Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy say the next coronavirus bill must provide liability protections for employers.
In a joint statement released Friday, the two Republican lawmakers said they would not support a fifth coronavirus bill unless it includes extra protective measures for businesses, The Hill reports.
"As the nation continues fighting this pandemic and parts of our economy begin to emerge from shutdown, Senate and House Republicans are united in our demand that health care workers, small businesses, and other Americans on the front lines of this fight must receive strong protections from frivolous lawsuits," McConnell and McCarthy said in a joint statement.
"Senate and House Republicans agree these protections will be absolutely essential to future discussions surrounding recovery legislation," they added.
The push for protection comes as states begin lifting stay-at-home restrictions. The liability measure would protect companies from facing potential lawsuits. Legal experts say employers could face an array of coronavirus related lawsuits, including a customer suing if they get sick.
Some Democrats have said they will not support the measure if it would weaken protection for workers in any way, according to The Hill.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer told PBS "News Hour" on Tuesday that he had not seen McConnell's proposal but that "if it's going to help big CEOs, but not the workers, or hurt the workers, that's not going to happen.
McConnell told Fox News on Tuesday the proactive measures are a “red line” for him.
"Let me make it perfectly clear, the Senate is not interested in passing a bill that does not have liability protection. ... What I'm saying is we have a red line on liability. It won't pass the Senate without it," he said.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.