THE UNPRECEDENTED BATTLE OVER THE CORONAVIRUS
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews
Correspondent

In short order, every leader in Washington has begun speaking in earnest tones about the novel coronavirus threat. But they are not moving quite as quickly to sort out a firm response. Here’s a look at how Congress is approaching the crisis at this moment.
 
Congress is tackling the outbreak in three layers.  
 
Part 1 -- Emergency funding bill
Congress passed an emergency funding bill more than a week ago to address immediate needs. It contains $8.3 billion in funds focused on finding a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as efforts to prepare for a worsening outbreak and to buy medical equipment.
 
Part 2 -- The “Families First Act”
This bill, known by Democrats as the “Families First Act,” tackles the next anticipated needs: how to handle workers affected by the virus. It includes funding for sick workers who need time off and employers who need help paying salaries when their staff is home sick. It gives two weeks of sick time for all workers at companies with fewer than 500 workers. And it provides 12 weeks of paid leave after that, to help workers recover and also care for other sick relatives, if needed.
 
This legislation passed the House last Friday just minutes after it was made public. But few members had the chance to read it in that time, and staff later discovered there were some errors in the text that needed to be corrected. Those corrections were done Monday, so the fate of this measure is now in the hands of the Senate.  
 
Still, another, larger issue awaits. Several senators have amendments and ideas they’d like to see in the bill, potentially opening it up to delays that could weigh it down.
 
Part 3 - A (possible) stimulus 
The third piece of this puzzle is expected to be a large stimulus measure, aimed at lifting up sweeping sections of the economy.  
 
It will be, by far, the most expensive action of the three we list here. The director of President Donald Trump’s National Economic Council, Larry Kudlow, threw out a figure of $800 billion yesterday. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York is proposing $750 billion. Those numbers may not look far apart, but the ideas they would fund are as different as the two parties backing them.
 
Kudlow and the White House want a payroll tax cut so that workers and, possibly, employers get an immediate boost in their paychecks. Democrats, on the other hand, want to use the funds largely for unemployment insurance and to shore up other social safety nets, like Medicaid, which they would like to expand.
 
One final issue -- when they would vote? The Senate is in session this week, but the House is not.
 
Lawmakers on the House side would return if the Senate either passes or blocks one of their deals.


FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By Alex D’Elia, @AlexDEliaNews
Politics production assistant
 

Hackers attack health and human services computer system -- March 16. Officials could not determine whether the attack was carried out by a foreign power or hackers looking to sow chaos. Why it matters: The effort to expose HHS’s vulnerabilities comes as the department faces an incredible challenge: the global coronavirus pandemic. -- The New York Times
 
Who are the lawmakers who have self-quarantined for coronavirus? -- March 17. Fourteen members of Congress have self-quarantined (while exhibiting no symptoms) during the coronavirus outbreak, though current and former staffers have tested positive. Why it matters: Lawmakers  cannot vote on legislation remotely; foregoing their duties on the Hill is yet another demonstration of how serious COVID-19 has become. -- The Washington Post
 
Justice Department drops plans for trial over Russian interference in 2016 U.S. election -- March 16. A Trump-appointed district court judge dismissed the charge against two Russians shell companies that funded social media interference in the 2016 election. Why it matters: The dismissal, which slipped under the radar amid the scramble to address the novel coronavirus, comes alongside  continuing concerns about foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election. -- POLITICO
 
Prisons restrict inmates, staffers' movements as they try to keep coronavirus out -- March 17. States across the country and the federal Bureau of Prisons have largely gone on lockdown amid the outbreak. Why it matters: The restrictions come as officials try to mitigate the threat of the virus to vulnerable populations. But inmates are largely kept in tight quarters, where "social distancing" presents a major logistical challenge. -- USA Today
 
U.S. postpones April 15 tax payments for 90 days for most Americans -- March 17. Americans will have an extra 90 days to file their 2019 taxes. Why it matters: The move is just one of many that will be taken to mitigate the long-lasting financial and economic burdens of the coronavirus pandemic. -- The Wall Street Journal

#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke
Politics producer

Since we could all use a break from thinking about COVID-19, our trivia this week has nothing to do with this or any other virus. Instead, let’s take a nature break.
 
The U.S. capital is starting to see the first cherry blooms of the year. The famous trees that line the Tidal Basin were originally a gift from the people of Japan. 
 
Our question: Which first lady is credited with planting the first two cherry trees in 1912 in Washington, D.C.?
 
Send your answers to [email protected] or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.
 
Last week, we asked: What year did that U.S. midterm election coincide with an epidemic? And for a bonus point, what was the outbreak?
 
The answer is the 1918 influenza epidemic.
 
Congratulations to our winners: Bob & Cathie!!

Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your Inbox next week.