WASHINGTON — The House today passed, on a bipartisan 208 to 199 vote, The Heroes Act, a bold and comprehensive coronavirus response bill that will meet the challenge this pandemic poses to our nation.
The more than $3 trillion legislation protects the lives and livelihoods of the American people by investing in testing, tracing, and treatment, providing strong support for our heroes on the frontlines with robust funding for state and local governments and hazard pay, and putting more money directly in the pockets of workers and families.
"The Heroes Act is the bold step we need to ensure our nation meets the challenge of the pandemic and the ensuing economic recession," said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY). "Critically, this legislation delivers robust funding to keep our frontline heroes paid and working for the American people, to execute a nationwide testing and contact tracing strategy, and to alleviate the economic pain of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders. With the Heroes Act, we can meet the urgent needs of the American people and help our country through the coronavirus crisis."
The Heroes Act is Congress's fifth piece of legislation to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation follows the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act enacted on April 24; the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, enacted on March 27; the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, enacted on March 18; and the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act enacted on March 6.
The text of The Heroes Act, H.R. 6800, as introduced is here. A one pager on the legislation as introduced is here. A section-by-section summary of the legislation as introduced is here. A resource on the state and local relief provisions of the legislation as introduced is here.