View source for Families First Coronavirus Response Act

{{Short description|2020 US federal law, "Phase 2" of pandemic relief}}
{{Infobox United States proposed legislation
| name            = Families First Coronavirus Response Act
| image_seal      = <!--Defaults to the Great Seal-->
| fullname        =
| acronym         = FFCRA
| nickname        = <!--Unofficial name used by the press or general public-->
| introduced in the = 116th
| introduceddate   = March 14, 2020
| sponsored by    = [[Nita Lowey]]
| number of co-sponsors = <!--give a number; could add a time period such as "when introduced"-->
| public law url  = 
| cite public law = {{USPL|116|127}}<!--{{USPL|XXX|YY}} where X is the congress number and Y is the law number-->
| cite statutes at large = <!--{{usstat}} can be used-->
| acts affected    = <!--list, if applicable; make wikilinks where possible-->
| acts repealed   = <!--list, if applicable; make wikilinks where possible-->
| title affected   = <!--US code titles changed-->
| sections created = <!--{{USC}} can be used-->
| sections affected = <!--list, if applicable; make wikilinks where possible-->
| agenciesaffected = <!--list of federal agencies that would be affected by the legislation, wikilinks where possible-->
| authorizationsofappropriations = <!--a dollar amount, with dollar sign, possibly including a time period-->
| appropriations = <!--a dollar amount, with dollar sign, possibly including a time period-->
| leghisturl      = 
| introducedin    = <!--House or Senate-->
| introducedbill  = <!--use {{USBill|XXX|H.R. or S.|YYY}} where X is the congress number and Y is the bill number-->
| introducedby    = <!--sponsor; make a wikilink to their bio page-->
| committees      = <!--list of the committees the bill was referred to, as wikilinks-->
| passedbody1     = House
| passeddate1     = March 14, 2020
| passedvote1     = [https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/116-2020/h102 363–40]
| passedbody2     = Senate
| passedas2       = 
| passeddate2     = March 18, 2020
| passedvote2     = [https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/coronavirus-updates-senate-passes-paid-leave-relief-bill.html 90–8]
| conferencedate  = 
| passedbody3     = 
| passeddate3     = 
| passedvote3     = 
| agreedbody3     = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreeddate3     = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreedvote3     = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreedbody4     = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| agreeddate4     = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| agreedvote4     = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| passedbody4     = 
| passeddate4     = 
| passedvote4     = 
| signedpresident = [[Donald Trump]]
| signeddate      = March 18, 2020
| unsignedpresident = <!-- used when passed without presidential signing -->
| unsigneddate    = <!-- used when passed without presidential signing -->
| vetoedpresident = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| vetoeddate      = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenbody1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddendate1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenvote1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenbody2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddendate2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenvote2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| amendments      = Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022
| SCOTUS cases    = 
}}
The '''Families First Coronavirus Response Act''' is an [[Act of Congress]] ({{USBill|116|HR|6201}}) meant to respond to the economic impacts of the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The act provides funding for free coronavirus testing, 14-day paid leave for American workers affected by the pandemic, and increased funding for [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program|food stamps]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Werner |first1=Erica |last2=DeBonis |first2=Mike |last3=Stein |first3=Jeff |title=White House, House Democrats reach deal on coronavirus economic relief package |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/white-house-house-democrats-reach-deal-on-coronavirus-economic-relief-package-pelosi-announces/ar-BB119S4f |access-date=14 March 2020 |work=msn.com |publisher=MSN |date=March 13, 2020}}</ref>

