cnbc--2020-03-27--Major cruise lines could be left out of the coronavirus stimulus bailout

Members of media gather at the Diamond Princess cruise ship , operated by Carnival Corp. , docked in Yokohama , Japan , on Friday , Feb. 7 , 2020 .
Cruise lines are among the businesses that have suffered the most fallout from the coronavirus outbreak .
And the major ones could get left out of the bailout fund included in the $ 2 trillion stimulus bill the Senate passed Wednesday night .
The bill allocates $ 500 billion to distressed businesses that can apply for loans or guarantees from a fund overseen by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a company must be `` created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States '' and `` have significant operations in and a majority of its employees based in the United States . ''
Several major cruise lines , however , are not incorporated in America .
Carnival , for example , is incorporated in Panama , although it has a U.S. entity and a headquarters in Miami .
Its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange .
Cruise lines also typically employ many foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be exempt from U.S. minimum wage requirements .
`` My interpretation is that cruise lines may not qualify , but I 'm taking a closer look to see whether that is really the case , '' said Aaron Cutler , a partner in the government relations and public affairs department at influential international law firm Hogan Lovells .
In a statement early Thursday evening , industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association said they are `` grateful that more than 30,000 CLIA travel agent members , most of which operate small and medium-sized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill . ''
`` For the more than 421,000 people in the United States whose jobs are supported by the cruise industry , we will continue to work with policymakers to help our community recover from the impact of this pandemic .
We congratulate the Administration and Senate Leaders for reaching a historic agreement to address the unprecedented crisis that has gripped our nation and the world , '' they added .
Royal Caribbean , which is incorporated in Liberia , referred requests for comment to CLIA .
Carnival declined to comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , did not respond to a request for comment .
Several congressional aides did not return requests for comment , as well .
Unlike restrictions around dividends and buybacks in the stimulus bill , the Treasury Department has no discretion to waive restrictions around whether offshore incorporation exempts a company from relief .
The exclusion of cruise lines from relief would come as a surprise .
President Donald Trump has indicated he would help the ailing industry , along with hotels and airlines , which have all bared the brunt of restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with executives in the industry earlier this month .
Speaking at a coronavirus task force briefing Thursday , Trump said he liked the idea of cruise lines registering in the U.S. to get aid .
`` It 's a big business , it 's a great business , '' he said .
`` We 're going to work very hard on the cruise line business and we 're going to figure something out . ''
The idea of cruise lines registering in the U.S. had been floated earlier in the day by Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was ground to halt by the coronavirus pandemic , after a number of outbreaks on ships .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week said it traced infections to more than 25 cruise ships .
Several ships had to quarantine passengers .
One Carnival-owned ship , the Grand Princess , was forced to moor off the coast of California when 21 people tested positive for the virus .
Another Carnival-owned ship had at least 700 passengers infected , and at least eight died .
Carnival , Royal Caribbean and Norwegian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry has high fixed costs , which means a pause in revenue could have a devastating impact on its balance sheets .
Shares of Carnival , the largest of the three cruise lines by sales , has a market capitalization of $ 12 billion after its shares have fallen nearly 65 % year to date .
Norwegian 's shares are down 73 % , giving it a market cap of $ 3.3 billion .
Royal Caribbean 's shares are down 69 % , giving it an $ 8.5 billion market cap .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was promised relief in the $ 2 trillion stimulus bill , cruise lines are not considered a pillar of the U.S. economy .
And unlike the airline industry , which has a huge national footprint with hubs throughout the country and smaller communities dependent upon flight service , there are only so many U.S. ports .
The industry has found critics in Congress over its safety standards and foreign incorporation .
Last year , Reps. Doris Matsui , D-Calif. , and Jeff Fortenberry , R-La.
, introduced the Cruise Passenger Protection Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a qualified physician and sufficient medical staff on board , as well as elevate reporting requirements for crimes that occur on ships .
Matsui earlier this month called on the chairs of the House Ways and Means Committee and Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to block a bailout of the industry .
`` Unlike American families , corporations that operate foreign-flagged vessels do not pay taxes in the United States , '' she wrote .
`` Additionally , pervasive safety and medical shortcomings on vessels have caused numerous Americans harm.
`` `` Directing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a public health crisis will not slow the spread of the coronavirus nor advance passenger safety , '' she added .

Members of media gather at the Diamond Princess cruise ship, operated by Carnival Corp., docked in Yokohama, Japan, on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020.
Cruise lines are among the businesses that have suffered the most fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. And the major ones could get left out of the bailout fund included in the $2 trillion stimulus bill the Senate passed Wednesday night.
The bill allocates $500 billion to distressed businesses that can apply for loans or guarantees from a fund overseen by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. To be eligible for that relief, however, a company must be "created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States" and "have significant operations in and a majority of its employees based in the United States."
Several major cruise lines, however, are not incorporated in America. Carnival , for example, is incorporated in Panama, although it has a U.S. entity and a headquarters in Miami. Its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Cruise lines also typically employ many foreign workers on their ships, who can be exempt from U.S. minimum wage requirements.
"My interpretation is that cruise lines may not qualify, but I'm taking a closer look to see whether that is really the case," said Aaron Cutler, a partner in the government relations and public affairs department at influential international law firm Hogan Lovells.
In a statement early Thursday evening, industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association said they are "grateful that more than 30,000 CLIA travel agent members, most of which operate small and medium-sized businesses, can receive much-needed relief under the bill."
"For the more than 421,000 people in the United States whose jobs are supported by the cruise industry, we will continue to work with policymakers to help our community recover from the impact of this pandemic. We congratulate the Administration and Senate Leaders for reaching a historic agreement to address the unprecedented crisis that has gripped our nation and the world," they added.
Royal Caribbean , which is incorporated in Liberia, referred requests for comment to CLIA. Carnival declined to comment. Norwegian Cruises , incorporated in Bermuda, did not respond to a request for comment. Several congressional aides did not return requests for comment, as well.
Unlike restrictions around dividends and buybacks in the stimulus bill, the Treasury Department has no discretion to waive restrictions around whether offshore incorporation exempts a company from relief.
The exclusion of cruise lines from relief would come as a surprise. President Donald Trump has indicated he would help the ailing industry, along with hotels and airlines, which have all bared the brunt of restrictions on travel. Vice President Mike Pence met with executives in the industry earlier this month.
Speaking at a coronavirus task force briefing Thursday, Trump said he liked the idea of cruise lines registering in the U.S. to get aid.
"It's a big business, it's a great business," he said.
"We're going to work very hard on the cruise line business and we're going to figure something out."
The idea of cruise lines registering in the U.S. had been floated earlier in the day by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.
Tweet
The industry was ground to halt by the coronavirus pandemic, after a number of outbreaks on ships. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week said it traced infections to more than 25 cruise ships. Several ships had to quarantine passengers. One Carnival-owned ship, the Grand Princess, was forced to moor off the coast of California when 21 people tested positive for the virus. Another Carnival-owned ship had at least 700 passengers infected, and at least eight died.
Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruises have all suspended operations. The industry has high fixed costs, which means a pause in revenue could have a devastating impact on its balance sheets.
Shares of Carnival, the largest of the three cruise lines by sales, has a market capitalization of $12 billion after its shares have fallen nearly 65% year to date. Norwegian's shares are down 73%, giving it a market cap of $3.3 billion. Royal Caribbean's shares are down 69%, giving it an $8.5 billion market cap.
Still, unlike the airline industry, which was promised relief in the $2 trillion stimulus bill, cruise lines are not considered a pillar of the U.S. economy. And unlike the airline industry, which has a huge national footprint with hubs throughout the country and smaller communities dependent upon flight service, there are only so many U.S. ports.
The industry has found critics in Congress over its safety standards and foreign incorporation.
Last year, Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Jeff Fortenberry, R-La., introduced the Cruise Passenger Protection Act, which would require the industry to have a qualified physician and sufficient medical staff on board, as well as elevate reporting requirements for crimes that occur on ships.
Matsui earlier this month called on the chairs of the House Ways and Means Committee and Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to block a bailout of the industry.
"Unlike American families, corporations that operate foreign-flagged vessels do not pay taxes in the United States," she wrote. "Additionally, pervasive safety and medical shortcomings on vessels have caused numerous Americans harm. "
"Directing federal funding to the cruise industry during a public health crisis will not slow the spread of the coronavirus nor advance passenger safety," she added.
-- CNBC's William Feuer contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-03-26--Sen. Amy Klobuchar says her husband is recovering after hospital stay for coronavirus

