AMERICANS could receive a second "bigger" round of direct checks as part of a future coronavirus relief package, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi predicts.
Pelosi hinted that she would push to send more money directly to Americans in addition to the cash payments already laid out in the $2 trillion stimulus package passed to combat the economic fallout from COVID-19.
"I don't think we've seen the end of direct payments," she told reporters Thursday morning.
The $2 trillion stimulus package approved on Wednesday night in the Senate includes direct payments of $1,200 to most Americans making less than $75,000.
On Thursday Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the emergency stimulus checks could arrive as quickly as April 6, but tax experts believe it'll likely take at least a month or two.
House Democrats introduced a separate $2.5 trillion coronavirus stimulus plan Monday as efforts to pass the current bill were stalled.
The sprawling relief package would include direct payments of $1,500 to single people and up to $7,000 for a family of five, according to CNBC.
Democrats will bring the bill to the floor tomorrow, said Pelosi, who believes the second stimulus package will easily pass in the House and lead to "a victory for America's workers".
"Tomorrow we will bring the bill to the floor. It will pass – it will pass with a strong bipartisan support," she asserted, adding that the bill will be on President Donald Trump's desk regardless of lawmakers' objections.
"We will have a victory tomorrow for America's workers."
Pelosi's optimism comes as a record 3.3 million Americans were forced to claim unemployment benefits last week – the most in US history.
This week's claims are up from 281,000 the week before and is more than quadruple the previous record-high of 695,000, set in 1982.
Pelosi also highlighted other immediate goals she intends to tackle in future bills, such as free coronavirus testing and treatment in addition to more money for state and local healthcare grants.
As the federal government tries to handle the constantly-evolving crisis, Pelosi said Congress "has to be on call for what we need when we need it, and we don't know what that might be."
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday the Senate doesn't plan to vote again until April 20, but urged Congress to be "nimble" as the outbreak continues.
But Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the "odds are high" Congress will need to pass more relief legislation after the April 20 vote.
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