WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) voted for, and the House passed, $2 trillion emergency relief legislation to support workers and businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. Additional details on this legislation can be found below.

Said Rep. Demings, “While we sometimes forget it, we are one America—one nation, under God. In times of crisis, the ties that bind us to each other are strong, and we must do all that we can to safeguard our families, neighbors, and communities. Today Congress passed the third—and not the last—of our historic federal relief packages to protect the American people.

“The COVID-19 pandemic testing every system, both public and private, but more importantly it is testing our solidarity. I still believe that America can do incredible things when history demands it of us. This moment demands that we endure any burden to ensure that no one will be left behind, and that every one of us—and our hopes and dreams—can survive this moment.”

Key components of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act:

1. “Marshall Plan” surge of funding for hospitals and emergency medical and safety equipment, and for veterans’ health care
2. Requires free testing and preventative care
3. Massive expansion of unemployment, including to freelancers & gig workers
4. Loans and emergency grants for small businesses, with loan forgiveness for businesses who retain and pay workers
5. Aid for local municipalities and large employers, with strong new oversight
6. Assistance for nutrition, childcare, education (including freezing student loan payments and interest for six months), housing (including rental assistance and help for seniors and the homeless), and other vital needs
7. $1,200 checks to every American who makes less than $75,000 in annual income, plus $500 per child.

Expanded details on the legislation:

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

• 13 additional weeks of benefits, equaling full lost wages replacement up to an additional $600/week, in addition to other UI benefits
  • This will increase Florida’s lost wages replacement from $275/week to $875/week.
  • Temporarily extends (through 12/31) unemployment to cover part-time, self-employed, gig economy, and other workers.

• Full federal funding for existing Short-Term Compensation (STC) programs, 50% federal funding for states beginning STC programs, and $100 million in grants to states through December 31, 2020

• $360 million for worker training and support

• Allows employers and self-employed individuals to receive an advance tax credit for paid leave expenses

Health Care Capacity

• $100 billion for health care providers to cover coronavirus-related costs

• $27 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund
  • $16 billion for Strategic National Stockpile of pharmaceuticals, personal protective equipment
  • $3.5 billion to expand production of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics

• $4.3 billion for federal, state, and local public health agencies

• $1 billion to ramp of manufacture of medical supplies through Defense Production Act

• Extends funding for Community Health Centers, National Health Service Corps, Teaching Centers, and Special Diabetes Program through November 30, 2020

• $1.32 billion in supplemental funding to Community Health Centers

• $1.4 billion for coronavirus operations by Active, National Guard and Reserve service members

• Additional $4.3 billion for CDC

• Additional $945 million for NIH

• Suspends Medicare cuts through sequestration through December 31, 2020

• Expanded access to telemedicine

• Establishes Ready Reserve Corps

• Provides needed resources for the Medical Reserve Corps and flexibility

Small Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations

• $350 billion for new Paycheck Protection Program to assist small businesses and nonprofits
  • Forgivable loans for small businesses, with incentives to keep employees on the payroll, and an incentive for rehiring workers

• $17 billion to provide relief from SBA loan payments for 6 months

• $10 billion for SBA emergency grants for operating costs (up to $10,000)

• Allows deferment of 7(a) loan payments for 6-12 months

• Federal government covers 50% of unemployment compensation for nonprofits

Industry Aid

• $500 billion in industry aid through Federal Reserve, including $25 billion for airlines, $4 billion for cargo carriers, and $17 billion for businesses important to national security , with conditions:
  • Requires maintenance of at least 90% of employees as of March 24, 2020 through September 30, 2020
  • Must be U.S.-based, with employees predominantly in the U.S.
  • Bans stock buybacks and dividends until 1 year after aid ends
  • No increase in executive compensation or severance pay more than double annual compensation
  • Prohibits businesses controlled by President, Cabinet, and Members of Congress (or family members) from benefiting

• Grants to nonprofits and businesses with 500-10,000 employees with conditions:
  • Retain 90% of workforce with full compensation and benefits through September 30, 2020
  • No outsourcing of offshoring until two years after loan term
  • Respect for existing collective bargaining agreements until two years after loan term
  • Neutrality in union organizing during loan term

• $32 billion for air carrier workers with conditions:
  • Exclusive use for wages, salaries, and benefits
  • No furloughs or pay cuts until September 30, 2020
  • Maintenance of necessary air service
  • Government option for equity
  • Executive compensation above $3 million cut by half

• Creates Special Inspector General, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, and Congressional Oversight Commission (with subpoena power) to provide oversight

• Requires real-time reporting of aid transactions (they were originally going to be kept secret in the GOP bill).