Senator Amy Klobuchar waves to the crowd with her husband John Bessler and daughter Abigail Bessler after announcing her candidacy for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in Minneapolis , Minnesota , February 10 , 2019 .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , said that her husband , John Bessler , is recovering at home after being hospitalized for severe symptoms from the coronavirus .
Klobuchar , who dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary race in early March , said Thursday afternoon on Twitter that Bessler `` took a good turn , was just released & is now recovering at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who cared for him & for all front line health care workers , '' she tweeted .
On Monday , the Minnesota senator revealed in a Medium post that her spouse had been diagnosed with COVID-19 that morning .
`` He kept having a temperature and a bad , bad cough and when he started coughing up blood he got a test and a chest X-ray and they checked him into a hospital in Virginia because of a variety of things including very low oxygen levels which have n't really improved , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Klobuchar wrote that Bessler , 52 , had pneumonia and was put on oxygen , but did not need a ventilator – a desperately needed piece of medical equipment in coronavirus `` hot spots '' such as New York .
Klobuchar also noted that her husband began to experience symptoms while he was in Washington , D.C. , and she was in Minnesota .
`` I wanted to let my colleagues and constituents know that since John and I have been in different places for the last two weeks and I am outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my doctor has advised me to not get a test , '' she wrote .
That assurance came a day after another senator , Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky , tested positive for the virus .
Multiple other senators , including Republicans Mitt Romney and Mike Lee of Utah , went into self-quarantine due to their exposure to Paul on Capitol Hill .
Both Romney and Lee said they showed no symptoms .
`` I love my husband so very much and not being able to be there at the hospital by his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this disease , '' Klobuchar wrote on Medium .
Klobuchar was part of the Senate 's unanimous vote Wednesday night to pass the $ 2 trillion relief bill aimed at helping businesses and individuals weather the devastating financial impact of the pandemic .
Bessler is a lawyer , author and academic .
He and Klobuchar married in 1993 .

Senator Amy Klobuchar waves to the crowd with her husband John Bessler and daughter Abigail Bessler after announcing her candidacy for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 10, 2019.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said that her husband, John Bessler, is recovering at home after being hospitalized for severe symptoms from the coronavirus.
Klobuchar, who dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary race in early March, said Thursday afternoon on Twitter that Bessler "took a good turn, was just released & is now recovering at home!"
"Thanks to those who cared for him & for all front line health care workers," she tweeted.
Klob TWEET
On Monday, the Minnesota senator revealed in a Medium post that her spouse had been diagnosed with COVID-19 that morning.
"He kept having a temperature and a bad, bad cough and when he started coughing up blood he got a test and a chest X-ray and they checked him into a hospital in Virginia because of a variety of things including very low oxygen levels which haven't really improved," Klobuchar wrote in the blog post.
Klobuchar wrote that Bessler, 52, had pneumonia and was put on oxygen, but did not need a ventilator – a desperately needed piece of medical equipment in coronavirus "hot spots" such as New York.
Klobuchar also noted that her husband began to experience symptoms while he was in Washington, D.C., and she was in Minnesota.
"I wanted to let my colleagues and constituents know that since John and I have been in different places for the last two weeks and I am outside the 14-day period for getting sick, my doctor has advised me to not get a test," she wrote.
That assurance came a day after another senator, Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, tested positive for the virus. Multiple other senators, including Republicans Mitt Romney and Mike Lee of Utah, went into self-quarantine due to their exposure to Paul on Capitol Hill. Both Romney and Lee said they showed no symptoms.
"I love my husband so very much and not being able to be there at the hospital by his side is one of the hardest things about this disease," Klobuchar wrote on Medium.
Klobuchar was part of the Senate's unanimous vote Wednesday night to pass the $2 trillion relief bill aimed at helping businesses and individuals weather the devastating financial impact of the pandemic.
Bessler is a lawyer, author and academic. He and Klobuchar married in 1993.


cnbc--2020-03-26--Trump administration killed prosecutors' efforts to criminally charge Walmart over opioid sales, rep

Trump administration killed prosecutors' efforts to criminally charge Walmart over opioid sales, report says

Federal prosecutors in 2018 wanted to criminally charge Walmart over the company 's opioid sales , but top Trump administration law enforcement officials killed that effort , a bombshell report says .
In a ProPublica article published Wednesday , the investigative journalism outlet reported that prosecutors from the federal Eastern District of Texas over two years had amassed `` highly damning evidence '' that the world 's biggest retailer had filled opioid prescriptions for customers who then died of overdoses — over pharmacists ' objections .
Pharmacists working in the state sounded the alarm to Walmart 's corporate office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming from doctors who were running `` pill mills , '' the report said .
But Trump appointees at the Department of Justice squashed the case , the article reports .
Investigators obtained records that showed pharmacists working in Walmarts in other states , including Maine , North Carolina , Kansas and Washington , also voiced concern , citing `` hundreds of thousands of suspicious or inappropriate opioid prescriptions , '' ProPublica reported .
But Walmart , upon learning of those issues , did not stem its opioid distribution .
Instead , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by investigators said the company should focus on `` driving sales , '' according to ProPublica .
But Walmart at this point had escalated its concerns about the case to the Justice Department , and the investigators were told to stand down , ProPublica 's report said .
On Aug. 31 , 2018 , Walmart received a letter saying that the Justice Department would not prosecute , according to ProPublica , citing a letter from Walmart 's lawyer that lays out the chronology of the case .
Prosecutors tried to save their case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dhillon , acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration , who was floored by the case , the news site reported .
`` Jesus Christ , '' Dhillon , a Trump administration official , reportedly said to prosecutors , including Joe Brown , the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas , and Heather Rattan , known for prosecuting members of drug cartels .
`` Why are n't we talking about this as a criminal case ? ''
The prosecutors then obtained a meeting with the Justice Department , including then-U.S. Deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out their evidence against the retailer .
Walmart , with 4,756 stores in the United States , poses significant danger to the country , those prosecutors argued , noting that it was a repeat offender , having agreed to a settlement with the DEA seven years earlier in which it had promised to improve its controls over the abuse of opioid prescriptions , according to ProPublica .
Prosecutors now believed they needed to pursue the `` extraordinary path of a criminal prosecution , '' ProPublica reported .
Dhillon emphasized at that meeting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fine would n't harm the company since it `` has more money than it knows what to do with , '' according to the article .
`` Not that there 's anything wrong with that , '' Rosenstein responded , according to the report .
`` We are all capitalists here . ''
Rosenstein quickly left the meeting and prosecutors ' push to revive the criminal case died , the article said .
Afterwards , the Trump administration stymied several other attempts to hold the mega retailer accountable , including prohibiting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil case , ProPublica reported .
Neither the Justice Department nor the Eastern District of Texas immediately responded to a request for comment from CNBC .
In an interview with CNBC , Walmart spokesman Randy Hargrove reiterated statements he made to ProPublica .
He called the investigation inappropriate and said the company is `` disappointed with the improper behavior of a few Texas-based prosecutors who appear to have violated multiple Justice Department rules in the investigation of our company .
We continue to work closely with federal and state law enforcement agencies across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Hargrove added that the ProPublica story does not take into account the measures the company put into place to combat the nation 's opioid addiction crisis .
`` During the period in question , '' Hargrove said , `` Walmart sent over 60,000 leads about potentially concerning prescriptions and doctors to the DEA based on prescriptions that our pharmacists refused to fill . ''
Walmart denies taking responsibility for the deaths reportedly caused by opioids sold by the company 's pharmacies , Hargrove said in follow-up comments to CNBC .
ProPublica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement , Brown , the federal prosecutor in Texas , said : `` Drug Enforcement Agency investigations of multiple opioid overdose deaths in the Eastern District of Texas resulted in our office opening parallel civil and criminal investigations of Walmart 's pharmacy practices . ''
`` These investigations have been handled appropriately , and according to Department of Justice policy .
These investigations , which we would typically not confirm or deny , but do so now because of Walmart 's statement , continue .
Accordingly , it would be inappropriate to comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case . ''
`` Walmart chooses now to attack the investigators , a tried and true method to avoid oversight .
We are confident that once all of the facts in this matter are public the hollowness of this criticism will be apparent .
It is not the goal of our office to embarrass Walmart .
Walmart 's behavior in dispensing opioid medication in the middle of a public health crisis should embarrass Walmart . ''

