Problem Solvers Caucus COVID-19 Proposal

There are eight major buckets of the proposal.

  1. Testing & Health Care ($100 billion)
    • $25 billion testing – 3 million tests a day
    • $75 billion health care providers – relief released in CARES Act (health care provider community – forgives advanced Medicare reimbursement $45 million
  2. Direct Assistant/Support for Individuals and Families ($316 billion)
    • $280 billion stimulus
      • Adult dependents would be eligible
      • Same restrictions on income
    • Plus up on WIC, SNAP 
    • Stabilize rental and mortgage market $25 billion
    • Student loan forbearance through December 31st
  3. UI assistance ($120 billion)
    • 100% of income based on 2019 income – but we can go up to $600 for that support
    • 8-week transition period – during that time the plus up will be $450 across the board
    • 13 weeks going through Jan 2021
      • Another 13 weeks may get triggered
  4. Small Businesses Support ($290 billion)
    • PPP $240 billion to SBA
      • Simplified loan forgiveness
      • Full transparency
      • $11 billion carved out for CDFIs
      • $50 billion for EIDL
    • $50 billion targeted ERTC
    • Continued support for the Main Street Lending Program
  5. Schools and Child Care ($145 billion)
    • Use these dollars for all kinds of things
    • $15 billion childcare (30% of annual child care sector revenue)
      • Block grants
      • Dollars for provider relief (child care centers who can return to full capacity)
    • $100 billion K-12 lha
    • $30 billion higher education
  6. State and Local Aid ($500 billion)
    • $130 hard past COVID-19 expenses
    • $130 hard forward looking COVID-19 expenses
    • $250 revenue shortfalls at local
    • $130 – already exists CARES Act funds
  7. Election Aid ($400 million)
    • Poll workers, temporary staffers, polling location PPE, etc.
  8. Miscellaneous
    • $12 billion rural broadband hotspots, particularly under-served rural and urban areas
    • $25 billion agriculture and aquaculture
    • $15 billion USPS and reform of pre-funding requirement
    • Move back timelines on census
    • Liability protections- good-faith companies should not deal with frivolous lawsuits
      • Robust enforcement of worker safety

Automatic Booster and Reducers

  • $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion if needed
  • Down to $1.3 trillion if not
  • Fact based and evidenced based
  • Metrics to determine if booster or reducer trigger:
    • Hospitalization numbers
    • Availability of vaccine

Notes

  • No additional paid leave

More Advocacy Issues

Please use the link below for a glance at the upcoming events for the week of May 5. Document here.

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The U.S. agriculture industry is urging Congress to prioritize rural and agricultural transportation needs in the upcoming reauthorization of surface transportation programs. Key requests include timely reauthorization, increased investment in infrastructure, modernization of trucking regulations, and streamlining project approvals to improve efficiency, safety, and economic vitality in rural America. Letter here.

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A coalition of agricultural groups, including the American Cotton Shippers Association, urged the Senate Agriculture Committee leadership to confirm Stephen Vaden as deputy Agriculture secretary. He currently serves as a judge on the U.S. Court of International Trade. Letter here.

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The American Cotton Shippers Association, along with over 300 other associations representing a broad range of industries, urged the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to refrain from implementing the proposed measures in response to the Section 301 investigation into China’s efforts to dominate the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. Letter here.

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In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), organizations in the energy, transportation, and agriculture industries urged Congress to disapprove California’s vehicle rules through the Congressional Review Act. Letter here.

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U.S. farm organizations, including the American Cotton Shippers Association, signed onto a letter to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), calling for the quick Senate approval of Luke Lindberg’s nomination as the next USDA undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. Letter here.

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