rollcall--2020-04-21--Trump announces temporary suspension of green cards

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he planned to suspend , for at least 60 days , issuing green cards @ @ @ @ @ to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis .
The suspension @ @ @ @ @ first in line for jobs while America reopens , ” he said during his daily @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A short break from new immigration , depending on the time we 're @ @ @ @ @ the solvency of our health care system and provide relief to jobless Americans , ” @ @ @ @ @ an executive order that would direct his administration to roll out this policy change was @ @ @ @ @ , as we speak ” and would be ready for signing Wednesday .
Trump noted @ @ @ @ @ in a 10 p.m tweet Monday that said he would “ temporarily suspend immigration ” @ @ @ @ @ suggesting that foreigners could bring the virus into the country and displace U.S. workers distressed @ @ @ @ @ .

Trump noted he had teased his plan in a 10 p.m tweet Monday that said he would “temporarily suspend immigration” into the United States, suggesting that foreigners could bring the virus into the country and displace U.S. workers distressed from the pandemic-induced economic crisis.
His tweet offered no details about what policy changes the move would entail and blindsided congressional staff and even some Homeland Security officials. It also induced panic among visa workers and green card holders already in the United States, as well as some people currently abroad waiting for extensions, renewals and other paperwork to come through. Many such people have spent years in the United States, along with thousands of dollars on legal paperwork.
The details Trump announced Tuesday evening were not as all-encompassing as he suggested a night earlier. They may still affect thousands of people, however.
In fiscal 2019, roughly 1 million people obtained green cards, half of which were new arrivals to the United States. The other half were people who transitioned to permanent residency from within the country. On Tuesday, Trump suggested there may be exceptions for certain types of applicants, but he didn’t elaborate.
Trump’s tweet had initially raised concern that his order might also target certain temporary workers who come on “non-immigrant visas,” such as health care workers, tech employees and agricultural workers. On Tuesday, the president said the forthcoming order would not affect such people. He did, however, acknowledge that a secondary order that might address those groups was under consideration.


rollcall--2020-04-21--Ethics guidance on coronavirus relief package: Lawmakers may be able to apply for some loans

The House Ethics Committee is recommending that lawmakers and their families exercise “ caution ” before applying for economic relief @ @ @ @ @ passed into law to quell the financial ruin caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
The @ @ @ @ @ Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act was signed into law March @ @ @ @ @ businesses , families , hospitals and states .
Of that , $ 500 billion is @ @ @ @ @ eligible businesses , states and municipalities in need .
On Tuesday , the Senate passed @ @ @ @ @ package that will refill the Paycheck Protection Program 's small-business loan program and supply funding @ @ @ @ @ Companies in which members — or family members , such as a spouse , child @ @ @ @ @ least 20 percent equity interest can ’ t get any loans , loan guarantees or @ @ @ @ @ of funds to be disbursed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
However , those conflict @ @ @ @ @ apply to other components of the law , including the Paycheck Protection Program .

The House Ethics Committee is recommending that lawmakers and their families exercise “caution” before applying for economic relief through the massive relief packages passed into law to quell the financial ruin caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The roughly $2.3 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law March 27 and provides aid to businesses, families, hospitals and states. Of that, $500 billion is allocated to provide money to eligible businesses, states and municipalities in need. On Tuesday, the Senate passed a $483.4 billion aid package that will refill the Paycheck Protection Program's small-business loan program and supply funding for hospitals and testing.
Companies in which members — or family members, such as a spouse, child or daughter-in-law — own at least 20 percent equity interest can’t get any loans, loan guarantees or other investments from the pool of funds to be disbursed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
However, those conflict of interest prohibitions do not apply to other components of the law, including the Paycheck Protection Program.


rollcall--2020-04-21--Coronavirus Special Report: Unpacking the latest relief package

Tonight , we examine the $ 483.4 billion relief package just passed by the Senate , intended to refill the @ @ @ @ @ hospitals to provide for more testing .
All eyes now move to the House .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s Katherine Tully-McManus talks about how Republicans and Democrats are grappling with legislating in @ @ @ @ @ • Aid bill to fund virus testing as debate over closures rolls on • Lobbying @ @ @ @ @ doles out trillions • Senate report : Kremlin support for Trump in 2016 is accurate

Tonight, we examine the $483.4 billion relief package just passed by the Senate, intended to refill the coffers of small businesses and hospitals to provide for more testing. All eyes now move to the House. Also, CQ Roll Call’s Katherine Tully-McManus talks about how Republicans and Democrats are grappling with legislating in the age of COVID-19.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-04-21--New aid bill would open SBA economic injury funds to farmers

The economic aid bill the Senate passed Tuesday would give farmers another pool of federal loans and grants to tap by ending restrictions on agricultural eligibility for the Small Business Administration ’ s economic injury disaster program .
By voice vote , the Senate sent the $ 483.4 billion bill , the latest COVID-19 economic rescue measure , to the House , which could act on the legislation as early as Thursday .
Farm groups had complained that although Congress pumped $ 10 billion into the program in March legislation , it left unchanged language that shut out much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small agricultural cooperatives could apply for up to $ 2 million in low-interest loans , but farms and ranches with 500 or fewer employees were ineligible .
COVID-19 has caused a domino effect in the agriculture and food supply chains as public health closures and service restrictions have hit farmers markets , restaurants , food service suppliers and other customers for small farmers as well as larger beef , poultry and pork operations .
The new bill says the loan and emergency grant programs are to use language from an SBA statute that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business concerns engaged in the production of food and fiber , ranching , and raising of livestock , aquaculture , and all other farming and agricultural-related industries .
”

The economic aid bill the Senate passed Tuesday would give farmers another pool of federal loans and grants to tap by ending restrictions on agricultural eligibility for the Small Business Administration’s economic injury disaster program.
By voice vote, the Senate sent the $483.4 billion bill, the latest COVID-19 economic rescue measure, to the House, which could act on the legislation as early as Thursday.
Farm groups had complained that although Congress pumped $10 billion into the program in March legislation, it left unchanged language that shut out much of agriculture. Aquaculture, plant nurseries and small agricultural cooperatives could apply for up to $2 million in low-interest loans, but farms and ranches with 500 or fewer employees were ineligible.
COVID-19 has caused a domino effect in the agriculture and food supply chains as public health closures and service restrictions have hit farmers markets, restaurants, food service suppliers and other customers for small farmers as well as larger beef, poultry and pork operations.
The new bill says the loan and emergency grant programs are to use language from an SBA statute that defines agricultural enterprises as “those small business concerns engaged in the production of food and fiber, ranching, and raising of livestock, aquaculture, and all other farming and agricultural-related industries.”


rollcall--2020-04-21--Trump vows to bolster oil industry, but it isn’t asking for help

President Donald Trump said he had directed his administration to find money to support the U.S. oil industry a day @ @ @ @ @ a barrel of the key domestic petroleum product closed below zero .
The president offered @ @ @ @ @ might take , as industry experts and its largest lobbying group said the government should @ @ @ @ @ the global market .
“ We will never let the great U.S. Oil & Gas @ @ @ @ @ tweeted .
“ I have instructed the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of the Treasury @ @ @ @ @ will make funds available so that these very important companies and jobs will be secured @ @ @ @ @ ” [ Oil prices fall below zero and Trump sees a buying opportunity ] While @ @ @ @ @ what relief Trump was seeking for oil companies , he had called Monday night for @ @ @ @ @ barrels of crude oil to fill the federal oil stockpile , the Strategic Petroleum Reserve @ @ @ @ @ did not respond to a request for comment .

President Donald Trump said he had directed his administration to find money to support the U.S. oil industry a day after the market price for a barrel of the key domestic petroleum product closed below zero.
The president offered no specific actions the administration might take, as industry experts and its largest lobbying group said the government should not try to interfere in the global market.
“We will never let the great U.S. Oil & Gas Industry down,” Trump tweeted. “I have instructed the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of the Treasury to formulate a plan which will make funds available so that these very important companies and jobs will be secured long into the future!”
[Oil prices fall below zero and Trump sees a buying opportunity]
While it wasn't immediately clear what relief Trump was seeking for oil companies, he had called Monday night for the purchase of 75 million barrels of crude oil to fill the federal oil stockpile, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Department of Energy did not respond to a request for comment.


rollcall--2020-04-21--Aid bill to fund virus testing as debate over closures rolls on

The Senate on Tuesday passed a pandemic aid package that would , among other things , provide $ 25 billion @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 tests across the country .
Lawmakers and experts say increased testing capacity is needed @ @ @ @ @ and begin a return to normal life amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Senate Democrats pushed @ @ @ @ @ provisions to build up a nationwide testing strategy .
The agreement comes as lawmakers and @ @ @ @ @ the federal government to play a bigger role in coordinating a testing strategy as local @ @ @ @ @ to lift the economic and social restrictions that kept many Americans at home for the @ @ @ @ @ say that being able to test for new cases and quickly isolate those who are @ @ @ @ @ interacted with would be crucial to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 cases .

The Senate on Tuesday passed a pandemic aid package that would, among other things, provide $25 billion to increase the availability of COVID-19 tests across the country.
Lawmakers and experts say increased testing capacity is needed to lift social distancing restrictions and begin a return to normal life amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate Democrats pushed for the package to include provisions to build up a nationwide testing strategy.
The agreement comes as lawmakers and governors from both parties urge the federal government to play a bigger role in coordinating a testing strategy as local officials consider how and when to lift the economic and social restrictions that kept many Americans at home for the last several weeks.
Experts say that being able to test for new cases and quickly isolate those who are positive and those they have interacted with would be crucial to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 cases.


rollcall--2020-04-21--FDA authorizes first at-home COVID-19 test

The Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it had authorized an at-home test for COVID-19 that patients can administer @ @ @ @ @ manufactured by Laboratory Corporation of America , or LabCorp , allows for patients to collect @ @ @ @ @ and ship it into one of the corporation ’ s labs for testing .
A @ @ @ @ @ provider would need to order the test , according to a letter from FDA to @ @ @ @ @ , LabCorp requested the FDA expand its March authorization to test for the coronavirus that @ @ @ @ @ at-home specimen collection .
FDA “ worked with LabCorp to ensure the data demonstrated from @ @ @ @ @ as safe and accurate as sample collection at a doctor 's office , hospital or @ @ @ @ @ Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a news release .

The Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it had authorized an at-home test for COVID-19 that patients can administer themselves.
The test, manufactured by Laboratory Corporation of America, or LabCorp, allows for patients to collect a sample from their noses and ship it into one of the corporation’s labs for testing.
A physician or another health care provider would need to order the test, according to a letter from FDA to LabCorp.
On April 5, LabCorp requested the FDA expand its March authorization to test for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 to allow for at-home specimen collection.
FDA “worked with LabCorp to ensure the data demonstrated from at-home patient sample collection is as safe and accurate as sample collection at a doctor's office, hospital or other testing site,” Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a news release.


rollcall--2020-04-21--A look at quarantine policies around the world

From banning the sale of alcohol to makeup being considered essential , the extent of lockdown measures vary from nation @ @ @ @ @ Africa to Germany , watch as CQ Roll Call sits down with people under various @ @ @ @ @ [ Also watch : Can Congress or the president institute a national quarantine ? ]

From banning the sale of alcohol to makeup being considered essential, the extent of lockdown measures vary from nation to nation.
From South Africa to Germany, watch as CQ Roll Call sits down with people under various states of lockdown measures.
[Also watch: Can Congress or the president institute a national quarantine?]


rollcall--2020-04-21--Coronavirus aid package passes Senate

Coronavirus aid package passes Senate

The Senate passed a $ 483.4 billion economic relief measure Tuesday that would replenish a popular small-business loan program and @ @ @ @ @ financial shortfalls due to COVID-19 .
Top Democrats and the Trump administration reached agreement on @ @ @ @ @ day after weeks of sometimes testy negotiations .
The Senate ’ s voice vote , @ @ @ @ @ empty chamber , sends the bill to the House for final passage likely on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ back to Washington for that vote , due to objections to a voice vote or @ @ @ @ @ Trump tweeted support for the measure Tuesday morning before it was released , saying he @ @ @ @ @ reaches his desk .
Trump said additional items left out of the latest bill , @ @ @ @ @ states and localities , could be included in the next round of aid .

The Senate passed a $483.4 billion economic relief measure Tuesday that would replenish a popular small-business loan program and provide funding for hospitals facing financial shortfalls due to COVID-19.
Top Democrats and the Trump administration reached agreement on the legislation earlier in the day after weeks of sometimes testy negotiations.
The Senate’s voice vote, which occurred in a nearly empty chamber, sends the bill to the House for final passage likely on Thursday. House lawmakers are headed back to Washington for that vote, due to objections to a voice vote or unanimous consent.
President Donald Trump tweeted support for the measure Tuesday morning before it was released, saying he would sign it when it reaches his desk.
Trump said additional items left out of the latest bill, such as more funding for states and localities, could be included in the next round of aid.


rollcall--2020-04-22--To quarantine beard or not to quarantine beard: Congress decides

His wife is “ OK ” with it , the California Democrat said , while his twin boys are getting their hugs with a side of “ pokes ” and “ scratches.
” Sen. John Thune ’ s wife , Kimberley , has seen something similar before : The mustache he had on their wedding day has come roaring back .
“ I thought , ‘ You know what , I ’ ll let it go for a couple of days , ” the South Dakota Republican recently told Heard on the Hill .
“ I know it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As lawmakers adapt to an extended period away from the Capitol , they ’ re experimenting across the board , adding Zoom calls and virtual town halls to what counts as a “ normal ” day .
This is what Congress looks like during a pandemic : hunkering down with the rest of the country , eking out relief money , and inching closer to the vibe of a ZZ Top tribute band .
Sen. Rand Paul , a trained eye surgeon , is volunteering at a hospital near his home in Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and has the beard to show for it .

His wife is “OK” with it, the California Democrat said, while his twin boys are getting their hugs with a side of “pokes” and “scratches.”
Sen. John Thune’s wife, Kimberley, has seen something similar before: The mustache he had on their wedding day has come roaring back.
“I thought, ‘You know what, I’ll let it go for a couple of days,” the South Dakota Republican recently told Heard on the Hill. “I know it’s not really consistent with my image.”
As lawmakers adapt to an extended period away from the Capitol, they’re experimenting across the board, adding Zoom calls and virtual town halls to what counts as a “normal” day. This is what Congress looks like during a pandemic: hunkering down with the rest of the country, eking out relief money, and inching closer to the vibe of a ZZ Top tribute band.
A lot of beards have bloomed during the pandemic. Top row, from left: Rep. Denny Heck, D-Wash., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. Bottom row, from left: Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Calif., Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wy., Rep. Ben McAdams, D-Utah, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich.
Sen. Rand Paul, a trained eye surgeon, is volunteering at a hospital near his home in Kentucky. He recently recovered from COVID-19 himself — and has the beard to show for it.


rollcall--2020-04-22--Oil markets’ crash raises tough questions for the industry’s future

There 's nothing quite like a price war and an economy in a dive to show how low oil prices can go .
A push in March from a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia , followed by the near shutdown of the economy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic , forced oil prices into the red Monday night .
Oil sellers had to pay customers to take oil off their hands as they neared their capacity to store it .
West Texas Intermediate , the U.S. oil benchmark , closed Tuesday at $ 10 a barrel , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative territory but still far below a sustainable level for producers .
Earlier Tuesday , President Donald Trump pledged to help the oil industry , though he has offered no public plan for how he will do so .
In Congress , oil-state lawmakers have sought federal help for U.S. oil and gas companies , arguing they are key employers and integral to the economy , while Democrats have largely bristled against what they see as bailouts for a destructive industry .
The idea of federal aid for the oil industry is certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the role of the government in protecting favored industries , the future of oil as a lifeblood of the economy and Democrats ’ goals to zero out carbon emissions in decades .

Elvina Nawaguna, Benjamin J. Hulac, and Caroline Tanner

There's nothing quite like a price war and an economy in a dive to show how low oil prices can go.
A push in March from a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, followed by the near shutdown of the economy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, forced oil prices into the red Monday night. Oil sellers had to pay customers to take oil off their hands as they neared their capacity to store it.
West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. oil benchmark, closed Tuesday at $10 a barrel, a rebound from the previous day’s negative territory but still far below a sustainable level for producers.
Earlier Tuesday, President Donald Trump pledged to help the oil industry, though he has offered no public plan for how he will do so. In Congress, oil-state lawmakers have sought federal help for U.S. oil and gas companies, arguing they are key employers and integral to the economy, while Democrats have largely bristled against what they see as bailouts for a destructive industry.
The idea of federal aid for the oil industry is certain to trigger fierce partisan and ideological clashes about the role of the government in protecting favored industries, the future of oil as a lifeblood of the economy and Democrats’ goals to zero out carbon emissions in decades.


rollcall--2020-04-21--Latest aid bill has funds for providers; advocates say more is needed

Democrats notched a $ 100 billion victory Tuesday after an agreement to replenish funding for small-business loans included additional money for medical providers and coronavirus testing , but some providers and lawmakers said more help is needed .
Hospitals and other medical providers said they welcomed the additional aid sought by Democrats , but a tug-of-war among provider groups will likely continue .
The American Hospital Association recently requested that the Department of Health and Human Services prioritize hospitals in a separate $ 100 billion fund that Congress provided in a previous law .
The fourth economic aid bill addressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for medical providers and $ 25 billion to increase testing capacity .
The legislation passed the Senate by voice vote Tuesday afternoon and is expected to be considered by the House on Thursday .
The funding falls short of the $ 318 billion the American Medical Group Association requested in a letter Tuesday to help medical providers cover losses .
A survey by the association found that 60 percent of independent doctor groups estimate they will deplete their financial reserves in two months , while one-third are providing uncompensated care for area hospitals @

Democrats notched a $100 billion victory Tuesday after an agreement to replenish funding for small-business loans included additional money for medical providers and coronavirus testing, but some providers and lawmakers said more help is needed.
Hospitals and other medical providers said they welcomed the additional aid sought by Democrats, but a tug-of-war among provider groups will likely continue. The American Hospital Association recently requested that the Department of Health and Human Services prioritize hospitals in a separate $100 billion fund that Congress provided in a previous law.
The fourth economic aid bill addressing the coronavirus pandemic includes $75 billion for medical providers and $25 billion to increase testing capacity. The legislation passed the Senate by voice vote Tuesday afternoon and is expected to be considered by the House on Thursday.
The funding falls short of the $318 billion the American Medical Group Association requested in a letter Tuesday to help medical providers cover losses. A survey by the association found that 60 percent of independent doctor groups estimate they will deplete their financial reserves in two months, while one-third are providing uncompensated care for area hospitals.


rollcall--2020-04-22--Trump issues narrow order suspending immigration amid pandemic

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday that bars the entry of certain immigrants hoping to move to the United States on a permanent basis .
He told reporters the two-month suspension would “ ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens.
” Trump teased the latest ban in a late-night tweet Monday , saying that it would “ suspend immigration , ” but providing few details of what the order might entail and whom exactly it may affect .
The actual order turned out much narrower , applying only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move to the United States to join families or take up job offers .
However , it may still affect tens of thousands of people .
The order suspends , for at least 60 days , the entry of people who are currently abroad and do not already have an immigrant visa or another type of travel authorization to move permanently to the United States .
It does not apply to people who are already in the United States or who are transitioning their immigration status to that of a permanent resident .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ order carves out several key exemptions .
It does not apply to people who already have green cards or to spouses and children of U.S. citizens .
Parents of U.S. citizens , however , are not mentioned in the list of exemptions .

