7.23.2020. Cornerstone Government Affairs COVID-19 Legislative Update

Legislation
Supplemental IV
Timeline: After a couple fire drills between the White House and Senate Republicans, Leader McConnell said on the Senate floor today that Republicans will be releasing the bill early next week . He indicated that various Senate Chairs and other senators will be introducing their portions of the bill on Monday. McConnell had planned to roll out the bill this morning, after reportedly reaching an agreement with the White House last night. However, some last-minute disagreements caused a delay to next week. As there are some difficult sticking points that remain to be worked out between Democrats and Republicans, negotiations will not be quick and painless – there’s no guarantee that the bill is negotiated before the July 31 unemployment insurance expiration. Last week, House Majority Leader Hoyer told members to keep the first week of August open, though now there is talk of voting during the second week of August. The Paycheck Protection Program expires on August 8.
 
Politics/Process: Republicans have been working to reach consensus over the past week, but the past two days have shown the most volatility. There were reports of Leader McConnell proposing the extension of the enhanced unemployment insurance (UI) for four months at a lower rate of $450 per week, separate from a larger package. The White House reportedly rejected that idea. Severing the UI portion of the package would take significant pressure off lawmakers to get this done quickly. Late last night the White House and Senate Republicans had reportedly reached a deal and McConnell was set to roll it out at 9:30am this morning, but that plan was quickly changed and the roll out was delayed to next week. While the plan is to begin releasing the package in pieces on Monday, we could see another delay if consensus isn’t reached. Some committees had already finished drafting text, while others may still be in process. 
 
Until Republicans introduce a bill, Democrats are in no hurry to begin negotiating with themselves . Minority Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi have been in constant conversation and will likely remain so. As Republicans will need 60 votes to pass the bill through the Senate, Democrats will have significant leverage once negotiations begin. Senate Majority Whip John Thune has indicated that when this is all said and done, he may lose as many as 25 Republicans on the final vote.
 
Policy: While text has yet to be finalized and there could be significant changes from now until Monday , the following represents what the White House and Senate Republicans had agreed to as of last night (agreement here ):

  • Extension of the enhanced unemployment insurance , though there will be a transition period of beneficiaries receiving a flat amount (less than $600 per week) then moving to a different policy that disallows beneficiaries from receiving more in the benefit than their previous income.
  • Extension of the Paycheck Protection Program including:
    • A second round of PPP loans for business that have 1) fewer than 300 workers, OR 2) are within an SBA-designated size threshold for their industry and can show 50% or more in lost revenue.
    • Streamlined forgiveness for loans under $150k.
    • Forgiveness to include other costs like riot damage, supplier costs, and other expenses.
    • Working capital loan for businesses with fewer than 300 workers (as an alternative to PPP).
  • Liability protections for organizations that mandate plaintiffs show defendants were grossly negligent/engaged in willful misconduct AND violated public health guidelines.
  • No funding for state, local, tribal, or territorial governments , but states may use the funding to make up lost revenues. Limitations on what states can use funding for (no funds for pensions/rainy-day fund).
  • Tax provisions including,
    • Enhanced employee retention tax credit ,
    • Tax deductions for COVID-related expenses like testing and PPE,
    • Increasing the business meal deduction to 100 percent (from 50 percent).
  • $235 billion for health , including
    • $25 billion for testing,
    • $26 billion for vaccines,
    • $15.5 billion for NIH
    • $25 billion for provider relief fund
    • $15 billion for child chare
    • $4.5 billion for SAMHSA.
  • $105 billion for education including:
    • $29 billion for higher education institutions,
    • $70 billion for K-12 (with schools receiving it within 30 days of enactment, $30 billion of this will be available only to schools that physically reopen).
  • Another round of economic stimulus payment (eligibility and amount TBD).
  • Medicare and Medicaid provisions including:
    • Part B premium freeze until 2022,
    • Extension of telemedicine reimbursement through 2021,
    • Extended timeline for providers to repay Medicare Advances.
  • $302 billion for appropriations including:
    • $235 billion for Labor HHS (referenced above),
    • $20 billion Agriculture,
    • $21.3 billion for Defense ($11 billion for 3610 payments),
    • $13 billion for THUD,
    • ~$3 billion for Homeland (almost $1 billion for FEMA grants, $1.6 billion to CBP),
    • $5 billion for SFOPS.

