CQ.com - Comparison of House & Senate coronavirus relief packages

Comparison of House & Senate coronavirus relief packages

by Peter Cohn

A bill (HR 6800) the House passed in May totals more than $3.4 trillion, the Congressional Budget Office says, though Democrats have lowered their demands to $2.2 trillion. Senate Republicans in July introduced a $1.1 trillion series of bills, but when that did not gain enough GOP support, leaders proposed a "skinny" plan that, after offsets, costs just $300 billion.

House (HR 6800) Senate initial package (S 4317, S 4318, S 4319, S 4320, S 4321, S 4322, S 4323, S 4324) Senate "skinny" package (S 178)
Unemployment benefits
  • Renew $600/week payment through Jan. 31, 2021, with transition rule for individuals receiving regular state benefits to continue receiving federal add-on through March 31, 2021
  • Special benefits for independent contractors, freelance/"gig" workers etc. and extended 13-week duration for those exhausting regular benefits would run through those dates as well
  • Funding to help states process benefits ($925 million)

Cost: $433 billion
  • S 4318: Renew federal add-on at $200/week through Sept. 30, 2020, while states transition to 70% wage replacement, capped at $500/week, by Oct. 5
  • States that need more time can receive two-month waiver to continue flat $200/week benefit. Program ends Dec. 31, 2020. Within 30 days, states would be required to notify recipients of return-to-work requirements
  • Funding to help states upgrade systems and process benefits ($3.15 billion)
  • Increase from 50% to 75% reimbursements to nonprofits, tribes and government agencies for benefit costs

Cost: ~$113 billion
  • Renew federal add-on at $300/week through Dec. 27, 2020
Direct payments to households
  • Provide additional $1,200 per individual ($2,400 for joint filers), phased out at 5% of adjusted gross income above $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers)
  • Dependents would also be eligible for $1,200 up to a maximum of three dependents
  • Taxpayer identification number acceptable in lieu of Social Security number
  • Make $500 per child under age 17 in first round of payments (PL 116-136) available for all dependents, and make first-round payments available to those with TINs

Cost: $435 billion
  • S 4318: Provide additional $1,200 per individual ($2,400 for joint filers), phased out at 5% of adjusted gross income above $75,000 ($150,000)
  • Dependents would be eligible for $500 each, no maximum number of dependents
  • SSN still required

Cost: ~$300 billion		 None
State and local government aid
  • Provide direct aid to state governments ($500 billion), counties/municipalities ($375 billion), tribal and territorial governments ($20 billion each) and additional $755 million payment to the District of Columbia ($916 billion)
  • Provide flexibility in use of prior aid funds to help make up revenue losses
  • Enable U.S. territories and additional cities and counties (those with at least 50,000 residents) to issue debt backed by the Federal Reserve's Municipal Liquidity Facility; extend authorization period for municipal debt facility for a year, through Dec. 31, 2021; extend maximum maturity of debt purchased by facility from three to 10 years; and require interest rates on municipal debt purchased by facility to equal the Fed's discount window primary credit interest rate ($30 billion)

Cost: $946 billion
  • S 4318: Provide flexibility by allowing prior round of $150 billion (PL 116-136) to be used for additional expenses, including to backfill revenue losses
  • Provides that employees working remotely for 30 days or less in a different taxing jurisdiction -- other than professional athletes, entertainers or other highly-compensated public figures -- will only be subject to state and local taxes where their permanent residence is located; 30-day limit is increased to 90 days for public health workers responding to the COVID-19 emergency
  • Funds could not be used for pension/retirement expenses or replenishing "rainy day" funds

