Still no COVID-19 relief Bill as US Congress faces shutdown deadline Toggle share menu
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Still no COVID-19 relief Bill as US Congress faces shutdown deadline
The U.S. Capitol dome is seen at night in Washington, U.S., December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Erin Scott
18 Dec 2020 10:49PM (Updated:
18 Dec 2020 10:49PM) Share this content
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WASHINGTON: The US Congress looked increasingly unlikely on Friday (Dec 18) to meet a deadline to agree on US$900 billion in fresh COVID-19 aid and instead may pass a third stopgap spending Bill to keep the government from shutting down at midnight.
After months of partisan finger-pointing and inaction, Republicans and Democrats have been negotiating intensely this week on what is expected to be the biggest package since spring to provide relief to a country struggling with a pandemic that has killed nearly 309,000 Americans.
A marsh surrounding the edge of a golf course in Franklintown, Florida. (Florida Memory)
In a relatively rare move, the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday announced approval of a plan to hand over federal permitting authority to Florida for projects that affect wetlands.
Supporters praised the move as helping reduce duplicative state and federal permitting and giving Florida more control over such decisions. Florida is only the third state, joining Michigan and New Jersey, that have received the authority, according to the EPA.
“Our waters and wetlands are critical to our economy and way of life in Florida. As such, it is important for the state to be in charge and take the lead in their protection,” state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein said in a statement released by the EPA. “We are pleased that with the assumption, Florida scientists and permitters will now be accountable for state and federal wetlands permits. DEP (D
McConnell said the Senate would remain in session through the weekend if necessary to reach a deal.
Written By:
Patricia Zengerle and Richard Cowan / Reuters | 2:36 pm, Dec. 18, 2020 ×
The U.S. Capitol dome is seen at night in Washington on Dec. 17. REUTERS/Erin Scott
WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Backed into a corner, the U.S. Congress on Friday risked blowing through a midnight deadline to keep the government open and address the coronavirus crisis, as a partisan fight over federal lending rules caused a fresh delay on a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill.
After months of partisan finger-pointing and inaction, Republicans and Democrats have been negotiating intensely on what is expected to be the biggest package since spring to provide relief to a country struggling with a pandemic killing over 3,000 people a day.
They have reported progress, but enough differences remained by late on Thursday that talks looked likely to stretch into the weekend.
Multiple lawmakers floated the possibility the federal government would run out of money early Saturday morning, if Congress is unable to pass a temporary government funding bill before Friday at midnight.
Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said the chamber would remain in session through the weekend if necessary, citing the need for urgency. The senate is not going anywhere until we have Covid relief out the door, he said, adding that senators would vote throughout the weekend on more of outgoing Republican President Donald Trump s nominations.
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