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

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.

 

Senate Passes Bill to Address Problems in GI Bill and On-line Programs

The Senate adopted yesterday a bill that would address an unforeseen problem in the way in which GI Bill benefits would be calculated as a result of academic programs transitioning to on-line programs due to  COVID-19.  Because many of the academic programs which have transitioned to on-line delivery did so without preapproval by the state approving agency, beneficiaries would have lost out on their benefits, including their housing benefits.  The legislation would address these deficiencies in the program and allow the GI Bill participants to continue to receive their benefits.

The text of the Senate-passed legislation is is available here.

The House is also working on a companion bill that addresses this problem.

 

Higher Ed Associations Seek Clarifications from State Dept. and DHS

Yesterday, a number of higher education associations wrote to both the State Department and Department of Homeland Security asking for clarity on a number of new situations faced by international students and scholars caused by COVID-19.  The letter address situations that pertain to, for example, the expiration of F-1 status, possible extension of OPT, and the ability of consulates to adjudicate applications.

The letter is available here.