Cost: not applicable
  • Extend deadline for use of $150 billion in prior appropriations (PL 116-136) from Dec. 30, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021
  • No additional flexibility in use of funds
Federal Reserve lending facilities (other) None None
  • Rescind $204 billion in unspent funds from $454 billion allocated in March aid law (PL 116-136) to Federal Reserve lending facilities; sunset Fed's ability to purchase new loans or make new equity investments on Jan. 4, 2021; rescind any additional unused funds from Fed facilities on Jan. 19, 2021
Paycheck Protection Program/other small business aid
  • Provide additional funds for cash advances of up to $10,000 each for small businesses awaiting Economic Injury Disaster Loans ($10 billion)
  • Moratorium on debt collection from small businesses/nonprofits; provide creditors affected by debt collection moratorium access to Federal Reserve lending facility; include nonprofits as eligible borrowers under Main Street Lending Facility and offer low-cost loan option under minimum $500,000 loan size; allow cannabis-related businesses access to banking/insurance products ($5 billion)
  • Clarify that SBA loan/grant recipients can deduct business expenses; exclude loans/grants from taxable income
  • Allow Paycheck Protection Program loan recipients to defer payroll taxes through year-end ($528 million) -- enacted separately under PL 116-42
  • Create set-asides of remaining PPP funds for very small firms (10 or fewer employees), nonprofits and lending through community financial institutions; require funds returned to Small Business Administration be redirected to firms with 10 or fewer workers; expand PPP eligibility and relax loan forgiveness terms
  • Temporary fee waivers and increased guarantee amounts for traditional SBA 7(a) loans and 504 loans used to acquire fixed assets or building improvements ($500 million)
  • Increase SBA microloan program size and per-lender amounts, extend repayment period ($57 million)

Cost: $16 billion
  • S 4321: Funding for Paycheck Protection Program "second-round draw" for eligible firms with 300 or fewer workers (adjustable based on SBA industry-by-industry definitions) that have experienced at least a 50% year-over-year revenue drop, capped at 2.5 times monthly payroll or $2 million, whichever is less ($190 billion, including $100 billion from unspent funds)
  • Create new "recovery sector" loans of up to twice annual revenue (capped at $10 million) for seasonal businesses and firms in low-income communities with up to 500 employees/50% year-over-year revenue loss
  • Create new $10 billion loan program for Small Business Investment Companies that invest in businesses with significant COVID-19 revenue loss, manufacturing startups in the domestic supply chain and firms in low-income communities
  • Allow use of funds for personal protective equipment and other adaptive measures

Cost: $158 billion
  • Funding for PPP "second-round draw" for eligible firms with 300 or fewer workers (adjustable based on SBA industry-by-industry definitions) that have experienced at least a 35% year-over-year revenue drop, capped at 2.5 times monthly payroll or $2 million, whichever is less ($258 billion)
  • Rescission of $146 billion unspent PPP funds

Cost: $112 billion
Health care
  • Health care provider reimbursement fund ($100 billion)
  • 100% subsidized COBRA continuation health coverage through Jan. 2021 ($98 billion)
  • Medicaid: Increase federal matching funds by 14 percentage points through January 2021; increase payments for home- and community-based services; cost-sharing waiver for COVID-19 treatment and vaccines/coverage for uninsured; increase payments to disproportionate share hospitals ($81 billion)
  • Private insurance: Special open enrollment period for health insurance exchanges, compensate insurers for high-cost enrollees and cost-sharing waiver for COVID-19 tests ($79 billion)
  • Funding for testing and contact tracing ($75 billion)
  • Medicare: Eliminate cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatments, expanded outlier payments for excess costs incurred by hospitals, accelerated provider reimbursements ($11 billion)
  • Funding for community health centers ($7.6 billion)
  • Funding for National Institutes of Health/Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority research and development, including on vaccines and therapeutics ($9.3 billion)
  • Mental health support ($3 billion)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention support for public health departments ($2.1 billion)
  • Funding for Indian Health Service ($2.1 billion)

Cost: $468 billion
  • S 4318, S 4320: Vaccine, therapeutic and diagnostic development/vaccine distribution/Strategic National Stockpile ($32 billion)
  • Health care provider reimbursement fund ($25 billion)
  • Testing and contact tracing ($16 billion)
  • NIH research ($15.5 billion)
  • Community health centers/rural health clinics ($7.8 billion)
  • Mental health/substance abuse and treatment ($4.5 billion)
  • CDC support for public health departments, seasonal flu and data reporting ($3.4 billion)
  • Indian Health Service ($1.6 billion)
  • Waiver of Medicare Part B premium increases for 2021/offsetting surcharge
  • Extended repayment period for Medicare accelerated payments and telehealth reimbursements

Cost: $106 billion
  • Vaccine, therapeutic and diagnostic development/vaccine distribution/Strategic National Stockpile ($31 billion)
  • Testing and contact tracing ($16 billion)