Federal prosecutors in 2018 wanted to criminally charge Walmart over the company's opioid sales, but top Trump administration law enforcement officials killed that effort, a bombshell report says.
In a ProPublica article published Wednesday, the investigative journalism outlet reported that prosecutors from the federal Eastern District of Texas over two years had amassed "highly damning evidence" that the world's biggest retailer had filled opioid prescriptions for customers who then died of overdoses — over pharmacists' objections.
Pharmacists working in the state sounded the alarm to Walmart's corporate office, noting that many of the prescriptions were coming from doctors who were running "pill mills," the report said.
But Trump appointees at the Department of Justice squashed the case, the article reports.
Investigators obtained records that showed pharmacists working in Walmarts in other states, including Maine, North Carolina, Kansas and Washington, also voiced concern, citing "hundreds of thousands of suspicious or inappropriate opioid prescriptions," ProPublica reported.
But Walmart, upon learning of those issues, did not stem its opioid distribution. Instead, an opioid compliance manager in an email obtained by investigators said the company should focus on "driving sales," according to ProPublica.
But Walmart at this point had escalated its concerns about the case to the Justice Department, and the investigators were told to stand down, ProPublica's report said.
On Aug. 31, 2018, Walmart received a letter saying that the Justice Department would not prosecute, according to ProPublica, citing a letter from Walmart's lawyer that lays out the chronology of the case.
Prosecutors tried to save their case, meeting in October 2018 with Uttam Dhillon, acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, who was floored by the case, the news site reported.
"Jesus Christ," Dhillon, a Trump administration official, reportedly said to prosecutors, including Joe Brown, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, and Heather Rattan, known for prosecuting members of drug cartels. "Why aren't we talking about this as a criminal case?"
The prosecutors then obtained a meeting with the Justice Department, including then-U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and laid out their evidence against the retailer.
Walmart, with 4,756 stores in the United States, poses significant danger to the country, those prosecutors argued, noting that it was a repeat offender, having agreed to a settlement with the DEA seven years earlier in which it had promised to improve its controls over the abuse of opioid prescriptions, according to ProPublica.
Prosecutors now believed they needed to pursue the "extraordinary path of a criminal prosecution," ProPublica reported. Dhillon emphasized at that meeting that Walmart had broken the law and suggested a fine wouldn't harm the company since it "has more money than it knows what to do with," according to the article.
"Not that there's anything wrong with that," Rosenstein responded, according to the report. "We are all capitalists here."
Rosenstein quickly left the meeting and prosecutors' push to revive the criminal case died, the article said.
Afterwards, the Trump administration stymied several other attempts to hold the mega retailer accountable, including prohibiting the prosecution of individual employees and foiling a civil case, ProPublica reported.
Neither the Justice Department nor the Eastern District of Texas immediately responded to a request for comment from CNBC.
In an interview with CNBC, Walmart spokesman Randy Hargrove reiterated statements he made to ProPublica. He called the investigation inappropriate and said the company is "disappointed with the improper behavior of a few Texas-based prosecutors who appear to have violated multiple Justice Department rules in the investigation of our company. We continue to work closely with federal and state law enforcement agencies across the country to fight the opioid crisis."
Hargrove added that the ProPublica story does not take into account the measures the company put into place to combat the nation's opioid addiction crisis. "During the period in question," Hargrove said, "Walmart sent over 60,000 leads about potentially concerning prescriptions and doctors to the DEA based on prescriptions that our pharmacists refused to fill."
Walmart denies taking responsibility for the deaths reportedly caused by opioids sold by the company's pharmacies, Hargrove said in follow-up comments to CNBC.
ProPublica reported that in response to Walmart's statement, Brown, the federal prosecutor in Texas, said: "Drug Enforcement Agency investigations of multiple opioid overdose deaths in the Eastern District of Texas resulted in our office opening parallel civil and criminal investigations of Walmart's pharmacy practices."
"These investigations have been handled appropriately, and according to Department of Justice policy. These investigations, which we would typically not confirm or deny, but do so now because of Walmart's statement, continue. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the specific facts of the case."
"Walmart chooses now to attack the investigators, a tried and true method to avoid oversight. We are confident that once all of the facts in this matter are public the hollowness of this criticism will be apparent. It is not the goal of our office to embarrass Walmart. Walmart's behavior in dispensing opioid medication in the middle of a public health crisis should embarrass Walmart."


cnbc--2020-03-26--Coronavirus fallout: Treasury chief Mnuchin says record unemployment claims 'aren't relevant' right

Coronavirus fallout: Treasury chief Mnuchin says record unemployment claims 'aren't relevant' right now

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin waved aside jaw-dropping new jobless claims by more than 3 million Americans on Thursday morning , saying that the record-setting unemployment filing numbers `` right now are n't relevant . ''
Mnuchin said `` the good news '' is a $ 2 trillion relief bill working its way through Congress that is aimed at alleviating income losses and other financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic .
He said that the aim of that package is that many people who have recently lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus outbreak will get hired back by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on CNBC 's `` Squawk on the Street '' what his reaction was to seeing the 3.28 million new unemployment claims reported for the past week , Mnuchin said , `` To be honest , I think these numbers right now are n't relevant whether they 're bigger or shorter in the short term . ''
That number of jobless claims is a whopping 4.7 times higher than the prior weekly record of 695,000 , which was set in October 1982 .
`` Obviously , there are people who have jobless claims , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the president is protecting those people , '' Mnuchin said .
`` So now with these plans , small businesses hopefully will be able to hire back a lot of those people . ''

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin waved aside jaw-dropping new jobless claims by more than 3 million Americans on Thursday morning, saying that the record-setting unemployment filing numbers "right now aren't relevant."
Mnuchin said "the good news" is a $2 trillion relief bill working its way through Congress that is aimed at alleviating income losses and other financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
He said that the aim of that package is that many people who have recently lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus outbreak will get hired back by their employers with this relief.
Asked on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" what his reaction was to seeing the 3.28 million new unemployment claims reported for the past week, Mnuchin said, "To be honest, I think these numbers right now aren't relevant whether they're bigger or shorter in the short term."
That number of jobless claims is a whopping 4.7 times higher than the prior weekly record of 695,000, which was set in October 1982.
"Obviously, there are people who have jobless claims, and the good thing about the bill is the president is protecting those people," Mnuchin said.
"So now with these plans, small businesses hopefully will be able to hire back a lot of those people."


cnbc--2020-03-26--Senators will leave Washington until April 20 — but the coronavirus crisis could force them to retur

Senators will leave Washington until April 20 — but the coronavirus crisis could force them to return

The U.S. Capitol building on March 25 , 2020 , in Washington , D.C .
The U.S. Senate was poised to pass a massive relief package on Wednesday for Americans and businesses ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic as New York hospitals braced for a wave of virus patients .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the chamber would adjourn for nearly a month after it passed a historically huge $ 2 trillion coronavirus relief package late Wednesday night .
But as the outbreak takes a toll on American health and financial well-being , the unprecedented crisis may force Congress to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned return date of April 20 .
McConnell acknowledged that reality Wednesday night , promising the chamber would stay `` nimble '' as the pandemic spreads .
`` If circumstances require the Senate to return for a vote sooner than April the 20th , we will provide at least 24 hours of notice , '' he said .
The legislation provides one-time payments for individuals , enhanced unemployment insurance , and loans and grants for businesses small and large .
It also allocates more funding for hospitals , states and municipalities , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with no cost-sharing .
Despite the amount of money piled into combating the crisis , unseen before in U.S. history , congressional leaders predict Congress will need to take more steps to fight the outbreak as it shows few signs of abating soon .
`` I think the odds are we will need new legislation , more legislation after this , '' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote .
`` First , we do n't know the extent of the crisis in terms of the magnitude , so that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be problems that we do n't realize now that we are going to have to grapple with . ''
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi echoed the sentiment Thursday morning as she outlined other priorities she would like to see addressed , including expanded paid family and medical leave , more money for states , more food assistance funding and another possible round of direct payments .
Responding to the Senate 's plans to leave until April 20 , she told reporters , `` I think everybody has to be on call for what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do n't know what that might be . ''
Data released Thursday shed light on the early economic wreckage left by COVID-19 as businesses across the country shutter to slow its spread .
Initial jobless claims skyrocketed last week to a record 3.3 million , more than four times the highest mark previously seen in 1982 .
Speaking to CNBC by phone Thursday morning , Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , said the $ 2 trillion package will `` hopefully '' buoy the economy for 90 days .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turns out in 90 days not to be as hopeful as we thought , we 'll be back here trying to tackle the same thing again , '' he said .
The outbreak has forced Congress into thorny decisions .
The coronavirus has created a desperate need for government intervention unseen in decades .
At the same time , the very lawmakers crafting the relief have started to test positive for COVID-19 , forcing some of their colleagues into isolation to slow its spread .
Most House members are currently away from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 and several other representatives who had contact with them went into quarantine .
The chamber plans to pass the $ 2 trillion bill by voice vote on Friday morning .
Still , House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer wrote to colleagues Wednesday night that representatives `` who want to come to the House Floor to debate this bill will be able to do so . ''
On the Senate side , Schumer acknowledged the uncertainty in setting a schedule for being in Washington .
He said determining when to return to the Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell or Leader Schumer , it is up to the medical experts and how long this disease goes on . ''
`` It is how deep the coronavirus spreads that will determine when we will come back .
And if we ca n't come back for a long time , I think we should explore as Sen. Klobuchar , and Durbin and Wyden and Warren are doing a way to vote remotely only in an emergency situation , '' he said .
Lawmakers in both parties and both chambers have increasingly pushed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Katie Porter , a California Democrat and one of the most vocal supporters of conducting business from outside the Capitol during the outbreak , said Wednesday that she was in quarantine while awaiting a coronavirus test result .
The House Rules Committee released a report this week outlining `` serious '' challenges with remote voting .
The panel 's staff said it could take a long time to set up the process , adding that a remote system could be vulnerable to cyberattacks or face court challenges .

