Democrats' $3 trillion coronavirus stimulus proposal includes more $1,200 checks, money for state and local governments
WASHINGTON – State and local governments would share nearly $1 trillion in federal aid to cover their coronavirus-related costs and families would get another round of direct payments under a stimulus bill House Democrats unveiled Tuesday.
The more than $3 trillion Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or HEROES Act, also would expand unemployment assistance, boost food stamps and increase emergency grants to small businesses trying to weather the COVID-19 pandemic that has slammed the economy and upended daily life in the U.S.
The bill is likely to get a cool reception in the GOP-controlled Senate, where leaders have said they want to let the first $2.4 trillion of stimulus spending take full effect before moving on another measure that would pile on to the nation’s soaring debt.
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi argued against delay.
“There are those who said let’s just pause,” she said during a short speech at the Capitol Tuesday. “But the families who are suffering know that hunger doesn’t take a pause. The rent doesn’t take a pause. The bills don’t take a pause. The hardship of losing a job or tragically losing a loved one doesn’t take a pause.”
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The bill could be brought to the floor for a full vote as early as Friday.
For weeks, Democrats have demanded the next round of stimulus include money to help financially beleaguered states and local governments that face a double-whammy from the coronavirus: soaring costs to deal with the pandemic and plummeting tax revenue from business closures.
The HEROES Act includes $915 billion to help fiscally strapped states (including the District of Columbia), territories and tribal authorities ($540 billion), and local governments ($375 billion).
Governors, led by Republican Larry Hogan of Maryland and Democrat Andrew Cuomo of New York, have appealed for help as well, asking for $500 billion in federal aid.
“Our national and local economies are in dire straits and have resulted in the most dramatic contraction of the U.S. economy since World War II,” they wrote in a letter April 21 to congressional leaders on behalf of the National Governors Association. “Many states are already reporting precipitous declines in revenues that fund state services in health care, education, public safety, transportation, and other vital programs.”
Among the measure’s more prominent elements:
$200 billion for a “Heroes fund” that would provide “hazard pay” to essential employees such as front-line health care workers.
$75 billion to beef up testing and contact tracing.
A second round of economic impact payments of $1,200 per family member, up to $6,000 per household.
$10 billion for emergency grants to small businesses through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
COBRA subsidies to workers who have lost their health insurance because they’ve been laid off. It also creates a special enrollment period in the Affordable Care Act exchanges for the uninsured.
Extension of weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through January.
$175 billion to help renters and homeowners make monthly rent, mortgage and utility payments and other housing-related cost.
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The HEROES Act is larger than all of the four economic stimulus packages Congress has approved since March to combat the coronavirus.
Despite concerns about the mounting federal debt that recently surpassed $25 trillion, Pelosi said low interest rates have helped ease the cost of borrowing.
“We must think big for the people now because, if we don’t, it will cost more in lives and livelihoods later,” she said. “Not acting is the most expensive course.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has walked back comments last month that he would rather states “use the bankruptcy route” to solve their budget woes and said he now is willing to consider assistance for them. But he has also insisted the next stimulus package include federal liability protections from a slew of lawsuits expected to hit businesses when they reopen – a step some Democrats strongly oppose.
Some Republicans are not in any rush to take up additional legislation addressing the pandemic, saying they want to see how the money already allocated is being used.
“Before we take up any new bill, let's have hearings. Let's have the information and data come back to us and see if there's a need. As states open up, there will be a difference of what's needed today than is needed tomorrow,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told USA TODAY last week.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin echoed those thoughts in an interview on Fox News on Sunday.
"We just want to make sure that before we jump back in and spend another few trillion of taxpayers’ money that we do it carefully," Mnuchin said.
Contributing: Christal Hayes and Michael Collins
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Democratic stimulus includes checks, money for states
