Rice Business Report August 2020
Senate Republicans unveil $1T plan that includes 2nd stimulus check,
lower unemployment benefits. What happens next?
By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The Senate GOP proposed its $1 trillion stimulus package Monday, more than two months after House
Democrats passed their own $3 trillion bill and just days before an extra $600 a week federal unemployment
insurance payments expire .
The plan includes a second stimulus check and although it would extend unemployment benefits, they
would be lower than the benefits that expire this week.
While Senate Republicans delayed their rollout for days because of disagreements amongst themselves
and with President Donald Trump, the legislation they came up is likely not the last word on the subject
since it doesn’t have the support needed to pass the Senate, let alone the House.
It now will be up to Trump administration officials and congressional leaders of both parties to come up
with legislation that can clear Congress and be signed into law by the president.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said now was the time to reach a deal.
“We have one foot in the pandemic and one foot in the recovery,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.
“The American people need more help. They need it to be comprehensive and the need it to be carefully
tailored to this crossroads.”
“It will take bipartisan cooperation,” he said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the Senate could have begun negotiations once the House passed its
own stimulus bill in May
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