COVID-19 Analysis
COVID-19 Stimulus Requests: Tracker by Industry
Wondering which industries are lobbying for what in the COVID-19 stimulus? We have a tracker. As this stimulus – which will dwarf TARP from the 2008 financial crisis – continues to expand, it’s all the more imperative that taxpayers keep a sharp eye on the flow of dollars, and whether some are flowing toward industry wish lists.
There is one main (growing) spreadsheet with all the dollar figures and sources we can find – which industries are asking for how much and with what justification. That’s the first drop-down. As we are able, you’ll see more industry-specific drop-downs. NOTE: the drop-downs reflect what companies and industry associations are asking for, not what has made it into the bill. For coverage of the COVID-19 response legislative packages, follow our ongoing analysis here.
Skip down to all Agriculture requests.
This page was originally published: 03/20/2020
Last updated: 08/10/2020
Big Asks:
- Expedite/ favorably consider waiver requests currently needed to operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) at night, over people, and beyond the visual line of sight.
- Expand existing waiver authority to except operators from prohibition on commercial UAS package delivery operations beyond the visual line of sight of remote pilot.
Justification:
UAS can save lives by expediting the delivery of needed medicines and supplies, and help deliver samples needed to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Drone delivery will enable movement of necessary medicines and supplies in rural areas, and avoid traffic in metropolitan areas.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Small UAV Coalition | Letter to DoT & FAA | 3/4/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Funding to mitigate supply chain disruptions for food, personal care, hygiene, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilization items.
- Guarantee that “gathering restrictions” at state/federal level do not affect the operations of manufacturing facilities producing essential goods.
- Establish an Office of Supply Chain to coordinate across agencies to ensure the movement of essential goods.
- Temporarily expand the Pandemic-Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (P-SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other federal programs to include personal care, hygiene, cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilization products and provide a temporary increase in funding to offset the additional costs associated with this expansion.
- Suspend for six months new regulatory decisions that could hinder supply chains.
Justification:
Essential consumer packaged goods including household cleaning, personal care and food and beverage staples are critical to public health at this time.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Brands Association | Letter to the President | 3/15/2020 |
Big Asks:
| Request | Amount |
|---|---|
| Grants to commercial passenger airlines – Treasury | $25 billion |
| Grants to cargo airlines – Treasury | $4 billion |
| Federal Reserve makes zero interest unsecured loans or loan guarantees OR purchases stock in companies | $25 billion |
| Rebate to U.S. Part 121 air carriers the federal excise taxes paid into Airport and Airways Trust fund from Jan 1 to March 31, 2020 | ?? |
| Repeal all excise taxes on U.S. Part 121 air carriers through December 31, 2021 AND extend “temporary” repeal beyond 2021 based on”economic circumstances” | ?? |
| TOTAL | $54 billion |
Justification:
Reduced liquidity – passenger traffic at 20 to 30 percent of normal.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Airlines for America | AFA fact sheet | 3/16/2020 |
Big Asks:
| Request | Amount |
|---|---|
| Canceling payment of all payroll taxes paid by employers for the months of March, April, and May | $300 billion |
| Legislation expanding and streamlining SBA loan programs for small businesses experiencing revenue loss from Coronavirus. | |
| Expand federally subsidized lending to companies with more than 500 employees by allowing them to access the Federal Reserve Discount Window and creating a loan and loan guarantee program. |
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Chamber of Commerce | U.S. Chamber of Commerce press release | 3/16/2020 |
Big Asks:
Public and private liquidity, including loan guarantees.
Amount:
$60 billion
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing | Press release | 3/17/2020 |
Big Asks:
Relief funds for DOD DP3 transportation service providers harmed by DOD stop move order covering March 14 to May 11, 2020
- Fund amount calculated at 60% of revenue from same period in 2019.
More than two dozen tax and regulatory changes plus dozens of policy changes.
Amount:
$186.6 million for relief funds.
Justification:
Unable to move personnel.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| International Association of Movers/American Moving and Storage Association | Joint Relief Request | 3/17/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Designate the news publishing and reporting industry as an “essential” to public health and welfare.
