Skip to main content

COVID-19 Public Policy Update: March 19, 2020

Published Mar 19, 2020 by Taylor Landin

In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Partnership will provide a daily update on public policies and other newsworthy items from local, state and national levels of government. Today all levels of government continued to focus on strategies to contain COVID-19.

Executive Summary

At the federal level, there is an emphasis on supporting hospital preparedness. Today, President Trump is invoking the Defense Production Act to spur the domestic production of personal protective equipment and critical medical supplies, including ventilators and respirators. Federal legislation also continues to move forward. The Senate sent the House's Phase 2 coronavirus package to the President today, and he is expected to sign it. A third package providing loans to the airline and other industries, direct payments to American taxpayers, and small business loans, which the Treasury Department would like to be considered, is being negotiated. At the state level, Governor Greg Abbott has requested designation from the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Declaration in order to access the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which would provide long-term, low-interest loans to qualifying businesses across the state. At the local level, Fort Bend County implemented new guidance effective until April 1st closing bars and requiring that restaurants limit operations to delivery, take-out and drive-through service to help contain the spread of COVID-19. This is consistent with actions taken by Harris County and the City of Houston this week.

Federal

President Trump/Task Force Press Conference

  • The border between the U.S. and Canada has been closed for all non-essential traffic. This will currently not affect trade between the two countries.
  • HUD will suspend all evictions and foreclosures until the end of April.
  • President Trump plans to impose emergency border controls on the Mexican border that immediately send back migrants who cross the border illegally, including those seeking asylum.
  • 50 four-person FEMA teams will deploy to help state governments with procurement processes and providing financial resources.
  • While not mandatory, CMS has instructed hospitals to postpone elective surgeries in an effort to preserve masks, gowns, gloves, and other equipment used in surgeries or other invasive procedures.
  • The Senate has passed the House’s coronavirus package (Phase 2) with a 90-8 vote, sending it to President Trump, who is expected to sign it. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the bill will cost $104 billion.
  • President Trump did not confirm what they were discussing in terms of working with Congress on a legislative aid package, but noted it would be large. Reports indicate the White House is considering a package that could send Americans direct payments, with amounts varying by income and family size, and $300 billion in small business loans.
  • Attached is the proposal the Treasury Department would like to be considered. The proposal includes $200 billion in loans to the airline and other industries, $500 billion in direct payments to American taxpayers, and $300 billion in small business loans.
  • President Trump is invoking the Defense Production Act to help make up for potential medical supply shortages and deploy two hospital ships. While typically a wartime authority, FEMA describes the authority as “the primary source of presidential authorities to expedite and expand the supply of resources from the US industrial base to support military, energy, space and homeland security programs.”
  • Defense Secretary Esper said that DoD will make available up to five million N95 masks and other personal protective equipment from US strategic reserves, with the first one million masks being made available immediately.

DoD Response

  • In addition to working to deploy protective equipment and hospital ships on the east and west coast, the Pentagon is putting mobile hospitals on alert. This action would add 1,000 beds. The beds would not be used for COVID-19 patients; rather, they would be used by hospital patients without an infectious disease to free up room in hospitals.

Surgeon General

  • U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said today that a 15-day lockdown will not likely be enough to stop the spread of COVID-19. It is about “flattening the curve,” and another assessment can be taken after 15 days. He stated, “We should all be acting as if we have the virus.”

Numbers

  • CDC numbers as of 3/18/20: 7,038 confirmed cases; 97 deaths, 54 jurisdictions reporting cases (50 states, D.C., PR, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands).
  • For comparison: CDC numbers as of 3/17/20: 3,487 confirmed cases; 68 deaths, 53 jurisdictions reporting cases (49 states, DC, PR, Guam, and US, Virgin Island

State

Numbers as of 2pm, March 18, 2020

  • 83 Confirmed cases in Texas across 23 counties. 3 deaths.
  • More than 1900 being monitored.

