Congress rushes to reach an agreement on the coronavirus as the shutdown approaches

Congress leaders are debuting to finalize and approve a $ 900 billion coronavirus relief deal before the midnight deadline to prevent a government shutdown.

Leaders say they are within reach of a global deal that will link the long-saved release to a $ 1.4 trillion bill to fund the government until October 1 . If they can’t pass the next deal by the end of Sunday, —and file senators are questioning, they’ll have to use a bill to keep the government open.

Leader of the Senate majority Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Senators reach agreement on Fed powers, setting the stage for coronavirus relief passage The agreement on coronavirus relief depends on talks over the borrowing powers of the Fed. Fed (R-Ky.), Entering the Capitol that day, told reporters they were “very, very close.”

“We’re eliminating the remaining differences. I think I can speak for all parties when I say I hope and expect to have a final agreement in a matter of hours,” McConnell said from the floor during Sunday’s rare session.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSenators reaches agreement on Fed powers, setting the stage for coronavirus relief passage Sunday preview: U.S. launches first doses of coronavirus vaccine; Congress closes stimulus agreement Lawmakers soon expect COVID-19 relief agreement MORE (D-California) echoed this, describing the negotiations as “closed. We are very close.”

Meanwhile, leader of the Senate minorities Charles SchumerChuck Schumer: Senators reach agreement on Fed powers, setting the stage for the coronavirus relief passage. The coronavirus relief deal depends on talks about the Fed’s credit powers. Ocasio-Cortez: “I’m not ready” to be president, but Pelosi and Schumer have to go MORE (DN.Y.) said that “except for one major setback,” both the House and Senate could vote “already tonight.”

“As we speak, the legislative text is coming to an end. The time has come to move forward and reach a conclusion,” he added from the Senate floor.

Progress toward an agreement comes after a midnight advance on the last major bottleneck: emergency lending facilities under the Federal Reserve.

The deal would close four Federal Reserve credit lending facilities created by the CARES Act and prevent the Fed from maintaining replication facilities in the future without congressional approval. The Fed will maintain more flexibility in restarting the secured asset lending mechanism, which will close but may be restarted in the future.

His. Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph Toomey The government used the Patriot Act to gather records of website visitors in 2019 The appeals court rules that the massive collection of phone data from the illegal NSA Dunford is removed from consideration to chair the MORE coronavirus monitoring panel (R-Pa.) He said at a conference call Sunday afternoon that they were still working to finalize the Federal Reserve language, but that he intended to support the overall package.

“Despite the important reservations I have about some particular characteristics, I think the good outweighs the bad and my intention is to vote on it now,” he said.

Leadership aides acknowledged that the agreement with Toomey on language brought Congress significantly closer, but there are minor issues to be resolved, as leadership must finalize and finish drafting the year-end agreement.

“There are some outstanding issues, but I hope we are closing in on a result,” Schumer said.

Lawmakers are also pushing for language in the deal for a tax “solution” from the Payroll Protection Program because of concerns that companies that received PPP loans will have to pay a larger tax bill than expected. next year.

“It seems to me that things are not completely tied up,” the senator said. John CornynJohn Cornyn: The coronavirus relief agreement depends on talks about the Fed’s credit powers. Senate absences from the GOP attack Trump candidates. Congress passes law to prevent closure as coronavirus talks drag on over weekend MORE (R-Texas) said Sunday.

His. marc RubioMarco Antonio Rubio: Ocasio-Cortez defends Biden’s incoming deputy cabinet director amid a rebound. Biden’s incoming deputy cabinet director says he shouldn’t have referred to lawmakers as “F — ers.” (R-Fla.) He added that the PPP language was still being debated as of Saturday night, but that including a legislative solution has “broad support.”

Because the coronavirus relief bill is related to the omnibus government funding agreement, which the appropriators say has been finalized for days, Congress must approve the agreement by the end of Sunday to avoid a closure.

Congress has already had to use three ongoing resolutions (CRs) this year to keep the government running: one that funded the government from Oct. 1 to Dec. 11 and a second that extended the deadline. until December 18th. with negotiations underway, 48 more hours were bought by approving an ongoing resolution funding the government until the end of Sunday.

The House is expected to vote on the COVID-government funding agreement before the deadline, although the vote could take place until Sunday evening.

“Members are warned today that a vote is expected in the House related to government funding and other coronavirus aid legislation. Members are also warned that voting could take place late at night. “, warns the leader of the majority of the House Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerCongress barrels into veto clash with Trump Congress passes law to prevent shutdown while talks on coronavirus drag on weekend House passes two-day law to prevent shutdown MORE (D-Md.) Advised.

It is unclear whether the Senate will be able to vote before midnight. As leaders face an hourly crisis, they would need the cooperation of the 100 senators, with a single parliamentarian able to slow down an agreement and exceed the term of Congress.

His. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David Hawley Senators reach agreement on Fed powers, setting the stage for the coronavirus relief passage The coronavirus relief agreement depends on talks about the Fed’s credit powers Fed GOP absences in Senate capture Trump nominees (R-Mo.) It floated Sunday that he might not consent to the rapid passage of a CR.

“I do not think so. I think I will not consent to any of them. … This plane needs to land, ”Hawley said of another endless bill.

James Clyburn (DS.C.), House of Commons majority, told MSNBC that Congress would need another CR if both houses were unable to pass the bill on Sunday night. Cornyn, meanwhile, questioned whether the Senate could vote before Monday.

“I feel the text won’t even be available until later and the House should vote on it first,” Cornyn said of the possibilities the Senate is voting on Sunday. “So I think it’s doubtful, it would be my guess.”

McConnell, when asked about a Senate vote Sunday, told reporters, “A quick vote would require a lot of cooperation. We’ll see.”

Several Republican senators said they expected the Senate vote to arrive by Monday.

“It would be pretty optimistic to try to do it tonight,” Sen said. James LankfordJames Paul Lankford With the Senate at stake, Georgia is on our minds Ethics experts call on Senate to investigate Graham’s inquiry into email voting Hill’s report 12:30 – Presented by Capital One – Pfizer presents analysis detailed COVID-19 vaccine and next steps MORE (R-Okla.), Adding that a CR must be “prepared.”

His. John KennedyJohn Neely Kennedy MORE (R-La.) He added that he did not believe the Senate would vote on Sunday.

“I could be wrong, but I don’t think there’s enough time to put it all together,” he said. “We can’t vote until the House does.”

– Updated at 2:20 p.m.