Justification:
- Newspapers provide essential health information to the public across all media platforms.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| News Media Alliance | Letter to VP Pence | 3/17/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Temporary injection of public and private investment into the system to help mitigate reduced cash flow
- Designate national security programs and workforce as essential.
- Support for small businesses and supply chains
- Accelerate payments, obligations, and contract awards under federal contracts
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Industries Association | AIA Press Release | 3/18/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Direct lenders to grant emergency extensions of loan repayment deadlines and provide essential emergency operating funds.
- Grant federal capital gains tax relief for farmers selling land, cattle, and equipment to remedy their current financial plights.
- Eliminate the red tape that prevents state-inspected beef plants from selling beef across state lines to increase competition for cattle and eliminate the current bottleneck in beef distribution to consumers.
- Suspend the decision to allow raw beef from disease-affected Brazil.
- Direct the U.S. Department of Justice to immediately investigate the cause of this week’s inexplicable market volatility marked by severely depressed cattle prices and skyrocketing wholesale beef prices.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America) | Letter to the President | 3/18/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Increase in USDA Commodity Credit annual lending authority from $30 billion to $50 billion
- Timely and full Replenishment of this lending authority
- Ensure livestock producers are eligible for assistance
Justification:
Volatile commodity markets.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Cattleman’s Beef Association | NCBA Letter to Congress | 3/19/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Increase and expedite worker visas.
- Provide support plans for pig farmers impacted by bottlenecks in the supply chain.
- Financial support for childcare for farm and plant workers.
- Department of Transportation determination that farms are critical domestic infrastructure.
Justification:
The U.S. pork industry is suffering from a severe labor shortage on farms and in plants, and is headed for a serious market disruption with catastrophic implications for hog farmers. The COVID-19 situation could cause significant capacity shortfalls much sooner than currently anticipated and put daily animal care needs at risk.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Pork Producers Council | Letter | 3/10/2020 |
| Press Release | 3/18/2020 |
Big Asks:
Use FAA Airport Improvement Program with expanded eligibility:
- Could use money “to tackle any debt service payments, increased operational expenses, workforce retention, and any lawful purpose.”
Amount:
$10 billion
Justification:
Passenger traffic and associated revenue is severely dropping. $7 billion in bond interest payments, on $100 billion in debt, due this year.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Airports Council International -North America | Letter to Congress | 3/18/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Create a beverage alcohol industry stabilization fund (federal grants)
- Suspend federal excise taxes for entirety of 2020 calendar year
- Make current excise tax rate permanent for distillers (H.R. 1175/S. 362
- De-escalate trade disputes with the EU and suspend tariffs on distilled spirits
- Support SBA business interruption and disaster assistance loans
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Distilled Spirits Council, American Craft Spirits Association, Kentucky Distillers’ Association, New York State Distillers Guild |
Joint Letter to Congress | 3/18/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Reduce the rate of the Black Lung Excise Tax.
- Suspend or reduce royalty rate for coal extraction on federal lands.
- Cut in half the industry’s financial obligation for the Abandoned Mine Land Fund.
- Ensure carbon-intensive industries get access to any federal financing programs.
Justification:
81,000 miners employed by domestic coal.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Mining Association | NMA Letter to Policymakers | 3/18/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Loan guarantees that ease a liquidity squeeze.
- Tax benefits to assist employers with providing support to employees.
- Relieving the burden of costs that are ongoing despite closures.
- Tax measures that will allow theaters recoup losses when the industry is back up and running.
