Biden’s COVID-19 Relief Package Focus of the Congress

​In recent days both the House and Senate passed respective budget resolutions for the fiscal year, which marks the start of a legislative process in Congress called budget reconciliation. Key congressional committees are not preparing legislation to reconcile the budget resolution that was passed. A budget reconciliation process is a powerful tool that allows lawmakers to advance spending and tax policies through the Senate with a simple majority.

The term “reconciliation bill” describes legislation that would change spending and/or tax laws to meet the targets set by a congressional budget resolution. Only a simple majority is required for passage in the Senate. If everyone shows up, that means 51 votes. Such legislation cannot be filibustered, and proponents do not need the 60-vote supermajority that applies to most legislation under the chamber’s cloture rules.
 
The budget reconciliation process has been used to pass some sweeping measures, including:

• The 2017 tax law (Public Law 115-97), which reduced corporate tax rates, eliminated the penalty under the ACA’s individual mandate and opened up drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• Part of President Barack Obama’s 2010 health-care law in Public Law 111-152, which made changes to the initial ACA measure (Public Law 111-148) and also changed student loan policy.
• President George W. Bush’s 2001 and 2003 tax cuts in Public Law 107-16 and Public Law 108-27.
• President Bill Clinton’s 1997 expansion of the children’s health-care program in Public Law 105-33.

 
Democrats are planning to use the budget reconciliation process to quickly pass pandemic relief legislation. The initial plan was drafted by the Biden Administration and the Congress is working to get the plan passed and on President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. Here are some of the goals of the plan:

• Mount a national vaccination program, contain COVID-19, and safely reopen schools, including by setting up community vaccination sites nationwide, scaling up testing and tracing, eliminating supply shortage problems, investing in high-quality treatments, providing paid sick leave to contain the spread of the virus, addressing health disparities, and making the investments to meet the goal of safely reopening a majority of K-8 schools.
• Deliver immediate relief to working families bearing the brunt of this crisis by sending $1,400 per-person checks to households across America, providing direct housing and nutrition assistance, expanding access to safe and reliable childcare and affordable healthcare, increasing the minimum wage, extending unemployment insurance, and giving families with kids and childless workers an emergency boost this year.
• Support communities that are struggling in the wake of COVID-19 by providing support for the hardest-hit small businesses, especially small businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color, and protecting the jobs of the first responders, transit workers, and other essential workers. 
  • https://federalgrp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/COVID_Relief-Package-Fact-Sheet.pdf

 
The HCAOA has raised specific concerns relating to the Biden pandemic package. These include:
 
Funding for COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations
HCAOA urges that COVID-19 testing and vaccinations of seniors, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers, must be the priority of all states. As seniors are most at risk from COVID-19 it is essential that all workers, particularly those entering a senior’s home, receive priority consideration for vaccination.
 
Emergency Paid Leave
Home care providers support emergency paid leave during this pandemic for those who are sick with COVID-19 or have been exposed to the virus. However, the HCAOA asks that the refundable tax credit continue to cover 100 percent of employers paid leave costs for as long as the emergency paid leave program is in place. HCAOA also urges Congress to ensure the emergency paid leave program is not abused by those who have not contracted COVID-19 or been exposed to the virus.
 
Minimum Wage Increase
Home care providers know that their greatest asset is their caregivers. As such, home care providers strive to provide competitive compensation for their workers while holding down costs for seniors to ensure they can afford to remain in their homes as they age. HCAOA urges Congress to consider a more modest increase in the federal minimum wage rate at this time to ensure access to essential home care is not jeopardized by raising the federal minimum wage.
 
Tax Credit Legislation Being Prepared for Introduction
HCAOA has been a strong supporter of the “Credit for Caring Act,” which could improve access to home care and other long-term care support services in the U.S. by authorizing a non-refundable tax credit for family caregivers. This Act was sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) in the Senate, and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) in the House of Representatives during the 116th Congress.
 
The legislation provides a $3,000 benefit to family caregivers. HCAOA is working with the bill sponsors to increase the benefit to $5,000 per year and we are hoping it can be reintroduced in the House and Senate in the coming weeks.