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US Congress Remains Stuck on Virus Relief as Time Runs Short

Katherine Gypson

   WASHINGTON - U.S. lawmakers are closing another week of work on Capitol
   Hill without reaching an agreement on a second round of coronavirus
   aid. Leadership in both parties warned Thursday that time is running
   out to break the deadlock on extending programs that are helping
   millions of Americans weather the economic impact of closures due to
   the coronavirus pandemic.

   House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, told reporters the
   negotiations that have dragged on for several months are now making
   "great progress."

   Lawmakers will buy themselves another week of time to negotiate a deal
   on coronavirus aid by passing a one-week extension of government
   funding that was set to expire on December 11. With time running out
   ahead of the holidays and the start of a new Congress in early January,
   legislators are expected to combine any deal reached on aid with a
   longer-term extension of government funding.

   "We can't go before the package is ready and both are there," Pelosi
   said, leaving open the possibility that Congress would need time after
   the 18th to work out both pieces of legislation.

   According to data released Thursday, 1.4 million Americans filed new
   unemployment claims last week, bringing the total number of unemployed
   receiving aid to 19 million people. If lawmakers do not reach an
   agreement, an estimated 12 million people will lose aid on December 26.
   Student loan debt relief as well as eviction moratoriums impacting an
   estimated 40 million Americans are also set to expire at the end of the
   month.

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