Issues
Last month, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was extended from its original deadline of March 31 to its current deadline of May 31. However, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is now warning small businesses that the program may run out of money before the deadline passes. The program, which was re-opened in January with…
The U.S. House of Representatives is slated to vote this week on H.R. 7, a bill that would seek to address gender wage discrimination. If passed, this legislation would require employers to demonstrate that any gap in wages between a male and female employee was due to job performance rather than gender. Additionally, this…
President Joe Biden faces a decision this week of whether or not to overturn the International Trade Commission decision that ruled that South Korean battery manufacturer SK Innovation misused trade secrets to gain an unfair competitive decision. In 2019, South Korean battery maker LG Chem accused SK Innovation of taking key employees and stealing…
Yesterday in Pittsburgh, PA, President Joe Biden announced his proposal for a sweeping infrastructure plan entitled The American Jobs Plan. In his remarks, President Biden stated that this plan would be “the largest American jobs investment since World War II”. The plan includes a proposed $174 billion investment in creating good jobs electrifying vehicles. This…
The U.S. Senate passed the PPP Extension Act of 2021 today in a vote of 92-7. This legislation extends the deadline for eligible businesses to submit applications for first or second-draw loans to their lender of choice to May 31, 2021. The program was originally slated to expire March 31. Additionally, the legislation gives the…
U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del), Richard Burr (R-NC), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev), and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich) introduced the Securing America’s Clean Fuels Infrastructure Act this morning. This legislation would improve and expand the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Investment Tax Credit (ITC) (commonly referred to as 30C). This legislation would lower costs for clean vehicle…
The United States Senate Committee on Small Business held a hearing yesterday entitled “Oversight of SBA’s COVID-19 Relief Programs”. This hearing was intended to evaluate the progress of SBA COVID-19 Relief Programs including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, as well as the Shuttered Venue Program and the impending…
Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), sent a letter this week to President Joe Biden pushing the White House to reinstate the California Clean Air Act Waiver. The waiver, which allows California the authority to set independent greenhouse gas and emission standards, was revoked under the Trump administration. Additionally, the Senators stated their…
Shops Need Data to Repair Customers’ Vehicles The Automotive Service Association (ASA), in partnership with members of the American Alliance for Vehicle Owner’s Rights (AAVOR), submitted comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in response to their document “Cybersecurity Best Practices for the Safety of Modern Vehicles”. This document, which is an…
The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to pass the next round of stimulus legislation, titled the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The $1.9 trillion plan will now be sent to President Biden for signature, likely this week. The legislation includes additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Advance…