The bill was sponsored by [[House Appropriations Committee]] Chairwoman [[Nita M. Lowey]] (D–NY) and passed the [[United States House of Representatives]] early on March 14, 2020, before moving on to the [[United States Senate]]. President [[Donald Trump]] had voiced support for the legislative agreement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foran |first1=Clare |last2=Barrett |first2=Ted |last3=Mattingly |first3=Phil |title=Trump tweets support for House coronavirus relief bill, vote expected Friday night |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/politics/coronavirus-relief-congress/index.html |access-date=March 13, 2020 |publisher=CNN |date=March 13, 2020}}</ref> The Senate passed the legislation on March 18, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Dzhanova|first1=Yelena|last2=Pramuk|first2=Jacob|title=Senate passes coronavirus relief plan to expand paid leave, sends it to Trump|date=March 18, 2020|publisher=[[CNBC]]|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/coronavirus-updates-senate-passes-paid-leave-relief-bill.html|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref> Trump signed the bill into law later that day.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mcconnell-urges-colleagues-support-coronavirus-economic-relief-bill/story?id=69664853 Trump signs coronavirus relief measure ensuring paid sick, emergency leave] ABC News, March 18, 2020</ref>

==Contents==
In a statement, the White House said the law "provides paid leave, establishes free coronavirus testing, supports strong unemployment benefits, expands food assistance for vulnerable children and families, protects front-line health workers, and provides additional funding to states for the ongoing economic consequences of the pandemic, among other provisions."<ref name="House Ways Means Press Release">"[https://waysandmeans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-democrats-introduce-families-first-coronavirus-response-act House Democrats Introduce Families First Coronavirus Response Act]". ''United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee''. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.</ref>

The Act is effective on or by April 2, 2020.<ref name= VenableMar19/>

Employers that are required to provide Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Paid Medical Leave must put a notice of employees' rights in a conspicuous location at work sites or its web sites, or send the poster to all employees by mail or email by April 1, 2020. The notice is free to download and print on the [https://www.dol.gov/general/topics/posters U.S. Department of Labor's web site].<ref>"[https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act]". ''U.S. Department of Labor''. Retrieved April 1, 2020.</ref><ref>"[https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Federal.pdf Federal Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act]". ''U.S. Department of Labor''. Retrieved April 1, 2020.</ref><ref>"[https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-poster-questions Families First Coronavirus Response Act Notice – Frequently Asked Questions]". ''U.S. Department of Labor''. Retrieved April 1, 2020.</ref>

===Emergency leave===
====Paid sick leave====
An employer with fewer than 500 employees must allow an eligible employee to take Emergency Paid Sick Leave. Certain public employers are covered as well.<ref name = VenableMar19>Volpe, Michael J.; Reiter, Nicholas M.; Gotfried, Allison B. (March 19, 2020). "[https://www.venable.com/insights/publications/2020/03/the-families-first-coronavirus-response-act Update: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act is Enacted]". ''[[Venable LLP]]''. Retrieved March 20, 2020.</ref> All employees of the employer are counted toward the 500, not only the ones at any particular employee's work site.<ref name= obligations/> An employer is not required to give Emergency Paid Sick Leave to an employee who is a healthcare provider or an emergency responder.<ref name= obligations>Alvarez, Francis P.; Giger, Sheri L.; Greenberg, Richard I.; Pryor, Patricia Anderson; Bologna, Jenifer M.; Burke, Tara K. (March 18, 2020). "[https://www.jacksonlewis.com/publication/new-employer-obligations-under-slightly-revised-families-first-coronavirus-act-hr-6201 The New Employer Obligations Under the Slightly Revised Families First Coronavirus Act (H.R. 6201)]". ''Jackson Lewis P.C.''</ref>

An employee may use Emergency Paid Sick Leave if the employee is [[quarantine]]d, a doctor advises the employee to self-quarantine, or the employee has COVID-19 symptoms and is waiting for a diagnosis. Under these circumstances, the employee must be paid at their regular rate of pay, up to a maximum of $511 per day or $5,110 total.<ref name = VenableMar19/> An employer cannot require an employee to find a replacement worker to cover their shift.<ref name= obligations/> An employer cannot require an employee to take other paid vacation, paid sick leave, or paid personal leave before taking Emergency Paid Sick Leave.<ref>Schwartz, Phil; Dunlap, Tom; Joshi, Ithi (March 20, 2020). "[https://www.dbllawyers.com/the-families-first-coronavirus-response-act-becomes-law/ The Families First Coronavirus Response Act Becomes Law]". ''Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC''.</ref>

