- The Senate Majority Leader has unveiled the Republican’s US$1 trillion coronavirus relief plan, which includes another round of stimulus checks
- Most Americans will receive a second US$1200 payment, plus an additional US$500 for their dependents
- The second stimulus package comes as COVID-19 continues to ravage large parts of the U.S.
- More than 4.2 million cases have been recorded in the country since the pandemic began earlier this year
- While over 148,00 people have died after contracting the coronavirus in the U.S.
Republican leaders have unveiled details of another US$1 trillion COVID-19 recovery plan, as the company continues to grapple with containing the deadly virus.
Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, said the HEALS Act will include a second round of US$1200 stimulus checks for most Americans, as well as an additional US$500 for their dependents.
The new stimulus plan comes after months of back and forth between Republicans and Democrats about how much to spend on helping the U.S. recover from the pandemic.
Grim statistics
America has very clearly been hit the hardest out of all nations by this pandemic, leading the way in both COVID-19 infection rates and the number of deaths.
Source: John Hopkins University.
More than 4.2 million cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the U.S. since the end of January, while tragically, over 142,000 people have died after contracting the virus.
The pandemic has also plunged the U.S. economy into turmoil, with more than 30 million Americans out of work due to the coronavirus.
COVID-19 help
Originally, US$2.5 trillion dollars was awarded via the CARES Act, to help the U.S. and its citizens recover from the social and economic effects of the pandemic.
This included a $600 per week unemployment provision, which was set to expire at the end of this month, prompting Republicans to act and introduce new stimulus measures.
However since the original CARES Act passed, U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed an artificial limit on how much more stimulus money can be handed to citizens.
Other key Republicans, including the Senate Majority Leader, have also flagged concerns the unemployment payment was too high.
Under the new HEALS Act, the $600 a week payment is now set to drop to $200 a week from September, before cutting out completely.
The states will instead be expected to pick up the slack from October and supply their residents with unemployment payments of up to $500 a week.
Along with the fiscal help, Leader McConnell also unveiled support plans for U.S. schools, small businesses and health care workers.
We have produced a tailored and targeted bill that will address each of the three distinct crises facing our country: Getting kids back in school, getting workers back to work, and winning the healthcare fight against the virus.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) July 27, 2020
Kids, jobs, and healthcare.
Tough approval ahead
Following the announcement of the new stimulus plan, Republicans and Democrats will begin negotiations on passing the bill.
Congress has already approved four rounds of COVID-19 relief this year, but this new plan is shaping up to be tricky, as the two parties are at odds over how much to spend.
Americans need to buy food & pay rent. Republicans shouldn’t be quibbling over $600 for workers on unemployment. #FamiliesFirst #DeadlineWH pic.twitter.com/qiuxG71XL7
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 27, 2020
Democrats, who control the House, also want their own proposal, which is known as the HEROES Act, to be debated in the Senate first as it’s already been approved.
Regardless, Congress will head to a recess on August 7, leaving lawmakers just under two weeks for negotiations to finalise and a deal to be presented to President Trump.