U.S. awaits deal on next round of COVID-19 response
U.S. awaits deal on next round of COVID-19 response
Negotiations continue today over the next round of federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congress and the White House already signed off on $8.3 billion in emergency funding for COVID-19 response. House Democrats are proposing a raft of measures to provide an economic backstop to this health crisis.
Round 2 of federal coronavirus response is set to include a variety of provisions making it easier for people to stay home when they are sick.
“It allows people to take two weeks of paid sick days,” said Eileen Appelbaum, co-director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. “If you are a small employer, the Treasury will reimburse you. Otherwise, the employer pays for that.”
The plan also includes money for the states to cover an expected spike in unemployment claims.
“For those who are required to stay at home, or not going to work, I think maybe in some cases not being paid, then this is a way of addressing it,” said Bill Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Hoagland says this particular package is designed more to help individual workers and families.
“I think later on, we will see maybe more direct assistance as it relates to businesses,” he said.
But first, the White House and the Democrats have to agree on what to do now.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
