US House Aims to Pass $3 Trillion Democratic Coronavirus Bill Rejected by Republicans
The U.S. House of Representatives is set on Friday to debate and vote on a $3 trillion Democratic bill aimed at salving the heavy human and economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic that has caused almost 85,000 U.S…
The U.S. House of Representatives is set on Friday to debate and vote on a $3 trillion Democratic bill aimed at salving the heavy human and economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic that has caused almost 85,000 U.S. deaths and shut much of the economy.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her fellow Democrats crafted the far-reaching legislation that Senate Republicans have promised will be “dead on arrival” in their chamber.
The House measure includes $500 billion in aid to state governments, another round of direct payments to individuals and families to help stimulate the ailing economy, and hazard pay to healthcare workers and others on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic.
If passed, it would double the amount of spending that Congress has authorized since March to fight the coronavirus.
But unlike the previous four coronavirus-response bills approved by Congress in recent months, this one appears ready to land on the House floor with little to no support from Republicans.
“This week, the speaker published an 1,800-page seasonal catalog of left-wing oddities and called it a coronavirus relief bill,” Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell groused in a Thursday speech.
McConnell and other Republican leaders in Congress have said more time is needed to gauge the effectiveness of the $3 trillion in aid already enacted into law.
McConnell has added that any new legislation must be aimed at protecting businesses from liability lawsuits as they reopen during the pandemic – at President Donald Trump’s urging.