House passes corrected coronavirus bill

The House on Monday evening passed for the second time legislation to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus after technical corrections were made to the measure.

The bill initially passed in a 363-40 vote in the early hours of Saturday morning, but due to a technicality that could not be fixed administratively, it had to be brought back to the floor.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) called for the changes to be read on the House floor, according to aides representing both parties, leaving some questioning when it would be sent to the Senate.

The bill includes language that would ensure that workers can take paid sick or family leave, increase unemployment insurance, and guarantee that all Americans can get free diagnostic testing for the coronavirus.

The updated bill included changes that would only allocate paid family and medical leave to parents whose minor children’s care facilities or schools are shut down due to the virus.

It also changed language to clarify that the “mandated benefit given to employees can not exceed the tax credit employers receive,” that the tax credits fully reimburse employers for healthcare premiums for employees on leave due to the illness, and that employees “at qualifying companies will not get 10 additional days of paid sick leave — they will be ensured 10 total,” according to a source with knowledge of the revisions. 

Its initial passage last week came after uncertainty over whether Democrats could strike a deal with the administration, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin negotiating for days due to GOP concerns over the impact of costs on small businesses and ensuring that no taxpayer funds can be used for abortion.

They were ultimately able to strike a bipartisan deal the president was willing to support.

The bill could pass the upper chamber as soon as Tuesday.