HR 6800 · 116th Congress 2019–2021, ended

The Heroes Act

Introduced May 12, 2020 Originated House Sponsor Nita M. Lowey D-NY

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

Latest action · Jul 23, 2020 Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-517.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedMay 12, 2020
  2. Passed HouseMay 15, 2020
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

The Heroes Act

This bill responds to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak and its impact on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses.

Among other things, the bill

  • provides FY2020 emergency supplemental appropriations to federal agencies;
  • provides payments and other assistance to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments;
  • provides additional direct payments of up to $1,200 per individual;
  • expands paid sick days, family and medical leave, unemployment compensation, nutrition and food assistance programs, housing assistance, and payments to farmers;
  • modifies and expands the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides loans and grants to small businesses and nonprofit organizations;
  • establishes a fund to award grants for employers to provide pandemic premium pay for essential workers;
  • expands several tax credits and deductions;
  • provides funding and establishes requirements for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing;
  • eliminates cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatments;
  • extends and expands the moratorium on certain evictions and foreclosures; and
  • requires employers to develop and implement infectious disease exposure control plans.

The bill also modifies or expands a wide range of other programs and policies, including those regarding

  • Medicare and Medicaid,
  • health insurance,
  • broadband service,
  • medical product supplies,
  • immigration,
  • student loans and financial aid,
  • the federal workforce,
  • prisons,
  • veterans benefits,
  • consumer protection requirements,
  • the U.S. Postal Service,
  • federal elections,
  • aviation and railroad workers, and
  • pension and retirement plans.

Recorded votes 2

Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.

Roll callQuestionResultDate
House 109Passed208–199May 15, 2020
House 108Failed198–209May 15, 2020

Cosponsors 11

Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on May 12, 2020.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-NYCarolyn B. MaloneyOriginalMay 12, 2020
D-NYEliot L. EngelOriginalMay 12, 2020
D-NJFrank Pallone, Jr.OriginalMay 12, 2020
D-NYJerrold NadlerOriginalMay 12, 2020
D-CAMark TakanoOriginalMay 12, 2020
D-CAMaxine WatersOriginalMay 12, 2020
D-NYNydia M. VelázquezOriginalMay 12, 2020
D-AZRaúl M. GrijalvaOriginalMay 12, 2020
D-MARichard E. NealOriginalMay 12, 2020
D-VARobert C. "Bobby" ScottOriginalMay 12, 2020
D-CAZoe LofgrenOriginalMay 12, 2020

Committees 4

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
HouseAppropriations Committee
Referred May 12, 2020
HouseBudget Committee
Referred May 12, 2020
HouseWays and Means Committee
Referred May 12, 2020
SenateSmall Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Hearings Jul 23, 2020

Actions 20

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Jul 23, 2020Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-517.
  2. Jun 1, 2020Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 455.
  3. May 21, 2020Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
  4. May 20, 2020Received in the Senate.
  5. May 15, 2020Rule H. Res. 967 passed House.
Show all 20 actions

In the Congressional Record 58

Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.

WhereIn the RecordMembersDate
HouseDebate and remarks H6137Sheila Jackson Lee D-TXDec 3, 2020
SenateDebate and remarks S7102Patrick J. Leahy D-VTNov 30, 2020
HouseDebate and remarks H5991, H5992Ann M. Kuster D-NH, Dwight Evans D-PA, Jennifer Wexton D-VANov 20, 2020
HouseDebate and remarks H5945, H5983Joseph D. Morelle D-NY, Rob Woodall R-GA, Sheila Jackson Lee D-TXNov 19, 2020
HouseDebate and remarks H5927–H5929Adriano Espaillat D-NY, Darren Soto D-FL, Jesús G. "Chuy" García D-ILNov 18, 2020
Show all 58 days

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Congressional Budget Office cost estimate

  1. Jun 1, 2020H.R. 6800, Heroes ActAs passed by the House of Representatives on May 15, 2020

Constitutional authority

Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: The principal constitutional authority for this legislation is clause 7 of section 9 of article I of the Constitution of the United States (the appropriation power), which states: ``No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law. . . .'' In addition, clause 1 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution (the spending power) provides: ``The Congress shall have the Power . . . to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States . . .'' Together, these specific constitutional provisions establish the congressional power of the purse, granting Congress the authority to appropriate funds, to determine their purpose, amount, and period of availability, and to set forth terms and conditions governing their use.

The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 166, no. 89, May 12, 2020, page H1993.

Printed hearings 10

Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.

NumberHearingCommitteeHeld
Serial No. 116-108THE NEED FOR FINANCIAL AID TO AMERICA'S STATES AND TERRITORIES DURING THE PANDEMIC: SUPPORTING FIRST RESPONDERS, ASSISTING SCHOOLS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO SAFELY EDUCATE, AND PREVENTING MASS LAYOFFS158 pagesFinancial Services CommitteeSep 10, 2020
Serial No. 116-63AMTRAK'S RESPONSE TO COVID 19143 pagesTransportation and Infrastructure CommitteeSep 9, 2020
Serial No. 116-113PROTECTING THE TIMELY DELIVERY OF MAIL, MEDICINE, AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS103 pagesOversight and Government Reform CommitteeAug 24, 2020
Serial No. 116-85OVERSIGHT OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES489 pagesJudiciary CommitteeJul 29, 2020
Serial No. 116-34AN OVERVIEW OF THE FARMERS TO FAMILIES FOOD BOX PROGRAM295 pagesAgriculture CommitteeJul 21, 2020
Show all 10 hearings

CRS reports 77

Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.

About this bill 7

Products that name it in their title: its number, its law number or one of its short titles.

ProductTitleKindPublished
R46358Heroes Act: Revenue Provisions ArchivedReportOct 26, 2020
IN11405Heroes Act (H.R. 6800/H.R. 925): Selected Consumer Loan Provisions ArchivedInsightOct 15, 2020
R46506The Heroes Act: Education-Related Provisions ArchivedReportAug 26, 2020
R46434HEROES Act, Division K—COVID-19 Housing, Economic Relief, and Oversight ActReportJun 29, 2020
IN11404HEROES Act (H.R. 6800): Selected Federal Reserve Provisions ArchivedInsightMay 26, 2020
Show all 7 CRS products

Also cite it 70

Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.

Amendments 1

Amendments offered to this bill.

AmendmentDescriptionOffered byStatus
HAmdt 815Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 967, the amendment printed in the Rules Committee report is considered as adopted.Rules CommitteeOn agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote.

Related bills 151

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
HR 93Same Day Registration Act of 2019Related billJan 3, 2019
HR 189Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2019Related billJan 3, 2019
S 279Tribal School Federal Insurance Parity ActRelated billJul 9, 2019
HR 650America Votes Act of 2019Related billJan 17, 2019
HR 895Tribal School Federal Insurance Parity ActRelated billSep 22, 2020
Show all 151 related bills

Titles 61

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes.
Short Titles as Passed House for portions of this bill
Jabara-Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act of 2020
Pandemic Justice Response Act
Global Health Security Act of 2020
American Coronavirus/COVID-19 Election Safety and Security Act
ACCESS Act
COVID-19 Heroes Fund Act of 2020
Child Nutrition and Related Programs Recovery Act
Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act of 2020
Victims of Crime Act Fix Act of 2020
Coronavirus Recovery Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020
COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act of 2020
COVID-19 HERO Act
Secure And Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2020
SAFE Banking Act of 2020
Ensuring Diversity in Community Banking Act of 2020
COVID-19 Housing, Economic Relief, and Oversight Act
Measuring Real Income Growth Act of 2020
Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2020
Short Title(s) as Introduced
HEROES Act
Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act
Short Title(s) as Passed House
The Heroes Act
Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill
Inspector General Independence Act
Worker Health Coverage Protection Act
Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act
Wildlife-Borne Disease Prevention Act of 2020
Proper and Reimbursed Care for Native Veterans Act
PRC for Native Veterans Act
Tribal School Federal Insurance Parity Act
Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act
COVID–19 Price Gouging Prevention Act
GROW Act
Giving Retirement Options to Workers Act of 2020
COVID–19 Tax Relief Act of 2020
Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill
Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act
Inspector General Independence Act
Scientific Integrity Act
Wildlife-Borne Disease Prevention Act of 2020
PRC for Native Veterans Act
Proper and Reimbursed Care for Native Veterans Act
Tribal School Federal Insurance Parity Act
Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act
COVID–19 Price Gouging Prevention Act
GROW Act
Giving Retirement Options to Workers Act of 2020
Worker Health Coverage Protection Act
Short Titles for portions of this bill from PCS (Placed on Senate Calendar) bill text
Worker Health Coverage Protection Act
Giving Retirement Options to Workers Act of 2020
GROW Act
COVID–19 Price Gouging Prevention Act
Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act
Tribal School Federal Insurance Parity Act
Proper and Reimbursed Care for Native Veterans Act
PRC for Native Veterans Act
Wildlife-Borne Disease Prevention Act of 2020
Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act
Scientific Integrity Act
Inspector General Independence Act
Short Title(s) from PCS (Placed on Senate Calendar) bill text
The Heroes Act
COVID–19 Heroes Fund Act of 2020
American Coronavirus/COVID–19 Election Safety and Security Act

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Economics and Public Finance.

Text 3

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Jun 1, 2020Placed on Calendar Senate
  2. May 15, 2020Engrossed in House
  3. May 12, 2020Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.