Schneider Pushes Mnuchin for Better Federal Guidance, Preparation on COVID-19 Response

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, during a hearing of the House Small Business Committee, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) pressed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for better federal guidance on safely moving the economy forward and the need for strengthened preparations as the U.S. faces a surge of COVID-related challenges in the months ahead.

"What is the Trump Administration doing to plan for future economic needs during the pandemic? We are in a diner between a lunch and a dinner rush: things are quiet, but it's going to get busy soon. Today, I quizzed Sec. Mnuchin on the Administration's preparation for future COVID spikes -- and the resulting need for economic assistance. He wants additional funds to help. The House has already passed these funds. The Senate has been dragging its feet for more than two months. Meanwhile, the Administration still hasn't properly issued clear guidance for reopening the economy -- especially amid surges in parts of the country." said Schneider.

CSPAN Video is available here.

The House Small Business Committee held a hearing titled, "Oversight of the Small Business Administration and Department of Treasury Pandemic Programs" that included testimony from both Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Administrator Jovita Carranza of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Ahead of the hearing, Schneider sent both Mnuchin and Carranza a letter outlining his concerns that the federal government was not doing enough to forecast the upcoming economic challenges. Congress must be well-informed of the executive branch's expected needs in order to effectively legislative for the challenges ahead. You can read the full text of the letter here.

Schneider also followed up with Carranza on the ongoing delays in the administration of the Economic Injury Disaster applications from the Illinois Tenth District. This follows on a call Schneider has with the Administrator where he pressed her for more information on the nearly 60 pending applications—many of whom had been left in the dark for weeks.