Congress, Trump administration close to deal on new aid package

Source: Politico

April 19, 2020 at 17:44

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo

The more than $400 billion in emergency funding focuses on small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Congress and the Trump administration are quickly nearing a more than $400 billion deal on emergency funding for small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with passage expected in the coming days.

A deal could be announced as early as Sunday or Monday, according to congressional aides. On a conference call with President Donald Trump and Republican senators on Sunday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told Republicans that the only portion of the package not agreed to focused on coronavirus testing, according to a person briefed on the call. McConnell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said the money for state and local government funding, as well as food stamp aid requested by Democrats, would not be included in the deal.