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Lawmakers Race to Make COVID-19 Aid Deal Ahead of Holiday Break

Katherine Gypson

   WASHINGTON - Republican and Democratic leaders continued negotiations
   Tuesday in an effort to reach an agreement on a new round of
   coronavirus aid that has eluded lawmakers for months.

   Without a deal, several key programs are set to expire at the end of
   month, including unemployment aid that reaches 12 million out-of-work
   Americans and a rental eviction moratorium that is keeping an estimated
   40 million Americans sheltered during the cold winter months.

   Funding for the U.S. government also is set to run out Friday, when a
   short-term extension expires.

   Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested that to pass more
   funding for coronavirus relief, lawmakers set aside what he says are
   their two key points of disagreement: Republicans' request for
   liability protections for businesses to reopen without fear of lawsuits
   related to the pandemic, and Democrats' request for more state and
   local funding, in part to address shortfalls in payments to frontline
   emergency workers.

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