Senate passes bill to provide benefits to individuals and small businesses

"Bold and significant" eh? Kind of like the "bold and significant" test kits that never materialized, or the "bold and significant" quarantine process we should've instituted as soon as the first patient was discovered.

So what did they actually pass? The article is short on details.

Here is the bill that already passed both house and senate that has relief for small businesses as well. Short summary:

The programs funded by the bill address issues such as

- developing, manufacturing, and procuring vaccines and other medical supplies;

- grants for state, local, and tribal public health agencies and organizations;

- loans for affected small businesses;

- evacuations and emergency preparedness activities at U.S. embassies and other State Department facilities; and

- humanitarian assistance and support for health systems in the affected countries.

The bill also allows HHS to temporarily waive certain Medicare restrictions and requirements regarding telehealth services during the coronavirus public health emergency.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6074

Another one that is now in senate:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201

From a quick skim:

- $61M to the FDA for various uses relevant to COVID-19 response.

- $20M to the Small Business Administration for admin expenses incidental to carrying out the disaster loan program.

- $2.2B to Department of Health and Human Services for preparations/preventions/responses to COVID-19; Not less than $950M to be used for grants or co-op agreements with states, tribes, etc. Minimum of $475M to be allocated within 30 days.

- $836M to National Institutes of Health for COVID-19 prep/prevention/response. Including not less than $10M to go toward training to reduce hospital employee and first-responder exposure to COVID-19.

- $3.1B to Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for developing innovations and enhancements to manufacturing platforms toward COVID-19 response. Emphasises creating affordable medication, among other things.

- $300M to same, for purchase of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics.

- $264M to Department of State for COVID-19 response.

- $1M to USAID for Office of Inspector General oversight activities relevant to the funding

- $435M to Global Health Program funding / Bilateral Economic Assistance, administered by USAID.

- $300M to International Disaster Assistance

- $250M to Economic Support Fund (Economic, security, and stabilization purposes)

- Telehealth Services During Certain Emergency Periods Act of 2020

As with most massive bills. You can read what's in it after it passes. The only ones that any idea of specifics are the staffs to members of Congress.