New House Pandemic Relief Bill Includes Cannabis Banking Provisions

Democrats in the House of Representatives on Monday unveiled a new bill to address the ongoing economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill, a pared-down version of the HEROES Act passed by the body earlier this year, continues support for cannabis banking provisions as it seeks to provide relief to American workers, families, businesses, and schools.

In May, the House approved the HEROES Act to continue the nation’s response to the pandemic, but the Senate balked at the $4.4 billion price tag and declined to consider the measure. The new version of the bill, at $2.2 billion, was released by Democrats on Monday in an effort to restart failed talks with Republicans in the Senate and the Trump administration.

“Democrats are making good on our promise to compromise with this updated bill, which is necessary to address the immediate health and economic crisis facing America’s working families right now,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a letter to fellow Democrats. “We have been able to make critical additions and reduce the cost of the bill by shortening the time covered for now.”