House Democrats announced a sweeping new Covid-19 stimulus bill on Tuesday with a price tag expected to be more than $3 trillion — an amount that would stand as the largest relief package in history.
The legislation, which allocates more funding for state and local governments, coronavirus testing, and a new round of direct payments to Americans, sets up an immediate clash with the Republican-controlled Senate, where leaders have said another round of emergency funding is not yet needed.
According to a summary, the proposal includes:
- Around $200 billion for hazard pay for essential workers who face heightened health risks during the crisis.
- An extension through January of the $600 per week federal unemployment insurance benefit; it is set to expire after July.
- $75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing.
- Subsidies and a special Affordable Care Act enrollment period to people who lose health care that is paid by their employer.
- COBRA subsidies to workers who have lost their health insurance because they’ve been laid off.
- More money for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including a 15% increase in the maximum benefit.
- $10 billion in emergency disaster assistance grants and an employee retention tax credit.
- Money for election safety and provisions to make voting by mail easier.
- Relief for the U.S. Postal Service.
