Coronavirus: U.S. Senate passes $2 trillion relief bill
The United States Senate has passed a $2 trillion bill aimed at helping unemployed workers and industries cushion the effect of the Coronavirus outbreak, as well as providing billions of dollars to buy urgently needed medical equipment. According to Reuters, the Bill was passed by a 96-0 vote, which sent the massive stimulus package to the House of Representatives for a vote on Friday.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday also promised to sign the bill into law. “I will sign it immediately,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday.
The rescue package – which would be the biggest ever passed by Congress – includes a $500 billion fund to help hard-hit industries and a comparable amount for direct payments of up to $3,000 apiece to millions of U.S. families. The legislation will also provide $350 billion for small-business loans, $250 billion for expanded unemployment aid and at least $100 billion for hospitals and related health systems.
The package is intended to flood the economy with cash in a bid to stem the impact of an intensifying epidemic that has killed more than 900 people in the United States and infected at least 60,000.