Cost: $45 billion
Education
  • Create flexible "State Fiscal Stabilization Fund" for elementary, secondary and public postsecondary education ($90 billion)
  • Funding for colleges and universities ($10.15 billion, of which $1.7 billion would be for historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions)
  • Private student loan relief of up to $10,000 and prohibition on debt collection ($22 billion)
  • $10,000 debt relief on all federal student loans; expand eligibility for student loan payment suspension/zero interest rate from March aid law/extend for another year through Sept. 2021, with discharged loan amounts excluded from taxable income; full student debt relief for schools deemed to have made false/misleading statements ($169 billion)

Cost: $291 billion*
  • S 4320, S 4322: Create "Education Stabilization Fund" ($105 billion) with 1% set aside for territories and tribes
  • 67% of the fund would be for elementary and secondary schools ($70 billion), of which up to 10% is set aside for private schools, with 1/3 of the remainder made available to public schools immediately and 2/3 made available to public schools with reopening plans
  • 28% would be for colleges and universities ($29 billion, with $2.9 billion set aside for HBCUs and minority-serving institutions)
  • Remaining $6 billion would be for flexible funds allocated by governors
  • Streamlined federal student loan repayment options capped at 10% of income after deducting necessities like food, rent/mortgage, including zero monthly payments for 150% of poverty line and below
  • Outstanding undergraduate debt wiped out after 20 years, outstanding graduate debt wiped out after 25 years

Cost: $105 billion, plus loan provisions (unknown)
  • Education Stabilization Fund provisions mirror those in prior Senate bill ($105 billion)
  • Establish grant program for state-based organizations that provide scholarships for students to put towards qualified education expenses, as determined by the state, such as private schools or home schooling expenses
  • Provide tax credits for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations, capped at 10% of adjusted gross income for individuals and 5% of taxable income for corporations; tax credits subject to an overall cap of $10 billion annually for two years; tax credit allocations to states based on contributions the prior year, population of school-aged children and proportion of students below the poverty line
  • Expand eligible uses of 529 savings account distributions to nontuition expenses associated with public, private and religious K-12 schools, such as books, online materials and licensed tutors, as well as for home schooling expenses; distributions must be taken before Jan. 1, 2023

Cost: $115 billion, plus 529 provisions (unknown)
Housing
  • Emergency rental assistance ($100 billion), aid to homeowners ($75 billion), homeless assistance grants ($11.5 billion), funding for public housing agencies ($6 billion), Community Development Block Grants ($5 billion), other HUD programs ($1.6 billion), USDA rural housing aid ($309 million)
  • Extend eviction and foreclosure moratorium for 12 months after date of enactment and expand to all renters and homeowners, and open up Federal Reserve lending facilities to mortgage services and residential rental property owners

Cost: ~$200 billion
  • S 4320: Section 8 rental assistance and funds for public housing agencies ($3.2 billion), USDA rural housing aid ($113 million)

Cost: $3.3 billion		 None
Child care
  • Funding for Child Care and Development Block Grants to states to assist low-income families ($7 billion)
  • Child tax credits: Fully refundable in 2020, 17-year-olds eligible, increase maximum to $3,000 per child ($3,600 for children under age 6) ($119 billion)
  • Child and dependent care credits: Fully refundable in 2020, boost maximum to 50% of qualifying expenses up to $6,000, or $12,000 for two or more children ($6 billion)
  • Increase in dependent care flexible spending account exclusion/carryover to 2021 ($95 million net cost)

Cost: $132 billion*
  • S 4318, S 4320: Provide "Back to Work Child Care Grants" to help child care providers safely reopen ($10 billion) and CCDBG funds ($5 billion)
  • FSA carryover to 2021 (no increase in exclusion; revenue gain of $271 million)

Cost: $14.7 billion
  • Provide "Back to Work Child Care Grants" to help child care providers safely reopen ($10 billion) and CCDBG funds ($5 billion)

Cost: $15 billion
Business tax breaks
  • 30% payroll credit for pandemic-related expenses reimbursed by employers through December 2020, increased to 50% for essential workers ($43 billion)
  • Increase employee retention credit to 80% of qualified wages up to $45,000 plus health care expenses for firms with up to $41.5 million gross revenues/1,500 employees; credit available for firms on sliding scale with 10%-50% revenue loss year-over-year ($164 billion)
  • 50% refundable payroll credit for up to $50,000 in fixed costs (e.g. rent, utilities, mortgage) per quarter, limited to 25% of payroll costs or 6.25% gross receipts, same firm size thresholds as employee retention credit ($31 billion)
  • Refundable 90% "business interruption credit" for self-employed individuals experiencing at least 10% year-over-year income loss, capped at $45,000 in income; credit phases out above $60,000 adjusted gross income individuals/$120,000 joint filers ($21 billion)

