Signed by President Donald Trump

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes appropriations to federal agencies through December 11, 2020, extends several programs, and establishes a continuing resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown that would otherwise occur if the FY2021 appropriations bills have not been enacted when FY2021 begins on October 1, 2020.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $1.4 billion for direct loans and $50 million for guaranteed loans to the Department of Agriculture for rural utility services (Sec. 116).

• Appropriates $1.51 billion to the Department of Commerce for operations necessary to conduct the 2020 Decennial Census Program (Sec. 124).

• Appropriates $13 million to the District of Columbia for federal emergency planning and security costs associated with the presidential inauguration held in January 2021 (Sec. 131).

• Appropriates $8 million to the Office of Administration to provide presidential transition administrative support for offices within the Executive Offices of the President and Vice President (Sec. 136).

• Increases the appropriation to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for the Business Loans Program Account from $15 million to $99 million (Sec. 132).

• Extends Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) flexibilities for COVID-19 and authorizes a state agency to have the option, without prior approval from the Secretary of Agriculture (Sec. 4603):

• To extend certification periods for up to 6 months and adjust requirements for some or all participating households with certification periods set to expire on June 30, 2021;

• To allow household reporting requirements to satisfy the recertification requirements for some or all participating households with recertification periods set to expire on or before December 31, 2021; and

• To adjust the interview requirements for some or all house applications through June 30, 2021.

• Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report containing the following information to the appropriate congressional committees, no later than June 30, 2022 (Sec. 4603):

• A description of any information of data supporting state agency requests and any additional measure that state agencies requested that were not approved by the Secretary of Agriculture;

• An evaluation of the use of all waivers, adjustments, and other flexibilities in the operation of SNAP to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency; and

• A recommendation of any additional waivers or flexibilities needed in the operation of SNAP to respond to public health emergencies with pandemic potential.

• Authorizes appropriations for operations necessary to maintain support activities related to the implementation and maintenance of a veteran’s electronic health record system (Sec. 162).

• Specifies that appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for food and child nutrition services may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to ensure that the program can be fully operational by May 2021 (Sec. 117).

• Specifies that amounts made available for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each department and agency may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid furloughs (Sec. 112).

• Requires a household receive benefits in an amount equal to at least one breakfast and one lunch free of charge for each child enrolled in a covered child care facility for each day that the child does not attend the facility because the facility is closed or operating with reduced attendance or hours (Division D, Sec. Title VI, Sec. 4601).

• Specifies that if the performance or delivery of services procured under a severable service contract by the Library of Congress is delayed or otherwise affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the period for the performance or delivery of services under the contract may be extended for a period equivalent to the delay or suspension of services, but cannot exceed an additional 12 months (Sec. 160).

• Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from using any funds, facilities, or authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation or the Department of Agriculture (Division D, Title VI, Sec. 4604):

• To provide a payment to a refiner or importer; or

• To otherwise support a refiner or importer in meeting any requirements under: 

• The renewable fuel program of the Clean Air Act; or

• Any other provision of law that requires the blending of fossil fuel with renewable fuel.

• Species that the above prohibition does not apply to any payments or support to producers, refiners, or importers of biofuel (Division D, Title VI, Sec. 4604).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes appropriations to federal agencies through December 11, 2020, extends several programs, and establishes a continuing resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown that would otherwise occur if the FY2021 appropriations bills have not been enacted when FY2021 begins on October 1, 2020.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $1.4 billion for direct loans and $50 million for guaranteed loans to the Department of Agriculture for rural utility services (Sec. 116).

• Appropriates $1.51 billion to the Department of Commerce for operations necessary to conduct the 2020 Decennial Census Program (Sec. 124).

• Appropriates $13 million to the District of Columbia for federal emergency planning and security costs associated with the presidential inauguration held in January 2021 (Sec. 131).

• Appropriates $8 million to the Office of Administration to provide presidential transition administrative support for offices within the Executive Offices of the President and Vice President (Sec. 136).

• Increases the appropriation to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for the Business Loans Program Account from $15 million to $99 million (Sec. 132).

• Extends Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) flexibilities for COVID-19 and authorizes a state agency to have the option, without prior approval from the Secretary of Agriculture (Sec. 4603):

• To extend certification periods for up to 6 months and adjust requirements for some or all participating households with certification periods set to expire on June 30, 2021;

• To allow household reporting requirements to satisfy the recertification requirements for some or all participating households with recertification periods set to expire on or before December 31, 2021; and

• To adjust the interview requirements for some or all house applications through June 30, 2021.

• Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report containing the following information to the appropriate congressional committees, no later than June 30, 2022 (Sec. 4603):

• A description of any information of data supporting state agency requests and any additional measure that state agencies requested that were not approved by the Secretary of Agriculture;

• An evaluation of the use of all waivers, adjustments, and other flexibilities in the operation of SNAP to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency; and

• A recommendation of any additional waivers or flexibilities needed in the operation of SNAP to respond to public health emergencies with pandemic potential.

• Authorizes appropriations for operations necessary to maintain support activities related to the implementation and maintenance of a veteran’s electronic health record system (Sec. 162).

• Specifies that appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for food and child nutrition services may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to ensure that the program can be fully operational by May 2021 (Sec. 117).

• Specifies that amounts made available for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each department and agency may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid furloughs (Sec. 112).

• Requires a household receive benefits in an amount equal to at least one breakfast and one lunch free of charge for each child enrolled in a covered child care facility for each day that the child does not attend the facility because the facility is closed or operating with reduced attendance or hours (Division D, Sec. Title VI, Sec. 4601).

• Specifies that if the performance or delivery of services procured under a severable service contract by the Library of Congress is delayed or otherwise affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the period for the performance or delivery of services under the contract may be extended for a period equivalent to the delay or suspension of services, but cannot exceed an additional 12 months (Sec. 160).

• Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from using any funds, facilities, or authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation or the Department of Agriculture (Division D, Title VI, Sec. 4604):

• To provide a payment to a refiner or importer; or

• To otherwise support a refiner or importer in meeting any requirements under: 

• The renewable fuel program of the Clean Air Act; or

• Any other provision of law that requires the blending of fossil fuel with renewable fuel.

• Species that the above prohibition does not apply to any payments or support to producers, refiners, or importers of biofuel (Division D, Title VI, Sec. 4604).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text