This bill provides additional relief to address the continued impact of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses.
TITLE I--COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
Subtitle A--Agriculture
(Sec. 1001) This section provides funding for FY2021 to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to (1) purchase food and agricultural commodities; (2) purchase and distribute agricultural commodities (including fresh produce, dairy, seafood, eggs, and meat) to individuals in need; (3) provide grants and loans for small or midsized food processors or distributors, seafood processing facilities and processing vessels, farmers markets, producers, or other organizations to respond to COVID-19; and (4) provide grants, loans, and other assistance to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.
The section also requires USDA to use specified amounts of the funding to (1) conduct animal surveillance and monitoring related to COVID-19; and (2) reduce overtime inspection costs borne by federally inspected small and very small meat, poultry, or egg processors.
(Sec. 1002)\tThis section provides funding for, and directs USDA to establish, an emergency pilot program to provide grants to certain applicants for rural health care and other rural development needs related to COVID-19.
(Sec. 1003) This section provides funding for necessary administrative expenses associated with carrying out this subtitle.
(Sec. 1004) This section provides funding through FY2022 to the Office of the Inspector General of USDA for audits, investigations, and other oversight activities of projects and activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Sec. 1005) This section provides funding for USDA to pay off outstanding farm loan debts of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
(Sec. 1006) This section provides funding for USDA to address historical discrimination and disparities in the agriculture sector.
Specifically, USDA must use specified amounts to
(Sec. 1007) This section provides funding through FY2022 to use the Commodity Credit Corporation to make commodities available and pay associated expenses for the Food for Peace program.
Subtitle B--Nutrition
(Sec. 1101) This section extends through FY2021 the requirement to calculate the value of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) by using 115% of the June 2020 value of the thrifty food plan. It also provides funding through FY2023 for the costs of state administrative expenses and administering SNAP.
(Sec. 1102) This section provides additional funding through FY2026 for USDA to (1) make technological improvements to improve online purchasing in SNAP; (2) modernize electronic benefit transfer technology; (3) support the mobile technologies demonstration projects and the use of mobile technologies; and (4) provide technical assistance to educate retailers on the process and technical requirements for the online acceptance of SNAP benefits, mobile payments, and electronic benefit transfer modernization initiatives.
(Sec. 1103) This section provides additional funding through FY2027 for USDA to provide grants to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa for nutrition assistance.
(Sec. 1104) This section provides funding through FY2022 to USDA for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
(Sec. 1105) This section provides authority and funding for USDA to approve state requests to increase the amount of a cash-value voucher under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for a qualified food package to up to $35 for a four-month period during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Authority to increase the amount of a cash-value voucher shall terminate on September 30, 2021. (Cash-value vouchers are redeemable for fruits and vegetables as part of a WIC food package.)
(Sec. 1106)\tThis section provides funding for USDA to carry out outreach, innovation, and program modernization efforts to increase participation in and redemption of benefits under WIC, including through appropriate waivers and flexibilities. However, such waivers and flexibilities may not relate to the content of WIC food packages or nondiscrimination requirements.
(Sec. 1107)\tThis section directs USDA to reimburse institutions that are emergency shelters for meals and supplements provided under the Child and Adult Care Food Program during the COVID-19 public health emergency to individuals who have not attained the age of 25 and who are receiving assistance from such shelters. Under current law, emergency shelters may not receive reimbursement for meals and supplements provided to individuals who are older than age 18.
(Sec. 1108) This section expands the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program by authorizing it to be implemented during any school year in which there is a COVID-19 public health emergency designation in effect. It also allows the program to operate during the summer months.
(The P-EBT program allows USDA to approve state plans to provide emergency nutrition benefits to households with children who would otherwise receive free or reduced-price school meals if their schools were not closed due to a public health emergency.)
TITLE II--COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS
Subtitle A--Education Matters
Part 1--Department of Education
(Sec. 2001) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the Department of Education (ED) to assist states with addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on elementary and secondary schools.
