For the week ending March 26th
EXTENDING PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM: Voting 92 for and seven against, the Senate on March 25 gave final congressional approval to a bill (HR 1799) extending from March 31 to May 31 the deadline for small businesses to apply for COVID-19 rescue funds under the Paycheck Protection Program. Begun in March 2020, the PPP provides firms with fewer than 500 employees with forgivable loans for meeting payroll and certain overhead costs including rent or mortgage payments. The loans are forgiven if recipients agree to not lay off workers and rehire those already dismissed as a consequence of COVID-19. To date, the Small Business Administration has approved about 8 million loans totaling nearly $704 billion, with $93 billion yet to be allocated, including $28.6 billion earmarked for restaurants and additional set-asides for businesses owned by women and minorities.
A “yes” vote was to send the bill to President Biden.
YES: Ben Ray Luján, D, Martin Heinrich, D
DENYING AID TO CONVICTED RIOTERS: Voting 48 for and 52 against, the Senate on March 25 defeated an amendment that sought to deny aid under HR 1799 (above) to any person convicted in the preceding two years of a felony related to a riot at the Capitol or in U.S. cities.
A “yes” vote was to adopt the amendment.
NO: Luján, Heinrich
MARTIN WALSH, SECRETARY OF LABOR: Voting 68 for and 29 against, the Senate on March 22 confirmed Martin J. Walsh, 53, the mayor of Boston, as secretary of the Department of Labor, the first union member to head the department since 1977. Walsh had been president of Laborers Local 223 in Boston and head of the city’s Building and Construction Trades Council.
A “yes” vote was to confirm the nominee.
YES: Luján, Heinrich
VIVEK MURTHY, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: Voting 57 for and 43 against, the Senate on March 23 confirmed Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, 44, as surgeon general, a post he once held under former President Barack Obama. An adviser to President-elect Joe Biden on COVID-19 issues since the November election, Murthy has been a physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
A “yes” vote was to confirm the nominee.
YES: Luján, Heinrich
SHALANDA YOUNG, DEPUTY BUDGET DIRECTOR: Voting 63-37, the Senate on March 23 confirmed Shalanda D. Young, a former staff director of the House Appropriations Committee, as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. She also is under consideration to be nominated as OMB director.
A “yes” vote was to confirm the nominee.
YES: Luján, Heinrich
RACHEL LEVINE, ASSISTANT HEALTH SECRETARY: Voting 52 for and 48 against, the Senate on March 24 confirmed Rachel L. Levine, 63, as assistant secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services. She becomes the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate. Levine has been a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine and was physician general for Pennsylvania from 2015 to 2017.
A “yes” vote was to confirm the nominee.
YES: Luján, Heinrich
HOUSE: Deb Haaland (D) Ben Ray Luján (D) Yvette Herrell (R)
SENATE: Martin Heinrich (D) Tom Udall (D)
Contact your legislators at the U.S. Capitol
Zip codes: House 20515, Senate 20510
Capitol operator: (202) 224-3121