New Pandemic Bill Before House Budget Committee Today

A House committee released a 600 page bill on Friday designed to address lingering issues with the pandemic and economy.  The bill may undergo consideration as early as today by the House Budget Committee before passing to the full House for review and voting.  The Senate would then have to consider the bill under its own processes.  Lawmakers are fighting an end-of-March deadline, when many pandemic assistance packages passed in 2020 expire.  

Taylor English will update our readers on specifics of the proposals as they gain traction, but here are some of the key items at the starting line:

• Expanded and extended unemployment assistance
• Housing aid
• Tax credits to employers for providing optional sick and family leave
• Additional small business loan and grant assistance, including $25B in grants for restaurants and $7B to the PPP loan program
• Aid to schools to re-open safely
• Aid to states and tribal governments
• Money for research, personnel, and logistical support regarding vaccines and testing
• A rise in the minimum wage (which is expected to generate substantial resistance)
• Individual stimulus payments, assistance with health insurance premiums, tax credits, nutrition assistance, and other direct benefits to eligible citizens