Justification:
Relief measures for 150,000 movie theater workers – org. represents 33,000 screens in 50 states and expect movie theater closures for up to 12 weeks.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Assocation of Theater Owners | NATO Press Release | 3/18/2020 |
Big asks:
- Stop small refinery RFS-exemptions
- Restore 500 million gallons to RFS
- Push China to remove tariffs on ethanol
- Enact policies to spur the use of low carbon fuels
- Grant additional emergency authorities
Justification:
- Drop in gasoline consumption reducing demand for ethanol
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Coalition for Ethanol | ACE press release | 3/18/2020 |
Big Ask:
Manufacturing Resiliency Fund – Interest Free Loans
Amount:
$1.4 trillion
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Association of Manufacturers | NAM Press Release | 3/18/2020 |
Big Asks:
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Topline: grants, loans, insurance, unemployment assistance, and several tax provision. |
$325 billion |
Anticipating sales decline of $225 billion over the next three months, resulting in 5-7 million job losses |
| Create a Restaurant and Foodservice Industry Recovery Fund adminstered by the Treasury Department (grants) | $145 billion | |
| Federally backed business interruption insurance – Treasury | $100 billion | Private business interruption insruance typically excludes “Virus” from policy coverage |
| SBA backed loans for “adversely affected” small businesses | $45 billion | |
| Federal Loan Program Equal to Lost Revenue — loans potentially forgiven | ?? | Permitts employees to stay on payroll; avoid increased costs in federal safety net programs (unemployment, SNAP, etc) |
| Community Development Block Grants – Disaster Relief | $35 billion | |
| Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) | $130 million | |
| Assistance in allowing businesses to defer mortgage, lease and loan obligations. | ||
| Various tax changes: | ?? | |
| Assistance in allowing businesses to delay, defer, or forgo tax obligations. | ||
| Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) | ||
| Reduced credit card interchange fees (expanding Durbin amendment from Dodd-Frank) | ||
| Reduce employee payroll tax witholding by 2% and cover cost with a transer from General Revenue |
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Restaurant Association | NRA press release | 3/18/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Enable sharing of essential personnel through advanced-approvals and regulatory waivers for workers’ travel.
- For “critical workers,” prioritized access to (1) testing, (2)anti-viral and other treatments, (3) vaccines when available, (4) PPE – including N95 masks, Tyvek suits, nitrile gloves.
- DOE grants to cover paid sick leave for workers at Georgia Power Company’s Plant Vogtle reactor construction project.
- 30% investment tax credit for certain expenditures, as contained in the Nuclear Powers America Act (H.R. 2314/S.1134).
- Provide temporary relief from federal regulatory fees.
Justification:
- The nuclear power industry anticipates severe financial strain related to COVID-19 due to delayed or canceled product orders, falling industrial electricity demand and reduced workforce availability.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Energy Institute | Letter to Treasury, White House NEC | 3/19/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Extend start construction and safe harbor deadlines to ensure that renewable projects can qualify for renewable tax credits despite delays associated with supply chain disruptions;
- Allow renewable tax credits to be available for direct pay to facilitate their monetization in the face of reduced availability of tax equity; and
- Enact a direct pay tax credit for stand-alone energy storage to foster renewable growth and help secure a more resilient grid.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Council on Renewable Energy, et al. | Letter to Congress | 3/19/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Establish a confectionery industry recovery fund to pay employees, maintain overhead expenses, and meet existing financial obligations.
- Funding for Small Business Administration
- Expand Unemployment
- Suspend payroll tax collection.
- Create a federal exemption for food manufacturing facilities
Amount:
$500 million for the recovery fund.
Justification:
Pandemic has put stress on the industry, exacerbated by short supply of sugar as well as artificially high domestic sugar prices.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Confectioners Association | Letter to Congress & the Administration | 3/19/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Designate the entire oil and gas supply chain as critical infrastructure.
- Discretion with compliance of non-essential designations to keep functionality at Dept. of Transportation, DOI, DHS, Dept. of State, EPA, and exempt oil and gas workers from agency requirements.
Justification:
“We play a critical role in providing affordable and reliable energy to American families and businesses, which is essential to maintain our national security and will drive our economic recovery”
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Petroleum Institute | Letter to the President | 3/20/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Use Defense Production Act to ensure a stable, continuous supply of needed medical supplies, including gowns, masks, gloves, testing kits, testing swabs, and respiratory machines.
- Support flexibility and availability of treatment – use surplus government property, construct temporary facilities, maximize telehealth’s role, ease providers’ ability to work at top of license and across state lines, remove regulatory hurdles to in-home care.
- Ensure access to medications – protect free flow of medicine, avoid mandates, ease regulations for home delivery and early refills, guard against private stockpiles.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source> | Date |
|---|---|---|
| AHIP, AHA, AMA, ANA, et al. | Letter to VP Pence, Congress | 3/18/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Designate motor vehicle supply & repair and related facilities as essential businesses.
