$600 Checks Would Return Under Proposal Pushed By Small Group Of Democrats

TOPLINE

Three House Democrats are pushing leadership to schedule a vote that would bring back the $600 federal unemployment payments while the House of Representatives is called back into session this week.

KEY FACTS

Key Background

The $600 weekly federal unemployment benefits passed almost without opposition in March as part of the CARES Act. But the federal supplement, which came in addition to state unemployment, expired at the end of July and Congress has yet to make an agreement on a second stimulus package, with both Democrats and Republicans blaming each other for holding up negotiations. Earlier this month President Trump signed an executive order that would supplement state unemployment insurance by $300, but those payments won’t likely be seen until late August. Pelosi called the House back from recess to vote on a bill that would restore Postal Service operations to where they were on January 1 after critics of newly appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said his changes to the USPS have kneecapped the Postal Service before the election. The changes, which include the cutting overtime pay and transportation costs, have caused widespread fears that the USPS wouldn’t be able to handle the millions of mail-in ballots expected for the November election. He is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee on August 24. 

Further Reading

Democrats Letter To Leadership

Pelosi Calling House Back In Session Over Postal Service Controversy (Forbes)

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Temporarily Reverses USPS Changes—But Democrats Push For More (Forbes)

Second Stimulus Check Passage Delayed Again By $600 Unemployment Extension Clash (Forbes)

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