H.R. 6201 - 116th Congress (2019-2020) - 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).

Text (4)

March 18, 2020

March 17, 2020

March 11, 2020

Amendments (5)

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Displaying only amendments with a detailed public record (3)

Mar 18, 2020

Not Agreed to in Senate

Sponsorship

Senate Amendment 1559

To provide Americans with paid sick time and paid leave so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families.

Active

Mar 18, 2020

Not Agreed to in Senate

Sponsorship

Senate Amendment 1558

To strike Federally mandated sick pay and paid family leave and replace it with financial support provided through State administered unemployment insurance systems and funds.

Active

Mar 18, 2020

Not Agreed to in Senate

Sponsorship

Senate Amendment 1556

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require a social security number for purposes of the child tax credit, to provide the President the authority to transfer funds as necessary, and to terminate United States military operations and reconstruction activities in Afghanistan.

Active

Actions (18)

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03/19/2020

Engrossment Correction

03/18/2020

Became Public Law No: 116-127.

03/18/2020

Signed by President.

03/18/2020

Presented to President.

03/18/2020

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

03/18/2020

Passed 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.

03/18/2020

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed 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.

03/18/2020

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1790-1796)

03/17/2020

Received in the Senate, read twice.

03/14/2020

The 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.

03/14/2020

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

03/14/2020

On 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)

03/14/2020

Passed/agreed to in House: On 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).

03/14/2020

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6201.

03/14/2020

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1675-1691)

03/14/2020

Mrs. Lowey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

03/11/2020

Referred 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.

03/11/2020

Introduced in House

Public Record

Record Updated

Aug 25, 2022 6:29:12 PM