A bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program of the Federal Communications Commission for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020.

Bill: 116-s-4794
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-10-01
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Appropriations

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Executive agency funding and structure

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Health technology, devices, supplies

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2020-10-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-10-01
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill provides FY2020 supplemental appropriations to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. </p> <p> Under the program, the FCC provides funding for health care providers to purchase telecommunications services, information services, and devices necessary to provide critical connected care services during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. </p> <p>The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits. </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4794 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 1, 2020 Ms. Smith (for herself and Mr. Rounds ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations A BILL Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the COVID–19 Telehealth Program of the Federal Communications Commission for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020.

1. Supplemental appropriation for COVID–19 Telehealth Program (a) Appropriation There is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, for an additional amount for Federal Communications Commission—Salaries and Expenses , $200,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out the COVID–19 Telehealth Program established in the Report and Order in the matter of COVID–19 Telehealth Program that was adopted by the Federal Communications Commission on March 31, 2020 (FCC 20–44). (b) Emergency designation (1) Designation The amount made available under subsection (a) is designated by Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 ( 2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i) ). (2) Limitation on availability The amount described in paragraph (1) shall be available only if the President subsequently designates the amount as being for an emergency requirement and transmits the designation to Congress.