Sen. Schumer plans to pass $2K stimulus checks bill Tuesday to increase the amount of the stimulus checks included in a recently signed coronavirus package from $600 to $2,000.
Senate minority leader’s effort, which he announced on Monday night, comes after the House passed the legislation in a bipartisan 275-134 vote, kicking the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate.
“Tomorrow I will move to pass the legislation in the Senate to quickly deliver Americans with $2,000 emergency checks. Every Senate Democrat is for this much-needed increase in emergency financial relief, which can be approved tomorrow if no Republican blocks it – there is no good reason for Senate Republicans to stand in the way,” Schumer said in a statement.
“There’s strong support for these $2,000 emergency checks from every corner of the country – Leader McConnell ought to make sure Senate Republicans do not stand in the way of helping to meet the needs of American workers and families who are crying out for help,” he added.
No Republican senator has yet said they will object to Schumer’s efforts to pass the House bill through the Senate. But the Democratic leader is expected to fall short after Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) blocked two attempts earlier this month to pass a second round of $1,200 checks.
The support for raising the amount of direct assistance included as part of the $2.3 trillion package – which includes $1.4 trillion to fund the government and $900 billion for coronavirus relief – has gained steam since President Trump urged Congress to increase the amount of the stimulus checks included in the deal from $600 to $2,000.
After Trump issued the video last week demanding the $2,000 checks while trashing other parts of the agreement, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) endorsed the idea and began trying to build pressure on Republicans to back the effort.