More Coronavirus Relief, Plus Beefed-Up Security for Technology, the Elderly, and Children Born to U.S. Citizens Serving Overseas

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (HR 748) – This legislation provided $2 trillion of stimulus relief in response to the coronavirus crisis. Provisions of the bill include:

• $1,200 for each American making up to $75,000 a year
• Additional $600 a week in unemployment benefits for up to four months
• $100 billion available for hospitals and health providers; increase Medicare reimbursements for treating COVID-19
• $750 million for food banks and food assistance to American Indian reservations, Puerto Rico and other territories
• $500 billion in loans or investments to businesses, states, and municipalities
• $32 billion in grants to the airline industry
• Relief for homeowners with federally backed mortgages
• Delay for student loan payments

This bipartisan bill was signed into law by the president on March 27.

Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020 (S 893) – Sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), this bill authorizes the development of a strategy to secure and protect next-generation mobile telecommunications (5G) and future generations systems and infrastructure within the United States. These protections should include assistance via mutual defense treaty allies, strategic partners, and other countries to maximize security and operations, as well as protect U.S. competitiveness, consumer privacy and the integrity of regulatory bodies. The bill was introduced on March 27, 2019, and signed into law on March 23, 2020.

Broadband DATA Act (S 1822) – Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced this legislation on June 12, 2019, and it was enacted by the president on March 23, 2020. The Act mandates that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) change the way broadband data is collected, verified, and reported. Going forward, the FCC must collect and distribute broadband maps from wired, fixed-wireless, satellite, and mobile broadband providers by establishing the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (a dataset of geocoded information for all broadband service locations) as the centralized vehicle for reporting broadband service availability data.

Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 (HR 4344) – This bill supports programs relating to care for the elderly, as administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor. It reauthorizes funding through the fiscal year 2024 for informational services, such as pension counseling; nutritional services, such as meal delivery; disease prevention and health promotion services; community and workforce training for elder care; promotion of independent living and the reduction of social isolation for the elderly; as well as prevention services for abuse and neglect. The bill was introduced by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) on September 16, 2019, and signed into law by the president on March 25, 2020.

Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act (HR 4803) – This bill was introduced on October 23, 2019, by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). In an effort to clarify a rule change initiated by the Trump Administration, this bipartisan legislation guarantees citizenship for anyone born to a U.S. citizen parent stationed overseas, including military members and federal workers. The new law does not apply to children born to non-U.S. citizens stationed overseas working in a role on behalf of the United States.

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