Donald Trump has tested positive for the COVID19 virus, rattling markets and allies worldwide. With no national response plan, the vacuum has left it to the Democrats in the House to attempt to move the nation forward.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $2.2 trillion coronavirus-relief bill today that’s designed to help tens of millions of families and small businesses that are struggling to stay afloat amid the ongoing pandemic.
The legislation – known as Heroes Act 2.0 – would, among other things, restore the $600-per-week in enhanced unemployment benefits through January 2021 and provide nearly all Americans with a second round of direct economic impact payments of $1,200 per taxpayer and $500 per dependent.
The measure would also put in place a 12-month nationwide moratorium on any evictions or foreclosures for all renters and homeowners and would continue to suspend the collection of payments and interests on any outstanding federal student loans for, at least, another year.
In addition to helping families struggling amid the crisis, the legislation provides $436 billion to help state and local governments that are growing increasingly desperate for funding, and an additional $75 billion to increase coronavirus testing and contact-tracing efforts across the country.
It also extends the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses and the Payroll Support Program to help keep tens of thousands of airline industry workers employed.
“There are millions of hardworking families across this country that are desperate for help right now, and getting them the assistance they need should absolutely be our top priority,” said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), who supported the measure. “In times of crisis, such as these, it’s incumbent upon all members of Congress to put aside their political differences and do what’s right for the good of the people. The Senate’s failure to pass any meaningful form of relief for the millions of families who are struggling amid this crisis will be looked back upon as a shameful chapter in our nation’s history. We are, once again, urging our colleagues on the other side of the Capitol to do the right thing by helping us pass this bill immediately.”
This House voted in May to approve the original Heroes Act, a $3.4 trillion coronavirus relief bill that the Republican-led Senate has refused to take up.
Lawmakers hope that changes made to the bill that was approved today will be enough to spark a compromise between the two chambers.
The revised version now heads to the Senate for consideration.
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