Congress and the administration are crafting and moving massive policy responses to the coronavirus today.

The Senate today begins consideration of House-passed virus relief legislation (H.R. 6201). The bill's major provisions include free testing, employer tax credits for paid sick and family care leave, unemployment insurance, food assistance, and others. The Senate is expected to approve the bill soon, if not today.

The text of H.R. 6201, as passed by the House on March 14, 2020 is posted here. The text of the technical corrections made to the bill last night is posted here.

A summary of the bill as amended last night is posted here.

An explanation of the bill's tax credits for employer-provided sick and family care leave, as revised yesterday by the House, is posted here. 

White House Press Conference

​At a press conference this morning, the president and Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin announced plans to get cash into the hands of displaced workers and virtually all Americans. "Americans need cash now," Sec. Mnuchin said, "and the president wants to give cash now. And I mean now, in the next two weeks." 

Sec. Mnuchin said he was headed to Capitol Hill to meet with GOP Senators on a stimulus proposal to address massive job interruptions and fallout from an economy at risk of historic contraction. Reports indicate that the president's forthcoming stimulus plan could approach $1 trillion in tax incentives and direct spending.

Sec. Mnuchin also announced that the April 15th filing deadline will not necessarily be delayed, but that interest and penalties for taxes due at that point will be waived. Specifically, he said individuals could defer up to $1 million in tax payments due next month for 90 days without interest or penalties. Similarly, corporations will be able to defer up to $10 million in payments for 90 days.

"We encourage those Americans who can file their taxes to continue to file their taxes on April 15th because for many Americans, you will get tax refunds," Sec. Mnuchin said. "And we don't want you to lose out on those tax refunds, we want you to make sure you get them."

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