Congressional leaders are reported to be close to a deal on a roughly $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief package that could deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program funds to ailing businesses. The agreement could also provide $300 a week in supplemental jobless benefits to the country’s 10 million unemployed workers and a second round of stimulus checks of $600 to $700 for Americans under a certain income threshold, according to a Washington Post story. However, direct aid to […]
Congress
Congress OKs Fixes for Paycheck Protection Program
The U.S. Senate yesterday gave much-anticipated approval to legislation that would make the terms of the Paycheck Protection Program more flexible for small businesses that have been awarded loans. The Senate passed a House-approved version of the bill, so all that is needed now is approval by President Donald Trump. The Senate approved H.R. 7010 […]
Congress Trying to Again Tackle the Issue of Self-driving Cars
Everything from cars with driver-assistance features, like hands-free parking, to fully autonomous vehicles are already on the road, but a national law governing their standards and use failed to pass last year and hasn’t received any floor votes this year. Now, The Hill reports that two key congressional committees are taking another stab at it. […]
Winners and Losers with a Federal $15 Minimum Wage
Winners and losers would be about equal if the federal government were to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 1.3 million workers would be lifted out of poverty, while another 1.3 million workers would lose their jobs. “For most low-wage workers, earnings […]
Rollback of OSHA Penalties Rule Approved by Congress
The U.S. Senate Wednesday voted to repeal regulations that penalized employers for not maintaining a log of workplace injuries and illnesses for five years, sending the measure to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it. According to the bill’s supporters, the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to maintain such a log […]