Home Visiting Resiliency in Pandemics Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 6865 To provide emergency assistance to families through home visiting programs in response to the COVID–19 pandemic. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 14, 2020 Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois (for himself and Ms. CASTOR of Florida) in- troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide emergency assistance to families through home visiting programs in response to the COVID–19 pandemic. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Home Visiting Resil- 4 iency in Pandemics Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 15:47 Jun 03, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6865.IH H6865 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6865 IH SEC. 2. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES THROUGH 1 HOME VISITING PROGRAMS. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of section 511 of the 3 Social Security Act, during the period that begins on Feb- 4 ruary 1, 2020, and ends January 31, 2021— 5 (1) a virtual home visit shall be considered a 6 home visit; 7 (2) funding for, and staffing levels of, a pro- 8 gram conducted pursuant to such section shall not 9 be reduced on account of reduced enrollment in the 10 program; and 11 (3) funds provided for such a program may be 12 used— 13 (A) to train home visitors in conducting a 14 virtual home visit and in emergency prepared- 15 ness and response planning for families served; 16 (B) for the acquisition by families enrolled 17 in the program of such technological means as 18 are needed to conduct and support a virtual 19 home visit; 20 (C) to provide emergency supplies (such as 21 diapers, formula, non-perishable food, water, 22 hand soap and hand sanitizer) to families 23 served; and 24 (D) to provide prepaid debit cards to an el- 25 igible family (as defined in section 511(k)(2) of 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 15:47 Jun 03, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6865.IH H6865 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 6865 IH such Act) for the purpose of enabling the family 1 to meet the emergency needs of the family. 2 (b) VIRTUAL HOME VISIT DEFINED.—In subsection 3 (a), the term ‘‘virtual home visit’’ means a visit that is 4 conducted solely by electronic means. 5 (c) AUTHORITY TO DELAY DEADLINES.— 6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 7 Human Services may extend the deadline by which 8 a requirement of section 511 of the Social Security 9 Act must be met, by such period of time as the Sec- 10 retary deems appropriate. 11 (2) GUIDANCE.—The Secretary shall provide to 12 eligible entities funded under section 511 of the So- 13 cial Security Act information on the parameters 14 used in extending a deadline under paragraph (1) of 15 this subsection. 16 (d) SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.—In addition 17 to amounts otherwise appropriated, out of any money in 18 the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appro- 19 priated, there are appropriated to the Secretary of Health 20 and Human Services $100,000,000, to enable eligible enti- 21 ties to conduct programs funded under section 511 of the 22 Social Security Act pursuant to this section, which shall 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 15:47 Jun 03, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6865.IH H6865 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 6865 IH remain available for obligation not later than January 31, 1 2021. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 15:47 Jun 03, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H6865.IH H6865 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS