H.R. 6865 – Home Visiting Resiliency in Pandemics Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:22 PM UTC

The Home Visiting Resiliency in Pandemics Act provides emergency support to families receiving home‑visiting services during the COVID‑19 pandemic. It lets virtual visits count as regular visits, protects program funding and staffing from cuts due to lower enrollment, and expands how funds can be used—covering training, technology for families, emergency supplies, and prepaid debit cards. The bill also lets the Health and Human Services Secretary extend program deadlines and adds $100 million in funding for these efforts.

Key Provisions

Treats a virtual home visit (conducted entirely by electronic means) as a regular home visit for program reporting purposes.
Prohibits reductions in program funding or staffing levels because enrollment drops during the emergency period (Feb 1 2020 – Jan 31 2021).
Allows program funds to be used to train home visitors for virtual visits and emergency‑preparedness planning.
Permits use of funds to help families obtain needed technology (e.g., devices, internet) to support virtual visits.
Authorizes spending on emergency supplies such as diapers, formula, non‑perishable food, water, soap, and sanitizer for families in the program.
Allows provision of prepaid debit cards to eligible families so they can meet urgent needs.
Gives the HHS Secretary authority to extend any deadlines required by the Social Security Act’s home‑visiting provisions, with guidance to funded entities.
Appropriates an additional $100 million, to be spent by Jan 31 2021, for the Secretary of HHS to support these pandemic‑related home‑visiting activities.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

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.

Ways and Means Committee

May 14, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 14, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

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.

Ways and Means Committee

May 14, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 14, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6865

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 14, 2020

Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois (for himself and Ms. Castor of Florida) introduced 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Home Visiting Resiliency in Pandemics Act.

2.

Emergency assistance to families through home visiting programs

(a)

In general

For purposes of section 511 of the Social Security Act, during the period that begins on February 1, 2020, and ends January 31, 2021—

(1)

a virtual home visit shall be considered a home visit;

(2)

funding for, and staffing levels of, a program conducted pursuant to such section shall not be reduced on account of reduced enrollment in the program; and

(3)

funds provided for such a program may be used—

(A)

to train home visitors in conducting a virtual home visit and in emergency preparedness and response planning for families served;

(B)

for the acquisition by families enrolled in the program of such technological means as are needed to conduct and support a virtual home visit;

(C)

to provide emergency supplies (such as diapers, formula, non-perishable food, water, hand soap and hand sanitizer) to families served; and

(D)

to provide prepaid debit cards to an eligible family (as defined in section 511(k)(2) of such Act) for the purpose of enabling the family to meet the emergency needs of the family.

(b)

Virtual home visit defined

In subsection (a), the term virtual home visit means a visit that is conducted solely by electronic means.

(c)

Authority To delay deadlines

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services may extend the deadline by which a requirement of section 511 of the Social Security Act must be met, by such period of time as the Secretary deems appropriate.

(2)

Guidance

The Secretary shall provide to eligible entities funded under section 511 of the Social Security Act information on the parameters used in extending a deadline under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(d)

Supplemental appropriation

In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $100,000,000, to enable eligible entities to conduct programs funded under section 511 of the Social Security Act pursuant to this section, which shall remain available for obligation not later than January 31, 2021.