Prism Group's Daily Summary
SENATE CONFIRMS KELLY LOEFFLER TO LEAD SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION...
The Senate confirmed Kelly Loeffler as the new Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator in a 52–46 vote. A former Georgia senator and business executive, Loeffler outlined her plans to reduce regulatory burdens and expand access to SBA-backed loans and grants during her confirmation hearing. She emphasized that President Trump’s policies would help revitalize the small business economy. The SBA continues its mission to provide small business owners with counseling, capital, and contracting support to help them succeed.
FinCEN OFFERS ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON CTA... Following a court ruling issued Monday that reimplemented the Corporate Transparency Act’s reporting requirements, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network announced that it would delay the filing deadline until March 19 for entities that have not yet submitted their beneficial ownership information forms. The statement also provides clarity regarding extended disaster relief deadlines, and says the agency is considering changes to the existing regulations in terms of additional delays and implementation of a risk-based assessment protocol in administering the statute.
SECRETARY OF LABOR NOMINATION HEARING... Yesterday, former Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee during her nomination hearing. One of the few pro-union Republicans, Chavez-DeRemer faced questions over previous support of the PRO Act, which allows unions to form more easily and pre-empts States’ right-to-work laws; she renounced parts of the PRO Act that would pre-empt right-to-work laws. Throughout the hearing she committed to revisit Joint Employer guidance, supported flexibility for Independent Contractors, and highlighted the importance of workforce development programs that prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.
TRUMP WEIGHS IN ON RECONCILIATION STRATEGY... President Trump weighed in on social media yesterday to back the House’s one-bill reconciliation strategy, panning the Senate’s multi-bill approach. The upper chamber is set to vote on a slimmed down budget framework this week.
MICROSOFT CREATES A NEW STATE OF MATTER... Microsoft announced a new kind of quantum computer chip, the Majorana 1, which uses of a new state of matter that is not a liquid, solid, or gas, but rather a topological state. For quantum computing, this is an important milestone as it better protects quantum information error due to environmental factors outside of the physical quantum computer.
THE STATE OF THE STATES
SESSIONS BY THE NUMBERS:
Forty-eight states are in regular session.
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING:
Gov. Josh Green (D) signed an executive order launching Operation Hire Hawaii, a plan to expedite Hawaii’s hiring process and quickly place qualified candidates into critical job vacancies in fields like engineering, IT, and healthcare. Agencies will be required to review candidates and issue conditional job offers within 14 days.
Facing a $1 billion budget gap, Colorado legislators are weighing cuts that could eliminate promised state worker pay raises under a union contract set to take effect next year. The proposed cuts have sparked tensions between labor advocates and lawmakers, with Gov. Jared Polis (D) pushing to uphold the agreement. If the legislature refuses to fund the raises, it would be the first time the state has broken a public sector union contract since collective bargaining was introduced in 2020.
LAWMAKERS... IN OR OUT?
The House... is currently not in session.
The Senate... convenes today at 10:00 AM. The full schedule may be found here.
HAPPENING ON THE HILL
The House...
Check back Monday for possible updates.
The Senate...
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will hold a hearing TODAY, 2/12 at 10:00 AM entitled “Nomination.”
Committee on Judiciary will hold an executive business meeting TODAY, 2/20 at 10:15 AM entitled “Executive Business Meeting.”
BILLS OF INTEREST
H.R.479 - The "Healthy SNAP Act of 2025" (H.R. 479) seeks to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 by excluding certain items like alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and sugary snacks from SNAP purchases, while mandating the Secretary of Agriculture to designate eligible foods that address nutritional deficiencies and promote public health. The bill also allows for the inclusion of prepared meals and culturally relevant food substitutions, provided they meet nutritional standards.
AT THE AGENCIES
The U.S. Department of Labor
Check back Monday for possible updates.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury
Check back Monday for possible updates.
The U.S. Department of Commerce
Check back Monday for possible updates.
The U.S. Trade Representative
Check back Monday for possible updates.
The U.S. Small Business Administration
Check back Monday for possible updates.
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