Bipartisan, bicameral group urges Trump to sign COVID-19 relief package

A group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers from the House and Senate is calling on President Trump to sign a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill that he recently said should include bigger stimulus checks.

The 13 lawmakers, who previously put forth a $908 billion compromise measure, urged Trump to sign the measure into law, citing the need to provide immediate help to workers, businesses, schools and hospitals.

“As members of the bipartisan, bicameral ‘908 Coalition,’ we urge the President to sign the COVID relief package. The legislation would bring desperately needed help to struggling families, unemployed workers, hard-hit small businesses, an overburdened health care system, stressed schools, and so many others. It would provide robust funding for testing and vaccine distribution at a critical time,” the lawmakers wrote.

“By signing the bill, the President would be providing the best possible Christmas gift to the American people,” they added.

The letter was signed by lawmakers including Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), as well as the co-chairs of the bipartisan centrist House Problem Solvers Caucus.

Trump unexpectedly bashed the COVID-19 relief package Tuesday, saying the $600 stimulus checks it provides should be increased to $2,000 each. His opposition caught Democrats and Republicans alike by surprise since he did not voice any concerns with the bill until after it was passed by Congress, following negotiations that included Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The COVID-19 relief package was paired with a $1.4 trillion omnibus measure that would keep the government open through Sept. 30. Trump also voiced displeasure with several aspects of the government funding bill, particularly the provisions on foreign aid, even though his White House budget request called for such aid.

Trump has not explicitly threatened to veto the $2.3 trillion package, but it’s unclear whether he will sign or reject the measure.