US House passes US$3t coronavirus relief package
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi exits the House Chamber of the US Capitol amid the coronavirus pandemic on May 15, 2020, in Washington, DC.
US House of Representatives on Friday passed a US$3-trillion coronavirus relief package, which was proposed by Democrats but not likely to gain approval from Republican-held Senate.
The Democrat-led House passed the bill by vote of 208-199, shortly after the chamber agreed on a historic rules change to allow remote voting by proxy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The massive aid package includes nearly US$1 trillion for state and local governments, US$200 billion for hazard pay for essential workers, US$75 billion for coronavirus testing and tracing, an extension of unemployment benefits as well as another round of cash payments to individuals.
"Forget about this US$3 trillion left-wing wish list that even House Democrats are criticizing," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on Twitter earlier on Friday.
"Republicans are focused on practical solutions like legal liability protections for medical workers and the schools, universities, and businesses that will be trying to reopen," McConnell said.
