Unemployment benefits $600: McConnell and Pelosi's new proposals
This is the last week of the extra $600 unemployment benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic even though millions of Americans are suffering financially.
Since President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act back in late-March, among other measures it gave millions of Americans an extra $600 in unemployment benefits but the coronavirus relief program is set to expire on 31 July. With the economy not fully recovered there’s some speculation of an extension amid the pandemic.
Congress is set to return back to work on Monday and they should be discussing the fourth and final stimulus relief package and a possible extension of unemployment benefits since many states have faced setbacks in reopening its economy due to a spike in new Covid-19 cases.
Last week it was reported that as many states failed to fully reopen the economy, 17 states were considering extending this help for those 1.43 million new people who joined the unemployment roll in the week ending 27 June.
Republicans have made it very clear that they prefer to give bonuses for those who return back to work or get a new job instead of extending the unemployment benefits. If they decide to extend these benefits they are thinking about reducing the $600 weekly unemployment boost amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Democrats pressuring the Republican-controlled senate
The House Democrats approved the HEROES Act back in May which among other measures it extended the unemployment benefits until the end of the year. As Congress prepares to resume work the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing for Congress to extend a $600 per week federal unemployment benefits through January 2021 instead of ending it on 31 July.