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Do You Really Have Time To Read & Understand The Heroes Act?
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According to LexisNexis, the legislative outlook indicates there is a high chance of passage of 116 H.R. 6800, The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or The Heroes Act, introduced in the House on May 12, 2020, which exceeds 1,800 pages or 300,000 words. This would take the average reader, preferably a lawyer, about 38 hours to read! Unless your job is to read this bill, you will never read it from start to finish in your lifetime. But you can check out the links below.
What is The Heroes Act?
Its purpose is “making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020″ and for other purposes.” The “for other purposes” phrase allows portions of $3 trillion dollars to be spent in ways that do not clearly appear to be “emergencies” related to the new coronavirus pandemic, or COVID-19.
How will I understand how the Heroes Act is Organized and How Billions of Dollars will be Spent?
There are a lot of resources on this topic and many institutions or individuals have taken a stab at summarizing the Heroes Act. Some summaries are more objective or complete than others, and objectivity is what we strive for. Below are some example links (this is not an endorsement) to kick off your research as well as Committee Referrals and Legislative Activity.
https://www.nhpco.org/wp-content/uploads/Heroes-Act-Health-Summary.pdf
https://www.foley.com/en/insights/publications/2020/05/the-top-10-takeaways-of-the-heroes-act
Committee Referrals:
| May 12, 2020 | Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned |
Legislative Chronology:
2nd Session Activity:
| May 12, 2020 | Introduced in House |
| May 12, 2020 | Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. |
| May 14, 2020 | Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 967 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H. Res. 965 and H.R. 6800. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. Rule provides for one hour of debate on H. Res. 965 and two hours of debate on H.R. 6800. |
| May 15, 2020 | Rule H. Res. 967 passed House. |
| May 15, 2020 | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 967. (consideration: CR H2042-2253) |
| May 15, 2020 | Rule provides for consideration of H. Res. 965 and H.R. 6800. Measures will be considered read. Bills are closed to amendments. Rule provides for one hour of debate on H. Res. 965 and two hours of debate on H.R. 6800. |
| May 15, 2020 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with two hours of debate on H.R. 6800. |
| May 15, 2020 | The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. |
| May 15, 2020 | Mr. Riggleman moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Ways and Means. (text: CR H2253) |
| May 15, 2020 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Riggleman motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to strike in subtitle A of title I of division B, section 20102 pertaining to Individuals Providing Taxpayer Identification Numbers Taken into Account in Determining Credit and Rebates. |
| May 15, 2020 | The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. |
| May 15, 2020 | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule 19 further proceedings on H.R. 6800 were postponed. |
| May 15, 2020 | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2254-2255) |
| May 15, 2020 | On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 198 – 209 (Roll no. 108). |
| May 15, 2020 | On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 – 199 (Roll No. 109). (text: CR H2042-2220) |
| May 15, 2020 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| May 20, 2020 | Received in the Senate. |
| May 21, 2020 | Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. |
| June 1, 2020 | Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 455. |
| July 23, 2020 | Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. |
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