Employees may also use Emergency Paid Sick Leave if the employee is caring for an individual under quarantine or medical self-quarantine, or if the employee is caring for a child whose school or place of care has been closed or is unavailable due to COVID-19 precautions. The child must be the employee's biological child, adopted child, foster child, stepchild, or legal ward, or a child of the employee standing [[in loco parentis|in place of a parent]]. The child must be under 18 years of age or incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability. Under these circumstances, the employee must be paid at least two-thirds their regular rate of pay, up to a maximum of $200 per day.<ref name = VenableMar19/>

Emergency Paid Sick Leave must be in addition to any benefits that employees already accrue. Emergency Paid Sick Leave cannot reduce existing employee benefits or rights.<ref name = VenableMar19/>

A full-time employee may take up to 80 hours of Emergency Paid Sick Leave. A part-time employee may take up to the amount of hours they work in an average two-week period.<ref name = VenableMar19/> The employee must give the employer as much notice as is practical.<ref name= obligations/> After taking Emergency Paid Sick Leave, the employer may require the employee to continue to notify the employer in order to continue receiving Emergency Paid Sick Leave.<ref name= obligations/>

Emergency Paid Sick Leave is not subject to the employer's share of [[FICA tax|social security tax]], but it is taxable for the employer's share of [[FICA tax|Medicare tax]].<ref name= cb-nfp>Socha, Matthew; McGregor, Sara; Adams, Amanda M.; Walker, Deborah (April 13, 2020). "COVID-19 Federal Stimulus and Not-For-Profit Organizations". ''Cherry Bekaert LLP''.</ref>

Emergency Paid Sick Leave expires on December 31, 2020. Unused Emergency Paid Sick Leave does not rollover to the following year. Employers are not required to pay unused Emergency Paid Sick Leave if the employee's employment ends.<ref name = VenableMar19/>

Employers receive refundable tax credits to offset the cost of providing employees with Emergency Paid Sick Leave, subject to certain caps.<ref name = VenableMar19/> The tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction to the employer's portion of social security tax.<ref name= means>Russo, Rina R. (March 19, 2020). "[https://www.walterhav.com/families-first-coronavirus-response-act-what-it-means-for-employers/ Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What It Means for Employers]". ''Walter Haverfield Attorneys at Law''.</ref> A self-employed individual may take their credit against their [[Self-employment#Taxation|self-employment tax]]. The U.S. Treasury will makes deposits to the [[Social Security Trust Fund]] equal to the amount of tax credits given.

====Paid family medical leave====
An employer must give Emergency Family Medical Leave to eligible employees if the employer is a private employer and had fewer than 500 employees for each working day during each of 20 or more calendar weeks of the current or preceding year.<ref name = VenableMar19/> All employees of the employer are counted toward the 500, not only the ones at any particular employee's work site.<ref name= obligations/> An employer is not required to give Emergency Family Medical Leave to an employee who is a healthcare provider or an emergency responder.<ref name= obligations/>

Emergency Family Medical Leave is available if an employee cannot work or telework because the employee needs to care for a child under 18 and the child's school or place of care is either closed or unavailable because of the COVID-19 public health emergency.<ref name = VenableMar19/>

An employee may take up to 12 weeks of Emergency Family Medical Leave. The first 10 days of Emergency Family Medical Leave may be unpaid, but the employee must be allowed to use accrued paid leave in order to be paid during the first 10 days.<ref name = VenableMar19/>

An employee who has already taken 12 weeks of leave under the [[Family and Medical Leave Act]] within the last 12 months is not eligible for an additional 12 weeks of Emergency Family Medical Leave.<ref name= cozen>Holt, Aaron; Sane, Nandini (March 19, 2020). "[https://www.cozen.com/news-resources/publications/2020/faq-the-families-first-coronavirus-response-act FAQ: Families First Coronavirus Response Act]". ''[[Cozen O'Connor]]''.</ref> Such an employee could still be eligible for two weeks of Emergency Paid Sick Leave though.<ref name= cozen/>

After the first 10 days, the employer must continue to provide leave and pay the employee at least two-thirds of the employee's usual rate of pay for the employee's usual number of scheduled hours. If the employee's hours vary, then the employee's usual number of scheduled hours must be based on the employee's average scheduled hours during the last 6 months or the employer's reasonable expectation of hours to be worked at time of hire. The maximum required pay is $200 per day or $10,000 total to the employee.<ref name = VenableMar19/>