Texas Now Qualifies for Small Business Disaster Loans

  • Governor Greg Abbott has requested designation from the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Declaration in order to access the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. If granted, the SBA would provide long-term, low-interest loans to qualifying businesses across the state. The SBA disaster loan information may be reached here:

Governor's Call with Hospital CEOs and Representatives Across Texas

  • Governor Greg Abbott held a call yesterday with hospital CEOs and representatives across Texas to provide an update on care capacities as COVID-19 response continues. On the call, the Governor and hospital representatives discussed the supply, staffing, and bed capacities of hospitals to ensure care providers have the support they need to assist patients. They also discussed strategies to further increase these capacities. The Governor provided an update on Texas' testing capabilities, and announced a survey on capacity needs for hospital networks so that state agencies can ensure adequate resources are continuously provided. The Governor also announced a temporary waiver for hospitals to increase unused bed capacity without submitting an application or associated fees. During a press conference in Arlington this afternoon, the Governor said he expects in the next several days the state will have the capacity to test 15,000-20,000 people per week for COVID-19 in concert with private labs.

Other Proclamations

  • Governor Greg Abbott today issued a proclamation allowing local governments now have the ability to postpone their May 2, 2020 elections until November 3, 2020.
  • Expiration dates for driver licenses, commercial driver licenses, and other identification forms have been temporarily waived as part of the State Disaster Declaration. This suspension will be in effect until 60 days after the DPS provides further public notice that normal Driver License operations have resumed.
  • A proclamation was issued allowing for telemedicine care for patients with state-regulated insurance plans to help doctors across Texas continue to treat their patients while mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The suspensions and emergency rule will work together to allow telemedicine visits for patients with state-regulated plans to be paid the same as in-office visits for insurance purposes.

Local

Closures

  • Effective today, Fort Bend County implemented new guidance regarding the operation of bars and restaurants, similar to rules in place in the City of Houston and Harris County. Fort Bend County ordered local bars, nightclubs, gyms and facilities that do not serve food to close. Restaurants may only provide take-out, delivery or drive-through. These rules will be in effect through April 1st.
  • No significant news from Judge Hidalgo's Office or Mayor Turner. No other major news from Brazoria, Galveston or Montgomery Counties.

Education

Public School Closures

  • Nearly all school districts in Texas have announced closures as of this morning. Many have extended closures to April 10

STAAR Assessment

  • The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) has announced plans to create an online form for states to submit requests for the department to waive accountability and testing requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
  • We anticipate the USDE to grant one-year waivers to the majority of states who request a waiver due to the growing number of school closures across the country.

Distance Learning and Student Supports

  • We are still waiting to hear from other districts in our region on their timeline for distance learning implementation.
  • The greatest concern with distance learning is reliable student access to the internet or a phone, especially in school districts with a majority economically disadvantaged students. Education leaders are concerned that extended closures will disproportionally impact outcomes for students without this access, unless we are able to find a way to provide every student with access. As such, some school districts have begun parent surveys to assess students’ ability to access technology outside of school.
  • We continue to be in contact with the Region 4 Education Service Center and many area school district leaders to coordinate assistance as necessary.
  • There is growing concern from school districts and community members about the need for affordable and safe childcare as school closures are extended.

