Congressional Research Service Reports on COVID-19: Federal Assistance
In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a series of reports highlighting the most recent developments related to the virus. The reports cover a range of topics, including global issues, public health, economic impacts on individuals and businesses, as well as Executive and Congressional responses. Furthermore, the reports cover relevant legislation and legal analysis pertaining to the epidemic.
With a focus on federal assistance programs, these reports highlight the following areas:
- Nutritional assistance programs/food programs:
- The Senior Nutrition Programs’ Response to COVID-19 provides information on Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Services Programs that support home-delivered meals for individuals aged 60 and older.
- USDA Domestic Food Assistance Programs’ Response to COVID-19: P.l. 116-127 and Related Efforts examines the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs as a part of emergency response efforts.
2. Financial assistance:
- COVID-19: The Potential Role of TANF in Addressing the Economic Effects covers the extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
- Responding to the COVID-19 Outbreak with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Authorities discusses potential benefits of CDBG as a vehicle for providing financial relief to states and communities.
- COVID-19: The Financial Industry and Consumers Struggling to Pay Bills analyzes policy options that may be available to help individuals who are struggling to pay their bills.
- COVID-19 and Direct Payments to Individuals: Considerations on Using Advanced Refundable Credits as Economic Stimulus highlights the mechanisms behind advances refundable tax credits.
- Similarly, COVID-19 and Stimulus Payments to Individuals: Potential Impacts of Direct Payments on Family Incomes discusses direct payments to boost individual family incomes during this crisis.
- In addition, Unemployment Insurance Provisions in the CARES Act (H.R. 748, as Amended) focuses on benefit eligibility for unemployment insurance under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
For more information on related topics visit the HSDL Featured Topic on Pandemics and Epidemics or view other resources included in our new COVID-19 Special Collection. Please note that an HSDL login is required to view some of these resources.
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