Dear DTA Member,

The House and Senate are again negotiating a package of pandemic relief efforts to assist businesses, health care facilities, schools, unemployed individuals, and state and local governments. All DTA members need to urge Congress to come to an agreement and pass relief legislation before the end of this lame-duck session of Congress.

Additional relief may come in the new 117th Congress once it takes office early in 2021. Now is the best chance we have seen since April 2020 for Congress to enact meaningful relief.  

The DTA asks you to take immediate action and contact your elected members of Congress to advocate for a pandemic relief effort that addresses these concerns:

Enhanced Funding for the Paycheck Protection Program

Congress is considering an additional $300 billion in funding to assist businesses during this time through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). We expect them to authorize second-draw loans from the PPP for employers who have previously received a PPP loan. These second-draw loans will be forgivable and limited to those employers with at least a 25% loss in revenues. As of now, the IRS continues to state that forgiven PPP loans will be taxable.  

Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

Congress is considering an additional $180 billion to extend pandemic unemployment benefits, providing an added $300-a-week for four months. An added $600 benefit expired in July. For a time, the Trump Administration authorized a $300 weekly add-on, but those funds dried up in September.

Supply Chain

We do not expect to see health product supply chain issues addressing this pandemic relief package. However, it is crucial to continue raising this concern to educate members of Congress on the challenges that exist. The DTA supports investment in domestic production but needs Congress to understand the importance of continuing existing supply chains to ensure access to needed resources and raw materials for commercial use and replenish the Strategic National Stockpile.

Talking Points for DTA Members:

At this time, the DTA believes Congress must address the COVID-19 pandemic by:

• Supporting businesses with access to necessary SBA PPP resources for initial loans as well as second-draw loans for those experiencing significant losses; expanding the PPP to allow 501(c) (6) nonprofit organizations to apply for the funds; and eliminating taxation of forgiven PPP loans.  
• Supporting workers who suffer a financial loss caused by the pandemic with necessary pandemic unemployment benefits through the next several months.
• Providing significant investment in domestic production of necessary supplies, devices, and materials, while maintaining access to existing supply chains to ensure access to needed resources and raw materials for commercial use and replenish the Strategic National Stockpile.