On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of about 50 lawmakers in the House of Representatives unveiled their own coronavirus (COVID-19) relief plan in a new effort to revive coronavirus stimulus negotiations. The Problem Solvers Caucus, comprised of centrist Democrats and Republicans, proposed a $1.52 trillion package, though up to $2 trillion could be available if coronavirus conditions worsen. The “March to Common Ground” proposal includes another round of $1,200 stimulus checks, $100 billion for COVID-19 testing, $500 billion for state and local governments, $15 billion for the United States Postal Service, and $12 billion for broadband hotspots in underserved communities. The package also includes supplemental unemployment insurance at $450 per week for the first eight weeks, then provide up to $600 per week after that but capped at 100 percent of a person’s salary. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) reiterated on Tuesday that Democrats should stand firm in their funding demands and said she could agree to a $2.2 trillion package but would go no lower.
Additionally, Speaker Pelosi said on Wednesday that the House should remain in session until lawmakers can strike a bipartisan agreement on new coronavirus relief. Meanwhile, the Senate is currently scheduled to leave after the first week of October. But Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-South Dakota) suggested Tuesday that the Senate could leave earlier if it passes a continuing resolution next week to fund the government past September 30th and if COVID-19 talks remain at an impasse.