Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Pelosi Notes 'Progress' with Trump Admin Over New COVID-19 Stimulus Deal

Katherine Gypson

   The White House and the Democratic-majority U.S. House of
   Representatives "are serious about finding a compromise" on a second
   massive round of coronavirus aid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said
   Tuesday.

   Pelosi said she and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke by
   telephone Tuesday afternoon, and that she hoped they could continue
   talks Wednesday after he returns from an overseas trip.

   "Our conversation provided more clarity and common ground as we move
   closer to an agreement.Today's deadline enabled us to see that
   decisions could bereachedand language could be exchanged,"Pelosi said
   in a letter to her Democratic colleagues.

   The two sides called on the heads of congressional committees "to
   resolve differences about funding levels and language," Pelosi said.

   Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell committed Tuesday to bring any
   Trump-approved legislation that results from such a deal to the Senate
   floor for a vote.

   "If such a deal were to clear the House, obviously, with the
   presidential signature or promise, we would put it on the floor of the
   Senate," McConnell told reporters.

   If negotiations between the White House and the Democratic-majority
   House of Representatives fail, the next opportunity for negotiations on
   aid will come during a lame-duck session of Congress in November and
   December.

   "Nancy Pelosi isn't serious," McConnell said Tuesday on the timing of
   negotiations. "That's because she doesn't want anything to pass, she
   and [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer have made a calculated
   decision. It's a political decision that nothing is going to pass until
   after Election Day because they believe that they have better chances
   of success on Election Day."

.