S. 3548 116th Congress Senate

CARES Act

Official title: A bill to provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

Introduced: March 19, 2020 Introduced by: Mitch McConnell Republican · Kentucky See on congress.gov

Economics and Public Finance Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAppropriationsAviation and airportsBusiness education

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Cardiovascular and respiratory healthCharitable contributionsChild healthCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCorporate finance and managementCorporation for National and Community ServiceDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDisability and health-based discriminationDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationDrug therapyDrug, alcohol, tobacco useEconomic performance and conditionsEducation programs fundingEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployee hiringEmployee leaveEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEmployment taxesEvidence and witnessesExecutive agency funding and structureFederal preemptionFinancial crises and stabilizationFinancial services and investmentsFood and Drug Administration (FDA)Food assistance and reliefForeign and international corporationsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth facilities and institutionsHealth information and medical recordsHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careHealth technology, devices, suppliesHigher educationHome and outpatient careHospital careHousing discriminationImmunology and vaccinationIncome tax creditsIncome tax deductionsIncome tax exclusionInfectious and parasitic diseasesInterest, dividends, interest ratesJudicial procedure and administrationManufacturingMedicaidMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMedicareMinority and disadvantaged businessesMinority educationMotor fuelsNational and community serviceNutrition and dietPrescription drugsRight of privacyRural conditions and developmentSales and excise taxesSecuritiesSmall Business AdministrationSmall businessSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsState and local financeState and local government operationsStrategic materials and reservesStudent aid and college costsTax administration and collection, taxpayersTaxation of foreign incomeTemporary and part-time employmentTransportation employeesU.S. territories and protectoratesUnemploymentUser charges and feesVeterinary medicine and animal diseasesWages and earningsWomen in business

Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jun 3, 2020

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-604.

Mar 19, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S1834-1859)

Mar 19, 2020

Introduced in Senate

Amendments to this bill 3

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
SAMDT 1,563	–	To suspend Federal payroll taxes for 2020.	No recorded outcome	Mar 21, 2020
SAMDT 1,562	Hawley, Josh	To enhance the 2020 recovery rebates for individuals.	No recorded outcome	Mar 21, 2020
SAMDT 1,561	Moran, Jerry	To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide equal coverage of in vitro specific IgE t…	No recorded outcome	Mar 20, 2020

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Latest action June 3, 2020

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-604.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act

This bill addresses economic impacts of, and otherwise responds to, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.

The bill authorizes emergency loans to distressed businesses, including air carriers, and suspends certain aviation excise taxes.

With respect to small businesses, the bill

establishes, and provides funding for, forgivable bridge loans; and
provides additional funding for grants and technical assistance.

The bill also provides funding for $1,200 tax rebates to individuals, with additional $500 payments per qualifying child. The rebate begins phasing out when incomes exceed $75,000 (or $150,000 for joint filers).

The bill establishes limits on requirements for employers to provide paid leave.

With respect to taxes, the bill

establishes special rules for certain tax-favored withdrawals from retirement plans;
delays due dates for employer payroll taxes and estimated tax payments for corporations; and
revises other provisions, including those related to losses, charitable deductions, and business interest.

With respect to health care, the bill

provides additional funding for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19;
limits liability for volunteer health care professionals;
prioritizes Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of certain drugs;
allows emergency use of certain diagnostic tests that are not approved by the FDA;
expands health-insurance coverage for diagnostic testing and requires coverage for preventative services and vaccines;
revises other provisions, including those regarding the medical supply chain, the national stockpile, the health care workforce, the Healthy Start program, telehealth services, nutrition services, Medicare, and Medicaid.

With respect to education, the bill

temporarily suspends payments for federal student loans; and
otherwise revises provisions related to campus-based aid, supplemental educational-opportunity grants, federal work-study, subsidized loans, Pell grants, and foreign institutions.

The bill also authorizes the Department of the Treasury to temporarily guarantee money-market funds.

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