Senate Republicans Reveal Trimmed Proposal for the Next COVID-19 Relief Package

On September 8, Senate Republicans revealed a slimmed down proposal for the next Coronavirus relief bill. The bill would provide $105 billion in assistance to schools, $300 in weekly unemployment benefits until the end of the year, liability protection for businesses facing lawsuits related to the pandemic, $10 billion loan forgiveness for the Postal Service, $16 billion for COVID-19 testing, and additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The bill would also extend the deadline for spending already appropriated funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to September 30, 2021.

The trimmed bill does not include another round of stimulus payments or additional funding for state and local governments. Unlike the Senate’s $1 trillion HEALS Act proposal back in July, funding for the bill is expected to be at least $500 billion, half of what the previous package proposed.

A vote on the bill is expected in the Senate this week.