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The House Democrats‘ coronavirus relief proposal will reach more than $3 trillion in new spending, amounting to the biggest and most expensive aid package yet to deal with the global pandemic, Fox News has learned.
Of the more than $3 trillion package, about $1 trillion would go to state, local and tribal governments, according to three sources briefed on the proposal.
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Another round of $1,200 stimulus payments also would go out to most Americans under the plan, with a maximum of $6,000 per household.
Then a flurry of cash would be allocated to struggling Americans, extending the $600 extra in weekly unemployment insurance through January and a new $175 billion benefit that would subsidize rent and mortgage payments for Americans.
House Democrats called the legislation the HEROES Act. The text of the sprawling plan was circulated Tuesday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to announce the plan at 3 p.m. ET.
The plan calls for a new $200 billion Heroes’ Fund to ensure essential workers who have put their health and safety on the line receive hazard pay during the pandemic. The legislation also directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to create new worker safety standards for employers.
But the price tag shows that Democrats have gone big — rather, huge — for the fifth round of coronavirus legislation. And it’s a figure sure to face deep skepticism from cost-conscious lawmakers growing uncomfortable with the historic pace of massive spending legislation. The U.S. Treasury already had to borrow $3 trillion to fund the first four coronavirus spending packages that passed with bipartisan support.
Although Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he’s comfortable borrowing that much money because of historically low interest rates, some Republicans are now cool to more spending — especially another $3 trillion worth.
“I don’t think we have yet felt the urgency of acting immediately, but that time could develop, but I don’t think it has yet,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday.
House Republicans are deeply skeptical of the bill, in a sign Democrats may have to go it alone on this round of legislation — and that it faces long odds in the GOP-led Senate. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., blasted Pelosi for trying to draft another bill while Congress is still on recess.
“Now she wants to write a $3 trillion bill, with no one able to see, no accountability, and no input,” McCarthy told Fox News on Monday. “I mean, this is not how democracy works. This is a real concern to all of us this won’t ever become law, but it’ll be the wishlist of the liberals, to try to change election law, fund Planned Parenthood, and make sure sanctuary cities get the chunk of the money.”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said he anticipates a vote on the relief package on Friday.
Like Pelosi, D-Calif., signaled last week, Hoyer said this legislation will be big to meet the needs of the American people reeling from forced economic shutdowns and widespread illness and death.
“This is an unprecedented time in our history,” Hoyer said. “…And as a result, we need to respond in unprecedented ways with unprecedented resources.”
The centerpiece of the legislation will be assistance for state, local and tribal governments to help plug budget holes from coronavirus crisis spending and declining tax revenues. Democrats billed this as help for the “heroes” in the public service workforce, such as first responders, teachers and transportation workers, who are at risk for layoffs.
In a nod to progressive demands, the legislation includes rent and mortgage assistance and more direct payments, but falls short of the demands they wanted, such as $2,000 in monthly reoccurring payments.
House Democrats will provide $75 billion for testing, contact tracing and treatment for victims as well as support for hospitals and health care providers.
The legislation will provide expanded food assistance to struggling families through a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits. The legislation also funds mail-in voting, election assistance and the U.S. Postal Service.
Small businesses and non-profits of any size will have more access to the Paycheck Protection Program (forgivable loan program) and the legislation will also add $10 billion more emergency disaster grants, according to a fact sheet provided by a Democratic aide.
Hoyer alerted the House members, which have been away on recess, to return to Washington for votes on Friday on the fifth round of coronavirus legislation as well as a resolution to allow for proxy voting or virtual meetings — though Hoyer said no bipartisan agreement has been reached yet.
The House Rules Committee will meet Thursday to prepare for the Friday floor debate on the coronavirus legislation and the proxy proposal.
If the House passes this legislation it’s poised to be the largest stimulus package ever. The previous record was held by the $2.2 trillion CARES Act that President Trump signed into law March 27 that included the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and the $1,200 in cash assistance for most Americans.
Unlike the first four rounds of coronavirus relief, this bill is already proving to be more contentious with Republicans wanting to hit the brakes on spending. The White House wanted a payroll tax cut in any new legislation and Senate Republicans want protection for businesses from lawsuits.
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But neither the tax cut nor liability protection is in the House bill.
“That is not our focus nor do we think that ought to be a priority,” Hoyer said of the business liability protections.
Fox News’ Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.