The U.S. Capitol building on March 25, 2020, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Senate was poised to pass a massive relief package on Wednesday for Americans and businesses ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic as New York hospitals braced for a wave of virus patients.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the chamber would adjourn for nearly a month after it passed a historically huge $2 trillion coronavirus relief package late Wednesday night.
But as the outbreak takes a toll on American health and financial well-being, the unprecedented crisis may force Congress to act again sooner than the Senate's planned return date of April 20. McConnell acknowledged that reality Wednesday night, promising the chamber would stay "nimble" as the pandemic spreads.
"If circumstances require the Senate to return for a vote sooner than April the 20th, we will provide at least 24 hours of notice," he said.
The legislation provides one-time payments for individuals, enhanced unemployment insurance, and loans and grants for businesses small and large. It also allocates more funding for hospitals, states and municipalities, and requires insurers to cover coronavirus preventive services with no cost-sharing.
Despite the amount of money piled into combating the crisis, unseen before in U.S. history, congressional leaders predict Congress will need to take more steps to fight the outbreak as it shows few signs of abating soon.
"I think the odds are we will need new legislation, more legislation after this," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote. "First, we don't know the extent of the crisis in terms of the magnitude, so that could rise, but there are going to be problems that we don't realize now that we are going to have to grapple with."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi echoed the sentiment Thursday morning as she outlined other priorities she would like to see addressed, including expanded paid family and medical leave, more money for states, more food assistance funding and another possible round of direct payments. Responding to the Senate's plans to leave until April 20, she told reporters, "I think everybody has to be on call for what we need when we need it, and we don't know what that might be."
Data released Thursday shed light on the early economic wreckage left by COVID-19 as businesses across the country shutter to slow its spread. Initial jobless claims skyrocketed last week to a record 3.3 million, more than four times the highest mark previously seen in 1982.
Speaking to CNBC by phone Thursday morning, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said the $2 trillion package will "hopefully" buoy the economy for 90 days.
"And when I say hopefully and it turns out in 90 days not to be as hopeful as we thought, we'll be back here trying to tackle the same thing again," he said.
The outbreak has forced Congress into thorny decisions. The coronavirus has created a desperate need for government intervention unseen in decades. At the same time, the very lawmakers crafting the relief have started to test positive for COVID-19, forcing some of their colleagues into isolation to slow its spread.
Most House members are currently away from the Capitol after two representatives tested positive for COVID-19 and several other representatives who had contact with them went into quarantine. The chamber plans to pass the $2 trillion bill by voice vote on Friday morning.
Still, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer wrote to colleagues Wednesday night that representatives "who want to come to the House Floor to debate this bill will be able to do so."
On the Senate side, Schumer acknowledged the uncertainty in setting a schedule for being in Washington. He said determining when to return to the Capitol is "not even up to Leader McConnell or Leader Schumer, it is up to the medical experts and how long this disease goes on."
"It is how deep the coronavirus spreads that will determine when we will come back. And if we can't come back for a long time, I think we should explore as Sen. Klobuchar, and Durbin and Wyden and Warren are doing a way to vote remotely only in an emergency situation," he said.
Lawmakers in both parties and both chambers have increasingly pushed for remote voting as the crisis spreads. Rep. Katie Porter, a California Democrat and one of the most vocal supporters of conducting business from outside the Capitol during the outbreak, said Wednesday that she was in quarantine while awaiting a coronavirus test result.
The House Rules Committee released a report this week outlining "serious" challenges with remote voting. The panel's staff said it could take a long time to set up the process, adding that a remote system could be vulnerable to cyberattacks or face court challenges.
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cnbc--2020-03-30--Biden says coronavirus' impact on health system hasn't changed his mind on single-payer

Former Vice President Joe Biden said Monday that he was not reconsidering his opposition to single-payer health care despite the strain that the coronavirus pandemic has put on the existing health-care system .
`` Single-payer will not solve that at all , '' Biden said during an interview on MSNBC .
Biden is running against Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination .
Biden is ahead in delegates , 1,181 to 871 , out of 1,991 needed to win , according to an NBC News tracker .
Sanders ' `` Medicare-for-all '' proposal to overhaul the health-care system and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a focus of the race even before the public health crisis erupted in the U.S. and essentially knocked both men off the campaign trail .
Biden has opposed the proposal , citing its costs , and suggested earlier in March that as president he might veto it , though his campaign later seemed to walk back the comments .
`` The thing that is needed is , for example , we have a whole number of hospitals that are being stretched , including rural hospitals , they are going to need more financing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single-payer system , '' Biden said .
`` That comes from the federal government stepping up and dealing with concerns that they have , '' Biden said .
`` The reimbursement they are going to get , how they 're going to be able to move forward . ''
Sanders has said that the unfolding crisis has put a spotlight on the weaknesses of the current system .
The coronavirus pandemic is likely to kick millions of Americans off their health insurance as the disease 's economic toll sweeps through the nation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ often tied to employment , and nearly 67 million Americans are working in jobs at high risk of layoffs , according to a Federal Reserve estimate .
Weekly job losses surpassed 3 million last week , nearly five times the record from the 2008 recession .
The fight over health care and coronavirus dominated the last Democratic debate , held earlier in March .
Sanders said that the U.S. lacked a `` system that is prepared to provide health care to all people , '' a weakness that the virus revealed and exploited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hardest-hit nations , does have single-payer and is still struggling .
The former vice president has called for testing and treatment , as well as any potential vaccine , for coronavirus to be free .

Former Vice President Joe Biden said Monday that he was not reconsidering his opposition to single-payer health care despite the strain that the coronavirus pandemic has put on the existing health-care system.
"Single-payer will not solve that at all," Biden said during an interview on MSNBC.
Biden is running against Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination. Biden is ahead in delegates, 1,181 to 871, out of 1,991 needed to win, according to an NBC News tracker.
Sanders' "Medicare-for-all" proposal to overhaul the health-care system and implement a single-payer, government-run system was a focus of the race even before the public health crisis erupted in the U.S. and essentially knocked both men off the campaign trail.
Biden has opposed the proposal, citing its costs, and suggested earlier in March that as president he might veto it, though his campaign later seemed to walk back the comments.
"The thing that is needed is, for example, we have a whole number of hospitals that are being stretched, including rural hospitals, they are going to need more financing. That doesn't come from a single-payer system," Biden said.
"That comes from the federal government stepping up and dealing with concerns that they have," Biden said. "The reimbursement they are going to get, how they're going to be able to move forward."
Sanders has said that the unfolding crisis has put a spotlight on the weaknesses of the current system.
The coronavirus pandemic is likely to kick millions of Americans off their health insurance as the disease's economic toll sweeps through the nation.


cnbc--2020-03-30--Department of Defense watchdog appointed Inspector General for $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus pack

Department of Defense watchdog appointed Inspector General for $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package

The Defense Department 's internal watchdog will serve as newly named chair of The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee , a body created to oversee the roughly $ 2 trillion stimulus deal that President Donald Trump signed into law last week in response to the economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus outbreak .
Glenn Fine , the acting inspector general of the Department of Defense , was appointed by another committee of IGs assigned by the new law to name a chair .
Fine will oversee a board of fellow inspectors general , all responsible for monitoring their respective departments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Human Services , Homeland Security , Justice , Labor , as well as the Treasury , the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration .
Fine 's authority will be expansive .
He can issue subpoenas and lead investigations of those in and outside the government , including executives accepting federal aid .
Fine 's job as committee chair is to help `` prevent waste , fraud , and abuse '' of the more than $ 2 trillion the U.S. is spending on recovery .
Prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked for eleven years as inspector general for the Department of Justice under both Democratic and Republican presidents .
The Pandemic Response committee is one of three such bodies written into the law that will provide oversight over the massive stimulus package .
Fine 's appointment comes as the independence of another of the key watchdogs has been put into question .
Trump on Friday indicated he would push back against powers granted to a special inspector general who will help oversee a $ 500 billion bailout fund run by Treasury Secretary Steven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dole out funds to struggling industries including airlines .
Trump wrote in a signing statement attached to the new law that he believes that inspector general needs his permission before letting Congress know if Mnuchin or Treasury block efforts to glean information .
Trump will appoint that inspector general , who will then be approved by the Republican-led Senate .
Democrats pushed for that IG to ensure transparency over the disbursement of the fund that they once dubbed a slush fund .
They have stressed that the inspector general will be only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion .
A congressional committee will provide additional oversight .
`` The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee is critical to holding President Trump and his administration accountable to the letter and spirit of the law , '' he said .
`` Glenn Fine has a good reputation as a tough federal prosecutor and former DOJ Inspector General , and must exercise his full oversight authority to ensure that the Trump administration implements the CARES Act as intended , '' he said .

