McConnell: Republicans Want to Add a Second Round of Stimulus Checks to Next Relief Bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is suggesting Americans may be receiving another round of financial assistance in the next coronavirus relief package.

Appearing on the Senate floor on Tuesday, McConnell said Republicans are seeking to include another round of stimulus checks and additional Paycheck Protection Program funding in their next piece of coronavirus legislation.

“Speaking of building on what worked in the CARES Act, we want another round of direct payments. Direct payments to help American families keep driving our national comeback,” McConnell said.

Watch his comments below:

The Senate passed the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package on March 25.

It included direct checks to households in the middle class and in lower-income levels amounting to $1,200 to most adults, extended unemployment benefits, more than $150 billion in funding for the health care system, $150 billion to state and local governments, and $350 billion in loans for small businesses.

According to McConnell, small business could be receiving additional funding with another round of loans.

“With a majority of businesses expected to exhaust their initial paycheck protection funding this summer, we’ll also be proposing a targeted second round of PPP, with a special eye toward hard-hit businesses,” McConnell said.

With the push from President Donald Trump to reopen schools, McConnell indicated the next relief package proposed by Republicans would include $105 billion in funding to help schools prepare for in-person instruction this Tall, as IJR reported.

The Republican-backed coronavirus relief bill is already receiving opposition from Democratic lawmakers.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is urging his fellow Democratic colleagues to push back against the relief package, as IJR previously reported.

McConnell received criticism from Schumer for his proposal to protect businesses, schools, and churches from liability in the instance some are exposed to the coronavirus.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) acknowledged it is crucial lawmakers come to an agreement on another piece of coronavirus legislation.

She expressed her support for delaying the August recess in order to move forward with a relief bill.