Cost: $258 billion
  • S 4318, S 4319: Increase employee retention credit to 65% of qualified wages up to $30,000 plus health care expenses for firms with up to 500 employees that have experienced at least 25% year-over-year revenue loss, with tax-exempt organizations eligible (~$100 billion)
  • Expand work opportunity tax credit to individuals laid off as a result of COVID-19, employers eligible for 50% of first $10,000 in first-year wages (~$50 billion)
  • 50% tax credit for business expenses incurred to protect workers from COVID-19, capped based on number of employees (~$50 billion)
  • Double business meal deduction to 100% through Dec. 31, 2020 ($3 billion)

Cost: ~$203 billion		 None
Other tax breaks
  • Eliminate $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions for 2020 and 2021 ($137 billion)
  • Permanently double above-the-line deduction for teachers' out of pocket expenses to $500, adjusted for inflation ($1.8 billion)
  • Increase health care FSA carryover to 2021 ($335 million revenue gain)

Cost: $138 billion
  • S 4318: Increase health care FSA carryover to 2021

Revenue gain: $335 million
  • Expand above-the-line tax deduction for up to $300 in 2020 charitable donations to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for joint filers

Cost: unknown
Business tax increases
  • Restore and make permanent cap on excess pass-through business losses at $250,000 for single filers/$500,000 joint filers (-$246 billion)
  • Limit five-year net operating loss carryback to losses suffered in 2019-2020 only, with prohibition on executive compensation and stock buybacks/dividends above certain thresholds (-$8 billion)

Revenue gain: $254 billion		 None None
Hazard pay/essential workers
  • Pandemic premium pay for "essential" workers (health care, grocery, transportation, first responders, etc.) of $13/hour up to $10,000 ($5,000 for those earning $200,000+ annually) for work performed through 60 days after the end of declared public health emergency ($190 billion, including $10 billion for federal workers)
  • Provide funds for care of family members of essential workers ($850 million)
  • Permanent $500 above-the-line deduction for first responder expenses including uniforms, tuition and training fees ($1.8 billion)
  • Special $500 above-the-line deduction for 2020 expenses incurred by COVID-19 frontline workers providing at least 1,000 hours of essential work ($1.3 billion)
  • Expand Defense Production Act authorities to purchase medical supplies

Cost: $194 billion		 None None
Liability shield None
  • S 4317: Limit liability for COVID-19 exposure at school, church, nonprofit or business if entity has made reasonable effort to comply with public health guidelines and hasn't exhibited willful misconduct or gross negligence, for claims from Dec. 1, 2019, to Oct. 1, 2024
  • Protect health care providers and nursing homes from liability arising out of provision of care or services related to COVID-19, except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence, for claims from Dec. 1, 2019, to Oct. 1, 2024
  • Shield makers of ventilators and personal protective equipment from liability if products meet certain Food and Drug Administration standards
  • Ensure employers are not liable under federal labor and employment laws for complying with public health requirements, including stay-at-home orders and protect employers from liability from injuries arising from workplace coronavirus testing

Cost: unknown
  • Mirrors initial Senate bill (S 4317)
Workplace safety
  • Require Occupational Safety and Health Administration to develop temporary standards within seven days to protect workers at risk of COVID-19 exposure, require employers to develop comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plans
  • State agencies would have to develop their own temporary standards within 14 days
  • Protections would cover public employees in 24 states not currently subject to OSHA standards
  • Require employers to abide by OSHA recordkeeping regulations
  • Employers could not retaliate against workers for publicizing lax standards or for using more protective equipment than the firm provides
  • Require OSHA to develop permanent infectious disease standard within 24 months
  • OSHA funding for workplace protection and enforcement activities

Cost: $100 million		 None None
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("food stamps")/other nutrition
  • Increase SNAP benefit level by 15%; raise minimum benefit to $30/month; waive work requirements and block Trump administration from implementing proposed or final rules limiting eligibility; allow SNAP purchases of hot foods and hot food products for immediate consumption ($35 billion)
  • Cover SNAP participation and cost increases from prior legislation ($10 billion)
  • Extension of Pandemic EBT program (free- and reduced-price school meals for children) until schools reopen and allow states to include children who would have received meals through child care services; other child nutrition changes ($5 billion)
  • Funding to cover previously-authorized child nutrition cost/participation increases ($3 billion)
  • Funding for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children program ($1.1 billion), local food banks ($150 million), nutrition aid for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ($1.8 million)

