FEDERAL ACTIVITY

COVID-19 Relief Talks Stall As Congress Enters August Recess
Negotiations on a fifth COVID-19 relief package have ground to a standstill as both Chambers of Congress began their summer recesses in August. The Senate is not expected to return until Sept. 8 and the House Sept.14, leaving millions of Americans and small businesses across the country waiting for details on the next federal pandemic relief effort. Lawmakers have been put on notice that they could be required to return to the Capitol within 24 hours if a deal is near, but there has been no evidence of progress. Sticking points in the negotiation include how much money to provide state and local governments, the level of weekly unemployment benefits and whether to appropriate billions of dollars for the U.S. Postal Service. One bright spot: both parties agree that restarting, refunding and reducing paperwork requirements of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a top priority to assist small businesses across the country. 

Chinese Luxury Vinyl Tile Imports Face Potential Price Hikes
The tariff exemption on luxury vinyl tile imported from China has come to an end. On Nov. 7, 2019, the U.S. Government exempted luxury vinyl tile from 25% tariffs imposed on a wide range of Chinese goods imported to the U.S. This exemption was applied retroactively from Sept. 24, 2018, to Aug. 7, 2020. It is projected that this action will likely push up the cost of these tiles, one of the fastest growing types of floor coverings in the American market, as companies try to cover the increased costs associated with these tariffs. Please visit the United States Trade Representative website for more information on Section 301-China tariffs. On a similar note, the U.S. and China held trade talks in August to review the progress on phase one of the trade deal both countries signed in January. 

Senate Introduces Liability Protections for Businesses Against COVID-19 Lawsuits
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced Senate Bill 4317, known as the Safe to Work Act, to address unwarranted lawsuits related to COVID-19 that threaten the ability of businesses to operate during the pandemic. The proposed legislation provides targeted and temporary protections for businesses that act in good faith and whose actions do not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence during the pandemic. While the proposed legislation is still in the Senate Judiciary Committee for review, NKBA will continue to monitor this bill and inform its members if it passes or is included in any future potential COVID-19 relief package. If you would like to contact the Senator’s office regarding this bill, please submit your questions here for a member of his staff to review. 

Small Business Administration (SBA) Issues Guidance on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness
Did you receive a PPP loan and now are navigating the loan forgiveness process? If so, the SBA has created a frequently asked questions document that offers guidance and may answer some questions you have regarding the loan forgiveness process. The PPP loan forgiveness application, found here, also walks borrowers through the process.  

Employee Health and Privacy: Topics to Consider When Reopening Your Physical Office Space
As local health and safety mandates are lifted or relaxed in various areas around the country, businesses and employers are tasked with countless questions — including making the decision about whether to reopen their physical location. As an employer, you may want to have multiple documents ready and available for when you reopen. These could include personal documents such as a living will or health care power-of-attorney, or documents such as an updated employee handbook or emergency action plan. If you do make the decision to reopen your physical location, COVID-19 exposure may remain top-of-mind for employers and employees. Understanding medical privacy rights in the workplace is a critical issue to consider when reopening your business. Information about the complexities of workplace privacy can be found here. 

Environmental Protection Agency Issues Ruling on Lead-Free Drinking Water
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the final regulation “Use of Lead-Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder and Flux for Drinking Water.” In the final rule, EPA makes changes to existing regulations based on the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (RLDWA) and the Community Fire Safety Act enacted by Congress. As a result, this new rule will reduce lead in drinking water and assure that states, manufacturers, inspectors and consumers have a common understanding of “lead-free” plumbing. Be sure to review answers to common questions on the final ruling and review an educational brochure on Lead-Free Certification Marks for drinking water systems and plumbing products. If you have any questions on this ruling, do not hesitate to contact the EPA via its online platform. 

STATE ACTIVITY 

Interior Design Title Act Proposals Continue in Massachusetts
Massachusetts House Bill 4453 and Senate Bill 165 continue to be considered by the Legislature. Introduced this year with the support of the International Interior Designers Association (IIDA), it has slowly progressed through the legislative process. NKBA is working with IIDA to ensure that the proposed legislation does not hinder in any way the ability of kitchen and bath professionals to provide their services. NKBA has requested, with the support of IIDA, to insert amendments to the proposals to ensure protections for NKBA’s kitchen and bath designers. NKBA will continue to monitor these proposals throughout the remainder of the Massachusetts legislative session, which is set to adjourn Jan. 5, 2021. 

COVID-19 State Updates and Available Resources
To keep current on what individual states are doing to combat COVID-19, this interactive map, online platform and resource center might be of interest. The interactive map shows all COVID-19-related legislative activity that each state has enacted, while the online platform and resource center provide important information related to COVID-19. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Federal and State Legislative Contacts
Don’t forget to contact your Federal and State Legislators for government information and resources. Legislative staff are available to answer any questions on legislation, or walk you through governmental processes.

NKBA Legislative Contact
NKBA will monitor relevant legislative developments at the state and federal levels, and, where appropriate, provide information to members concerning material issues and developments — including laws and regulations that might impact the kitchen and bath industry. If you have any questions or comments on legislation, please reach out directly to Steven Campeau, NKBA’s Government Relations Specialist, at scampeau@nkba.org.

NOTE: NKBA is providing this material for general information only. This information does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax/investment advice, accounting services or professional consulting of any kind, nor should it be construed as such. NKBA is not a lobbying organization and does not have a Political Action Committee (PAC). Resources such as this are meant solely for informational purposes.