Thread by @BBuchman_CNS

INBOX: @MittRomney urges the Senate to pass the House coronavirus package "swiftly," saying it "contains critical measures to help families in Utah and across the nation." But he also wants to build on it.

The bill requires "additional action to help families and small businesses meet their short-term financial obligations, ease the financial burden on students entering the workforce, and protect health workers on the front lines and their patients by improving telehealth services"

Here is what the senator says he will propose as the Senate works out the details:
- Immediately send $1k checks to each American. Congress took similar action during in '01/'08 recessions.

Romney says of the proposed $1k check, "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."

Senator Romney says he will propose bridge grants from the SBA for small qualified businesses impacted by coronavirus, particularly those that apply but don't receive economic injury disaster loans.

Romney statement: "This program would ensure small businesses can meet short-term obligations, such as payroll and rent, without forcing them into future bankruptcies. An eligible small business must exhibit a revenue loss greater than 50% from the same month in the prior year."

(Romney statement on his proposal for small business bridge grants continued): "The program will also include criminal penalties for fraud and an audit by the SBA’s Inspector General to ensure compliance."

The senator also wants to amend existing higher education legislation so that unexpected costs to students associated with covid19 can be factored into pell grants.

Romney's office says the lawmaker also wants to propose relief for recent college grads: they should be able to defer the repayment of their loans for a period of time if they are impacted by coronavirus.

And Romney wants the final Senate bill to include insurance plans to temporarily cover telehealth: "To protect the health workforce and connect patients with providers, require all private insurance companies (individual, small- and large-group, and self-insured market)...

(continued) "...to cover telehealth services, if the reason for using telehealth services is related to COVID-19. The federal government would reimburse private plans for the full cost of services."

Here's a copy of the House bill that passed this weekend:
documentcloud.org/documents/6810…

Monitoring developments in the Senate today for @CourthouseNews

STORY: As the novel coronavirus disrupts daily life for Americans and business as usual grinds to a halt, passage of a hefty multibillion-dollar emergency relief package may be on hold for a few more days thanks to at least one Republican lawmaker.
courthousenews.com/sweeping-coron…

Senators are still on the floor advocating for passage of the emergency aid package for coronavirus. You can watch it here:
c-span.org/video/?470367-…