#Unions, progressive groups lay out demands for next COVID-19 relief bill

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Labor unions and progressive groups gave Democrats in Congress a wish list of items they want in the next coronavirus stimulus bill, including aid to local and state governments, help for immigrants, enhanced jobless benefits and funds for public schools, according to a report on Wednesday.

They included their demands in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as Congress is poised to begin negotiating the next round of relief funds next week, The Hill reported.

Along with $1 trillion state and local aid and $100 billion for public schools, the groups want expanded protections for workers and help for immigrants.

They also want to preserve the $3 trillion HEROES Act, which House Democrats passed in May, and calls for enhanced jobless benefits and stimulus payments for households.

The coalition includes the American Federation of Teachers, Service Employees International Union, MoveOn, United We Dream and Greenpeace.

Another round of stimulus checks are likely to be included in the coronavirus relief package but many of the other proposals could hit a wall in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his GOP colleagues want to limit the next bill to $1 trillion, and McConnell seeks liability protections for businesses reopening amid the pandemic.

“Senate Republicans are looking to keep it around $1 trillion. They do not want a $3 trillion blowout like the one Nancy Pelosi has proposed,” a Senate source told The Post on Tuesday.