Update on Coronavirus Bill

Monday, March 16, 2020

The House passed HR6201 late Friday night (March 13th).

HR 6201, Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The bill provides funding for various assistance programs in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic. The measure establishes a program to provide sick and quarantined workers with two weeks of emergency paid leave and provides tax credits for employers to provide up to three months of paid time off for protracted absences from work due to the pandemic. It provides $1 billion in grant funding to help states manage and expand their unemployment insurance programs during the COVID-19 crisis; funds for free coronavirus testing; funding for enhanced food security initiatives, including SNAP, student meals, seniors nutrition and food banks; and additional federal funding for Medicaid. The measure is the product of negotiations between Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. after Republicans objected to the coronavirus response package that was introduced by House Democrats late Wednesday night.

The bill, which was released just before midnight on Friday and voted on 25 minutes later, was passed by the House by a vote of 363–40 early Saturday morning. The president has indicated he will support the measure.

The bill now goes to the Senate, if passed without changes, it could be on the president’s desk by Tuesday.