The House of Representatives Wednesday approved a draft second extra budget for fiscal 2020 totaling ¥31.91 trillion ($296 billion), to provide additional funding to front-line medical workers and support people reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.
The country's largest-ever supplementary budget, submitted to parliament by the government Monday and also backed by almost all opposition parties, is expected to clear the House of Councilors on Friday for enactment.
Approved by the Cabinet in late May, the fresh budget will finance the government's new package of programs focusing on assistance for small businesses trying to survive the pandemic and medical workers who have been vital in the nation's battle against the virus.