While lawmakers agreed Sunday to provide roughly $300 in extra federal weekly unemployment benefits, a proposed $908 billion coronavirus relief bill will not include a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks.
The relief package, slated for release Monday, will leave the issue for the incoming Biden administration to go head-to-head with Congress after the new president assumes office in January, The Associated Press reported.
President-elect Joe Biden had expressed hope Friday that another round of stimulus checks — held in support by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and others — would be included in the bill.
But Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) countered that excluding the cash payments checks to households and individuals while assuring aid for small businesses and renters’ assistance was the only way to reach an agreement with Republicans who stand firm on the $908 billion distribution plan.
