrowers immediately.

Sens. Maggie Hassan, Michael Rounds, Angus King, and Jeanne Shaheen wrote to Vice President Mike Pence urging him to work with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to give states the flexibility they need to put the $150 billion allocated for state and local government stabilization to use mitigating the short- and long-term economic impacts of the Covid-19 crisis, including making up for lost revenue. The senators argued that governors and state legislators were best positioned to determine how to use these funds.

Nineteen Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Pat Leahy requesting that any future Covid-19 stimulus package contain funding to support local journalism and media. Without this support, the senators stated, communities across the country were at risk of losing one of their key sources of accurate information about the Covid-19 pandemic.

Twelve Senate Democrats wrote to Attorney General William Barr and BOP Director Michael Carvajal, following up on a March 20, 2020 inquiry, urging BOP to waive fees associated with phone calls for incarcerated people and to allow for unsupervised communications with attorneys for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic. The CARES Act included new authority for BOP to promulgate rules that would allow inmates to connect with loved ones through video teleconferencing and by telephone free of charge if the attorney general finds that emergency conditions will materially affect the functioning of BOP.

Sen. Jon Tester wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to bring legislation to the Senate floor that addresses the concerns of small businesses that initiatives authorized in the CARES Act lack sufficient funding and flexibility to help those who need it most.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown, Dick Durbin, and Richard Blumenthal wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos requesting that the Department of Education clarify whether it will allow for-profit colleges to be eligible for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by Congress in the CARES Act.

Twenty-eight Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking him to ensure that direct assistance provided by the CARES Act reaches people experiencing homelessness.

Sens. Doug Jones and Tom Cotton wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin requesting his agency to use its Direct Express debit card as one available method for disbursing CARES Act economic relief payments.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking her to clarify that farms are eligible for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, consistent with the CARES Act, and ensure that agricultural producers are able to use alternative calculations such as net earnings to determine their loan size under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Twenty Senate Democrats wrote to FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams requesting further assistance in ensuring transit agencies across the U.S. get immediate financial relief and federal support in acquiring PPE. The senators also asked FTA to update its guidance to transit agencies to ensure more robust safety protections are put in place for frontline workers.

Ten Democratic Senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza to recommend that a portion of available PPP funding be reserved for those borrowers who do not have relationships with the traditional lenders that will dominate delivery of PPP loans. The senators noted that many banks are already serving existing clients first, with some even prioritizing only those who have already taken on debt with that financial institution, leaving underserved communities with no or severely limited access to these vital funds.

Democratic members of the Virginia’s congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking him to provide guidance on the State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund in a way that maximizes the flexibility state and local governments have in using the funds.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking their agencies to coordinate on CARES Act assistance for agricultural producers.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep. Steven Horsford wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar urging him to provide support for employer-funded clinics during the Covid-19 pandemic. As HHS develops distribution rules and methodologies for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund resources, the members urged Azar to make explicit the eligibility of health-care clinics provided by any self-funded group heath plan sponsored by a multi-employer trust fund to apply to these funds.

A bipartisan group of 15 senators wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue expressing concerns about ethanol farmers and producers who will bear the impact of a decrease in gasoline consumption (U.S. gasoline contains at least 10 percent ethanol). The senators asked USDA to use its CARES Act funds to assist the biofuel industry.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. David Trone wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin calling on his agency to strengthen the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in response to concerns from Maryland small businesses, and issue updated guidance that addresses and corrects their concerns.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking them to quickly set up the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) so that small businesses can receive funding in an expedient and fair manner.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing concern about the financial condition of the U.S. Postal Service and the $10 billion loan Congress authorized the Treasury to provide USPS in the CARES Act. The committees urged Mnuchin to make this loan as quickly as possible, with terms that respect USPS’s status and authorities as an independent establishment of the executive branch.

A bipartisan group of senators wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting that flexibilities on Farm Service Agency loans become permanent for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic. The senators also asked USDA to ensure adequate and equitable access to credit during this period of market uncertainty.

Forty-five Democratic senators wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul, and VA Secretary Robert Wilkie asking them to provide stimulus payments automatically to recipients of benefits through the Veterans Administration or the Supplemental Security Income program, without requiring them to file a tax return.

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking them to continue working to issue guidance that provides clear direction to banks, credit unions, and other lenders who wish to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Democrats from Maine’s congressional delegation wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross asking his agency to efficiently provide CARES Act aid to the fishing industry.

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza asking her agency to quickly aid farmers during the Covid-19 pandemic and protect the country’s stable and reliable food supply. The committee urged SBA to ensure that the new CARES Act loans programs being implemented will benefit farmers, ranchers, rural businesses, and cooperatives.

Sens. Jon Tester and Mitt Romney wrote to President Trump urging his administration to take every step needed to assure resources needed to combat Covid-19 are delivered to those who need them, namely, by providing strong oversight and accountability to ensure that appropriated funds and resources are targeted to the most affected businesses and individuals.

