Senate Democrats Wednesday released several proposals to counter the coronavirus pandemic that include temporarily opening unemployment benefits to workers who can’t get to their job but are still employed.
The proposal would apply to workers who lose their paycheck, but not their jobs, because their employment is suspended because of the virus. It would also apply to workers who become ill, quarantined, or must stay at home with children.
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The Senate Democratic plan aligns generally with the legislation that House Democrats are working toward. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has engaged in discussions with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about an economic response package, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has signaled that the GOP-led Senate will likely go along with whatever agreement they reach.
Relief would be especially helpful to workers who must be present at their jobs to be compensated, such as teachers, waiters, construction workers, or transportation officials. Since the outbreak began, a number of businesses and schools have temporarily closed.
The Senate Democrats’ proposal also provides 14 days of paid sick leave to workers at the start of any public health emergency, including the current emergency with the coronavirus. In addition, it would postpone payments for certain home and student loans for up to six months and waive food assistance requirements to qualify for SNAP benefits.
For business, the plan would extend disaster relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations negatively affected by the virus.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, is one of several Democratic senators helped to craft the proposal. His staffer said that talks are taking place with Senate Republicans on whether the proposal will get a floor vote. It is currently unclear how much Republican support there is for the plan, according to the staffer.
