Continuing Resolution Passed as Relief Talks Continue

Congress has passed, and the President has signed, a one-week continuing resolution that avoids a federal government shutdown, giving policymakers another week to negotiate a longer funding bill and find consensus on the details of a coronavirus relief package. President Trump signed the one-week extension, which means the new funding deadline will be Friday, December 18.

Congress intends to include a potential coronavirus relief package in a broader omnibus appropriations bill to be passed this week; the package is likely to fund the government until the end of the current 2021 fiscal year. Progress on a coronavirus relief proposal stalled recently, andcongressional leaders are now scrambling to put together a package that can pass both the House and the Senate before Congress adjourns for the holidays. Much of the disagreement relates to whether to provide funding for state and local governments and the content of a business liability protection provision.

PIA is actively advocating on a variety of items to include in this next coronavirus relief package, including a second draw for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, rejecting the imposition of a surprise tax on existing PPP loan recipients, and including provisions that would simplify the PPP loan forgiveness process for a larger pool of small business owners.