Assistance for American Workers and Families

American Workforce Policy Advisory Board – Call to Action: The American Workforce Policy Advisory Board has released a call-to-action to help the millions of workers who need assistance now, and build the resilient and agile workforce of the future powered by skilled American workers. Specific actions:

• Expedite American workers’ return to employment and upward mobility by investing in career pathways and implementing skills-based hiring practices.
• Remove obstacles to the modernization of American education and training to accelerate reskilling and facilitate innovation in workforce development.
• Build the technological infrastructure necessary for the future of work.

Economic Impact Payments: The CARES Act provides for Economic Impact Payments to American households of up to $1,200 per adult for individuals whose income was less than $99,000 ( or $198,000 for joint filers) and $500 per child under 17 years old – or up to $3,400 for a family of four. More information can be found here.

Preserving Jobs for American Industry: The CARES Act offers meaningful financial support to American businesses and job creators so they can better support employees and be prepared to get back to business as soon as possible. More information can be found here.

Supporting Child Care: The CARES Act provided an additional $3.5 billion to the Child Care and Development Block Grant to support families with child care options during this public health crisis. Additional information and State-level information can be found here.

Dislocated Worker Grants: The U.S. Department of Labor is providing Dislocated Worker Grants to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19. State-by-State data and additional details can be found here.

Assistance for Communities

CARES Act Recovery Assistance Grants: The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA)is awarding CARES Act Recovery Assistance Grants to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. These grants are being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, which provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit the recently updated EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.

Opportunity Zones: Opportunity Zones were created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on December 22, 2017, to stimulate economic development and job creation, by incentivizing long- term investments in low-income neighborhoods. During the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump directed the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council to focus on underserved communities impacted by the virus. For more information, visit opportunityzones.gov.

• Opportunity Zones Best Practices
• Opportunity Zones Toolkit Volume 1
• Opportunity Zones Toolkit Volume 2

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:

Donate Supplies and Equipment

• If you represent a business that would like to donate medical supplies, equipment or pharmaceuticals, please provide details on what you would like to give. This form is for donations only.

Sell Supplies and Equipment

• If you are interested in doing business with FEMA with your company’s non-medical goods and/or services, submit your inquiry to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Procurement Action Innovative Response Team (PAIR) team at DHSIndustryLiaison@hq.dhs.gov.
• The federal government is purchasing medical supplies or equipment under the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Request for information (RFI). Visit the DLA website for more information.

Developing Medical Countermeasures

• If you would like to meet with a federal agency regarding a vaccine, diagnostic, therapeutic or other medical device that you are developing for SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, please go to medicalcountermeasures.gov.

Other Forms of Help

• If you or someone you know represent 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 represent a private sector business and wish to learn more about getting involved in a way that is not listed here, please e-mail nbeoc@max.gov or visit our National Business Emergency Operations Center page.

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

Guidelines for Opening Up America Again

President Trump has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. These steps will help state and local officials when reopening their economies, getting people back to work, and continuing to protect American lives. Please click here for more information: Guidelines for Opening Up America Again

·         Testing Overview (HERE)

·         Testing Blueprint (HERE)

·         Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools and Homes (HERE)

·         CDC guidance for Camps, Child Care Programs, Schools, Mass Transit, Restaurants And Bars, and Workplaces

·         CDC Activities and Initiatives Supporting the COVID-19 Response and the President’s Plan for Opening America Up Again (HERE)

White House Updates

• Remarks by President Trump on Safely Reopening America’s Schools (HERE)
• President Donald J. Trump Is Supporting the Safe Reopening of America’s Schools (HERE)
• Readout from the Vice President’s Governors Briefing on COVID-19 Response & Best Practices on Safely Reopening America’s Schools (HERE)
• Second Lady Karen Pence Joins the PREVENTS Public Health Campaign Launch REACH (HERE)
• ICYMI | Hires Hit One-Month Record High While Layoffs See New Low, JOLTS Report Shows (HERE)
• Daily 1600: Inside Today’s White House Summit on Reopening American Schools (HERE)
• West Wing Reads: This Fall, Get the Children Back in School (HERE)

HHS, DOD Collaborate with Novavax to Produce Millions of COVID-19 Investigational Vaccine Doses in Commercial-Scale Manufacturing Demonstration Projects (HERE)

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD) today jointly announced a $1.6 billion agreement with Novavax, Inc. of Gaithersburg, Maryland, to demonstrate commercial-scale manufacturing of the company’s COVID-19 investigational vaccine. By funding this manufacturing effort, the federal government will own the 100 million doses of investigational vaccine expected to result from the demonstration projects.

