-Editorial
The Republican-led Senate calls its $1 trillion bill the Health Economic Assistance Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act. This comes several weeks after the Democratic-led House of Representatives passed its $3 trillion relief plan called the HEROES Act.
“Just like in March, with the CARES Act, Senate Republicans have authored another bold framework to help our nation… Health, Economic Assistance, Liability, and Schools. Another historic package for the next phase of this historic national fight,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.
The HEALS Act proposes another round of direct checks to households following the guidelines of the CARES Act. This means individuals with an income of $75,000 or less and families with an income of $150,000 or less will receive a $1,200 stimulus check.
McConnell called upon Democrats to take action soon and approve this proposal as soon as possible.
“The Senate will not waste time with pointless partisanship. There is a reason why even Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer themselves have publicly downplayed the multi-trillion-dollar socialist manifesto they published some weeks back, and have suggested the real, serious discussion would begin when Republicans released our outline,”
McConnell outlines other points in the bill, including $100 billion to help schools reopen and a sequel to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
The HEALS Act also lays out a cut in federal unemployment benefits. In this bill, unemployment benefits cap at $200 a week, compared to the CARES Act’s $600 a week, which expires July 30.
“So now, we need our Democratic colleagues to reprise their part as well. They need to put aside the partisan stonewalling we saw on police reform, rediscover the spirit of urgency that got the CARES Act across the finish line, and quickly join us around the negotiating table.” McConnell said.