Under the Democratic proposal, the pay increase would be up to $25,000 per worker from the start of the pandemic to the end of the year, or as Schumer described about $13 an hour. In addition the proposal would include a $15,000 recruitment incentive for home and health care workers, as well as first responders.

The federal government would back the funds and the proposal would be retroactive.

In addition to Schumer, Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) are also pushing for the additional funds.

“We hope that our Republican colleagues will join us in noting this hero’s fund is so very needed,” Schumer said. “It should get strong bipartisan support. We’re just putting the proposal out today and we’re trying to round up support.”

So far, Senate Republicans have made more of their focus on implementing the recently passed $2 trillion package and assisting small businesses that have been hit hard by the crisis.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is already calling for the Senate to approve billions of dollars in additional assistance to the Paycheck Protection Program, which covers payroll and expenses, by unanimous consent Thursday. That would allow the Senate to approve the additional funds without most lawmakers being physically present in the Capitol.

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), when asked about the Schumer proposal, said in an interview that "there's been some ideas that have erred too much on government being the driver of how we come out of this.""

"I think there are going to be many of us that often talk about the fiscal component that are going to be very willing to take care of those hot spots but in a broader bigger sense there's going to be a strong discussion about how we need to do that very selectively, very strategically," he added.

In addition to the premium pay proposal, Schumer also added that vote-by-mail efforts would be a ‘very high priority” for the fourth package.

Senate Democrats are calling for at least an additional $1.6 billion to be added to any fourth emergency rescue package to expand vote-by-mail and early voting in response to the pandemic.

