August is normally quiet in Washington, DC, but in keeping with the theme of 2020, this month has been more frenetic. While we beat back new taxes on the insights industry, the Insights Association has had to tangle with the demise of the U.S.-EU Privacy Shield for data transfer, further pandemic relief, some new threats to pharma MR, the finalization of CCPA, and an attempt to rush the 2020 Census that threatens the statistical viability of most marketing research and data analytics in the U.S.

The past month has seen significant developments on CCPA, COVID-19, data taxes, small business-crippling legislation in California, immigration work visas, and TCPA. The Insights Association is grateful for your membership and support in combatting these tough issues. Check out what we’re up to!

It has been an odd few months for businesses across the country. Working from home is now the new norm.

The Paycheck Protection Program, the U.S. Small Business Administration's program offering forgivable loans to small businesses that keep workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 crisis, has been extended until August 8.

A new law in Louisiana, backed by the Insights Association, provides people and businesses in the state basic protection from liability for exposure to COVID-19 during the “public health emergency” if following “applicable government standards and guidance.”

The U.S. Small Business Administration released revised rules and EZ forms for its forgivable small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The rules implement changes made by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (H.R. 7010), a bill backed by the Insights Association which was signed into law on June 5, 2020.

A leading Republican in the U.S. House wrote that “Main Street” businesses following “rules and guidelines set by state and federal officials to reopen their doors and reimagine their operations” should not need “to worry day and night about getting sued, too.”

The Insights Association has been racking up advocacy wins for our members in the areas of pharmaceutical research, small business loan forgiveness, telephone research, and jury trial research.

President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (H.R. 7010), legislation advocated by the Insights Association, into law on June 5, 2020. It improves the ability of small businesses to utilize the Small Business Administration (SBA)'s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to offset the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.