On Capitol Hill, a bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiled a $908 billion coronavirus relief package Monday, as unemployment benefits for millions of U.S. workers are set to expire the day after Christmas.
One part of the legislation would provide about $750 billion for schools, vaccine distribution and the Paycheck Protection Program supporting small businesses. It would also boost unemployment benefits by $300 per week — half of the $600-a-week increase in benefits that Republicans allowed to expire over the summer.
A second bill would provide $160 billion in aid for hard-hit state and local governments, while retroactively shielding corporations from liability if their workers or customers become infected with the coronavirus.
Even if Congress passes a relief bill, economists warn some 12 million unemployed workers could see a lapse in benefits for several weeks after Christmas.
This comes as Republican Senator Josh Hawley and Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders are demanding a vote on their proposal to provide $1,200 relief checks to working-class adults with an additional $500 per child.