A prominent GOP House lawmaker on Monday introduced legislation to create a “return to work bonus,” an idea gaining traction among Republicans concerned about the $600-per-week boost to unemployment benefits enacted in March amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the bill from Rep. Kevin BradyKevin Patrick BradyExpanding tax credit for businesses retaining workers gains bipartisan support Former Texas Rep. Sam Johnson dies at 89 On The Money: McConnell: Talking about fifth coronavirus bill ‘in next month or so’ | Boosted unemployment benefits on the chopping block | Women suffering steeper job losses from COVID-19 MORE (Texas), the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, people who had been receiving unemployment benefits and return to work would be able to receive up to two weekly payments of $600, or one lump-sum payment of $1,200. The benefit would be available through July 31, when the $600 increase to weekly unemployment benefits expires.

“Through a Return To Work Bonus — which would allow workers to keep up to two weeks of unemployment benefits if they accept a job offer — we can make sure these temporary job losses don’t turn into permanent ones,” Brady said in a statement.

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“We need these workers. Unless we can reconnect these workers with these Main Street businesses soon, that business may no longer be there,” he added. “This proposal is an important part in preventing a prolonged recession.”

The bill comes as Democrats and Republicans are divided over the increase to unemployment benefits as states begin to lift restrictions on businesses that were enacted to help fight the spread of COVID-19.

Many Democrats want the $600 increase to weekly unemployment benefits to be extended past July, arguing that many people will still be unemployed and need assistance when the current increased benefits expire. But Republicans are worried that the increased benefits are discouraging people from going back to work because some are now receiving more in unemployment benefits than they were in wages before they lost their jobs. 

Brady isn’t the only GOP lawmaker who has expressed interest in a return-to-work bonus. Sen. Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanSoured on Fox, Trump may be seeking new propaganda outlet On The Money: McConnell: Talking about fifth coronavirus bill ‘in next month or so’ | Boosted unemployment benefits on the chopping block | Women suffering steeper job losses from COVID-19 Kudlow: 0-per-week boost to unemployment benefits won’t ‘survive the next round of talks’ MORE (R-Ohio) has floated a proposal under which people who go back to work receive a $450-per-week benefit for a period of time on top of their wages. And White House economic adviser Larry KudlowLawrence (Larry) Alan KudlowMORE said last week that this concept is something that the administration is “looking at very carefully.”

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In addition to the provision about the return-to-work bonus, Brady’s bill also includes one to direct states to have reporting mechanisms for employers to notify states when someone refuses a job offer, and to direct states to send notices to unemployment benefit claimants about their state’s return-to-work laws and their rights to refuse to return to work.

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Meanwhile, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenOn The Money: Senate Dems pump brakes on new stimulus checks | Trump officials sued over tax refunds | Fed to soon open small-business lending program Senate Democrats pump brakes on new stimulus checks Voting rights, public health officials roll out guidelines to protect voters from COVID-19 MORE (Ore.), said Monday that the next coronavirus relief package needs to include automatic extensions of enhanced unemployment benefits tied to economic conditions. Wyden made his comment after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Trump tweets as tensions escalate across US This week: Senate reconvenes as protests roil nation amid pandemic For city parks: Pass the Great American Outdoors Act now MORE (R-Ky.) said that the next coronavirus stimulus legislation would be the last one.

“With Mitch McConnell pledging that the next COVID-19 relief package will be the last, Democrats must make triggers for unemployment benefits non-negotiable,” Wyden said in a statement. 

Wyden released a proposal last month that would continue boosting the temporary higher weekly unemployment benefits until a state’s three-month average unemployment rate falls below 11 percent. The amount of enhanced unemployment benefits would then be reduced as the unemployment rate falls.

“Failure to implement triggers now will make it exponentially harder to ensure economic recovery and pass legislation to address our many challenges, from protecting Social Security to lowering prescription drug prices,” he said.

Markets closed up on the first day of June, continuing an upward trajectory that has seen stocks rise precipitously from March lows caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 92 points, or 0.4 percent, and the S&P 500 rose 11 points, or 0.4 percent. 

The increases reversed dips in early trading, set against a weekend of civil unrest around the country over the killings of unarmed African Americans by police. 

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But traders seemed to bet that the chaos would die down, and that states working to reopen their economies would help fuel a strong recovery.

Still, economic problems loom on the horizon.

The Congressional Budget Office on Monday projected that the pandemic would shave a cumulative $7.9 trillion over the next decade in real terms, about 3 percent of the economy. 

President TrumpDonald John TrumpFauci says his meetings with Trump have ‘dramatically decreased’ McEnany criticizes DC mayor for not imposing earlier curfew amid protests Stopping Israel’s annexation is a US national security interest MORE on Monday spoke with Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinIn a new cold war with China, America may need to befriend Russia Here’s why reporters are not asking the White House about ‘Obamagate’ Postponed Russian World War II victory parade now set for June MORE about plans for this year’s Group of Seven (G-7) summit, after Trump said over the weekend that he hoped to add Russia and three other nations to the annual meeting.

A White House spokesman said the two leaders “discussed progress toward convening the G7.” The Kremlin said in a separate statement that Trump told Putin about his idea of inviting Russia, Australia, India and South Korea to the annual G-7 summit, which will be hosted by the U.S.

