{"id":335523,"date":"2020-12-22T06:05:09","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T20:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=335523"},"modified":"2020-12-22T06:05:09","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T20:05:09","slug":"900b-covid-relief-bill-agreed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/900b-covid-relief-bill-agreed\/","title":{"rendered":"$900B COVID relief bill agreed"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON <\/strong>(AP)\u2014Top Capitol Hill negotiators sealed a deal Sunday on an almost $1-trillion COVID-19 economic relief package, finally delivering long-overdue help to businesses and individuals and providing money to deliver vaccines to a nation eager for them.<\/p>\n

The agreement, announced by congressional leaders, would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans, along with a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction.<\/p>\n

It came after months of battling and posturing, but the negotiating dynamic changed in Republicans\u2019 favor after the election and as the end of the congressional session neared. President-elect Joe Biden was eager for a deal to deliver long-awaited help to suffering people and a boost to the economy, even though it was less than half the size that Democrats wanted this fall.<\/p>\n

House leaders informed lawmakers that they would vote on the legislation on Monday, and the Senate was likely to vote on Monday, too. Lawmakers were eager to leave Washington and close out a tumultuous year. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be another major rescue package for the American people,\u201d Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in announcing the agreement for a relief bill that would total almost $900 billion. \u201cIt is packed with targeted policies to help struggling Americans who have already waited too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

A fight over Federal Reserve emergency powers was resolved Saturday night by the Senate\u2019s top Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, and conservative Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. That breakthrough led to a final round of negotiations Sunday.<\/p>\n

Still, delays in finalizing the agreement prompted the House to pass a one-day stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown at midnight Sunday. The Senate was likely to pass the measure Sunday night as well.<\/p>\n

The final agreement would be the largest spending measure yet. It combined COVID-19 relief with a $1.4 trillion government-wide funding plan and lots of other unrelated measures on taxes, health, infrastructure and education. The government-wide funding would keep the government open through September.<\/p>\n

Passage neared as coronavirus cases and deaths spiked and evidence piled up that the economy was struggling. The legislation had been held up by months of dysfunction, posturing and bad faith. But talks turned serious in recent days as lawmakers on both sides finally faced the deadline of acting before leaving Washington for Christmas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis bill is a good bill. Tonight is a good night. But it is not the end of the story, it is not the end of the job,\u201d Schumer told reporters. \u201cAnyone who thinks this bill is enough does not know what\u2019s going on in America.\u201d<\/p>\n

The $300 per week bonus jobless benefit was one half the supplemental federal unemployment benefit provided under the $1.8 billion CARES Act in March and would be limited to 11 weeks instead of 16 weeks. The direct $600 stimulus payment to most people would also be half the March payment, subject to the same income limits in which an individual\u2019s payment began to phase out after $75,000.<\/p>\n

The CARES Act was credited with keeping the economy from falling off a cliff amid widespread lockdowns this spring, but Republicans controlling the Senate cited debt concerns in pushing against Democratic demands. Republican politicians, starting with President Donald Trump, focused more on reopening the economy and less on taxpayer-financed steps like supplemental jobless benefits.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers had hoped to pass the bill this weekend and avoid the need for a stopgap spending bill, but progress slowed Saturday as Toomey pressed for the inclusion of a provision to close down the Fed\u2019s lending facilities. Democrats and the White House said it was too broadly worded and would have tied the hands of the incoming Biden administration, but Republicans rallied to Toomey\u2019s position.<\/p>\n

Late-breaking decisions would limit $300 per week bonus jobless benefits\u2014one half the supplemental federal unemployment benefit provided under the CARES Act in March\u2014to 10 weeks instead of 16 weeks as before. The direct $600 stimulus payment to most people would be half the March payment, subject to the same income limits in which an individual\u2019s payment begins to phase out after $75,000.<\/p>\n

After the announcement, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced additional details, including $25 billion in rental assistance, $15 billion for theaters and other live venues, $82 billion for local schools, colleges and universities, and $10 billion for child care.<\/p>\n

Still, Democrats wanted more. Pelosi, in a letter to colleagues, called the package an initial step. \u201cIn 31 days, when Joe Biden enters the White House, more help will be on the way,\u201d Pelosi said.<\/p>\n

The governmentwide appropriations bill would fund agencies through next September. That measure was likely to provide a last $1.4 billion installment for Trump\u2019s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature.<\/p>\n

The bill was an engine to carry much of Capitol Hill\u2019s unfinished business, including an almost 400-page water resources bill that targets $10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control, environmental and coastal protection projects. Another addition would extend a batch of soon-to-expire tax breaks, including one for craft brewers, wineries and distillers.<\/p>\n

It also would carry numerous clean energy provisions, $7 billion to increase access to broadband, $4 billion to help other nations vaccinate their people, and $27 billion for highways, cash-starved transit systems, Amtrak and airports. <\/p>\n

Democrats failed in a monthslong battle to deliver direct fiscal relief to states and local governments, but they successfully pressed for $22 billion would help states and local governments with COVID-19-related health expenses.<\/p>\n

The end-of-session rush also promised relief for victims of shockingly steep surprise medical bills, a phenomenon that often occurs when providers drop out of insurance company networks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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