CARES Act

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (2020)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (Public Law 116–136)

2) Why It Was Done
The CARES Act was enacted to provide massive emergency economic and public health relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, including stimulus payments, expanded unemployment benefits, business loans, and hospital funding.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
While past crises had prompted relief packages (e.g., TARP during the 2008 financial crisis), no law of this scale had ever been passed in response to a public health emergency.

Acts

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA, 2020)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (Public Law 116–127)

2) Why It Was Done
The FFCRA was enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide emergency paid sick leave, expanded family and medical leave, and free COVID-19 testing, while also funding nutrition assistance and unemployment programs.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA, 1993) provided unpaid job-protected leave, but did not cover pandemics or paid leave. FFCRA temporarily filled these gaps.

Acts

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA, 2021)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (Public Law 117–2)

2) Why It Was Done
ARPA was enacted to provide continued economic and public health relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding on the CARES Act with more direct payments, extended unemployment aid, and major funding for vaccines, schools, and local governments.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The CARES Act (2020) and follow-up relief bills laid the groundwork. ARPA extended and expanded those programs to address ongoing pandemic impacts.