News
Coronavirus Government Response Update—PPP Loan Deadline Nears
June 29, 2020
Welcome to the Coronavirus Government Response Update. This information is intended to keep ISSA members up to date on fast-moving government affairs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other public policy issues important to the cleaning industry. Today’s update touches on ISSA’s call for more prudent and effective cleaning and disinfection standards, ISSA prompting Congress to increase cash flow to businesses through general business tax credits, Pelosi and Schumer pressing McConnell to discuss more coronavirus relief as cases surge, and more.
ISSA Calls for More Prudent and Effective Cleaning and Disinfection Standards
The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a division of ISSA, submitted testimony to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors regarding cleaning and disease prevention standards in hotels and large commercial office buildings. In its testimony, GBAC asked the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to “engage public health officials, environmental professionals, and industry experts to suggest more prudent and effective cleaning and disinfection standards.”
ISSA Asks Congress to Increase Cash Flow to Businesses Through General Business Tax Credits
ISSA joined more than 100 associations prompting Congress to adopt an additional tax measure that would help businesses fully utilize general business tax credits. By “temporarily giving companies the option to monetize their general business tax credits,” the legislation would provide companies with much-needed liquidity to help with reopening and rehiring, ensuring “the recovery is as strong as possible,” said John Nothdurft, ISSA Director of Government Affairs.
PPP Loan Deadline is June 30 and $134 Billion in Funding Remains
Tomorrow is the last day to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. According to MassLive, more than US$134 billion in funding remains as businesses look to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. As of Saturday, 5,458 lenders have approved 4,798,187 loans worth $518.8 billion. Overall, the average loan size was $108,000, a steep drop from the first round of $349 billion’s $206,000 average. 10.38% of funding has gone to manufacturers.
Pelosi and Schumer Press McConnell to Discuss More Coronavirus Relief as Cases Surge
Top congressional Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer pressed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to immediately start talks on further COVID-19 aid, citing the new surge in cases. Pelosi and Schumer deemed it “unacceptable” to allow the Senate to leave for a two-week July 4 recess without passing more legislation. On Friday, McConnell said the Senate will not consider more legislation until it returns from its recess in mid-July, since GOP leaders “want to see how reopening affects the economy” first.
More States Reverse or Slow Reopening Plans as Coronavirus Cases Surge
As of Sunday, the nation’s seven-day average of daily new COVID-19 cases was more than 42% greater than it was a week ago, according to the analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. Cases are growing by 5% or more based on a seven-day average in 37 states across the U.S. Coronavirus hospitalizations, which help health officials gauge how severe the pandemic is, rose in 20 states Saturday.
Other Links of Interest:
- June 24, 2020 ISSA Advocacy Webinar Recording Now Available (ISSA Members only)
- Take Action Now–Urge Your Elected Officials to Support Clean Start Tax Credit
- Enhance the Voice of the Cleaning Industry: Share Your Elected Official Contacts with ISSA
- SBA Disaster Loan Assistance
- Reopening the Economy Under COVID-19: Tracking Containment
