Surprises await under the 'Christmas tree' Covid-19 relief bill | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
October 03, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2023
Surprises await under the 'Christmas tree' Covid-19 relief bill

Coronavirus chronicle

Reuters
22 December, 2020, 10:25 am
Last modified: 22 December, 2020, 10:46 am

Related News

  • Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 bill wins final approval in House
  • Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 package clears procedural vote in US House
  • Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue plan clears crucial Senate hurdle
  • Senate delays debate on Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 bill while it is read aloud
  • UK's Sunak to raise business tax to pay for Covid-19 support: The Sunday Times

Surprises await under the 'Christmas tree' Covid-19 relief bill

Like any Christmas tree, the bill serves as cover for any number of goodies and surprises

Reuters
22 December, 2020, 10:25 am
Last modified: 22 December, 2020, 10:46 am
FILE PHOTO: "Grief holds her covered face against the shoulder of History and weeps in mourning" as depicted at the Peace Monument in front of the US Capitol in Washington, US, March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: "Grief holds her covered face against the shoulder of History and weeps in mourning" as depicted at the Peace Monument in front of the US Capitol in Washington, US, March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

The 5,593-page bill poised to pass the US Congress on Monday provides plenty of coronavirus aid. It also ensures that you will not go to prison for transporting water chestnut plants across state lines.

After months of inaction, Congress has rolled coronavirus aid, federal government funding and a grab bag of miscellaneous provisions into one massive year-end piece of legislation - called a "Christmas tree" in Washington parlance.

The bill was so unwieldy that it caused congressional computers to malfunction, delaying publication for several hours on Monday, according to Republican Senator John Thune.

US House passes $892 billion coronavirus relief package; Senate to vote

Along with $900 billion in coronavirus aid - the second-largest stimulus package in US history - the bill also funds the government through September 2021, at a cost of $1.4 trillion.

It also extends a hodgepodge of tax breaks for NASCAR auto-racing tracks, craft distillers and other interests that would have otherwise expired at the end of the year.

And like any Christmas tree, the bill serves as cover for any number of goodies and surprises. Among them:

Two New Smithsonian Museums

The bill establishes two new Smithsonian Institution museums: a Women's History Museum and a National Museum of the American Latino. They would join other Smithsonian museums that draw millions of visitors to showcase locations along Washington's National Mall.

Locations for the museums are not specified, but several parcels of land along the National Mall are mentioned.

Repealing Unenforced Crimes

The bill repeals nine criminal laws that are rarely, if ever, enforced.

People who transport water hyacinths, alligator grass or water chestnut plants across state lines also would no longer face up to six months in prison.

Motorists who put bogus theft-prevention decals on their cars would no longer face fines of up to $1,000.

Likewise, those who misused certain emblems - the US Forest Service's "Smokey Bear" and "Woodsy Owl" characters, the Interior Department's Golden Eagle insignia, the 4-H Club emblem, and the Swiss Confederation's coat of arms - would no longer face jail time. People who use those symbols could still face civil lawsuits.

Horse Racing Safety

The bill sets up an anti-doping program for horse racing, along with a new racetrack safety program, which would be handled by an independent body.

Daycare Expenses

The bill allows parents to carry over unused childcare and healthcare funds they had deposited in tax-advantaged Flexible Spending Accounts into next year. Many daycare facilities have shut down during the pandemic, and access to voluntary health procedures like plastic surgery has also been limited at times.

E-cigarettes

Requires the US Postal Service to prohibit mailing e-cigarettes.

Plum Island

The bill blocks the planned sale of Plum Island, a former federal research facility off the eastern tip of New York's Long Island that had been due to be auctioned off. Environmentalists have opposed the sale of the island, which is considered a prime wildlife habitat.

Top News / World+Biz

Covid-19 relief bill / Covid-19 bill / coronavirus relief deal / coronavirus relief / Coronavirus relief package

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Cenbank finally moves to make money costlier to fight inflation
    Cenbank finally moves to make money costlier to fight inflation
  • U.S. Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    Hopes for $30b reserve by June amid concerns to meet IMF threshold
  • 5.3 magnitude earthquake jolts Bangladesh
    5.3 magnitude earthquake jolts Bangladesh

MOST VIEWED

  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    Why Bangladesh’s reserves tumble, Sri Lanka’s improve
  • Big drops in remittance, exports make reserves struggle harsher
    Big drops in remittance, exports make reserves struggle harsher
  • No source tax can be deducted from IT freelancing sector: Cenbank
    No source tax can be deducted from IT freelancing sector: Cenbank
  • Illustration: TBS
    Why do Bangladeshi universities fare so poorly in global rankings?
  • File Photo: PMO
    PM to inaugurate 4 mega projects this month
  • Shahjahan Bhuiyan’s parents and two out of his three siblings passed away when he was behind bars. He missed all the funerals.  
Photo: Nayem Ali
    Hangman Shahjahan Bhuiyan: Life after 60 executions and 44 years in prison

Related News

  • Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 bill wins final approval in House
  • Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 package clears procedural vote in US House
  • Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue plan clears crucial Senate hurdle
  • Senate delays debate on Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 bill while it is read aloud
  • UK's Sunak to raise business tax to pay for Covid-19 support: The Sunday Times

Features

The Dassler brothers before the fallout. Rudolf (left) and Adi (right). At the center is track and field athlete Josef Waitzer who helped the brothers make Dassler shoes in the beginning. Photo credit: Adi & Käthe Dassler Memorial Foundation

Adidas and Puma: How a sibling rivalry gave rise to two giants of the sports world

11h | Features
Photo: Collected

Simply Khulna: When food packs a punch

17h | Food
Photo: Collected

Where did hamburgers come from?

17h | Food
Shahjahan Bhuiyan’s parents and two out of his three siblings passed away when he was behind bars. He missed all the funerals.  
Photo: Nayem Ali

Hangman Shahjahan Bhuiyan: Life after 60 executions and 44 years in prison

22h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Ukraine is preparing for uninterrupted power supply in winter

Ukraine is preparing for uninterrupted power supply in winter

11h | TBS World
Everything about the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 stadiums: Part 2

Everything about the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 stadiums: Part 2

9h | TBS SPORTS
Without ‘big brothers’, many actresses would go hungry - Zayed Khan

Without ‘big brothers’, many actresses would go hungry - Zayed Khan

10h | TBS Entertainment
Remittances fall to lowest in 41 months, export growth also declining

Remittances fall to lowest in 41 months, export growth also declining

16h | TBS Economy
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]