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday that bars the entry of certain immigrants hoping to move to the United States on a permanent basis.
He told reporters the two-month suspension would “ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens.”
But the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute said that 80 percent of the people affected by the ban would be coming to join family members in the United States and only 7 percent would be people who may be coming to take new jobs.
Trump announced the latest ban in a late-night tweet Monday, saying that it would “suspend immigration,” but providing few details of what the order might entail and whom exactly it may affect. The actual order turned out much narrower, applying only to certain categories of people hoping to move to the United States to join families or take up job offers. However, it may still affect tens of thousands of people and hits at the core of the American immigration system, which centers around family reunification.
The order suspends, for at least 60 days, the entry of people who are currently abroad and do not already have an immigrant visa or another type of travel authorization to move permanently to the United States. It does not apply to people who are already in the United States or who are transitioning their immigration status to that of a permanent resident.


rollcall--2020-04-22--House moves toward establishing select panel to oversee coronavirus response

The House on Wednesday took another step toward establishing a select panel to oversee the coronavirus response as the Rules @ @ @ @ @ to send to the floor a rule for consideration of a resolution to formally establish @ @ @ @ @ vote came after Democratic leaders pivoted earlier in the day to take a proxy voting @ @ @ @ @ ’ s agenda .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced April 2 her intent to create the @ @ @ @ @ chaired by Majority Whip James E. Clyburn , but the full House must vote on @ @ @ @ @ .
That will come Thursday .
The subcommittee would focus on oversight of funding approved @ @ @ @ @ crisis and examining how and where it is spent .
It would fall within the @ @ @ @ @ umbrella .
[ Pelosi wants coronavirus select committee but that requires a vote ]

The House on Wednesday took another step toward establishing a select panel to oversee the coronavirus response as the Rules Committee voted along party lines to send to the floor a rule for consideration of a resolution to formally establish the panel.
The 7-4 vote came after Democratic leaders pivoted earlier in the day to take a proxy voting proposal off the Rules Committee’s agenda.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced April 2 her intent to create the select subcommittee, to be chaired by Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, but the full House must vote on a resolution to establish it. That will come Thursday.
The subcommittee would focus on oversight of funding approved by Congress for the coronavirus crisis and examining how and where it is spent. It would fall within the Oversight and Reform Committee's umbrella.
[Pelosi wants coronavirus select committee but that requires a vote]


rollcall--2020-04-22--Coronavirus Special Report: How counties around the nation are being decimated by COVID-19

Tonight , a look at the tug of war in Congress between lawmakers who want to vote remotely and those @ @ @ @ @ .
Then , an examination of what is going on with oil and how the @ @ @ @ @ have been depleted by COVID-19 .
• “ Out of the blue … all hell @ @ @ @ @ Diaz-Balart on his COVID-19 recovery • No change in Social Security , Medicare finances , @ @ @ @ @ US health care raise alarms among senators

Tonight, a look at the tug of war in Congress between lawmakers who want to vote remotely and those who insist the House reopen. Then, an examination of what is going on with oil and how the nation’s county coffers have been depleted by COVID-19.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-04-22--COVID-19 spread in jails could increase death toll, ACLU warns

The American Civil Liberties Union concludes in a new report that COVID-19 could spread rapidly in U.S. jails , leading to higher death tolls than the models touted by the Trump administration expect .
The activist group 's report is based on an earlier model , which it created with researchers from Washington State University , the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Tennessee .
It found that reductions in arrests and speedier releases of prisoners would reduce COVID-19 deaths in Allegheny County , Pa .
Predictions that model the U.S. spread of COVID-19 based on its transmissions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ toll because of the large population in the U.S. confined to jails and prisons , the authors say .
In the new report , the ACLU expanded the earlier study to include 1,242 jurisdictions with jail populations of at least 100 people .
Those jurisdictions altogether cover about 90 percent of the U.S. population .
Anthony Fauci , the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said last month he expected 100,000 to 200,000 Americans to die of COVID-19 .
More recently , President Trump has said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 60,000 people .
The administration has relied on a model created by the University of Washington ’ s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation .
Those models trust the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. will mimic transmissions in other countries despite variations in political responses to the pandemic .

The American Civil Liberties Union concludes in a new report that COVID-19 could spread rapidly in U.S. jails, leading to higher death tolls than the models touted by the Trump administration expect.
The activist group's report is based on an earlier model, which it created with researchers from Washington State University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Tennessee. It found that reductions in arrests and speedier releases of prisoners would reduce COVID-19 deaths in Allegheny County, Pa.
Predictions that model the U.S. spread of COVID-19 based on its transmissions in other countries could dramatically underestimate the virus’ toll because of the large population in the U.S. confined to jails and prisons, the authors say.
In the new report, the ACLU expanded the earlier study to include 1,242 jurisdictions with jail populations of at least 100 people. Those jurisdictions altogether cover about 90 percent of the U.S. population.
Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said last month he expected 100,000 to 200,000 Americans to die of COVID-19. More recently, President Trump has said it will be in the range of 50,000 to 60,000 people. The administration has relied on a model created by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Those models trust the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. will mimic transmissions in other countries despite variations in political responses to the pandemic.


rollcall--2020-04-22--Opposite sides of the aisle … agreeing?

Opposite sides of the aisle … agreeing?

In comments on the floor and in a press conference this week , two lawmakers from opposite ends of the @ @ @ @ @ on at least one thing : Congress should be in session to handle the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Ocasio-Cortez made her comments while participating on an online discussion that included the Congressional Progressive @ @ @ @ @ later , Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah made his criticisms from the Senate floor @ @ @ @ @ a $ 483.4 billion economic relief measure .
The House and Senate are tentatively scheduled @ @ @ @ @ .

In comments on the floor and in a press conference this week, two lawmakers from opposite ends of the political spectrum seemed to agree on at least one thing: Congress should be in session to handle the coronavirus pandemic.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made her comments while participating on an online discussion that included the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
A few days later, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah made his criticisms from the Senate floor after the chamber had passed a $483.4 billion economic relief measure.
The House and Senate are tentatively scheduled to return on May 4.


rollcall--2020-04-22--HHS reveals plans to pay hospitals, cover uninsured in pandemic

The Trump administration announced Wednesday how some of the $ 100 billion from a COVID-19 response law enacted last month would be allocated to cover the uninsured and how much of the rest of the money will be distributed .
HHS Secretary Alex Azar said more than $ 40 billion will be split into four pools : a general allocation , a targeted allocation for hot spots , a rural allocation and a tribal allocation .
An unspecified amount of additional funds will go to cover the uninsured and to other providers .
Azar declined to provide a breakdown of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be distributed , including the four other pools , will be almost $ 50 billion .
“ Congress has entrusted us with an immense amount of money to send to providers , and we will be clear and careful about how we ’ re doing that , ” said Azar in a call with reporters Wednesday , adding that terms will be in place to prevent fraud .
The funding will be on top of $ 30 billion in COVID-19 response funding sent out last week to facilities and providers .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Medicare fee-for-service revenue , which raised concerns from hospitals and other providers that treat a lot of Medicaid and uninsured patients but not many Medicare patients .

The Trump administration announced Wednesday how some of the $100 billion from a COVID-19 response law enacted last month would be allocated to cover the uninsured and how much of the rest of the money will be distributed.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar said more than $40 billion will be split into four pools: a general allocation, a targeted allocation for hot spots, a rural allocation and a tribal allocation.
An unspecified amount of additional funds will go to cover the uninsured and to other providers. Azar declined to provide a breakdown of those funds but said the total amount to be distributed, including the four other pools, will be almost $50 billion.
“Congress has entrusted us with an immense amount of money to send to providers, and we will be clear and careful about how we’re doing that,” said Azar in a call with reporters Wednesday, adding that terms will be in place to prevent fraud.
The funding will be on top of $30 billion in COVID-19 response funding sent out last week to facilities and providers. Last week's allocation was distributed based only on Medicare fee-for-service revenue, which raised concerns from hospitals and other providers that treat a lot of Medicaid and uninsured patients but not many Medicare patients.


rollcall--2020-04-22--Drug price alliance pushes lawmakers to ensure virus treatments are affordable

A new drug pricing coalition will launch its first campaign Thursday , calling on lawmakers to ensure that vaccines or treatments for COVID-19 will be affordable for patients , according to information shared exclusively with CQ Roll Call .
The Lower Drug Prices Now coalition , made up of nearly five dozen left-leaning think tanks , unions and health care groups , is urging lawmakers to pass legislation that would prevent prescription drug companies from claiming exclusivity rights to a vaccine or treatment and ban them from charging a high price for a drug .
Some House Democrats have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to include such provisions .
Democrats sought to include vaccine affordability provisions in an earlier pandemic aid package ( PL 116-123 ) , an $ 8.3 billion supplemental appropriations bill to bolster health care agencies and fund drug treatments , testing and vaccine development .
But Republicans did not agree and that was left out .
Several House Democrats have said they will push for similar provisions to be included in a future aid package .
The coalition began to form last year , but the COVID-19 pandemic put more public attention on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public funding that contributes to their development , said Margarida Jorge , the group ’ s national campaign director .
“ It ’ s really exposing in a really poignant way the long-standing problems with the industry ’ s business model , ” she told CQ Roll Call .
“ It created an opportunity even more for us to launch this no pandemic profiteering campaign .
”

