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This week in Washington, Congress, while working remotely, continued to negotiate aid packages to keep the U.S. economy from stalling further. In a short time, the Small Business Administration awarded all funding available for the Payment Protection Program. Additionally, unemployment claims reach a new high.
House and Senate leaders remained in a stalemate over how to infuse the economy with another round of federal funding. Republicans remained focused on passing a stand-alone $250 billion supplemental funding bill for the Payment Protection Program. Meanwhile, Democrats pushed for $100 billion for hospitals, $150 billion for states and increased food assistance in addition to the $250 billion for the Payment Protection Program. Unable to overcome the impasse, the Senate adjourned for the week. The decision to adjourn comes on the heels of the Payment Protection Program running out of the initial $250 billion passed to assist small businesses and nonprofits, including religious nonprofits.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is currently unable to accept new applications for the Payment Protection Program based on available appropriations funding. They are also unable to enroll new Payment Protection lenders at this time. Before funds ran out, 1.6 million loans were approved by the SBA.
It was reported earlier this week that another 5.2 million people filed for unemployment assistance this week. This marks the fourth consecutive week of more than a million unemployment claims. Collectively, more than 22 million people have filed for assistance in four weeks, nearly eviscerating the 22.4 million jobs created following the Great Recession of 2009.
CCUSA is calling on Congress to provide additional support to communities, nonprofits, and vulnerable populations. Some of the requests include:
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Asking Congress to give the Small Business Administration a dedicated $60 billion in loans for nonprofits;
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Removing a 500-employee cap on access to the loan program for small businesses;
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Increasing the charitable deduction to provide additional incentives for people to donate to charities;
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Allowing nonprofit workers who continue to serve vulnerable clients to have access to hazard pay;
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Increasing SNAP benefits by 15 percent;
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Increased funding for the Emergency Solutions Grant for people experiencing homelessness;
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Waiving barriers to programs for immigrants to have access to life-sustaining food and healthcare.
Faith and the Common Good
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Lord, I love You and I desire to trust in Your perfect Mercy to the point that there is no doubt in my mind and heart that You will bestow this precious gift. Help me to trust in Your Mercy because of Your infinite goodness. Purify me of all doubt, dear Lord, and help me to trust You more. Jesus, I trust in You.
Amen.
Trivia
Which Washington institution was established on April 24, 1800?
Please send your answers to socialpolicy@catholiccharitiesusa.org
Due to the coronavirus and some other challenges, we have not shared the answers to trivia since March 13th or acknowledged those who answered correctly. Thank you for your patience.
Donna Ashton of Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton was the first to identify Dr. Susan LaFlesche-Picotte as the first Native American to earn a medical degree.
Andrea Guzman was the first to identify the word "cow" or vacca as the word associated with vaccine. The smallpox vaccine was developed when it was discovered that milkmaids appeared to be immune to smallpox.
We did not receive any responses to last week's trivia question about the Turf Protection Law. On April 21, 1876 Congress passed the Turf Protection Law, which effectively ended the traditional Easter Monday egg roll at the Capitol. However, in 1878, President Hayes invited children to the White House lawn and continued the tradition of the Easter Egg roll held on the Monday following Easter.
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