WASHINGTON DC (June 30, 2020) – On Monday, June 29, the Senate by unanimous consent passed the Emergency Aid for Returning Americans Affected by Coronavirus Act authored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles "Chuck" Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The legislation temporarily raises the cap for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) repatriation program from $1 million to $10 million to ensure adequate funding is available to help those who have recently been brought back to the US as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes language designed to ensure only those with proper training and personal-protective equipment engage directly with those repatriated due to COVID-19.
“Helping our fellow Americans who’ve returned to the United States is a critical responsibility of the federal government. The current global health-crisis has made it necessary to repatriate thousands of people, and we ought to make sure the resources are there to help individuals and families in the short-term so they can get back on their feet. Our bill does just that,” Sen Grassley said.
"Without Congressional action, thousands of Americans brought back to the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be left without the help they need," Sen Wyden said. "This much-needed additional funding will make sure these families receive the resources promised to help them transition back to life in our country."
HHS can provide temporary aid such as housing and basic assistance to certain repatriated US citizens and dependents who are (1) without available resources and (2) identified by the Department of State as having returned (or been brought) from a foreign country because the citizen was destitute, ill, or because of war, threat of war, invasion, or a similar crisis. The funding for this repatriation program is capped at $1 million per year and usually serves less than 1,000 people annually. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, however, the US Department of State has helped over 99,000 Americans return to the United States.
Given the large number of US citizens repatriated due to COVID-19 who can apply for assistance under the repatriation program, HHS' ability to serve these repatriated Americans is threatened unless Congress provides additional funding. The Emergency Aid for Returning Americans Affected by Coronavirus Act would lift the repatriation funding cap to $10 million to allow HHS to serve more repatriated Americans.
A copy of the bill text is available HERE.