Democrats have continued to roll out new proposals (Sen. Wyden and Leader Schumer proposal on unemployment insurance, white papers on health care and testing) and highlight various provisions from the Heroes Act. Beyond extending unemployment insurance, funding for state/local/tribes, and funding for education and health, Democrats have been highlighting many other issues, including rental assistance and supporting communities of color , which have been disproportionately impacted by the virus.
 
The House passed the Democrats’ opening bid for the next bill, the Heroes Act, on May 15. While it’s been over two months since House passage of the bill and the contours of the debate and which issues are most pressing have shifted slightly, it can still serve as a marker of what Senate Republicans will be responding to in their bill. Heroes Act text (as of 5/12/2020) here. Section by section here. One pager here. State and Local one pager here. NCAI’s summary on tribal provisions here. Manager’s amendment here. House Rules Committee report here.
 
Passed Legislation
Moving forward, this section will only include new information and guidance. For past information and guidance and legislation, please refer to the archives. For a summary of all supplementals, please see here.
 
New Implementation Information and Guidance

  • 7/21 – Treasury and SBA released new data on the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs. PPP data here. EIDL data here. EIDL Advance data here.

UGA & Manus Among Awardees in $214M BioMADE Investment

April 30, 2026
BioMADE Announces $21.4 Million Invested in 14 Projects to Develop the U.S. Bioindustrial Manufacturing Industry and Advance National Security Priorities

Nutrivert announces first close on $6 million Series A-2 funding round

April 17, 2026
April 17, 2026 - Nutrivert Inc., a developer of non-antibiotic replacements for antibiotic growth promoters in livestock, today announced it has completed the first close, raising $2.375 million, of its Series A-2 funding round of $6 million. The round was led by global animal health investor Arrow Ventures with participation from other investors. The funding will be used to further develop Nutrivert’s manufacturing, human food safety and target animal safety and efficacy packages for the company’s lead product Nutrivert LDPP. Nutrivert LDPP is a proprietary, novel, orally available, lipidated synthetic enantiomeric desmuramyl analog of muramyl dipeptide, the smallest conserved immunoactive component of bacterial peptidoglycan. LDPP has no antibacterial effect but has consistently promoted growth and improved feed efficiency in pig studies. LDPP binds to the mammalian NOD2 receptor and is the only NOD2 ligand reported to inhibit the inflammatory signal NF-κB. In pilot studies, LDPP rescued 70kg pigs from an otherwise lethal dose of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and abrogated influenza disease symptoms in piglets. The Company intends to develop LDPP for all major livestock species worldwide. Patents have been granted in most major markets. The global antibiotic growth promoter market is worth an estimated $5.8 billion. Approximately 73% of all antibiotics are fed to livestock. The market is believed to be the world’s largest drug market by volume, with ~100,000 tons of active pharmaceutical ingredient administered annually. FDA’s latest data, for 2024, show a 13% rise in U.S. livestock antibiotic use since 2017. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that livestock antibiotics are mostly given to speed animal growth. Regulators and non-governmental organizations have called for reduction of antibiotic use in livestock, citing concerns that the global, intensive use of antibiotics, often at subtherapeutic doses, selects for antimicrobial resistance: bacteria that are “immune” to antibiotics and that therefore pose a threat to public health. Spillovers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from livestock to humans have been documented. “Nutrivert LDPP has consistently improved feed efficiency in pigs without antibiotics,” said Bernhard Kaltenboeck, CSO. “We are excited to have the support of Arrow Ventures and our other investors in bringing a new tool that will help producers reduce production costs and reduce selection pressure for antimicrobial resistance.” About Nutrivert LDPP: LDPP is an investigational compound currently undergoing clinical evaluation. It has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), or any other global regulatory authority for any indication. The safety and efficacy of LDPP have not been established. Any mention of potential use is based on preliminary data and does not guarantee future regulatory clearance or commercial availability.

