President Trump has signed into law a $484 billion aid package for small businesses and hospitals. The amendment to H.R.266 can be found here.
Category: Appropriations
Senate Passes COVID-19 “Phase 3.5”
This afternoon the Senate passed a $484 billion aid package, which will provide relief for small businesses, as well as funding for hospitals and COVID-19 testing.
The House is expected to reconvene in Washington, DC and pass the legislation on Thursday.
Higher Ed Community Seeking Support for Research and Additional Funds for Institutions in “Phase 4”
As the push for a “Phase 4” coronavirus bill gains steam, the higher education community has come up with a set of requests for the still-developing package, some of which would augment provisions in “Phase 3” while others would create new sources of funding.
The broader higher education community is jointly advocating for this proposal, which would add approximately $47 billion to the Higher Education Fund that was created in the $2.2-trillion CARES Act. The request is based on a set of assumptions that the community made in order to craft a timely proposal.
The research university community is making another push for research funding in a Phase 4 package. In an effort to address a portion of the problems being caused by the pandemic, the group proposal calls for, among other items, $26 billion in the next legislative package to address the various needs in the research enterprise.
Spending Package Signed Into Law
Senate Passes $2 Trillion Emergency Package
Late Wednesday night the Senate passed, by a unanimous vote, the $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package (CARES Act).
It now goes to the House where votes are expected on Friday. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has expressed support for the bill.
Analysis is forthcoming, however the full text of the bill is available here.