More Details for Planners on the Federal Stimulus Package

Planetizen coverage of the federal stimulus package focused on initial reports about funding for public transit and housing relief shortly included in the package approved by the Senate on March 25.

With the House of Representatives approving the package on Friday, more details are available about the portions of the package that will be relevant to the efforts of planners to provide relief during the economic and public health crises of the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 26, the Planners' Advocacy Network of the American Planning Association (APA Advocates) hosted a virtual discussion to react to the stimulus bill, which you watch above. On March 27, APA Advocates posted a Twitter thread with specific information about the provisions included in the stimulus package.

The U.S. House of Representatives is preparing to vote on the CARES Act, which will provide communities with immediate #Coronavirus relief. Here's everything planners need to know. #CARESact

thread below (1/16)

— APAadvocates (@APAadvocates) March 27, 2020

On March 25, the International Economic Development posted a pdf that lists the specific provisions in the bill designed to support the economy and ease the burden of the pandemic for families and workers.

For a higher level perspective on the bill, see also analysis by Kelsey Snell, for NPR, which breaks down the bill's spending by group: 1) 560 billion for individuals, $500 billion for big corporations, $377 billion for small businesses, $339.8 billion for state and local governments, $153.5 billion for public health, $43.7 billion for education/other, and $26 billion for the safety net.

The approved bill will be known as the CARES Act, short for the the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.