Update on Administration COVID-19 Efforts 04/01/20

Editors note: this White House email has a comprehensive list of Covid information and resources.

Assistance for American Workers and Families

In the weeks immediately after the passage of the CARES Act, Americans will see fast and direct relief in the form of Economic Impact Payments. For more information, CLICK HERE.

[Joseph Russo | April 1, 2020 ]

Assistance for Small Businesses

The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.

Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards.

 

Paycheck Protection Program Resources

  •         SBA Paycheck Protection Program website
  •         Department of the Treasury CARES Act website

 

30 Days to Slow the Spread

On March 16, President Trump announced public health guidelines to slow the spread of Coronavirus in America. He asked every family to unite against this invisible enemy, making changes to our daily routines as part of a national effort to save lives. As he said on Monday, it’s likely that a peak in Coronavirus fatalities will arrive in about two weeks. If we continue to follow public health guidelines vigorously, we could save more than 1 million American lives in the weeks and months ahead. A million American lives are worth fighting for. That’s why this week, President Trump extended his Coronavirus Guidelines for America through the next 30 days. Please click here for more information: 30 Days to Slow the Spread (Español)

Slow the Spread

Your part

How to Help – If you or your organization are interested in helping the effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, FEMA has established a website (www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help) with more information. Examples for the private sector include:

  • To sell medical supplies or equipment to the federal government, please submit a price quote under the COVID-19 PPE and Medical Supplies Request for Quotation. Full details can be found in the solicitation (Notice ID 70FA2020R00000011)

    • This solicitation requires registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to be considered for award, pursuant to applicable regulations and guidelines. Registration information can be found at www.sam.gov.  Registration must be “ACTIVE” at the time of award.
  • If you have medical supplies or equipment to donate, please provide us details on what you are offering.
  • If you are a private company that wants to produce a product related to the COVID response – email [email protected].
  • If you are a hospital or healthcare provider in need of medical supplies, please contact your state, local, tribal or territory department of public health and/or emergency management agency.
  • If you are interested in doing business with FEMA and supporting the response to COVID- 19 with your company’s non-medical goods and/or services, please submit your inquiry to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Procurement Action Innovative Response Team (PAIR) team at [email protected].

For additional information please visit FEMA’s website: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus/. 

White House COVID-19 Updates

 

Department of Justice Makes $850 Million Available to Help Public Safety Agencies Address COVID-19 Pandemic (HERE)

  •         DOJ today announced that it is making $850 million available to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump, will allow eligible state, local, and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds.

 

IRS: Employee Retention Credit available for many businesses financially impacted by COVID-19 (HERE)

  •         The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today launched the Employee Retention Credit, designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19.

 

Treasury and IRS Release FAQs to Help Small and Midsize Businesses Navigate Paid Sick and Family Leave Tax Credits (HERE)

  •         The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service are offering small and mid-size employers more information on refundable tax credits that reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing their employees paid sick and family leave wages related to COVID-19.

 

Department of Labor Announces New Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Implementation (HERE)

  •         The U.S. Department of Labor today announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective today, April 1, 2020.

 

DOL Releases Round 2 of COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions Covering Issues Related to the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Labor Certification Program (HERE)

  •         The Office of Foreign Labor Certification released Round 2 of frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19. The Round 2 FAQs address potential issues regarding the H-2A temporary agricultural labor certification program.

 

Secretary DeVos Announces New Federal Deadline Flexibility for Career and Technical Education Leaders, Allowing Them to Focus on Serving Students During the COVID-19 Outbreak (HERE)

  •         Secretary DeVos announced today new flexibilities for career and technical education leaders who are required to submit their local CTE plan for FY 2020-2023 under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act for the 21st Century Act by April 15, 2020.

 

Coronavirus Public Health Emergency Underscores Need for Department of Education’s Proposed Distance Learning Rules (HERE)

  •         Secretary DeVos proposed new rules today that would govern distance learning for higher education students. Although work on the proposed Distance Learning and Innovation regulation started more than a year ago, the COVID-19 National Emergency underscores the need for reform and for all educational institutions to have a robust capacity to teach remotely.

 

VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange Campus, to Assist COVID-19 Response (HERE)

  •         The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs opened 20 beds (15 acute care and 5 intensive care) at its East Orange, NJ Medical Center, April 1, to non-Veteran, critical and non-critical COVID-19 patients to help assist the Northern New Jersey region in its COVID-19 response efforts.

 

Transcom Looks for Ways to Safely Move COVID-19 Patients (HERE)

  •         Last week, U.S. Transportation Command was responsible for moving a patient with COVID-19 from Djibouti, Africa, to Landstuhl, Germany, for medical treatment. Moving a contagious patient isn’t easy, Transcom’s commander said, but efforts are underway to make it safer.

 

Logisticians Make COVID-19 Fight Possible (HERE)

  •         Joint Staff logisticians are working around the clock to help civilian authorities deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

DOD Mounts Multifaceted Response to COVID-19 Pandemic (HERE)

  •         The Defense Department is rapidly ramping up its efforts to fight COVID-19 and assist federal, state and local governments in their efforts.

 

Corps of Engineers Converts NYC’s Javits Center into Hospital (HERE)

  •         The New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers has completed its conversion of the 1,800,000-square-foot Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City into an alternate care facility for more than 2,000 non-COVID-19 patients.

 

For the most up-to-date information, please see the CDC’s website: www.coronavirus.gov.

 Thank you,

Joe

Joe Russo

Special Assistant to the President and Director of Business Outreach

White House Office of Public Liaison


COVID-19: Background & Additional Information

 

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America

 

For background and the most up-to-date information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus Disease 2019 website: HERE

 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

  •         Twitter (here)
  •         Facebook (here)

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  •         Twitter (here)
  •         Facebook (here)

 

What you should know:

 

Situation Updates:

 

Information for Businesses:

Preview YouTube video 4/1/20: Members of the Coronavirus Task Force Hold a Press Briefing

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