On Monday, March 16, Sen. Mitt Romney held a conference call with news sources about the coronavirus. In that call, he shared a four-part strategy being considered in Washington to help people throughout the country deal with the healthcare and economic difficulties caused by the spread of the virus.

The first part of the plan provides $8.5 billion to bolster healthcare throughout the country.

The second part is a compromise bill between the Treasury and the House that has now made it to the Senate. In that bill, it is proposed that businesses must provide two weeks paid leave to employees for which they will be reimbursed via a tax credit. It was also stated that this will not be applicable for individuals with a high income.

Part three is helping families, workers and small businesses with financial aid. Sen. Romney is proposing a $1,000 one-month payment for all adult citizens in the United States. This would cost roughly $100 billion for that month, and that payment could possibly continue on for successive months, depending on its success. The other half of the plan would be providing grants for small businesses.  This part of the plan would cost roughly $50 billion or more for the first month, depending on the number of businesses participating.

Part four would provide help to larger distressed industries, such as hotels and airlines, that are taking a hit. Sen. Romney discussed how these industries are losing business due to no fault of their own.

Sen. Romney shared that his focus was on phases three and four, and that some senators, not including himself, were wanting to combine parts two and three.