The Defense Department's internal watchdog will serve as newly named chair of The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, a body created to oversee the roughly $2 trillion stimulus deal that President Donald Trump signed into law last week in response to the economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus outbreak.
Glenn Fine, the acting inspector general of the Department of Defense, was appointed by another committee of IGs assigned by the new law to name a chair.
Fine will oversee a board of fellow inspectors general, all responsible for monitoring their respective departments. They include the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor, as well as the Treasury, the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Fine's authority will be expansive. He can issue subpoenas and lead investigations of those in and outside the government, including executives accepting federal aid. Fine's job as committee chair is to help "prevent waste, fraud, and abuse" of the more than $2 trillion the U.S. is spending on recovery.
Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Fine worked for eleven years as inspector general for the Department of Justice under both Democratic and Republican presidents.
The Pandemic Response committee is one of three such bodies written into the law that will provide oversight over the massive stimulus package.
Fine's appointment comes as the independence of another of the key watchdogs has been put into question.
Trump on Friday indicated he would push back against powers granted to a special inspector general who will help oversee a $500 billion bailout fund run by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. That fund is meant to dole out funds to struggling industries including airlines.
Trump wrote in a signing statement attached to the new law that he believes that inspector general needs his permission before letting Congress know if Mnuchin or Treasury block efforts to glean information.
Trump will appoint that inspector general, who will then be approved by the Republican-led Senate.
Democrats pushed for that IG to ensure transparency over the disbursement of the fund that they once dubbed a slush fund. They have stressed that the inspector general will be only one layer of oversight over the $500 billion. A congressional committee will provide additional oversight.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer applauded Fine's appointment in a statement Monday.
"The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee is critical to holding President Trump and his administration accountable to the letter and spirit of the law," he said.
"Glenn Fine has a good reputation as a tough federal prosecutor and former DOJ Inspector General, and must exercise his full oversight authority to ensure that the Trump administration implements the CARES Act as intended," he said.


cnbc--2020-03-30--New Trump automobile mileage standards to gut Obama climate effort

U.S. President Donald Trump , joined by members of the Coronavirus Task Force , speaks about the coronavirus outbreak in the press briefing room at the White House on March 17 , 2020 in Washington , DC .
( Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images ) President Donald Trump is poised to roll back ambitious Obama-era vehicle mileage standards and raise the ceiling on damaging fossil fuel emissions for years to come , gutting one of the United States ' biggest efforts against climate change .
The Trump administration is expected to release a final rule Tuesday on mileage standards through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the rollback after two years of Trump threatening and fighting states and a faction of automakers that opposed the move — waters down a tough Obama mileage standard that would have encouraged automakers to ramp up production of electric vehicles and more fuel-efficient gas and diesel vehicles .
`` When finalized , the rule will benefit our economy , will improve the U.S. fleet 's fuel economy , will make vehicles more affordable , and will save lives by increasing the safety of new vehicles , '' EPA spokeswoman Corry Schiermeyer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Opponents contend the change — gutting his predecessor 's legacy effort against climate-changing fossil fuel emissions — appears driven by Trump 's push to undo regulatory initiatives of former President Barack Obama , and say even the administration has had difficulty pointing to the kind of specific , demonstrable benefits to drivers , public health and safety or the economy that normally accompany standards changes .
The Trump administration says the looser mileage standards will allow consumers to keep buying the less fuel-efficient SUVs that U.S. drivers have favored for years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more Americans a year through dirtier air , compared to the Obama standards .
Even `` given the catastrophe they 're in with the coronavirus , they 're pursuing a policy that 's going to hurt public health and kill people , '' said Chet France , a former 39-year veteran of the Environmental Protection Agency , where he served as a senior official over emissions and mileage standards .
`` This is first time that an administration has pursued a policy that will net negative benefit for society and reduce fuel savings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Carper , the senior Democrat on the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee , called it `` the height of irresponsibility for this administration to finalize a rollback that will lead to dirtier air while our country is working around the clock to respond to a respiratory pandemic whose effects may be exacerbated by air pollution .
`` We should be enacting forward-looking environmental policy , not tying our country 's future to the dirty vehicles of the past , '' Carper said .
In Phoenix , Arizona , meanwhile , resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of losing the Obama-era rule , which she had hoped would allow her preschool-age children to break away from TV indoors and play outside more .
Sainz reluctantly limited her daughter to a half-hour at the park daily , after the girl developed asthma , at age 3 , at their home a few minutes from a freeway .
`` I cried so many times , '' Sainz said .
`` How do you tell your daughter she ca n't be outside because of air pollution ? ''
Trump 's Cabinet heads have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and environment regulations despite the coronavirus outbreak riveting the world 's attention .
The administration — like others before it — is facing procedural rules that will make changes adopted before the last six months of Trump 's current term tougher to throw out , even if the White House changes occupants .
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , which has been the main agency drawing up the new rules , did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday .
The standards have split the auto industry with Ford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with California and agreeing to higher standards .
Most other automakers contend the Obama-era standards were enacted hastily and will be impossible to meet because consumers have shifted dramatically away from efficient cars to SUVs and trucks .
California and about a dozen other states say they will continue resisting the Trump mileage standards in court .
Last year , 72 % of the new vehicles purchased by U.S. consumers were trucks or SUVS .
It was 51 % when the current standards went into effect in 2012 .
The Obama administration mandated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leaked versions of the Trump administration 's latest proposal show a 1.5 % annual increase , backing off from its initial proposal simply to stop mandating increases in fuel efficiency after 2020 .
The transportation sector is the nation 's largest source of climate-changing emissions .
John Bozzella , CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation , a trade group representing automakers , said the industry still wants middle ground between the two standards , and it supports year-over-year mileage increases .
But he says the Obama-era standards are outdated due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump administration standards are likely to cause havoc in the auto industry because due to expected legal challenges , automakers wo n't know which standards they will have to obey .
`` It will be extraordinarily disruptive , '' said Richard J .
Pierce Jr. , a law professor at George Washington University who specializes in government regulations .
States and environmental groups will challenge the Trump rules , and a U.S. District Court likely will issue a temporary order shelving them until it decides whether they are legal .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court , which in recent cases has voted 5-4 that a District judge ca n't issue such a nationwide order , Pierce said .
But the nation 's highest court could also keep the order in effect if it determines the groups challenging the Trump standards are likely to win .
`` We 're talking quite a long time , one to three years anyway , before we can expect to get a final decision on the merits , '' Pierce said .

