Good evening:
Shortly ago, the House passed by a roll call vote (388-5-1) the Senate-approved Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266) – a $484 billion relief package to provide additional coronavirus relief to small business, health care providers, and hospitals, as well as provide funding to expand COVID-19 testing capacity. The bill now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.
Our summary of the package is appended below and attached as a PDF for your convenience.
In addition, the House passed by a roll call vote (212-182) H. Res. 935, Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.
In her floor speech, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) stated that Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) would oversee the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.
A summary of H. Res. 935 follows:
The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis would be composed of no more than 12 members (7 Democrats and 5 Republicans nominated by their respective party leaders). Subcommittee members would be authorized and directed to conduct an investigation and study and issue a final report (and interim reports, if necessary) to the House regarding the following:
The efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and transparency of the use of taxpayer funds and relief programs to address the coronavirus crisis;
Reports of waste, fraud, abuse, price going, profiteering, or other abuse practices related to the coronavirus crisis;
The implementation or effectiveness of any federal law implemented, enacted, or under consideration to address the coronavirus and prepare for future pandemics;
Preparedness for an response to the coronavirus crisis, including the planning for and implementation of testing, containment, mitigation, and surveillance activities; the acquisition, distribution, or stockpiling of protective equipment and medical supplies; and the development of vaccines and treatments;
The economic impact of the coronavirus crisis on individuals, communities, small businesses, health care providers, states, and local government entities;
Any disparate impacts of the coronavirus crisis on different communities and populations, including with respect to race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and geographic region, and any measures taken to address such disparate impacts;
Executive branch policies, deliberations, decisions, activities, and internal and external communications related to the coronavirus crisis;
The protection of whistleblowers who provide information about waste, fraud, abuse, or other improper activities related to the coronavirus crisis;
Cooperation by the executive branch and others with Congress, the Inspectors General, the Government Accountability Office, and others in connection with oversight of the preparedness for and response to the coronavirus crisis; and
Any other issues related to the coronavirus crisis.
Thank you,
Dawn & the Wynne Health Team
