PSC Urges Congress to Extend Section 3610 Authority


Arlington, Va. (July 16, 2020) The Professional Services Council (PSC) urged Congress to extend a provision enacted in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136) designed to assist the federal contractor community during the COVID-19 crisis. 

In a letter to Congressional Leadership, PSC requested an extension of Section 3610 of the CARES Act to December 31, 2020, or the expiration of the coronavirus public health emergency, whichever comes later.

Section 3610 provides for the reimbursement of contractors with employees who have been denied access to government-approved facilities and who are unable to telework because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These essential workers have been paid to remain in a “ready state” and able to return to facilities on short notice.

“PSC believes that a top legislative priority must be extending this government-wide authority granted under Section 3610 during the emergency,” said David Berteau, PSC President and CEO. “When the CARES Act was enacted, there was no clear estimation or understanding of the duration or magnitude of the impact of COVID-19. Today, it is apparent that COVID-19’s impact will clearly extend beyond September 30, 2020, and it is not possible to predict how long such authority will be needed.”

Highlighting the long-term challenges for the trusted workforce among others, the letter stated in part: “Section 3610 is essential to preserving the cohort of highly skilled workers and key personnel, many with high-level security clearances, that has taken decades to assemble. Failure to sustain the employees in that workforce will lead to negative impacts on the agencies which they support as well as on the workers themselves, their families, and their employer companies and subcontractors.” Therefore, with September 30 fast approaching, PSC asks Congress to extend the end date for Section 3610 on the first available legislative vehicle.


Click here to view a PDF of this release.


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Media Contact:
Pheniece Jones
Director, Media Relations 
703.875.8974
media@pscouncil.org 


About PSC: PSC is the voice of the government technology and professional services industry. PSC’s more than 400 member companies represent small, medium and large businesses that provide federal agencies with services of all kinds, including information technology, engineering, logistics, facilities management, operations and maintenance, consulting, international development, scientific, social, environmental services, and more. Together, the trade association’s members employ hundreds of thousands of Americans in all 50 states. Follow PSC on Twitter @PSCSpeaks. To learn more, visit www.pscouncil.org.