Lawmakers 'very close' to clinching COVID deal
SCHUMER: "It's not a done deal yet, but we are very close"
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer appeared optimistic on Wednesday that a COVID deal will soon be struck, a day after negotiations with Congressional leadership went late into the night, with lawmakers and aides telling Reuters voting could start as early as Thursday.
The $900 billion COVID-19 aid bill on the table would include stimulus checks of $600 to $700 and extended unemployment benefits for the millions thrown out of work amid the pandemic.
"Yesterday, we had two very long and very productive meetings. Our final discussion stretched late into the evening. And as we race the clock to reach a final accord before the end of the year, we are close to an agreement."
The measure, to be attached to a spending bill that must pass by Friday to avoid a government shutdown, is not expected to include new protections for companies from lawsuits related to the pandemic, something high on the Republican agenda.
Still, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the two sides were making significant progress.
"We made major headway toward hammering out a targeted pandemic relief package that would be able to pass both chambers with bipartisan majorities. We committed to continuing these urgent discussions until we have an agreement. And we agreed we will not leave town until we've made law."
Lawmakers are seeking to pass the emergency relief package through both chambers of Congress and attach it to a much larger spending bill and get it to President Donald Trump's desk before funding runs out on Friday, in order to avert a government shutdown.
相關影片推薦
1:27
豬仔被騙到柬埔寨 業績0遭毆 返台咬出人蛇團TVBS新聞網影音80,655 次觀看・22 小時前- 拜登退不退選全世界都在猜 美國民主黨及金主陷集體焦慮?【風向龍鳳配】風向龍鳳配119,123 次觀看・7 小時前
2:21
台超額儲蓄首逾4兆! 專家憂房地產飆漲.股市泡沫化華視影音116,967 次觀看・23 小時前1:32
極端氣候衝擊中國 暴雨接力灌鄱陽湖 空拍看水位飆高 上海熱爆體感攝氏44度Yahoo奇摩(國際通)12,478 次觀看・6 小時前1:35
男看海「車陷沙灘」 回車上取物 遭捲走不治TVBS新聞網影音90,958 次觀看・2 天前1:07
劉亦菲狂親唐嫣的4歲女兒 被嚇得連連後退...生母笑翻:她很嫌棄娛樂星聞306,833 次觀看・3 天前2:21
疑與夫家吵架帶女兒碧潭輕生 2童溺斃母獨活華視影音12,388 次觀看・1 天前2:11
老公被誇帥林心如反應超閃 霍建華《玫瑰的故事》她最愛這幕娛樂星聞41,614 次觀看・20 小時前1:47
男子上午租機車.下午變賣 機車行發現被騙報案民視影音20,604 次觀看・1 天前1:53
警機車「火燒車」 趕路救人途中擦撞車禍TVBS新聞網影音47,545 次觀看・22 小時前