Airport Alert: Senate Rejects Coronavirus Relief Proposals
October 20, 2020
As White House officials and House Democratic leaders continue their negotiations over a broader coronavirus relief package, the Senate today rejected a narrow proposal to provide additional support to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program. The effort failed on a mostly party-line vote.
Paycheck Protection Program
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) earlier this week said that the PPP "has saved tens of millions of American jobs and kept Main Streets across America from turning into permanent COVID-19 ghost towns." But Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the partisan proposal a "stunt, pure and simple."
During today's session, Schumer tried to advance the updated $2.2 trillion HEREOS Act, which the House passed earlier this month. The Democratic relief package includes $13.5 billion for airports and concessionaires and funding to extend the Payroll Support Program to help airline workers. But the Schumer amendment failed on a mostly party-line vote, too.
Senate to Consider "Skinny" Relief Package
McConnell is planning to have the Senate vote tomorrow on the second step of his coronavirus relief plan -- a $500 billion "skinny" relief package. In addition to another round of PPP, the proposal includes liability protection, unemployment benefits, and funding for testing, contact tracing and vaccine development.
Unlike the HEALS Act, which McConnell unveiled in July, the newer "skinny" relief package does not include funding for airports or a long list of other initiatives. It also does not include funding for airline workers. The Senate is expected to reject the scaled-back bill when it comes up for a vote.
Pelosi and Mnuchin Negotiations
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin continue their negotiations over a possible coronavirus relief package. The two sides have reportedly made some progress in recent days.
This afternoon, Pelosi said she and Mnuchin are "on a path" to reaching an agreement. And the Speaker softened her stance on her self-imposed deadline for striking a deal by the end of the day. Despite positive signs, it is unclear if the two sides will be able to resolve their differences before the upcoming elections.
As White House officials and House Democratic leaders continue their negotiations over a broader coronavirus relief package, the Senate today rejected a narrow proposal to provide additional support to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program. The effort failed on a mostly party-line vote.
Paycheck Protection Program
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) earlier this week said that the PPP "has saved tens of millions of American jobs and kept Main Streets across America from turning into permanent COVID-19 ghost towns." But Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the partisan proposal a "stunt, pure and simple."
During today's session, Schumer tried to advance the updated $2.2 trillion HEREOS Act, which the House passed earlier this month. The Democratic relief package includes $13.5 billion for airports and concessionaires and funding to extend the Payroll Support Program to help airline workers. But the Schumer amendment failed on a mostly party-line vote, too.
Senate to Consider "Skinny" Relief Package
McConnell is planning to have the Senate vote tomorrow on the second step of his coronavirus relief plan -- a $500 billion "skinny" relief package. In addition to another round of PPP, the proposal includes liability protection, unemployment benefits, and funding for testing, contact tracing and vaccine development.
Unlike the HEALS Act, which McConnell unveiled in July, the newer "skinny" relief package does not include funding for airports or a long list of other initiatives. It also does not include funding for airline workers. The Senate is expected to reject the scaled-back bill when it comes up for a vote.
Pelosi and Mnuchin Negotiations
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin continue their negotiations over a possible coronavirus relief package. The two sides have reportedly made some progress in recent days.
This afternoon, Pelosi said she and Mnuchin are "on a path" to reaching an agreement. And the Speaker softened her stance on her self-imposed deadline for striking a deal by the end of the day. Despite positive signs, it is unclear if the two sides will be able to resolve their differences before the upcoming elections.
