A deal on a coronavirus stimulus package finally emerged Sunday night as Congress hammered out what’s expected to be a $900 billion aid bill. It will be the first major pandemic relief measure to reach the president’s desk since March.
The massive relief bill is expected to include a $600 direct payment to Americans; $300 a week in emergency unemployment benefits; an extension of eviction protections; the suspension of student loan payments; additional loans for small businesses; and added funding for food assistance, child care support and coronavirus testing centers and vaccine distribution.
A final vote is expected later today.
According to Democratic leaders, the package will also include an end to so-called surprise billing for emergency and scheduled health care; $25 billion in rental assistance for struggling families; an enhanced tax credit for low income housing; $82 billion for K-12 schools and higher education; an expansion of Pell Grants for low-income college students; and $7 billion to increase access to broadband.
“We have now reached agreement on a bill that will crush the virus and put money in the pockets of working families who are struggling,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement Sunday night.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) tweeted that an agreement was at hand.
“As the American people continue battling the coronavirus this holiday season, they will not be on their own. Congress has just reached an agreement. We will pass another rescue package ASAP. More help is on the way,” tweeted McConnell.
Negotiators were unable to resolve disagreements on two contentious provisions: additional aid to state and local governments, which was sought by Democrats, and a GOP-backed proposal to protect employers from COVID-19-related lawsuits by workers who get sick. Both were dropped.
“We are disappointed that Republicans have refused to recognize the need to honor our heroic frontline workers by supporting robust funding for state and local governments. State and local governments need much more funding to prevent senseless layoffs and critical service cuts. The agreement does provide some new targeted funds for government functions that will help ease their budget burdens,” Pelosi and Schumer said.
–By Laura Olson/Louisiana Illuminator
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December 21, 2020 at 07:59PM
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Congress Tees Up COVID Relief Package with $600 Direct Payment to Americans - Bossier Now
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