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Category: Appropriations

Third Supplemental Introduced in House

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A third COVID-19 supplemental appropriations bill as been introduced in the House. Among other things, the bill includes funding for key social services, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and provisions for federal student loans. The bill also expands unemployment insurance and provides greater protections for workers with regards to COVID-19.

Some key funds included in the bill:

  • $50 billion to states for K-12 and higher education.
  • $300 million for National Endowment for the Humanities.
  • $100 million for National Science Foundation for research and related activities.
  • $99.5 million for Department of Energy Office of Science.

This bill is a counter-proposal to the Senate bill which is currently being negotiated.

The full text of the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act (HR 6379) is available here.

Administration Seeks to Add $45.8 Billion in Emergency Spending to FY2020 Bills

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To add to the many moving pieces in response to COVID-19, the Administration yesterday sent an emergency spending request to Congress to add another $45.8 billion to the FY2020 appropriations bills.

The request was officially made by the White House Office of Management and Budget yesterday.  The request includes $50 million for the National Science Foundation to “support near real-time research at molecular, cellular, physiological and ecological levels to better understand coronavirus characteristics such as genetics, modes of action, transmission, virulence and population dynamics.” Funds would be distributed through NSF’s Rapid Response Research mechanism to “rapidly fund quick-response research related to
COVID-19.”

House Passes 2nd COVID-19 Appropriations Package, Next Senate

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Despite earlier push back, the House passed fixes to its financial relief package Monday night by Unanimous Consent. Conservative Senate Republicans also voiced concerns, specifically about the small business leave provisions. Those requirements for paid leave were apparently tweaked by tightening eligibility in some areas. It restricts paid family leave to $200 per day or $10,000 total. It also provides more generous tax credits to employers for providing paid leave than the initial bill.

The package, which still has no official cost estimate, would extend unemployment insurance, increase federal Medicaid spending, offer nearly $1 billion in additional food aid, provide free coverage for coronavirus testing, and more.

The measure now moves to the Senate  which is expected to take up the measure (HR 6201) today to cushion the economic blow of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Texas Congressman Holds Up COVID-19 Funding Bill

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Rep. Louie Gohmert, (R–TX), is holding up the House-passed coronavirus relief bill, HR 6201– the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and preventing it from being delivered to the Senate for a vote.

The House was expected to make technical corrections today to the bipartisan measure,  which passed by the House early Saturday. However, Rep. Gohmert is insisting on having the changes read out loud, keeping the measure from being passed by Unanimous Consent. If one Member of Congress stands in opposition, the House cannot use the Unanimous Consent process to send the bill to the Senate and the House would have to have a vote by the full house — and many Members went home to their districts from Washington this weekend.

 

On Saturday, the House early this morning passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, by a vote of 363-40.  An overview of the measure is here.

Highlights of the bill include:

  • Clarifies that the funds provided under section 105 of Division G can be used for COVID-19 diagnostic tests and related administration or service costs (as defined under section 101). Claims reimbursed under this section would be limited to those for uninsured individuals not eligible for other COVID-19 testing and services assistance included in the bill.
  • Clarifies that Medicaid payment for the new eligibility category for the uninsured under section 104 of Division G is limited to COVID-19 testing and testing-related services. Makes a technical amendment to clarify that the increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) specified in section 104 of Division G is applicable notwithstanding the first sentence of the subsection.
  • Clarifies that SSA should use dedicated phone lines for emergency paid leave applications, separate from those used for the regular Social Security program.
  • Clarifies that that the emergency waiver of federal rules applies to four specific kinds of rules: work search, waiting periods, “good cause” to leave employment, and employer experience rating.
  • Removes findings from the Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020.
  • Clarifies definition of a “qualifying need related to a public health emergency.”

 

 

House Passes Second Supplemental

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The House of Representatives held votes just after midnight on Saturday to pass a second supplemental appropriations bill to fund the American COVID-19 response.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, H.R. 6201, is bipartisan legislation resulting from negotiation between House Democrats and the White House. The bill guarantees free COVID-19 testing, paid emergency leave, and strengthens food security among other things. A summary can be found here.

The supplemental is with the Senate, which canceled its scheduled recess (district work period). The House is now in recess until March 23rd.