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Susan Collins, Angus King Sign Onto Bipartisan Pandemic Relief Effort

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King of Maine have joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday in proposing a $908 billion pandemic relief package that would not include a stimulus check to households.

With COVID-19 cases surging across the country, King, Collins and a group of colleagues in both the House and Senate insist that the need for emergency aid is now.

“Families all across America are struggling, businesses are closing, hospitals are overwhelmed,” Collins says. “We have worked very hard to put together a $908 billion framework for COVID relief. We have worked night and day through the Thanksgiving recess.”

The package would provide $300 a week in federal unemployment for four months. It also includes $160 billion in aid to states and municipalities, and temporarily blocks some pandemic-related lawsuits. The package also includes funding for small businesses, schools, health care and student loans, among other measures.

“This is an opportunity for the American people to have relief. It is also a profound opportunity for this institution to show the American people we are able to rise to the occasion,” King says.

Neither party leaders nor President Donald Trump have taken a position on the proposal.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.