Second Stimulus Check Likely Included In Next Coronavirus Relief Bill: Here's What We Know

Congress is nearing the end of the negotiation phase for the next coronavirus relief bill, which could be brought to a vote over the weekend, prompting millions of Americans to wonder what the new stimulus package will include.

Top congressional leaders and the Trump administration are ironing out the fine print and negotiating over spending issues in the $900 billion economic relief bill. The current package went through big changes from an initial $748 billion compromise bill without stimulus checks and the White House’s $918 billion bill without unemployment insurance.

The new proposal is a variation of a $908 bipartisan plan that was first unveiled on Dec. 1. While details of the final legislation have yet to be released, lawmakers have released information on what’s likely to be included.

Another round of stimulus checks

When Congress passed the CARES Act at the beginning of the pandemic, American individuals received $1,200 in personal checks. The new legislation could reportedly cut that amount by half, which means eligible adults would likely receive only $600 to $700.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders previously advocated for another round of $1,200 payments for individuals and $2,400 for couples.

If Congress passes the current relief bill and President Donald Trump signs it into law, personal checks could begin going out before the end of the year or early January.

Weekly $300 federal unemployment insurance

In March, Congress passed the CARES Act that expanded the federal unemployment benefits. Jobless Americans received $600 weekly in addition to their state unemployment check.

The new bipartisan proposal could potentially provide Americans $300 per week in unemployment relief for an additional 16 weeks. It could also revive programs meant to help out-of-work Americans.

Loans for small businesses

The new bipartisan proposal would likely include $300 billion federal aid for struggling small businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program. The initiative aims to help businesses cover employee wages and prevent layoffs.

The new coronavirus relief bill would likely bring aid to businesses heavily affected by closures, including restaurants and entertainment venues.

Coronavirus vaccine distribution

The United States has begun distributing and vaccinating priority groups with the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine. The new legislation includes $16 billion that would go toward funding the development and distribution of coronavirus vaccines.

The new economic relief bill would also help fund COVID-19 testing and contact tracing efforts across the nation.