Relationships

Bipartisan in composition and approach, The Smith-Free Group maintains close working relationships with Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Congressional Committee Staff, and federal departments within the Executive Branch.

Personalized Approach

Rather than mimicking the trend toward larger consulting firms, The Smith-Free Group maintains a small, personalized structure.  All of the firm's professionals have extensive Washington experience and all participate in the work for each client.

Bridging the Gap

The firm provides its clients a link between the business and political communities.  The value derived from our combined collaboration is evident in the diversity of the firm's concerns and clientele. We offer the active participation of all the members of  The Smith-Free team.

Update on Administration Efforts on COVID-19 as of 5/4/2020 p.m.

 

As a result of the Trump Administration’s efforts, the Paycheck Protection Program is effectively providing a lifeline to America’s small businesses and their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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  • Since the launch of the Paycheck Protection Program, SBA has processed over 3.8 million loans for more than half a trillion dollars of economic support in less than one month.

  • Nearly 500,000 of the PPP loans were made by lenders with less than $1 billion in assets and non-bank lenders.

  • President Trump secured an additional $320 billion in funding to ensure a second round of PPP relief would be accessible for America’s small businesses. In the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program:

    • 2.2 million loans have been processed, worth more than $175 billion.

    • The average loan is $79,000, exhibiting that PPP is truly aiding the smallest of small businesses.

  • Please click here for more information: PPP Report: Second Round

 

Additionally, SBA will begin accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance applications to provide relief to U.S. agricultural businesses. Eligible agricultural businesses may apply for the Loan Advance here.

 

Tomorrow, the President departs Washington, D.C., en route to Phoenix, AZ at 10:20am ET. The President participates in a Roundtable Discussion on Supporting Native Americans at 12:00pm MST and later participates in a tour and delivers remarks at Honeywell International Inc. at 1:15pm ET. The President departs Phoenix, AZ en route to Washington, D.C. at 2:20pm MST and arrives back to the White House at 9:30pm ET.

 

Additional Guidance (as of 5.3.2020, 5:00pm):

  • HHS - COVID-19 Funding Available to Minority, Rural and Socially Vulnerable Communities for Linkages to Services, Information and Education (Click here)

  • HHS - HHS Begins Distribution of Payments to Hospitals with High COVID-19 Admissions, Rural Providers (Click here)

  • HHS-SAMHSA - Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse Considerations During COVID-19 (Click here)

  • FDA - 12 Tips for Grocery Shopping During the Pandemic (Click here)

  • FDA - FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Potential COVID-19 Treatment (Click here)

  • FDA - May 1 Daily Roundup (Click here)

  • FDA - Insight into FDA’s Revised Policy on Antibody Tests: Prioritizing Access and Accuracy (Click here)

  • NIH - Study to determine incidence of novel coronavirus infection in U.S. children begins (Click here)

  • DHS - Weekly Update: DHS Response to COVID-19 (Click here)

  • DHS-FEMA - Coronavirus Pandemic Response: PPE Packages for Nursing Homes (Click here)

  • DHS-FEMA - FEMA Administrator Approves 30 States for Crisis Counseling (Click here)

  • DHS-FEMA - FEMA Administrator Authority to Approve Crisis Counseling during Coronavirus (Click here)

  • DHS-FEMA - FEMA Approves Crisis Counseling Assistance for COVID-19 Response to Four States (Click here)

  • DHS-FEMA - FEMA Announces Supplemental Funding Through CARES Act (Click here)

  • DHS-FEMA - Coronavirus Pandemic: FEMA Assistance for Tribal Governments (Click here)

  • DHS-FEMA - Coordinated Efforts Bring Battelle Units to National Capital Region (Click here)

  • Treasury - Treasury Announces Marketable Borrowing Estimates (Click here)

  • Treasury/SBA - Joint Statement by Administrator Jovita Carranza and Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin on the Success of the Paycheck Protection Program (Click here)

  • SBA - SBA to Make Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to U.S. Agricultural Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic (Click here)

  •  USDA - Secretary Perdue Statement on Economic Injury Disaster Loans Being Available to U.S. Agricultural Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic (Click here)

  •  USDA - USDA Approves Nevada to Accept SNAP Benefits Online (Click here)

  •  DOL - U.S. Department of Labor Issues Additional Guidance About Short-Time Compensation Program Provisions (Click here)

  •  HUD - Pandemic Underscores Need for HUD's Foster Youth Housing Program, Department Allocates New Funding to Six States (Click here)

  •  DOD - Michigan Guardsmen Support COVID-19 Detection Effort (Click here)

  • DOD - Seabees Build Medical Facility to Support COVID-19 Efforts in Guam (Click here)

  •  DOD - Mobility Airmen Transport COVID-19 Equipment to Ghana (Click here)

  • DOD - U.S. Must Prepare for Current, Future Pandemics (Click here)

  • DOD - Combined U.S.-German COVID-19 Efforts Make a Difference (Click here)

  • DOD - Transport Isolation System the Latest in DOD Medical Transport Advancement (Click here)

  • State - The U.S. Is Leading the Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Developing a Vaccine (Click here)

  • State - Update: The United States is Continuing to Lead the Response to COVID-19 (Click here)

  • CDC - COVID-19 Considerations for Cleaner Air Shelters and Cleaner Air Spaces to Protect the Public from Wildfire Smoke (Click here)

  • CDC - COVID-19 Forecasts (Click here)

  • CDC - Operational Considerations for Personal Protective Equipment in the Context of Global Supply Shortages for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: non-US Healthcare Settings (Click here)

  • CDC - COVID-19 Contact Tracing Training Guidance and Resources (Click here)

  • CMS - CMS Announces Independent Commission to Address Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (Click here)

  • CMS - May 1 News Alert (Click here)

  • USDA - USDA Approves Minnesota to Accept SNAP Benefits Online (Click here)

  • DOL - COVID-19 Guidance for Restaurants & Beverage Vendors Offering Takeout or Curbside Pickup (Click here)

  • DOL - U.S. Department of Labor Invites the Public to Participate in National Online Dialogue on Opening America’s Workplaces Again (Click here)

  • DOL - U.S. Department of Labor Issues New COBRA Notices for Employee Benefit Plans (Click here)

  • HUD - HUD Allocates Second Wave of Relief Funds, over Half a Billion Dollars to Help Protect Low-Income Americans (Click here)

  • VA - VA participating in drug, plasma trials in fight against COVID-19 (Click here)

  • VA - VA is protecting and serving all of America (Click here)

The Smith-Free Group

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Phone: 202-393-4760

Fax: 202-393-3516