Right now, Members of Congress and the Trump Administration continue to negotiate a $450 billion “interim” COVID-19 bill that could be passed this week. The new bill could provide an additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and nonprofits (the program ran out of funds last Thursday). House and Senate Democrats are pushing to direct some of the funds to minority-owned and rural businesses, and to add more for hospitals and enhanced COVID-19 testing capacity. The interim bill is smaller than the $2 trillion CARES Act signed in late March. For more, see the New York Times, CNN & Politico.

In addition, House and Senate Democrats are developing their policy priorities for a larger COVID-19 bill that could move in May or June. The May/June major bill could expand unemployment insurance and provide funds for state and local fiscal relief, increased Medicaid and SNAP benefits, accessible vote-by-mail and sanitary and uncrowded in-person voting, infrastructure (e.g., broadband to reduce the digital divide), and more.

In response to the high rate of Black Americans dying from the virus, the Congressional Black Caucus held a call with infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci last week to push for more COVID-19 care in Black communities (Washington Post). In reference to that meeting, Fauci stated at a press conference that resources need to get “where the vulnerable are” (NBC).

On Wednesday, the Joint Center will host a video conference with Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor, to discuss education and workforce priorities for Black communities in future stimulus legislation.

Respondents will include:

The Education Trust President & CEO and 10th U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.

National Urban League Senior Vice President Clint Odom

National Education Association Vice President Becky Pringle

National Black Worker Center Project Executive Director Tanya Wallace-Gobern