President Donald Trump talks with auto industry leaders, including General Motors CEO Mary Barra (L) and United Auto Workers (UAW) President Dennis Williams (R) at the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, U.S. March 15, 2017.
President Donald Trump is poised to roll back ambitious Obama-era vehicle mileage standards and raise the ceiling on damaging fossil fuel emissions for years to come, gutting one of the United States' biggest efforts against climate change.
The Trump administration is expected to release a final rule Tuesday on mileage standards through 2026. The change — making good on the rollback after two years of Trump threatening and fighting states and a faction of automakers that opposed the move — waters down a tough Obama mileage standard that would have encouraged automakers to ramp up production of electric vehicles and more fuel-efficient gas and diesel vehicles.
"When finalized, the rule will benefit our economy, will improve the U.S. fleet's fuel economy, will make vehicles more affordable, and will save lives by increasing the safety of new vehicles," EPA spokeswoman Corry Schiermeyer said Monday, ahead of the expected release.
Opponents contend the change — gutting his predecessor's legacy effort against climate-changing fossil fuel emissions — appears driven by Trump's push to undo regulatory initiatives of former President Barack Obama, and say even the administration has had difficulty pointing to the kind of specific, demonstrable benefits to drivers, public health and safety or the economy that normally accompany standards changes.
The Trump administration says the looser mileage standards will allow consumers to keep buying the less fuel-efficient SUVs that U.S. drivers have favored for years. Opponents say it will kill several hundred more Americans a year through dirtier air, compared to the Obama standards.
Even "given the catastrophe they're in with the coronavirus, they're pursuing a policy that's going to hurt public health and kill people," said Chet France, a former 39-year veteran of the Environmental Protection Agency, where he served as a senior official over emissions and mileage standards.
"This is first time that an administration has pursued a policy that will net negative benefit for society and reduce fuel savings," France said.
Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, the senior Democrat on the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, called it "the height of irresponsibility for this administration to finalize a rollback that will lead to dirtier air while our country is working around the clock to respond to a respiratory pandemic whose effects may be exacerbated by air pollution.
"We should be enacting forward-looking environmental policy, not tying our country's future to the dirty vehicles of the past," Carper said.
In Phoenix, Arizona, meanwhile, resident Columba Sainz expressed disappointment at the prospect of losing the Obama-era rule, which she had hoped would allow her preschool-age children to break away from TV indoors and play outside more. Sainz reluctantly limited her daughter to a half-hour at the park daily, after the girl developed asthma, at age 3, at their home a few minutes from a freeway.
"I cried so many times," Sainz said. "How do you tell your daughter she can't be outside because of air pollution?"
Trump's Cabinet heads have continued a push to roll back public health and environment regulations despite the coronavirus outbreak riveting the world's attention. The administration — like others before it — is facing procedural rules that will make changes adopted before the last six months of Trump's current term tougher to throw out, even if the White House changes occupants.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has been the main agency drawing up the new rules, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
The standards have split the auto industry with Ford , BMW, Honda and Volkswagen siding with California and agreeing to higher standards. Most other automakers contend the Obama-era standards were enacted hastily and will be impossible to meet because consumers have shifted dramatically away from efficient cars to SUVs and trucks.
California and about a dozen other states say they will continue resisting the Trump mileage standards in court.
Last year, 72% of the new vehicles purchased by U.S. consumers were trucks or SUVS. It was 51% when the current standards went into effect in 2012.
The Obama administration mandated 5% annual increases in fuel economy. Leaked versions of the Trump administration's latest proposal show a 1.5% annual increase, backing off from its initial proposal simply to stop mandating increases in fuel efficiency after 2020.
The transportation sector is the nation's largest source of climate-changing emissions.
John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group representing automakers, said the industry still wants middle ground between the two standards, and it supports year-over-year mileage increases. But he says the Obama-era standards are outdated due to the drastic shift to trucks and SUVs.
The Trump administration standards are likely to cause havoc in the auto industry because due to expected legal challenges, automakers won't know which standards they will have to obey.
"It will be extraordinarily disruptive," said Richard J. Pierce Jr., a law professor at George Washington University who specializes in government regulations.
States and environmental groups will challenge the Trump rules, and a U.S. District Court likely will issue a temporary order shelving them until it decides whether they are legal. The temporary order likely will be challenged with the Supreme Court, which in recent cases has voted 5-4 that a District judge can't issue such a nationwide order, Pierce said. But the nation's highest court could also keep the order in effect if it determines the groups challenging the Trump standards are likely to win.
"We're talking quite a long time, one to three years anyway, before we can expect to get a final decision on the merits," Pierce said.


cnbc--2020-03-31--Biden says coronavirus' impact on health system hasn't changed his mind on single-payer

Former Vice President Joe Biden said Monday that he was not reconsidering his opposition to single-payer health care despite the strain that the coronavirus pandemic has put on the existing health-care system .
`` Single-payer will not solve that at all , '' Biden said during an interview on MSNBC .
Biden is running against Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination .
Biden is ahead in delegates , 1,181 to 871 , out of 1,991 needed to win , according to an NBC News tracker .
Sanders ' `` Medicare-for-all '' proposal to overhaul the health-care system and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a focus of the race even before the public health crisis erupted in the U.S. and essentially knocked both men off the campaign trail .
Biden has opposed the proposal , citing its costs , and suggested earlier in March that as president he might veto it , though his campaign later seemed to walk back the comments .
`` The thing that is needed is , for example , we have a whole number of hospitals that are being stretched , including rural hospitals , they are going to need more financing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single-payer system , '' Biden said .
`` That comes from the federal government stepping up and dealing with concerns that they have , '' Biden said .
`` The reimbursement they are going to get , how they 're going to be able to move forward . ''
Sanders has said that the unfolding crisis has put a spotlight on the weaknesses of the current system .
The coronavirus pandemic is likely to kick millions of Americans off their health insurance as the disease 's economic toll sweeps through the nation .


cnbc--2020-03-31--Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross works from home in Palm Beach as administration battles coronavirus

Wilbur Ross , U.S. commerce secretary , testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Tuesday , March 10 , 2020 .
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is working from his estate in Palm Beach , Florida , while the Trump administration tries to limit the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak , according to people familiar with the matter .
Ross , 82 , is teleworking to the extent possible , according to the people , who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter .
It could not be determined when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A representative for Ross declined to comment .
The White House declined to comment , as well .
Ross , whose job is to help promote job creation , economic growth and economic security , has been conspicuously absent at recent public events , including Trump 's daily coronavirus briefings .
He has previously been a key public representative for the administration in key matters , such as the administration 's trade talks with China .
Ross is a former banker and private equity investor , who made his financial career in working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over $ 400 billion of assets in industries including airline , apparel , auto parts and banking , according to his official biography .
But Ross , who is the oldest member of Trump 's Cabinet , could be more vulnerable to the virus , which health experts say may be more serious for elderly people .
Other members of Trump 's Cabinet , including Attorney General William Barr , Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos , Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steven Mnuchin and others have also frequently appeared on CNBC and other news shows .
Ross said in January the pandemic could be good for U.S. jobs and manufacturing , arguing it might give businesses `` another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain . ''
The coronavirus is `` another risk factor that people need to take into account , '' Ross said .
″I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America , '' he said .
`` Some to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well . ''
The coronavirus has ground the U.S. economy to a halt , rattling businesses and investors along the way .
The Dow was headed for its worst first-quarter performance ever Tuesday morning , losing more than 22 % of its value in the first three months of 2020 .
Companies from Macy 's to General Electric have announced furloughs , and many more are expected to come .
Oil and Gas companies have begun to buckle , with experts warning mounting bankruptcies could be on the way .
Trump signed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month stem the pain , but already lawmakers are focused on a potentially even larger plan should that bill not be enough .
The virus has already infected a number of Washington 's power players , who historically do their business in tight quarters .
It has exposed many more .
Several members of Congress have tested positive , including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky , Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah .
Several more have self-quarantined .
President Donald Trump was tested for the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary for Brazil 's president who tested positive .
Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have both said they tested negative .
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife were also tested for the virus , after a member of Pence 's office tested positive .
Pence said both he and his wife came back negative .

Wilbur Ross, U.S. commerce secretary, testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is working from his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, while the Trump administration tries to limit the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, according to people familiar with the matter.
Ross, 82, is teleworking to the extent possible, according to the people, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. It could not be determined when he plans to return to Washington. A representative for Ross declined to comment. The White House declined to comment, as well.
Ross, whose job is to help promote job creation, economic growth and economic security, has been conspicuously absent at recent public events, including Trump's daily coronavirus briefings. He has previously been a key public representative for the administration in key matters, such as the administration's trade talks with China.
Ross is a former banker and private equity investor, who made his financial career in working with distressed companies. He has restructured over $400 billion of assets in industries including airline, apparel, auto parts and banking, according to his official biography. But Ross, who is the oldest member of Trump's Cabinet, could be more vulnerable to the virus, which health experts say may be more serious for elderly people.
Other members of Trump's Cabinet, including Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf have all taken the stage. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and others have also frequently appeared on CNBC and other news shows.
Ross said in January the pandemic could be good for U.S. jobs and manufacturing, arguing it might give businesses "another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain."
The coronavirus is "another risk factor that people need to take into account," Ross said. ″I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America," he said. "Some to the U.S., some to Mexico as well."
The coronavirus has ground the U.S. economy to a halt, rattling businesses and investors along the way. The Dow was headed for its worst first-quarter performance ever Tuesday morning, losing more than 22% of its value in the first three months of 2020. Companies from Macy' s to General Electric have announced furloughs, and many more are expected to come. Oil and Gas companies have begun to buckle, with experts warning mounting bankruptcies could be on the way.
Trump signed a more than $2 trillion package earlier this month stem the pain, but already lawmakers are focused on a potentially even larger plan should that bill not be enough.
The virus has already infected a number of Washington's power players, who historically do their business in tight quarters. It has exposed many more. Several members of Congress have tested positive, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah. Several more have self-quarantined.
President Donald Trump was tested for the virus, after dining at Mar-a-Lago with the press secretary for Brazil's president who tested positive. Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have both said they tested negative.
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife were also tested for the virus, after a member of Pence's office tested positive. Pence said both he and his wife came back negative.
CNBC's Eamon Javers contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-03-31--Trump will approve 90-day delay for some tariff payments as coronavirus wallops economy

President Donald Trump will allow certain businesses to defer some tariff payments by three months , three sources told CNBC @ @ @ @ @ could announce the 90-day delay in tariff payments later Tuesday , one source said .
@ @ @ @ @ amid the coronavirus pandemic , which has upended global trade and ground the U.S. economy @ @ @ @ @ was not immediately clear which payments would be included in the deferral .
Sources said @ @ @ @ @ be applied to `` most favored nation '' tariffs under the World Trade Organization .
@ @ @ @ @ House have been pushing to exclude certain tariffs from the delay , including those under @ @ @ @ @ Expansion Act , which authorizes import duties on national security grounds .
Those people also @ @ @ @ @ imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act , which the U.S. used to slap @ @ @ @ @ This is breaking news .
Please check back for updates .

