A bipartisan group of lawmakers yesterday introduced a coronavirus aid proposal worth about $908 billion, aiming to break a months-long partisan impasse over emergency federal relief for the U.S. economy amid the ongoing pandemic, the Washington Post reported. The new plan came amid a flurry of congressional jostling about the shape of economic relief, with House Democrats assembling a new proposal, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) creating a new plan and President-elect Joe Biden calling for a massive government response. The plan circulated by the bipartisan group of senators is light on details but seeks to reach a middle ground on numerous contentious economic issues. It would provide $300 a week in federal unemployment benefits for roughly four months — a lower amount than the $600 per week Democrats sought, while still offering substantial relief to tens of millions of jobless Americans. The agreement includes $160 billion in funding for state and local governments, a key Democratic priority opposed by most Republicans, as well as a temporary moratorium on some coronavirus-related lawsuits against companies and other entities — a key Republican priority that most Democrats oppose. The measure also includes funding for small businesses, schools, health care, transit authorities and student loans, among other measures. Read more.
In related news, U.S. airlines would receive $17 billion for four months of payroll support under a new $908 billion bipartisan Senate COVID-19 relief proposal, Reuters reported. A bipartisan group of lawmakers announced a package of $45 billion in transportation assistance, and the offices of Senators Mitt Romney and Mark Warner said the plan includes $15 billion for transit systems, $4 billion for airports, $8 billion for private buses and $1 billion for passenger railroad Amtrak. The $45 billion in transportation assistance is designed to provide assistance for four months. Congress and President-elect Joe Biden can decide next year if more funds should be approved beyond March, Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said. The White House has not yet said it supports the plan, and neither have Congressional leaders. A separate Senate Republican leadership relief plan summary sent to lawmakers later on Tuesday had no reference to additional transportation assistance. Read more.
Additionally, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) yesterday circulated a new coronavirus relief proposal that could garner support from the White House among Senate Republicans, The Hill reported. McConnell said that he had been speaking with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows about what President Trump could sign. Congress is quickly running out of time to pass lame-duck legislation with the House poised to leave as soon as next week. Congress faces a Dec. 11 government funding deadline and McConnell said any coronavirus relief will ride on that. McConnell previously twice offered a roughly $500 billion coronavirus relief bill that was rejected by Democrats. McConnell's new proposal would provide protections against coronavirus-related lawsuits, extend unemployment insurance for roughly a month and provide another round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) small business assistance. It would also provide more money for the Postal Service, schools, testing and vaccine distribution. If Congress is going to pass additional relief, McConnell said he expected it would be folded into a must-pass government funding bill. Read more.
