The group No Labels has helpfully provided a synopsis of the differences between the $500 billion COVID-19 relief bill previously passed by the Senate and the $908 bill being promoted by the House Problem Solvers Committee (PSC) and nine senators. Here goes:
- Small business relief is a priority in both bills.
- Both stimulus packages include funds for COVID-19 testing and vaccines.
- Both proposals provide direct assistance for schools to reopen safely.
- The PSC bill includes funds for state and local aid, while the GOP bill does not.
- The PSC package contains broader unemployment aid and rental assistance while the GOP plan does not.
The $3 trillion HEROES bill passed by the House was DOA as was the Senate’s response. IMO the prospects for passing the PSC’s bill in both houses are pretty good. Time is of the essence. And passing it would provide good practice in something the Congress hasn’t been doing for a while: compromise.