A new drug pricing coalition will launch its first campaign Thursday, calling on lawmakers to ensure that vaccines or treatments for COVID-19 will be affordable for patients, according to information shared exclusively with CQ Roll Call.
The Lower Drug Prices Now coalition, made up of nearly five dozen left-leaning think tanks, unions and health care groups, is urging lawmakers to pass legislation that would prevent prescription drug companies from claiming exclusivity rights to a vaccine or treatment and ban them from charging a high price for a drug. Some House Democrats have already called for the next pandemic aid measure to include such provisions.
Democrats sought to include vaccine affordability provisions in an earlier pandemic aid package (PL 116-123), an $8.3 billion supplemental appropriations bill to bolster health care agencies and fund drug treatments, testing and vaccine development. But Republicans did not agree and that was left out. Several House Democrats have said they will push for similar provisions to be included in a future aid package.
The coalition began to form last year, but the COVID-19 pandemic put more public attention on how drug manufacturers develop new treatments and the public funding that contributes to their development, said Margarida Jorge, the group’s national campaign director.
“It’s really exposing in a really poignant way the long-standing problems with the industry’s business model,” she told CQ Roll Call. “It created an opportunity even more for us to launch this no pandemic profiteering campaign.”


rollcall--2020-04-22--No change in Social Security, Medicare finances, for now

There was virtually no change in the financial conditions of trust funds supporting Social Security and Medicare ’ s inpatient hospital services over the past year , according to government reports released Wednesday .
The two huge benefit programs ’ actuaries , however , acknowledged they had made no allowance for the financial impact of tens of millions of unemployed Americans no longer paying the taxes that are their primary source of funding .
Medicare ’ s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will run out of money in 2026 , the same as was projected last year , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecast to be able to cover 90 percent of incurred program costs that year , up marginally from the 89 percent estimate in last year ’ s report .
Meanwhile , the combined Social Security funds — Old Age , Survivors and Disability Insurance — will be depleted in 2035 , at which time beneficiaries would get a steep cut since the fund ’ s revenues will be able to cover only 79 percent of costs .
That ’ s slightly worse than last year ’ s estimate that benefits would be cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insolvent in 2035 .

There was virtually no change in the financial conditions of trust funds supporting Social Security and Medicare’s inpatient hospital services over the past year, according to government reports released Wednesday.
The two huge benefit programs’ actuaries, however, acknowledged they had made no allowance for the financial impact of tens of millions of unemployed Americans no longer paying the taxes that are their primary source of funding.
Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will run out of money in 2026, the same as was projected last year, according to the new report. The fund is now forecast to be able to cover 90 percent of incurred program costs that year, up marginally from the 89 percent estimate in last year’s report.
[CMS boosts payment rate for Medicare Advantage plans]
Meanwhile, the combined Social Security funds — Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance — will be depleted in 2035, at which time beneficiaries would get a steep cut since the fund’s revenues will be able to cover only 79 percent of costs. That’s slightly worse than last year’s estimate that benefits would be cut by 20 percent when the funds become insolvent in 2035.


rollcall--2020-04-22--Cyberattacks on US health care raise alarms among senators

A bipartisan group of senators wrote to the top U.S. cybersecurity officials asking them to step up monitoring , warnings @ @ @ @ @ counterstrikes against a host of foreign hackers targeting the U.S. health care system and pharmaceutical @ @ @ @ @ an April 20 letter to Gen. Paul Nakasone , head of the military 's U.S. @ @ @ @ @ Krebs , the top Homeland Security Department official at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency @ @ @ @ @ were alarmed at a spate of recent reports from private threat intelligence companies that “ @ @ @ @ @ , and North Korean hacking operations have targeted the health care sector and used the @ @ @ @ @ their campaigns.
” Chinese attackers are staging espionage campaigns aimed at health care and pharmaceutical @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic , the lawmakers said , citing recent reports by FireEye and other @ @ @ @ @ on cyber threats .
[ Pentagon falls short on its cyber hygiene goals , GAO @ @

A bipartisan group of senators wrote to the top U.S. cybersecurity officials asking them to step up monitoring, warnings and, if needed, counterstrikes against a host of foreign hackers targeting the U.S. health care system and pharmaceutical companies through cyberattacks.
In an April 20 letter to Gen. Paul Nakasone, head of the military's U.S. Cyber Command, and Christopher Krebs, the top Homeland Security Department official at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the lawmakers said they were alarmed at a spate of recent reports from private threat intelligence companies that “Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and North Korean hacking operations have targeted the health care sector and used the coronavirus as a lure in their campaigns.”
The lawmakers include Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Mark Warner, D-Va., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and David Perdue, R-Ga.
Chinese attackers are staging espionage campaigns aimed at health care and pharmaceutical companies that are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lawmakers said, citing recent reports by FireEye and other private companies that gather intelligence on cyber threats.
[Pentagon falls short on its cyber hygiene goals, GAO says]


rollcall--2020-04-22--“Out of the blue … all hell broke loose”: Mario Diaz-Balart on his COVID-19 recovery

“ That ’ s a distinction I would have given up any day , right ?
” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart says .
Most people love to come in first , but in this case , the Florida Republican was referring to being the first member of Congress to disclose he had the coronavirus .
When Diaz-Balart announced he would be self-quarantining after testing positive , it made the pandemic a little less abstract for his colleagues and those who work in Congress , cover it or seek to influence it .
The gregarious nine-term lawmaker is popular and widely respected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the illness , along with other well-known figures , put a familiar face to the pandemic .
On the latest Political Theater podcast , Diaz-Balart discusses what it was like those first few days in March .
Before testing positive , he had already decided to self-quarantine in D.C. to minimize the exposure to his wife , who was back home in South Florida .
He went shopping to stock up his apartment in Washington .
And then , “ out of the blue , ” he says , “ all hell broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fever , chills , cough — all sprang on him .
After a trip to the Office of the Attending Physician in the Capitol , he tested positive for the coronavirus and knew he ’ d be in for a potentially rough ride .

“That’s a distinction I would have given up any day, right?” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart says. Most people love to come in first, but in this case, the Florida Republican was referring to being the first member of Congress to disclose he had the coronavirus.
When Diaz-Balart announced he would be self-quarantining after testing positive, it made the pandemic a little less abstract for his colleagues and those who work in Congress, cover it or seek to influence it. The gregarious nine-term lawmaker is popular and widely respected, and the thought of him battling the illness, along with other well-known figures, put a familiar face to the pandemic.
On the latest Political Theater podcast, Diaz-Balart discusses what it was like those first few days in March. Before testing positive, he had already decided to self-quarantine in D.C. to minimize the exposure to his wife, who was back home in South Florida. He went shopping to stock up his apartment in Washington. And then, “out of the blue,” he says, “all hell broke loose.”
The familiar symptoms — headache, fever, chills, cough — all sprang on him. After a trip to the Office of the Attending Physician in the Capitol, he tested positive for the coronavirus and knew he’d be in for a potentially rough ride.


rollcall--2020-04-23--Ruin and resilience: How my south Georgia home is fighting through coronavirus trauma

Brooks Robinson got a phone call from his cousin Jennifer .
She couldn ’ t stop screaming .
“ She ’ s gone .
She ’ s gone , ” she yelled into the phone .
Jennifer was calling to tell him their 34-year-old cousin Santayana Harris had just died of pneumonia , a symptom of COVID-19 .
He couldn ’ t believe it .
Just a day earlier , he ’ d lost another cousin , Flora Robinson , to the same virus .
It was a second blow , but not the last .
Brooks comes from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joyous get-togethers , including an annual Fourth of July celebration .
They attend church together .
“ We are so close to the point that when one hurts , we all hurt , ” he tells me .
Flora ’ s death was particularly painful , since no one was allowed to visit and console her , forcing her to suffer alone .
“ That ’ s the most devastating thing about this , ” he says .
To honor Flora , Brooks put together a video tribute and posted it to Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independence Day gatherings and his parents ’ 50th wedding anniversary .
Then he did the same for Santayana , but he had to stop there .
A few days later , Brooks ’ uncle died of a heart attack , but “ I just didn ’ t have the energy to go through another , ” he says .
By then two more family members had tested positive for the new coronavirus .
Flora died at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany , Georgia , a coronavirus hot zone with one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers are stark .
Just 91,000 people live in Dougherty County , but as of Wednesday , more than 1,400 had tested positive and 107 had died .
That ’ s more deaths than anywhere in the state — more than Atlanta ’ s Fulton County , with its population of 1 million .
There ’ s another difference too : This rural spot is majority black , and that matters in the current pandemic .

Brooks Robinson got a phone call from his cousin Jennifer. She couldn’t stop screaming. “She’s gone. She’s gone,” she yelled into the phone.
Jennifer was calling to tell him their 34-year-old cousin Santayana Harris had just died of pneumonia, a symptom of COVID-19. He couldn’t believe it. Just a day earlier, he’d lost another cousin, Flora Robinson, to the same virus. It was a second blow, but not the last.
Brooks comes from a close-knit family, one that often hosts joyous get-togethers, including an annual Fourth of July celebration. They attend church together. “We are so close to the point that when one hurts, we all hurt,” he tells me. Flora’s death was particularly painful, since no one was allowed to visit and console her, forcing her to suffer alone. “That’s the most devastating thing about this,” he says.
To honor Flora, Brooks put together a video tribute and posted it to Facebook, sharing memories from church, those Independence Day gatherings and his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Then he did the same for Santayana, but he had to stop there. A few days later, a relative died of a heart attack, but “I just didn’t have the energy to go through another,” he says. By then two more family members had tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Flora died at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia, a coronavirus hot zone with one of the country’s worst outbreaks. The numbers are stark. Just 91,000 people live in Dougherty County, but as of Wednesday, more than 1,400 had tested positive and 107 had died. That’s more deaths than anywhere in the state — more than Atlanta’s Fulton County, with its population of 1 million. There’s another difference too: This rural spot is majority black, and that matters in the current pandemic.


rollcall--2020-04-23--COVID-19 vaccine development raises numerous questions

As scientists race to find a COVID-19 vaccine , policymakers and regulators face challenging questions including how to balance efficacy @ @ @ @ @ , plans to pay for a potential vaccine and the best way to distribute it @ @ @ @ @ indicated that a COVID-19 vaccine , which will take at least a year to 18 @ @ @ @ @ important for a return to normalcy .
Last week , the National Institutes of Health @ @ @ @ @ collaborative efforts to develop a vaccine and treatments for the COVID-19 pandemic .
Several scientific @ @ @ @ @ weighed as a vaccine is developed .
One question is how high the standards for @ @ @ @ @ should be .
Supriya Munshaw , senior lecturer at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School @ @ @ @ @ new medical technologies , said it ’ s important to differentiate between vaccine efficacy , @ @ @ @ @ trials before the vaccine is approved , and vaccine effectiveness , measured after the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ administered in the general population .