ED must use specified funds to support the identification, enrollment, and school participation of homeless children and youth.
Local educational agencies (LEAs) must reserve funds to address student learning loss. The remaining funds may be used for any allowable purpose under federal education programs and for other specified purposes, including for the purchase of sanitization supplies and educational technology.
LEAs must, within 30 days of receiving funds, develop and publish plans to safely reopen schools for in-person instruction.
(Sec. 2002) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools program, through which states must provide services or assistance to nonpublic schools that enroll a significant percentage of low-income students and are most impacted by COVID-19. These funds may not be used for reimbursements to nonpublic schools.
(Sec. 2003) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for institutions of higher education (IHEs).
IHEs must allocate at least half of these funds to provide emergency financial-aid grants to students.
(Sec. 2004) This section outlines maintenance-of-effort requirements for states, which may be waived by ED. Further, state educational agencies (SEAs) and LEAs must comply with certain maintenance-of-equity requirements.
(Sec. 2005) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for grants to outlying areas based on need.
(Sec. 2006) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, and Gallaudet University to respond to COVID-19, including to defray institutional expenses and provide financial-aid grants to students.
(Sec. 2007) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the student aid administration within ED to respond to COVID-19, including through direct outreach to students and borrowers about financial aid and other assistance.
(Sec. 2008) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for Howard University to respond to COVID-19, including to defray institutional expenses and provide financial-aid grants to students.
(Sec. 2009) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf to respond to COVID-19, including to defray institutional expenses and provide financial-aid grants to students.
(Sec. 2010) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the Institute of Education Sciences to study student learning loss caused by COVID-19 and disseminate the findings to SEAs, LEAs, and other entities.
(Sec. 2011) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for program administration within ED to respond to COVID-19 and for salaries and expenses.
(Sec. 2012) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to the Office of Inspector General of ED for salaries and expenses.
(Sec. 2013) This section modifies the so-called 90/10 rule to require for-profit IHEs to include all forms of federal education aid in the revenue calculation for federal student-aid program eligibility.
(Sec. 2014) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to assist states with providing special education and related services to children and students with disabilities.
Part 2--Miscellaneous
(Sec. 2021) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the National Endowment for the Arts to provide grants to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations.
(Sec. 2022) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide grants to state humanities councils and humanities organizations.
(Sec. 2023) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services to carry out museum and library services.
Subtitle B--Labor Matters
(Sec. 2101) This section provides funding for various agencies within the Department of Labor to conduct worker protection activities with respect to COVID-19.
Subtitle C--Human Services and Community Supports
(Sec. 2201) This section provides additional funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program. States, territories, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations may use this funding to provide child care assistance to essential workers without regard to income eligibility requirements.
(Sec. 2202) This section provides funding for grants to lead child care agencies and providers for personnel costs, facility costs, the purchase of personal protective equipment, and other costs associated with responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
(Sec. 2203) This section provides additional funding through FY2022 to Head Start agencies based on their enrollment.
(Sec. 2204) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for programs supporting adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, including grants for community-based services.
(Sec. 2205) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for child abuse or neglect prevention and treatment programs, including grants to states for community-based prevention services.
(Sec. 2206) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service to operate and support national service programs. The corporation must prioritize entities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and take into account the diversity of the communities and participants served by such entities.
Subtitle D--Public Health
(Sec. 2301) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for COVID-19 vaccination efforts. The CDC must use some of this funding to supplement certain existing grants awarded to health departments for their COVID-19 vaccination activities.
(Sec. 2302) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to the CDC for activities to increase confidence in vaccines and improve vaccination rates.
(Sec. 2303) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to acquire vaccines, therapeutics, and other supplies to prevent and respond to COVID-19, the virus that causes COVID-19 and its variants, and other diseases or viruses with pandemic potential.
