Should Congress pass this $2.5 trillion bill during the coronavirus outbreak?
This $2.5 trillion spending bill allocates additional money to help combat the impact of coronavirus on families, business, and the economy. Among other things, the bill gives individuals $1,500, waives $10,000 in federal student loans, gives $150 billion to hospitals, and expands paid sick leave. The bill additionally would give childcare to healthcare employees, provide grants to small businesses, and requires companies getting federal assistance during the outbreak to have a $15 minimum wage.
This is the House counter proposal to the Senate's $1.8 trillion spending bill.
Sponsor: Rep. Nita Lowey (Democrat, New York, District 17)
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How do you feel?
Opponents say
• “People are sick, families are frightened, our economy has ground to a halt, and workers face unprecedented job loss... Democrats are using this national crisis to hold relief hostage unless Congress mandates corporate board diversity requirements and major components of the Green New Deal which will kill American jobs.” Source: Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Republican, California, District 23)
Proponents say
• “This is a great plan. What it says is if you lose your job in this crisis you can be furloughed by your employer. That means you stay on that employers work list, if you have health benefits with the employer you can keep getting them, but most importantly the federal government will pay your salary -- your full salary -- for now four months. We had asked for four months and four months looks like what we're going to get when we come to this agreement” Source: Sen. Chuck Schumer (Democrat, New York)