After returning from Emergency Family Medical Leave, the employer must restore the employee to the employee's former position. An employer with fewer than 25 employees need not restore the employee to their former position if the position no longer exists, although the employee must later be restored if the position is restored to exist before the earlier of 12 months or the end of the COVID-19 emergency.<ref name= obligations/>

Emergency Family Medical Leave is not subject to the employer's share of [[FICA tax|social security tax]], but it is taxable for the employer's share of [[FICA tax|Medicare tax]].<ref name= cb-nfp/>

Employers receive refundable tax credits to offset the compensation paid to employees while on Emergency Family Medical Leave and the group health insurance cost that is allocable to the Emergency Family Medical Leave.<ref name = VenableMar19/> The tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction to the employer's portion of [[Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax|social security tax]].<ref name= means/> A self-employed individual may take their credit against their [[Self-employment#Taxation|self-employment tax]]. The U.S. treasury will make deposits to the Social Security Trust Fund equal to the amount of tax credits given.

===Coverage for COVID-19 testing and other health provisions===
[[Health insurance in the United States#Employer sponsored|Employer-sponsored group health plan]]s, [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]], [[Medicaid]], [[Children's Health Insurance Program]] (CHIP), [[TRICARE]], [[United States Department of Veteran's Affairs|Veteran's Affairs]], federal worker health plans, and [[Indian Health Services]] are required to provide coverage for COVID-19 testing for all individuals enrolled and covered by the health plan with no [[copayment|copay]] or [[cost sharing|any other cost to the individual]].<ref name= impacting>Caln, Patrick; Clarke, Matthew; Dave, Yash; Dokko, Theodore; Friedman, Emily; Goldstein, Daniel S.; Hill, Patricia; Roberts, Angela. (March 19, 2020). "[https://www.sgrlaw.com/client-alerts/families-first-coronavirus-response-act-new-federal-paid-leave-and-other-requirements-impacting-employers/ Families First Coronavirus Response Act – New Federal Paid Leave and Other Requirements Impacting Employers]". ''Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP''.</ref><ref name= key/>

Treatment for an individual after being diagnosed for COVID-19 is neither required to be covered nor required to be free of cost to the individual.<ref name= impacting/>

[[Respirator|Personal respiratory protective device]]s are considered to be countermeasures under the [[Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act]]. A covered entity is immune from [[United States tort law|lawsuit and liability]], except for willful misconduct, under federal and state law related to the device and the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]], through October 1, 2024.<ref name= key/><ref>{{URL|https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/247d-6d|42 U.S.C. § 247d–6d}}</ref>

===Expansion of unemployment benefits===
The [[U.S. Department of Labor]] will provide $1{{nbsp}}billion of emergency funding to [[Unemployment benefits#United States|state unemployment trust fund]]s.<ref>Arnold, Michael S.; Barmak, David; Bereznay, Danielle M. (March 19, 2020). "[https://www.mintz.com/insights-center/viewpoints/2226/2020-03-19-covid-19-update-families-first-coronavirus-response-act COVID-19 Update: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act Becomes Law]". ''Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.''</ref> The purpose of the emergency funding is to reduce eligibility requirements and increase access to unemployment benefits for individuals directly affected by COVID-19. Requirements to search for work and to wait a week before receiving unemployment benefits are waived.<ref>Inesta, Nancy; Krupin, Jay P.; Parente, Michael; Schacht, Nathan A.; Traub, Amy J. (March 19, 2020). "[https://www.bakerlaw.com/alerts/president-trump-signs-the-families-first-coronavirus-response-act-into-law President Trump Signs the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into Law]". ''Baker & Hostetler LLP''.</ref>

