Bipartisan lawmakers on Washington's Capitol Hill unveiled a coronavirus stimulus package Tuesday after months of congressional inaction on curbing the economic damage from the outbreak.
Congressional spokespeople he roughly $908-billion proposal includes $288 billion in Paycheck Protection Program small business loans, $160 billion in state and local government aid and funding for enhanced unemployment benefits, according to a draft framework. It would put $16 billion into vaccine distribution, testing and contact tracing, and put funds into rental assistance, child care and broadband.
The proposal would not include another direct payment to most Americans. Democrat Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, a member of the congressional group that has discussed a new relief plan, earlier called it an "interim package" to provide support until President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.
No word on whether congressional leaders will embrace the proposal or if it will lead to a breakthrough before the end of the year, when many programs expire. Democrats have opposed liability protections and pushed for a $600-per-week supplemental jobless benefit, while the GOP has pushed against new state and local aid.
The programs lapsing at the end of December include an unemployment insurance extension, a federal student loan payment moratorium and some protections from eviction.
