U.S. Senate sees possible Tuesday coronavirus vote, Pelosi said optimistic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress inched toward a $450 billion deal to help small businesses and hospitals hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying she expected an agreement on Monday as the Senate set a Tuesday session for a potential vote on it.

Republicans and Democrats have been battling for more than a week over what to include in the fourth round of financial stimulus intended to ease the heavy economic toll of a pandemic that has killed more than 40,000 Americans.

They had sought to finish the package on Monday, but failed to finalize it amid continued disagreements over, among other things, a coronavirus testing strategy.

“The Senate, regretfully, will not be able to pass more money for funding America’s paychecks today. However, since this is so urgent, I’ve asked that the Senate meet again … and the Democratic leader has agreed to my request,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor.

The 78-year-old Republican then left the chamber, putting on a mask to speak briefly with reporters in the hallway.

Pelosi told fellow congressional Democrats on a conference call that she believed an agreement could be reached Monday night, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said a vote was possible on the House floor on Wednesday, according to a Democratic aide familiar with the call.

President Donald Trump told a White House news briefing he hoped congressional negotiators would reach a deal soon.

“A lot of progress has been made on that,” he said.

A deal would end a stalemate over Trump’s request to add to a small-business loan program. Congress set up the program last month as part of a $2.3 trillion coronavirus economic relief plan, but it has already run out of money.

McConnell complained that an agreement had not been reached because “our Democratic colleagues are still prolonging their discussions with the (Trump) administration.”

FILE PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) walks to the Senate floor during a Senate Pro Forma session on Capitol Hill, while the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Washington, U.S., April 16, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on Twitter that Democrats were still fighting for a “comprehensive national testing strategy.”

Widespread testing is crucial before U.S. governors can lift extensive stay-at-home orders and advisories intended to slow the spread of the disease.

Officials said over the weekend that negotiators favored allocating $25 billion for testing, but cited disagreement over the attached language. Trump has talked about testing as largely a state responsibility.

Representative Lee Zeldin, a Republican, said on Fox News that a bipartisan deal that would include $310 billion for small business aid was progressing.

Zeldin said at least $50 billion more would be available for a separate small business loan program under the deal, a provision still under negotiation. A Democratic source familiar with the talks has said this figure was more likely to be $60 billion.

The Democratic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some $60 billion of the $310 billion was likely to be set aside for minority and rural businesses. Officials are also discussing $75 billion for hospitals.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to the media after a meeting in the office of House U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to wrap up work on coronavirus economic aid legislation, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert – RC25PF9NX45Y/File Photo

But Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said aid for states and municipalities sought by Democrats will be excluded in the current plan. Trump said on Sunday he favored more aid for state and local governments but that could be provided later.

That apparent omission was one reason a leading progressive Democrat, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, denounced the outlines of the bill, calling it “insulting.”

If the Republican-majority Senate passes the bill on Tuesday, it could move to the Democratic-majority House as soon as Wednesday. Leaders there have told members they may try using a remote proxy voting system that a leading Democrat has proposed, said Representative Mark Pocan.

The proxy system would mean not all of the House’s 429 current members would have to be present for the vote, reducing the threat of spreading the coronavirus.

Reporting by Doina Chiacu, Susan Cornwell and Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis, Matthew Lewis, Dan Grebler and Richard Chang

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source: reuters.com