As scientists race to find a COVID-19 vaccine, policymakers and regulators face challenging questions including how to balance efficacy demands with a tight timeline, plans to pay for a potential vaccine and the best way to distribute it.
Public health experts have indicated that a COVID-19 vaccine, which will take at least a year to 18 months to develop, is important for a return to normalcy.
Last week, the National Institutes of Health announced an initiative to increase collaborative efforts to develop a vaccine and treatments for the COVID-19 pandemic. Several scientific and policy implications must be weighed as a vaccine is developed. One question is how high the standards for a vaccine’s efficacy should be.
[NIH announces strategy for developing COVID-19 drugs, vaccines]
Supriya Munshaw, senior lecturer at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and an expert in commercializing new medical technologies, said it’s important to differentiate between vaccine efficacy, which is measured in clinical trials before the vaccine is approved, and vaccine effectiveness, measured after the vaccine is approved and is being administered in the general population.


rollcall--2020-04-23--Battle lines forming over next round of coronavirus aid

By week ’ s end , the fourth coronavirus relief package is almost certain to become law .
But passing @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers have already promised , is shaping up to be a far more costly and @ @ @ @ @ Trump called this week for a new bill providing aid to state and local governments @ @ @ @ @ payroll tax cut and tax breaks for restaurants , sports and entertainment interests .
Senate @ @ @ @ @ told reporters he would push for a “ big , bold , broad ” package @ @ @ @ @ infrastructure , housing , election security , a `` heroes fund '' for frontline workers @ @ @ @ @ postal service rescue and “ robust ” state and local aid .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ that includes extending enhanced unemployment insurance benefits past their current July 31 expiration , and @ @ @ @ @ checks .
She also wants more money to protect the integrity of elections and let @ @ @ @ @

By week’s end, the fourth coronavirus relief package is almost certain to become law.
But passing a fifth one, which lawmakers have already promised, is shaping up to be a far more costly and contentious undertaking.
President Donald Trump called this week for a new bill providing aid to state and local governments, infrastructure spending, a payroll tax cut and tax breaks for restaurants, sports and entertainment interests.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer told reporters he would push for a “big, bold, broad” package that would include money for infrastructure, housing, election security, a "heroes fund" for frontline workers and first responders, a postal service rescue and “robust” state and local aid.


rollcall--2020-04-22--Photos of the day: Virginia protesters demand reopening of economy

Protesters descended on downtown Richmond , Virginia , on Wednesday , calling on Gov .
Ralph S. Northam to reopen @ @ @ @ @ .
Virginia has been under an extended stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ the one in Richmond have sprung up across the country in recent days and have @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump .

Protesters descended on downtown Richmond, Virginia, on Wednesday, calling on Gov. Ralph S. Northam to reopen the commonwealth’s economy. Virginia has been under an extended stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Demonstrations like the one in Richmond have sprung up across the country in recent days and have earned the apparent support of President Donald Trump.
A protester holds a sign near Capitol Square during Wednesday’s rally. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
A counterprotester holds a sign highlighting the number of U.S. deaths due to COVID-19. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
A doctor from VCU Medical Center watches the Richmond protest. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
A young protester holds a “Recall Northam” sign in the back seat of an SUV during the protest. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)


rollcall--2020-04-23--Coronavirus Special Report: Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto

As COVID-19 continues to batter the U.S. economy , CQ Roll Call ’ s Niels Lesniewski speaks to Nevada Democratic @ @ @ @ @ why she feels certain provisions in the relief packages are unfair to small businesses in @ @ @ @ @ We also have the latest from Congress and health policy in tonight ’ s podcast @ @ @ @ @ builds massive war chest , GOP starts looking at 2022 • Battle lines forming over @ @ @ @ @

As COVID-19 continues to batter the U.S. economy, CQ Roll Call’s Niels Lesniewski speaks to Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto about why she feels certain provisions in the relief packages are unfair to small businesses in states that allow gambling. We also have the latest from Congress and health policy in tonight’s podcast.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-04-23--Coronavirus aid bill OK’d for Trump’s signature

House lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill en masse Thursday to clear a $ 483 billion COVID-19 aid bill — the @ @ @ @ @ month that chamber has gathered for a vote amid the pandemic .
House leadership hoped @ @ @ @ @ unanimous consent , significantly reducing the number of lawmakers who had to return to Washington @ @ @ @ @ least one lawmaker would object led them to call members back .
Following nearly four @ @ @ @ @ House voted 388-5 to send the package to President Donald Trump , who says he @ @ @ @ @ Senate approved the measure Tuesday by voice vote with six senators on the floor .
@ @ @ @ @ the package : Andy Biggs of Arizona , Ken Buck of Colorado , Jody B.
@ @ @ @ @ Thomas Massie of Kentucky .
They were joined by one Democrat : New York 's @ @ @

House lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill en masse Thursday to clear a $483 billion COVID-19 aid bill — the first time in nearly a month that chamber has gathered for a vote amid the pandemic.
House leadership hoped to clear the bill through unanimous consent, significantly reducing the number of lawmakers who had to return to Washington, but the likelihood at least one lawmaker would object led them to call members back.
Following nearly four hours of debate, the House voted 388-5 to send the package to President Donald Trump, who says he will sign it. The Senate approved the measure Tuesday by voice vote with six senators on the floor.
Four House Republicans voted against the package: Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Jody B. Hice of Georgia, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky. They were joined by one Democrat: New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Justin Amash, I-Mich., voted 'present.'


rollcall--2020-04-23--House creates coronavirus oversight panel while Capitol implements new precautions

Pelosi wore a cream-colored scarf covering her nose and mouth , matching her suit , and cleaned the podium with disinfectant wipes before and after her remarks .
Signs were placed on chairs throughout the chamber , letting members know how far to sit from one another to adhere to social distancing recommendations .
Dozens of containers of disinfecting wipes were placed all over the chamber , and members used them to wipe down the spots where they stood to speak , as well as folders , phones and other belongings .
Similar to the March 27 session , House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third-floor galleries overlooking the chamber , allowing lawmakers to practice social distancing by sitting in the balconies rather than crowding on the House floor during the day ’ s debate .
Despite the additional space , health and safety officials on Capitol Hill urged members to remain in their offices ahead of the votes instead of gathering in the chamber .
On the second floor , just outside the chamber doors , House floor staff set up tables with face masks and disposable gloves that many members either donned on the spot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Side conversations and chatter were audible in the chamber during debate .
The ambient noise seemed to be a distracting side effect of members and staff trying to speak among themselves at a distance , avoiding leaned-in whispers that were ubiquitous in the pre-coronavirus era .
Still new to wearing masks , some lawmakers overcompensated for the slight muffling effect and spoke at a loud volume .

Pelosi wore a cream-colored scarf covering her nose and mouth, matching her suit, and cleaned the podium with disinfectant wipes before and after her remarks.
Signs were placed on chairs throughout the chamber, letting members know how far to sit from one another to adhere to social distancing recommendations. Dozens of containers of disinfecting wipes were placed all over the chamber, and members used them to wipe down the spots where they stood to speak, as well as folders, phones and other belongings.
Similar to the March 27 session, House doorkeepers propped open the doors to all the third-floor galleries overlooking the chamber, allowing lawmakers to practice social distancing by sitting in the balconies rather than crowding on the House floor during the day’s debate.
Despite the additional space, health and safety officials on Capitol Hill urged members to remain in their offices ahead of the votes instead of gathering in the chamber. On the second floor, just outside the chamber doors, House floor staff set up tables with face masks and disposable gloves that many members either donned on the spot or carried with them into the chamber.
Side conversations and chatter were audible in the chamber during debate. The ambient noise seemed to be a distracting side effect of members and staff trying to speak among themselves at a distance, avoiding leaned-in whispers that were ubiquitous in the pre-coronavirus era. Still new to wearing masks, some lawmakers overcompensated for the slight muffling effect and spoke at a loud volume.


rollcall--2020-04-23--House antitrust panel chairman urges halt to corporate mergers amid pandemic

The House ’ s top Democrat on antitrust issues is calling for a moratorium on corporate mergers in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ The proposed moratorium would apply to all transactions unless they involve firms that are failing @ @ @ @ @ David Cicilline , chairman of the House Judiciary Antitrust , Commercial , and Administrative Law @ @ @ @ @ an online event hosted by the Open Markets Institute , a Washington-based advocacy group .
@ @ @ @ @ he will push to have such language included in a future round of COVID-19 economic @ @ @ @ @ and corporate takeovers that were permitted during the last economic crisis led to the firing @ @ @ @ @ the slowing of investment and innovation , and huge increases in executive compensation , ” @ @ @ @ @ prepared remarks .
The proposal would free up U.S. antitrust enforcers to focus on policing @ @ @ @ @ consumers , including price gouging and collusion to suppress wages , he said .

