While the legislation follows the previous bills like the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act enacted on April 24, the new legislation extends many new priorities in the new round of the crisis.
The more than 1,800 page bill calls for providing another $75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and isolation measures, ensuring every American can access free coronavirus treatment, and supporting hospitals and providers; ensuring weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January; as well as delivering a second round of more substantial economic impact payments of $1,200 per family member, up to $6,000 per household.
Illinois’ junior senator Tammy Duckworth, who is also reportedly in the running for the vice presidency on Joe Biden’s ticket, touted the bill for including multiple priorities that she has put forward during the current pandemic, including strengthening support for minority-owned small businesses and the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
“This comprehensive package from House Democrats invests in healthcare providers and hospitals, authorizes another round of economic stimulus payments for millions of Americans, provides additional funding for testing and contact tracing, boosts funding for small business grants, adds more support for hunger prevention programs and includes more support to help states and localities to dig themselves out of the COVID-19 crisis.”
No date has been set for debate on the bill in the Senate, despite both Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump in the past expressing support for a new round of economic stimulus payments going out to the American public.
