Posted in Federal Policy
Election Day could produce massive changes in Washington and in the policies that would affect every American and every company. Even a status quo election could produce lasting regulatory consequences for key stakeholders. Just days before the 2020 election ends (maybe!), BakerHostetler’s Federal Policy team offers quick takes on the most likely scenarios and what they could mean for you.
Posted in Federal Policy
Congress in March approved three separate major bills responding to the COVID-19 pandemic – and work was not even finished on the third and largest bill before lawmakers began considering a possible “Phase 4” of the legislative response.
The House and Senate are currently not planning any legislative activity before April 20, unless events dictate otherwise. But work is already underway on ideas for Phase 4, with an eye toward late April for potential passage.
The Phase 3 bill is frequently called a “stimulus” but in reality its purpose was to stabilize the economy and prevent total collapse as businesses shut down and jobs vanish. Phase 4 is envisioned to pivot from stabilizing the economy to stimulating growth – from disaster mitigation to recovery. Continue Reading
Posted in Congress
Companies large and small are scrambling to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, including understanding the emerging economic risks that could affect their profits, their operations and even their very existence.
Add another burden to public companies’ growing roster of risks: Congress.
As lawmakers and the Trump administration prepare additional legislative responses to the crisis, there is a growing danger that extraneous items affecting public companies could be slipped into the bills.
The White House and congressional leaders are racing to approve what is likely to exceed $1 trillion in aid for displaced workers, the airline and tourism industries, healthcare providers, and more. But some lawmakers are looking to exploit the crisis to ensure non-coronavirus provisions affecting public businesses become law, too. Continue Reading
Posted in Congress, Healthcare
The Senate is beginning to draft what likely will be the largest emergency relief and fiscal stimulus legislation in the country’s history – more than $1 trillion – to address the mushrooming coronavirus pandemic.
The heart of the emerging plan will be as much as $500 billion in rebate checks to individuals and households, likely means-tested to target the relief to middle-class Americans. The White House is pushing for checks to go out as soon as April 6, with a second check on May 18.
That package also is expected to include tens of billions of dollars in relief for the airline industry and other sectors, a loan program for small businesses, and more funding for state Medicaid expansion, unemployment benefits and paid sick leave.
It’s not clear when Congress will vote on this still-developing package. The Republican-controlled Senate is working through elements with the White House. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will need Democrats’ support for any aid package, which would require 60 votes in the Senate. Continue Reading
Posted in The Weekly Hill Update
Below is the Federal Policy team’s weekly preview, posted when Congress is in session.
HEADLINES
• After passing emergency funding to respond to the coronavirus, Washington is now turning to potential measures to bolster the economy – as equity markets opened Monday plummeting 7 percent before trading was halted.
• President Donald Trump will meet with the prime minister of Ireland but plans to skip the annual Saint Patrick’s Day luncheon at the Capitol.
• The House plans to vote on immigration-related legislation and may take up a renewal of foreign surveillance powers, while the Senate continues consideration of energy legislation.
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Posted in Healthcare
CORONAVIRUS WORRIES CONTINUE AFTER EMERGENCY FUNDING BILL
Congressional approval last week of emergency spending to address the coronavirus hasn’t allayed Capitol Hill’s concerns about preparedness and response as the impact of the virus in the United States rapidly escalates.
Two lawmakers – Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. – announced this weekend that after interacting with an individual last week who later tested positive for COVID-19, they were taking precautionary measures and would not be in Washington this week. The No. 3 elected House Republican, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., was absent from a GOP retreat in Maryland this weekend because she wanted to limit participation in nonessential gatherings.
President Donald Trump on Friday signed legislation providing $8.3 billion to fight the outbreak, primarily through the Department of Health & Human Services. Continue Reading
Posted in HealthcareCONGRESS SPEEDS TOWARD EMERGENCY CORONAVIRUS FUNDING PACKAGE
As novel coronavirus continues to sweep the globe, Congress and the White House are assembling a spending package with billions in emergency spending and new authorities to combat the crisis.
Leaders hope to reach an agreement by as soon as this afternoon, which procedurally would allow the House to vote Wednesday and the Senate to approve it before the end of the week.
House and Senate appropriators worked through the weekend to provide billions to the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) and the State Department to help fight the global outbreak and limit its spread in the United States. Continue Reading
Posted in The Weekly Hill UpdateBelow is the Federal Policy team’s weekly preview, posted when Congress is in session.
HEADLINES
• Coronavirus response is consuming Capitol Hill, as lawmakers race to complete an emergency supplemental spending bill.
• President Donald Trump will meet with pharmaceutical executives and later visit the National Institutes of Health.
• Tuesday’s 14 primaries represent perhaps the most consequential day in the 2020 presidential nomination process, as it has winnowed to essentially a two-man race between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, the latter newly energized after his blowout victory in South Carolina Saturday.
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Posted in HealthcareAZAR TO TESTIFY THIS WEEK BEFORE HOUSE, SENATE COMMITTEES
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar faces a marathon week of testimony, appearing before four congressional committees to discuss his department’s fiscal 2021 budget.
In addition to funding issues, Azar is likely to face questions on the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. Last week 25 Senate Democrats wrote to Azar, pressing the administration to request emergency funding.
Lawmakers are likely to grill Azar on prescription drug pricing and the administration’s approach to addressing costs. Democrats also are expected to criticize the administration’s actions regarding Affordable Care Act implementation.
Azar will testify Tuesday before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds HHS, then Wednesday in the House Appropriations Subcommittee. The secretary will go before the House Commerce Health Subcommittee on Wednesday, where he will discuss the budget and HHS’s response to the coronavirus.
Finally, Azar will testify Thursday at the House Ways and Means Committee. Continue Reading
Posted in The Weekly Hill UpdateBelow is the Federal Policy team’s weekly preview, posted when Congress is in session.
HEADLINES
• Returning from a one-week recess, the House plans to take up legislation to address vaping, and the Senate will focus on nominations and abortion-related legislation.
• President Donald Trump is in India visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Moderate Democrats are reeling as Bernie Sanders firmly seizes momentum and frontrunner status leading into Saturday’s South Carolina primary and 14 more primaries next week on Super Tuesday.
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