The Senate overwhelmingly passed a second emergency coronavirus aid package on Wednesday, with Donald Trump then quickly signing its paid sick leave and other provisions into law.
The measure is expected to be followed soon by a massive economic stimulus package that members of both parties and White House officials are still negotiating, with floor votes perhaps as soon as this week. The second measure passed the upper chamber easily, 90-8.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had urged his Republican colleagues, many of whom had issues with the House-passed bill, to move at "warp speed" to pass it, even if they had to "gag" and vote in favour. After a brief delay to give Senator Rand Paul, Mr McConnell's fellow Kentucky Republican, a vote on an amendment that was almost unanimously squashed, the chamber finally sent it to Mr Trump's desk.
House Democrats initially pushed for 12 full weeks of paid leave for workers with coronavirus, symptoms of the bug, or who are caring for others who are sick. White House officials and Republican lawmakers, however, blanched, with business groups sounding alarms. The final version grants such workers 12 days of paid leave; health experts say most working-age adults will recover from the virus within two weeks.
Attention now turns to an economic stimulus bill still under negotiation in Washington. That measure could provide economic assistant checks to all or many Americans totally $2,000 or more, officials say. It also is expected to provide help to airlines and inject much-needed cash into the US economy.
Experts are warning of millions of lost jobs by summer and a likely election-year recession that could upend Mr Trump's plans for a second term.
US stock markets closed sharply down again on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average all but wiping out all the gains it had posted under the 45th president. For his part, Mr Trump said he is focused on nixing the outbreak, saying the economy will come roaring back if he and his team do that.
