Coronavirus stimulus checks could be on their way again.
According to The Washington Post, Democratic and Republican lawmakers have held early discussions about a new round of potential coronavirus stimulus expenditure, particularly with the Omicron strain sweeping through the U.S.
Millions of dollars have been authorized to support a variety of businesses - including restaurants, entertainment venues, gyms, and even minor league sports teams - that are facing another possible hit to their already-troubled balance sheets as a result of the pandemic's evolution.
Per Reuters, the White House said it is in frequent contact with lawmakers regarding a new round of stimulus.
The economy, however, appears to be robust enough to handle the omicron wave, according to the White House.
Sens. Ben Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland, and Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, are spearheading the effort on the negotiations in the hopes of assisting restaurants in need.
"We started with restaurants but we're prepared to expand it if we can have the necessary support," Cardin said Wednesday. "There's other industries that have legitimate concerns."
The U.S. appeared to be turning a corner for months. Coronavirus vaccines and boosters were easily available, new treatments were on the market, and the economy was improving, with the fewest new claims for unemployment benefits since the late 1960s at one point in November.
Because Congress has spent over $6 trillion on assistance since the start of the pandemic, including a roughly $1.9 trillion package known as the American Rescue Plan, which was President Biden's first legislative success, the progress has been made.
However, as companies and schools close once more and Americans hunker down against a highly transmissible strain of the virus, those hard-won accomplishments look to be in jeopardy.
Since Christmas Eve, more than 15,000 flights have been canceled, with an additional 3,000 canceled on Monday alone, as the pandemic continues to impact the employees and businesses on whom the economy depends.
Despite the fact that a fourth stimulus check from federal funding is unlikely to arrive, state governments around the country are devising new ways to provide relief to their people. The amount of aid distributed varies per state.
The types of assistance supplied to US families can differ depending on the decisions of each state. As previously said, the fourth stimulus check may not be issued on a federal level, but many state governments may be offering a helping hand in some shape or form.
