Trump signs coronavirus relief package

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump signed a sweeping multibillion-dollar emergency aid package Wednesday night that will provide paid sick leave for Americans who are in quarantine, helping a family member who is infected with COVID-19 or have children whose schools have closed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The bill also offers free testing for coronavirus and boosts unemployment insurance, food assistance and federal funding for Medicaid as part of an ongoing effort by Washington to combat the rapid spread of the pandemic.

”Today, I have signed into law H.R. 6201, the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (the “Act”),” the president said in a statement. “The Act makes emergency supplemental appropriations and other changes to law to help the Nation respond to the coronavirus outbreak.”

Trump noted a provision in the measure that requires the secretary of agriculture to submit a report to Congress that includes legislative recommendations. The president said he would “treat this provision in a manner consistent with Article II, section 3 of the Constitution,” which provides him “exclusive authority” to make recommendations to Congress.

The president signed the bill hours after the Senate approved the bill, which was the result of days of negotiations between the White House and Congress.