(Sec. 2304) This section provides funding for HHS to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics and to oversee the supply chain for those products. HHS must also carry out reviews, inspections, and related activities necessary to approve medical products and devices that were delayed or cancelled for reasons related to COVID-19.
(Sec. 2305) This section makes individuals who received unemployment compensation in 2021 eligible for cost-sharing subsidies for health care expenses under qualified health insurance plans.
Subtitle E--Testing
(Sec. 2401) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for HHS to carry out various activities to support COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, surveillance, and mitigation measures.
(Sec. 2402) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the CDC to improve its capacity and the capacity of public health laboratories to conduct genomic sequencing, analytics, and disease surveillance, including for the virus that causes COVID-19 and its variants.
(Sec. 2403) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the CDC to address COVID-19 and other infectious diseases globally.
(Sec. 2404) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the CDC to modernize and expand public health data surveillance systems, including to maintain a disease warning system to track COVID-19 and emerging biological threats.
Subtitle F--Public Health Workforce
(Sec. 2501) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for HHS to award grants and take other actions to expand and sustain the public health workforce, including to respond to COVID-19.
(Sec. 2502) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the Medical Reserve Corps. This is a network of volunteers, including medical providers and public health professionals, organized locally to improve community health and safety.
Subtitle G--Public Health Investments
(Sec. 2601) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to expand health care services and infrastructure of federally qualified health centers and similar entities that serve Native Hawaiians, including specifically for COVID-19 vaccinations and treatments.
(Sec. 2602) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the National Health Services Corps. This program provides scholarships and student loan repayment to health care providers who agree to work in areas of the United States with limited access to primary care, dental care, and mental health care.
(Sec. 2603) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the Nurse Corps. This program provides scholarships and student loan repayment to nurses who agree to work in areas of the United States with limited access to primary care and mental health care. It also provides student loan repayment for nurses who work as faculty in nursing schools.
(Sec. 2604) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to establish or expand graduate medical education training programs carried out in teaching health centers.
(Sec. 2605) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to entities that provide family planning services.
Subtitle H--Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
(Sec. 2701) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for block grants for community mental health services and for mental health and substance use services. This funding must be expended by the end of FY2025.
(Sec. 2702) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for various grants and programs to prevent and treat substance abuse. This funding must be expended by the end of FY2025.
(Sec. 2703) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for grants and other activities to address and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders among health care professionals. HRSA must consider the needs of rural and medically underserved communities in these activities.
(Sec. 2704) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for the CDC to educate health care professionals and first responders about primary prevention of mental health conditions and substance use disorders and treatments.
(Sec. 2705) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for HRSA to award grants to health care providers and health care professional associations to promote mental health among those who work in the health care field.
(Sec. 2706) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for grants for overdose prevention programs, syringe services programs, and other harm reduction measures.
(Sec. 2707) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to SAMHSA for grants to address community behavioral health needs made worse by the COVID-19 emergency.
(Sec. 2708) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for grants to prevent the long-term consequences of child trauma by providing early intervention services and treatments with a focus on high-risk or medically underserved populations that experience violence-related stress.
(Sec. 2709) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for Project Aware, which promotes access to mental health services among school-aged youth and their families.
(Sec. 2710) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for youth suicide prevention activities and for services for students with mental health or substance use disorders.
(Sec. 2711) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for grants to support mental and behavioral health education and training programs.
(Sec. 2712) This section provides additional FY2021 funding to increase access to pediatric mental health services in primary care settings.
(Sec. 2713) This section provides additional FY2021 funding for certified community behavioral health clinics. These clinics provide integrated mental health and substance use disorder treatment services in communities.
Subtitle I--Exchange Grant Program
(Sec. 2801) This section provides funding for grants for health benefit exchanges to modernize their systems and technology.
Subtitle J--Continued Assistance to Rail Workers
(Sec. 2901)\t This section extends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) benefits-registration period through September 6, 2021, for qualified railroad employees to receive an additional RUIA benefit