Leahy Releases Appropriations Summary Of Bipartisan Coronavirus Aid And Economic Relief Agreement
WASHINGTON (WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2020) – Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday released the bipartisan Senate agreement to provide relief from the coronavirus pandemic to our nation’s families and working people. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy was a lead negotiator on the appropriations title of the relief package to provide direct assistance to the American people, preserve small businesses, and distribute billions of dollars in resources to hospitals, first responders, and those at the front line of the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate is expected to take up and pass the bill as soon as Wednesday afternoon.
Leahy said: “I have said from the beginning that our response to this crisis will come in phases as we address the evolving nature of the coronavirus pandemic. Today our response is providing direct assistance to the American people, injecting new resources where they are needed most, and moving our country a step closer to emerging from this crisis stronger than we were before.”
As Vice Chairman, Leahy negotiated several appropriations priorities in the relief package that provides new resources to help strained state, local, and tribal governments as they combat this pandemic; support for hospitals and health care workers on the front lines of this public health crisis; funding to purchase personal protective equipment and much needed medical equipment; support for law enforcement and first responders; funding for scientists researching treatments and vaccines; support for small businesses; support for local schools and universities; and funding for affordable housing and homelessness assistance programs. This funding is in addition to the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund that will provide state, local, and tribal government with additional resources to address this pandemic.
The document provides a summary of how the $340 billion provided in Division B of the bill will address the needs of the American people as we confront the coronavirus pandemic. The summary does not reflect the mandatory or authorizing provisions of the agreement.
Appropriations summary prepared by the office of the Vice Chairman is available here: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/download/032520-title-by-title-summary-final
Bill text is available here: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – Bill Text for Division B
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