- Provide temporary relief from ongoing Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs through the remainder of 2020.
- Create a Manufacturing Emergency Assistance (MEA) grant program for U.S. manufacturers facing increasingly complex supply chains.
- Initiate a new federal Automotive Component Technology (ACT) grant program to encourage relocation to the U.S. of R&D and production of transportation-related technologies and components.
- Delay or defer 2020 quarterly federal tax payments/ Temporary employer payroll tax holiday.
- Expand/extend expensing for equipment and machinery.
- Delay the June 1 effective date for USMCA
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, et. al. | Letter to Congress | 3/18/2020 |
| Letter to Congress | 3/20/2020 |
Big Asks:
(3/18/2020)
| Request | Amount |
|---|---|
| Establish a Travel Workforce Stabilization Fund to keep workers employed. | $250 billion |
| Provide an Emergency Liquidity Facility for travel businesses to remain operational. | ?? |
| Bulk up and streamline the SBA loan programs to support small businesses and their employees. | ?? |
_
(3/26/2020)
| Request | Amount |
|---|---|
| SBA loans with increased loan limits, broader eligibility, no collateral requirements, and loan forgiveness . | $300+ billion |
| Travel Workforce Stabilization Fund to provide grants ($150 billion) and loans ($100 billion) for impacted travel-dependent businesses. | $250 billion |
| Provide $10 billion in airport grants and more than $1 billion in Community Development grants to support impacted tourism businesses. | $11+ billion |
Justification:
(3/18/2020)
Projecting $202 billion in direct losses before May and loss of 4.6 million jobs.
(3/26/2020)
Travel businesses – 83% of which are small businesses – help supply 15.8 million U.S. jobs, almost six million of which could disappear in the next five weeks (by May).
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Travel Association | Press Release | 3/18/2020 |
| Press Release | 3/26/2020 |
Big Asks:
(3/17/2020)
Access to liquidity and low interest loans, including for small businesses.
(3/21/2020)
- Enhanced unemployment insurance programs to workers.
- Allow furloughed employees to keep their employer-sponsored health care.
- SBA Loans
(3/26/2020)
Eliminate SBA loan limit of 250% of borrower’s average monthly payroll.
Justification:
(3/26/2020)
The SBA loan limit will not allow a business owner to meet both payroll and debt service obligations beyond an estimated 4 to 8 weeks
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Hotel & Lodging Association | Statement after WH meeting | 3/17/2020 |
| Statement | 3/21/2020 | |
| Statement | 3/26/2020 |
Big Asks:
Emergency relief funds for Behavioral Health Organizations (BHOs) similar to the CARES Act Public Health and Social Services Fund.
Amount:
$38.5 billion
Justification:
“We assessed the broad impact being felt by [Community Behavioral Health Organizations] CBHOs including lost revenue, unanticipated increased costs from staff overtime, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and modifying outreach to patients, as well as implementing telehealth where possible. Of the data points we have received so far (from 131 clinics), CBHOs anticipate an average reduction in revenue of 49.16% over the next year.”
Reference Info:
<td”>
National Council for Behavioral Health & American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Letter to Congress (4/5/2020) | 4/5/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Ensure the ability of local media to seek relief under the Paycheck Protection Program.
- Fund federal advertising spending on local media.
Amount:
$5-$10 billion for advertising spending.
Justification:
Local/regional radio and television broadcasters are critical parts of the COVID-19 response because of their ability to provide reliable news and information. The industry was strained before the pandemic, and less ad revenue could force certain broadcasters to shutter.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source> | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Association of Broadcasters | Industry letter |
Big Asks:
- Federal funds to address operational shortfalls for electric co-ops maintaining utility connections during this period of economic stress.
- Re-price USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) debt to take advantage of low interest rates.
- Increase funding available under RUS Guaranteed Underwriter Program.
- Program to provide internet service vouchers for families in need and small businesses.
- More funding for RUS’ ReConnect Broadband Loan and Grant Program.
