I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6865 
To provide emergency assistance to families through home visiting programs 
in response to the COVID–19 pandemic. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 14, 2020 
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois (for himself and Ms. CASTOR of Florida) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways 
and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide emergency assistance to families through home 
visiting programs in response to the COVID–19 pandemic. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Home Visiting Resil-
iency in Pandemics Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES THROUGH 
HOME VISITING PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of section 511 of the 
Social Security Act, during the period that begins on Feb-
ruary 1, 2020, and ends January 31, 2021— 
(1) a virtual home visit shall be considered a 
home visit; 
(2) funding for, and staffing levels of, a pro-
gram conducted pursuant to such section shall not 
be reduced on account of reduced enrollment in the 
program; and 
(3) funds provided for such a program may be 
used— 
(A) to train home visitors in conducting a 
virtual home visit and in emergency prepared-
ness and response planning for families served; 
(B) for the acquisition by families enrolled 
in the program of such technological means as 
are needed to conduct and support a virtual 
home visit; 
(C) to provide emergency supplies (such as 
diapers, formula, non-perishable food, water, 
hand soap and hand sanitizer) to families 
served; and 
(D) to provide prepaid debit cards to an el-
igible family (as defined in section 511(k)(2) of 
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such Act) for the purpose of enabling the family 
to meet the emergency needs of the family. 
(b) VIRTUAL HOME VISIT DEFINED.—In subsection 
(a), the term ‘‘virtual home visit’’ means a visit that is 
conducted solely by electronic means. 
(c) AUTHORITY TO DELAY DEADLINES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services may extend the deadline by which 
a requirement of section 511 of the Social Security 
Act must be met, by such period of time as the Sec-
retary deems appropriate. 
(2) GUIDANCE.—The Secretary shall provide to 
eligible entities funded under section 511 of the So-
cial Security Act information on the parameters 
used in extending a deadline under paragraph (1) of 
this subsection. 
(d) SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.—In addition 
to amounts otherwise appropriated, out of any money in 
the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appro-
priated, there are appropriated to the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services $100,000,000, to enable eligible enti-
ties to conduct programs funded under section 511 of the 
Social Security Act pursuant to this section, which shall 
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remain available for obligation not later than January 31, 
2021. 
Æ 
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