Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) railed last week against Republicans’ proposal to modestly reduce unemployment insurance benefits. Republicans were concerned that the $600 weekly unemployment insurance benefit has harmed the recovery from the severe disruptions caused by partial economic shutdowns in response to COVID-19.

As the White House and congressional leadership begin bipartisan negotiations over another legislative response to COVID-19, fiscal conservatives both inside and outside of Congress are expressing concerns about the federal budget deficit.

On Monday, Senate Republicans rolled out their priorities for the next legislative of the phase to COVID-19. Entitled the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protections, and Schools (HEALS) Act, the legislation is a mashup of eight different pieces of legislation, the cost of which is expected to reach at least $1 trillion.

The House and Senate are in session this week.

Congress will return to Washington, D.C. next week. Although both chambers already have items on their respective agendas before the August recess begins, another phase of COVID-19 response legislation is expected to be considered. If text exists, few have seen it. Like the previous COVID-19 responses from Congress, the process is entirely controlled by congressional leadership.

When the Senate returns next week, the chamber will continue to process the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2021, S. 4049. This is the annual authorizing bill for the Department of Defense (DOD), which can, at times, include controversial provisions.

Today, the Supreme Court issued an opinion in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue that represents a big win for school choice advocates and for religious liberty. The case revolves around a tax credit given to individuals and businesses for contributions to an education scholarship program for private schools, including religious schools, and a rule promulgated by the Montana Department of Revenue forbidding the use of scholarships at religious schools.