Stay Informed
Sector-Wide Developments
- Friday, January 8: The Small Business Administration’s newest news release offers new guidance for the Paycheck Protection Program, which will re-open the week of January 11.
- Thursday, January 7: The Small Business Administration released additional PPP guidance on Wednesday, January 6, interpreting provisions of the new COVID relief law:
- Monday, December 21: Leaders in both chambers of Congress have reached an agreement over a new stimulus bill to help support millions of Americans as they continue to struggle with the impact of COVID-19 on their health, livelihood, and community. Read a summary of the key issues addressed by the new bill.
- Friday, December 18: Thanks to the advocacy work of Forefront and our partners, the City of Chicago is delaying the implementation of its nonprofit lobbying laws until at least April 1, 2021. Forefront is committed to working diligently with The Chicago Board of Ethics and the Mayor’s Office to share our Members’ concerns about this law, and on working toward amendments that increase transparency in Chicago. See the announcement to learn more.
- Tuesday, December 1: The Trump administration’s Public Charge rule, which makes it harder for immigrants to achieve legal status, has been blocked by a federal judge. The new rule added several programs to the list of public benefits that could disqualify individuals from legal immigration, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Section 8 Housing, and non-emergency Medicaid.
- Wednesday, October 7: Yesterday, President Trump abruptly announced he would halt negotiation talks for a much-needed stimulus package. The effect of his decision is devastating to our state and sector. We urge the President and congressional leaders to restart talks on behalf of the American people and industries who are struggling during this pandemic.
- Wednesday, September 16: Congressional leaders face mounting pressure to agree on a COVID-19 relief package. Last night, the Problem Solvers Caucus—a group of 50 House Democrats and Republicans—proposed a $1.5 trillion package that includes much-needed funding for state and local governments; 8 weeks of unemployment benefits; $1,200 direct stimulus payments for individuals; and a second round of the Payroll Protection Program, including “simple forgiveness” (an aspect Forefront advocated for). The White House seems open to these negotiations, and we will share updates as the package progresses.
For updates dating back to March 2020, view our complete COVID-19 policy timeline.
Updates from our Policy Director
August 6, 2020
As Forefront’s Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, I’m thrilled to report key policy developments on behalf of our sector. Over the past few months, our team has met with many congressional offices, including those of Senators Durbin, Duckworth, and Rubio, to develop solutions that address the complicated issues affecting Illinois’ nonprofits. To date, we’ve collectively made progress on:
- The ability for nonprofits with 500+ employees to apply for forgivable loans under the Payroll Protection Program
- Expanding the Universal Charitable Deduction and the Employee Retention Tax Credit
- Creating automatic forgiveness for PPP loans less than $150,000
- Creating a Mid-Size Loan Program for nonprofits
- Pushing for no liability upfront to self-insured nonprofits
- Funding for state and local government in future stimulus packages
We are so thankful for our partners who work with us to push forward the issues that are necessary for the success and vibrancy of the social impact sector. If you have any questions, please reach out to me at bzarou@myforefront.org. Thank you!
Bryan Zarou
Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, Forefront
To access additional Forefront resources, as well as webinars, reports, free tools, and other information from across the country, visit our COVID-19 resources page.
