Republican and Democratic leaders have struck a $900 billion deal on a new pandemic aid package.
It is expected to revive U.S. health care and the economy significantly harmed by the coronavirus. It includes a second round of stimulus checks and additional jobless benefits. The bill will be voted upon in the House and Senate.
"More help is on the way," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said late Sunday. "In consultation with our committees, the four leaders of the Senate and the House reached an agreement," he said on NBC News.
Outgoing President Donald Trump, congressional Democrats and Republicans have been pushing for a pandemic boost.
There have been months of start-and-stop efforts for a next phase of government relief and days before important provisions under the Cares Act and from executive measures are set to expire. Deaths from the pandemic in the U.S. are nearing 317,000 and the economy is reeling.
The deal includes $600 cash per person, a federal jobless-insurance bonus of $300 a week, more than $283 billion in additional loans for businesses struggling to pay rent and employees, funds for vaccine distribution and $82 billion for schools and colleges.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the bill a "package that delivers urgently needed funds to save the lives and livelihoods of the American people."
President-elect Joe Biden and leaders of both parties said they plan to revisit the government's pandemic bailout program by January.
