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News and updates

News and updates

Deal Reached, One Day CR

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A deal has been reached on an almost $1 trillion COVID relief bill which will be rolled into an omnibus FY21 spending package. The legislation is believed to include support for airline workers, expanded unemployment benefits, funding for contact tracing and testing, vaccine rollout, schools, stimulus checks, and more. Details are not yet publicly available.

A one day continuing resolution will likely be passed to give lawmakers time to actually debate and pass the agreed-upon spending package in each chamber and send to the President before funding expires at midnight tonight.

As noted above, the exact details are not yet available since there is no actual text that has been circulated.  Check back for more updates.

 

They Bought Themselves Another Two Days

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By getting Congress to pass and the president to sign another short-term continuing resolution (CR) last night, negotiators bought themselves an extra two days to see if they could reach a deal on a COVID relief package.  Under last night’s CR, they now have the weekend to come up with something.

Read more about the situation in Politico here and the Washington Post here.

Another CR Needed

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So, even with the intensified negotiations over the past several days on the next COVID relief package, it appears very unlikely that the different sides will reach an agreement before the clock strikes midnight tonight. Even the various sides were to get to an acceptable compromise, it would take time to turn that into legislative text.  This means that another continuing resolution (CR) will be needed to prevent a shutdown.  The House is currently voting on a two-day CR, which would extend funding through Sunday.

While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has committed to keeping the chamber in session until a final COVID package is passed, it remains to be seen how long that will actually take.

Read about the situation here and here.

Still No Deal…

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With the clock ticking, and although Congressional and White House negotiators are talking, there is still no deal on a next round of COVID relief.  As the result of a one-week continuing resolution, those involved in the discussions bought themselves an extra week, until Midnight Saturday, to come to an agreement.  It appears that a number of sticking points remain.

The Congressional leadership and the White House are seeking to attach the legislation to the $1.4-trillion FY2021 omnibus appropriations package that has been agreed to separately.  It is very possible that another short-term funding measure may be needed.

Read more about the situation here and here.

Veterans Package Passes Both Chambers

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The Senate and House have now both passed the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (H.R.7105). The legislation provides assistance to veterans during the COVID-19 crisis and also includes provisions from the Protect GI Bill making certain changes to education benefits. Specifically, a new dual certification process, risk-based surveys, and monthly reporting for schools would be implemented. Although changes would aim to reduce overpayment risks, colleges would assume liability for such overpayments. Public colleges would also have to provide in-state tuition rates to all GI Bill students.

Now the bill will go to President Trump to be signed into law.

The full text of the bill is available here.