Negotiations for additional COVID-19 stimulus legislation are underway on Capitol Hill, in consultation with the White House and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) indicated that Senate Republicans will support an additional round of stimulus checks, as well as more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Leader McConnell also argued for $105 billion in funding for schools to reopen safely in the Fall.
McConnell Cont.
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) July 21, 2020
-Reimbursement for PPE, testing, remodeling for workplaces
-Another round of direct payments to individuals/families
-More funds for vaccine/testing resources, health care providers
-And McConnell's redline: liability protections
McConnell: “This majority is preparing legislation that will send $105 billion, so that educators have the resources they need to safely reopen.” Senate Dem leaders have proposed $430 billion
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 21, 2020
GOP leadership has taken various stances on the potential to legislate additional relief funding to small businesses via the PPP, and Leader McConnell said that additional funding will target “hardest-hit businesses:”
"And speaking of building on what worked in the CARES Act, we want another round of direct payments to help American families keep driving our national comeback."
— Doug Andres (@DougAndres) July 21, 2020
Leader McConnell did not yet discuss a payroll tax cut, which is supported by the White House and Secretary Mnuchin, but has less support in both chambers of Congress.