Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Highlights of $900 Billion COVID-19 Relief, Wrapup Bills
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
December 21, 2020

Share

Congressional leaders have hashed out a massive, year-end catchall bill that combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and reams of other unfinished legislation on taxes, energy, education and health care. The huge, still-unreleased bill is slated for votes on Monday — with lawmakers having only a few hours to read it before casting their votes.

Here are some highlights of the measure with overall funding amounts and specific amounts for some but not necessarily all initiatives; some amounts are not yet available and some aspects of the catchall bill do not involve spending.

COVID-19 Relief

Unemployment insurance ($120 billion). Revives supplemental federal pandemic unemployment benefits but at $300 per week — through March 14 — instead of the $600 per week benefit that expired in July. Extends special pandemic benefits for “gig” workers and extends the maximum period for state-paid jobless benefits to 50 weeks.

Direct payments ($166 billion). Provides $600 direct payments to individuals making up to $75,000 per year and couples making $150,000 per year — with payments phased out for higher incomes —- with $600 additional payments per dependent child.

Paycheck Protection Program ($284 billion). Revives the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans to qualified businesses. Especially hard-hit businesses that received PPP grants would be eligible for a second round. Ensures that PPP subsidies are not taxed.

Vaccines, testing, health providers ($69 billion). Delivers more than $30 billion for procurement of vaccines and treatments, distribution funds for states, and a strategic stockpile. Adds $22 billion for testing, tracing and mitigation, $9 billion for health care providers, and $4.5 billion for mental health.

Schools and universities ($82 billion). Delivers $54 billion to public K-12 schools affected by the pandemic and $23 billion for colleges and universities; $4 billion would be awarded to a Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund; nearly $1 billion for Native American schools.

Rental assistance. ($25 billion) Provides money for a first-ever federal rental assistance program; funds to be distributed by state and local governments to help people who have fallen behind on their rent and may be facing eviction.

Food/farm aid ($26 billion) Increases stamp benefits by 15% for six months and provides funding to food banks, Meals on Wheels and other food aid. Provides an equal amount ($13 billion) in aid to farmers and ranchers.

Child Care ($10 billion). Provides $10 billion to the Child Care Development Block Grant to help families with child care costs and help providers cover increased operating costs.

Postal Service ($10 billion). Forgives a $10 billion loan to the Postal Service provided in earlier relief legislation.

Omnibus Appropriations ($1.4 Trillion)

The bill also includes $1.4 trillion in annual spending bills that fund agency operating budgets through Sept. 30 of next year. The measure has not been released but provides President Donald Trump with a last, $1.4 billion installment for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Miscellaneous

The measure also contains more than 3,000 pages of miscellaneous legislation, including:

Surprise medical billing. Includes bipartisan legislation to protect consumers from huge surprise medical bills after receiving treatment from out-of-network providers.

Tax extenders. Extends a variety of expiring tax breaks, including lower excise taxes of craft brewers and distillers. Renewable energy sources would see tax breaks extended, as would motorsport facilities, and people making charitable contributions. Business meals would be 100% deductible through 2022.

Water projects. Includes an almost 400-page water resources bill that targets $10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control, environmental and coastal protection projects.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest 9 in Weekend DUI Patrols

DON'T MISS

Some State Lawmakers See New Opportunities to Pass Vaccine Exemptions

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Dies in Hospital. Authorities Seek Public’s Help Finding Family.

DON'T MISS

3.8 Magnitude Earthquake Felt in Boston and Maine

DON'T MISS

Crowds of Joyous Palestinians Stream Into Northern Gaza — Though Uncertainty Awaits Them

DON'T MISS

What to Know About Trump’s First Executive Actions on Climate and Environment

DON'T MISS

Kingsburg Man Dies After Gunshot Wound, Cause Under Investigation

DON'T MISS

Rain in Southern California Creates Mudflows but Helps Firefighters

DON'T MISS

Bulldogs Play Colorado State Tough, but Fall at Home

DON'T MISS

Former Central Star Worthy Comes Up Big for Super Bowl Bound Chiefs

UP NEXT

Secret Service Agents Seeking Student Over Trump Video Blocked From School

UP NEXT

CNN Announces Layoffs as Part of a Further Shift to Digital Business

UP NEXT

Justice Dept. Directs Prosecutors to Probe Local Efforts to Obstruct Immigration Enforcement

UP NEXT

‘Once in a Lifetime’ Snow Hits Parts of the US South

UP NEXT

Musk’s Straight-Arm Gesture Embraced by Right-Wing Extremists

UP NEXT

Trump’s Executive Orders: Reversing Biden’s Policies

UP NEXT

Trump Returns to Power After Unprecedented Comeback, Emboldened to Reshape US

UP NEXT

Trump to Release Records on the Assassinations of the Kennedys and Martin Luther King

UP NEXT

Walmart Breaks into Luxury Resale Market, Will Offer Chanel, Fendi, Prada, Other Brands

UP NEXT

The Big Chill: Siberian Air to Make Trump Swearing-in Coldest in 40 Years

3.8 Magnitude Earthquake Felt in Boston and Maine

32 minutes ago

Crowds of Joyous Palestinians Stream Into Northern Gaza — Though Uncertainty Awaits Them

35 minutes ago

What to Know About Trump’s First Executive Actions on Climate and Environment

43 minutes ago

Kingsburg Man Dies After Gunshot Wound, Cause Under Investigation

52 minutes ago

Rain in Southern California Creates Mudflows but Helps Firefighters

59 minutes ago

Bulldogs Play Colorado State Tough, but Fall at Home

13 hours ago

Former Central Star Worthy Comes Up Big for Super Bowl Bound Chiefs

13 hours ago

Eagles Advance to Super Bowl by Pulverizing Commanders

17 hours ago

Red No. 3 Ban: From Candy to Medicine, What’s Changing and When

2 days ago

Wall Street Banks Prepare to Offload Billions in Musk’s X Debt

2 days ago

Fresno Police Arrest 9 in Weekend DUI Patrols

The Fresno Police Department arrested nine drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence on Saturday, authorities said in a news relea...

3 minutes ago

3 minutes ago

Fresno Police Arrest 9 in Weekend DUI Patrols

13 minutes ago

Some State Lawmakers See New Opportunities to Pass Vaccine Exemptions

The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating the family of 59-year-old Jose Manuel Medina, who died in a hospital. (Fresno County SO)
21 minutes ago

Fresno Man Dies in Hospital. Authorities Seek Public’s Help Finding Family.

32 minutes ago

3.8 Magnitude Earthquake Felt in Boston and Maine

A Palestinian woman holds a baby as they return to their home in the northern Gaza Strip, following Israel's decision to allow thousands of them to go back for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
35 minutes ago

Crowds of Joyous Palestinians Stream Into Northern Gaza — Though Uncertainty Awaits Them

FILE - President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP File)
43 minutes ago

What to Know About Trump’s First Executive Actions on Climate and Environment

A 20-year-old man died after an early morning shooting in Kingsburg, with authorities investigating the incident as possibly accidental.
52 minutes ago

Kingsburg Man Dies After Gunshot Wound, Cause Under Investigation

This aerial image provided by KABC-TV shows a mud-covered road, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Topanga, Calif. (KABC-TV via AP)
59 minutes ago

Rain in Southern California Creates Mudflows but Helps Firefighters

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend