The third supplemental relief bill, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), was passed by the US House of Representatives in dramatic fashion on Friday, March 27, after several days of partisan—and at times, bitter—negotiations. The $2 trillion package—the largest federal spending package in American history—was passed unanimously by the Senate a few days earlier after several hiccups. Members of both parties rushed back to Washington, DC in anticipation of Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) forcing a recorded vote on the measure because of his insistence on following the “rules.” On Friday, a sufficient number of Members made it back to show a quorum and Massie did not have enough support from Members present to force a recorded vote. After final passage, President Donald Trump signed the bill Friday afternoon, and the House and Senate adjourned until April 20. (Both chambers will have pro forma sessions during the recess at which time bills can be introduced, so there could be additional pieces of pandemic-related legislation introduced in the interim.)
Read our summary of the education provisions in the CARES Act.
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