Cost: $54 billion		 None None
Other aid to low-income/disabled/jobless/elderly
  • Expand earned income tax credits for childless adults ($24 billion)
  • Social Services Block Grants and funding for tribal authorities ($10 billion)
  • Funding for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and water utility bills ($3 billion)
  • Prevent water and home energy shutoffs and late fees for nonpayment of water bills
  • Labor Department job training funds ($2 billion)
  • Increase payments to disabled veterans by 25%/other veterans benefits ($3 billion)
  • Funding for family violence prevention/child welfare programs and assistance to elderly/disabled ($340 million)

Cost: $42 billion
  • S 4320: Funding for dislocated worker grants/reemployment services ($1.3 billion)
  • Reimburse states for 80% of short-term Temporary Assistance for Needy Families costs (capped at $2 billion)
  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program ($1.5 billion)
  • Funding for family violence prevention/child welfare programs and assistance to disabled/elderly ($265 million)
  • Funding to help states care for youth who have "aged out" of foster care ($50 million) and for courts to conduct remote child welfare hearings ($10 million)

Cost: up to $5.1 billion		 None
Federal trust funds None
  • S 4323: Create special bipartisan "rescue committees" to recommend changes to restore long-term solvency to Social Security, Medicare and Highway trust funds
  • Panels would have to act by June 1, 2021
  • Recommendations would be fast-tracked to floor of House and Senate without amendment
No cost		 None
Supply chain/intellectual property
  • Require president to appoint a Medical Supplies Response Coordinator
  • Require manufacturers to provide Food and Drug Administration with information on medical device shelf life dates in case of shortages
  • Provide FDA authority to destroy imported medical devices if deemed to be counterfeit/unsafe
  • Require drugmakers to report on foreign manufacturing sites/volumes
  • Develop national framework for continuous drug manufacturing
  • Provide FDA enforcement mechanism for failure to notify of drug manufacturing discontinuance/interruptions and failure of drugmakers to develop risk management plans
  • Direct HHS to award grants/contracts for vaccine development

No deficit impact
  • S 4324: Require personal protective equipment to be produced in the U.S.
  • Direct HHS to procure more domestic PPE for Strategic National Stockpile with a goal of achieving 100% domestic sourcing within five years, with reports required on how to potentially achieve 50% domestic sourcing in one year
  • 75% in 18 months, and 100% in two years
  • Create 30% tax credit for domestic firms' expenses in building out PPE manufacturing capacity
  • Establish a "Federal Research Security Council" to identify economic and national security risks associated with potential infiltration of federal research and development programs
  • Establish criminal penalties for failure to disclose outside compensation, including from foreign interests, when applying for federal grants
  • Amend immigration law to establish as grounds for inadmissibility prior or potential violations of espionage or sabotage laws or restrictions on the export of sensitive goods and technologies, or potential acquisition of such sensitive items if deemed potentially harmful to national security
  • Impose new disclosure requirements on educational and cultural exchange programs and on gifts to institutions of higher education
  • Create new semiconductor research and development grant program within the Commerce Department
  • Establish a trust fund within the Treasury Department to the development of a secure microelectronics supply chain; availability of funds contingent on multilateral agreement/international contributions
  • Create process to identify "critical minerals," including rare earth materials, important to economic and national security, conduct surveys to assess U.S. mineral deposits, streamline federal permitting requirements to obtain identified materials, and authorize appropriations for research and development

Cost: at least $7.5 billion (PPE manufacturing tax credit)
  • Create process to identify "critical minerals," including rare earth materials, important to economic and national security, conduct surveys to assess U.S. mineral deposits, streamline federal permitting requirements to obtain identified materials, and authorize appropriations for research and development
Pensions/retirement changes
  • Relief for multiemployer pension plans ($58 billion)
  • Extend amortization for single employer pension plans (-$17 billion)
  • Other retirement provisions ($7 billion)

Cost: $48 billion
  • S 4318: Special rules for "money purchase" pension plans that only employers contribute to

