House Democrats Introduce COVID-19 Relief Package Proposal

House Democrats introduced their proposal for the next COVID-19 relief package, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. The over $3 trillion proposal includes several provisions related to higher education, including a $90 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF). SFSF would be distributed to Governors via a formula based upon State population and Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act child count, and, after some small reservations off the top, Governors would then distribute 30 percent of funds to public institutions of higher education (IHEs), 65 percent of funds to K-12 schools, and retain 5 percent of funds for Statewide K-12 and postsecondary education activities.

The House is expected to vote on and pass the HEROES Act on Friday, May 15. The Senate is not planning to consider the bill next week before possibly taking its traditional Memorial Day recess, so the Chamber may respond to the House package, including likely developing its own proposal, potentially sometime in June.

Learn more from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities