By Unanimous Consent, the House cleared early this morning S. 3503, a bill aimed at ensuring that the disbursement of GI Bill benefits is not disrupted as a result of the coronavirus and COVID-19. The Senate approved the measure quickly earlier this week.
The bill now heads to the White House for the President’s signature.
A large coalition of groups and individual institutions asked for the bill’s quick adoption.
To add to the many moving pieces in response to COVID-19, the Administration yesterday sent an emergency spending request to Congress to add another $45.8 billion to the FY2020 appropriations bills.
The request was officially made by the White House Office of Management and Budget yesterday. The request includes $50 million for the National Science Foundation to “support near real-time research at molecular, cellular, physiological and ecological levels to better understand coronavirus characteristics such as genetics, modes of action, transmission, virulence and population dynamics.” Funds would be distributed through NSF’s Rapid Response Research mechanism to “rapidly fund quick-response research related to
COVID-19.”
The Senate passed earlier this afternoon by a vote of 90 to 8 and the President just signed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This is the second bill signed into law in response to the outbreak.
The Administration and Congress have now shifted their collective focus to the next relief package, which could total approximately $1 trillion and could include, among other provisions, direct payments to households as well as assistance to various sectors of the economy. Read more about the discussions in the Washington Post and Politico.
The letter from the Student Veterans of America to the leadership of Veterans Affairs committees of both chambers of Congress explaining the concerns surrounding GI Bill payments as a result of COVID-19 is available here.
US Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) unveiled today a $2.7 Billion package aimed to assist schools and colleges with providing for student needs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Murray is the Ranking Member on both the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, as well as the Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
The Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act would provide over $1 Billion to ensure college students have access to food, housing, child care, and other basic needs, as well as help institutions prepare for closures and pay cleaning fees. The bill would also ensure students do not have to pay back financial aid if they are forced to withdraw, and gives the Department of Education more flexibility regarding financial aid. Additionally, the proposal would help staff childcare centers and increase funds for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. The bill is cosponsored by Democratic Leader Senator Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Gillibrand (D-NY).
Read the full story at Forbes.