Senate will 'make a decision' on crafting another COVID-19 stimulus package in July: McConnell

The GOP-led Senate won't make a decision on proceeding with a fourth coronavirus relief package until July, says Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"We’ll be looking in July to make a decision about whether to go forward with another rescue package and we’ll let you know," the Kentucky Republican said Monday.

The Democratic-led House passed the $3 trillion HEROES Act last month that included more $1,200 direct payments, two rounds of stimulus payments for illegal immigrants who filed taxes in 2018 or 2019, expanded mail voting provisions for the November election, increased U.S. Postal Service funding as well as $1 trillion in federal assistance for state and local governments. 

McConnell has maintained that the Senate would not pass the HEROES Act in its current form and that any future stimulus would have to include liability protections for businesses as state economics begin to reopen.

Some Senate Democrats are calling for an extension of the $600 federal unemployment compensation, which is issued on top of weekly state benefits. The federal benefit is set to expire July 31.

McConnell's office declined to comment on Tuesday when asked if the federal unemployment extension, direct payments and/or state and local funding would be included in the Senate GOP's version of a fourth coronavirus relief package.

The Senate passed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, the third coronavirus package, in March and passed more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program in April.

Last month, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the House had no plans to pass parts of the HEROES Act separately.