Federal Updates Senate Republican “Skinny” COVID-19 Relief Proposal

Republicans in the U.S. Senate have released a draft proposal for a COVID-19 relief package, the Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act. At $500 billion in direct federal spending and loans, the legislation represents a scaled-back, or “skinny,” version of the Republican Senators’ July 27 proposal, the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protections & Schools Act (HEALS Act). Although the bill has not been formally introduced, it signals the direction the Senate may take as they seek to reach a final COVID-19 relief deal in September.

The bill includes the Cornyn “Safe to Work Act” bill providing liability protections. The bill also includes unemployment benefits at $300 per week, extends the Paycheck Protection Program through the end of the year, and provides funds for COVID-19 testing and tracing, vaccine development and distribution, schools and has provisions for the postal service. It comes to just under 1 trillion dollars. Click here to read more about the bill.

Click here to read the bill text.