Two bills would offer markedly different levels of support for the 12 million jobless workers about to lose benefits.
With major federal jobless aid programs, the question remains about what could replace them. High unemployment continues to and millions of Americans struggle to make ends meet. In Washington, D.C., two competing proposals were introduced last week, although each offers markedly different levels of support for jobless workers. The first is a that prioritizes aid for people who are out of work, businesses, and state and local governments. The second is a smaller Republican initiative that focuses on helping businesses stay afloat while limiting their legal exposure to coronavirus-related lawsuits. The larger stimulus package appears to be gaining traction, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying the proposal should form the basis for any further negotiations. The plan also has received support from several Republican senators. Pelosi on Friday said she new coronavirus relief legislation to a government funding omnibus bill that must pass within the next week to avoid a government shutdown. Although the final contours of a stimulus measure remain under debate on Capitol Hill, many experts see a clear need for additional economic relief. Job growth as the coronavirus surged. „We’re still in situation where just under 19 million people are claiming benefits for the main unemployment programs,“ said Andrew Stettner, an expert on unemployment benefits at The Century Foundation, a progressive think tank.