- Fast-track FEMA money that hasn’t been given out to recent disaster areas yet.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Rural Electric Cooperative Association | Letter to Congress | 4/6/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Extend max loan amount under Paycheck Protection Program until 3 months after restaurants can legally open; extend loan repayment program.
- Launch a Restaurant Stabilization Fund to provide grants.
- Create new tax rebates that reward hiring and help cover rent.
- Ensure business interruption insurance covers the current crisis.
Amount:
- $100 million in grants for the requested Restaurant Stabilization Fund
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Restaurant Association | Letter to Congress | 4/6/2020 |
Big Asks:
Help more patients keep coverage by supporting business providing coverage and helping individuals make premium payments.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) | AHIP press release | 3/25/2020 |
Big Asks:
(3/16/2020)
- Strengthen efforts to increase the production of PPE and components required for testing.
(3/24/2020)
- Expedite processing of international physicians already in the U.S. in valid visa status seeking a change of status to begin a U.S. residency or assume a position in an underserved area of the U.S.
- Extend the 30-day visa grace period beyond the end of the nationally declared emergency, and allow extended training activities under supervision during the period consistent with pandemic response.
- Issue a public statement confirming that J-1 physicians are permitted to be redeployed to new rotations within the host training institution as needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Open visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates for physicians seeking to enter the U.S. to join residency programs on 7/1/2020.
(4/07/2020)
Provide one month of revene to each physician, nurse practicioner, and PA enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid to account for financial losses and on-reimbursable expenses
(4/15/2020)
- Expand the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program – delay recoupments, waive interest, etc.
- Increase payment rates for Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE; waive budget neutrality for evaluation and management services implemented on 1/1/2021, extend sequestration relief through 12/31/2021.
- Authorize direct grants, interest-free loans, a 9/11-type COVID fund, etc. for physician practices of all sizes.
- Infuse the SBA’s PPP with more funding.
- Require ERISA group health plans to cover telehealth for the duration of the pandemic.
- (and other requests related to resident physicians and students; the emergency medical treatment and labor act; and physicain liability)
Justification:
(3/16/2020)
The AMA continues to hear from physicians across the country about short supplies and limited access to personal protective equipment and components required for SARS-CoV2 diagnostics.
(3/24/2020)
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, there was a shortages of physicians, and international medical graduates are crucial to providing care to many Americans.
(4/15/2020)
*see letter on 4/15/2020 for specific justifications.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Medical Association (AMA) with others.. | Letter to VP Pence | 3/16/2020 |
| Letter to Dep’t of State, DHS | 3/24/2020 | |
| Letter to HHS | 4/7/2020 | |
| Letter to Congress | 4/15/2020 |
Big Asks:
(3/19/2020)
- A 24-month interest-free loan program for small, independent primary care practices negatively impacted by the pandemic.
- Reauthorize/fund, for minimum of 5 years, the Community Health Center (CHC), Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) and National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs.
- Expand access to primary care for individuals/ families with high-deductible health plans by eliminating cost-sharing for, at minimum, two visits with their primary care physician per year.
- Require Medicaid programs to compensate primary care physicians at rates at least equal to Medicare rates.
- A federal grant program that would assist solo and small group physician practices in purchasing/implementing telemedicine platforms with priority for rural practices.
(3/26/2020)
*asks in 3/20/2020 letter contained in letter on 4/15/2020 listed under ‘Physicians’
(3/26/2020)
Make periodic interim payments to healthcare providers by using APA §553(b)(B) to waive comment period and immediately change 42 CFR 413.64(h) to expand applicability to all providers and all part A and B services (and other specs.)
(4/17/2020)
- $70 billion from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF) created by the CARES Act must be proportionately provided to ALL Medicaid provides impacted by the pandemic.
- Prevent implementation of the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation (MFAR).
- Raise Medicaid payments levels to Medicare rates.
- Apply the FMAP continuous eligibility maintenance of effort requirement to enrollees covered in separate CHIP.
- Delay CHIP funding cliff by one year.
- Suspend implementation of the Public Charge Regulation
Justification:
(3/19/2020)
“One of the major takeaways from the COVID19 pandemic, to date, is the essential role primary care physicians are playing in the pandemic and how grossly underfunded our national primary care infrastructure is at the present time.”
