Erik Wasson

The GOP legislation includes a second tranche of stimulus payments, structured the same way as the earlier round, in March, along with tax credits for businesses.

Senate Republicans presented a series of bills that would trim unemployment benefits, send $1,200 to most Americans, and shield businesses, schools and other organizations from coronavirus lawsuits.

Republicans and the White House are counting on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reconciling GOP differences with a draft coronavirus relief package that they can take into negotiations with congressional Democrats.

Republicans crafting their own plan for a new U.S. virus-relief bill broadly endorsed a fresh round of stimulus checks to individuals, extended supplemental jobless benefits and more money for testing while voicing doubts over President Donald Trump’s desired payroll tax cut.

The White House is signaling to Congress that President Donald Trump could reject a new coronavirus aid bill if it doesn’t include a payroll tax cut, adding a new complication to already contentious negotiations between Republicans and Democrats on the next round of stimulus.

With a resurgence of the coronavirus threatening a nascent rebound of the U.S. economy, the White House and Congress are under increased pressure to come to terms on another round of stimulus.

The House gave final last-minute congressional approval Wednesday to extending the popular loan program for small businesses until Aug. 8, hours after the deadline for applications lapsed with more than $130 billion still available.

The Senate has passed an extension of the popular Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses, which was set to close down Tuesday night with more than $130 billion in funding left over.

President Donald Trump said he’ll ask Congress to pass more economic stimulus, including a payroll tax cut, even after the government reported a surprise improvement in U.S. unemployment on Friday.

The bill, which passed the House last week on a 417-1 vote, now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.