By Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - U.S. congressional negotiators on Wednesday were closing in on a $900 billion COVID-19 aid bill that will include $600 to $700 stimulus checks and extended unemployment benefits, as a Friday deadline loomed, lawmakers and aides said.
Top members of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and Republican-controlled Senate sounded more positive than they have in months on a fresh response to a crisis that has killed more than 304,000 Americans and thrown millions out of work.
Their aides were struggling on Wednesday to draft legislative language as rates of COVID-19 infections are soaring to new highs, even as the United States starts to vaccinate people. The American economy is showing signs of weakening.
US Congress leaders hold second meeting on Covid-19 aid: Moving in right direction
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Stimulus checks: Direct payments included in proposed $900 billion deal
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By Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - U.S. congressional leaders held a second meeting on Tuesday to try to end a months-long standoff on coronavirus relief and finalize a funding bill in time to avert a government shutdown, with one lawmaker saying talks were moving in the right direction.
The group - led by Democratic House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - left the rare face-to-face session after around an hour in Pelosi s office, without announcing anything.
But House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said afterward: I think we re moving in the right direction. I think there s a possibility of getting it done. So we re finalizing out to see if it s possible. Let us keep working.