The House’s top Democrat on antitrust issues is calling for a moratorium on corporate mergers in the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposed moratorium would apply to all transactions unless they involve firms that are failing or in bankruptcy, Rep. David Cicilline, chairman of the House Judiciary Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee, said Thursday at an online event hosted by the Open Markets Institute, a Washington-based advocacy group.
The Rhode Island Democrat said he will push to have such language included in a future round of COVID-19 economic relief legislation.
“Mega-mergers and corporate takeovers that were permitted during the last economic crisis led to the firing of millions of workers, the slowing of investment and innovation, and huge increases in executive compensation,” Cicilline said, according to prepared remarks.
The proposal would free up U.S. antitrust enforcers to focus on policing conduct that harms competition and consumers, including price gouging and collusion to suppress wages, he said.


rollcall--2020-04-23--Former EPA staff chief gets busy lobbying for mining industry

Ryan Jackson , who was chief of staff for two EPA administrators before leaving in February to lobby for mining @ @ @ @ @ in his private sector life .
Jackson left the agency to join the National Mining @ @ @ @ @ group for coal and hard-rock mining companies , after three years in government .
Federal @ @ @ @ @ on three spending bills for fiscal 2021 and stimulus legislation in response to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ legislation about minerals , endangered species , permits , forests , coal leasing , uranium @ @ @ @ @ swath of separate mining , energy and animal topics .
The record Jackson filed this @ @ @ @ @ s first in-house lobbying disclosure since he joined the organization .
NMA spent $ 313,000 @ @ @ @ @ first quarter of 2020 , down from $ 255,000 the previous quarter but roughly on @ @ @ @ @ from 2019 , when it spent $ 330,000 .

Ryan Jackson, who was chief of staff for two EPA administrators before leaving in February to lobby for mining companies, has been busy in his private sector life.
Jackson left the agency to join the National Mining Association, an industry advocacy group for coal and hard-rock mining companies, after three years in government.
Federal records show Jackson has lobbied on three spending bills for fiscal 2021 and stimulus legislation in response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as legislation about minerals, endangered species, permits, forests, coal leasing, uranium, the Pentagon and a swath of separate mining, energy and animal topics.
[EPA IG: Top official illegally blocked interference probe]
The record Jackson filed this week was the NMA’s first in-house lobbying disclosure since he joined the organization. NMA spent $313,000 on federal lobbying in the first quarter of 2020, down from $255,000 the previous quarter but roughly on par with the same period from 2019, when it spent $330,000.


rollcall--2020-04-23--Stabenow says USDA could be flexible on COVID-19 payment limits

The top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee appeared open , but wary , Thursday to the Agriculture Department possibly raising the caps on the amount individual farmers and ranchers could receive from $ 16 billion in direct payments to offset sales and markets lost to COVID-19 economic disruptions .
Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow noted the USDA eased payment limits in 2019 , when the department made trade-aid payments to farmers and ranchers .
She has criticized the fairness of the distributions , saying that smaller farm operations and producers that grow specialty crops did not benefit .
Stabenow said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a broader cross-section of agricultural producers than the Market Facility Program payments .
Any changes to payment limits should not put some sectors of agriculture at a disadvantage , she said .
“ Given the circumstances , USDA certainly has flexibility to address that , ” Stabenow said during a conference call with reporters on Senate Democratic priorities for a possible fifth economic relief bill .
“ I ’ d certainly want to talk with them about that .
We should talk about areas where they think it is needed.
” Under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be $ 125,000 per affected commodity or a maximum of $ 250,000 for a farmer , rancher or agriculture operation .
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue outlined a $ 19 billion relief plan on April 17 for various segments of agriculture .

The top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee appeared open, but wary, Thursday to the Agriculture Department possibly raising the caps on the amount individual farmers and ranchers could receive from $16 billion in direct payments to offset sales and markets lost to COVID-19 economic disruptions.
Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow noted the USDA eased payment limits in 2019, when the department made trade-aid payments to farmers and ranchers. She has criticized the fairness of the distributions, saying that smaller farm operations and producers that grow specialty crops did not benefit.
Stabenow said the COVID-19 direct payments must go to a broader cross-section of agricultural producers than the Market Facility Program payments. Any changes to payment limits should not put some sectors of agriculture at a disadvantage, she said.
“Given the circumstances, USDA certainly has flexibility to address that,” Stabenow said during a conference call with reporters on Senate Democratic priorities for a possible fifth economic relief bill. “I’d certainly want to talk with them about that. We should talk about areas where they think it is needed.”
Under the COVID-19 program, the payment cap would be $125,000 per affected commodity or a maximum of $250,000 for a farmer, rancher or agriculture operation. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue outlined a $19 billion relief plan on April 17 for various segments of agriculture.


rollcall--2020-04-23--Trump’s ‘secret stash’ of voters

Trump’s ‘secret stash’ of voters

ANALYSIS — Writing in The Washington Post recently , columnist and veteran political analyst Henry Olsen suggested that we may all be missing something important : President Donald Trump ’ s showing in head-to-head ballot tests against expected Democratic nominee Joe Biden is lagging his job approval numbers in recent RealClearPolitics polling averages .
After noting the strong relationship between presidential job approval and election outcomes , Olsen wrote : “ Biden leads Trump by nearly six points , 48.3 to 42.4 percent , in the most recent RCP average .
Trump ’ s approval rating in the RCP average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If Trump ’ s true vote share approximates that , he only trails Biden by about 2 points .
If that happens on Election Day , Trump could once again win the Electoral College while losing the popular vote.
” That ’ s the secret stash of voters that could help the president win a second term , apparently — voters who now say ( in the middle of a health care crisis ) they approve of the president ’ s job performance but don ’ t also say they will vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to do is manipulate the ballot test by inserting Trump ’ s job approval number where his percentage of the vote is .
I immediately looked at four random dates from this month and found Olsen was correct .
On April 1 , 6 , 13 and 20 , Trump ’ s job approval was between 45.2 percent and 47.4 percent , while his share of the ballot test ranged from 41.7 percent to 44.3 percent .
On the four dates I checked , Trump ’ s job approval was higher than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.5 points , 3.5 points and 3.3 points .

ANALYSIS — Writing in The Washington Post recently, columnist and veteran political analyst Henry Olsen suggested that we may all be missing something important: President Donald Trump’s showing in head-to-head ballot tests against expected Democratic nominee Joe Biden is lagging his job approval numbers in recent RealClearPolitics polling averages.
After noting the strong relationship between presidential job approval and election outcomes, Olsen wrote: “Biden leads Trump by nearly six points, 48.3 to 42.4 percent, in the most recent RCP average. Trump’s approval rating in the RCP average was 46.0 percent on Wednesday morning. If Trump’s true vote share approximates that, he only trails Biden by about 2 points. If that happens on Election Day, Trump could once again win the Electoral College while losing the popular vote.”
That’s the secret stash of voters that could help the president win a second term, apparently — voters who now say (in the middle of a health care crisis) they approve of the president’s job performance but don’t also say they will vote for him in the fall.
All we have to do is manipulate the ballot test by inserting Trump’s job approval number where his percentage of the vote is.
I immediately looked at four random dates from this month and found Olsen was correct. On April 1, 6, 13 and 20, Trump’s job approval was between 45.2 percent and 47.4 percent, while his share of the ballot test ranged from 41.7 percent to 44.3 percent. On the four dates I checked, Trump’s job approval was higher than his ballot average by 3.1 points, 2.5 points, 3.5 points and 3.3 points.


rollcall--2020-04-23--High court backs environmentalists in clean water case

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday the Clean Water Act applies to pollution that flows through groundwater into a major @ @ @ @ @ directly from a precise source , like a pipe or well , delivering a victory @ @ @ @ @ landmark case .
In a 6-3 decision , the court sent the case , County @ @ @ @ @ i Wildlife Fund , back to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit @ @ @ @ @ , Justice Stephen Breyer said the CWA , the country ’ s bedrock water law @ @ @ @ @ pollution sources that amount to the “ functional equivalent of a direct discharge.
” Chief @ @ @ @ @ Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Elena Kagan , Brett Kavanaugh and Sonia Sotomayor joined Breyer in @ @ @ @ @ wrote a separate opinion .
The case , which turns on the scope of that @ @ @ @ @ from its origins into a water source , could affect polluting industries , including mining @ @ @ @ @ and agricultural operators .

