Negotiations on Fifth Coronavirus Relief Bill Continue

Despite what appears like little to show for all the negotiations on a fifth coronavirus relief package, recent negotiations seem to be paving the way for an agreement. Earlier negotiations have been marked by Administration and Congressional officials reciting firm positions with little willingness to offer concessions. However, with the expiration of a number of key protections for economically-at-risk Americans, a threat from the Administration that it may issue an executive order to tackle some of the more pressing issues, and the possibility that negotiations may delay Congress’s cherished August recess, negotiators are reportedly offering concessions and appear to be inching their way toward an agreement.

Each party’s positions are detailed in their respective legislative plans. Congressional Democrats are unified behind their vision of a Coronavirus relief bill, called the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or HEROES Act. This bill, which has already passed the House of Representatives also includes provisions providing an additional $75 billion to support laboratory testing, treatment and contact tracing and $200 billion to provide hazard pay for essential workers.

Congressional Republicans are aligning behind the Senate Republican Bill, called the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools Act, or HEALS Act, an AMA summary of which can be accessed here. Key policies being pushed in the Senate Republican leadership bill include those providing supplemental payment for physicians, liability protection for employers, paycheck protection act extensions, and Medicare telehealth waivers, as well as provisions pertaining to students and student loans. In addition, Republicans want only $16 billion for testing, contact tracing and surveillance in states. The bill would also provide $20 billion for vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic development.

Among the high-profile issues that have to be resolved are the cost of the relief package, the size of an extended federal unemployment benefit, the duration of extending the federal eviction moratorium and how much aid to provide state and local governments, among others. Democrats are pushing for a $3.4 trillion spending package while Congressional Republicans supportive of a relief plan have offered $1 trillion. Democrats also are seeking $600 per person in enhanced unemployment assistance while the Administration has countered with $200 per person. The Administration seems willing to extend the evictions moratorium through mid-December while Democrats want a one-year extension coupled with additional funding for public housing. The Administration has recently signaled its willingness to provide state and local governments an additional $200 billion in aid, up from its previous position of $0. Democrats want roughly $800 billion in aid for state and local governments. Additionally, both sides want to extend the student loan repayment moratorium but differ on the length of the extension and who is eligible for the benefit.

When negotiators agree on a compromise agreement, ASCP will report on the details in a subsequent issue of ePolicy.

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