“As party leaders dither on legislation to reauthorize expiring COVID-19 relief programs and additional stimulus measures to boost a struggling economy before the end of the year, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has drafted its own compromise bill. The $908 billion legislation would reauthorize federal unemployment programs and resurrect a federal supplement that expired in July, though at only $300 per week instead of the previous $600, for an additional four months. The bill would give state governments $160 billion, which has been a priority for Democratic lawmakers, and offer businesses a Republican-sought temporary ban on coronavirus lawsuits. It would not include another round of stimulus checks. The compromise was drafted by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Angus King (I-Maine), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.). The bill also has the support of several House members. “We worked night and day throughout the Thanksgiving recess,” Collins said at a press conference where the lawmakers praised themselves and said their work showed Congress could rise to the occasion. Party leaders still control what legislation gets votes in the House and Senate and will control the final details of any COVID-19 relief legislation that passes Congress, but the ad hoc bipartisan bill could increase pressure on leaders to reach a compromise. Nearly 12 million people are set to lose federal unemployment benefits at the end of the month unless lawmakers agree to a deal extending relief measures they passed early in the pandemic. A moratorium on evictions, student debt forbearance and tax breaks are also at risk of expiring. Congressional negotiations over another bill have been at a standstill for months, with no talks occurring between either party or the administration. Democrats have demanded a more comprehensive $2 trillion package they say is needed to adequately address the crisis; Republicans say a slimmed-down measure of about $500 billion is needed. Even if the Senate is able to reach a compromise and finally pass additional relief to aid millions of struggling Americans, the bill would still need to get through the Democratic-controlled House. Any deal would ultimately need the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Kalifornië.), who has insisted on a larger bill. An extra $300 per week in unemployment — while only half what Congress provided in the early months of the pandemic — is still more than the federal government had ever added to unemployment benefits prior to this year. In response to the worst recession since the Great Depression, for instance, Congress in 2009 added just $25 to weekly benefits, which average around $300. A group of Senate Democrats on Tuesday is separately pushing to revive the full $600, a number lawmakers came up with because it represents the difference between the average weekly benefit and the average weekly wage. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus Which airlines are blocking out middle seats for holiday travel? How does the coronavirus spread differently than the flu? Can you close your COVID “bubble” without losing friends forever? Is it safe to see grandparents over the holidays? How can you help a friend with anxiety when you’re also struggling? Everyone deserves accurate information about COVID-19. Support journalism without a paywall — and keep it free for everyone — by becoming a HuffPost member today.
Bernie Sanders Vows To Oppose COVID-19 Relief Package Over Lack Of Stimulus Checks
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["ASSOCIATED PRESS Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. called the current bipartisan proposal \"wrong morally.\" (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and other prog...
A New Coronavirus Relief Deal Is Finally Gaining Momentum In Congress
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["WASHINGTON ― After months of little to no movement, Congress is finally making strides toward another coronavirus relief package ― and all it took was Democrats embracing half of a deal that was already on the table...
Democratic Leaders Embrace Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Deal Framework
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["House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Kalifornië.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Congress should craft its next response to the coronavirus pandemic based on the framework that a bipartisan working group...
Biden Backs Democrats’ Pursuit Of Bigger COVID-19 Relief Deal
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["A spokesman for Joe Biden’s presidential transition denied Monday that the president-elect or his team is pushing congressional Democrats for a quicker but potentially smaller economic stimulus package in negotiatio...
Election Hangover Not Looking Favorable For COVID-19 Relief
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["WASHINGTON ― With President Donald Trump potentially a lame duck and Republicans looking like they could hold on to the Senate, a worst-case scenario could be emerging for a big coronavirus relief package. Trump cou...
Billions In COVID-19 Relief Loans May Have Gone To Fraudsters, Report Finds
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["The Small Business Administration may have granted billions of dollars in fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans after relaxing its approval standards in response to an unprecedented amount of applications, the agency’s i...
Coronavirus Relief Package Not Coming Before Election
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["Following the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell adjourned his chamber until after Election Day, officially signaling that Congress won’t enact a...
How To Help Teens Turning To Disordered Eating For Pandemic Relief
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[]["“Eating our feelings” has been a running theme for many coping with mental health struggles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. For many isolated teens, egter, eating too much or too little has become a constan...