New U.S. House coronavirus bill contains $3 trillion plus in aid

The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives unveiled on Tuesday a sweeping new coronavirus bill with more than $3 trillion in assistance to states, families and epidemiologists seeking to track the extent of the coronavirus pandemic.

The following are major provisions in the legislation:

• 0 billion for state governments to use over the next several years to cover pandemic-related expenses, replace lost revenues or respond to its negative economic impacts. Half of the money would be available to states within a month of the bill’s enactment and the other half by May 3, 2021.

This year’s allotment includes about billion to be divided equally between the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, a similar amount to be distributed according to each state’s share of coronavirus cases and 0 billion more distributed according to population.

The 0 billion portion due by May 2021 includes billion to be shared equally and 9 billion to be distributed according to each state’s share of unemployed people.

• 5 billion for county and local governments with 0 billion to be made available within 30 days of enactment and the remaining 5 billion a year later.
• 0 billion to provide hazard pay for essential workers including healthcare workers, emergency responders, sanitation workers and those employed by businesses ordered to remain open.
• 5 billion in housing assistance to help meet rent, mortgage and utility payments and other housing costs.
• 0 billion in grants for hospital and healthcare providers to compensate for expenses or revenue losses that result directly from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• billion for testing, contact tracing, and other activities necessary to effectively monitor and suppress COVID-19.
• Direct payments amounting to
  ,200 per family member for a total of ,000 per household.
• billion in COVID-19 emergency grants for small businesses through the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
• billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps low-income people buy food, to support an increase in participation and to cover program cost increases.

Fear of coronavirus second wave stalks stock markets, Reuters, May 13