House Democrats late Wednesday unveiled a 124-page spending measure to address the coronavirus pandemic meant to aid workers and families set to have their lives disrupted.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill Thursday and, while it is poised to pass under the House Democratic majority, it’s not clear yet whether Senate Republicans will take it up before Congress is set to adjourn for a weeklong recess.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said earlier Wednesday the price tag for the measure would be in the billions. A summary released by the House Appropriations Committee included some of the costs.
The House measure includes provisions that would entitle workers to paid sick leave and added time off for the coronavirus patients and establish federal funding for “emergency leave” for people quarantined by the illness or caring for others affected.
It also would expand food stamps and unemployment insurance for those affected by the coronavirus and the school and business closures it has caused, as well as aim to provide meals to children who normally get lunch at school. The measure also provides aid to states coping with increased medical costs for the poor.
Democrats unveiled the bill more than an hour after President Trump delivered a national address about his plans to counter the virus, including temporarily restricting travel to and from Europe.
Trump said he would also provide paid sick leave as well as low-interest loans to small businesses impacted by virus-related closures.
“Tomorrow, we urge Republicans in the House and Senate to help immediately pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. “The bill will include free coronavirus testing, paid emergency leave for workers, food security assistance, help to states overburdened by Medicaid costs, and strengthened Unemployment Insurance, among other much-needed measures to keep the American people safe.”
Pelosi and Schumer criticized Trump’s address for failing to address “how the administration will address the lack of coronavirus testing kits throughout the United States.”
Vice President Mike Pence said an additional 4 million testing kits would be distributed nationwide by the end of the week. About 1 million tests were distributed last week.
