Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling for up to $25,000 in “heroes” pay for front-line health care and service industry workers as Congress pushes ahead with a new coronavirus crisis rescue package.
“This is a heroes’ fund and they deserve it,” the New York Democrat said Tuesday.
The Senate minority leader declared the emerging proposal the “highest priority” for Democrats as congressional leaders and President Trump call for more aid for Americans.
Nurses, truck drivers, grocery store clerks and others are “risking their lives” to care for Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown, he said.
“They get lots of applause and kudos,” he said, referring to the nightly 7 p.m. cheers that ring out from residents across New York City for the front-line workers.
But, he said, they also need the cash.
The proposal comes as the president and congressional leaders agreed that Americans will need more aid beyond the $2.2 trillion package signed into law by Trump last month.
“We’re going to take good care of our people,” Trump said Monday at his daily White House briefing. “It was not their fault.”
The details of the package are still being debated and it is unclear if Schumer’s idea will gain traction with Trump or his Republican allies in Congress — especially given it is sure to be an enormous price tag.
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SOURCE: New York Post, Bob Fredericks
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