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HR 6687 116th Congress House Emergency Management Appropriations Department of Agriculture Department of Labor Disaster relief and insurance Emergency medical services and trauma care Executive agency funding and structure Food assistance and relief Infectious and parasitic diseases Nutrition and diet Unemployment

Pandemic Disaster Assistance Act of 2020

Introduced: May 1, 2020 Introduced by: Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 4, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
May 1, 2020
Introduced in House
May 1, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Pandemic Disaster Assistance Act of 2020

This bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide direct assistance to individuals who have been impacted by a pandemic and appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor for unemployment compensation and disaster relief.

Specifically, at the discretion of a governor or the President, individuals impacted by a pandemic will be eligible to apply directly to federal agencies for various forms of assistance, including (1) assistance under the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program; (2) assistance under the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program; and (3) other needs assistance through FEMA's Individual Assistance program, including medical, funeral, and child care assistance.

With respect to the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, the bill creates a national floor for benefits at 1.5 times the national weekly average and provides a waiver to the requirement to exhaust state unemployment insurance options.

With respect to the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, the Department of Agriculture must provide options other than an in-person interview.

What's happening now May 4, 2020

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 3534 Related bill Pandemic Disaster Assistance Act of 2020
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6687: Pandemic Disaster Assistance Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6687/
MLA
"H.R. 6687: Pandemic Disaster Assistance Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6687/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6687, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6687/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6687: Pandemic Disaster Assistance Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6687/)
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