Cost unknown		 None
Paid leave
  • Expand eligibility for Family and Medical Leave Act and extend special paid leave provisions of prior law (PL 116-127) for another year, through Dec. 31, 2021
  • Expand eligibility to workers at businesses with more than 500 employees
  • Eliminate exemptions for firms with 50 or fewer workers/health care providers and emergency responders
  • Provide for two weeks of paid sick leave in every 12-month period
  • Equalize sick leave pay for workers staying home to care for dependents with other uses of paid sick time at full wage replacement
  • Extend/expand tax credits for paid sick and family leave through 2021 (only for employers with 500 or fewer workers); make federal, state and local government employers eligible for paid leave tax credits

Cost: $32 billion		 None None
Defense None
  • S 4320: Funding to reimburse contractors for paying employees for work unable to be carried out due to facility closures or other coronavirus-related restrictions ($10.8 billion)
  • Funding for procurement and acquisition in support of defense industrial base ($8.1 billion)
  • Defense Production Act purchases ($5.3 billion)
  • Operations and maintenance/revolving and management funds ($4.4 billion)
  • Defense Health Program ($705 million)
  • Other ($106 million)

Cost: $29.4 billion		 None
Agriculture
  • Direct aid to agricultural producers ($16.5 billion), plus other funding for specialty crops, farmers markets, state agencies, renewable fuels producers and textile mills ($2.5 billion)
  • Removal and disposal of livestock and poultry due to supply chain disruptions and aid to processing plants ($10 billion)
  • Aid to dairy and livestock producers ($3 billion)
  • Conservation assistance ($1 billion)
  • Funding to help farmers and ranchers cope with stress ($20 million)

Cost: $33 billion
  • S 4320: Direct aid to agricultural producers ($20 billion)
  • Cover USDA fee shortfalls and administrative expenses, and repatriate USDA officials overseas ($344 million)

Cost: $20.3 billion
  • Direct aid to agricultural producers ($20 billion)
Transportation
  • Emergency relief for transit systems ($15.8 billion)
  • Grants to state, territorial and tribal highway departments ($15 billion)
  • Funds for FAA operations ($75 million)
  • Increase unemployment and illness benefits for railroad workers ($1 billion)
  • Require Amtrak to enforce mask-wearing for passengers and crew and provide masks, gloves, wipes etc. to employees
  • All Amtrak trains and stations must be cleaned and disinfected
  • Require airlines or contractors receiving financial assistance to avoid layoffs or furloughs until assistance is exhausted
  • Prevent airlines receiving loans from increasing heavy maintenance work done overseas
  • Require flight attendants, passengers and pilots when outside the flight deck to wear masks
  • Require airlines to provide PPE and cleaning supplies to employees and clean/disinfect aircraft
  • Require FAA to equip workers with masks, wipes and other protective gear
  • Waive minimum operating days requirement so all 60 Maritime Security Program vessels can receive full stipends during pandemic

Cost: $31 billion
  • S 4320: Funding for Airport Improvement Program ($10 billion)
  • Funding for FAA operations, DOT administrative expenses essential air service program ($151 million)
  • Transportation Security Administration expenses for enhanced cleaning and technology to help avoid physical contact with travelers ($208 million)

Cost: $10.4 billion		 None
U.S. Postal Service
  • Funding to cover revenue losses
  • Repeal restrictions on $10 billion loan provided in March aid law

Cost: $25 billion		 None
  • Convert $10 billion loan in March law to a grant if agency cash on hand drops below $8 billion
Community lenders
  • Increase funding for Community Development Financial Institutions and minority-owned lenders

Cost: $16 billion		 None None
Telecommunications
  • Authorize $5 billion for E-Rate program to purchase internet service, laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers etc. for schools and libraries to maintain digital learning ($1.5 billion would be appropriated)
  • Require internet service providers to discount monthly bills for households with laid-off or furloughed employees by $50, or $75 for households on tribal lands
  • Authorize $8.8 billion for the Federal Communications Commission to reimburse ISPs for costs of providing new required discounts ($4 billion would be appropriated)
  • Require FCC to expedite Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction

Cost: $5.5 billion
  • S 4320: Funding to help small telecommunications providers remove prohibited equipment deemed to pose national security risks and replace with safer equipment

Cost: $1 billion		 None
Election assistance
  • Require at least 15 consecutive days of early voting prior to federal elections, with states required to begin scanning paper ballots 14 days out from the election
  • Prohibit states from imposing conditions on absentee ballots for already-eligible voters, requiring prospective voters to provide any form of identification to receive absentee ballots or requiring notarization or witness signatures to obtain or cast absentee ballots
  • Ensure voters can request access to absentee ballots online and require states to deliver absentee ballots and related materials if request is made at least 5 days prior to elections (during COVID-19 and future emergencies, ballots must be mailed no later than 2 weeks before elections)
  • Require mail-in ballots to be accepted if postmarked or otherwise determined by the Postal Service to be mailed prior to Election Day or received within 10 days after the elections
  • Provide grants to states for contingency planning and preparation