===Supplemental appropriations and program modifications===
====U.S. Department of Agriculture====
The Act provides additional funding for the [[Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children]] (WIC) program, the [[Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program]] (TEFAP), and the [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]] (SNAP). The Act gives grants to the [[Northern Mariana Islands]], [[Puerto Rico]], and [[American Samoa]] for nutrition assistance.<ref name= key>Moss, Kellie; Dawson, Lindsey; Long, Michelle; Kates, Jennifer; Muscumeci, MaryBeth; Cubanski, Juliette; Pollitz, Karen (March 23, 2020). "[https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/issue-brief/the-families-first-coronavirus-response-act-summary-of-key-provisions/ The Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Summary of Key Provisions]". ''[[Kaiser Family Foundation]]''.</ref>

The [[United States Department of Agriculture|U.S. Department of Agriculture]]'s food assistance and nutrition programs now allow waivers of certain requirements related to school and adult-care food programs.<ref name= key/><ref name= foley>Imbrogno, Leah R.; Uetz, Ann Marie (March 19, 2020). "[https://www.foley.com/en/insights/publications/2020/03/update-families-first-coronavirus-response-act-law Families First Coronavirus Response Act Is Enacted Into Law]". ''Foley & Lardner LLP''.</ref>

States are allowed to request waivers related to providing certain emergency [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]] benefits.<ref name= foley/> These benefits were previously limited to three months over any three-year period for most able-bodied adults without dependents who did not work or participate in certain work or workfare programs. According to the Act, that time limit only applies if a state offers the individual a slot in a work or workfare program and the individual did not have good cause for failure to comply.<ref>Shahin, Jessica (March 2020). "[https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ffcra-impact-time-limit-abawds SNAP – Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Impact on Time Limit for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)]". ''Food and Nutrition Service''. [[United States Department of Agriculture]].</ref>

====U.S. Department of Defense====
The Act provides additional funding for the detection and diagnosis of [[COVID-19|coronavirus]] and testing-related visits by the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]].<ref name= key/><ref name= foley/>

====U.S. Department of Health and Human Services====
The Act provides additional funding for home-delivered nutrition services, congregate nutrition services, and nutrition services for Native Americans. The Act provides funding to [[Indian Health Service]] for the detection and diagnosis of [[COVID-19|coronavirus]] and testing-related visits. The Act also provides funding to pay for the detection and diagnosis of coronavirus and testing-related visits for uninsured individuals.<ref name= key/><ref name= foley/>

====U.S. Department of the Treasury====
The Act provides additional funding to the [[Internal Revenue Service]] to provide taxpayer services for carrying out the Act.<ref name= key/><ref name= foley/>

====U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs====
The Act provides additional funding for the detection and diagnosis of coronavirus and testing-related visits by the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Department of Veterans Affairs]].<ref name= key/><ref name= foley/>

==Negotiations==
[[File:President Trump Signs the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (49675702533).jpg|thumb|Trump – with Secretary Mnuchin (left) and Vice President [[Mike Pence]] (right) – signs the bill on March 18, 2020]]
Substantial negotiations for the bill happened between [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]] [[Nancy Pelosi]] and [[U.S. Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]] [[Steven Mnuchin]] on March 12 and March 13; "Pelosi and Mnuchin exchanged at least 20 phone calls on Thursday and Friday as they tried to hammer out a proposal that Trump could support."<ref name="Politico Trump tweet seals">{{cite web |last1=Ferris |first1=Sarah |last2=Bresnahan |first2=John |last3=Zanona |first3=Melanie |title=Trump tweet seals accord on coronavirus relief package |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/13/congress-coronavirus-stimulus-package-deal-friday-128140 |website=Politico |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> Points of negotiations included the effectiveness of tax-credits being used "to offset the cost of Democratic-proposed sick leave provisions" and "how businesses can receive a tax credit for providing paid sick days and emergency leave for workers who are suffering from the coronavirus or helping take care of family members who contract the disease."<ref name="Politico Trump tweet seals" />

