A spokesman for McConnell did not indicate whether the Republican leader plans to consider Pelosi and Schumer’s proposal.
But GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas released a statement Wednesday making his thoughts known.
“Senate Democrats should drop their shameful threat to block this funding immediately. Our small businesses desperately need help – now,” Cornyn said in a statement.
A spokesman for Schumer said the Democratic Leader had spoken with Mnuchin on Wednesday about the \"Small Business Plus\" proposal.
\"We hope our Republican colleagues will support this “Small Business Plus” proposal tomorrow in the Senate,\" the aide said in a statement.
It’s also unclear what House Democrats will do should the Senate approve the $250 billion request on Thursday.
An aide to House Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told ABC News that the House could pass a bill as early as Friday, “assuming the Senate passes something Thursday that there is unanimous consent for.”
The White House wants both chambers of Congress to pass the legislation by Friday.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/mnuchin-rt-aa-200408_hpEmbed_10x7_384.jpg\")
Tom Brenner/Reuters, FILE
PHOTO: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin discusses details for economic relief during the daily coronavirus response briefing as Small Business (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza listens at the White House in Washington, April 2, 2020.
Mnuchin did not address the Democrats’ demands during a televised interview on Wednesday.
“The president has asked us to go back to Congress we hope they pass this tomorrow and Friday,” Mnuchin said in an interview with CNBC. “We want to assure everybody, if you don't get a loan this week, you'll get a loan next week or the following week, the money will be there.”
Mnuchin said there are 3,500 lenders available via the Small Business Administration system to start doling out loans.
Pelosi and Schumer’s emergency stopgap coronavirus relief bill is separate from a bill they hope to pass in the coming weeks that expands on the $2 trillion stimulus package Congress passed last month.
“After we pass this interim emergency legislation, Congress will move to pass a CARES 2 Act that will extend and expand the bipartisan CARES Act to meet the needs of the American people,” Pelosi and Schumer said in their statement. “CARES 2 must provide transformational relief as the American people weather this assault on their lives and livelihoods.”
Pelosi has said she wants the next stimulus package to include extended unemployment insurance benefits, more aid for hospitals and local and state governments, and another round of direct payments to Americans.
Schumer and Senate Democrats introduced their own proposal Tuesday that would create a so-called “Heroes Fund,” a two-pronged federal program that would give all essential, frontline workers a pay increase of $25,000 through the end of this year, and a $15,000 recruitment incentive specifically designed to attract and secure the medical workforce needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
\"It's a premium pay increase for essential workers, not just health care workers,\" Schumer told reporters on a conference call Tuesday. \"It includes truck drivers who deliver supplies, grocery store workers who keep food on the shelves. Transit workers who keep the trains running.\"
The Democrats' plan, which they hope will be included in the fourth stimulus package, would give about a $13 per hour raise to those essential workers earning less than $200,000 per year and $5,000 for each essential worker earning $200,000 or more per year.
It was not immediately clear how much the proposal would cost, according to Democratic aides.
\"This is a heroes fund,\" Schumer said. \"They deserve it.\"
ABC News' Trish Turner and Matthew Vann contributed to this report.
What to know about coronavirus:
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