Cost: $3.6 billion		 None None
Immigration agencies
  • Extension of certain visa application and filing deadlines, as well as temporary work authorizations and protected status
  • Require the Homeland Security secretary to establish remote naturalization ceremonies during the pandemic
  • Temporary protections for undocumented essential critical infrastructure workers
  • Provide visa waivers for immigrant physicians and other medical professionals, including permanent authorization of expanded "Conrad 30" program
  • Require DHS to review immigration files/prioritize for detention release those not considered a threat to public safety or national security, while ensuring those remaining in detention have access to communications and hygiene products

Cost: less than $500 million
  • S 4320: Cover Customs and Border Protection fee shortfalls ($1.6 billion), partially offset by $120 million rescission of unspent funds
  • Authorize $1.22 billion loan to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with 10% surcharge on certain filing fees to repay loan

Cost: ~$1.5 billion		 None
Justice Department/prisons/crime
  • Funding for COVID-19 testing and prevention in federal and other correctional institutions ($800 million)
  • Funding for state and local law enforcement to prepare for and respond to coronavirus outbreaks ($300 million)
  • Funding for law enforcement hiring grants and PPE purchases ($300 million)
  • Grants to help prisoners reintegrate into society ($250 million)
  • Violence Against Women Act programs ($100 million)
  • During a national emergency related to a communicable disease, require release of nonviolent federal prisoners and pretrial detainees, as well as pregnant women, juveniles, elderly and those with certain medical conditions, into community supervision
  • Expand court authority to order compassionate release and reduce sentences
  • Increase availability of home detention for nonviolent elderly prisoners
  • Moratorium on court-imposed fees and fines
  • Direct funds from deferred and nonprosecution agreements to support victims of crime and waives state matching requirements during COVID-19 pandemic
  • Authorize grant incentives for state and local law enforcement agencies to collect hate crimes data and report it to Justice Department, with reports to Congress

Cost: ~$2 billion
  • S 4320: Funding for the FBI to construct a new headquarters in Washington, D.C. ($1.75 billion) and to purchase PPE, cleaning supplies, testing capacity and offset loss of fee revenue ($213 million)
  • Funding for Federal Bureau of Prisons ($200 million), U.S. Marshals Service ($80 million) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ($36.4 million)

Cost: $2.3 billion		 None
Treasury/IRS
  • Funding to implement direct payments to households and for Treasury inspectors general

Cost: $636 million
  • S 4320: Funding to modernize information technology and upgrade cybersecurity operations

Cost: $2 billion		 None
NASA None
  • S 4320: Funding to reimburse contractors for paying employees for work unable to be carried out due to facility closures or other coronavirus-related restrictions

Cost: $1.5 billion		 None
Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Funding for Assistance to Firefighter Grants ($500 million) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants ($500 million) with cost-sharing requirements waived, Emergency Food and Shelter Program ($200 million) and Emergency Management Performance Grants ($100 million)
  • Buy American waiver for District of Columbia and territories to procure PPE/medical supplies internationally
  • Premium pay cap waiver for FEMA employees
  • Increase FEMA federal cost-share from 75% to 100% during pandemic

Cost: $1.3 billion+
  • S 4320: Funding for Assistance to Firefighter Grants ($365 million)
  • SAFER grants ($365 million)
  • Emergency Food and Shelter Program ($200 million)
  • FEMA operations/networks ($150 million)

Cost: $1.1 billion		 None
General Services Administration
  • Technological upgrades to respond to coronavirus
  • Require GSA to take action to prevent airborne transmission of COVID-19 through heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and water systems in federal properties
  • Prevent GSA from referring nonfederal tenants in federal properties to debt collection agencies

Cost: $1 billion
  • S 4320: Funding for West Wing modernization project and Pennsylvania Avenue screening facility

Cost: $377 million		 None
Interior Department
  • Funding for hospitals and other critical infrastructure in insular areas ($1 billion), Bureau of Indian Affairs ($900 million), Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey ($111 million)

