Congress has passed four bills to respond to the crisis, most recently approving a plan to replenish a small business aid program about a month ago. Many lawmakers and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell have argued Washington should take more steps to jolt the economy as the unemployment rate stood at 14.7% in April and pockets of the country remain under restrictions to protect public health.

While Democrats have pushed for more legislation for weeks, the GOP has started to warm to another round of stimulus in recent days. President Donald Trump and his top advisors signaled their support for another rescue bill last week. The president mentioned the possibility of a second direct payment to individuals — which McConnell did not address Tuesday. 

The Senate Republican leader again insisted he would push for liability protections for doctors and businesses as the economy reopened. Democrats have been uneasy about creating shields from lawsuits. 

McConnell also said he would want additional relief for state and local governments to be tailored only to increased expenses and revenue lost due to the coronavirus outbreak. Democrats included nearly $1 trillion for cash-strapped states and municipalities in their bill as leaders from both parties ask for more money. 

It is unclear for how long and at what level McConnell would want to fund federal unemployment insurance benefits. Last week, the senator said the next congressional bill would not extend the $600 per week sum the U.S. government added to what recipients normally get from states. The extra federal benefit is set to expire at the end of July. 

Stocks that seemed resilient to the Covid-19 pandemic faced pressure Tuesday, as investors rallied around a potential coronavirus vaccine and reopening of the economy. 

Shares of Netflix, Shopify, Peloton and Zoom, all companies that once benefited from consumers sheltering in place across the country, closed lower Tuesday. The moves come despite a strong day for the broader markets, which have seen steep lows due to the pandemic. 

Netflix stock, which hit a 52-week high last week, closed down 3.4%. E-commerce platform Shopify, which supplies businesses with means to sell products online, dropped nearly 7% after reaching a 52-week high Tuesday. Shares of Peloton, a digital fitness company, dropped nearly 9%. Zoom, the videoconferencing software company that drew massive users, dropped more than 4%. 

The idea that society may be reopening sooner rather than later could mean that consumers will return to some of their old habits, spending less time at home. 

“The virus appears to be coming under control,” Bruce Bittles, chief investment strategist at Baird, wrote in a note to clients. “Lockdowns have been relaxed and we have not seen a resurgence in the virus.”