(3/26/20)
“Physicians and other clinicians are facing similar financial stresses as cancellation rates have more than doubled.”
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) | Letter to Congress | 3/19/2020 |
| Letter to Congress | 3/20/2020 | |
| Letter to HHS, CMMS | 3/26/2020 | |
| Letter to Congress | 4/17/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Improve access to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program and the Federal Reserve’s “Main Street Lending Program” for single-family and multifamily builders and developers;
- Advance the maximum $10,000 amount to all applicants of the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program;
- Provide direct rental assistance and other solutions to multifamily owners to address lost rental payments; and
- Temporarily increase mortgage limits in high-cost areas for FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Justification:
A range of policies are needed to help the residential construction industry survive the COVID-19 economic disruption.
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Association of Home Builders | Letter to the White House | 4/27/2020 |
Big Asks:
- Include the RESTART Act(S. 3814/H.R. 7481) in any final package.
- The bill creates a new lending program with broad eligibility for business and nonprofits with less than 500 employees providing for loans up to $12 million that are partially forgivable.
Justification:
“Many of our members have been completely cut off from all avenues of assistance thus far […] Taking on more debt while in a position of negative cash flow will further stymie our ability to survive the crisis.RESTART allows us to obtain partially forgivable loans, critical to our eventual recovery.”
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Hotel & Lodging Association American Society of Travel Advisors International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions International Franchise Association et al. |
Letter to Congress | 8/04/2020 |
Agriculture Aid Requests
The requests below are listed separately to clarify what special interests are requesting from the USDA for each commodity, segment, or service involved in agriculture. The entries often identify what authorities and sources of funds the interests seek (Congressional emergency appropriations v. USDA Secretary’s disaster authority):
- Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) – subsidies administered at the discretion of the Secretary using CCC Charter Act Authority; or,
- Appropriations (Approps) – emergency spending ($9.5 billion) authorized by the CARES Act for COVID-19 related losses
You can learn more about the subsidies and support provided to agriculture businesses and the various government structures or programs used to provide them here.
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
| Aquaculture block grants to states; direct payments to producers; government purchases | n/a | 60% of catfish sales go to foodservice and seafood sales to foodservice are down 65% |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Sens. Hyde-Smith. Wicker, Boozman, and Cotton | Letter to Perdue | 4/10/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “provide emergency financial assistance” | n/a | Reduced corn prices due to idling of corn ethanol plants |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “provide emergency financial assistance” | n/a | Reduced prices due to reduction in driving |
| Direct relief to the biofuels industry through the money appropriated from CARES Act of through the Commodity Credit Corporation | n/a | Demand for fuel has declined due to the COVID-19 outbreak |
| Reimburse for feedstocks; Add funds to the Higher-Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program through the Commodity Credit Corporation | n/a | Demand for fuel has declined due to the COVID-19 outbreak |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| House Biofuels Caucus | Letter to Perdue | 4/10/2020 |
| Sens. Grassley, Duckworth, and 13 others | Letter to Perdue | 4/6/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Direct payment to cotton producers through Commodity Credit Corporation or CARES Act; Reactivate Cotton Ginning Costshare program through the Commodity Credit Corporation | n/a | Lowest price in a decade |
| *Direct payments to producers *Payments to co-ops and marketers through CARES Act or Commodity Credit Corporation |
n/a | $3 to $3.5 billion loss from cotton futures prices down 30%, 90% drop in orders for yarn, decline in retail purchases for textile products |
| Any assistance | n/a | Since the beginning of 2020, cotton futures prices have declined 30 percent |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| National Cotton Council | Hagstrom Report | 4/17/2020 |
| Sens. Boozman (R-AR), Warner (D-VA), and 19 others | Letter to Perdue | 4/15/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Supplemental support | n/a | $3 to $3.5 billion loss from cotton futures prices down 30%, 90% drop in orders for yarn, decline in retail purchases for textile products |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Cotton Council | Hagstrom Report | 4/17/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Direct payments for producers and additional purchases | n/a | Reduced demand |
