IL Rep. Brad Schneider On The Stimulus Package: Focus Needs To Be On Main Street, Not Wall Street

Senate Expected To Vote On $2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill Wednesday
The skyline of New York City is seen as people commute between New Jersey and New York on March 25, 2020 in Weehawkeen, New Jersey. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
Senate Expected To Vote On $2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill Wednesday
The skyline of New York City is seen as people commute between New Jersey and New York on March 25, 2020 in Weehawkeen, New Jersey. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

IL Rep. Brad Schneider On The Stimulus Package: Focus Needs To Be On Main Street, Not Wall Street

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

In a rare bipartisan move, late Wednesday the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a $2 trillion emergency bill to grant economic relief to individuals, families and businesses dealing with the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The so-called “CARES Act”, once approved by the House and signed by the President, would be the largest economic rescue package in American history.

This comes as the Labor Department this morning announced that nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — more than quadruple the previous record set in 1982.

Some economists predict the unemployment rate could go as high as 30 percent. This would match levels during the Great Depression.

Reset checked in with Congressman Brad Schneider, who represents Illinois’ 10th district in Lake County, for more on the bill, including how it helps hospitals in Illinois access the resources they need.