Federal Spotlight: Liability Protections for Businesses a Key Point of Negotiations for Next COVID-19 Relief Bill

Congressional leaders are working diligently to craft and pass another COVID-19 relief package before the August recess. As COVID-19 cases continue to climb in the U.S., leaders in both parties are working to boost the economy via another stimulus that is likely to be over $1 trillion. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has emphasized that liability protections for businesses, hospitals and schools must be included in the final bill. Some of the biggest issues that are expected to be thoroughly debated between the House, the Senate and the White House include more money for the Paycheck Protection Program, more direct payments to individuals, money for educational institutions and childcare, funding for businesses to buy PPE, unemployment benefits, and aid to state and local governments. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin announced this morning that a payroll tax cut, which the White House had been intensely lobbying Senate GOP leaders on, is not going to be included in the bill. Read more on this from The New York Times.