Trump told reporters Saturday that he would postpone the G-7, scheduled to take place June 10-12, until September or later and planned to invite the four additional nations to the summit.

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The Trump administration had planned to host the summit at Camp David but scrapped the in-person meeting in favor of a virtual summit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The G-7 consists of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. The four additional nations Trump wants to add are all part of the Group of 20. Earlier Monday, Trump spoke to South Korean President Moon Jae-in about plans to convene the G-7 summit, according to the White House.

Trump has previously suggested it would be appropriate to add Russia to the G-7; Moscow was expelled from what was then the G-8 over its seizure of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin TrudeauJustin Pierre James TrudeauGerman chancellor says she ‘cannot confirm’ she’ll attend possible G7 summit Canadian PM Trudeau pushes for national sick leave plan to prep for coronavirus second wave Trump says in-person G-7 would ‘primarily’ take place at White House MORE said Monday that Canada does not support Russia being added to the summit because Moscow continues to violate international law.

Trump and Putin also discussed efforts to defeat the novel coronavirus and reopen their respective economies on Monday’s call.

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“President Trump conveyed that the United States is working hard to care for Americans at home and provide assistance to other countries in need, including the donation of 200 ventilators to the Russian people,” White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said. 

The Kremlin said the two leaders also discussed the OPEC+ agreement on cuts to oil output.

Updated at 4:07 p.m.

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Pope FrancisPope FrancisPope calls for cooperation on coronavirus vaccine development, international sharing The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Trump, Congress close to deal on new coronavirus bill Pope calls for inequalities to be abolished after ‘time of trial’ MORE, in his first noon address from his balcony since Italy ended its lockdown, said that as nations reopen they should prioritize human lives over the economy.

“Healing people, not saving (money) to help the economy (is important), healing people, who are more important than the economy,” Francis said, according to Reuters. “We people are temples of the Holy Spirit, the economy is not.”

The address overlooking St. Peter’s Square was the first in about three months. A crowd of hundreds gathered for the speech, a fraction of the tens of thousands who would normally be present. Attendees wore masks and practiced physical distancing. The square, which reopened Monday, has not been the site of an address by Francis since March 1. Italy, which has seen more than 33,000 deaths from the virus thus far, is set to lift the last restrictions Wednesday, according to Reuters.

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The Pope went on to lead a silent prayer for health care workers who have lost their lives during and the pandemic and expressing hopes that the world would emerge more united.

“People do not come out of a crisis like this the same as before. We will come out either better or worse than before. Let’s have the courage to emerge better than before in order to build the post-crisis period of the pandemic positively,” he said.

The pontiff has frequently spoken of the need for people and nations to come together during the crisis, saying in April that once the “time of trial” was over, nations should work to eliminate global inequalities.

“We are all frail, all equal, all precious. May we be profoundly shaken by what is happening all around us,” Francis said during the Feast of Divine Mercy last month. “The time has come to eliminate inequalities, to heal the injustice that is undermining the health of the entire human family!”

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The White House announced Sunday that the U.S. will send 2 million doses of hydroxychloroquine and 1,000 ventilators to Brazil as the South American country confronts the coronavirus pandemic.

The White House said in a joint statement with the Brazilian government that the doses of hydroxychloroquine will be used as preventative treatment for nurses, doctors and health-care professionals. Brazilian civilians who contract the virus will also be permitted to use the drug.  

The U.S. and Brazil will also launch a joint research effort, including randomized controlled clinical trials, to test hydroxychloroquine’s use as a preventive measure and early treatment of COVID-19.

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President TrumpDonald John TrumpDonald Trump and Joe Biden create different narratives for the election The hollowing out of the CDC Poll: Biden widens lead over Trump to 10 points MORE and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have spoken twice since March, according to the statement.

“Going forward, the United States and Brazil will remain in close coordination in the shared fight against the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing regional response to safeguard public health, further limit the spread of the coronavirus, advance the early development of a vaccine, and save lives,” the statement reads.

The president and his administration have been pushing for the use of hydroxychloroquine to fight and prevent coronavirus, despite it not being proven effective to treat the viral disease. The drug is used to treat malaria and lupus. 

Trump himself announced earlier this month that he was taking the drug to prevent coronavirus. But the country’s top infectious disease expert Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOvernight Defense: Trump extends deployment of National Guard troops to aid with coronavirus response | Pentagon considers reducing quarantine to 10 days | Lawmakers push for removal of Nazi headstones from VA cemeteries Don’t move the COVID-19 goalpost Overnight Health Care: Sewage testing gives clues of coronavirus | White House says Trump would take hydroxychloroquine again | Trump marks ‘very sad milestone’ of 100K virus deaths MORE told CNN last week that the drug does not work to treat COVID-19.

Health experts have also warned of hydroxychloroquine’s potential side effects, including a higher risk of developing an irregular heartbeat. 

A study published last week that examined 96,000 COVID-19 patients discovered those who took the drug had a higher risk of dying than those who didn’t. After that study was released, the World Health Organization temporarily stopped its clinical trials of the drug as a COVID-19 treatment. 

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Brazil is being hit hard by the coronavirus this month as it has counted almost 500,000 confirmed cases, the second-most of any country behind the U.S.’s more than 1.7 million. At least 27,878 people have died from COVID-19 in Brazil, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.