THE LONG GAME: House nears vote on rescue plan; Landmark protections for LGBTQ people
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) indicated that a vote could be held this week on President Biden’s $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan.” House committees have been working on parts of the proposal and the House Budget Committee is set to combine the various elements into one massive bill this week. The bill must be enacted by mid-March to beat a key deadline: millions of Americans will lose unemployment benefits if Congress does not act by then. In addition to extending expanded jobless benefits, the legislation would also send $1,400 direct payments to most Americans, would allocate $20 billion for vaccinations, provide $350 billion for aid to state and local governments, and $170 billion for schools. Although the House bill calls for an increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, it will be up to the Senate Parliamentarian to determine whether the raise is consistent with rules governing budget bills. Even if it is included in the bill, two moderate Democratic Senators, Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Krysten Sinema (D-AZ), are reluctant to support the wage hike. President Biden made his first major trip since taking office to stump for the bill, holding a town hall meeting in Milwaukee. The House is set to vote on sweeping protections for LGBTQ Americans. The Equality Act (HR 5), introduced on Thursday by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), may get a floor vote this week. The bill would expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces, public funding and jury duty. Similar legislation passed by the House in 2019, but was never taken up by the Senate. A companion bill is likely to be introduced by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). President Biden offered his support for the measure.
Washington Watch is published weekly when Congress is in session. Published monthly during extended recess or adjournment.
Spotlight on Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico coronavirus statistics for February 22
According to the Puerto Rico Health Department, 177,430 people are believed to have been infected with COVID-19, an increase of 4,078 since February 15. This represents a decrease in the rate of new cases, as the increase between February 8 (when the total was 168,502) and February 15 was 4,850. The rate of deaths increased sharply this week: the death toll is currently 1,983, with 63 of those registered in the last week. By comparison, 32 people died from the virus between February 8 and February 15.
Beginning on November 7, the Health Department changed the way it recorded cases, splitting them between confirmed cases (as determined by molecular diagnostic testing), probable cases (as determined by antigen testing) and suspicious cases (as determined by serological, non-diagnostic testing). Viewed through that prism, Puerto Rico has had 91,680 confirmed cases, 7,577 probable cases, and 78,173 suspicious cases since the virus arrived on the Island.
There are currently 233 people hospitalized due to COVID, an increase of 24 since last week. Vaccination efforts on the Island continue plodding along, as vaccines remain in short supply and obstacles arise. Last week, the arrival of 80,350 vaccines was delayed due to snowstorms in the mainland United States. The government is currently hoping to reopen schools for in-person classes for March, announcing its protocol on Friday last week.
COVID-relief Bill could include $10 billion for Puerto Rico
President Biden’s COVID relief proposal could be a boon for Puerto Rico. If passed as currently drafted, the bill’s various measures are expected to assign $10 billion to the Island.
The COVID-relief bill sets aside $219 billion for state governments to use to mitigate fiscal problems caused by the pandemic, of which Puerto Rico is expected to receive $2.4 billion. Individual municipalities may receive additional funds. Puerto Rico is also set to receive nearly $900 million in nutritional assistance, and to obtain full access to the Child Tax Credit (CTC), which previously only applied to families with three or more children. Additionally, under the legislation, the federal government would foot the bill for three fourths of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Altogether, the changes to CTC and EITC are expected to add $1.4 billion to Puerto Rico’s coffers.
One of the most prominent features of the bill is the payment of $1,400 per individual. Last year’s CARES Act, which authorized checks of $1,200 checks per person, had an impact of $2.9 billion on the Island. Enhanced unemployment benefits are expected to result in an additional $2 billion for Puerto Rico. The island is expected to receive most of the $305 million assigned to territories for rent assistance, as well as $40 million in assistance to landlords who have lost income due to the pandemic.
Rep. Velázquez's PRRADA bill expected on the Floor of the House today
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), who is slated to introduce a status bill for Puerto Rico in the next few weeks, has just re-introduced The Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2021 (PRRADA) to increase transparency and prevent conflicts of interest in Title III bankruptcy proceedings under PROMESA. The PRRADA bill is expected to be considered by House today under the suspension calendar. The bill states that “no attorney, accountant, appraiser, auctioneer, agent, consultant, or other professional person may be compensated under section 316 or 317” of PROMESA, unless they first disclose their connections to debtors, creators, or parties involved in the case in questions. This sort of requirement, although standard in Federal bankruptcy rules, was not included in PROMESA. A prior version of PRRADA, H.R. 683, was introduced in 2019 and passed by the House on December 8, 2020 but died in the Senate.
Lawmakers, religious leaders call on President Biden to withdraw Trump administration attempt to block SSI payments to Puerto Rico
Last year, the Trump Administration appealed a lower court ruling declaring that Puerto Ricans living on the Island were eligible for Supplementary Security Income (SSI), thereby blocking Puerto Ricans from receiving nearly $2.3 billion in SSI funds. Despite changes at the U.S. Department of Justice and President Biden’s previous statements in support of allowing Puerto Ricans to obtain SSI, the Biden Administration has yet to withdraw the appeal. As a result, five lawmakers as well as religious leaders have written to the White House urging President Biden to do so.
“It is long overdue that Puerto Ricans who qualify for SSI benefits can start receiving their benefits as soon as possible, reads the lawmakers’ letter, signed by Reps. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Darren Soto (D-FL). In a separate letter, faith leaders including Archbishop Roberto González Nieves, Bishop Rubén González Medina of Ponce, and other U.S. Catholic organizations called on President Joe Biden to help the island not just by withdrawing the DOJ appeal, but also by expanding and strengthening other existing anti-poverty tools and safety net programs.
View From The White House
The Biden administration allowed 25 migrants to cross the border into San Diego last week, the first group allowed to enter the U.S. after Biden’s rollback of the Trump administration’s “remain in Mexico policy.” Meanwhile, the White House and top Democrats unveiled legislation that provides an 8-year path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Biden is scheduled to hold his first bilateral meeting with a foreign leader when he meets virtually with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday.
In an attempt to target help to the smallest of small businesses, the Biden administration announced Monday that it would change certain elements of the Paycheck Protection Program, including imposing a two-week freeze on loans to companies with 20 or more workers.
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