POTUS Puts Pen to Paper, Signs Enormous Coronavirus Relief Bill

My fellow Americans – help is on the way.

The threat posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic we face today is a unique one in modern history.  Sure, there are plenty of flus to worry about, and Ebola seems to make a comeback every few years, but COVID-19 is something else entirely.

What makes the virus so troubling is its ability to spread stealthily and quickly; far too fast to be quarantined by the Chinese government who oversaw the first outbreak.  Now, even with plenty of advanced warning, the rest of the world is suffering badly.  Here in the United States, as we see the storm approaching from afar, we are recognizing that the isolation necessary to keep us safe will also cause our economy to slow.  Restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters and more will be temporarily turning the lights off in order to prevent the spread of the illness, putting untold Americans out of work.

In order to stave off a troubling downturn, President Trump has just signed the first phase of relief into law.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a coronavirus relief package that includes provisions for free testing for Covid-19 and paid emergency leave.

The Senate had earlier Wednesday approved the House-passed bill. The move allowed the upper chamber to devote its full attention to passing the next relief package in response to the coronavirus crisis.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Senate Republicans had been critical of the House-passed legislation, but emphasized that it is urgent to get relief to the American people amid the coronavirus crisis.

McConnell reiterated Wednesday that he would not adjourn the Senate until it passed what lawmakers are describing as a “phase three” economic stimulus package in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The “phase three” package will almost certainly include direct payments to American adults, likely in the $1,000 to $2,000 range.