Relief bill fades as COVID surges, judges keep coming

Lame duck sessions of Congress are known for their frenzied activity and unpredictable outcomes. The current one promises to be no exception. Most significant, hope for a COVID-19 relief bill is fading even as the need for federal action increases.

The explosive spread of the virus across the country has scuttled plans for a broader reopening of schools and businesses. As hospitals fill up and ICU beds are consumed, even the governors who were the staunchest pandemic deniers are ordering curfews, lockdowns, and mandatory mask use. As these measures seek to curtail the number of COVID cases, they will certainly increase the number of people out of work and a growing demand for federal support. The question for this lame duck is whether federal relief will be forthcoming.

The urgency for relief is heightened by the expiration of two unemployment support programs passed by Congress in the spring. When the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs expire at the end of the year, millions of jobless workers will be left without any unemployment benefits. Currently, 9.4 million workers rely on PUA, which provides unemployment benefits to contractors, the self-employed, and other workers. Another four to six million workers will lose eligibility for PEUC, which provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits once jobless workers exhaust what their state typically provides—approximately 26 weeks of benefits.

Stalled transition deepens congressional rift