In a March 13 letter to her Democratic colleagues, Speaker Pelosi wrote, "Today, the House is taking the next step to put Families First. We are proud to have reached an agreement with the Administration to resolve outstanding challenges, and now will soon pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. We take great pride in the leadership of Chairs [[Nita Lowey|Lowey]], [[Richard Neal|Neal]], [[Frank Pallone|Pallone]], [[Bobby Scott (politician)|Scott]], [[Collin Peterson|Peterson]] and [[Jim McGovern (American politician)|McGovern]], all the Committee and Subcommittee Chairs of Jurisdiction and the [[United States House Committee on Rules|Rules Committee]] to craft this landmark legislation to protect families, which contains the priorities and provisions that [[Senate Minority Leader|Leader]] [[Chuck Schumer|Schumer]] and I called for last weekend. We are especially grateful to the staffs of the Committees."<ref name="Pelosi March 13 letter">{{cite web |last1=Pelosi |first1=Nancy |title=Dear Colleague on Agreement with Administration on Families First Coronavirus Response Act |url=https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/31320-0 |website=Nancy Pelosi - Speaker of the House: Newsroom |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>

Soon after the draft of the bill was first released, [[Senate Majority Leader]] [[Mitch McConnell]] tweeted that the draft was "off-base" because "It does not focus immediate relief on affected Americans. It proposes new bureaucracy that would only delay assistance. It wanders into policy areas that are not related to the pressing issues at hand."<ref name="USA Today Pelosi pushing">{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Ledyard |title=Pelosi pushing for swift passage of coronavirus bill despite Republican concerns |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/12/coronavirus-pelosi-pushing-house-bill-free-tests-paid-sick-leave/5031054002/ |website=USA Today |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>

[[House Minority Leader]] [[Kevin McCarthy]] stated the bill "comes up short," criticizing the bill for the way it ensures "paid sick leave would take months to administer, long after the relief is needed."<ref name="USA Today Pelosi pushing" /> Some Senate Republicans said the bill would be too harsh on small businesses.<ref name=gohmert />

On the evening of Friday, March 13, [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump|Trump]] tweeted his support for the bill.<ref>{{cite web |title=Donald J. Trump on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1238626501555298308 |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref> The President wrote, in a series of tweets, that "This Bill will follow my direction for free CoronaVirus tests, and paid sick leave for our impacted American workers. I have directed...."<ref name="8:42 PM · Mar 13, 2020 Tweet [1]">{{cite web |title=Donald J. Trump on Twitter: 8:42 PM · Mar 13, 2020 Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1238626501555298308 |website=Twitter |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref> "....the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations that will provide flexibility so that in no way will Small Businesses be hurt. I encourage all Republicans and Democrats to come together and VOTE YES! I will always put...."<ref name="Trump 8:42 PM · Mar 13, 2020 Tweet [2]">{{cite web |title=Donald J. Trump on Twitter: 8:42 PM · Mar 13, 2020 Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1238626530361847810 |website=Twitter |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref> "....the health and well-being of American families FIRST. Look forward to signing the final Bill, ASAP!"<ref name="Trump 8:42 PM · Mar 13, 2020 Tweet [3]">{{cite web |title=Donald J. Trump on Twitter: 8:42 PM · Mar 13, 2020 Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1238626531510976512 |website=Twitter |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>

On March 16, Congressman [[Louis Gohmert]] (R–TX) threatened to hold up the bill if certain technical problems are not worked out. Pelosi and Mnuchin worked to solve the problems.<ref name=gohmert>{{cite web|website=The Hill|title=Gohmert threatening to hold up House coronavirus bill|date=March 16, 2020 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/487819-gohmert-threatening-to-hold-up-house-coronavirus-bill|first1=Mike|last1=Lillis|first2=Juliegrace |last2=Brufke }}</ref>

At Republican insistence, the initial House version of the bill allowed the emergency leave provision to expire in a year and also allows the federal government to exempt certain employers with fewer than 25 employees from certain requirements.<ref name="Politico Trump tweet seals" />

==Votes==
The House of Representatives passed the bill with broad bipartisan support in a vote that concluded at 12:30 AM on Saturday, March 14, 2020, in a 363–40–1 vote, with 26 not voting.<ref name="NBC House passes">{{cite web |last1=Moe |first1=Alex |last2=Shabad |first2=Rebecca |last3=Clark |first3=Dartunorro |title=House passes coronavirus aid package, sending bill to the Senate |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-vote-friday-democrats-coronavirus-relief-package-n1158306 |website=NBC News |date=14 March 2020 |access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref> Forty Republicans and no Democrats voted against the bill.<ref name="House Roll Call 102">{{cite web |title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 102 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2020/roll102.xml#N |website=Office of the Clerk: United States House of Representatives |access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref> Independent Representative [[Justin Amash]] voted present.<ref name="House Roll Call 102" />

