A group of Senate Democrats and Republicans will announce two coronavirus aid measures on Monday, including a $748 billion package backed by a top Democrat that would provide a new round of coronavirus aid but leave out funding for state, local, and tribal governments Democrats had been seeking.
In order to win support from Democrats, the measure excludes robust lawsuit liability protections GOP lawmakers wanted in the bill.
The “skinny” aid package may have the best chance for a vote this week, which lawmakers hope will mark the final days of the 2020 legislative session.
The bipartisan group also plans to release the text of a $908 billion package that adds in the $160 billion in state, local, and tribal aid, as well as a revised lawsuit liability shield. While that measure has the backing of a group of Republicans, it lacks significant support among Democrats due to the lawsuit shield, which makes passage in the Senate unlikely.
The skinny measure may appeal to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who last week called on lawmakers to draft a proposal that excludes both liability and the state and local funding after days of closed-door, bipartisan talks failed to produce a deal on the two provisions.
The Kentucky Republican has said lawsuit liability protection must be included as a condition for bringing a measure with state and local aid up for a vote in the Senate.
McConnell has not indicated whether he would back the $748 billion measure. Other Republicans involved in the bipartisan talks back both options, including Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, her spokeswoman told the Washington Examiner on Monday.
But if it can pass the Senate, it will be difficult for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to ignore the bill, even though the California Democrat had been seeking roughly $500 billion in state and local aid.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat and lead negotiator, is among a half-dozen Democrats who will announce that he backs the skinny bill at a 4 p.m. press conference.
“Once you see Dick Durbin at that press conference today, and those five other Democrats supporting the bill, that is going to cut the knees out of Pelosi or any other Democrat insisting state and local funding be part of this package,” a Republican aide told the Washington Examiner.
Lawmakers are under intense pressure from constituents to provide another round of relief before the end of the year, thanks to a surge in coronavirus cases around the country that have led to new restrictions and closures as well as a rise in hospitalizations and deaths.
The narrow measure would provide relief for many of those needs, proponents say.
It would supply aid to small businesses suffering the economic consequences of another round of lockdowns, more jobless benefits, and additional money for schools and coronavirus treatment and vaccine distribution.
The bill leaves out a new round of stimulus checks some Democrats and Republicans want to see included in the bill but extends supplemental unemployment insurance.
The measure includes provisions sought by both parties.
It would extend supplemental unemployment insurance by $300 per week until the end of April and would provide $300 billion to the Small Business Administration to administer loans to small businesses. It adds $35 billion for healthcare providers and $13 billion to test and treat the coronavirus as well as distribute the vaccine, which was administered in the United States for the first time on Monday.
The bill includes $82 billion for schools and universities and extends the moratorium on repaying student loans.
It would also provide $25 billion in rental assistance and a 15% increase in food stamp provisions for four months. It adds $13 billion for farmers affected by the coronavirus and $10 billion for the financially troubled Postal Service.
Congress is hoping to complete work this week to avoid having lawmakers return at Christmas.
However, the two parties have yet to work out a deal on fiscal 2021 spending.
McConnell said any coronavirus package should be attached to the government spending bill.
