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Americans Could Receive Government Money Quickly to Soften Coronavirus
Economic Impact

Steve Herman

   WHITE HOUSE - The federal government is looking at quickly sending
   money directly to Americans to soften the economic blow from the
   coronavirus pandemic.

   "I think we are going to do something that gets money as quickly as
   possible" to Americans, President Donald Trump told White House
   reporters on Tuesday.

   "The president has instructed me we have to do this now," Treasury
   Secretary Steven Mnuchin said alongside Trump on the briefing room
   podium. "We're looking at sending checks to Americans immediately. And
   I mean now, in the next two weeks."

   Trump's administration is seeking to get Congress to approve an
   infusion of as much as $850 billion into the economy, including $250
   billion for small business loans, and $50 billion to bail out the
   country's airlines, as part of an emergency stimulus package.

   This would be in addition to another $100 billion-plus package passed
   by the House. That legislation provides paid sick leave, unemployment
   insurance and other benefits for workers affected by the national
   spread of COVID-19.
   "We want to have a big infusion, as opposed to going through little
   meetings every couple of days," Trump said about the request to
   Congress. "We're going big, and that's the way it'll be."

   The Federal Reserve announced on Tuesday it is seeking to keep up to $1
   trillion in credit flowing to businesses.
   That announcement gave some encouragement to U.S. stock traders, and
   the major averages rebounded after losing initial gains in Tuesday
   morning trading.

   On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced its worst rout
   since 1987's "Black Monday."

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