GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPORT
The Now, The Next, and the Nonstop by Amy Schoppman NMEDA DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
A
provocative theory has
regarding spending and taxes will
gained popularity amongst
The Next
need to be made. In short, 2020 is
PPP was designed as a bridge for
HR professionals, cable news
really leaning into an overall theme of
businesses to maintain their payrolls
talking heads, and My Neighbor
“uncertainty.”
and operations through “the worst”
Who Essentially Shouts During His
To mitigate this uncertainty, NMEDA’s
of the pandemic but, as infections
Zoom Meetings: the coronavirus is accelerating the greatest workplace transformation of our lifetimes, and will permanently change how and where Americans work (and socialize and communicate and shop and learn…). While the scale and
advocacy and government relations program has rearranged its issue portfolio to include three general categories of government proposals and initiatives that may impact or be of interest to our members, their
rise and states contemplate stepping back from their initial plans to reopen, the path forward is not as linear as some had initially hoped. Amidst the uncertainty, one thing is sure: COVID-19’s impact on federal, state,
employees, and the clients they serve:
and local budgets will be significant.
The Now
decreased revenue sources and
This category, predictably, includes
significant new expenditures, program
to be seen, this “new normal”
government initiatives that can
(specifically Vocational Rehabilitation
of virtual meetings, cancelled
immediately impact members.
program) services and funding are at
conferences, and reduced travel is
The Paycheck Protection Program
risk of being reduced or eliminated.
generally expected to continue for at
(PPP)—established by Congress to
To be clear, no formal proposal to
least the immediate future.
provide forgivable loans to small
decrease VR funding or eliminate
Also expected to continue? Federal
businesses—is a premier example.
VR services has been introduced;
and state governments’ near-singular
Massively popular (and complex), the
NMEDA is, however, keeping its eye
focus on attempting to manage this
PPP’s initial $350 billion in funding
on anticipated budgetary restraints
pandemic and the profound public
was followed by a second round of
while working with our partner
health and economic impact thereof.
late-April funding, timeline extensions,
organizations, lawmakers, and key
Congress does not have a reputation
and program clarifications. Congress
agencies to ensure that current and
for acting in a nimble or timely
is currently (as of the writing of this
future transportation-related services
manner—the House and Senate have
article) considering extending the
for people with disabilities are not
traditionally embraced, sometimes
PPP application deadline once again.
adversely affected.
to a comical degree, their roles as
Resources—including summaries,
deliberative bodies—but these days
FAQs, and webinars—addressing
legislation is being drafted and
PPP and other continually evolving
passed in record time. State agency
pandemic-related legislation
policies and guidelines are constantly
immediately impacting our members
changing. Budgets have been
can be found in the “Coronavirus
decimated and difficult decisions
Resources” section of NMEDA’s
permanence of socially distanced work (and leisure and communication and shopping and learning…) remains
website. (www.nmeda.com/covid19)
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NMEDA Circuit Breaker
With all levels of government facing
The Nonstop This category includes classics such as “Implementation of The Veterans Mobility Safety Act” and “Resolving Past Due VA Invoices.” These efforts have not been paused or eliminated due to current events and, while
