HR-6201 : Still Just a Bill

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

This bill responds to the coronavirus outbreak by providing paid sick leave and free coronavirus testing, expanding food assistance and unemployment benefits, and requiring employers to provide additional protections for health care workers.

Specifically, the bill provides FY2020 supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for nutrition and food assistance programs, including

  • the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC);
  • the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); and
  • nutrition assistance grants for U.S. territories.

The bill also provides FY2020 appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for nutrition programs that assist the elderly.

The supplemental appropriations provided by the bill are designated as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.

The bill modifies USDA food assistance and nutrition programs to

  • allow certain waivers to requirements for the school meal programs,
  • suspend the work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program), and
  • allow states to request waivers to provide certain emergency SNAP benefits.

In addition, the bill requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect health care workers.

The bill also includes provisions that

  • establish a federal emergency paid leave benefits program to provide payments to employees taking unpaid leave due to the coronavirus outbreak,
  • expand unemployment benefits and provide grants to states for processing and paying claims,
  • require employers to provide paid sick leave to employees,
  • establish requirements for providing coronavirus diagnostic testing at no cost to consumers,
  • treat personal respiratory protective devices as covered countermeasures that are eligible for certain liability protections, and
  • temporarily increase the Medicaid federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP).

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2020-03-19FloorEngrossment CorrectionHouse floor actions
2020-03-18PresidentBecame Public Law No: 116-127.Library of Congress
2020-03-18PresidentSigned by President.Library of Congress
2020-03-18FloorPresented to President.House floor actions
2020-03-18FloorMessage on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
2020-03-18VotePassed Senate, under the order of 3/18/20, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 8. Record Vote Number: 76.Senate
2020-03-18FloorMeasure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1790-1796)Senate
2020-03-17IntroReferralReceived in the Senate, read twice.Senate
2020-03-14FloorThe Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 6201.House floor actions
2020-03-14FloorMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
2020-03-14VoteOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 363 - 40, 1 Present (Roll no. 102). (text: CR H1675-1687)House floor actions
2020-03-14FloorDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6201.House floor actions
2020-03-14FloorConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1675-1691)House floor actions
2020-03-14FloorMrs. Lowey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.House floor actions
2020-03-11IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-03-11IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-03-11IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-03-11IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Nita M. Lowey [D] (NY-17)
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Health
Related Subjects
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Adult day care
  • Aging
  • Appropriations
  • Assault and harassment offenses
  • Cardiovascular and respiratory health
  • Child care and development
  • Child health
  • Civil actions and liability
  • Congressional officers and employees
  • Disability assistance
  • Domestic violence and child abuse
  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Emergency medical services and trauma care
  • Employee benefits and pensions
  • Employee leave
  • Employment and training programs
  • Executive agency funding and structure
  • Food assistance and relief
  • Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Health care costs and insurance
  • Health care coverage and access
  • Health facilities and institutions
  • Health personnel
  • Health programs administration and funding
  • Health promotion and preventive care
  • Health technology, devices, supplies
  • Income tax exclusion
  • Indian social and development programs
  • Infectious and parasitic diseases
  • Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
  • Medicaid
  • Medical tests and diagnostic methods
  • Medicare
  • Mental health
  • Military medicine
  • Minority health
  • Nutrition and diet
  • Sex offenses
  • State and local finance
  • State and local government operations
  • U.S. territories and protectorates
  • Unemployment
  • Veterans' medical care
  • Wages and earnings
  • Women's health
  • Worker safety and health
Related Geographic Entities
Related Organizations
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • Department of Labor
  • Social Security Administration

Related Bills

See Related Bills