President Donald Trump will allow certain businesses to defer some tariff payments by three months, three sources told CNBC on Tuesday.
The president could announce the 90-day delay in tariff payments later Tuesday, one source said.
The tariff deferral will come amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has upended global trade and ground the U.S. economy to a halt.
It was not immediately clear which payments would be included in the deferral.
Sources said that the relief will likely be applied to "most favored nation" tariffs under the World Trade Organization.
Protectionist voices outside the White House have been pushing to exclude certain tariffs from the delay, including those under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which authorizes import duties on national security grounds.
Those people also want an exclusion for tariffs imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act, which the U.S. used to slap import taxes on China.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.


cnbc--2020-03-31--NY domestic violence programs see client numbers decline as coronavirus traps survivors at home

Domestic violence programs and shelters in New York , the state with the most confirmed coronavirus cases , are seeing a decline in at-risk clients as people stay home to prevent the spread of the outbreak .
Trauma experts warn that this could lead to more abuse .
The outbreak has left women , in particular , with few opportunities to seek help as social distancing guidelines urge people to shelter in place , forcing some women to stay home with an abuser to avoid contracting the coronavirus .
Some women who are survivors of domestic violence have either fled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear , or they have found that they have limited opportunities to seek out and receive support from domestic violence resource groups because of distancing guidelines .
`` There 's a sense of isolation , '' said Judy Harris Kluger , executive director of New York-based Sanctuary for Families .
`` If they are living with their abuser , then it 's a greater isolation and it 's a greater danger .
There is no real release . ''
Sanctuary for Families operates several emergency shelters in Brooklyn , providing housing for up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue has attracted attention from some prominent politicians .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , who is competing for the Democratic presidential nomination , has called for `` emergency shelters '' to be built for those fleeing domestic violence .
Some existing shelters have said they are aiming to put survivors in hotels .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 1 out of every 4 women and 1 out of every 7 men go through physical violence at the hands of their partner .
Women between the ages of 18 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intimate partner violence , according to information from the National Domestic Violence Hotline .
Normally , domestic violence survivors who reside with their abusers have opportunities for short respites that come in the form of a trip to the grocery store or the need to drop kids off at school .
Because of social distancing , these opportunities have been largely eliminated , leading to more periods of time spent with an abuser .
This story is based on conversations with officials from seven shelters and domestic violence programs in and around New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hard-hit metropolitan area .
In other parts of the country , like Washington , D.C. , the number of calls to hotlines from survivors have increased , according to The Washington Post , with one nonprofit , DC Safe , receiving more than 1,500 calls since March 8 .
Likewise , domestic violence shelters in Connecticut have seen an increase in the number of calls from survivors who are concerned about being stuck inside with their abusive partners because of the outbreak .
One shelter in New Orleans , which is becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has reported a slowdown in new clients .
WomenRising , a New Jersey shelter , has seen `` a decrease in calls and requests for shelter , '' but added that the shift is normal during a time of crisis .
New York , with more than 75,000 confirmed cases so far , is now regarded as the epicenter of the outbreak .
Shelters and domestic violence programs in the state have reflected the hit , with fewer people choosing to stay there out of fear of contracting the virus or fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by these groups .
In the first week of March , just as the coronavirus was beginning to plant roots in New York state , Sakhi for South Asian Women , a nonprofit that provides services and resources to women affected by violence , saw the number of people calling its hotline decrease by 76 % from the week before .
The monthly calls overall decreased from 114 in February to 53 in March .
In January , when President Donald Trump was assuring the country that the outbreak was under control , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York shelters saw similar downward patterns as the virus spread and as health officials and the president strengthened their language in response to the pandemic .
Freedom House , an emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities that is operated by the nonprofit Barrier Free Living , is licensed for 95 beds and currently has 89 occupants .
`` Some people have panicked and gone back to their homes to live with relatives because they felt like they 'd be safer there , '' said Paul Feuerstein , CEO of Barrier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to counsel people by saying we are keeping the program as sterile as we can .
But when people are cooped up in an apartment by themselves with their kids , there is lots of opportunity for people to worry about their current situations . ''
On a larger scale , the National Domestic Violence Hotline has begun to receive calls from survivors who are specifically concerned about the coronavirus .
`` The Hotline 's call , chat and text volume remains in the average 1,800-2,000 per day range .
However , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of survivors reaching out who [ are ] concerned with COVID-19 and how their abusive partner is leveraging COVID-19 to further isolate , coerce , or increase fear in the relationship .
Between March 10 and March 26 we have had 1,216 contacts who have mentioned COVID-19 , '' said Katie Ray-Jones , chief executive officer of the National Domestic Violence Hotline .
There are many reasons a survivor of domestic violence would opt to stay at home with their abuser rather than stay in a shelter .
Sometimes survivors do n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent weeks , people were instructed to stay indoors to avoid spreading and contracting the coronavirus .
To stay at Freedom House , survivors have to go through a screening that consists of giving the staff `` a basic understanding of what the violence is '' to ensure that those seeking shelter are actually fleeing violence , according to Cynthia Amodeo , chief program officer at Barrier Free Living .
Because of shelter-in-place orders , it 's less likely that a survivor would walk in for that screening .
Survivors are always measuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of criminal justice and court programs at Safe Horizon , a nonprofit organization that has nine shelters throughout the five boroughs with total capacity of 800 beds .
`` A woman who is in a violent relationship and is thinking about going into the shelter , '' she said , `` will say , 'You know what ?
I do n't want to go into a shelter right now because I 'm afraid of my children getting infected , living in a place where it 's a shared living space . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fleeing domestic violence shared apartment space .
At many of these shelters and programs , the staff has taken drastic steps toward limiting face time with survivors .
Feuerstein of Barrier Free Living said the staff hosts teleconference calls in place of all the normal face-to-face activities to protect against the possibility of contagion .
`` Our front desk staff , we 've had to change their schedules so they 're literally working 12-hour days , three days a week , '' he said .
`` So they can begin to limit their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Staff members carry around a letter from Feuerstein and identification in the event that they are stopped while traveling to work .
Kavita Mehra , executive director of Sakhi for South Asian Women , said the front-line staff directly feels the impact .
`` We 've tried to really create a separation between work and home .
Now that all of us are working remotely , that separation no longer exists , '' she said .
At The Dwelling Place , a private homeless shelter for women in Manhattan , the staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women , from a typical 15 , according to staff member Joann Sambs .
Domestic violence is one of the primary causes of homelessness for women .
The shelter has also changed the way it puts on a weekly dinner for local elderly and homeless women , transforming the event from dine in to take out .
While the shelter typically served 35 to 45 women , this week only about 20 women came , according to Sambs .
Limited face time often takes a toll on survivors , who are trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs and shelters are run .
Sakhi has transitioned entirely to teleconferencing services , offering therapy sessions , for example , online .
In some cases , children are in the same room as their parents who are survivors , often making it harder for the survivors to speak candidly about their experiences and feelings .
`` The sessions are shorter .
There are often shorter answers , '' Mehra said .
It 's unclear how long the coronavirus is going to last , and while efforts are being made to curtail its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shelters are trying their best to plan ahead .
`` We 're in uncharted territory , '' Feuerstein said .
`` Our concern at this point is that with shelter in place , with the kind of economic tensions that people are under , that domestic violence tends to go up threefold in these kinds of situations , '' he said .
`` We 're trying to find a balance between being safe , helping people get stabilized and at the same time , taking people who are still in crises .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sakhi for South Asian Women , which does n't offer a shelter but instead provides resources and services to people dealing with domestic violence , the concerns revolve around the lack of opportunity to escape an abuser due to shelter-in-place orders .
She and her team have doubled down on conversations centered around safety planning , a series of actions domestic violence survivors might use to stay safe in a relationship .
Actions can consist of creating a safety word with children to help them recognize when a situation is dangerous , memorizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , knowing which local shelters are around them , having access to legal documents and keeping cash on hand , Mehra said .
`` We have a client who is living with her perpetrator and they have experienced significant financial hardship as a result of the pandemic , '' she said .
`` The perpetrator has made the decision to streamline expenses in the household , which include preventing her from keeping her cellphone and only allowing the family to keep his cellphone .
Her entire lifeline has been stripped away because she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The client , as a result , has significantly fewer chances to connect to the outside world for help if a situation arises .
Sahki for South Asian Women , like most domestic violence shelters or programs , receives some federal funding to support its operation .
While private donors also fund the organization , Sahki is `` preparing for a drop in funding in the next year '' because of the economic toll of the coronavirus , Mehra said .
Other organizations are following suit .
Harris Kluger from Sanctuary for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about being able to `` continue the work at the level we do it , '' despite receiving `` generous '' donations from private citizens and federal funding .
Curtis from Safe Horizon said it 's too `` hard to tell at this point '' how the coronavirus will affect funding for the organization .
But she hopes `` there will be some type of stimulus package that will recognize the need for programs such as ours . ''
The New York City Anti-Violence Project is an organization dedicated to ending gender-based violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in both English and Spanish .
The organization can be reached at 212-714-1141 .
The New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence provides training , support and advocacy to domestic-violence programs across New York state .
The number for its 24-hour hotline is 1-800-942-6906 .
The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers a 24-hour hotline for survivors who need support or additional resources .
The hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-799-SAFE or texting LOVEIS to 22522 .
If you find yourself in an emergency situation or immediate danger , please call 911 .