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence wrote to OMB Acting Director Russell Vought asking him to promptly issue a directive so that government agencies consistently implement Sec. 3610 of the CARES Act, which provides relief to the contractor community supporting critical national security missions.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, Ben Cardin, Chris Coons, and Bernie Sanders wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza reiterating their urgent request for the release of guidance that reflects Congress’ intent in the CARES Act and that offers clarity and certainty to small businesses and nonprofits on how they can receive timely assistance from SBA. The letter also included a summary of priority issues to consider as SBA develops its guidance.

The House Committee on Ways and Means wrote to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia requesting information about when his department will grant states increased funds and allow states to begin providing increased unemployment compensation to workers.

Forty-one Senate Democrats wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Social Security Administration Commissioner Andrew Saul urging them to ensure that economic stimulus payments are automatically sent to vulnerable seniors and individuals experiencing disabilities without these individuals needing to file a tax return.

A bicameral and bipartisan group of members of Congress wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking USDA to assist cattle producers with resources provided in the CARES Act and to facilitate the stabilization of farm and ranch income to producers facing market volatility in the wake of the pandemic and economic fallout.

Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to ensure that fishing industry perspectives are heard while his agency allocates and distributes CARES Act funds.

Sen. Sherrod Brown wrote to President Trump asking him to include hazard pay, or Pandemic Premium Pay, in the next stimulus package for all frontline workers (including doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, building cleaners, letter carriers, transit workers, etc.) during the Covid-19 pandemic. Brown also asked Trump to ensure companies are implementing plans to help protect these workers from exposure to Covid-19.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell asking them to ensure that CARES Act bailout funds are used to protect workers and not to reward corporate misbehavior, and that bailout funds are governed by strong anti-corruption and transparency rules.

A bicameral, bipartisan group of members of Congress wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar asking his agency to work to award funding appropriated under the CARES Act for eligible health care providers and entities as they continue to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak.

A bipartisan group of senators wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar asking his agency to release the $900 million provided for LIHEAP by the CARES Act as quickly as possible.

A bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar to help sustain rural health providers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, the members asked Azar to make financial relief for rural hospitals a priority, while also requesting a briefing by April 3, 2020.

Colorado’s congressional delegation wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza to complete any and all rules related to the CARES Act’s loan programs.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin urging his agency to use CARES Act funds to fully meet the needs of state and local governments before sending any taxpayer dollars to bailout large companies.

Washington state’s congressional delegation wrote to CMS Administrator Seema Verma urging swift consideration of the state’s application for an emergency demonstration project under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Maine’s congressional delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging USDA to give states prompt guidance on what new program flexibilities will be available to better meet the needs of children across the U.S., now that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (HR 6201) had been signed into law.

Sens. Brian Schatz, Bob Menendez, Catherine Cotez Masto, Jacky Rosen, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Cory Booker wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza urging her to lower the interest rate for SBA disaster loans for the foreseeable future to reflect the Federal Reserve’s decision to reduce the benchmark interest rate to 0 percent.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza noting that small business who have Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) were having difficulty accessing loans from the SBA, as they were required to apply to the central SBA instead of through the Preferred Lending Program (PLP). Gillibrand stated that this requirement has caused major delays in lending and asked Carranza to make ESOP loans through the SBA 7(a) program immediately available through the PLP, and to eliminate the 10 percent investor equity injection requirement for ESOP loans.

Sen. Jacky Rosen wrote to the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee asking them to support waiving the public services cap for Community Development Block Grant funds during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a letter to President Trump thanking him for granting New York a Major Disaster Declaration in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, while urging him to expeditiously grant the remaining assistance requested by New York to ensure that the state has all the resources the federal government can provide to fight the outbreak. The senators urged Trumo to approve the Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation still listed as under review by FEMA.

Sens. Tina Smith, Elizabeth Warren, Bob Casey, Mazie Hirono, Tim Kaine, and Cory Booker wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking them to immediately invest at least $50 billion in a child-care bailout to states as part of the third stimulus package. The senators noted that the child-care sector was experiencing unprecedented challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Massachusetts’ congressional delegation wrote to congressional leadership asking them to prioritize substantial financial support for students and institutions of higher education in their third economic relief package in order to mitigate the impact that Covid-19 has had on higher education in Massachusetts.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and 17 other senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden asking them to include support for the clean energy industry in their next Covid-19 relief package.

Sen. Ed Markey and 11 other senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to protect airline employees and contractors in any forthcoming Covid-19 relief package.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to request a funding allocation of at least $550 million for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) in the upcoming Covid-19 stimulus package. CDFIs finance small businesses, affordable housing, non-profits, and community development projects which address the needs of low-income communities.

Sens. Tim Kaine and Todd Young wrote to Senate Appropriations Chair Roy Blunt and Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray urging them to increase funding, flexibility, and eligibility for the Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) in the forthcoming Covid-19 economic relief package.

Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Chris Coons wrote to House and Senate leaders to ensure that funding to protect election officials and voters is included in the final Covid-19 relief package.

Washington state’s congressional delegation wrote to President Trump expressing support for Gov. Jay Inslee’s request for a major disaster declaration for Washing. The state had been hit hard, and early, by Covid-19, and the delegation urged Trump to authorize the full suite of Individual Assistance Programs requested by Inslee, in addition to the major disaster declaration.