Legislation totaling $1 trillion to America's workers and businesses who have been slammed by the coronavirus epidemic requires "swift and bold action," Senate Majority Whip John Thune said Thursday morning, and he hopes the chances of passing the bill are "really good."
"These are extraordinary times and this response reflects that," the South Dakota Republican said on Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "I'm hopeful that we can really come together here in the Senate in the next few days and get this done in a timely way, because I think it needs to be done. It's very time-sensitive."
The White House and Congress already have passed two stimulus packages, including $8.3 billion in funding for prevention efforts and research, and a bill that extends paid sick leave to most Americans and provides free testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the government aims to send checks of $1,000 for each adult and $500 per child within 3 weeks after the $1 trillion legislation passes. In addition, the bill includes billions in loans and other incentives for businesses and industries that have been hit hard by closures ordered in hopes of slowing the coronavirus spread.
The massive relief bill will provide liquidity for the nation's small businesses as well by providing them with a cash flow to get to the other side of the epidemic.
"There were some provisions to help their workers, particularly those quarantined or sick or caring for loved ones in the last relief package," Thune said. "The next one will focus specifically on small business owners and ensuring they have that cash flow...the main thing we want to see happen is we want them to keep people employed."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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