House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Wednesday laid down markers for what congressional Democrats want to see in the next legislative package in response to the coronavirus pandemic, including more money for small businesses, hospitals and local governments.

Since late February, Congress and President Trump have passed three bills in response to the coronavirus pandemic: A modest $8.3 billion investment in the public health response, then about $100 billion to beef up food stamps, state Medicaid budgets, unemployment benefits, and provide some limited paid leave. The third package, the CARES Act, was a whopping $2.2 trillion in aid that threw gobs of money at American households and businesses alike.

Washington — As lawmakers on Capitol Hill turn their focus to approving additional funding for small businesses weathering the coronavirus crisis, Democratic leaders said Wednesday they back more aid for struggling businesses but made further requests for an interim legislative package, including money for hospitals and state and local governments.

Democrats’ asks come in response to Mnuchin request for $250 billion more for small business relief

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Wednesday called for hundreds of billions of dollars for hospitals, state and local governments, and food stamp recipients in response to the Trump administration’s urgent request for $250 billion more for small businesses.

House and Senate Democrats are demanding Congress approve a $500 billion relief package this week that includes a 15% increase in food stamp benefits.

The request more than doubles the $250 million in emergency funding sought by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to extend urgent small business aid that is running dry. Democrats want the additional money for healthcare facilities and to help state and local governments.

An image shared on Facebook more than 46,000 times purportedly shows the phone number people can call to get emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Verdict: False

The number is not listed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) directory of local SNAP offices and does not match the National Hunger Hotline. It comes from a popular 2005 rap song.

Fact Check:

Approximately 6.1 million individuals dropped off the food stamp rolls since President Donald Trump’s first full month in office in February 2017, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA data showed that 6,074,074 individuals discontinued their participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) between February 2017— when the president completed his first full month in office— and November 2019.

Household participation in SNAP declined as well, with 2,489,315 households discontinuing SNAP.

Donald Trump is famed for his head-snapping reversals. One day he’s taking troops out of the Middle East; the next he’s sending more in. One day he’s on the verge of an agreement with China on trade; the next he’s tweeting about holding off until after the election.

On one thing, however, Trump and his administration have been clear, consistent, coordinated and relentless: waging a war on the poor. Not a war on poverty but a war on the most vulnerable themselves.

This Abridge News topic aggregates four unique arguments on different sides of the debate. Here are the quick facts to get you started:

THE QUICK FACTS

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is being called out for suggesting that her family might have starved when she was younger under a new welfare rule announced by the Trump administration this week.