COVID–19 International Response and Recovery Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3669
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-05-07 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Africa
African Development Foundation
Air quality
Animal and plant health
Appropriations
Asia
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Caribbean area
Child health
China
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Community life and organization
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Department of State
Detention of persons
Digital media
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Disaster relief and insurance
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency communications systems
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Environmental health
Europe
European Union
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Family planning and birth control
Federal officials
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign labor
Foreign loans and debt
Gaza Strip
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
HIV/AIDS
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Inter-American Foundation
International exchange and broadcasting
International monetary system and foreign exchange
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Iran
Latin America
Medical education
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mexico
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Multilateral development programs
National and community service
News media and reporting
North Korea
Peace Corps
Performance measurement
Protest and dissent
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Racial and ethnic relations
Reconstruction and stabilization
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Russia
Sanctions
Scientific communication
Sex and reproductive health
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Sexually transmitted diseases
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Sudan
Travel and tourism
U.S. Agency for Global Media
Unemployment
United Nations
Venezuela
Violent crime
Visas and passports
West Bank
Women's health
Women's rights
Worker safety and health
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-07
text: 

COVID-19 International Response and Recovery Act of 2020

 
This bill addresses the role of the United States in the global response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) and future pandemics.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes measures to facilitate the repatriation of U.S. nationals who are abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The bill also provides support for international organizations, including through (1) providing payments to organizations that address global humanitarian needs, and (2) advocating for the establishment of a World Bank Trust Fund to aid countries responding to epidemics and pandemics.
 
Further, the bill establishes measures related to refugee, humanitarian, and migration matters during the pandemic, such as those facilitating humanitarian assistance to countries affected by COVID-19, addressing threats to women and girls, and restricting deportation of foreign nationals.
 
The bill establishes leadership roles for the U.S. Agency for International Development, the State Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should an infectious disease with pandemic potential break out outside the United States. The bill also creates the role of Special Advisor to the President for Global Health Security, who shall coordinate the U.S. response to global health security emergencies.
 
Further, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to automatically extend certain immigration-related statuses, such as employment authorizations, that would otherwise expire during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The bill also allows a Peace Corps volunteer whose period of service was terminated due to COVID-19 to file for pandemic-related unemployment benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-05-07
text: Introduced in Senate