Bangkok Post

What’s in massive stimulus package?

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Below are some details of $2 trillion economic stimulus bill, which would need to be passed by the Republican-controlled Senate and the Democratic-controlled House of Representa­tives before going to President Donald Trump for his signature:

■ About $500 billion in direct payments to people, in two waves of cheques of up to $1,200 for an individual earning up to $75,000 a year. Additional payments for families with children could push the total to $3,000 for a family of four, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who has played a key role in the negotiatio­ns.

■ Up to $500 billion in “liquidity assistance” for distressed industries. The amount allocates up to $61 billion for passenger and cargo airlines and contractor­s, including $32 billion in grants and $29 billion in loans, people briefed on the matter said.

A senior administra­tion official said there was agreement the $500 billion fund should have an inspector general as well as an oversight board, with lawmakers selecting members of the board.

Also, the Treasury secretary would have to provide testimony to the board on transactio­ns, and there would be restrictio­ns on things like stock buybacks and chief executive pay at companies that received help.

■ Some $350 billion in loans to small businesses, according to Republican Senator Marco Rubio, chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee.

■ Up to $130 billion for hospitals. Republican­s said on Monday that they have agreed to $75 billion. Hospitals sought $100 billion, and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on a conference call on Tuesday he believed Democrats had secured $130 billion, according to a person familiar with the call.

■ Some $250 billion for expanding unemployme­nt insurance. Republican­s say they agreed to that in response to Democratic demands.

■ Over $10 billion for drug developmen­t, and $4 billion for masks, gloves, gowns and ventilator­s, Republican Senator Steve Daines said.

■ Schumer expressed confidence that Democrats had secured $150 billion for state and local government­s, the person familiar with the call said.

■ The White House has proposed $45.8 billion for federal agencies; both Democrats and Republican­s want more.

■ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, unveiled her own lengthy, $2.5 trillion proposal on Monday. It included billions to help states conduct elections by mail.

Pelosi’s bill also would make coronaviru­s treatment free for patients, and raise the direct cash payments to individual­s to $1,500 each instead of $1,200 as in the Senate plan.

Pelosi’s proposal has $500 billion in grants and loans for small businesses, $200 billion for state government­s, $15 billion for local government­s, $150 billion for hospitals, and $60 billion for schools and universiti­es, a Democratic summary said.

It has $61 billion in grants and loans for airlines, but requires air carriers receiving aid to cut their carbon emissions in half by 2050, the summary said.

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