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday the Clean Water Act applies to pollution that flows through groundwater into a major body of water rather than directly from a precise source, like a pipe or well, delivering a victory to environmentalists in a potentially landmark case.
In a 6-3 decision, the court sent the case, County of Maui v. Hawai’i Wildlife Fund, back to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
Writing for the majority, Justice Stephen Breyer said the CWA, the country’s bedrock water law, requires a permit for pollution sources that amount to the “functional equivalent of a direct discharge.” Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh and Sonia Sotomayor joined Breyer in the decision, although Kavanaugh wrote a separate opinion.
[Pollution in paradise reaches high court with high stakes]
The case, which turns on the scope of that law and how pollution travels from its origins into a water source, could affect polluting industries, including mining, utilities and large ranching and agricultural operators.


rollcall--2020-04-23--Tlaib chokes up in tribute to Detroit girl who died from coronavirus

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib got choked up on the House floor giving an emotional tribute to Skylar Herbert , a @ @ @ @ @ died from complications of coronavirus on Sunday .
“ Skylar loved dressing up and performing @ @ @ @ @ adored being in kindergarten , ” Tlaib said .
“ Her death should be a @ @ @ @ @ must act in urgency.
” The remarks came during the House debate on a $ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib got choked up on the House floor giving an emotional tribute to Skylar Herbert, a 5-year-old girl from Detroit who died from complications of coronavirus on Sunday.
“Skylar loved dressing up and performing, and she loved and adored being in kindergarten,” Tlaib said. “Her death should be a wake-up call, that we must act in urgency.”
The remarks came during the House debate on a $483 billion coronavirus relief measure Thursday.


rollcall--2020-04-23--Airlines boosted lobbying as pandemic spread

Major passenger airlines spent about $ 9.5 million on lobbying last quarter , coinciding with the passage of a federal @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic .
That was $ 1.6 million more than the same period @ @ @ @ @ an analysis of quarterly lobbying reports .
The reports cover Jan. 1 through March 31 @ @ @ @ @ caused airline ridership to drop steeply .
Delta reported Wednesday it lost $ 534 million @ @ @ @ @ first quarterly loss in more than five years .
It was also the period when @ @ @ @ @ on a roughly $ 2 trillion spending bill that included $ 61 billion in federal @ @ @ @ @ .
President Donald Trump signed that bill into law on March 27 .
That bill @ @ @ @ @ loans and $ 25 billion in grants for passenger airlines , $ 4 billion in @ @ @ @ @ in grants for cargo airlines and an additional $ 3 billion for airline contract workers @ @ @ @ @ to terms for federal grants to save jobs ]

Major passenger airlines spent about $9.5 million on lobbying last quarter, coinciding with the passage of a federal aid package in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. That was $1.6 million more than the same period in 2019, according to an analysis of quarterly lobbying reports.
The reports cover Jan. 1 through March 31, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused airline ridership to drop steeply. Delta reported Wednesday it lost $534 million during the quarter, its first quarterly loss in more than five years.
It was also the period when Congress began working in earnest on a roughly $2 trillion spending bill that included $61 billion in federal grants and loans for airlines. President Donald Trump signed that bill into law on March 27.
That bill included $25 billion in loans and $25 billion in grants for passenger airlines, $4 billion in loans and $4 billion in grants for cargo airlines and an additional $3 billion for airline contract workers.
[10 airlines agree to terms for federal grants to save jobs]


rollcall--2020-04-24--What happens here, (doesn’t) stay here

What happens here, (doesn’t) stay here

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman appeared on CNN Wednesday and her remarks to Anderson Cooper were not well received by @ @ @ @ @ .
Watch Democratic Reps. Susie Lee and Dina Titus react to the interview .
“ @ @ @ @ @ that come out of the mayor ’ s mouth .
I find it her own @ @ @ @ @ Lee said in an interview with CQ Roll Call on Thursday .

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman appeared on CNN Wednesday and her remarks to Anderson Cooper were not well received by two House members from Nevada.
Watch Democratic Reps. Susie Lee and Dina Titus react to the interview.
“I was shocked to hear that come out of the mayor’s mouth. I find it her own type of insanity,” Lee said in an interview with CQ Roll Call on Thursday.
[Watch the full CNN interview here]


rollcall--2020-04-24--States take new steps to track contacts of people with COVID-19

A nationwide effort is underway to bolster the public health workforce as states launch efforts including multistate collaborations and virus-tracking technology to identify new cases of COVID-19 and their contacts .
An economic relief package enacted in March included $ 150 billion in state aid related to the coronavirus , while the most recent bill includes $ 11 billion more for state efforts on testing and outreach to contacts of infected people .
Another $ 1 billion will fund federal testing and contact tracing efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
But contact tracing , in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were exposed to COVID-19 patients , is a resource-intensive exercise and will likely require more dedicated funding , experts say .
The United States would need at least another 100,000 workers to adequately track person-to-person transmissions , according to a Johns Hopkins University estimate .
If the workers are paid the average community health salary of $ 17 per hour , a full-time , one-year workforce would cost around $ 3.6 billion .
Experts estimate that the total could reach $ 5 billion after factoring in the costs of training and pay @ @ @ @ @ @

A nationwide effort is underway to bolster the public health workforce as states launch efforts including multistate collaborations and virus-tracking technology to identify new cases of COVID-19 and their contacts.
An economic relief package enacted in March included $150 billion in state aid related to the coronavirus, while the most recent bill includes $11 billion more for state efforts on testing and outreach to contacts of infected people. Another $1 billion will fund federal testing and contact tracing efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But contact tracing, in which public health officials track and alert individuals who were exposed to COVID-19 patients, is a resource-intensive exercise and will likely require more dedicated funding, experts say. The United States would need at least another 100,000 workers to adequately track person-to-person transmissions, according to a Johns Hopkins University estimate.
[Social media data could greatly aid in tracking COVID-19 worldwide]
If the workers are paid the average community health salary of $17 per hour, a full-time, one-year workforce would cost around $3.6 billion. Experts estimate that the total could reach $5 billion after factoring in the costs of training and pay for more experienced disease investigators.


rollcall--2020-04-24--Transport workers give low marks to federal virus protection

As the economic standstill triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic drags into its second month , transportation workers say they are @ @ @ @ @ equipment and other safety measures and that the federal government should help .
Roughly 100 @ @ @ @ @ have died since the pandemic swept across the country , and unions say they want @ @ @ @ @ or require employers to provide protective equipment .
They also want federal agencies to require @ @ @ @ @ from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , rather than simply relying on their @ @ @ @ @ and voluntarily comply with the guidelines .
On Thursday , United Airlines became the first @ @ @ @ @ attendants to wear masks .
“ Recommendations are not enough , ” said Transport Workers @ @ @ @ @ whose union represents 150,000 airline , railroad , transit and service workers .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ executives and bureaucratic transit agencies have already proven they can ’ t be trusted to @ @ @ @ @ their own.
” But the federal government has been reluctant to step in .

As the economic standstill triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic drags into its second month, transportation workers say they are desperate for more personal protection equipment and other safety measures and that the federal government should help.
Roughly 100 workers for local transit systems have died since the pandemic swept across the country, and unions say they want the federal government to provide or require employers to provide protective equipment. They also want federal agencies to require employers to abide by guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rather than simply relying on their employers to provide the gear and voluntarily comply with the guidelines.
On Thursday, United Airlines became the first airline to require its flight attendants to wear masks.
“Recommendations are not enough,” said Transport Workers Union President John Samuelsen, whose union represents 150,000 airline, railroad, transit and service workers. “We need mandates because profit-driven airline executives and bureaucratic transit agencies have already proven they can’t be trusted to do the right thing on their own.”
But the federal government has been reluctant to step in.


rollcall--2020-04-24--Raul Ruiz talks distance legislating and volunteering in the field

Trained in emergency medicine , Rep. Raul Ruiz has a unique perspective on the coronavirus .
“ I feel like @ @ @ @ @ experience that I need to make known not only to my colleagues but to my @ @ @ @ @ Democrat said in response to an inquiry on whether being a physician makes him feel @ @ @ @ @ than his colleagues .
Watch as Ruiz answers questions about voting off Capitol grounds and @ @ @ @ @ back into the field to help with the pandemic .
[ Also watch : Will @ @ @ @ @ they ( allow remote voting in Congress ) ? ]

Trained in emergency medicine, Rep. Raul Ruiz has a unique perspective on the coronavirus.
“I feel like I have extra knowledge and experience that I need to make known not only to my colleagues but to my constituents,” the California Democrat said in response to an inquiry on whether being a physician makes him feel like he bears more responsibility than his colleagues.
Watch as Ruiz answers questions about voting off Capitol grounds and whether he’d jump back into the field to help with the pandemic.
[Also watch: Will they or won’t they (allow remote voting in Congress)?]


rollcall--2020-04-24--Democrats line up against Mnuchin’s proposal to help oil companies

Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the plans and it wasn ’ t immediately clear if Mnuchin was considering tapping into already approved money or whether he would ask Congress to allow new money for the loans .
That would be a tough sell in a divided Congress .
“ The Trump Administration keeps trying to find new and novel ways to bail out its oil industry allies from a downturn that is partly of its own making , ” House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey told CQ Roll Call through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistance for every industry ’ s workers , as they ’ re the ones who both need and deserve it , but we should not be funneling billions in tax dollars to oil companies — period.
” West Texas Intermediate , the U.S. oil benchmark , was trading around $ 16.74 barrel early Friday afternoon , 75 percent below its price this time last year , and far below what is needed for companies to make a profit on sales .
Attempts so far by oil state lawmakers to enable the Energy Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store it in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve have been thwarted by Democrats , who kicked such a provision from the second economic relief bill .
A $ 483.4 billion relief bill passed this week did not include any direct support for oil companies .
“ I support efforts to help working people across the board , and I see no reason to single out oil and gas corporations for special treatment , ” House Natural Resources Chairman Raul M. Grijalva of Arizona , said .
“ Any money this administration lends out needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sectors of the economy and come with an ironclad guarantee that it won ’ t be used to buy back stocks or hand out executive bonuses .
”

Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the plans and it wasn’t immediately clear if Mnuchin was considering tapping into already approved money or whether he would ask Congress to allow new money for the loans. That would be a tough sell in a divided Congress.
“The Trump Administration keeps trying to find new and novel ways to bail out its oil industry allies from a downturn that is partly of its own making,” House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey told CQ Roll Call through an aide. “I wholeheartedly support assistance for every industry’s workers, as they’re the ones who both need and deserve it, but we should not be funneling billions in tax dollars to oil companies — period.”
West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. oil benchmark, was trading around $16.74 barrel early Friday afternoon, 75 percent below its price this time last year, and far below what is needed for companies to make a profit on sales.
Attempts so far by oil state lawmakers to enable the Energy Department to buy some of the oil and store it in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve have been thwarted by Democrats, who kicked such a provision from the second economic relief bill. A $483.4 billion relief bill passed this week did not include any direct support for oil companies.
“I support efforts to help working people across the board, and I see no reason to single out oil and gas corporations for special treatment,” House Natural Resources Chairman Raul M. Grijalva of Arizona, said. “Any money this administration lends out needs to be available to employees in all sectors of the economy and come with an ironclad guarantee that it won’t be used to buy back stocks or hand out executive bonuses.”


rollcall--2020-04-24--CBO details coronavirus economic shock

CBO details coronavirus economic shock

The 14 percent unemployment rate forecast for the second quarter this year would be far higher than ever occurred during the 2007-09 Great Recession , when the jobless rate never breached 10 percent .
The rate is projected to hit 16 percent in the months leading up to the presidential election before tapering to a still-painful 11.7 percent in the final quarter of the year .
And the federal deficit for this year , which in January was expected to be $ 1 trillion , could now nearly quadruple .
The CBO , the official nonpartisan scorekeeper on Capitol Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deficit for the current fiscal year .
The soaring red ink is the result of the virtual economic shutdown triggered by the pandemic , combined with an avalanche of new federal spending .
Congress has now passed four relief packages since March that , by CBO calculations , are projected to add more than $ 2.4 trillion to deficits in the coming decade .
This year ’ s deficit would amount to 17.9 percent of GDP , a ratio not seen since World War II .
The deficit was 21 percent of GDP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House Office of Management and Budget .