Cost: $2 billion		 None None
NOAA/fisheries aid
  • Funding to compensate for economic injury due to pandemic

Cost: $100 million
  • S 4320: Funding to compensate for economic injury due to pandemic ($500 million)
  • Funding for weather forecasting and modeling ($20 million)

Cost: $520 million
  • Funding to compensate for economic injury due to pandemic ($500 million)
Census Bureau
  • Implement 120-day delay of publication of apportionment and redistricting data
  • Clarify that colleges and universities can provide information about students living on campus
  • Prohibition on use of data not collected during 2020 census with limited exceptions
  • Funding for expenses due to coronavirus-related delays in 2020 census ($400 million) and for other expenses incurred as a result of COVID-19 ($10 million)

Cost: $410 million
  • S 4320: Additional funds for field operations and data processing related to 2020 census

Cost: $448 million		 None
State Department
  • Require State Department to submit plans to mitigate coronavirus-related impacts on overseas voters seeking to return mail-in ballots
  • Require report on efforts to repatriate U.S. citizens from abroad during COVID-19 crisis
  • Require president to re-establish U.S. Global Health Security Coordinator position
  • Extend authorization for Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts for another year

Cost: minimal
  • S 4320: Funding to cover shortfalls from declining visa and passport fee revenue ($425 million) and extension to allow continued use of fees already collected
  • Increase cap on Repatriation Loans Program Account to help American citizens return to U.S.
  • Authorities to pay education expenses for dependents until employees can return to their diplomatic posts
  • Extend authorization for Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts for another year

Cost: $425 million+		 None
Energy Department None
  • S 4320: Funding for Office of Science COVID-19 research

Cost: $306 million		 None
Corporation for Public Broadcasting None
  • S 4320: Funding for grants to maintain programming and for small and rural stations

Cost: $175 million		 None
National Science Foundation
  • Funding to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19

Cost: $125 million		 None None
National Archives and Records Administration None
  • S 4320: Funding to help offset loss of fee revenue

Cost: $92 million		 None
Secret Service None
  • S 4320: Funding for construction and enhanced security screening and inspection equipment

Cost: $73 million		 None
Cybersecurity None
  • S 4320: Funding for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to defend against attacks on agencies involved in coronavirus response

Cost: $53 million		 None
Legal Services Corporation
  • Funding for free legal resources related to COVID-19

Cost: $50 million		 None None
EPA
  • Funding for environmental justice grants

Cost: $50 million		 None None
Legislative branch
  • Funding for Government Accountability Office and for House of Representatives laptops, satellite phone/mobile Wi-Fi and new select committee to oversee coronavirus-related spending

Cost: $35 million
  • S 4320: Funding for Architect of the Capitol, Library of Congress, GAO, Government Publishing Office, Capitol Police, Senate Sergeant at Arms, Congressional Budget Office and Office of the Attending Physician

Cost: $77.7 million		 None
Migrant farmworkers
  • Funding for the Labor Department to support migrant and seasonal farmworkers

Cost: $25 million		 None None
National Endowment for the Arts/National Endowment for the Humanities
  • Support for general operations/waiver of matching requirements

Cost: $20 million		 None None
Native Americans
  • Authorize interagency arrangements to share medical facilities and services with urban Native American organizations
  • Clarify that tribal schools receiving federal grants can participate in federal health and life insurance benefits programs
  • Require Veterans Health Administration to reimburse IHS and tribal health facilities for treating Native American veterans

Cost: minimal		 None None
Wildlife-borne disease prevention
  • Authorize funds to identify wildlife species that pose risks to human health and determine which species should be listed as "injurious" under the Lacey Act, which bars illegal trafficking in wildlife and plants/plant products
  • Amend Lacey Act to allow additions to "injurious" list of species barred from import into or transport within the U.S.
  • Establish national database for wildlife diseases
  • Direct Fish and Wildlife Service to provide funds to states, territories and tribes to conduct surveillance of emerging wildlife-borne diseases

Cost: less than $500 million		 None None
Public safety officer benefits
  • Ensure public safety officers are eligible for death and disability benefits in the event of illness from COVID-19

Cost: less than $500 million		 None None

*House Democrats have reportedly asked for up to $400 billion for education funding, and have since passed legislation (HR 7027) that would increase Child Care and Development Block Grants to states from $7 billion to $50 billion, with the funds directed to child care providers.

Sources: Congressional Budget Office, Joint Committee on Taxation, House and Senate committees (various), Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget