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The Covid-19 aid bill, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump late Sunday as part of a $2.3 trillion government spending package, includes monies for entertainment venues, child care facilities and farms, as well as the usual suspects. Here's everything you need to know.
Entertainment Venues
In the measure, $15 billion is set aside for live entertainment venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions.
Farms
According to the bill, $12 billion in aid is included for the agriculture sector, going specifically to rural communities, cattle ranchers and crop farmers.
Child Care
The measure provides $10 billion in funding to child-care providers, and $250 million for the Human Services-run Head Start program.
Covid-19 Tracing and Testing
States and territories will receive $22.4 billion for Covid-19 mitigation efforts, testing and contact tracing, of which $2.5 billion will be issued in grants and provided to communities of color along with rural areas.
Schools
Public and private schools grades K-12, along with colleges, will receive $82 billion, with the split seeing $54.3 billion going to public schools, while $22.7 billion has been set aside for public and private higher learning establishments. The measure sets aside $1.7 billion for historically Black colleges and universities, and Hispanic and Tribal-serving colleges and universities.
Vaccines
Both federal and state agencies will receive funding for vaccine distribution, with $20 billion going toward the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which is responsible for purchasing the vaccines and therapeutics. About $300 million has been set aside for communities of color and high-risk areas.
Unemployment Insurance
The $900 billion in Covid-19 relief funding includes $300 a week in enhanced unemployment insurance through March 14. The agreement also extends two additional unemployment programs through April 4.
Direct Stimulus Payments
Relative to direct payments to Americans (including Virgin Islanders), the amount is $600 per adult and $600 per child. The stimulus payments phase out for individuals making $75,000 annually, and $150,000 for couples.
Businesses
The funding provides $277 billion for small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program, which is the bulk of the $325 billion funding allocated to small businesses as part of the package. Elsewhere in the agreement, $15 billion goes toward airline payroll support.
Banks
Small lenders will receive $12 billion from the bill, funds solely focused on minority and low-income communities.
Airlines
The new bill includes $15 billion aimed at covering airline salaries and benefits through March. The funding paves the way for tens of thousands of airline employees to get back their jobs, though only for a few months.
