Romney Proposes Giving Americans $1,000 to Combat Coronavirus Economic Losses

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) on Monday is proposing giving all American adults $1,000 to ease the financial burden from the Coronavirus outbreak pandemic.

“Every American adult should immediately receive $1,000 to help ensure families and workers can meet their short-term obligations and increase spending in the economy,” Romney said in a statement.

In a series of outlined proposals to respond to the coronavirus, the Utah Senator said the one-time checks would go to every American adult to help families meet their own short-term needs and bolster the economy, similar to actions Congress took during recessions in 2001 and 2008. Under President George W. Bush, Congress used similar stimulus measures to boost consumer spending amid the 2001 and 2008 recessions. During both those years, the federal government sent out tax rebate checks less than $1,000 per person.

“Congress took similar action during the 2001 and 2008 recessions. While expansions of paid leave, unemployment insurance, and SNAP benefits are crucial, the check will help fill the gaps for Americans that may not quickly navigate different government options,” Romney noted, suggested that Congress should go beyond the measures taken in the House Coronavirus aid package.

Early Saturday morning, the House passed a second coronavirus package to alleviate the economic impact of the coronavirus. The measure, which passed by a 363-40 vote, would ensure individuals have access to free testing for the disease, ensure displaced workers have access to paid leave, bolster unemployment insurance benefits, expand food stamps and increase federal funding for Medicaid programs.

The bill was sent back to the floor over a technicality, preventing it from being delivered to the Senate for a vote. The updated bill included changes that would only allocate paid family and medical leave to parents whose minor children’s care facilities or schools are shut down due to the virus.

Romney’s other proposals calls for providing grants to affected small businesses that have lost more than 50% of their revenue, easing financial burdens for students and require all private insurance companies to cover telehealth services amid the outbreak. He noted that the federal government would reimburse private plans for the full cost of services.

He called on the Senate to “swiftly pass” the House-passed aid package this week. The Senate will vote on Tuesday on the House measure.