Senator [[Rand Paul]] introduced an amendment to the bill to require a [[social security number]] in order to receive the [[Child tax credit#United States|child tax credit]], to allow the President the authority to transfer funds as necessary, and to end [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|United States military operations and reconstruction activities in Afghanistan]] by December 31, 2020. The amendment failed in a vote of 3–95 with 2 not voting.<ref>"[https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201/all-actions?overview=closed&q={%22roll-call-vote%22:%22all%22}&KWICView=false Purpose: S.Amdt. 1556 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)]". ''United States Congress''. Retrieved March 22, 2020.</ref>

Senator [[Ron Johnson]] introduced an amendment to the bill to financial support provided through state-administered unemployment insurance systems and funds rather than having the provisions for Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Paid Family Medical Leave. The amendment failed in a vote of 50–48 with 2 not voting, since it needed 60 votes to pass under Senate rules.<ref>"[https://www.congress.gov/amendment/116th-congress/senate-amendment/1558 S.Amdt.1558 to H.R.6201]". ''United States Congress''. Retrieved March 22, 2020.</ref>

Senator [[Patty Murray]] introduced an amendment to the bill to provide Americans with paid sick time and paid leave for their own health needs and their families' health needs. The amendment failed in a vote of 47–51 with 2 not voting.<ref>"[https://www.congress.gov/amendment/116th-congress/senate-amendment/1559 S.Amdt.1559 to H.R.6201]". ''United States Congress''. Retrieved March 22, 2020.</ref>

On March 18, the Senate passed the bill with broad bipartisan support by a vote of 90–8 with 2 not voting.<ref>"[https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201/all-actions?overview=closed&q={%22roll-call-vote%22:%22all%22}&KWICView=false All Actions H.R.6201 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)]". ''United States Congress''. Retrieved March 22, 2020.</ref> The two Senators not voting were [[Cory Gardner]] of [[Colorado]] and [[Rick Scott]] of [[Florida]] who were in quarantine after exposure to people who tested positive for [[coronavirus disease 2019]].<ref name="CNBC Trump signs">{{cite web |last1=Dzhanova |first1=Yelena |last2=Pramuk |first2=Jacob |title=President Trump signs coronavirus relief plan to expand paid leave |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/coronavirus-updates-senate-passes-paid-leave-relief-bill.html |website=CNBC |date=18 March 2020 |access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref> Later the same day, the President signed the bill into law.<ref>"[https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201/all-actions?overview=closed&KWICView=false All Actions H.R.6201 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)]". ''United States Congress''. Retrieved March 22, 2020.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020]]
* [[Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act]]
* [[Operation Warp Speed]]
* [[List of bills in the 116th United States Congress]]
* [[List of acts of the 116th United States Congress]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-15683/uslm/COMPS-15683.xml Families First Coronavirus Response Act] as amended ([https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-15683/pdf/COMPS-15683.pdf PDF]/[https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/COMPS-15683/ details]) in the [[United States Government Publishing Office|GPO]] [https://www.govinfo.gov/help/comps Statute Compilations collection]
* [https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/116/public/127?link-type=uslm Families First Coronavirus Response Act] as enacted ([https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/116/public/127?link-type=pdf&.pdf PDF]/[https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/116/public/127?link-type=details details]) in the [[United States Statutes at Large|US Statutes at Large]]
* {{USBill|116|h|6201}} on [[Congress.gov]]
* [https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/31320 "Pelosi Remarks on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act" - MARCH 13, 2020]

{{COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}}
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[[Category:Law associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]]
[[Category:Acts of the 116th United States Congress]]
[[Category:First presidency of Donald Trump]]
[[Category:United States federal appropriations legislation]]