Children's Defense Fund

The Senate coronavirus relief bill: What it means for children.

John,

We know that during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, your first priority is to keep your family safe and stable. Our first priority is to make that easier for all families across the country.

That’s why we want to share what we know about the next piece of relief legislation moving through Congress—and what we’re still fighting for them to take on.

Late last night, the Senate passed a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package that represents an important step toward helping to meet the needs of children and families, the health care system, and states incurring huge new costs in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The package includes many provisions which will begin to help ease the burdens of this crisis for millions of children and families across the country, including:

Putting money directly in the hands of low- and middle-income earners with one time cash payments of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child
Supporting families facing housing insecurity with grants for homelessness assistance, an increase in funding to support low-income renters, and protections against foreclosures and evictions
Providing temporary shelter and services to youth experiencing homelessness
Making sure that as this crisis continues and more families qualify for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), they can access it
Providing child care assistance to essential personnel responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in communities and some assistance to other child care providers impacted by the crisis
Supporting local school systems and higher education institutions so that they can continue to provide high-quality education for their students
Safeguarding children by extending services to prevent maltreatment and assist victims of family violence
Extending the benefits of unemployment insurance for those whose jobs have been impacted

While this is a step in the right direction—and we are urging the House of Representatives to approve it—the bill falls short of meeting the needs of all children and families, particularly the most vulnerable. It also glaringly fails to ensure that all families, regardless of their immigration status, can access these vital supports.

Congress’ work is therefore not finished, and neither is ours. We will keep fighting for passage of robust policies to help the children and families who need it most, and we will continue to keep you informed along the way.

Wishing you health and safety,

Kathleen King

Interim Policy Director

P.S. The fight for children and families is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that has never been more true than during this crisis. Please consider committing to a monthly donation today to support this ongoing work.