House Democrats announced a new COVID-19 stimulus bill Tuesday that includes another stimulus payment for families, rent and mortgage help and $1 trillion for state and local governments.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced the proposed legislation, called the Heroes Act, that totals some $3 trillion.
The legislation includes another round of “more substantial economic impact payments,” according to a summary from House Democrats released to some media outlets.
According to the proposed legislation, the second round of checks would include $1,200 per family member – adult and children -- up to $6,000 per household. In addition, the bill would include $175 billion in rent, mortgage and utility assistance for those affected by the shutdown due to the virus.
The bill also carves out nearly $1 trillion in relief for state and local governments.
The legislation is a proposal but will likely pass the Democratic-led House. The bill, or some version, would have to pass in the Senate to become law.
That will likely be an uphill climb as Senate Republicans have resisted funding for state and local governments and have suggested they may want to take some time to see how the stimulus that has already been paid out is helping the economy.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, told reporters Tuesday that the Democrats’ plan doesn’t “deal with reality.”
“I’m in discussion, we all are, with the administration, if we reach a decision along with the administration to move to another phase, that’ll be the time to interact with the Democrats,” McConnell said.
“But what you’ve seen in the House is not something designed to deal with reality, but designed to deal with aspirations.”
McConnell said Republicans would "insist on narrowly targeted legislation."
The proposed bill also includes:
- Around $200 billion for hazard pay for essential workers who face heightened health risks during the crisis.
- An extension through January of the $600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit; it is set to expire after July.
- $75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing.
- Subsidies and a special Affordable Care Act enrollment period to people who lose health care that is paid by their employer.
- COBRA subsidies to workers who have lost their health insurance because they’ve been laid off.
- More money for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including a 15% increase in the maximum benefit.
- $10 billion in emergency disaster assistance grants and an employee retention tax credit.
- Money for election safety and provisions to make voting by mail easier.
- Relief for the U.S. Postal Service.
Leaders expect to vote Friday on the package.
