The US Senate has approved a nearly $500 billion stimulus package to help small business owners and hospitals.
The Senate approved the deal, which revives the Paycheck Protection Program with another $310 billion to help businesses retain employees for two months with loans that can turn to grants if they meet certain conditions. It also adds $60 billion for the Small Business Administration’s disaster relief fund, $75 billion for hospital operations and $25 billion for COVID-19 testing.
Kansas will receive $21.2 million through this stimulus package, according to Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts.
The approval was unanimous, but Senators had the now-standard partisan bickering after the vote. Both Democrats and Republicans faulted the other side for either delaying the vote or supporting an insufficient relief program.
This follows the passage of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package, which offered relief for individuals, businesses, hospitals, education and airports among other aspects of American life.
The House still has to vote. It could do so Thursday.
