On March 27th, the first COVID-19 stimulus package was signed into a law. Shortly thereafter, if eligible people in Erie and in the state of Pennsylvania received up to a $1,200 payment. 

A similar check, should a new bill pass, may never see the light of day. 

Recently, Senate Republicans released a new draft of a stimulus package, called the "Delivering Immediate Relief to America's Families, Schools, and Small Businesses Act". 

This bill, also being called a "skinny" version, does not include a second round of $1,200 payments to eligible individuals. 

In previous negotiations, however, a second stimulus payment was one of the aspects both parties seemed to agree on, according to numerous Washington, D.C. experts. 

The proposal, of course, would have to pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives before being put into law.

But in Erie, several workers and business owners hope no matter what bill passes, a second check will be included.

"We have some debt that we have a line of credit on for these cars [that we sell]", said Jim Casella, Owner of Liberty Auto Sales in Erie. "We do have payroll to meet, and that's an every week thing, whether we sell anything or not". 

Casella was one of several small businesses in the area that was denied a CDFI Small Business Grant in round one. Liberty Auto Sales will be eligible in round two of funding. 

But Casella is hoping another stimulus payment will come before that. He believes that would help to increase business and make up for the $100,000 of revenue he has lost during the pandemic. 

"We could get some of the money back if [government] would give a stimulus check to people", said Casella. "That would help our business, because [people] would have down payments, and be able to purchase cars". 

Hourly workers are hopeful, too. Josh Nasca, Erie Resident, is just 21, and fighting to make ends meet. Right now, he says he doesn't make enough money to qualify for the new weekly unemployment bonus. To be eligible for the $300 per week, someone must make at least $100 per week. 

Nasca doesn't even know if he would even qualify for a stimulus check the second time around. In round one, he was claimed as a dependent, something he believes should change if another relief bill were to be passed. 

"I feel like it's not fair for everybody, especially people like me, because I was claimed", said Nasca. "I feel like [people] should still get paid, because they're in the same boat. They could have lost their jobs, too. I'm 21 and had a job, but I lost it, and I still need some type of income".

Nasca admits that he is "overspending on some things", but says a lot of the overspending for him and others is to help keep everyone safe and healthy. "It's still hard now, because everything's just so out of place", Nasca said.

No bill, including the recent "skinny" version, has been approved. Both the House and Senate proposed different COVID-19 relief bills and could not reach an agreement before the most recent session ended in early August.

Currently, there is no official meeting scheduled between the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. Session is set to resume in September. 

This story was supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.