I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6207 
To provide for unemployment benefits to workers affected by the 2019 Novel 
Coronavirus. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 11, 2020 
Mr. KILMER (for himself, Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER, and Mr. RUTHERFORD) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To provide for unemployment benefits to workers affected 
by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. 
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 ‘‘Coronavirus Worker 
Relief Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS OR DISASTER DEC-
LARATIONS FOR CORONAVIRUS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the definitions in 
section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) shall apply. 
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(b) EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS OR DISASTER DEC-
LARATIONS
FOR 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS.—If the 
President issues an emergency declaration or disaster dec-
laration for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus for a State or 
Indian Tribe under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5191), the emergency declaration or disaster declaration 
shall be deemed to be a major disaster declared by the 
President for the purpose of carrying out section 410 of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 5177). 
(c) ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.—In addi-
tion to the eligibility criteria for individuals established 
under section 410 of Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5177), individ-
uals in an area for which an emergency declaration or dis-
aster declaration for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus de-
scribed in subsection (b) is declared shall be eligible for 
unemployment assistance under such section 410 if— 
(1) the individual has experienced a week of un-
employment in the area with an active emergency 
declaration or disaster declaration for the 2019 
Novel Coronavirus, and as a result of the 2019 
Novel Coronavirus; 
(2) the individual has good cause to voluntarily 
reduce regular work hours or refuse a bona fide 
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enue or income of the employer or business, as 
the case may be, from entities that— 
(i) are located in the area for which 
the emergency declaration or disaster dec-
laration was issued; and 
(ii) were closed by the Federal, State, 
Tribal, or local government in immediate 
response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. 
(d) MINIMUM AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.—The assist-
ance authorized under this section for a week of unemploy-
ment shall be not less than the weekly amount authorized 
under the unemployment compensation law of the State 
for which the emergency declaration or disaster declara-
tion was issued. 
(e) WAIVER OF STATE REQUIREMENTS.—Notwith-
standing State law, for purposes of assistance authorized 
under this section— 
(1) the requirement that an individual be able 
to work, available to work, and actively seeking work 
shall not apply; and 
(2) compensation under section 410 of Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5177) shall be made to an indi-
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vidual otherwise eligible for such compensation with-
out any waiting period. 
Æ 
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