Bipartisan, bicameral group unveils $908 billion coronavirus proposal

A bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiled a $908 billion coronavirus relief proposal on Tuesday, as leadership faces growing pressure to cut a deal.

The measure, rolled out by more than a dozen members from the House and Senate, comes as cases are climbing across the country and Congress is running out of time to clinch a long-stalled fifth bill with lawmakers scheduled to leave for the year as soon as next week.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said it would be "inexcusable" for Congress to leave town for the year without providing more coronavirus relief with a slew of assistance programs set to expire within weeks.

"This is a COVID emergency relief framework," Manchin said. "It's not the time for political brinkmanship. ...This is going to get us through the most difficult times."

The bill, according to a framework released on Tuesday, would provide another $160 billion for states and cities, a top priority for Democrats, $180 billion for unemployment insurance and provides $288 billion for more small business assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

It also includes billions in assistance for transportation-related industries like airlines, $16 billion for vaccine development and distribution and more money for things like schools, childcare and the Postal Service.

In a hat tip to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the proposal would provide a short-term federal protection from coronavirus related lawsuits until states could come up with their own protections.