On Tuesday, Senate Republicans circulated a slimmed-down coronavirus relief bill amid an impasse in negotiations between the White House and top Democratic leaders. The Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools, and Small Businesses Act is a narrow version of the HEALS Act offered by Senate Republicans late last month and includes: an additional $10 billion for the United States Postal Service (USPS); $300 per person in boosted weekly federal unemployment benefits until December 27th; another round of money for the Paycheck Protection Program; liability protections; $105 billion for education; and $29 billion for public health. Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) are opposed to any “skinny” proposal. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said during an event in Kentucky on Monday that he hoped the “impasse would end soon,” but added, “I can’t tell you with certainty we’re going to reach an agreement.”
With the House of Representatives returning on Saturday to vote on USPS legislation, there is a possibility that negotiations may resume on the larger relief package, however the prognosis of such an event remains unclear at this time.