USDOL Approves National Biomanufacturing Technician Standards

April 16, 2026
[Seattle, WA] April 15, 2026 – Apprenti, the leading national intermediary for Registered Apprenticeship (RA), is proud to announce the formal approval and filing of the National Biomanufacturing Technician Standards with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Crafted under the strategic guidance of the Apprenti Life Science Advisory Board—which includes leaders from Pfizer, Merck, Thermo Fisher, and Biogen—these standards were developed in close partnership with the Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC) and InnovATEBIO as part of a high-impact NIIMBL project. This approval represents a foundational shift for the industry, moving away from a fragmented, state-by-state approach to a scalable, consistent model for developing biomanufacturing professionals at sites across all 50 states. The national standards provide a “plug-and-play” framework that ensures a technician trained in Massachusetts or North Carolina meets the same rigorous, industry-vetted benchmarks as one in Ohio or Missouri. The foundational development of these national standards was informed by existing Life Science RA programs from organizations across the country, including: MassBioEd, Oregon Life Sciences, National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing (NCTM), BioSTL, Wistar Institute, North Carolina Life Sciences Apprenticeship Consortium (NCLSAC) and others. A National Engine for Talent: The filing of these standards is a cornerstone of NIIMBL’s efforts to strengthen domestic biomanufacturing capabilities and develop the workforce of the future. Beyond the standards themselves, the project is delivering a suite of resources and tools—including a comprehensive Employer Toolkit and specialized screening rubrics—that state-based organizations and employers can leverage to implement RA programming for their most in-demand roles. “These national standards set the stage for a sustainable, skills-first pipeline that mirrors the rigor of the industry’s most complex manufacturing processes,” said Daniel Weagle, Director of Life Science Business Development at Apprenti. “By providing a unified approach, we are empowering national employers to scale their workforce development efforts strategically and accessibly.” The Value Proposition of Registered Apprenticeship For Life Science employers, the Registered Apprenticeship model offers a compelling business case rooted in cost-effectiveness and long-term stability: High Retention: RA programs boast exceptional retention rates—historically as high as 89% to 90%—as apprentices are trained within a company’s specific culture and protocols from day one. Cost Efficiency: Research indicates that for every dollar spent on apprenticeship, employers see an average return of $1.47 in increased productivity and reduced recruitment costs. Inclusive Innovation: The model expands access to untapped talent pools, including non-degreed individuals and career-switchers, ensuring the biomanufacturing workforce reflects the demographics of the communities it serves. As the global biopharmaceutical market is projected to exceed $570 billion by 2032 , this partnership between Apprenti, NIIMBL, and industry leaders ensures that the U.S. workforce is not just prepared for the future of manufacturing, but is actively driving it. This project was developed with an award from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (70NANB21H086). About Apprenti: Apprenti is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a U.S. Department of Labor recognized Intermediary. Apprenti designs and delivers scalable Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs in high-demand industries. By adapting the proven apprenticeship model, Apprenti helps employers meet workforce needs while training the next generation of skilled professionals. Apprenti’s programs are industry-recognized, federally approved, and supports employers across the country. Since launching in 2015, Apprenti has partnered with employers, government agencies, and education providers to create new apprenticeship pathways. About NIIMBL The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is a public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation, support the development of industry standards, and educate a world-leading workforce. Media Contact: Dan Maiese, Communications Manager, dmaiese@niimbl.org , 302-831-3824 About the Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC) The Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC) is a national nonprofit coalition of state, regional and national life science associations and institutes who are working together to build a competitive, and future-ready life sciences workforce. Originally founded in 2012 as the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI), LSWC connects industry, academia, and government partners through data-driven insights, best practice sharing, and collaborative programs. Learn more at www.LifeSciencesWorkforce.org About InnovATEBIO InnovATEBIO is a National Center for Biotechnology Education, working to advance the education of highly skilled technicians for the nation’s biotechnology workforce. Toward this goal, InnovATEBIO provides leadership in biotechnology technician education, including support for development and sharing of best practices and emerging technologies in biotechnology workforce development. Read LSWC's full announcement here.
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