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Domestic violence programs and shelters in New York, the state with the most confirmed coronavirus cases, are seeing a decline in at-risk clients as people stay home to prevent the spread of the outbreak. Trauma experts warn that this could lead to more abuse. The outbreak has left women, in particular, with few opportunities to seek help as social distancing guidelines urge people to shelter in place, forcing some women to stay home with an abuser to avoid contracting the coronavirus. Some women who are survivors of domestic violence have either fled shelters back to their abusers out of fear, or they have found that they have limited opportunities to seek out and receive support from domestic violence resource groups because of distancing guidelines. "There's a sense of isolation," said Judy Harris Kluger, executive director of New York-based Sanctuary for Families. "If they are living with their abuser, then it's a greater isolation and it's a greater danger. There is no real release." Sanctuary for Families operates several emergency shelters in Brooklyn, providing housing for up to 200 people a night. The issue has attracted attention from some prominent politicians. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is competing for the Democratic presidential nomination, has called for "emergency shelters" to be built for those fleeing domestic violence. Some existing shelters have said they are aiming to put survivors in hotels. Bernie tweet According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of every 4 women and 1 out of every 7 men go through physical violence at the hands of their partner. Women between the ages of 18 and 34 generally experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence, according to information from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Normally, domestic violence survivors who reside with their abusers have opportunities for short respites that come in the form of a trip to the grocery store or the need to drop kids off at school. Because of social distancing, these opportunities have been largely eliminated, leading to more periods of time spent with an abuser. This story is based on conversations with officials from seven shelters and domestic violence programs in and around New York City. The problem exists beyond the hard-hit metropolitan area. In other parts of the country, like Washington, D.C., the number of calls to hotlines from survivors have increased, according to The Washington Post, with one nonprofit, DC Safe, receiving more than 1,500 calls since March 8. Likewise, domestic violence shelters in Connecticut have seen an increase in the number of calls from survivors who are concerned about being stuck inside with their abusive partners because of the outbreak. One shelter in New Orleans, which is becoming one of the hot spots for COVID-19, has reported a slowdown in new clients. WomenRising, a New Jersey shelter, has seen "a decrease in calls and requests for shelter," but added that the shift is normal during a time of crisis.
Dwindling numbers
New York, with more than 75,000 confirmed cases so far, is now regarded as the epicenter of the outbreak. Shelters and domestic violence programs in the state have reflected the hit, with fewer people choosing to stay there out of fear of contracting the virus or fewer people being able to access resources provided by these groups. In the first week of March, just as the coronavirus was beginning to plant roots in New York state, Sakhi for South Asian Women, a nonprofit that provides services and resources to women affected by violence, saw the number of people calling its hotline decrease by 76% from the week before. The monthly calls overall decreased from 114 in February to 53 in March. In January, when President Donald Trump was assuring the country that the outbreak was under control, Sakhi received 166 calls. Other New York shelters saw similar downward patterns as the virus spread and as health officials and the president strengthened their language in response to the pandemic. Freedom House, an emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities that is operated by the nonprofit Barrier Free Living, is licensed for 95 beds and currently has 89 occupants. "Some people have panicked and gone back to their homes to live with relatives because they felt like they'd be safer there," said Paul Feuerstein, CEO of Barrier Free Living. "We are trying to counsel people by saying we are keeping the program as sterile as we can. But when people are cooped up in an apartment by themselves with their kids, there is lots of opportunity for people to worry about their current situations." On a larger scale, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has begun to receive calls from survivors who are specifically concerned about the coronavirus. "The Hotline's call, chat and text volume remains in the average 1,800-2,000 per day range. However, we are seeing an increase in the number of survivors reaching out who [are] concerned with COVID-19 and how their abusive partner is leveraging COVID-19 to further isolate, coerce, or increase fear in the relationship. Between March 10 and March 26 we have had 1,216 contacts who have mentioned COVID-19," said Katie Ray-Jones, chief executive officer of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. There are many reasons a survivor of domestic violence would opt to stay at home with their abuser rather than stay in a shelter. Sometimes survivors don't have the economic means to leave. In recent weeks, people were instructed to stay indoors to avoid spreading and contracting the coronavirus. To stay at Freedom House, survivors have to go through a screening that consists of giving the staff "a basic understanding of what the violence is" to ensure that those seeking shelter are actually fleeing violence, according to Cynthia Amodeo, chief program officer at Barrier Free Living. Because of shelter-in-place orders, it's less likely that a survivor would walk in for that screening. Survivors are always measuring risk, said Maureen Curtis, vice president of criminal justice and court programs at Safe Horizon, a nonprofit organization that has nine shelters throughout the five boroughs with total capacity of 800 beds. "A woman who is in a violent relationship and is thinking about going into the shelter," she said, "will say, 'You know what? I don't want to go into a shelter right now because I'm afraid of my children getting infected, living in a place where it's a shared living space." Many shelters in New York offer families fleeing domestic violence shared apartment space. But Safe Horizon stresses that survivors who need support can still find it in its shelters even as the coronavirus continues to impact New York. Safe Horizon practices "social distancing tactics" and still offers assistance to survivors, an organization spokesperson said.
Beginning anew
At many of these shelters and programs, the staff has taken drastic steps toward limiting face time with survivors. Feuerstein of Barrier Free Living said the staff hosts teleconference calls in place of all the normal face-to-face activities to protect against the possibility of contagion. "Our front desk staff, we've had to change their schedules so they're literally working 12-hour days, three days a week," he said. "So they can begin to limit their risks of traveling on public transportation." Staff members carry around a letter from Feuerstein and identification in the event that they are stopped while traveling to work. Kavita Mehra, executive director of Sakhi for South Asian Women, said the front-line staff directly feels the impact. "We've tried to really create a separation between work and home. Now that all of us are working remotely, that separation no longer exists," she said. At The Dwelling Place, a private homeless shelter for women in Manhattan, the staff has reduced its capacity to just four women, from a typical 15, according to staff member Joann Sambs. Domestic violence is one of the primary causes of homelessness for women. The shelter has also changed the way it puts on a weekly dinner for local elderly and homeless women, transforming the event from dine in to take out. While the shelter typically served 35 to 45 women, this week only about 20 women came, according to Sambs. Limited face time often takes a toll on survivors, who are trying to get used to the new ways their programs and shelters are run. Sakhi has transitioned entirely to teleconferencing services, offering therapy sessions, for example, online. In some cases, children are in the same room as their parents who are survivors, often making it harder for the survivors to speak candidly about their experiences and feelings. "The sessions are shorter. There are often shorter answers," Mehra said.
Thinking ahead


cnbc--2020-03-31--Aircraft carrier captain pleads for help after more than 100 crew are infected with coronavirus

WASHINGTON — The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that has more than 100 cases of coronavirus wrote a stunning plea for help to senior military officials .
In a four-page letter , first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle , Capt .
Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt described a disastrous situation unfolding aboard the warship , a temporary home to more than 4,000 crew members .
`` We are not at war .
Sailors do not need to die .
If we do not act now , we are failing to properly take care of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Crozier wrote .
`` The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating . ''
He proposed offloading the majority of the crew , quarantining those infected , testing others for the virus and professionally cleaning the ship .
He explained in his letter that by keeping the crew on the vessel the Pentagon was taking `` an unnecessary risk '' that `` breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care . ''
Read more : Coronavirus cases in the military are probably more widespread than known , Pentagon says The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's request for comment .

WASHINGTON — The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that has more than 100 cases of coronavirus wrote a stunning plea for help to senior military officials.
In a four-page letter, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Capt. Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt described a disastrous situation unfolding aboard the warship, a temporary home to more than 4,000 crew members.
"We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors," Crozier wrote. "The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating."
He proposed offloading the majority of the crew, quarantining those infected, testing others for the virus and professionally cleaning the ship. He explained in his letter that by keeping the crew on the vessel the Pentagon was taking "an unnecessary risk" that "breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care."
Read more: Coronavirus cases in the military are probably more widespread than known, Pentagon says
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.