Related News

Membership

The Power of Mentorship: Why Building a Personal Board of Directors Matters

7/30/25
Mentorship takes many forms and doesn’t always follow a traditional path. For professionals navigating growth and leadership, the right connections often emerge through formal programs and everyday experiences.  Through Women on the Rise, one of the Greater Houston Partnership’s leadership programs, emerging female leaders like Allison Marshall, Managing Principal at Huitt-Zollars, Inc., are finding a space to build meaningful connections, gain perspective, and strengthen their leadership journey.  In this thoughtful reflection, Allison shares how she reframed her expectations, built her own “personal board of directors,” and found strength in a mix of formal and informal relationships that helped her grow personally and professionally.  The value of mentorship is well documented across industries and career stages. Research shows that the right mentorship can have a profound impact:  75% of executives credit their success to mentors and recent research shows that 90% of employees with a career mentor are happy at work. (Harvard Business Review).   Employees who participate in mentoring programs are five times more likely to be promoted than those who don’t (Association for Talent Development).  For women, mentorship is linked to higher career satisfaction, increased leadership readiness, and stronger networks, especially in male-dominated industries (Harvard Business Review; McKinsey & LeanIn.org).  Allison’s insights show that with a little courage and intention, mentorship can be one of the most impactful tools for professional development and personal fulfillment.  “When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time alone and rarely saw mentorship modeled—especially among women. As I started thinking about my career path in my teens and early twenties, I realized mentorship was something I deeply longed for, even if I wasn’t sure what it looked like.  My career has been non-linear, full of unexpected turns and what I like to call “side quests,” which has made it hard to find that perfect mentor. For a long time, I thought I needed some magical combination of a C-suite mom and a power-suit bestie—someone who would sit across from me with a calm presence, listen deeply, and then drop life-changing advice over coffee. Needless to say, I never found Gayle King moonlighting as Miranda Priestly.  What I have found is that, when you pay attention, mentors are everywhere—in both formal programs and unexpected, organic relationships.  Sometimes I’ve stumbled into mentorships by accident; other times, I’ve had to take a deep breath and ask someone I admire directly. More than once, I’ve realized mentorship was happening only after the relationship ended—which made me even more intentional about strengthening the more formal mentorships I’ve built since.  These days, I like to think of my mentors as my own personal board of directors. I don’t rely on one person to walk with me through every chapter of my career or meet every need. Instead, I’ve built a circle of trusted voices: some are in my industry, some outside of it. Some are working moms, others have navigated challenges I’m facing now. Some have succeeded in areas where I still struggle. All of them are people I admire—for their wisdom, integrity, perspective, and the lives they’ve built.  Like any relationship, mentorship takes time. It takes time to build trust, to create space for vulnerability, and to prioritize the relationship in the midst of everything else. It also takes courage. The first time I said to someone, “Hey, I’m building a personal board of directors, and I’d love for you to be on it,” I felt ridiculous. But to my surprise, I was met with laughter—and then, wholehearted enthusiasm. People want to share what they’ve learned. And more often than not, they want to share in your success, too.  Participating in the WOTR mentorship program is another way to connect with incredible women that can provide friendship, guidance and perspective. Whether through WOTR or your own circle, purposeful mentorship is one of the most powerful tools for growth.” Ready to build your own board of directors?  Women on the Rise, part of the Partnership’s Greater Houston Leadership Institute, is a community of rising leaders committed to growth, connection, and mentorship. Whether you're seeking guidance, offering support, or both, this exclusive network offers opportunities to learn, lead, and lift others along the way.  Learn more and get involved at houston.org/womenrise  ____________________________________________________ Mentorship Statistics with Citations:  “75% of executives credit their success to mentors and recent research shows that 90% of employees with a career mentor are happy at work.” Source: Harvard Business Review, “A Better Approach to Mentorship” by Christopher “CJ” Gross  "Employees who participate in mentoring programs are five times more likely to be promoted than those who don’t." Source: Association for Talent Development (ATD), Mentoring Matters: Developing Talent with Formal Mentoring Programs (2017).  "For women in particular, mentorship is linked to higher career satisfaction, increased leadership readiness, and stronger networks—especially in male-dominated industries." Source: Harvard Business Review, “Why Men Still Get More Promotions Than Women” by Herminia Ibarra, Nancy M. Carter, and Christine Silva (2010); and McKinsey & LeanIn.org, Women in the Workplace report (2023).   
Read More
Public Policy

Constitutional Ballot Could Have Big Implications for Houston Region

7/10/25
This November, millions of Texas voters will head to the polls to decide whether to approve or reject 17 proposed constitutional amendments by state lawmakers. It’s an annual process that plays out in the fall during odd-numbered years following a legislative session.  This year, however, the potential benefits for the Houston area are greater based on two key funding proposals: $1 billion annually for water projects and $300 million annually for a newly created Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT). Secretary of State Jane Nelson drew the order for the November 4 ballot last month, following the end of the veto period. As the state’s top election official, the Secretary of State oversees organizing the constitutional election. The propositions are drawn at random to determine the order in which they appear on the ballot. The two key propositions supported by the Partnership are as follows: Prop 4: "The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue." Prop 14: "The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue." The language above is precisely what will be included on the ballot. However, there is much more to these propositions and the legislation passed into law that makes these initiatives possible. Click here to read more about the potential $20 billion investment in water. Click here to learn more about the potential impact $3 billion in total funding for DPRIT could have on Houston’s medical research community. Included in the additional 15 propositions are recommendations related to the creation of a dedicated fund to support skilled trade programs at Texas State Technical College, changing the state’s tax code, and providing a tax exemption to surviving spouses of fallen veterans in specific scenarios.  A complete list of the ballot order and prop language is available on the Secretary of State’s website.  
Read More

Related Events

HYPE

HYPE Summit: Step Into the Spotlight

Bringing together young professionals from across the greater Houston region, the third annual Houston Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) Summit is an interactive and engaging day-long…

Learn More
Learn More
Executive Partners