• Suspension of taxes on passengers, cargo, and aviation fuel

• No $3 billion bailout for fossil fuel companies (in the original bill)

Income Assistance

• A $1,200 one-time payment per adult (this will be sent to every American up to $75,000 in annual income, including those with no income), and $500 per child
  • Rebate amount reduced as income increases, with complete phaseout at $99,000 for individuals.
• $900 million for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Tax Benefits

• Refundable payroll tax credit for 50% of wages paid to employees for employers that suspend operations or see over 50% drop in receipts

• Deferred payment of the employer share of Social Security tax with full repayment by December 31, 2022

• Allows businesses (including pass-throughs) to offset up to 100% of taxable income with “carry back” losses

• Acceleration of corporate Alternative Minimum Tax credits

• Increased deductions for business interest

• Faster write-offs for business investments

• Excise tax on distilled spirits waived for use in hand sanitizer

• Above-the-line deduction for charitable contributions up to $300 and increase in limits on individual and corporate deductions for charitable contributions

• Waives tax penalty for early withdrawal of retirement funds

Access to Testing and Treatment

• Requires private insurers and Medicare to cover coronavirus treatment and prevention

• Requires diagnostic test providers to make the price for the coronavirus test publicly available on the internet

• Requires Medicare to allow fills and refills of prescription drugs for up to 3-month supply during the emergency

• $15.85 billion for health care access for veterans

Frontline Worker Safety

• No OSHA Emergency Temporary standard (i.e. no waivers of OSHA protections)

Childcare

• $3.5 billion for Child Care and Development Block Grants

• $750 million for Head Start

Education

• $30.75 billion for Education Stabilization Fund to support local school systems and higher education institution
  • $13.5 billion for elementary and secondary education formula grants
  • $3 billion for discretionary grants through states
  • $14.25 billion for higher education

• Student loan payments suspended for 6 months with no interest accrual

• Income tax exclusion for employers to provide up to $5,250 for student loan repayment assistance

• Flexibility for colleges and universities to continue operating

• Flexibility for students whose program eligibility would be affected by coronavirus

Food Security

• $15.8 billion in additional funding for SNAP

• Emergency funding for other nutrition programs, including $8.8 billion for child nutrition programs and $450 million for food banks through TEFAP

Housing

• $4 billion for Emergency Solutions Grants for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness

• $3 billion in rental assistance

• 120-day moratorium on evictions in properties receiving any federal assistance

• 60-day foreclosure moratorium on federally backed mortgages and up to 180 days of forbearance during emergency

Financial Protection

• Suspends negative consumer credit reporting until 120 days after pandemic in the case of forbearance of payment modification

State and Local Government Aid

• $150 billion for Coronavirus Relief Fund for states

• $45 billion for FEMA Disaster Relief Fund for state, local, and tribal governments

• $25 billion for transit agencies

• $5 billion for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), $1.5 billion for Economic Development Administration, and $50 million for Manufacturing Extension Partnership programs

• Federal government covers 50% of unemployment compensation for state, local, and tribal governments

Indian Country

• $8 billion set-aside for tribal governments in Coronavirus Relief Fund

• $1.032 billion for Indian Health Service (IHS)

• $453 million in additional appropriations to tribal governments

• $300 million for Indian Housing programs

• $100 million for Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

• $69 million for Bureau of Indian Education

Seniors and People with Disabilities

• $955 million for nutrition programs, home and community-based services, support for family caregivers, and other programs for seniors and individuals with disabilities

• $200 million to mitigate spread of coronavirus in nursing homes

• $50 in housing for low-income seniors

• $15 million for housing for people with disabilities

Immigrants

• Prevents exclusion of sanctuary jurisdictions from Byrne Justice Assistance Grants
• Prohibits transfer of funds to border wall

Incarcerated Populations

• $100 million for Bureau of Prisons for coronavirus prevention, preparation and response
• $850 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants to law enforcement and jails for coronavirus, preparation and response, including PPE
• Allows longer release to home confinement

Elections

• $400 million for Election Administration Grants

Foreign Policy

• $350 million for migration and refugee assistance
• $258 million for international disaster assistance