U.S. congressmen and senators are about to finalize a deal on a $1.4 trillion spending bill until the end of September 2021, which is expected to ward off a government shutdown after midnight Friday, according to reports Tuesday.
The proposed omnibus budget allocation is also seen to provide a legislative platform for a potential pandemic relief stimulus and other items left on the lame-duck House's year-end program.
The spending allotment comes after the Senate and Congress approved a one-week continuing resolution that would finance the government until at least mid-December, buying time for negotiations to continue.
In a positive sign for a quick accord, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin Monday night that the remaining issues could be "readily resolved," a Pelosi representative said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Pelosi have both stated they want to consolidate the COVID relief package with the annual budget measure.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan alliance of legislators is attempting to get colleagues to concur on a $908 billion relief that would be divided into two tranches, but Senate Republicans had previously shown little interest in the proposal.
The House is running up against looming deadlines for a much-needed government boost set to expire later this month. Around 12 million Americans could be deprived of all unemployment support if certain federal policies are not renewed. Millions of people are also facing threats of eviction if a moratorium is not extended.
The announcement on the planned rules came on the same day the U.S. breached the 300,000 death mark from the pandemic.
"We won't go home for Christmas until we pass a bill that gives relief to the American people," Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. said.