The 14 percent unemployment rate forecast for the second quarter this year would be far higher than ever occurred during the 2007-09 Great Recession, when the jobless rate never breached 10 percent. The rate is projected to hit 16 percent in the months leading up to the presidential election before tapering to a still-painful 11.7 percent in the final quarter of the year.
[CBO: Unemployment rate could hit 12 percent by summer]
And the federal deficit for this year, which in January was expected to be $1 trillion, could now nearly quadruple. The CBO, the official nonpartisan scorekeeper on Capitol Hill, now projects a $3.7 trillion deficit for the current fiscal year.
The soaring red ink is the result of the virtual economic shutdown triggered by the pandemic, combined with an avalanche of new federal spending. Congress has now passed four relief packages since March that, by CBO calculations, are projected to add more than $2.4 trillion to deficits in the coming decade.
This year’s deficit would amount to 17.9 percent of GDP, a ratio not seen since World War II. The deficit was 21 percent of GDP in 1945, according to data from the White House Office of Management and Budget.


rollcall--2020-04-24--Senate Democratic campaign chairwoman pushes coronavirus response from kitchen table

Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has had to adapt to working from home during the coronavirus pandemic , and the chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee says her candidates have as well .
“ I think everybody has adapted , not only in the work that I do daily on behalf of my state .
I am regularly now following the CDC guidelines and sheltering in place , but I am at my kitchen table — that ’ s my desk now — and I am talking to the state through conference calls and Zoom meetings , and whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can reach out to the community , ” Cortez Masto said in an interview on Thursday .
“ That ’ s no different for those candidates and incumbents who are running in this election cycle , ” she said .
“ They are doing the same thing , continuing to use the technology that ’ s available to reach out to constituents and talk to them.
” Cortez Masto highlighted recently filed first-quarter fundraising numbers , which included just the first part of the now widespread stay-at-home orders .
“ In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those candidates and incumbents out-raised their Senate Republican opponents .
And so they ’ ll continue to engage , like we all have .
We ’ ve had to adapt , ” Cortez Masto said .
“ We ’ re going to figure out how we use the technology , TV , radio , social media , to still engage and talk with constituents around the state .
”

Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has had to adapt to working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, and the chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee says her candidates have as well.
“I think everybody has adapted, not only in the work that I do daily on behalf of my state. I am regularly now following the CDC guidelines and sheltering in place, but I am at my kitchen table — that’s my desk now — and I am talking to the state through conference calls and Zoom meetings, and whether it’s Facetime or however, I can reach out to the community,” Cortez Masto said in an interview on Thursday.
“That’s no different for those candidates and incumbents who are running in this election cycle,” she said. “They are doing the same thing, continuing to use the technology that’s available to reach out to constituents and talk to them.”
Cortez Masto highlighted recently filed first-quarter fundraising numbers, which included just the first part of the now widespread stay-at-home orders.
“In the first quarter of this year, many of those candidates and incumbents out-raised their Senate Republican opponents. And so they’ll continue to engage, like we all have. We’ve had to adapt,” Cortez Masto said. “We’re going to figure out how we use the technology, TV, radio, social media, to still engage and talk with constituents around the state.”


rollcall--2020-04-24--Campus Notebook: Study says senators are not particularly skilled in stock trades

Senators are not particularly adept at picking stocks , according to a working paper by Dartmouth researchers .
The paper examines the stock trading behavior and returns of senators from 2012 through March 2020 .
This time frame captures transactions the lawmakers made since the enactment of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act ( STOCK Act ) , a measure that was passed by a Republican House and Democratic Senate and signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2012 .
The STOCK Act says lawmakers have a duty to Congress , the government and American citizens not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonpublic information they receive in their capacity as members of Congress .
The law also established a requirement for members to report their securities transactions — exceeding $ 1,000 — within 45 days of the trade execution .
These periodic transaction reports also extend to include spouses and dependent children of the lawmaker .
Members need not disclose periodic transaction reports of widely held funds , such as mutual funds or exchange-traded funds ( ETFs ) .
Bruce Sacerdote , an economics professor at Dartmouth College , co-authored the paper with two students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They said stocks bought by senators , on average , slightly underperform securities in the same industry and size categories by 11 basis points , 28 basis points and 17 basis points at the 1,3 , and 6-month time horizons .
Securities sold by senators narrowly underperform for the first three months and slightly outperform at one-year .

Senators are not particularly adept at picking stocks, according to a working paper by Dartmouth researchers.
The paper examines the stock trading behavior and returns of senators from 2012 through March 2020. This time frame captures transactions the lawmakers made since the enactment of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (STOCK Act), a measure that was passed by a Republican House and Democratic Senate and signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2012.
The STOCK Act says lawmakers have a duty to Congress, the government and American citizens not to trade while in possession of material, nonpublic information they receive in their capacity as members of Congress. The law also established a requirement for members to report their securities transactions — exceeding $1,000 — within 45 days of the trade execution. These periodic transaction reports also extend to include spouses and dependent children of the lawmaker. Members need not disclose periodic transaction reports of widely held funds, such as mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Bruce Sacerdote, an economics professor at Dartmouth College, co-authored the paper with two students: William Belmont and Ian Van Hoek. They said stocks bought by senators, on average, slightly underperform securities in the same industry and size categories by 11 basis points, 28 basis points and 17 basis points at the 1,3, and 6-month time horizons.
Securities sold by senators narrowly underperform for the first three months and slightly outperform at one-year.


rollcall--2020-04-24--Congressional Hits and Misses: Mask Edition

Mask or no mask ?
That was the question on the House floor this week .
Wear it in the @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re speaking ?
No one could agree .
Meanwhile in the Senate , @ @ @ @ @ beheadings and Sen. Mark Warner came out as a two slice man .
[ Also @ @ @ @ @ a quarantine beard .
So is Congress ]

Mask or no mask? That was the question on the House floor this week. Wear it in the chamber, but not while you’re speaking? No one could agree.
Meanwhile in the Senate, Sen. Rand Paul called for beheadings and Sen. Mark Warner came out as a two slice man.
[ Also watch: Everyone is growing a quarantine beard. So is Congress ]


rollcall--2020-04-24--What will come of Donna Shalala stock scandal

Rep. Donna E. Shalala still has bipartisan backing for her appointment to a bicameral commission overseeing hundreds of billions in coronavirus relief despite not complying with federal law to report her stock sales .
The Florida Democrat is almost certain to face a small fine for her transgression , according to House ethics rules , which assess members a $ 200 fee for the first late periodic transaction report filing .
Although she can apply for a waiver to avoid the late fee , waivers are granted by the House Ethics Committee only in “ extraordinary circumstances.
” Just days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Congressional Oversight Commission — an entity created as part of a recent multitrillion-dollar coronavirus relief package — the Miami Herald reported Shalala did not disclose her 2019 stock sales .
The House Ethics Committee , which did not comment , is unlikely to undertake an investigation into Shalala , unless evidence emerges that there was a willful intent not to file the reports .
The reports are required by the 2012 STOCK Act for all trade executions of individual securities within 45 days of the trade .
The panel has previously stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports — called financial disclosure statements — are common and not usually the subject of an investigation .
Although periodic transaction reports are different from the annual reports alluded to by the committee , the principle of whether the panel will pursue an investigation is comparable .

Rep. Donna E. Shalala still has bipartisan backing for her appointment to a bicameral commission overseeing hundreds of billions in coronavirus relief despite not complying with federal law to report her stock sales.
The Florida Democrat is almost certain to face a small fine for her transgression, according to House ethics rules, which assess members a $200 fee for the first late periodic transaction report filing. Although she can apply for a waiver to avoid the late fee, waivers are granted by the House Ethics Committee only in “extraordinary circumstances.”
Just days after Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Shalala to the Congressional Oversight Commission — an entity created as part of a recent multitrillion-dollar coronavirus relief package — the Miami Herald reported Shalala did not disclose her 2019 stock sales.
The House Ethics Committee, which did not comment, is unlikely to undertake an investigation into Shalala, unless evidence emerges that there was a willful intent not to file the reports. The reports are required by the 2012 STOCK Act for all trade executions of individual securities within 45 days of the trade.
The panel has previously stated that errors and omissions in annual financial reports — called financial disclosure statements — are common and not usually the subject of an investigation. Although periodic transaction reports are different from the annual reports alluded to by the committee, the principle of whether the panel will pursue an investigation is comparable.