The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27. March 12, 2020: Congress announced the U.S. Capitol would be closed through March and House and Senate facilities would be closed to the public. September 9, 2020: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) ended its coronavirus pandemic task force. April 21, 2020: The U.S. Senate passed a $484 billion aid package that increased funding for small business loans, hospitals, and testing. FEMA activated the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak in the United States. March 27, 2020: Trump announced that he would use the Defense Production Act to compel General Motors to produce ventilators. May 21, 2020: The Department of Defense ended a ban on new recruits who had been at any point in the past hospitalized for COVID-19. It includes major legislation, executive actions, and department policies. At the ... and published the findings in a report. The sites are spread across five states, including Texas. The bill will raise unemployment payments by $600. Beginning Aug. 21, the federal government will reduce its level of funding for National Guard units assisting states with their coronavirus responses from 100% to 75% for most states. COVID-19 Pandemic Federal Government Says States Must Conduct COVID-19 Testing . Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Of that $24.8 billion, $8.8 billion is allocated to schools to provide meals for students, $15.5 billion is going to a food stamps programs called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, and $450 million is allocated to food banks and other community food distribution programs. Visas affected include L-1s, H-1Bs, H-4s, H-2Bs, and J-1s. 1. Coronavirus (Covid-19) 'Urgent actions' needed in US government response to pandemic, watchdog says CNN (CNN) — The federal government must take "urgent actions" in its response to the coronavirus pandemic, a new report from the US Government Accountability Office finds. The guidance includes recommendations for a three-phased reopening strategy. By April 4, 2020, Detroit’s police chief James Craig was one of 114 Detroit police officers … The restrictions were enacted in late March in cooperation with both countries, and extended for an additional 30 days on April 20. March 29, 2020: Trump announced that social distancing guidelines would remain in effect through April. May 4, 2020: The Supreme Court heard arguments for the first time by conference call. This is administered through the Small Business Administration and will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. March 26, 2020: Trump declared major disasters in Maryland and New Jersey. Health and Safety . The deadline was postponed from April 15 to July 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Roughly $260 billion is earmarked for expanding unemployment assistance. For example, the bill defers payments on federal students loans through Sept. 30 without penalty, allows schools to turn unused work-study funds into supplemental grants, and students who drop out of school as a result of the coronavirus wouldn't have that time away from school deducted from their lifetime limits on subsidized loan and Pell grant eligibility. The Mexican Government’s Economic Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic By Manuel Leon Hoyos . These were further outlined on April 22 and established in a decree on April 23. March 20, 2020: The United States and Mexico mutually agreed to close the border to non-essential traffic. At a press conference Tuesday, Mnuchin said the government is "looking at sending … Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage on how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. The Department is providing 300,000 cloth masks at the event. June 16, 2020: On June 16, acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf announced that the U.S. would keep restrictions limiting non-essential travel to or from Mexico and Canada in place through July 21. March 27, 2020: Trump signed the third coronavirus relief package. April 27, 2020 08:24 PM Share on Facebook. June 16, 2020: In a joint press release, the Department of Homeland Security and the Executive Office for Immigration Review announced that Migrant Protection Protocol proceedings and in-person document services would likely resume on July 20. We encourage you to share updates for this page at editor@ballotpedia.org. About one-third of states that responded said they were "greatly" or "completely" concerned about having enough vaccine-related supplies to administer a potential Covid-19 vaccine, and another 21 states said they were "moderately concerned.". July 14, 2020: Retired General Joseph Dunford, who previously served as the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, withdrew his candidacy to lead a congressional commission established to oversee the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus relief fund. February 26, 2020: Trump appointed Vice President Pence to lead the federal government response to the coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has become the world’s biggest experiment in remote everything, as telework, telehealth, and distance learning are adopted at scale “on the fly” in many cases. [109] President Donald Trump (R) signed the legislation on March 27. The four-year contract is part of an effort by the White House to return pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the United States. A s the nation enters its second month of the coronavirus pandemic, criticism of Trump’s lackluster response has reached a crescendo. 2. The five-member commission has been without a chair for the last four months. The agreements total $17.4 million, and cover molecular diagnostic testing, satellite communications, laser electronics, and aircraft engine repair. Worker safety. (CNN)The federal government must take "urgent actions" in its response to the coronavirus pandemic, a new report from the US Government Accountability Office finds. Sixty votes were required to proceed. The federal government continues to take aggressive and proactive steps to address the COVID-19 threat as the health and safety of the American people remain a top priority. It recommended that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quickly develop a plan to respond to 27 recommendations in the Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes analysis, a report released on September 16. $17 billion to cover six months of payments for small businesses already using SBA loans. March 26, 2020: Pelosi said that the House would move to approve the third coronavirus relief package on March 27. April 8, 2020: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the number of deaths in the United States resulting from the coronavirus would be below his original projection of 100,000 to 200,000. September 21, 2020: In an update on travel restrictions on military installations, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced that restrictions had been lifted on 51% of installations around the world. Roughly $24.8 billion is earmarked for food programs. The inspector general, along with a committee, will provide oversight of all loans and other uses of taxpayer dollars. May 19, 2020: Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf announced the U.S. would extend travel restrictions in place at the Canadian and Mexican borders another 30 days to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. June 17, 2020: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a report for nonessential businesses planning on reopening, titled "Guidance on Returning to Work." Deere said, "“The United States will continue to engage our international partners to ensure we defeat this virus, but we will not be constrained by multilateral organizations influenced by the corrupt World Health Organization and China.". March 12, 2020: The White House canceled tours indefinitely. You know, the United States does not have, you know, one government that is handling the pandemic. Lacking strong federal leadership to guide a uniform response, the United States quickly fulfilled the World Health Organization’s prediction that it would become the new epicenter of Covid-19. Composed of the country’s top health officials, it issues guidelines for dealing with the virus, including on social-distancing practices, and holds regular briefings. 2020 Election Facts First July 22, 2020: Pharmaceutical company Pfizer and biotechnology company BioNTech announced that they had entered into a $1.95 billion deal with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense to supply 100 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine to Americans by the end of 2020. August 14, 2020: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense announced a partnership with healthcare company McKesson Corporation to help distribute a coronavirus vaccine when one is available. The purpose of the working groups is to prepare for distributing a coronavirus vaccine once one is available. According to Pence, task force responsibilities could be transferred to other federal agencies. Most state and local governments are experiencing substantial revenue losses and new spending needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. Roughly $300 billion is earmarked for aid in the form of individual payments of $1,200 for individuals making up to $75,000 annually. August 4, 2020: The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense announced a $2.1 billion deal with French pharmaceutical company Sanofi and British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline to develop and manufacture up to 100 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine for U.S. use. Of this $339.8 billion, $274 billion will be allocated to specific COVID-19 response efforts, and $5 billion will go toward Community Development Block Grants, $13 billion for K-12 schools, $14 billion for higher education, and $5.3 billion for programs for children and families. September 18, 2020: Acting Homeland Security Secretary, September 16, 2020: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD) released the. The Department recommends that people who are not members of the same household keep six feet apart, and asks people to wear masks. April 7, 2020: Trump replaced Glenn Fine as the acting inspector general of the Defense Department, effectively making him ineligible to serve as chair of the, April 2, 2020: Pelosi announced that she was creating a special House committee to oversee implementation of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package. 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