Policy Issues

CORONAVIRUS, PUBLIC POLICIES AND THE ECONOMY

Roundtable Analysis

PDF document - "Corona Aid, Relief, and Economic Secuirty (CARES Act) and Implications for U.S. Real Estate"

CARES Act - Roundtable Webpage

While the world’s experts work around the clock to solve the health related issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Real Estate Roundtable is actively working on a variety of policy responses focused on issues that will help:

• employers maintain payrolls,
  
  
• assist businesses access new or restructured debt,
  
  
• encourage banking and other regulators to exercise discretion in loan examinations,
  
  
• support new credit facilities from The Fed to assist the CMBS market, and
  
  
• work with federal tax authorities to ease transaction deadlines, lower tax penalties in debt modification and broaden the ability to use operating losses (among other measures).

This webpage includes a list of our coverage of policy developments from our eNewsletter Roundtable Weekly, along with recent Roundtable policy comment letters sent to lawmakers and regulators, and a variety of other industry resources.

Recently, The Roundtable sent a series of letters to government officials and Congress supporting various measures, including:

• deferral of income tax payments (COD), 
• The Keeping Workers Paid and Employed Act and 
• broader goverment economic stimulus efforts

Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer stated, “Owners and managers of all types of buildings are taking actions to better understand the potential contagion and how to best help building occupants, visitors and employees prevent further spread of the coronavirus. This viral threat to lives, businesses and economies is a top concern for our industry and we stand ready to assist public health officials as they recommend.”

In the coming weeks, further policies from Congress and the Administration are expected to address longer-term stimulus of the U.S. economy through measures such as infrastructure investment, workforce development, increased lending for small businesses, and stabilizing the capital markets.  The Roundtable will continue to work with our colleague partner associations to unify the real estate industry’s message as policymakers develop and implement measures to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other Resources listed below:

The Federal Reserve -- Press Releases, Speeches, Testimony