At the time the legislation was enacted, more than 50,000 Americans had died from the virus and the pandemic had caused major economic damage, with 26 million people (about 20% of U.S. workers) filing for unemployment assistance over the preceding five weeks. The bill is referred to as "Phase 3.5" of Congress's coronavirus response. It followed the first three phases: phase one "was an $8.3 billion bill spurring coronavirus vaccine research and development" (the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020), which was signed into law on March 6, 2020. The second phase was "an approximately $104 billion package largely focused on paid sick leave and unemployment benefits for workers and families" (the Families First Coronavirus Response Act), which had been enacted March 18, 2020. Phase three was the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"), a $2 trillion aid bill that provided checks to many Americans and forgivable loans to small businesses, signed into law on March 27, 2020.
The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act is referred to as "Phase 3.5" as it includes "interim" funding that replenishes one of the programs established by the CARES Act (Phase 3). The CARES Act created the $349-billion Paycheck Protection Program, which provided low-interest loans to small businesses that were forgivable if they maintained their employees and payroll. The $349 billion was fully allocated within 13 days. During those 13 days, 1.6 million loans were approved by nearly 5,000 banks and other lenders.
Senate Democrats wanted to add $250 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program. Senate Republicans wanted for some of the funding be set aside for rural and minority-owned small businesses. Senate Democrats also wanted to add funding for disaster assistance loans and grants, for hospitals, and for states and municipalities. Senate Democrats also wanted a 15-percent increase in the size of benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The version of the bill passed by the Senate included the expanded funding for rural and minority communities, for SBA disaster funding, and the money for hospitals and testing, but it did not include more funding for state and local governments, nor the increased SNAP benefits.
Provisions of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act include the following.
Pramuk, Jacob (April 21, 2020). "Senate passes $484 billion coronavirus bill for small business and hospital relief, testing". CNBC. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-senate-passes-484-billion-small-business-relief-bill.html
Hayes, Christal. "Senate approves measure to replenish halted coronavirus small-business loan program". USA Today. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/21/coronavirus-congress-reaches-deal-replenish-small-business-program/5151695002/
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"H.R.266 - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act: All Actions". 116th Congress, Congress.gov. Retrieved April 24, 2020. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/266/all-actions?overview=closed&KWICView=false
Egan, Lauren (April 24, 2020). "Trump signs coronavirus aid bill as tensions rise over next one". NBC News. Retrieved April 24, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-expected-sign-interim-coronavirus-bill-tensions-rise-over-next-n1191711
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Chavez, Aida (April 22, 2020). "PROGRESSIVE GROUPS ARE OUTRAGED WITH "PATHETIC" CORONAVIRUS DEAL. CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS ARE DOING LITTLE TO IMPROVE IT". The Intercept. Retrieved April 25, 2020. https://theintercept.com/2020/04/22/coronavirus-stimulus-pelosi-phase35-democrats/
Segers, Grace; Becket, Stefan; Cook, Sara (March 18, 2020). "Trump signs coronavirus relief bill ensuring paid leave as White House eyes "phase 3"". CBS News. Retrieved April 25, 2020. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-senate-vote-house-phase-two-bill-response/
Nilsen, Ella; Zhou, Li (March 17, 2020). "What we know about Congress' potential $1 trillion coronavirus stimulus package". Vox. New York City: Vox Media. Retrieved March 22, 2020. https://www.vox.com/2020/3/17/21183846/congress-coronavirus-stimulus-package
Treene, Alayna (April 21, 2020). "Senate passes $484 billion interim coronavirus funding bill". Axios. Retrieved April 25, 2020. https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-interim-funding-deal-white-house-congress-6847e60b-b194-455f-86de-9e28b5b9945f.html
Cochrane, Emily (April 21, 2020). "Senate Approves Aid for Small-Business Loan Program, Hospitals and Testing". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/21/us/politics/congress-business-relief-ppp.html
Pramuk, Jacob (April 21, 2020). "Senate passes $484 billion coronavirus bill for small business and hospital relief, testing". CNBC. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-senate-passes-484-billion-small-business-relief-bill.html
Turner, Trish; Khan, Mariam; Siegel, Benjamin (April 21, 2020). "Democrats claim victory getting Senate to pass money for hospitals, testing in $484B small business relief package". ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/schumer-deal-reached-small-business-funding-includes-national/story?id=70263442
Pramuk, Jacob (April 21, 2020). "Senate passes $484 billion coronavirus bill for small business and hospital relief, testing". CNBC. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-senate-passes-484-billion-small-business-relief-bill.html
Pramuk, Jacob (April 21, 2020). "Senate passes $484 billion coronavirus bill for small business and hospital relief, testing". CNBC. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/21/coronavirus-senate-passes-484-billion-small-business-relief-bill.html
