24th April, 2020
The United States House of Representatives on Thursday passed a new COVID-19 relief package totalling $484bn (£391bn).
It is the fourth aid bill to clear Congress in response to the pandemic.
The legislation, approved by 388-5, devotes more money to a small business aid fund, hospitals and wider testing.
President Donald Trump has already said he will enact the bill, which passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday.
The US has over 845,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 46,800 deaths.
Last month, Washington enacted the largest economic stimulus package in US history, with $2 trillion in coronavirus aid.
The additional funding for the small business programme follows Thursday’s unemployment report, which revealed over 26 million Americans filed for jobless claims in the last five weeks – and 4.4 million last week alone.
According to BBC, lawmakers have given $310bn in new funds to the Paycheck Protection Program, which offers loans to small businesses so they can keep employees on the payroll.
The $349bn allocated to the programme last month ran out last week, leaving millions of business owners questioning how they could keep operating.
The White House initially requested lawmakers separately allot $250bn for the pay programme, but Democrats argued for stipulations to ensure the money reached underserved communities.
According to the Democrats, the funds should be allocated for hospitals and testing.
Hospitals will now receive $75bn, and $25bn will go towards expanding Covid-19 testing – which experts have emphasised is a key step to re-opening the economy.