US Will Likely Need Another Coronavirus Financial Relief Package, McConnell Says

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Monday he expects Congress to take up another coronavirus relief package when lawmakers return from recess in late July -- and predicted the bill could include more direct payments to Americans.

Four relief bills had already been signed to combat the economic fallout of the pandemic, which is surging across the Sunbelt -- especially in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California.

The first bill, a $2.2 trillion package passed in March, included included a $1,200 one-time payment for individuals making up to $75,000 annually. The $1,200 payments expire at the end of July.

"I think the people that have been hit the hardest are people who make about $40,000 or less. Many of them work in the hospitality industry. .... That could well be a part of it," McConnell said in Louisville, Kentucky, according to The Hill newspaper.

McConnell has outlined some of his top priorities for the next bill, saying he will likely to introduce new legislation in the next few weeks.

"If you're looking for what I think the theme of what a next package that I'm likely to roll out here in a few weeks would focus on: liability reform, kids in school, jobs and healthcare, that's where the focus it seems to me ought to be," he said.

Liability reform, McConnell said, would bolster legal protections for businesses, so they are not targeted by coronavirus-related lawsuits.

In May, the Democratic-majority House of Representatives passed the $3 trillion Heroes Act, which McConnell and President Donald Trump declared the legislation “dead on arrival.” The legislation would provide another round of $1,200 stimulus checks to Americans, extend boosted unemployment insurance and provide hazard pay to workers designated essential during the pandemic.

Trump has said he would support another round of stimulus checks, with his administration also floating ideas such as payroll tax cuts and a “back- to-work” bonus.

The latest report from the Labor Department shows unemployment dropped to 11.1% in June, with 4.8 million jobs being added. The data was collected before the virus resurfaced later in that month.

The U.S. has the most coronavirus cases in the world. As of Monday, the number of confirmed cases stood at almost 2.9 million and the number of deaths at 130,000.