Owner-Operators Favor Direct Payment, Small Business Help for COVID-19 Relief Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Talks have been underway in both Houses of Congress for nearly six months, lawmakers may finally be close to coming to an agreement on the pandemic COVID relief bill. This has come in addition to the post-election upset and the ending of the year.

The majority of owner-operators, according to polls and votes put out by trucking sites, are standing firm for the support of working-class people and their need to be a priority for future legislation. In order of majority, they are for another round of payments to tax-paying Americans, or stimulus. They support funding for small business lending and relief programs, and/or more funding and federal support for unemployment programs already in effect.

It seems as Congress works tirelessly on this, that it would be a two bill approach to resolve the problematic state of affairs for many Americans. The major part of the relief bill would include support to the unemployed and small businesses. It did not directly provide any form of direct payment possibilities, as further negotiations were needed. Members of the Democratic party have pushed for government assistance for states/local government agencies, per current collapsing budgets. Republicans have sought COVID liability protections for employers. Both are high-priority issues, and neither party had been willing to compromise. There has been a great deal of separate discussions on the matters at hand.

Congress expects a draft and passing of the package to be presented to the president no later than Friday, December 18, 2020.