 Friends and Neighbors,
This past Friday, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), HR 748, which provides an estimated $2 trillion stimulus package to battle the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation includes a number of provisions that will be beneficial to Oregon. While we are still waiting to see what it will mean for our state more specifically, we do know that, among other things, it allocates resources to specific funds, extends unemployment benefits including adding gig and self-employed people, and directs payments to individual Americans. The package includes:
- $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund for state, local and tribal governments
- $30 billion for an Education Stabilization Fund for states, school districts and institutions of higher education for costs related to the coronavirus.
- $45 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund for the immediate needs of state, local, tribal and territorial governments to protect citizens and help them respond and recover from the overwhelming effects of COVID-19.
- $25 billion for transit systems
- $400 million in election security grants to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus in the 2020 federal election cycle.
- $1.4 billion for deployments of the National Guard. This level of funding will sustain up to 20,000 members of the National Guard, under the direction of the governors of each state, for the next six months in order to support state and local response efforts.
- Expands unemployment insurance from three to four months, and provides temporary unemployment compensation of $600 per week, which is in addition to and the same time as regular state and federal UI benefits. Part-time, self-employed and gig economy workers now have access to UI benefits.
- Establishes a $500 billion lending fund for businesses, cities and states.
- Provides a $1,200 direct payment to many Americans and $500 for each dependent child. Use this calculator to determine how much you may receive.
- Requires the Department of Homeland Security to extend the Real ID deadline for full implementation by states from Oct. 1, 2020, to no earlier than Sept. 30, 2021. DHS subsequently announced that the new deadline would be Oct. 1, 2021.
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An additional $4.3 billion, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to support federal, state and local public health agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus.
Here are some additional summaries and/or FAQ’s, broken down by subject, that explain the CARES Act legislation, that were prepared by and shared from Senator Merkley's office:
Also, just yesterday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that President Donald Trump had approved a major disaster declaration for Oregon. Read Governor Kate Brown's response to this and what it means for our state here.
Previous Coronavirus Appropriation Bills
On March 18, the President signed the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” or HR 6201. Below is a summary of some key provisions:
- $500 million to the Department of Agriculture for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC).
- $400 million to the Department of Agriculture to assist local food banks to meet increased demand, $300 million of which must be spent on food and $100 million for food storage and distribution.
- $64 million to the Department of Health and Human Services for Indian Health Services, allocated at the discretion of the Director of Indian Health Services.
- $250 million to the Department of Health and Human Services for Aging and Disability Services Program, $160 million of which shall be used for Home-Delivered Nutrition Services, $80,000,000 shall be for Congregate Nutrition Services, and $10,000,000 shall be for Nutrition Services for Native Americans.
- $1 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund.
- $30 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and services.
- Temporarily suspends work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) during a public health emergency declaration due to COVID-19, allowing participants who would have lost eligibility due to such requirements to continue to receive SNAP benefits.
- Permits employees to take public health emergency leave through December 31, 2020, to care for the employee's child during a COVID-19 public-health emergency. Eligibility requirements can be found here.
- Requires employers to provide paid sick time to employees who are unable to work due to the effects of COVID-19. Eligibility requirements can be found here.
- Provides a refundable tax credit to employers who cover wages that are paid to employees while they are taking time off under the bill’s sick leave and family leave programs.
- Provides as much as $1 billion for emergency transfers to states to pay for unemployment benefits.
On March 6, the President signed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, or HR 6074, into law. Below is a summary of some of its key provisions:
Total Funding Allocations of $8.3 Billion:
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$3.4 billion—Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund
- Vaccine efforts, therapeutics, diagnosis, medical supplies, medical surge capacity building, health services and oversight.
- $2.2 billion—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Federal, state and local public health efforts, surveillance, testing, infection control, mitigation and replenishing funds.
- $985 million—Bilateral Assistance
- Global health programs by supporting health systems overseas, international disaster assistance and economic support.
- $264 million—Department of State
- Consular operations, emergency evacuation and other preparedness efforts.
- $836 million—National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Research and development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, and training to reduce exposure of hospital employees and first responders.
- $82 million—Other
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review medical countermeasures, devices, therapies and vaccines.
- Small Business Administration for small business disaster loans.
- U.S. Agency for International Development for oversight.
- $500 million—Allows for a temporary reimbursement of an estimated $500 million for telehealth for all Medicare enrollees regardless of whether they are located in a rural area.
State-specific Funding Included in the $8.3 Billion:
- At least $1.05 billion in grants to reimburse state and local governments for costs already incurred and for future anticipated costs to respond.
- No less than $950 million in CDC funding.
- Half of this funding must be allocated within 30 days of enactment.
- $40 million of this must be allocated to tribes.
- No less than $100 million for community health centers.
Important Federal Links
*Thank you to the Council of State Governments for providing this great list of federal resources.
Additional Resources
Education Links
City Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
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We are all in this together. Our united efforts to stay home as much as possible, and stay safe are what will help slow the spread of the COVID-19/coronavirus. Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns. Remember, Stay Home, Save Lives.
Onward and Upward,
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 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-487, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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