COVID-19 March 24, 2020 Federal Update

Legislation
Supplemental III – “COVID-III”

The hope continues to be that a deal can come together, that a time agreement can be reached, and that the Senate can vote expeditiously – if not yesterday night, then certainly by today. Absent any deal, the Senate would vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to the COVID-III vehicle one hour after convening tomorrow.

If the Senate passes the package today, the House could pass by unanimous consent on Thursday. If unanimous consent isn’t achievable, the fallback is the suspension calendar on Friday. All of this is dependent on how quickly a deal is reached and text is released.


Process and Politics:

Multiple caucus conference calls were held yesterday and it seems that both caucuses are attempting to marshal their members toward acceptance of passing the bill by unanimous consent in the House. Speaker Pelosi and other House leadership have indicated they would be willing to pass the bill in the House under unanimous consent, but only if the end product is acceptable.


Policy:

Multiple updated drafts of the bill have been circulated yesterday. However, it’s unclear as of right now, as negotiations are still ongoing, what provisions in the draft bill are completely set and what is being further negotiated. As with previous big deals, nothing is final until everything is final . All policies previously discussed continue to be on the table and could be part of a final deal. CARES text (as of earlier today) here. Latest information indicates a final bill may include the following:

  • $1,200 in direct payments, $500 per child with income limitations and restriction;
  • Early withdrawals from retirement accounts without penalty;
  • Expansion of unemployment insurance (includes eligibility to self-employed, contract employees) for 4 months;
  • Delay in payroll taxes by one year, payable over two years;
  • Net Operating Loss from tax years 2018, 2019, or 2020 may be carried back five years;
  • Small business bridge loans to companies with 500 employees or fewer with a maximum loan of $10 million, administered by 7(a) lenders;
  • $100 billion for hospitals with $50 billion in extra support for combatting COVID-19;
  • Expansion of HSAs to cover over the counter medicine;
  • Telehealth flexibility;
  • Suspension of the Medicare sequester through December 31, 2020. 
  • Liability protections for doctors practicing across state lines;
  • Treasury-administered loans for distressed industries, including $50 billion for passenger airlines, $8 billion for cargo carriers, $10 billion for AIP, with restrictions and a certain amount of oversight (unclear what that is until we see text).

Passed Legislation

Supplemental II – Families First Coronavirus Response Act (HR 6201)

The Senate passed the bill 90-8 Wednesday afternoon and the President signed the bill into law that evening. Bill text here. Factsheet here. Bill section by section here. A summary of paid leave provisions, incorporating changes made by technical correction, is  here.

Supplemental I – Coronavirus Supplemental

Signed by the President March 6. Text here , summary here.


Members of Congress in Quarantine or Treatment

Tested Positive (3): Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)

Currently Self-Quarantined (26): Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA), Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Rep. Kendra Horn (D-OK), Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC), Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY), Rep. David Price (D-NC), Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT)

Completed Quarantine (4): Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA)

Georgia Life Science's Feature in Very First Atlanta Edition of Inside Medicine

March 24, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences is thrilled to be featured in the very first Atlanta edition of Inside Medicine . This inaugural issue represents something truly special. Atlanta’s healthcare and life sciences community is driven by innovation, collaboration, and outstanding leadership—and we’re honored to be part of this exciting launch. Also in the issue, GLS's Kennedy Dumas is featured, sharing her journey on how observation and research evolved into a powerful practice of journaling. As the founder of Stationery Black, she creates notebooks designed to showcase, uplift, and inspire people of color. Read the full article here.

