Mnuchin: ’Bipartisan agreement still should be reached’ on second coronavirus relief bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The head of the U.S. Treasury faced questions on Capitol Hill Tuesday about efforts to pass a second round of coronavirus relief aid.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged Congress to pass what both parties can agree on as soon as possible and to worry about the parts they can’t agree on later.

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It’s been more than five months since the first round of relief aid was passed under the CARES Act.

“I believe a bipartisan agreement still should be reached and would provide substantial funds for schools, testing, vaccines, PPP for small businesses, continued enhanced unemployment benefits, childcare, nutrition agriculture and the U.S. Postal Service,” Mnuchin said. “I would say kids and jobs are the most important thing.”

Mnuchin said extending the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) appears to be a component that both parties agree on now.

House Democrats passed a $3 trillion package in May with the HEROES Act but Republicans said it was too costly.

Mnuchin acts as the lead negotiator for the Trump administration.

“Mr. Secretary, will you commit to working in good faith with the Congressional Democrats who want an agreement that does whatever it takes to assist struggling Americans to end this crisis?” Rep. James Clyburn (D-South Carolina) asked.

“The president and I want to move forward with more fiscal response,” Mnuchin said. “I am prepared to sit down with the Speaker at any time to negotiate.”

Democrats criticized the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and said the implementation of programs like the PPP have been plagued with problems.

But Republicans defended the President and instead blasted Democrats.

“Is it fair to say that if Democrat governors would let people go back to work in their states, we’d probably have less unemployment?” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked.

“I believe there’s no question that the reason we have unemployment is that certain states are not opening up and there are issues,” Mnuchin said. “Of course, that has to be balanced with medical issues appropriately.”

Part 1: Nursing home employees blow whistle on ‘poor care’ during COVID (Watch Part 2 below) Part 1: Nursing home employees blow whistle on ‘poor care’ during COVID (Watch Part 2 below)

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