| Additional food purchases | n/a | Reduced demand |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Milk Producers Federation | Press Release | |
| Sen. Schumer | Press Release | 4/6/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Direct payment at least equal to payment received under Dairy Margin Coverage program from CCC and CARES Act | n/a | Low prices |
| Reactivate the WHIP-ML program | n/a | For milk dumped or removed without compensation from processors |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase milk, butter, cheeses, dry milk powders and other dairy products; export assistance; direct payments | n/a | Lower demand from schools and food processors |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | Sales lost to racetrack closings |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | Auctions closed or disrupted Loss of CO2 byproduct from ethanol Lost feed (no distillers grain) |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Direct payments (modeled on 2019 MFP for other livestock) | n/a | Drop in ethanol production has resulted in a 30% increase in costs. Also drop in bull prices. |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring | Letter to Perdue | 4/16/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Financial assistance through the CCC; Replenish the CCC and increase borrowing authority to $50 billion | n/a | Depressed prices due to COVID-19 |
| Special Direct Payment | n/a | Futures prices down as much as 30% |
| Direct payments through the CARES Act and direct purchases through the CCC | n/a | Lack of sales |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Cattleman’s Beef Association | NCBA Letter to Congress | 3/19/2020 |
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America) | Letter to Perdue | 4/9/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Special Direct Payment | n/a | Futures prices down as much as 30% |
| *Equitable direct payments to producers participants without eligibility restrictions (no means test); *Over $1 billion in pork purchases |
$5 billion | Hog values plummeted due to COVID-19 impact. |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| National Pork Producers Council | NPPC Press Release | 4/14/20 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Direct aid to producers through the CARES Act | $1.0+ Billion | Estimate $1.02 billion in lost sales March – December |
| *Direct payments of minimum 25% revenue or max $25,000 if annual revenue between $1,000 and $300,000; *Direct payments for documented COVID-19 losses capped at $100,000 or 50% of lost revenue or additional costs (60% if much is donated to charities) |
>$1.1 billion | Farmers market closures and delays have cut off sales |
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | Markets no longer operating because of stay at home orders |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) | Letter | 4/9/2020 |
| Sens. Brown and Murkowski | Letter tp Perdue | 4/9/2020 |
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Special Direct Payment | n/a | Financial stress |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Special Direct Payment | n/a | Financial stress |
| Direct payments through the CARES Act and direct purchases through the CCC | n/a | Supply chain suffering due to COVID-19 outbreak |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| National Chicken Council | Letter to Perdue | 4/10/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | Don’t have payroll obligations, thus don’t qualify for SBA’s Payroll Protection Program, but “are under equal financial stress and should be covered under all programs.” |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| *Direct payments to producers | Approps; *Direct purchase program | CCC | n/a | Dumping products or income losses due to restaurant and retail closures |
| Direct payments through the CARES Act and direct purchases through the CCC | $5 billion | Fruits, vegetables, horticulture, floriculture, and nursery have lost sales. Contracts have been canceled and redistributing product is challenging. |
| Direct payments through the CARES Act and direct purchases through the CCC | n/a | Reduced demand |
| Direct payments and additional food purchases. 2019 MFP is a possible model. | n/a | Significant losses |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Sens. Feinstein (D-CA), Stabenow (D-MI) and 27 others | Letter to Perdue | 4/13/2020 |
| Reps. Newhouse, Panetta, Upton, and Cuellar | Letter to Perdue | 4/13/2020 |
| Reps. Panetta, Costa, LaMalfa, Upton, and 104 other Members of Congress | Letter to Perdue | 4/7/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Additional food purchases, direct assistance perhaps modeled on the 2019 MFP for cherries; Also, funds should be kept in reserve for payment in the fall. | n/a | Sales losses on fruit harvested in 2019 and stored presently. Increased per-box costs due to COVID-19 guidance in packing. |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Apple Association and eight other org.s | Letter to Perdue | 4/10/2020 |
| Request | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| “financial support must be provided” | CCC or Approps | n/a | “Backbone” of a rural community and economy |
Status:
Reference Info:
| Requester | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | AFBF Letter | 4/3/2020 |
Tags: COVID-19
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