Emergency Aid for Returning Americans Affected by Coronavirus Act

Emergency Aid for Returning Americans Affected by Coronavirus Act This bill increases the maximum amount of funding available in FY2020 for, and revises certain requirements pertaining to, temporary assistance for U.S. citizens and their dependents who are returning from foreign countries due to a crisis and are without available resources. Under current law, the Department of Health and Human Services may provide assistance such as money payments and medical care to these individuals on a temporary basis. In providing temporary assistance during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency declared on January 31, 2020, only certain members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service shall have direct, in-person contact with those receiving assistance. Specifically, they must be uniformed, active-duty members of the Regular Reserve Corps or the Ready Reserve Corps. In addition, they must have received training on infection prevention and control and have access to personal protective equipment.

Congressional Research Service · 2020-07-13