The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act (H.R.1319) on February 27, along a party-line vote. The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus proposal will now be taken up in the Senate, where the package will be revised to remove a provision that would increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour. The Senate’s Parliamentarian decided that the minimum wage provision did not comply with the budget reconciliation process being used to pass the package without bipartisan support.

Given the tight deadline to have a relief bill signed into law before March 14, when supplemental unemployment benefits are set to expire, Democrats are opting not to push for an alternative provision to address the minimum wage issue.

However, the big-ticket relief package will still likely include:

• Direct stimulus payments up to $1,400 for individuals
• Extension of pandemic unemployment programs
• Expansion of tax credits for families and for employers who offer paid leave 
• Funding for state & local government aid, testing and vaccine activities, and small business relief programs
• A temporary increase in Medicaid funding to states that expand their programs

Impact on General Dentistry: AGD is closely monitoring the development of additional COVID-19 relief proposals and is advocating for the inclusion of provisions that benefit general dentists, as well as their patients, practices, and staff.