COVID–19 International Response and Recovery Act of 2020
Key claim: The bill would establish a U.S. strategy and funding framework for international pandemic response, create a White House Global Health Security Advisor, and automatically extend expiring noncitizen employment authorizations and immigration statuses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract
(S3669 · 116th Congress) COVID-19 International Response and Recovery Act of 2020 This bill addresses the role of the United States in the global response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) and future pandemics. Specifically, the bill authorizes measures to facilitate the repatriation of U.S. nationals who are abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also provides support for international organizations, including through (1) providing payments to organizations that address global humanitarian needs, and (2) advocating for the establishment of a World Bank Trust Fund to aid countries responding to epidemics and pandemics. Further, the bill establishes measures related to refugee, humanitarian, and migration matters during the pandemic, such as those facilitating humanitarian assistance to countries affected by COVID-19, addressing threats to women and girls, and restricting deportation of foreign nationals. The bill establishes leadership roles for the U.S. Agency for International Development, the State Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should an infectious disease with pandemic potential break out outside the United States. The bill also creates the role of Special Advisor to the President for Global Health Security, who shall coordinate the U.S. response to global health security emergencies. Further, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to automatically extend certain immigration-related statuses, such as employment authorizations, that would otherwise expire during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also allows a Peace Corps volunteer whose period of service was terminated due to COVID-19 to file for pandemic-related unemployment benefits. Latest action (2020-05-07): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Why this matters
The bill would have helped affected noncitizens maintain work authorization and immigration status during the COVID-19 pandemic through automatic extensions. These provisions were part of a broader international pandemic-response proposal, but the bill did not advance beyond committee referral and did not change immigration protections.