H.R. 6669House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

COVID–19 Cost Share Adjustment Relief Act of 2020

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:03 PM UTC

The COVID‑19 Cost Share Adjustment Relief Act of 2020 changes the federal cost‑share for disaster assistance related to the pandemic to 100 percent, meaning the federal government will cover all eligible costs. It also broadens the types of activities and expenses that can receive assistance, covering everything from back‑fill wages for essential workers to PPE, medical equipment, virtual services, and alternate care facilities. The changes apply to states, local governments, and qualifying nonprofit organizations that receive disaster aid.

Key Provisions

All assistance provided under the March 13, 2020 COVID‑19 emergency declaration (and any later major disaster declaration that replaces it) will be funded entirely by the federal government – a 100 percent cost‑share.
The President may fund a broad range of activities for states, local governments, and eligible private nonprofits, including: (a) activities already covered under existing Stafford Act sections; (b) back‑fill pay for first responders and essential workers who are sick or quarantined; (c) higher operating costs for essential services, continuity plans, and sheltering of responders; (d) public guidance, call‑center operations, and virtual service platforms; (e) remote testing sites; (f) training related to the pandemic; (g) personal protective equipment and critical supplies; (h) medical equipment for emergency or inpatient care; (i) public‑health costs such as medicines and supplies; and (j) costs to maintain or activate alternate care facilities.
The bill clarifies that these expansions do not make any assistance ineligible that would otherwise qualify under other Stafford Act provisions.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

May 4, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 1, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

May 1, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

May 4, 2020

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 1, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6669

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 1, 2020

Mr. DeFazio (for himself, Mrs. Lowey, Ms. Titus, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, and Mr. Payne) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To modify the Federal cost share of assistance provided under the emergency declaration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, relating to COVID–19, to modify the activities eligible for assistance under such emergency declaration, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the COVID–19 Cost Share Adjustment Relief Act of 2020.

Cost share

Assistance provided under the emergency declaration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, pursuant to section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191(b)), and under any subsequent major disaster declaration under section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) that supersedes such emergency declaration, shall be at a 100 percent Federal cost share.

Clarification of assistance

(a)

In general

For the emergency declared on March 13, 2020, by the President under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191), the President may provide assistance for activities, costs, and purchases of States or local governments or the owners or operators of eligible private nonprofits, including—

(1)

activities eligible for assistance under sections 301, 415, 416, and 426 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5141, 5182, 5183, 5189d);

(2)

backfill costs for first responders and other essential employees who are ill or quarantined;

(3)

increased operating costs for essential government services due to such emergency, including costs for implementing continuity plans, and sheltering or housing for first responders, emergency managers, health providers, and other essential employees;

(4)

costs of providing guidance and information to the public and for call centers to disseminate such guidance and information;

(5)

costs associated with establishing and operating virtual services;

(6)

costs for establishing and operating remote test sites;

(7)

training provided specifically in anticipation of or in response to the event on which such emergency declaration is predicated;

(8)

personal protective equipment and other critical supplies for first responders and other essential employees;

(9)

medical equipment, regardless of whether such equipment is used for emergency or inpatient care;

(10)

public health costs, including provision and distribution of medicine and medical supplies; and

(11)

costs associated with maintaining alternate care facilities or related facilities currently inactive but related to future needs tied to the ongoing pandemic event.

(b)

Major disaster

The activities described in subsection (a) may also be eligible for assistance under any major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) that supersedes the emergency declaration described in such subsection.

(c)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to make ineligible any assistance that would otherwise be eligible under section 403 or 502 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5192).