Politicians are already calling for a 4th coronavirus relief plan. Here’s what could be in it
One GOP lawmaker who has called for another relief bill argued the legislation should start in the Senate rather than the House. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, told CNBC on Wednesday that he thinks the next proposal would move more quickly in a bipartisan way through the Senate.
“It should include infrastructure, the president is very supportive of that, it should also include this issue of bringing back manufacturing and our supply chains back to this country,” he told “Squawk Box.” “That’s a very bipartisan issue right now.”
Among other potential provisions in the next response bill, Democrats have called for more grants for states to combat the pandemic. Some lawmakers from states that get significant revenue from cruise tours want to clarify the companies’ eligibility for government aid (many are not incorporated in the U.S.). Many Democrats would oppose more taxpayer relief for corporations.
In addition, a package could also include funding for the oversight function outlined in the previous bill, which was left out in error, a senior congressional aide told CNBC.
Trump administration officials told CNBC they are not currently planning for a fourth emergency proposal as they try to implement the previously passed laws. The White House has to oversee the distribution of $300 billion in direct payments, $350 billion in small business loans and $500 billion in loans and grants to businesses, states and municipalities.
Underscoring the pressure the White House faces to quickly implement the bill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wrote to the Labor Department on Wednesday urging it to do everything possible to help states expedite the new unemployment benefits. Many Americans are scrambling to pay their bills in the new month after losing jobs.
Schumer has also said he will monitor any White House attempts to interfere with an inspector general appointed to oversee the $500 billion fund.
Even as he undertakes the gargantuan task of executing the $2 trillion bill, Mnuchin said “we expect there will be more bills” to address the crisis. He pointed to one proposal he thinks could get bipartisan support: more money for small business loans if the initial pool of $350 billion goes quickly.
— CNBC’s Lauren Hirsch, Eamon Javers and Kayla Tausche contributed to this report
Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/01/coronavirus-update-phase-4-relief-bill-could-include-these-measures.html