Hayes, Christal. "Senate approves measure to replenish halted coronavirus small-business loan program". USA Today. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/21/coronavirus-congress-reaches-deal-replenish-small-business-program/5151695002/
Cochrane, Emily (April 21, 2020). "Senate Approves Aid for Small-Business Loan Program, Hospitals and Testing". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/21/us/politics/congress-business-relief-ppp.html
Foran, Clare; Byrd, Haley; Raju, Manu (April 23, 2020). "House approves $480 billion package to help small businesses and hospitals, expand Covid-19 testing". CNN. Retrieved April 23, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/23/politics/house-vote-small-business-aid-vote/index.html
Scott Wong, The five lawmakers who voted against $484B in coronavirus relief, The Hill (April 23, 2020). https://thehill.com/homenews/house/494419-the-five-lawmakers-who-voted-against-484b-in-coronavirus-relief
Scott Wong, The five lawmakers who voted against $484B in coronavirus relief, The Hill (April 23, 2020). https://thehill.com/homenews/house/494419-the-five-lawmakers-who-voted-against-484b-in-coronavirus-relief
Egan, Lauren (April 24, 2020). "Trump signs coronavirus aid bill as tensions rise over next one". NBC News. Retrieved April 24, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-expected-sign-interim-coronavirus-bill-tensions-rise-over-next-n1191711
Carl Hulse, McConnell Says States Should Consider Bankruptcy, Rebuffing Calls for Aid, New York Times (April 22, 2020). https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/us/coronavirus-mcconnell-states-bankruptcy.html
Jeremy Chisenhall, 'Pass the law, I dare you.' Andrew Cuomo blasts Kentucky’s McConnell again over money, Lexington Herald-Leader (April 24, 2010). https://www.kentucky.com/news/coronavirus/article242268376.html
Sherwood, Zachary; Lee, Brandon (April 24, 2020). "What to Know in Washington: Congress Turns to Next Stimulus Bill". Bloomberg Government. Bloomberg LP. https://about.bgov.com/news/what-to-know-in-washington-congress-turns-to-next-stimulus-bill/
Carl Hulse, McConnell Says States Should Consider Bankruptcy, Rebuffing Calls for Aid, New York Times (April 22, 2020). https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/us/coronavirus-mcconnell-states-bankruptcy.html
Carl Hulse, McConnell Says States Should Consider Bankruptcy, Rebuffing Calls for Aid, New York Times (April 22, 2020). https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/us/coronavirus-mcconnell-states-bankruptcy.html
Phillip M. Bailey, Mitch McConnell takes a risk igniting firestorm with governors over COVID-19 aid, Louisville Courier Journal (April 23, 2020). https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/23/mitch-mcconnell-ignites-firestorm-governors-over-covid-19-aid/3012256001/
Associated Press, Trump Signs $484 Billion Measure to Aid Employers, Hospitals, Associated Press (April 24, 2020). https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/04/24/business/bc-us-virus-outbreak-congress.html
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"H.R.266 - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act". 116th Congress. Retrieved April 23, 2020. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/266/text
Hearn, Curtis R.; Horton, William W.; Johnsen, R. Christian; Maxwell, Meredith Guthrie (April 22, 2020). "Senate Passes Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act". National Law Review. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/senate-passes-paycheck-protection-program-and-health-care-enhancement-act
"H.R.266 - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act". 116th Congress. Retrieved April 23, 2020. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/266/text
Appleman, Thomas G.; LaBine, Jeffrey L.; Walawender, Richard A. (April 23, 2020). "Increased Funding for Paycheck Protection Program Loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Emergency Grants". Miller Canfield PLC. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=a722dc1f-06f8-4fe1-954b-11ce1e1a1f76
"H.R.266 - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act". 116th Congress. Retrieved April 23, 2020. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/266/text
Hayes, Christal. "Senate approves measure to replenish halted coronavirus small-business loan program". USA Today. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/21/coronavirus-congress-reaches-deal-replenish-small-business-program/5151695002/
"H.R.266 - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act". 116th Congress. Retrieved April 23, 2020. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/266/text
Hearn, Curtis R.; Horton, William W.; Johnsen, R. Christian; Maxwell, Meredith Guthrie (April 22, 2020). "Senate Passes Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act". National Law Review. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/senate-passes-paycheck-protection-program-and-health-care-enhancement-act
"H.R.266 - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act". 116th Congress. Retrieved April 23, 2020. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/266/text
Egan, Lauren; Tsirkin, Julie (April 21, 2020). "Congress reaches deal on coronavirus relief bill, which Trump is expected to sign". NBC News. Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/schumer-says-there-deal-money-small-businesses-hospitals-testing-n1188716
"H.R.266 - Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act". 116th Congress. Retrieved April 23, 2020. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/266/text
"Money? What Money? Is It Time to Give Your Money Back? Updates to the PPP and the FAQ’s". Lowenstein Sandler LLP. JDSUPRA. April 24, 2020. https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/money-what-money-is-it-time-to-give-16587/