HHS, DOD Collaborate with Regeneron on Large-Scale Manufacturing Demonstration Project of COVID-19 Investigational Therapeutic Treatment (HERE)

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD exit disclaimer icon) today announced an agreement with Regeneron, Inc. of Tarrytown, New York, to demonstrate commercial-scale manufacturing of the company’s COVID-19 investigational anti-viral antibody treatment, REGN-COV2. By funding this manufacturing effort, the federal government will own the doses expected to result from the demonstration project.

HHS Launches ‘Surge’ COVID-19 Testing in Hotspot Jurisdictions in Florida, Louisiana and Texas (HERE)

• Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing free COVID-19 testing in Jacksonville, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Edinburg, Texas. Surge testing efforts will temporarily increase federal support to communities where there has been a recent and intense level of new cases and hospitalizations related to the ongoing outbreak.

Statement from Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin on CARES Act Loans to Major Airlines (HERE)

• “The major U.S. airlines play a vital role in our economy and are critical to domestic and international travel and commerce.  These airlines are among the companies most heavily affected by the disruptions to social and economic activity caused by the pandemic.  Treasury’s authority under the CARES Act to provide up to $25 billion in liquidity to passenger air carriers and related businesses will help preserve America’s aviation industry while also protecting taxpayers.  We look forward to working with the airlines to finalize agreements and provide the airlines the ability to access these loans if they so choose.”

Statement from Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin on the Main Street Lending Program (HERE)

• “Small and medium-sized businesses play a vital role in our economy and the Main Street program will help ensure they have access to financing to maintain their operations as the economy safely reopens.  I encourage all eligible lenders to participate and to begin submitting qualifying loans.”

USMCA, PPP Trump administration accomplishments bring small businesses real relief: SBA Administrator Carranza (HERE)

• “More than 82,000 of the state’s hardest-hit small businesses received forgivable loans through the PPP. As a result of this lifeline, small businesses were able to keep their doors open, and many used this financial cushion to pivot their business model and develop a robust online presence, strategically positioning themselves to export goods”

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance to Employers to Help Protect Oil and Gas Workers during the Coronavirus Pandemic (HERE)

• The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released coronavirus-related guidance to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for oil and gas workers.  

U.S. Department of Labor Using Public Service Announcements and Billboards to Promote Worker Safety and Health amid Coronavirus (HERE)

• The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has undertaken a public service messaging effort to remind workers that the agency is committed to ensuring their safety and health during the coronavirus pandemic.

FDA Daily Roundup – July 6, 2020 (HERE)

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to announce actions taken in its ongoing response effort to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary Ben Carson Releases New Summer Reading Video with Special Guest (HERE)

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today released a new video as part of his virtual summer reading series, Summer Reading with Secretary Carson, featuring the 14th Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. Secretary Carson and Librarian Carla Hayden read the children’s bestseller, Ada Twist, Scientist, to HUD-assisted children who may be spending the summer at home because of COVID-19.

White House, VA Launch REACH — A Call to Action to Engage the Nation in Preventing Suicide (HERE)

• The White House and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today launched the REACH national public health campaign aimed at empowering all Americans to play a critical role in preventing suicide.

Help Heal Veterans Donates Craft Kits to VA Hospitals to Help Provide Activities for Veterans Who Are Alone (HERE)

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today Help Heal Veterans has provided nearly 50,000 craft kits, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, to more than 90 VA facilities for Veterans who are isolated.

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

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