KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Leaders and residents across the metro are reacting to the news that Congress could be just minutes away from passing a new relief package.

Many Kansas Citians said this relief package is deeply flawed. They believe the $600 direct payments are not nearly enough.

“It seems a bit stingy, I guess,” said Luke Spencer, a Kansas City resident.

After days of intense gridlock, the two chambers of Congress were able to reach a compromise on another stimulus bill, but this one will send smaller payments to Americans than the first COVID-19 relief package.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called it a step in the right direction.

“It is a step in the right direction, but it is only a step and I hope that it will be the beginning, Mr. President, of a better approach, the beginning of actually putting working Americans first,” Hawley said.

Some Kansas City residents believe this is only a temporary fix.

“The short-term thing it might hold for another month or two, but it’s not going to solve the inequities that exist,” said Kristin Roberts, a Kansas City resident.

Some believe that Washington is out of touch.

“I think there’s probably a disconnect between Washington and what’s going on around the country right now,” said Mike Roberts, a Kansas City resident.

This bill also excludes state and local government funding for Medicare, teachers or first responders. It’s an omission that Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said is saddening.

“We need to support Americas cities whether you’re somebody who lives in this region’s biggest city Kansas City or you’re somebody in one of our smaller cities,” Lucas said.

However, small business owners said, despite its imperfections, they desperately need the relief.

“I don’t want to be the last person standing, so we need — the stimulus package has to happen. It just, it does,” Chrysalyn Huff, president of RE-brand, said.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said direct deposits could arrive as early next week.