Market Signals Align with Georgia’s Life Sciences Roadmap

March 24, 2026
A new national outlook on the life sciences real estate market is reinforcing what many in Georgia’s ecosystem have been building toward: a more disciplined, workforce-driven, and manufacturing-focused future for the industry. CBRE’s 2026 U.S. Life Sciences Market Outlook points to a sector in transition—moving away from rapid, speculative expansion toward a more measured phase defined by targeted growth, capital efficiency, and long-term sustainability. For Georgia, these trends are not just informative—they are validating. A Market Reset Creates Opportunity After several years of rapid expansion in major coastal markets, the national lab space market is recalibrating. Construction has slowed significantly, and vacancy rates—while still elevated—are stabilizing. This shift favors emerging markets like Georgia that have taken a more measured approach to growth. Rather than contending with oversupply, Georgia is well-positioned to scale intentionally—aligning infrastructure, workforce, and industry demand in a way that supports long-term success. Manufacturing and Scale-Up Are Driving Growth One of the clearest signals from the CBRE report is the increasing role of large pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing investments in driving demand. This aligns directly with Georgia’s recent momentum. From major facility expansions to increased interest in onshoring and domestic production, the Southeast—and Georgia in particular—is becoming a destination for advanced manufacturing in the life sciences. The Georgia Life Sciences Roadmap has consistently emphasized this opportunity: Strengthening biomanufacturing capacity Building workforce pipelines to support production scale Positioning Georgia as a hub for both innovation and commercialization Workforce as the Differentiator As capital becomes more selective and companies prioritize execution, talent—not space—is emerging as the defining constraint. Georgia’s investments in workforce development, including partnerships with the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Bioscience Training Center, position the state to meet this moment. Through coordinated efforts across education, industry, and government, Georgia is building the kind of workforce infrastructure that enables companies to not only locate here—but to grow here. A Converging Ecosystem Another key trend highlighted in the report is the convergence of life sciences with adjacent sectors such as digital health, robotics, and advanced technologies. This is an area where Atlanta stands out. With strengths in medtech, health IT, and data-driven healthcare solutions, the region offers a broader definition of “life sciences”—one that reflects where the industry is headed, not where it has been. Looking Ahead The national life sciences sector is entering a new phase—one that rewards strategic alignment, ecosystem coordination, and long-term investment. Georgia is not starting from scratch in this environment. It has been building toward it. The Georgia Life Sciences Roadmap anticipated many of these shifts, prioritizing: Workforce development Manufacturing and scale-up capacity Industry-academic collaboration Capital and commercialization pathways As national trends continue to evolve, Georgia’s focus on disciplined, intentional growth positions the state—and the broader Southeast—as a compelling partner in the next chapter of the life sciences industry.  Read report - CBRE Chapter 9, Life Sciences - U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook 2026 https://www.cbre.com/insights/books/us-real-estate-market-outlook-2026/life-sciences

UCB Sticks With Georgia, Placing $2 Billion Bet on State’s Life Sciences Ecosystem

March 24, 2026
B y Trevor Williams , March 24, 2026 | Global Atlanta More than 60 Belgian firms have found a home in Georgia, but nothing on this scale has yet been seen in the state. The amalgam of Belgian investment, carried out over a half-century, translates to about 5,000 current jobs. Gwinnett offered $174 million in incentives to win the project, including property tax abatements, fee waivers and utility improvements, according to Rowen. UCB is set to bring in artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and automation at the site. Biologics are therapies made from living organisms, promising cutting-edge research and manufacturing. Maria Thacker Goethe , president and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences , said the move gives state leaders even more impetus to work collaboratively to build Georgia’s talent pipeline “across every stage — from high school exposure and technical credentials to community college, university, and incumbent-worker upskilling.” “UCB’s decision underscores the strength of Georgia’s talent base, manufacturing capacity, and collaborative business climate, and it reflects the kind of long-term investment that helps build a more resilient U.S. biomanufacturing footprint,” Ms. Goethe told Global Atlanta in an email. Nine of the 16 FDA approvals for UCB drugs and therapies have come within the last three years, showing its prioritization of the U.S. market, where headcount has grown 73 percent since 2017 to 2,000 people. UCB’s products treat severe neurological and immunological conditions like epilepsy, lupus, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and many more. Read the full article here: UCB Sticks With Georgia, Placing $2 Billion Bet on State’s Life Sciences Ecosystem - Global Atlanta
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