Fourth Federal COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Bill Is Likely
The provisions of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act are not even fully understood, yet the Congress and Administration are preparing for a fourth federal COVID-19 pandemic relief bill for emerging and existing program needs.
While the Congress is in recess until at least April 20, leaders have already indicated another comprehensive bill may be necessary, offering funding, legislative and regulatory authority for our healthcare and economic recovery.
As each of you do your best to stay healthy, practice physical distancing and keep the workflow moving in your world, I encourage you to be thinking about meaningful ways the federal government can be helpful. This could involve more funding for an existing grant, loan or contracting activity; authorization for a new program along with the funding to get started; or relief from a tax or regulation that is hindering progress.
This is a call to action for all of you on the front lines of healthcare, disaster response, education, business, non-profits, unions, or others in the crosshairs of this pandemic.
Your recommendations to Congress should help respond to what we have learned from all aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and should be able to be carried out between now and the end of 2020. The 12 bills making up the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations can take care of activities that start October 1 of this year through September 30, 2021.
Members of Congress and their staff will be working remotely from their homes, so emails or website forms are the best ways to share any input you have. Ways to enhance your chances of getting a provision / funding in the next relief bill would be to work with your trade association, a like-minded coalition of businesses, universities or non-profits, or constituencies that would benefit from your ideas.
The best ideas are those that have anecdotal evidence of their need, statistics or data on benefits to be derived, ease of administration and oversight, and have an immediate positive impact on the health and economic recovery of our nation.
As a former Congressional staffer who worked on the House Appropriations Committee, I have a proven track record of working with elected officials and their staff, federal agencies and your affiliated organizations.
Legislators rightfully fear the next pandemic relief bill may become a Christmas tree for lobbyists and opportunistic special interests. Instead, let’s contribute in a meaningful and constructive way as the country seeks to work its way through this complex challenge.
Mike Fulton directs the Washington, D.C., office of Asher Agency and teaches public affairs in the West Virginia University Reed College of Media’s Integrated Marketing Communications program. He can be reached at [email protected]