September 9th COVID-19 Update

McConnell says Senate will vote on coronavirus stimulus plan as soon as this week

The Senate will vote on a coronavirus stimulus bill as early as this week, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday.

In a statement, the Kentucky Republican said the chamber aims to take up what he called a “targeted proposal, focused on some of the very most urgent healthcare, education, and economic issues.” The package would allow states to restart enhanced unemployment insurance at $300 per week through late December, authorize a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for hard-hit small businesses and create broad liability protections for companies, NBC News reported.

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Florida’s $117B maritime industry seeks pandemic aid, but is bullish on growth

The COVID-19 pandemic has cost Florida’s 15 seaports $23 billion in lost economic activity and as many as 170,000 jobs, according to a study financed by the Florida Ports Council (FPC).

The analysis of COVID-19’s economic fallout on Florida’s $117.6 billion maritime industry – the nation’s second-largest – was conducted by maritime research company Martin Associates on behalf of FPC’s effort to secure assistance for the nation’s seaports, which have been overlooked in previous federal pandemic assistance packages.

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